What have I learned lately?

May Questions: There is an account in which a Buddhist monk has a mystical experience and realizes that all people are simply one person, and “no individual ever existed” (this is found in The World’s Religions by Huston Smith). Could this mean that Vedanta is right when it says that all things are only one thing? Or is a Samkhya-like interpretation still possible in which everything is simply part of the whole, like a drop of water in the ocean?
There are many ways in which world religions seek to develop a person ethically, but do all of them really help a person achieve that? Can the Ten Commandments or the wisdom of Confucius, for instance, guide a person the same way hearing the voice of God directly can?
Do our inner desires really lead us to fulfill our dharma, or are these just selfish illusions created by the ego?
May Insights: Eating mindfully is an important way of developing gratitude for everything in life.
The Ten Commandments are a basic moral guide that help a soul develop essential virtues for the soul’s evolution. Luther’s explanations, as well as rabbinical interpretation and Matthew 5-7, are helpful tools for interpreting these commandments.
A child should make it a habit to do what pleases one’s parents, so as to make this duty easier on oneself.
It is important to listen to others, especially if we disagree with them. At the very least, even if we still strongly disagree, we have a better understanding of where they come from and will have less judgment. This includes people who are intolerant. We need to understand where the intolerance comes from and empathize with it (this is easier said than done, and I am preaching to myself more than anyone else).
Caring for one’s animal companions is an essential duty, since they are evolving souls, teachers, and actors in the life-drama, like we are.
Listening to people when they correct us is important, even if it is tempting to be defensive if they come across harsh. Again, even if we end up disagreeing with them, when we actually listen, we know where they come from.
Speak less, and hear more (yes, I see the irony. LOL).
When people think of religion, myself included, they usually think of indigenous religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, but actually it is much more diverse and complex than this, and each religion, no matter how bizarre, interesting, offensive, lovely, frightening, or exciting it is, can allow us to see the world in a whole new way. We often forget about Cao Dai, various forms of syncretism, Spiritism, and even strange blends of Islam, Christianity, and spirit worship in the world. All of these have something interesting to look at though, and we need to see that our own faiths are just one of thousands of interesting ways of experiencing the sacred.
In many ways, the current attitudes and behaviors of the United States are comparable to the actions of the Roman Empire during the early Christian era.
June Questions: Are world religions really all valid paths to God, or is it best to let go of religion altogether and simply tread the path oneself? Could some religions have validity and others not so much?
What is the role of imitatio Dei in the Torah and the rest of the Bible? In what ways, according to the Bible, should humans imitate God?
Are encounters with UFOs and aliens actually encounters with the fantasy world of imagination interacting in real time and space, and does this show that the boundary between “real” and “unreal” is blurry?
Does the recurrence of the names “Maggie” and “Madeline” (twins at my school in Nebraska and also a pair of names mentioned in a radio commercial) have any relevance?
June Insights: Based on various mystical experiences of people, especially near-death experiences and UFO abductions, it seems that all people share a collective dharma to care for the environment, respect creation, live simpler, and not pollute.
Jnana yoga can only lead a person so far in gaining moral wisdom. Inner knowing seems to be more important, though the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of John, and Summa Theologica are certainly helpful in guiding a soul to furthering spiritual wisdom.
I should stop depending solely on religion to guide me but combine it with my own spiritual insights to seek for truth.
Since our thoughts are the ultimate creators of reality, our most important duty is to think in ways that are beneficial.
The ways of antiquity are usually the best ways. A completely new idea is very rare and, if ever fully present, should be held to scrutiny, as the ancients often had keys to the truth of certain matters.
We can choose to let go of blame when we realize that everything, “good” and “bad,” is just part of the process of spiritual evolution. We can stop evaluating everything constantly, let it be what it is, and then we come to forgive naturally. Even if we have trouble not blaming, it is good not to be too hard on ourselves, as we are also going through a process of evolution and are not expected to be perfect all the time.
We need to completely change our way of thinking if we are to co-create reality and receive our hearts’ desires.
We should always listen to each other to see what we can learn, from both those with whom we strongly agree and those with whom we couldn’t disagree with more (I’m working on this one).
If we pray for something and believe we will receive it, it will be so.
If you want to attract something into your life, shut up about it, and keep the intention a secret, as it will be fulfilled easier when it is not verbally expressed. Not only do metaphysicians hold this belief; modern-day psychologists who examine goal-setting agree.
We do not have to be “positive” all the time, as this is not genuine and deprives us of a truly human experience of the “ups” and “downs” of life. Rather, to attract good things into our lives while still remaining human, we can experience the bad things and even be upset or anxious about them but do so with gratitude for the experience and its lessons and with the truth in the back of our mind that, ultimately, all is well.
We should always view ourselves as learning and be open to changing our opinions, as this is not bad nor a condemnation of past beliefs but only an acknowledgment of a further step in one’s evolution.
Listening to what others have to say is a way of growing in moral wisdom.
Everything is working according to divine plan, as the story of Joseph and the Coat in Genesis and the Qur’an teaches. Having faith in this truth affirms in thought that God’s will is always being done and that everything is perfect, and this thought creates reality.
People taken onboard an extraterrestrial spacecraft often find that to control the craft, one must become mentally one with it. The flying saucer travels according to one’s thought, and this is how the ship travels faster than light without violating the laws of time and space.
There are various, seldom-heard-of extraterrestrials, much more than the stereotypical “grays,” “Reptilians,” and “Arcturians.” The various species are much more diverse in the experiences of various individuals.
One cannot be a good actor without first memorizing the lines. Then, one is fit for art.
Hell is other people. Freedom is lacking care for what others think, as this is the same as the ultimate freedom fantasized of in such tales as the “ring of Gyges.”
It appears that part of my dharma is to study religion and spirituality and to continue seeking answers to questions about the spiritual nature of reality.
July Questions: Does the Law of Attraction really work? How strong is the evidence?
Would the lack of a Visa system be environmentally sustainable within the United States? If it can be, why does the United States restrict immigrants?
Did Mary Baker Eddy believe that imitatio Dei would lead human beings to become more ethical?
July Insights: Equality, the dream of America, is also the dream of God, and so, as Americans and as God’s creatures, we have a responsibility to treat others as completely equal, even those with whom we disagree or who do not treat us well. There are no exceptions.
Inner gnosis of one’s divinity seems to have the power of liberating one from sickness and other illusions of limitation, as Mary Baker Eddy taught.
It appears that part of my dharma may be to study the history of the Revolutionary War, especially Paul Revere’s role in it, as well as some of the church history involved.
There are three main Congregational denominations in the United States: UCC, CCC, and CCCC.
Mangrove forests protect waters from runoff pollution and eroded toxins, although Mangroves are in danger because of current human activities. Furthermore, some of the runoff pollution can harm the mangroves, so that once they are dead, later runoff pollution and erosion can harm aquatic life.
When dealing with a shark, make eye-contact so they know you are aware of them. They will be less likely to treat you as prey.
The demonization of sharks by such films as Jaws is unfair, as sharks are usually fairly harmless, and such media has had negative ecological consequences.
Species that are in similar environments under similar conditions tend to evolve in similar ways independently of each other, showing that evolution can be somewhat deterministic.
The evolution of intelligence in humans may have been the result of a need for creative thinking for survival, leading to the development of homo sapiens.
One of the first waves of immigration in the United States took place in Boston, Massachusetts.
Originally, the United States did not have a Visa system for immigrants, and anyone could migrate legally, which led to a huge population explosion at one point.
I could not pass the immigration test because of my lack of US history knowledge. That’s pretty sad! LOL.
Artificial bees are being created by scientists in case our irresponsible behaviors and use of pesticides and herbicides cause them to go extinct. It’s pretty pathetic that that’s the direction we’re headed. Robots are replacing bees!
Should we have another mass extinction, while this appears to be bad and is somewhat unfortunate, there is also the wonderful possibility of a brand new creation full of new biodiversity!
Engineers are currently working to create a train that will go 7,000 MPH, faster than a commercial airline! This train will be more environmentally sustainable than current modes of transportation; however, good luck with that under the current administration!
Various robots became popular contraptions to own during the twentieth and early twenty-first century.
A man who fought in the Revolutionary War often said that if he died he wished to “go out with a bang.” Apparently, he died by lightning strike!
Paul Revere burned two lamps in the belfry of the Old North Church to signal that the British were going to arrive by sea to attack.
The poem, “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,” was written on the brink of the American Civil War to inspire Northern Americans to maintain their sense of patriotism and faithfulness to American values.
Much of Boston, Massachusetts is artificial human-made land. The entire Logan International Airport, including the runway, for instance, is entirely on human-made land.
Don’t leave your wallet or anything else in your pocket when going through the TSA checkpoint at the airport. They really enjoy feeling around your junk if you make that mistake! LOL.
Beetles are the most diverse species known in the world.
Traveling on a commercial airline from Earth to the Sun would take about 17 years.
The rings around Saturn are actually old debris from a moon that had been crushed by Saturn’s gravitational pull.
Scientists believe Mars used to have tons of water on its surface. Currently there is only evidence of this from the past, but there is still solid ice on Mars’s surface.
Mitochondria in the neural cells of many schizophrenics and those with other psychotic disorders often appear different than usual mitochondria.
Particular genes inherited within chromosomes increase the likelihood of having a mental health challenge.
Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451, made frightening predictions (that he said he was trying to prevent from coming true), many of which are happening. One example is Facebook-like social media methods of communication (not sure if this site would count, but I at least think this place is more helpful than typical social media).
Scientists, archaeologists, and historians classify objects, fossils, animals, tracks, tools, and artifacts according to their time periods, uses, behaviors, appearances, tendencies, and designs in order to find objects later and figure out when they likely existed and what their function likely was. Such predictions are made based on these classifications of what is already known.
The Hal 9,000 from the movie, Space Odyssey, shows disturbing parallels with the current phone app, Siri.
The Three Laws of Robotics, discussed in the mid-twentieth century and later adapted in the Will Smith film, I-Robot, are as follows: a robot must never harm a human or allow a human to come to harm through inaction; a robot must always obey human commands unless such commands would conflict with the First Law; and a robot must defend its own existence unless such defense conflicts with the First or Second Law.
According to Edward O. Wilson, human intellectual pursuits, including science, religion, arts, spirituality, philosophy, and history may have ancient roots in evolutionary advantage.
The exact cause of shell disease in lobsters is currently somewhat of a mystery to science, though scientists are in progress of finding the truth of the matter.
The Queen Bee is the only female of the hive capable of reproducing.
I have learned much more than this, but this will do for now, as it is already a mouthful!