Kind Mind

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One of the oldest words for forgiveness is kshama in Sanskrit language, which literally means “releasing time.”  This reminds me of when Lily Tomlin once said, “forgiveness is giving up all hope for a better past.”   And that is the real gift of forgiveness - the unbinding of ourselves to a previous moment and no longer looking for peace in the place where we think we lost it. 

This episode explores again how kind this can be to ourselves.

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Following your fear may sound counterintuitive when aspiring to a life of love and peace. Mythologist Joseph Campbell once famously quipped, "follow your bliss," which sounds much safer.

However, it can also be true that fear will not stop following you until it is acknowledged, healed, or transcended. Avoiding the triggers of insecurity can amount to a long detour on the path of awakening and authenticity. Campbell also wrote, "the cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek."

This is where mindfully walking the labyrinth of our fears to the center of our being and back matters. There are many different types of fear but psychologist Karl Albrecht believes that they can be categorized and fit into a hierarchy or “feararchy.” Nonetheless, philosophers like Jiddu Krishnmurti asserted that these are still only the branches of one tree of fear and implored seekers to cut it down at the root.

On an evolutionary level, our instincts associated with worry are predominantly codes for responding to a long-gone world. Most of the ancient imminent threats like predators, storms and enemies have been replaced by longform health complexities like addiction, obesity, or loneliness. This episode explores how to deconstruct fear and anxiety to live more whole-heartedly.

(Music “To New Beginnings” by Bing Satellites)

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At the core of personality disorders lies a paradox—the functional yet ultimately detrimental nature of behaviors that originally develop as coping mechanisms in the wake of trauma.

Individuals with paranoid personality disorder may misinterpret innocuous comments as malicious, while those with borderline personality disorder might see abandonment in routine separations.

Cultural norms define the thresholds of acceptable behavior and influence both the diagnosis and stigmatization of personality traits. Personality disorders, as both shadows and mirrors, reveal the limitations of our current psychiatric paradigms and the profound impact of sociocultural forces on individual psychology and the development of "personality."

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Blinded by invisible abstract concepts such as wealth, investment, interest, socioeconomic status, and profit - our social systems often obstruct the natural flow of generosity with attachments, greed, and possessiveness.

Generosity could be innate, as evidenced by our evolutionary anomaly of hoarding to the point of the peril of the whole species in modern times.

Studies reveal that even toddlers experience more joy when giving treats to others rather than receiving them. Likewise, Capuchin monkeys have demonstrated an understanding of generosity by refusing unequal rewards and showing distress when others are treated unfairly.

However, in contemporary society, our instincts can become misaligned or manipulated with our virtual and psychologically insular environments.

Wisdom texts also convey that generosity is our natural state; to give is to receive or to hold one's breath is to lose it. This episode explores ways to remove the impediments.

(music "The Inner Truth" by The Lovely Moon)

The discourse around toxic masculinity and its role in a pervasive identity crisis among men is compounding. Yet, what exactly constitutes healthy masculinity?

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The concept of archetypes in psychology, especially as applied to personal development and self-image, offers a rich and nuanced way to examine various aspects of human behavior. There are four core mature masculine archetypes, initially delineated by Carl Jung and later emphasized by Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette, which serve as an integrative framework for deconstructing the male identity. These archetypes—King, Warrior, Magician, and Lover—each possess unique qualities and shadow aspects that reveal the dual nature of strengths and patterned struggles.

These archetypes represent universal roles across various cultures and historical contexts and can help in understanding not just one’s mental health but also the dynamics in relationships, societies at large, and the impact of events on life’s turning points. Expanding this model through modern and holistic lenses, such as intersectional feminist epistemology, challenges traditional views, acknowledges the role of power and oppression in shaping the energies of these archetypes, and connects to collective liberation.

“The Whole Man" emerges not merely as a fixed identity but as a dynamic process of evolution, integration, and maturity in diversity and complexity.

(Music "Drifting and Phasing" by Kowalski Room)

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'At the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit. And that center is really everywhere. It is within each of us.' -Black Elk

We all have an often underused and therefore latent power of concentration. It is like the aperture of a camera which controls how much light comes through the lens.

When it is smaller, it yields marvelous depth of field but a blurring of the periphery.

Similarly, the light of conscious attention can be directed like a laser to penetrate the phenomenal world to reveal deeper insights and master an aspect of life.

Ordinarily, our understanding and attentional interests are coming from the environment and outer conditioning with the illusion of one's willful direction, just as the tides appear to be the work of the ocean and not the invisible gravity of the moon.

Concentration also represents the sixth limb in the philosophy of yoga. Dharana is the Sanskrit word with its root "dhar" meaning "to hold."

But this is not the same as meditation, which in some ways is the opposite, like the large aperture full of light due to having no specific focus.

This episode explores various creative and contemplative paths to concentration, it's material and spiritual benefits as well as it's relationship to meditation and other limbs of yoga.

(original artwork on episode website and music "Eight Hours" by Bing Satellites)

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Culture, at its essence, is like a game, where the collective beliefs, practices, and values of any two or more people overlay the tangible world, shaping perceptions and bidirectionally influencing behaviors.

Like the sum of all dreams, these shared impressions become the social fabric and the drama of humanity that we all navigate - guiding norms, rules, and identities that will continue to evolve according to our collective imagination.

I like to think of cultures as constellations, portraying each individual as a star within the societal cosmos. The connections we draw between these stars—due to our angle of observation, common locations, traditions, rituals, or treatment—form patterns that emerge as the recognizable outline of cultures.

Like the constellations in the sky, these social conventions are not inherent but are instead the product of human perception and interpretation, emphasizing the subjective nature of cultural construction.

Expanding this model metaphysically introduces a contrast between dominant and non-dominant cultural forces. I see a prominent space-oriented theme and the rigid cultures around divided land such as nations with controlled and defended physical territories.

Another theme involves fluid, time-oriented perspectives and frameworks around cycles, renewal, and culture as a way of relating - where past, present, and future are deeply interconnected.

Spiritual texts offer profound insights on the correction of perception which facilitates the undoing of fear and the transformation of love. The concept of cultural humility, with its emphasis on openness, learning, and empathy, aligns with wisdom teachings which call for a shift from judgment to forgiveness, and from fear to love.

Spiritual growth involves recognizing our shared identity beyond the superficial divisions of the ego. This mirrors an understanding of culture as "true-ish"—a construct that can guide but not define our deepest truths and connections.

Metaphors such as the dream tapestry or social constellations can help us navigate the complex social landscape and honor a balance between the world of forms and our underlying unity of being.

(Music "A Blanket of Japanese Violets" by Bing Satellites and episode artwork on podcast website)

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Admiration is a profound human psychological state and like a prism, refracts light into a spectrum of experiences. Within this metaphorical range, there is the capacity for awe and spiritual transformation - the colors of admiration's positive influence.

Beyond admiration's edges lies the cautionary areas where imbalance spills into the harmful rays of idolization or insecurity, akin to the UV radiation just over the rainbow of visible light.

In this digital age of snapshots, glimpses, comparisons and voyeurism - how we see matters for our mental health. Having a better understanding of the art of admiration and who or what could be admired can serve as a mitigating factor for the risks of depression or internet addiction.

The vibrations of admiration are like ripples backwards in time, a clue from our future, fuller selves. It touches on something deep within our psyche or peels back a layer covering our true nature. Like the personification of an acorn admiring an oak tree because that is it's destiny, we respect and resonate with the outer displays of our own inner potential.

Author and philosopher Matshona Dhliwayo wrote, "admiration is the power of anointing." It symbolizes the uplifting and transformative effect this quality can have. It also suggests that it be treated as a sacred rite we carry with us. Perform the ritual with care.

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Honesty, a cornerstone of ethical behavior, faces complex challenges in the modern world. Technological advancements have fundamentally altered the landscape of human interactions, introducing anonymity and ease of information manipulation that can diminish accountability.

The rapid dissemination of misinformation and the rise of AI along with the weaponization of bots and deepfakes complicate the distinction between truth and falsehood, normalizing deceit in various contexts.

Social media platforms further blur these lines by encouraging the curation of idealized realities and incentivizing deceptive practices for personal gain.

These shifts, coupled with the pressures of consumerism and material success, contribute to a culture where dishonesty can thrive.

What responsibility do we have with respect to honesty in the virtual world?

What is the line between digital creativity and confusion?

Recorded live on Feb 24, 2024 at the Westclox Metaphysical Fair. You can support this work and connect more at https://patreon.com/kindmind

Charles Bukowski's assertion, "Style is the answer to everything," encapsulates the essence of this quality, suggesting that true style goes beyond mere aesthetics to encompass authenticity, resilience, and individuality.

This episode explores the multifaceted nature of style, its evolution through various stages, and its significance as a response to life's complexities.

Rooted in the Latin word "stylus," which referred to a writing instrument, the concept of style has evolved to represent the unique way individuals express themselves in every aspect of life - aka one's "signature" style.

The cycle of style can be understood through six stages: Uniform, Conform, Perform, Deform, Freeform, and Reform. Each stage represents a phase in the evolution of style, illustrating the dynamic interplay between socialization and individuality.

Bukowski's philosophy of "don't try" aligns with this cycle, suggesting that true style emerges naturally when one stops trying to fit in or impress and instead embraces their authentic self.

Please visit the episode website to view an image of the "style cycle."