Americ's Philosophy

That's a great thing, Americ. I'll look forward to these philosophical meanderings and try to meander a bit myself.

Philosophy is a wide open kind of thing for me. When I studied it at San Francisco State University and at University of California, Irine -- I was greatly disappointed by the fact that people had walled philosophy into a "discipline". I see philosophy as something that everyone does. Children and young people do philosophy all the time. They take the great ideas seriously enough, so that they are willing to play with them. By the time most people become "educated" they have lost the capacity for philosophy and perfer dogma.

Rain here in Northern California these past two days. Feeling like Fall, now. Feeling like my body is part of all this --- nature. Often....due to my techno-life, I forget that I am nature, too.

Today is the first and last day of my life. So I might as well make the best of today.

A wonderful thought, thank you.

I think that people are very afraid of depression. It is the most fearsome emotion (or lack of emotion). We use a lot of drugs to overcome it. Yet, I believe, that depressions are periods of great internal integration. Things are happening within us that the mental/emotion system cannot "see". Often, after a depression, there is great creativity and insight. So it is good to work with depression as if it were some kind of friend.

Depression is only fearsome when you don't know what is going on. If you know you are down and if you can figure out why, everything is still okay and predictable. When your emotions are out of control and you don't understand what is hapening -- that is (for good reason) frightening. Periods of situational depression have been good for me but only after I have assessed the situation and begun on a path to investigate why I am in the state I am in. Once I know the why, I can begin to resolve the situations, feelings in my life that have overshadowed my happiness. Wallowing in a depression is dangerous -- the thoughts are less constructive and occassionally dangerous.

Well put Stacey! A long time ago a friend gave me one of my best suggestions about life during a depression: "Never, ever make a decision while you are depressed." That has kept from from doing more stupid things than I would normally do anyway.

good advice, I should heed it more often. Unfortunately, I have made a couple major decisions while situationally depressed. In a short time, I discovered they were not the most well thought out moves.

So the best thing...is to do those things that keep us out of depression or help depression go away. Sunshine, fresh air, singing, playing flut...etc. Good friends,....etc.

If you heard me play the flute... there's a deep depression for you! I find too that, if I'm upset about something, letting myself vent (scream, cry, yell or writing it all down) allows me to wallow for a bit, get it out and return to a more balanced state more quickly. All this opposed to holding it in and avoiding the issue.

That sounds so healthy! I tend to hold it in.

And in case no one could tell, so do I.

*smile*

Good morning, stacey.

Good Morning!

Good afternoon. I decided to not be on the net for almost 2.5 days. Like an addict withdrawing from his favorite addiction. I resisted it. Found myself thinking and feeling things that I would not feel, if I had spent so much time in front of the computer screen. Like any drug, this Interent and World Wide Web thing can be used but should not be abused....

Absolutely, you've got to see, feel, hear, and taste real folks. And go on those long walks. I take time for these things.

Americ, nick and I thought we had run you off with our idle banter!

Americ, are we going to meet some of your students and coterie of followers here sometime?

Yes... in fact am sending one of my research associates into The Spring. Expect a posting from Bett Lujan Martinez soon.

Great!

Also we are just ending the semester. It's the new group in January that I can point to The Spring. I will just make it part of their homework. :)

If you want to use your own public or private conference to conduct your class, feel free. I'll be happy to open any new areas you need. And if your students come up with some suggestions, beware, we'll probably use 'em.

Thank you. This is great!

I am seeing that this philosophy conference is like a garden. Terry gave me a plot of cyber-land I planted a few seeds Now the garden is starting to grow It warms my heart to see new friends and old friends and relatives coming here to make contributions I see the spirit of dialogue and mutual respect growing here I love the way things are growing

I love it too. Recently a friend has given me a place to grow and I know how you feel. I am going through some transformations of my own. I'm glad things are expanding and growing for you.

"I believe you rarely achieve more than you expect." -- Carol Grosse A crazy turn of events for me... I have a new teaching position!!! I am the self-contained ED (Emotionally Disturbed) teacher at Knight Academy as of Monday.

Congrats!...

thank you. I'm glad to be in one place all day and the challenge is definitely positive!

good going, stacey!

Congrat! Stacey.

I was reading the following on this rainy Sunday morning: "...And God is truth...Only our very being is more fundamental to us than truth. We must have truth; only then can we begin to live, only then can we rest in beauty's contemplation..." (My Way of Life)

The quote I had my students read and copy today: "Don't let yesterday take up too much of today." Roy Rogers

"Be here now!" Live life fully, now. Good remember... ...again and again.

"People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be." -- Abraham Lincoln.

"only that day dawns to which we are awake."-henry thoreau

life is short, live it now.

rock on, beavis...

"Love is always fun, love is never sappy And Mr. Troll is crying 'cause he's happy." Shoulders

that's cool, wer...

Gee, thanks, I was going to put in a quote from "Offerings" but those lyrics jumped out at me instead.

*smile* I like it too.

I think it is important to remember again and again that philosophy is not an answer or set of answer. It is a path toward wisdom. Philosophy means of the "love of wisdom." I, of course, find that most of what passes as "philosophy" in universities and book stores is bad philosophy. Just a lot of words. What I want is a kind of attention that brings the heart and mind up to a new level of awareness; that makes us question our lives enough so that we actually make a little progress.

Question for thought: Why have most Holy days turned into Holidays, and can the trend be reversed?

It's my understanding that the etymology of the word was fairly innocent but as the church lost 'control' of the people the celebrations became more 'fun' than reverent. Being rather 'un-fond' of any of the organized religion I have been exposed to, I really don't mind the commercialization on a spiritual level.

I think that one of the biggest problems with "organizied religion" is that it becomes ritual without spirit. Nothing as odd as being in a group trying to have fun and celebration of the birth and/or resurrection of the Savior. You know, you just can't feel good on que. Every year, at Easter, I go with my oldest daughter to Grace Cathedial in San Francisco. It is a wonderful and beautiful place. The Bishop for Nothern California presides. He brings in a jazz band and trys to get people to swing. Well, I tell you, most people still just want to be stiff in the pews. To shout and swing and dance at the end -- because the Savior has been resurrected seems to be alien to a group that is more interested in looking good than feeling good. But it is still at lot of fun!

For me, heart felt fun is always closer to god than reverence, ritual, or any of the old paradigms. Seems to me, religion of the suffering kind has been a study in contrast/seperation.

amen.

religion is too deeply a personal matter to be "organized"... a kind of communion is the very best one can hope for, but even that is a crap shoot... to invest one's spiritual well-being into the collective behaviors of human beings is to invite disillusion (at the least)...

amen.

unless, of course, one is presbytarian (like me)

just kidding

*chuckle*

I love you all. This is the sweatest group I have ever met. And, to think this is *only* a meeting of spirits in cyberspace. In a way, this cyberspace, soul to soul connection is a great proof of the spiritual nature of human life. (could the animals and trees also chime in here too?)

The trees could if I spent more time with them...

what about the animals wer? you spend plenty o time with them! Shall we dare to fathom a tree's phiolosophy on life, growth, death and (ahem) god?

Not talking to them I don't. No fathoming, I coulda just asked one a long time ago now, it seems.

Oh man... the animals part gots all kinds a strange pics going! I had a favorite tree when I was about seven or eight. It was in the far back reaches of the school playground and it gave pecans every year. I talked to it now and again. As I recall it just listened. Maybe because I never asked it anything substantial except, "how are you feeling today, Nutty?"

Could be...sometimes our questions are more important than our responses...

yes

I think a tree would scoff at the questions, for the tree is part of the answer, part of the cyclic nature to life, as we are to ask another. Perhaps if we just looked and wondered at the trees life there would be its answer? Or perhaps my studies on post modernism is clouding the issue?

Could be, but what if the tree spoke while you stood still, looking and wondering? Could you accept that answer, as well?

No I would go and get some pyschological help, (smile) or perhaps get off the LSD. Could you?

Could and have, Sinfear. It's hard to describe because it's in the range of empathy. Can't say I haven't (or sometimes don't need) needed the pro help, though...

Interesting, empathy, do mean with out verbal words though? So a feeling rather then intellectual knowing?

Depends on your definitions I guess...

I think I am asking for your definition...

Speaking of Americ, I read this by him today: the CyberCampus ( http://cybercampus.ggu.edu ) is the kind of thing you are talking about. We will have over 40 online courses during the Fall with 1000 to 1500 students. Many of these are part of complete cerificate programs and we expect full degees beyond the Master's in Public Administration soon. Check out the site. I have staff, faculty, the whole thing. It took over three years of alpha/beta testing to develop a very simple model that takes hardly any support. Please feel free to write me at mailto:americ@well.com or call me at (510)465-6088 for a direct conversation. Writing is not always my best mode of communication.

To Wer intellectual knowing is many, many different things. To Wer feelings are what matters.

I'll get back to this...can't think at the moment...

See? That's exactly what I mean . . .

explain please (and this time, with feeling)

Okay, my sweety-honey-baby-muffin-pretty-pie(let). But how can I possibly explain the phenomenon of a man who prefers to put sweetness and feeling before cold, cruel intellect? It is beyond me. Must I carry on? (that's what I meant by it)

my philosophy includes the idea of eternal return. I am back! It is nice to see things as they are.

Americ!!!!! What a wonderful surprise!!! Where have you been, what have you been up to?!?!?!?! And I never even got to know you properly. WELCOME BACK.

Glad to see you back, Americ!

Wer, it's a good thing you call yourself that, and not Satan's own Goddess.

You did good, Americ by starting this conference. See what you've wrought?

Hi, Terry! How's the tool?

And: HA-HA!!!!

Terry....he brought me back. I have been very pre-occuppied putting together the CyberCampus http://cybercampus.ggu.edu Looks like we make hit as hight as 1500 students online this Fall! This will be the beginning of our second fall. Last fall we began with about 150 students. It has been a growing experience. We have even been getting major media coverage.

What software are you using to pull all this together, Americ?

Wow!!! That's quite incredible.

We are using a fabulous group of people. One great we page designer (Mark) did the font door. Two course designers One help desk person -- not too much support. Three people to administor registration, proctored exams, and marketing. The software for the discussions is WELL Engaged (www.wellengaged.com). We are working on creating a ColdFusion database in the background to provide the instructors with templates for writing their own syllabus and moduls.

above it is http://www.wellengaged.com

So, you're a scientist then, like Ray?

i think americ is a philosopher, no?

What is the potential for doing this at a State University, like the University of Texas. Should we approach them with the idea of doing this locally in Austin?

I tend of myself as a philosopher-scientist-businessperson. Life is a series of experiments. You try things. You are always getting feedback. Sometimes it is what we expected; sometimes it is not what we expected. But, always, there is feedback. I believe that the University of Texas had bought a "virtual campus" system from UOL Publishing (http://www.uol.com). They are somewhat expensive. But well designed web interfaces. What I focus on is dialogue. That is why the CyberCampus has been moving so fast. I am beginning to get schools that are interested in using the CyberCampus itself to put up the courses -- a major part of which is getting the faculty to understand tha value of doing online dialogue. I ported The WELL discussion culture into online education. Folks, here, at The Spring are part of this same tradition. Terry -- you should check out the people at UofT, Austin and see what is up there. There may be a way for all of us to work together.

Fix on UOL Publishing: http://www.uol.com

I'll put the feelers out.

Hi Americ! Great to see you again! Congrats on all the success!

Thank you! all for the warm reception. Terry -- I have never stopped in Texas. Did pass through on AmTrack many years ago. I remember, that it seemed very big..... the train went on forever.

I don't see much need to get out past the Austin area very much, it's a pretty complete cultural scene here in Austin. Occasional trips to my dads in East Texas and to Houston and Dallas, but not very often. It is a *long* ways across Texas.

you need to come visit us here in san antonio, terry. a mere hour drive away!

Is San Antonio also in Texas then? And you're a mexican texican, Ray??? May I (maybe with my sister) come and visit you next year when I go to the spring party?

but of course! SA and Austin are neighbors and it would be a shame for you to not see beautiful san antonio if you are so close!

i like visiting san antonio. in fact, i'll be there in january sometime for a month long class. when is the big spring party?

Big Spring Party. Please explain. Is this like the monthly WELL parties?

Terry just said there would be a big spring party to mark the beginning of spring next year - and Mike and I (wonder where/how he is) have decided to go together.

We have one every year, about 80 or so folks show up. This year should be even bigger.

Yeah, looks like you can plan on around 82. :-)

You coming, Autumn???? That would be great! I wish ALL of us would come - we'd have a ball!

That would be very fine, indeed. I visited with Jonathon tonight, who I build and maintain the Childrenstory and tvpc websites for, and he, Mary and son William are headed off to England for a couple of weeks. Lucky him!

Not with the weather we (and they've) been having! Still envy him, though.

So what is the whether like out there in the Spring?

oh so hot and humid!!!!!

It's cooling down to the nineties these days. We had a month of hundreds!

The satanist is back!!! Where have you been, muffin?

dazed and confused? (actually closer to stressed and confused)

Under a lot of pressure at work? Why confused?

yes auto-head games

how do those go?

usually, downhill...

Not good. Anything you can do about it?

lobotomy?

No. But you could talk to us if you felt like it. I don't make much of a shrink, but I do care - and many of the others DO make good shrinks. ANd the best thing: you don't have to pay them for listening!

I shall MAKE him pay... (oops! wrong conference, get up off of your hands and knees WER, here lemme dust you off!)

How did you want to make him pay? You wanted to beat him to death with a lock of hair? He should be so lucky!

into submission...

Doubt if it will take even that!

I wonder what he'd think if the two of us started whacking him with locks of hair!??!

If Americ would only join in on it with a few of his own locks, well, I say turn it into a musical. I'm already lookin' at from the couch, in a theater....enthralled.... the applause from all around me is practically deafening. How did I get so lucky to even obtain a ticket to this Broadway show....?

...there's no business like show business... and show business is no business at all!...

Just picked up at tape of Alan Watts' old 60's radio shows, called "Zen and the Beat Way". Really cool stuff. Might want to check out http://www.alanwatts.com

Cool stuff, Americ!

It really is cool. Life is better when we are aware of who we really are.

Got that right. Took me a while, though. We have pretenses for others and we hope they suffice. I like being me much better. I am far better at it anyway!

To be ourselves, to know that we are, exit this moment now. Is the greatest gift. I honor you here now as you are. It does seem to take constand rememberance.

Yes, constant remembrance is most necessary, lest we lapse back into who we wish others to think we are. I honor you for the insightful honest man you are. At all times, as far as I can tell. Your philosophy has much to recommend it!

To know that we ARE lapsing back into not being ourselves but being a mirror of who we think others want us to be, we must first KNOW ourselves. This is a perennial quest perhaps, and one that we never complete, because we ourselves are constantly evolving and growing. Who am I?? A fundemantal human question, and one that certain personality types can become almost obssesed with. The challenge is to balance the quest for knowing ourselves with actually living ... 'having a life' as my kids say. Self-awareness can be scarey. As soon as we STOP and look internally, we often don't like what we see. Much of our perception of 'self' is fed by the reflected perceptions that others give us. These perceptions can be distorted, as in a a fairground 'funny' mirror, but have great influence in our lives when they come from significant people. Sorry, lots of thoughts sparked off - I'll stop before I bore everyone.

Not at all Maggie! When we first look inside we see mostly memories, fears of the future and past, and impressions of what others want us to be due to their memories and fears. What we really are may be none of that. All these memories, etc. a are contained in the larger framework of pure light of awareness itself. Awareness/existence itself...a sense of just being.... if pure. There is a freedom and openness from this perspective that is quite charming.

Your charming perspective comes with age and accomplishment and hard-won self confidence...at least, in my case. It is a serene feeling where few of the fears we dealt with in younger years are put aside. I rather like it.

Reading through this entire topic has given me pangs of loss (William. Jim and Ree) and more insight into the man whose topic this is. Whatever happened to your teaching, Americ? Publishing? I do know you are working on a book. Is it your first (or do I need to read back through this again?!)

I have not published a "real" book. But, I have at several points in my life written newspaper columns for small papers and magazines. None of that is happening at this time. I have been locked up in the world of computer technology most of this time. Having become an expert in the field of e-learning (or online education & training, to be exact). But, suddenly, I have this urge to teach philosophy and wisdom -- I cannot explain why. Just seems to want to happen. I did publish on the web a few of my writings at: The Eye of the Paradox. Much of it actually written about 8 years ago. So I now feel like I have gone beyond some of it. You must be a writer yourself. ???? Certainly, you are very present in this medium with me.

Most of Geo was written by me in one way or another. I graduated from college with a double degree in Journalism and earth sciences so I could pursue a technical writing career. I married and did research for my then husband who was a college professor. So, I am a researcher, tech writer and I do some editing when called upon. Thanks for the hot link to your past writings. I will take their age into account. I am delighed someone who converses is back amongst us. it is a lonely business posting monologues day after day - or worse, cuting and pasting boring stuff.

Let me know where you are teaching and I will sit at your feet and learn. I am delighted to find you are so willing to share your thoughts with us again. Where do I sign up?!

I wish your father had brought you to Hawaii. A large percentage of our population is of Portuguese descent - mostly from Madeira. They hired on as sugar cane workers and other labor, but you would not have felt as odd here. There are still local festivals honoring those immigrants and their descendants, and we eat a lot of food created by these warm and friendly people. I understand about your oddness. I can see it here in new Southeast Asians entering the United States through the State of Hawaii. Aloha!

I developed the architecture for Golden Gate University's CyberCampus. These days, I continue to teach a course on "Internet Marketing Through Virtual Communities" in that online program. Meanwhile, I am teaching this summer a course (at Dominican University of California) face-to-face on "Eastern Philosophy and Religion" which I really enjoy so much now. In the Fall, I will teach (also at Dominican) a course on "Introduction to the e-World". So which island are you on?

The Big Island of Hawaii where Kilauea Volcano is erupting gently and steadily. I perused your CV last night and came away very impressed with your accomplishments. Some day I will ask you how/why you learned Sanskrit... Nothing like teaching to a live audience. I've done both and feedback is what it is all about! Next week I will be close to you visiting my son but with little time to check out much besides Geology. He is a geologist and knows his Mom's preference to head away from human creation and head for God's.

God's creation; human's creation. These days they are starting to seem the same. We are God's creation; and our power to create is also God's creation. It does take a lot of love to appreciate the difficult learning path we are on as creators, however. I have four children by blood; one by step-hood; three grandchildren; and a godson. They are all a blessing. So much to learn from them all.

Children are the little wise beings into whose life we intrude. The bring us love and life boundlessly; curiousity and elan in equal measure. From their presence we learn humility, pride in its purest form, joy, pleasure of simple things, and so many other excellent qualities. With wisdom and patience we learn not to make them conform to our strictures, but to loosen ours to allow us to learn once again what it is to be truly free. I have one son. He is the best thing I ever did in my life and he has been a source of greatness in me if there is any.

In Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind I hear that we must go from: Enlightenment to Practice to Thinking in that order. That way our thinking will be in alignment with our practice and our practice with our enlightenment. But, if you the other way, staring with thinking, you will never get to enlightenment.

Mmm, maybe that's where I am going wrong with my thesis - too much thinking and too little enlightenment. *grin* (sorry it's late, and I'm feeling kinda kooky)

Tomorrow we head for the High Sierra and the Giant Sequoia. There I shall find enlightenment. Aloha, Americ!

So....are you back now!

I am...and am remiss for not posting the pictures (or some thereof) yet. I am trying to justify my preference for the company of magestic stands of trees to humans. There must be a genetic anomoly in my ancestry. Trees, alas, do not return the hugs!

How was your trip to the High Sierra and Giant Sequoia last July, Marci?