On Science and Spirituality

"Science, conceived as evidence and radical questioning, may advance understanding by enabling realistic appraisals of life and its circumstances--for example, by showing that lightening is a giant electrical spark passing from positive to negative cloud particles rather than an expression of anger from the gods in heaven (and hence lightening conductors save lives, while prayer wastes time, preventing escape)--without claiming omnipotence or total knowledge. Some degree of empirical accuracy may be only the beginning of understanding, as existential philosophy argues." (Peet and Hartwick, 2009)

I ask: why understanding? What's the worth of knowing the chemical reactions that happen all around  me if deep inside I feel empty and meaningless?

Science can make life more “efficient” and “better”, true. But efficient and better doesn't necessarily mean lasting “satisfaction” or “contentment”. (For example, I know people that have many luxuries but are always unhappy 'cause they see no purpose in life.)

If, as Geertz said, “man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun,” then I rather spin webs of meaning that bring joy and fulfillment to my life. If worshiping the sun and starts brings peace and joy into my heart, then I'll do so (even if science disqualifies my beliefs).

Rather than seeking scientific advancement, let's advance spiritually—in love, tolerance and honesty.

“What, in human life is truly richness and progress?"
(O'Conner and Arnoux, 1993: 12-13)

To clarify: I do like knowing how the natural world (including our physical body) works. Chemistry and biology are fascinating! However, I have a problem with human existence dependent on science and technology. We are a society fascinated with shinny tinny tech-stuff! But we are a society that has lost its soul, its imagination, its sense of community, its purpose.. because those are things that you cannot find thru science!

Interpretive Anthropology

I just finishing reading an article by Clifford Geerz and I really like the closing sentence so here it is:

"The essential vocation of interpretive anthropology is not to answer our deepest question, but to make available to us answers that others, guarding other sheep in other valleys, have given and thus include them in the consultable record of what man has said" (Geertz, 1973).

This week's trend: Breath Awareness

I've been thinking too much lately: what things do I have due tomorrow? what should I be doing now? or should I be doing something else? how do I achieve my goals? what if I cant? what should I do next? and what about time for my friends? blah blah...

I've been thinking too much to the point of getting overwhelmed by my thoughts and even defeated by them at times. So how to stop this constant thinking that is taking me nowhere good?

--> One way of doing this is to take a few minutes to be aware of my breathing and in that way I create gaps in the stream of thinking and bring myself back to the present moment...

-------------------------------

"Being aware of your breathing takes attention away from thinking and creates space...

Be aware of your breathing. Notice the sensation of the breath. Feel the air moving in and out of you body. Notice how the chest and abdomen expand and contract slightly with the in-and outbreath. One conscious breath is enough to make some space where before there was the uninterrupted succession of one thought after another... 

Being aware of you breath forces you into the present moment--the key to all inner transformation. Whenever you are conscious of the breath, you are absolutely present. You may also notice that you cannot think and be aware of your breathing. Conscious breathing stops your mind. But far from being in a trance or half asleep, you are fully awake and highly alert..."

(A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle)

Abundance

"If the thought of lack--whether it be money, recognition, or love--has become part of who you think you are, you will always experience lack. Rather than acknowledge the good that is already in your life, all you see is lack. Acknowledging the good that is already in your life is the foundation for all abundance. The fact is: Whatever you think the world is withholding from you, you are withholding from the world."

"Try this for a couple of weeks and see how it changes your reality: Whatever you think people are withholding from you--praise, appreciation, assistance, loving care, and so on--give it to them. You don't have it? Just act as if you had it, and it will come. Then, soon after you start giving, you will start receiving. You cannot receive what you don't give."

(These are excerpts from the book A New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle)
------------------------

I find it necessary to constantly remind myself of these basic principles. Sometimes I feel like my "default" state is to complain and to see the negative. Maybe is this consumerist society that teaches us to pay attention to the things we lack, the things we wish we had, and the things others should give us... and all of the sudden we forget and fail to see all the abundance that surrounds us.

I want to change my  my default state to give thanks for all the people and things that are part of my life. In that way I'll be recognizing such abundance, which in turn will lead me to be at peace with the present moment.

Civilization is not an incurable disease [Gandhi, 1910]

"The people of Europe today live in better built houses than they did a hundred years ago. This is considered an emblem of civilization, and this is also a matter to promote bodily happiness....

Formerly, they wore skins and used as their weapons spears. Now... they wear a variety of clothing, and, instead of spears they carry with them revolvers... If people of a certain country, who have hitherto not been in the habit of wearing much clothing, boots, etc., adopt European clothing, they are supposed to have a become civilized out of savagery...
Formerly, the fewest men wrote books that were most valuable. Now, anybody writes and prints anything he likes and poisons people's mind..

This is considered the height of civilization... As men progress... Men will not need the use of their hands and feet... Everything will be done by machinery.

Formerly, when people wanted to fight with one another, they measured between them their bodily strength; now it is possible to take away thousands of lives by one man working behind a gun from a hill. This is civilization...
Formerly, men worked in the open air only so much as they liked. Now, thousands of workmen meet together and for the sake of maintenance work in factories or mines. Their condition is worse than that of beasts. They are obliged to work, at the risk of their lives, at most dangerous occupations, for the sake of millionaires...
Formerly, men were made slaves under physical compulsion, now they are enslaved by temptation of money and of the luxuries that money can buy...
Formerly, people had two or three meals consisting of homemade bread and vegetables' now, they require something to eat every two hours; so that they have hardly leisure for anything else...

What more need I say? ... Civilization seeks to increase bodily comforts, and it fails miserably even in doing so...

[The English] deserve our sympathy. They are a shrewd nation and I, therefore, believe they will cast off the evil. They are enterprising and industrious, and their mode of thought is not inherently immoral. Neither are they bad at heart. I, therefore, respect them. Civilization is not an incurable disease, but it should never be forgotten that the English people are at present afflicted by it."

Apple Cider BBQ Sauce!

Yes, ladies an gentlemen... today, in my first attempt to making my own BBQ Sauce, I created this delicious thing that tastes just like apple cider but is made with a base of tomato sauce! Ok, dont make "yucky" faces, 'cause you have to try it to be able to judge it! And c'mon, I dont have bad taste in food... so you can trust me when I say it was ~pretty tasty~

The ingredients are the following: 1 cup of tomato sauce, 1/2 cup of tomato paste, 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar (hence the flavor!), some no-calorie sugar, lots of cinnamon!!!, a bit of garlic salt, and a bit of paprika (i'm not sure how much the paprika added to the flavor, but it def didnt make it worst hehe)

So there you go, pretty simple sauce and great flavor!

I thought it was a good idea to start blogging with this story because it touches on a topic that has become very relevant at this point in my life: cooking and eating healthy!

Thinking back to my years as an undergraduate (2005 - 2008) I dont think there were many days in which I ate three meals a day, especially since I was "afraid" of cooking! Not only did I eat in such a random schedule, but I also ate very unhealthy. Unlike what you might believe, eating baby cereal (i.e. Nestum) isnt recommended for a 20-something!!

In consequence, I got very sick in my last semester in school which ended up with a surgery to remove my gallbladder last year. Then, once I started taking medicine and eating more regularly: I gained a lot of weight ('cause I was still very unactive). This made me feel very unhealthy and I knew that I was walking into dangerous spaces... Finally after seeing what an extremely poor diet can do to you, I started being more physically active and more importantly: I became more conscious about what I ate.

Last weekend I got really excited to notice that I have lost around 10 pounds in the last 3 or 4 months. On one hand this is a result of me being more active (walking around 25 to 60 minutes a day). On the other hand, I achieved this, not by following any diet, but by becoming more conscious of my calorie in-take--I've tried to make sure that I burn more calories than I eat.

Choosing to eat and live healthier has finally forced me to cook! I swear at some point I was afraid of cooking and messing things up! But since I have had no other alternative I have at last started cooking, with a little apprehension at first, but to be honest now I love it! The idea of "creating" my own food fascinates me, plus it makes me feel really accomplished when it actually tastes good (which surprisingly is very often).

Basically, what I learned is that eating/living healthier is not impossible, but it requires determination from your part. I'm sure I'll be sharing more food-related stories in the future. For now I hope that I at least inspired you to start taking active care of yourself.

If you wanna learn more: the US Govt has a really good website that explains, in a very simple manner, how to eat a balanced diet that would help you reach your goals (whether it is to maintain, loose or gain weight). Check it out:

http://www.mypyramid.gov/STEPS/stepstoahealthierweight.html