We start with a thought from Pascal that can be put, “There is a God-shaped hole in every human heart.” So much of our discourse has an implied focus on ourselves, and spirituality seems to shift the focus away from that human I. We discuss some thoughts and conceptions around this, including man created in the image of God, and spiritual work. Wha…

“As opinions proliferate, it seems you have to burden your brain with them as part of knowing about the world.” There are so many opinions – everyone has one. Don’t lies spread faster than truth? My friend LL and I talk about how to think about this turbulent sea of opinions, which are powerful wherever humans gather.…

We start with a quote from Camus, in The Myth of Sisyphus, “There is but one true philosophical problem, and that is suicide.” We discuss the nature of a philosophical problem, and some reasoning behind Hamlet’s problem. We expand the question to one encompassing most of the species, in the example of a nuclear apocalypse, and rephrase the question…

We give a synopsis of and discuss the Grimm Brothers’ story “The Wonderful Magician,” which may be about the unknown and knowledge, practical and deeper knowledge. It may also highlight the use of rationality in the context of (irrationally-affective) music, and the essence of humans, as opposed to that of nature.…

We check in and start off talking about how we deal with stress and how we can feel about ourselves. We then talk about the Christopher Nolan movie Oppenheimer, which I love; we start off with our differing interpretations on the relationship with the unstable Jean Tatlock and then segue to related talk of dramatic character and the attraction of u…

John Vervaeke cites a survey from the UK where many respondents say their life is meaningless, and he brings up zombies as a myth of our time. We discuss zombies’ possible significance. Zombies have no past and are pure consuming desire and yet do not realize this. People, too, seem to be unaware of why they are purposeless and lack connectedness t…

My friend LL and I start with a quote from Cicero from a Sam Harris podcast and talk about the Eleusinian Mysteries, its founding story, myths, Joseph Campbell, death as a part of the cycle of life and the possible liveliness to one’s life with this realization, and rest. LL talks about her healing and insight from lucid dreaming and journaling. I …

My friend LL discuss the stories that affect us. LL starts off talking about narratives that remind her of her duty, reciprocation, Mulan, “Mary Janes” and personal power. We then discuss sacrifice and cultural change re attitude towards family, how that latter might be different with immigrant families and other things about experiences in immigra…

My friend LL and I read the recent Snow White and the Widow Queen by Jonathan Pageau (a great retelling and beautiful pictures!). LL summarizes the story and then we talk about it.द्वारा benlundy

A conversation with my friend LL where we start talking about masculinity and machismo (vs. “toxic masculinity”), and then we transition to a discussion of ritual, including the Eleusinian Mysteries, with a beautiful passage from Cicero. “We have learned from them the fundamentals of life…”द्वारा benlundy

A conversation from January 1 of this year with my friend LL. She’s an introvert who’s enjoying a reprieve from a parade of holiday parties. We discuss music (she likes metal concerts), etiquette, and ethics in friendship (with a moral dilemma), and loneliness.द्वारा benlundy

With my friend LL, I discuss Plato’s Phaedrus, love and its possible transformative effect, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, conversation and growth, good and evil, and the Fourth Agreement, Always do your Best.द्वारा benlundy

My friend LL and I discuss the complex relationship between freedom and peace, distinguishing freedom to and freedom from, desire; subjective sense of peace (serenity) vs. intellectual challenge to learn. Fundamentally, we explore the subjective ideas that may flow from liberal democracy, and then go on from there to touching on religious ideas in …

I discuss dating preferences of American women vis-a-vis Asian men with my female friend LL. She has a different view than the majority and attributes this to her being raised by immigrants. We briefly discuss the importance of education among immigrants.द्वारा benlundy

My friend LL and I discuss The Fourth Agreement (from Don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements), which is “Always Do Your Best.” This challenge can focus one, helping one to feel alive in the moment, but it can seem like a burdensome obligation. We have a kind of dialogue between these two ideas.द्वारा benlundy

We summarize and discuss the Grimm Brothers’ “The Goat and Her Seven Little Kids” and how they dispatch of their wolf enemy by over-satiating him. We also discuss capital punishment.द्वारा benlundy

I talk with my friend LL about Don Miguel Ruiz's book's 2nd Agreement: Don’t take anything personally; White Lies and other Lies; Intent; and Mindfulnessद्वारा benlundy

My friend LL and I discuss the Grimm Brothers’ story “Our Lady’s Child” and, related to this, punishment and the divine.द्वारा benlundy

My Friend LL and I discuss the Grimm Brothers’ story “Cat and Mouse in Partnership” as well as the Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruizद्वारा benlundy

My friend LL and I discuss the Grimm Brothers' story "The Frog Prince" and the Steven Soderberg movie Solaris.द्वारा benlundy

We read the first chapter of the Tao te Ching, or Lao Tzu. We talk about desire and reality (both ultimate and quotidian), and coming to terms with things.द्वारा benlundy

My friend LL and I chat about Lao Tzu (Tao te Ching) Number 8, on the highest good and other things.द्वारा benlundy

We talk about our experience using Stoic Meditations from the Waking Up app.द्वारा benlundy

My friend LL and I talk about our experiences with Stoic Meditations, like the Last Time meditation.द्वारा benlundy

Today my friend LL and I discuss the possible good side of conflictद्वारा benlundy

I and my friend LL discuss our thoughts on severe crime and punishment, including execution.द्वारा benlundy

My guest-friend LL and I try discuss the elusive topic of true education, its nature and goal.द्वारा benlundy