The distant relative of 1980s pop sensation Chaka Khan.
Author: Warren Tang
Non-religious Buddhism
There is something comforting about Buddhism as a religion without gods to worship. And Buddhism is better than philosophy because it has application rather than being a theoretical thing. Philosophy does not have much of a system to deal with how to live.
So when I sit down and meditate or think about Buddha I look at it as embodying the ideals of the teaching (call it philosophy if you will). You can say then Buddha is the only philosopher who gave us a course in living.
Why I am an atheist but not against religion
As a person who looks at language for a living and have come to believe all of what we know and believe comes from a combination of experience, thought and language.
Not matter where we look cultures have religion. We, as human being, like to make religion, as much as we like to make language or literature. We are different to other animals in our ability to do so in such a way.
So I cannot be “against” religion, or language or literature. It is inherent in us to make religion, language, literature and the such.
What I do have believe, though, is that we also have the same capacity to “see through” the need for religion, language, literature, etc. For whatever reason we have religion, language, literature, etc, we have to learn to deal with it as reasoned but critical beings in a physical universe.
My three reasons for taking up meditation
There are at least three good reasons to take up meditation. These are my three. Possibly others are more important but I think these three are at the top (or near the top) of many people’s list.
1. It is a good habit
Undoubtedly we form habits. These habits could be loose ones or they could be tight ones. Either way time marches on. If you are going to form habits they might as well be good habits. Meditating on a daily basis at a regular time is not better habit.
2. Awareness of the body and mind
One thing we least have is an awareness of the body, moreover an awareness of the mind. Meditation brings about a high awareness of both. In meditation we focus on breathing and concentration to bring about mindfulness. To know the body is also to know the mind.
3. Control of the body and mind
By having an awareness of the body and mind we have can have control of the body and mind. You cannot control what you are not aware of.
What are your reasons for taking up meditation? Please leave a comment below for I would love to hear your opinions.
postmodernism
What bloggers do when they blog poorly – they post modernism.
politics
The main hinderance to the wellbeing of the people of other nations.
sick poetry
literally
i am a figure
doubled over but
steering metaphors
driving porcelain buses
winter’s end
is always vulnerable to
birth, sickness, old-age & death
in that order. two more stops
until i get off
forty eight
life rolls on
as the hills
over the hill over
the hump, at least
will i
be ever satisfied
with who i am or
what i have become?
or is life
supposed to be
forever a bitter
disappointment?
forty eight
is not quite fifty
too close, i would say
the fa(r)ther away the better
no running in
the other direction
but try to run
i must & i do
because fifty
is too close
to a conveniently
imagined halfway
atheist become
released from
some kind of burden
you are light as air
& heavy as clouds
god did not leave –
not there to begin with
as they would
like you to believe
the world is yours now
but nothing will free you
from death and
to nowhere will you go
morning phase
pastiche pastel hue
of cycle
time rolling like waves
across your ocean
breaks in the light
up in the air
three sunbirds
a blue moon &
a drum for a heart
beckons me