Rosh Hashana Intention

Tonight begins Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, so it's the perfect time for reflection and introspection.

I definitely find myself at an interesting point in life.  Like many, I've started to think about bigger questions of long-term impact and my purpose, while also thinking about my interconnectivity with others.

This line of thinking doesn't come naturally to me and there are plenty of times when I find myself reverting back to a self-centered, elitist, know-it-all, arrogant mentality.  It's frustrating when that happens, but one of the things I have learned as a result of the meditation efforts and study of the mind and consciousness is the need for self-compassion. I am definitely sometimes too hard on myself.

As we head into Rosh Hashana, I have outlined my intention for the holiday which is to contemplate the idea of Fatherhood and Husbandhood (if that's a word).

For so long (and probably too long), I have just "done" the role, but I haven't really thought about it with as much intention as I would like.

I've tried to become more intentional in many parts of my life (see this post from my other blog on Flow), and I want to do a bit more of the same in these two roles which are, of course, some of the most significant.

It is my hope that through the liturgy, stories, tunes, and community of the holiday (and the following days leading to Yom Kippur- which is my favorite holiday), that I can begin the journey of a thousand Li with one step.

Speaking of Lao Tzu, I was re-reading Tao Te Ching recently and found some interesting similarities between Chapter 33 and the opening of Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers, a well-known Jewish text).

In the Tao Te Ching (in my translation), it says:
He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty.

He who is satisfied with his lot is rich;

In Chapter 4 of Pirkei Avot, it says:

Who is strong? One who overpowers his inclinations. 

Who is rich? One who is satisfied with his lot.

Since Lao Tzu predates Yehuda HaNassi (he put the mishna together), I am left wondering:

• are these just universal truths obvious to any philosopher?
• was there any knowledge exchange between China and ancient Near East?

Something else to ponder, but either way, good advice.

Oh..and I taught my first meditation class last week. It was a great experience and I am grateful to Sara S., Michael M., and Michael G. for encouraging me and providing me with support. Plus, the brave souls who were willing to be my guinea pigs.

Shana Tova

Consciously Creating a Mind and Brain Diet

I saw a version of this cartoon in a book my sister-in-law gave me called "Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain

Over the past few months, I've read 10-12 books on the topic of mindfulness, the brain, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence.

I've really come around to this way of thinking...that feeding your brain is like feeding your body.

We can choose to put the equivalent of sugar and fat into our brains (reality TV and instagram posts) or high-fiber, nutritious items.

Sure, there are moments when we can indulge and enjoy sweet things.

But overall, a brain diet that mirrors a healthy food diet makes a lot of sense to me.

Learning to Drive

Tikkanen got her Learner's Permit this week.  We went out that night for a nice drive. Same with the following evening.

Later in the week, we took a rush hour drive as well. 

We'll probably do this in 3 stages. The first will be suburban Maryland. The next will be DC and the Beltway with some highway  driving.  Then, one day I'll just say something like "ok, we're driving to Philadelphia" and we'll do it.

She's been a great student. Thoughtful and conscientious.  It's definitely a bit nerve-wracking at times, but really good meditative practice. 

More importantly, I realize that this is an opportunity to impart life lessons through the lens of learning how to drive.

Learning to drive is a lifelong pursuit and this week I found out about a really interesting connection between two of my driving instructors.

Lakkanen and I are reading Pirkei Avot in preparation for her bat mitzvah.  On my own, I have been reading some of Marcus Aurelius' sayings from Meditations.

It turns out that the curator of the mishna, Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi, was not only a contemporary of the Emperor, but a friend.

That was a really unexpected find for me

The “N-Word”, Perceptions about Police, and Bob Dylan

I was listening to Bob Dylan’s epic ballad “The Hurricane” about the miscarriage of justice done to Ruben “Hurricane” Carter.

It’s a great movie as well with Denzel Washington starring.

It's such a powerful song that I hate to bring it down to one question that is seemingly trite, but I was curious about this.

The white Dylan clearly uses the “N-word” in the song. I wonder how he would be treated if he released that song today?

The other is that the perception of injustice done to blacks by the police sounds hauntingly familiar.

Digital Addiction and the Sabbath

Of all of the possible addictions out there, the one that has me most concerned these days is digital addiction.

I think the idea of a Shabbat or a "digital-free Sabbath" where people abstain from electronic devices of all kinds will soon be recognized as a necessity of mental health and as a competitive advantage.

It is the only time during the week when we are able to free ourselves from the attention-seeking, engagement-driven world that we live in that is designed to maximize dopamine rushes and minimize deep thought.

Yet, it is deep thought that is what allows us to actually become smarter.