The debate has raged for centuries. Ancient religions have wrestled with the notion of the existence of a separate “individual self or soul,” which might actually be a mental illusion (Maya) blocking our efforts to eventually attain true enlightenment. According to the Eastern philosophical view, release from the relentless cycles of Samsara (Moksha) requires abandonment … Continue reading Taking Care of Your “Self?”
"In active contemplation, a person becomes able to live with themselves. They learn to be at home with their own thoughts. They become, to a greater and greater degree, independent of exterior supports. Their mind is pacified not by passive dependence on things outside themselves--diversions, entertainments, conversations, business--but by their own constructive activity...thinking their own … Continue reading Our Own Inner Truth
The Unplanned Journey In reviewing the events and experiences of the past few months, struggling as I have to make sense of it all, it seems that my natural instincts have been a great deal more useful than any deliberate mental process I attempted to employ along the way. Hindsight typically provides us with a … Continue reading An Unplanned Journey
There was barely time to attempt any sort of recovery of my wits from the events of the past few months, having been so engaged as we were in what would end up being a painfully long goodbye, when I found myself on the road to be present for the birth of my grandson in … Continue reading A New Life Follows Our Long Goodbye
All of the men with beards anticipating a new life... Yesterday, when I posted the original blog, I had thought to include an edited version of a longer video, to accompany the post. It still feels raw when I think of how it seemed to happen slowly at first, but then rapidly throughout the day, … Continue reading Part 2: Finding A Way Through Video
I’ve been very much preoccupied these past few weeks by a series of events that unfortunately included the loss of someone who has been very dear to me for almost fifty years. His name was Dave and we met many years ago while serving in the military, eventually getting an apartment together in what used … Continue reading Finding A Way Through
Within the next few weeks, I will be traveling on the earthly plane to visit my daughter in Virginia in order to be present for the arrival of a new grandson, and to share in the joy of participating in the activities taking place surrounding the appearance of a brand-new life in our extended family. These … Continue reading A Threshold of Joy
This world has within it many different individual souls, personalities, beings, creatures, plants—living things—each with its own set of values, assets, and particular liabilities. None have a worth greater or lesser than the other in the broad scope of life. All living things have a disparate measure of worth. Humans sometimes feel that theirs is … Continue reading A Purposeful Universe
It’s fairly unusual in my experience to encounter individuals who embody the very essence of my writing work—the central theme of my writing and the publicizing of my thoughts on my blog, “John’s Consciousness.” Within a whole range of social interactions over decades, I have experienced a number of serendipitous connections which I immediately feel, … Continue reading Invisible Connections
by AledJonesDigitalArt Recent bouts of milder-than-usual morning and afternoon temperatures in this part of the country have provided several opportunities to sit out on the deck out back while enjoying my typical cup or two of coffee, stretching the experience out into the early afternoon. I am commensurately grateful for the chance to enjoy this … Continue reading The Castle in the Forest
John's Consciousness 