A brief metaphysical musing on the nature of enlightenment, being and reality There are indeed many paths up the mountain. Sectarianism is juvenile and problematic at best; and dogmatism is confirmed blindness, confirmed delusion. Being is non-dual, all-pervasive, infinite, stainless, primordially awake; yet, there remain many viable paths to realizing
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Writings of J. Todd Ring: The Heart Of The Perennial Wisdom
Or, The Heart Of The Perennial Philosophy The Crux, Or Core Of The Matter: What is the nature of good and evil, being and reality? An open letter to two fine gentlemen, on my favourite philosophy podcast:Seekers Of Unity I must say, with great respect, this is an excellent and
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Philosophy & Metaphysics 101
(Excellent talk on philosophy, metaphysics and human happiness is linked below.) When we let go of attachment, aversion and ego, our energy naturally rises, increases and expands, and our happiness, health, energy, joy, peace, power, love, compassion and clarity increases. This is the central lesson of all the great spiritual
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Enlightenment: Raising Consciousness & The Cloud of Unknowing
Ideology is neither salvation nor liberation. As important as a paradigm shift, a shift in world view, or a shift in consciousness and perspective, clearly is, we must understand this. It is not ideas or ideology that will save
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: What is Enlightenment?
Further Notes On The Dualistic Illusion (This ought to raise the hackles of the fundamentalists – both secular and religious. But I don’t write for the narrow of mind anyway, so I am not concerned about that.) Now here is someone who knows what he is talking about: Rabbi David
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Boethius, Stoicism and The Consolation of Philosophy
While I would recommend Boethius, and the Consolation of Philosophy, to all, I would not recommend Stoicism to anyone, for two reasons: 1. It encourages a banishment of feeling and emotion, and an unfeeling indifference to both pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow – a kind of psychic numbness, which,
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Philosophy, Being and Reality
Some reading on the subject of philosophy, ontology, epistemology, metaphysics and the nature of reality that I’d recommend: Choosing Reality, by Allan Wallace, Dreamtime and Inner Space, by Holgar Kalweit, The Holographic Universe, and Mysticism and the New Physics, by Michael Talbot, and an excellent first major book, as an
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: The God Fetish, the God Phobia, and the Fetish of Words: Or, The Idolatry of Ideology
There are some who will read my writing and think – he’s a dangerous right-winger! But if they read more, they will realize that is obviously untrue. Others will decide I am a dangerous leftist extremist; but if they read on, they will understand that I advocate non-violence, freedom, democracy
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: The Essence of the Path
Here are a few things that I have gleaned, from listening, from study and contemplation, and from some genuine experience. I believe they can be helpful. But above all, think for yourself. Question everything. “Don’t take anyone’s word for things, not even someone you respect, not even myself. Examine things
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Getting Off The Treadmill: Seeking More Through Less
Newer, better, more… Newer, better, more… On and on the circle goes. But when you begin to see through such delusions and self-limiting, self-imprisoning patterns, then the door to true wisdom opens. First, however, you must get off the treadmill of always seeking newer, better, more. If it doesn’t exhaust
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Core Wisdom: Compassion & Ferocity
I choose compassion because I want others to be happy and not to suffer. That is the intelligent way to live. Not that I am infallible, but I strive. Kindness and compassion are also a matter of enlightened self-interest. They bring mutual happiness to both oneself and others. But do
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: The Gospel Of Thomas: A Key Text In World Religions & A Gateway To Mystery
The greatest scholar of world mythology, and one of the greatest scholars of world religion, Joseph Campbell, introduced me to the Gospel Of Thomas, and made clear its monumental importance. (Translations vary radically in quality of representing or mistepresenting the text, as is common. Stick with, or at least
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Angkor Wat: Reflections On Our Modern World
~*~ Angkor Wat is the crown jewel of a 400 square kilometer set of temples and holy sites, set in the jungles of Cambodia. Built as a Hindu temple in the 12th century, later transformed into a Buddhist temple, Angkor Wat alone is the largest religious monument on Earth. That
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Laying Waste To The Religious Right
A few brief thoughts for perspective: “Censorious scrupulosity” – Stephen Toulmin is as witty as he is brilliant. Make it viral (so to speak… Yikes, we will soon have to be censoriously scrupulous in avoiding that phrase, now that the global police state is here): “Is that a touch of censorious
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: The Collapse of Modern Civilization
More than 150 years ago Thoreau commented, “Our sills are all rotten.” He was right. It is for that reason that Western, and Westernized, “modern” “civilization” is collapsing. This could be cataclysmic, of course, (as in, an ecological holocaust), or relatively peaceful, (akin to the Maya abandoning their great cities
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Fantasy and Indoctrination: Rough notes on a few fantasy novels: part two
Here are two more fantasy books that I could not get through. That makes three in a row. And to think, I had a love affair with Terry Brookes’ Shannara series! (I read something like 20 Shannara novels in a row, and loved all of them, other than the last
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Reflections On Stillness & Action
We need stillness and action – both, and urgently so. This should be becoming perfectly clear. I’ve travelled through 20 countries, but still I find stillness the greatest adventure, and most rewarding, enriching journey of all. Going to the mountain top is exceedingly worthwhile, but going deep within is what
Continue readingA Novelist's Mind: Lilian Nattel Online: Sunrise
Photo by Lilian (click to enlarge) And then this: a gift freely given every day. Clouds floating on a sky like water. Fire above, mysteries of home below. Filed under: Light Tagged: spirituality
Continue readingA Novelist's Mind: Lilian Nattel Online: Ugly Duckling?
Photo by Lilian (click to enlarge) I don’t buy it Mr. Andersen. Maybe the mother duck was surprised, overwhelmed, or even envious, but the baby wasn’t ugly, and she lied. We come into the world as beautiful cygnets. Every one of us. Filed under: purpose Tagged: spirituality
Continue readingA Novelist's Mind: Lilian Nattel Online: Shadows
Photo by Lilian (click to enlarge) If you’re afraid of shadows, look at them more carefully. Can you see how they reveal another dimension that is not otherwise apparent? New leaves grow in cracks, and shadows are beautiful. Filed under: have no fear Tagged: spirituality
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