RevBogovac
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Posts posted by RevBogovac
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On 1/12/2023 at 3:18 PM, VonNoble said:
I would be happy to try to do so. [...] It is difficult to explain [...] Von
Thank you for elaborating!
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On 12/3/2022 at 2:22 AM, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
No. Also no children. This works out well because I never took a wife. I never found anyone I wanted to be married to.
It's one of the few serious mistakes I managed to avoid. So many of my peers are on their second divorce. 😆🤣
Yes, that does tend to make life… interesting… and meaningful…
But also more challenging (to follow the path of the Buddha). Let me illustrate; I have been in (several) severe motor accidents (having been hospitalized, operated and rehabilitated) and in war (two times; been shot at/shelled/bombed over, threatened to be butchered [with a “Rambo”-knife), had a gun cocked and put on my forehead), but I have never, EVER been (even close to) as worried as since my first child was born into my hands (literally).
As a (team-) lead I thought I understood my reports who had children. I did not. It’s a cliché, but you really have to live through it to understand.
How does one “releas[-e] the transitory and understand[…] that everything passes” if it concerns their children?
(PS Wife I can understand, but children…)
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On 11/30/2022 at 2:43 PM, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
A lot of topics are self limiting. The threads on Agnosticism and Atheism have been beaten to death.
I doubt anyone has changed their opinion on vaccination or masking. Well, updates. I still have to mask up at my senior center and medical places. Otherwise, masking has largely passed.
I had the new bivalent vaccine booster. Vaccine booster rates are low.
Things are not quite normal. Or maybe they are.
Jonathan 😀
Then let’s wonder off-topic… do you have any (grand-)children, Jonathan?
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On 11/25/2022 at 1:04 PM, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
I have a social nature but I have run out of things to say.
Jonathan
Yeah, this forum hasn’t got a lot of good topics any more…
You more or less predicted that.
Still, good to know you are all right!
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On 11/18/2022 at 9:37 PM, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
You have chosen an extreme example. I have little to offer in the way of wisdom.
A less extreme example: A person who I regarded as a friend, who was also one of my teachers, who I had business dealings with -- bounced a check off me and disappeared into the night. I could have mourned the loss of the money. A $200 check. Instead I decided that it was a small price to be rid of a false friend. […]
True, that is an extreme example. I do recognize your example too, and have chosen a simmilar path (only karma to poke it’s head up when I met him a few years later when I had build my business further while driving in my BMW X5. He asked if we could talk. I gracefully declined)…
But I did choose that example because that is how I feel nowadays…
On 11/18/2022 at 9:37 PM, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:[…] Your example is more complicated. If the situation keeps you from sleeping. If it affects your health. You will be less able to protect your children and your enemy has found another way to harm you. Your rage will not harm this person. It will consume you.
A Buddhist idea that I find helpful is the middle path of moderation. Get enough sleep. Don't sleep your life away. Don't starve yourself. Don't be a gluten. Don't be lazy. Don't work yourself to death. Etc. […]
All true. but oh so hard to put into practice. Especially in those extreme circumstances. I am all for the “Aristotelian golden mean”…
On 11/18/2022 at 9:37 PM, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:Buddha himself was not always a good example. He abandoned his wife and child to seek enlightenment. This is not something his wife agreed to or his son. I think it was a vile, despicable and selfish decision. Then again, Buddha was only a man. For all of his great wisdom, a flawed man like the rest of us.
“Good” to know. Thanks for the kind words again. Have I mentioned already I missed you? I am glad you’re back.
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On 11/15/2022 at 7:40 PM, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
The basic ideas are solid. The path has had 3,000 years of professional monks to make things complicated.
I do have a few concerns. Buddha was clear that everything was subject to confirmation. Including his teachings. This is a path to enlightenment. After 3,000 years, there should be a lot of Buddhas. Where are they? […]
I find it hard. (Maybe simple to understand but difficult to practice?) An example: how do I let go of anger towards someone threatening my children? I understand everything passes (including my children), but I would really like (desire) it to take a bit longer…
On the missing Buddhas: there are not a lot of princes who are in the position to spend that much time philosophizing… most of the billionaire children spend their days on sex, drugs and rock&roll (thrill seeking). On that note; I am quite dissappointed that there are so many billionaires in the world and not one has decided to become Batman.
So I am only (hu-)man; I need to eat, so I have to earn money. I want to reproduce, so I had children. They need to eat, so rinse and repeat… ?
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16 hours ago, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
The whole idea of releasing the transitory and understanding that everything passes. It really helps in dealing with all manner of loss.
The idea of letting go of anger and resentment. It makes mental health more understandable. Anger is a fire. It burns.
Releasing desire is also useful. IMO.
Nice summary. Sounds indeed helpful from that perspective.
But the ego wants…
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On 11/7/2022 at 12:48 PM, VonNoble said:
Walking (or alternative movement if ambulation is not possible)
is healthful. Physically, mentally, socially, psychologically etc.
Is it also of spiritual benefit?
Can is rival religion for self improvement?
Does it contribute to the surrounding community?
How important an appointment with self to MOVE your body?
Do you find it to be meditative?
Do you find more mental agility coincides with physical action?
thx
Von
My wife and I try to have a daily walk. Very often together; which is also some “together” time (as we have 2 teenage kids that tend to ask a lot of our time), and thus becomes “quality” time.
I used to run three times a week, and found it “meditating” in the sense it “cleares your head”. But unfortunately it is quete stressful for my knees… (something with mind over matter..?)
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On 11/7/2022 at 12:56 PM, VonNoble said:
This year I opted to invest some time to see if I can personally appreciate this concept.
After LOTS of time walking (can't run) - I understand this notion more fully.
With the help of the Native Health Initiative...the group Running Medicine was able
to provide me with a much greater understanding of the spiritual side of running/walking.
I am grateful to them for their generous (and unconditional) support.
I NOW appreciate and believe there is merit to setting aside (daily) running/walking as a
spiritual enrichment.
Truly this is a new, remarkable and valuable lesson from the Native community.
Von
Could you elaborate…?
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On 11/7/2022 at 10:50 PM, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
I have found the basic ideas of Buddhism very helpful. I don't regard myself as Buddhist.
How would you describe that basic idea..?
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It is nice to see the Julian/Orthodox Christian calendar still being honoured... happy new year!!!
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Happy new year to all!
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Welcome back!
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On 9/28/2021 at 3:50 PM, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
This thread on Apatheism has gone cold. Does anybody wish to add anything?
Nope. Nothing to add... quite self-explanatory. Just that I like the idea and it's great for some peace fo mind. Thank you!
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Just a little side note (though still on topic). Fun for a bit of "light" reading (pun intended) and says (again) more about people than about any (real or perceived) deity: Nightfall — by Isaac Asimov.
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9 hours ago, Pete said:
There are three ways to stop a fire. 1/ deprive it of oxygen. 2/ deprive it of fuel. 3/ lower its temperature.
Debating highlights the nonsense the religion is founded upon. Even if they are persistent in quoting dogma, the ridiculous nature and lack of foundation of the religion shows through. I guess that is why you have given so many posts to the topic and interesting they are. I note there is no response back to challenge your logic. If they did it again would show up the ridiculousness of having a faith with no logical foundation. Hence you put the fire out.
Unfortunately there are a lot of ignorant people who seem to lack the ability of logical thinking (either by lack of intelligence or by consistent brainwashing) providing enough oxygen and fuel to keep the temperatures high and the flames going...
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On 7/14/2021 at 2:40 AM, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
There are many who seem to be the wise and calming voice of reason. Who insist that the new tech will create more jobs than it destroys. The thing is -- how many of these people are themselves looking for a job?
We are rushing head on into an unemployment disaster. If you wanted a career oriented major in school -- what course of study would you even pick? Remember. Jobs that require people to do them -- but not a physical presence -- are going to get outsourced. Repetitive jobs of all types will be automated.
No matter how we dice it, the future is in a lot of trouble. The new tech is adapting faster than the work force. This is what has changed.
Or... we start taxing assets/profits more (instead of work) and introduce 'universal basic income' ASAP...
PS. and I am not "looking for a job" myself, nor afraid of being unemployed or without income myself...
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On 7/9/2021 at 1:36 PM, John said:
Structured analytic techniques for intelligence analysis / by Richards J. Heuer, Jr., and Randolph H. Pherson.
ISBN 978-1-60871-018-8
LCN: JK468.I6H478 2010
DDN: 327.12—dc22Not cheap new as it is used as textbook.
Cool, thanks!
EDIT: found the 2014 edition online: https://1lib.nl/book/5830972/941ee0?id=5830972&secret=941ee0
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On 7/5/2021 at 4:14 PM, John said:
[img]
Not easy finding this image from the first video even with the book.
Which book (so I don't have to watch an half hour of video; I can read faster than he speaks...)?
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15 hours ago, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
Some bias is understandable. Even to be expected. This speaker took his bias way past reasonable.
The speaker made a great deal out of Uhura's horrified reaction at seeing one gladiator kill another. The speaker made an ugly assumption. Uhura reacted that way because of Christianity. Not because she's a good person. Or a kind person. Because of Christianity. This kind of bias -- we've seen it on this board -- insists that the "Christian Virtues" are exclusive to Christians. That Humanists, Atheists, Agnostics, etc. can't possibly have that kind of compassion.
This is my bias. I find that sort of thing to be deeply offensive and bigoted against secular people.
Have a caution. Denial of the humanity of secular people, is a prelude to denial of rights and violence. That is how things work in this world. Before any group is in actual danger, they are first dehumanized and demonized.
You were in the remnants of Yugoslavia. You have seen for yourself what this kind of thing leads to.
Thank you for making that point. We more or less just summarised my Bachelor' thesis' conclusion...
PS and - of course - I also acknowledged my own personal biasses...
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On 6/27/2021 at 3:06 PM, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
The video analysis that I posted came from a Christian. As such, the Christian saw what he wanted to see in this episode. [...]
Doesn't that (kind of bias) apply to all human analysis (more or less)...?
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Funny... my bachelor's thesis was actually on the political philosophy of Star trek (and the conclusion wasn't pretty)...
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Although the point is valid and the video entertaining (to those who are open to the argument) it is open to an 'argumentum ad absurdum' critique...
Anyway, I enjoyed it. Gave me a chuckle. Thanks!
Anyone Out There??
in * Welcome - ULC Minister's Introduction Junction *
Posted
Still here too!