Success & Stress, Enlightenment & Apathy

Earthlings (2007)

This link connects you to a synopsis of the movie we discussed in class and a reliable stream (i.e. you can watch it here). Remember this film may be very graphic at times.

Homework for this week.

Practice the short vibration meditation Ryan taught us in class once every day. Reflect on your experience and its effect on your overall well-being every day.

Meditation CD’s

In last week’s class, several people expressed interest in purchasing the meditation CD’s we occasionally play during class. Here is the link to finding most of the CD’s: http://store.artofliving.org/catalog/a9d8b713-d005-4da7-b84a-7c6f9ee8dabd.aspx

“A Gift of Silence” and “Eternal Reflections,” might be of particular interest, as they each contain three recorded meditations. Let us know your experiences!

-Ganesh

A Question to Consider when Journaling.

Continue writing about what stresses you out and how you deal with that stress. What works? What doesn’t? If basing our happiness on people, places, events, etc. is not successful, what would be a better choice? Think on it.

This Week’s Homework

Continue to journal on stress factors.

Optional assignment: Read Hesse’s “Siddartha” and/or watch “The Matrix” and journal about it.

Hesse’s “Siddhartha”:
http://books.google.com/books?id=FYPMIOqPsRUC&lpg=PA1&dq=inauthor%3Ahesse&lr=&as_brr=1&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q=&f=false

More on Buddhism:

The Eightfold Path:
http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/eightfoldpath.h

The Four Nobles Truths:
http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/fourtruths.html

This Week’s Reading

This article is a bit lengthy, but truly fascinating. It’s also written in the typical New Yorker style making it very readable. Word to the wise: it does contain some medical gore.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/30/080630fa_fact_gawande

You won’t have access to the full article for this one (unless you have a subscription to the online version of the New Yorker), but you can read a short summary of the article. It’s no literary masterpiece, but it gets the point across, especially if you read the other one first.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/05/11/090511fa_fact_colapinto

This Week’s Journal

Hello everyone! I just wanted to follow up on and continue the discussion we were having in class by offering some additional ideas and direction for the journal entries. Please take the time to at least glance over this.

So, to elaborate a bit on the quote from President Obama that I mentioned at the end of class…Well, I couldn’t find the exact quote (I promise I didn’t make it up!), but I did find one that hits on a similar note:

“This is a moment where it isn’t enough to look to the government; it’s a moment where we need to look to each other — and to ourselves.”

“In America,” he has said, “each of us is free to seek our own dreams, but we must also serve a common purpose, a higher purpose… Because, when it comes to the challenges we face, the American people are not the problem — they are the answer.” This statement speaks volumes about Obama’s belief that “government depends not just on the consent of the governed, but on the service of citizens.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/obamas-call-to-service-me_b_144951.html

For me, considering the role of government in my life is very interesting. I have noticed that because of the way in which I, and others I have spoken with about this, have been born into a system with an almost predetermined destination has the effect of isolating us from the realization that we have freedom and control over our lives. Because school has been my life for as long as I can remember, and school oftentimes seems more about the destination (education, diploma, job, security) than the journey, it is difficult to see the “light.” I have to go to school, I have to acquire a college diploma in order to do anything, then I have to get a job, figure out what I am doing with my life, etc etc whatever. And to me, all of the aforementioned social restrictions I am answering to fit under the umbrella of government and the way in which it seems to be the ultimate power that I look to for what I am to do next, as if responsibility for my own course in life is somehow not up to me. Of course it isn’t necessarily up to everyone what their position in life is and what path that dictates for them, but I believe everyone can still relate to this in some way or another. Just something to think about…is this true for you? Is it irksome that this is the way things are, or seem to be at least, or is it comforting to be able to relegate responsibility ultimately to a higher power? Simply some things to consider…

During our analysis of Kant on Monday, we discussed briefly the idea of escaping immaturity and pursuing a path to self-realization, awareness, and our ability to assume an active, exploratory approach rather than a passive and close-minded approach to our lives.

As we have seen, one way to do so is to cope with and over overcome stress in our lives. This week, consider writing about whether or not you see yourself as immature according to Kant’s definition, and if so, how knowing this affects you. Are we really in control? What roles do you play in your life?

Here is a link to the Immanuel Kant reading we covered in class, entitled “What is Enlightenment?” I encourage you to read over it as a supplement to the journal homework. It could help get ideas stirring! Remember, this is your life and taking an active position (if that is what you want) means you’ve got to walk the talk. Now’s your chance-it starts with your education right? If we are students, will we be active or passive students? You may already be an active learner. Have you always been? You may be taking a passive stance to your education, or life in general. If so, why? Sorry if I am going on a bit too much, but these types of ideas tend to make me very excited, hopeful, etc. Enjoy.

http://www.english.upenn.edu/~mgamer/Etexts/kant.html

Your facilitator,

Dylan

Homework Reminder

Hey Everyone.

Hope you’re all keeping up with your blogs. Remember, this week, in addition to journaling all your stresses and what you do to deal with them, you will be choosing one stressful interaction with another person and analyzing it via the method described by Deepak Chopra in last week’s video. List all the characteristics of that person that bother you. Find instances in which you have displayed those characteristics. Forgive the other person and forgive yourself.

Be at peace,
Kat

Lost Sweater

Someone left a hoodie at his/her desk after class today. Send a description of the missing item to the decal email (ssea.decal@gmail.com) and you can have it back.

Classroom Change!!! 240 MULFORD 5:30PM

Hey everyone,

Good news! We’ve gotten a larger classroom to accommodate all 50 students! The new classroom is 240 Mulford. Just a reminder, the decal starts at 5:30pm. See you there!