Video
British philosopher Alan Watts on the nature of Nothingness:
Comments
Photos
Horrifying photos of the famine in East Africa:
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/07/famine-in-east-africa/100115/
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/07/famine-in-east-africa/100115/
Video
Touching video of the first same-sex marriage in New York State:
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Quaker Meeting
I had the opportunity to go to a Quaker meeting for the first time and simply put, I was blown away. First of all, in a Quaker meeting house, there is no pulpit where a preacher leads the sermon. Pews face one another in a rectangular fashion to emphasize people’s individual connections with the divine. So, there is no “authority” figure interpreting the nature of God and serving as a middleman between worshippers and the divine. Rather, people are encouraged to develop their own, personal relationships with a higher being. During the actual service, attendants (and it is emphasized that people from all persuasions are encouraged to come) mostly sit in silence until someone is compelled to speak--sharing their personal experience of God or spirituality. The sensation I felt for the better part of the service was similar to that which I experience in shavasana, at the end of a yoga practice--tranquil and completely invested in the present moment. To say the least, it was a highly meditative and therepeutic state which provided for a great, relaxing start to my day. And when people were compelled to speak (and only 2 did over the course of an hour), they did so with incredible emotion and conviction. Their reflections and stories were moving, and surprisingly candid. They appealed to everyday human experience, and our struggles to find meaning and divinity in a seemingly indifferent and cruel world. I left the service feeling wholesome yet human, empowered yet humbled. I did not seem to have any more answers than I had before the service, but I felt surprisingly connected-- if not to a higher power, to those around me who took part in a similar journey.
Thoughts on Faith, Reason and Apprehending a Higher Power
Some of my previous posts have touched on the faculties of Faith and Reason, but I wanted to take some time to more directly offer my thoughts about them, and what role they ought to serve in thinking about the existence of a higher power. Firstly, I’d like to start by considering, what is Reason? The dictionary on my computer defines “Reason” as 1) a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event; 2) the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic. In essence, Reason is humans’ ability to categorize phenomena into intelligible, systematic frameworks that are consistent with our notions of reality. Reason is our basis for knowledge—our starting place and most trustworthy foundation. We can definitively say that adding 2 and 2 will always make 4, or that Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama are distinct entities because they occupy different regions of space at different times. But our Reason cannot as easily bring answers to more abstract, complex questions—especially questions that deal with issues outside of sensory experience, space or time.
When we think about the existence of a higher power, we acknowledge that if there is some sort of divine, omnipotent being, it exists in a realm outside of space, time, or other conditions of human experience. It cannot be subjected to these conditions of human experience because if it is, it is not above or beyond these conditions. If a higher power exists within space, it is limited by the conditions of space and thus not entirely supreme. By definition, a higher power must be beyond all such conditions.
And if a divine being is beyond such conditions, I believe that it cannot be apprehended by Reason, because Reason is a faculty bound by what can be perceived through our five senses, space and time. It has no validity outside of these frameworks because it is defined within a world of human tangibility and comprehension. Where the systematic arrangement of space, time and other conditions of human experience is not found, Reason has no credibility.
And so, if we are to entertain the proposition of a higher power, it cannot be with merely Reason, because Reason only deals with the realm of human experience. It cannot justifiably assert whether a supreme being exists or not—it is outside its protocol. We can only consider the existence of a higher power with some faculty beyond Reason. It is tempting to call this faculty “Faith,” but I think the word has adopted some connotations of “blind following” or “thoughtless action.” Instead, I will call it “Supra-Reason”—beyond or transcending Reason.
One may wonder, “Is Reason really limited?” “Can it not comprehend everything?” “Is it really contingent on any condition?” “Look at all the scientific progress over the last century. Given that, isn’t it plausible to think that Reason can reveal everything eventually?” I have no doubt that there is significantly more to learn within the world of sensory experience, space and time—in fact I think we can potentially and theoretically learn everything within it. But it is impossible to apprehend anything that exists outside of the “phenomenal” world (as Immanuel Kant refers to the world of sensory experience). Reason has no bearing on a realm where space or time is absent, because it cannot reliably systematize that which falls outside of human experience. It is important to note that this does not mean such a realm cannot be comprehended or systematized at all. For instance, imagine an intelligent entity confined to space, but not subjugated by time. This entity could theoretically conceive of, apprehend and systematize another entity absent of time (note that I used an example of an entity merely absent of time and not space. A being absent of both time and space could be considered an omnipotent, higher power itself, assuming it is not subjugated by some further condition or dimension). Its intellectual faculty could be considered some degree of Supra-Reason, though this capacity would only afford it the ability to apprehend an equal-level conceptual world, or lower. My point is that human Reason is profoundly limited—confined to a human world of sensory experience and not capable of penetrating further realms with its capacity alone.
So, given the limitations of Reason, it does not seem implausible to suspect that there are further Supra-Reason faculties capable of greater apprehension. Moreover, there may well be a higher power, but we cannot either prove or disprove its existence through our rational means alone. If we do believe in a divine being, it ought to be on the grounds of Faith or some concession to Supra-Reason that we cannot rationally reaffirm.
To conclude, I think the pressing issue when considering whether there is a God, or divine being, is evaluating the extent to which Reason is valid. I believe its powers are limited, though I acknowledge that many are inclined to think that it can ultimately find answers to all. Regardless, it is within our capacity to philosophize and examine what Reason can and cannot justifiably tell us. If it truly can comprehend all, then there cannot be a divine being by definition. But if it cannot comprehend all, as I have argued, then the proposition for or against the existence of God cannot be rationally defended. We should first look at the powers of Reason, and then determine what claims we can justifiably hold on the existence of a higher power.
-Sam King
When we think about the existence of a higher power, we acknowledge that if there is some sort of divine, omnipotent being, it exists in a realm outside of space, time, or other conditions of human experience. It cannot be subjected to these conditions of human experience because if it is, it is not above or beyond these conditions. If a higher power exists within space, it is limited by the conditions of space and thus not entirely supreme. By definition, a higher power must be beyond all such conditions.
And if a divine being is beyond such conditions, I believe that it cannot be apprehended by Reason, because Reason is a faculty bound by what can be perceived through our five senses, space and time. It has no validity outside of these frameworks because it is defined within a world of human tangibility and comprehension. Where the systematic arrangement of space, time and other conditions of human experience is not found, Reason has no credibility.
And so, if we are to entertain the proposition of a higher power, it cannot be with merely Reason, because Reason only deals with the realm of human experience. It cannot justifiably assert whether a supreme being exists or not—it is outside its protocol. We can only consider the existence of a higher power with some faculty beyond Reason. It is tempting to call this faculty “Faith,” but I think the word has adopted some connotations of “blind following” or “thoughtless action.” Instead, I will call it “Supra-Reason”—beyond or transcending Reason.
One may wonder, “Is Reason really limited?” “Can it not comprehend everything?” “Is it really contingent on any condition?” “Look at all the scientific progress over the last century. Given that, isn’t it plausible to think that Reason can reveal everything eventually?” I have no doubt that there is significantly more to learn within the world of sensory experience, space and time—in fact I think we can potentially and theoretically learn everything within it. But it is impossible to apprehend anything that exists outside of the “phenomenal” world (as Immanuel Kant refers to the world of sensory experience). Reason has no bearing on a realm where space or time is absent, because it cannot reliably systematize that which falls outside of human experience. It is important to note that this does not mean such a realm cannot be comprehended or systematized at all. For instance, imagine an intelligent entity confined to space, but not subjugated by time. This entity could theoretically conceive of, apprehend and systematize another entity absent of time (note that I used an example of an entity merely absent of time and not space. A being absent of both time and space could be considered an omnipotent, higher power itself, assuming it is not subjugated by some further condition or dimension). Its intellectual faculty could be considered some degree of Supra-Reason, though this capacity would only afford it the ability to apprehend an equal-level conceptual world, or lower. My point is that human Reason is profoundly limited—confined to a human world of sensory experience and not capable of penetrating further realms with its capacity alone.
So, given the limitations of Reason, it does not seem implausible to suspect that there are further Supra-Reason faculties capable of greater apprehension. Moreover, there may well be a higher power, but we cannot either prove or disprove its existence through our rational means alone. If we do believe in a divine being, it ought to be on the grounds of Faith or some concession to Supra-Reason that we cannot rationally reaffirm.
To conclude, I think the pressing issue when considering whether there is a God, or divine being, is evaluating the extent to which Reason is valid. I believe its powers are limited, though I acknowledge that many are inclined to think that it can ultimately find answers to all. Regardless, it is within our capacity to philosophize and examine what Reason can and cannot justifiably tell us. If it truly can comprehend all, then there cannot be a divine being by definition. But if it cannot comprehend all, as I have argued, then the proposition for or against the existence of God cannot be rationally defended. We should first look at the powers of Reason, and then determine what claims we can justifiably hold on the existence of a higher power.
-Sam King
Video
Video on how the Global Food Market starves the poor:
Stubby the Dog
A biography of Stubby, a war dog that was promoted to Sergeant in World War I:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant_Stubby
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant_Stubby
Video
Here’s a short video inspired by the work of Carl Sagan about life outside of Earth. Make sure to set the resolution to 720:
A Critique of How We Think about Religion II
My former post reflects some of my overarching sentiments about religion in contemporary (American) society. It mostly focuses on a misconception that many who turn to atheism seem to have. I’d like to elaborate more on where I take issue with religious practice today, by considering those who ascribe to religious institutions.
Firstly, let me consider what religion really is, and what role, if any, it ought to have in our lives. If you think about it, it’s really difficult to define. Encyclopedia Brittanica defines religion as “the relation of human beings to God or the gods or to whatever they consider sacred or, in some cases, merely supernatural. Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines religion as “a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith." Ralph Waldo Emerson stated that "Religion is to do right. It is to love, it is to serve, it is to think, it is to be humble."
Clearly, it is nearly impossible to provide a universal, comprehensive definition of “religion.” Regardless of what we say religion really is, I think we can agree that the ideas religion addresses are at the essence of the human condition. Whether or not there is an omnipotent God, objective moral truths or some sort of afterlife, for instance, is essential to our existence. It affects the way we ought to live our lives, what we ought to value and how we ought to define ourselves. And so, determining if and what religious views we hold is of fundamental importance, and should not be taken lightly.
I take issue with religion today because these fundamental questions affecting people’s lives are largely being answered by the whims of societal convention. If a girl is born in the United States today, she is likely going to become affiliated with some sort of Christian or Jewish institution from the outset of birth. She will probably attend services throughout childhood, and be indoctrinated with the institutionalized beliefs of her respective religion. The problem with this system is that fundamental life decisions are being imposed upon the girl. And because the manipulative effects of a religious construct are so strong, especially since often the alleged punishments for dissent are grave, the girl is going to be very hesitant to challenge the beliefs she has been taught. Furthermore, she will likely employ the use of cognitive dissonance, adjusting her attitudes to justify her behavior, namely attending religious services and being a part of a religious community. Why shouldn’t this girl be a Buddhist or a Muslim? If the very same girl were to be born in India, for instance, she would likely become a Hindu. The fact that she will probably perpetuate her membership within the religious institution is largely a consequence of social influence--familial or community values--rather than deliberate, personal contemplation. Surely if there are fundamental, transcendental truths in this world, they should not be arrived upon by arbitrary, societal allegiances. Instead, they should be apprehended with our best human faculties with a humble understanding of the human conceptual framework. We should strive to equip people with the ability to reason, to think critically and to philosophize so they can make these fundamental decisions by themselves. If after their contemplation they arrive at a belief system consistent with tradition ideology, so be it. But I’m not convinced that most religious people today are putting sufficient forethought into their ideological allegiances, which can dangerously augment the coercive powers of social influence.
-Sam King
Firstly, let me consider what religion really is, and what role, if any, it ought to have in our lives. If you think about it, it’s really difficult to define. Encyclopedia Brittanica defines religion as “the relation of human beings to God or the gods or to whatever they consider sacred or, in some cases, merely supernatural. Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines religion as “a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith." Ralph Waldo Emerson stated that "Religion is to do right. It is to love, it is to serve, it is to think, it is to be humble."
Clearly, it is nearly impossible to provide a universal, comprehensive definition of “religion.” Regardless of what we say religion really is, I think we can agree that the ideas religion addresses are at the essence of the human condition. Whether or not there is an omnipotent God, objective moral truths or some sort of afterlife, for instance, is essential to our existence. It affects the way we ought to live our lives, what we ought to value and how we ought to define ourselves. And so, determining if and what religious views we hold is of fundamental importance, and should not be taken lightly.
I take issue with religion today because these fundamental questions affecting people’s lives are largely being answered by the whims of societal convention. If a girl is born in the United States today, she is likely going to become affiliated with some sort of Christian or Jewish institution from the outset of birth. She will probably attend services throughout childhood, and be indoctrinated with the institutionalized beliefs of her respective religion. The problem with this system is that fundamental life decisions are being imposed upon the girl. And because the manipulative effects of a religious construct are so strong, especially since often the alleged punishments for dissent are grave, the girl is going to be very hesitant to challenge the beliefs she has been taught. Furthermore, she will likely employ the use of cognitive dissonance, adjusting her attitudes to justify her behavior, namely attending religious services and being a part of a religious community. Why shouldn’t this girl be a Buddhist or a Muslim? If the very same girl were to be born in India, for instance, she would likely become a Hindu. The fact that she will probably perpetuate her membership within the religious institution is largely a consequence of social influence--familial or community values--rather than deliberate, personal contemplation. Surely if there are fundamental, transcendental truths in this world, they should not be arrived upon by arbitrary, societal allegiances. Instead, they should be apprehended with our best human faculties with a humble understanding of the human conceptual framework. We should strive to equip people with the ability to reason, to think critically and to philosophize so they can make these fundamental decisions by themselves. If after their contemplation they arrive at a belief system consistent with tradition ideology, so be it. But I’m not convinced that most religious people today are putting sufficient forethought into their ideological allegiances, which can dangerously augment the coercive powers of social influence.
-Sam King
Life Tips
13June2011 12:25 PM Life | Inspiration
Here is a compilation of life tips taken from a list of 50 at www.highexistence.com:
Constantly try to reduce your attachment to possessions.
Those who are heavy set with material desires will have a lot of trouble when their things are taken away from them or lost. Possessions do end up owning you, not the other way around. Become a person of minimal needs and you will be much more content.
Develop an endless curiosity about this world.
Become an explorer and view the world as your jungle. Stop and observe all of the little things as completely unique events. Try new things. Get our of your comfort zone and try to experience as many different environments and sensations as possible. This world has so much to offer, so why not take advantage of it?
Learn to focus only on the present.
The past is unchangeable so it is futile to reflect on it unless you are making sure you do not repeat past mistakes. The future is but a result of your actions today. So learn from the past to do better in the present so that you can succeed in the future.
Help others.
I’ll give you a plethora of reasons why this is a MUST:
-Helping people has a ripple effect. If you help someone they will feel more obliged to help someone else, and so on. Pay it forward.
-You grow by giving and helping others. It can change you in ways you never expected.
-Your relationship with that person will become stronger.
-It’s the most fulfilling thing you can do on this planet. It not only feels amazing physically, you also feel like a good person.
-Karma (if you believe in it)
-Because there are more people in this world than just you.
Get fit.
It’s ridiculous to think that we have one body, one sole means of functioning, and people are too lazy to take care of themselves. Fit bodies lead to better health, confidence and more success with romantic endeavors. I’d say those are 2 very good reasons to get in shape.
Drink water.
Hydration is tremendously important for overall health. Soda has absolutely ZERO nutritional content; it’s like pouring a punch of sugar and syrup into your cup. Instead, fill it with life-replenishing water. It may taste plain at first if you’re coming off a heavy soda-drinking streak, but you’ll soon find yourself addicted to it. 10 glasses per day is optimal, how many have you been getting lately?
Sleep less.
Fully adjusting to a new sleep cycle can take up to 21 days so don’t give up if you feel tired after switching to 5-hour nights. The “required” 8 hour/night is for normal people. If you’re reading this, you are not normal. So figure out how much sleep you really need and adjust accordingly. As enjoyable as sleep is, waking existence is much more fulfilling and efficient. If this really sparks your interest, check out alternative sleep cycles with which you can be fine off of 2 hours of sleep per day.
Figure out what your goals and dreams are.
So many people wander aimlessly through life simply going for whatever small thing they want moment by moment. Instead, decide what your perfect life consists of and begin to put the steps in motion to reach that place. The most satisfying thing in the world is overcoming a challenge and reaching a goal. We are the happiest when we are growing and working towards something better.
Start your day off right.
Wake up and set aside an hour for personal development activities (meditation, self-introspection, observing nature, etc.). Do the things that make you feel blissful, optimistic and empowered so that you can set a positive tone for your day. I guarantee that once you start doing this, your days will be more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Travel.
Anyone who has every gone anywhere will tell you that traveling is one of the most exciting and life-changing activities that you can do. Observing a different culture will expand your mind while making you further appreciate the life you already live. This goes back to becoming an explorer: this world is your jungle so go explore! Who knows, maybe you’ll find a place you love so much that you decide to move. Imagine the positive repercussions a new environment can have on your life.
Meditate everyday for at least 20 minutes.
In this modern world where everyone is so connected to everything else via cell phones, TV and internet, most people rarely enjoy the beauty of silence. The ability to quiet your mind and relax your body is an art and skill that everyone should develop. Simply sit somewhere, preferably in nature, and focus on your breathing or try to think about nothing. This is going to be extremely hard at first! You might find it boring or just plain impossible to think of nothing, but you will get better and you will learn to love it. Post-meditation, you will feel extremely clear headed and...well, just plain wonderful. The only way to really understand this sensation is to try it.
Work on making good first impressions.
Practice a strong, firm handshake and the small talk that generally goes along with meeting someone for the first time. People won’t know what to think of you if you have nothing more to say beyond “My name is ______, nice to meet you.” Also make sure you remember names, as mentioned previously. Who knows, you may be going into business with or marrying this person you’re meeting for the first time if you make a good impression. Be sure and make an excellent one.
Learn to use your eyes to their full potential.
-Make constant eye contact when in conversation. Looking away (especially down) is a sign of inferiority and unsureness. Instead, look at your conversation partner dead in the eyes and keep them locked on.
-Master the piercing stare. You know when someone looks at you and it feels like they can see into your soul? Well, that’s not a hereditary characteristic, it just takes practice. Work on sharpening your gaze in the mirror. You’ll know you have it when it’s intimidating to continue looking at yourself.
Be mysterious.
Don’t let off everything about you and definitely leave out some major details. There is something both alluring and mesmerizing about someone that no one knows fully about. I’m not saying to confide in no one or to alienate yourself. Just think James Bond.
Read something inspirational right before bed and after waking.
This will get you in a great mood for sleep and for the day. Read anything from a famous speech to your favorite self-improvement book. Try to read something that gets you really excited in the morning especially so that you’ll leave your house beaming with energy and wonder.
Do what you love.
There is a huge difference between making a life and making a living; which one are you making right now? So many spend their entire lives trying to make as much money as possible so that they can afford to do what they really want later. It makes no sense to settle until you’re 65 so that you can retire and do what you want when you’re already way past your prime. We only live once so why wouldn’t you want to spend it pursuing your bliss? To do anything else would be a tragic waste of the freedom you are allowed if you are reading this right now. Follow your bliss and you will be a thousand times more happy than your retirement date and 40+ years younger.
Choose your friends wisely.
You are affected far more than you think by the people you spend your time with. Do your friends share your values? Do they encourage you when you speak of your goals and dreams or do they scoff? Make sure the people around you are conducive to the lifestyle you want to lead or you will find yourself being dragged again and again into behavior that distances you from your desires. Friends with a habit of producing negative thoughts will especially hinder you. This can be a hard task to follow through with if you realize your good friend is one of those saboteurs, but you must be firm! Don’t let anyone get in the way of being all that you can be.
Love is all there is.
If you truly want to be a master of life, let love be in your every action. Love your friends, family and enemies alike. This is the most difficult thing to do out of this entire list, but if you accomplish this, you will be seen as a leader among everyone that allows hate, envy, disgust and all other negative emotions into their lives. Think Gandhi. Love is so rare in this world when compared to the massive presence of hate that by exuding love, you will immediately see yourself and the people around you change.
Constantly try to reduce your attachment to possessions.
Those who are heavy set with material desires will have a lot of trouble when their things are taken away from them or lost. Possessions do end up owning you, not the other way around. Become a person of minimal needs and you will be much more content.
Develop an endless curiosity about this world.
Become an explorer and view the world as your jungle. Stop and observe all of the little things as completely unique events. Try new things. Get our of your comfort zone and try to experience as many different environments and sensations as possible. This world has so much to offer, so why not take advantage of it?
Learn to focus only on the present.
The past is unchangeable so it is futile to reflect on it unless you are making sure you do not repeat past mistakes. The future is but a result of your actions today. So learn from the past to do better in the present so that you can succeed in the future.
Help others.
I’ll give you a plethora of reasons why this is a MUST:
-Helping people has a ripple effect. If you help someone they will feel more obliged to help someone else, and so on. Pay it forward.
-You grow by giving and helping others. It can change you in ways you never expected.
-Your relationship with that person will become stronger.
-It’s the most fulfilling thing you can do on this planet. It not only feels amazing physically, you also feel like a good person.
-Karma (if you believe in it)
-Because there are more people in this world than just you.
Get fit.
It’s ridiculous to think that we have one body, one sole means of functioning, and people are too lazy to take care of themselves. Fit bodies lead to better health, confidence and more success with romantic endeavors. I’d say those are 2 very good reasons to get in shape.
Drink water.
Hydration is tremendously important for overall health. Soda has absolutely ZERO nutritional content; it’s like pouring a punch of sugar and syrup into your cup. Instead, fill it with life-replenishing water. It may taste plain at first if you’re coming off a heavy soda-drinking streak, but you’ll soon find yourself addicted to it. 10 glasses per day is optimal, how many have you been getting lately?
Sleep less.
Fully adjusting to a new sleep cycle can take up to 21 days so don’t give up if you feel tired after switching to 5-hour nights. The “required” 8 hour/night is for normal people. If you’re reading this, you are not normal. So figure out how much sleep you really need and adjust accordingly. As enjoyable as sleep is, waking existence is much more fulfilling and efficient. If this really sparks your interest, check out alternative sleep cycles with which you can be fine off of 2 hours of sleep per day.
Figure out what your goals and dreams are.
So many people wander aimlessly through life simply going for whatever small thing they want moment by moment. Instead, decide what your perfect life consists of and begin to put the steps in motion to reach that place. The most satisfying thing in the world is overcoming a challenge and reaching a goal. We are the happiest when we are growing and working towards something better.
Start your day off right.
Wake up and set aside an hour for personal development activities (meditation, self-introspection, observing nature, etc.). Do the things that make you feel blissful, optimistic and empowered so that you can set a positive tone for your day. I guarantee that once you start doing this, your days will be more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Travel.
Anyone who has every gone anywhere will tell you that traveling is one of the most exciting and life-changing activities that you can do. Observing a different culture will expand your mind while making you further appreciate the life you already live. This goes back to becoming an explorer: this world is your jungle so go explore! Who knows, maybe you’ll find a place you love so much that you decide to move. Imagine the positive repercussions a new environment can have on your life.
Meditate everyday for at least 20 minutes.
In this modern world where everyone is so connected to everything else via cell phones, TV and internet, most people rarely enjoy the beauty of silence. The ability to quiet your mind and relax your body is an art and skill that everyone should develop. Simply sit somewhere, preferably in nature, and focus on your breathing or try to think about nothing. This is going to be extremely hard at first! You might find it boring or just plain impossible to think of nothing, but you will get better and you will learn to love it. Post-meditation, you will feel extremely clear headed and...well, just plain wonderful. The only way to really understand this sensation is to try it.
Work on making good first impressions.
Practice a strong, firm handshake and the small talk that generally goes along with meeting someone for the first time. People won’t know what to think of you if you have nothing more to say beyond “My name is ______, nice to meet you.” Also make sure you remember names, as mentioned previously. Who knows, you may be going into business with or marrying this person you’re meeting for the first time if you make a good impression. Be sure and make an excellent one.
Learn to use your eyes to their full potential.
-Make constant eye contact when in conversation. Looking away (especially down) is a sign of inferiority and unsureness. Instead, look at your conversation partner dead in the eyes and keep them locked on.
-Master the piercing stare. You know when someone looks at you and it feels like they can see into your soul? Well, that’s not a hereditary characteristic, it just takes practice. Work on sharpening your gaze in the mirror. You’ll know you have it when it’s intimidating to continue looking at yourself.
Be mysterious.
Don’t let off everything about you and definitely leave out some major details. There is something both alluring and mesmerizing about someone that no one knows fully about. I’m not saying to confide in no one or to alienate yourself. Just think James Bond.
Read something inspirational right before bed and after waking.
This will get you in a great mood for sleep and for the day. Read anything from a famous speech to your favorite self-improvement book. Try to read something that gets you really excited in the morning especially so that you’ll leave your house beaming with energy and wonder.
Do what you love.
There is a huge difference between making a life and making a living; which one are you making right now? So many spend their entire lives trying to make as much money as possible so that they can afford to do what they really want later. It makes no sense to settle until you’re 65 so that you can retire and do what you want when you’re already way past your prime. We only live once so why wouldn’t you want to spend it pursuing your bliss? To do anything else would be a tragic waste of the freedom you are allowed if you are reading this right now. Follow your bliss and you will be a thousand times more happy than your retirement date and 40+ years younger.
Choose your friends wisely.
You are affected far more than you think by the people you spend your time with. Do your friends share your values? Do they encourage you when you speak of your goals and dreams or do they scoff? Make sure the people around you are conducive to the lifestyle you want to lead or you will find yourself being dragged again and again into behavior that distances you from your desires. Friends with a habit of producing negative thoughts will especially hinder you. This can be a hard task to follow through with if you realize your good friend is one of those saboteurs, but you must be firm! Don’t let anyone get in the way of being all that you can be.
Love is all there is.
If you truly want to be a master of life, let love be in your every action. Love your friends, family and enemies alike. This is the most difficult thing to do out of this entire list, but if you accomplish this, you will be seen as a leader among everyone that allows hate, envy, disgust and all other negative emotions into their lives. Think Gandhi. Love is so rare in this world when compared to the massive presence of hate that by exuding love, you will immediately see yourself and the people around you change.
A Critique of How We Think About Religion
More and more people today are dismissing belief in a higher power, and atheism has become increasingly acceptable in most communities, as it should be. But what I have noticed from many of my conversations with atheists is that people (in my experience) are commonly rejecting the notion of a higher power as a by-product of their reservations about conventional religion, or the way it is practiced in society today. They see the disparities between faith-ascribing sermons and an increasingly rational and scientifically advanced world as irreconciliable. And, they look at historic events like the Spanish Inquisition, Jonestown or modern-day extreme Islam as examples of the enormous potential for evil religion has. For many, the way religion is practiced and has been practiced throughout history is enough justification to reject religion altogether, meaning any theistic beliefs that may come with it.
I understand the problems people have with conventional religion and religious institutions--I hold many of the same reservations myself. It seems that many religious tenets are unexamined within the context of empirical knowledge, as well as the historical reliability of religious dogma. And, I see the great potential for manipulation and malevolence that organized religion has (and perhaps more pertinently in our lives, decreasing critical thinking and evaluative skills). But the grave mistake many people seem to make is equivocating between their notions of “conventional religion” and “theism.” Because religion in society is, on the whole, practiced in a relatively similar manner, many have the misconception that belief in a higher power is ascribing to these societal norms about religious practice. They are led to think that belief in a higher power or some other central tenets of religious institutions necessitates labeling themselves within a culturally constructed framework of what it means to be “Catholic” or “Jewish” or “Muslim.” In so doing, people forego philosophical examination of the question of God’s existence or other important considerations. They rule out the proposition of a higher power without doing the analytical work, and end up with a limited conceptual framework.
It is justifiable to believe in atheism, but do so on the grounds of philosophical reasoning rather than by dismissing societal religious institutions alone. Don’t be influenced to think that the Gods worshipped in Christianity, Judaism, Islam or other religious traditions are the only sorts of higher powers one can believe in. Additionally, there are many compelling, rational arguments as to why reason is a limited faculty, and how we ought to have faith in a higher power, if not the faith expected in your community (I won’t elaborate on those arguments here since their content is irrelevant--the point is, one should at least entertain them before reaching conclusions about God’s existence). Do the objective, philosophical examination, and then formulate your beliefs.
-Sam King
I understand the problems people have with conventional religion and religious institutions--I hold many of the same reservations myself. It seems that many religious tenets are unexamined within the context of empirical knowledge, as well as the historical reliability of religious dogma. And, I see the great potential for manipulation and malevolence that organized religion has (and perhaps more pertinently in our lives, decreasing critical thinking and evaluative skills). But the grave mistake many people seem to make is equivocating between their notions of “conventional religion” and “theism.” Because religion in society is, on the whole, practiced in a relatively similar manner, many have the misconception that belief in a higher power is ascribing to these societal norms about religious practice. They are led to think that belief in a higher power or some other central tenets of religious institutions necessitates labeling themselves within a culturally constructed framework of what it means to be “Catholic” or “Jewish” or “Muslim.” In so doing, people forego philosophical examination of the question of God’s existence or other important considerations. They rule out the proposition of a higher power without doing the analytical work, and end up with a limited conceptual framework.
It is justifiable to believe in atheism, but do so on the grounds of philosophical reasoning rather than by dismissing societal religious institutions alone. Don’t be influenced to think that the Gods worshipped in Christianity, Judaism, Islam or other religious traditions are the only sorts of higher powers one can believe in. Additionally, there are many compelling, rational arguments as to why reason is a limited faculty, and how we ought to have faith in a higher power, if not the faith expected in your community (I won’t elaborate on those arguments here since their content is irrelevant--the point is, one should at least entertain them before reaching conclusions about God’s existence). Do the objective, philosophical examination, and then formulate your beliefs.
-Sam King
Thoughts on Eating Animals
I must confess that, despite being convinced by arguments for vegetarianism, I continue to eat meat, albeit less than I used to. And so I could consider myself a guilted omnivore, though I believe my stance is more ethical than it was before. Before I argue why, let me attempt to articulate what I find to be the two most compelling arguments for vegetarianism in today’s world:
Argument #1- Eating meat is incredibly inefficient. Organisms only convert about 10% of the chemical energy in their food to biomass, and thus 90% of the energy is wasted (excreted, not digested, etc.). So, when humans feed livestock with food such as corn, 90% of the chemical energy in the corn is lost as it is converted into animals’ organic tissue. If you were to feed your cow 100 pieces of corn, essentially 90 of those pieces of corn would be wasted just to support the meat source. The inefficiency doesn’t become so concerning until you consider rapid global population growth and food shortages (see my entry below entitled “Population Dynamics and The Earth” for more statistics and figures). Worldhunger.org estimates that about 925 million people are hungry or lack some or all of the nutritional elements necessary for human health. So, if we didn’t eat the aforementioned cow, we would save 100 pieces of corn that could instead be fed directly to humans, without losing 90 of the 100 pieces due to the indirect, inefficient step of eating meat. On a large scale, if people were to eat less meat, the number of livestock would decrease and a significant amount of grains or lower trophic level foods would be available to help feed the 925 million people in need. Considering how much meat the United States and other affluent countries consume, it seems most ethical to forego (at least some of) the ephemeral pleasures of eating meat to ensure that another human being gets more to eat. Note, I understand that logistically, it may be difficult to get the corn saved by not eating the cow (presumably in an affluent country such as the US) to people who really need it (at least initially), but I believe that it would eventually be exported or find itself there somehow.
Argument #2- Factory farming, which contributes more than 99% of the meat we (contemporary Americans) consume, puts animals through excruciatingly unpleasant conditions to “farm” them for human consumption. I’ll let you do the research, but if you look into the practices and conditions imposed on billions of animals, it is horrific. Although virtually any compassionate person would be perturbed watching videos of factory farm practices, you may be inclined to think that animals do not have any ethical rights or claims that might warrant these practices as ethical. There are many ways a philosopher could respond (see literature by Peter Singer or Tom Regan, for instance), but I’ll say this. Animals, if not possessing the cognitive abilities of humans (though some animals may have more advanced cognition than the most mentally deficient humans), do seem to experience pleasure and pain. They exhibit similar, distressful reactions to the infliction of pain as humans, and some have even been found to commit suicide amid unpleasant circumstances (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1973486,00.html). If we at least afford animals the capability of experiencing pleasure and pain if not sentience or other cognitive capability, is the incredible suffering we impose on billions of animals worth the transient human pleasure of eating meat? Also (appealing to our empathetic intuitions), consider how we find Michael Vick’s dog fighting or other incidents of animal cruelty particularly egregious. We tend to not have nearly as much concern for factory farmed animals, probably because we are not exposed to them. But not being exposed to the suffering and cruelty imposed on these animals does not justify the practices- if each of us were forced to witness a “factory farm-esque” slaughter in our back yards before a steak dinner, we might think twice about the merits of modern meat eating practices. Note that this argument appeals to contemporary times and practices (since more than 99% of the meat we eat today comes from factory farms), and does not suggest that other forms of farming, hunting or meat acquisition and consumption is unethical.
I am admittedly convinced by these arguments, yet I guiltily continue to eat meat. It is somewhat comforting, though, that I suspect many others are placed in a similar, conflicted boat- often there are only a few if any vegetarian options at most restaurants, and many of our cultural traditions and norms (i.e. Thanksgiving turkey) involve eating meat. Not to mention that on a personal note, I am an athlete that depends on a viable protein source, which meat can easily provide (though I acknowledge that there are several vegetarian protein sources that may even be superior). Yet despite these sentiments, I do believe that ethical considerations outweigh pragmatic ones. Thus, given that I am convinced of some of the arguments for vegetarianism, ideally I should avoid eating meat regardless of how ever inconvenient it may be. I also acknowledge, though, that there may be some ethical merit to not refusing Aunt May’s traditional roasted chicken or a certain meat source on a religious holiday. It may be somewhat of a gray area, as many ethical dilemmas seem to be, but I am convinced that I ought to forego the pleasures of my palate for what seem to be weightier concerns. That being said, I believe there is ethical merit in reducing or cutting back on meat consumption, especially given that there are ambiguities underlying the absolute, “right” answers. Eating vegetarian at one dinner reflects the “intent” (I acknowledge that animals may be killed regardless, but I believe it is the ethical intent that matters; besides, I am confident that if enough people were to forego eating their “roasted chicken at dinner,” eventually, less animals would undoubtedly suffer) to reduce harm or suffering, whether to the factory farmed animals or people who don’t have enough to eat. If every American were to eat just one less animal per week, I am convinced that a significant (utilitarian) amalgamation of pain would be avoided, and that is more of an ethical condition than if Americans were to continue their meat-eating practices normally. And so, I believe there is some merit in reducing meat consumption if not going vegetarian altogether. I do hope, though, that in the future I will have the wherewithal and conviction to completely forego the conveniences and pleasures of eating animals. For now, consider me the guilted omnivore.
-Sam King
Argument #1- Eating meat is incredibly inefficient. Organisms only convert about 10% of the chemical energy in their food to biomass, and thus 90% of the energy is wasted (excreted, not digested, etc.). So, when humans feed livestock with food such as corn, 90% of the chemical energy in the corn is lost as it is converted into animals’ organic tissue. If you were to feed your cow 100 pieces of corn, essentially 90 of those pieces of corn would be wasted just to support the meat source. The inefficiency doesn’t become so concerning until you consider rapid global population growth and food shortages (see my entry below entitled “Population Dynamics and The Earth” for more statistics and figures). Worldhunger.org estimates that about 925 million people are hungry or lack some or all of the nutritional elements necessary for human health. So, if we didn’t eat the aforementioned cow, we would save 100 pieces of corn that could instead be fed directly to humans, without losing 90 of the 100 pieces due to the indirect, inefficient step of eating meat. On a large scale, if people were to eat less meat, the number of livestock would decrease and a significant amount of grains or lower trophic level foods would be available to help feed the 925 million people in need. Considering how much meat the United States and other affluent countries consume, it seems most ethical to forego (at least some of) the ephemeral pleasures of eating meat to ensure that another human being gets more to eat. Note, I understand that logistically, it may be difficult to get the corn saved by not eating the cow (presumably in an affluent country such as the US) to people who really need it (at least initially), but I believe that it would eventually be exported or find itself there somehow.
Argument #2- Factory farming, which contributes more than 99% of the meat we (contemporary Americans) consume, puts animals through excruciatingly unpleasant conditions to “farm” them for human consumption. I’ll let you do the research, but if you look into the practices and conditions imposed on billions of animals, it is horrific. Although virtually any compassionate person would be perturbed watching videos of factory farm practices, you may be inclined to think that animals do not have any ethical rights or claims that might warrant these practices as ethical. There are many ways a philosopher could respond (see literature by Peter Singer or Tom Regan, for instance), but I’ll say this. Animals, if not possessing the cognitive abilities of humans (though some animals may have more advanced cognition than the most mentally deficient humans), do seem to experience pleasure and pain. They exhibit similar, distressful reactions to the infliction of pain as humans, and some have even been found to commit suicide amid unpleasant circumstances (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1973486,00.html). If we at least afford animals the capability of experiencing pleasure and pain if not sentience or other cognitive capability, is the incredible suffering we impose on billions of animals worth the transient human pleasure of eating meat? Also (appealing to our empathetic intuitions), consider how we find Michael Vick’s dog fighting or other incidents of animal cruelty particularly egregious. We tend to not have nearly as much concern for factory farmed animals, probably because we are not exposed to them. But not being exposed to the suffering and cruelty imposed on these animals does not justify the practices- if each of us were forced to witness a “factory farm-esque” slaughter in our back yards before a steak dinner, we might think twice about the merits of modern meat eating practices. Note that this argument appeals to contemporary times and practices (since more than 99% of the meat we eat today comes from factory farms), and does not suggest that other forms of farming, hunting or meat acquisition and consumption is unethical.
I am admittedly convinced by these arguments, yet I guiltily continue to eat meat. It is somewhat comforting, though, that I suspect many others are placed in a similar, conflicted boat- often there are only a few if any vegetarian options at most restaurants, and many of our cultural traditions and norms (i.e. Thanksgiving turkey) involve eating meat. Not to mention that on a personal note, I am an athlete that depends on a viable protein source, which meat can easily provide (though I acknowledge that there are several vegetarian protein sources that may even be superior). Yet despite these sentiments, I do believe that ethical considerations outweigh pragmatic ones. Thus, given that I am convinced of some of the arguments for vegetarianism, ideally I should avoid eating meat regardless of how ever inconvenient it may be. I also acknowledge, though, that there may be some ethical merit to not refusing Aunt May’s traditional roasted chicken or a certain meat source on a religious holiday. It may be somewhat of a gray area, as many ethical dilemmas seem to be, but I am convinced that I ought to forego the pleasures of my palate for what seem to be weightier concerns. That being said, I believe there is ethical merit in reducing or cutting back on meat consumption, especially given that there are ambiguities underlying the absolute, “right” answers. Eating vegetarian at one dinner reflects the “intent” (I acknowledge that animals may be killed regardless, but I believe it is the ethical intent that matters; besides, I am confident that if enough people were to forego eating their “roasted chicken at dinner,” eventually, less animals would undoubtedly suffer) to reduce harm or suffering, whether to the factory farmed animals or people who don’t have enough to eat. If every American were to eat just one less animal per week, I am convinced that a significant (utilitarian) amalgamation of pain would be avoided, and that is more of an ethical condition than if Americans were to continue their meat-eating practices normally. And so, I believe there is some merit in reducing meat consumption if not going vegetarian altogether. I do hope, though, that in the future I will have the wherewithal and conviction to completely forego the conveniences and pleasures of eating animals. For now, consider me the guilted omnivore.
-Sam King
Explosion on the Sun
Article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43345867/ns/technology_and_science-space/
Video of the explosion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrBl5f08rhw
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43345867/ns/technology_and_science-space/
Video of the explosion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrBl5f08rhw
Faith and Reason
A piece that traces Buddhism’s introduction to Western culture, and examines the relationship between Buddhism and Science:
Buddhism and Science: Probing the Boundaries of Faith and Reason
Buddhism and Science: Probing the Boundaries of Faith and Reason
Epictetus, The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
Excerpts from The Art of Living:
Know What You Can Control and What You Can’t
Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can’t control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible.
Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, desires, and the things that repel us. These areas are quite rightly our concern, because they are directly subject to our influence. We always have a choice about the contents and character of our inner lives. Outside our control, however, are such things as what kind of body we have, whether we’re born into wealth or strike it rich, how we are regarded by others, and our status in society. We must remember that those things are externals and are therefore not our concern. Trying to control or to change what we can’t only results in torment.
Remember: The things within our power are naturally at our disposal, free from any restraint or hindrance; but those things outside our power are weak, dependent, or determined by the whims and actions of others. Remember, too, that if you think that you have free rein over things that are naturally beyond your control, or if you attempt to adopt the affairs of others as your own, your pursuits will be thwarted and you will become a frustrated, anxious, and fault-finding person.
Happiness Can Only Be Found Within
Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control. We cannot have a light heart if our minds are a woeful cauldron of fear and ambition.
Do you wish to be invincible? Then don’t enter into combat with what you have no real control over. Your happiness depends on three things, all of which are within your power: your will, your ideas concerning the events in which you are involved, and the use you make of your ideas.
Authentic happiness is always independent of external conditions. Vigilantly practice indifference to external conditions. Your happiness can only be found within.
How easily dazzled and deceived we are by eloquence, job title, degrees, high honors, fancy possessions, expensive clothing, or a suave demeanor. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that celebrities, public figures, political leaders, the wealthy, or people with great intellectual or artistic gifts are necessarily happy. To do so is to be bewildered by appearances and will only make you doubt yourself.
Remember: The real essence of good is found only within things under your own control. If you keep this in mind, you won’t find yourself feeling falsely envious or forlorn, pitifully comparing yourself and your accomplishments to others.
Stop aspiring to be anyone other than your own best self: for that does fall within your control.
The Pursuit of Wisdom Attracts Critics
Those who pursue the higher life of wisdom, who seek to live by spiritual principles, must be prepared to be laughed at and condemned.
Many people who have progressively lowered their personal standards in an attempt to win social acceptance and life’s comforts bitterly resent those of philosophical bent who refuse to compromise their spiritual ideals and who seek to better themselves. Never live your life in reaction to these diminished souls. Be compassionate toward them, and at the same time hold to what you know is good.
When you begin your program of spiritual progress, chances are the people closest to you will deride you or accuse you of arrogance.
It is your job to comport yourself humbly and to consistently hew to your moral ideals. Cling to what you know in your heart is best. Then, if you are steadfast, the very people who ridiculed you will come to admire you.
If you allow the mean-spirited opinions of others to make you waver in your purpose, you incur a double shame.
Bounce Back
09June2011 10:45 AM Inspiration | Life
Poem
09June2011 02:27 AM Poetry | Reflections
The Journey
To strive and to reach are such curious things,
Alas not every man can be King,
What ought we esteem if not zenithal heights,
The epiphany of answers or ultimate might?
Cramped in these skeletons, subjected to space,
Slaves to master time going her pace,
Earthly convention and habit abound,
Obscuring the cosmos’ melodious sound,
Where does it lie? Is it within reach?
Surely a beast no mortal can teach,
But save us from yielding our resolute eye,
Lest our spirits that journey surrender and die.
-Sam King
To strive and to reach are such curious things,
Alas not every man can be King,
What ought we esteem if not zenithal heights,
The epiphany of answers or ultimate might?
Cramped in these skeletons, subjected to space,
Slaves to master time going her pace,
Earthly convention and habit abound,
Obscuring the cosmos’ melodious sound,
Where does it lie? Is it within reach?
Surely a beast no mortal can teach,
But save us from yielding our resolute eye,
Lest our spirits that journey surrender and die.
-Sam King
Welcome
07June2011 10:53 PM
Hi, I’m Sam. Welcome to my new website! Check back for interesting and thought-provoking reflections on my life experiences, as well as articles, videos, images and other sources that I find inspiring, insightful or meaningful. It is my hope that this site will bring one person’s passion for contemplation and reflection into the lives of fellow journeymen.