Month: February 2015

31.1.15
– Can one be both a theologian, a mystic & a saint?
Can critical thinking, heavenly vision & personal holiness be integrated?
– So what is your USP?
– Movies:
“Rush”
My name is Nikki Hunt! 🙂
“Heat”
Why can’t you just try to be either a wild maverick or a good husband?! I don’t know. I just can’t!

1.2.15
– My parents’ sudden & extreme disillusionment & disappointment with me coincides with the death of my own (former) faith!
– Movies:
“Birdman”
Compare with “Aankhon Dekhi”!
Live life to the full, i.e. passionately – as close to death & as intense in desire as possible – then your philosophy would be actually worth listening to!
Pushing your limits to the breaking point, in pursuit of breaking the outer man, in order to release the spirit……
Why does he shoot himself?
Birdman – he’s finally broken free of the chains of public opinion!
Ignorance IS bliss. But bliss is NOT salvation!
– Fair weather foes & foul weather friends
– They were made for each other.
Yes. But only for one year!
– From “What is the meaning of life?”
To “What does a meaningful life look like?”
– Truth is eternal.
Beauty is eternal.
Goodness is eternal.
The eternal is neither timeless nor immutable. But it is more than just everlasting relevance…
– What do relationships have to do with the search for personal authenticity?
– Escapism & transcendence
Fantasy & cowardice
Deception & resignation
Magic & acceptance
– Distinguish:
Marketing
&
Sales

2.2.15
– There is nothing called a ‘private citizen’!
– Dining prayer – include the environment, agriculture (esp. farmers) & the poor
– Distinguish:
Personal
&
Private
– Movies:
“Zindagi na milegi dobara” (Hindi)
Now I believe I exist!
When?

3.2.15
– “Our reach must exceed our grasp, or what’s a Heaven for?”
– “Meaning is a hard fight for existence.”
– Palimpsest
Insouciance
Oud
Lute

4.2.15
– What the fuck am I doing with my life?!
What should I do? Why? How?
– Bored
Horny
Pious
– Along with personal, family, material & professional, I believe that social/political/cultural (voluntary engagement with any significant issue/question/problem) is another essential dimension of every person’s life.
– Stuff – books, music, courses, articles, movies, plays, serials, websites, social media, pictures, etc. Select the essential collection!
– Tripartite:
Study/learn – broad (as opposed to deep)
Contemplate/reflect – relax, chew & relate
Activities/programs – chores, tasks, etc.
Ingest, digest & practice
– Phased:
Sit still for 5 min.
Close your eyes for 5 min.
Meditative breathing for 5 min.
– A Christian Zen master!
– Study – specialize in the interstices!
The intersection of Theology, Spirituality, Education, Philosophy & Religion
E.g. Philosophy of Religion, Spiritual Theology, Practical Philosophy, Practical Theology, Christian Education, Philosophy of Education, Informal/lifelong learning, Art of living, etc.
Allied fields – get acquainted with the basics.
E.g. Introduction to Philosophy, Introduction to Theology, Introduction to Religion, Introduction to Spirituality, Introduction to Education, etc.
– Am I ill, or am I depressed, or am I just lazy??
How can I not know?!
Maybe all three! So how do I respond?
Do I just relax or should I push myself or should I act normal?
I am so small, I am so weak, I am so sorry……
– Why should I be unique?
Why should I make a difference?
Why should I be remembered?
Why should I be passionate?
Why should I be purposeful?
Why should I understand?
Why should I stand for something?
Why should I relate to others?
Why should I take care of myself?
Why should I believe there is something more?
– “Leisure Studies”
WOW!  ☺
– Audio porn
Palpable spirit
Hollow mass
– But what do you do when certain activities or periods cannot be classified as neither work nor leisure, or both?!
– Serious fun

5.2.15
– The pleasure of (resting after a day of) hard work!
– “It is better to suffer a little want than to have too much.”
– Spiritual pride

6.2.15
– “I refuse to be consumed by this parasite!
I refuse… what’s draining life…
I REFUSE!”
No compromise.
– Encountering GOD through self-confrontation
Depth Psychology – dig man, dig!
– No porn (or obscene language) this Lent…?
– I should spend the daily time of solitude outdoors or in public places.
– VAT & service tax on repairs
… Fuckers!
– What are some things you would like to do before you die?
Travel all over the world
Learn to live fully in the present
Get a perfect body
Become a spiritual guru & transform a few people forever. Leave the world a little better.
Read all the books, watch all the movies in my essentials list
– Do you have a ‘trophy wife’?
Are you a ‘trophy husband’?
– Multiverse
Cosmology – theoretical reality!
– Distinguish:
Astronomy
&
Astrology
– Extra-curricular activities are NOT optional!
– One of the greatest tragedies of life is that the values on this side of death are exactly the opposite of the values on the other side!
Maybe that’s what makes death so significant…
– “Get busy living or get busy dying!”
Survive & thrive, & enable others to do the same.
Or sacrifice yourself so that another can.
Or “amputation is liberation”……

3.2.15

Passion is where life & death, at their extremes, come together!

Meaning, art & passion!

“The filth is, undoubtedly, the result of apathy on the part of the priests and the administration and, above all, their confidence that the devotees will accept the status quo.”

“Death as threat is the coin of power.”
Distinguish:
Freedom
&
Choice
Enjoyment
&
Pleasure

6.2.15

“For it is better to suffer a little want, than to have too much.”

“Let all of you then live together in oneness of mind and heart, mutually honoring God in yourselves, whose temples you have become.”

“Heaven & earth – God’s realm & ours – were meant to be united. God’s desire, from the beginning, was clearly to live with us in the world he had made.”

Tabernacle, sojourn, pilgrim

Readings:
“Philosophy of Religion – Faith & Reason” by Peter Kreeft – Lecture 1
“Key Concepts in Leisure Studies” – Intro. & first entry (Addition of value)

“He is the God made manifest, the universal savior of human life.” – Roman inscription from 4 B.C – referring to Caesar Augustus

Political religion/religious politics
Vs.
The spiritual kingdom/the anointed one

Christians must (be prepared to) take up arms against violent forces like ISIS!

Nature, temple & church