Thoughts & Philosophy

Walking in Black Fox Hollow        The soft earth of the trail is cool against my bare feet, reminding me of the gentle living earth, #Gaia [i], that provides all my needs and cares for me even though I am one of that renegade species that seems to try so hard to destroy her.  Now, that’s real love . . . .  to continue to give life to one who seems intent upon taking yours. (#LoveNature)         Black Fox Hollow (#BlackFoxHollow), our 1.5 acre wooded hollow, is many things to me.  It is my refuge, my escape, my health spa, my connection to reality.  The hollow is my source of spiritual solace, and my comfort in the face of a world dominated by an appallingly hedonistic species.  I don’t know if it is true of all, or even many, people my age, but I’ve had enough struggle.  Oh, I realize that just living is a struggle, you don’t have to remind me of that, but there are struggles in which we just don’t have to ...

      Thanks to my friend, Carl Rangen, for posting this on Facebook. I would bet that he is going to get a lot of laughing faces on his post, but this is really a very serious observation.  Carl Jung might have had a smirk on his face when he said it, but, if you've read any of his works, you know how serious this really is.        Thinking really is difficult.  Most humans only use 10-15% of their brain.  Most don't think because it is so much easier to regurgitate what the three social powers tell us. It is more emotionally comfortable not to have to figure anything out on our own. Thinking requires starting without any preconceptions, ignoring the social pressures to draw a particular conclusion, studying the facts (real facts), coming up with your own hypotheses (generally more than one is best), and testing those hypotheses until you feel you have the right answer or the best possible answer.       Thinking...

  #Buddha,  #reality,  #hereandnow, #Thay, #RVance-blog There is a great deal about our society, which is rapidly becoming global, that reinforces such "lies".  We are programmed to be mindless workers for the Tria Daemonia.          Be mindful.  Live in the now. That doesn't preclude doing something for the future, but be mindful that whatever you are doing is being done here and now. Don't let the systems force you into the past or future. Only now exists.     

 #JonTester,  #MontanaSenator,  #PublicServant, #Politics,  #RVance-blog Those who know me know that I am about as anti-political as they come. I have no use for politicians.  Most of them are part of, or are owned by, the Tria Daemonia one-percent.  BUT I hope you have also noticed that I freely admit; and happy I can do so; that there are exceptions. I believe our senior Montana senator, Jon Tester is one such exception.  Jon is a third generation Montana farmer/rancher. He also has a CDL - professional truck drivers license. (I wonder if that was a Senate first. LOL)  He obviously loves his farm and is very proud of it. He is also very much in love with Montana and quite the patriot. He once joked that he was beginning to think that he was the only one in Congress with a real job. There is a story that while everyone was in the hotel ballroom sipping drinks waiting for the election results, Jon was in the barn putting the motor back in his old ...

  #AlbertEinstein, #TriaDaemonia, #Democracy, #RVance-blog

  #Buddhism, #DalaiLama, #FirstRuleofLife,  #VancePhilosophy   I had the great privilege of studying with the Dalai Lama a number of years ago.  I was just one of probably 200 students, but when he spoke I felt like I was the only person in the room. He was talking to me.  During that time I learned that Buddhism is actually 99% philosophy/psychology of life and 1% religion.  I must admit that if I were to be forced to declare a religion I would probably say that I am 99% Buddhist. Forget the religion. Philosophically I'm a naturalist/existentialist, both of which are quite ontological.  It is the philosophy, psychology and spirituality of Buddhism that usually draws a person to it.   The first Rule of Life -  classic Buddhism loves numbered lists  - is that we do good to all sentient beings and if we can not do good, do no harm.   I don't care how many marvelous, powerful, inspirational, insightful things Buddha or the Da...