Matthew
Most of these books are new to me. Instead of re-reading the classics – again, I’ve decided to pick up some new books – even some fiction. * Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse * Spook by Mary Roach * The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt * The Holy Qur’an: A Modern English Reading, Volume
Mind
I've been thinking about a conversation I had last summer. Some friends and I were discussing Richard Dawkins' book, The God Delusion, with Rupert. As always, Rupert's ideas are well thought out and always seem to come out of left field - at least to
Matthew
As I have gotten older and had a chance to catalog my dreams, I've noticed that each dream, though bizarre and individual in narrative, are beginning to self-assemble.
Matthew
I've always enjoyed talking politics with friends. I've even stayed in touch with History and Political Science professors from my undergraduate days. A few days ago, while talking with a former History professor, I realized that not everyone sees America the way I do. I told
Myth
I haven’t really written much in the past few months – other than posting stuff on politics from other sites. I’ve been reflecting on the past. I remember someone once telling me that as you get older you get the most vivid flashback memories of your life. That is
Matthew
We entered a huge structure, like the Great Pyramid. We were on a quest to find some stuff that my grandfather (Papa) had hidden there. Some of my family was there with me. We explored several areas and could not find what we were looking for. Everyone else that was
Myth
It's fascinating to see how divisive the interpretation of a single line of the Bible can be. People ask, "How should a line be translated? What was the original intent?" as if there is some secret decoder key. The exact intent is important only when you
Film
I'm told that I have a somewhat strange taste in movies (mostly by my lowbrow, wanna-be film critic friends). What my friends have yet to discover is there is often an unintended epiphenomenal, or emergent, quality to so-called "B" movies was neither intended nor understood by
Myth
Not that I am trying to establish any spiritual or epistemological ancestry in my view of the world … but here is another hero/friend of mine at the Shiva Temple in Thanjavur. You may not know that from 1974 to 1985 Dr. Sheldrake worked at the International Crops Research Institute
Myth
Carl Sagan, a name synonymous with the enigmatic beauty of the cosmos, has always been a beacon of inspiration for many, myself included. His profound insights into science, philosophy, and the intricate dance of religion have left indelible marks on countless curious minds. My journey into the heart of Hinduism,
Thinking
I was flipping through the latest New Scientist magazine last week when I stumbled across yet another article claiming that a final theory of everything was just around the corner. Each time I see one of these articles I'm reminded of the endless stream of biology and physics
Myth
Here is an episode from the popular Dutch series, Myths of Mankind. When the British ruled India, experienced colonial administrators would advise newcomers to read one book if they wanted to grasp the essence of the place: the Mahabharata. The longest known poem in any language, this 90,000-verse Sanskrit