25 Apr

Posted at 13:22h in Observations

In the Bible, God appears to Moses in the form of an eternally burning bush. The bush however is not burning. As its flames are not devouring the branches, the flames must be light, not fire. The light however appears as fire, our mind perceiving it based on our past experiences where light in a bush can only be fire. The mind's preconceptions blind us from seeing things as they are. The burning bush, as the entire universe, is a manifestation of God. Moreover, the bush metaphorically reveals the nature of the universe: ever-changing (flames) and eternal (not burning). The light that appears as flames represents wisdom (Proverbs 3.18). The light unveils the bush, the eternal soul, from darkness. The bush is seneh, a bramble, a rough prickly shrub which bears raspberries, blackberries or dewberries. As a prickly shrub with light abounding, the bush's thorns are "the fiery ever-turning sword" that guards the path to the Tree of Life (Genesis 3.24). The path leads to the soul's soul, the Tree's fruit. Those who can see the fiery ever-turning sword as light and thorns can, without fear of burning or hurting, partake of the fruit to sustain themselves (Book of Enoch) as they become one with the soul's soul. When we understand the burning bush, we understand the universe; ever-changing and eternal. Then, we can find the soul's soul and be one with everything forever. In the image of God, the burning bush, is the Tree of Life. When we dispense with the mind, its preconceived notions and the fears they engender, we can see the universe as it is and ultimately connect as one with God....

25 Apr

Posted at 01:38h in Wow

Buddha opened his eyes and was able to see the universe as it is. Had Buddha been studying Buddhism, he would have seen many things through his mind which would have precluded him seeing the universe as it is....

24 Apr

Posted at 00:48h in Wow

Babies see the world as it is, always new as it is everchanging, because they don't remember what they see....

23 Apr

Posted at 00:18h in Observations

"The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master." The mind is a wonderful servant when we use it to learn from our past experiences, successes and failures to make good choices going forward. However, the mind is a terrible master when it creates stories and meanings that frame our experience of the present. Our stories are like a prison, not allowing us to experience the present as it is. Prison guards, however friendly, rule over us....

21 Apr

Posted at 00:15h in Wow

Every night we die and every morning we are born anew. Thus, every day is our first and last day of life. As it's our first day, everything is fascinating. As it's our last day, we appreciate everything....

19 Apr

Posted at 10:15h in Observations

The size of a star is a function of how distant it is. Stars in the Milky Way seem tiny from Earth but are unimaginably huge up close. Popular stars who are far from our real lives seem huge but aren't bigger than us up close. The popular stars who think their big are ridiculously funny in the context of real stars....

18 Apr

Posted at 10:15h in Observations

Yesterday, I pulled out of my driveway for my weekly trip to the Darien Cheese Shop and a hundred feet later the car started seriously shaking. A flat tire awoke me from my routine. I stopped the car and started working with an air pump to inflate the tire. As it was taking some time, I wondered whether the tire would hold enough air for me to make it to a repair shop or I'd need to get it towed. Either way, it sounded like a bit more fun than the routine trip to the cheese shop. Soon a passing car pulled over and an elderly woman with grey hair came out and asked: "Do you need any help?" To which I replied: "Actually I'm terrific; blessed with a high-class problem, a flat tire." We both laughed, connected by compassion and wisdom as the truth was revealed: temporary common problems are not problems but experiences to be enjoyed by all....

18 Apr

Posted at 09:50h in Observations

Easter is the most important holiday in Christianity. Easter commemorates the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ which Christians believe is proof Jesus Christ was the messiah, the one who would bring peace on Earth. The historical events of Easter are the basis for the ubiquitous symbol of Christianity, the cross or Jesus on the cross (the crucifiction). It's a funny symbol for a religion espousing peace. As Christ preached brotherly love among people regardless of their religious identities and was ultimately crucified for his heretic views, the symbol suggests that those who preach peace will be crucified. True to this view, murder and horror is what many who have walked under the banner of Christianity have brought to peaceful non-Christians since the time of Christ. Ultimately, Christians believe that Christ, the messiah, will return and bring peace on Earth. Perhaps so, but in light of the violent history of the those professing to be Christians, clearly Christ is not a Christian....

15 Apr

Posted at 10:15h in Wow

If someone doesn't love or respect us, that's their problem. We can only feel badly for them because they simply don't get it. However, we too have a problem if we resent them for it....

14 Apr

Posted at 10:15h in Observations

"We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience." The past can teach us valuable lessons. However, defining ourselves by stories we create about our past has no value and distracts us from making the most of things to come....