The first of Sappho’s poems, in reading 1:19, is a very passionate description of how love paints pictures in our minds of the object of our love. A woman, most likely Sappho, tells of the man she is in love with using vivid, concise imagery. “I can’t speak – my tongue is broken”; (Fiero, Sappho pg. 120 lines 10 - 11). This poem speaks of very deep emotion that is felt to the core of her being unto a sense of death with the intensity of the rapture she feels over this man she loves. “…I turn paler than dry grass. At such times death is not far from me” (Fiero, Sappho pg. 120 lines16 - 18). Perhaps she is admiring a hero of battle or someone who has high qualities of goodness toward others, or a beautiful god-like man who is a leader or ruler.
I have felt this kind of passion and relate strongly to Sappho’s feelings about this man she loved. I do not think there is any thing more incredible than the passion of rapture a woman feels about a man worthy of such high feeling. She knows he is amazing, wonderful, a good man. “He is more than a hero, a god in my eyes…” (Fiero, Sappho pg. 120 lines 1-2). He must be beautiful, handsome and pleasing to her eyes. I know how that feels. It is rare to find someone who you feel this way about. I wonder if he returns her favor.
This poem reminds me of how I have felt about a man in the past and contributes to my thoughts and feelings by providing clearer meanings to my feelings, which I could not put into words. “I drip with sweat; trembling shakes my body…” (Fiero, Sappho pg.120 lines 15-16).
Sappho was of the Hellenic culture and wrote this lyric poem, which is meant to be sung by its self or accompanied by a lyre or other instrument. The expression of Classical style in this poem is very interesting in that the few words used convey so much emotion and feeling with great intensity. “…a thin flame runs under my skin;…” (Fiero, Sappho pg. 120 lines12 - 13). This poem is culturally significant because expression through art forms, such as poetry, is disciplined and timeless. Each culture and time period has its own forms of art that help us understand the development of human kind over the centuries. This is a beautiful example of lyrical poetry written in this time period (610-580 B. C. E).
Works Cited:
Fiero, Gloria K. The Humanistic Tradition Book One. New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2006. (Sappho pg. 120, first poem, lines 1 - 19)
Friday, November 21, 2008
Hellenistic School of Thought That Ran Away with the Mind
Which of the Hellenistic schools of thought do you find most appealing: Stoicism, Epicureanism, Cynicism, or Skepticism? Why?
“All four of these schools of thought placed the personal needs and emotions of the individual above the good of the community. They departed the search for universal truth, the Hellenic Quest.” (1)
Self centeredness was born! This self-centered attitude in favor of the well being of the individual over the well being of the community has strongly influenced the future of humanity. Today this behavior is the by-word of our world. I believe that if the Chinese and Indian values of teamwork, mutuality and community over the welfare of the individual, were taught and adopted, our world would drastically change for the better. For one to think of the self above the welfare of all is to threaten the survival of all. If we all do that, how can we find peace? We can see how this behavior has affected most people in our world, in our country and all around us. It is indeed two or even one dimensional thinking. It has no depth, either way you look at it.
Without the depth of spirit as an aspect along with the physical and the emotional self, the human being becomes incomplete. Because we are spiritual by nature, we need to include this in our personal development on all three levels. To leave out the spiritual is to make the world like a flat surface of cardboard. We live OK and me move OK but we cannot attach to the part of us we are denying. Perhaps we are just denying we are attached to spirit both in the world beyond and upon the Earth. Maybe avoiding it, not believing in it makes us less responsible and more able to justify our not so great self-centered choices and behaviors. It is certain that without that part of us functioning, we are just free floating through life with no attachments to anything, including right and wrong, until we die and return to the earth, never knowing our potential as spiritual beings. Hmmm. Fact or fiction?
Definitions from the text:
“Stoicism: believed that they could find complete peace of mind by practicing a doctrine of detachment. Taken to the extreme this idea can allow one to live in the worst conditions of circumstances. The Stoic’s goal was to bring the self into complete harmony with the will of nature, which was governed by an impersonal intelligence. The idea of universal equality was part of their beliefs.
Epicureanism: followed the Greek thinker, Epicurus (342-270 B.C.E.). He taught that happiness depended on avoiding all forms of physical access, a kind of moderation and detachment from over indulgence. They lived modestly and strove for perfect union of body and mind. Epicurus believed that the gods had no role in human life and that when you die; you go back into the Earth where your atoms were reused by nature. There was no after-life or spirit.
Cynicism: believed that spiritual satisfaction was only possible if one renounced societal values, conventions and material wealth.
Skepticism: they denied the possibility of knowing anything with certainty: they argued for the suspension of all intellectual judgment.” (1)
Each of these schools of thought has a piece that is appealing, but each lacks a comprehensive understanding of reality. It is like they went from three dimensional understanding to 2 dimensional or even 1 dimensional understanding! They have eliminated their depth. They are without balance and are stark in their limiting life-style.
The Stoic way tests patience by detachment from the positive and negative activities of life. I would call this two dimensional thinking because it has two positive elements. It is very appealing to me to bring my self into complete harmony with nature, but the will of an impersonal intelligence which governs nature does not appeal to me at all. Nature is a teacher and gives us blessings and comfort. It also can give us wisdom from its harsh realities. Equality is a good thing, but it must be in the spirit of understanding what the qualities of this equality are. What did they think it was? At least we would all be equally depressed! No depth.
The Epicureans follow a man who thinks a certain way. I believe Epicurus was a two dimensional thinker and has two positives to his idea. There is much to be said of moderation and it is a good quality to practice. Living modestly is good because it is amazing to realize how much stuff we can accumulate that we really don’t need! Simplicity is a stress reducing tool. It is curious how he could believe that the gods have no role in human affairs, but he may not have been exposed to the idea of spirit because the gods were not real to him. They are also persona that do have energy if you believe. But, because what you believe, you have the experience of it. So, if Epicurus did not believe, it makes sense that he had no experience of their influence in spiritual and magical matters. We all know that our bodies do return to the earth and our atoms are recycled. But what is the answer for where the consciousness goes? It’s like living one time and dying with no ties to any thing of the past or future. I wonder how they stayed out of depression. No depth.
The Cynic believes that you could get spiritual satisfaction only by renouncing the societal values, conventions and material wealth. This is a one dimensional form of thinking that leaves you with living in the woods or the streets. Maybe renouncing them still leaves you room to live in a nice place where you can live reasonably well. Without an understanding of what spirit is and what your personal purpose is, life is a series of pointless events that lead nowhere and then you die. In my mind I renounce civilization in favor of living closer to the Earth. But, that renouncement only goes as far as not loosing my air conditioning, my electric, my lights my stove, etc., and a place to sleep in my home. Maybe I could have renounced civilization and went to live in the wilderness somewhere when I was young, but in reality, it is difficult for me to do it now because of my age, my needs and my comfort in the present system. So, fantasy aside, this is not appealing to me. If this is all there is to life, I may have to get some Prozac! No depth.
The Skeptic denies the possibility of knowing anything for certain. This can cause a problem if you aren’t sure your food is on your plate! How far did they take it? When you suspend all judgment, as they believe you should, can you discern danger? What extreme is it taken to? In this belief system, a one dimensional mind pretzel, I cannot see how the mind can rest in anything because no peace can be found with that much analysis! This is not at all appealing to me. This kind of mind game might require lithium!
In closing, if I have only these 4 choices, and I could choose more than one, I would choose to live in the both the Stoic and the Epicurean camps. Each has equal appeal for a part of their beliefs, and each has a negative appeal for another of their beliefs. I like the idea of growing into harmony with nature. I like the idea of living simply. I like the idea of moderation and the freedom to let my remains go back to the Earth, But, I do not think I would survive well beyond that without my strong belief in and understanding of Spirit. Because neither believes that Spirit has a personal concern for all creation, believing instead that nature is an impersonal intelligence and the gods are not involved with creation, I would be left with choosing the good things and avoiding the bad things in each camp. Either way, if there is no spirit, there is no deep happiness for me.
These one or two dimensional “schools of thought” are like branches that have been cut from the tree and left to dry out. Then someone comes along and thinks they are the living tree! OK, now for the winner of the contest: I would have to choose Epicureanism because living in moderation and detachment from materialism would most likely give me the greatest possibility for a peaceful life. You have what you need but you’re not overwhelmed with excess. No one is trying to indoctrinate you in some religion and you can detach from many distractions in favor of peacefulness. Looking within to bring the body and mind into harmony is also a good thing that can lead to enlightenment because of the meditation that would be involved. It has the most hope for a spiritual awakening. Returning to the Earth seems right and normal when death comes.
Works Cited:
(1) Fiero, Gloria K. The Humanistic Tradition Book One. New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2006. (pg. 124)
“All four of these schools of thought placed the personal needs and emotions of the individual above the good of the community. They departed the search for universal truth, the Hellenic Quest.” (1)
Self centeredness was born! This self-centered attitude in favor of the well being of the individual over the well being of the community has strongly influenced the future of humanity. Today this behavior is the by-word of our world. I believe that if the Chinese and Indian values of teamwork, mutuality and community over the welfare of the individual, were taught and adopted, our world would drastically change for the better. For one to think of the self above the welfare of all is to threaten the survival of all. If we all do that, how can we find peace? We can see how this behavior has affected most people in our world, in our country and all around us. It is indeed two or even one dimensional thinking. It has no depth, either way you look at it.
Without the depth of spirit as an aspect along with the physical and the emotional self, the human being becomes incomplete. Because we are spiritual by nature, we need to include this in our personal development on all three levels. To leave out the spiritual is to make the world like a flat surface of cardboard. We live OK and me move OK but we cannot attach to the part of us we are denying. Perhaps we are just denying we are attached to spirit both in the world beyond and upon the Earth. Maybe avoiding it, not believing in it makes us less responsible and more able to justify our not so great self-centered choices and behaviors. It is certain that without that part of us functioning, we are just free floating through life with no attachments to anything, including right and wrong, until we die and return to the earth, never knowing our potential as spiritual beings. Hmmm. Fact or fiction?
Definitions from the text:
“Stoicism: believed that they could find complete peace of mind by practicing a doctrine of detachment. Taken to the extreme this idea can allow one to live in the worst conditions of circumstances. The Stoic’s goal was to bring the self into complete harmony with the will of nature, which was governed by an impersonal intelligence. The idea of universal equality was part of their beliefs.
Epicureanism: followed the Greek thinker, Epicurus (342-270 B.C.E.). He taught that happiness depended on avoiding all forms of physical access, a kind of moderation and detachment from over indulgence. They lived modestly and strove for perfect union of body and mind. Epicurus believed that the gods had no role in human life and that when you die; you go back into the Earth where your atoms were reused by nature. There was no after-life or spirit.
Cynicism: believed that spiritual satisfaction was only possible if one renounced societal values, conventions and material wealth.
Skepticism: they denied the possibility of knowing anything with certainty: they argued for the suspension of all intellectual judgment.” (1)
Each of these schools of thought has a piece that is appealing, but each lacks a comprehensive understanding of reality. It is like they went from three dimensional understanding to 2 dimensional or even 1 dimensional understanding! They have eliminated their depth. They are without balance and are stark in their limiting life-style.
The Stoic way tests patience by detachment from the positive and negative activities of life. I would call this two dimensional thinking because it has two positive elements. It is very appealing to me to bring my self into complete harmony with nature, but the will of an impersonal intelligence which governs nature does not appeal to me at all. Nature is a teacher and gives us blessings and comfort. It also can give us wisdom from its harsh realities. Equality is a good thing, but it must be in the spirit of understanding what the qualities of this equality are. What did they think it was? At least we would all be equally depressed! No depth.
The Epicureans follow a man who thinks a certain way. I believe Epicurus was a two dimensional thinker and has two positives to his idea. There is much to be said of moderation and it is a good quality to practice. Living modestly is good because it is amazing to realize how much stuff we can accumulate that we really don’t need! Simplicity is a stress reducing tool. It is curious how he could believe that the gods have no role in human affairs, but he may not have been exposed to the idea of spirit because the gods were not real to him. They are also persona that do have energy if you believe. But, because what you believe, you have the experience of it. So, if Epicurus did not believe, it makes sense that he had no experience of their influence in spiritual and magical matters. We all know that our bodies do return to the earth and our atoms are recycled. But what is the answer for where the consciousness goes? It’s like living one time and dying with no ties to any thing of the past or future. I wonder how they stayed out of depression. No depth.
The Cynic believes that you could get spiritual satisfaction only by renouncing the societal values, conventions and material wealth. This is a one dimensional form of thinking that leaves you with living in the woods or the streets. Maybe renouncing them still leaves you room to live in a nice place where you can live reasonably well. Without an understanding of what spirit is and what your personal purpose is, life is a series of pointless events that lead nowhere and then you die. In my mind I renounce civilization in favor of living closer to the Earth. But, that renouncement only goes as far as not loosing my air conditioning, my electric, my lights my stove, etc., and a place to sleep in my home. Maybe I could have renounced civilization and went to live in the wilderness somewhere when I was young, but in reality, it is difficult for me to do it now because of my age, my needs and my comfort in the present system. So, fantasy aside, this is not appealing to me. If this is all there is to life, I may have to get some Prozac! No depth.
The Skeptic denies the possibility of knowing anything for certain. This can cause a problem if you aren’t sure your food is on your plate! How far did they take it? When you suspend all judgment, as they believe you should, can you discern danger? What extreme is it taken to? In this belief system, a one dimensional mind pretzel, I cannot see how the mind can rest in anything because no peace can be found with that much analysis! This is not at all appealing to me. This kind of mind game might require lithium!
In closing, if I have only these 4 choices, and I could choose more than one, I would choose to live in the both the Stoic and the Epicurean camps. Each has equal appeal for a part of their beliefs, and each has a negative appeal for another of their beliefs. I like the idea of growing into harmony with nature. I like the idea of living simply. I like the idea of moderation and the freedom to let my remains go back to the Earth, But, I do not think I would survive well beyond that without my strong belief in and understanding of Spirit. Because neither believes that Spirit has a personal concern for all creation, believing instead that nature is an impersonal intelligence and the gods are not involved with creation, I would be left with choosing the good things and avoiding the bad things in each camp. Either way, if there is no spirit, there is no deep happiness for me.
These one or two dimensional “schools of thought” are like branches that have been cut from the tree and left to dry out. Then someone comes along and thinks they are the living tree! OK, now for the winner of the contest: I would have to choose Epicureanism because living in moderation and detachment from materialism would most likely give me the greatest possibility for a peaceful life. You have what you need but you’re not overwhelmed with excess. No one is trying to indoctrinate you in some religion and you can detach from many distractions in favor of peacefulness. Looking within to bring the body and mind into harmony is also a good thing that can lead to enlightenment because of the meditation that would be involved. It has the most hope for a spiritual awakening. Returning to the Earth seems right and normal when death comes.
Works Cited:
(1) Fiero, Gloria K. The Humanistic Tradition Book One. New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2006. (pg. 124)
Plato, Spirituality and Government
Avatars: The Dali Llama, Chief Joseph, Red Cloud, Jesus, Buddha etc.
I was totally fascinated with the reading on Plato. It is comforting to find out that people long ago knew what many of us know today: that only a person who understands the nature of reality and operates in the spirit, or forms, of true reality can lead in a selfless way, allowing for just and honest treatment. I was able to study Chinese and Indian medical systems at Everglades. Both of these bodies of knowledge opened my eyes to a way of thinking that changed me forever. I was also exposed to the Native American way, which added to my understanding of spiritual reality, or forms. I am amazed how much Plato and I agree. When studying Hindu medicine, I discovered the spiritual understandings they believed. They are very ancient and very real. I found myself not only seeing things in terms of what I experienced in the world, but I was beginning to see things in terms of these “new” truths. I believe these ancient understandings have influenced many civilizations. Taken in a holistic understanding of health and wellness, their beliefs about spiritual things also speak of a holistic view of the spirit. The body, mind, spirit connection is inseparable and to ignore one or limit one is to limit all of them. One affects the others.
I believe truth and justice can exist in the material world. I do not believe absolute truth and justice can exist in the material world, but I believe you can get pretty close to it. When a person functions in the world without spiritual enlightenment, it is natural for them to move from event to event in their lives and to respond to what is around them with their desires for the things that they want. This is called “free-floating” through life with no purpose and no goals. People generally will want things, many times, to fill needs that seem to be satisfied with material things. From the time we are born to the time we die, we are surrounded with things that are acquirable and bombarded with a constant din of “buy, buy, buy”. The business and acquisition of material things appears to fulfill us. But, in reality they don't. They just weigh us down with things we have to do something with and keep, clean, fix, etc.
What Plato said is true. Without someone coming along and taking the chains off our leg and our neck and helping us to rise and turn around to see the source of the light, we see only shadows of reality. Science proves that the spiritual world is more solid than the material world, more real than what we see and possesses. Eternal premises such at justice, truth, love, and other virtues, values and attributes are ideals that are spiritual in nature. Quantum thought is also a spiritual understanding based in Science. The two fields are becoming one, because one looks at the laws of the temporal and the other looks at the laws of the spiritual. They are mirrors of each other and speak of the true reality, where we all come from and where we all go. Like Plato, I understand that they are, as he calls them, forms or part of a perfect eternal reality. When you live as if material things are the truth and the only reality, you get lost in it and most times you are only concerned about what is in it for you. It is easy to get lost with all the trinkets out there!
I think that we all know what is good and what is right. The spiritual spark in us is attached to the spiritual forms or plane. It is attached to what created it, Spirit, however you see the eternal Supreme Being or Energy. Whatever you call it, there is a place where absolute justice and truth exist, but it is in the eternal plane not in the temporal one. Justice is about fairness. Laws are supposed to be about fairness and be used to protect people from those who would take advantage of them or force them to do their will. Truth is about what is right and what is good, which we all know inherently because we are part of the spiritual realm. I believe we are spirits in these bodies to learn how to be Creator to each other and to nurture and heal our world. What greater gift can you give than your love, your kindness, the truth and fair justice to another? We all feel clean and good when we do right and when we are treated fairly. Nothing undermines self worth quicker than unfairness (injustice).
Truth lines up with spiritual reality and justice lines up with spiritual understanding. The Native Americans chose their leaders on the basis of their spiritual development. Only those who were wise could lead the tribe. He must be willing to give his life for the well being of the tribe. He must be the servant of the people in all ways. He must do what is best for all. He looks for the greatest benefit for his people to bring health and happiness to them. He speaks the truth and is fair to everyone, seeking no advantage for himself. He has no agenda for himself. A self serving agenda would have poisoned his ability to think first of the people and the land. By caring for his people, he has everything he needs and is rich along with his people in love, care, fairness, survival and all that the people need to live well and be happy. Simplicity, living close to the Earth and caring for her, caring for each other and doing what was right for all was a matter of survival. It also allowed a high quality of life and the survival of the tribe without engaging in excessive materialism. It was their lifestyle.
In our country, there are many kinds of leaders who appear to be very much about their own hidden agendas. The state of this country has been sabotaged by these self seeking, greedy men and women who use power to take from the people and the land without regard or without giving back. The welfare of the people and the land that supports life is the last consideration by much of government. In this material reality there is a great golf between proper government and what we are now experiencing. Science and spirituality are coming together. Will the inhabitants of the Earth be able to let the wise lead us? Will humankind continue to allow the unenlightened to be our rulers?
The Indians say that the highest form of government is spirituality. I think that is what Plato was getting at. The only thing I find lacking in Plato’s thinking is that he limits the attainment of spirituality to education. Education alone is not enough. Something in us, that we can’t explain, is more real than anything else and causes us to seek after it. Properly attaching to spirit and attaining understanding of spiritual things is the only pursuit that fills that “God shaped hole” within us. Plato missed out on the way to get enlightenment by leaving out meditation and other disciplines that help us to become available to this eternal knowledge and connection. I think his inability to embrace the whole understanding he most probably learned from the Asians may be because of the influence of the society he lived in during his life. The fact that he found that truth and justice were spiritual principles, called forms, and that he believed that enlightenment through knowledge of spiritual reality, through education, were essential to be able to lead the people was quite amazing.
A question that comes to mind is how can you be truly spiritual and be involved in politics? Plato addresses this is his story about the cave and the light. He says that once you become enlightened, you really have no interest in attaining stuff, power or anything else in the temporal realm. He says that a person, who doesn’t want to rule because of the depth of spirituality possessed, should feel it a duty to rule because it is in the best interests of all concerned. I wonder if the status quo would allow the Dali Llama to rule the world instead of Bush and his One World Government cronies.
It doesn’t matter what you name things, the ideas of Plato are very close to Asian beliefs about our world. They mirror Native American ideals and they have elements of Quantum thinking beliefs. The fact is that truth and justice both have been diffused by the greed and self-serving agendas of many leaders and corporations. Their agendas are not in line with enlightened spiritual knowledge. Many of the choices that are being made are not for the benefit of the Earth or her people. But no matter how much you deny truth and pervert justice, they remain the same, convicting the abusers in their hearts because they, too, know what is right and what is good. They cannot escape that knowledge. They will be held accountable by them.
I was totally fascinated with the reading on Plato. It is comforting to find out that people long ago knew what many of us know today: that only a person who understands the nature of reality and operates in the spirit, or forms, of true reality can lead in a selfless way, allowing for just and honest treatment. I was able to study Chinese and Indian medical systems at Everglades. Both of these bodies of knowledge opened my eyes to a way of thinking that changed me forever. I was also exposed to the Native American way, which added to my understanding of spiritual reality, or forms. I am amazed how much Plato and I agree. When studying Hindu medicine, I discovered the spiritual understandings they believed. They are very ancient and very real. I found myself not only seeing things in terms of what I experienced in the world, but I was beginning to see things in terms of these “new” truths. I believe these ancient understandings have influenced many civilizations. Taken in a holistic understanding of health and wellness, their beliefs about spiritual things also speak of a holistic view of the spirit. The body, mind, spirit connection is inseparable and to ignore one or limit one is to limit all of them. One affects the others.
I believe truth and justice can exist in the material world. I do not believe absolute truth and justice can exist in the material world, but I believe you can get pretty close to it. When a person functions in the world without spiritual enlightenment, it is natural for them to move from event to event in their lives and to respond to what is around them with their desires for the things that they want. This is called “free-floating” through life with no purpose and no goals. People generally will want things, many times, to fill needs that seem to be satisfied with material things. From the time we are born to the time we die, we are surrounded with things that are acquirable and bombarded with a constant din of “buy, buy, buy”. The business and acquisition of material things appears to fulfill us. But, in reality they don't. They just weigh us down with things we have to do something with and keep, clean, fix, etc.
What Plato said is true. Without someone coming along and taking the chains off our leg and our neck and helping us to rise and turn around to see the source of the light, we see only shadows of reality. Science proves that the spiritual world is more solid than the material world, more real than what we see and possesses. Eternal premises such at justice, truth, love, and other virtues, values and attributes are ideals that are spiritual in nature. Quantum thought is also a spiritual understanding based in Science. The two fields are becoming one, because one looks at the laws of the temporal and the other looks at the laws of the spiritual. They are mirrors of each other and speak of the true reality, where we all come from and where we all go. Like Plato, I understand that they are, as he calls them, forms or part of a perfect eternal reality. When you live as if material things are the truth and the only reality, you get lost in it and most times you are only concerned about what is in it for you. It is easy to get lost with all the trinkets out there!
I think that we all know what is good and what is right. The spiritual spark in us is attached to the spiritual forms or plane. It is attached to what created it, Spirit, however you see the eternal Supreme Being or Energy. Whatever you call it, there is a place where absolute justice and truth exist, but it is in the eternal plane not in the temporal one. Justice is about fairness. Laws are supposed to be about fairness and be used to protect people from those who would take advantage of them or force them to do their will. Truth is about what is right and what is good, which we all know inherently because we are part of the spiritual realm. I believe we are spirits in these bodies to learn how to be Creator to each other and to nurture and heal our world. What greater gift can you give than your love, your kindness, the truth and fair justice to another? We all feel clean and good when we do right and when we are treated fairly. Nothing undermines self worth quicker than unfairness (injustice).
Truth lines up with spiritual reality and justice lines up with spiritual understanding. The Native Americans chose their leaders on the basis of their spiritual development. Only those who were wise could lead the tribe. He must be willing to give his life for the well being of the tribe. He must be the servant of the people in all ways. He must do what is best for all. He looks for the greatest benefit for his people to bring health and happiness to them. He speaks the truth and is fair to everyone, seeking no advantage for himself. He has no agenda for himself. A self serving agenda would have poisoned his ability to think first of the people and the land. By caring for his people, he has everything he needs and is rich along with his people in love, care, fairness, survival and all that the people need to live well and be happy. Simplicity, living close to the Earth and caring for her, caring for each other and doing what was right for all was a matter of survival. It also allowed a high quality of life and the survival of the tribe without engaging in excessive materialism. It was their lifestyle.
In our country, there are many kinds of leaders who appear to be very much about their own hidden agendas. The state of this country has been sabotaged by these self seeking, greedy men and women who use power to take from the people and the land without regard or without giving back. The welfare of the people and the land that supports life is the last consideration by much of government. In this material reality there is a great golf between proper government and what we are now experiencing. Science and spirituality are coming together. Will the inhabitants of the Earth be able to let the wise lead us? Will humankind continue to allow the unenlightened to be our rulers?
The Indians say that the highest form of government is spirituality. I think that is what Plato was getting at. The only thing I find lacking in Plato’s thinking is that he limits the attainment of spirituality to education. Education alone is not enough. Something in us, that we can’t explain, is more real than anything else and causes us to seek after it. Properly attaching to spirit and attaining understanding of spiritual things is the only pursuit that fills that “God shaped hole” within us. Plato missed out on the way to get enlightenment by leaving out meditation and other disciplines that help us to become available to this eternal knowledge and connection. I think his inability to embrace the whole understanding he most probably learned from the Asians may be because of the influence of the society he lived in during his life. The fact that he found that truth and justice were spiritual principles, called forms, and that he believed that enlightenment through knowledge of spiritual reality, through education, were essential to be able to lead the people was quite amazing.
A question that comes to mind is how can you be truly spiritual and be involved in politics? Plato addresses this is his story about the cave and the light. He says that once you become enlightened, you really have no interest in attaining stuff, power or anything else in the temporal realm. He says that a person, who doesn’t want to rule because of the depth of spirituality possessed, should feel it a duty to rule because it is in the best interests of all concerned. I wonder if the status quo would allow the Dali Llama to rule the world instead of Bush and his One World Government cronies.
It doesn’t matter what you name things, the ideas of Plato are very close to Asian beliefs about our world. They mirror Native American ideals and they have elements of Quantum thinking beliefs. The fact is that truth and justice both have been diffused by the greed and self-serving agendas of many leaders and corporations. Their agendas are not in line with enlightened spiritual knowledge. Many of the choices that are being made are not for the benefit of the Earth or her people. But no matter how much you deny truth and pervert justice, they remain the same, convicting the abusers in their hearts because they, too, know what is right and what is good. They cannot escape that knowledge. They will be held accountable by them.
Thoughts on Hinduism, perception of nature and the Western response
Since I live in the West and I was raised in the culture of Western Civilization, my spiritual journey has been turbulent. Struggling with the doctrines of Christianity and the lack of a female counterpart to the male God, I have battled the fear, guilt, shame and rejection that have been part of my experience of this religion. When I reached my spiritual bottom, I decided to leave Christianity, not knowing what I was going to do with the love I had for God and the desire I had to heal and love my world. I have always had a deep love and respect for the natural world. Eventually finding the Earth paths of Wicca and Native American spirituality, I was opened to learning more about what spirituality meant to me. I was able to reconnect to nature and to connect to spirit in a new way. Everglades University also gave me the opportunity to explore Chinese and Indian medicine systems and what principles they were founded upon. Our text has also given some insight into these spiritual and philosophical approaches to life.
One of the things that was troublesome to me was how Western religions tended to take a piece of the truth and run with it as if it were the whole truth. I have seen this done over and over. When embracing new Eastern understandings, this has also been the case. I went to Bible school for 3.5 years and learned how to research the meanings in the Bible. Most of the time, I was finding out that many of the things I thought meant one thing were not true, but meant something much different. To gain an understanding of the meanings of things usually meant that I had to first understand the context of the information, the culture in which it was expressed, the time it was expressed in and the person who was saying it. Unless one is able to study the Eastern religions and understand context, it is difficult to gain the full meanings of things. Many get an insight and forget that it is in a context of understanding. They run off with it as if it is the whole “cookie” when it is only a crumb from the whole “cookie”!
The wisdom of the Eastern religions touches the spirit where it is hungry and awakens a part of us that has been asleep: that part that connects to the earth and the spirit, the ancient understandings that are part of our unconscious memory of our past lives. I think that is why the impact that Wicca and Native American spirituality had on me was so profound. It touched my ancient self. This continues to be why the teachings of ancient India and ancient China also have great influence on my developing spirituality.
In not associating this wisdom with our Western religions, which are very different, we tend to think that we are leaving the God we have known and sinning. I was taught that Eastern religions were demonic, as was any religion outside of Christianity. This was not true. I found that the Eastern understandings of spirituality opened me up to a larger, loving Creator that was pure divine and pure love. The use of a monotheistic religion, in this case Christianity, had limited me and had kept me in a narrow way of thinking about my world and myself. Its understanding of God, sin, etc. had caused me much spiritual pain and damage. For me, it was not where I belonged.
Quantum thought embraces the understanding that all things are sacred, that the divine is present in all of creation and that we are all one in it, as does Hindu and Chinese religions. The teachings of Indian and Chinese spirituality give us a freedom and a responsibility toward ourselves and our world in joy and love for them. We are all connected. This understanding that all things in the natural world are divinely infused, gives us a sense of reverence for the Earth and each other. As you draw closer to this understanding, it makes the walls and the negative emotions fall away and you can enter into a harmonious relationship with the natural world, each other, yourself and all of creation. I see all humanity, the natural world and all its inhabitants as one family on Earth. Seeing the divine nature in everything compels us to respect all that has been created. Love becomes the main thing in our relationship with our world. We begin to see that all the sorrow and suffering is because there are those who do not know who they are or why they are here and, many times, do not want to know. Greed has motivated many of the sufferings of our world.
The Hindu medical system, which embraced spirituality as part of our health, is perhaps one of the oldest in the world. Studying it has shown me how advanced human kind was in those ancient times. The divine that is described is incredible and seems to validate all that we know in science and spiritual reality. The religious aspects give deep spiritual food to the soul and the spirit.
Wicca gave me the Goddess to relate to and she helped to heal my negative feelings about being female. This path has empowered me and brought me to a place where I could appreciate the divine principle of Eastern thought. The Native American spiritual understandings brought the reverence of nature and each other as all things are of spirit. Both of these paths are part of my spirituality and the Eastern concept of spirituality had deepened and enriched my spirituality. In adding spiritual knowledge to my life, being eclectic, I have become more balanced, open and compassionate.
The polytheistic understanding appears to be a “forerunner”, concept or form before gaining the knowledge that Spirit is in all things and is the Divine Principle. In a way, polytheism fragments the unity of the divine into persona that hold different aspects, abilities and relationships to each other and the world. It does not see the divine principle as permeating the created universe. Both pantheistic and monotheistic understandings are limiting to my mind because there is even a bigger more encompassing understanding in the Eastern thought of the Divine principle, which is in all things.
I like to view the different gods and goddesses as aspects of Creator or spirit beings that have specific abilities to help human beings in this "boot camp" of spiritual development.I often ask different spirit beings for help. It is amazing how you get answers from the spirit no matter who you address for help! It certainly blew my mind when I sang to the goddess and found a new level of the presence of spirit, both God and Goddess and a more clearer sense of the reality of Spirit. It has been interesting outside the Christian boundaries which held me captive for so long. I am much happier and I find that learning about the past really does give you new perspective on the present. Maybe the future can be different. Hinduism offers many insights that have been lost to Western thought. I feel grateful that I have been exposed to them and now will have the opportunity to explore this knowledge without fear, guilt, shame or any other negative emotions. Knowledge is power because ideas are revolutionary and that is probably why religions do not like their members to look too much in other directions. This is what the taboos are about, keeping ideas from making the people wise and leaving the fold. I think they forgot that our spirituality is as individual as each human being is because we each must find our own unique connection and purpose in love.
The ancient wisdom of India has had a profound and significant influence on my view of spirituality and of the natural world. Together, the spiritual paths I have embraced have given me the knowledge that we need to care for our Earth, care for and love all that lives on the Earth and, as healers, give healing to all that suffers. We are indeed one family!
One of the things that was troublesome to me was how Western religions tended to take a piece of the truth and run with it as if it were the whole truth. I have seen this done over and over. When embracing new Eastern understandings, this has also been the case. I went to Bible school for 3.5 years and learned how to research the meanings in the Bible. Most of the time, I was finding out that many of the things I thought meant one thing were not true, but meant something much different. To gain an understanding of the meanings of things usually meant that I had to first understand the context of the information, the culture in which it was expressed, the time it was expressed in and the person who was saying it. Unless one is able to study the Eastern religions and understand context, it is difficult to gain the full meanings of things. Many get an insight and forget that it is in a context of understanding. They run off with it as if it is the whole “cookie” when it is only a crumb from the whole “cookie”!
The wisdom of the Eastern religions touches the spirit where it is hungry and awakens a part of us that has been asleep: that part that connects to the earth and the spirit, the ancient understandings that are part of our unconscious memory of our past lives. I think that is why the impact that Wicca and Native American spirituality had on me was so profound. It touched my ancient self. This continues to be why the teachings of ancient India and ancient China also have great influence on my developing spirituality.
In not associating this wisdom with our Western religions, which are very different, we tend to think that we are leaving the God we have known and sinning. I was taught that Eastern religions were demonic, as was any religion outside of Christianity. This was not true. I found that the Eastern understandings of spirituality opened me up to a larger, loving Creator that was pure divine and pure love. The use of a monotheistic religion, in this case Christianity, had limited me and had kept me in a narrow way of thinking about my world and myself. Its understanding of God, sin, etc. had caused me much spiritual pain and damage. For me, it was not where I belonged.
Quantum thought embraces the understanding that all things are sacred, that the divine is present in all of creation and that we are all one in it, as does Hindu and Chinese religions. The teachings of Indian and Chinese spirituality give us a freedom and a responsibility toward ourselves and our world in joy and love for them. We are all connected. This understanding that all things in the natural world are divinely infused, gives us a sense of reverence for the Earth and each other. As you draw closer to this understanding, it makes the walls and the negative emotions fall away and you can enter into a harmonious relationship with the natural world, each other, yourself and all of creation. I see all humanity, the natural world and all its inhabitants as one family on Earth. Seeing the divine nature in everything compels us to respect all that has been created. Love becomes the main thing in our relationship with our world. We begin to see that all the sorrow and suffering is because there are those who do not know who they are or why they are here and, many times, do not want to know. Greed has motivated many of the sufferings of our world.
The Hindu medical system, which embraced spirituality as part of our health, is perhaps one of the oldest in the world. Studying it has shown me how advanced human kind was in those ancient times. The divine that is described is incredible and seems to validate all that we know in science and spiritual reality. The religious aspects give deep spiritual food to the soul and the spirit.
Wicca gave me the Goddess to relate to and she helped to heal my negative feelings about being female. This path has empowered me and brought me to a place where I could appreciate the divine principle of Eastern thought. The Native American spiritual understandings brought the reverence of nature and each other as all things are of spirit. Both of these paths are part of my spirituality and the Eastern concept of spirituality had deepened and enriched my spirituality. In adding spiritual knowledge to my life, being eclectic, I have become more balanced, open and compassionate.
The polytheistic understanding appears to be a “forerunner”, concept or form before gaining the knowledge that Spirit is in all things and is the Divine Principle. In a way, polytheism fragments the unity of the divine into persona that hold different aspects, abilities and relationships to each other and the world. It does not see the divine principle as permeating the created universe. Both pantheistic and monotheistic understandings are limiting to my mind because there is even a bigger more encompassing understanding in the Eastern thought of the Divine principle, which is in all things.
I like to view the different gods and goddesses as aspects of Creator or spirit beings that have specific abilities to help human beings in this "boot camp" of spiritual development.I often ask different spirit beings for help. It is amazing how you get answers from the spirit no matter who you address for help! It certainly blew my mind when I sang to the goddess and found a new level of the presence of spirit, both God and Goddess and a more clearer sense of the reality of Spirit. It has been interesting outside the Christian boundaries which held me captive for so long. I am much happier and I find that learning about the past really does give you new perspective on the present. Maybe the future can be different. Hinduism offers many insights that have been lost to Western thought. I feel grateful that I have been exposed to them and now will have the opportunity to explore this knowledge without fear, guilt, shame or any other negative emotions. Knowledge is power because ideas are revolutionary and that is probably why religions do not like their members to look too much in other directions. This is what the taboos are about, keeping ideas from making the people wise and leaving the fold. I think they forgot that our spirituality is as individual as each human being is because we each must find our own unique connection and purpose in love.
The ancient wisdom of India has had a profound and significant influence on my view of spirituality and of the natural world. Together, the spiritual paths I have embraced have given me the knowledge that we need to care for our Earth, care for and love all that lives on the Earth and, as healers, give healing to all that suffers. We are indeed one family!
My plan to be successful in this Humanities online classe
1. Have a good attitude. A positive, joyful attitude is perhaps the greatest tool in my tool chest! I do not like studying history. I have to take this class to earn my AA degree and to go on to my BA degree at UCF. I would have avoided all these types of courses if it was at all possible. This course was the best of the choices I had. OK, my feelings really don’t matter! The most important thing I can do is to change my attitude toward the subject matter and adopt a good attitude toward it, purposing to enjoy it, to get all I can from it and to do my best. Without this attitude adjustment, the only hope I have is dropping the course and being stuck until I got over myself!!! That is simply not an option. There are three important things a good attitude will afford me:
a. A good report with my instructor and my classmates. This is a vital ingredient to developing an enjoyable experience. You have to be available to enjoy it or you lose out on the benefits possible from these interactions. No one wants to be around someone with a bad attitude. Being others centered instead of self centered is the most meaningful skill in this section. Offering support and being interested in others is what makes a team player. One who is available to work with others with a positive outcome in mind brings an element of joy to the work place.
b. An open mind to the material presented. With a positive open mind, I can be available to learning about the past, the history of mankind, and gaining an understanding of many details which offer insight into where we might be heading and why. I can address questions about our values, our norms, our practices and the attitudes of human kind toward each other and our world. What can this course offer me and how can I learn the most valuable lessons it opens up to me? Many questions can be formed in the mind that might cause reevaluation of what exists now and how we can make a good future full of hope and richness. An open mind lets in the knowledge, which can change the world!
c. A new inquisitiveness that would not exist if I allowed my past feelings to control how I enter into this class and how I move through it. If inquisitiveness, curiosity, attending to the work and learning what is presented is cultivated, the results are far superior to one who just plans to get through it because it is devalued and disliked in their mind for whatever reasons. Old beliefs and habits that don’t serve me must be eliminated and replaced with one’s that do. At this time in my life, some measure of maturity affords me to take a second look at this subject and leave my distaste and avoidance of it behind. It allows me to have a chat with my inner child and come to a decision that is going to afford me to grow in understanding of myself, others and my world. Hurrah!
2. Show up. Be present to the class, attend to the work, do the best you can, participate. There are always pleasant surprises if you make yourself available. Also, you will know what is going on!
3. Do the work on time and to the best of your ability. Teachers appreciate students who give a good effort. They appreciate a student who shows interest, even if the subject isn’t your first love! People like to help others who are genuinely trying and seeking to learn.
4. Plan for the A. Develop study skills, explore them and find out which ones work for you. Practice them and get really good at them. Each of us has our own unique way of learning. Find yours! How do you learn best? How can you broaden your learning assets? How many ways can you take in information and how many different styles can you adapt to?
Also, develop interpersonal skills and life skills. If you don’t know what they are, find out. Pay attention to the soft skills because your future depends on your ability to be a team player, a mutual partner and a positive part of all you do. No one wants to be with a "wet blanket" or a hostile, moody or temperamental co-worker or partner. Be available by practicing the skills that make life meaning full, fun and productive.
If you don’t know what these soft skills are, take the course offered at BCC called Success Strategies for Life and College. It is indeed an amazing course. Another course that I found extremely helpful in this area was a Psychology course called "Human Development". It is loaded with concise information on interpersonal and life skills and has many success strategies. Both of these courses have left me with resources to continue to improve my soft skills. And, if you are bold, a speech class or Toastmaster’s International (to develop speaking skills) will greatly enhance your confidence and skills in the workplace.
5. Follow the syllabus, outline of the course or other information about the course and plan your time using time management skills. Starting early rather than later is always a great choice. Discover what time management skills are and how to use them. It will change the way you live. Always ask for help well in advance of due dates! Giving yourself time allows you to give more time to do the tasks, enables you to do a better job on the assignments and allows you to get help early if necessary. Planning for success is great for the self worth and the confidence levels of anyone who chooses to do the extra work it entails.
a. A good report with my instructor and my classmates. This is a vital ingredient to developing an enjoyable experience. You have to be available to enjoy it or you lose out on the benefits possible from these interactions. No one wants to be around someone with a bad attitude. Being others centered instead of self centered is the most meaningful skill in this section. Offering support and being interested in others is what makes a team player. One who is available to work with others with a positive outcome in mind brings an element of joy to the work place.
b. An open mind to the material presented. With a positive open mind, I can be available to learning about the past, the history of mankind, and gaining an understanding of many details which offer insight into where we might be heading and why. I can address questions about our values, our norms, our practices and the attitudes of human kind toward each other and our world. What can this course offer me and how can I learn the most valuable lessons it opens up to me? Many questions can be formed in the mind that might cause reevaluation of what exists now and how we can make a good future full of hope and richness. An open mind lets in the knowledge, which can change the world!
c. A new inquisitiveness that would not exist if I allowed my past feelings to control how I enter into this class and how I move through it. If inquisitiveness, curiosity, attending to the work and learning what is presented is cultivated, the results are far superior to one who just plans to get through it because it is devalued and disliked in their mind for whatever reasons. Old beliefs and habits that don’t serve me must be eliminated and replaced with one’s that do. At this time in my life, some measure of maturity affords me to take a second look at this subject and leave my distaste and avoidance of it behind. It allows me to have a chat with my inner child and come to a decision that is going to afford me to grow in understanding of myself, others and my world. Hurrah!
2. Show up. Be present to the class, attend to the work, do the best you can, participate. There are always pleasant surprises if you make yourself available. Also, you will know what is going on!
3. Do the work on time and to the best of your ability. Teachers appreciate students who give a good effort. They appreciate a student who shows interest, even if the subject isn’t your first love! People like to help others who are genuinely trying and seeking to learn.
4. Plan for the A. Develop study skills, explore them and find out which ones work for you. Practice them and get really good at them. Each of us has our own unique way of learning. Find yours! How do you learn best? How can you broaden your learning assets? How many ways can you take in information and how many different styles can you adapt to?
Also, develop interpersonal skills and life skills. If you don’t know what they are, find out. Pay attention to the soft skills because your future depends on your ability to be a team player, a mutual partner and a positive part of all you do. No one wants to be with a "wet blanket" or a hostile, moody or temperamental co-worker or partner. Be available by practicing the skills that make life meaning full, fun and productive.
If you don’t know what these soft skills are, take the course offered at BCC called Success Strategies for Life and College. It is indeed an amazing course. Another course that I found extremely helpful in this area was a Psychology course called "Human Development". It is loaded with concise information on interpersonal and life skills and has many success strategies. Both of these courses have left me with resources to continue to improve my soft skills. And, if you are bold, a speech class or Toastmaster’s International (to develop speaking skills) will greatly enhance your confidence and skills in the workplace.
5. Follow the syllabus, outline of the course or other information about the course and plan your time using time management skills. Starting early rather than later is always a great choice. Discover what time management skills are and how to use them. It will change the way you live. Always ask for help well in advance of due dates! Giving yourself time allows you to give more time to do the tasks, enables you to do a better job on the assignments and allows you to get help early if necessary. Planning for success is great for the self worth and the confidence levels of anyone who chooses to do the extra work it entails.
Apollo Belvedere, Essence of a God
The free-standing sculpture of the Apollo Belvedere perfected the earlier Hellenistic Apollo, “Spear Bearer”. Early Hellenistic art provided a basis for the later developments of realistic detail in the new animated, sensual art forms of the later Hellenistic era” (Fiero p. 125). The statue reveals personality with subtle humanness. He appears idealistically god-like and bigger than life. The high degree of realism makes Apollo seem almost alive.
The deep folds in the cape draped upon Apollo’s arm and neck and the deep carving of his hair into bold curls, makes the dark and light stand out strikingly against the rest of the smooth body of Apollo, drawing your eye to run immediately to the face of Apollo. Once there, one studies his face and wonders, “What is he thinking or intending?” His personality and emotion “exhibit the shift from Classical limits to emphasis on personal emotion and individual personality” (Fiero p. 125). The idea that he is self-conscious captures the attention and imagination of the admirer.
Retaining its sense of idealism, Apollo seems super human in his god-like perfection. The sculpture of marble stands seven feet, four inches, making the “bigger than life” size of the sculpture even more imposing. The slightly elongated proportions further emphasize Apollo’s god-like power as he holds out his arm, clenching the remains of the spear.
The realism of Apollo Belvedere is striking. Apollo’s life force seems to emanate from the figure and almost breaks free of the bonds of the stone in which he is carved. A subtle sense of his humanness graces this presentation of the God of sunlight, medicine and music.
The beauty of the statue of Apollo Belvedere embodies all the classical ideals of personality, idealism and realism. It is almost eternal in its ageless inspiration to all who view it.
Works Cited
(1) Fiero, Gloria K. The Humanistic Tradition Book One. New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2006.
Word Count: 330
The deep folds in the cape draped upon Apollo’s arm and neck and the deep carving of his hair into bold curls, makes the dark and light stand out strikingly against the rest of the smooth body of Apollo, drawing your eye to run immediately to the face of Apollo. Once there, one studies his face and wonders, “What is he thinking or intending?” His personality and emotion “exhibit the shift from Classical limits to emphasis on personal emotion and individual personality” (Fiero p. 125). The idea that he is self-conscious captures the attention and imagination of the admirer.
Retaining its sense of idealism, Apollo seems super human in his god-like perfection. The sculpture of marble stands seven feet, four inches, making the “bigger than life” size of the sculpture even more imposing. The slightly elongated proportions further emphasize Apollo’s god-like power as he holds out his arm, clenching the remains of the spear.
The realism of Apollo Belvedere is striking. Apollo’s life force seems to emanate from the figure and almost breaks free of the bonds of the stone in which he is carved. A subtle sense of his humanness graces this presentation of the God of sunlight, medicine and music.
The beauty of the statue of Apollo Belvedere embodies all the classical ideals of personality, idealism and realism. It is almost eternal in its ageless inspiration to all who view it.
Works Cited
(1) Fiero, Gloria K. The Humanistic Tradition Book One. New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2006.
Word Count: 330
Dao de Jing
A Summary of the Chinese Writing from the Dao de Jing
“The Dao de Jing, ‘The Way of Power’, is one of China’s most eloquent expressions of natural order.” (Jing 65) Written by Lao Zi, “The Old One”, the Dao de Jing, a philosophy called Daoism, does not lend itself to intellectual analysis, but is wisdom that manifests itself in knowledge that can only be known by those who live in total simplicity and harmony with nature. Through an understanding of universal and natural principles, Daoists work with the “compliments of positive and negative elements. They seek spiritual insight and cultivate tranquility, spontaneity and compassion through meditation, breath control, diet and other physical means of prolonging and enriching life.” (Jing 65) Quiet humor and paradox are used excellently in these writings, “like little stepping stones to enlightenment.” (Jing 65)
Relying on the empty space between, a wheel with hub and spokes provides the movement of your wagon. A bowl’s shape is only there to give you a space of use. When you build a house, you live in the space between the walls.
From the three lessons we learn, “What we find useful is the space created by what is present, whether natural or made by our hands.” (Jing 65)
Works Cited
Lao Zi. “Reading 1.10 From the Dao de Jing.” The Humanistic Tradition Book One. Ed. Gloria K. Fiero. New York: McGraw Hill, 2006. 65.
“The Dao de Jing, ‘The Way of Power’, is one of China’s most eloquent expressions of natural order.” (Jing 65) Written by Lao Zi, “The Old One”, the Dao de Jing, a philosophy called Daoism, does not lend itself to intellectual analysis, but is wisdom that manifests itself in knowledge that can only be known by those who live in total simplicity and harmony with nature. Through an understanding of universal and natural principles, Daoists work with the “compliments of positive and negative elements. They seek spiritual insight and cultivate tranquility, spontaneity and compassion through meditation, breath control, diet and other physical means of prolonging and enriching life.” (Jing 65) Quiet humor and paradox are used excellently in these writings, “like little stepping stones to enlightenment.” (Jing 65)
Relying on the empty space between, a wheel with hub and spokes provides the movement of your wagon. A bowl’s shape is only there to give you a space of use. When you build a house, you live in the space between the walls.
From the three lessons we learn, “What we find useful is the space created by what is present, whether natural or made by our hands.” (Jing 65)
Works Cited
Lao Zi. “Reading 1.10 From the Dao de Jing.” The Humanistic Tradition Book One. Ed. Gloria K. Fiero. New York: McGraw Hill, 2006. 65.
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