How to Use a Table
Plus a robot preacher, chatbot priest, and AI therapists
WORDS OF WISDOM
Let us be together.
Let us eat together.
Let us be vital together, experiencing the truth of life.
Never shall we denounce anyone.
Never entertain negativity.―Shanti Patha, Rigveda
REFLECTION
Last weekend our dear friends from Seattle came through town. In the evening we gathered around the table, just like we used to. In order to fit all 11 of us, we had to add an extra leaf to the table. After they departed, we left the leaf in to remind us of their presence in our home.
The extended table in our home along with the political polarization of this moment has me thinking about how the table is a powerful… spiritual technology.
With this in mind, here are three ways to use a table:
1. Dine Across Difference
"Jesus' main change-making tool was the table," says a pastor friend of mine. He was often dining with the supposed sinners of his day—across race, class, sex, religion, ability, etc. This was how he conquered division and embodied a message of unity and belonging.
(By the way, this post was written before this apparently controversial table scene from the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.)
Donating and canvasing and protesting and voting—these things are all important. But what about gathering polarized people around our tables? The table is the place where we recognize our common humanity. It enables us to see our sameness. “Breaking bread” together breaks down dividing walls.
2. Display Images of Your Enemies
Ram Dass used to talk about the pictures on his puja table, the holy table used to offer devotion, praise, and prayer to God in the Hindu tradition. His table included images of those he adored, such as his guru Neem Karori Baba and Hanuman the monkey-faced god.
But it also featured photos of people like Caspar Weinberger, a former U.S. Secretary of Defense who was indicted on charges of lying to Congress and obstructing government investigations as part of the Iran–Contra investigation.
In other words, Ram Dass’ table included images of his enemies. Featuring these images was an exercise in expanding his heart, aligning with grace, and fostering right action that emerges from love not hate.
3. Bring Healing through Listening
Below you’ll read about the work of my friends Angie and Casper through the Sacred Design Lab. Their research on spiritual innovation took them to Vowz Bar in Kyoto, Japan where Buddhist monks serve cocktails and break every few hours to offer a Dharma talk and lead the whole bar in chanting sutras together.
Casper reflects on the experience:
Zennen, the monk pouring drinks on the night we visit is tall, wearing gray robes and exuding good humored gentleness when we asked him some questions about how the bar works. “We stand by,” he explains. “Often, we end up counseling young people. So many of them struggle with parent-child relationship issues and a lack of self-esteem. We are here to support and guide.”
As these monks demonstrate, the (bar) table is a tool that can be used to provide the kind of listening presence and hospitality that brings healing to those who are hurting.
So, what do you think? How might you use your table?
COLLECTION
Now that we’ve covered one of the oldest spiritual tools, check out some of the newest experiments in spiritual technology.
Defrocked AI Priest
Thou shalt not baptize a baby in Gatorade.
Earlier this year, a Catholic group defrocked its AI priest Father Justin after he gave some… strange answers. Russell Moore of Christianity Today reflected on this an other AI issues in the article A New Era of AI Is Here, and the Church Is Not Ready.
Robot Preacher
A robot in Japan delivers ancient Buddhist teachings.
"Many Buddhist statues have been made, but they were all just Buddhist images, standing or sitting figures. I wanted to create a Buddhist statue which can speak, make eye contact, and answer questions so that people can feel closer to it,” says Tensho Goto, the chief steward of the temple who oversaw the creation of Mindar the robot priest over five years ago.
AI Therapist
An AI voice assistant that helps you work with difficult emotions.
Maverick Kuhn, the creator of Thyself, is hoping to use AI to improve self-awareness and provide emotional support.
Feeling overwhelmed? Thyself is here to provide immediate help. Designed for real-time conversations, Thyself offers instant insights and helps you regain your calm when you need it most. Your emotional wellness is just a chat away.
Illuminating Spiritual Innovation
How innovators from Tokyo to Nairobi are responding to the spiritual longings of our time.
My dear friends at Sacred Design Lab have put together another marvelous report on spirituality and innovation. They’re hosting a global webinar on Thursday, September 5 (register here) to launch and share their findings. I’ll be there.
END MATTERS
Typology Enneagram Podcast
So much fun to be on the Typology podcast with Ian Morgan Cron―and discover, to my surprise, that I may not be the Enneagram number I thought I was! (Sound familiar? I wrote about this a few weeks ago in my post You are not who you thought you were.)
The Way Home
Haven’t read this “banger,” as one recent reader put it, yet? Get your copy!
If you have read it, I would very much appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. THANK YOU.
