Philosophy 02 (Nov 15 - Dec 24)

[winston]

Anticipation Can Bring Peace

Meditators who are having a difficult time achieving a peaceful state of mind, sometimes start thinking, “Here we go again, another hour of frustration.”

But often something strange happens; although they are anticipating failure, they reach a very peaceful meditative state.

- Ajahn Brahm, “Stepping Towards Enlightenment”

[winston]

The Presence of Love

The true declaration of love is, 'Dear one, I am here for you,' because the most precious gift you can give to your loved one is your true presence with body and mind united in solidity and freedom.

- Thich Nhat Hanh, “Dear One, I Am Here for You”

[winston]

Accepting Profound Sorrow

A vibrant and ongoing sense of local community that takes meaningful actions cannot be created without vulnerably connecting over stories and releasing our layers of personal and collective grief, rage, fear, and guilt-shame.

- Dr. Kritee Kanko, “Climate Grief, Communal Power”

[winston]

Becoming Warriors of the Mind

Taking happiness and suffering as the path requires the noblest aspiration, a kind and courageous heart, and skillfully developed endurance.

- Chakung Jigme Wangdrak, “Warriors of the Mind”

[winston]

Learning Never Ends

The more we learn, the more we realize how much we still don’t know.

= Vanessa R. Sasson, “Beyond the Ivory Tower”

[winston]

Cultivating Communal Joy

I think that the practice and cultivation of joy, especially communal joy, is essential and we will never last if we don’t practice the values of the world we yearn for, as we struggle and work for that world.

- Jungwon Kim, “Joy and Sorrow, Love and Rage”

[winston]

When Words Fail Us

We cannot discuss the truth. And words cannot express it.

They can only ever point us to the present moment experience of the now.

- Matthias Esho Birk, “When Is a Word Dead?”

[winston]

Love Needs Agency

Our ability to love is determined by the decisions we make to act in a certain way.

When we surrender our decision-making, we deny our greatest strength: our capacity for love.

- Peter Doobinin, “Reclaiming Our Agency”

[winston]

Love Erodes Dualism

To commit to love is fundamentally to commit to a life beyond dualism.

That’s why love is so sacred in a culture of domination because it simply begins to erode your dualisms.

- Bell Hooks, “Agent of Change”

[winston]

Challenge Your Ego

That which is threatening to the ego, is liberating for the heart.

- Amaro Bhikkhu, “Inviting Fear”