Science News’ Kids own up to ownership, shows that science has come another step closer to proving a key part of Buddha’s Second Noble Truth, “… the illusion of self originates and manifests itself in a cleaving to things“.
The 1st and 2nd of Buddha Four Noble Truths are spot on in regards to the nature and the cause of our unique human problem. I easily began seeing this was so many decades ago. It was simply a no-brainer! On the other hand, his 3rd and 4th Noble Truths’ solution for our problem turn out to be far more subtle and evolve over time. Continue reading ‘You Are What You Own’
Inside
Knowing that ‘we are all in this together’ evokes a sense of community and well being. Just a few centuries ago species’ centric myths almost exclusively defined what we and all this meant. Boy is that changing! Science is showing just how deep and vast the ‘we’ really is, as the Science News’ Inside Job reports.
Continue reading ‘We!’
More than once I’ve voiced the view that we tend to put the cart before the horse when it comes to learning, understanding, and knowing. Over the last few years I’ve become relatively convinced that we only truly understand and learn what we already know intuitively. Actually though, my suspicions began during our home schooling period as I began seeing subtle indications of this.
When I first brought this up with my family they all rolled their eye… “yeh, right” they said. However, constant brain-washing finally brought them to see my point. Brain-washing? Well, not exactly. Just offering concrete examples over time helped sell my case (or are they just humoring me). Continue reading ‘You Know’
I marvel at how seriously the prophets of doom are sometimes taken. Still, I do understand the apprehension. Indeed, my own apocalyptic sense of life probably accounts for my serious side.
If I were a true believer in the Judeo-Christian-Islamic world view I might even be susceptible to the ‘end of times’ stories these prophets preach. Being a Taoist lets me off the hook for the most part; any part that remains ‘on the hook’ is nicely assuaged by Buddha’s Truths.
I suspect this sometimes apocalyptic sense of life is one of the deepest we humans feel. I see it manifested in various ways, and while not as literal the “May 21″ end of the time story, they are nevertheless common. The stock market crashes foretell the end of the economy as we know it; extinction of species and global warming foretells the end of the planet as we know it. Continue reading ‘An Improper Sense of Awe’
I spent a lot of the day in back picking weeds. Nothing beats having enough free time to sit in the warm sun picking weeds while it is still nothing. Now and then the ducks would come close by, root around a bit looking for a tasty crawler, chatter away and then move on. It got me to wondering…
A ducks quacking is its vocal expression of emotion. Having been around them for years, I can pick out their moods: happy, excited, content, nosy, curious, afraid, hungry, anxious, kinship (they are Indian Runners, an extremely social breed).
I know there is an arrogant self involved segment of humanity that could never countenance such ‘humanizing’ of mere birds. Of course, they wouldn’t be reading this site anyway, so I won’t need to justify my view… at least so far. But wait, there’s more… Continue reading ‘Thoughts and Ducks Quacking’
Which path leads where?
A few months ago a new member Dan asked me, “So, I’d like to ask, do you have any life advice for a man approaching 30″?
One problem with that question was too many things came to mind. So I turned the question over to my subconscious. Oddly, I find not thinking about tricky issues is the best way to resolve them. Of course “not thinking about” doesn’t mean disregarding. I suppose the ‘not thinking about’ phase helps the mind get through its blind spot.
Finally, up bubbled something worthy of the question. Overall, nothing feels more important to me than understanding. While stressing the importance of understanding seems obvious, it may not be as simple as it sounds. Continue reading ‘So, I’d like to ask…’
Well actually it’s “Don’t trust any elephant under 60“. This Science News’ article is about elephants, but it applies to people, and all species I’d imagine.
Our choices for what to look for in a leader runs the gamut, as this excerpt from the Science News’ article puts it:
“There is an interesting trade-off here, which certainly applies to humans and maybe elephants as well,” van Vugt says. “The group might want a young, fit and aggressive leader to defend the group — the Schwarzenegger type — but at the same time might want an older, more experienced leader — the Merkel type — to make an accurate assessment of the dangers in the situation.” Continue reading ‘Don’t trust anyone under 60′
A recent Science News article hinted at something I never thought I’d live to see.
I’ve always thought that science would take longer than forever to incorporate that immeasurable and beyond reductionism side to reality that the Tao Te Ching speaks so well to.
There are signs that it may come sooner than forever. Hooray! See Out of the Fabric: Are space and time fundamental?
Of course, that won’t really change anything. After all, most folks have an even harder time with ‘taoist views’ than with scientific ones. At least with science there is something on which to hold on. Continue reading ‘In Praise Of Nothing’
I was struck recently by a comment the Pope made on suffering (see: Pope Benedict stumped by Japanese girl’s question about suffering). Briefly, a young girl asked him, “Why do children have to be so sad?” Benedict admitted: “I also have the same questions: why is it this way? Why do you have to suffer so much while others live in ease?”
This exemplifies the shaky foundation of the Christian world view. How does a believer reconcile the deep disconnect between a God that favors us (Adam and Eve, Noah, Jesus dying for our sins, etc.) and the ruthless reality of nature. Not surprisingly, Christians can’t bridge this gap, and must always fall back on ‘faith’. I imagine some of the evangelic fever seen in the Judeo-Christian-Islamic path is symptomatic of this underlying reality (i.e., Subconsciously, they doth protest too much, methinks).
Continue reading ‘It’s Simply Nature’s Way’
This recent “Fast Draw” segment, The Truth about Lies (on CBS Sunday Morning) demonstrates why many things most people believe turn out not to be true. Also interesting are the two comments at the end. It is sobering and humbling to see how blind and deaf we can be. Oh how the power of belief walks all over clear and irrefutable evidence. What accounts for belief’s power(1)?
From a symptoms point of view, I would have to say we hold so tightly to belief because we need to. Well, duh, you say? Truth be told, drilling down into what appears obvious can be enlightening. So I ask, what hunger do we feel so deeply that belief helps satiate? Continue reading ‘The Truth About Lies’
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