Josh Bertetta's Blog, page 7

Bummer

My latest for Flash!Friday Vol 3-21 based on the photo prompt. The story had to include a Catch-22. I hang on for dear life, sweating. I’d told him I had the keys to the kingdom. I promised to pass them on if he just let me out. He believed me, so he did. If I […]

Buddhism Lecture Three: Noble Truths, Nirvana, and Codependent Arising (Video Format)

Beginning with a method by which to address our suffering, our discussion then moves on to the Third Noble Truth, featuring a discussion of Nirvana. We then discuss the Fourth Noble Truth, paying particular attention to the Noble Eightfold Path. The lecture concludes with an examination of Co-dependent Arising with an example of how the […]

Evolution

My latest from The Angry Hourglass based on the photo below. Dean and Martin were going to change things, make things for the better. You might wonder why Martin there is holding an extra-big pair of scissors and Dean’s appears regular sized. It’s an optical illusion, really. See, Martin’s are “regular” sized and Dean’s are […]

Baltimore, Ferguson, LA, et al. (Feat. Ice Cube; Explicit Lyrics)

In the wake of the Rodney King trial, Ice Cube wrote the following, which is as relevant today is it was back then. After the lyrics are some powerful comments recently tweeted by Baltimore Orioles COO John Angelos, son of owner Peter Angelos in response to the most recent wave of rioting in relation to yet […]

Cognac

So here’s my newest piece of Flash!Friday vol 3-20 which had to include man versus man conflict. “We can’t keep going on like this.” A heavy sigh followed an “I know.” “It’s wrong.” A long and uncomfortable silence followed an “I know, I know.” “But…that doesn’t mean I don’t love you Kelley.” A faint smile followed […]

Buddhism Lecture 2: Characteristics of Existence to the Noble Truths (Video Format)

This, the second day of our Buddhism Unit, begins with a discussion of the Three Characteristics of Existence (impermanence, anatta, and nirvana). From there we look at what makes us who we are (The Five Aggregates) followed by a discussion of the first two Noble Truths, paying particular attention to the term “dukkha,” often translated […]

Cell Block

Here’s my latest from Flash Friday vol 3-19. Based on the photo prompt below and requiring the inclusion of a kitchen, this story placed in a tie for first runner up with Sherry Howard. Here’s what the judges said: “The tragic story of a man trapped in a prison of his own making. This story […]

Riding the Yellow Dragon

Stretch and pull did the north wind drape a bolt of cotton clouds across the sky; bit by bit did it tug too hard that morning, tearing ragged holes as a moth eats the old unworn robe. Tornadoes of early light poured through the rolling, voticose clouds, and stitched the mountains in gold and silver; […]

Buddhism Lecture I: Siddhartha Gotama from Birth to Enlightenment (Video Format)

The first lecture of our Buddhism unit begins by discussing a little about why and how Buddhism can often be challenging for modern peoples raised in Western society. We then move on to discussing the Buddha’s life, beginning with his birth and issues concerning his birth narrative. From there we trace the Buddha’s life, focusing […]

99 Names of God: Names 54-56

A great many months has passed since I last wrote on the 99 Beautiful Names of God and I am happy to do so again, so today I write about names 54 through 56, Matin, Waliyy, and Hamid. Matin Matin is but one of the names that concerns God’s strength. In particular, this is the […]