Andrew Furst's Blog, page 93
November 23, 2015
Why is Happiness Hard to Define? – Dialectic Two Step
Estimated reading time: 2 minute(s)
Why is Happiness Hard to Define?
I don’t think it’s hard to define. Happiness is a temporary state of pleasure. What’s hard is to sustain it.
When we mistake happiness for something that it’s not – i.e. a permanent state – we become disappointed (basically unhappy). We essentially get greedy about it and as a result loose it.
If we were to adjust our view a little, we might be able to enjoy and appreciate the little moments of happiness that we do have, rather than bemoan the fact that they don’t last forever.
Dialectic Two-Step is an ongoing series of my thoughts on questions that come my way.
Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two. - Octavio
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Dialectic Two-Step
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Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
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November 22, 2015
Syria, Let’s Stop Pretending It’s About the Money
To those complaining about the costs of accepting Syrian refugees and how it will impact the poor and underserved (Vets, and others) here in the US -It’s not about the money.
Of the wealth available today in the world to address any or all of these problems, the US controls a huge proportion. There’s plenty of money. I don’t think that’s the problem. I think we don’t want to help for different reasons. So let’s not pretend it’s the cost that bothers us.
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Let’s Stop Pretending It’s About the Money
To those complaining about the costs of accepting Syrian refugees and how it will impact the poor and underserved (Vets, and others) here in the US -It’s not about the money.
Of the wealth available today in the world to address any or all of these problems, the US controls a huge proportion. There’s plenty of money. I don’t think that’s the problem. I think we don’t want to help for different reasons. Let’s not pretend its the cost that bothers us.
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Afternoon Showers – A Three Minute Meditation
Afternoon showers in Cavendish, VT. This video was shot not long after we saw a beautiful black bear (my first one in the wild)
Meditation:
Connect
First with the eyes, then the ears, and then the heart
Let the sound of the bell be the conduit
between the experience of the rain
and the sensations at the lower tips of your shoulder blades.
As the rain slowly falls,
the wings of your shoulder blades slide imperceptibly down your back
Let this sinking be accompanied by an ever so slight lift in your heart
Let the buoying heart raise your spirits
and leave a smile on your face
These Meditation Videos Are Best Viewed In Full Screen
One Minute Meditations is an ongoing series of short videos, poems, and commentary intended as a meditation. Offered as an opportunity to step back from your cyber routine and settle into a more natural rhythm, if only for a minute.
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Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
These videos are produced for those of us who spend an inordinately large amount of time in the cyber-world. They are not a substitute for unplugging from your devices and taking a stroll near trees, water, or a patch of unkempt grass. Getting out into the world - touching, smelling, hearing, and seeing nature is the best way to reconnect with our prime purpose.
What is our prime purpose? We are feeling and sensing machines. We are the universe looking back on itself. We are witness to the wonders and dangers of living in this corner of the cosmos. We are the seekers looking for connection a little further beyond yesterday's borders and boundaries.
But sitting and staring at the screen robs us of the sustenance that we rely upon for wonder and sanity. These videos are an opportunity to bring the sensations of nature to you, while you're in the cyber-world. Its an opportunity to relax your gaze, resettle your posture, and regain some depth in your breath. Listen and watch the video and allow your self to open up and recharge.
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O Children – Nick Cave – Sunday Morning Coming Down
Loosing a child is a very real fear that every parent carries in their secret heart. Nick Cave lost his son in July. If you’re a parent, let the thought out of its cage every once and a while. There is very little in life that so starkly reminds us of how precious it is.
Sunday Morning Coming Down is an ongoing music video series. The songs fit my definition of music for a lazy couch bound Sunday morning. Get Each Week's Sunday Morning Coming Down in your email box First Name:
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One Minute Meditations
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Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
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O Children
by Nick Cave
Pass me that lovely little gun
My dear, my darling one
The cleaners are coming, one by one
You don’t even want to let them start
They are knocking now upon your door
They measure the room, they know the score
They’re mopping up the butcher’s floor
Of your broken little hearts
O children
Forgive us now for what we’ve done
It started out as a bit of fun
Here, take these before we run away
The keys to the gulag
O children
Lift up your voice, lift up your voice
Children
Rejoice, rejoice
Here comes Frank and poor old Jim
They’re gathering round with all my friends
We’re older now, the light is dim
And you are only just beginning
O children
We have the answer to all your fears
It’s short, it’s simple, it’s crystal clear
It’s round about and it’s somewhere here
Lost amongst our winnings
O children
Lift up your voice, lift up your voice
Children
Rejoice, rejoice
The cleaners have done their job on you
They’re hip to it, man, they’re in the groove
They’ve hosed you down, you’re good as new
They’re lining up to inspect you
O children
Poor old Jim’s white as a ghost
He’s found the answer that we lost
We’re all weeping now, weeping because
There ain’t nothing we can do to protect you
O children
Lift up your voice, lift up your voice
Children
Rejoice, rejoice
Hey little train! We are all jumping on
The train that goes to the Kingdom
We’re happy, Ma, we’re having fun
And the train ain’t even left the station
Hey, little train! Wait for me!
I once was blind but now I see
Have you left a seat for me?
Is that such a stretch of the imagination?
Hey little train! Wait for me!
I was held in chains but now I’m free
I’m hanging in there, don’t you see
In this process of elimination
Hey little train! We are all jumping on
The train that goes to the Kingdom
We’re happy, Ma, we’re having fun
It’s beyond my wildest expectation
Hey little train! We are all jumping on
The train that goes to the Kingdom
We’re happy, Ma, we’re having fun
And the train ain’t even left the station
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November 21, 2015
The Future? – Say What?
Say What? is an ongoing series of laconic exchanges on Buddhism in the format of a comic strip.
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Tiny Drops (Photography series)
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Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
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Old Timey – Tiny Drops
A cinemagraph of my a son picking and a grinnin’.
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Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
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November 20, 2015
Syria, The Next Crisis
It just occurred to me a little while ago how much the Syrian refugee crisis reminds me of the 2014 Ebola Outbreak. Remember that? Social media lit up like a Christmas tree. There were folks who sought out the facts and concluded that while, yes, this is serious business, there are things in place to address the concerns. Let’s not panic, there are protocols to follow, let’s get to work.
In contrast, another other group of Social media friends, fearing the worst (and the worst was not trivial – Ebola is a big deal), started calling to close the borders to all Africans, complaining about how the CDC wasn’t prepared and how the administration failed this and failed that.
As it played out, the US and other nations intervened, and eventually the problem was brought under control. As of this month there have been no Ebola transmissions in the countries affected by the original outbreak. 11,299 people died of the virus in Western Africa. There was one death in the United States. Every death is a tragedy, but it is also true that death is a part of living.
I am proud to say a friend was part of the effort to establish the control measures that ended the crisis. A mother of two, she got on a plane and helped. She didn’t freak out; she used her training and made a difference.
Fast Forward to November 2015
The Syrian crisis has created a monumental refugee crisis. Over four million people have lost their homes and livelihoods since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War.
I have social media friends who are seeking out the facts. I hear them say, yes, this is serious business. What we can put in place to address the concerns? Maybe it’s a good idea to pause, but we should also remember to bring our best to the table. Can we balance our natural instincts as a compassionate people with maintaining safety? Can we find ways to isolate people who are a threat using criteria a little more precise than nationality and religion?
Other social media friends are calling to close the borders to all Syrian refugees. Some are calling for a religious and nationality test for asylum. And there is no shortage of blame and insults for the administration.
I look at social media and can’t help but notice – it’s the same story, same players, same game, just a different venue.
Looking For The Helpers
Mr. Rogers said, “Look for the helpers, there are always helpers.”
I see the helpers, I’m with them.
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Meditations on Gratitude – Those Who Help Us Heal
In many ways the Buddha’s path is a prescription for healing. He offered a way to reduce the suffering that comes from our dysfunctional way of viewing the world. He did say that there were some types of suffering that were not preventable. These were birth, illness, old age, and death. In the category of illness and old age, I suffer from arthritis, spinal stenosis which were aggravated in my late thirties, when a cracked several vertebrae in my lower spine. No doubt other environmental factors have contributed to the inflammation I deal with daily.
That said, there are not many days when ibuprofen comes to my rescue. I sometimes imagine what it might be like without NSAIDs. Out of this contemplation comes great gratitude for the people that bring me my trusty bottle. I spent about 30 minutes researching some of the people, companies, and federal agencies who have played a role in keeping ibuprofen available and safe. By no means is this research exhaustive. In this time slot I found reference to three companies and two federal agencies, all of which today employ inn the neighborhood of 100,000 people. I suspect the real number of people involved in this endeavor is much greater in number. I did not include the people who transport the medicine, the state regulatory agencies, the various people involved in the UK where the drug was first developed, and those who play a role in putting the drug on shelves internationally.
Click the image to expand
I even discovered one company – Celgene – that was involved in a partnership with a company I worked for not long ago. So many people to be thankful towards. So many people who may be living and working nearby. So many, so far far away.
Oh how pitiful my gratitude is compared to the gifts I am offered everyday.
Namo Amitofo
Meditations on Gratitude - A weekly series of people and situations I’m thankful for and a short meditation.. Get Each Week's Meditations on Gratitude in your email box First Name:
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One Minute Meditations
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Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
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Five Things About Meditation – Dialectic Two Step
Estimated reading time: 11 minute(s)
Five Things About Meditation
Here are a few questions I get about meditation.
1. How does meditation improve your life?
The answer comes from doing it. So let’s try it.
Wherever you are, let your eyes relax. Keep them open enough to read this, but otherwise, let them be.
Notice what’s going on within your body. Do this by letting your awareness fill your body, like air filling a balloon.
You should feel an increased sensitivity to what’s going on inside and around you. Let that sensitivity gradually increase with each breath.
Let your awareness sink and settle into your lower abdomen. As it sinks, allow the body to relax more and more.
Once your awareness has centered on your belly and your body relaxes, gently notice your breath rise and fall.
Follow the breath for a count of 10 or 20 and then open your eyes fully, and bring some movement into your body.
How do you feel? Relaxed, a little more at ease?
This is the first glimpse of what meditation can offer. Meditation gives you access to peace of mind, to a more vivid sensation of how you’re actually feeling, and subsequently deeper insight into what makes you tick. These insights give you valuable information that you can act on to improve your life and your relationships.
2. What is the goal of meditation?
There are a lot of answers to this question. The first thing you should understand is that meditation does not produce enlightenment.
Everything you experience in meditation is temporary. You’ll notice that before meditation you’re often a jumble of tension. During meditation you can feel pleasure, pain, peace, or frustration. Afterwards you may find you’re more at ease or at least feeling different from when you started. Enlightenment, in contrast, is not a temporary experience. It is not something that we produce by doing something special.
The Buddha talked about two main aspects of meditation – Vipassana and Samatha. Vipassana is insight into being and the causes of suffering. Samatha is tranquility. Strictly speaking, there is no goal to meditation, it is simply being. But the insights and tranquility that come are certainly benefits.
3. Is the goal of meditation to stop your thoughts?
I think there may be only one way to stop your thoughts. Whatever produces the thoughts must stop. Only death could accomplish that.
Meditation involves no such thing. In fact it provides the opportunity to develop a healthier relationship with your thoughts. You’ll learn that they will rise and fall, often without rhyme or reason. Seeing their ephemeral nature gives you reason to re-evaluate how to approach them. Meditation inspires you to discipline the mind; to be choosy about which thoughts illicit action.
4. How do I deal with my thoughts?
There are two things that will come to your attention when you begin meditating; your body and your thoughts.
Some of the insights to be gained from meditation come from wrestling with our thoughts. It begins with shifting our relationship to them. Rather than assuming the role of director of your thoughts or being driven by them, we establish a non-judgmental awareness of them. We just sit with them for a while. With time they become friends whose advice we sometimes heed and sometimes ignore.
5. How do I deal with the body?
The body is a very practical teacher. It will take your attention ruthlessly. With aches and pains, itches, and tickles in your throat. I’ve found its insights instructive. The aches and pains remind us of what the Buddha pointed out. There are causes of suffering and cessation of suffering.
Pain is very direct. It begs you to find its cause and alleviate it. It invites you to explore it, discover its source. A good example is simply noticing that your posture is poor. This is the cause of our back pain. When we don’t interfere with the process of being, we will adjust our posture and stop suffering. There is the Buddha’s teaching in a nutshell.
If we sit with the sensations, we discover they are like our thoughts. They are temporary, but instructive. We can listen to them, or we can get caught up in adoration or aversion of them. Meditation is listening and being with our perceptions, like a good partner in a relationship. The partnership can be rewarding if we are attentive and hold up our end of the bargain.
Dialectic Two-Step is an ongoing series of my thoughts on questions that come my way.
Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two. - Octavio
Get Each Week's Dialectic Two Step in your email box First Name:
Last Name:
Email address:
In addition to a monthly email you can also subscribe to the following weekly series:
Weekly Series:
One Minute Meditations
Tiny Drops (Photography series)
Compass Songs (My Favorite Poems)
Dialectic Two-Step
Modern Koans (interesting questions)
Sunday Morning Coming Down (Music Videos)
Relics (Timeless Republished Articles)
Say What?
Quotes
Verse Us (Poems I Write)
Meditations on Gratitude
If you enjoyed this post, please like and share.
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