“Meditations for a Better Life:
1. Get the self-monitoring habit
2. Question your thinking
3. Remind yourself that "it's a cup"
4. Don't get hung up on status and reputation
5. Radiate goodwill
6. Don't be too optimistic
7. Think about death (but not too much)
8. Consider the bigger picture
9. Use common sense
10. Be quiet"
- Antonia Macaro, More Than Happiness: Buddhist and Stoic Wisdom for a Secular Age, 2018.
Personal Transformation:
Practices, Techniques, Methods, Paths, Activities, Expressions
Ways, Tactics, Strategies, Plans, Engagement, Learning,
Spiritual Exercises of Stoics, Positive Psychology Methods,
Daily Efforts, Actions, Aims
Most people experiment and then discover methods that work best for them, their circumstances, age, culture, personality, education, habits, etc.
When you find a path that works best for you - stick to that way. It is likely that an open-minded and flexible person will use a variety of spiritual practices. Some aspects of each practice overlap with some aspects of other practices.
Transformation is not a goal or aim of a practice; the practice itself is the embodiment of transformation. The process is itself transformation. Your transformed here and now by doing the practice with some confidence or belief in the efficacy of the practice. As soon as you make the effort to engage in psychologica/spiritual practices you immediately taste bites of nourishing enlightenment and transformation.
Aging and Spirituality, Graceful Aging, Coping with Aging
Art, Beauty, Creative Projects
Asceticism, Self-Denial, Restraint, Fasting, Self-Discipline
Avoid the Mob, the Herd, the Commonplace Social Pressures
Bhakti Yoga, Loving-Kindness, Worship of Other and the Divine
Beauty of Ordinary Objects, Wabi/Swabi, Aesthetics
Being Present Today, Using the Present Day for Change
Belief, Confidence, Adherence, Trusting
Biofeedback, Electronic Aids, Lights, Air Filters
Body-Mind Practices, Somatic Therapy
Breathing, Pranayama, Breath Work, Dao Yin
Chanting, Mantras, Sound Healing, Singing
Charity, Benevolence, Sharing, Volunteering
Classes, Lectures, Training Sessions, Learning, Seminars
Control or Not Control Events in Your Life, Distinguish
Cooking, Mindful Eating, Vegetarianism, Good Nutrition
Comparative Religions and Worldviews Studies
Cosmic, Big Picture, World Events and Circumstances
Counseling, Psychotherapy, Advisors, Guides, CBT
Create a Meaningful Life and Values for Yourself
Cycles, Repeating Patterns, Seasons, Repetitions, Reflect
Do Good, Avoid Evil
Eastern Options: Yoga, Buddhism, Taoism, Stoicism, Zen
Environmental Awareness and Responsibilities
Excess, Gluttony, Hedonism, Wallowing: Avoid, Don't Do
Exercises: Walking, Yoga, Taijiquan, Stretching, Weight Lifting, etc.
Experiment, Research, Investigate, Question, Try Out
Family Life and Social Responsibilities Met, Householder Duties
Fate, Beyond Your Control, External Events
Five Senses Awareness and Explorations
Focus on Your Actions and Thoughts Today
Future Events are Somewhat Uncertain, Focus on Today
Gardening: Soil Work, Planting, Nurturing, Harvesting, Watering, Ecology
Goddess Devotion and Love, Tara, Kwan Yin, Mary, Lakshmi, Shakti
Gratitude, Thankfulness, Appreciation, Satisfaction
Guided Meditations, Hypnotherapy, Wise Stories
Hatha Yoga, Tantra, Vajira Body, Longevity, Immortality
Healing, Caring, Helping, Informing
Holidays, Celebrations, Customs, Observances, Eight Sabbats
Incense, Smells, Fireplace, Flowers
Interacting with Others, Group Activities, Church or Temple Services
Jana Yoga, Wisdom Path, Insight, Understanding
Language, Truth, and Logic, Semantics, Rhetoric
Left Hand Tantra: Libertinism, Antinomianism, Sensuality, Sexuality
Live and Let Live, Mind Your Own Business
Magic, Incantations, Prayers, Spells, Esoterica, Tantra
Massage, Acupressure, Self-Massage
Mass Media Negative Influences on Your Life, Avoid, Reduce
Maxims, Reminders, Axioms, Great Verses, Memorize, Repeat
Meditation, Non-judgmental Awareness, Non-Dual Awareness
Mindfulness, Attention, Focus in the Present Day
Moderation in All Things, Don't Overdo or Underdo, Golden Mean
Music, Songs, Ambient Sounds, Bells/Gongs, Audio lectures
Must Do's, Should Do's ... Be Careful of these Opinions
Nature Outdoors: Ocean, Mountains, Desert, Forest, Rivers, Neighborhood, Garden, Parks
Massage, Acupressure, Healing Hands, Reiki, Acupuncture, Chiropractic
Medicines, Herbal Remedies, Alternative Therapies, TCM
Medicine for the Body-Mind, Spirit, Soul
Movies, Documentaries, UTube Videos
Mysticism, Oneness, Epiphanies, Engaging, Revealing
One Chance, One Life, Today: Reflect
Open-mindedness, Flexibility, Keeping Options Open, Fair
Opinions and Judgements: Be Careful, Revise as Needed
Passages Repeated, Spiritual Notebooks, Inspiring Passages, Prayer Books, Hymnals
Past Events are Fixed and Unchangeable
Peaceful Calm Joyful Mind/Body Sense of Being in the World
Perceptions: Aim for Clarity, Truthfulness, Accuracy, Usefulness
Persistence, Grit, Willpower, Determination, Perseverance, Dedication
Photography, Drawing, Painting, Viewing Sacred Images
Philosophy, Thoughtfulness, Reasoning, Understanding, Science
Philosophy As a Way of Life
Pilgrimages, Visiting Sacred Places, Learning about Holy Sites
Plan Your Day in the Morning, Set Objectives, To Do Lists
Play, Games, Sports, Homo Ludens
Pleasures: Natural and Necessary, Bodily Functions, Understand
Pleasures: Natural but Unnecessary, Understand and Control
Pleasures: Unnatural and Unnecessary, Avoid, Shun
Praying, Invocations, Spells, Recitations, Mantras, Chants
Present Focus, Here and Now, Today, Realm of Your Control
Reading, Research, Self-Study, Scriptures, Classics
Reflections, Ruminations, Considerations, Reminders
Reflect on Impermanence and Death, Anticipate
Reminders, Maxims, Axioms, Great Verses, Memorize, Repeat
Research, Investigate, Question, Experiment
Retreats, Vision Quests, Isolation, Solitude, Solo Practice
Review Your Day at the End of Each Day
Riddles, Puzzles, Poems, Dilemmas, Koans
Right Livelihood, Decent Employment, Honorable Work
Rituals, Sacraments, Sacred Rites, Rites of Passage
Sacred Objects: Altars, Statues, Bowls, Art, Books
Sacred Places, Sacred Circles, Sacred Groves, Buildings
Service to Others, Helping, Volunteering, Charity
Shamanism, Visions, Astral Travel, Meeting Spirits, Drugs
Simplicity, Frugality, Conservation, Respect for Things
Sitting in Quiet Awareness, Sitting in Oblivion, Zuowang
Smiling, Joyfulness, Positive Vibrations, Laughter, Jokes
Social Responsibilities, Family, Employment, Community
Spiritual Exercises of Stoics, Buddhists, Epicureans, Cynics
Stories, Inspiring Fiction, Poetry
Strength Training, Weightlifting, Endurance Events
Spiritual Guides, Gurus, Enlightened Persons, Elders, Scriptures
Supernatural Beings: God, Allah, Shiva, Avatars/Incarnations (Jesus, Krishna, Buddha, Vishnu), Nature Spirits, Angels, Saints, Demons, Bodhisattvas, Dao, Wee Folk, Immortals (Xian), etc. Use or Don't Use!
Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, Dao Yin, Martial Arts
Tarot, I Ching, Random Visuals/Archetypes/Reminders
Thankful for the Gifts of Others, Parents, Teachers, Community
Theology, Thinking about the Divine, Scripture Study
Time Management, Action Today, Aims and Objectives
Today is the Day for Change, Be Present, Here and Now
Traditions, Ancestors, History, Religions, Philosophies
Unquestioning Obedience or Religious Zealotry Avoided
Usefulness: What is and What is Not Good for You and Society
Walking, Hiking, Sauntering, Kinhin Walking Meditation
Worry, Fretting, Fear: Find Methods to Reduce or Avoid
Virtue Ethics, Morals, Proper Behaviors, Karma, Niyamas, Values
Virtue: Flourishing, Skills, Knowledge, Awareness
Visualizing, Imagining, Pretending, Fantasies, Dreams
Vows, Precepts Taking, Initiation, Confirmation
Wait, Delay, Reflect: Before You Act
Work Responsibilities, Career, Management, Effort, Right Livelihood
Worship, Submission, Dedication, Bhakti Yoga
Writing, Journaling, Blogging, Web Publishing
Zazen, Seated Zen Meditation, Zuowang
 |
| Springtime in Vancouver, WA Mike Garofalo reading Moshe Feldenkrais |
"I am a seeker of truth on a spiritual journey.
I believe life has sacred meaning and purpose.
May my behavior today express my deepest beliefs.
May I approach each and every task today with quiet impeccability.
May I be a simple, humble, and kind presence on the earth today.
May I see the Divine Nature in all beings today.
May I be grateful today to those who came before me,
and may I make the roads smoother
for those who will travel them after me.
May I leave each place at least a little better than I found it today.
May I truly cherish this day, knowing that it may be my last.
May I remember, remember, remember, not to forget, forget, forget."
- Bo Lozoff, It's a Meaningful Life: It Just Takes Practice
How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise and Respected Persons
Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo
Subject Index to 3.855 Lessons From
Zen Buddhists, Stoics, and Solitary Taoists
Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo
Ninth Version, July 23, 2023. Updated Monthly. PDF, 374 Pages.
Green Way Research, Vancouver, Washington
Blue Cliff Record 100 Koans (BCR)
Book of Serenity/Equanimity 100 Koans (BOS)
Daily Stoic 366 Lessons Philosophy (STOA)
Dao De Jing 81 Lessons (DDJ)
Dogen's Shinji Mana Shobogenzo 300 Koans (DSMS)
Dogen's Shobogenzo 95 Essays Buddhist (DSE)
Entangling Vines 272 Koans (ENT)
Epictetus 95 Discourses (EPI)
Fireplace Records 30 Chapters (TFR)
Flock of Fools: Parable Sutra 98 Koans (OHPS)
Gateless Gate 48 Koans (GB)
Iron Flute 100 Koans (IF)
Kamakura 40 Koans (ZWAY)
Meditations Marcus Aurelius (AUR)
Opening A Mountain 60 Koans (OM)
Philosopher's Garden of Insights (PG)
Record of Empty Hall 100 Koans (REH)
Record of Linji 50 Koans (LIN)
Rinzai Zen Buddhism (RINZ,SOG)
Samurai Zen 100 Warrior Koans (SAM)
Seneca 124 Letters (SEN)
Suzuki D.T. Books (SUZ)
365 Tao 365 Chapters (DMD)
Transmission of Light: Keizan 53 Biographies (TOL)
Zen Echoes 43 Koans (ZE)
Brief Lessons from Buddhists, Stoics, and Solitary Taoists:
https://www.egreenway.com/buddhism/koans.htm
Subject Index to 3.855 Lessons From
Zen Buddhists, Stoics, and Solitary Taoists
Subject Index to 1,685 Zen Buddhist Koans
Subject Index to 1,546 Taoist Lessons, Chapter, and Stories
Subject Index to 813 Stoic Lessons, Discourses, and Letters
Subject Index to 1,975 Zen Buddhist Koans
Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo
Fourth Version, August 2, 2023. Updated Monthly. 358 Pages, PDF.
Green Way Research, Vancouver, Washington
Blue Cliff Record 100 Koans (BCR)
Book of Serenity/Equanimity 100 Koans (BOS)
Dao De Jing 81 Chapters (DDJ)
Dogen's Shinji Mana Shobogenzo 300 Koans (DSMS)
Dogen's Shobogenzo 95 Essays Buddhist (DSE)
Entangling Vines 272 Koans (ENT)
Fireplace Records 30 Chapters (TFR)
Flock of Fools: Parable Sutra 98 Koans (OHPS)
Gateless Gate 48 Koans (GB)
Iron Flute 100 Koans (IF)
Opening A Mountain 60 Koans (OM)
Philosopher's Garden (PG)
Record of Empty Hall 100 Koans (REH)
Record of Linji 50 Koans (LIN)
Rinzai Zen Buddhism (RINZ,SOG)
Samurai Zen 100 Warrior Koans (SAM)
Suzuki D.T. 10 Books (SUZ)
Transmission of Light: Keizan 53 Biographies (TOL)
The Whole World is a Single Flower 365 Koans (WWSF)
Zen and the Ways (ZWAY)
Zen Echoes 43 Koans (ZE)
Zen Flesh Zen Bones 100 Koans (ZFZB)
Zhuangzi 33 Chapters (ZUAN)
Zen Buddhist Koans and Discourses:
https://www.egreenway.com/buddhism/koansdup1.htm
Subject Index to 1,546 Taoist Lessons, Chapter, and Stories
Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo
First Draft, July 23, 2023. Updated Quarterly. PDF, 83 pages.
Green Way Research, Vancouver, Washington
DDJ Dao De Jing 81 Chapters Lessons Taoist
DMD 365 Tao 365 Chapters Meditations Taoist
EDT Everyday Tao 365 Chapters Lessons Tapost
ICHI I Ching Yijing 64 Hexagrams Taoist
PG Philsopher's Garden of Insights
TFR Fireplace Records 25 Chapters Philosopher
TFTO Tales From the Tao 31 Chapters Taoist
TGPL Lieh-Tzu 111 Chapters Lessons Taoist
TLT Lunar Tao 150 Chapters Events Taoist
VES Vitality Energy Spirit 100 Lessons Taoist
WEN Wen-Tzu 180 Chapters Lessons Taoist
ZHUA Zhuangzi Chuang Tzu 33 Chapters Taoist
Brief Taoist Lessons, Chapters, and Stories Taoists:
https://www.egreenway.com/buddhism/koans.htm
Subject Index to 3.855 Lessons From
Zen Buddhists, Stoics, and Solitary Taoists
Subject Index to 1,685 Zen Buddhist Koans
Subject Index to 813 Stoic Lessons, Discourses, and Letters
Subject Index to 1,546 Taoist Lessons, Chapter, and Stories
Subject Index to 813 Stoic Lessons, Discourses, and Letters
Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo
First Draft, July 23, 2023. Updated Quarterly. 30 Pages.
Green Way Research, Vancouver, Washington
Daily Stoic 366 Lessons Philosophy (STOA)
Epictetus 95 Discourses (EPI)
Fireplace Records 30 Chapters (TFR)
Meditations Marcus Aurelius (AUR)
Philosopher's Garden of Insights (PG)
Seneca 124 Letters (SEN)
Lessons, Letters, and Discourses from Stoics:
https://www.egreenway.com/buddhism/koans.htm
Subject Index to 3.855 Lessons From
Zen Buddhists, Stoics, and Solitary Taoists
Subject Index to 1,685 Zen Buddhist Koans
Subject Index to 813 Stoic Lessons, Discourses, and Letters
Subject Index to 1,546 Taoist Lessons, Chapter, and Stories
Eight Core Teachings of Roman Stoicism
1. Live in agreement with nature to find happiness.
2. Virtue, or excellence of one's inner character, is the only true good.
3. Some things are "up to us," or entirely under our control, while other things are not.
4. While we can't control what happens to us in the external world, we can control our inner judgments and how we respond to life's events.
5. When something negative happens, or when we are struck by adversity, we shouldn't be surprised by it, but see it as an opportunity to create a better situation.
6. Virtue, or possessing a excellent character, is its own reward. But it also results in eudaimonia or "happiness." This is the state of mental tranquility and inner joy.
7. Real philosophy involves "making progress."
8. It is essential that we, as individuals, should contribute to society.
- David Fideler, Breakfast with Seneca, 2022, pp. 4-9.
Stoic Principles for Virtuous Living
Stoicism: Bibliography, Quotations, Links, Information
Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living. By David Fideler. W. W. Norton, 2022, index, bibliography, notes, appendix, 265 pages. VSCL, Paperback.
Letters on Ethics: To Lucilius. The Complete Works of Lucius Annaeus Seneca. Translated by Margaret Graver and A. A. Long. University of Chicago, 2017, 604 pages. Complete collection of Seneca's Letters. VSCL, E-Book Kindle.
Letters From a Stoic. By Lucius Annaeus Seneca. Translated by Richard Mott Gunmere. Compass Circle, 2019, index, 351 pages. Complete collection of Seneca's Letters. VSCL, Oversize Paperback.
My recent reading of the Stoics in the Spring and Summer of 2023 includes:
The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph. By Rayan Holiday. Portfolio, 2013, 224 pages. VSCL, Hardbound.
More Than Happiness: Buddhist and Stoic Wisdom for a Skeptical Age. By Antonia Macaro. Icon Books, 2018, 208 pages. VSCL, Paperback.
Ego is the Enemy. By Ryan Holiday. Portfolio, 2016, 256 pages. VSCL, Hardbound.
Lives of the Stoics: The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius. By Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. Portfolio, 2020, 352 pages. FVRLibrary.
The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living. By Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. Portfolio, 2016, 416 pages. VSCL, Hardbound. Outstanding commentary.
Meditatons: The Annotated Edition. Translated, introduced and edited by Robin Waterfield. New York, Basic Books, 2021, 326 pages. Introduction, bibliography, notes, annotations. VSCL.
The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living. By Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. Portfolio, 2016, 416 pages. VSCL.
How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life. By Massimo Pigliucci. 288 pages, 2013. VSCL.
The Practicing Stoic: A Philosophical User's Manual. By Ward Farnsworth. Goldine, 2018, 256 pages. VSCL.
How to Live a Good Life: Advice From Wise Persons
Stoicism: Bibliography, Links, Quotations, Notes
I am determined to sit far less and move more often this summer and autumn.
More emphasis upon taijiquan, yoga, walking, gardening, home chores, giving things away, self-care, etc.
Less emphasis upon sitting and watching television, I've watched television less than 30 minutes each day since April 2023.
Less emphasis upon sitting and overloading on information from the Internet. Keep it under 30 minutes each day. Take a long break from posting to Facebook or this blog.
Resume my monthly four day camping trip to a Yurt at the Pacific seashore in Washington or Oregon.
As for reading: more emphasis on Stoicism and poetry.
Positive Behaviors, Actions, Habits or Virtues for Stoics
"The qualities you can offer, then, are those that are entirely up to you: candor, dignity, endurance, indifference to pleasure, acceptance of your lot, frugality, kindness, self-reliance, unaffectedness, discretion, stateliness."
- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Notebook 5.5
"Can what happened to you stop you from being fair, high-minded, moderate, conscientious, unhasty, honest, moral, self-reliant, and so on."
Meditations, Notebook 4.49
Simplicity, calmness, peace of mind, composed, practical, social, tranquility, serenity, awareness ...
All Taijiquan and Qigong teachers place strong emphasis upon character and moral development. There are many statements of codes of conduct for serious taijiquan martial artists. In my opinion, the key intellectual, philosophical, and moral sources for current Taijiquan and Qigong players are Buddhism, Taoism, TCM, and Stoicism.
My recent reading in the Summer 2023 of the Stoics includes:
The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph. By Rayan Holiday. Portfolio, 2013, 224 pages. VSCL, Hardbound.
Stillness Is the Key. By Ryan Holiday. Portfolio, 2019, 288 pages. VSCL, Hardbound.
Ego is the Enemy. By Ryan Holiday. Portfolio, 2016, 256 pages. VSCL, Hardbound.
Lives of the Stoics: The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius. By Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. Portfolio, 2020, 352 pages. FVRLibrary.
The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living. By Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. Portfolio, 2016, 416 pages. VSCL, Hardbound.
Meditatons: The Annotated Edition. Translated, introduced and edited by Robin Waterfield. New York, Basic Books, 2021, 326 pages. Introduction, bibliography, notes, annotations. VSCL.
The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living. By Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. Portfolio, 2016, 416 pages. VSCL.
How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life. By Massimo Pigliucci. 288 pages, 2013. VSCL.
The Practicing Stoic: A Philosophical User's Manual. By Ward Farnsworth. Goldine, 2018, 256 pages. VSCL.
How to Live a Good Life: Advice From Wise Persons
Stoicism: Bibliography, Links, Quotations, Notes
dao chang wu wei, er wu bu wei.
hou wang ruo neng shou zhi, wan wu jiang zi hua.
hua er yu zuo, wu jiang zhen zhi yi wu ming zhi pu.
wu ming zhi pu, fu yi jiang bu yu.
bu yu yi jing, tian xia jiang zi ding.
- Pinyin Romanization, Daodejing, Chapter 37
"The Tao eternally non-acts, and so It does nothing and yet there is nothing left to do; If prince or king could keep it, all would change Of their own accord with a transformation strange. And so transformed, should desire to change again still come to be, I would quiet such desire by the Nameless One' s simplicity, But the Nameless One' s simplicity is free from all desire, So tranquilly, of their own accord, all things would still transpire." - Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 37"Way-making is really nameless. Were the nobles and kings able to respect this, All things would be able to develop along their own lines. Having developed along their own lines, were they to desire to depart from this, I would realign them With a nameless scarp of unworked wood. Realigned with this nameless scrap of unworked wood, They would leave off desiring. Is not desiring, they would achieve equilibrium, And all the world would be properly ordered of its own accord." - Translated by Roger T. Ames and Donald L. Hall, 2003, Chapter 37 "El dao, permanente, no tiene nombre; si los señores y reyes pudieran conservarlo, todos los seres se transformarían por sí solos. Si al transformarse apareciera en ellos el deseo de levantar la cabeza, yo los refrenaría con el trozo de madera sin nombre. Refrenados mediante el trozo de madera sin nombre, no se sentirán ofendidos. Al no existir ofensas surgiría la tranquilidad, y el cielo y la tierra se ordenarían espontáneamente." - Translated by Juan Ignacio Preciado, 1978, Capítulo #37 "The Way is constantly in non-action, But it leaves nothing undone. If dukes and kings can keep to it, All things will be transformed by themselves. But, in transforming, desires arise. I will subdue them by the nameless simplicity; With nameless simplicity, There will be no desires. Being desireless is to be tranquil. All the world will become calm by itself." - Translated by Yi Wu, Chapter 37
"Tao never does anything, And everything gets done. If rulers can keep to it, The ten thousand things will changes of themselves. Changed, things may start to stir. Quiet them with the namelessly simple, Which alone will bring no-desire. No-desire: then there is peace, And beneath-heaven will settle down of itself." - Translated by Herrymoon Maurer, 1985, Chapter 37A typical webpage created by Mike Garofalo for each one of the 81 Chapters (Verses, Sections) of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) includes over 25 different English language translations or interpolations for that Chapter, 5 Spanish language translations for that Chapter, the Chinese characters for that Chapter, the Wade-Giles and Hanyu Pinyin transliterations (Romanization) of the Mandarin Chinese words for that Chapter, and 2 German and 1 French translation of that Chapter. Each webpage for each one of the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching includes extensive indexing by key words, phrases, and terms for that Chapter in English, Spanish, and the Wade-Giles Romanization. Each webpage on a Chapter of the Daodejing includes recommended reading in books and websites, a detailed bibliography, some commentary, research leads, translation sources, a Google Translate drop down menu, and other resources for that Chapter.Chapter 37, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. By Dacher Keltner. Penguin 2023. Excellent overview, well researched, practical advice. Notes, bibliography, index, 309 pages. FVR Library.
After extensive international surveys and interviews, as well as careful research, Dacher Keltner outlines the "Eight Wonders of Life." These experiences are what most commonly led people around the world to feel awe:
1. Other people's courage, kindness, strength, or overcoming.
2. Collective effervescence: group rituals and ceremonies and events
3. Nature, outdoors, dramatic scenery, gardens, fearsome events
4. Music, dancing, singing
5. Visual Design, Art, Architecture, Beauty
6. Stories of spiritual and religious awe, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, films
7. Stories of life and death, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, films
8. Epiphany, Mystical Experience, Altered Consciousness
"We can find awe, then, in eight wonders of life: moral beauty, collective effervescence, nature, music, visual design, spirituality and religion, life and death, and epiphany."
- Dach Keltner, "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder," p. 18
The Fireplace Records, Chapter 26
Assumptions Guide the Way
Frank and Mary were discussing metaphysical doctrines one bright summer afternoon. They sipped ice tea as they pondered issues related to idealism and realism.
Frank supported the idealist view, wherein the Conscious Presence of his current experiences is the main criterion for judging phenomena. The real or what exists depends on his direct and immediate consciousness of same. His body and external objects are in some way figments of his imagination, and many common-sense beliefs are the delusions of dualistic thinking.
Mary supported a realist view, dualisms, existence of objects in the world, and the reality of her and others human bodies. She assumed and supported scientific methods (e.g., logic, inference, precise measurements, mathematics, experimentation, probability, provisional theories, worldwide verification, collaborative work, peer evaluation, and pragmatic considerations, etc.) for discovering truth and using the results in technological applications. Personal consciousness and personal experiences/gnosis, for her, had a limited value when it came to issues of veracity and knowledge.
Mary said, “You are always talking about how your Conscious Presence or Immediate Awareness reveals to you that Constant Change is the Primary Fact. My conclusions are different. An object like my body or the Douglas Fir trees in my back yard or furniture in my office do not change very much at all from day to day. Trees and furniture stay in the same locations. My height and weight and appearance stay pretty much the same each day at the gross level of everyday dealings. My molecular and atomic bodily interior changes quite a bit each day, however I am not aware of these changes unless facing illness. If things constantly change like you contend, and this is unquestionably revealed in your immediate consciousness/experience, then this would be madness.”
Frank said, “If you don’t have consciousness of something, then you know nothing about It. You are bound in unrealistic and delusive dualistic thinking. All the great Yogis, Philosophers, and Zen Masters know this to be clear and true. Read the “Transparency of Things” by Rupert Spira to get correctly informed.”
Mary said, “It is a matter of assumptions. I assume the scientific realists or materialists viewpoints because they are practical, efficient, useful, widely accepted, logically consistent, and in accord with common sense. I once read the “Transparency of Things.” An unconvincing repetition of vague and questionable pronouncements. No index, no bibliography, no notes, no scholarship standards, no inter-subjective verification. There, his Conscious Presence, sounds a lot like a spiritual soul (Atman) freed from his body, mind, and Others and resting in a awesome startling mystical Oneness. He does not even have a Deity (Brahma, God the Father, Allah, etc.) to have a Conscious Presence of the world to keep it in existence (e.g., as for Descartes, Berkeley, Hegel, or Green) while he sleeps in unconsciousness. In my view, just warmed over transparent Advaita Vedanta obscurantism.”
Frank said, “I know what I know directly, immediately, personally. I don’t need the fanciful presuppositions of science to confirm the Experience of Conscious Presence. It is beyond petty distinctions of right or wrong, good or bad, this or that, true or untrue. Human experience is God (the Divine, the Awesome, the Profound, the Real) gradually made manifest. Once you abandon your dualistic thinking, and your own imaginative and ungrounded deluded thinking, you might see the Light and experience deep awakening and enlightenment.”
Mary said, “We have different assumptions and thus follow different paths to understanding and knowing, and reach different conclusions. Nevertheless, we can both agree that the day is warm, the iced tea refreshing, and the garden looks to be flourishing. Is this not just awesome for one's soul?
"Mary!" said Frank, surprised. "Your soul!?"
Mary slapped Frank on the back. "You Zen Masters love to quibble."
A Student's Considerations:
Be clear about assumptions and definitions before the discussion.
Learn how to select useful assumptions.
For an illogical person, conclusions don't follow from assumptions.
Don't abandon the quest for reasonable explanations.
The "Mystical One" may be profound, but passes awareness quickly.
Enjoy being in awe, but don't hang on too long.
Iron Grindstone Liu's Logic can take away our rough edges of stupidity.
Consider Sartre's assumption "Existence Precedes Essence."
Look outside to awaken, look inside to wander in memories.
Pulling Onions Over 1,043 One-line Sayings by Mike Garofalo
Subject Index to 1,001 Zen Buddhist Koans
Chinese Chan Buddhist and Taoist Stories and Koans
Fireplaces, Stoves, Campfires, Kitchens, Pots, Firewood
Brief Spiritual Lessons Database Project: Subject Indexes
Sparks: Brief Spiritual Lessons and Stories
Matches to Start a Kindling of Insight
May the Light from Your Inner Fireplace Help All Beings
Taoist, Chan Buddhist, Zen Buddhist, Philosophers
Catching Phrases, Inspiring Verses, Koans, Meditations
Indexing, Bibliography, Quotations, Notes, Resources
Research by Michael P. Garofalo
The Fireplace Records
By Michael P. Garofalo
Subject Index to 1,001 Zen Buddhist Koans
