Fear

The knowledge we possess

We are failing our fellow human beings. Many of us know the great joy and happiness that can occur in life. Effort is required, to be sure, but that joy is there. There is great excitement in simply being alive! Historically, humanity strove to improve the lot of others. Slavery was banned, economic servitude was gradually curtailed, and knowledge widely spread. And yet today, sadness and loneliness are rampant. Suicide rates are alarming, and a lack of human fulfillment has become the norm.

Why? It seems to make no sense. But perhaps it does. A sunrise takes time to reveal itself fully. Initially, the American (1776) and French Revolutions (1789) promised political emancipation. Then the Industrial Revolution (1) exploded onto the world stage with a subtle promise: if you worked hard enough, you could become economically liberated — you could be free. This was the “American Dream,” if you will. The stage was set for a new nirvana, a new beginning. But then we stumbled.

A key component of life is psychological and spiritual well-being  — our sense of place in the universe. Mankind has always struggled with himself and with the Transcendent. Even cave paintings often signify a relationship between humanity, the world, and the Divine, and these paintings are tens of thousands of years old. (2)

Political and economic progress should have prepared the way for a renewed relationship with God. But then Nietzsche arrived with his profound declaration in The Gay Science: “God is dead, and we have killed him.” (3) Much like the child announcing that the emperor has no clothes, (4) Nietzsche forced humanity to redefine its relationship with the immortal and the supernatural.

Transcendentalism, from thinkers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, offered one response: God was everywhere and in everything. Many accepted this, at least in a traditional spiritual sense, but others — the outsiders and outliers  — opted out entirely. Protestantism (1517) had already suggested that humanity did not need a priest to speak to God, and now many believed they no longer needed institutions at all.

Unfortunately, no one told us that a genuine conversation with the Universe  — with God — is not easy. It requires commitment: a willingness to learn, to become introspective, and to truly open one’s soul. Yet this is the Age of Comparison, (5) not the age of reflection. It is far easier to avoid a sacred understanding until one is confronted with death, disease, or catastrophe. Then many rush toward religion, desperately trying to board the bus of faith, only to discover that “it may already have left the station.”

Life confronts us with three fundamental questions: Why am I here? What is my mission? What happens when I leave this world?  These questions form a single package. One must answer all three together. Yet the modern world refuses to even address the third question, and by refusing the third, the first two are left incomplete, distressing, and ultimately unanswerable. It is time for those who wish to impart knowledge to speak honestly: life is hard. One may possess the trappings of material success and yet still feel empty inside. Why? Because life without meaning becomes hollow.

Every human being is unique and valuable. But discovering who you are requires work. You must uncover what you are meant to accomplish with your piece of life. We must believe that our knowledge has value and that it can ultimately contribute to the Common Good  — to human understanding, wisdom, and peace. The Dalai Lama leaves us with a thought: Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality. 

A closing thought: Many young people today exist in precisely this state of uncertainty. Few claim to possess the complete answer. Yet, from Ralph Waldo Emerson, (6) we are offered at least a beginning: get a notebook and simply start writing. Write about anything at all. Eventually, your thoughts will begin to converge into a coherent vision and plan of action.

This resembles the reflections of the great Taoist philosopher, Zhuangzi, and his story of the butterfly dream: upon awakening, the philosopher questioned whether he was a man dreaming he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was a man. (7) The question remains: where does true knowledge lie? It must reside with the self. Each of us, especially in the age of AI, is obligated to seek “the truth behind the door,” which is behind another, and then another, etc. We cannot simply accept the physical world at face value. We must take responsibility for our own perception of reality and for our role within it. And, when we discover some deeper ontological understanding of life, we must share it with others. Knowledge is meant to be disseminated.

To sum up:  This week, we spoke about the necessity of sharing our knowledge with others.

To be noted: A traditional proverb — A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.

Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hN-mKXLfYg&list=RD6hN-mKXLfYg&start_radio=1

For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6ZccGWuQWQ

This week, on your dynamic walk, please remark on the knowledge you can share with others.

Every day, look for something magical and beautiful.

Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!

Quote: Knowledge is meant to be tested

Footnotes:

1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e05kNGD_cY

2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjejoT1gFOc

3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smq5uRhM_IA&t=5s

4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ym0u-KweN4

5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_comparison_theory

6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b04zs6QHuWM&t=32s

7) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sg5zVch0Yw

Love

Relationships

Relationships, by their very nature, are fraught with conflict and anxiety. They are, however, fundamental to human development and interaction, and are therefore necessary. How, then, do we develop long and loving relationships while also learning to discern those that are redeeming and edifying from those that are destructive and pernicious?

This is a long-term skill set developed through many factors. It begins with our family, does it not? If we are fortunate enough to have a loving and caring family unit, however flawed, we begin life in an advantageous position. Many people, however, are not so fortunate. 

The traditional relationship structure is now taking on a new form. Many families, for example, push young individuals toward study and achievement. This often produces the anticipated results: high academic scores and an almost blind instinct to compete with fellow human beings. There is nothing inherently wrong with competition if one is naturally inclined toward it. But it is becoming increasingly apparent that fewer and fewer adolescents wish to embrace this competitive ethos. (1)

Among Generation Z, (2) there is a collective sigh of relief in “opting out” of the system entirely. The number of NEETs (3) and freeters (4) is skyrocketing across the developed world. This, however, is dangerous, because talent is ultimately a collective phenomenon. Human beings must work together if we are to achieve both physical and spiritual growth within civilization.

We cannot have young people “lying flat,” (5) nor can we allow exploding homelessness, if we wish to create a society that is progressive and enlightened  — one awakened to the Common Good. How, then, does one change this ethos? It begins with the relationship we have with ourselves and the relationships we cultivate with the broader community.

To build a harmonious meritocracy should be the aim of any enlightened leader. The thoughtless adherence to a rigid goal or ideological platform, such as existed under many of the demigods of history, (6) will soon become a thing of the past. The Internet has made us all democrats. Herein lies both the promise and the problem.

The Internet possesses the potential to unify society by allowing citizens to actively participate in the commonwealth. In many societies, we are now able to voice our political views freely and without obstruction. Yet to do this effectively, we must possess the capacity to think, reflect, and differentiate the subtle points of an idea. We cannot become merely automata blindly following a predetermined life path.

A society is ultimately a collective of relationships. A truly modern civilization, therefore, must provide its citizens with four essentials: housing, safety, health, and the ability to be educated. These should not merely be rewards for labor, but basic qualities of civilized life. Human relationships will always remain unique, yet a society built upon the acceptance of each individual, combined with the encouragement of clarity, thoughtfulness, and human greatness over addiction and despair, will eventually create a beautiful civilization for the future. Albert Camus (7 leaves us with a thought: Human relationships always help us carry on because they always presuppose future developments, a future.

A closing thought: The reason many individuals are running away from society is that the aforementioned essentials are presently only achieved by selling time for money — becoming long-term wage slaves. Yes, money is necessary. Human beings require sustenance and stability to live well. Yet beyond the sphere of these four essentials, people should not need to work for the entirety of their lives merely to acquire a house or struggle endlessly to pay school tuition fees. This is absurd in a society as wealthy as ours. Future relationships, when our basic needs are fulfilled, will include poets, painters, philosophers, and artists in the spirit of a new Renaissance.

To sum up: This week, we spoke about relationships and their need to be nurtured   

To be noted: From Lady Gaga (8) — I’m not here to be perfect, I’m here to be real.

Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWupm_cePX8&list=RDeWupm_cePX8&start_radio=1

For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFQXkmfmdNo&t=8s

This week, on your introspective walk, please ponder what relationships mean to you.

Every day, look for something magical and beautiful.

Don’t be a wage slave  — critical thinking is great!

Quote: Respect your relationships

Footnotes:

1) https://www.weforum.org/stories/2022/05/gen-z-don-t-want-to-work-for-you-here-s-how-to-change-their-mind/

2) https://jamesgmartin.center/2018/07/generation-z-the-intolerant-ones/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22684657563&gbraid=0AAAAADYYxPdaONRbkWJ3eAPZ6YvQB_qAG&gclid=CjwKCAjwq6DQBhBVEiwA4ZD5XKTC_uTlqy6R_rO73deamQWAPSv_xbKS2sdpd2VG-xUWkhkxEB-osRoCiZEQAvD_BwE

3) https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp92218jpryo

4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeter

5) https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60353916

6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialist_Program

7) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQOfbObFOCw

8) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Gaga

Podcast

Podcast Episode 193: Life is truly ascendant, but we must make it concrete through our actions and our lifestyle. As models of love and of peace, we will expose the world to the possibilities that exist for every human being.

Continue reading Podcast Episode 193: Life is truly ascendant, but we must make it concrete through our actions and our lifestyle. As models of love and of peace, we will expose the world to the possibilities that exist for every human being. →

Time

 Memento Mori

Now and then, it is important to pause and reflect on life — my life. It is a long and potentially wonderful existence, yet still finite. It has a beginning, and it will have an end. It is imperative, then, that we truly grasp that each and every day possesses power and significance because it will never come again. Every day is unique. Today is a special day.

That said, some days naturally possess more memories than others. On one of these particular days, I will be finishing school, finding my first job, meeting Mr. or Mrs. Right, marrying, or beginning a family. My own sons, in fact, became engaged on just such a day. These are memorable and notable moments, yet they are still days like any other. The ordinary day also deserves respect.

With the rise of the Internet Age, (1) however, we have slowly lost the ability to value the common day for its uniqueness. Social media, by its very definition, is a massified force — a thoughtless juggernaut of information that often requires little to no thought or analysis. The secret to managing such a force is reflection itself. But how do I step back and reflect before I engage with the day?

The Internet has subtly suggested a strange sense of immortality. In my everyday life, enshrouded within my own private consciousness, I naturally feel as though I will live forever because I exist entirely within myself. Yet, I must continually remind myself of my finitude. This reality will end.

To be alive is, of course, something extraordinary. It is worth noting that Jesus Christ did not immediately return to Heaven after His time of Resurrection (2) but remained on Earth for forty days. Even He sought to remain present in an earthly existence for a period of time. We must thus recognize that our presence on Earth is truly remarkable and sacred.

How, accordingly, do we heighten this experience without indulging in a negative or fatalistic obsession with death? First, we must truly begin to grasp time. This is much easier said than done.

When we go to a beach and grasp a handful of sand, most of the grains quickly slip through our fingers and fall back onto the shore. However, if we cup both hands together carefully and deliberately, we retain far more sand. Time is much the same. I must therefore act deliberately each and every day.

This begins in the morning with writing in my notebook. I record the day and the date, and reflect upon the moments before me. I outline my immediate plans and ask myself how these plans fit into my larger vision for life.

I once had a friend who would go to a park, lie on her stomach, and study the contents of the ground — the grass, the ants, the centipedes, and every other small form of life. There is wisdom in this. When you commence your day, promise yourself that you will feel the wind upon your face, notice the smell of the air, hear the birds calling in the distance, and listen carefully to the sounds of life itself. This day is the only reality I truly possess. The past is a convoluted memory, and the future is often an anxiety-written illusion. I exist in the now. In this way, the concept of Memento Mori may finally be honestly and fully understood. The great Stoic, Marcus Aurelius, (3) leaves us with a thought: You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do, say, and think.

A closing thought: When we think of life, an ancient question quickly arises: Who is happier  — a pig in mud or Socrates unhappy? (4) The most immediate answer is to say that the pig is happier because it gains satisfaction from what it enjoys. Yet the correct answer is that Socrates is happier because he understands what true happiness is and can consciously seek it.

There is perhaps a certain arrogance in this claim. Yet history has repeatedly demonstrated that when a society ceases to think critically, the consequences become catastrophic. The destructive wars of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries stand as testaments to this truth.

The realization that I am alive  — me, this singular and conscious being  — must fill me with gratitude. I wish to enjoy the days that I have been given. I do not want to waste my life employed in a tedious, empty job, nor throw it away in some nonsensical military conflict that does nothing to advance humanity’s development.

If we begin to value each day as distinct and sacred, we may eventually find ourselves embraced by the arms of time itself. Within that embrace lies peace, contentment, and perhaps even an understanding of our role on Earth and the beyond.

To sum up: This week, we spoke about the concept of transcendence.  

 To be noted: From Mahatma Gandhi (5) — Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.

 Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6Jicke7p5A&list=OLAK5uy_mH7DQAsuKdHhMmYZoyJLdy3T55hIJUZCY

 For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfZRVIO32bM

 This week, on your gratitude-filled walk, ask yourself what my life means to me. 

 Every day, look for something magical and beautiful.

 Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!

Home Page

 Quote: Be grateful for the moment

 Footnotes:

1) https://www.internetsociety.org/internet/history-internet/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=210350257&gbraid=0AAAAADqyrA90-kM1MvGDMbQmkV8nP1ROu&gclid=CjwKCAjwtvvPBhBuEiwAPMijr0CrfEuqFYJq1BAuqAVcHwyhHJ2XbNyUnG3FGsS_FRlPFoQGWl5_dRoCgX0QAvD_BwE

 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lctv_pyT62o&t=31s

 3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Auuk1y4DRgk&t=999s

 4) https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/canada/quote-of-the-day-by-john-stuart-mill-it-is-better-to-be-a-human-being-dissatisfied-than-a-pig-satisfied-better-to-be-socrates-dissatisfied-than-british-philosophers-lesson-on-happiness-that-lasts-long/articleshow/129814751.cms?from=mdr

 5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpZwCRInrgo&t=128s

Podcast

Podcast Episode 190: Memento Mori: Yes, our own mortality is something we should contemplate. We are reminded that we have a lot to accomplish in life before our own eventual demise. How we use our time is our own decision. We should use our time well.

Continue reading Podcast Episode 190: Memento Mori: Yes, our own mortality is something we should contemplate. We are reminded that we have a lot to accomplish in life before our own eventual demise. How we use our time is our own decision. We should use our time well. →

Knowledge

Sound

Sound, simply put, is the displacement of air. Yet, one of its most profound aspects is its individuality — the way it speaks to each of us privately.

Imagine an early morning, just at the commencement of the day, when the weather is pleasant. There is a soft hue of sound, almost like the gentle brushing of a drumstick across a snare drum — nearly inaudible, yet deeply moving. Then, slowly, the symphony unfolds. Each “instrument” plays its part: here, the call of a bird; there, the bark of a dog. Soon, the concert unfolds, and another remarkable day begins.

Organized sound is what we call music. (1) Whether raw and primitive or cerebral and sublime, music affects each of us in a uniquely powerful way. We all remember a piece of music that marked a special moment in our lives — the beginning of a journey, the crescendo of a love affair, or the opening of a new chapter, such as starting a new school. Sound anchors us to moments in time. It can elevate us and improve our view of the world, or pull us down into the depths of despair.

It is extremely important, therefore, that we regulate the sounds we consume –especially at the beginning of the day. Warm and inviting sounds are far more conducive to well-being than negative ones. Many pundits suggest avoiding the phone for the first two hours after waking. (2) This is largely because much of the Internet — particularly platforms like YouTube — floods us with auditory content that can carry a certain toxicity, often before our mental defenses are fully in place.

In the morning, positive sounds — such as affirmations (3) — are especially beneficial. These sounds reach into the psyche and influence how we perceive reality.

Sound can be divided into three spheres of influence. The first consists of positive sounds: those we notice upon waking — the birds, the gentle hum of the home, the voices of family members.

The second sphere includes duty-bound sounds: the rhythmic pulse of a coffee machine, the sizzling of eggs in a pan, the slam of a car door, the hum of its engine. This category extends into the workplace — the greetings of colleagues, the ringing of phones, and the constant pings and notifications of modern life.

The final sphere is made up of negative sounds — those that evoke anxiety, anguish, or despair. News reports often dominate this category, employing language of destruction and crisis that can fill the mind with dark imagery. Ask any uncritical observer, a young student, and they may believe that the world is overwhelmingly bleak and nearing collapse.

But where does this negative energy originate? For most people, it is not rooted in direct experience. The answer, more often than not, is social media. Fear sells! One need only consider the disproportionate amount of nuclear weapons or the size of military budgets to know this is true. It is only when society moves toward a more peaceful state, and we begin to hear again the sounds of uplifting music and poetry, that our worldview can return to something higher: the transcendence of love — love of nature, love of others, and love of self. The avant-garde composer Pierre Schaeffer (4)  leaves us with a thought: Sound is the vocabulary of nature.

A closing thought: So, how do I harmonize my being with the positive sounds of the universe? First, upon waking, I must train myself to sit quietly for a few minutes and take in the initial sounds of the day. This is like an orchestra tuning itself before a grand symphony. Next, I must be deliberate in my actions, becoming aware of the attendant sounds around me — the water filling the basin, the percolating coffee, the subtle activities of the kitchen. Then come the quieter, more refined sounds: getting dressed, the movement of fabric, the gentle attention to the body for the day ahead. Now, properly prepared, I am ready to face the full onslaught of sound — both the good and the bad — and to celebrate its composition with clarity and confidence.

To sum up:  This week, we spoke about our awareness of sound.

To be noted: From Lord Byron (5) — There is music in all things, if men had ears.

Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9pOq8u6-bA&list=RDEM_DI_r4XL9muG9u2jN3756g&start_radio=1

For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMg4X8O6FBE

This week, on your thoughtful walk, please listen for the sounds all around you.

Don’t be a wage slave  — critical thinking is great!

Quote: Listen to the sweet sounds all around you

Footnotes:

1) https://www.popularbeethoven.com/aristotle-on-music/

2) https://jimkwik.com/

3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fQv1kHCAC4

4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Schaeffer

5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ryPFQExsI&t=81s

To be free, spiritually, emotionally and financially is your birthright.