Kevin Warstadt

Born Again: Enlightenment and Understanding

My hypothesis has two parts. 1. Enlightenment is not a destination but a path. It relies on developing understanding, rather than acquiring knowledge, and it manifests itself in moments of realization; that is, sudden instances of understanding or “eureka” moments. This journey has no end point and relies on continues effort throughout life to achieveContinue reading “Born Again: Enlightenment and Understanding”

Quote of the day 07/12/23

Here’s a passage from the Bodhisattvacharyavataraa that I quite liked. “May I become a protector for the protectorless, A guide for those who travel on the road, And, for those who wish to cross the water, May I become a boat, a ship or a bridge. May I become an island for those seeking dryContinue reading “Quote of the day 07/12/23”

Stoic quote of the day 07/11/23

Here’s one from Marcus Aurelius. “How trivial the things we want so passionately are.”

Quote of the day 07/10/23

I learned today that I’ve lost six months of progress toward a goal. In honor of this fact, I have a line from The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus. “The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”

Father Forgets

I came across this piece in Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. It was originally published in 1927. I don’t have a son of my own, but it reminds me to be a little more patient with my dog when he misbehaves. Father Forgets By W. Livingston Larned “Listen, son: I amContinue reading “Father Forgets”

Stoic Quote of the Day 07/08/2023

I sometimes fall into the trap of half-heartedly pursuing many interests at once, producing suboptimal results. Here’s a relevant passage from Epictetus’s Enchiridion. “In every affair consider what precedes and follows, and then undertake it. Otherwise you will begin with spirit; but not having thought of the consequences, when some of them appear you will shamefully desist. “IContinue reading “Stoic Quote of the Day 07/08/2023”

The Battle of Tollense Valley

A few weeks ago, I went down a rabbit hole reading about battles in the ancient world. From what I could find, the earliest (reliably) recorded battle in history is the Battle of Megiddo, fought between Pharaoh Thutmose III and the Canaanites in 1457 BC. Based on an archaeological site in Tollense Valley, Germany, theContinue reading “The Battle of Tollense Valley”

Stoic quote of the day 07/07/23

Here’s one from Seneca: “The greatest remedy for anger is delay.”

Shall I at least set my lands in order?

Sometimes, when I’m procrastinating, I think of this section from The Waste Land. “I sat upon the shore Fishing, with the arid plain behind me Shall I at least set my lands in order?” As I recall, he’s referencing the Fisher King from Arthurian legend. The Fisher King Perhaps tonight, while I waste my timeContinue reading “Shall I at least set my lands in order?”

Today

Today, I will remember that people act so as to achieve the best outcome as they perceive it to be. If I remember this, if I align my goals with their own, I can achieve the best results for all.