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http://blog.tech-and-law.com/2009/07/access-to-justice-in-uk-nul-points.html | 2017-03-31T00:24:56 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-13/segments/1490218205046.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20170322213005-00558-ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.955185 | 1,341 | CC-MAIN-2017-13 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-13__0__44258690 | en | There’s another interesting speech about access to justice in the UK recently made by a judge, Master of the Rolls Lord Clarke of Stone-Cum-Ebony, in a lecture on 15 July 2009 for the Mary Ward Legal Advice Centre.
In summary, he was critical about the government’s refusal to adequately fund legal aid for civil and family (as opposed to criminal) cases.
This shortsighted penny-pinching threatens to undermine the UK justice system.
The entire UK justice system, family and civil as well as criminal, must be able to determine disputes fairly, impartially and at a cost litigants can afford.
Civil and family justice shouldn’t be seen just as optional extras, as “customer services” whose costs ought to be pared to the bone.
If people are denied effective legal remedies, they may lose confidence in the justice system and be tempted to resort to self-help – including perhaps violence - which would ultimately undermine the fabric of our society and our commitment to the rule of law.
Some choice quotes (my emphasis added):
“…It is not sufficient therefore to announce our commitment, either implicitly or explicitly, to the rule of law. We must have the means by which that principle can be given proper effect. It calls for proper democratic institutions.
It calls for just laws promulgated by those institutions. It calls for a justice system which can give effect to those laws..
It seems to me that we may well now be (and have perhaps for some time been) in the process of undermining the efficacy of our justice system…
It is often said that civil justice, including family justice, is the poor relation to criminal justice. If there is any public money the vast majority goes to crime, a small amount then goes to family and a minute proportion goes to civil. This can clearly be seen from the government’s recent consultation on civil legal aid…”
Quoting another top judge, Sir Andrew Morritt, Chancellor of the High Court, who said:
“1. “Justice, like the Ritz, is open to all”. Whether this cynical aphorism is correctly attributed to Mathew LJ at the end of the C19th or to Horne Tooke at the beginning matters little when compared to the distressing fact that the bitter sarcasm behind the statement is even more obvious now than it was then. Notwithstanding many and varied efforts over the last hundred years or so on a number of different fronts the burden of costs is too great for most people to contemplate. It follows that those who are wronged may be denied any effective remedy and those who are sued without sufficient cause may be unable properly to defend themselves. Consequently the attraction of extra-judicial remedies increases.
2. This ought to engage the urgent attention of the government of any democratic state. Sadly the only attention it has attracted from ours, at least so far, is the practical removal of civil legal aid and a policy of full cost recovery under which there have been substantial increases in court fees payable by all not already on benefit of some kind or other. Indeed in the Response to Consultation on Civil Court Fees published last week the Ministry of Justice observed, somewhat peevishly, that though not asked to do so 19 out of 52 responses commented unfavourably on that policy…”
- Lord Clarke pointed out that:
“..The fundamental point that Sir Andrew makes here is that it is grossly inaccurate, or put another way, an utter misconception, to perceive civil and family justice as some form of optional extra that should be given, at best, no more than a begrudging subsidy…
…What is profoundly wrong with statements such as Middleton’s, and that of the Ministry of Justice’s response to the critical responses to its own consultation on civil legal aid, is the idea inherent in them, that the civil and family justice systems are optional extras, which it is an unjustifiable and unnecessary burden for the general taxpayer to fund. Let me be clear I am not suggesting that the taxpayer should be expected to provide a blank cheque. But I am suggesting that the State should properly understand that properly funding the civil and family justice systems is as essential a part of a society committed to the rule of law and to open democratic ideals, as is properly funding the criminal justice system…
…Neither the civil nor the family justice system exists simply to resolve private disputes. Neither of these facets of the justice system exist simply to deliver services to customers. On the contrary, they both exist to determine rights, which include rights and obligations as between the individual and the state. They do exactly what the criminal justice system does, when it determines guilt or innocence…
…Even in those classes of case which can properly be said to involve the determination of rights and obligations as between private individuals, there is a public aspect to those cases on a par with the public role of the criminal courts… There is a clear public interest in determining such disputes.
The first aspect of that public interest is that judicial determinations of such private claims can clarify and develop the law…
…The development and clarification of the law through judicial decisions… serves a clear public role; a role central to the proper implementation of the rule of law…
…if the family and civil justice systems were inadequate to the task of determining such disputes fairly, impartially and at a cost that litigants could afford, those litigants might lose such confidence in them that they would resort to self-help. Resort to self-help could take a benign form. It could, however, also take anything but a benign form. It could see the law not being applied by court decisions but through violence and the threat of violence. Down that path lies an increase in crime with the consequent use of the criminal justice system. What purpose, we could ask, would diverting civil and family disputes to the criminal justice system in this way possibly serve? To my mind it would only serve to undermine the fabric of our society and our commitment to the rule of law..”
See also other top judges’ speeches on:
- excessive criminal legislation (and the government not consulting the judiciary on important constitutional changes)
- forensic science and human rights (DNA database etc)
©WH. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike England 2.0 Licence. Please attribute to WH, Tech and Law, and link to the original blog post page. Moral rights asserted. | philosophy |
http://theblazemordecai.net/i-enemy-live-in-concert-2017-video | 2019-08-20T12:02:41 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027315329.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20190820113425-20190820135425-00205.warc.gz | 0.973719 | 169 | CC-MAIN-2019-35 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-35__0__158883216 | en | I performed this song at Keynote Cafe in Jeanette, Pennsylvania in July 2017. It is one of my original songs that will appear on a future CD. The song is about how a majority of the people in this world are their own worst enemies.
However, it is really the inner child (the ego) who is damaged and calling out for healing. Those people who are self-realized and self-disciplined will do the inner work to heal themselves of a trouble ladened past that was likely filled with pain and trauma. It cannot be ignored forever as the saying goes “Hurt people, hurt people and healed people, heal people.”
Blessings, +Blaze Mordecai
“I Enemy” Live At Keynote Cafe (Blaze Mordecai Music): | philosophy |
https://kaveripak.com/2019/10/02/mahatma-gandhi-150/ | 2023-06-06T02:54:40 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224652207.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20230606013819-20230606043819-00181.warc.gz | 0.976882 | 2,587 | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-23__0__281868738 | en | One of the quotes I like about Communism goes like this; “If you are not a communist at the age of 20, you haven’t got a heart. If you are still a communist at the age of 30, you haven’t got a brain.
For me, the communist thoughts came at younger age, when I was sixteen perhaps and perished when I read Ayn Rand’s ‘Atlas Shrugged’ before I was twenty.
Something similar can be said of Gandhi but there is a twist. At least for my generation, the love with Gandhi started when we were kids (introduced to us by parents and primary school teachers as Gandhi Thatha – Gandhi Grandpa) but some doubts about him started creeping in during our teens or early twenties, but once we were about thirty years, we started falling in love with Gandhi again when we realized he is perhaps the greatest leader of the twentieth century and that thought and love for him stays with us for the rest of our lives.
When I first thought of writing a blog on Mahatma’s 150th birthday, I wondered what can I write about him which has not been said a hundred times already? Some of the greatest leaders of the world, philosophers, poets and playwrights have quoted that they were inspired by Gandhiji’s ideas of ahimsa and non violent movement. Doctorates have been given to people who have researched his philosophy and even the movie on him Gandhi (1982) had won 8 Oscars with 11 nominations.
I decided to write anyway, again targeting the apple totting or is one plus? totting millennials in my family and their friends.
All great leaders could become great because they could communicate with the people directly. From Chairman Mao to Martin Luther King leaders have spoken directly to the people. But Mahatma could not have reached the people directly as only parts of India’s 330 million population could have understood Hindi or English. So his speeches must have been interpreted to carry the message to the masses and that is not the same as speaking directly. I listened to Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech yesterday and I am not sure if the effect would be the same if had listened to a translated version in Spanish or Tamil. So how did he communicate effectively to people who spoke 20 different languages and a thousand dialects? We should also remember that the literacy rate in those days were about 35%. So millions could not have read his articles in newspapers. So how did they get inspired by this man?
I have read few novels in Tamil based on the freedom movement. The main characters in these novels, mostly young people in Colleges drop everything to participate in the freedom movement once they hear Gandhi’s speeches. They are put in prisons and they follow his words of non violence and fasting even inside the prison. They always wait for Gandhiji’s commands to arrive and they as per his commands. I am sure many such novels must have been written in Bengali or Marathi, Telugu or Kannada. He was the greatest inspiration for the people during the freedom struggle.
I am not an economist to argue for or against Gandhi’s economic principles. He said India lives in villages and villages should become self sufficient and everyone should prosper equally. I am not sure whether this idea would work in this globalized world amidst the massive urbanization that is taking place in India. This has become a irreversible phenomenon and there is no going back. But the divide between haves and have nots is only increasing which should make us to think was Gandhi right? Would it have been a better model for India? Assuming we had the same population growth rate, would self sufficient villages be even possible?
The other thing which makes me wonder about Gandhiji is how did he get away with his self righteous attitude? We all know politics is an art of compromise. Gandhi never compromised on anything with anyone. How, then, he remained a leader to everyone. One answer could be leaders who opposed him must have realized that he had the people behind him and upsetting him would earn the wrath of millions of his followers. This again brings to my first point, how did he remain in peoples hearts all the time as their only leader?
We in India, think our leaders are infallible. We assume that they have no shortcomings with hearts of pure gold. This must have been true in those days as well. But Gandhi was so courageous he penned his autobiography ‘experiment with truth’ where he admits to all his sins. This again is awe inspiring. I can’t think of one leader (anywhere in the world) who would even dare writing/admitting their flaws as Gandhi did. That is why he is the Mahatma (great soul).
For me, personally, the greatest lesson I have learnt for my profession (Sales & Service) has come from Gandhi. Yes. I have not learnt it at the Management School or dozens of training programs I have attended. His quote on Customer and Customer Service is hung in every public sector undertaking office in India. It goes like this;
“A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him.
He is not an interruption of our work. He is the purpose of it.
He is not an outsider of our business. He is part of it.
We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us the opportunity to do so.”
As a person who has spent more than thirty years of my life in serving customers, I can only say, there can be no better guidelines than the above if we want to run a successful business. If our public sector corporates and more importantly public utility companies had followed these principles we/they would not be in a such a sad state we are in today.
Just read his quote few times. You will realize how truthful and powerful these words are. And these words have come from a man who did not run any business except he had only one business, to gain freedom for India.
Many years ago, horrified at the way I was treated in an Insurance company (Government undertaking), I pointed out this quote hung prominently at the entrance to a senior manager. He smiled wryly and raised his hands, indicating he was helpless. It was evident the management had hung this prominently in every branch as they were asked by the Government to do so and not for following it. If they had only practiced it…
In an age where customers are treated like carbon paper, I hope, his quote would stir the collective conscience of corporates once again.
Indians living anywhere in the world should be proud that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in India as we celebrate his 150th Birthday today.
I will leave readers with this homage from Albert Einstein;
Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.
And this one form the then Secretary of State:
Mahatma Gandhi has become the spokesman for the conscience of all mankind. He was the man who made humility and simple truth more powerful than empires.
General C Marshall, US Secretary of State.
My mother had seen Gandhiji during one of his visits to Bombay and this is what she wrote after reading the blog.
We old people always worship Gandhi. We were not analyzing Gandhi. I have seen him from very long distance in Chowpatty beach in Mumbai. Everyone wanted to see him then.
After reading the blog, JK has posted this comment which I think sums up the contribution and the struggles of all the freedom fighters.
It’s amazing that he left great many thoughts across wide range of topics which are often quoted by us many times. It’s indeed unfathomable how one man could just get millions and millions to follow him in the age when no technology was available to communicate to the mass and get them motivated for a positive, selfless cause. We owe Mahatma and millions of our country men who believed him for the blessed life we are living today. Great time to pay our respects to Mahatmaji.
These words come out more powerfully in the opening scene of the movie, ‘Gandhi.’ Take a moment to listen.
RAMESH; simply superb as always. A short , simple and yet a powerful blog in your own style. It’s amazing that he left great many thoughts across wide range of topics which are often quoted by us many times. It’s indeed unfathomable how one man could just get millions and millions to follow him in the age when no technology was available to communicate to the mass and get them motivated for a positive, selfless cause. We owe Mahatma and millions of our country men who believed him for the blessed life we are living today. Great time to pay our respects to Mahatmaji
Amazing da. Very simple but coveys all he stood for. Best was the film clip which would make everyone emotional.
சுதந்திர போராட்டத்திற்கு தலைமை வகித்த தலைவர்கள் தான் பொதுவாக சுதந்திரம் கிடைத்தவுடன் ஆட்சிக்கும் தலைமை வகிக்க பார்த்திருக்கிறோம் மகாத்மா அதை செய்யவில்லை.
தனது வாரிசுகள் எவரையும் அரசியலில் புகுத்தவும் இல்லை.
சிறப்பான எழுத்து பாராட்டுகள் ரமேஷ் 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽 | philosophy |
http://www.nyadvocacy.org/Values | 2019-02-23T19:04:22 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-09/segments/1550249530087.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20190223183059-20190223205059-00248.warc.gz | 0.969502 | 355 | CC-MAIN-2019-09 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-09__0__97571362 | en | All persons, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, sexual preference, religious orientation, class, age, abilities or disabilities have the same human value as any other person and the right to the same consideration and respect as anyone in our society.
- They have the same civil and political rights.
- They have the right to be protected from abuse and are entitled to full protection of the law.
- They have the rights to exercise self-determination, that is, to make personal choices on a daily and long term basis, to be allowed to take informed risks and to take responsibility for their own decisions.
- They have the right to a normally acceptable standard of living and economic security with a say in their own finances.
- They have a right to paid employment or to follow a meaningful daytime occupation and enjoy activities which ensure that each person is able to develop their potential in a mature and individual way.
- They have the right to be included in - and have access to - recreational and educational activities and community resources and facilities.
- As adults, they have the right to develop meaningful and, if they desire, intimate personal relationships with other consenting adults and the right to have their emotions acknowledged and respected.
- They have the right to have access to advocacy and representation and can chose to discontinue with the organization or with the advocate. As far as possible, they can choose to enter in to an advocacy relationship, but advocacy should not be denied to those who cannot choose to enter into an advocacy relationship for themselves.
- They have the right to information in an understandable format for them.
- They have the right to be made aware of their responsibilities with regard to being a good citizen.
Read about our Values and Objectives here. | philosophy |
https://www.bvps.org/apps/pages/vms | 2022-08-12T14:46:17 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571719.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812140019-20220812170019-00303.warc.gz | 0.920372 | 184 | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-33__0__68135048 | en | Mission Statement and Beliefs
We, at Virginia Middle School, with the help of parents and community, strive to educate our students in a safe and nurturing environment, where academics, physical fitness, cultural awareness, social skills, self-motivation, and self-discipline come together to promote individual achievement and productive, responsible citizenship.
The staff of Virginia Middle School believes...
- Middle school students learn in different ways.
- The middle school must be student-centered.
- Teachers strive to educate the whole child by meeting the academic, physical, emotional, social, and artistic needs of the students.
- Appropriate activities enhance learning at all levels of development.
- Our school must provide a safe environment conducive to learning.
- The middle school provides the essential transition from elementary to high school.
- Community, parents, teachers, administrators, and students share the responsibility for educational success. | philosophy |
http://collectionscanada.ca/literaryarchives/027011-200.149-e.html | 2014-04-20T18:25:59 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1397609539066.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20140416005219-00284-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.945733 | 692 | CC-MAIN-2014-15 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2014-15__0__191199543 | en | Jan Zwicky fonds - Oct. 5, 1981-1996 - 2.2 meters of textual record.
A native of Alberta, Jan Zwicky is a poet, musician and philosopher. Author of a number of works of poetry: including Where Have We Been (1982), Wittgenstein Elegies (1986), and The New Room (1989). Jan Zwicky was awarded the Governor General's Literary Award for Poetry in 1999 for her Songs for Relinquishing the Earth (1998). Jan Zwicky has also been an editor for Brick Books since 1986.
Jan Zwicky received a B.A. from the University of Calgary and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Toronto. She has taught at a number of North American Universities: teaching philosophy at Princeton, philosophy and interdisciplinary studies at the University of Waterloo; philosophy at the University of Western Ontario; philosophy and creative writing at the University of New Brunswick; philosophy at the University of Alberta; and she has been teaching philosophy at the University of Victoria since 1996. Jan Zwicky was on faculty at the Banff Centre Writing Studio in 1995 and in 2001.
Jan Zwicky has a long-held interest in the philosophy of Viennese philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein and in environmental concerns. She is also a violinist and worked in many orchestras including the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra London and the Windsor Symphony as well as many chamber music ensembles.
Jan Zwicky is an essayist on music, philosophy and poetry and her poetic, musical and philosophical interests intertwine in her works of poetry and in her works of philosophy. Her works of poetry display this melding of interest most notably in Wittgenstein Elegies and in the dialogic poem "Kant and Bruckner" in Songs for Relinquishing the Earth. Lyric Philosophy (1992) argues that philosophy must expand its self-definition beyond analysis if it is to be true to its own ideals, and to many of the works it includes in its canon. Its two central metaphysical notions, lyric and domesticity, are developed against the backdrop of systematic analysis. They are rooted in an exploration of the concept of time, and form the basis of a re-reading of Wittgenstein. The text's format is double: Zwicky's own fragments (left side) are paired against excerpts from other philosophers, and of music, visual art and poetry. Through these ways of combining and providing ground for philosophy, literature and music to interact Jan Zwicky is a multi-disciplinary artist and scholar.
The fonds contain: correspondence; drafts and accompanying proofs and notes for Zwicky's works of poetry and prose from the 1980's and early 1990's as well as material from her work as an editor. The fonds contain the following series: Series I. Correspondence, Series II. Poetry, Series III. Philosophy, and Series IV. Editorial Work.
Immediate Source of Acquisition: received directly from Jan Zwicky in 2001 [2001-04].
Restrictions on Access and Use: Jan Zwicky's written permission must be obtained in order to view material. Several correspondence files are restricted and cannot be accessed by researchers for a period of 50 years [until 2051].
Finding Aid: Detailed finding aid available; file level control. | philosophy |
https://www.isyedu.org/learning | 2019-08-22T03:42:44 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027316718.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20190822022401-20190822044401-00169.warc.gz | 0.928516 | 135 | CC-MAIN-2019-35 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-35__0__209621161 | en | Teaching & Learning
We provide students with a challenging international education that equips learners with the skills and experiences to bring to fruition the essence of the ISY mission: promotes a community of compassionate global citizens. Expected Schoolwide Learner Results (ESLRs) that educate students to become global citizens, successful communicators, lifelong learners, and complex thinkers and creators, frame every child’s experience at ISY. This learning occurs among a caring and nurturing community that is a hallmark of ISY’s identity and reputation. Within this environment, our students thrive in all aspects of learning—core academics, sports, the arts, leadership, and service. | philosophy |
http://anarchychaosandcustardcreams.blogspot.com/2012/11/hate-is-it-waste-of-good-adrenaline.html | 2021-07-27T09:51:28 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-31/segments/1627046153223.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20210727072531-20210727102531-00379.warc.gz | 0.976478 | 803 | CC-MAIN-2021-31 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-31__0__140594459 | en | Hate is a strong word. Very strong, supposedly the opposite of love, which is a pretty strong thing on it's own. Sticking the two together has always been a bad thing. But this is not what I was going to say. I was worried that hate might be losing it's sting by being applied to the mundane and crappy, rather than things more deserving of it's wrath.
For example, I found myself the other day walking past a radio and thinking to myself “I hate coldplay”. Now, while I find the music of coldplay to be whiny, dirgey and awful to listen to, I'm not sure it deserves a dose of the power of hate (hey Huey Lewis, there's a dark side to you too). It would be more accurate to say that I am not fond of the music of coldplay, and would rather not hear it.
On the other hand, I rarely hear people use the word hate for things properly deserving of it. We are saddened and shocked by genocide, and human rights abuses, murders, assaults, etc. etc. yet we rarely use such a simple guttural, and primeval emotion as hate to describe how we feel about these things. We intellectualise about such things in an attempt to alleviate the effect it has upon us, and reach for the thesaurus in order to be disgusted, revolted and appalled by the actions of madmen throughout history. You never hear anybody say “I hate Hitler”, for it seems too mild for the job. Though “I hate the Beatles” seems thoroughly appropriate.
In fairness, Love has the same degree of use, many of us will exclaim our love of cups of tea, chocolate hob-nobs, and the music of AC/DC. But I suspect it is not the same as the love we feel for our spouses and children, much the same as the hate we feel for wasps is on a different level from that we would have for anyone who deliberately harmed our spouses and children.
But, surely with most equals and opposites, you need a decent amount of both to maintain a balanced life and personality. Interestingly in this case, I think not. I have not yet seen anyone take hate and use it constructively to better their lives, in fact generally it twists you up inside and stops you thinking properly until you let it go. Now, I hear myself say, love also twists you up and stops you thinking properly and can truly and properly fuck you up sometimes. So surely it is best to avoid both. Interestingly I wrote a fairly shit song on this subject called Love, Hate, Corrosion when I was 18. It was shit, though for some reason I also had it written on my guitar for years....
Nice logical argument, I am clearly a vulcan. I must avoid emotion. But...
Without love, where would you be now? As the Doobie Brothers said. Pretty lonely and miserable for most of us I think. Even if it is just the love you get from your parents, even if it is just the love of a dog, or a cat, it makes us happier people, we feel wanted. Can you say the same for hate? Certainly you can get a rush of adrenaline from it like any strong emotion, but is it a good thing?
To be honest, I gave up on proper hate so long ago I can't remember. I decided it was no use to me as an emotion, and have spent the last 20 or so years trying to understand the things I might hate, and why others might love them, or just like them even. Now to many this makes me incredibly annoying, as I switch sides mid-argument, and don't really do shouty angry about stuff. But fine, if they want to waste good adrenaline on being annoyed let them. I'll keep mine for AC/DC and the Wife. | philosophy |
https://www.st-annes-pri.durham.sch.uk/about-us/vision-and-values/ | 2022-01-20T19:40:49 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320302622.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20220120190514-20220120220514-00385.warc.gz | 0.931673 | 200 | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-05__0__149705409 | en | School Vision Statement
‘Minds to learn, hearts to care’
Learning is at the heart of what we do here; we offer a rich, stimulating environment to develop the whole child, fulfilling academic potential whilst building moral character. We encourage creative, unique, open-minded, independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others.
Inspired by Christian faith and practice, our school provides a caring pastoral base, in which each child feels loved, valued and accepted. Through nurturing them on their educational journey, our pupils will be confident in their ability to meet the opportunities and challenges of a changing world, taking happy memories of St. Anne’s with them into their future life.’
As a Church school with faith at its core, the following Christian values are the building blocks on which it is founded, setting the guidance for learning and ethos. trust, courage, friendship, endurance, wisdom, thankfulness, forgiveness, service, justice, peace. | philosophy |
https://bohnfabulous.com/pages/corporate-social-responsibility | 2022-08-09T14:50:59 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570977.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809124724-20220809154724-00017.warc.gz | 0.942065 | 519 | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-33__0__141639760 | en | BOHN Fabulous recognises that everyone has direct / indirect impact on communities and environment. We believe in giving back to the community by engaging actively in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
We endeavour to be a socially responsible company that supports the philosophy "it is more blessed to give than to receive”.
Through the company’s charity arm: B.O.H.N. “Bring Our Hearts to the Needy”, part of BOHN Fabulous net profit is used to help the less fortunate and the vulnerable in society, particularly but not limited to: low income families struggling with sick children, physically or mentally challenged old folks/individuals, regardless of race or religion.
BOHN Fabulous also adopts alternative sustainable business model practices.
We envisage that solutions to sustainability must include cultural change as well as daily practices. Our dress care tips that encourage customers to care for their dresses in low-impact way, have smaller environmental toll, and customers are able to keep their dress in good shape for longer.
A key part of ethical fashion is buying dresses that won’t end up in the trash bin or donation box a few months later. Hence, we feel the need to break free from the fast fashion mentality that spurs rapid turnaround on trends and quasi-disposable attitude towards clothes.
The most significant difference is that BOHN Fabulous is opting to work under “anti-fashion calendar” to create a culture of sustainability by producing less from the onset. We deliberately choose not to follow the intense seasonal calendar that fashion functions under, and move away from continuous offering of weekly seasonal new products.
Another eco-friendly approach that we adopt is to create durable, classic styles that customers would wear for years before recycling. We only select fabrics that we enjoy wearing, fabrics that feel good next to our skin.We strive to design dresses to be of the highest quality and classic in style, ensuring durability and longevity.
Our loyalty program [My BFF] offers complimentary alteration of dresses. This creates dresses that fit fabulously and impeccably throughout our journey, dresses with emotional value. We believe that when the dress fits well and is flattering to our body, we will love and we will keep it longer!
A style quote from Carrie Bradshaw: “Never buy anything that’s less than fabulous, then you will know you will wear it over and over again”.
BOHN Fabulous ~ Dress Responsibly & Fabulously! | philosophy |
https://www.jerellekraus.com/blog/liberalism-with-adam-gopnik-in-san-miguel-de-allende | 2019-08-21T16:25:52 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027316075.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20190821152344-20190821174344-00486.warc.gz | 0.963969 | 1,823 | CC-MAIN-2019-35 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-35__0__112819130 | en | Liberalism - Adam Gopnik in San Miguel de Allende
Here in the high desert of central Mexico, in an 82-degree February of 2019, the San Miguel Literary Conference convened. San Miguel de Allende is a town where the Mexican locals have long put up with a large population of gringos — mostly from the U.S. and Canada and mostly painters, poets, theater artists, and writers. For the last fourteen years, the literary conference has been, for the expat population and for a growing number of Mexicans, the annual pièce de résistance.
Each of the event´s five evenings and one afternoon has featured a keynote talk by a prominent author. Among previous years´ keynoters are Gloria Steinem, Tom Robbins, Joyce Carol Oates, Barbara Kingsolver, John Berendt, and Sandra Cisneros.
Adam Gopnik was one of this year’s keynoters.
A staff writer for The New Yorker since 1986, Gopnik has written fiction, humor, book reviews, and profiles. His subjects have been food, art, parenting, liberalism, and gun culture. He was the magazine's art critic from 1987 to 1995, the Paris correspondent from 1995 to 2000, and from 2000 to 2005, he wrote a journal about New York life.
Gopnik is also the author of one musical, “The Most Beautiful Room In New York,” and twelve books, including Paris to the Moon, The Table Comes First, and At the Strangers´ Gate: Arrivals in New York. His many awards include the George Polk Award for Magazine Reporting and the French government’s medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters.
Gopnik focused his keynote on the substance of his latest title, A Thousand Small Sanities: The Moral Adventure of Liberalism, which will be released in May, 2019. He titled his talk, “Living Liberalism: The Rhinoceros Manifesto.¨ When his seventeen-year-old daughter, Olivia, asked him to define the word ¨liberal,¨ he began by explaining that liberalism is like a rhinoceros.
The idea of the unicorn is very important in Western history. But the problem with unicorns is that they do not exist. Rhinoceri — the correct plural is actually rhinoceroses — do exist. But they’re attractive only to a potential rhino mate. For Gopnik, this comparison mirrors the ideal/real notion of how people regard liberalism. Liberalism may not seem appealing until we realize how valuable it really is. The rhinoceros, he suggests, is the perfect heraldic symbol for liberalism.
Gopnik´s intellectual hero is John Stuart Mill. Mill´s intellectual hero was his paramour, Harriett Taylor, whom, Mill insisted, was far smarter than himself. She was the smartest person he’d ever known, and the two were utterly in love. But Taylor was married, so she and Mill had to meet each other clandestinely. Their meeting place? In front of the rhinoceros cage at the zoo, where everyone would be watching the rhinos, not them.
Mill and Taylor believed in the absolute emancipation of women — at a time when that was unimaginable. Yet they recognized that freedom for women can be achieved only incrementally. They were convinced that a thousand small sanities are always better than one big idea.
After Taylor´s husband’s death, she and Mill could finally co-habitate, and they declared themselves married. But there was no ceremony. The fact that they never actually married, says Gopnik, is in the liberal tradition.
The greatest American ever, for Gopnik, is Frederick Douglas. A black radical, he was an absolute abolitionist. But in his July 5, 1853, oration and throughout his life, he hailed the beauty of the U.S. Constitution. There’s nothing wrong with the Constitution, he maintained. It´s we who are wrong. He spoke not only of the assault on slaves but of the freedom of man. He went to Lincoln´s second inaugural, he went to the White House, and as he worked for reform, he chose the road of democratic methods.
Will, Taylor, and Douglas weren’t centrists. They were radicals. But they believed in the power of reason. We don’t have to change everything to create social reform. Real change happens from the ground up. It´s from the common people that liberal values emerge.
The building of the London sewer system in the 1850´s is an example of how liberalism works. Writers and philosophers of the time aligned with the people. Step-by-step, they devoted themselves to getting it done, so that people would stop being sickened by parasites.
The great crime decline in New York, as in all American cities, is an example of extraordinary social change brought about, in large part, by grass roots, community action. That’s what people trust, and it´s where democracy happens.
What connects liberals is the belief in reform through reason, not through declaration. Certainly not through the declaration of a national emergency! Autocrats try to shut down liberal societies. The Trump era itself is the real state of emergency.
“Liberal” has become a beleaguered word, and people have come to think of liberals as weak. But liberalism just takes what we know about life and applies it to a political theory. It takes our natural practice of co-existence, of getting along, and turns it into a larger reality. Democracy, reason, pluralism, the common good, and liberalism mean much the same thing.
The most important liberal tenet, Gopnik stated, is the power of social sympathy, which he defined as the ability to empathize with people outside our circle, people who are fundamentally unlike ourselves. Liberals want strict gun laws, for example, but they also understand that for people who feel powerless, the gun is power. Assault weapons are power symbols. So on the gun issue, the only solution is compromise.
Liberalism means free institutions and freedom of dissent. It means free expression — don’t assume you know other people’s reality — and a free press that questions those in power. But it also means respect for the rule of law. Democracy isn’t genetic; it’s learned. India, for example, had liberal ideas imported to it. Those values worked, and they’re still there now, long after the British left.
Liberal ideas come under assault from both left and right. Reactionaries from the right simply dismiss liberal values, while leftists ask: Can incremental reform really suffice? Leftists believe that the other side must be silenced. Shut down the opposition. Liberals disagree. They seek to forward their corrective conscience.
The coffee house is the breeding ground for liberalism, the foundation for dissent. Coffee houses are never enough, but that’s where a healthy society and societal change begin.
Liberal institutions don´t depend on economics. We must not confuse economic issues with our values.
Free market societies, Gopnik declared, aren’t free societies. He also bemoaned the disappearing middle class and spoke of the two most important routes to reform: a higher inheritance tax and strong, aggressive pre-K.
Liberalism stresses the importance of personal activism. Bayard Rustin, who was black and gay, had the courage and persistence to organize the March on Washington. (Which i attended.) Martin Luther King was hopeless as an organizer. But Rustin, who never rejected Constitutional means, made the March happen. Throughout his life, Rustin worked for change, and he was sent to jail 25 times — 24 times for being black and once for being gay.
At the end of his talk, Gopnik was asked why, as he spoke, he hadn’t used any notes. His reply? “What you gain in precision, you lose in connection.” He then gave some personal information: “When people assail me for being elitist,” he said, “I remind them them that my parents live on a little Canadian farm. I may be a Jewish intellectual, but i grew up not on the Upper West Side, but in Canada. I came of age in Montreal, where you can drink anytime, anywhere. Canada has a great social democratic tradition.”
In concluding, because he was speaking to an audience of writers, Gopnik stated that literature begins with more than a story; it begins with a voice. Novelists and story-tellers are important, he said, because they bear witness to the promise of liberalism. They assure that we keep our society sane. | philosophy |
https://www.evansschool.org/ | 2023-03-28T23:30:48 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296948900.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20230328232645-20230329022645-00535.warc.gz | 0.953425 | 676 | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-14__0__222669489 | en | Located in La Jolla, California, The Evans School is a private, coeducational day school for students in Junior Kindergarten through Sixth Grade. Since its founding in 1958, Evans has provided a challenging academic program, enriched with a finely tuned balance of music, drama, art and sports. In addition, we are dedicated to helping young children develop a love of learning, a deep respect for family and friends, and the strength of character essential for making a positive difference in the world. We believe students’ character defines not only who they are, but also the quality of their future. At The Evans School, each child is provided the tools and support to achieve his or her fullest potential.
Small class sizes allow students the opportunity to get to know their teachers. This allows them freedom to express themselves and ask questions.
Time-proven traditions and values remain the foundation of all we do. It is the legacy we pass on to our students.
Evans is more than just a school....it is a family. The size of our student body allows a close-knit sense of community to be part of our daily school life.
Sportsmanship is not saved just for the sports field, but more important, it is the expression of Humility, Integrity and Unselfishness which we encourage throughout the day.
Our campus feels, as many have said, "more like home than a school."
Our end-of-year Banquet celebrates the diverse talents of each child. Our graduates are given the charge to go forward, share those individual gifts and to be a "light" to others.
The values listed on banners throughout the school are more than just words. They serve as a constant reminder of qualities which we seek to develop and goals for which we strive, both as teachers and as students. They encourage in each child the development of self-confidence and a desire to become a lifelong learner.
Concepts such as Kindness, Honesty, Respect, Loyalty, Generosity, and Sportsmanship establish the very foundation of teaching and learning at Evans.
We recognize that an Evans education is a true partnership between students, parents, and staff. We embark on this journey joyfully, knowing that together we can encourage a love of learning, a desire to develop individual talents and skills, and an appreciation for that which is uplifting and good. The knowledge gained, friendships formed, the special spirit felt, supported by an abiding sense of family….the sum of all these parts constitutes the unique “Evans Experience.”
If Evans graduates leave with enough knowledge to succeed in their next school, a sense of integrity which doesn’t waver, a sincere consideration and respect for others, enough self-confidence and wisdom to withstand the peer pressures and challenges which lie ahead, a stronger faith in God, and memories of many happy and successful days at Evans, we will have accomplished our goals.
There are many reasons to choose Evans for your child. We encourage you to contact us to schedule a tour of our campus. | philosophy |
https://www.kofcflorence.com/post/novena-for-life-let-us-pray-with-popes-francis-and-st-john-paul-ii-begins-sun | 2024-04-12T20:38:03 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816070.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20240412194614-20240412224614-00371.warc.gz | 0.941916 | 592 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__199728234 | en | 3 STEPS: READ DAY'S QUOTE; PRAY A DECADE; CLOSING PRAYER BY JPII
Sunday, Oct. 4th - "Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God's creation."
Monday, Oct. 5th - "Human life is sacred and inviolable, and the use of prenatal diagnosis for selective purposes must be strongly discouraged."
Tuesday, Oct. 6th - "It is God who gives life. Let us respect and love human life, especially vulnerable life in a mother's womb."
Wednesday, Oct. 7th - "Every child who, rather than being born, is condemned unjustly to being aborted, bears the face of Jesus Christ..."
Thursday, October 8th - "The Church cannot be expected to change her position on this question...It is not 'progressive' to try to resolve problems by eliminating a human life."
Friday, October 9th - "Our defense of the innocent unborn...needs to be clear, firm, and passionate, for at stake is the dignity of a human life..."
Saturday, October 10th - "Equally sacred...are the lives of the poor, those already born, the destitute, the abandoned and the underprivileged, the vulnerable infirm and elderly..."
Sunday, October 11th - "All too often...people do not accept the 'Gospel of Life' but let themselves be led by ideologies and ways of thinking that block life, that do not respect life..."
Monday, October 12th - "Unborn children are always to be welcomed; life is always to be protected and loved, from conception to its natural end."
AFTER REFLECTING ON THE DAY'S QUOTE,
PRAY A DECADE OF THE ROSARY AND
CONCLUDE WITH THIS PRAYER:
O Mary, bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living,
to you do we entrust the cause of life.
Look down, O Mother, upon the vast number of babies not allowed to be born,
of the poor whose lives are made difficult, of men and women
who are victims of brutal violence, of the elderly and sick killed
by indifference or out of misguided mercy.
Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life
with honesty and love to the people of our time.
Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new,
the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives
and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build,
together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love,
to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of live Amen.
--St. John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae | philosophy |
https://latestnews.news/beauty-of-joseon-dynasty/ | 2024-02-20T22:27:11 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947473347.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20240220211055-20240221001055-00845.warc.gz | 0.937771 | 781 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__195131034 | en | In the heart of Korea’s rich history, the Joseon Dynasty stands out as a golden era that significantly influenced various aspects of Korean culture, including its beauty standards and skincare rituals. The beauty of Joseon Dynasty, revered for its emphasis on natural elegance and minimalism, continues to inspire modern skincare through the infusion of traditional ingredients and philosophies into contemporary products. This article delves into the essence of Joseon beauty, its impact on today’s skincare practices, and how it has been reimagined for the modern age.
The Foundations of Joseon Beauty
The Joseon Dynasty, which lasted from 1392 to 1897, was marked by a return to Confucian principles, which advocated for modesty, restraint, and a harmonious balance between inner virtue and outer beauty. Skincare and beauty during this period were not merely about aesthetic appeal but were deeply intertwined with overall health and well-being.
Women of the beauty of joseon dynasty era favored a clear, luminous complexion, which was seen as a sign of purity and nobility. This preference led to the development of meticulous skincare routines and the use of natural ingredients to enhance beauty without the need for heavy makeup. Ingredients such as rice water, ginseng, honey, and camellia oil were staples in their skincare regimen, valued for their nourishing, brightening, and anti-aging properties.
Transition to Modern Skincare
The principles of Joseon beauty have seamlessly transitioned into modern skincare, with many brands drawing inspiration from the era’s minimalist approach and emphasis on natural ingredients. The Beauty of Joseon brand, in particular, has captivated the global market by reviving ancient Korean beauty secrets for contemporary skincare enthusiasts. By combining traditional ingredients with modern science, the brand offers products that address various skin concerns while staying true to the philosophy of simplicity and naturalness.
Key Ingredients Inspired by Joseon Beauty
Rice Water: Known for its brightening and moisturizing properties, rice water was a favored beauty ingredient among Joseon women. Today, it’s found in cleansers, toners, and creams for its ability to enhance skin radiance and texture.
Ginseng: Revered for its anti-aging benefits, ginseng boosts skin elasticity, diminishes fine lines, and revitalizes the skin’s appearance. Modern formulations harness its power to create potent serums and moisturizers.
Honey: Used for its hydrating and antibacterial properties, honey keeps the skin moist, supple, and clear. Contemporary products incorporate honey to soothe, moisturize, and heal the skin.
Camellia Oil: Rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, camellia oil was cherished for its ability to moisturize and protect the skin. Today, it’s a coveted ingredient in facial oils and hair products for its lightweight, nourishing effects.
The Beauty of Joseon Today
The legacy of Joseon beauty lives on through brands that celebrate Korea’s historical skincare wisdom while addressing the needs of modern skin. The approach of using minimal, high-quality ingredients to achieve a healthy, glowing complexion resonates with today’s beauty enthusiasts who favor clean, sustainable, and effective skincare solutions.
The beauty of the Joseon Dynasty, characterized by its elegance, simplicity, and harmony with nature, continues to influence modern skincare in profound ways. By embracing the wisdom of the past and integrating it with contemporary innovations, today’s beauty brands are able to offer products that not only promise beautiful skin but also a connection to the rich cultural heritage of Korea. As we move forward, the principles of Joseon beauty remain a timeless guide to achieving a balanced, healthy, and radiant complexion. | philosophy |
https://psychologywithinreach.com/here-and-now/existential-questions/ | 2023-12-07T23:51:22 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100705.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20231207221604-20231208011604-00126.warc.gz | 0.953407 | 590 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__84461444 | en | What happens when we have doubts that go beyond the daily flow of our lives or even the choices that are under our control?
At some point in our lives, we can find ourselves with doubts about issues that go beyond our most mundane lives. Among those recognized as the most common are the existential questions regarding freedom and associated responsibility, death, isolation, and the lack of meaning in life.
Existentialism in our therapeutic work puts the focus on the human condition as a whole, using a positive approach that applauds human capabilities and aspirations while acknowledging human limitations.
In such therapeutic work it is also of great relevance to look at our individual experience as part of a field that includes the environment that surrounds us in a broader sense.
It is an exploration of the landscapes of suffering and how to inhabit and cultivate them so that they exist fully and both the therapist and the person in therapy can be present in them in such a way that they can be transformed as beautifully put by Dr. Gianni Francesetti.
Both the therapist and the person in therapy work hand in hand to understand the implications of past choices and the beliefs and circumstances that led to their occurrence, with an emphasis on using the past as a tool to promote newfound freedom and assertiveness. By realizing that they are not destined for a specific purpose, the person in therapy is able to free themselves from the chains of obligation that may have prevented them from existing fully at all times.
This approach involves learning to grow and embrace our own lives and exist in them with wonder and curiosity. Developing the ability to view life with curiosity and compassion can help us see life’s experience as a journey rather than a test, and it can also help eradicate the fear associated with death.
Because existential psychotherapy focuses on the underlying factors of perceived behavioral and mental health problems, an existential approach may not directly address the main problem that a person in treatment is experiencing. Because of this, existential therapy, which is quite adaptable, is often used in conjunction with other treatment approaches. Combining approaches can help maximize the effectiveness of both and promote greater recovery.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
I invite you to get to know me and decide if I could be a good companion on the road.
About me and how my practice offers mental health care to bring a sense of home to nationals and internationals.
Before we meet
Practical information before you start your therapeutic process so we can establish the boundaries of our relationship.
The bridge between the different forms of human suffering we face and the therapeutic support to alleviate it.
Once your need for support has been addressed, you can decide which setting seems most appropriate for you to begin your journey to feeling better.
Psychology within Reach
3544 DB Utrecht
Phone +31 30 636 8981
Mon. – Fri.– 9 am – 6:30 pm | philosophy |
https://lesedcleatherworks.com/blogs/news/what-is-carinosamente-hecho-a-mano | 2024-04-15T22:41:02 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817033.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20240415205332-20240415235332-00322.warc.gz | 0.96252 | 424 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__203116418 | en | What is "Cariñosamente Hecho a Mano"?
If you have kept up with LES/EDC Leatherworks since its inception, then you have likely read the phrase "Cariñosamente Hecho a Mano" once or twice. But what the heck does it mean and why is it so important to me as a crafter?
"Cariñosamente Hecho a Mano," is Spanish for 'lovingly' or 'affectionately' made by hand. It is a philosophy that is imbued in every single aspect of my craft—from the initial sketch on paper to the final edge polish—love and affection are poured into each and every step of the crafting process.
But why is this sentiment so important to me, when so many items we use in our everyday life are mass produced and quickly consumed without thought?
Well, that is exactly why.
We live in a world that has become vastly complicated over the course of a few generations; where labor is often synonymous with exploitation and dehumanization. Ours is a world in which goods and services are rendered quickly; through the carelessness of industry and a desire to maximize profit. As a result, workers—both domestically and overseas—are unable to take pride in their work, not through any personal failings of their own, but through the failings of those that deliberately deem them disposable and unskilled.
As such, “Cariñosamente Hecho a Mano” is not only a philosophy that describes the pride I take in my own work, but it is also a wish. It is a hope that every craftsperson, artist, service worker, caretaker and laborer may find the conditions in which they can pour love and affection into all they do. “Cariñosamente Hecho a Mano” is both a sentiment that is imbued into every single leather good I produce and my most most loving intention.
May you too, find “cariño” in all you do. | philosophy |
https://drcatherinehansen.com/blog/post/?permalink=intuition-are-you-using-yours | 2019-12-05T14:59:52 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-51/segments/1575540481076.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20191205141605-20191205165605-00109.warc.gz | 0.954499 | 925 | CC-MAIN-2019-51 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-51__0__181433732 | en | Have you ever looked back on a situation and thought, “I knew that wasn’t right for me”?
Have you ever felt really nervous about a decision despite carefully working through all possible outcomes in your mind and then had it turn out poorly?
Have you ever developed goose bumps during a conversation that seemed completely unexpected?
As a physician, I was initially trained to use hard facts, scientific answers and peer-reviewed literature to manage patients. It wasn’t until I was a medical student on the pediatric ward with a very astute senior resident that I learned about the concept of “mother’s intuition”. He reminded me that mothers “just know” their children and if mom is concerned, the medical team needs to take her seriously. This was contrary to a lot of my training focused on NOT listening to emotional parents in order to avoid clouded judgment.
As time goes on and life experience has added to my database, I have come to realize that we all have an innate sense at our disposal. You can call it intuition, Divine guidance, a sixth sense, or just plain gut feelings.
In keeping with the mystery, it’s hard to put into words.
But whether we can describe it or not, the important thing is that we can use it to guide our path.
Women, especially, seem to sense when something isn’t right and scientists link this capacity to parts of our brain that register information without our conscious awareness. Essentially, we see, hear or feel something that creates emotion without us really knowing what it was. We respond to the emotion and the physical sensations that follow never make cognitive sense even when we analyze them with our highly evolved, conscious brain. In many cases the mystery is never solved and the actual trigger is never located. At that point, most people would write off the sensory information, base their decision on hard evidence and never look back….until the result backfires and they are forced to explore deeper.
Imagine the power of being able to access and use this extra intelligence whenever you face important decision points. Instead of writing out a pros and cons list, you could trust your intuition and “just know” what to do in times of uncertainty. Utilizing a deeper knowing does not exclude evaluation by the mind, it simply adds to the depth and breadth of data being collected.
As our generation of women step into bigger possibilities and yearn for deeper life purpose, we must also cultivate our intuitive powers. Having access to this intimate knowledge at crucial junctures is essential for an authentic life aligned with core values. Intuition provides the breadcrumbs that lead you home to a whole-hearted, purpose-driven, fully realized life.
If this internal communication is so important, why is it so hard to hear?
Albert Einstein has warned us that, "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift."
It takes bold confidence to know you’re right when there are no hard facts. Women have been shut into a confidence gap and it’s time to close that gap and embrace our feminine super powers. Learning to listen to those tingling sensations is a skill that needs practice.
Without confidence and practice, intuition atrophies and can soon be ignored. When expectations are set for specific outcomes, especially when other people are involved, it is tenuous to resolve the issue with sweaty palms.
Ultimately, the muscle of intuition must be developed and worked so that there are enough data points to justify its inclusion in drawing conclusions.
Beyond confidence, practice and trust, you can grow this muscle in quiet reflection. The noise of daily demands drowns out the soft whispers of intuition until you can’t hear them anymore. Conversely, time in quiet meditation actually restores and increases the density of grey matter in areas associated with body sensations and sensory processes (as well as learning, memory, regulating emotions, perspective setting and self-awareness). In other words, you become more attuned to what your body is telling you and can utilize those cues for greater insight when tough decisions need to be made.
As with anything worth doing, it takes some work but the reward for listening inward is often self-perpetuating. Next time you feel a nudge, take the first step and trust that relying on your deeper knowing opens the door for it to become your friend and daily companion on your journey through life. | philosophy |
https://www.curbed.com/2018/09/wendy-goodman-may-i-come-in.html | 2024-02-22T03:54:02 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947473690.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20240222030017-20240222060017-00231.warc.gz | 0.982033 | 587 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__49429372 | en | May I Come In? is my new book about the last great dance with magazines, from the 1980s on up to the present. It starts at a time when simply opening a magazine was your passport to the world. There was no internet, no social media; there were no cell phones, no computers, not even fax machines. You didn’t have a clue what anyone was doing, or where they went, once you parted company. That was the world I lived in when I began my career as a fashion editor, which later morphed into a career in design. I started venturing into the private realm when privacy was something to protect, and I was always aware of what a great privilege it was to get behind closed doors.
Over the years of going into other people’s houses I have discovered three things to be true. The first is that curiosity and never giving up will get you everywhere. The second is what Diana Vreeland expressed so perfectly when she wrote, “Few things are more fascinating than the opportunity to see how other people live during their private hours.” And the third is that houses never lie. They tell you if they are loved. They tell you if they have been created to impress, and thereby sit in loneliness, and they embrace you with palpable joy and warmth when they have been created with authenticity and heart.
I grew up in New York City privy to extraordinary people and their homes, but no place was as wonderful and inviting as our own family apartment. The door opened into our entrance hall with its floor of giant black-and-white square tiles. The air was scented with whatever was cooking for dinner, and in the winter a fire was going in the living room. Our mother, who wrangled four children and a menagerie of pets, always had an eye for the practical and would just as soon cover the walls of our father’s study with Peg-Board she painted white as use it in the broom closet, where she left it brown. She hung everything on that Peg-Board: a carved wooden angel, old pocket watches, a case of our brother’s Corgi Toys, and paintings she picked up at auctions. Over the years of observing our remarkable mother’s efforts, I have realized that she unknowingly gave all of us the freedom to feather our own nests just the way we liked them, no rules applied.
Thanks to my mother’s unerring eye, I understood that the most captivating rooms exist where decoration is a by-product of a person’s passions in life. That is what I am off to find when I tie on my sneakers, hop on the subway, and start my design hunting adventures every day.
Excerpt from the new book May I Come In? by Wendy Goodman, published by Abrams. Text: © 2018 Wendy Goodman. | philosophy |
http://dreamersco.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-much-needed-reminder.html | 2018-07-18T15:50:50 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676590295.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20180718154631-20180718174631-00149.warc.gz | 0.975338 | 813 | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-30__0__142554147 | en | Today I was reminded of one of the most important beliefs I try to live my life by & it was very much needed.
Life is not about what you get, its about what you give
... so give it all
... so give it all
I believe this 100%, but I don't mean it as literal as it sounds. You have to understand its whimsical notion, the romantic of it. You can't use this to justify staying in a relationship that is one sided or abusive. You can't use it to justify running yourself into the ground for everyone else. There is a balance. You need to make sure your own cup is full first & then once you are so full that you are overflowing, then you have more than you could possibly need to be able to give of yourself truly. You must give to yourself first. Then you can give to others, give them everything you've got, your love, your advice, your time - let your light shine into the dark corners of those who need it.
There is this crazy notion that damaged and broken people are unable to truly & innocently love another. I call BS. If you are damaged, if you are broken, GOOD, you have also survived that which broke you. So now you have beautiful battle scar reminders of your strength. You can either let the experience break you & make you stronger or you can stay down there in the dark broken mess of it all. But don't think for a second you don't have a choice. I think every life experience changes us somewhat, but we are all who we are at the very core of us, nothing can shake your foundations, you can however, grow into a better version of yourself, take your lessons and become better, do better, love better, laugh more & give more. Yes, damaged people roll into a new relationship with their truck load of baggage, equipped with self doubt, self sabotage and more issues than vogue... but that doesn't mean they aren't also strong & brave & able to love fiercely and whole heartedly.
I've been to the very bottom & sat in the beautiful mess, amongst the broken pieces of my heart and soul wondering where the fuck to start with the glue. It takes time to embrace all your flaws & love yourself for all that you are, so enjoy that time, learn to accept your imperfections. Putting yourself back together allows you the incredible opportunity to put yourself back together exactly how want to. To change the parts that you don't like, i put emphasise on you, because you should never change for anyone but yourself. Have you been somebody you don't like? A lesser version of who you want to be? Thats ok. Change, grow.
A soul mate is not the whole picture, they are just the final piece. So when it comes time for me to choose my forever, I will be exactly who I want to be and i'll choose the person who looks at me with all my flaws and cracks and imperfections and see's a masterpiece. And every day i will love that person with my whole heart, i will make sure that i choose them every day, that there is never a moment they don't know just how loved they are, how special they are & how lucky I feel to have found someone who's puzzle piece was the final piece to mine.
They say we cant choose who we love, that you dont find love, love finds you and I agree with this to some degree, but i do believe once we find our other half that you have a responsibility to yourself and to them to be the people that you fell in love with, to give to yourself first and then give to them. Give them your heart, let them into the darkest corners of yourself, give them your love, give them laughter that makes your belly ache, give them sleepy Sunday mornings, give them child like joy, give them excitement, loyalty, honesty & a safe place to always call home.
Give it all. | philosophy |
http://all-about-tarot.com/tarot-articles/Spiritual-Guidance--Inspiration-Through-Tarot.html | 2017-07-23T20:30:08 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549424610.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20170723202459-20170723222459-00288.warc.gz | 0.957737 | 823 | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-30__0__123530402 | en | Spiritual Guidance & Inspiration Through Tarot
by Christin Snyder
The Following is an introduction to Spiritual Guidance Tarot Reading as it is taught in my upcoming book/class “Spiritual Guidance Tarot - A Journey in Self-Discovery".
In my many years of reading and interpreting the cards I have discovered that the most effective readings tend to focus not on "fortune telling" but on inspiring and motivating people to seek their own truths within. I seek to show the individual methods they can use to unlock their fullest potential. Personal Empowerment should be the goal of any reading. .
In my time doing readings I have seen so many people who thought that I could just tell them what is going to happen. I know it is human nature to want to have all the answers, to be in control. In the past I often "abused" the Tarot myself attempting to effect answers and solutions in advance.
The most important thing I tell people is that although many times difficult, life is a beautiful learning experience. Every decision we make, every thing that we do serves our growth. When we reach those low points of grief and anger we have to try our hardest to recognize them as a blessing. Yes a blessing, because without sorrow we would not be able to express or understand joy, without tears there would be no laughter. Life experience is merely a matter of choice. We can not change the outer world, but we can change ourselves and the way in which we choose to react to events.
When we make a conscious attempt to do this we transform not only our own lives but also the lives of all we touch. The present and future is a beautiful gift given to each one of us to shape and mold as we will. When we attempt to shape this for another person; we overstep our boundaries. When we seek to show people different ways of looking at their present situation, we empower them to make better decisions for their futures. Empowerment is the best thing a reading can provide to someone who is Troubled rather than false hope
My spiritual guidance or what I also refer to as my personal empowerment spread consists of the following:
* The first position is the background, which points out the general areas of concern in the querrent’s present situation
* The second Position expands on this a bit by showing me what is motivating the individuals concern, what drives or compels their actions.
* The third position I use to point out fears and underlying problems that the person needs to address, things that block their progress.
* The fourth position I use to point out gently things that they may be overlooking or different perspectives to explore.
* The fifth position I use as an "action plan' to point out ways in which the individual can move past the problems/fears, restrictions, and go forward with new awareness.
The Spread itself is laid out from left to right, shuffling and reflecting on the position meaning as each card is drawn.
Sometimes this reading is a little difficult to hear, as it shows us things we don't always want to see. Our job as an effective reader is not to placate someone or simply say what we think they want to hear. Our goal should always be truth even if it is uncomfortable. The reason that is so is that it allows for growth for the individual, placating someone does not serve their highest good. Of course that doesn't mean that one should be overly abrasive or condescending in any manner. When reading about a painful situation, try to understand why the querrent feels the way they do while still remaining objective. In the next lesson we will learn in detail how to do a Spiritual Guidance Reading for ourselves and others.
Christin Snyder is a Spiritual Guidance and Personal Empowerment coach who offers a wide variety of free self-empowerment and transformational tools on her websites. Visit today at http://www.dailypowerwords.com or http://www.spiritualguidancetarot.com | philosophy |
https://www.ensamble.info/towers-of-landscape | 2023-12-05T15:55:38 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100551.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20231205140836-20231205170836-00793.warc.gz | 0.956768 | 271 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__171366036 | en | Towers of Landscape. Orléans Architecture Biennial, France, 2017
From our experience designing and building Structures of Landscape we have learned about the magnetic relation between people and the spaces of nature, the spaces that incarnate nature, that enact nature or that simply refer to it in relevant ways. Whether it is their roughness, their wilderness, their low resolution, their continuous transformation, their connection with the essential and disconnection with urban environments,
their lack of determination that liberates the spirit and excites the imagination… or all of the above, we are inherently attracted to such spaces, structures, images.
Structures of Landscape as we first envisioned them, emerge from and resonate with the landscape where they are sited, they become embedded in their larger systems and constellations of elements, that provide context and meaning. This research keeps us wondering whether it is possible to partially dislocate such experience and operate in the city with some of the lessons learnt, as a countermovement where “nature” can be newly built to invade some of the spaces reserved for efficient industrialized structures, where the natural and the artificial blur and architecture is allowed to refer to the space of the mountains, the canyons, the cliffs and the caves; as the starting point of a new research: Towers of Landscape. | philosophy |
https://www.attlc-ltac.org/en/a-creative-journey-toward-otherness/ | 2022-12-01T17:20:00 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446710829.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20221201153700-20221201183700-00450.warc.gz | 0.925097 | 563 | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-49__0__190397628 | en | I translate poetry because I cannot resist its charm, and because I wish others who do not know the language in which it is written can also appreciate its beauty. The translator’s ego is big here despite the good will, but the process turns out to be most humbling especially when it comes to “reverse translation,” that is, from Mandarin—my mother tongue—to English (Ekaterina Petrova). In order to render MA Hui’s contemporary rewriting of Tsangyang Gyatso’s seventeenth-century poems while sustaining “the integrity of the source culture,” as Bill Johnson would say, I need to “humbly and practically” learn the other language (Gayatri C. Spivak). I study the anatomy of English poetry—reading Mary Oliver’s A Poetry Handbook and consulting other poets, for instance—when translating MA Hui in order to choose the most appropriate figures of speech, mechanisms of spacing, punctuating, and rhyming for the English version. This process of translation is a journey toward otherness. (See the seven translated poems in Ellipses, No. 91-92. 2021.)
Poetry is only untranslatable when the translator forsakes her power of creating poetry. In other words, to a translator, it is a myth that poetry is untranslatable. The charm of poetry owns to its specific, provincial linguistic and cultural identity. To sustain the poetic charm in a new language, the translator needs to break free from the linguistic confinement of the original to reproduce the artistic magnetism in a new form. The translator is the Muse of universes here, clapping her hands to rearrange “the alphabet of particles” so that she can rebuild a new poetic space (Alice Major). She may let go in her creation some alliterations, sibilance, or metaphors loaded with cultural specificities, but she takes care to keep the soul of the original poem alive and makes sure that it is also appealing to the readers of the new language.
When translating my own poem, “Also a Stranger,” I see myself rewriting some lines. Instead of saying “postmodern space/is ravaged and fragmented,” I have “The desire to conquer ravages/our home, sweet home.” I need “postmodern” to articulate the criticism in the Mandarin version but find that—along with the passive voice—it harms the poetic nature of the English verses. “The desire to conquer” would suffice instead in the English context as it conjures up colonization in readers’ mind. Self-translation, in this case, highlights the translator’s role as a poet. | philosophy |
https://www.waleaders.com.au/media-and-pr/perspective-on-businesses-as-living-entities/ | 2024-04-23T11:15:51 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296818474.95/warc/CC-MAIN-20240423095619-20240423125619-00866.warc.gz | 0.942068 | 478 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__14758187 | en | Perspective on Businesses as Living Entities
By Terence Tang | Mackson Group
Often reduced to a transactional exchange for monetary gain, business, at its core, orchestrates a subtle dance of relationships and
interactions among individuals.
Beyond the narrow confines of profit margins and economic doctrines, the evolution of business reflects collective aspirations and the
intricate interplay of diverse minds striving towards a common goal. The notion of a business being an entity is more than a legal
construct; it is a recognition that within its structure lies a complex network of human relationships.
Language, with its ability to encapsulate cultural nuances, sheds light on the essence of concepts. In Chinese, a business is referred to as
"Sheng Yi," where the character "Sheng" symbolizes life. This etymology suggests that a business is not a static entity
but a living, breathing organism, implying vitality, growth, and a symbiotic relationship between the business and the community it serves.
To regard a business as a living entity is to acknowledge its role as a guide in our lives. In this reciprocal
relationship, as we contribute our efforts and resources, the business, in turn, shapes our communities and influences the way we live.
This perspective invites us to view businesses not as soulless profit-making machines but as integral components of our societal ecosystem.
Just as we guide businesses through our choices and preferences, businesses, in return, guide us by providing products, services, and
employment opportunities. It's a dynamic partnership where success is not measured solely in monetary terms but in the positive impact a
business has on the betterment of human civilisation.
Embracing the idea of businesses as living entities fosters a sense of responsibility towards their well-being. Nurturing businesses becomes
essential for the vitality of our communities, encouraging ethical practices, innovation, and a long-term perspective that extends beyond
immediate financial gains.
In essence, the history of business unfolds as a narrative of human connections and collaborations. By recognising businesses as
living entities, we elevate our understanding of their role in shaping our societies. Let us approach business not merely as a means to
accumulate wealth but as a steadfast force that, like life itself, thrives on the interdependence of its various parts. | philosophy |
http://radiokolbe.net/filtering-reality-social-medias-role-in-shaping-perceptions-online/ | 2024-02-25T17:48:24 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474641.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20240225171204-20240225201204-00516.warc.gz | 0.940497 | 623 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__70438463 | en | In the digital age, social media has become an integral part of our lives, transforming the way we connect, share information, and perceive the world around us. While these platforms offer unprecedented opportunities for communication and community building, they also play a significant role in shaping our perceptions of reality. The curated nature of content on social media, coupled with algorithms that tailor our feeds to our preferences, has created a virtual environment where reality is often filtered through a personalized lens. One of the most profound ways in which social media shapes perceptions is through the concept of the filter bubble. Algorithms employed by platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are designed to analyze user behavior and preferences, subsequently presenting content that aligns with those patterns. While this may enhance user experience by providing personalized content, it simultaneously traps individuals in a bubble of information that reinforces their existing beliefs and perspectives. Users are more likely to be exposed to content that aligns with their views, limiting the diversity of opinions and information they encounter. As a result, social media can inadvertently contribute to the polarization of society by reinforcing echo chambers and discouraging open dialogue.
Moreover, the pressure to present an idealized version of one’s life on social media has given rise to a culture of selective self-presentation. Users often curate their online personas, showcasing the highlights of their lives while concealing the challenges and imperfections. This trend contributes to a distorted collective perception of reality, as individuals compare their behind-the-scenes struggles to the curated success stories of others. The consequence is a pervasive sense of inadequacy and a skewed understanding of what constitutes a fulfilling life. The influences of social media on political perceptions are particularly noteworthy and click here for more. The spread of misinformation and the amplification of divisive narratives have been exacerbated by the viral nature of content on these platforms. Users are often exposed to sensationalized and polarizing information, further deepening ideological divides. The echo chamber effect intensifies as individuals engage with like-minded users, reinforcing their pre-existing beliefs and fostering an environment where dissenting opinions are met with hostility.
While social media undoubtedly plays a crucial role in shaping perceptions online, it is essential to recognize its potential for positive change. The same platforms that contribute to filter bubbles can also serve as catalysts for awareness and social movements. Activists leverage the reach of social media to amplify their messages and mobilize communities for various causes, challenging established narratives and fostering conversations that might otherwise be marginalized. In conclusion, social media’s impact on shaping perceptions online is multifaceted, with both positive and negative implications. The filter bubble phenomenon, the culture of selective self-presentation, and the amplification of divisive content all contribute to a virtual reality that may deviate from the complexities of the real world. However, the potential for social media to drive positive change and facilitate meaningful conversations underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of its role in shaping our perceptions. As we navigate this digital landscape, critical awareness and responsible use are essential to ensuring that social media serves as a tool for connection and enlightenment rather than a distorting lens on reality. | philosophy |
https://alphahydrae.com/2021/01/you-should-refactor-all-the-time/ | 2024-02-23T06:58:03 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474361.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20240223053503-20240223083503-00740.warc.gz | 0.932011 | 1,139 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__75512011 | en | Have you seen code rot? I have. A lot of it was my own code.
The more I learn about programming, the more I realize that refactoring must be an ongoing activity that you perform every day if you want to maintain the quality of your code and your architecture. It should never be a task that you schedule at the end of an iteration or a project–something that will be dropped at the first sign of an impending deadline.
I’m not the first to think this. I seem to be in good company.
The Equation of Software Design
By Max Kanat-Alexander in Code Simplicity:
The desirability of a change is directly proportional to the value now plus the future value, and inversely proportional to the effort of implementation plus the effort of maintenance.
When you’re in it for the long haul, the effort of implementation will eventually be insignificant compared to the cumulated effort of maintenance. Therefore:
It is more important to reduce the effort of maintenance than it is to reduce the effort of implementation.
The quality level of your design should be proportional to the length of future time in which your system will continue to help people.
You can’t afford to skip refactoring and let a significant amount of cruft accumulate. It will come back to haunt you.
The Cycles of TDD
By Robert C. Martin, a.k.a. Uncle Bob, in The Cycles of TDD:
Micro cycle: Red-Green-Refactor
The micro-cycle that experienced TDDers follow. The Red/Green/Refactor cycle. […]
- Create a unit tests that fails
- Write production code that makes that test pass.
- Clean up the mess you just made.
The philosophy is based on the idea that our limited minds are not capable of pursuing the two simultaneous goals of all software systems: 1. Correct behavior. 2. Correct structure. So the RGR cycle tells us to first focus on making the software work correctly; and then, and only then, to focus on giving that working software a long-term survivable structure.
Again, many people have written about this cycle. Indeed the idea derives from Kent Beck’s original injunction:
Make it work. Make it right. Make it fast.
Another way to think about this idea is:
Getting software to work is only half of the job.
Customers value two things about software. The way it makes a machine behave; and the ease with which it can be changed. Compromise either of those two values and the software will diminish in real value to the customer.
Executing the Red/Green/Refactor cycle takes on the order of a minute or so. This is the granularity of refactoring. Refactoring is not something you do at the end of the project; it’s something you do on a minute-by-minute basis. There is no task on the project plan that says: Refactor. There is no time reserved at the end of the project, or the iteration, or the day, for refactoring. Refactoring is a continuous in-process activity, not something that is done late (and therefore optionally).
A Design for Developers
By Eric Evans in Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software:
Software isn’t just for users. It’s also for developers. Developers have to integrate code with other parts of the system. In an iterative process, developers change the code again and again. Refactoring towards deeper insight both leads to and benefits from a supple design. […]
If you wait until you can make a complete justification for a change, you’ve waited too long. Your project is already incurring heavy costs, and the postponed changes will be harder to make because the target code will have been more elaborated and more embedded in other code.
Continuous refactoring has come to be considered a “best practice”, but most project teams are still too cautious about it. They see the risk of changing code and the cost of developer time to make a change; but what’s harder to see is the risk of keeping an awkward design and the cost of working around that design. Developers who want to refactor are often asked to justify the decision. Although this seems reasonable, it makes an already difficult thing impossibly difficult, and tends to squelch refactoring (or drive it underground). Software development is not such a predictable process that the benefits of a change or the costs of not making a change can be accurately calculated.
[…] Therefore, refactor when:
- The design does not express the team’s current understanding of the domain;
- Important concepts are implicit in the design (and you see a way to make them explicit); or
- You see an opportunity to make some important part of the design suppler.
This aggressive attitude does not justify any change at any time. Don’t refactor the day before a release. Don’t introduce “supple designs” that are just demonstrations of technical virtuosity but fail to cut to the core of the domain. Don’t introduce a “deeper model” that you couldn’t convince a domain expert to use, no matter how elegant it seems. Don’t be absolute about things, but push beyond the comfort zone in the direction of favoring refactoring. | philosophy |
http://www.abandontext.com/index.php?/archives/295-The-Gospel-of-Objective-Fact.html | 2018-01-20T20:36:10 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084889733.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20180120201828-20180120221828-00117.warc.gz | 0.976928 | 708 | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-05__0__4558980 | en | I've been continuing to listen to Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged during my morning workouts. I figure that if you're going to listen to philosophy while you're working out, it might as well be a muscular, individual-empowering, can-do philosophy. It seems to fit the activity better than The Purpose-Driven Life or The Marriage of Sense and Soul ever did.
Rand's philosophy, Objectivism, draws its name from one of its central tenants: that valid concepts and values are "determined by the nature of reality, but to be discovered by man's mind." Facts are facts, and the only valid way to live is to live in accord with the objective reality of things.
On first blush, that sounds pretty simple and uninspiring. What's the big deal about objective reality? Until I started reading Atlas Shrugged, I didn't get it. Now I do . . . but only because I worked for Augie Turak for six years.
Augie is first and foremost a spiritual teacher. But in his previous professional life, Augie was a salesman, the best I've ever personally known. All salesmen live and die according to one – and only one – thing: their sales numbers. How much did they sell? Nothing else matters. Companies don't care about sales reps' attitude, their intentions, their values, their ideas – just their numbers. If the numbers are good, the salesman makes a ton of money. If the numbers are bad, they lose their jobs. Like many sales managers, Augie put a big white board up in the middle of his company, where all salesmen updated their sales numbers day by day and moment by moment. As Augie put it: "The board doesn't lie." Sales numbers were inescapable objective facts. The board showed, with bright clarity, exactly how well everyone in the company was doing. (Augie didn't limit the board to just sales, either – every other quantifiable aspect of the company, like its account receivable and total cash in the bank, were also updated daily and visible on the board.)
People who have never worked in sales usually look upon this numbers-only approach to life with a shudder of dread and revulsion. "Oh, ugh, there's more to life than just numbers." But those who do work in sales know that the numbers are extremely inspiring. When the numbers are down, the salesman goes through deep soul-searching: "Is it me? What am I doing wrong?" When the numbers are high, the salesman basks in an unparalleled euphoria: "I DID IT!" The satisfaction is magnified ten-fold by the fact that it was objective -- undeniable, unchallengable, real.
Augie loves the numbers, not because he wants to make money (which he usually did) but because he loves the Truth. He wants to know what's real. And often, the best way to understand the contents of our souls is to look at how it is reflected in the objective reality around us. Of course, Augie will constantly talk about attitudes, values, morals, processes, and a million other invisible factors in life – but he also knows that all those things ultimately manifest themselves in the world around us. What makes Augie such an effective spiritual teacher – and so unlike most teachers, these days – is his unflinching ability to face objective reality, and his ability to help others do the same. | philosophy |
https://www.relifeschool.org/about-us | 2024-04-12T14:52:28 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816024.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20240412132154-20240412162154-00829.warc.gz | 0.964211 | 506 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__149188996 | en | ReLife School is a program of Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD), designed to support the academic and behavioral needs of students (Grades 2 - 12) with significant social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. The program focusses on the individual academic growth of students through efforts to improve students’ executive functioning, attention to detail, and social interactions. We engage students in appropriate study skills and assignment/project completion, resulting in their movement toward increased successful classroom experiences. We are a safe and structured environment in which students learn skills and strategies for coping with the stresses of daily life and are able to replace inappropriate behavior with socially adaptive behavior. We do this through a combination of in-class lessons, modeling and reinforcement, and through individualized interventions. Our goal is to transition each student from the ReLife program to the larger world, be it their neighborhood school, a job site, running start, or post-secondary education, with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate their future successfully.
Our core values include safety, respect, and responsibility. These form the backbone of our level system and behavioral expectations for students. Each student learns skills and strategies that allows them to be physically, socially, and psychologically safe. They learn to demonstrate respect for themselves and others along with increasing levels of responsibility to themselves, their peers, and their community. We achieve this through explicit and focused instruction and through daily modeling of these values for our students.
We also believe our students need to experience joy and laughter in their successes/growth and ensure that this is threaded into their learning. We strive for a relaxed and positive school climate. We have an incentive-based philosophy and believe that punishment is not a highly effective tool for behavior change. We create incentives for positive behavior and offer natural and logical consequences when difficulties arise. Students are expected to make amends as part of taking responsibility, and are sometimes not allowed to participate in certain activities when physical or psychological safety is a concern. We teach and re-teach expectations, have students reflect on their choices, and work to reset patterns of negative behavior.
ReLife is a cooperative program, meaning districts elect to join and participate by sending their students to the ReLife Program. School districts work with us and participate in the governance of the program and are essential to the success of their students. It is a shared goal upon every student intake that the student will transition to a less-restrictive setting, based on the resources available within each school district. | philosophy |
https://danielredwoodsongs.com/track/2174031/rise-up-make-this-moment-last | 2023-05-30T07:16:38 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224645417.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20230530063958-20230530093958-00503.warc.gz | 0.811327 | 284 | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-23__0__289961602 | en | From the recording Rise Up (Make This Moment Last)
This inspiring song by singer-songwriters Maria Daines and Paul Killington embodies the spirit of the animal rights movement. It asks us to “rise up to the love in our hearts” and dedicate ourselves to ending the pain and suffering we inflict on animals.
RISE UP (MAKE THIS MOMENT LAST)
By Maria Daines and Paul KillingtonFrom the land to the seaFrom the mountain to the shoreWe hear your voiceIn your pain, in your needIn defense we are hereTo lead you forthFor the moments we loveAre the moments we shareForever moreAnd the freedom we giveIs our spirit relivedEver yours...Rise up and heal them, rise up and care for themRise up to the love in our hearts, rise up for the animalsMake this moment lastIn this life we are onePaws, hands and heartsHooves, feathers, wingsNothing is lost if only we uniteOur song begins...For the reasons are pureIf our kindness is sown in the windThis moment shall growAnd onwards we goAnd we beginRise up and heal them, rise up and care for themRise up to the love in our hearts, rise up for the animalsMake this moment last
© 2006 Maria Daines and Paul Killington (ASCAP) | philosophy |
https://hesperios.com/product/lucile-boiron-womb/ | 2023-10-01T06:36:41 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510781.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20231001041719-20231001071719-00133.warc.gz | 0.758235 | 145 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__149021260 | en | Womb, Lucile Boiron
Lucile Boiron explores and exhausts fragments of flesh, these moments when human nature appears for what it is, that is, perishable. Far from making an inventory of the feeling of revulsion, she questions the body’s biological truth and attempts a photographic answer to the issue of good and bad taste.
First edition of 500 copies, with fold-out poster.
Author: Lucile Boiron
Format: Offset Printed Clothbound Hardcover / 48 Pages, 35 Color Plates / Linen Thread Bound Publisher: Libraryman (2019)
Dimensions: 20.5 Cm X 27.5 Cm | philosophy |
https://guruatmananda.org/post-single/?post_id=27874 | 2023-11-30T14:07:00 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100227.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20231130130218-20231130160218-00153.warc.gz | 0.919475 | 1,032 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__43513829 | en | What is Sanmarga Srividya?
Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science in the Quest for Existential Reality
Srividya, often referred to as the science of existential reality, bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and modern science. While modern science grapples with questions about the origin of the universe and the emergence of something from nothing, ancient Sanatana Dharma offers a profound perspective rooted in the concept of 'Param Shunya.' This article explores the philosophy and practice of Srividya, emphasizing its role in achieving stillness and inner evolution, ultimately leading to a state of complete being.
The Concept of Param Shunya:
Ancient Sanatana Dharma posits that the world originated from God in the form of 'Param Shunya,' which is synonymous with Nirakar Parabrahman, the formless divine. Siddhas, the great ancient spiritual practitioners, centered their contemplation on Nirakar Parabrahman as a part of their Srividya Sadhana. Srividya is the path of 'Shunya' or nothingness. Through the process of mental deletion, where one removes all thoughts and distractions, practitioners aim to reach a state of 'stillness.' This stillness, known as Param Shunya, transcends ordinary existence and serves as the backdrop of consciousness.
Sanmarga: The Righteous Path to Existence:
Sanmarga, the righteous path, guides individuals toward a state of being or existence. The Supramental lineage of Sri Siddha Sanmarga adheres to the traditional practice of Sanmarga Srividya Sadhana to establish and experience supramental enlightenment. Srividya acts as a science that leads one to absolute stillness, facilitating the inner evolution of humanity. It involves discovering a state of completeness within oneself, understanding the harmonious interplay of partial and complete fullness, and realizing the essence of existence.
The Uniqueness of Srividya Sadhana:
Unlike many meditation practices that focus on training the mind, Srividya Sadhana takes a distinctive approach. It does not attempt to tame the mind through intellectual exercises; instead, it seeks to awaken the soul. By nurturing the soul's growth and development, the mind naturally aligns itself with higher consciousness. This aspect makes Srividya Sadhana a powerful and effective path to spiritual awakening.
The Core Principles of Srividya Sadhana:
- Awakening the Soul: Srividya Sadhana prioritizes the awakening of the soul, recognizing it as the key to unlocking higher states of consciousness. This approach ensures that the transformation occurs at a profound level, beyond the superficialities of the mind.
- Stillness as the Goal: The ultimate objective of Srividya Sadhana is to attain stillness, which goes beyond the noise of everyday thoughts and distractions. In this stillness, one connects with the timeless essence of existence.
- Inner Evolution: Srividya Sadhana serves as a catalyst for inner evolution, guiding practitioners on a journey of self-discovery and self-realization. It fosters a deep understanding of one's true nature and the interconnectedness of all life.
- Completeness Within Oneself: The practice of Srividya leads individuals to a state of self-sufficiency, where they recognize their own completeness. It highlights the synergy between partial fullness and complete fullness, offering insights into the holistic nature of existence.
Benefits of Srividya Sadhana:
- Mental Clarity and Focus: While Srividya Sadhana does not focus on training the mind directly, it often results in improved mental clarity and concentration. The stillness achieved through this practice allows the mind to function more efficiently.
- Emotional Balance: By delving into the depths of consciousness, practitioners of Srividya Sadhana often experience a greater sense of emotional equilibrium. This equanimity helps in dealing with life's challenges with grace and resilience.
- Spiritual Growth: Srividya Sadhana nurtures spiritual growth by connecting individuals with their innermost selves and the divine consciousness. This leads to profound spiritual experiences and a deeper sense of purpose in life.
- Harmonious Living: As one aligns with the principles of Srividya, they tend to lead a more harmonious and fulfilling life. This harmonious living extends to relationships, work, and all aspects of existence.
Srividya stands as a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern scientific inquiry, offering a profound understanding of existential reality. Rooted in the concept of Param Shunya and practiced through Sanmarga Srividya Sadhana, it provides a unique path to stillness, inner evolution, and a state of complete being. In a world where the mind often seeks escape, Srividya Sadhana focuses on awakening the soul, making it one of the most powerful and effective spiritual practices available to seekers of truth and enlightenment. | philosophy |
https://www.johnarthursweet.online/2020/01/30/minireview-the-picture-of-dorian-gray-by-oscar-wilde/ | 2023-12-07T06:22:17 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100650.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20231207054219-20231207084219-00185.warc.gz | 0.971795 | 858 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__1669271 | en | This is the kind of cover that made me think I'd love this book when I was eleven years old.
What is it?
One of the first novels in English literature to feature homosexuality. It was published in 1891.
I think we can skip the usual “what is it about” question. But what are the themes, in your opinion?
Well, it’s not a horror story! I first read it when I was about eleven years old. It was in our school library and had a cover and a blurb that suggested it would appeal to anyone who liked the Saturday afternoon horror films of that era starring Boris Karloff. I remember I didn’t like it much. In retrospect, it’s not surprising that an eleven-year-old couldn’t make head nor tail of it. It’s a very philosophical novel. It’s really about the existence of the soul.
Crikey. That does sound dry.
I mean to say, it does have a good story, involving a couple of suicides, a murder, a death by misadventure. It even has some quite creepy bits. But all of this is in service to a story about the reality of the soul, and how meaningless life is without one.
So where does the homosexuality come in?
The painter of the picture, Basil Hallward, is clearly homosexual. Dorian himself appears to be bisexual. My theory as to why the characters need to not be heterosexual is to evacuate from the story the notion of sex as a means of reproduction. These are characters for whom love has a nobler, or at least more intellectual, purpose. Basil’s love for Dorian is highly romantic and soulful; it’s love on a higher plane, if you will. For Dorian, on the other hand, having sex with men and women is a search for the widest possible experience so as to fill the void left by the absence of a soul. Sex is never about starting a family with these guys.
It all sounds a bit rarefied.
I think queer sexuality can be rarefied, although it’s not usually seen through that lens today. But homosexuality, I believe, can represent a spiritual search. At one point, Dorian describes Basil’s love for him like this: “The love that he bore him—for it was really love—had nothing in it that was not noble and intellectual. It was not that mere physical admiration of beauty that is born of the senses, and that dies when the senses tire.”
But that seems to be entirely denying the physical side of gay love. This book will never sell among the gay community!
Well, but the whole book is an expression of the physical side of homosexual attraction. It’s all about male beauty—the desire for it, and what one will do to hang on to it. I suspect there aren’t many gay men who won’t relate to that. Half the fun of reading this novel is imagining what Dorian looks like (as well as his portrait). But Wilde is suggesting there is a whole other dimension to same-sex love.
What I understood about Wilde from reading his biography is that he was all about multiplicity. He didn’t believe in being one thing or the other, but always being both. He was both Irish and English. Both Christian and pagan. Both an intellectual and a sensualist. Both a gentleman and a scamp. And I think he’s saying here that homosexual love isn’t about either attraction to physical beauty that borders on obsession or the search for a perfect spiritual love. It’s both.
Stars (using the Michelin system)?
Three. This isn’t a perfect book by any means (there are some purple prose passages that I almost found myself skimming over, something I haven’t done since I first learned to read), but at its best it is sublime. It’s a milestone, an inspiration, a book to read and reread, an absolute must for anyone interested in queer lit. | philosophy |
https://storia.me/@Topaz/8-celebrate-small-victories-samadhi-qzqpn | 2019-01-18T20:30:50 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-04/segments/1547583660529.12/warc/CC-MAIN-20190118193139-20190118215139-00210.warc.gz | 0.943108 | 229 | CC-MAIN-2019-04 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-04__0__2779749 | en | Things rarely go the way I plan. The fruits of my labor are often…more labor. But every once in a while, things align just right, and it’s like I can see how everything is exactly as it should be. The more I practice, the more frequent this experience becomes. That’s reason enough all on its own.
It can be disheartening to try and keep a #practice on the road. Schedules change dramatically. Professional and social obligations can feel heavy. Sometimes the world outside myself pushes all the right buttons to bring out every bad habit I’ve ever had.
The harder it gets, the more important it is to celebrate the little victories. Sometimes, getting out of bed is a victory for me. Those days don’t happen often anymore.
But when I can pat myself on the back knowing that I’ve done what I could to keep myself well today, or even when I just need to give myself a consoling hug and remind myself that I can choose to make better decisions right now, that’s a big win in my world. | philosophy |
https://www.klcc.org/arts-culture/2014-04-28/a-piece-of-my-mind-letting-go | 2023-01-30T18:53:11 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764499826.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20230130165437-20230130195437-00674.warc.gz | 0.982835 | 190 | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-06__0__187194192 | en | A Piece of My Mind: Letting Go
At a recent discussion with a Eugene audience, a playwright was asked what he found most difficult with respect to his work. “Letting go,” he answered. Those who create performance pieces must leave them for others to interpret. They must learn to “let go” of their play, song, opera or symphonic opus. Those who stage the piece may have a concept that differs from theirs.
Similarly, parents need to accept their children will one day pursue independent lives. They will go their own way, regardless of what their elders prefer.
Parents with children, playwrights with producers, husbands with wives, or me with you, we’re all best served by accepting what is not ours to control. We avoid suffering by “letting go,” by allowing others the same freedom of thought and action we seek for ourselves. | philosophy |
https://sonnie.org/inspirational/meditations/ | 2022-05-17T21:18:51 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662520817.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20220517194243-20220517224243-00101.warc.gz | 0.939354 | 1,625 | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-21__0__271467310 | en | James Allen on Religion (1901)
Cease to look upon your own religion as superior to all others, and strive humbly to learn the supreme lesson of charity.
No longer cling to the idea, so productive of strife and sorrow, that the Savior whom you worship is the only Savior, and that the Savior whom your brother worships with equal sincerity and ardor, is an impostor; but seek diligently the path of holiness, and then you will realize that every holy man is a savior of mankind.
Bhagavad Gita (Krishna excerpt) [with Audio]
Sir Edwin Arnold’s beautiful translation of Krishna’s speech from the Bhagavad Gita
Audio read by Sonnie Abdalla
Fearlessness, singleness of soul, the will
Always to strive for wisdom; opened hand
And governed appetites; and piety,
And love of lonely study; humbleness,
Uprightness, heed to injure naught which lives
Truthfulness, slowness unto wrath, a mind
That lightly letteth go what others prize;
And equanimity, and charity
Which spieth no man’s faults; and tenderness
Towards all that suffer; a contented heart,
Fluttered by no desires; a bearing mild,
Modest and grave, with manhood nobly mixed,
With patience, fortitude and purity;
An unrevengeful spirit, never given
To rate itself too high—such be the signs,
O Indian Prince! of him whose feet are set
On that fair path which leads to heavenly birth!
Meditation on Truth [Audio]
This is not a guided meditation, it is to assist practitioners in the commencement or closing of their silence. Most of the contents have been extracted from chapter two of James Allen’s final publication, The Divine Companion.
Running for 1hr, the voice is audible for 10mins then subliminal for the remaining 50min.
I am awake, I have opened my eyes and I see all things through the spirit of Truth.
I know I am awake because I see Good, I am the spirit of Good, and my lusts have departed from me.
I am wedded to Purity, I have put on the uniform of Righteousness and I serve the Spirit of Love.
Walking in the Light, I am Free and Happy and see all things clearly in that Light. I know the way I walk as my pathway is illuminated by Truth. Awakened in Truth I am the lover of all.
I have found the Good in all, and see Holiness as a reality with my awakened eyes. My eternal stability and refuge is in the knowledge of Truth and the practice of Truth.
I have put away the illusionary nature of all self-seeking desire.
I am happy, sane and peaceful, seeing all things as they are, in their right relations and true proportions.
I know that the eternal justice prevails, I am restful at heart and my mind abides in the Great Calm.
Awakened into the Light of day I am no more burdened with the troubles of my dreams, knowing that they are dispelled illusions.
I am established in Wisdom, knowing myself, I know others and I judge with knowledge.
I am the understander, the knower of hearts. And walking in the Light of Truth I know that every dreamer will at last awake into the Light.
Wise and blessed, Truth is manifested through my actions. I have right comprehension and interpret the divine precepts through the light of my own spotless deeds.
I am free from sin and abide in good deeds, living in peace with all.
Truth has provided me with a peaceful refuge and a quiet resting place. It has lightened up my pathway with the radiance of Joy.
I am lifted up, I am rested, I am healed, I am befriended and comforted.
I am honest and sincere, I love all and rejoice in their successes. Pure and generous, seeking the good of others in all that I do.
The Truth has been revealed to me.
I have found a quiet trust and a patient happiness, I have resorted to the Faithful One, the ever-present Comforter, the Spirit of Holiness, and taken shelter in this high Abode.
In the spirit of Good, in the knowledge of Good and in the doing of Good I abide.
Having found refuge in Truth, I am strengthened and comforted.
Truth has purified my heart and bestowed upon me the glorious gift of Divine Love. A Love that abides forever.
Looking upon the weary multitudes, a deep compassion is stirred within me.
I am redeemed, I have given up self and all the sufferings of selfishness. Avoiding evil and choosing Good, without considerations of pleasure and pain, I have entered into bliss eternal.
Truth has filled my heart and impartial Love blossoms out into my life.
My deeds are just, my actions are pure, my works are untainted with self, my mind is controlled and calm. My home is peace.
I am humbly silent in the midst of noice, I am protected and made perfect by Truth. I lift up and bless those who attempt to harm me.
Remaining calm and just, I do only that which is right. All passion being purged from my actions.
Darkness has been dispelled, I have overcome all that causes sorrow, the Cosmic Glory has been unveiled and my mind is conscious of the Eternal.
Having knowledge of the Imperishable I’m rested in the possession of Righteousness. Living in happiness and Joy, I am satisfied in this place of safety, in the security of peace.
Living in the glory of the universal, the impersonal, I am surrounded with Light and Strength is my companion.
Truth is harmonising, it has brought me back to harmony and serenity.
I see the Supreme Good, I have knowledge of the Good Law and know the hidden justice behind all events. Seeing Justice, Order and Harmony in life, I am calm and filled with peace.
I know that all circumstances are just, all things are proportionate and all events are ruled by causation. The Divine Law is One and all things are contained in cause and effect.
All are my own, my beloved; the inward enemy being overcome, all outward foes have vanish away.
The Door of Truth has opened and all things are now. All Light, Law and Truth is now.
Time and eternity are one.
Matter and Spirit are one
Death and Life are one.
Seeing all sides, I see the whole, and seeing the whole I am satisfied.
Love supports all.
Love sustains all.
Love nourishes all.
My Good deeds remain with me, they save and protect me, and I am shielded from all harm.
My righteousness avails, and in Truth there is a happy retreat and an eternal protection. I am happy. Relieved from all anxiety I walk in perfect freedom.
With perfect understanding my mind rejoices in Good against all appearances.
My purity of heart protects me from within and I am guarded by Good being upheld by the Good Law.
Truth is eternal and indestructible, in Truth is my salvation, my protection. Being one with Truth, I have come to peace eternal.
I am steadfast, fearless, serene and always true. Permanent in purity and peace, I am established in gentleness and strength.
Truth is permanent and its protection abides through all changes, it is a friend that does not disappoint. Truth is its own security and protection.
Truth is supreme.
Truth is invincible.
Truth is triumphant for ever and ever. | philosophy |
https://www.medicinelearners.com/europe/ | 2024-04-21T14:04:27 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817780.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20240421132819-20240421162819-00124.warc.gz | 0.972097 | 1,378 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__101215476 | en | In the great upheaval of the 16th century, medieval civilization collapsed and modern Europe came into being. Christianity as a common rallying point had collapsed; the new identification factor became Europe: the residents of the continent became more and more aware of their identity as Europeans. It can be argued with some justification that Europeans, as a result of the collapse of the old values, finally discovered Europe – approximately 100 years after they had discovered America.
The period between the Reformations and the end of the Thirty Years’ War in 1648 is commonly referred to as the age of religious wars. Therein lies a strong simplification of a complicated reality; but in any case, the map of Europe underwent a drastic change during that period. Medieval Europe, which reflected the dominance of the Catholic Church, and an imperial power that also claimed to be universal, had perished. From the apparent anarchy and bloody chaos of the religious wars, a completely different Europe emerged, the most important building blocks of which were sovereign princely states with clear territorial boundaries.
This radical reorganization of Europe’s political geography was formally confirmed by the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which was the result of the first real international peace congress in European history. In addition to confirming the new main role of the princely state, the peace treaty established the primacy of the secular state of reason over religion and also hailed the balance of power philosophy as a guiding principle in international relations. As a concrete expression of the new world order, the Peace Congress guaranteed full sovereignty for Switzerland and the northern Netherlands, later the Netherlands according to Countryaah.com.
The Peace of Westphalia laid the groundwork for the stable great political pattern of the 1700’s, which consisted of five great powers and a large number of small and medium-sized states that served as buffer zones between the great powers. The most important superpower was France, which now took over Spain’s previous role as the dominant mainland power. In addition, there was England, which took over Spain’s old maritime leadership, Austria, which became the successor state of the ailing empire, Prussia, which by purposeful expansion from around 1700 grew out of the Electorate of Brandenburg, and finally Russia, which remained the great unknown. The Eastern Great Power served primarily as a backdrop for European big politics and only exceptionally interfered in it – a role that was otherwise comparable to that played by the now ailing Ottoman Empire.
The new position of the secular princely state in international politics paved the way for absolutism as the dominant state ideology. With Louis XIV’s France as the glorious role model, absolutist forms of government gradually developed in most European states, with the monarchs as autocratic rulers of God’s grace and with highly centralized power apparatuses. The most significant exceptions to this general rule were the estate-ruled Switzerland, the Netherlands, which was ruled by a merchant oligarchy, and England, which, in connection with The Glorious Revolution 1688-89, had a liberal constitution with Parliament in the lead role. The absolutist regimes remained largely unaffected until they were overthrown by the liberal revolutions of 1789-1848.
In parallel with the secularization of political life, a secularization of intellectual life and science took place. The basis was the new thought figures of the Renaissance; but the real breakthrough came around 1700, when the Englishman Isaac Newton formulated his general mechanistic theory of the constitutions of physics. Almost at the same time, his countryman John Locke formed a similar synthesis in the ethical-social field, and a little later, the Frenchman Montesquieu followed this up by demonstrating the relative nature of societal norms. The overall result was the formulation of the modern European view of the outside world and science, which was based on a fruitful interaction between rational theory formation and empirical verification. This new paradigm later led to epoch-making cognitive innovations that endowed European civilization with a unique dynamic,
In this way, the basis for the 1700’s Enlightenment was created, whose main name was the French philosopher Voltaire.. It was an age marked by indomitable faith in progress, with demands for extensive tolerance and animated by a cosmopolitan attitude. It was thus typical of the time that Voltaire could easily make his rich abilities available to the French, Prussian and Russian courts in writing. In this century, a completely unique alliance existed between the intellectuals of Europe and the political powers of the continent. For the Enlightenment philosophers, it was an important task to train the princes to be good, wise, and tolerant rulers. In this way, the enlightened autocracy developed, whose basic idea was the notion of the prince as the wise, loving and enlightened father of the people. Such ideas characterized most absolutist regimes in their last phase up to the French Revolution of 1789.
This event became a turning point in European history in line with the break-up around 1500. The revolution was in almost every area a showdown with the elitist reason and belief in progress of the preceding period. It was basically carried by the notion of the sovereign people and the general will as a guide for political action, as Jean-Jacques Rousseau had already formulated it as early as the middle of the 18th century. The main ideology of the revolution was liberalism, the economic and market consequences of which were the Scottish economist Adam Smith in 1776 had formulated. Accordingly, the revolution was carried forward by the bourgeois middle class, which in the 1700’s. had experienced a sharp growth in both numbers and economic power as a result of a flourishing trade and the beginning of industrialization. This population group now demanded with increasing force a share in the political power. But as it was incompatible with the essence of absolutism, in 1789 the bourgeoisie took fate into their own hands. The result was the French Revolution as well as the great political and geographical upheavals throughout Europe that followed in its wake. According to AbbreviationFinder, the largest countries in Europe are Russia and Germany.
The overall result of this great earthquake was the emergence of bourgeois-liberal Europe and, once again, a fundamental redrawing of the map of Europe; this time along national dividing lines, which often went across the dynastic boundaries of absolutism. Where the building block of 1700’s Europe had been the dynastic princely state, which often housed several nationalities, the basic element after the French Revolution became the bourgeois-liberal nation-state. Thus, the agenda was set for the development that came to make its mark on 1800’s European history in particular: the growth and consolidation of the nation state with all the consequences that flowed from it. | philosophy |
https://musingsofambivalence.wordpress.com/2016/11/29/my-thoughts-as-to-the-origin-of-the-universe/ | 2019-01-16T02:32:50 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-04/segments/1547583656577.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20190116011131-20190116033131-00400.warc.gz | 0.970743 | 775 | CC-MAIN-2019-04 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-04__0__169842096 | en | I thought I’d start big by discussing some of my thoughts as to the nature of the universe. I think regardless of whether you are theistic or atheistic, your beliefs as to the exact circumstances surrounding the birth of the universe require some level of faith. I say this because of the difficulty, verging on probable impossibility, in measuring anything prior to our existence. I say prior to our existence because cosmologists suggest that some of the background radiation measured is theorized to be the residual effects of The Big Bang (TBB). This combined with our observations of the rates of expansion of the universe have allowed us to draw some conclusions about the shape and possible ‘creation’ of the universe.
A lot of religious people have allowed their views to evolve with our understanding of the universe and have adjusted their narrative of god to include TBB. They suggest that God/gods may have had a divine hand in the cataclysmic event that spawned us. This is relatively compatible with their belief systems as large amounts of the different holy books are acknowledged to be highly allegorical by. My personal beliefs or lack thereof, and views on religion are a discussion for another day. However, we certainly agree in one respect. I, like many people realise that it makes little sense within our understanding of the laws of physics for the universe to have just occurred from nothing. Several authors and scientists have discussed the concept of nothing and that it it originates as an arbitrary opposite to ‘something’. That is to say we invented the idea of nothing to signify the lack of presence of something. As such we cannot describe this ‘nothingness’ that may have existed prior to the universe existing. If we were to stand looking before the beginning of the universe what would we see, hear, smell, feel? Well I suppose you could say blackness but that would still be something would it not? We are inherently uncomfortable as a species thinking about things we cannot comprehend or imagine. And as such we need to fill said space with something that makes sense to each of us as individuals. For religious people it is God.
For me it is a cycle. A cyclic universe to be exact. Not an invention of mine of course but a theory widely discussed by the scientific community. I admit my understanding of such a theory is limited. But the way I understand it. Is that the universe exists in a state of singularity. A single point of infinite mass and energy. This point explodes violently outwards in a Big Bang. Creating the basic elements which in turn through fusion and then in turn other reactions create the other elements that are the building blocks of the universe. The universe expands at an unholy rate, making reaching its boundaries (whatever that could mean) impossible. However , eventually this expansion slows to a stop. Not for long as this motion is soon reversed, the universe contracts and folds into itself returning to the singularity, the default zero point. I like to think that there are multiple of these universes, possibly playing out in the manner of parallel universes or potentially in a multiverse of universes with slightly differing physical characteristics (some of which fail due to their inherently unstable properties). So essentially I believe the universe has always existed in a manner.
Maybe my view of the universe requires more faith than a belief in a god. However, I feel that this scenario makes sense to me and that’s all that really matters. As I discussed it is extremely hard to prove or disprove metaphysics or know what occurred before TBB. Additionally, I could roughly imagine how my personal understanding of the universe could potentially fit within some of our models of physics, just perhaps not perfectly. To me this would be an extremely elegant and chaotic way for the universe and reality to function and I truly hope it is so. | philosophy |
http://nancyhillis.com/question-style/ | 2018-04-21T15:39:13 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-17/segments/1524125945232.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20180421145218-20180421165218-00404.warc.gz | 0.939582 | 457 | CC-MAIN-2018-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-17__0__216945434 | en | The Question Of Style
One of the discussions that emerges in every course and workshop I’ve given is the question of style.
There’s much gnashing of teeth regarding style.
I think underneath the question of style are deeper questions.
What Are The Deeper Questions?
Questions like: What am I trying to express? Do I have anything to say? Am I any good? What am I doing? Do I have a voice? Does my voice matter? Why would anyone value what I create? Do I value myself? Do I matter? Is it too late? Do I have enough talent? Am I a real artist? Does anyone care?…blahblahblah…Ad infinitum 🙂
What are we really talking about here?
We’re talking about the inner landscape
We’re talking about your relationship to yourself. We’re talking about fear and all its permutations of self doubt, inner criticism, fear of judgment, and so forth.
Here’s something I wrote recently when the topic of style came up in The Artist’s Journey: 3 Secrets Of The Masters course:
Trust that you already have your own unique signature (marks, movements, gestures, energy, internal states, preferences, psychology). There’s no final endpoint here…style is continually evolving. I would say don’t try so hard to find it. Let go. Indeed, your style will find you.
Style comes through many iterations of searching and finding your way as you paint. It comes from trusting yourself. It comes from exploration and experimentation. It comes from painting what you love. It comes from being vulnerable and showing us YOU.
This is the kind of dialogue we have in the online course. Soon, I’ll open the doors to my new offering: Studio Journey which is a monthly workshop where we’ll explore a new theme each month and have lessons, reflections, exercises and a full painting demo by me. Get on the waiting list HERE and be the first to find out when it goes live!
P.S. I’d love to hear about your experience with this question of style.
Also published on Medium. | philosophy |
https://cmccfoxvalley.com/a-practice-in-generosity/ | 2020-01-20T05:26:35 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250597458.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20200120052454-20200120080454-00024.warc.gz | 0.968919 | 606 | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-05__0__220579337 | en | Give More. Be Generous.
Many questions surface when we bring up generosity and leading with generosity. Let’s explore some of the questions and see what comes up for you.
- What does it look like when we are generous in leading change? What is your first thought on this?
- Does generosity pay off, or do we end up doing most of the work ourselves? Why? What is the payoff? Does the payoff serve the cause for change and for future change?
- Is generosity in leading change a bribe, a payoff or an incentive? How is it? How is it not?
- How does generosity work in leading change?
- As the leader, what can I be generous with? What can’t I be generous with? What can others be generous with?
When we lead change and when we coach others who lead change, we explore generosity. Most of our clients see generosity as giving time, money and talents. We often explore these ideas with them and we talk about whose time, money and talents? Chasing those thoughts and beliefs eventually leads to a discovery and new belief: The most generous a leader can be is to allow others to identify how much of their own time, money and talent they will spend in support of a change. Leaders allow others to be successful with change, and they generously acknowledge others’ work and behaviors that create successful change.
There is a “common” way to lead change by being generous. “Common” leaders see themselves being generous in giving financial rewards and bonuses to their team, by giving their own plan, by giving a timeline they developed themselves, and by using only their own knowledge and skills to get their team through a change. When a leader is so giving of themselves, they almost always rob their team of success. When the leader does the bulk of the work to get the change done, the change does not last, divides are created and people end up abandoning the change or finding work-arounds. In fact, this method works well for less than 20 percent of changes that rarely last enough to see a profit resulting from change.
A less common way of leading change is to be generous and intentional about learning, understanding and then giving each individual on your team what they need to make the change happen. This way of leading change gives opportunity, is successful about 75 percent of the time and yields higher than expected profits associated with the change. Individuals you lead are empowered and entrusted to spend their own time, money and talent at work, so change is ignited. Your team becomes enrolled in the cause for change, they identify ways to make that change work within their department budget (money) and each person will leverage their time (workday priorities) and talent (old and new knowledge and skills) to accomplish the changes that serve your organization.
If you would like to explore what leading change with generosity looks like to reach your business goals, contact us. We specialize in generosity! | philosophy |
https://www.beajourney.com/how-to-be-unbothered/ | 2023-10-03T03:04:50 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511053.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20231003024646-20231003054646-00601.warc.gz | 0.92739 | 3,053 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__291861919 | en | To cultivate being unbothered, focus on accepting things as they are and not letting external factors control your emotions. Being unbothered involves acknowledging what you can and cannot control and setting boundaries for yourself.
As life inevitably throws us curveballs, it’s essential to be able to handle them without becoming overwhelmed or distressed. Being unbothered means finding a sense of inner peace and calm in the face of adversity, rather than allowing outside circumstances to dictate how we feel.
This requires a level of acceptance and detachment from outcomes that are out of our control. To be unbothered, it’s also important to set healthy boundaries for yourself and to prioritize your own well-being. By doing so, you can maintain a positive mindset and stay focused on what truly matters in life.
Understanding The Concept Of Being Unbothered
In a world full of constant stressors, it’s hard not to let every little thing get to you. That’s where the concept of being unbothered comes in. Being unbothered means having the ability to let things roll off your back and not allow them to negatively impact your life.
What Being Unbothered Means
- Being unbothered means not allowing other people’s opinions or actions to control your emotions.
- It means choosing to focus on what truly matters and not getting caught up in petty drama.
- It means remaining calm and level-headed in any situation and not allowing other people’s negativity to bring you down.
- It means shifting your focus to your own personal growth and not letting the actions of others distract you from your goals.
The Benefits Of Being Unbothered
There are numerous benefits to being unbothered, including:
- Less stress and anxiety
- Improved mental health
- Better relationships
- More self-confidence
- The ability to focus on what truly matters
The Common Misconceptions About Being Unbothered
There are a few common misconceptions about being unbothered that are important to address:
- Being unbothered does not mean you don’t care about anything. It means you choose to prioritize what’s important.
- It does not mean you’re indifferent to everything. It means you don’t let inconsequential things affect you.
- Being unbothered does not mean you’re a pushover. It means you choose your battles wisely.
Being unbothered is a mindset that can lead to a happier, more fulfilling life. By focusing on what truly matters and not allowing outside factors to negatively impact your emotions, you can live a more peaceful life.
The Art Of Letting Go
The art of letting go is an invaluable skill that can help you achieve peace and happiness in your life. It involves a willingness to release the past, accept the present, and move forward with more freedom and clarity. Letting go helps you overcome negative emotions such as anger, resentment, and fear.
The Importance Of Letting Go
Letting go allows you to:
- Live in the present: Holding onto the past can lead to anxiety and sadness. When you let go, you are more present to appreciate the current moment.
- Release negative emotions: Letting go frees you from negative emotions such as anger and resentment, helping you to be more peaceful and happy.
- Find inner peace: The art of letting go leads to greater inner peace and a sense of calm, enabling you to enjoy a better quality of life.
The Reasons Why We Hold On
Despite the benefits of letting go, people often struggle with it for various reasons, including:
- Fear of the unknown: People tend to cling on to the familiar because they are afraid of what is unfamiliar or unknown.
- Attachment to the past: Some people hold on to the past because of the good memories it brings or because they feel a sense of identity connected to it.
- Fear of change: Change can be scary, and people may feel that letting go means giving up control or losing something valuable.
How To Start The Process Of Letting Go
If you are ready to let go and start living a more peaceful life, here are some tips:
- Acknowledge your feelings: Recognize and allow yourself to feel the emotions that arise when you contemplate letting go.
- Identify what you need to release: Reflect on what it is that you need to release, whether it be a grudge, an outdated belief, or a past hurt.
- Practice forgiveness: Forgiving yourself and others is a crucial step towards letting go. Forgiveness frees you from the burden of resentment and allows you to move forward.
- Focus on the present: Learn to live in the moment and appreciate what you have in your life right now.
- Seek support: Finally, seek support from friends or a counselor when necessary. Sometimes, we need an outside perspective to help us navigate our emotions and start the journey of letting go.
Learning the art of letting go is not an easy feat and may take time and practice. Remember, however, that it’s a crucial step towards living a more fulfilling and peaceful life. Start small, take it one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to seek help.
With time, you’ll find that life flows more smoothly when you let go of the things that no longer serve you.
Cultivating Self-Awareness And Emotional Intelligence
The Role Of Self-Awareness In Learning To Let Go
Self-awareness is the foundation upon which emotional intelligence is built. Learning to be unbothered, requires us to cultivate a deep understanding of ourselves and our emotions. Only then can we take control of our reactions and let go of what we cannot control.
Here are a few ways that self-awareness can be beneficial:
- Helps us understand the source of our emotions.
- Allows us to identify our triggers and patterns.
- Helps us become more present and in tune with ourselves.
- Enables us to respond, rather than react to situations.
Building Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence involves being aware of our own emotions and those of others. It is a skill that can be learned and developed over time. Here are a few things that can help build emotional intelligence:
- Practice empathy and active listening.
- Become aware of your nonverbal communication.
- Learn to regulate your emotions and manage stress.
- Take responsibility for your actions and their consequences.
Practical Tips For Cultivating Self-Awareness And Emotional Intelligence
Cultivating self-awareness and emotional intelligence is an ongoing process. Here are some practical tips that can help you along the way:
- Journal or meditate to become more introspective.
- Practice mindful breathing to stay present and centered.
- Get feedback from others to broaden your perspective.
- Take note of your automatic thoughts to become more aware of your thinking patterns.
With increased self-awareness and emotional intelligence, you can start to let go of what is outside of your control. This doesn’t mean that you won’t experience difficult emotions, but rather that you’ll be better equipped to manage them. Remember, the journey to becoming unbothered starts with yourself.
Developing Healthy Coping Mechanisms
Understanding Coping Mechanisms
Coping mechanisms are strategies we employ to handle the stresses that life throws our way. Some coping mechanisms are effective, while others can actually do more harm than good. To develop healthy coping mechanisms, it is important to first understand what they are and how they work.
- Coping mechanisms are behaviors or thought patterns that we use to manage stress and anxiety.
- They can be either positive or negative.
- Positive coping mechanisms help to reduce stress and promote healthy behaviors.
- Negative coping mechanisms can make stress worse and often lead to unhealthy or self-destructive behavior.
Negative Coping Mechanisms To Avoid
Negative coping mechanisms are often unhealthy or self-destructive behaviors that people engage in to numb themselves from emotional pain, anxiety or stress. These are some of the most common negative coping mechanisms to avoid:
- Substance abuse: Turning to drugs or alcohol to cope with stressors is harmful in the long run. It can lead to addiction, health issues, and make stress and anxiety worse.
- Isolation: Many people withdraw from others when they are stressed, but isolating yourself can make things worse. Lack of social support can cause more stress and anxiety.
- Denial: Avoiding problems doesn’t solve them. Denial often leads to worsening of problems and an increase in negative feelings.
- Procrastination: Delaying something that needs to be done naturally induces stress and anxiety, making it even more difficult to complete the task.
- Self-harm: Often used as a coping mechanism by people who are experiencing overwhelming emotions, self-harm is a dangerous and harmful practice that needs to be addressed immediately.
Healthy Coping Mechanisms To Build And Develop
Developing healthy coping mechanisms is crucial for maintaining good mental health. Here are some healthy, positive ways to cope with stress, anxiety, and other negative feelings:
- Exercise: Physical activity can boost mood and ease feelings of anxiety.
- Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety by bringing awareness to the present moment and our thoughts and feelings.
- Problem-solving: Solving problems one at a time can reduce stress created by unaddressed issues.
- Seeking social support: Having a support system helps alleviate stress and anxiety, providing people with a sense of comfort and emotional security.
- Hobbies: Engaging with a hobby or other creative activity can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
- Therapy: Working with a trained therapist to explore issues causing stress or anxiety can provide healthy coping strategies and techniques.
By recognizing negative coping mechanisms and developing positive coping strategies, anyone can learn to be unbothered even in the most stressful situations. Remember to prioritize a healthy and positive approach to coping and give yourself time and space to recharge and practice self-care.
Maintaining A Mindful And Positive Outlook
Life can be difficult sometimes. It throws different challenges our way. At times it can be easy to get sucked into a downward spiral of negative thoughts and emotions. One of the keys to being unbothered is maintaining a mindful and positive outlook.
The Power Of A Positive Mindset
Having a positive mindset can not only affect your mental health but also your physical health. For instance, studies show that having a positive outlook can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and improve your immune system. Here are some other benefits of having a positive attitude:
- Increased resilience
- Improved mental well-being
- Better problem-solving skills
- Higher levels of motivation
- Better relationships
The Benefits Of Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the moment, without judgment. This practice involves paying attention to your thoughts and feelings without being carried away by them. Here are some benefits of mindfulness:
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Improved focus and concentration
- Better sleep quality
- Improved emotional regulation
- Better decision-making skills
Simple Yet Effective Ways To Maintain A Positive Outlook
It can be tough to maintain a positive outlook, especially in challenging times. However, it can be done. Here are some simple yet effective ways to maintain a positive outlook:
- Gratitude journaling: Write down three things you’re grateful for each day.
- Positive affirmations: Repeat positive phrases to yourself daily
- Exercise: Regular physical activity releases feel-good endorphins.
- Mindful breathing: Take a few deep breaths and focus on the present moment.
- Surround yourself with positivity: Spend time with uplifting people and consume positive content.
Maintaining a mindful and positive outlook can have numerous benefits for your overall wellbeing. It’s not always easy, but with practice, it can become a habit. Start small, be kind to yourself, and celebrate small victories along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions For How To Be Unbothered
How Can I Stop Caring About What Others Think?
To stop caring about what others think, focus on living for your own happiness. Practice gratitude, surround yourself with positivity, and understand that you cannot control others’ opinions. Also, remember to set boundaries and prioritize self-care.
How Do I Deal With Criticism Without Getting Upset?
When faced with criticism, try to detach your emotions from the situation. Analyze the feedback objectively and see if there’s any truth behind it. Focus on improving, not proving your critic wrong. Also, keep in mind that constructive feedback can help you grow.
How Can I Overcome Feelings Of Self-Doubt?
To overcome self-doubt, start by recognizing your strengths and accomplishments. Practice positive self-talk and surround yourself with supportive people. Don’t compare yourself to others, and remember that everyone has their own journey. Finally, don’t be afraid to seek professional help if needed.
How Do I Stop Negative Thoughts From Affecting Me?
When negative thoughts arise, acknowledge them but don’t dwell on them. Reframe your thinking to focus on the positive instead. Practice mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing. Also, try to challenge negative thoughts with evidence to the contrary.
How Do I Set Healthy Boundaries In My Relationships?
Setting healthy boundaries in relationships is crucial for your well-being. Start by prioritizing your own needs and communicating them clearly. Be assertive when necessary, and don’t be afraid to say no. Respect your own boundaries and others will too. Remember, a healthy relationship is built on mutual respect.
Being unbothered is a state of mind that is harder than it sounds. It takes practice, courage, and the willingness to let go of external factors that cause anxiety and stress. By learning to embrace your true self, setting boundaries, practicing mindfulness, letting go of negative thoughts, and focusing on what really matters, you too can become unbothered.
Remember that success doesn’t always come easy, but the rewards of being unbothered are worth the effort. So, take a deep breath, trust the process, and enjoy the journey towards becoming the best version of yourself. In the end, being unbothered is not simply about ignoring or suppressing emotions, it’s about acknowledging them, processing them, and ultimately letting them go.
May your journey towards being unbothered lead you to a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life. | philosophy |
http://www.blogs.linktoexpert.com/MauraSweeney/8/11/2016/71539.aspx | 2017-04-27T14:51:41 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917122174.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031202-00123-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.953185 | 923 | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-17__0__173832921 | en | Call me naive or idealistic, but I have always believed in humanity’s
inherent greatness. Over the years, I’ve concluded something else:
humanity’s greatness remains untapped, untested and sometimes even
Living in a comfortable, default mode, most of us are familiar with
answering to authorities. We follow well-worn paths of commonality and
act as responders rather than creators. Unaware of the greatness within,
we often fail to mine, develop and manifest our better selves.
James Buchanan was familiar with leadership, but he was also tested
by its mettle. The 15th President of the United States, Buchanan
aspired to become comparable in stature to America’s first President,
Progressing from Minister to Russia to Secretary of State and later
Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Buchanan was on his way to diplomatic
stardom. But he was ultimately presented with a momentous challenge: he
rose to President just prior to the Civil War.
Confronted with mounting divisions between America’s northern and
southern factions, he tried without success to strike common ground.
Believing that secession of the states was illegal, he also believed in
the illegality of war.
History reports that Buchanan’s inability to relate to the factions
in his country left him perpetually branded as one of the worst U.S.
Presidents in history.
Rewriting History’s Record
Despite his inability to lead others during the 19th century and help
them see the proverbial light, Buchanan’s quote resonates clearly to us
today. It echoes the spirit of a leader deeply committed to his
A lawyer by trade, James Buchanan believed strongly in the law and
referred to it as his only master. He clearly hoped that America’s
social conscience would arise, averting blinding bloodshed, economic
destruction and deep emotional sorrow.
What sets Buchanan apart for future history was his attempt to elicit higher ideals from both staff and citizenry.
Though Buchanan failed to elicit the better bounty within mankind at
the time, the greatness Buchanan believed in concerning his fellow man
still awaits its virtuous manifestation.
Jesus, Gandhi and MLK, Jr.
At present, I’m easily reminded of the historic Jesus. He taught us
that the ultimate “kingdom” was to be found “within” us. Leaders like
Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. also come to mind for a similar
reason. Eschewing boorish behaviors and human violence, they promoted
human advancement through attainment of inner peace and self-governance.
At some future date, estimations of the formerly denigrated President
Buchanan may be viewed through a higher and more illuminated lens.
Buchanan believed in the inherent greatness of his own people, even
when they were unable to see it in themselves.
As our human race evolves, becoming sufficiently tempered by brute
behavior and the ill effects of war, historic records may be revised.
We may eventually uphold James Buchanan as an early, if misunderstood,
We might even celebrate the man as a harbinger of leadership for a nobler human race.
Like James Buchanan, your present day convictions about humanity’s
inherent greatness may deny you popular accolades. Not everyone may
respond to the greater behaviors and consciousness you promote,
exemplify and elicit.
But your ultimate legacy may burn brighter in years to come.
Beliefs we carry in the inherently better qualities of man stand to
ultimately find their way to the surface. What we see, believe in, and
hope for have the capacity to convey emotionally and energetically to
those around us. Such convictions, consistently applied in our manner
of living, help convert the bruised public psyche and also heal its
As we exude our own greatness, others are offered glimpses of their
greater selves. And they are consequently freed to respond in like
If you’re inspired by quality leadership, give some thought to the idea presented by President Buchanan.
Through elicitation rather than domination, consider how you might aid others in discovering their own greatness, too!
Maura Sweeney is an International Speaker on Influence, Leadership and Emotional Intelligence
Subscribe to her podcasts on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play
Follow her on Twitter | Enroll in her eCourse | philosophy |
https://mickeycohn.com/why-i-coach/ | 2024-02-26T15:30:42 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474660.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226130305-20240226160305-00572.warc.gz | 0.978033 | 519 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__17982721 | en | I first discovered my love of coaching in April 1992 when I participated in a human potential course called the Landmark Forum. From the first experience, I became mesmerized by the clarity and communication skills of the Forum Leader. He would interact with one participant and get to the heart of the matter without once offering an answer, strategy, or a “way” to do anything. Rather he would ask questions and challenge their beliefs and the resulting “AHA” moments weren’t only experienced by the person directly working with the leader, but by many of us in the room as well. It was called a transformation. This inquiry into “what is it to be Human” was compelling, energizing, disruptive, and challenging. It woke me up to my life and what truly might be possible that I had either previously written off or forgotten.
I remember feeling strongly that this transformation spoke to me and touched my heart. I believe the seeds were planted that day for me to be a coach. Or perhaps I was reawakened to my true purpose. Either way, my purpose is to wake people up to their true selves so they may thrive and positively impact the world. My mission is to help people rediscover who they are, and create their lives deliberately, authentically, and joyfully. Coaching is the vehicle and expression through which I choose to fulfill this commitment.
When I am engaged in coaching I am alive, excited, inspired, and connected. Coaching is a joyful experience where I can make a profound difference in peoples’ lives. For me, the client coach relationship is a sacred dance of collaboration and creation, where trust and courage meets love and service to produce results that aren’t predictable or even imagined. The relationship that is created between the two is one of connectedness and acceptance, because judgment, pretense and artifice will not get it done.
The results are often magical and profound! When self-limiting beliefs are recognized for what they are and the client reconnects to their true self, watch out. This subsequent emergence brings with it joy, love, and creativity allowing for magic to happen and anything becomes possible! Imagine…the moment of the insight, the client’s eyes widen, they stop talking…and you can see the weight lift off their shoulders and years drop from their face as they break into a big smile and light up. This is the true payoff for me; I get to experience their breakthrough with them as it happens. That’s why I coach. | philosophy |
https://blog.suny.edu/32256/a-message-to-the-suny-community-on-martin-luther-king-jr-day/ | 2024-04-16T11:50:40 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817081.52/warc/CC-MAIN-20240416093441-20240416123441-00648.warc.gz | 0.965451 | 960 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__55824401 | en | “…And so I stand here to say this afternoon to all assembled here, that in spite of the darkness of this hour, we must not despair. We must not become bitter, nor must we harbor the desire to retaliate with violence. No, we must not lose faith in our brothers and sisters. Somehow we must believe that the most misguided among us can learn to respect the dignity and the worth of all human personality.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke these words on September 18, 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama. He offered them as part of a eulogy for Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Carol Denise McNair: four pre-adolescent children that were murdered during the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing earlier that month. The murder sent shockwaves throughout the nation at a very turbulent time in our history. Debates regarding diversity, inclusion, social welfare and progressivism had reached a fever pitch leaving many to wonder whether or not the American experiment would survive.
Perhaps the most bewildering aspects of this event were the venue and the victims. Sanctuaries had historically been understood as places that merited respect. They were environments where communities of previously unrelated individuals gathered weekly to foster familial bonds and challenge society to evolve to its highest potential. They were locations where charity was frequently extended and social welfare was regularly enhanced. They were sites where the young gleaned the wisdom of their elders, and where elders galvanized the strength of their young. An attack on such a sanctuary was an attack on the institution best poised to catalyze the actualization of America’s highest ideals.
The murder of these four young women of color was beyond horrifying. Children are our society’s most precious asset, our country’s future. Women have been at the forefront of every major social movement that has propelled our nation to be more equitable. Our country’s diversity of experience, philosophy, and talent help make us who we are. The murder of these four black girls called into question the morality of our country and caused every well-meaning American to look themselves in the mirror to determine who they really were.
Today, many of us find ourselves in front of that mirror again. The drastic changes in our country’s political landscape are causing us to contemplate our nation’s morality, our children’s future and the responsibilities of our institutions. Many of us are unsure of what our future holds and what our roles should be. We find ourselves trying to rationalize the unpredictable and strategize the unknown. Many of our constituents are requesting that colleges and universities become sanctuaries that provide students with safety, community, wisdom, and social mobility. I would argue that we already are, and that the occasion of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is an opportune time for us to reaffirm our guiding principles and be certain they continue to govern our actions.
Dr. King’s words remind us that our schools must be immersed in hope as opposed to drowned in cynicism. We must maintain our belief that the education and opportunities we provide are transforming hundreds of thousands of our students every year into citizens that will safeguard and promote a better and stronger society. We must also transmit this hope to our students and ensure that the faith they have in themselves outweighs the fear they will feel at times. We must encourage our students to never descend to the level of retaliation through violent words or actions. Instead, we must empower them to use their intellect to create and ratify evidence-based policy that will continue the expansion of opportunity that has been the hallmark of our nation. We must also not lose sight of our ability to enlighten those who disagree with us through honest yet amicable discourse. We cannot shame or demean people into agreeing with us. Instead, we must compel them through forming relationships, frequently engaging in dialogue and providing sound arguments to support our assertions. As Dr. King reminds us, we must not lose faith in our brothers and sisters. We must care for them enough to compassionately show them the error of their thinking, when it exists, and guide them to greater understanding.
We are educators. We use what we have learned to teach society what it can be. We have a responsibility to protect and promote the progress of our nation. Our classrooms are indeed sanctuaries, where the potential of our students is encouraged to bloom. We must remain faithful to the protection of our pupils and the enlightenment of our adversaries. We must believe, as Dr. King so eloquently said, that even the most misguided among us can learn to respect the dignity and worth of all human personality. If the misguided are to learn this lesson, it must be us who teach it. | philosophy |
http://www.worldmime.com/en/about-mime/interviews-and-articles/103-interviews-and-articles/287-interview-with-samuel-avital.html | 2023-11-30T00:42:08 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100164.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20231130000127-20231130030127-00883.warc.gz | 0.972782 | 2,971 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__248608686 | en | INTERVIEW WITH SAMUEL AVITAL
(By Annette Lust, Author of: "From the Greek Mimes to Marcel Marceau")
"I had both love and hate for my masters. There is pain in learning through experience. We call that "pain" - When you transcend IT, it is no more, and you are you. I studied with Decroux, Marceau, and others in Paris, and this was an excellent-painful-pleasure time in my life. I knew I was in the process of learning something, and still am. I bend and bow to what was given to me according to my capacities to eat; and the ability of my stomach to digest, and gratefully eat with grand appetite. Thus, my style today is the result of the work done devotionally all the time."
- Why did you eventually choose mime as a form of expression rather than, for example, dramatic art which was your first theatrical activity?
Avital: To say the truth, MIME chooses me. We both choose each other. Due to Theatre-Dance activity in Israel and others places, I have found movement to be my vessel of expression. Due to different experiences in my life, while people were talking without saying the essence of IT, due to noise of our time; and seeing actors SPEAK without ACTING, I retired to the realm of silence - MIME, and trained the "instrument body" to be a symphony of being to be played.
- What is the role of mime in regular theatre? In dance?
Avital: MIME is the root, the essence of theatre. The word actor comes from the verb - "to act." Every actor who is dedicated to his work must have an elaborate training in MIME in order to be complete in total expression. It is not merely imitation and gesticulation. We all (including dancers), work with this body-instrument, and must learn the ways of each stream.
- You are both a mime and pantomime actor according to drama critics. How do you distinguish between these two terms?
Avital: Let the drama critics call me, or label me whatever they wish. The truth is one - MIME is an art form communicating the essence of life in silence with harmony of body and mind. It is an art form of becoming. That is why a Mime becomes like a butterfly while working, or any object he is touching. Man created symbols, word signs in order to communicate. If the drama critic swims in the confusion of dividing, I, the Mime artist, unites IT again. So let the drama critics play with WORDS. In my opinion, there are no mime critics. The viewer sees the experience, experiences it, and then reports on it with words and symbols to be printed. He is not a critic, he is a reporter. How on earth can you give words to an experience? The language of an experience is the experience it self. Words can help express your experience, but that is not all.
- Your use of Mime as human satire calls to mind the mime of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Do you use satire as a means of educating the spectator itself as well as an artistic means?
Avital: Using MIME as a satire, comedy or tragedy is still an important tool for communicating life experiences, our personalities, the pettiness of our kind, and the unawareness of man in the process of destroying him self. All of these are better expressed as satire. To reflect our image in silence is much more effective than doing it with words. Mime unites in it all forms of acting - satire, comedy, tragedy, etc., and points out ways to be whole and harmonious. An educational tool? Yes, it can embrace the heart of everything. Using this cosmic language as an art form can teach many truths - Ways of being with one self. As the Greeks and Romans did, we of this time, adapt this way to our environment. And as an artist, mimes reflect like a mirror to serve as a stimulus for self awakening.
- Mime seems to be a form of religion or philosophy for you. Could you elaborate on this?
Avital: When you discover what your life work is going to be you swim into it. Mime teaches me to live harmoniously. Religion is a form of being, so, Mime has become for me a form of being at peace with myself. Due also to the mystical upbringing in my childhood and my journeys in this world, mime encourages me and forces me to go deeper into myself. To express my essence in this art form to people. That reflection of me into you, you into me, is the unity of communication, and above all in silence. Filling the space with silence. With human feeling - colors of the painting. Mime is painting in space - I am the brush, the violin, the word, the form of condensation of the cell in the body form here to unite other dots in the space which is none other than me reflecting IT.
Q . Mime, for you, is also a means of personal growth for the individual. Could you elaborate on this?
Avital: Sure, that also embraces the question of growth. Mime can teach awareness, sensitivity, harmony in movement and self balance of muscle and breath, soft-flesh and hard-bone. I have introduced this training to Growth Centers in their country and actually in my school in Boulder, Colorado. Whenever I go to perform, or lead workshops in Mime, the beautiful possibilities of what Mime has to offer in this line of self-growth, self realization, are presented.
- You believe that words are a limiting factor in communication. How so?
Avital: Let me say first, I do not have anything against words. It is about the abuse that I am concerned. Speech is an energy, and it must be channeled like electricity in wires. It is limiting like any other means of communication if abused. Every art form is limited in some way or another, but in that limitation, when we expand into it, we find the unlimited.
Let me tell you a story that probably was a major catalyst in my life. You know, stories convey many doors of opening for seeing and experiencing. They elevate our level of consciousness to new heights if you allow it. My grandfather, sage and Kabbalist, used to tell me many stories. One of them was this: "When we are born, we are given a certain amount of words to USE in our lifetime, and so we have to WEIGH what, and how we are going to use them. Any words that are used are counted, and we must be careful not to finish them early in our lifetime. Otherwise, we awake one morning and find that we have finished our quota, and become mute - no more words in our bank."
So this teaches that speech is an important energy to USE and not ABUSE (as the case in our time). I grew up being careful of what I say, in order not to face the situation of having no more words at my disposal. So MIME presented itself to me, speaking less and doing more.
So I say, Words - USE them only when necessary, and in their use go to the root of it - to the essence of what you want to say, and not just blah! blah! blah! Words are just symbols of the essence to recognize and distinguish between things in order to communicate only. Take for example the word "water." It symbolizes that living-flowing-liquid gives life in the desert. If you should "water" a million times, your thirst will not be quenched until you have the essence called water. Only then, can the individual himself KNOW when they are USED or ABUSED. I love words, too.
- You are a "street mime on stage" in that you bring characters from the street to the stage, rather than characters to the spectator in the street. Could you comment on this?
Avital: Yes, I bring to the stage, (the altar), the reflection of man on the street; and also man, his life and dreams everywhere. Mimes who go on the street to reflect both are valuable according to their motive of doing IT. A theatre hall is a house. The audience comes as a guest. I serve them with a reflection of themselves. They eat in silence, laugh, cry, etc. That is a fantastic process of learning. So after eating an apple, that apple becomes me. The communication between Mime and audience is focused in one space, and not scattered in the confused street. Let me bring the confused street to show IT to an assemblage of people we call audience. Mime needs focused attention - a stillness in motion that can be given an independent space in the house of theatre.
- Could you differentiate (or compare) between your mime expression or style and that of (a) Decroux (pure abstract mime), (b) Barrault (total theatre), and (c) Marceau (continuation of the Dubreau tradition plus modern mime), not as the so-called French School but as individuals each using a very different expression. Could you also differentiate between your style and that of other well-known mimes?
Avital: Your question of comparing my work at this time in my life with my former masters is intriguing, but I will try to face it in my way. When you study with someone who knows his field, you are hungry, you eat, you are full, it's yours - it's in you, it becomes you. With the infinite experiences in life, it takes your own form, shape of your thinking.
You allow the change to happen in you. One spark absorbs the other, like two cells becoming one. This analogy of eating-learning, a separate thing becomes one, digesting, and becoming is to make clear what I say. I had both love and hate for my masters. There is pain in learning through experience.
When you transcend IT, it is no more, and you are you. I studied with Decroux, Marceau, and others in Paris, and this was an excellent-painful-pleasure time in my life. I knew I was in the process of learning something, and still am. I bent and bowed to what was given to me according to my capacity to eat, digest and "stomach" what was given to me; and I gratefully ate with grand appetite.
Thus, my style today is the result of the work done devotionally all the time. I am presenting the man, unaware of his life, in the process of becoming aware of himself. The man entrapped in the labyrinth of living, slave to symbols, away from his center, struggling to reach that center, to be whole and integrated. When in my show I present the image of people taking drugs, I reflect, and they laugh.
Then, there is the man who is learning Yoga from a book who tries to do physical exercises and has pain in his body because he is unaware or because he is following the craze of fashionable trends. There is also the man who is lost in the desert of technology, and the robot who does what he is being told without having realized his dignity of being human, or being in touch within his center....That is the image I am reflecting, because I live in it - An epoch of transition and expansion of consciousness. I mirror the soul of my Creator on stage.
When I perform, it is my time to pray, to recite the poem of creation with this body - the container. The cells are dancing within me the rhythm of the universe. I may say that I unite all styles of my teachers, blending my character and experiences in life, but, it is me that is actually doing it. After preparing a dish, you eat it. It's you. With your own flavor. And it is tasty.
The difference that can be made between Marceau and me is in the experiences in life that Marceau has and I have not, or that I have and he has not. So, we use the same medium, with another form, another word. If one writes about his love experience, it will be different from the other writer. For the same reason love is one, but, we experience it differently according to the total events of life at that moment. We are different, yet we are the same. I represent another aspect of being than Marceau, yet it is the same. Mime is the art of UNITING, by dividing in order again to unite etc., etc., etc.
- Has the American public a better appreciation for mime today than in the past?
Avital: According to my voyages here, and the audiences encountered - yes. For a few years I have been living in this physical space called America; and I am grateful to it in so many ways. Especially to the beautiful vast audiences - children and adults of this country.
I find the responsive ability here very significant in the sense of willing to see new forms, and rediscover again this beautiful old-new art form - Mime - and its infinite possibilities to teach us in a humorous way how to laugh at ourselves, learn how simple it is to be happy.
There are very few Mimes, not only in America, but in the world today. Each works according to his or her own understanding. If the audience see different aspects of this, they will come more and more to enjoy and learn. So, every Mime must be very good at what he or she is doing, not only technically, but also cosmically.
Mime is the cosmic language. It is a business of life. It never ends - it is constantly aware of the change that is happening. A total observation of the surroundings, and of yourself that makes the Mime a better instrument, or vessel to realize and to release the cosmic energy to others with love and devotion, so that we live in a harmonious world, so that we may know who we really are .
For this contributing text WMO whishes to thank LE CENTRE DU SILENCE and Samuel Avital, Director (www.indranet.com/lcds.html) Copyright protected | philosophy |
https://www.bookmundi.com/companies/himalayan-hermitage/c973 | 2022-11-29T08:55:16 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446710690.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20221129064123-20221129094123-00347.warc.gz | 0.924078 | 342 | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-49__0__134504439 | en | Our team offers tailor-made and pre-packaged pilgrimage journeys in the Himalayan regions of Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and India. Our expertise comes from merging western and eastern perspectives. We explore the hallmarks of Himalayan Buddhist cultures — philosophy, history and various cultivation practices, such as mindfulness, compassion and wisdom. With this we offer a unique introduction to the spiritual heritage of the Himalayan region by becoming pilgrims (rather than tourists) as we immerse ourselves experientially into the raw, powerful environments and uplifting cultures of the Himalayas. Our facilitators are well versed in 'Buddhist Studies' (philosophy, history, and language) and have had a daily meditation practice for at least 10 years. The idea of 'pilgrimage' here is of an introspective and non-religious inclination where our aim is to provide everyone of all faiths and cultures access to the rich wisdom traditions of the Himalayas.
Why book with Us
Himalayan Hermitage is founded on the belief that there are countless, unique offerings particular to this mountain region that are extremely relevant and useful to us modern, urban people who are living busy lives, where we easily get disconnected from our heart and mind. We offer an introduction to some of these ancient methods of meditation, yoga and mind-training practices that originated from this part of the world, combined with hikes and time spent in the incredible, serene nature of the Himalayas.
Tours and Holidays by Himalayan Hermitage
- Best Price Guarantee
- Hassle-free booking
- No booking or credit card fees | philosophy |
http://misssusanlin.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-rose-for-valentines-day.html | 2018-12-19T07:39:31 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-51/segments/1544376831715.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20181219065932-20181219091927-00032.warc.gz | 0.959121 | 134 | CC-MAIN-2018-51 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-51__0__101579393 | en | Romance can be experienced in many different ways, whether enjoyed as a couple, with close friends - even family - or during a quiet moment of reflection as an individual in this wonderful world.
I love this ethnic Uighur dance because it celebrates the idea of romance and all the giddy possibilities that come with it, but it's enacted through the bright imagination of one. The inspiration? A red rose. That's all it takes, sometimes!
Wishing You a wonderful Valentine's Day, wherever you are, whoever you're with (or not!), and however you choose to spend your day. An excuse isn't necessary, really. Celebrate life! | philosophy |
https://www.sigact.org/prizes/g%C3%B6del/1997.html | 2023-09-27T18:36:27 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510319.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20230927171156-20230927201156-00169.warc.gz | 0.953205 | 246 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__229410920 | en | The Halpern-Moses paper provided a new and effective way of reasoning about distributed systems, providing rigorous and powerful new techniques based on epistemic logic. When reasoning informally about distributed protocols, researchers naturally think (and speak) in terms of agents "knowing" certain facts about the global system state. The key insight of Halpern and Moses was that this informal notion of knowledge could be given a rigorous mathematical formulation. Using this, they delineated various forms of group knowledge, including common knowledge, which can be viewed as a limiting form of group knowledge. They illustrated these using clever examples, and showed for instance that the distributed task of coordinated attack cannot be performed without common knowledge, and that common knowledge is impossible when communication is not guaranteed. The paper is exceptionally clear and accessible to a wide audience. It not only has had a profound impact on the study of distributed computing, but also on areas as diverse as security, where knowledge is a key concern of cryptographic protocols, and artificial intelligence, where the paper's concrete computational interpretation of knowledge has reinvigorated whole lines of research into knowledge and goals. In impact and originality, it represents an ideal to which all papers in theoretical computer science should aspire. | philosophy |
https://durhamfreemasons.org/archives/tag/chaplaincy | 2024-04-21T20:37:55 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817819.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20240421194551-20240421224551-00298.warc.gz | 0.931966 | 652 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__18556998 | en | The world around us is filled with both the joyful adverts, films, and songs of the festive season and also the sombre echoes of conflict and pain coming into our homes through the media. In the midst of this paradox, in the Christmas season we are called to reflect on the message of Christmas—a message of hope, peace, and love, a message shared by Christians, Jews and Muslims and especially Freemasonry.
The world has known more than its fair share of strife, and the echoes of war seem to drown out the carols that should be filling the air. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the darkness that surrounds us. Yet Christmas is a reminder that even in the bleakest of times, a glimmer of divine light can pierce through the shadows.
The story of the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated on Christmas Day, was a moment of profound significance. In a humble stable, amidst the chaos of the world, a child was born who would bring light to the darkest corners of human existence. The story of Christmas is one of hope born out of despair, of peace breaking through the noise of conflict, and of love that transcends the barriers of hatred.
On Christmas day as we exchange gifts and share meals with our loved ones; -if we are fortunate to have family or friends nearby, we should not forget those who are experiencing the harsh realities of war. It is in these moments of collective pain that our faith is tested, and our response becomes a testament to the true meaning of Christmas.
The Christmas story challenges us to be agents of peace no matter what our religious beliefs, in a world torn apart by violence,. It encourages us to seek ways to extend love and compassion to those who are suffering, to be the bearers of a message that transcends borders and conflicts. In the face of war, let us be peacemakers, striving to bring about the harmony that the angels sang about on that holy night. As we look ahead to the new year, uncertain of what it may bring, let us carry the Christmas spirit with us.
May the light that shone in Bethlehem guide our path in the days and months to come. In the face of global challenges, personal struggles, and the pains of the world, let us be beacons of hope, radiating the love that was first expressed in the form of a vulnerable child in a manger. Let us also recommit ourselves especially as Freemasons to working towards a world where peace prevails over conflict, where love triumphs over hatred, and where the light of hope dispels even the deepest darkness.
Words from the Carol
“It “came upon the Midnight clear”
But with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring; –
Oh hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!
Best wishes and Blessings for Christmas and the New Year.
Julian Ward and Rev Jon Whalley, Provincial Grand Chaplains | philosophy |
https://www.bluemonarch.ca/strategy/ | 2022-07-01T08:10:22 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656103922377.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20220701064920-20220701094920-00568.warc.gz | 0.931882 | 269 | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-27__0__204553254 | en | Working with different forms of change in diverse clients, industries, and cultures strengthens our ability to adapt and influence change. We guide organizations to be better versions of themselves – to compete in the world’s markets. We visualize inspirational futures through strategy and investment, shape organizational structures and systems to evolve, and we guide sustainable change.
Blue Monarch Management delivers exceptional value to clients aspiring to transform, compete, and perform in world markets. We tailor solutions to be bold, thoughtful, researched. We build trust through small, inspiring acts.
We will master change to create ripples around the world.
We are genuinely interested in our work, our clients, and our partners. We read, study, inquire, and develop ourselves.
Integrity, acumen, and ethics are built into our DNA.
We are resourceful, flexible, and nimble. We practice an evolutionary approach. We perceive the needs of others and we help. We see the world with balanced time horizons, breadth, and depth of vision. We have the will to inspire, lead and persevere through difficult change. There is humility in our approach.
Philosophically, we are comfortable with failing fast to accelerate learning. We deliver quickly and relentlessly focus on value to our clients.
We play together and have fun in all our work. | philosophy |
http://unirvm.com/intpart.htm | 2023-06-05T07:49:47 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224651325.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20230605053432-20230605083432-00451.warc.gz | 0.931021 | 2,301 | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-23__0__133731069 | en | This is the vision: world-class schooling in a sustainable and international
village that is holistic, pragmatic and authentic.
Bali, that unique island boasting a singular combination of scenic
beauty, cultural wealth, and liberal-mindedness, should be the location
for an educational landscape fulfilling all standards of excellence,
which can serve as model of the philosophy developed by UNESCO for an
Open Learning Community.
This involves a network of various complementing learning venues, each
designed with the input gained from the world's best ideas and experiences.
Here in Bali a complete artistic concept should emerge, to show how
the meaningful education of children, adolescents, and young adults
from Indonesia and many other countries of the world can help prepare
them for a creative and responsible role in the world, meeting the complex
demands of today and tomorrow. The school starts out with the
claim of competing to be the best school in the world. It doesn't
strive for exclusiveness, but rather aspires to be a transferable model:
other similar communities should emerge in other places on the globe.
Elsewhere there are enough children, parents, and innovative teachers
who dream of a new kind of school setting which can truly combine living
and learning, stimulate the joy of discovery, and release human creative
powers, thus optimally encouraging and promoting the best in young people.
National, International and Intercultural Education
Intercultural education means educating for international understanding
right at one's own doorstep. Bali School for Life will be a place where
children of different nations, religions, and socio-cultural origins
can learn to live together in an atmosphere of tolerance and solidarity.
Intercultural education means on the one hand making sense of your own
culture, finding your identity in your own culture - to understand culture
not as something from a museum, but a living force and source of new
impulses without ripping out the old moorings. On the other hand, intercultural
education includes the ability of looking beyond your own horizons to
comprehend that we live in one world together, and desire to accept
each other in peace and mutual freedom.
Associated School of UNESCO
In 1974 the 18th meeting of the UNESCO General Conference passed its
"Recommendation for International Understanding, Co-operation and
Peace and Education Relating to Human Rights and Fun¬damental Freedoms
through the Teaching of Ethical and Humanistic Values". As an Associated
School of UNESCO, the Bali School for Life intends to make its particular
mark in the implementation of these recommendations, and to share its
experience in the form of teaching materials with other interested schools
Frontal class teaching will be a seldom occurrence in the Bali School
for Life. Instead, relying on the knowledge gained in modern learning
theory, a researching, discovering, active kind of learning is favored.
Learning will take place individually or in small teams, and the biography
and learning background of every child will be taken into account. In
contrast to repetitive learning which takes place within parameters
of false security (where problem presentation, solution route, and solution
itself are always already known beforehand), here the learning processes
are of a much more open nature. Naturally there will still be some ‘right’
and ‘wrong’ answers. But in real-life situations there are
often a number of different options which have to be compared and considered
before making a decision. In any case, learning in connection with entrepreneurship
also means learning how to think strategically while dealing with uncertainties,
practicing to take calculated risks.
There is a veritable arsenal of teaching methods and forms of pedagogical
organization that serve these goals: teaching in small groups, learning
and acting in projects, open or informal education, orienting the time
frame to the task at hand and the current project (and not the other
way around), team teaching, mixed-aged groups and cross-generational
learning (where it makes sense to do so). Classrooms can be transformed
into learning workshops.
At the same time, the limits of traditional school spaces will
be dissolved: all the students will work with laptops and personal computers,
and be able to communicate directly with teachers and other students
electronically. Everyone will have access to libraries all over the
world. In this interactive learning development, the concept of "classroom"
will surpass the traditional classroom. In developing their projects,
students will also be able to make use of multimedia designs, computer
assisted drafting, the information highway, and graphic and desktop
virtuelle Dozenten - Demo
In this regard it is important to correctly evaluate the instrumental
role played by electronic media: Such tools are an enormous help but
not an end in itselves. Real experience is always more important than
The Bali School for Life will serve to create a culture of entrepreneurship
with its program (the curriculum) as well as with its organization and
structure (the setting). Entrepreneurship is understood here as a fundamental
force in the socially and ecologically responsible formation of the
world: ethics pay.
The enterprising Bali School for Life will be trying to promote from
childhood a visionary who recognizes a problem, develops an entrepreneurial
idea arising from it, and tests and implements that idea on the market.
The Bali School for Life will support children, adolescents, and involved
adults in further developing entrepreneurial ideas. It is a resource
for the generation of such ideas - the plan is to realize projects locally
with local partners, hence contributing to community development. It
would certainly be desirable when students who have graduated from the
school take their ideas with them as spin-offs to be implemented elsewhere.
Entrepreneurial qualifications are not to be equated with management
qualifications. The training of managers aims at creating dependent
employees who can rationally implement certain prescribed goals. A
manager, no matter how good he may be as an organizer, is not yet an
entrepreneur who opens up new horizons. A capable businessman
will consider such problems as environmental pollution, chemicals in
food products, and the situation in developing countries, and take these
issues into account in decision-making. He will attempt to deal with
social problem areas and trends, as they are often better recognized
by outsiders and non-conformists. New ideas shift the point of view
of reality, and often enough creative persons are thought to be crazy.
A young person who recognizes social problems, confronts them
and wants to do something practicable about the situation, is to some
extent comparable to an artist. Just as in art, where innovative performance
not unseldomly demands a certain obsession with an idea, and like an
artist, who wants to project his own style to the world, an entrepreneur
with a new idea, product, or sales form must often withstand a phase
of social rejection. Again and again one hears about such chapters
in the personal biographies of great artists and writers as well as
famous entrepreneurs of the first generation. This phase, often bringing
with it personal sacrifices, daring experiments and the pitying smiles
of the establishment, develops into a stimulus and sense of risk in
the life of an artist or entrepreneur. Without such uncertain beginnings,
when new ideas are developed and promoted despite obstacles, demanding
much in the way of courage and stamina in the face of odds, later success
is generally not forthcoming. The quality of the entrepreneurial idea
is of decisive importance here.
Entrepreneurs as artists who contribute to the enrichment of life do
not create mountains of garbage or drive the production of products
through the roof, but devote themselves to non-destructive areas.
Entrepreneurs in the spirit of intelligent modesty become inventors
and supporters of products and services that put a stop to overproduction
and the squandering of resources, and so ensuring that quality of life
is increased rather than reduced.
A particular characteristic of the Bali School for Life's community
education approach will be the participation in the UNESCO project "Transforming
Community Schools into Open Learning Communities". The goal is
to explore how the community school can itself become an open learning
community and, at the same time, become a focal point for enabling,
supporting and connecting other learning communities within a larger
The Bali School for Life can be considered as a polis in the sense
borrowed from ancient Greece: a small-scale model of a democratic state.
The pupils increasingly take over functions and responsibilities and
share these with the adults. Life in the Open Learning Community offers
many chances of bringing a strong sense of self and an equally strong
sense of community into a healthy relationship with each other, and
preparing decisions by means of a democratic process of consensus building.
Democracy does not exclude leadership - on the contrary, democracy depends
on good leadership. Business enterprises also need strong leadership
and the loyalty of their employees, but it is to the advantage of any
business to keep up a meaningful dialog with its teams. The leading
international boarding schools, founded by such personalities as Kurt
Hahn, have long recognized the pedagogical opportunities offered by
communal life. There are elected offices and duties, school parliaments
and school speakers. Politics is learned by assuming responsibility
in the community.
The members of the Open Learning Village will orient themselves on
social virtues represented by universal ethics that can be understood
by people of various social and cultural heritage. Among such universal
truths are for instance values such as respect for others, the innate
worth of every human being, truthfulness, respect for nature, fairness,
the readiness and ability to help, consideration and attention of others,
willingness to work and achieve, a modest bearing, the ability to abstain
and aspire to a certain intelligent asceticism, peaceable behavior,
solidarity with the weak, perseverance, and the ability, as Kurt Hahn
puts it, to learn to assert yourself for something you think is right
"in spite of discomforts, dangers, boredom, momentary impulses,
or stress, in spite of the scorn from others, in spite of general skepticism."
The Bali School for Life will support children, adolescents, and adults
to practice their own religion and learn more about it in religious
classes. The experience of one's own religion can lay the foundations
for respect and tolerance of the religious convictions of others.
The Bali School for Life will be a development workshop and the results
can be fed nationally but also into the international transfer of innovation.
Its concept has been classified by UNESCO as “much needed world
class innovative effort in the field of education” and “new
standard of educational excellence for the world community of the 21st | philosophy |
http://chadharper.net/?p=89 | 2019-05-23T05:33:01 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232257100.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20190523043611-20190523065611-00346.warc.gz | 0.955334 | 401 | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-22__0__26317987 | en | We, by design, are creatures of habit. There is a specific routine that we follow every morning. We reach out automatically to turn on a light. We do not think about where the light switch is, we just reach out to where we know it is. It has been proven that it takes about 21 days to form a habit in your life. When you move into a new house after 21 days you automatically reach for the light switch without thinking about where it is at. Before then you rummage around in the dark until you find it.
This can work for the good or the bad in our lives. As creatures of habit we tend to allow bad habits to form without being consciously aware of it. We overeat instead of stopping when we are full. We react to situations by lashing out instead of stepping back and evaluating. These are common bad habits. Ways in which we act without thinking about it. On the contrary, good habits do not just accidently form. We have to work hard to establish good habits in our lives. Imagine though if we knowingly applied this principle to our lives. We decided to make our lives full of good habits.
The most important good habit we can have in our lives is prayer. We read in Acts 10:2 that Cornelius was a man who, “…had the habit of prayer.” If there is one thing that will change your life it is a habit of prayer. A habit of prayer can single-handedly replace the bad habits in your life. Each of us should strive to make prayer a habit. 21 days is all that it takes to do this. Imagine the difference a habit of prayer would be in your life. It would be better for each of us to have a habit of 1 minute of prayer every day than to pray for an hour “when we have the time to”. Make it your priority to establish a new, good habit in your life and make it a habit of prayer. | philosophy |
https://technopark.org.za/news/the-value-of-happiness-at-work-and-how-to-boost-it/ | 2023-12-11T12:28:37 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679511159.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20231211112008-20231211142008-00706.warc.gz | 0.946744 | 1,176 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__287652532 | en | Is Happiness Part of Your Corporate Culture?
In the modern knowledge economy, human resources represent the key intangible assets that differentiate businesses from their competitors. This is the perspective constructed by sociologist Peter Drucker when he noted that the most valuable asset of the 21st century institution would no longer be production equipment, but knowledge workers and their productivity.
Employee efficiency and talent determine the pace and growth of organisations. Each individual possesses a different skill set and experience that cannot be easily replaced once they leave. It is therefore no shock that the leading lady of global cosmetics, Mary Kay Ash, stated that a “company is only as good as the people it keeps”.
The key question is how to keep and nurture the valuable human assets that form the foundation of your business’s success. In other words – how do you enable happiness in your company?
How Do You Define Happiness in the Workplace?
The concept of happiness at work started gaining traction as recently as a few decades ago, along with drastic shifts in the industrial sector.
Evidence from psychology links better employee performance to happiness. From day-to-day health, productivity and career advancement to boosting your company’s bottom line, happiness is a precursor of success rather than an outcome.
But how can we define such a subjective thing as “happiness”?
In their edX.org course The Science of Happiness, Dacher Keltner and Emiliana R. Simon-Thomas paint the following picture of happy people:
They have an easy time feeling good and recovering from adversity; they have close, supportive social connections; and they believe that their presence in the world matters.
For these two scientists of happiness, the concept does not denote a momentary emotional state, nor does it allude to something attained through a series of positive experiences. Rather, Keltner and Simon-Thomas view happiness as an “overarching quality of life that is rich in a variety of emotions, even including episodes of anger, sadness, and stress”. Central to their concept of happiness are situations that fuel a deeper sense of purpose and result in more meaningful connections with others.
When it comes to work, happiness then relates to feeling an overall sense of enjoyment that allows individuals to calmly handle setbacks, connect with colleagues and clients, and appreciate the purpose of their work. In their research Keltner and Simon-Thomas have found that happier workers are healthier and more driven, creative, productive and innovative. Happier workplaces in turn report less employee turnover, lower health costs, fewer mistakes and workplace accidents, and greater employee loyalty and business growth.
Having defined happiness and established the benefits to businesses, how can we go about instilling a culture of happiness within organisations?
Keltner and Simon-Thomas outline Four Key Pillars for us to work with.
The Four Key Pillars of Happiness at work
Why are so many people dissatisfied with their work even when receiving healthy compensation?
According to Barry Schwartz, we want to see how our progress is tied to meaningful, important, and self-transcendent impact in the world, rather than just a paycheque. This is a sense of purpose, which, according to Kira Newman, can be cultivated by “upholding our values or making people’s lives better”. David Ulrich, professor of business at the University of Michigan, takes the view that successful organisations enable their employees to be completely fulfilled by finding meaning and purpose in their work experience.
Therefore, rather than merely focusing on financial incentives to encourage performance, provide an environment in which workers can cultivate personal hope, which in turn creates value for customers and investors.
Keltner and Simon-Thomas reveal that a majority of working people around the world feel disengaged from the work that they do.
They recommend three ways to boost engagement:
- By introducing playfulness, creativity and fun.
- By giving people more ownership over their day-to-day schedule, tasks, and professional development, and offering opportunities to learn and grow.
- By adopting a less rigid work schedule and making the office an immersive workspace where employees can engage with what they do to the point of losing-track-of-time.
Resilience denotes the ability to handle, adapt to and bounce back from setbacks. It is not a preventative set of actions, but rather a tool set with which to manage challenges. On the one hand, a workplace can cultivate employee resilience by constructing an environment where workers learn to stay in the moment and deal with setbacks intelligently. On the other hand, when workers are given the opportunity to detach from work, whether at home or on holiday, they become more capable of handling stress and building their resilience on their return to the office.
Keltner and Simon-Thomas note that “we’re happier at work when we tap into our innate tendency towards kindness — orienting our thoughts, feelings, and actions towards care for others and genuinely supportive social bonds”.
When organisational architects instill values such as treating others with dignity and respect, extending empathy and compassion, practicing gratitude, and constructively managing conflicts, kindness becomes the cornerstone of a culture of happiness in the workplace.
Inject Happiness Into Your Corporate Culture
The benefits of injecting happiness into your corporate culture are clear. Humans are not merely assets but people with wants and aspirations. While some of these needs can be satisfied by money, many can’t.
Building a work environment on the foundation of purpose, resilience, engagement and kindness can buttress your business’s potential for success and help to ensure that you retain the valuable skills that positively impact your bottom line.
Now, how central a concept is happiness in your workplace environment? | philosophy |
http://www.peterazrak.com/profile.aspx | 2013-05-18T16:38:20 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382560/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.949254 | 396 | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2013-20__0__33794028 | en | Visual Pathway to Spirit
A reciprocal relationship is at the heart of what
I have come to know as “looking through the spiritual eye.” It
is born out of silence, a place not easy to come to—the mind
chatters—a distraction seems too delicious to deny. Doubt
sneaks in. I must quiet myself enough to be caught off guard by
Nature’s beauty, not as I envision it to be, but just as
it is. Nature asks me to listen for the whisper of something much
greater than just me. Then, once again, in the stillness Nature
heals me with her beauty. For it is Nature’s beauty resonating
within that speaks to the soul’s longing for things divine.
Humility calls me to emptiness. Humility is the acceptance of
things just as they are. Surrender to the moment. See images in
a new way. I am drawn to an unexpected experience through the lens.
It’s almost as though Nature’s beauty takes over the
photographic process, and I manage to step out of the way just
in time. Open to her beauty and grace, I am grateful.
Letting go of thoughts and distractions means cultivating compassion
for myself and for life all around me. In this way I open my heart
and allow myself to become intimately connected with the object
of my lens, whether a sweeping landscape or a single flower. As
that happens I am moved to a deeper place within and then as an
image offers itself, I find myself willing to receive and accept
what I am given.
In this approach, the image is discovered. The
guide is no longer the scene I gaze upon rather it is the stirring
of the heart. Indeed it is Nature who allows herself to be seen
as the spiritual eye within me becomes the lens. | philosophy |
http://somechattybroad.tumblr.com/post/20673603595/on-language | 2014-10-21T23:58:13 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-42/segments/1413507445159.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20141017005725-00178-ip-10-16-133-185.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.914298 | 942 | CC-MAIN-2014-42 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2014-42__0__19720055 | en | cissexism : The assumption that a cis person’s gender is more authentic, natural or desirable than a trans person’s gender; the belief that a person’s assigned-at-birth gender is always their real gender. For example: treating a trans woman as “really a man.”
transphobia : A prejudiced or bigoted hatred of trans people or anyone who violates gender norms; the institutional system resulting from this bias. Cis people can also experience gender policing and gender-based violence.
binarism : The belief that there are only two genders; the erasure of non-binary people. Connected to cissexism, but distinct. (Some trans women and men can be very binarist!)
cissexualism : The belief that transsexual body modification is wrong, unnatural or “gross.” Even some trans folks can be guilty of this. I’m not sure what the opposite (morally condemning a trans people who does not medically-transition) would be called, but it exists too!
trans-misogyny : The hatred of trans women; the fear of femininity/femaleness when expressed by MAAB people. For example: when someone makes fun of a MAAB person for wearing a purse, it is both transphobic and misogynistic.
cis privilege : Never having to face discrimination or violence because your gender varies from what you were assigned-at-birth. For example: cis people are not required to provide proof in order to have their documents display their correct gender. Thus (if they are documented citizens), they are able to enter bars, sign up for a bank account, cross borders, and apply for jobs without worrying about transphobic harassment.
passing privilege : The temporary privilege that some trans people are able to receive if the people around them assume they are cis. Some trans folks have this more than others, and it plays a big role in who faces the greatest levels of violence and discrimination. (Note: It is transphobic to imply that a trans woman is “passing as a woman.” She is a woman… what you probably mean to say is that she is “passing as a cis woman.”)
cis-centrism or cis-supremacy : The social system that ensures cis people have privilege and power over trans people by perpetuating cissexist beliefs. For example: When cis doctors, psychiatrists, feminists, politicians, lawyers, queer theorists and religious leaders define what a trans person is or is not.
gender self-determination : The ability to figure out who we are and what makes us comfortable, and to make autonomous decisions about our bodies, without facing criminalization, discrimination, degradation, poverty or violence.
trans liberation : The movement to collectively improve the living conditions of people who are marginalized by cis-centrism and create a world in which gender self-determination is true for everyone.
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https://tobiaszimmer.net/projects/identical-walk.php | 2023-03-31T16:16:23 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296949644.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20230331144941-20230331174941-00288.warc.gz | 0.957167 | 1,388 | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-14__0__40557960 | en | Performance and Generative Art
In pandemic lockdown, taking a walk is one of the few activities to escape the isolation of one‘s own four walls. A walk takes us out into fresh air, to the park or to the city. Regardless of age, it serves as a recreational and physical activity. After all, in view of the circumstances, walking has become an indispensable routine in everyday life for many, which contributes significantly to maintaining one‘s own life structure.
In his work Identical Walk, Tobias Zimmer uses the example of walking to question it as a routine and how it can be integrated into everyday life. His focus is on repeating one and the same walk as precisely as possible over 21 days. Starting from Galerie Eigenheim Weimar, Tobias Zimmer performs his Identical Walk from 10th to 30th of March, between 13:55 and 14:36. His self-developed Pacemaker records his steps via microphones and plays them back as acoustic walking instructions via loudspeaker, during the walk on the following day. The data obtained by the Pacemaker (audio & gps) subsequently generates various artifacts, that gradually fill the gallery‘s exhibition space as objects.
Over time, the steps taken superimpose in the audio track. During the walks, they mix with the ambient sounds to form a constantly densifying sound collage, in which the boundary between signal and noise blurs more and more, while it is carried into and through public space by Tobias Zimmer. Simultaneously in the exhibition space, the generated objects document and reflect the progression of the routine as well as the exactness of its repetition.
In an attempt to precisely follow this technologized and meditative routine, Identical Walk opens up a thematic field of tension between questions of self-optimization, control technology, and contemplation. Identical Walk makes algorithmic processes tangible, that have long been part of our daily live and invisibly accompany and determine them. Internalized, algorithmic ways of thinking and behavior are turned inside out and manifest themselves for the general public as a performance and art exhibition that takes a critical stance on the implications of a fully planned and controlled life. Identical Walk examines an everyday activity in its ambivalence between a rigid notion of self-optimization and the acceptance of change as the only constant.
Intro Text: Michael Fischer
The exhibition consists of three interrelated works: The Pacemaker rests in the gallery between the walks as sculptural piece. The Walking Document is a series of cartographic sketches, which are drawn by a pen plotter in real time while walking. Finally, the generative video installation Virtual Walking, which transfers the supposedly identical walks and their deviations into a virtual world. 3D-avatars endlessly repeat the walks, based on the GPS and audio data captured while walking. As generative artifacts, these three elements preserve the traces of the Identical Walks and open up an aesthetic access to their repetition and difference.
The daily repetition of the walk is guided by the Pacemaker. The self built device records my steps via microphones and plays them back during the next walk through loudspeakers – for myself and the environment. The audio track serves as an instruction and alows me to temporally align step by step. From the second day on, the recorded steps and environment of the past walks are superimposed on the audio track. They form a sound collage that grows denser with each day, blurring the boundary between signal and noise further and further. The Pacemaker subjects walking as a leisure activity to a technical rationalization, but its rigidity is ultimately dissolved by the aesthetic nature of the overlaying audio effects.
Additionally to the audio recording, the Pacemaker tracks my walks via GPS sensor. The positional data is broadcasted to a pen plotter in the exhibition room, which records myself walking in real time. It creates a unique document for each day, precisely measuring and pinning down my movements. The degree of precision of the plotter (with 0.025 mm as the smallest unit of movement) conveys the idea of exactness with which I associate Identical Walk. However, due to the unavoidable deviations from the Pacemaker's instructions and the technical variations in the GPS data, each document differs from the previous ones.
On a human-sized screen, digital avatars of myself reenact the daily walks infintely, walking on the Pacemaker’s recorded GPS tracks. The bodies of the daily growing group of avatars concentrate and intertwine from time to time and then dissolve again into singular walkers. It is apparent that their traces and movements are anything but identical, opposed to the original guideline of the project. On one hand, this is apparently due to myself and the inevitable deviations from the exact routine (Human Factor) and on the other hand results from inaccuracies of the GPS signal, which differs from day to day, due to atmospheric conditions (Technical Factor). The sound is generated from the recordings of the Pacemaker, which are played as spatial audio, originating from the avatar positions and overlapping spatially and acoustically.
In recent decades, walking has proven itself as a form of artistic work, such as in the conceptual art of the 1960s or in audio walks. Walking is a popular cultural technique for relaxation and inspiration, which is rooted in religious practices for the attainment of enlightenment and knowledge, but is also applied in the less spiritual mindfulness movement. Metaphors around walking are part of everyday language, such as the phrase "the journey is the destination".
More recently, we can observe an increasing influence of media technologies on walking, which submit it to technical rationalization. Smartphones, with their health apps and pedometers, urge their users to walk regularly for exercise and the sake of their well-being. Being obliged to walk and tracking each and every move is opposed to walking as a leisure activity. The walking human is turned into a Quantified Self – a movement of people who are constantly measuring themselves in order to continuously improve as a result.
Identical Walk is a technologized bodily exercise, set out against the backdrop of said contemplative practices, self-optimization and technologies of control.
Walking remained one of the few activities to escape isolation in one's own home due to the pandemic lockdown and helped to maintain a daily structure. In relation to these circumstances, Identical Walk opens up a perspective in which the themes of routine, self-discipline, freedom of choice, and the practice of walking as a self-technique gain social relevance. — Why do we pursue routines in our everyday lives? Do quantification and the conscious repetition of patterns of action create a sense of orientation, security and identity? To what extent do digital and analog (self-)technologies empower or constrain us? | philosophy |
http://motherofinvention.twelfthplanetpress.com/2018/07/30/ai-as-the-other-ai-as-family/ | 2022-10-06T13:11:18 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030337836.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20221006124156-20221006154156-00712.warc.gz | 0.971893 | 1,745 | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-40__0__97034694 | en | By Aliette de Bodard
I wrote my first original AI by accident.
Before that, I’d made a few clumsy attempts to merge my writing and my day job (as a computer programmer specialising in machine learning, one of the foundational techniques of programming AIs). My AIs were, for the most part, derivative and unconvincing: vague, unformed ideas of programs giving birth to one another, of parallel consciousnesses I couldn’t properly describe or make into characters that felt real.
Then I wrote a story called “The Shipmaker” (later published in Interzone), about a maker of spaceships who met the woman incubating the organic intelligence meant to be a ship’s brain. I wrote it about motherhood and pregnancy and loss – and the AI in it was dead, or more accurately stillborn, never breathing or animating any circuits.
“The Shipmaker” became the first story of a cycle (the Xuya universe) featuring Minds, my own versions of AIs carried in mothers’ wombs. As I unspooled the consequences of this, I had choices to make about how this would play out. The easy trope would be to have the Minds be Other: to have them separated from their mothers at birth and raised by the state or by scientists; so that they could, invisibly, be the animus behind ships and space stations. To have them be lonely, or at any rate separate, their concerns not the ones of the humans who had birthed them.
AIs as Others are nothing new: one of the stories I still remember today (even though I was 9 or 10 when I read it) is Asimov’s The Bicentennial Man, in which a robot can only integrate into human society by choosing to die, a deep and abiding tale of loss. In the SF I grew up reading, AIs are a threat, or a salvation. They kill us all, or become our benevolent dictators. They leave to found their own societies, their rules, their priorities, their lives not bound by human concepts. They are, so very often, alien and incomprehensible.
To me, making that choice felt like a cheap cop-out, and a decidedly odd one. As a woman of French and Vietnamese descent who grew up in France, I am intimately familiar with what it means to be the Other. It’s a gulf measured in incomprehension gaps and thoughtless, hurtful remarks like the teacher who once asked me “why are you even here?” It’s a pretext used to exclude: society doesn’t have to make an effort to accommodate Others, because they won’t ever be able to interact with “normal” people. It doesn’t have to worry about their happiness or even the basic necessities of their lives.
I wanted my AIs to be part of a mixed society where they could interact with people – for them to have daily lives and aspirations; to enjoy small and almost insignificant things like the beauty of starlight or a flower. I wanted them to be people rather than things.
This meant making space for them. This meant finding ways humans and AIs could cohabit and interact. I chose to have my Minds be embodied with a central nexus rather than a distributed architecture, but to have that body be inaccessible to almost everyone (except for very close friends and repair engineers). In daily life, AIs would project an avatar; or simply speak through the network. A station would be able to carry on multiple conversations with people at the same time; a ship would know everything on board from passengers’ entertainment choices to the state of their hull.
And the other thing that made my AIs people: I gave them leisure time. I gave them passions and opinions. I gave them the space to exist beyond the function which society required of them. As humans, our work doesn’t define us – why should it for AIs? They could obsessively collect rare porcelain, or enjoy reading cheap historical dramas. They could love and lose and grieve. They’re of course much longer-lived, with a different experience of consciousness and embodiment – but societies are about different people with different experiences sharing spaces and resources, and the one I created in my stories is no exception.
I also channelled a lot of my day job into my fictional AIs. Much of making an AI, currently, is teaching them: the algorithms that create an AI devoted to a specific task take a dataset, and then shows the AI what it means, over and over, until they can generalise to new data. To teach an AI to recognise cars, you take lots of car pictures of all makes and shapes, and run algorithms until the AI has a good ‘idea’ of what a car means (in reality, an abstract model stored in their memory).
It’s very much like raising children – except slower and far more laborious because AIs genuinely have no instinct of what a car or a ball means. But we’re the ones doing the teaching. Everything we put into them is ours: all the rules by which they operate, even the framework by which they create new rules. So the idea that an AI could come out of this being alien just didn’t gel for me. Incomprehensible? Yes, in the way that sometimes I don’t understand how my elder son’s mind works, and why he tells me about red planets in the middle of the park. But alien? Never. AIs contain humankind because we made them (and there might well come a day when that is no longer the case, but that’s not the choice I made in my universe!).
So I wrote my Minds as family. I wrote them as children, raised by the mothers who had borne them – as siblings fighting their human siblings for their parents’ attention – as gangly adolescents having to conciliate their duties carrying passengers with familial obligations – as very old adults, with everyone they’d known as children long dead, and descendants scattered amongst the stars, slowly wending their way home for the family gathering of the Spring Festival. Again, it felt pretty natural to me: balancing personal life and work obligations is part of what we do. I wanted a Mind who was the animus of a station, but also the younger sister declaiming bad poetry at a feast.
It took me time; and in many ways I’m still learning. I take inspiration from AI research; from stories like Ted Chiang’s The Lifecycle of Software Objects or Ann Leckie’s Ancillary Justice, which tackle similar themes. Little by little, I build and expand the world around my Minds, and how it shapes the way that they live. Little by little, I create new Mind characters, trying my best to do what is right by them. In many ways I’m still doing the same iterations as machine learning: building my AIs little by little, trying to teach myself to consider the right parameters and experiences for them.
I wrote my first original AI by accident – but the ones I wrote after that are very much by design.
Aliette de Bodard lives and works in Paris, where she has a day job as a System Engineer. She studied Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, but moonlights as a writer of speculative fiction. She is the author of the critically acclaimed Obsidian and Blood trilogy of Aztec noir fantasies, as well as numerous short stories, which garnered her two Nebula Awards, a Locus Award and two British Science Fiction Association Awards. Her space opera books include The Tea Master and the Detective, a murder mystery set on a space station in a Vietnamese Galactic empire, inspired by the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Recent works include the Dominion of the Fallen series, set in a turn-of-the-century Paris devastated by a magical war, which comprises The House of Shattered Wings (Roc/Gollancz, 2015 British Science Fiction Association Award, Locus Award finalist), and its standalone sequel The House of Binding Thorns (Ace/Gollancz). She lives in Paris with her family, in a flat with more computers than warm bodies, and a set of Lovecraftian tentacled plants intent on taking over the place. | philosophy |
https://alphayogaschool.com/yoga-teachers-team-cedric-stein/ | 2023-09-26T00:01:33 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510100.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20230925215547-20230926005547-00682.warc.gz | 0.962191 | 788 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__183565638 | en | Cedric Stein - yoga teachings and courses
You will learn with me a yoga practice that I have gathered from:
- a variety of teachers from all over the world
- my own experiences over the years.
Yoga, for me, is a way of living - the path to myself. As a result, I want to inspire and encourage you to discover this self in all its facets so you can live your true nature, your full potential to the fullest without compromise, every day.
To understand and embody this, I had to go on quite a long and sometimes rough journey. This journey led me through different countries, inner worlds, old habits, and also some painful moments.
My yoga teachings include the spiritual foundation of:
- Master "Sri Aurobindo" and "The Mother" from India
- Rudolf Steiner
- Ekhart Tolle from Germany
- the asanas and movement teachings of Anusara Yoga, Vinyasa, and Ashtanga Yoga.
To put all the above into numbers, Cedric Stein has 700-800 hours of yoga teachings.
In addition, I have experienced and learned Yin Yoga as a very healing practice with TJ Maher from New York. I have also been inspired by Elea Gisele to bring Yin and Yang together as a holistic practice.
Meditation as a foundation
Although I did a Vipassana (Intensive Meditation Practice) for children when I was 7, I didn't really understand it at the time. Much later, I was able to do another Vipassana, (10-day silence in meditation), which showed me new inner worlds. I am very grateful for this experience.
More specifically, I started discovering and practicing meditation myself when I was 24 years old in Brazil - and after many breaks and much struggling, I had found my initiation into Kriya Yoga, by Swami Atmananda from India, as an initial spark back into a regular meditation practice.
I teach meditation and mindfulness as the basis for successful yoga practice and conscious life.
I would like to meet you as a teacher at eye level because that is how I was taught yoga by my teachers - hereby I thank Sophia Wahdat, Christina Lobe, Sudhir Rishi, Swami Atmananda, Joanna Vladescu, Alan Ellman, TJ Maher, Octavio Salvado, Elea Gisele and especially my partner Athina Tamaresi, who teaches me yoga every day off the mat.
The power of yoga.
With me, you will learn that your body is a mirror of your being. Therefore, appropriate movement, stretching, strengthening, and concentration can be powerful and healing.
You learn with me how we are made up of more than the body, what prana (life force) is, how to activate it and use it for ourselves. I want to bring my students into the experience that we are a multi-layered being, consisting of the physical body, emotions, mind, and soul - and how we bring this into healthy balance through yoga.
My passion is meditation and yogic philosophy coupled with modern approaches to truthful communication.
Along with my partner, Athena Tamaresi, we founded the yoga school and retreat center INEA YOGA in Corfu, Greece. We teach regular classes, workshops, yoga teacher training, and yoga retreats. Furthermore, I also teach yoga in German and English language.
As a teacher I don't want to convince you of something, I want to create a safe space for you, offering ideas, tools, and movements, where you can discover and experience your Self.
In addition, I have years of experience in martial arts, such as Ju-Jutsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Capoeira, and Kickboxing. | philosophy |
https://www.claudiagomes.coach/tranformationalcoach | 2024-04-13T06:40:26 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816586.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20240413051941-20240413081941-00161.warc.gz | 0.950387 | 495 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__32060331 | en | I help people foster healthy relationships to create a life full of energy and flow.
Being your best ally helps you be a stable person, a better decision-maker, and allows you to develop deeper connections.
Once you commit and embrace the journey you will understand yourself better and live a life that is more aligned with your values and purpose.
For more information about my services, please browse through my website and do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Thought-Provoking & Creative Process
Guidance & Inspiration
Self-Discovery is the best journey you could ever wish for. It's bumpy, hard, but is possible and very rewarding. People have a tendency to settle for much less of what they can truly be, just to avoid overcome obstacles or taking harder decisions. Believe in yourself the same way I believe in you and your potential. You can go very far as soon as you open the door and let YOU in. Let´s take this trip together to the inner you.
Get the Most out of Life
This is a word used frequently, but for most, looks far to reach. As soon as you stop comparing yourself with others you will become YOU. Taking small steps during our conversations you will understand more about your strengths, values, thoughts and feelings, you will be able to start to embrace your whole being. Be YOU, be proud of who you are and confidence will follow you all the way. I would love to be part of your journey.
Embrace Life’s Challenges
Life Balance is achievable as soon as you understand what is really important to you. You juggle around without looking deeper to all areas of your life, but as soon as you have clarity, you will be able to make better choices and decisions, that will brings more joy, fulfillment and less stress. Let me listen to you and really help you to get to this moment.
Who I Want to Be
This area can be always designed in accordance to goals and mission in your life. It's amazing when you get to the moment where you can really see a brighter future, reaching a better version of yourself and when you know from the combination of Body+Mind+Soul what you truly want. Let me be your partner and help YOU to get to this special place. | philosophy |
https://www.thespringblog.com/full-blog/2017/1/essentialism-and-the-art-of-selling | 2017-04-26T15:51:26 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917121453.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031201-00645-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.959987 | 852 | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-17__0__291859018 | en | I think a lot about becoming a Minimalist. It's hard not to as I scroll through the sparsely composed images on my Instagram feed and am constantly (but gently - minimalists all seem so gentle) reminded of the joys of living with less by all the minimalist themed pages I've liked on Facebook.
As a visual style employed by creative marketers, Minimalism has reached full blown trend status. It sells us on the promise of a uncluttered life free from overwhelm - an antidote to the frenetic, complex reality we inhabit. When it comes to brand messaging there's great power in communicating simplicity, ease, and calm. But can those of us involved in the production or sale of things ever credibly subscribe to a minimalist ethos or promote a minimalist style?
When I owned my shop I was constantly buying, arranging, photographing, cleaning, and talking about things. Showroom was (and still is!) full of beautiful, special items made by interesting, wholehearted people. I loved collecting those things - and their stories - together for customers delight to in. The way I chose and displayed them felt like a reflection of something inside me; for me curation is an essential act that humanises our existence - I'm very fortunate that I continue to enact this kind of self-actualisation in my work.
Minimalism, by contrast, seems to connote an almost brutal pairing back of belongings. It urges us to forego the much loved but not strictly necessary frivolities in pursuit of a more aesthetic lifestyle.
Of course there's a lot to be said in favour of living frugally, eschewing imprudent excess, and jettisoning meaningless clutter. But I would argue that a life lived without the joy that special, superfluous belongings bring isn't being lived to its fullest.
I'm more interested in exploring what things feel essential to my happiness and finding ways to incorporate them into daily life. And not just because that perspective is more handily marketable. Which it is.
Here're 5 ways Essentialism can help you sell products and services more artfully.
1. Communicate how carefully your offerings have been selected. Essentialism is basically minimalism's softer, more sympathetic sibling. It's not about how little we can live with, but about deciding what we simply don't want to live without. Essentialism sings the praises both of frugality and indulgence, in balanced measure.
2. Tell stories about why what you sell is meaningful. Everyone's must haves will be different, so deciding what is and isn't Essential to up to us. This process turns tangible objects into relics of our life's story. Things are given meaning by the memories, and sentiments they represent and evoke.
3. In these stories, explore connections between makers, designers, producers, service providers, retailers and customers. What is Essential - and business owners should think about this too when communicating their value to customers - isn't only about tangible objects. It's also about the esoteric feelings of connection we derive from them. When chosen well, our belongings foster a sense of belonging to something larger than ourselves and quench a deep seated thirst for community.
4. Avoid clutter in your imagery, sales copy, web design and merchandising. Take inspiration from the current cultural appetite for Minimalism and let customers clearly see what you have to sell without being bombarded by too many distracting elements. Get this right and your customers will have a calmer, more uplifting experience when navigating your shop. Moreover, each of your products will feel more valuable to potential buyers if you treat them as essential. Give them a spotlight by creating visual breathing space, whether you sell in person or online. That means using larger photos without a lot of props and resisting the urge to over stock displays in store.
5. Think deeply and ask questions about what qualifies as Essential in your customers' lives. Do this and you'll hold the key to tailoring your offerings so the people you serve feel uplifted and, crucially, understood by you. That's a beautiful thing in an all-too generic world - such is the power of curation. | philosophy |
https://outofcordoba.com/essay/friendship-essay-3535 | 2022-06-27T11:19:43 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656103331729.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20220627103810-20220627133810-00340.warc.gz | 0.947685 | 558 | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-27__0__41561673 | en | The proximity principle that rules friendship points out that the more alike two persons are, the higher the probability of association. Friendship leans toward homogeneity since people associate with those that they share common interests with (Hassan, Salgado, &Pavón 2011). The intuitive dynamic of friendship also states that two individuals can progress from strangers to acquaintances and finally become friends at a faster rate, if they have similar interests, unlike those with different interests. Friendship dynamics can be positive, strengthening the relationship between friends, or negative, therefore, drawing friends apart.The relationship I have with my best friend is based on homogeneity as we share common interests, social and demographic aspects. According to Spencer and Pahl (2006), friendship requires a lot of commitment for it to be beneficial (Spencer &Pahl 2006). My best friend and I have fully invested in our friendship by being there for each other during both good and bad times. None of us is ever too busy for the other. For instance, we ensure that we create time to hang out so that we may strengthen our friendship. Additionally, my friend and I ensure that our relationship is based on making each other happy and going to great lengths to see each other happy.Vernom (2005), states that the foundation of trust in relationships is based on understanding each other (Vernon 2005). We managed to build trust in our relationship through being honest with each other, being concerned about each other’s well-being, practicing empathy, having each other’s back and by being committed to each other. Through honesty and trust, we got to achieve acceptance by appreciating each other’s flaws and learning to live with our imperfections. Moreover, we got to achieve closeness by spending more time together especially during leisure, sharing personal experiences and carrying out activities together. Hence, our friendship dynamics are positive and consistent with those identified by researchers since we were brought together by similar aspects, progressed from strangers to acquaintances and eventually became friends which further developed into best friends.ConclusionFriendship is an aspect that requires trust, commitment and acceptance for it to be successful. Friendship dynamics could either be positive or negative. A relationship with a positive friendship dynamic progresses from strangers to acquaintances and finally ends in friendship.ReferencesHassan, S., Salgado, M., &Pavón, J. (2011). Friendship dynamics: modelling social relationships through a fuzzy agent-based simulation. Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, 2011.Spencer, L., &Pahl, R. (2006). Rethinking Friendship: Hidden solidarities today. Princeton University Press.Vernon, M. (2005). The philosophy of friendship. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. | philosophy |
http://onemommedia.com/2014/03/redefine-beauty-in-the-blogosphere/ | 2018-02-25T11:38:58 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-09/segments/1518891816370.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20180225110552-20180225130552-00315.warc.gz | 0.92993 | 666 | CC-MAIN-2018-09 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-09__0__24666501 | en | It’s a perpetual work in progress, a rough-and-tumble place where those who seek to amplify their voices duke it out with those who want to silence them, which kind of sucks, yet kind of doesn’t. Mainly because underdogs have a way of coming out on top.
All of them are redefining what it means to be a change maker.
And we, as bloggers, have the unique opportunity to redefine beauty as it applies to the blogosphere. Not physical beauty of course, but existential beauty – the stuff of life that speaks to us on a soul level.
I recently spoke on two panels at the inaugural Entertainment New Media Conference for travel and entertainment influencers, one dedicated to blog mentoring and the other to the idea of selling your best professional self. It was my first time being asked to speak, and I was honored, because it not only represented a chance to share insights and wisdom I’ve learned over the past 10 years as a freelance writer and blogger, but more importantly, presented an opportunity to connect with and empower others.
As such, my goal was to present pocketable takeaways. Key learnings tied to integrity and personal joy that could be used immediately. I looked to Dove, the soap-making agent of change, for inspiration and found it in #beautyis. Part of The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, #beautyis imagines a world where beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety. It challenges how we look at ourselves as individuals, and more importantly, makes us aware that something needs to change if we’re ever going to get to a point of self-acceptance without hesitation.
What’s more, instead of being asked to evangelize on Dove’s behalf, I was instead encouraged to be present in the moment. And that made all the difference. Because believing in someone, something – it’s beautiful and it’s bold and it’s life changing.
We have the power to do that for each other like no one else can.
And it’s a big deal.
Here’s 15 ways we can make the blogosphere a more beautiful place right now:
- Accept flaws, but celebrate strengths.
- Lift others up instead of knocking them down.
- Say what you mean and mean what you say.
- Speak wisely.
- Stay personal.
- Trust your own voice.
- Embrace healthy competition.
- Prioritize. It’s hard, but necessary.
- Value your own opinion and respect those of others.
- Flip your thinking and gain fresh perspective.
- Find motivation in something other than money.
- Have integrity. Don’t stray from your morals and beliefs.
- Don’t be afraid to say “no” to the things that give you pause.
- Support others, but worry about yourself.
- Redefine beauty in your own way.
How will you be a change maker in the wild and wooly digital world?
Disclosure: I attended the Entertainment New Media conference at the kind invitation of its organizers, and received generous support from Dove. | philosophy |
https://swamiadinarayan.com/about/ | 2022-05-20T04:28:36 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662531352.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20220520030533-20220520060533-00631.warc.gz | 0.98703 | 3,627 | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-21__0__84887226 | en | Biographical Sketch and Early Days with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Swami Adi Narayan Maharajh Ji
Biographical Sketch and Early Days with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Born August 4, 1972 in Trinidad of the West Indies, Swami Adi Narayan Maharajh Ji (Swami Ji) arrived in Canada with his parents just shy of his fourth birthday. Settling and growing up in Toronto, Swami Ji was a soft and gentle child, tender and loving in his approach with everyone. Upon completing his primary, junior and high school education, he attended the University of Toronto where he earned a B.Sc. Honours in Psychology.
The Lord Appears to His Devotee
About to embark upon a regular Western lifestyle, his life arrived at a pivotal turning point when at the age of twenty-one he had his first spiritual encounter with his Guru. It took place in the early morning of 4:00am through a dream on Christmas morning 1993. As Swami Ji recalls, the dream was of a small Indian holy man wearing a white robe standing in a barren reddish-brown dirt landscape with nothing around him. The holy man had large afro-styled hair, and the distance between them felt as if it was about fifty feet. The holy man was glowing before him, and in an instant Swami Ji was being filled with sensations of deep love and bliss. The whole of the dream was pulsating with a love that he had never felt or experienced before. Shortly thereafter he woke up.
Being with the activity of Christmas Day and the family gathering, he recalls his relatives expressing how differently he was acting, as usually he was more sociable. However, on this day he recalls he was somehow “out of himself.” That evening, Swami Ji’s mother asked him if anything was wrong, and why he seemed to be acting so differently today. He told her about his dream with the holy man. His mother then immediately got her purse and pulled out a small picture asking him if this was the holy man he dreamt; Swami Ji said yes. To both their astonishment, the picture was of the living Indian Master, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
From that day onwards, the relationship between Bhagavan and Swami Ji became a continuous unceasing breath of inner communion. Over the next four-month period, Bhagavan would visit Swami Ji in the early hours of the morning through his dreams, three to four times a week. During these dreams Bhagavan would sit with him, and speak with him about many spiritual things. He would teach him how to meditate. Often times they would go for walks and sit in silence together. In these dreams, Bhagavan would often manifest many gifts for Swami Ji including rings and necklaces. He even gifted him with a puppy, which in his real-life Swami Ji had always longed to have but his parents would not allow. Both Bhagavan and Swami Ji would play together and simply go for walks together with this puppy. It was during these early days that their friendship grew from best friends, to father and son, to devotee and the Lord himself.
At The Feet of the Master
In April of 1994, Swami Ji made his first trip to South India to meet and have the physical darshan of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. On their very first meeting, amongst the assembly of thousands and thousands of devotees, Bhagavan began to walk directly towards Swami Ji. He approached with a quickened step and his face glowed of such familiarity towards him. With a smile of such welcome Bhagavan looked at Swami Ji and whispered, “I have been waiting for you.”
With a wave of his hand, Bhagavan materialized vibhuti (sacred ash) and placed it in Swami Ji’s hands. Swami Ji was now in absolute awe and shock. Sobbing tears in this moment, this most profound first meeting was acknowledgement and recognition of their preceding months of inner dialogue, companionship, and kinship.
For the next three months, the inner relationship that took place in the months prior to in the dream world, continued to express in the physical presence of Bhagavan. A day would not pass whereby Bhagavan would not come and take letters from Swami Ji, bless his sweet offerings, allow him to touch his feet, and kiss his feet countless times during that first trip. The relationship between them was so pronounced that the ashram workers recognized and asked Swami Ji to help in the rolling out of the red carpet for Bhagavan’s darshan, and help to arrange his seat and foot cushion on the altar.
Memorably, the first day Swami Ji was asked to help with the altar preparation, he was given Bhagavan’s foot cushion to place on the altar. Swami Ji felt that this chance may never come again, and so before placing the foot cushion on the altar, he embraced it upon his chest and held it there. The next thing he knew, his arms were being pried open by five or six other people and he was jolted back into consciousness. The people around him said that he had gone into a trance while holding Bhagavan’s cushion to his chest and they could not wake him out of his unconscious state. Before going into trance, Swami Ji says the last thing he remembers was the thought to hug Bhagavan’s foot cushion. From that time until they woke him up, he had no recollection of where he went. To say the least, the people around him were a bit upset. Swami Ji went back to his seat as Bhagavan was about to make his entrance into the darshan hall.
As Bhagavan sat down, the thought emerged from Swami Ji, ‘Baba I have filled that foot cushion with all of my love for you. Can you feel my love in it?’ At that moment, Bhagavan raised his head, he looked directly at Swami Ji and began to rub his feet in circular motions on the cushion. He raised his hands, closed his eyes and went deeply into himself. Swami Ji’s question was answered.
This trip was the first of what would become multiple visits to India. For the next six years, Swami Ji made over a dozen trips to be in the physical presence of Bhagavan. He permanently moved to the ashram in the year 2000.
During this period from 1994 to 2000, Swami Ji continued to grow and have many enlightening experiences. One of which took place in the year 1995 when he travelled to his birth country of Trinidad in the West Indies. On one excursion to a mountaintop overlooking the beautiful landscape and ocean, overcome by the beauty before him, Swami Ji explained the following: “I entered into a spiritual state, feeling an absolute oneness with everything: the sea, hills, trees, birds, ants, grass, and the ground that is common to us all.” He heard the Maha Mantra (Hare Krishna Hare Rama) being sung in every atom from every physical and non-physical, living and non-living thing of the world around him. Even his own body was merged and sub-merged in this absolute state of unity. Swami Ji later referred to this as his First Experience of the Self.
Union With God
Swami Ji’s spirituality blossomed during his time with Bhagavan in India. One day he was meditating in front of a photo of Bhagavan and he was feeling a deep pain of separation and longing for his Beloved. In a moment of exhaustive longing of not having the chance to sit in a one-on-one interview or private meeting with his Master till this point, a moment of absolute surrender broke through. It was as if, for the first time, his Master was seeing into him and he was seeing back into his Lord, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
It all began in one moment, one deep piercing glance, into Bhagavan’s eyes. My eyes to his eyes. Locked.
I saw his eyes filled in the photo with tears. A watery sea of love had appeared before me and in an instant locked in an inner embrace. And then, something opened. It was if I had become an open door, of which the Lord had now stepped into.
It began by feelings of gentle waves, of deep love, happiness, joy. And slowly and rapidly, both at the same time, increasing in joy, happiness, love, endlessness,
joy, happiness, love,
bliss, love, bliss, love,
bliss, bliss, bliss, bliss,
love, love, love.
The entirety of my being began as a stream, then turned into a river, then became a raging flood as vast as the ocean’s itself; pouring down into and through this body. Absolute, indescribable, bliss, Satchitananda.
This experience continued for over six hours. I had not known exactly what time it began. Only that it had happened sometime before mid-day. And when I opened my eyes, and became aware of myself and the world again, it was somewhere around evening that same day.
That was the day I achieved union with the Lord.
What began as a gentle rainfall, continued into a shower, a thunderstorm, which made a stream, which turned into a river, a Ganga, then the ocean itself pouring into me and through me.
Indescribable, bliss, love, joy; pure continuous love.
A love that encompassed everything, that was everything, that made everything, was all about everything, and everything was also it. Totality of the whole universe was that feeling of that immensity of that love. That love was absolutely everything that ever was, everything that ever is, everything that ever will be, and that was, God.
This was one of Swami Ji’s deepest samadhi states, wherein more than six hours had elapsed in a seeming instant. “Time exists only in the presence of mind,” says Swami Ji.
The next day, to Swami Ji’s surprise, Bhagavan arranged an interview (private meeting) with him where he talked to him amongst a small group of devotees about his experience.
Bhagavan asked Swami Ji, “Boy, are you happy?” To which Swami Ji ecstatically replied, “Yes Swami, very very happy.” Bhagavan further asked, “Where are you happy?” Swami Ji joyfully said, “Happiness is everywhere.” Then Bhagavan turned his hand towards his heart and as he touched his chest he responded, “No, happiness is only inside. You have experienced union with God. Union with God is the greatest happiness there is.”
At that point, Swami Ji had no words or previous understanding of what had happened to him the day before. His Guru, his Lord, had waited precisely for this moment to arise in the life of Swami Ji: the attainment of union with God, and called him on the most auspicious calendar day, 10-10-01 (October 10, 2001).
As the interview continued, referring to union with God, Bhagavan said to Swami Ji, “It will come again, and again, and again.” And it has.
To mark the occasion of Swami Ji’s union with God, Bhagavan materialized a white diamond ring and placed it on Swami Ji’s left ring finger, consecrating their union.
The next day, Bhagavan called Swami Ji yet for another interview. He asked him again, “Boy, are you happy?” To this Swami Ji gleefully replied, “Yes Swami very very happy.” Bhagavan asked, “Where are you happy?” Remembering Bhagavan’s words from the day before, Swami Ji this time took his hands to his heart and said, “Happiness is inside.” Then in a grand gesture of Bhagavan waving his hands in front of his chest, Bhagavan exclaimed, “No, no, no, happiness is everywhere, everywhere.” Both of them erupted into blissful laughter together.
In this second interview, Bhagavan asked Swami Ji for the ring that he had materialized for him the day before. Bhagavan held up the ring in front of everyone, blew on it three times, and instantly it turned into a green tsavorite garnet in a lotus setting. He told Swami Ji, “You are the jewel, and I am the many clasps of the lotus setting. I will never let you go, life, after life, after life.”
Bhagavan further said to Swami Ji, “Who found you in this life?” To which Swami Ji said, “Swami you found me.” Bhagavan lovingly replied, “Yes I found you. And I will find you again, and again and again!”
One month later, Bhagavan called Swami Ji for the third of what would become seven total interviews over a six-month period. In this interview, Bhagavan spoke to him about the path of meditation, and took him into a private room. With just the two of them present, there Swami Ji sat as Bhagavan put him into a state of samadhi for forty-five minutes. The meditation ended, they both opened their eyes, and tears gently began to stream down Swami Ji’s cheeks. Swami Ji said, “For not a word had been spoken between us, but everything had been shared between us. That day was my initiation by the Lord into the depths and heights of meditation.”
After several interviews with his Master, Bhagavan instructed Swami Ji in 2004 to return to Canada and begin teaching: “Speak about union with God.” Bhagavan said to Swami Ji, “To love me is to serve me, and to serve me is to leave me. Go do satsang, satsang, satsang, satsang, satsang, satsang, satsang.”
Upon returning to Canada, Swami Ji began holding satsangs in the form of spiritual talks and kirtans, by his first initiated name Swami Sai Premananda. Meanwhile, his transformation continued.
Since 2004, Swami Ji was entering states of bhava samadhi. During this period, the realization of the multifold dance of form and formlessness became apparent and illumined in the mind of Swami Ji. All this led to the understanding of our innate oneness. As he explains, “Non-duality holds that the fundamental quality imbuing every thing derives from a single undivided universal consciousness. Objects, animals, people and plants differ in form and function. At least, that is how we perceive them. But their nature and ours derive from the same underlying source, the oneness of universal consciousness. This single, non-dual oneness of being makes itself manifest in an infinite number of forms. We experience them as a myriad of objects and beings. But our seemingly separate and distinct human minds and egos derive from this oneness, too.”
Swami Ji comments: “In the one is all, and in the all is one. We can attune ourselves to oneness by letting go of the past and future, and by releasing dependencies on surface mind, and its creature, the intrusive egoic self.”
Reflection. Transmission. Absorption.
Today, Swami Ji lives a very reclusive life. He is sought by people all over the world, and with very limited public connection, people are called to find him. While sitting in his prayer room and being oceans apart, recipients connect with him through his offerings of prayers and blessings for them. Through a process of his ascension into the Divine Light, all whom are in contact with him during that time of prayer and blessing receive answers, clarity, healing and the spiritual light that they are yearning for.
Swami Ji says his embodiment is used as a bringer of Light upon the earth in three ways: the first is the reflection of the holy personage amidst humanity. The second is the transmission of Light as it moves through him to all those who are sincere in their contact with him and the Lord. And the third is the absorption of that Light in the transmutation of their mind, body, and soul into purer and lighter beings.
In the end, when man is at peace, the universe will be at peace.
Peace within oneself.
Peace within the family.
Peace within society.
Peace within the world.
Peace within the universe.
May peace prevail.
“Practice love until you remember that you are love.”
– Swami Adi Narayan Maharajh Ji | philosophy |
http://foundationartskills.com/primary-concepts/ | 2021-12-03T10:35:20 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-49/segments/1637964362619.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20211203091120-20211203121120-00574.warc.gz | 0.948973 | 153 | CC-MAIN-2021-49 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-49__0__112409615 | en | There are a few concepts that form the basis of effective image creation, therefore these ideas should be well understood as a reference to all other study and practice to develop artistic skills. Note the difference between the fundamental concepts of technique, skill and talent.
Many art teachers and significant artists maintain that there is no such thing as talent. I believe that talent exists and has many forms; primarily, it is a propensity to recognize, learn and utilize the subtleties of qualities in a particular art. Talent is not an absolute and will not alone allow a student artist to magically produce high quality work.
The most basic concepts to be studied and practiced are:
- Showing a 4D world in a 2D format
- Lines and line quality | philosophy |
https://www.elitehhc.com/single-post/2018/06/21/Celebrate-Summer-Solstice-with-Yoga | 2019-01-22T19:45:52 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-04/segments/1547583867214.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20190122182019-20190122204019-00570.warc.gz | 0.947694 | 390 | CC-MAIN-2019-04 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-04__0__223847957 | en | Today is the longest day of the year, and around the world the event is marked as both the summer solstice and the "International Day of Yoga".
How are yoga and summer connected? Since we are closest to the sun than on any other day, we are receiving an abundance of energy, and many interpret this as an invitation to harness the sun's abundance to inspire, lift, and rekindle our internal fires. Yoga is a practice of connecting the body and mind, allowing us to reawaken, gain acceptance and become more mindful of ourselves and our present surroundings. For millions of yogis worldwide, this is a day of reenergizing through stillness.
There are other traditions across many cultures – some centuries-old -- that have celebrated this seasonal pivot point. In Chinese astronomy, the phenomenon known as Xiazhi roughly corresponds to the summer solstice – it begins when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 90° and ends when its celestial longitude is 105°. Xiazhi usually begins around June 21, and ends around July 7, though the term sometimes refers in particular to the day when Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 90°.
In New York, thousands of yogis young and old will participate in Solstice in Times Square with free yoga all day long. The event, which features celebrity fitness gurus, yoga village booths with vendors, freebies and giveaways throughout the day. “We welcome all to Times Square, as we celebrate the Summer Solstice and take a moment to find inner peace amidst the daily hustle,” said Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance and cofounder of the event. “At a moment when the world is more chaotic than ever, Solstice in Times Square shows that it is possible, even in what might be considered one of the more unexpected places, for people to find harmony within themselves.” | philosophy |
https://doulacathytlc.com/ | 2019-07-21T09:01:52 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195526940.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20190721082354-20190721104354-00009.warc.gz | 0.932997 | 570 | CC-MAIN-2019-30 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-30__0__5075190 | en | Supporting your inner birth wisdom with tender loving care
I am Cathy Gomez, BSRN, CLEC, RYT, CD(DONA), and I provide comprehensive and compassionate birth doula care for women and their families in the Greater Sacramento Area.
I would be honored to help support your best possible birth experience and empower your own birth wisdom.
In love and light, may you embrace your birth with tender loving care.
I also offer:
Lactation counseling and support
Private prenatal and restorative yoga classes
Reiki energy sessions
I currently serve Sacramento County, Placer County, El Dorado County, and Yolo County including Folsom, Fair Oaks, Granite Bay, El Dorado Hills, Rancho Cordova, Gold River, Loomis, Roseville, Rocklin, Sacramento, Elk Grove, Natomas, Cameron Park, Orangevale, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Antelope, Lincoln, and Davis.
“Childbirth is an experience in a woman’s life that holds the power to transform her forever. Passing through these powerful gates - in her own way - remembering all the generations of women who walk with her… She is never alone”
- Suzanne Arms
I encourage every expectant mother to explore what choices she has to promote her best possible birth experience that honors her own unique wishes, desires and wisdom. I believe a birth doula needs to honor the choices each mother makes for herself and her baby.
I believe pregnancy is an incredible time of transformation, expansion and releasing while also being called to step forward into the wonders of parenthood.
I believe pregnancy is also a time of many physical and emotional changes that can come from any growth process. These changes can create challenges and fears about childbirth and parenting.
I believe pregnancy, labor and birth is a precious time that has memories a mother carries for a lifetime. Birth is a unique time that transforms into the miracle of a mother holding her baby for the first time.
I believe pregnancy is an opportunity for an expectant mother to connect to her own inner birth wisdom that has been passed from all past generations of women. This sacred wisdom has empowered and guided women to give birth since the beginning of time.
I believe a birth doula can offer emotional and physical support through comfort measures that promote a more calm and joyful birth experience for mother, baby, and partner.
I believe a birth doula is part of the village of support a mother can have to nurture her while she learns to nurture her own baby.
I believe a birth doula can help families process their unique birth stories and encourage healthy memory keeping.
I believe every expectant mother should be able to have a birth doula if desired so I offer a sliding scale for my services. | philosophy |
https://sacredintrovert.com/blog-sub/what-outfit-are-you-wearing/ | 2024-04-22T05:21:30 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296818081.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20240422051258-20240422081258-00835.warc.gz | 0.970183 | 793 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__22609403 | en | How many times have you been told how to be? Or how not to be? Possibly hundreds. You may have learned that introspection, sensitivity and reticence get lost in the ether drowned out by sociability, spontaneity and loud. Being quiet is not ok; needing time alone is not ok; being you is not ok. If you were like me, your response may have been to either try to fit in, or to hide, or both.
In the past, I spent a lot of time hiding, like I was walking around in clothes ten sizes too big for me, swallowing me up and rendering me invisible. Nobody could see the person underneath; no shape, no form, no strengths, no details or intricacies that were individual to me. I blended in, which was the plan; but it came at the expense of hiding myself for so long, that I also started to forget what ‘me’ felt like.
When I wasn’t hiding, I tried to fit in; be ‘normal’, conventional and surrender to what felt like everybody else’s expectation of me. To not fit in, meant I stayed weird, odd, and too quiet; I was sick of hearing that.
But rarely feeling allowed to be me, came at a cost. Imagine trying to squeeze yourself into something that doesn’t fit you every single day, restricting your movement, pinching you, making you feel uncomfortable, irritable, while the real you tries to spill out between the gaps, gasping for air, release and to be freed. This is how I felt. Moulding myself on the outside, for the sake of approval, while the real me was fighting for breath. Overwhelmed, exhausted, discontented. But most of all I was unhappy.
“When I seek your approval, I don’t approve of the me that’s seeking the approval”. - Byron Katie
Hiding who we are can feel less exposing, and even safer sometimes. If we are invisible or similar, there is less danger of feedback and rejection. However keeping a lid on our innate nature; our intuition, creativity, sensitively, fierce independence, inspiration and everything else that make you special, stays boxed in, while the messages that something is wrong with you continue to seep out and intensify.
If you feel you have spent enough of your lifetime conforming and hiding, but fear that being yourself will be a painful and uncomfortable journey, I ask you to consider this; how painful and uncomfortable has it been to always feel unable to be yourself?
How draining has it been to suppress yourself, ignore your own feelings and not be able to communicate authentically to anyone else? How has it felt to restrict your true nature, like keeping a secret that you are dying to tell?
And then consider what it would be like to wear the personality you were born with. It fits you and reveals you, your unique shape, and your Introvert nature. It moves with you, and flows as you do, allowing you to breathe, to flourish, to be, and it looks amazing on you. This is what being authentic to my innate introvert nature feels like to me. Carefully crafted, made to measure, individually tailored to me, honouring my needs, my gifts, my strengths, my sacred solitude and my long term well being.
I no longer choose to fit or hide, having spent quality time recently trying myself on for size. I am even less interested in seeking approval or adjusting myself so that the masses feel comfortable. That does not mean that I’m unaffected; I still take things to heart, I’m highly sensitive and, I’m a human being. But working on being completely authentic feels wonderful. There is nothing wrong with me, and there is nothing wrong with you. | philosophy |
https://artivist.co.nz/subrosa/a-theory-of-criminal-justice | 2019-08-26T07:03:39 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027331228.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20190826064622-20190826090622-00248.warc.gz | 0.961854 | 563 | CC-MAIN-2019-35 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-35__0__230159888 | en | ... the racist, classist, hierarchical interests represented in the formation of the Constitution have created a legal system, and subsequently, a criminal justice system, that has consistently failed to administer true justice. Thus, a new approach must be taken, which will require us to stop relying on the current criminal justice system, and its oppressive laws to solve our interpersonal issues. The criminal justice system will continue to work the way it has, as long as we continue to consent and participate in it. If we collectively take a stand and withdraw our consent from the system, and instead redirect how we deal with conflict to a restorative approach, the criminal justice system will become irrelevant. In explaining “revolutionary exodus,” David Graeber writes:
The theory of exodus proposes that the most effective way of opposing capitalism and the liberal state is not through direct confrontation but by means of what Paolo Virno has called “engaged withdrawal,” mass defection by those wishing to create new forms of community. One need only glance at the historical record to confirm that most successful forms of popular resistance have taken precisely this form. They have not involved challenging power head on (this usually leads to being slaughtered, or if not, turning into some—often even uglier—variant of the very thing one first challenged) but from one or another strategy of slipping away from its grasp, from flight, desertion, the founding of new communities.
Critical for creating this new society is a belief that it is possible and that we have the power to do it.
It is time to reaffirm what is already ours and reclaim our individual sovereignty. It is time for our self ownership to be reaffirmed and lived out in life. It is a metaphysical fact that we own our bodies and minds. All other ownerships can be challenged and are transitory at best, but self ownership is undeniable and permanent as long as we are living beings. Therefore it is ultimately, indeed must be our decision as to how we will conduct our lives the only law that we must accept is to do no harm to others and to recognize and respect the personal sovereignty of the other as they must ours. Recognition and respect of every person’s individual sovereignty is the only way in which systems of mutual cooperation can be successfully developed and maintained. And indeed is the only law required for peaceful coexistence with the greater society. But it is not a law of compulsion like most laws, but is rather the natural state of things such as the laws of physics.
via The Anarchist Library
from a paper pubished May 2012 - the conclusion...
Title: An Anarchist Theory of Criminal Justice
Author(s): Coy McKinney
Date: May 2012
Topics: constitution legal system racism restorative justice | philosophy |
http://f3u.com/2004/mission.htm | 2018-04-21T14:59:54 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-17/segments/1524125945232.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20180421145218-20180421165218-00407.warc.gz | 0.937201 | 317 | CC-MAIN-2018-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-17__0__62955153 | en | "Perhaps as never before in our history, we the people are confronted with a choice. Either we carry on as usual, accepting violence, racism, war, social and economic injustice, and environmental degradation, until we exhaust or destroy ourselves, and the planet that sustains us – or we can begin to make a conscious change in the way we think, live, and relate to one another and to our environment. We can begin to redirect our human, natural, and financial resources to build better communities and a better world."
"The mission of the Festival of Freedom at the Forks is to build cultures of peace, and respect for human dignity and ecological integrity, because we cherish our personal freedoms, value our civil rights and recognize our individual and common responsibility to leave a better world for future generations. Proceeds from the Festival, after expenses, will help fund projects and programs advancing the Festival’s theme and purpose locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally."
"The Festival of Freedom at the Forks is a response of a local community to the challenges we face as a global community entering a new millennium. The mission is an example of a community coming together to rejuvenate itself, to share its hospitality and natural beauty with friends and neighbors, and to make its contribution towards improving the human condition, at home and abroad. We invite and welcome your active participation and support to ensure that this Festival becomes all it could be." - J.J. Verigin, Jr. (Director with the Steering Committee for the Festival of Freedom at the Forks) | philosophy |
https://www.p188x.org/statements | 2021-09-23T15:54:37 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-39/segments/1631780057424.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20210923135058-20210923165058-00093.warc.gz | 0.929317 | 132 | CC-MAIN-2021-39 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-39__0__150451632 | en | Vision & Mission Statements
We believe all students can learn and are entitled to be provided with the best education possible.
We endeavor to foster an educational environment which takes into account the diverse needs, interest and abilities of students. We promote positive self-awareness among students to develop educational, communication and life skills to maximize student potential for independence and academic achievement. We provide a high-quality education through standards-based instruction for our students to become lifelong learners.
Instructional Focus Priority 2020-2021
If we know our students well, then we will be able to formulate appropriately challenging questions and other assessment techniques to drive instruction and move every student forward. | philosophy |
https://chrisgraeveblog.com/chris-graeve-views-generosity-as-guiding-principle/ | 2024-03-04T11:33:00 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947476442.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20240304101406-20240304131406-00449.warc.gz | 0.969618 | 900 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__73867809 | en | The practice of generosity defines the core values of real estate entrepreneur Chris Graeve. His Christian faith inspires his devotion to helping others. As a Christian, he appreciates fully the lesson of generosity and hopes to experience greater joy as he continues to share his knowledge, time, and resources for the betterment of others. He recognizes God’s generosity in all things and strives to follow this divine example and put into practice Biblical principles.
Generosity Goes Beyond Money
The phrase “practice generosity” is apt because Christian teachings acknowledge that generosity reflects a work in progress. Even generous people can always find more ways to increase the blessings of others. Generosity encompasses more than simply sharing money with the needy although financial contributions play an important role.
Beyond financing charitable projects, generosity also includes giving personal time. Investing individual attention toward nurturing relationships with family members and friends presents an example of generosity with time.
This generosity of time and knowledge extends into Christopher Graeve’s business dealings as well. As the leader of RE-build Properties and Christopher Robin Real Estate, he serves as a mentor to his employees and operators. Although he has enjoyed success within the real estate business, he knows that his success ultimately came from the generous actions of others, starting with his father who introduced him to the business.
Opening the Heart
Being generous with people in close proximity represents the first step in any Christian’s giving journey. Treating those within the immediate community in unselfish and helpful ways forms the training ground for generosity in the wider world.
By supporting other causes beyond his local church, Chris Graeve understands that he can avoid becoming mastered by his possessions. He takes to heart the Gospel of Luke that warns of “the rich young ruler” who cannot follow Jesus because he places a greater value on his amassed wealth.
In contrast to the wealthy ruler, Luke 19:8 describes the transformation of the tax collector whose heart was changed by his encounter with Jesus. He learned to give to the poor instead of extract taxes from them. Luke described how the radical encounter with Jesus opened his heart to receiving the forgiveness of God and the ultimate gift of Jesus Himself, which then resulted in giving to others.
Participating in God’s Work
Chris Graeve takes such Biblical lessons seriously. They motivate him to expand his generosity. He strives not only to be generous with his resources but to teach others that the blessings of generosity will come to those who practice it.
He also understands that giving should not be done out of a desire for praise for kind actions. Humility in giving presents the highest goal because giving is its own greatest reward, which was famously recorded in Acts 20:35 in the words “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
If giving reaches the level of sacrifice, then a person has demonstrated trust in God. The sacrifice will become joy because the giver has experienced a deeper relationship with Christ that comes through practicing sacrificial giving.
The giver, however, must not consider the sacrifice a form of suffering. God admires most those who give cheerfully for their actions illustrate the highest good. Giving brings happiness to the heart because the generous person has participated in the work of God.
The Central Role of Community
The concept of community forms an important part of the Christian faith, and community leads into the concept of stewardship. Followers of Christ must act in ways that preserve and uplift the community. The world that God has provided is not owned by people. They are instead stewards of the creation and must treat all aspects of it with generosity.
Stewards take responsibility for helping and nurturing the people and resources within their community. By seeing himself as a steward, Christopher Graeve can model servant leadership to his company and make wise financial decisions. He does not pursue personal gain but rather the gain of all people around him. He believes that God rewards good stewards with responsibility over more things. Stewardship creates wealth for the benefit of all because in the end no one can take any worldly possessions with them to Heaven. Everything belongs to God at all times.
Faith directs Christians to radically share their resources within their community to prevent the neediness of any member. This principle gives people a community to rely upon as well as maintain through generous works. They live within a rhythm of giving, and Chris Graeve knows that his contributions within this virtuous rhythm create opportunities for others. | philosophy |
https://www.navigil.com/guest-blog-2-7-2019/ | 2024-02-25T18:04:43 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474641.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20240225171204-20240225201204-00317.warc.gz | 0.970273 | 476 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__18320520 | en | Midsummer evening in a hammock
The weather is treating us well in this Midsummer evening in Finland. I’m lying in a hammock between two birches and admiring the green leaves of the trees against the blue sky. What a spectacular combination of colors. I remember these views of Päijänne from many years ago, already from my childhood. That time the summers were warm and Lake Päijänne full of perch. The trips to the cottage at the lakeside were the highlights of the summer. They always involved a visit to a smoke sauna and refreshing dips to the lake.
The summers of my childhood have made me grow to be keen on Lake Päijänne. Luckily, I have had the opportunity to continue spending my summers here, at the summer cottage of my dear friend. Over the years, my Midsummers have shifted from the Midsummers of parents of small children to Midsummers of grown-ups. However, the magic of Midsummer has not changed. Friendship, family, empathy and understanding have always been a part of them. They together have created incredible Midsummers, which include everything essential but nothing unnecessary.
I am happy and grateful that our cottage trips still continue. At the same time, I understand my own parents are approaching a stage of life, where taking care of them becomes more and more essential. A moment ago, I called to my mother, whose words stuck in my mind: enjoy Midsummer and good company whenever it is possible. I am relieved I was able to get in touch with her by phone, which is not always obvious. The phone may not always find its way to the owner’s hand – it could be accidentally left in a pocket or a bag from where its ringtone is impossible to hear. Fortunately, everything was fine this time. A safe and well-functioning technical solution could give my parents an opportunity to continue living an independent and meaningful life. It could also give us children a certainty that reaching our parents is possible regardless of the distance and time.
This is the conclusion of my Midsummer thoughts in a hammock. Now I can hear the sauna calling me.
The Midsummer Thinker from Lake Päijänne | philosophy |
http://davidsamuelstern.com/woven-portraits-statement | 2019-10-20T20:08:38 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-43/segments/1570986718918.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20191020183709-20191020211209-00072.warc.gz | 0.991174 | 126 | CC-MAIN-2019-43 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-43__0__126091978 | en | Woven Portraits Statement
Portraiture and photography have similarly impossible missions: we don’t see a person by looking at their portrait; and a photograph is not a window into another time—it is an object. I want my work to acknowledge these impossibilities, but not as dead ends. Portraiture always had in it a certain yearning, and a photograph has always been a mechanical and tangible thing. I think this is a striking conflict, which has its own way of conveying meaning, because, to me, portraits and photography have another similarity: they both hide as much as they show. | philosophy |
https://jekehsays.wordpress.com/tag/choices/ | 2021-07-28T14:58:44 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-31/segments/1627046153729.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20210728123318-20210728153318-00360.warc.gz | 0.966374 | 656 | CC-MAIN-2021-31 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-31__0__207636419 | en | All beings incarnated on Earth have free will. There is no time at any point of your life that you don’t have a choice. You may feel that you don’t, but choice is always there for you. At the same time, fate also plays a part. Events are fated to happen. For example, you are fated to meet a certain person at a certain time in your life, or you are fated to work in a certain field, or you are fated to get an illness, but what you do with the event is always your choice.
That person you meet may be your fated soulmate, but you can take the relationship as far as you want, or you may choose to end it. You may be fated to be an accountant since you love numbers and spreadsheets, but where you work or whether you work for yourself, is your choice. You may get cancer but whether you beat it this time around or how long you survive it, is your choice. Death as well…I learned recently that we all have different exit points and that’s why sometimes we have close calls but survive thru them or have a near death experience and choose to go back and finish what we came here to do. This is not true for everyone of course, but most people have multiple exit points.
You might have heard of the saying – let go and let God. When this saying is invoked or practiced, it means that you are relinquishing control of how a situation will play out, but you have made the choice of what outcome you desire beforehand. For example, you opened your own restaurant and it’s not going well. You want to get out but you don’t know how because you have a rental contract, you owe money, you feel bad firing people, etc.… at this point you can give it to God or the Universe and ask them to show you the way out. The Universe will put the pieces together for you so that your original wish of getting out of the restaurant business will be granted. It will not happen exactly the way you wanted, but in the end, you will get your desired outcome.
The point of having free will is to learn. Earth is a planet of duality where you get to experience both sides of the coin and this can play out over multiple lifetimes. During your time here, you will know happiness and sadness, pleasure and pain, you will lead a rich and a poor life, you will be healthy and sick, you will be the oppressed and the oppressor…and all these lifetimes will have one thing in common – you have chosen them – not because God wants you to suffer but to learn to find the happiness, grace, and joy despite of what your life looks like on the outside. The whole purpose is to become more like your true self – that beautiful, perfect, bright soul – while you’re in a human body…and when you learn to shine that light despite it all, you will have reached nirvana.
Free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. – C.S. Lewis | philosophy |
http://theabductivesystemsgroup.blogspot.com/ | 2018-06-19T19:31:51 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267863119.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20180619193031-20180619213031-00122.warc.gz | 0.927838 | 214 | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-26__0__143682398 | en | The Abductive Systems Group (TASG) is made up of a number of individuals worldwide whose reasearch interests extend not only to the logic of abduction, but to the logical investigation of all forms of human reasoning, with special attention to constraints imposed by the cognitive finitude of individual human agents. Dov Gabbay and I are currently in process of producing a multi-volume research monograph under the omnibus title of A Practical Logic of Cognitive Systems. Two volumes have now appeared. They are Agenda Relevance: A Study in Formal Pragmatics (North-Holland, 2003) and The Reach of Abduction: Insight and Trial (North-Holland, 2005). Next to come is Seductions and Shortcuts: Fallacies in the Cognitive Economy
(forthcoming in 2008).
Also on my list of things to do are two books in progress, Studies in the Logic of the Law and the second revised edition of The Logic of Fiction, orginally published by Mouton in 1974. | philosophy |
https://littlelondonersdaynursery.co.uk/our-story/ | 2024-02-25T12:45:46 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474595.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20240225103506-20240225133506-00876.warc.gz | 0.931459 | 206 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__105701669 | en | Welcome to Little Londoners Day Nursery
Developed by the founders Ayten Wakling and Farzana Gajia with the philosophy that the Early Years experiences children receive is the most significant to a child’s development and learning journey.
At Little Londoners, children experience the comforts of a home away from home where they happily learn and develop through play. We have strategically created a calm and stimulating environment to facilitate learning through tactile experiences. Little Londoners is simple in structure providing children with a blank canvas to nurture their creativity, ideas and visions.
We have a highly qualified and experienced team who work with our Early Years Teacher to make our vision for learning more refined and precise.
Our method of teaching is a unique educational strategy which aims to develop the ‘whole child’ through a philosophy based on the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum (EYFS) in conjunction with the ideologies taken from Maria Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Rudolf Steiner and Jean Piaget. | philosophy |
https://www.desmoinesvalleyfriends.org/advices-and-queries-2/ | 2023-09-22T02:40:55 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506320.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20230922002008-20230922032008-00479.warc.gz | 0.944958 | 4,875 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__286355356 | en | IOWA YEARLY MEETING (CONSERVATIVE) FAITH AND PRACTICE
ADVICES AND QUERIES
Quakerism is a living faith made real through the inward light of the living Christ. This faith holds that our individual lives and the corporate life of the Meeting can be guided by continuing revelation through the Holy Spirit. When we behold the splendor of creation, we realize that knowledge of what is divine is beyond description. Traditionally, Friends have referred to the divine in such terms as God, the Inward Light, the Living Water, the Creator, the Christ Within, and the Spirit. Many believe that when we limit the divine to one gender we also limit ourselves and each other. Becoming aware of how we discern Spirit is important to our worship. The Quaker faith is not written in the form of a creed, but is experienced in our lives as a vibrant, living truth. Advices and queries serve to engage our minds and hearts in a process which may provide openings to the leadings of the Spirit within us. These leadings may speak to our individual and corporate needs. The advices and queries reflect experiences from many lives as they contribute to the gathered wisdom of the group. They serve to guide us on our spiritual journeys by opening our hearts and minds to the possibility of new directions and insights.
Uses of Advices and Queries
We look for our own truths and the truths of our meeting when we discuss the advices and answer the queries. It is suggested that one advice and one query be considered by the local meeting each month. Monthly Meeting answers to each of the queries are to be mailed to the assistant clerk of the yearly meeting one month prior to yearly meeting sessions. While Friends are encouraged to consider each query in its entirety, replies need to cover only those questions the meeting is led to address. A summary answer, to be read at the yearly meeting session, will be chosen by the assistant clerk from among the Monthly Meeting answers.
1. MEETING FOR WORSHIP
Meeting for worship is the heart of the meeting. In the silence, we seek direct communion with God the Spirit, conscious of the seeking of others. From the depths of living silence may come an awareness of the presence of the Spirit.
Sometimes the silence is unbroken. At other times, a message may come to any one of us which seems intended not simply for the worshiper, but for the gathering as a whole. If the message is not expressed, one may feel a sense of not having been faithful to a leading of the Spirit, but if it is spoken, a sense of peace may follow. We are most effective if we speak clearly, simply and from our own experience. Because we are unique individuals who come from varied backgrounds and life experiences, our messages reflect diversity. Part of our worship together is listening with an open spirit, holding the speaker in love, remembering that silence after the message is part of the message. Our daily lives are linked with meeting for worship. In the search for truth, Friends are encouraged to spend time in individual study, meditation or prayer and to be open to other sources of inspiration around us. The life of the meeting may be strengthened by a deep level of sharing, discussion or worship at times other than regularly scheduled meetings.
Friends should make an effort to arrive at meeting for worship prepared in mind and spirit to support one another in a worshipful atmosphere. As we give and receive, in speech or in silence, we are drawn together in the life of the Spirit.
Are our meetings for worship held in a spirit of expectant waiting and communion with the Holy Spirit? How do we prepare our hearts and minds for worship?
How do we refer to that which is divine? How does ascribing gender to the Holy Spirit affect our worship?
How do we integrate our daily lives with meeting for worship? Do we seek opportunities for worship outside of meeting?
How does the vocal ministry of the meeting contribute to its spiritual life? In what ways do we recognize and nurture vocal ministry and other spiritual gifts?
Friends believe it is essential to express in words and deeds the faith that sustains us and the convictions that arise from that faith. It is important to speak with integrity and courage ourselves as well as to listen to others with open hearts and minds. We seek fellowship with all branches of Friends and with other seekers of Truth. We recognize the oneness of humanity in the Spirit and believe that in learning from one another we may come to respect differences. Truth is greater than any of us may know, individually or as a group.
As we work and share with others within our communities, we may find opportunities to invite them to attend our meetings for worship and other meeting activities. A genuine welcome to everyone is consistent with Friends’ testimony of acknowledging the Divine Spirit in each person and of our belief in the dignity and worth of every human being.
Do we encourage inter visitation within yearly meeting and with other Friends?
What are we doing to share our faith with others outside our Friends’ community?
How do we speak truth as we know it and yet remain open to truth as understood by others?
In what ways do we cooperate with persons and groups with whom we share concerns? How do we reach out to those with whom we disagree?
How do we make the presence of our meeting known to the larger community?
Do we invite others to share in our meetings for worship and other meeting activities?
Do we welcome everyone and appreciate the gifts that differences such as race, creed, economic status, disability, age, gender or sexual orientation may bring to us?
3. MEETING FOR BUSINESS
In our meeting for business, Friends seek Divine guidance in handling the affairs of the meeting. By opening the meeting with a period of worship, Friends can more easily wait patiently upon the will of the Divine Spirit while conducting business. This assists our meetings for business in finding the loving unity that might never be achieved through discussion alone. The right conduct of meetings for business, even in routine matters, is important to the life of the meeting. Friends are encouraged to prepare for and attend meetings for business just as they would other meetings for worship. Participating in meetings for business and acceptance of responsibilities within the meeting should not be taken lightly. When filling positions within our meetings, it is important to consider the suitability of individuals for specific tasks. Although the clerk is particularly charged with gathering the sense of the meeting, all Friends can assist the process by committing themselves to be faithful in opening their hearts and minds to wait upon the Divine Spirit.
How can we hold our meetings for business in the spirit of love understanding and patient search for unity without becoming frustrated by differences of opinion or the pressures of time?
How do we respond when no one else in the meeting seems to hold the views that we do on an issue?
How do we respond to a dissenting minority?
How do we share responsibilities among Friends in our meeting?
How do we serve our meetings?
4. HARMONY WITHIN THE MEETING
This is my commandment: Love one another as I have loved you. John 15:1
It is sometimes difficult to remember that love is a gift of the Divine Spirit and not simply a human emotion. As imperfect human beings, it is not always possible for us to feel loving toward one another, but by opening ourselves to the Light Within, we can receive and give love beyond our human abilities.
Relationships among meeting members take time to evolve. Sometimes misunderstandings develop. When differences arise, they should not be ignored for the sake of superficial unity. We believe disagreements which might divide or disrupt a meeting can be resolved through human effort and divine grace, and may result in a stronger and more creative meeting. True harmony depends upon each person’s deep respect of and faithful attention to the Divine Spirit within us all. We endeavor to practice humility, attempting to understand positions of others and being aware of the possibility that we may be mistaken.
It is the responsibility of the ministry and counsel committee to be sensitive to needs which may arise. Others in the meeting may be equally concerned, and because of greater understanding in certain cases, be able to give counsel. In reconciliation of differences, a position not previously considered may prove mutually beneficial. At times it may be necessary to confront individuals whose behavior is disruptive. A clearness committee or professional help may be suggested in some situations. We must always remember the power of holding one another in the Light, and the healing that comes from forgiving ourselves as well as others.
What can we do to deepen our relationships with one another?
How does gender affect the way we relate to each other?
How does our meeting balance the needs for honesty and kindness?
What topics do we avoid for the sake of “unity”?
When in conflict with others, do we cultivate a forgiving spirit?
Do we look to that of God in ourselves and seek to address that of Godin those with whom we disagree?
5. MUTUAL CARE
Friends consider the meeting to be a family in which the welfare of each individual is of utmost concern. For some, the meeting may be their only family in the community. In mutual caring we seek greater wisdom than our own. We listen to the silence within ourselves and to one another with openness of heart. Sharing our pain as well as our joy can bring us closer together, making it easier to ask for help when we need it. Each of us is both giver and receiver, ready to help and to accept help.
Friends try to be aware of those who require special attention within the meeting community. We believe friendly interaction benefits both adults and children. It is the responsibility of adults to recognize and give voice to the needs of children in the meeting. Inactive and absent members require the care of the meeting; those who do not currently attend meeting may be contacted by mail or by personal visit. We need also to minister with sensitivity to those in transition and to support caregivers and those requiring care within the meeting community. It is important to be responsive to the needs and gifts of newcomers and seekers who may attend our meetings for a short time.
We endeavor to be conscious of how differing gender role expectations may affect the quality of our relationships and influence how we empower ourselves in the home, meeting, community, school, workplace and government. We envision a society that provides opportunities for all people to reach their potentials, share similar expectations, reap comparable rewards and contribute equally to society.
How do we respond to each other’s personal needs and difficulties insensitive and useful ways?
Do we encourage both men and women to share in caregiving?
What are we doing to welcome and draw members and attenders of all ages into the fellowship of the meeting?
How do we help our children feel the loving care of the meeting?
What do the children contribute to the meeting?
How do we keep in touch with inactive and distant members and attenders?
Friends seek an education which integrates our intellectual, emotional and spiritual dimensions and enables us to face difficult moral issues with courage.
While the religious education of our children is primarily the concern of parents, everyone benefits when the entire meeting is concerned with nurturing them. If a spirit of common concern is present, children will gain a sense of belonging to the larger community, and, knowing they are loved and respected, will be able to face the mysteries of life with trust.
Friends promote learning throughout life and encourage freedom of thought and inquiry in all educational pursuits. Our complex and changing world demands that we learn to think and act creatively to meet its challenges.
How can we most effectively foster a spirit of inquiry and a loving and understanding attitude toward life?
What effort are we making to become better acquainted with the Bible, the teachings of Jesus, our Judeo-Christian heritage, the history and principles of Friends, and the contributions of other religions and philosophies to our spiritual heritage?
In what ways can we encourage an educational process that is consistent with the values Friends cherish?
How do gender based expectations affect the goals we set and the way we learn?
Do we take an active and supportive interest in schools, libraries and other educational resources in our communities and elsewhere? How do we prepare ourselves and our children to play active roles in a changing world?
7. HOME AND FAMILY
We seek an atmosphere within our homes and within our families which nurtures the many physical, social, spiritual and emotional needs of each of us. This is true whether we live alone or with others.
A family, whatever its composition, is a unique and sometimes fragile bonding of people. At its best, it is concerned with the welfare of the whole and each of its constituents.
Children bring gifts to the families that nurture them. Our children’s earliest encounters with the principles of Friends usually occur within our homes. Examples we set are often more effective than verbal guidance. The loving support of the meeting is needed as children learn to understand and practice Quaker principles in their lives.
While we try to make our homes centers of love, we sometimes feel anger and hostility. Part of the challenge of being human is to learn to constructively channel the energy of anger, relying on the Divine Spirit for love and guidance. Worship in the home can enable us to hold ourselves and one another in the Light. Respect for truth, as each discerns it, is essential to the happiness and spiritual growth of all persons within the home. Clear communication, patience and a sense of humor are vital to family relationships.
We value setting aside time for rest, recreation and creative activities. Offering hospitality can foster mutual bonds of friendship and love and can enrich our own lives and the lives of others.
How can we make our homes places of love and hospitality?
What different expectations do we hold for women and men, boys and girls?
How can we bring more equality into our relationships?
How do we develop and maintain lines of communication?
In what ways do we share our deepest experiences, struggles, concerns and beliefs with our children and others, yet encourage them to develop their potential as the Spirit leads them?
What place do we make in our daily lives for meditation, spiritual renewal and reading of inspiring literature, such as the Bible?
How does our meeting support families of all kinds?
8. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Life is meant to be lived from a Center, a divine Center—a life of unhurried peace and power. It is serene. It takes not time, but it occupies all our time. Thomas Kelly
Historic testimonies of the Religious Society of Friends against taking oaths, joining secret organizations, gambling and using addictive substances grew out of efforts of Friends to live with integrity and consistency. To swear an oath implied that one is obliged to be truthful only under oath. Joining secret organizations, gambling and using addictive and/or consciousness-altering substances were recognized as practices which diverted resources from useful purposes, distracted attention from the Inner Light, and placed obstacles in the way of Friends seeking to lead lives of integrity. We recognize the spirit of these testimonies and endeavor to apply the same principles in our lives today.
Honesty and simplicity are essential parts of personal responsibility. We manifest our commitment to Truth in all we do. We can have joy and beauty in our lives without allowing material things to dominate them. We need to free ourselves from distractions that interfere with our search for inner peace, and accept with thanksgiving all that promotes fullness and aids in service to the Divine Center.
How do we center our lives in the awareness of God the Spirit, so that all things may take their rightful places?
How do we structure our individual lives in order to keep them uncluttered with things and activities?
How does meeting help us examine our personal lives for simplicity?
Do we choose recreational activities which foster mental, physical and spiritual health?
How are our lives affected by tobacco, alcohol and drug use?
What can we do to deal with problems resulting from their use?
What can we do to recognize and deal with unhealthy ways we treat ourselves?
How do we ensure that we act with fairness and integrity?
Are we sensitive to our own use of language which may be offensive or oppressive to others?
9. CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY
Because Friends believe there is that of God in all people, we strive for a world of freedom, justice and equality for everyone. Believing that progress toward these ideals is advanced by those who devote themselves to the shaping of a just society, we urge Friends to be active and conscientious citizens. This means staying informed on social issues, and on the opinions and activities of our elected representatives and of those seeking office. It is important that Friends speak truth to those in power. We recognize that, in our world, power in government and private sectors lies disproportionately with those of economic means. Speaking out on a personal level in our communities may be difficult, even dangerous, yet by doing so we may encourage others to work for justice.
Our first allegiance is to the Holy Spirit. In general, Friends support the laws of the State, but if those laws directly violate our religious convictions, we may be led to oppose them. When contemplating civil disobedience or unpopular personal testimony, we must carefully consider the spiritual basis for, and honestly face the consequences of, our actions.
What conflicts do we perceive between the laws of the State and our religious convictions?
How do we resolve those conflicts in our lives?
In what ways do we assume responsibility for the government of our community, state, nation and world?
How do we share our convictions with others?
Do we express our opinions with courage, yet with love, mindful of the Divine Spirit within everyone?
How do we maintain our integrity when we find ourselves in a position of power?
How do we respond when we feel powerless?
Do we really respect and help those we seek to serve?
Are we careful to reach our decisions through prayer and strengthen our actions with worship?
Are we open to divine leadings?
10. ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
All of creation is divine and interdependent: air, water, soil, and all that lives and grows. Since human beings are part of this fragile and mysterious web, whenever we pollute or neglect the earth we pollute and neglect our own wellsprings. Developing a keen awareness of our role in the universe is essential if we are to live peacefully within creation.
The way we choose to live each day—as we manufacture, package, purchase and recycle goods, use resources, dispose of water, design homes, plan families and travel— affects the present and future of life on the planet. The thought and effort we give to replenishing what we receive from the earth, to keeping informed and promoting beneficial legislation on issues which affect the earth, to envisioning community with environmental conscience, are ways in which we contribute to the ongoing health of the planet we inhabit.
Preserving the quality of life on Earth calls forth all of our spiritual resources. Listening to and heeding the leadings of the Holy Spirit can help us develop qualities which enable us to become more sensitive to all life.
What are we doing about our disproportionate use of the world’s resources?
Do we see unreasonable exploitation in our relationship with the rest of creation?
How can we nurture reverence and respect for life?
How can we become more fully aware of our interdependent relationship with the rest of creation?
To what extent are we aware of all life and the role we play?
What can we do in our own lives and communities to address environmental concerns?
11. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
For when I was hungry you gave me food, when thirsty you gave me drink, when I was a stranger you took me into your home, when naked you clothed me, when in prison you visited me. Matthew 25:35-36
We are part of an economic system characterized by inequality and exploitation. Such a society is defended and perpetuated by entrenched power.
Friends can help relieve social and economic oppression and injustice by first seeking spiritual guidance in our own lives. We envision a system of social and economic justice that ensures the right of every individual to be loved and cared for; to receive a sound education; to find useful employment; to receive appropriate health care; to secure adequate housing; to obtain redress through the legal system; and to live and die in dignity. Friends maintain historic concern for the fair and humane treatment of persons in penal and mental institutions.
Wide disparities in economic and social conditions exist among groups in our society and among nations of the world. While most of us are able to be responsible for our own economic circumstances, we must not overlook the effects of unequal opportunities among people. Friends’ belief in the Divine within everyone leads us to support institutions which meet human needs and to seek to change institutions which fail to meet human needs. We strengthen community when we work with others to help promote justice for all.
How are we beneficiaries of inequity and exploitation?
How are we victims of inequity and exploitation?
In what ways can we address these problems?
What can we do to improve the conditions in our correctional institutions and to address the mental and social problems of those confined there?
How can we improve our understanding of those who are driven to violence by subjection to racial, economic or political injustice?
In what ways do we oppose prejudice and injustice based on gender, sexual orientation, class, race, age, and physical, mental and emotional conditions?
How would individuals benefit from a society that values everyone? How would society benefit?
12. PEACE AND NONVIOLENCE
[We] seek to live in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all wars. George Fox
We seek peace within our own lives. Sometimes there are barriers to peace within families and meetings, and among individuals. Anger and frustration may result in hurtfulness which leaves physical, sexual or emotional wounds. Healing and forgiveness are possible when our hearts are opened to the transforming love that comes from the Spirit Within. The violence we oppose is not only war, but all unloving acts. Friends seek peaceful resolution to conflicts among nations and peoples. Wars can easily erupt when nations depend upon armed forces as an option for defense and order. To oppose war is not enough if we fail to deal with the injustices and inequalities that often lead to violence. We need to address the causes of war, such as aggression, revenge, overpopulation, greed, and religious and ethnic differences.
What are we doing to educate ourselves and others about the causes of conflict in our own lives, our families and our meetings?
Do we provide refuge and assistance, including advocacy, for spouses, children, or elderly persons who are victims of violence or neglect?
Do we recognize that we can be perpetrators as well as victims of violence?
How do we deal with this?
How can we support one another so that healing may take place?
What are we doing to understand the causes of war and violence and to work toward peaceful settlement of differences locally, nationally, and internationally?
How do we support institutions and organizations that promote peace?
Do we faithfully maintain our testimony against preparation for and participation in war? | philosophy |
https://www.anthonyclarkmusic.com/post/2016/08/21/thankful-moments | 2023-12-08T10:37:33 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100739.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20231208081124-20231208111124-00405.warc.gz | 0.979957 | 627 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__226700736 | en | I am pleased you have stopped here for this reading of words. Coupled with the listening of music. This post is my first of a long series. Here I will speak with you. You, my inspiration. You, my muse and friend. I am thankful you have stopped here to listen. To read and reach out with me into the moments of creativity. To join with me to say, "Thank you" to those who inspire us. Those who motivate us. Those who share with us.
I am Renascence - the remaking and recreation of the self. At 50 years of age I find myself face to face with that which has past and that which will be. Yet, most importantly, I find myself facing the moment. In this moment I wish to express gratitude and thanks.
At the age of 6 I began the path of music. Though my hands were too small to embrace the guitar it would be the instrument of choice. To Mr. Henson I express thanks for providing the first lessons on the lap guitar where my small hands learned to flow over the instrument. Thankful for those first teachings in reading and playing music. The Batman Theme, Hawaiian folk music and old cowboy songs. These were my beginnings. These are thankful moments.
I was encouraged and able to play and perform music all my life. Joining school choirs, performing in musicals, dancing and singing. Very thankful moments. My teenage years were surrounded in music and creativity. Then I set off for University and was accepted into the School of Music where my learning of the craft became very focused and fine tuned. How amazing that time was! Those moments of support and creative clarity. To Professor Jensen of the Royal Coventry Garden, I say, "thank you"
I then studied the technical side of the creation. How to capture the fleeting moments of creativity. I entered audio engineering school and was taught by producers from TV, Film and Radio in the art of recording, mixing, and mastering. How wonderful this was. Looking back I can truly say how thankful I am for every professor who's time and effort was put forward and poured into their young students.
Then as often happens we find ourselves faced with the necessities of life and we must blend ourselves into the society of making a living and paying our bills and becoming the men and women productive societies. But even in these moments of having a 'job' I was fortunate and can look back in gratitude as I was always able to stay connected to the creative and the capturing of the creative.
Now, here I have arrived. Now releasing my first of what will be many creative offerings to you, my friend and my inspiration. In closing of this post I say to each of you, "Thank You."
Thank you for the support and inspiration you each give to me, Renascence. The recreation and coming of the moment. In this moment we are the creatives and the receivers of the special gift our Muse extends to us. Listen closely and watch carefully. Thankful moments are all around us.
Be well and until next time. | philosophy |
https://lowfatgaming.com/2015/02/10/hatred-has-a-right-to-exisit-but-that-doesnt-mean-we-have-to-like-it/ | 2018-01-21T10:52:37 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084890514.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20180121100252-20180121120252-00392.warc.gz | 0.974574 | 1,180 | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-05__0__125764489 | en | Re-wind a few months to the the announcement of Hatred, and indie game focused exclusively on violence, death and murder. “Ban This Sick Filth” were the inevitable cries from some quarters but, as much as the game doesn’t sit right with us, Sam Drower argues that any attempts to ban it goes against our rights to freedom of speech. Read on…
As gaming becomes more complex in design and more respected as a creative outlet, certain avenues of discussion are routinely explored by fans and critics. Are video games art? Do they have a moral responsibility to their audience? And, perhaps most importantly – Should they benefit from the same protection of free expression that other forms of media are privy to?
These are questions we have all heard before, and they have been raised again by gamers and the gaming press alike over the course of the last few weeks. However, this latest ignition of the debate hasn’t been sparked by powerful stories such as those seen in The Last of Us, or survival simulators like DayZ that indirectly confront us with the darker side of our humanity; but instead from a small indie title that was virtually unknown before October last year.
The name of that title? Hatred.
For those who have managed to avoid the fanfare, the name tells you all you need to know. Hatred is an upcoming isometric shooter that puts players in the role of a bitter, hate filled psychopath, sending them on a “genocide crusade” to destroy, maim and kill as many innocent civilians as possible before being gunned down. There is no point to the game besides wanton destruction and mass murder. Imagine if Postal had all of the humour and self awareness sucked out of it and you’ll have a pretty good idea of where Hatred stands. The Polish studio behind the game, Destructive Creations, claim the game is assault on the idea of games as an artform and as a middle fingered response to “political correctness”.
It all feels quite desperate, a sour and shameless grab for publicity. As crass and vulgar as the game appears, though, it has triggered a lively debate on the nature of free expression in video games. Hatred’s reveal was met in some corners of the gaming community with an understandable amount of revulsion, many of whom were shocked by the gleeful level of violence and just how bluntly it was being presented. Others, such as myself, merely saw this as a cynical attempt to court controversy and reap the rewards, and a definite case of style over substance. Hatred has also garnered a large amount of support, mostly from people who believe that the freedom of expression of Destructive Creations should be protected – A position that I fundamentally agree with. However, something that Hatred’s many supporters fail to recognize is that it is entirely possible to uphold free speech without supporting every idea or belief that falls under that banner. We should defend people’s rights to distribute ideas that we find repugnant, but does that mean we have to support those ideas? Of course not, and I certainly don’t think Hatred has done anything to be deserving of your support.
I think those who are unconditionally supporting Hatred need to ask themselves a few questions about why they are doing so. Is it because it looks fun or entertaining to play? Or is it because you unequivocally support free speech and as such are buying it to make a point? If it’s the former, then I worry about your taste. If it’s the latter, then I think that is incredibly naive. I do not consider Hatred’s impending release a “victory” for free speech any more than I do when the Westboro Baptist Church stage their latest protest. After all, first time developers Destructive Creations not only hoped their game would be condemned, they needed it to be. They published the first trailer for Hatred along with a press blurb that essentially said “Bring it on, haters!”. They were delighted by the reaction to the game because it was exactly the kind of controversy they had hoped to court – As evident in a released statement in which they consider the ESRB’s Adults Only rating slapped on their game (Normally a commercial death sentence) as “an achievement”.
Corporate isolation does not equate to censorship. Nobody asked for a mass murder simulator. Nobody even knew they wanted one until Hatred burst onto the scene. It carved its own market through controversy and controversy alone. From a gameplay perspective it appears to have an extremely limited lifespan, and I predict that even the game’s most die hard supporters will struggle to get more than a couple of hours’ gameplay out of this before growing tired.
Hatred’s sole defining feature is the incredibly bitter level of violence, and that’s not good for gaming. It is a soulless, ugly and mean spirited game that plays its violence completely straight without so much of a hint of irony or self awareness. The best way we can react to that is to give the game the mocking that it deserves, and mockery is the solution rather than asking for it to be banned. It may be difficult to stomach, but even grossly distasteful and publicly unpopular works are deserving of being considered protected speech, and I genuinely believe games should be treated as free expression due to their naturally creative nature. Speech should be protected because it is powerful, but with power also comes responsibility – and Hatred’s developers are currently swinging that responsibility around like a kid with a missile launcher.
– Sam Drower.
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http://atticbooks.in/2017/03/31/what-is-the-writers-duty/ | 2021-04-22T11:14:41 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-17/segments/1618039603582.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20210422100106-20210422130106-00130.warc.gz | 0.975023 | 721 | CC-MAIN-2021-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-17__0__256297757 | en | In a well-known Sufi tale a reader accuses a writer of narrating stories without telling people how to understand them. The writer replies: “How would you feel if a greengrocer in front of your eyes ate the banana you bought from him and left you only the peelings?”
The reader insisted: “That means that every reader will understand your stories differently, in his or her own way.”
The writer replied: “That is precisely their value. I am sure you wouldn’t think highly of a cup from which you could drink only water but not also milk, or about a plate off which you could eat meat but not also rice. The cup and the plate are merely containers.”
A work of literature is a container for saving the meaning of life, a refuge in which, in the words of the recently departed John Berger, the most fragile but at the same time most important truths about human lives can find permanent shelter, thus escaping the danger of being lost or forgotten. A poem, a novel, a short story, a play, they are all attempts to rescue the meaning of life from the infinite hollowness of time.
Today, no less than in the past, we need stories without the attached key that would enable us to unlock them; we need stories that each reader can unlock only with his or her own key, and enter a world that is his or her alone. In a world of one-dimensional words, in the noise of market-place chatter we also need words that reach not only our minds but also our hearts and souls; words that reach those parts of us in which they were born. It is to ourselves that we tell stories about ourselves. And if we think, as we do, and should, that the most important thing we need in our cruel world is truth, let us remember that literature is nothing more, and nothing less, than truth in Sunday clothes.
Truth, however, is not a matter of facts but a child of imagination. That’s why I believe that in these dangerous, perhaps terminal times for mankind, the writer has no greater duty than to tell the truth. Not the truth of facts, statistics, analyses, but the truth as understanding of the real and inexpressible nature of our existence, of that liberating meaning that we can no longer find in philosophy or religion.
This understanding cannot bring us anything other than pain. I believe that the main duty of the writer today is to connect us with the pain of man in an empty Universe: the pain of the abandoned subject left to its own ingenuity.
How can a writer express the inexpressible? He or she must be an alchemist. With the magnetic power of his or her creative imagination he or she must draw out of the hidden corners of our hearts and minds all those little things that we have misplaced or forgotten, and have ceased looking for them because we have no time, although we are fully aware of how much we miss them.
And when the writer succeeds in collecting these little lost and forgotten things, he or she must with the secret power of artistic imagination shape them into a golden plate so clear that anyone who will dare to look at it will see the reflection of all those features of his that he is unable or unwilling to see.
Only so will the writer continue to be what he or she has always been: a magician, a conductor of higher, invisible forces, someone who can change our hearts. And by doing so change the world. | philosophy |
https://neo.symbiosis.org.gr/11th-world-forum-for-democracy-democracy-peace/ | 2024-04-23T13:44:58 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296818711.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20240423130552-20240423160552-00747.warc.gz | 0.931676 | 231 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__58291556 | en | In the wake of renewed conflict on the European continent, a profound reflection on the relationship between democracy and peace becomes imperative. The shockwaves of war have stirred a collective appreciation for peace and heightened concerns for the welfare of democracy within the European and international communities. As armed conflicts persist as a recurring threat globally, the post-Second World War vision of peace and prosperity, anchored in democracy, is under scrutiny in the twenty-first century. In a world marked by escalating violence, widening inequalities, and polarized politics, the critical question emerges: Can democracy fulfill its promise of delivering peace?
This pressing query was addressed in the 2023 edition of the World Forum for Democracy, themed “Democracy = Peace?“. Bringing together over 900 participants from around the world, including graduates from the Schools of Political Studies of the Council of Europe, the forum fostered a diverse and insightful dialogue on the intricate relationship between democracy and peace.
The 11th World Forum for Democracy looked for innovative solutions and collaborative strategies to fortify the symbiotic bond between democracy and peace, recognizing that their interdependence is pivotal in navigating the complex challenges of our time. | philosophy |
https://hamiasophiaf.wordpress.com/tag/self-love/ | 2023-03-22T15:04:09 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296943845.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20230322145537-20230322175537-00580.warc.gz | 0.975211 | 787 | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-14__0__211423327 | en | I have learned that confidence is not thinking you’re better than others. Instead, confidence is about believing in yourself. It stems from self-respect—which can only blossom from self-love. But self-love is not always easy, I know. It is much easier to be critical of yourself. It is easier to feed your insecurities. To wallow in self-doubt.
Of course, I’m not against self-criticism. In moderate doses it is necessary to improve ourselves. The problem is that without self-love, self-criticism can often look like a monster, lurking inside you, waiting to pounce at every opportunity. It easily becomes too harsh.
Yet it is easier to be harsh on yourself. I know this well. It is easier to wonder what you did wrong or berate yourself for not working hard enough. As if luck didn’t have anything to do with the outcome. It is easier to compare yourself to others and wonder why you’re not enough. As if you aren’t already much, much more than enough.
Which is why we must work, day and night, to nurture ourselves. For self-love is a seedling in your mind that will only sprout if planted in fertile soil. That soil, my friends, is how we talk to ourselves. If we speak kindly and encouragingly to ourselves, that seed will grow into a shoot. For example, imagine that you have a fear of public speaking and you just delivered a speech to your classmates at school. Your knees shook, your voice trembled, but you still did it. Afterward, instead of thinking, “I’m sure everyone will mock me for that speech! I did horrible!” try saying, “I’m proud of myself for being brave enough to try!”
Then, our sprout must be watered daily. We must nourish it by treating ourselves the way we would treat a friend. This step is harder to do. It requires you to say “no” even when you feel pressured to say “yes.” It requires you to stand up for yourself when someone has pushed you down with their words (or actions.) Michelle Obama, for example, was told by her college counselor that she wasn’t eligible for Princeton. And yet! She applied anyway, and was accepted, because she believed in herself. Because her self-love was on the verge of blooming into roses. She wouldn’t let someone’s doubt tramp it down! She knew her worth.
Self-love also means prioritizing yourself. It is realizing that you can’t help your friend edit her assignment because you are already in over your head with deadlines. It is choosing to read a book on a Saturday night rather than going out with friends because you know you need time to relax. It is eating healthy, exercising, (and maybe creating a skin-care routine) because you know your body will appreciate you for it. This all might sound selfish, but it is necessary. After all, who knows you better than yourself? Who will you live with until death, other than your very own self? How could others understand that you have those deadlines or need that time to destress?
Most importantly, how can you care for others when you don’t care for yourself? Only when you are in shape, both physically and mentally, can you be there to support others. You must do the ones you love a favor by being the best version of yourself around them. And you can only become the best version of yourself when that little plant inside your mind is alive and healthy, radiating confidence and light from within.
Take care of yourself during these strange times. | philosophy |
https://wowva.com/morning-pages/ | 2024-02-22T02:19:58 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947473598.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20240221234056-20240222024056-00874.warc.gz | 0.965742 | 1,511 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__38486932 | en | One of my biggest self care commitments this year has been to journal daily and I know when I actually practice this habit consistently I feel good. Really good. I learned about morning pages from Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way, she writes “Put simply, the morning pages are three pages of longhand writing, strictly stream-of-consciousness. …they might also, more ingloriously, be called brain drain, since that is one of their main functions.”
I’ve been doing morning pages for over a decade now and also know that for me first thing in the morning is the best time to get ‘stuff’ out of my head. I’ve been filling old partially used and then abandoned journals that I couldn’t part with. I have about a weeks worth of pages left in my current book and I looked back to read the first entry in this lovely journal which was on March 12, 2001. I’d like to share this entry as a way to celebrate how far I’ve come and that I am on the ‘write’ path of living authentically:
“These pages called to me. This wasn’t the journal I intended to buy. I had decided on the plain cheap edition that I could create a cover for. This one is perfect. No, forget perfection and aim for excellence. I like that. This blank book is excellent. The pages speak to me with whispers of hope. Journeys to be undertaken. Discoveries to behold. Dreams to live.
I am so consumed by what NOT to write my mind holds no thought of what I DO want to create. I am afraid to
pour out my heart onto this pristine blankness. I believe—no, no I did believe I was unworthy. I only deserved the plain, cheap production. Until I wrote a check for THIS book: covered in soft forest green crushed velvet with a chestnut brown soft leather binding along the spine. The length and breadth of the pages take my breath away with their invitation. It’s decadent almost. Definitely the feel of velvet, leather, and paper beneath my fingers is sensual. It’s the ‘ahhh’ of being home after a long journey.
I wish to write in a whoosh and rush of words that will amaze, inspire, provoke, awe, move and ultimately prove to myself that I have a worthwhile talent to express myself with the written word on the page. I believe I have no story to tell. I am afraid to learn what I might say—what others might think. Who am I that others would want to hear my voice? I have echoed that query in my soul’s empty chambers for three decades…who am I? Writing is the key that will open that box. Pandora’s box? I know not. I only know I must write: whatever, my story, a story that comes through me, a truth, a lie, a fairy tale. Where’s the difference? Perspective. Only a different angle. I write for myself. I write to know myself. I write for strength and courage and faith. I write to BE myself. To be authentic here on this page, and the next, and the one after that. This is my pact to write whatever is in my heart. Light or dark. Truth or lie. Forgiveness or revenge. Love or hate. I will write it all. Honestly. No editing. For myself. Because I want to know as Julia said, “What color is behind my eyes?”
I want peace. I want the experience of unconditional love. I want to learn how to BE love in action. I want to write my past and future lives. To be one with the Universe and come to know and trust my own divinity. I want to use words to define and express my soul and mind. To connect with others on a realm so deep they will remember who they are and why they are here. I want to write a story to save humanity so that we save ourselves and our planet. It’s not about fame or fortune. Ego says I must have recognition but it’s so that I know I have done my part. My part is to write. This I know.
Now I must intuit what to write. Next I must trust myself to write. Then I must simply write. I have erroneously believed each step leads to the next. But in actuality the reverse is true. First I must write. Simple. Writing will lead to trusting myself to write which will in turn enable me to choose and know what to write. There is so much truth and wisdom in walking your path backwards. As I have done over and over I place my happiness and well being in the hands of outside events. I must write to be happy. I must lose weight to be happy. I must like myself to be happy. I must have _____ to be happy.
I have heard the lesson ‘to love is to be happy with’ but I have not accepted it as my own. All of my issues dissolve with the wisdom of being happy: happy to write, happy to lose weight, happy to like myself. Be happy first and then have/do _______. I brace, no tense against the word ‘happy’ let me replace it with joyful, radiant or simply ‘love’. That looks like this: I love to write! I love loosing weight! I love to be happy. I love feeling peace. I love to ________. My ego rails and wails that it cannot be that simple. My heart says no matter the question…love is the answer. Then I must define love for myself—to know love.
I believe that I am created from the energy of love and will return when this journey is complete. God is love. What does that mean to me? It means that all I am afraid of is my own incredible beauty and power. It means that I am worthy and deserving. It means letting go of fear and facing myself…with love. It means life is simple. The answers are simple. I’ve had the key all along AND the power to turn it…CLICK.
I closed this entry with a quote cut out and pasted on the page by Marianne Williamson’s book A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles.“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." | philosophy |
http://mandajanee.blogspot.com/2010/11/gentleman-is-one-who-never-hurts.html | 2018-05-25T18:18:56 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-22/segments/1526794867173.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20180525180646-20180525200646-00263.warc.gz | 0.975702 | 156 | CC-MAIN-2018-22 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-22__0__102868826 | en | I believe that every relationship we may encounter in life is something we can learn from. We can learn to be better friends, more compassionate, less judgmental, more humble, more kind. Some people are shining examples of what not to be, others are reminders that there are still wholly good people in the world.
Quentin is proof that there are still spiritual, smart, gentlemen around. He's the kind of guy who holds the door open and wraps his coat around you when you're cold. He's gentle, but manly. Spiritual, but light hearted and fun. He's a great reminder to me that good guys do exist, they're just few and far between.
I'm refreshed and relieved. The world needs more guys like Quentin in it. | philosophy |
https://mingeifilmarchive.com/the-project/suzuki-and-the-mingei-movement/ | 2024-04-21T10:57:31 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817765.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20240421101951-20240421131951-00551.warc.gz | 0.965211 | 299 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__137824032 | en | The ideas behind the Mingei Movement were part of a wider intellectual exchange in the early part of the 20th century. Just as Eastern philosophy and aesthetics were being introduced to the West, European ideas of arts and design, as articulated by the Arts and Crafts Movement of John Ruskin, William Morris and Eric Gill, among others, were entering Japan.
The central Japanese figure in this exchange was Buddhist scholar Daisetsu Teitaro (D.T.) Suzuki, author of many books in English on Buddhism and Japanese culture; including Essays in Zen Buddhism (1927), Zen and Japanese Culture (1959) and Shin Buddhism (1970). Suzuki lived in America during the early part of the 20th century and travelled extensively throughout his long life, lecturing and engaging in dialogue with many of the most important artists and thinkers of his time.
His influence is widely acknowledged; no discussion of the position of Japan in the intellectual history of the 20th century can be complete without consideration of D.T. Suzuki. Undoubtedly one of the most significant figures of the last century, his important contributions include writings on Buddhist philosophy and the arts of Japan – writings that influenced artists worldwide.
The key members of the Mingei Movement felt Daisetsu Suzuki’s influence and friendship directly and unmistakably. In this film project we have had the unique opportunity to explore this legacy through an interview in Kyoto with Mihoko Okamura, Suzuki’s longtime assistant. | philosophy |
https://energiavital.co.uk/yin-yan-cycles/ | 2024-04-23T18:17:19 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296818732.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20240423162023-20240423192023-00274.warc.gz | 0.941191 | 465 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__173886659 | en | After a long period, or yet another of the Yin Yang cycles of life, while I have been busy studying for an MSc in Nutrition and Health, I am finally writing again on my blog. Everything in life follows cycles; a period of inner work and planning, that is Yin, has to follow a period of outer work, Yang, and vice-versa.
Let’s then re-start…
The Taoist philosophy, with the schools of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, is the root of the Chinese culture and of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), since the legendary Fu Hsi 5000 years ago or maybe even earlier.
ACUPUNCTURE is one of the techniques of the TCM and is used to re-establish and maintain the balance of the Vital Energy that circulates in our body.
According to this philosophy, everything that exists in the universe has the two forms of energy, the Yin and Yang, like the two faces of the same coin. But one thing may be classified as mainly Yin or Yang, according to the proportion of these two energies in it.
Some of the Yin characteristics are: female, quietness, low, interior, deep, dark, cold, night, blood, and chronic problems.
The Yang characteristics are the opposite or: male, activity, high, exterior, shallow, light, hot, day, energy and acute problems.
We present good health when the Yin and the Yang that constitute our vital energy are in complete equilibrium.
When our vital energy does not circulate in a balanced form, diseases start to appear. Acupuncture then, according to tradition, through the utilization of stimulus (needles, heat, massage, laser…) on certain points on the surface of our skin can re-establish health, relieve pain and psychosomatic symptoms that could have been caused by the stresses of daily life and by the difficulties encountered in finding the balance between body and mind.
I hope that I am not making things too complicated; my intention is to inform the public about some complementary therapies that I happen to know and work with.
Next time I will write about what are the possible causes of the imbalance of our energy and consequent diseases and give some alternative to treat them.
Thank you for reading. | philosophy |
https://schonbergcare.com/2017-8-17-live-like-you-were-dying-the-benefits-of-building-checking-items-off-your-senior-bucket-list/ | 2021-09-26T12:51:35 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-39/segments/1631780057861.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20210926114012-20210926144012-00411.warc.gz | 0.953379 | 763 | CC-MAIN-2021-39 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-39__0__150499824 | en | It’s probably safe to say that we all have a bit of a “bucket list” going in our heads, those far-fetched dreams or adventurous goals that we hope to accomplish during our time here on Earth: things that require courage (skydiving), money (a trip around the world), time (getting another degree) or some other factor that makes it more difficult to obtain. How many of us actually wind up checking those items off the list, though? There always seems to be something more important- bills that need to be paid, hours that need to be worked, family obligations- and the time we have available to satisfy those deeply buried desires of our heart ticks on without us even realizing it. As so many people who have reached the end of their journey have said, it’s not the things we do in our life that we regret, it’s all the things we haven’t done.
Do you want to live a life with no regrets? If so, we challenge you to not only BUILD a real-life bucket list, but PRIORITIZE it! Making a commitment to follow through on your real-life bucket list is beneficial for so many reasons- it empowers you by proving to yourself that you are capable of accomplishing your goals, it gives purpose and meaning to your life by enhancing it with those amazing experiences, and it gives you the joy of continuing to choose your own happiness and knowing that the best is yet to come. “It is so inspiring to watch my residents continue to mark bucket items off their list,” says Courtney Bartholomew, Executive Director of Vista Shores Assisted Living & Memory Care in New Orleans. “Their passion for trying new things and zest for living life to the fullest sets an example for me and the way in which I choose to live my own.”
Are you ready to stop talking and start doing? Then follow these simple steps:
1) Formalize & organize your bucket list. It’s time to commit to your bucket list items by committing them to paper. Think long & hard about the things you REALLY want to accomplish- what are the things that have been on your list for what feels like forever? What are the things that truly ignite your passion in life? Work on narrowing the list down to the things that are truly vital, then put them in a formal document and make two copies- one for yourself, and one for someone who is dear to you and will hold you accountable for accomplishing them (and maybe even come along for the ride!)
2) Start planning. What will it take to accomplish those bucket list items, and what is the quickest way to get there? If you need to save a certain amount of money to achieve your goal, create a budget designed to sock away the money as quickly as you can manage. If you need to make travel plans or other arrangements ahead of time, begin your online research or contact a travel agent or another resource that can assist you. Make a list of all the things that need to happen for you to achieve your dream, then create a schedule of to-do’s that will help you mark them off one by one.
3) Stay the course. There will always, ALWAYS be a reason to put your bucket list off for another day. However, you can’t lose sight of the biggest reason not to: YOU and your own happiness and fulfillment! Tomorrow is never promised today, so it is time to officially start making those once-in-a-lifetime memories that you will look back on at the end of yours.
Let’s go carpe that diem, y’all! | philosophy |
https://develop.life/about/ | 2024-02-27T02:44:16 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474670.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227021813-20240227051813-00672.warc.gz | 0.956608 | 1,610 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__7240054 | en | David R Martin, MD has a longstanding interest in human potentials, healing, and human development. He studied systems theory and neurosciences at Dartmouth, M.I.T. and Harvard Medical School, then turned his attention from biological systems to the development of the consciousness of individuals and groups and its relationship to level of functioning and health. He is grateful to have found living lineages of practice that develop the consciousness, the presence and the sensing capacities of the practitioner in the service of the same in the client. His practice is based in Seattle since 1996.
Western Science and Medicine
I studied Mathematics, Physics and Engineering as an undergraduate, followed by a year of graduate work in the same, all at Dartmouth College. My medical training was in a joint program between Harvard Medical School and M.I.T.. Post-graduate Internship and Residency in Family Medicine were at Oregon Health Sciences University. Academic Fellowship (Robert Wood Johnson) at the University of Washington. Seven years of clinic- and hospital-based practice followed at Group Health Cooperative.
Classical Five-Element Acupuncture
I studied in the Worsley tradition, apprenticing with Dirk Hein, and continuing studies with Khosrow Khalighi and with J. R. Worsley and J. B. Worsley. I graduated with a diploma from the Wu Hsing school in 1996 and am a NCCAOM Diplomate in Acupuncture.
Five-element acupuncture (5EA) is quite different from that of the much more well-known and widespread forms of what is called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Training focuses to a much greater degree on opening the senses of the practitioner, so that he or she may directly experience the energetic constitution of the client as it is manifests in color, odor, sound of the voice, emotion, and feel of the skin, and thereby receive directly what it is that the client needs. Treatment is primarily directed at bringing balance and vitality to the client’s overall energetic equilibrium, rather than treating on the symptom or syndrome level. Five-element acupuncture gets at the root of the disequilibrium and is effective on the spiritual, mental and emotional levels, as well as the physical.
ZY Qigong is distinguished by focusing primarily on the development of the Dantian (energy centers), starting with the Lower, by using practices that increase the energy of the centers and refine them, naturally leading (for many) to the development of the central channel and to healing abilities, as well as to personal health and well-being. There is much less of a focus on prescribed sequences of movements than in many forms of qigong.
A graduate of the training program of the Physicians’ Association for Anthroposophic Medicine, I participated for a number of years as a member of the Galen Group, the care group for students needing special attention at the Seattle Waldorf School. In my practice, I draw upon the anthroposophic medicine perspective in special cases, finding some of the anthroposophic remedies to be particularly valuable.
Enneagrams of Personality and of Process
I first received enneagram of personality teachings in 1987 from Sister Mary Helen Kelley, O.S.C. (who was in the line of Naranjo originating from Ichazo). Upon first hearing them, these teachings had the powerful effect of triggering a ongoing process of self-observation that has continued to lead to more spaciousness and freedom.
I began working with the enneagram in groups that same year. It was illuminating to observe the spaciousness this afforded the group, in the sense of each member having more self-awareness and more room for others to be fundamentally different and the group having a deeper sense of union due to a clearer sense of the work that we all in together.
I taught the enneagram in the Diamond Heart School in Seattle in the early to mid 90’s, and I continue to use it in my consulting practice and in facilitation.
I also have participated in developing an approach to the Enneagram of Process as applied to business teams and other intentional groups, which we have come to call the Enneagram of Synergy℠. This is derived from the work of Richard Knowles and his predecessors, Anthony Blake and J.G Bennet, in the line of G.I. Gurdjieff, and it is deeply informed by our felt sense of the published enneagrams of Oscar Ichazo. We find it to be an extraordinarily alive and effective guide to group process.
Focusing is a method of attending with spacious awareness to the as-yet-implicit bodily felt sense of a situation. Continuing with kind, clear and spacious attention to this felt sense leads to the fluid emergence of more explicit understanding and organic forward movement. As a method, it was developed by Eugene Gendlin, some 50 years ago, and it is receiving international recognition. The ability to be in relationship to the preconceptual sense of one’s feelings and understanding about a situation is key to being able to really change.
I first learned of Focusing through Rose and Arnie Katz. I received certification from the International Focusing Institute as a Focusing Trainer through the program of Jeffrey Morrison (himself a student of Ann Weiser Cornell and Shirley Turcotte and Russell Delman).
I see myself as a member of the Shared Field school within the wider Focusing community. I offer courses in Focusing and find it to be very useful both in individual and in group work.
Life-Nourishing Communication (LiNC)
A body-based approach to Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication (NVC).
I trained with Marshall and others in NVC and have taught it individually and to groups, some convoked specifically for communication training, some in schools and spiritual communities. Over the years, I have integrated NVC with Focusing for a more body-based approach; I offer courses in LiNC and find it to be very useful both in individual and in group work.
Using Felt Sense interpretation (see Focusing, above), working with dreams is integral to my private practice. I often find dreams to be a rich source of guidance regarding the currents running beneath the surface. Also, spending time with dreams is an ideal context to invite and nurture body-based, rather than fixed conceptual, understanding.
One of my grounding entry points into the field of Western Philosophy is Eugene Gendlin’s Philosophy of the Implicit. Gendlin is an heir to the American Pragmatists and the Existentialists and has moved the conversation forward to a more fully human, embodied, experiential understanding. For an example, see his Thinking Beyond Patterns: Body, Language, and Situations. Or a good introduction to his work is here. Wikipedia entry is here. One of the effects of Gendlin’s approach is a capacity to get into and allow the unfolding of the mindset of the philosopher or school of philosophy being studied, rather than just criticizing it from the perspective of a different viewpoint.
The other primary entry point for me, this time into world philosophy, is the work of Oscar Ichazo, the author of the Enneagrams applied to the structure of the human psyche and the method of how to use them to highest purpose. See his Wikipedia entry here and the website of the Arica School that he founded here.
I also appreciate the work of Rudolf Steiner in speaking to his understanding of the nature of the evolving human consciousness out of which different philosophies and spiritual perspectives originated. And, though a novice in the subject, I appreciate the writings of certain Eastern philosophers, such as Dignaga and Dharmakirti, because of the way that they consciously address the need to meet readers of different levels and structures of consciousness with different arguments. | philosophy |
https://www.kfb.org/Article/Making-Dreams-True | 2024-04-13T18:22:23 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816832.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20240413180040-20240413210040-00751.warc.gz | 0.972875 | 672 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__140474603 | en | Making Dreams True
Dreams have been on my mind lately. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of equality; our founding fathers’ dream of a government of, by, and for the people; and the dreams of little girls who want to grow up to be president of the United States of America.
Some dreams have a fairytale like quality where they feel grand, pure and wondrous. I think this comes from our habit of imagining the joy and pleasure that would result from a dream come true. In this euphoric idealization, so many of us forget to think about what it really takes to make dreams a reality.
Dr. King painted an eloquent and noble picture of a society that values equality, be he was not naïve. He fought discrimination, injustice and hatred in every step toward his dream. Our founding fathers built an experimental framework for government that would give the people unprecedented power and freedom, but they were not starry-eyed. They staked their lives and fortunes on this new government with no certainty that it would function. Vice President Kamala Harris was recently inaugurated into the highest office any female has ever held, but she is not without battle scars. She has labored to build a reputation of competence to overcome prejudices that exist around her race and gender.
Dreams are so much more than regular goals or accomplishments; they are built on hope and grow in the heart and mind of the dreamer. In fact, the definition of a dream is a cherished aspiration, ambition or ideal.
Earlier this month, I had a dream come true. I received the top recognition in the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture competition. This is the equivalent of winning a national championship in sports except it was for my work as a Farm Bureau leader and overall advancement of the agriculture industry.
When most people learn of my achievement, they are not very interested in discussing the important impacts I have made in my industry and community or how humbled I am to have been recognized among a field of talented young agriculture leaders doing great things in their communities across the country. People instead want to talk about the new Ford truck I won as a prize because they imagine how great it would be for them to win a truck. I am grateful for the truck, but it was not the real motivation of my efforts.
That cherished nature in our dreams makes us particularly vulnerable to the effects of plagiarism and distortion to those dreams. We can all benefit from recognizing that we should not try to make someone else’s dream our own aspirations, ambitions or ideals.
As you encounter humans around you, keep in mind that their dreams are personal and valuable. Do not claim other’s causes unless you are committed to live for them in your life or assume that all dreams are made in your image. Conversely, you should applaud others who are achieving great things; they have worked hard joy is merited.
As for your own dreams, I urge you to pursue them courageously like the founding fathers, virtuously like Dr. King, tenaciously like Vice President Harris and with the unbridled hope that comes from the passion of our hearts. We all can’t wait to see you succeed. | philosophy |
http://cendanapuriku.blogspot.com/2013/04/kohlberg.html | 2019-06-26T13:04:52 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-26/segments/1560628000306.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20190626114215-20190626140215-00178.warc.gz | 0.950019 | 1,349 | CC-MAIN-2019-26 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-26__0__194525899 | en | Lawrence Kohlberg (1958) agreed with Piaget's (1932) theory of moral development in principle but wanted to develop his ideas further.
He used Piaget’s story-telling technique to tell people stories involving moral dilemmas. In each case he presented a choice to be considered for example between the rights of some authority and the needs of some deserving individual who is being unfairly treated.
One of the best known of Kohlberg’s (1958) stories concerns a man called Heinz who lived somewhere in Europe.
Kohlberg asked a series of questions such as:
1. Should Heinz have stolen the drug? 2. Would it change anything if Heinz did not love his wife? 3. What if the person dying was a stranger, would it make any difference? 4. Should the police arrest the chemist for murder if the woman died?
By studying the answers from children of different ages to these questions Kohlberg hoped to discover the ways in which moral reasoning changed as people grew.
Kohlberg told several dilemma stories and asked many such questions to discover how people reasoned about moral issues. He identified three distinct levels of moral reasoning each with two sub stages. People can only pass through these levels in the order listed. Each new stage replaces the reasoning typical of the earlier stage. Not everyone achieves all the stages.
Level 1 - Pre-conventional morality
Authority is outside the individual and reasoning is based on the physical consequences of actions.
• Stage 1. Obedience and Punishment Orientation. The child/individual is good in order to avoid being punished. If a person is punished they must have done wrong.
• Stage 2. Individualism and Exchange. At this stage children recognize that there is not just one right view that is handed down by the authorities. Different individuals have different viewpoints.
Level 2 - Conventional morality
Authority is internalized but not questioned and reasoning is based on the norms of the group to which the person belongs.
• Stage 3. Good Interpersonal Relationships. The child/individual is good in order to be seen as being a good person by others. Therefore, answers are related to the approval of others.
• Stage 4. Maintaining the Social Order. The child/individual becomes aware of the wider rules of society so judgments concern obeying rules in order to uphold the law and to avoid guilt.
Level 3 - Post-conventional morality
Individual judgment is based on self-chosen principles, and moral reasoning is based on individual rights and justice.
• Stage 5. Social Contract and Individual Rights. The child/individual becomes aware that while rules/laws might exist for the good of the greatest number, there are times when they will work against the interest of particular individuals. The issues are not always clear cut. For example, in Heinz’s dilemma the protection of life is more important than breaking the law against stealing.
• Stage 6: Universal Principles. People at this stage have developed their own set of moral guidelines which may or may not fit the law. The principles apply to everyone. E.g. human rights, justice and equality. The person will be prepared to act to defend these principles even if it means going against the rest of society in the process and having to pay the consequences of disapproval and or imprisonment. Kohlberg doubted few people reached this stage.
Criticism of Kohlberg’s theory comes from Gilligan, who argues that the theory isandrocentric (male bias) after Kohlberg reporting that most men were at stage 4 while most women were at stage 3.
Gilligan (1982) claims that the female participants of Kohlberg’s study were being judged using a male standard due to the gender bias of Kohlberg’s original research, which was based solely on studying men. Gilligan reached the conclusion that Kohlberg’s theory did not account for the fact that women approach moral problems from an ‘ethics of care’, rather than an ‘ethics of justice’ perspective, which challenges some of the fundamental assumptions of Kohlberg’s theory.
The fact that Kohlberg’s theory is heavily dependent on an individual’s response to an artificial dilemma brings question to the validity of the results obtained through this research. People may respond very differently to real life situations that they find themselves in than they do to an artificial dilemma presented to them in the comfort of a research environment. Further, the gender bias issue raised by Gilligan is a reminded of the significant gender debate still present in psychology, which when ignored, can have a large impact on results obtained through psychological research.
The way in which Kohlberg carried out his research when constructing this theory may not have been the best way to test whether all children follow the same sequence of stage progression. His research was cross-sectional, meaning that he interviewed children of different ages to see what level of moral development they were at.
A better way to see if all children follow the same order through the stages would have been to carry out longitudinal research on the same children. However, longitudinal research on Kohlberg’s theory has since been carried out by Colby et al. (1983) who tested 58 male participants of Kohlberg’s original study. He tested them 6 times in the span of 27 years and found support for Kohlberg’s original conclusion, that we all pass through the stages of moral development in the same order.
Colby, A., Kohlberg, L., Gibbs, J., & Lieberman, M. (1983). A longitudinal study of moral judgment. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 48 (1-2, Serial No. 200). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Gilligan, C. (1982). In a Different Voice: Women's Conceptions of Self and Morality. Harvard Educational Review, 47 (4).
Kohlberg, L. (1958). The Development of Modes of Thinking and Choices in Years 10 to 16. Ph. D. Dissertation, University of Chicago.
Piaget, J. (1932). The Moral Judgment of the Child. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner and Co.
How to cite this article:
McLeod, S. A. (2011). Kohlberg - Moral Development. Retrieved fromhttp://www.simplypsychology.org/kohlberg.html | philosophy |
https://mishahoo.com/energy-healing/oneness-blessing-deeksha/ | 2019-03-19T23:43:27 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-13/segments/1552912202161.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20190319224005-20190320010005-00122.warc.gz | 0.969315 | 612 | CC-MAIN-2019-13 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-13__0__63561077 | en | The Oneness Blessing or Deeksha is an energy transfer given on the crown of the head with the intention of facilitating Awakening. As this energy is directed towards releasing all mental conditioning, attachments and illusions of the individual “self” – it therefore also facilitates deep healing.
Sri Amma and Sri Bhagavan are the founders of the Oneness Movement which is based in Golden City near Chennai, southern India. It is their intention to build a worldwide community of individuals and groups who are committed to the vision of collective awakening and assisting a radical shift in global consciousness. Their lives have been dedicated to accelerating the release of human suffering.
In 2005 I came across the Oneness Blessing through reading Kiara Windrider’s book “Fire from Heaven” – his account of his own Awakening through receiving the Deeksha and I knew immediately that this work had a lot to offer me. I was lucky enough to attend several workshops with Kiara and his wife Grace to receive the Oneness Blessing and have found that it brings profound inner stillness, deep peace and the release of mental attachments.
All cultures and traditions throughout recorded history speak of a process of Awakening, Enlightenment or union with the Divine – a return to the “natural state” of the human being where the heart is open, where there is an immense feeling of connection with others and the natural world, and where we are able to perceive reality as it is without the filters, conditioning and unceasing interpretations of the ego/mind.
Most enter deep states of silence following the Deeksha, often accompanied by feelings of ecstasy, heart opening, and oneness. Various physiological and emotional changes begin to take place as the sense of a separate ‘self’ dissolves. Each individual’s process and timing for this is different but as the ego dies away, people experience themselves coming into ever-deepening states of oneness. They experience union with creation, union with God, and the cessation of inner conflict.
As the ‘self’ disappears, so do cravings and addictions. Love, harmony and balance begin to permeate our lives, extending into all our relationships as well as into the arenas of education, career, and finances. As we deepen into states of union, we naturally effect those around us, becoming agents of transformation. Ultimately as more and more people become Awakened, it is expected that we will reach a ‘critical mass’, followed by a wave of collective Enlightenment that sweeps through the whole planet. This is Sri AmmaBhagavan’s vision of the beginning of a Golden Age of peace, harmony and freedom!
I was initiated as a Oneness Blessing Giver in 2010 and I am proud to share with you this transfer of Divine Grace.
Please contact me if you would like to receive a private Oneness Blessing. Energy exchange for private Blessings is $20.
Mouse over the badge below to visit the World Oneness Community. | philosophy |
http://rose-lynnfisher.com/tears.html | 2018-03-21T06:44:17 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-13/segments/1521257647584.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20180321063114-20180321083114-00709.warc.gz | 0.937607 | 555 | CC-MAIN-2018-13 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-13__0__56814066 | en | The Topography of Tears
The Topography of Tears is a study of tears photographed through an optical microscope. I started this project in 2008, during a period of many tears, life changes, and a sudden curiosity one day as I wondered, what do tears actually look like? Do joyful tears look any different than sad tears? I set out to explore them up close, using tools of science to make art and to contemplate personal and aesthetic questions.
Years later, this series comprises a wide range of my own and others’ tears, from elation to onions, as well as sorrow, frustration, rejection, resolution, laughing, yawning, birth and rebirth, and many more.
The random compositions I find in magnified tears often evoke a sense of place, like aerial views of emotional terrain. Although the empirical nature of tears is a composition of water, proteins, minerals, hormones, antibodies and enzymes, the topography of tears is a momentary landscape, transient as the fingerprint of someone in a dream. This series is like an ephemeral atlas.
Roaming microscopic vistas, I marvel at the visual similarities between micro and macro realms, how the patterning of nature seems so consistent, regardless of scale. Patterns of erosion etched into earth over millions of years may look quite similar to the branched crystalline patterns of an evaporated tear that took less than a minute to occur.
Tears are the medium of our most primal language in moments as unrelenting as death, as basic as hunger, and as complex as a rite of passage. They are the evidence of our inner life overflowing its boundaries, spilling over into consciousness. Wordless and spontaneous, they release us to the possibility of realignment, reunion, catharsis: shedding tears, shedding old skin. A transitory moment can be personally revolutionary, a turning point. It’s as though each one of our tears carries a microcosm of the collective human experience, like one drop of an ocean.
These images of tears are reflections of their chemical composition; yet what is it that accounts for all their visual differences? The questions that initiated my project require a level of scientific research that will be vast and very complicated to achieve in order to one day be answerable. While my early questions remain questions, they are what set me forth on an intriguing quest. The question launches the journey. I'm an artist not a scientist, and rather than expecting to arrive at concrete conclusions, my exploration of tears has led me deeper into the intangible poetry of life.
© Rose-Lynn Fisher 2013-2018
all rights reserved
Bellevue Literary Press
Craig Krull Gallery link
Links to Selected Press
Online, Print & Blogs: | philosophy |
https://www.oneaccordpt.com/blog/the-role-of-forgiveness-in-relationship-repair-and-emotional-healing | 2024-04-24T20:09:47 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296819847.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20240424174709-20240424204709-00401.warc.gz | 0.896945 | 1,292 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__88386985 | en | The Role of Forgiveness in Relationship Repair and Emotional Healing
Are you struggling with unresolved issues in a relationship due to past hurts?
Forgiveness is not merely an idealistic virtue we sprinkle onto grimy realities; it's a pragmatic solution to intractable problems. Our personal relationships—be it romantic, platonic, or familial—are so frequently marred by episodes of conflict that often take root in our inability to forgive or be forgiven. This emotional currency wielded between individuals can dictate the trajectory of a relationship, either propelling it toward unity and strength or casting it adrift in the sea of bitterness and resentment.
Explore with us as we unpack the role of forgiveness in relationships, and how you can unlock irrevocable healing for both yourself and your companions.
Unlocking Forgiveness: The Golden Key to Relationship Resuscitation
Forgiveness, often misunderstood as a sign of weakness, is the bravest and yet the most powerful tool any individual in a relationship can wield. It is the process of releasing feelings of resentment, anger, and the desire for retribution for a real or perceived offense against oneself.
- The Power of Release: Understand the burdens you carry when you don't forgive and the lightness that comes with release.
- Impulse Control: Develop emotional regulation to quell the knee-jerk reactions to hold grudges.
- Psychological Perspective: Gain insights into the mental ‘re-wiring’ that occurs when you choose to forgive, and the pathways it clears for better communication and trust.
Repairing the Unforgivable: Action Steps Toward Reconciliation
It might appear an insurmountable task to offer or seek forgiveness for a profound injury, but steps can be taken to pave the way for a reconciliatory conversation.
- Vulnerability and Empathy: Explore the vital role of empathy in reaching a place of understanding and the courage it takes to be vulnerable.
- Communication and Compromise: Spotlights on effective communication strategies, and the fine art of making concessions without diminishing one's values.
- Long-Term Approach: Understanding that the act of forgiving is often a gradual process, not a one-time event, is crucial to building a foundation of resilience and growth.
The ‘Aha’ Moments of Forgiveness
The pivotal moments of forgiveness, where relationships teeter on the edge, are not only harrowing but profoundly transformative.
- Personal Testimonies: Real-life stories illuminate how acts of forgiveness have unfurled new beginnings and strengthened the bonds between individuals.
- Deepening Connections: Examine how understanding situations from a ‘bigger picture’ perspective can deepen the connection between partners or family members.
- Self-Forgiveness: Delving into the importance of self-forgiveness and the liberating effect it has on one’s self-esteem and personal development.
Mastering the Art of a Forgiving Heart
Forgiveness, like any art, is trainable—cultivated carefully over time through practice, reflection, and a sincere desire to restore harmony.
- Self-Reflection Practices: Tools and practices for self-reflection that promote emotional growth and the development of a charitable mindset.
- Daily Rituals: Creating personal rituals that celebrate forgiveness and gratitude, steering the mind away from negativity and towards hopeful introspection.
- Community Support: The role of community in reinforcing forgiveness as a shared value, offering support during challenging times, and modeling the behavior for future generations.
The Chemistry of Forgiveness and Emotional Healing
The biological and psychological benefits of forgiveness are akin to a surge of healing endorphins, promising a healthier, more resilient, and happier psyche.
- Neurological Rewards: Delve into the neurological processes at work when forgiving, and the release of ‘feel-good’ chemicals that accompany the act.
- Stress Reduction: Examine the link between unforgiveness and stress, and how the former is a roadblock to one’s health and happiness.
- Transforming Relationships: Uncover how relationships can be dynamically transformed into spaces of trust, support, and love, post-forgiveness.
Techniques for Practicing Forgiveness
Understanding is the first step, but it’s in the doing—through intentional practices—that one fortifies their spirit and deepens their relationships.
- Journaling Exercises: Guided journaling prompts to help sift through emotions, rationalize experiences, and articulate the path to forgiveness.
- Mindfulness and Meditation: Incorporate mindfulness and meditation practices into your daily life to foster a more grounded and forgiving state of mind.
- Role-Playing and Therapy: Professional counseling, including role-playing, can demystify the act of forgiveness and make it a tangible goal for couples and families.
Conclusion: A Rise Phenomenon of Relationship Serenity
In conclusion, to forgive is not to forget, nor to condone the actions of another. It is a decision to relinquish debilitating anger and vindictiveness—a transaction that unshackles us from the past's emotional chains. In doing so, we refresh the landscapes of our relationships, nurturing fertile ground for trust, growth, and joy.
We are creatures of community, designed to thrive amidst the dance of interdependent relationships. As you explore the many facets of forgiveness, imagine the world of difference it could make in your interactions—with your partner, your children, your friends, and most of all, with yourself. It’s an investment in a future where love and understanding reign supreme, and where the invisible weight of resentment is lifted, leaving room only for lightness and boundless joy.
To take your first steps on this path to relationship serenity, begin now. Reach out to us for communal support. For in these steps lie not only the mending of past hurts but also the creation of a splendid future, where the heart’s capacity to love is matched only by its willingness to forgive.
Commit to a bitterness-free existence. Your relationships, and, indeed, yourself, are worthy of the redemption and empowerment that forgiveness uniquely offers. Come, unlock the golden key to relationship resuscitation through the art of forgiveness. | philosophy |
https://www.trevannrogers.com/blog/my-choices-brought-me-here-mfrwauthor | 2019-08-23T16:41:10 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027318894.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20190823150804-20190823172804-00165.warc.gz | 0.970017 | 375 | CC-MAIN-2019-35 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-35__0__135166539 | en | Life is filled with roads untraveled. Decisions I’ve made to go left instead of right, north instead of south, have brought me to where I am—who I am—today. What if I’d made different choices? Would I be a different person? Maybe. Maybe not. There are too many “what if” questions to know for sure. That being said, the answer to the question, “What would I do if I didn’t write?” isn't a stretch when one considers I still have a “day job”. Two, in fact. In my work life,I always find myself in some type of social service. Whether it was as a social worker, a professor, or CEO of a non-profit, the emphasis has always been on working closely with people, helping them to acquire the skills, information and resources needed to live their best lives possible.
My human service work isn’t as disconnected from writing as one might assume. I’ve learned to patiently get to know people, to see their lives from varying points of view instead of making easy snap judgements about them due to their circumstances. This probably explains my tendency to write about and cheer for the underdog, as well as create rich, three- dimensional characters.
None of this means, however, that I don’t dream a myriad of what-if scenarios. An exercise in The Artist Way by Julia Cameron asks the reader to write down 5 occupations he or she would like to have. Here’s my list: Rock star, dancer, rock star’s wife, rock star manager, or rich man’s kept woman. I guess I zigged when I should have zagged.
What’s your what-if list? | philosophy |
https://aparajeyashanker.medium.com/diseases-are-not-wars-and-medicine-is-not-an-arsenal-of-weapons-66f844d29cb4?source=post_internal_links---------1------------------------------- | 2022-01-28T23:11:24 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320306346.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20220128212503-20220129002503-00219.warc.gz | 0.962763 | 1,412 | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-05__0__109392057 | en | Diseases are not wars to win, but journeys
I have often read obituaries about people and there is a thread that binds them. When a person dies of a disease, like cancer, or commits suicide, there are words that make their way into the obituary. Let us look at one such obituary, of a 54 year old man who died of complications of Esophageal cancer:
AL lost his battle with Esophageal Cancer early this morning. He leaves behind a wife and three children.
Here is another obituary, that of a 20 year old student, who committed suicide. He was diagnosed with PTSD and depression:
MO lost his battle with depression late last evening. A memorial service will be held at….
When talking about disease, it is functional to describe what patients feel when they suffer. When the disease, chronic or terminal finally causes the death of the patient, it is rational to describe their suffering as a battle lost, and those of us who watch patients coming to chemotherapy departments or outpatient clinics are familiar with the cycles of medical procedures, the explanation of risk, the long conversations about what is medical fact and what is not. For patients’ families, the tortuous journey of watching their loved ones suffer not just from the disease that is ailing them, but from the other myriad processes of daily life, the filing of paperwork and insurance claims, the changes in routine, the medications and instructions, is an effort that is best described in terms we understand all too well: War and Battle. Isn’t cancer an enemy? Isn’t mental illness an enemy? Isn’t the drive to survive worthy of being called a battle, besieged as they are with the processes of their own bodies, the medication and therapy?
The way we use language has changed. The desire to create impact, combined with the human desire to simplify things has resulted in diseases being equated to enemies, and suffering to a fight. Medicine is equated to a regiment of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, all fighting towards the same goal, that of ending disease. The current pandemic has also seen Doctors being called “warriors” and hospitals being described as “frontlines”. I too have been guilty of using these metaphors, because metaphors allow the mind to bring to action a sense of romantic idealism. Who doesn’t want to called a warrior? Warriors inspire strength, wars inspire determination, and in this age where words are tools instead of modalities of communication, it is easy to be lost in the romanticism of militarized metaphors.
Cancer, for example, is not an enemy. It is a pathology, marked by its biological characteristics. Patients are not battling cancer, they are suffering from a disease, and we don’t empower patients by equating them to soldiers, we empower them through empathy. Disease, no matter what kind, is not helped by personification because personhood implies the faults of the human condition, the capacity for evil, the capacity of reason and most importantly, a certain rationality and agency. Disease is biology and pathology. Cancer, COVID-19, Depression, are not apparitions waiting in shadows to strike, but biological processes that have no master or agency of their own. It is easy to think in terms of personification, because our sense of morality would rather see an evil that has an explanation in terms we are most familiar with. It is admittedly easy to see cancer as an enemy, because the complexity of cancer, its diverse forms, the thousand other variables of how a patient’s body reacts to the cancer itself, is far too much to consider when we see our loved one’s suffer from symptoms, pain and grief.
It is not helped by our own inability to see our loved ones suffer. The human mind wants rationality, and it is simpler to see the cancer as an enemy because then, someone can be blamed for the interplay of cells, tissues and proteins that result in the suffering of our loved ones. However, we must remember that cancer is a disease, and it is not always curable, but it might be treatable, the symptoms might be alleviated through medication and patients might be given more time through surgery. Medicine is the sum of science and compassion, it is an effort towards healing the sick, and sometimes, it is an effort towards giving the terminally ill dignity as their general condition deteriorates. Emotionally charged language such as “battle against cancer”, or “fight against depression”, reduces patients’ suffering to easy to understand metaphors, and this reductionism is a disservice to the complicated and sometimes tragic journey that is disease.
As someone who has seen both sides of the hospital, as a patient and as a medical student, the unifying thread that binds these two sides is not some militarized determination towards fighting disease, but the search for compassion as a patient, and the search for being compassionate as a medical student. Doctors and nurses in hospital wards filled with COVID-19 patients are not fighting against an invisible enemy, but are providing care to patients in the face of lack of resources, a lack of concrete evidence, and a lack of a thousand things, but what doctors and nurses do not lack, is compassion. This human feat of entering a ward of patients who need oxygen, who need medication and symptomatic relief is not brave because the hospital ward is the frontline of a war, but because it is the refuge of the suffering, where compassion, humility, and empathy are the only motivations and sometimes the only tools when medical therapy is insufficient.
Equating medicine to an arsenal of weapons against disease instead of a system of understanding it treating patients removes the most crucial aspect of medicine, compassion. It overlooks the most important characteristic of the human condition, the capacity for empathy. An arsenal of weapons implies war, and war has no victors, only tragedies. In my conversations with patients, doctors, other medical students, the romanticism of war and the romantic adulation for doctors serves the desire for simplicity, but overlooks our own humanity. When a treatment regimen does not work, it is not attributed to the complexity of disease and the interaction of medication with the body, but is seen as a failure of the medical system and a personal failure of doctors. It removes doctors from their own human limitations, and discards the idea that not all things fall into the dichotomy of success and failure. Sometimes, the best care is objectively insufficient.
Disease is not an enemy, it is not an apparition of evil, it is not a shadowy figure that haunts the bodies of patients. It is a manifestation of biology and is not a fight to win, but a journey through suffering. Patients are not fighting battles, they are suffering and as doctors, we are not warriors but companions, navigating the journey of suffering together. | philosophy |
https://sarahlizzies.blogspot.com/2016/02/tis-valentines-day.html | 2022-11-27T12:22:37 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446710237.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20221127105736-20221127135736-00548.warc.gz | 0.935327 | 224 | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-49__0__235460145 | en | "Love is patient, love is kind.
Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Love does not dishonour others,
it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Love always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is Love."
Not my words......but God's. Truly, since the dawn of time, one of the most beautiful, life changing and inspiriting biblical passages ever penned. Oh, what a difference I could make to my little corner of the world, if I, in my own small way, breathed these words, living them every moment of every day.
May you all have the loveliest of Valentine's Days. May you dance, with much love, through your day!
Until the next time.........
Linking up this week to Stephanie's, Roses of Inspiration | philosophy |
http://shinguamito.deviantart.com/ | 2014-04-25T02:23:54 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1398223207985.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20140423032007-00637-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.965564 | 527 | CC-MAIN-2014-15 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2014-15__0__195191305 | en | When I draw, I'm set free. Anything is fair game, my interpretation is front and center, and no one can ignore my work because of its visual components(whether good or bad). Everyone has something to say about art, even if they don't say it.
When I draw, people know exactly who I am. They can see me, even if it's only subconsciously registered in their brains. They get a sense of my struggles, my personality, and my views on the things we all experience. And as I mature in my skill, more of me becomes visible.
When I draw, people tell me "You're improving!" and "man, seeing you come such a long way is awesome!". There's no hesitancy, no false flattery. There's legitimate appreciation, and you don't even have to know an artist intimately to express it. And there's legitimate critique too.
When I draw, It's not about being on the top, the middle, or the bottom. It's about starting from point A, and getting to point B, on my time and in my own way. No two paths are the same. Sure they may intersect, or draw close, but I'll always have my own way to follow.
When I draw, my role or importance to society means nothing. My power lies in my pen, and my imagination is a force to be reckoned with. There is no one greater than I in the world of my own ideas, and all that I can envision, I can produce using the skills of my craft. It may not be perfect, but it doesn't have to be. Because my ideas are mine, and they are great as they are and have been interpreted.
When I draw, all things fade away. The immaterial, the unnecessary. The woes of life, and the feelings of regret, remorse, and anger I direct at myself. My own dissatisfaction with my life or where I've gone. My decisions and how I've coped with the consequences.
When I draw, I can see the horizon of untapped potential; of ideas waiting to be discovered, uncovered, and expressed in the way only I know how.
When I draw, I can accept the efforts of others who draw, and come to an understanding with them. And together we can draw some more.
When I draw, suddenly the world becomes a whole lot larger... and a lot brighter too.
When I draw, I am truly, without a doubt, alive.
As long as I draw, I'll never stop moving forward. | philosophy |
https://www.mountainviewcemetery.org/about-us/history | 2024-04-25T07:20:36 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712297290384.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20240425063334-20240425093334-00825.warc.gz | 0.962301 | 1,058 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__76457397 | en | Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Mountain View Cemetery is the resting place of famous and infamous figures alike.
People like author Frank Norris, artist Thomas Hill, architects Julia Morgan and Bernard Maybeck, captains of industry such as powerful railroad builder and banker Charles Crocker...all made their contributions to the shaping of a nation’s frontier.
As Americans moved westward, man had achieved dominion over the land, overcoming hardships and nature to continue the march to California. But as man triumphed over his environment, he also came to question his place in nature. Mountain View Cemetery is an outgrowth of this contemplation.
Mountain View Cemetery is distinguished from other cemeteries by its architect’s vision of man and nature and their relationship to each other. Mountain View Cemetery serves as an example of the American search for a civilized life in harmony with the environment.
The historic Cemetery master plan was designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted — the architect of New York City’s Central Park, Capitol Grounds in Washington D.C., Stanford University, and Yosemite Park (he minimized the intrusion of man on Yosemite’s natural wonders) — Mountain View Cemetery was intended to express a harmony between man and the natural setting.
Park-like cemeteries, such as Mountain View Cemetery, were brought into being by various cultural forces of the 19th century. Cultural and religious shifts in sensibility, as well as 19th-century English and American romantics helped encourage the idea that a park-like cemetery represented the peace of nature, to which man’s soul returns.
As open spaces disappeared in the larger cities, the new garden-style burial ground became perceived as one replacement for the forests and fields that had been devoured by urbanization and industrialization. In America the park cemetery embodied the “wilder,” more natural elements of a view common to early 19th Century philosophy and culture: “God made the country, and man made the town.”
Olmsted took a unique approach to Mountain View Cemetery. His park cemetery integrated the Parisian grand monuments and broad avenues. Olmsted also drew on a popular philosophy of the times, American Transcendentalism, to help shape his vision of the cemetery. American Transcendentalism embodied Asian philosophy, which believed that all of nature flows from the same wellspring, that is, trees and flowers, water and air — and man — are part of nature. From this philosophy, Olmsted believed that the straight line of man’s industry and the curved shape of nature’s oak branch could once again peacefully co-exist.
And co-exist they did. Olmsted’s design was completed and accepted by the distinguished board of trustees in 1863, and construction began. In the lower and more level portion of Mountain View Cemetery, near its entrance gates, Olmsted designed a straight avenue lined by trees. On the slopes of six hills skirting this avenue, he constructed curved lanes and paths like tributaries flowing down from the hills to make possible a gradual ascent and descent, like the twisting roads of the park cemeteries set in England.
To native California live oaks he added transplanted Italian cypress, Lebanese cedar, and Italian stone pine. Simple in form and color, distinctive in shape and compatibility, the trees helped create a setting of beauty and grace, complementing the walkways, roads and chapels which help create a peace of mind and thoughtfulness.
The balance between nature and artifice naturally shifted over the years. Families building at Mountain View Cemetery added more monuments and chapels, expressing the aspirations of newly affluent families to an eastern sophistication and Victorian respectability. With its abundance of man-made architectural structures, Mountain View Cemetery became even more attractive to the noted families of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
All these developments came to Mountain View Cemetery without lessening the cemetery’s appeal to families who found the beauty and peacefulness of its setting in perfect harmony with their expectations of a fitting place for honoring the dead.
In Olmsted’s vision, nature and human destiny are intertwined. They converge. Man is not in nature. He is nature, and our notion that we can depart from nature’s process even for a moment is gently put to rest.
Mountain View Cemetery is a distinctive setting, capturing and expressing truths of the fabled Gardens of Eden and Gethsemane, of Parisian sophistication, English culture and American spirit. Nature and man are brought into harmony here, more successfully, perhaps, than anywhere else in California.
Today, Mountain View Cemetery captures the imagination of the visitor who can’t help being swept away by its grandeur and by a quality which one might call the essential spirit of the place. It is a place where the dignity of Nature is appreciated by those whose sentiments respond to the beauty and serenity of the setting with a sense of reverence and awe. What better place to contemplate eternity, nature and man’s destiny?
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http://www.impactcampusministries.com/2013/03/the-god-that-knows-when-to-say-enough/ | 2013-05-26T05:33:24 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706631378/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121711-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.982573 | 1,798 | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2013-20__0__96743409 | en | The God that Knows When to Say EnoughAnd so the story moves on and we're told more about this creation of man that God made in His image and declared to be good.
We're introduced to a garden -- Eden ("delight") as God calls it -- and told that it is full of trees that are pleasing to the eye and good for food. We are told about two trees in particular: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Then we're told about four rivers in one of the weirdest additions to the biblical text that I've ever found. Outside of mystical interpretations (which may be completely legitimate, but not my textual "go-to-punch"), this paragraph appears to be nonsensical, irrelevant, wasteful, and a complete detraction from the current biblical narrative. But, hold onto that thought, because no word is wasted -- it will come back in a later post.
God commands man not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and then makes a partner suitable for him. She is taken from his ribs -- the innermost parts of him -- and is said to be his ezer k'negdo. This term translates as the "help that opposes" (perhaps more on this later, but not for this post). When God presents her to Adam, he names her "woman", a term that speaks of who she is.
We're then told that they are both naked.
This idea comes up a lot in the story, by the way. The author seems to be particularly interested in this fact that doesn't seem to have too much relevance outside of explaining our incessant need for clothing. At the beginning, we are told they are naked. They eat from the tree and realize they are naked. They hide from God and when God confronts them the main point Adam feels compelled to bring up is his nakedness. Then God makes skins to cover their nakedness.
But there are other problems with the story, aren't there?
What about this tree? It is called the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and yet -- it is not. Eve has a perfectly good understanding of good and evil. She explains to the snake that she is not to eat of the tree -- that doing so would be wrong. And even if that is not true, how can God justly punish a person who did not obtain the knowledge necessary to make the appropriate decision. Justly, He would only be able to punish her on the SECOND time she ate from the tree; this is the only time she would have possessed the knowledge necessary to act in disobedience.
And why does Adam name Eve twice? At the end of the story, he names her Eve. But she already had a perfectly functioning name given to her by Adam -- Woman.
And how about this snake? Why does nobody seem to be bothered by a talking snake?
You see, this story is full of problems. Much like the story of Genesis 1. And any Jew would tell you that when there are problems in a story, grab a shovel, because there is more going on and you need to start digging.
Well, to be fair, you don't hear the story in the original language. So you don't hear one of the triggers inherent in the story.
Remember the idea of nakedness that seems to keep coming up over and over again in the story? And do you remember the idea of chiasm from the last post? Well, sure enough, this story is a chiasm as well. The story begins with Adam naming her Woman and them being naked. The story end with Adam naming her Eve and their nakedness being covered. And in the middle of the story? They eat from the tree, their eyes are opened, and they realize they are naked. The whole story is about nakedness -- somehow.
Well, the Hebrew word for "naked" is 'arowm and the word for "nakedness" (used in the rest of the story) is 'eyrom.
And if you were listening to verse 3:1 in the Hebrew, you would have heard that the serpent was "crafty" or 'aruwm. The word is so close to the word for naked, you almost wouldn't have noticed the difference at first.
Not only this, but the story keeps trying to make the serpent look awfully like the humans. The serpent can talk. The serpent can walk (Didn't think the snake was walking? God's curse is that it would crawl on it's belly for the rest of its days). The serpent can reason and argue. The serpent can relate.
So, why is the author trying to make the serpent like the naked humans? It's almost as if the author is begging the question: What makes a human different from an animal? Try to answer that question and look at the above paragraph. All of the things we would typically say to answer that question don't work within the Genesis story.
Did we notice anything else about the story that was amiss? Did you notice what Eve saw when she looked at the tree? God had said that all the trees of the garden were pleasing to the eye and good for food. But when Eve looked at the tree, she saw that it was "pleasing to the eye, good for food, and desirable..."
The rabbis teach that the difference between man and beast is desire. Think about it. When an animal wants to eat, what does it do? It eats. An animal is not capable of practicing self-restraint. This is actually the temptation of Eve. The serpent tempts her to think that she is no different than an animal. "God put the tree in the garden. It's pleasing and good. Just eat it. God gave you desire for it, didn't He? How could He give you desire and not want you to act? You're just a beast like me."
You remember the invitation of Genesis 1? To trust the story. To trust that creation is good enough. There is nothing more that God could do. God's not holding out on you.
Adam and Eve are being invited to trust the story. Yes, the tree is pleasing and good -- and desirable. But you can trust that creation is good enough. You can trust and rest.
One of the other answers to the question, what makes humans different from animals is that we are made in the image of God. That is the right answer, but it simply leads to another question. What does it mean to be made in God's image?
One of the names for God is "El Shaddai". We translate that a lot of ways in the English, but it is very difficult to translate accurately. The ancient rabbis said that the name literally should translate "the God that knows when to say enough".
And that's who He was in Genesis 1. He knew when to say "enough". He looked out at creation and He said, "It's very good. I'm done." He didn't rest because He needed a nap or was exhausted. He rested because there was nothing else to do. If He kept creating, He would actually destroy creation. He knew when to say "enough".
You are made in the image of God. You are built to be capable of saying "enough". You aren't an animal. You can control your desires. But controlling your desires and saying "enough" is only an option if you trust the story.
God told His people in Genesis 1 that they had value, worth, and acceptance just because of who they ARE and not for what they produce. Did you notice the two names of Woman/Eve? The first name (before the tree) was all about her essence; who she was. The second name (after the tree) was all about what she could produce. It's the tragedy of not trusting the story. We become people driven by our desires -- most importantly, our desire to be accepted. And so we go and we go and we go. We produce and we produce and we work and we impress and we do and we do.
But God invites us to trust the story. God invites us to rest from our incessant need to be "human doings" rather than human beings. God invites us to be made in His image and tell our desires enough -- they cannot rule over us.
Will you trust the story?
Will you enter God's rest?
Are you able to say "enough" to your deepest desires?
You are more than a beast.
** There are parts of this post that were formed from the teachings of Rabbi David Fohrman and his multi-part teaching "Serpents of Desire".
Comments are closed. | philosophy |
http://annawallenten.com/personal-training/ | 2017-08-23T02:05:41 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886117519.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20170823020201-20170823040201-00059.warc.gz | 0.951297 | 232 | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-34__0__172159489 | en | Anna’s personal training philosophy
With over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry in Sweden, New Zealand, US and the U.A.E, Anna has developed her own unique approach to health and fitness. As a life designer Anna believes that the human body can not function if all the parts of your being are not in balance: mind, body, spirit and energy.
In Anna’s training sessions she focuses on all four aspects and brings them all into play when she carefully designs your program. When committing to train with Anna you are also committing to a healthy nutrition and self talk. Anna believes that nothing will shift on the outside unless we change the way that we feed the inside with a healthy balanced diet and self worth. When one area starts to shift the other areas will automatically follow.
Anna works with people from all walks of life, all ages and unique personal goals. She specializes in conditioning training, strength training, endurance training, mindfulness as well as power lifting.
When you say yes to Anna you also say yes to training hard, pushing limits and going to that place that you can not go on your own. | philosophy |
https://xclusiveleisure.com/what-to-expect/ | 2021-06-22T03:46:55 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623488507640.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20210622033023-20210622063023-00205.warc.gz | 0.942069 | 541 | CC-MAIN-2021-25 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-25__0__88489712 | en | On a yoga tour, you will have the opportunity to fully concentrate on strengthening your physical and mental health, disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The organization of collective practical events and joint leisure (tea drinking, gatherings around the fire, leisurely walks) helps to unite like-minded people, there is a chance to make interesting acquaintances.
Believe me, after returning from the trip, you will not be the same: the problems that worried you will seem insignificant and not worth attention, life priorities will change. You will value your inner peace and balance more, you will be able to emotionally not participate in adverse life situations, you will realize that your body's reserves are unlimited. Attending such events is a tremendous opportunity to recover and recharge with vitality.
In addition, you will be surprised to find dramatic improvements in your well-being:
• joint mobility will increase;
• muscles will become more elastic;
• the spine will be strengthened;
• extra pounds will disappear;
• general rejuvenation of the body will occur;
• feel deep relaxation;
• enjoy the present moment of life;
• find inner silence.
A trip aimed at self-improvement is necessary, first of all, for those who find it difficult to find time to work on themselves in their daily rush, there are too many distractions. While away, you will have the opportunity to switch all the attention, energy and reserves of the organisms to the knowledge of their nature, the disclosure of internal resources.
For people who have not practiced yoga before, this specialized tour will be a great opportunity to experience this culture. Experienced practitioners will be able to gain new knowledge, improve the approach to the study of yoga philosophy, and move to a new level of awareness.
The age for immersion in the enchanting world of self-development is unimportant. Focus only on your own strengths and feelings.
Since the intensity of the courses in most cases is presented in several versions (beginners, continuing students and professionals), anyone who wants to improve their abilities, a person, regardless of physical fitness, can take part in them.
An experienced teacher will initially assess the level of training of his students and distribute the load, taking into account individual characteristics.
If the desire to change your life is firmly rooted in your head, you want to get out of the matrix, breathe deeply and look into the depths of your soul, then you are definitely ready for a yoga tour. Don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone! It's like jumping into cold water, like breathing unusually clean air of mountain peaks – you will experience incomparable sensations. | philosophy |
http://paulgrosch.blogspot.com/2009/11/summary-of-entwistles-integrative.html | 2018-05-28T02:51:51 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-22/segments/1526794870771.86/warc/CC-MAIN-20180528024807-20180528044807-00597.warc.gz | 0.932231 | 725 | CC-MAIN-2018-22 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-22__0__79236220 | en | Entwistle, D.N. (2004). Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity: an introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of integration. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers.
In this book David Entwistle provides a case for integrating Christian faith with the discipline of psychology. Entwistle (2004) follows the symbolism first posited by Tertullian (c. 160-225) in representing Athens as the voice of reason and Jerusalem as the virtue of faith. He first poses the question whether psychology and Christianity are at odds with each other or can be integrated. Psychology is differentiated from philosophy or theology in that it uses specific methods for describing physical and behavioral observations of man. Entwistle (2004) then puts forth a theme which is echoed throughout the book: “All truth is God’s truth” (Entwistle, 2004, p.16). Because of this, when there is conflict, it matters not which view is closest to the truth. Both the Christian view and the psychological view come from God. Entwistle (2004) provides historical background on the faith versus reason debate. Throughout the centuries, scientists and organized religion have been both allies and enemies. During times of Copernicus and Galileo, the church persecuted scientists for questioning the truth. Likewise proponents of science such as J.W. Draper belittled those with faith as being less intellectual. Entwistle (2004) then expands on another key concept, that of worldview and interpretation. The person in search of truth will be biased to some degree by how they view the world. A Christian believes that man was created in the image of God with a purpose to glorify Him. Entwistle (2004) highlights that it is critical to examine one’s own presuppositions as it determines how one interprets both the Bible and the world. By viewing science as descriptive of the world rather than prescriptive of it, the door opens for both Christianity and psychology to be integrated. If one is open to the possibility of miracles, then when something not easily explainable by science occurs, Providence may be the explanation. With a secular worldview, science is the only answer.
Entwistle (2004) describes five models for integration: Enemies, Spies, Colonists, Neutral Parties, and Allies. Enemies believe, as Tertullian first stated, that faith and reason cannot be in agreement. Christian combatants believe that the Bible is the one Truth while secular combatants believe science is the one truth. Spies are those who have a psychological background but who are engaged with the religious community. They do not accept the tenets of Christianity but see activities such as prayer or forgiveness as useful to the secular world. Colonists are religious advocates who engage the scientific community in an effort to convert others to their way of viewing life. Neutral parties see Christianity and psychology as two mutually exclusive disciplines with little to no overlap. Allies see Christianity and psychology as two complementary methods for discovering truth. When the two appear to disagree, it is because one of the interpretations is flawed. Entwistle (2004) concludes his book by making the case that the Ally paradigm is the only correct integration model. He echoes Francis Bacon’s assertion that Christianity attempts to discover truth through God’s word, the Bible. Psychology attempts to discover truth through God’s works, the world. Once again, the central theme pours through: “All truth is God’s truth”, (Entwistle, 2004, p.260). | philosophy |
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