251129 What I learned in my studies this morning 6
Today's Meditation(s): Meditations, 2.16 (Hicks and Hicks) Be understanding. Be calm. Be temperate. Be true. Be purposeful. One outta five. If I'm being nice. I have work to do.
Posts
251128 What I learned in my studies this morning 6*
Today's Meditation(s): Meditations, 2.14 (Hicks and Hicks) But I've lost so many moments. They slip by, unstoppable. Immutable. Not even entered into memory. Just . . . lost. So, am I deprived of something I never had, nor had claim to, in the first place? Infinite moments down the drain because I don't focus enough to remember them. None get The Special Treatment ™ without focus. So I choose most of the time of I want to make something a memory. Though mant unrequested memories also emerge on retrospection. So how many more a "captured" when I am here now?
251127 What I learned in my studies this morning 6**
Today's Meditation(s): Meditations , 2.13 (Hicks and Hicks) Preserve the spirit from passion. Interrupt the pattern. Allow a moment to choose an action rather than submit to a re action. Preserve the spirit from aimlessness. Have a point to it. At the very least, lean into virtue at all times. Love what Fate brings to me. See the good in the situation. Find the Way or opportunity.
251126 What I learned in my studies this morning 6
Today's Meditation(s): Meditations , 2.11 (Hicks and Hicks) "Death is an essential benefit of Nature." Absofuckinglutely. The idea of eternal life is horrifying to me. Avoiding immortality is something I never expect to need to do, but if I did, I'd pray harder than ever before that the gods would spare me from such a punishment.
251125 What I learned in my studies this morning 6
Today's Meditation(s): Meditations , 2.11 (Hicks and Hicks) Indifferents remain indifferent until they impinge on my virtue. The they should be shunned. I don't get many temptations, but when I do, I've always been able to pass them up or actively avoid them. I'm still going to keep up this practice and, hopefully get better.
251124 What I learned in my studies this morning 6
Today's Meditation(s): Meditations (Hicks and Hicks), Recognize what is important. Focus my mind. Follow reason. Do good and mean what I do. Accept the world as it is / a mor fati. Should I wish to be loved by the gods . . . .
251123 What I learned in my studies this morning 6
Today's Meditation(s): Meditations, 2.4 (Hicks and Hicks) Memento mori. How do I fit in the universe? What kind of universe is it? I'm here for a bit, but then must leave. If I don't ____ now, when will I? How often have I let opportunities slide by because I was too busy or had better things to do? Get active in my own salvation.
251122 What I learned in my studies this morning 6
Today's Meditation(s): Meditations 2.2 (Hammond) It's not about being learnéd. It's not about how others perceive me or even about how I perceive myself. It's about my soul. It's about being a good person. It's about loving fate in all its forms. It's about understanding how the world works so I can better be that good person.
251121 What I learned in my studies this morning 6
Today's Meditation(s): Meditations 2.1 After his list of people and virtues in the first book, what's the first thing Marcus does in book 2? People are annoying and do wrong. But . . . understand them, forgive and correct them, connect with them, live and work in harmony with them. It starts out so negative and condemning of people we deal with all the time, normal people, everyday people. Then it pivots to all the reasons to be patient with them and let it slide. ("I gotta admit, they had us in the first half.....") Good thoughts to keep in mind when I meet them in my own life.
251120 What I learned in my studies this morning 6
Today's Meditation(s): Chuang Tzu's Empty Boat He who rules men lives in confusion; He who is ruled by men lives in sorrow. Tao therefore desired Neither to influence others Nor to be influenced by them. The way to get clear of confusion And free of sorrow Is to live with Tao In the land of the great Void. If a man is crossing a river And an empty boat collides with his own skiff, Even though he be a bad-tempered man He will not become very angry. But if he sees a man in the boat, He will shout at him to steer clear. If the shout is not heard, he will shout again, And yet again, and begin cursing. And all because there is somebody in the boat. Yet if the boat were empty. He would not be shouting, and not angry. If you can empty your own boat Crossing the river of the world, No one will oppose you, No one will seek to harm you. A classic teaching for a reason. Let my boat be empty. Let me understand the other boats are empty and react accordingly. Resist the first impulse. Do n...
251119 What I learned in my studies this morning 6
Year 6 begins today. Today's Meditation(s): Mediations 2.1 (Waterfield) Do not rush to judge. People share the same sins, the same foibles and nature. I must seek to understand when I might take offense: it's what I ask of others when I err. I must offer understanding and kindness just the same. I can only do what I can do, so I do what I can when I can. That's what's up to me. We are humans together. One, even, when I can see it.
251118 What I learned in my studies this morning 5
Today's Meditation(s): The end of year 5. Half a decade of these readings and thoughts. I've made progress. I've had failures. I've let things slide. As seen in the plerhora of asterisks in recent months. I'm still me. Wherever I go, there I am. I'm enjoying the last few months sojourn beyond Stoicism. Thich Nhat Hanh writes with clarity and power. He speaks to me and to my limited understanding of Buddhism. He makes me want to learn more. So that will be my next reading. Maybe the Diamond Sutra. . . . right after I spend a little time with some old friends.
251117 What I learned in my studies this morning 5*
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), The Five Mindfulness Trainings, Reverence for Life I will cultivate openness, non-discrimination, and non-attachment. I will make time to do my reading. I will make time to meditate. I will make time for my family. I will find more ways to help others.
251116 What I learned in my studies this morning 5
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Peace Work Cultivate joy. It is briefer than suffering. It is more brittle. It fades more quickly and more easily. So find it and encourage it.
251115 What I learned in my studies this morning 5*
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Peace Work Both are true. Accept both are true. Still work to change it. Understand the world, beauty and bombs, is worth the effort.
251114 What I learned in my studies this morning 5**
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Peace Work Here now in essencenessesses. I can be here for now without waiting for Nirvana to stumble upon me.
251113 What I learned in my studies this morning 5
Today's Meditation(s): I know, I know when I'm hollow, hollow You take it all away and fill the empty spaces Don't know, don't know about tomorrow, 'morrow But I know that today I feel a little bit lighter When the world's heavy as stone And the colors shine a bit brighter When I'm with you Wherever we go, the cold ain't so cold As long as you're close, I thought you should know I feel a little bit lighter When I'm with you* Things are better with you. The world would be a heavy place without you. Thank you for being here to make me feel lighter. ===== * source
251112 What I learned in my studies this morning 5
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Peace Work If life is suffering and any joy is temporary, then I must accept what joy I may find and let it find a place within me. If we all going to die, I must live this life while I can. I can choose. I can try. I can . . . allow it? I don't know sometimes.
251111 What I learned in my studies this morning 5*
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Art Sublime art. For me, it's usually music that can transport me to that. . . mighty? ineffable? transcendent? here, now, oneness of. . . place. Ive touched that sphere a time or two. Taking me away to that special place. I see, when I do.
251110 What I learned in my studies this morning 5**
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Art Aim at a beautiful and helpful life. Do this through art. Do this through word. Do this through action. Help others and know that this, at least, was worth it.
251109 What I learned in my studies this morning 5***
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Children of the Earth The enshittification continues apace. The pollution grows. I fear and marvel at what the world will be. I wonder how my children will adapt, adopt, refuse, or ignore these influences. I wonder if I am as reactionary as those who feared the advent of widespread and popular radio would tear down society. But I do know that the less I consume, the better I feel. The more effective I am. And I try 6instill this in my kids. I hope I get to see how they do.
251108 What I learned in my studies this morning 5
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Children of the Earth Be what I was meant to be. Be part of Nature. Follow wisdom in pursuit of virtue. Make loving kindness my goal in and for the community. When I fight my true nature as inter-being with all else, whether from weakness or ignorance, I do harm. Let me be steadfast. Let me learn. Let me be kind. Let me understand. Let me love.
251107 What I learned in my studies this morning 5
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Children of the Earth I am connected to all things. In past lives, I have been a rock, a tree, a wave, an animal. All my components were parts of these things before they came together to create me. I am not a thing apart. Nkr am I now separate from the world. I am significantly, importantly, desperately connected to all others. I must act with care for all people, all creatures, all things. My care must be active and deliberate to prevent errors and accidents beyond my conscious desire and attempts to do good.
251106 What I learned in my studies this morning 5
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Children of the Earth "You are a fluke of the universe...." Well,maybe let's call it a manifestation, an inter-being being who has come and who must go. Passing on, led ing ripples behind that show this me was here. Even if I I am an illusion.
251105 What I learned in my studies this morning 5
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Reconciliation I used this same passage last time I came to this teaching. It's just so good. One of my favorite sayings is, "Don't just do something . Stand there!" [It's a warning against unconsidered decisions I first heard on Capital Hill. Apropos given DC's penchant for taking stupid — or, more likely, deliberately unhelpful or unrelated and unhelpful in other lights) — action.] "Our world does not lack people willing to throw themselves into action." And we are the poorer for it. It's sort of how everyone is always bucking for, and pushing for, people to be Leaders™. And looking down on those who don't follow that path. If people would understand the value of understanding and compassion over ambition and self-aggrandizement, perhaps we would avoid the too-many-chiefs-and-not-enough-indians problems which seem ubiquitous today.
251104 What I learned in my studies this morning 5
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Inclusiveness Embrace. Now we have to not only understand them but also embrace them? Do you have any idea how hard it is going to be not to see them as human? As suffering? As in need of love just as I am? It's almost like he means it. It's almost like this is important. Like it's something I need to continue to open myself to that I may find it in the world, in others, all around.
251103 What I learned in my studies this morning 5
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Inclusiveness Annihilation. An all-too-often first impulse I must set aside to see more clearly and understand more deeply. Stopping before I make a mistake. Stopping my impulses from ruling me. Stopping the monkey from driving the bus. But we are not separate creatures. I suffer. You suffer. How can I not want to share understanding with you? To see us as sharing nature if not manifestation? If I find any headway in my journey, I want to share that with you. And I want to know of your journey. Sit and talk with me. Let us understand.
251102 What I learned in my studies this morning 5*
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Inclusiveness Everything and everyone . It's not a mistake or an overreacting. It's a radical reunderstanding of the world and my place in it. A lesson in looking deeply, beyond appearances, and accepting the oneness of all. Now to figure out what that means. And then, harder, to figure out what that means in practice.
251101 What I learned in my studies this morning 5
Today's Meditation(s): The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Labels That's what I try to teach my kids: even people they hate are humans. Even them. We have to try to understand each other. We don't have to agree, but we have to understand our shared humanity and find our best way forward. Start from kindness. Start from caring. Start from sincerity. Start from within.