Since the early '90s I have been dabbling in Zen without knowing much more about where it came from than India → China → Japan. This year it felt important to become familiar with the origins and eventual fusion into the form recognized and practiced in the West. I have been exploring and collecting some relevant texts as they illuminate my path. This is the top page of my study framework. It is succinct according to my interest and connection to the material. It omits many key scholars/authors...

This page is part of my exploration of the origins of Zen: https://listed.valdelane.net/55456/20241004-zen "The Mahayana tradition teaches that all beings inherently possess buddha nature, the seed of awakening: thus perfecting the qualities of a buddha the buddha-to-be can remove hindrances to realization even within a single lifetime. The Mahayana spiritual model is the bodhisattva, who is motivated by bodhicitta, the desire to awaken to help all beings realize their true nature." More at:...

This page is part of my exploration of the origins of Zen: https://listed.valdelane.net/55456/20241004-zen "Taoism or Daoism is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao—generally understood as an impersonal, enigmatic process of transformation ultimately underlying reality. The concept originates in the Chinese word 道 (pinyin: dào; Wade–Giles: tao4). Although Taoism has no simple definitions, possible translations of Tao include 'w...

This page is part of my exploration of the origins of Zen: https://listed.valdelane.net/55456/20241004-zen "Trust in Mind (Hsin Shin Ming) by the 3rd patriarch of the Zen Dhyana Sect, Jianzhi Sengcan (Seng T'san), is probably the first Chinese Zen document (6th century) … a creation arising from the blending of Indian Buddhist, Chinese Taoist, and Chinese Chan doctrine." —Jan Chozen Bays There are many translations: https://terebess.hu/english/hsin.html Here is a superb commentary includi...

This page is part of my exploration of the origins of Zen: https://listed.valdelane.net/55456/20241004-zen Chan is the Chinese school of Buddhism emphasizing direct experience. Chan has roots in Mahayana Buddhism but it dropped the religious complexity and created something fresh. « From the Chan perspective, the goal of life is to live fully as a human being, with one’s inherent potential completely developed. This means to become a buddha. To become a buddha means to “wake up.” The goal i...

This page is part of my exploration of the origins of Taoism: https://listed.valdelane.net/55454/20241002-taoism "The Book of Master Lie, ( Liezi /Lieh-tzu) is a Taoist classic of uncertain origin and history, named for an obscure individual of unproven identity or existence. Records of its constitution and transmission are controversial. And yet the book of Master Lie is one of the greatest works of cognitive art and educational science that has ever been produced." —Thomas Cleary Translat...

This page is part of my exploration of the origins of Taoism: https://listed.valdelane.net/55454/20241002-taoism The Tao Te Ching (Daodejing), ascribed to Lao Tzu (Laozi), is a Chinese classical text widely considered the foundation of philosophical Taoism. Here is the Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_Te_Ching There are hundreds of Western language translations from various sources. Some 150 English translations are available here: https://terebess.hu/english/tao/_index....

This page is part of my exploration of the origins of Taoism: https://listed.valdelane.net/55454/20241002-taoism "This work defies the dreary but prevalent notion that the serious is the important, that the playful is the inconsequential, and above all that we are under some obligation to draw conclusions about ourselves and our world, and then stick to them." —Brook Ziporyn "The central theme of the Zhuangzi may be summed up in a single word: freedom. Essentially, all the philosophers of a...

This page is part of my exploration of Mahayana Buddhism: https://listed.valdelane.net/55455/20241003-mahayana-buddhism "The Lotus Sutra is one of the most important and influential of all the sutras or sacred scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism, revered by almost all branches of the Mahayana teachings, and over many centuries the object of intense veneration among Buddhist believers throughout China, Korea, Japan, and other regions of eastern Asia." —Burton Watson Overview: https://www.learnr...

This page is part of my exploration of Mahayana Buddhism: https://listed.valdelane.net/55455/20241003-mahayana-buddhism Vimalakirti exemplifies the bodhisattva ideal and reveals that enlightenment is available to anyone, layperson or monastic." — www.learnreligions.com/major-mahayana-sutras-450031 "While the Buddha is teaching outside the city of Vaiśālī, a notable householder in the city—the great bodhisattva Vimalakīrti—apparently falls sick. The Buddha asks his disciple and bodhisattva d...

This page is part of my exploration of Mahayana Buddhism: https://listed.valdelane.net/55455/20241003-mahayana-buddhism "The [Diamond] sutra is a discourse between the Buddha and his disciple Subhuti. It is so named because it ‘cuts through’ ignorance and delusion like a diamond, and its teachings are as indestructible as the gemstone itself. The sutra explores the concept of ’emptiness’ or ‘sunyata’, a key tenet of Mahayana Buddhism, and the idea of non-self or ‘anatta’." — spiritualcultu...

This page is part of my exploration of Mahayana Buddhism: https://listed.valdelane.net/55455/20241003-mahayana-buddhism "The Heart Sutra is the most widely recited scripture in Mahayana Buddhism. It is a text revered by millions of people and regarded as the most succinct presentation of the dharma. In its short form, the text summarizes the selfless experience of reality in meditation, and how this transcends our usual way of thinking." —Kazuaki Tanahash Several translations of the Heart S...

This page is part of my exploration of Mahayana Buddhism: https://listed.valdelane.net/55455/20241003-mahayana-buddhism "The Flower Ornament Scripture, called Avatamsaka in Sanskrit and Huayan in Chinese, is one of the major texts of Buddhism. Also referred to as the major Scripture of Inconceivable Liberation, it is perhaps the richest and most grandiose of all Buddhist scriptures, held in high esteem by all schools of Buddhism that are concerned with universal liberation. Its incredible we...

If you wait long enough, every decision and todo become moot 🫠 One of my partners is either a world-class procrastinator or a Zen master, I can't tell which. Waiting is often wise. Some decisions and actions should pend more information or others to do their part. Sometimes leaping in to "fix" something can be more harmful than not. I have to use both rationality and intuition (one or the other isn't enough) to decide and rank actions. We don't always have the oomph to do the thing, and we m...

Bachman Turnovers Charcuterie Boards of Canada Crash Test Gummies Crosby, Stills, Mash, and Bung Depeche à la Mode Dr. Dement-O's Édith Pilaf Eurythmix Fatboy Slim Jims Filo Brazillia Godsnack Goldfrappé Imogen Peep Jackson Brownies Jane Seaberry Almond Joy Division Manford Manwich Pomplamousse Spice Grills Thompson Twix Veruca Saltines ...

The classic salad requires bulgur. However, I don't enjoy bulgur and I'm mad for chickpeas in any form, so... Cooked chickpeas, canned is fine, drained Extra virgin olive oil, fresh* Salt Salt and gently fry chickpeas in plenty of fresh olive oil*. Be patient, keeping temp well below smoking/flash point until golden brown. Set aside to cool. Persian or English cucumber(s), peeled, quartered lengthwise, then sliced Bell pepper(s), orange and/or red, cut into pleasing shapes Some of your f...

Failure is fine. Fail early, fail often, learn more! HOWEVER: First, explore consequences. Consider how to minimize harm. Plan how to fail gracefully and transparently, preferably with early warning. Add guard rails if it's dangerous. Then practice failing so you get better at it. Instead of hiding a mistake: readily admit it, adjust, and try again. This promotes a culture of accountability, appropriate confidence, and freedom to continue experimentation. Am I referring to personal behavior? Bus...

Descriptive categorization is a form of data compression into common symbols, facilitating quick thought and efficient communication. Humans usually ossify descriptive to prescriptive because 1/ that's easier than continually scanning for new patterns and adjusting; 2/ rigid categorization is the key to control—or the perception of control—which appeals to the powerful and insecure alike. Nature laughs at static categories! Like, we could all be having such a more fun and interesting time if e...

Friends have asked for guidance around aging parents. Here are some of my thoughts as a caregiver. Engage and encourage elder(s) in as much physical and mental activity as they can enjoy/tolerate. Of course everyone needs rest, but it's astonishing how quickly abilities degrade without use. There is a gap between operating independently and ran out of money and needs daily medical care (when federal/state benefits kick in for a skilled nursing facility). Some people decline so rapidly there is...

Two types of gaps are under consideration. Both are disparity between what is and what could be: Resource: potential that could be tapped to generate power Problem: difference between desired and actual situation Resource gaps and problem gaps are of different types but in the same cycle. They both represent opportunities that should be evaluated before committing to a project or system. Resources draw first attention because they are easy to understand. They range from obviously valuable (...

REDUCE Expenses Assumptions Low quality distractions Possessions of low utility (factors include beauty, comfort, amusement) Premature optimization when faced with quandary (problem that can only be managed, not solved) Attachment to outcomes (suffering disparity between expected and actual) Unnecessary complexity Frustration when I fail to anticipate something or be prepared for it. Related: Excessive self-sufficiency rooted in trauma Pregrets (about "not having done enough"). See section CA...

I don't think Edward Slingerland makes an argument[1] for the Laozian fall from grace. He is just summarizing one of the two "opposing" ancient Chinese philosophies—the other being a Confucian drive to civilize by imposing order. I gather the former is based on the premise that most people are inherently good but are then poisoned by morality; the latter, that most people are inherently bad—or at least lazy—but can be trained. I put "opposing" in quotes because—I believe this is Slingerland's po...

Frens, real talk. The Coronavirus isn't going to be over any time soon. Even with good hygiene and social distancing we're going to experience outbreak cycles until there is (hopefully) herd immunity (vaccines are deployed and/or the virus eventually runs through most of the population). There is a good chance you'll catch it before vaccines are available. The important thing is to delay propagation until effective anti-viral therapy is identified and available to mitigate severity of symptoms, ...

Something about my brain wiring/chemistry makes me both a good engineer and a harsh critic of human systems. I compulsively catalog the ways shit can go sideways via mistake, neglect, greed, or malice. While I don't cultivate specific paranoias or conspiracy theories, I am hyperaware of dark patterns concentrating power: myriad lines of manipulation, nonconsensual extraction of value, foisting of risk, abstraction and evasion of responsibility. Despite the automatic nature of such analysis, it i...

I am literally cackling while watching my automation delete hundreds of thousands of files in production. Paid to destroy, aw yeah. Also, cackling helps cover the terror that that my automation will delete the wrong thing. You see, data that was precious becomes a liability merely by aging. Yet, if deleted unintentionally, data that was a liability becomes precious again. This is business logic. ...

In dreamland I rarely use a vehicle. Walking or running is good for a short distance—but mostly I fly. How? I flap my arms. It works great. I have no fear of heights or falling. I commute between venues, survey situations, evade pursuit, or explore for pleasure when there is no other reason to be on the move. I soar over magnificent landscapes and weird cityscapes. There is a proprioceptive and kinesthetic sense of wings with my arms, always pushing and shaping air, occasionally flickering at th...

In humans there is ample evidence that accessing and reviewing a memory refreshes and changes it. I spend little time reviewing past events. The downside is that without refreshing, memories become harder to retrieve later. Maybe I experience a less detailed yet more authentic past? Discussing this with a friend, I concluded that "a perfect memory is one that's never been refreshed." She countered: "but if you've never reviewed it, is it actually a memory?" … … … 🤯 Memory Recall and Retrieval S...

Don't be too attached to what people do with your doing. If you produce more than three reasons to do a particular, specific good: proceed with caution. It doesn't mean it's the wrong choice, just that you are already attached to the outcome and opening the door to potential frustration. Again: if your reasons are much more detailed than "this is the right thing to do" and "I have the ability to it," you are already attached to the outcome. It takes emotional wherewithal to suffer and manage ...

Evil Fetishize perpetual growth; disdain homeostasis More specifically: generate growth almost entirely with debt which then must be serviced, obligating further growth (or else collapse) Allow inconsistent contribution toward infrastructure and care of entire society: taxation exemptions via havens, loopholes, and perverse incentives Privatize critical infrastructure Directly extract value from anyone without their explicit consent Indirectly extract value by deliberately foisting risk or ext...

In the arms race between deception engines and deception detectors, ML/AI (machine learning / artificial intelligence) will escalate sophistication past the human limits of perception and judgment. This will render moot education-based inoculation against manipulation. We will no longer be able to distinguish fact from fabrication unaided. To know what is actually going on beyond our local senses, we will have to use dynamic deception detectors to filter out the barrage of bullshit narrative (i...

While not exactly Buddhist, I do subscribe to the principle that attachment causes suffering. I interpret attachment anguish to be the disparity between expected and actual. We can mitigate that disparity, and become resilient, by letting go of desire for highly specific outcomes. Quit hoping for that one very special thing or event or person that would finally make you happy (you think). I am not saying to give up on fulfillment. By all means strive to survive and flourish. Also, be open to alt...

Watching my artificial creatures watch Rainbows of waves dancing on the grid Today's events condensed into numbers Twitching and writhing to invisible beats Each measure different than the last Window sliding into the future: inexorable All observed opportunities: irretrievable Dogma and ritual abound, causality abandoned Reduction of pattern arbitrary unto madness Solutions spread and fill the sky Precipitation floods the arrays Final selection? Position available now Because there will alway...

I have literally: tossed a hot potato to someone else, went back to the drawing board (to completely redesign a circuit board), bit off more than I could chew, battened hatches before the storm (boats, RVs, buildings), judged many books by their covers (didn't buy them), gave up my day job (thinking I might continue a living by trading), put all my eggs in one basket (72 at a time), hit the sheets (stress relief at bedtime), played without a full deck (losing because of it), fell off my rocker, ...

I stand with all those who feel significant and persistent incongruity between their innate sense of gender vs. body and gender assigned at birth. Many choose to keep this a private matter to reduce the risks of rejection, harassment, and violence. I accept the risks to promote awareness and understanding. I have the luxury of doing so because of privileges inherited (race, health), accumulated (reputation, financial), and environmental (liberal friends, family, and employers). That doesn't mea...

Multiple friends have recently remarked how much energy it takes to manufacture a happy face on social media. I'd like to reframe that: of course we filter ourselves; we want others to see us in the best light possible. We tailor our images consciously and subconsciously. That is good and appropriate like filtering our speech: we don't just blurt out every fucked up thing that comes to mind. In fact we are all a little fragile, and generally appreciate the efforts of those around us to maintain ...

Many successful people have an OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) loop, whereas I have an OOFDA (F is for Fret) with an inner loop on OOF. OOF happens when there are mismatched preferences and/or resources in a situation with people I care deeply about, or people in power over me. Eventually my subconscious pops up a Decide flag precipitating an Act which is usually adapting or, occasionally, exiting with a declaration—in any case, doing something to relieve the tension. Although I believe my ...

Here is the holy trinity of authentication: 1/ something you know, 2/ something you have, and 3/ something you are. This is the traditional order in which the factors are listed because it is the order of least to most difficult to verify. It is also the order of least to most secure; inevitably, only factor 3 will survive. Something you know, the password/phrase, is being rendered obsolete. Passwords are easy to steal at the point of entry; most people re-use similar or guessable passwords ac...

Customer wants to know why their 5 TB filesystem with a gazillion files went offline for a while. Well, because the filesystem software found some unexpected data and it flagged the issue for repair. But why? Because it's smart. But why did it do that? Because it knew it should sweep up before you actually start losing something important. We demand a Root Cause Analysis. The root cause is that something unexpected happened. But what and why? I don't know: maybe a subtle filesystem bug,...

Taleb seems constitutionally angry, dismissive, and contrarian—sometimes to the point of being an asshole. However, one cannot deny his talent of conveying crucially important concepts in a clear and entertaining fashion. I would rather have every one of my biases and heuristics kicked around so I will reconsider where they came from—and whether to keep them—than be coddled and comforted. Perhaps the best heuristic reminders I received from this book: 1/ Invest (trust) in people, not plans. 2/ ...

Q: How to completely do and be at the same time? How to have goals, make plans without ambition, avoid anticipation of success or failure? How to work toward the future yet always be firmly anchored in the moment? How to fulfill one's deepest desires and best intentions without being emotionally invested, expecting particular results? Answer ...

Get over it. If you are active in this world, your behavior is relentlessly monitored, analyzed, sorted, and cataloged. Surveillance, sousveillance, whatever: We are only doomed if we fail to embrace and then thoroughly distribute the Eye of Providence. Let's get on with the continuous lifeblogging, the ubiquitous smart dust, the crowd-sourced and machine-based sifting and pattern matching, the emergent alternative reputation networks. Let's accelerate the inevitable. Let's have 24 hour realit...

In the last couple of months... Upon entering an elevator I often: Without thinking, press the button for the current floor instead of the destination floor; Wonder why nothing is happening; Press the correct button; Congratulate myself for being so "here" and "now;" Admonish myself for being attached to "here" and "now." Chuckle. ::Shrug:: I'm my own reliable entertainment. ...

If you haven't done it before, you can find a lot of raw material in the results from a Myers-Briggs / Keirsey temperament sorter, either to own or disown. I'm an INTx. Let's continue, by listing significant abilities and motivations. In this part of the exercise, if you're still playing along at home, allow your personal inventory of intangible assets unfold. Consider your career, personal projects, and social interaction thus far in life, but don't limit yourself. Include that which has been ...

Prompted by some principles of Carl Jung and Edgar Cayce, I'm going to take this opportunity for introspection and review to write what I am calling a personal inventory of intangible assets. It's a great exercise at any stage of life, but particularly important as a prerequisite to reintegration and wholeness, for finding a meaningful direction out of a transition phase such as the one I find myself in. Play along at home, if you like. The first step is to recognize and iterate one's core attr...

An acquaintance once posted about an evil chicken dubbed Roostard. This creature is huge, mean, and crows broken glass. Every time Roostard is killed, he is immediately reborn elsewhere. See, Roostard lived next door to me in 1985. He woke me every day between 4-5AM, within a few hours of me falling asleep. I wanted to kill him, but was too nice to do so. One morning after he woke me from an excellent dream—a rarity at the time—I trembled with rage while getting ready for work. I fired up my m...

Or, How to Get What You Want in 6 Easy Steps: Listen: Understand what a person feels and what they want. Listen to the meaning, not just exactly what is said. Language is more than words strung together. If you respond to what a person means, they will appreciate you for being perceptive. If you use semantics against them, they will become surly and less likely to care about what you feel and want. Ask: If at first, the answer is no, go away and decide how important it is to you. Negotiate: If...