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Gratefulness
I am not only grateful for “good” experiences but also for the “bad” ones too, because it is these experiences that bless us with wisdom.
Studying abroad and learning about the culture in Vietnam and Cambodia will help me to empathize with and understand the people’s cultures and the diversity within those cultures. Also, studying political science next semester, God-willing, will allow me to understand the history and ideologies behind not only my own politics but that of others. I am also taking classes in cultural psychology next semester, God-willing, and intercultural communication this semester, so this will help me...
Studying abroad and learning about the culture in Vietnam and Cambodia will help me to empathize with and understand the people’s cultures and the diversity within those cultures. Also, studying political science next semester, God-willing, will allow me to understand the history and ideologies behind not only my own politics but that of others. I am also taking classes in cultural psychology next semester, God-willing, and intercultural communication this semester, so this will help me understand where the values of different cultures are coming from. I look forward to learning about these various communities and, hopefully, gaining some wisdom and empathy from them.
I feel that now is the time for me to practice deeper spirituality without fear and seek the deeper truths within myself. This may involve altered states of consciousness or experiences of the world that I am not accustomed to, but it is stepping outside my comfort zone that will lead me to deeper gnosis.
Yes. In the Western world, we tend to think of ourselves as separate individuals apart from everyone and everything else, but really, we are just part of a dynamic, interdependent process of change and shifting back and forth between yin and yang. When I act, I can remember this and remember that my actions affect the well-being of all living beings.
I find playfulness and adventure whenever I play with or bond with animals, as I have a deep sense of care and love for them. I also find adventure in exploring new places when I am running. I like to run on trials and paths I have never been on before to see where they will take me and appreciate my new discoveries. I also enjoy theatre, as this allows me to temporarily take on a different identity and explore it, so as to have deeper insights into the nature of reality.
I would embody the qualities of Yeshua the Messiah. He was progressive in his treatment of women, loyal to his disciples, a wise interpreter of scripture, not afraid to openly express his ideas, kind to those stigmatized or marginalized (including those stigmatized for chosen behaviors), prayerful, faithful enough to perform miracles, aware of his inner divine nature, respectful of other religions, and inquisitive and willing to question the status quo.
I am passionate about science, religion, spirituality, psychology, philosophy, nature, the environment, social justice, travel, and airplanes and airports (not sure why the last one has always been a fascination of mine. It’s just as bizarre to me as to anyone else.
I can offer my gifts to the world by doing my best service when I am doing my duties. At work, I can be as diligent and creative as possible with the projects I am working on. At school, I can use my intelligence to be the best student I can be. During free time (what’s that? LOL), I can focus on spiritual practice so as to discern my dharma and use it to transform the world.
Reaching a plateau in my running has left me disappointed and doubting myself quite a bit lately, but I think this is also teaching me something I can’t be sure what. Maybe I just need to have deeper longing and “seize the day” when I improve. I will keep working and see what lessons I can learn on the way. That’s what life is. A spiritual school.
My freshman year of college, I found that learning from my religious studies professor about world religions, including my own, helped me to understand them better and have much greater clarity on what kinds of questions about reality were shady before. To this day, I am now grateful to have some clarity as to what is going on, while still having a sense of awe at the mysteries I don’t know. I remember, especially, taking Introduction to New Testament and having an appreciation for a br...
My freshman year of college, I found that learning from my religious studies professor about world religions, including my own, helped me to understand them better and have much greater clarity on what kinds of questions about reality were shady before. To this day, I am now grateful to have some clarity as to what is going on, while still having a sense of awe at the mysteries I don’t know. I remember, especially, taking Introduction to New Testament and having an appreciation for a broader knowledge about texts that used to confuse and worry the heck out of me!
Always be willing to say hello, give a smile, and be kind to everyone I meet. Also, sit next to people who are alone and need a friend.
My core values are love, wisdom, faith, care, fairness, loyalty, respect, and reverence.
I can show others that I care by following my duties each day. When in school, I should be the best and most respectful student I can be. When being with friends, I should be the most kind friend I can be. When with family, I should be a good son and always respect and obey my parents. As an American citizen, I can, while respecting everyone, speak out against the systems of injustice that perpetuate the marginalization of various groups and helping those in need. As a slave of God, I can, in...
I can show others that I care by following my duties each day. When in school, I should be the best and most respectful student I can be. When being with friends, I should be the most kind friend I can be. When with family, I should be a good son and always respect and obey my parents. As an American citizen, I can, while respecting everyone, speak out against the systems of injustice that perpetuate the marginalization of various groups and helping those in need. As a slave of God, I can, in every way, follow the two great commandments: love God and love neighbor. These are all various ways I can show others that I care.
I need to remember that I am capable of co-creating reality with others and that my thoughts have an impact. Of course, thoughts must be accompanied by effort and intention, but with these ingredients, I trust the Universe to provide all that I need to succeed in whatever goal or intention I set. “With God, all things are possible.”
There was a man who had a deep desire to go to the Grand Canyon one year, but he was unable to go, unfortunately. Years later, he finally did go and stood over the scenery with a particular kind of camera that had been invented after the year he originally wanted to go to the Grand Canyon. Years later, he found a video footage of himself at the Grand canyon with that particular camera, taking a picture of the scenery-yet this footage was from the day he was originally supposed to go to the Gr...
There was a man who had a deep desire to go to the Grand Canyon one year, but he was unable to go, unfortunately. Years later, he finally did go and stood over the scenery with a particular kind of camera that had been invented after the year he originally wanted to go to the Grand Canyon. Years later, he found a video footage of himself at the Grand canyon with that particular camera, taking a picture of the scenery-yet this footage was from the day he was originally supposed to go to the Grand Canyon! To this day, the video footage lacks an explanation. These kinds of stories about time anomalies always inspire me to embrace the mysterious and unknown in all of life. There is more in the universe than we could ever truly understand or dream of!
Live in harmony with nature; obey the dharma that is revealed to me; practice gratitude; embrace the yin/yang in all of life and don’t resist what comes but flow with it (“To yield is to conquer”); follow my social roles and duties with zeal; imitate God in the way I treat others, remembering that LOVE is my true nature; follow my deepest desires; study and learn from science; study UFOs and aliens; practice being playful, creative, and theatrical, getting in touch with my i...
Live in harmony with nature; obey the dharma that is revealed to me; practice gratitude; embrace the yin/yang in all of life and don’t resist what comes but flow with it (“To yield is to conquer”); follow my social roles and duties with zeal; imitate God in the way I treat others, remembering that LOVE is my true nature; follow my deepest desires; study and learn from science; study UFOs and aliens; practice being playful, creative, and theatrical, getting in touch with my inner child; run like crazy, and treat it like a spiritual practice; watch popular culture films and learn all I can from them; and study and engage in philosophy.
Reduce, reuse, recycle, go vegan, drive less, be one with nature.
I have grown less politically polarized as I have studied the work of Jonathan Haidt, particularly his book, The Righteous Mind. This has helped me to appreciate, even to some degree adapt, some of the useful elements of the other party’s mindset and appreciate the idea of moral pluralism.
Well, I would definitely say I lean more toward being an appreciator of art. It’s not quite my talent, at least not yet. LOL. Most of the time I can barely draw non-ugly stick figures. Nonetheless, there is much to appreciate in art. Art captures beauty in its many forms, both abstract and real. Looking at these works that human consciousness has evolved to create from its appreciation of beauty is a wonder of wonders. At the same time, I am working to create some “art,” at ...
Well, I would definitely say I lean more toward being an appreciator of art. It’s not quite my talent, at least not yet. LOL. Most of the time I can barely draw non-ugly stick figures. Nonetheless, there is much to appreciate in art. Art captures beauty in its many forms, both abstract and real. Looking at these works that human consciousness has evolved to create from its appreciation of beauty is a wonder of wonders. At the same time, I am working to create some “art,” at least to the best of my ability, at my college’s open craft studio. This is certainly providing me with new challenges that will help me grow, and, as long as it’s not for a grade, we’re all good! 🙂
Oh, man! That’s a tough one! I have a hard time deciding between early in the morning when the sun is out and the birds are chirping (or the snow is glistening during winter) or late at night away from cities when the stars are shining and everything, except maybe some crickets, is very quiet. These times remind me of the awe and wonder that exists in nature and in the universe.
I often take my privileges as a white straight middle class American cisgender male for granted, as it is easy to be blind to these when you do not see the disadvantages to not having such privileges. I can be more aware of this by using my privileges to help those less fortunate than myself. I can begin by giving my possessions to the needy and refusing to take more than what I need for survival.
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