If you enjoy exploring the soul or mind, you might profit from reading Soren Kierkegaard. He's known as the father of modern existentialism. Kierkegaard often gets compared to Nietzsche. And I bring up Nietzsche because he makes an argument reminiscent of a suggestion you make. In one of his books, Nietzsche performs an etymological analysis of ethical terms. This analysis reminds me of your suggestion to contemplate the Latin derivation of the word "religion"! You might find Nietzsche, in addition to Kierkegaard, very interesting thinkers. It is a worthy exercise -- at least I think -- to compare and contrast Kierkegaard with Nietzsche. Hopefully, you can get your hands on some of their writings. But I know access to books can be a problem for inmates.
Alright, that's all for now. Have a nice week, William! It was great to talk to you.
--Calhoun25
P.S. I appreciate the drawing underneath your words. I can see your tattoo talent shining forth! That face is pure calm and contentment, if I've ever seen it.
I didn't have any particular Dylan song in mind, but "Going, Going, Gone" is a great song to pick out! I need to spend more time soaking in Planet Waves. Retrospectively, Planet Waves is an album easy to overlook, in the sense that two of his most popular albums -- Blood on the Tracks and Desire -- followed closely upon it. That's not to say we should overlook it. "Au contraire", we might say.
I'll have to check out some of those albums you mentioned. I've heard very great things about Van Morrison; I just need to take some time out to listen to him. Those meditation tracks sound promising as well. The other day, my friend sent me a recording of monks chanting the Heart Sutra. There are so many different ways to meditate, in addition to so many theories for understanding meditation. Some go for the silent meditation; others for chanting mantras. There are various sitting positions. Heck, some even meditate by walking, or eating slowly, or reading closely, or pondering deep puzzles. I guess I like to be a pluralist about meditation, mixing up my methods when it makes sense and gets me closer to some good. Did you ever find doing tattoo work to be meditative, at least in some sense? Also, I have heard of "instrumentalism" -- except I've heard it used in many different, unrelated ways. I'd like to hear exactly what meaning you had in mind with the word "instrumentalism". That way, I might get some "mentalistic nourishment" as well!
Your (I assume) improvised piece reads as prophetic. I will try thinking more about it. I don't fully grasp all your meaning, I think. But it is arduous to grasp such deep matters. The difficulty of wisdom is a sign of its inherent complexity as well as my own shortcomings. Now, what I did comprehend in your piece reminded me of Buddhism! Unless I misunderstood you, it seems you've got the following truths in mind. Individuals suffer from a powerful desire to conform and live unreflectively. They also suffer from a powerful second-order desire -- namely, the desire to satisfy as many of their desires as they can. Individuals are preoccupied with their desires, which feel as if they compel the soul or mind. One part of the mind, the "analytic" part, is "yelling" at us, giving us an ultimatum: we must fulfill our powerful desires, or else. Or else what? Falling prey to irrationality? On the other hand, the "aesthetic" part is saying we can slow down if we want. We can disobey the "analytic" part, ignore our powerful desires, without bad coming of it. Indeed, doing so would be positively good for us! Ironically, the "analytic" part of our mind is being irrational.
The preceding represents only my initial reflection. I'm not sure if you intended any of that. Perhaps I was reading my thoughts into your words! In any event, I now have more material to meditate on.
Good to hear from you Eric. (As you know, there's a significant delay-- today is 3/15) Interesting: we share some interests here. I play scrabble a lot (on line w/ my 87-yr-old mother) and enjoy coming up with unusual words like qat and xi. I bet your French friend would do better playing French words! Imagine playing in YOUR second language. Best word last game was quahog. I like learning languages: working on Spanish and Portuguese. Sign language would be tricky. I like Dale Carnegie's book a lot too -- important lessons to be learned there. And I like astronomy: used to subscribe to Sky & Telescope, had a telescope when I lived in California where there were fewer clouds. And I like MAD, gave my brother a subscription for his birthday last year for a laugh. I haven't actually seen a copy since I was a kid, but they were a lot of fun.
I'll send you a maze. I like those kinds of puzzles too.
Hello WG: I finally found my missing user name/password to comm here. Was so very pleased that you heard from son Yashua. Hoping this reply finds you in good spirits and health as I have been sincerely concerned from not hearing from you. Sawzaw mama needs to know if you are ok and just exceptionally busy.?? I see you are reading a profound book about Great Initiates per Calhoun comm post...I have asked Joe to call MCSP to see if you are okay...to that extent I am concerned. I wished you would call me again.... let me know even a smoke signal that all is well there. I honor all the intentions you do to help others on this planet of chaos. I treasure your writing skills... your ability to express yourself on paper, your cognitions about this physical plane we sail around on. There isn't a one of us that doesn't have something that they need to resolve in life, need to understand. In livingness. The new media launch I am hoping you are permitted to see on the tv in the Chapel with the inmates you help. I especially wished you'd see the segment on human rights. What is happening in Columbia is now a visual on the new network. omg...it is amazing to see. the magazines don't do it justice once you see the immensity of the work they have done to change conditions. yesterday NY Times square Org was jammed during the countdown. Thank you for your postulates and contributions. It is all part of 'the sum of the whole' game. As you know it....we are all connected...same boat... and so it is, ml, Erne xo I look forward to getting cobwebs out of my mailbox...
RSS
Alright, that's all for now. Have a nice week, William! It was great to talk to you.
--Calhoun25
P.S. I appreciate the drawing underneath your words. I can see your tattoo talent shining forth! That face is pure calm and contentment, if I've ever seen it.
It's good to hear back from you!
I didn't have any particular Dylan song in mind, but "Going, Going, Gone" is a great song to pick out! I need to spend more time soaking in Planet Waves. Retrospectively, Planet Waves is an album easy to overlook, in the sense that two of his most popular albums -- Blood on the Tracks and Desire -- followed closely upon it. That's not to say we should overlook it. "Au contraire", we might say.
I'll have to check out some of those albums you mentioned. I've heard very great things about Van Morrison; I just need to take some time out to listen to him. Those meditation tracks sound promising as well. The other day, my friend sent me a recording of monks chanting the Heart Sutra. There are so many different ways to meditate, in addition to so many theories for understanding meditation. Some go for the silent meditation; others for chanting mantras. There are various sitting positions. Heck, some even meditate by walking, or eating slowly, or reading closely, or pondering deep puzzles. I guess I like to be a pluralist about meditation, mixing up my methods when it makes sense and gets me closer to some good. Did you ever find doing tattoo work to be meditative, at least in some sense? Also, I have heard of "instrumentalism" -- except I've heard it used in many different, unrelated ways. I'd like to hear exactly what meaning you had in mind with the word "instrumentalism". That way, I might get some "mentalistic nourishment" as well!
Your (I assume) improvised piece reads as prophetic. I will try thinking more about it. I don't fully grasp all your meaning, I think. But it is arduous to grasp such deep matters. The difficulty of wisdom is a sign of its inherent complexity as well as my own shortcomings. Now, what I did comprehend in your piece reminded me of Buddhism! Unless I misunderstood you, it seems you've got the following truths in mind. Individuals suffer from a powerful desire to conform and live unreflectively. They also suffer from a powerful second-order desire -- namely, the desire to satisfy as many of their desires as they can. Individuals are preoccupied with their desires, which feel as if they compel the soul or mind. One part of the mind, the "analytic" part, is "yelling" at us, giving us an ultimatum: we must fulfill our powerful desires, or else. Or else what? Falling prey to irrationality? On the other hand, the "aesthetic" part is saying we can slow down if we want. We can disobey the "analytic" part, ignore our powerful desires, without bad coming of it. Indeed, doing so would be positively good for us! Ironically, the "analytic" part of our mind is being irrational.
The preceding represents only my initial reflection. I'm not sure if you intended any of that. Perhaps I was reading my thoughts into your words! In any event, I now have more material to meditate on.
Interesting: we share some interests here. I play scrabble a lot (on line w/ my 87-yr-old mother) and enjoy coming up with unusual words like qat and xi. I bet your French friend would do better playing French words! Imagine playing in YOUR second language. Best word last game was quahog. I like learning languages: working on Spanish and Portuguese. Sign language would be tricky. I like Dale Carnegie's book a lot too -- important lessons to be learned there. And I like astronomy: used to subscribe to Sky & Telescope, had a telescope when I lived in California where there were fewer clouds. And I like MAD, gave my brother a subscription for his birthday last year for a laugh. I haven't actually seen a copy since I was a kid, but they were a lot of fun.
I'll send you a maze. I like those kinds of puzzles too.
Keep reading and writing,
Bob