Kevin Warstadt

Koans

According to Google, a koan is “a paradoxical anecdote or riddle, used in Zen Buddhism to demonstrate the inadequacy of logical reasoning and to provoke enlightenment.” Here’s a fresh one for you. John put on his hat.He was surprised to find it was actually a dog.The master said, “It isn’t a dog or a hat.”“Oh,” said John. “I see.”

Stoic thought of the day 06/21/23

Here’s one from Epictetus. “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” Good luck out there today everybody.

The Turtle

One day, I was driving home from work, and I came upon a turtle in the road. I carefully drove around the turtle and began to drive away. As I moved along, it occurred to me that I should stop and move the turtle to safety. Excuses flashed through my mind as to why IContinue reading “The Turtle”

Dogs

The domesticated canine is the most perfect being in all of creation. Here is a creature completely without sin. Devoid of malice. Overflowing with love. Loyal. Completely genuine. I think we should all strive to be more like dogs. If I were half the man my dog is, I’d be a very great man indeed.

On fame

I’ve been reading some Stoic philosophy lately, and I came across a quote from Marcus Aurelius that I found quite interesting. “He who has a vehement desire for posthumous fame does not consider that every one of those who remember him will himself also die very soon; then again also they who have succeeded them,Continue reading “On fame”

The Noble Oak

The noble oak My favorite plant As mighty as an elephant One’s trunk is brown The other gray But I’ll take either Any day

Loneliness

I know it’s cliche to say, but it really is weird how you can feel lonely when you’re surrounded by people. Although, that’s a different kind of loneliness than you feel when you’re really isolated. During my short isolation in New Hampshire, I started to go insane. I remember lying in bed, staring up atContinue reading “Loneliness”

The Rehearsal

I recently watched HBO’s The Rehearsal, a docu-series created by Nathan Fielder. Fielder is famous for Nathan For You, a comedy show in which he attempted to “aid” small businesses with outlandish and impractical advice. The Rehearsal inspired me to go back and watch Nathan For You again, and despite getting some great laughs outContinue reading “The Rehearsal”

Rejtan

I recently started listening to A History of Eastern Europe by The Great Courses. In Lecture 4, Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, Ph.D. describes the first partition of Poland by the great powers of Europe. In 1773, Tadeusz Rejtan protested before the Polish parliament, which was set to approve of the partition. According to the story,Continue reading “Rejtan”

The Tyger

William Blake is one of my favorite poets. Here’s a favorite poem of mine. The Tyger Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry? In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? WhatContinue reading “The Tyger”