Thursday, December 1, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Circus Theology
I attended a religious service today. The theme was - Life is a Circus: I am Surrounded by Clowns. It made me think of Shane Claiborne and Circus Theology.
See the following video.
See the following video.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Friday, May 28, 2010
Dark City (music clip)
Movies that have religious messages:
Recently, two movies, Dark City and Matrix, had plots that centered on the questions of "knowing". The Matrix was released one year after Dark City. Some of the scenes in the Matrix were filmed using the same sets. In Dark City, the central characte, Murdoch, questioned the nature of the Dark City. He and a detective confront a doctor, who explains that every night the aliens cause everyone to fall asleep in order to manipulate the city's reality to give everyone new memories and identities. Murdoch inavertently woke up during one of these transformations. Murdock has recurring memories that include that of a place called Shell Beach that survive the aliens attempt to transform him. Ultimately, he finds out that this is an illusion. After the aliens catch up to Murdoch to tap into his mind, the doctor helps him find the power to challenge the aliens. By right understanding, intention, meditation, and contemplation, Murdoch fully "awakens" to break the illusions of the aliens and create one of his own, which includes a new Shell Beach.
Recently, two movies, Dark City and Matrix, had plots that centered on the questions of "knowing". The Matrix was released one year after Dark City. Some of the scenes in the Matrix were filmed using the same sets. In Dark City, the central characte, Murdoch, questioned the nature of the Dark City. He and a detective confront a doctor, who explains that every night the aliens cause everyone to fall asleep in order to manipulate the city's reality to give everyone new memories and identities. Murdoch inavertently woke up during one of these transformations. Murdock has recurring memories that include that of a place called Shell Beach that survive the aliens attempt to transform him. Ultimately, he finds out that this is an illusion. After the aliens catch up to Murdoch to tap into his mind, the doctor helps him find the power to challenge the aliens. By right understanding, intention, meditation, and contemplation, Murdoch fully "awakens" to break the illusions of the aliens and create one of his own, which includes a new Shell Beach.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Stories
It takes time to learn wisdom
Once upon a time, a very wealthy young man asked a wise teacher, "how long would it take to teach me, if I gave you one-tenth of my vast treasures?"
The wise teacher answered, "one year."
The young man responded to the wise man, "This would take too long. What if I pay you one sixth of my treasure to teach me in half the time?"
To this, the wise man answered, "I will teach you in two years."
The young man said, "you don't understand, I really need you to teach me quickly. What if I pay you one fourth of my treasure?"
"In that case," the wise man said, "I will teach you in three years."
The young man cried, "why do you keep increasing the years?"
The teacher answered, "there are no shortcuts to wisdom. The more you talk - the more I perceive that you need a greater degree of wise teaching."
___________________
APPLICATION:
Many students want their college degrees without a real education. So they learn shortcuts, master the art of passing tests without learning, and fake writing papers without completely reading books. They want to finish college as fast as they can/ to save as much as they can/ to make as much money as they can. However, there is something lost in such "fast-food" learning: education. Some nuggets of wisdom require the inconveniences of time. By necessity, the digestive process of scholarship requires solitude, silence, and endurance.
RETURN TO BALZORA WEBSITE
To this, the wise man answered, "I will teach you in two years."
The young man said, "you don't understand, I really need you to teach me quickly. What if I pay you one fourth of my treasure?"
"In that case," the wise man said, "I will teach you in three years."
The young man cried, "why do you keep increasing the years?"
The teacher answered, "there are no shortcuts to wisdom. The more you talk - the more I perceive that you need a greater degree of wise teaching."
___________________
APPLICATION:
Many students want their college degrees without a real education. So they learn shortcuts, master the art of passing tests without learning, and fake writing papers without completely reading books. They want to finish college as fast as they can/ to save as much as they can/ to make as much money as they can. However, there is something lost in such "fast-food" learning: education. Some nuggets of wisdom require the inconveniences of time. By necessity, the digestive process of scholarship requires solitude, silence, and endurance.
RETURN TO BALZORA WEBSITE
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