16 Jan Masako Nishi
I asked Masako Nishi, a video producer in Kyoto, what is it that we see everywhere but rarely notice. As a video producer, I thought her answer would be physics-inspired: light. Her answer however was Zen-inspired: ourselves....
15 Jan Ray Dalio
"When wars -- civil or external -- happen you will have to decide whether you want to be in them or get out of them. When in doubt get out. You can always get back in, but you might not be able to get out." However attractive an opportunity might appear, without a viable exit strategy before going in, one can make a lot of money but not be able to keep it....
11 Jan Antiquities dealer in Jerusalem
Some years back, in the “old city” section of Jerusalem, I stepped into a shop selling antiquities. As I looked at various objects in glass cases, the owner of the shop introduced himself and said he’d been an antiquities dealer for more than fifty years and had dealt in very fine and desirable objects. I told him I’d been collecting antiquities for some time and wanted to look around. He then asked: “What are you looking for.” I replied: “I don’t know what I’m looking for until I find it.” To which he said: “In that case, you’re looking for nothing.” While not apparent to me then, ultimately he was right. Since that time, after many years of collecting antiquities and tribal art and living to pursue personal desires, I realized I was possessed by all sorts of material and imaginary possessions and that looking for and desiring nothing is the ultimate goal as nothing is the essence of everything....
10 Jan Hilton Root
"Art is the order of all things. Confusion adds life to art." The preceding quote was from stream of consciousness writings by Hilton Root, a friend since the age of 13, when he was 16 years old. This quote has stayed in memory over the decades in a haunting way as I generally find much of what’s called fine art confusing and this artful quote confusing as well. At this point, I read the quote as art (that which is art-ificial, man-made) is an artist’s particular view of the world. However, the world can appear in as many ways as there are minds. Thus, when an artwork is ambiguous (generally called abstract or surreal), it allows multiple readings, reflecting the nature of life itself....
08 Jan Penn Tanenbaum
I told my six year old grandson, Penn, that a friend of mine is expecting to die of terminal illness in the spring. Penn said: “Your friend is lucky.” I asked: “Why lucky?” Penn said: “They are not dying now.” No one is getting out of here alive. We are all dying; some slowly, some suddenly. No point in worrying about it, but best not to forget about it....
08 Jan Imaginary Hierarchies
There are many imaginary hierarchies like wealth and social status. Those atop hierarchies are generally very happy with themselves. When they look at those below them, they are pleased as they only see the admiring and respectful faces of those below. However, the laws of gravity disturb this otherwise mutually pleasing relationship. Invariably, those atop need to relieve themselves and their droppings are resented by those below. There is nothing imaginary about that....
02 Jan Kotzker Rebbe
"If I am I because I am I, and you are you because you are you, then I am I and you are you. But if I am I because you are you and you are you because I am I, then I am not I and you are not you!" When Moses encountered God in the desert, Moses asked God who he was. God said: I am who I am. That is, God is indescribable because God is all and everything, the whole and all seemingly different manifestations. Any other description implies God is one thing and not another; the antithesis of God. If I am who I am and you are who you are, I and you are God. Hence, I treat you accordingly, as I treat myself. However, if I define myself in finite terms, relative to that which I am not (you), I am not God nor are you God....
01 Jan Expect the Unexpected
When we expect the unexpected, we can see it before it arrives and welcome it accordingly. However, when we expect the future to be an extension of the past, we can easily become complacent, miss the opportunities the future presents or have it run over us....
31 Dec Yogi Berra
"The future ain’t what it used to be." We see the future not for what it is but as we imagine it to be. As what we imagine changes, the future seems to change; it ain't what it used to be. But the future is the future, forever unchanged, a time to come, not the present, an empty canvas; though what we see in the future affects the choices we make as to how we live in the present....
30 Dec The Icelander
"The best place is wherever you are; from wherever you are you can experience everything." Iceland is well-known as the place to be on New Year's Eve, having the greatest display of individual and collective fireworks. I once asked an Icelander where is the best place in Iceland to be on New Year's Eve. His reply was the quote above....