Do “I” have teachings for the world? There are no teachings. Words appear on a page. They disappear from the mind. A mind empty of thoughts Is all that needs to be learned. A compulsion to teach Serves only the self. The mind that moves toward helping human beings Is a mind […]
A person posts a selfie, or a twitter photo in which he is smiling. What is he smiling about? Why does he appear excited? He seeks to give a message to the world that he is happy, or that he has something valuable to sell, or that he can “help you.” The excitement about […]
Technology has indeed created numerous benefits for man. Young individuals, through coding, and other mediums have created remarkable things. On balance, however, the digital age has destroyed the human being. Some years ago, I went to purchase a cell phone. This is how the conversation unfolded: “I would like to purchase a phone.” “What […]
A man may travel the far corners of the Earth, and find not a single genuine human. Stand witness to a social gathering. Should you have the eyes and the heart to see it, And you will find not a single true human in the room. Laughter hides pain. Smiles conceal wounds. Intelligence […]
I had waited years to set eyes upon him. So many things I had been searching for. So much I longed to know. A strange place. Through the dense mist. The figure of a man, back turned toward me. Silent. I feel a hesitation, an anxiety . . . Questions race through my mind. Followed […]
Luck and fortune are not kings, but slaves. They are not the creators of fate. They are the followers of man’s will. Why does one man fail, and another succeed? Why does one seem cursed, while another appears to be a favorite of the gods? Man “gets” what is acceptable to him. And […]
Coach a man to “fix” a problem, and new problem will arise. For the problem is never truly the problem. Coach a man to “improve,” and he will regress. For the improvement will have been the goal, rather than the natural effect. If a thing is purely mechanical, a man can be “instructed” to […]
Some time back, my younger son and I were having lunch at a local Thai restaurant. When dining at a restaurant, I typically arrive around 11am when the restaurant is empty (and quiet). I request to sit in the far corners of restaurants, away from the bar, and the chatter and reactive laughter. The restaurant […]
I recently watched a documentary in which a group of boys were stranded in a cave that was being flooded by monsoon rains. One of the people who came to their aid was a retired seal from Thailand. During the rescue, he drowned in the cave flooding. What would the optimist say to this? Would […]
Is it possible that a rich man buys a cheap car and a modest house because he is naturally drawn to that particular car, and that particular house? It is indeed possible. But this is rarely the case. Why does the rich man drive a cheap car? Because of internal conflict. The poor […]