My dad encouraged me to learn from other people’s mistakes. Anything I did not learn from other people’s mistakes, I would learn from the school of haMy dad encouraged me to learn from other people’s mistakes. Anything I did not learn from other people’s mistakes, I would learn from the school of hard knocks. (PAINFUL and expensive).
Both Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger are asked what is the secret to their success. They both say “Didn’t make too many big mistakes”
Clayton Christensen provides the background thinking required for a person to avoid the big mistakes in life by not making a series of small mistakes, (propagation of error).
Essays in living Buddhist Part 1: Practicing in the Home and Hearth: Dealing with the anger caused by Racism Robin Hart. On Beggars by Susan Moon. BadEssays in living Buddhist Part 1: Practicing in the Home and Hearth: Dealing with the anger caused by Racism Robin Hart. On Beggars by Susan Moon. Bad Dog by Lin Jensen . Difficult essays to read. Part 2: Taking the practice into the world. There was a gun in the house. Best emotional arguments for gun control? Couple essays in living in prison and getting out. Part 3: Food for thought. Buddhist activism? Well done Susan Moon. ...more
Collection of essays on aging by a practicing Zen Buddhist in Berkeley CA. Zen thoughts on aging with humor and dignity. Satisfying bedtime reading...Collection of essays on aging by a practicing Zen Buddhist in Berkeley CA. Zen thoughts on aging with humor and dignity. Satisfying bedtime reading.......more
The Complete Idiot series is a 50,000 foot view of a subject. Great overview of types, traditions, practices and history of Buddhism. Read a chapter aThe Complete Idiot series is a 50,000 foot view of a subject. Great overview of types, traditions, practices and history of Buddhism. Read a chapter at a time. ...more
Stephen Levine was a contemporary of Ram Dass. Good integration of spiritual practices of Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and native american practStephen Levine was a contemporary of Ram Dass. Good integration of spiritual practices of Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and native american practices and philosophies surrounding dying. Because humans have different names for emotions, feelings, and spiritual practices there is much miscommunication between people.
A series of reflective essays written by native Denverite, Rocky Mountain News Columnist, Gene Amole just before he died. Gene belonged to an organizaA series of reflective essays written by native Denverite, Rocky Mountain News Columnist, Gene Amole just before he died. Gene belonged to an organization called the Highlander Boys in the Highlands neighborhood of North Denver while he was growing up, between ages 8 and 16. George Olinger who founded the organization was a mortician. Gene credits the "Highlanders as having a profound effect on this life.
Highlander Prayer said each night at bedtime.
Oh God, my father and my friend, teach me to be a true Highlander and a Christian gentleman. Help me to think pure thoughts than I may be a clean man. Help me to keep my body pure that I may use it to serve Thee. Help me be truthful that I may sing thy praise. Help me to be honest that I may win the confidence of men. Help me to build a Christian character that I may be worthy of those who love me. Teach me to respect all women as I do my mother. Make my life one of service, and when I am tempted, May I sit humbly at the foot of the cross and look up to Thee for strength. Amen
Best book of 2017. Follow on to Richard Feynmann ( not fooling yourself-because you are the easiest person to fool), Matt Ridley (The Red Queen-Sex anBest book of 2017. Follow on to Richard Feynmann ( not fooling yourself-because you are the easiest person to fool), Matt Ridley (The Red Queen-Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature). Got serious about meditation after finishing the book. The Jodo Shin Buddhism I learned as a child, taught that we are all diamonds in the rough. The diamond is revealed and shines through meditation. An opposite starting point from original sin. Meditation is behavior modification for your subconscious.
Feelings lead to thoughts, thoughts lead to behaviors and action. The problem comes because feelings change, and conflicting thoughts lead to irrational behaviors and actions.
Humans are social, survival/propagation of genes is enhanced by group interactions aka tribes and gangs.
Reread. Took a chapter or two at a time, gained more the second time around. Dying is not an exclusively medical event. “Fighting” to the end denies aReread. Took a chapter or two at a time, gained more the second time around. Dying is not an exclusively medical event. “Fighting” to the end denies a person a peaceful passing. A personal near death , accident, disease or war experience or watching a someone close go through a traumatic event can change ones perspective permanently. There are choices other than the red pill or the blue pill that medical professionals offer. Choose wisely....more
Fantastic, couldn't put it down. Personal interviews and experiences with Spiritual Mavericks, Seekers, Authors, Poets, Physicists, Philosophers and rFantastic, couldn't put it down. Personal interviews and experiences with Spiritual Mavericks, Seekers, Authors, Poets, Physicists, Philosophers and religious leaders.
No one person no matter how intelligent can know all. We are all brothers walking arm in arm down the road of life together, so we should help each other along that road. Reuben Snake.
Each of us knows very little of what we need to know, so we ask our companions. And thus begins the process by which we proceed to understand as much as we can of what it's all about. Oppenheimer on Ecclesiastes.
Written in 2005 when the Dalai Lama was 70. The purpose of Buddhism is to alleviate suffering.
Theory of Causation: 2 types. 1. Substantial cause- stuffWritten in 2005 when the Dalai Lama was 70. The purpose of Buddhism is to alleviate suffering.
Theory of Causation: 2 types. 1. Substantial cause- stuff that turns into a particular effect. The clay of a future clay pot. 2. Contributory cause-all the other factors that contribute converting stuff into a pot, the potter, the kiln, the wood that heats the kiln, the potters teacher, etc.
Science is a third-person method of inquiry where Buddhism is a first-person method of inquiry.
Clear light state:A state of consciousness understood to be extremely subtle that manifests briefly in all human beings at the moment of death. Total spontaneity, the absence of self-consciousness or self-grasping. In an experienced practitioner, this state can be deliberately induced through meditative techniques. Very brief similitudes of this state may occur naturally at other times, as during sneezing, fainting, deep sleep or sexual climax. His teacher remained in the clear light state for 13 days.
First principles of Buddhism. 1.Cause and effect: Conditions affecting the cause have an inevitable impact on the result. 2. Impermanence: All conditioned things and events in the world are in constant flux. Anything produced by causes is susceptible to change--if one creates the right conditions, one can consciously direct such change to a transformation of the state of one's mind. 3. Conservation of emotion: There are wholesome and unwholesome families of emotions: Not positive and negative emotions are Western thinking. If one side of any polarity is stronger, the other is weaker in any given individual. If one works to increase, reinforce and strengthen the positive groups, one will correspondingly weaken the negative ones, thus effectively bringing about transformation in one's thoughts and emotions. Two opposing states cannot coexist without one undermining the other is key argument for transformability of consciousness.
Five factors for mental events: feeling, recognition, engagement, attention, and contact.
Five factors for object discernment:aspiration, attraction, mindfulness, concentration and insight.
Six root mental afflictions: 1. Attachment/craving:meanness, inflated self-esteem, excitement including surprise, concealment of own vices, mental dullness. 2. anger/hate: wrath, resentment, spite, envy, jealousy, cruelty 3. ignorance: lack of confidence, sloth, forgetfulness, lack of attention.
ignorance&attachment:pretentiousness, deceit, shamelessness, lack of consideration for others, heedlessness and distraction. 4. afflictive doubt, and 5. afflictive views. 6. pride/conceit:
Four changeable mental factors: Can be either wholesome or unwholesome. sleep, regret, investigation and minute analysis.
Wish I could have talked to Mom about these Buddhist concepts. Thank you Dalai Lama for having the intelligence to bridge the differences in old Tibetan (Sanskrit) and modern American/Western science and write in a way Westerners can understand....more
Recommended by bookclub: A meditation on living in a remote rural area. Or an observation on isolated organizational dynamics. Some of Norris observatRecommended by bookclub: A meditation on living in a remote rural area. Or an observation on isolated organizational dynamics. Some of Norris observations on group dynamics are true in a large urban setting. See the movie "Nebraska" with Bruce Dern. Norris could have been a screenwriter for the movie.
Excellent observations, some of my favorites listed below.
"more than ever I've come to see conspiracy theories as the refuge of those who have lost their natural curiosity and ability to cope with change."
"small-town insecurity often takes the form of an exaggerated sense of our own importance."
"gossip is theology translated into experience. We hear stories of conversion, like the drunk who turns his life around. When we gossip we are also praying, not only for them but for ourselves. At it's deepest level small town gossip is about how we face matters of life and death."
"I hope I die before I turn into an old bitch"
We don't tend to see the truth as something that could set us free because it means embracing pain, acknowledging our differences and conflicts, taking our real situation into account.
"Frantic social activity conspires to silence a person. All too often a kind of Tom Sawyerism takes over, and makes of adult life a perpetual club. Imagine spending the rest of your life at summer camp."
"Trust comes before belief and faith is a response to love more than an acceptance of dogma."...more
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