Mathematical Art of M.C. Escher A central concept which Escher captured is that of self-reference, which any believe lies near the heart of the enigma of consciousness � and the brain’s ability to process information in a way that no computer has yet mimicked successfully. The lithograph Drawing Hands and the woodcut Fish and Scales each captures this idea in a different way. In the former the self-reference is direct and conceptual; the hands draw themselves much the way that consciousness considers and constructs itself, mysteriously, with both self and self-reference inseparable and coequal. In Fish and Scales, on the …
During the evening of November 6, 2002, astronomers using the 1.2-meter reflector at Haleakala, Hawaii, discovered a 17th-magnitude comet as part of the Near Earth Asteroid Tracking (NEAT) program. Designated Comet NEAT (C/2002 V1), it brightened quickly through December, leading to a suggestion that at perihelion on February 18th, it could become quite bright (though largely swamped in the Sun’s glare). Currently estimated to be magnitude 6.8, the comet can be seen in the western sky after sunset, just below the Great Square of Pegasus. However, according to comet expert John Bortle, the future of Comet NEAT is unclear. During …
From: Shamar Rinpoche “Meditation in Theravada and Mahayana Traditions” Once you connect genuinely with meditation practice, you will develop a true passion for it and your practice will begin to mature. As long as you do not understand the essence of meditation, it hasn’t been properly experienced. Only when you experience the essence does it really get interesting. Concentration-Insight Meditation Meditation by concentration of the mind to remove the Five Hindrances is known as samatha , while the contemplation of physical body, feelings, mental functions and phenomena (dhamma) to develop Right Wisdom is called vipassana . The Vijja Dhammakaya approach …
1421 – Gavin Menzies Interesting site listing evidence that supports the author’s claim that Chinese explorers arrived in North America before Spanish ones. Of course, the Viking record still stands. Why doesn’t anyone ever mention that Lief Eriksson actually was the first non-Aboriginal person to visit here?
From “Awakening the Buddha Within” by Lama Surya Das: The Korean Zen master I studied with, Nine Mountains, used to exclaim with gusto, “What is it?” This, his main koan or Zen conundrum, was boldly calligraphed in Korean as a hanging scroll on the wall. This is an intense, heartfelt, visceral question: “What the hell is it?” That was his whole teaching. What the hell is going on? What is this? Who is this? This is a fundamental existential question, turning our exploration inward. What is this presenting itself right now?