Eye on Faith

Monday, May 20, 2013

Meditation for the uninitiated

Bruce Willis (Photo by Gage Skidmore)

Don't have a shaved head? Not a problem. Have a shaved head, but only did it to look cool like Bruce Willis? Not a problem. In

fact, little to nothing's a problem with MSN Living's "Meditation 101."

The article begins with the words "I feel idiotic repeating a mantra." Rich Pierson, cofounder of "a meditation company" called Headspace, has just the answer for that. He explains that all it takes to get into the meditation groove is to focus upon steadying the breath.

What does this mean exactly? Pierson advises: "Close your eyes and count your slow inhalations and exhalations silently up to 10, then repeat." If you happen to notice that there's a whole lot of "noise" in your head, Pierson's got an answer for that too: "The trick is to stop judging yourself for it… [Simply] go back to your breathing, and start counting again."

Now although you may have always imagined yourself levitating in some Himalayan cave, Andy Puddicombe ("a joke-cracking former Buddhist monk") asserts that "you can meditate anywhere, under almost any circumstances." If a distraction occurs, focus all your attention on it for a short while until the mind gets bored. It should then be relatively easy to return to your rhythmic breathing.

Last but not least, if meditation makes you sleepy, you probably needed a nap anyway. Puddicombe explains that meditation will "heighten awareness of any sensation or feeling" that's already present.

Resources

http://living.msn.com/life-inspired/time-to-bloom/slideshow?cp-documentid=251270247#1

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Vatican: Becoming artsy once again

Leo X (Portrait by Rubens)

In the "good old days" of Pope Leo X (elected in 1513 and died in 1521 CE), the arts flourished.

Never mind that this was often paid for with money garnered from indulgences (alms in exchange for the pardoning of sins) – Leo's philosophy has been described as follows: Since God has given us the papacy, let us enjoy it.

In keeping with these words, Leo not only sold indulgences - but also cardinals' hats, palace furniture, jewels, and even "statues of the apostles." Wikipedia reports that he used this money to fund all sorts of artistic ventures – from establishing a Greek printing press to employing Raphael to work on St. Peter's Basilica. Not to mention Leo's habit of parading around Rome with jesters and Hanno the elephant in tow…

These days things aren't quite as flamboyant, but are nevertheless picking up speed. Religion News Service (RNS) recently reported that the Vatican had plans to participate in the 2013 Venice Biennale ("a leading international arts festival"). RNS also reported that Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, "the Vatican's culture minister who was considered a strong contender during the recent papal conclave, has made reconciliation with the art world a top priority…"

Resources

http://www.religionnews.com/2013/05/14/vatican-revives-its-ancient-patronage-of-the-arts/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Leo_X

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Chris Hadfield: Gravity a downer

(NASA photo)

Gaia, aka "Mother Earth" to many, has pressed humanity to her mighty bosom for eons via the force of gravity.

Humans are so used to being held in gravity's clutches that they barely give it a second thought (unless, of course, they are focusing upon the sags and bags that earthly flesh is heir to).

Nevertheless, there are some that manage to escape gravity's influence – if only for a little while. Such a fortunate one is Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who just completed a five-month sojourn within the International Space Station.

Irene Klotz of Reuters reports that Hadfield "became a social media rock star with his zero-gravity version of David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' [13 million YouTube hits and counting…] and a continuous stream of commentary on Twitter about his life in orbit."

His expressiveness has helped to give the average earthling a feel for gravity's weighty effects.

Hadfield recently described his "rough re-introduction to gravity" in less than glowing terms. He missed his

"whole new [zero-gravity] normal," and said that his body had been "quite happy living in space…" His neck and back were particularly feeling the burden of having to once again support his head.

Upon reentry, Hadfield could actually "feel the weight" of his lips and tongue (he had gotten used to talking in

spaced with "a weightless tongue"). Getting blood back to the brain became another chore that his body had to once again contend with.

Nevertheless, Mother Earth tried to lure Hadfield back into the fold with her bountiful charms. He explained:

Our first true sense of being home was a window full of the dirt of the Earth and the smell of spring and the growing grasses in Kazakhstan wafting in through the open hatch.

Gravity or no gravity, who could resist all that?

Resources

http://news.yahoo.com/canadian-astronaut-wrestles-gravity-spaceflight-155914826.html

Friday, May 17, 2013

Beware the DSM-5

(Seven deadly diagnoses?)

The DSM-5, otherwise known as the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA's) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is causing somewhat of an uproar for those in the know.

Lindsey Tanner of the Associated Press reports that "prominent critics" are accusing the APA of "turning common human problems into mental illnesses." These same critics fear that this will just exacerbate the already existing "pop-a-pill" culture. Their outcry goes like this: Normal needs to be saved from powerful forces trying to convince us that we are all sick.

This group of critics is international in nature. It includes the head of the NIMH (the U.S. National Institute for Mental Health), a British psychologist's group, and an organization of German therapists. Criticism also comes through loud and clear in works such as Gary Greenberg's The Book of Woe and Allen Frances' Saving Normal.

Some of the most questioned "diseases" within the DSM-5 include the following: "mild neurocognitive disorder" (as applied to commonplace "senior moments"), "disruptive mood dysregulation disorder" (as applied to temper tantrums), "binge eating" (as applied to consistent once-a-week overeating), and "major depression" (as applied to grieving the loss of a loved one).

Since religions have been known to describe the human condition as one that contains the seeds of all these so-called ailments, perhaps it's time to start calling the seven deadly sins the seven deadly diseases. Perhaps

then we can all medicate our way into heaven.

Resources

http://news.yahoo.com/shrinks-critics-face-off-over-psychiatric-manual-182839126.html

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Who put the Whit in Whitsun?

2010 Whit Walks (Photo by Richerman)

Not only is there a Whitsun in the United Kingdom - but there is also a Whit Sunday (from whence Whitsun was derived, say that three times fast), a Whit Monday (the day after Whit Sunday, good guess), a Whit Friday (the Friday after), a Whitsuntide (the week after), Whit Walks (actually parades), Whit Fairs (sometimes called Ales), and – of course - just plain Whit (bringing us right back to yet another name for Whit Sunday).

Wikipedia (with lots of wit, but little Whit) tells us that "Whit" is often thought to be an abbreviation of "White" due to the "white garments worn by catechumens" and the white vestments in England that were often worn on Whitsun. Also, young English women tended to come to church wearing new white dresses on that day.

Wikipedia also mentions that John Mirk, an Augustinian canon from Shropshire who lived circa 1382 to 1414 CE), had this different interpretation: Good men and wimmen, this day (Dies Penthecostes) is called Wytsonday by cause the holy ghost bought wytte and wisdom into Crists dyscyples… (Wit being strongly associated with wisdom back then – are you listening, Comedy Central?).

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitsun

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Have a Hava: Dance everyone dance

Macedonian Oro (Photo by Chajeshukarie)

It's harvest time in Israel - a time for rejoicing

and giving thanks for all such blessings.

Gratitude for the harvest bounty can be joyfully

expressed through dance and song. And no song

better exemplifies this than "Hava Nagila."

Drawing inspiration from Psalm 118:24 of the Hebrew Bible ("This is the day which Yahweh has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it…"), the

transliterated Hebrew lyrics (often attributed to

musicologist Abraham Zvi Idelsohn) include the following: Hava nagila ("Let's rejoice"), ve-nismeha ("and be happy"), Hava neranenah ("Let's sing), and Uru ahim be-lev sameah ("Awake brothers with a happy heart").

The English version includes these lines: "Come to the valley, Run through the clover, Harvest is over, Dance everyone dance! Dance where the corn was high, Under a golden sky, Dance where the wine was born, Dance everyone dance!"

The haunting melody comes from Bucovina (a region that is currently within both Romania and the Ukraine), and the foot-stomping beat comes from its association with the Hora (a lively Balkan circle dance, aka Horo and Oro).

Wikipedia reports that Hava Nagila has been popularized by such diverse artists as Chubby Checker, Bob Dylan, Connie Francis, Lena Horne, Glen Campbell, and Josephine Baker. For Harry Belafonte it was a "stand out song" which he played at practically every one of his concerts. Belafonte even stated: Life is not worthwhile without it. Most Jews in America learned that song from me.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hava_Nagila

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hora_(dance)

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Shavuot: Why the Book of Ruth?

Naomi, Ruth & Orpah (by William Blake)

Just as the Book of Lamentations is read on Tisha B'Av, the Book of Ecclesiastes on Sukkot, the Book of Esther on Purim, and the Song of Songs on Passover – so too is the Book of Ruth (Megillat Rut) read on Shavuot.

Mazornet.com tells us that Ruth is a great heroine who is "forever beloved and revered." Her modesty,

dignity and great deeds provide us with fine examples

of "what a true friend, a true daughter, a true woman is made of."

Beyond this general description of what Ruth means to the Jewish people, there are some specific reasons

why her story is traditionally read on Shavuot. These are as follows:

1. Ruth's "quest to become part of the Jewish Nation" is often compared to the giving of the Torah to the Jews.

2. Ruth was accepted by Yahweh just as the Israelites were.

3. The gematria (numerical value) of the Hebrew letters of Ruth's name equals 606, which is the exact number of new commandments (in addition to the seven existing Noahide Laws) that were given to the Jewish nation on Shavuot.

4. King David, Ruth's great-grandson, was born and died on Shavuot.

5. Shavuot is also a Harvest Festival, and the Book of Ruth highlights Israel's harvest.

6. Ruth exemplifies Chesed ("loving kindness" – akin to Agape and Caritas), which is the essence of many Torah teachings.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavuot

http://www.mazornet.com/holidays/Shavuot/readingruth.htm