Michael's Blog (12)

Force on Force

For generations now the Middle East has been a hot zone for violence. The United States too, has been involved in many conflicts for the past several generations. One thing we can learn about conflict, is that the use of force always leads to more force.



Every example we can see in history, either directly on indirectly led to further conflict. World War 1 created the power vacuum that caused World War 2. World War 2 led to the Cold War, and so on.



The Middle East has used… Continue

Added by Michael on December 31, 2008 at 10:51am — No Comments

Heaven is an Opportunity

Many religions and cultures believe in some kind of afterlife or cycle of birth and death. In the Christian and Islamic religions, there are very strong elements of what heaven and hell might look like. But I feel that heaven is already here. It is the opportunity that currently presents itself.



If you are a believe that a deity of some sort created the earth, then how could such a place be anything less then perfect? If you are believe in only science, then you must notice that the… Continue

Added by Michael on December 22, 2008 at 10:48am — No Comments

And Justice For All

“And let him who would lash the offender look unto the spirit of the offended. And if any of you would punish in the name of righteousness and lay the ax unto the evil tree, let him see to its roots.” – From “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran



It is clear to anyone who spends a few hours reading up on our prison system that it is broken. Instead of reforming people and giving them greater opportunities to turn their lives around, in many cases we are creating super… Continue

Added by Michael on December 16, 2008 at 11:16pm — No Comments

There is Nothing You Can Gain

“You can come close to understanding no-thing by realizing that there is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to bet better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself” – Miyamoto Musashi “The Book of Five Rings”



This is perhaps one of the most powerful statements of the book of five rings. This statement sums up why Miyamoto Musashi was considered one of the greatest Japanese warriors of all… Continue

Added by Michael on December 16, 2008 at 8:58am — No Comments

A Critical Look at Living

About 75 years ago Mohandas K. Gandhi took a critical look at the present structure or the society in which he lived. He saw that city life created a large number of people in poverty, and suggested self-sustaining villages in order to foster a more efficient way of living.



I look at life in this country right now, and I see disaster waiting to happen. We have built a foundation on the grocery store ideal. The problem with that is, if something ever happened to the grocery store, or… Continue

Added by Michael on December 15, 2008 at 9:42am — 2 Comments

There is Nothing Else

“Firewood becomes ash, and it does not become firewood again. Yet, do not suppose that the ash is future and the firewood past. You should understand that firewood abides in the phenomenal expression of firewood, which fully includes past and future and is independent of past and future. Ash abides in the phenomenal expression of ash, which fully includes future and past.” – Dogen Zenji



Are you who you were yesterday, or are you who you will be tomorrow? Do you suppose that tomorrow… Continue

Added by Michael on December 14, 2008 at 12:15pm — No Comments

Religion: A Doorway

“And he to whom worshipping is a window, to open but also to shut, has not yet visited the house of his soul whose windows are from dawn to dawn.” – Kahlil Gibran



Did you miss it?



Did you know that the door was open?



Why did you shut it?



Why did you shut out the very thing that you are looking for?



As I sat in one of my classes today an argument broke out. One party was discussing how he believed that his priest had the power to exercise… Continue

Added by Michael on December 14, 2008 at 12:13pm — No Comments

Extending the Body

I was watching hockey today, and realized, that the hockey stick becomes an extension of the player’s body. In order to master the skill of using the stick, the player must put aside the place where the stick ends and where he or she begins. That way the actions of the stick act in accordance with your will.



If a player thinks of the stick as a separate object, he is giving the stick too much thought, and will most likely be clumsy and awkward. He will not be able to play hockey very… Continue

Added by Michael on December 14, 2008 at 12:12pm — No Comments

The Greatest Teacher

We cannot grow alone, just as a plant cannot grow without, water, soil, and air. For our experience without the good and the bad, will always be lacking. If we just had good, we would have no reason to transform. A piece of coal will not become a diamond without a great deal of pressure. Often this pressure can be very uncomfortable.



We cannot grow without those who would challenge us, and make our life difficult. Be grateful for all of the obstacles that people present you. For if… Continue

Added by Michael on December 14, 2008 at 12:11pm — No Comments

Disarming Your Opponent

“Convince your enemy that he will gain very little by attacking you. This will diminish his enthusiasm.” From the book, “A Warrior of Light” by Paulo Coelho



To disarm one’s opponent before a situation can escalate into violence is a powerful principle of non-violence. This principle is very effective and we are familiar with those who applied this technique. Gandhi, for example, showed that if a man beats you and you continue to get up without striking back, you would naturally… Continue

Added by Michael on December 14, 2008 at 12:10pm — No Comments

A Multitude of Unfinished Projects

Today a friend of mine called me to talk about quitting her schooling. She felt that she wasn’t going to be able to create a viable profession out of what she was studying. This isn’t the first time she has done this, she knows, and I know, that when she gets close to finishing something, she backs out of it.



I realized talking to her, that I do the same thing sometimes. Often I start several major projects at once, and never see them through to the end. Thus a lot of my time and… Continue

Added by Michael on December 14, 2008 at 12:08pm — No Comments

My Own Inadequacy

Sometimes I wonder if my ability to put my foot in my own mouth can be matched. Usually after I open my mouth and say something, I have realized too late, that it was the wrong thing to say. I have upset, offended, and alienated people many times through the coarse of my life, because of my inability to recognize the reason for my behavior.



The reason that this occurs, is simply because I feel inadequate. More often then not, I feel like I have to say something funny, or clever in… Continue

Added by Michael on December 14, 2008 at 12:06pm — No Comments

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