Let's face it, the reality that so many in the world today live within the midst of tremendous suffering, both material and spiritual. Can we help those who suffer, or ourselves? How? Simone Weil has left us with some wise counsel, advice which Mr. B shares in this, his second diary entry of his new podcast season. Please, take the time to listen... In these times, honestly, what can be more important than learning how to bring healing to each other, ourselves, and the world?

In this, Mr. B's first diary entry, he explores a scientific fact that called into serious question his own sense of identity, the reality of "who Mr. B actually is." Hey, after listening, please ... join the discussion at Mr. B's updated and expanded website, www.beautymrb.org. See you there!!

This is the last installment of the final episode of "Season One." It builds on the others, and is intended to bring our discussion of the question, "what is beauty?," full circle... from what constitutes beauty to how the statement, "I know in my heart," qualifies, in fact, as a truth that is beautiful. This segment begins with a story -- with Mr. B's story, in fact -- of how his life has gradually moved toward his heart, addresses the practicalities of how the process of personal transformation might start, and concludes with a vision for how each of us can contribute to the transformation of our world into a more beautiful place.  

In this segment Mr. B moves past an examination of the quality of "beauty" and begins to consider the truth of the translogical statement, "I know in my heart." This is a truth that exists beyond the ability of the human mind to fully comprehend, a truth so large that it can only be held within the vast expanse of the human heart. Join Mr. B as, here, he starts to unfold the process of reconnecting with the heart of our most true selves.

It's time, finally, to dig into the meaning and importance of beauty in our lives! In this episode, the first of three parts, Mr. B explores in some depth the quality of beauty. What makes something, anything, a thing of beauty? Why does beauty exist? What purpose does beauty serve, in our own lives and in the life of society? All this leads to a discussion, which starts in this episode, of what beauty, exactly, attracts Mr. B, of what Mr. B finds in his life to be most beautiful? Tune in, and explore what beauty means to Mr. B....

I know that Mr. B has lately been encouraging listeners to really dig in and engage actively in the living out of personal growth, so it only seems right that now Mr. B would take some risks himself ... like embracing the mysteries of the most beautiful of the literary arts, poetry! Here, Mr. B shares five of the poems that have mystified and challenged him, provides just enough commentary (he hopes) to inspire us to embrace our inner poet, and does his best to help listeners see poetry as a fountain of light --of truth and guidance --in the sea of darkness that is the world today. 

This episode continues with what it means to truly grow as a person and become an active agent, a protagonist, in the progress of society. Mr. B starts this episode with a discussion of what is required for an individual to begin "living" growth and then he provides listeners with two examples. One example, in story-form from the 19th century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, describes a modern age, ours, that has become less and less capable of authentic and meaningful action. The other, written by Christian Wiman, a professor of literature and religion at Yale University, recounts through his own experience what it might look like to move away from our closed minds and toward the opening of our hearts in the direction of truth.

This episode explores the meaning of "growth," especially personal growth. In this, Part One, Mr. B outlines the modern idea of growth, and he does his best to recover what "to grow" was originally meant to convey. You might be surprised! In Part Two, next week's episode, Mr. B will consider how someone might begin to move beyond understanding and actively participate more effectively in the process of living growth.

We've been brought up with the idea that each correct answer we accumulate constitutes another bit of knowledge we possess. In this episode, Mr. B openly questions the equation of knowledge with the possession of correct answers. Instead of a paradigm that bases knowledge upon the answer, Mr. B proposes that a more complete paradigm of knowledge must be centered on the asking of questions. It is only when we move beyond the one correct answer, to embrace all the questions which follow, that we will recover the beautiful natures of our own curiosity and our inherent desire for endless learning...

In this episode, Mr. B examines how the ways that we understand words, our language, influences what we see as real and true. By taking a close look at three words, Mr. B hopes that, like him, listeners will come to appreciate more of the beauty that exists in the world and within ourselves.