Yin Yang and the Middle Way
Buddhism and other Eastern religions teach following the middle way in most aspects of our lives. This teaching is said to have been taught by the Buddha himself in one of his earlier Sutras called Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta where he outlines the Middle Way and first describes the Four Noble Truths. Eastern philosophers are not big on extreme views of all or none: The practice of non-extremism: a path of moderation away from the...
Slow Living
Slow is the new buzz word in a variety of trendy areas of self-improvement among which diet seems most prominent. The term “slow food” or “slow carbs” are among the recent trends. However, I’d like to expand the idea and theme on a larger scale and apply it to our lifestyle. I love the idea of slow living in contrast to those who live in the “fast lane” dashing from one project to the next and...
Mathematical Universe
In a new book The Mathematical Universe: My Quest for the Ultimate Nature of Reality, physicist Max Tegmark argues that the universe and reality is in actuality just math. He is not saying that things can be described in a mathematical way, but rather that our very existence is math; that reality around us is just flying numbers. Tegmark’s mathematical universe hypothesis (MUH) is: Our external physical reality is a mathematical...
Buying Tangibles vs Experiences
Childhood Views on Spending: Buying Goods I was raised believing when I spend money, I should spend it on durable goods, something I can have and hold for some extended period of time. I believed, and was mostly taught, this was a frugal and thrifty way to live. As a youth I rarely purchased things like candy bars, food, or anything that was “consumed” in a short period of time. I only spend money on things that I could...