Thoughts for the week -- 4/26/2019

1. Intellectual contemplation is the most beautiful and whole of all virtues one can strive for. To end a day full of encounters with the angry, jealous, sneaky, selfish and hurtful, and to quickly and rationally contemplate on their motives, and the fractured essence of their being, is one of the most beautiful and frequent thoughts one can have. Conversely, to appreciate someone of true beauty and to acknowledge how rare and fleeting these types are, is pure joy. Because nothing in this world compares with seeing the true greatness of the unselfish, kind hearted, honorable, and respectable among us in action, as they come and go in this fast and chaotic world. If there is only a single pleasure that one can have in this world, let it be that.

Meditation Question - 03/25/2019

What does it mean to have manners?

Daily Meditations are thought provoking questions meant to provide guidance, enlightenment and intelligence? Ponder these questions each day. Use them for guidance in conversation, moments of conflict and whenever else you feel the need to reflect.

Source(s): The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Book 1, #1 "I learned from my grandfather, Verus, to use good manners, and to put restraint on anger."

The Wisdom of Marcus Aurelius

“Begin each day by telling yourself: Today I shall be meeting with interference, ingratitude, insolence, disloyalty, ill-will, and selfishness – all of them due to the offenders’ ignorance of what is good or evil. But for my part I have long perceived the nature of good and its nobility, the nature of evil and its meanness, and also the nature of the culprit himself, who is my brother (not in the physical sense, but as a fellow creature similarly endowed with reason and a share of the divine); therefore none of those things can injure me, for nobody can implicate me in what is degrading. Neither can I be angry with my brother or fall foul of him; for he and I were born to work together, like a man’s two hands, feet or eyelids, or the upper and lower rows of his teeth. To obstruct each other is against Nature’s law – and what is irritation or aversion but a form of obstruction.”
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Does a fine blade sharpen without the presence of a dull stone? Does a robust fire burn without first being ignited by a spark? Badness and negativity may not be desirable in our lives. They may cause us doubt. They may cause us to lose motivation in life. They may cause us to lose motivation toward our passions. They may even cause us to question our own meaning and purpose in life. But does good ever exist without the presence of darkness? How would we be able to measure goodness if not for badness?

Negative people are not generally out to hurt others but do so out of a lack of goodness and intelligence; an inability to see, in the moment, what is right and wrong. Rarely does wickedness truly pop up as a direct assault on another. When it does, if not completely obvious, it manifests in the same way as generally negative people. And if the attacks are personal, should we still take it personally? Does a person spread negativity toward another if not for their own internal negativity?

Good and bad alike have the power of influence. Good people, through their virtue and empathy, involuntarily and often unknowingly spread love to others. Good people carry a light with them and wherever they go, whoever they are with, their light spreads. Their laughter is contagious and causes others to laugh. Their charity causes others to think about their own sense of giving. And being on a mission of self-improvement instills a provoking need for self-change in those intelligent enough to see it. Good people are powered by an aura because the world as they know it changes from dark to light around them.

Bad people have a similar effect. Others see their behavior for its typical darkness. The self-doubt they carry rubs off on others. Their attacks, although not personal, cause others to feel shame and despair. Everywhere they go, they carry their darkness and it too rubs off on others.

But what happens when goodness meets darkness? Goodness wins. Love always prevails. Love prevails because people, to varying degrees, want to be good. They want success in their lives. They want to be happy. For some, despair may interfere and obstruct that mission. For others, despair does not obstruct but sharpens. On a sunny day, what is noticed? The small shadows of the world or the overall feeling of warmth and light. In darkness too, what is noticed but not the small rays of light beaming from the corners of the world. Darkness may be all around us at times, but it is not the most powerful force. It may be an enveloping force, if allowed, but it cannot stand firm in the light. Light prevails.

Meditate on the fact that you are good, and your goodness affects others in ways that you could hardly imagine. Wherever you go, people are driven to be better; by your presence, your intelligence, and your kindness. Now think of the ill, the desperate, and the way they carry themselves. They do not make personal attacks, instead, they create an aura of darkness. Wherever they go, awkwardness, self-doubt and despair follow with them. They create negativity in others with their presence and that in turn makes them more negative. Thus, it follows, that you should ask yourself this question: should you feel self-doubt and despair at their presence? Or, as the light, should it not follow that your feelings should turn to empathy and pity towards those not intelligent enough to see this?

Eating Rome Like a Roman

Eating Rome Like a Roman

…an exploration of roman dining…

Ancient Roman history has been researched, dissected, and interpreted as much, likely more so, than any other ancient civilization. However, this blog will serve as a discussion for roman dining, particularly, how you can dine like they did

Roman diet was largely based on class. Basic staples are found in all classes, but luxurious food items were not ubiquitous. Lots of exotic fare made its way to the main city, but it was only the wealthiest who could regularly afford them. However, there are consistencies found among the classes; breads, sauces, wine, honey and dairy.

This summary is not meant to be an all-inclusive research of the roman diet. Instead, this summary will provide the reader with the tools necessary to answer the question, “How can I eat like a Roman?”

First, the Romans were artisan bakers. Romans loved their bread. Bread was eaten as a primary staple in most meals, with the exclusion of peasants and slaves who lived on a diet of Emmer cereals and porridge. Emmer, a not-so-distant cousin of wheat, is still in existence today as a primary food staple for animals. For good reason, it is not recommended to the reader that they go out to livestock stores and stock up for their own consumption. Back to bread. Romans loved their bread. There was a general rule for roman bread; the whiter the bread, the more expensive it was. Therefore, brown bread was enjoyed by the lower classes and white bread was a luxury for nobility. Most bread was made from Emmer, but the variety in which it was baked is the same as what is made from wheat today.

Dark Emmer Loaf

So, if you are to attempt to live on an ancient roman diet, it is best to start with a healthy serving of bread with each meal. Dabble in as many variations as you’d like, as this was also the roman custom.

Ancient Romans possessed agricultural mastery that did not exist again for many centuries after the civilization’s downfall. As such, a huge portion of their diet, unlike our hearty beef-centric American diets, focused on fruits and vegetables. There was a wide variety of fruits and vegetables available to the ancient Romans, with even greater amounts of sub-variations for staples like olives, figs and pears. In addition, ancient Romans loved their apples, grapes, berries, plums, dates, melons, pomegranates, cherries and apricots. Whole fruits were mostly there for the consumption of the elite. With so many fruit variations came with it many variations of wine. Because of its inexpensive production (diluted by water), wine was a staple of the roman diet for all Romans. Therefore, it’s important to grab yourself either a glass of wine as well as a healthy bowl of ripe and in-season fruits. It can also be noted that in addition to its staple as a beverage, wine made for a great dipping sauce for bread. Vegetables found in ancient roman society include celery, garlic, taro, pumpkins, gourds, cabbage (especially cabbage), kale, broccoli, lettuce, endives, onions, leeks, asparagus, radishes, turnips, parsnips, carrots, beets, peas, chard, beans, artichokes, olives (especially olives), and cucumbers.

Ancient Romans loved their sauces. There are many historical records references a wide variety of sauce staples; olives, honey, wine, milk. Oils (olive-based, especially) and honey were common place. However, there is one additional sauce that is commonplace but mostly overlooked in popular culture and fiction; Garum. Garum, like present day fish sauce, was made from fermented fish guts and was used as a condiment for many ancient roman dishes. Garum was a popular product and came in a variety of qualities/prices. Garum for the lower classes came in paste form (Allec), a mid-grade liquid form (Liquamen) was ‘eaten’ by the middle classes, while Garum itself was considered a luxury (most laborious to produce). Consider Worcestershire sauce as a common modern-day equivalent.

Garum - $$$

Liquamen - $$

Allec - $

Believe it or not, the delicious beef we (Americans) enjoy is the product of livestock raised specifically for consumption. Ancient Roman society did not enjoy the same level of quality. Most records depict ancient Roman beef as tough, and almost inedible. And for good reason. Ancient Romans coveted dairy and thus, most cows were raised and lived lives akin to that love. Additionally, bulls were used as labor animals (plows, transport, etc). For those that could afford it, since these items were quite expensive, were the likes of seafood, pork, chicken and eggs. Hard boiled eggs were a more common occurrence than others. Similarly to eggs, most meats were served as a boiled dish (attributes to the love of dipping sauces). Other than the previously mentioned proteins, game meats pop up in ancient roman recipes (deer, squirrels, etc.) and were expensive, much like today (if available at all). Therefore, grab yourself some hard-boiled eggs and a nice slab of [insert protein here]. For authenticity sake, make sure it’s boiled or roasted, with emphasis placed on the inevitable sauce made from the delicious broth/drippings. Or just use the broth/drippings itself as the dipping sauce.

To summarize, here are the finer points made if you don’t have time to read through my less than stellar writings:

• For breakfast, porridge with fresh fruits, honey and/or milk.
• For lunch, a nice hunk of bread, with a small side of meat and plenty of fruits and vegetables; olives if in abundance.
• For dinner, boiled/roast [insert protein here], a beautiful bowl of sauce, and a large hunk of bread, served with plenty of fruits/vegetables.
• And don’t forget to properly set-up your triclinium for maximum pomposity and relaxation.

Triclinium room in ancient Rome

The Grey -- Father's Poem Interpretation

“Once more into the fray,
Into the last good fight I’ll ever know.
Live and die on this day
Live and die on this day…” – The Grey (2011)

    Some may no doubt recognize this as the theme-binding quote from the 2011 Liam Neeson movie, The Grey. Before getting into my personal interpretation of this very powerful mantra, let me talk about the movie itself. The Grey is without a doubt one of the best movies I have seen in years. It is also, to my understanding, one of the most overlooked. I tend to think unfortunate timing and bad marketing caused this lack of appreciation. Judging from the trailer, one can understand this theory; it pandered to the ‘Liam Neeson kicks ass starring Liam Neeson’ crowd at a time when Liam Neeson was kicking just about every type of ass. That crowd, the one that was looking for a wilderness sequel to Taken, was naturally going to be an odd fit. The Grey, in my opinion, should go down as one of the most poorly marketed films of all time because of this. 

    The Grey is about survival, and many aspects of it; survival in the wilderness, survival from predators, and survival in spite self. And that is where I want to stop talking about the movie and start talking about the theme-binding quote; one of the most powerful summations regarding human spirit and the will to persist; the meaning of life.

Once more into the fray …

…Man’s day in and day out, moment in and moment out, embrace of struggle. Each moment is the fray. To see life like this is one’s resignation to the unknown; man’s acceptance of life as chaotic, and every moment as new. This is what sets man apart from animal. The animal lives in environmental bliss, perfectly attuned to their environment, built to live a formulaic existence. Man has a mind and sense of self. One could experience the same (or similar) situation one thousand times during his/her lifetime yet still find new meaning and new purpose in each of those moments. An animal cannot choose his life, everything is predetermined by nature. People can ask why. People can choose.

Into the last good fight I’ll ever known…

…The perfect attitude toward the present moment. An emphasis should be placed on the word ‘last.’ Each moment is new. Without an absurd eye to the future, each moment is ‘the last.’ Every conversation, every desperate situation, every project, etc... Every moment is a performance of the human spirit. For most, it’s a moment to be good. To live that moment to the best of our ability, not for its implication for the future, but because it’s beautiful to do so.

Live and die on this day…

…This line is so powerful. For the last week, I have started and ended each moment with this line, “Live and die on this day…” The poem (and life), in my mind, goes on forever like this. Something I have fully embraced. To live and die on this day means to truly experience life. How powerful life can be if we treat each moment as new. Most importantly, how powerful life can be if we resign ourselves at the end of each. In doing so, we are truly blessed to live each moment. Each moment is a new experience and has no real bearing in the next. That to me, as well as the entire theme of The Grey, is the essence of life. Moving forward and living life. Not because there is something at the end of the journey but because existence is amazing. We are blessed to be of this world and to acknowledge that, is one of the most beautiful thoughts one can have.

...Live and die on this day...

...Live and die on this day...

...Live and die on this day...

For an alternative (yet similar) take, I implore you to check out this video on YouTube. Please leave a reply or comment below. Thank you for reading!

A Krishnamurti-esque analysis of advice/lessons/speeches

Krishnamurti advises against following other’s advice as guidelines and principles for daily life. He states, and I am paraphrasing, to follow and heed the words of others creates despair. To universally follow the second-hand advice of others is the surest way to live a second-hand existence. Despair, in many ways, is a result of the incomplete application of another’s experience to one’s own mind.

     "We are second-hand people. We have lived on what we have been told, either guided by our inclinations, our tendencies, or compelled to accept by circumstances and environment. We are the result of all kinds of influences, and there is nothing new in us, nothing that we have discovered for ourselves: nothing original, pristine, clear." -J.Krishnamurti

·         The journey of life is unique in each moment.

·         The past has little to do with the present.

·         Advice of others cannot provide comprehensive guidelines to our own lives.

First, lessons taught are never quite enough. Think about your last day in lecture, whether it be school, motivational, etc. Did you find those lessons enough to ace a class? Or was it only enough (I say this hesitantly, as I am a believe that nothing is ever enough) once you took those lessons home and used them to guide your own experiences; as a basis for your own analysis. For me, educational success didn’t happen as a result of following everything I read/listened to without scrutiny. Success happened only after a critical analysis of what worked for me, thorough and strenuous repetition, and through a firm foundation of my own experience. I often experience the most confident moments in my least successful exams, and when I found success, I quivered at the thought of not knowing enough. This isn’t an accident, intelligence comes with the certainty that you couldn’t possibly know everything.

Second, no individual can fully dictate a comprehensive plan of living for another. Simply put, they will never know everything that makes up the mind of another. Their path, as enlightening as it may be for them, does not adequately provide meaning to another. In other words, while their lessons may help in one’s personal path towards meaning and intelligence, they are never complete. Rather, they simply provide questions one can ask in their own experience. Further, and this is more of my own personal skepticism at play, one can never fully know what the motives of the writer. For instance, did perhaps the comprehensive version of their book include 1000 more pages (or 1000 less). Was it trimmed down or beefed up because of profit motives? For entertainment? You must be willing to question the circumstances of how/why such a text came into being. You must be willing to question everything. You must be willing to accept that you do not know, that you will never know.

And lastly, even if the reader was a ‘clone’ of the writer, lessons from the past have little meaning in the chaotic present. I couldn’t agree with this advice more. In the end, it is up to the individual to find meaning in their own life. To live life in the moment, and to analyze everything with the understanding that one simply does not know what will happen next, is the most joyous existence once can achieve. Otherwise – life is a struggle; the daily questions of, “What am I still doing wrong?” and “Why do I still not get it?”

The reader need not ignore the advice and wisdom of others completely. After all, learning from the mistakes of others lessens the re-learning of those same mistakes. After all, some lessons, especially the major lessons, can and should be avoided. Is it important and necessary for every individual to uniquely find out why they mustn’t murder. Or perhaps, do we all need to experience electrocution to know that we shouldn’t put metal objects into power outlets? Of course not, some rules and lessons are applicable to everybody. An emphasis, however, should be placed on the word learning. What does it mean to learn? Or in other words, what does it mean to not learn?

To not learn is to mindlessly absorb the lessons of others; to apply those lessons to your own life without question. This, to me, embodies the approach of someone without the wits to develop their own guidelines and principles. To accept the past, especially the past of someone else as universal truth, ignores what is most unique about the world; chaotic randomness, the idea that each moment of each day is as unique as the last. But that does not mean we should completely throw away those lessons. We should not do so because they are valuable, they help. But they are incomplete, always. It is up to the individual to understand that a lifetime spent answering these questions is the only life worth living.

Lessons from the past help us hone our analysis of the world as it is. They can be used, critically of course, to provide a lens by which we are most effective in our own lives. Therefore, as we live each day, we mustn’t live through the mind of somebody else, but through our own. We should be willing to accept the importance of these lessons, but equally important, we should also be willing to listen to our own reason. Our ability to ask the question, “Why?” is what makes the mind so unique. And we should not throw that away just because we think somebody else has it all figured out, even if that person genuinely thinks so.

Live each day with a thirst for knowledge, from the past and the present. Ask yourself, in every moment:

·         What is happening?

·         Why do you/they behave this way?

·         What is your real intentions?

·         Does Author A have Rule Z correct?

·         What can I learn from this?

Never settle for living in the shadow of another. In doing so, you deny yourself the opportunity to live and especially, to learn. I would love love LOVE your feedback below. Every comment and or question is used only to improve upon each lesson. I hope this advice helps!