Koans of Christ | Luke Bricker & Jake Haber

Check out our conversation with special guest Luke Bricker, founder of Current Collective Church in San Diego, and author of the new book, Koans of Christ!

 

Enjoy this wide ranging dialogue as we cover Luke's transformational journey and his thoughts on reclaiming the words and teaching of Jesus as part of an evolving and expanding spirituality. 

 

Quotes: 

 

Zen Koan: 

 

Two monks were traveling together down a muddy road while a heavy rain was still falling. Coming around a bend, they met a beautiful girl in a silk kimono unable to cross the intersection. “Come on, girl” one monk said. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.

Fuming, the other monk did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. He could no longer restrain himself and said, “we monks made a vow to never touch a female, especially not a young and beautiful one! It is dangerous. Why did you do that?” 

“I left the girl there,” the monk replied, 

“are you still carrying her?” 

 

Luke 18:10-14

Two men went up into the temple to pray. One, a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisees stood away from others and prayed: “God, I thank you that I am not like those other people who cheat, are unjust, and sexually immoral, like that sorry tax collector over there. I fast twice a week, read the Scriptures daily, and I tithe the first of everything that I make.”

But the tax collector, standing far away from him, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest with tears in his eyes, saying: “God, I ask only for mercy. I feel completely aimless.” I tell you; this man left the Temple justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts themself will be humbled, but the one who humble themself will be exalted.