Tuesday, October 8, 2013
group one post
since there are not posts for today i will author for group one.
we started our class inside with a brief discussion on whether to have class outside or not.
after filling out our new "score sheets" we moved out on the lawn for group 2's presentation
i am cutting and pasting their outline here for clarity purposes
Methods and Happiness:
Intro (James): There are too many divergent ways to pursue and evaluate happiness. We've each picked something relevant.
Ken: Bars on Happiness
Materials: The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman
Supplemented: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn & Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
William: Materialism
Materials: the Gearsluts forum (based on two threads:
the "Video Game Curse" thread
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-electronic-music-production/865756-september-2013-new-gear-thread.html
& the latest "of the month" thread
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-electronic-music-production/865756-september-2013-new-gear-thread.html
alongside a running tradition in the field)
Alexander: Pick Up Artistry
Materials: Websites dealing with the topic:
http://www.rooshv.com/18-reasons-why-you-dont-get-laid
http://www.pick-up-artist-forum.com/
http://manboobz.com/category/pua/
http://www.pualingo.com/pua-terminology-list/http://www.pualingo.com/pua-definitions/kino-escalation/
Jackie: Habits
Materials: Articles on the topic:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/16/happiness-habits-of-exuberant-human-beings_n_3909772.html
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/pdfs/happycircle-ggsc.pdf
Otto: Superstitions
Materials: Bok's chapter on Illusion and three articles:
http://www.livescience.com/8392-superstitions-bring-real-luck-study-reveals.htmlhttp://www.healthguidance.org/entry/15659/1/How-to-Stop-Being-Superstitious.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181957/
Samantha: Astrology
Materials: Beginners handbook on the topic to be presented in class
Tony: Aboriginal Tribes in Africa
Materials: To be presented in class
Kat: Handling Panic Attacks/Anxiety
Materials: The Panic Attack Recovery Book by Shirley Swede & Seymour Sheppard Jaffe, M.D.
James: Logotherapy
Materials: Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Conclusion (James): Are there any over-arching themes here?
i was unprepared to author so forgive my lack of expanding on the talk. great job group 2
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Thanks for the post, Leigh. It was a beautiful day to be outside and Group 2 did great job. I am always happy to talk about Viktor Frankl. And I am reflecting on Kat's discussion of proper breathing. Even without a panic issue, it seems breathing rightly would be beneficial. I wonder if one could learn to do that consistently or if it is used more often to help navigate a panic attack?
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to our report tomorrow. Thanks again Dr.Oliver for suggesting the TED talk idea. It has allowed a big group to split up and speak on topics of interest to them.
Chapter 3:
FQ: What is the Dalai Lama's definition of karma? Karma means action and refers to the intentional acts of sentient beings. p.72
DQ: Can consciousness be understood strictly as physical phenomenon? Is it essential to the study of meditation and happiness that consciousness be understood beyond a philosophical understanding?
Looking fo a consciousness link I found this about the Jennifer Aniston neuron:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2012/03/30/149685880/neuroscientists-battle-furiously-over-jennifer-aniston
Also:http://www.ted.com/talks/antonio_damasio_the_quest_to_understand_consciousness.html
Often, when we're relaxed, we breath diaphragmatically without realizing it. Watch someone in a deep sleep or meditating--you'll get to see their bellies moving with their breaths. Usually, when we're stressed or upset or what-have-you, we tend to breathe deeply through only the lungs, often causing further stress and discomfort. A lot of us have been taught to take deep breaths without clarification as to which kind of breathing we should be partaking in. It's really interesting stuff...Next time you feel intense relaxation, try to note how you're breathing. I bet it's diaphragmatic. So, essentially, we could learn to do it consistently. In fact, I think this is what pains a lot of runners--they forget to control their breaths and breathe deeply.
DeleteThe other technique for breathing that I often revert to, that isn't mentioned in the book I talked about but certainly helps for relaxing, is called Nadi Sodhana (or Alternate Nostril Breathing).
Looks like this: Cover right nostril, inhale left (4 seconds), cover left, exhale right (8 seconds), inhale right (4), cover right, exhale left (8), inhale left (4), cover left, exhale right etc.
http://holisticonline.com/Yoga/hol_yoga_breathing-ex-nadisodh.htm
^^^ For a better description
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4KrhDZQ088
DeleteAnd there's the debate between neuroscientists on the brain mapping from your Jen Aniston article (Moderated by the author of the article at Columbia Univ.) :)
When you speak of diaphragmatically breathing, I can't help but remember my mom telling me to breathe with my tummy and not my chest during tests...
DeleteSame effective concept, I think.
Exactly right, Samantha :)
DeleteWhat version of the Bible rejects Jesus’s divinity as well as all the miracles? Answer: The (Thomas) Jefferson Bible (p. 59)
ReplyDeleteGroup 2’s outdoor presentation was quite interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of thoughts on happiness.
I was particularly drawn to William's presentation on the enigmatic relationship between happiness and gear.
As a former "gear slut" myself, I was more than sympathetic. I had a garage and a separate storage unit full of guitars, tube amps, PA systems, speakers, lighting, road cases, memorabilia, junk, etc. Further, one has to own all the tools and equipment to maintain all this gear (and junk).
Then, one day, I just snapped--not in a bad way. I asked myself, "Why do you have all this crap." Sure, I needed some of it, but not everything. That's when I decide to simplify my life. I donated a bunch of guitars to friends and charities, sold some things, and basically got down to the essentials. I got out of the storage locker and saw the floor of my garage for the first time. That made me happy. Clutter drives me nuts.
I try to apply the minimalist philosophy to everything, although it's not always easy. (I haven't gone full-Gandhi just yet.)
Here's a link to a list of quotes on simplicity:
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/simplicity
Anybody else get tired of clutter? What could you do without?
I try to simplify periodically. Whenever I receive flood warnings, I think again that less owned is less lost.
DeleteHowever, my love of books is incorrigible.
Just curious, would simplifying possibly include switching from traditional books (my personal preference) to electronic sources, which is a topic for debate these days. You could use your "less owned is less lost" way of thinking to argue this.
Deletefactual question: at Vipassana retreats why is eating done in silence?
ReplyDeleteto pay attention to the taste and texture of the food and to the activity of eating.
discussion question: what are your thoughts on rebirth?
link to a study about happiness from huffington post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/10/people-happiness-relationships-things-materialism_n_4058957.html
My extra link today is from a STRFCKR song that came on Pandora on my way to class yesterday on my bike. As the song is ending, Alan Watts voice slowly becomes audible in the background. I was listening, and thought I was crazy because it sounded just like the video about the big bang that we watched in class. After doing the research I found out that STRFCKR, an electronic band from Portland, Oregon, uses bits of lectures from Alan Watts in a few of their songs. I thought it was pretty interesting. If you would like to hear what I'm referring to you can skip to the last thirty seconds or so.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDQ109ZtEJU