Best Of
What books are you reading?
Odd how this thread hasn't been created yet.
Anyway, this winter I read a non fiction series. It had been a while since I got into one, but it looked like a slower winter, and it was for a couple months. I read the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson, it comes up in lots of top 10 fantasy series lists and I think it delivered. I also got Steven Kings Gunslinger series, but have only gotten part way through the first book, it seems good I've just been distracted.
The non fiction books I've read in the past year are, The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth by Jonathan Rauch which is about the institutions such as journalism, law and academia and the systems and methods they use to establish what is true and what isn't and how they are deteriorating or under attack.
The Cancelling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Riki Schlott. The title is a play on Greg's previous book with Jonathan Haidt, the Coddling of the American Mind, which I read when it came out a few years ago and can also recommend which is about the dangers and harms of "safetyism". Cancelling is similar to the Constitution of Knowledge in that it tackles the deterioration of thought and knowledge production. Even though I think "cancelling" is popularly thought to be a left thing, the right are the original cancellers and the book spends just as much time going into their oppressions on free thought and expression.
At the moment I'm working through Yuval Noah Harari's newest book Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks. He goes through human information technologies, from face to face group interaction to the printing press, radio and now the internet and AI and how the changes in technology disrupted social systems and allowed for both positive and negative changes, such as radio allowed for both modern autocratic regimes like USSR and modern democracies with a much greater voter franchise than in their origination. He's fairly pessimistic about the likely changes the internet has brought and the potential of AI, which is different than past techs in that they are more than passive tech, they are agents capable of influence themselves. But he does believe there is a path to a positive future.
person
Re: Quotes - discussion
@Jeroen said:
@lobster said:
I thought this was pretty good, certainly in the Western world today there is a great culture of individuality, and it is usually considered healthy for even young children to develop boundaries and a sense of what they do and do not want. In the East the collective is emphasised far more, although there too there are signs of the rise of individualism.
It leads to problems with being accepted, with feeling part of a greater whole.
I think there is an important note about balance here. In the west we've been on the path of individualism for a while and its leading to some unhealthy extremes. Before we jump fully back on the collective train, remember some of the things about collectivism we fought to leave behind. The notion that a child has to follow in the footsteps of the parents or live a life that brings respect to the family or village rather than follow their own interests is collectivism. That there are cultural norms or values, such as heteronormativity that one needs to adhere to because its best for society, or simply because that is what everyone else is doing is collectivism. Tall Poppy syndrome, don't stand out, don't be exceptional, collectivism.
What I generally strive for in my own mind is to be an individual that understands and appreciates my place in society and what others do for me and what I do for others, often invisibly.
person
Re: Quotes - discussion
@lobster said:
I thought this was pretty good, certainly in the Western world today there is a great culture of individuality, and it is usually considered healthy for even young children to develop boundaries and a sense of what they do and do not want. In the East the collective is emphasised far more, although there too there are signs of the rise of individualism.
It leads to problems with being accepted, with feeling part of a greater whole.
Jeroen
Re: Buddhists & Easter
Easter is just about as on shaky a ground as any festival could be... A brief 'nutshell' diatribe....
The word Easter is derived from the greek OEstros meaning fertile. This is where we get our word Oestrogen from.... so the Christians did hyjack this festival from the pagans. hence Easter EGGS....symbols of fertility, abundance and heavy waistlines... Furthermore, the Christian Easter weekend is calculated according to the phases of the moon (the second full moon after the vernal equinox, I think....!) Very Holy!
The word Pasqua (Italian) and Paques (French) are derived from the Jewish word for 'Passover' when the Angel of Death spared the Jews from the Heavenly wrath and cull of firstborns. They ate mutton to celebrate. that's why traditionally, Easter lunch should be roast lamb.
So if anyone feels entitled to comment on your Buddhist faith, tell them that at least it's less confusing.....!
federica
Re: Buddhists & Easter
Ester's avatar was the rabbit... or bunny... I.E., Ester's Bunny or Easter Bunny.
QCH2002
Re: Buddhist quotes
Whenever problems come to us from beings or inanimate objects, if our mind gets used to perceiving only the suffering or the negative aspects of them, then even from a small negative incident great mental pain will ensue. For it is the nature of indulgence in any concept, whether suffering or happiness, that the experience of this happiness or suffering will thereby be intensified. — Tulku Thondup Rinpoche (1939–2023)
lobster
Re: What music are you listening to?
"Dirty Harry" The clash between innocence and violence, how systems of war, create poverty, and the rich and power strip people of their humanity and force them into survival mode.
Shoshin1
Re: Quotes - discussion
@Jeroen said:
“There is a lack of humility…”
My intuition says you really are already complete as you are.
I think this depends on what we're talking about. The view I understand is that our Buddha Nature is pure and perfect. That our defilements are temporary stains. In Buddhism this isn't considered "you". "You" is part of the conditioned world, which contains all of our defilements and suffering.
If you mean what is left after the path is finished is complete as is, I can agree with that. If you mean at 5 or 50 years old you had/have nothing to learn or improve on, I think that is delusion.
person
Re: Discipline in the Path
@Kotishka said:
Rising early, following the precepts, sitting daily, being quiet when necessary, and speaking with right speech and intention when required—this takes time and development. Once, I believed this brought a much-needed sense of discipline, but in my case, it has been life’s punches that revealed how foolish I was for not following them sooner.Perhaps discipline and awareness can prevent such unnecessary suffering. Once you truly see it, it’s not as easy to fall back. Still, I cannot forget that the flaws in my character can reignite like dry tumbleweeds quite easily. Thus, the precepts and sitting are non-negotiable.
Discipline is the catalyst for the acceptance of change.
It is discipline that brings one to the cushion.
It is discipline that keeps one seated, even when every part wants to rise.
It is discipline that gives awareness the freedom to roam.
And it is disciplined awareness that remains open to change.
Shoshin1