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Bruce Hood, an experimental psychologist, explores the concept of self and inner dialogue, arguing it is a psychological illusion shaped by cognitive processes. Consciousness includes awareness, attention, and reflective thinking. Voices in our minds guide, deceive, or shape our identities,…
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Zen and the Art of Dissatisfaction – Part 6.
Dutch historian Rutger Bregman, in his work ”Humankind: A Hopeful History,” argues that human nature is fundamentally good, challenging common narratives suggesting otherwise. His findings, supported by examples from WWII and hunter-gatherer societies, illustrate how cooperation and kindness prevail, raising…
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Zen and the Art of Dissatisfaction – Part 5.
The text explores the complex relationship between money, happiness, and cultural satisfaction. Through ethnographic experiences with the San people and insights from Helena Norberg-Hodge on Ladakh, it reveals that while wealth can provide freedom and opportunities, true contentment remains elusive,…
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Zen and the Art of Dissatisfaction – Part 4.
Around six million years ago, great apes adapted to a transforming environment, evolving into bipedal Homo species. Homo erectus emerged two million years ago, exhibiting significant traits like hairlessness and endurance running, enhancing hunting capabilities. This adaptability, combined with the…
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Zen and the Art of Dissatisfaction – Part 3.
The post explores human dissatisfaction’s origins, linking it to cultural evolution during the Upper Palaeolithic era, around 70,000 years ago. While past communities showed contentment, modern humans exhibit dissatisfaction, driving innovation and exploration. This shift may signify the rise of…
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Zen and the Art of Dissatisfaction – Part 2.
The Second Crisis highlights the urgent challenges posed by artificial intelligence, particularly its potential to amplify economic inequality and threaten democracy. As humanity navigates environmental crises, there’s a pressing need to reconsider work and wealth distribution, guided by ethical principles.…
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Zen and the Art of Dissatisfaction – introduction and Part 1.
Mikko Rakushin Kendō Ijäs explores the complexities of human existence, emphasizing the paradoxes of innovation, dissatisfaction, inequality, and environmental crises. His writings, informed by diverse experiences from academia to Zen practice, argue against reliance on outdated economic measures. By embracing…
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Helsinki Street Retreat, 7–10 September 2022
By Johan van Mol A few weeks ago, I lived on the streets for a couple of days with an inter-faith group of Peacemakers in Helsinki. We did this without money, without phones, begging for food, and sleeping on cardboard…
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Relive and Experience: Bearing Witness in Finland
Text by Kees HagenaarTranslated from Dutch by Mikko IjäsPictures by Stan Weyns I knew nothing about the Finnish civil war, which lasted from 27 January to 15 May in 1918. I only heard about it when I took part in…
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Taking action on Ecological Crisis
I met Maija Kaunismaa at the Zen Center of Los Angeles in 2018 when I was a Resident student and she was working as Artist-In-Residence. Maija wrote much of her latest album, The Pine House Songs, at the Center and…
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