| About Me
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Hi! My name is Justin. My spiritual practice is primary in my life. How that looks arises in relationship with everything else that is happening in my life. I’m an ordained Soto Zen Buddhist Priest. I lay-ordained when I was twenty-six and ordained fully as a novice priest at twenty-eight years old. I spent close to ten years in a monastic environment when I was younger. I eventually left that tradition and ordained in another Buddhist tradition. I also have broad interests in Yoga teacher training and homesteading.
I am involved in daily life as practice and seek to blend and blur the distinctions between lay and monastic life. That means that relationships, marriage and even family are welcome.
Even though I am writing primarily about my Buddhist background I have a long history with North, Central and South American indigenous traditions and various metaphysical practices/philosophies.
I’m flexible with what I am looking for in a partner depending on the chemistry. I’d like to find a partner that is interested in marriage. The possibility of having children is there for discussion but it is not required. If you take care of your health, are curious about consciousness, and have a spiritual path we might get along. ☺️
In looking at the Buddhist precepts, I came across two articles that I feel are good articles to share here. These articles are talking about the third precept regarding sexuality. However, they expand on this and talk about love and marriage. You may have to copy and paste these URLs in order to read them if that interests you. I am also developing an appreciation for the work of Vanessa Marin.
https://web.archive.org/web/20210323170040/https://www.saigon.com/anson/ebud/tnh5p/precept3.htm
https://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/2014/09/freedom-through-the-third-precept/
I’ve had a wide variety of work over the years. I trained as a massage therapist when I was nineteen. I’ve worked in restaurants, hospitals, labor trades, etc. Three years ago I began to drive commercial vehicles for a living and found that I really liked it. I drove box trucks throughout Northern Michigan delivering millwork, windows and doors to high-end homes. I then began to deliver beverages out of a semi-truck in Central Michigan. I really enjoy the company that I work for but wanted to have more growth opportunities so I transitioned into sales in Northern Michigan and I am endeavoring to put down roots here. I’m very interested in learning and growing.
In my spare time I like to sit zazen and study Buddhist teaching and read/learn about other subjects. I am very interested in fitness. I have developed a four-year fitness program that I am following and will be including tough mudder and spartan runs in the future. I also intend to practice some forms or martial arts. I also really enjoy hiking of any sort. Northern Michigan has absolutely lovely hiking trails.
If you ask me for a picture, I’d be happy to give you one.
I’m looking forward to getting to know you! |
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Basics
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My Sign:
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Pisces |
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I speak:
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English |
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Occupation:
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Commercial Driver/Sales |
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Ethnicity:
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Caucasian |
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Height:
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5 11" (180 cm)
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Body Type:
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Athletic |
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Eye Color:
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Blue |
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Hair Color:
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Dark Blonde |
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Hair Length:
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Shaved |
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Lifestyle
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I live with:
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Live alone |
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Have kids:
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Yes, sometimes living with me |
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Want (more) children:
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I'm not sure |
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Willing To Relocate:
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No
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Smoking:
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No |
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Drinking:
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Social Drinker |
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Exercise:
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exercise regularly |
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| Personality
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My Personality:
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Quiet, Adventurous, Intuitive
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When out with friends, I'm usually:
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Trying to be a good listener
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I'm happiest when:
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When I am not with my son I am happiest when I am able to exercise and have quiet, reflective space to study/sit zazen.
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The best day of my life was when:
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My son was born.
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Interests
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My interests, hobbies, and pastimes include...
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Cars/Motorcycles, Cooking, Eating Out, History, Music (listening), Reading, Science, Theater, Travel
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The physical activities I'm interested in are:
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Aerobics, Biking, Camping, Gym/Weightlifting, Hiking/Backpacking, Martial Arts, Running, Walking, Yoga (hatha)
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Values
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The virtues I consider most important are...
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Open-Mindedness, Perseverence, Humility
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The things I'm most grateful for in life are...
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The Dharma and my family.
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My goals, and what I want out of life...
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In general, I want a life that is supportive for myself and my loved ones. I also want good health and the space for contemplation/meditation.
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My greatest accomplishments in life have been...
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Recognizing the Dharma. Saying yes to my son and welcoming him into my heart completely.
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Five or ten years from now, I see myself...
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In no particular order: Home ownership. Stable career. Clarity on long-term studies as a priest. Happily Married. Good quality of life for my son.
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My political inclination can be described as...
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Conservative
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Spirituality
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Spiritual Orientation:
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Buddhist, Yoga, Spiritual, not religious
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I consider my spirituality...
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The central focus of my life
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What brought me to my spiritual path and motivated my interest...
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My initial inspiration was through reading the autobiography of Thomas Merton. My interest in Buddhism began by having an intuition of the four noble truths, then reading about them, then meeting teachers that I can ordain through that have inspired me to deepen my practice.
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I consider the purpose of my spirituality to be...
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Other
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After the body dies...
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Other
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I would define a spiritual experience as...
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Interesting, perhaps even helpful, but not primary.
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Who I'm Looking For
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I'm seeking a:
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Woman (20 to 35)
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Ethnicity:
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Any
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Height:
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4' 4" to 6' 6" (132cm to 198cm)
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Body Type:
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Slender, Athletic, Average, A few extra pounds
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Hair Color:
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Any
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She should speak:
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English
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Education:
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Doesn't Matter
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Annual Income:
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Doesn't Matter
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Smoking:
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No
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Drinking:
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No, Social Drinker, Non-alcoholic beverages only
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Vegetarian:
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Doesn't Matter
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Has children:
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Doesn't Matter
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Wants children:
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Doesn't Matter
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Personality:
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Doesn't Matter
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When out with friends, she would be...
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Doesn't Matter
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Spiritual Orientation:
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Any
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She would consider her faith or spirituality...
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The central focus of her life, Very important, Pretty important
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