Are we mini replicas, arguably hologrammatic, of the universe? We come from the stars. Maybe there is much in ourselves that can tell us about the origins of the universe and about the cosmos?
Astronomy tangibly augments our view of our position in the cosmos. How to relate it to our perspective on ourselves? In our minds a montage of impressions coalesces into an image. That impression might be nowhere in particular to be seen. We have, say, an image of ‘London’ or ‘Vienna’. It is ...
What does ‘mysticism’ imply? Sensitive souls may think of a mysterious Power beyond the corporeal that defies being pinned down in any hard-and-fast category. Those of a sceptical turn of mind may see in it a nebulous dreamscape jollied along by a ‘Mystic Meg’ in a fairground attraction. Those who stand tall on only what they see, touch and calculate are increasingly on the backfoot as science unfurls more to life than meets the eye. ‘Vision’ wrote Swift in 1711 is ‘The art of seeing ...
By J. Glass
Preamble
Leaving aside such hoary pensées as that of Descartes’, ‘I think therefore I am’, how much of the world can we know from our own observation? How aware of how reliant are we on the work of others?
How do we know - if not an astrophysicist - that the moon is 238.555 miles away? The earth may not be flat ‘as a pancake’ given the mountain ranges but do we check it out, ruler in hand? We ‘stand on the shoulders of the Greats’ but don’t throw a wobbly even though we ...
Does one ruminate and allow space for intuition to pop up to the surface of our mind and/or is one disposed to cudgel the brains in a more intellectual way to make sense of ideas and facts that come to one? Inspiration can be a subject of thinking enquiry.
Little of what follows is as easy as it might seem.
Reflection is a mental or cerebral state of mind. Mental attitude is in thought processes more than in a physical preparation. There should be an understanding that ‘reflection’ is an activity in itself that is to be valued and prepared for, not just a thing that anybody automatically does or can do without thinking, forethought or appreciation.
A change in perspective can have profound, beneficial, practical consequences. ...
"What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?" - Hamlet
Tara Swart, the eminent podcaster, Doctor, neuroscientist and former psychiatrist, explains with deep understanding - in both senses of the word - in scientific terms why you are a miraculous ...
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One idea in Western-style Meditation is to become more grounded in oneself as opposed to trying to transport oneself out of one’s skin up to a Great Beyond. The Institute’s main sanctuary is Eastern in style but it is for each individual to come up with personal ideas of a place conducive to allowing his or her personality to emerge.
