Mindfulness and Spiritual Philosophy 1o3c5p

What does spiritual philosophy say about the nature of Racism, Virtue & Vice? What is the root and cure of racism? A philosopher's talk with many meandering tangents.   Suggested Reading: Plato's Protagoras, Phaedrus, Phaedo; Aristotle’s The Nichomean Ethics; Mencius Suggested Films: American History X, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Greenbook, Unforgiven, Gran Turino, West Side Story

An offering for those suffering from the tragedy in Buffalo, NY. Buddhism talks about the two arrows of suffering, the first arrow being the primary suffering incurred, and the second arrow a mental suffering about what occured. This talk may be helpful for anyone suffering from misfortune. 

The Nature of Time. What would time be if no one told you what it was? How does the knowledge and practice of mindfulness change the way you experience time? Suggested Prerequisites: Talk 5 on Non-self, Talk 4 on Impermanence Suggested Films: Old (2021), Interstellar, A Ghost Story, Click Cost of each talk is one good deed, to be completed within 1 year.* The deed must be sincere to count, such that the doer feels something inside when the deed is complete.  *If the deed is not done within a year, May the Universe Force 3 Good Deeds into your Path, to be completed under compulsion, to fulfill the exchange.

Viewing the Pandemic through the lens of philosophy and understanding the nature of Truth, Knowledge, Wisdom, Trust, Obedience, Acceptance. Mostly through Plato/Socrates but some Confucian Philosophy as well.  Suggested Reading: Gorgias (Plato), Confucius Cost of each talk is one good deed, to be completed within 1 year.* The deed must be sincere to count, such that the doer feels something inside when the deed is complete.  *If the deed is not done within a year, May the Universe Force 3 Good Deeds into your Path, to be completed under compulsion, to fulfill the exchange.

The Nature of Justice. Caution: This talk dips into the political. It is strongly suggested that you listen to the first 7 talks to have a rudimentary understanding of philosophy, of what is good and bad. Prerequisites: The first 7 talks; Strongly Recommended prerequisite: Recent Reading of Plato's The Republic  Suggested Reading: Plato's The Republic, Crito; Confucius' The Analects'; Book of Mencius, Book of Moh  Cost of each talk is one good deed, to be completed within 1 year.* The deed must be sincere to count, such that the doer feels something inside when the deed is complete.  *If the deed is not done within a year, May the Universe Force 3 Good Deeds into your Path, to be completed under compulsion, to fulfill the exchange.

What makes people happy? How should we seek it? Knowledge from different traditions and modern research.  Suggested Reading: Walden (Henry David Thoreau); Man's Search for Meaning; Musonius Rufus; Film: Wished Cost of each talk is one good deed, to be completed within 1 year.* The deed must be sincere to count, such that the doer feels something inside when the deed is complete. *If the deed is not done within a year, May the Universe Force 3 Good Deeds into your Path, to be completed under compulsion, to fulfill the exchange.

Karma and Secular Ethics, different sides of the same coin.  Suggested Reading: The Autobiography of a Yogi, The Republic (Plato) Cost of each talk is one good deed, to be completed within 1 year.* The deed must be sincere to count, such that the doer feels something inside when the deed is complete. *If the deed is not done within a year, May the Universe Force 3 Good Deeds into your Path, to be completed under compulsion, to fulfill the exchange.

What is the nature of self? What are you? Who are you? Why does this cause your suffering? Non-self as seen in multiple traditions.  Suggested Reading: Turning the Mind into An Ally; Suggested Films: Fight Club; Revolver (2005) Cost of each talk is one good deed, to be completed within 1 year.* The deed must be sincere to count, such that the doer feels something inside when the deed is complete. *If the deed is not done within a year, May the Universe Force 3 Good Deeds into your Path, to be completed under compulsion, to fulfill the exchange.

Dealing with Anxiety, Impermanence, Death, wisdom from multiple traditions.  Suggested Reading: The Bhagavad Gita; Seneca's Consolation to Marcia Cost of each talk is one good deed, to be completed within 1 year.* The deed must be sincere to count, such that the doer feels something inside when the deed is complete.  *If the deed is not done within a year, May the Universe Force 3 Good Deeds into your Path, to be completed under compulsion, to fulfill the exchange.

Dealing with Anger and Regret from the Past Suggested Reading: The Untethered Soul (Michael Singer) Cost of each talk is one good deed, to be completed within 1 year.* The deed must be sincere to count, such that the doer feels something inside when the deed is complete.  *If the deed is not done within a year, May the Universe Force 3 Good Deeds into your Path, to be completed under compulsion, to fulfill the exchange.

What does it mean to live in the present moment? Suggested Reading: The Power of Now (Eckhart Tolle); The Films: Click, Groundhog Day Cost of each talk is one good deed, to be completed within 1 year.* The deed must be sincere to count, such that the doer feels something inside when the deed is complete.  *If the deed is not done within a year, May the Universe Force 3 Good Deeds into your Path, to be completed under compulsion, to fulfill the exchange.

What is the nature and origin of suffering, from both Buddhist and Stoic Philosophy.  Suggested Reading: Turning the Mind Into an Ally (Sakyong Mipham);  Discourses, Fragments & Handbook (Epictetus). Cost of each talk is one good deed, to be completed within 1 year.* The deed must be sincere to count, such that the doer feels something inside when the deed is complete.  *If the deed is not done within a year, May the Universe Force 3 Good Deeds into your Path, to be completed under compulsion, to fulfill the exchange.