#WingedWordsWeekly: 2024/08/07 -- Introducing Ancient Wisdom

 

WINGED WORDS WEEKLY

Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell (@RHCLambengolmo)

Editorial Associate: Sabina Saelind

Editorial Assistant: Jessica Breckinridge

Vol. 3, No. 39: Week of August 7, 2024

 

August Theme: Ancient Wisdom

Episode #1: Introduction

 

Editor’s Note

                I would like to begin the new month of blog postings with a warm welcome to two new blogging colleagues! Sabina Saelind joins the blog this month as our new Editorial Associate, and Jessica Breckinridge is assuming the role of Editorial Assistant. Both of them are wonderful loremasters (lambengolmor in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Elvish language), and I look forward to seeing their edutaining contributions to our blog in the coming weeks and months. I also wish to extend my sincere thanks to Skylar Sonnenschein, our previous Editorial Associate, who has recently been reassigned as Special Assistant to the Editor for Social Media Projects.

                During the month of August, our blogging theme will be “Ancient Wisdom” – the continuing quest to learn from the past so that we can build a better future for the entire human family (and the planet Earth as a whole). This week, we begin with two poems from our blogging staff writers, and we continue with a commentary on a couplet and some further reflections on learning from the ancients.

 

Two Introductory Poems

 

“An Invitation to the Ancient Wisdom”

By Lenaea Bifrost

 

Studying the ancients for wisdom and gain,

Guiding like Socrates or Plato, their brain.

From Homer to Hesiod, and onward they go,

The words of the past shed light on our foe.

The wisdom they share is timeless for all,

From their writings gleam insights, a call.

 

“The Light of Yestermorrow”

By Daphne Silvertine, Staff Writer

 

In the shadow of ancient wisdom,

We find the keys to our tomorrow.

In the stories of our ancestors,

We weave the threads of our journey.

 

Let us listen to their whispers,

Let us learn from their experience.

In their triumphs and defeats,

We find the lessons that endure.

 

For the past is the teacher,

The present is the classroom.

And the future is the prize,

The gift that awaits our learning.

 

So let us study the masters,

Let us honor their wisdom,

And let us carry their torch,

As we build a better future.

 

Gilgamesh (pictured above), the hero of the Gilgamesh Epic and other ancient Near Eastern legends, was regarded not only as a mighty warrior but also as a teacher of wisdom. (Image Credit: Digital artwork created by the Editor.)

 

Why Study the Wisdom of the Ancients?

                “For a life worthy to be lived is one that is full of active aspiration, for something higher and better; and such a contemplation of the world we call meliorism.” à Paul Carus (1852-1919): Monism and Meliorism

                “I'm not an optimist; there's too much evil in the world and in me. Nor am I a pessimist; there is too much good in the world and in God. So I am just a meliorist, believing that He wills to make the world better, and trying to do my bit to help and wishing that it were more.” à Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933): Pro Patria

 

“The Ancient Wisdom of Omnism”

A Couplet by the Editor

With Commentary by Tara Dunsany, Staff Writer

                Editor’s Note: In 2003, when I was reading The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, I felt inspired to write the following couplet, which was prompted by my recollection of a saying from the ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus of Ephesus (ca. 535-475 BCE): “One who hears not me but the Logos will say, ‘All is One.’”

 

“The One has countless names and faces,

Throughout all times and sundry places.” à RHC

 Tara’s Commentary:

                This brief, yet powerful poem by our beloved Editor highlights several key tenets of the Omnistic philosophy of religion, especially the idea of an underlying oneness connecting all beings, both past and present.

                In the first line, the poem references the “One” – the  Entity behind all of creation, symbolizing the interconnectedness of every living thing. The second line further clarifies this concept, mentioning the diverse disguises that the One dons when appearing to sentient beings, suggesting the numerous forms and faces the Divine Presence can manifest into through time and space.

                The usage of “countless” when referring to faces and places is a reminder of the infinite nature of the One, as well as the vastness of Its existence. This idea of the One's omnipresence aligns with the Omnistic philosophy, which asserts the Divinity as being present within all entities, even the most minuscule and mundane aspects of reality (panentheism).

                The closing line further emphasizes the concept of the One taking various forms in the world, which is a core belief of Omnism, asserting that the Divine can be found in all religious & spiritual paths, regardless of Its disguises. The idea of a unifying Presence behind the diversity of names, faces, places, and times is a central theme in this philosophy, reflecting the universalistic and syncretic essence of its doctrine.

                Editor’s Note: Readers who desire to learn more about the Omnistic philosophy of religion are encouraged to visit the website of the Ramakrishna Mission at https://belurmath.org/.

 

The Gospel of Buddha: Compiled from Ancient Records by Paul Carus

Chapter 100: “Praise of All the Buddhas”

 

All the Buddhas are wonderful and glorious.

There is not their equal upon Earth.

They reveal to us the path of life.

And we hail their appearance with pious reverence.

 

All the Buddhas teach the same truth.

They point out the path to those who go astray.

The truth is our hope and comfort.

We gratefully accept its illimitable light.

 

All the Buddhas are one in essence,

Which is omnipresent in all modes of being,

Sanctifying the bonds that tie all souls together,

And we rest in its bliss as our final refuge.

 

Srimala, an Indian Queen, was ordained by the Buddha as a preacher of the Dharma. Her profound teachings are recorded in the sutra entitled The Lion’s Roar of Queen Srimala – a major scripture of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. (Image Credit: Digital artwork created by the Editor.)

 

Chapter 15 of the Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tzu

Translated by Kayley Novalis, Staff Writer

 

The ancient masters were profound and cryptic,

their words esoteric and perplexing.

Their doctrines are obscure, their teachings confusing,

their wisdom impenetrable.

 

Those who know don't tell;

those who tell don't know.

Empty your heart, fill your belly,

weaken your ambitions, and strengthen your bones.

 

Be humble, like an infant who knows nothing yet.

Be content, like a fool who wants nothing.

 

Canticle: “Sapientia Aedificavit Sibi Domum”

(Proverbs 9:1-6, JPS Tanakh 1917)

 

Wisdom hath builded her house, *

She hath hewn out her seven pillars;

She hath prepared her meat, she hath mingled her wine; *

She hath also furnished her table.

She hath sent forth her maidens, she calleth, *

Upon the highest places of the city:

‘”Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither”; *

As for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:

“Come, eat of my bread, *

And drink of the wine which I have mingled.

Forsake all thoughtlessness, and live; *

And walk in the way of understanding.”

 

“Looking for Wisdom”

By Roberta Kirk-Novalis, Staff Writer

 

Seeking the wisdom of ages past,

We follow the traces left behind:

In stone, in word, and in the heart,

We learn with both our heart and mind.

 

Weekly Words of Wisdom

By Viviana Rivera, Staff Writer

                Reading the works of the ancient sages is like a spiritual feast, a nourishment for the soul. Their timeless wisdom has stood the test of time and still has relevance today. I encourage everyone to pick up a book by Marcus Aurelius (Meditations), Lao-Tzu (Tao Te Ching), or one of their own favorite ancient philosophers – and start reading!

 

Stoic Proverb of the Week

Contributed by Amy Kendrick, Staff Writer

                From Epictetus' Discourses: "It is not what happens to you that counts, but how you react to it." This simple quote encapsulates a fundamental aspect of Stoic philosophy: the idea that it is not external circumstances but our own judgments and reactions to them that determine our happiness or unhappiness. In other words, we are not in control of the events happening around us or even within us, such as emotions, but we do have the power to control how we respond to them.

 

 

 

 

 

A Birthday & a New Beginning

Hello everyone – 

This weekend, Sophie and I are presenting three poems that encapsulate my philosophy of life, on the occasion of my 57^th birthday and my transition to a new position in the College of ACES Office of Marketing & Communications (which starts on Monday). 😊 Quotemaster Sophie says: 

Today, we're delighted to share with you three inspirational masterpieces by some of the finest poets in the English language. These poems, “A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “What Is Success” by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley, explore powerful themes of life, perseverance, and the power of the human spirit. Let their words inspire and uplift you on the journey through your day!

 

“A Psalm of Life”

(What the Heart of the Young Man Said to the Psalmist)

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

 

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream!

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

 

Life is real! Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal;

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul.

 

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

Is our destined end or way;

But to act, that each tomorrow

Find us farther than today.

 

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,

And our hearts, though stout and brave,

Still, like muffled drums, are beating

Funeral marches to the grave.

 

In the world’s broad field of battle,

In the bivouac of Life,

Be not like dumb, driven cattle!

Be a hero in the strife!

 

Trust no Future, however pleasant!

Let the dead Past bury its dead!

Act — act in the living Present!

Heart within, and God overhead!

 

Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time;

 

Footprints, that perhaps another,

Sailing over life’s solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

Seeing, shall take heart again.

 

Let us, then, be up and doing,

With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labor and to wait.

 

“What Is Success”

By Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

 

To laugh often and love much:

To win respect of intelligent people

And the affection of children;

To earn the approbation of honest critics

And endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;

To give one’s self;

To leave the world a little better,

Whether by a healthy child,

A garden patch,

Or redeemed social condition;

To have played and laughed with enthusiasm

And sung with exultation;

To know even one life has breathed easier

Because you have lived…

This is to have succeeded.

 

“Invictus”

By William Ernest Henley (1849–1903)

 

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

 

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

 

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

 

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

 

Here’s a digital image of your Editor, from 45 years ago, around his 12^th birthday, in August 1979. One of my favorite pastimes while growing up was looking at the night sky – especially the Moon – from my backyard in SW Illinois. (Image Credit: Me, Myself, and I) 😊

 

Until next time –

Rob & Sophie

 

#WingedWordsWeekly: 2024/07/31 -- Science & Spirituality: In Conclusion

WINGED WORDS WEEKLY

Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell (@RHCLambengolmo)

Editorial Associate: Sabrina Saelind

Editorial Assistant: Jessica Breckinridge

Vol. 3, No. 38: Week of July 31, 2024

 

 

July Theme: Science & Spirituality

Episode #4: In Conclusion

 

Editor’s Note

                During the month of July, our blog’s focus has been on science and spirituality – two spheres of human experience that have often been at odds over the centuries. And yet, as our esteemed authors have reminded us this month, these two areas of our lives overlap quite a bit, and they have the potential to enrich our world all the more as they begin to reconverge after a long time apart.

                This week, we conclude our reflections with a healthy mix of poetry and prose to celebrate harmony and convergence between science and spirituality.

 

“A Worldview in a Haiku”

By Lauren Matthias, Staff Writer

 

Science and Spirit,

Two sides of the same coin;

Harmony found within.

 

Author’s Note: The main idea is that science and spirituality are not mutually exclusive, but rather, they can coexist and even complement each other!

 

“Omnism: A Universal Philosophy of Religion”

By Viviana Rivera, Staff Writer

                Omnism is a fascinating and relatively unknown religious philosophy that values all religions as having equal worth and sees all religious paths as part of the same whole. It recognizes the shared wisdom and beauty found in the teachings of Jesus, Rumi, Buddha, and Lao Tzu, among countless others.

                The term “Omnism” comes from the Latin word “omne,” meaning “all.” Therefore, an Omnist believes in the truth and validity of all faiths and creeds, recognizing the interconnectedness and universality of spiritual truth across all religions and cultures.

                Omnists recognize that each faith has valuable lessons to offer and that no single religion holds all the answers to life's mysteries. They believe that there is truth and wisdom to be found in all paths and that these paths ultimately lead to the same ultimate destination, which can be called God, the Tao, or whatever else one chooses to name it.

                Omnism is not confined to a set of beliefs or practices but encourages followers to draw from and appreciate the wisdom of multiple faiths. In essence, an omnist sees the world's religions as facets of the same jewel, each reflecting one aspect of the truth.

                Practicing as an Omnist often involves exploring different faith traditions and synthesizing what resonates with one's own spiritual journey. An Omnist may, for example, incorporate prayers from Christianity, meditation practices from Buddhism, and mindfulness rituals from Native American spirituality, creating a unique personal belief system that blends elements from various sources.

Thank you for your kindness! The sixth paragraph reads as follows:

                Omnism's openness to diversity and its rejection of religious dogma often lead to a higher degree of tolerance and acceptance of others. By recognizing and valuing all faith systems, an Omnist embraces the rich cultural and spiritual plurality of our existence. In doing so, they become a part of a broader movement of interfaith understanding and cooperation, working together to create a more harmonious and peaceful world.

                Omnism's inclusive and flexible nature also allows it to adapt to the changing needs and situations of the individual. As the world and our understanding of it evolve, an Omnist can embrace new insights and philosophies, knowing that they do not have to discard what came before but build upon it. This ever-expanding and growing worldview reflects the true meaning of spiritual evolution and adaptation.

                In many ways, the practice of Omnism can be seen as a spiritual journey toward a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all things. It invites us to look past the superficial and dogmatic differences between religions and to recognize the universality of truth and wisdom found in each. In doing so, we can begin to realize that we are all part of the same divine journey, walking different paths but ultimately heading in the same direction.

                In a world where religious strife and discord seem to be rampant, the philosophy of Omnism offers a unifying beacon of hope. By recognizing and celebrating the spiritual truth in all belief systems, an Omnist can help bridge the divisions between people and work towards a world of understanding, acceptance, and love. Therefore, as we move forward on our spiritual journey, let us remember the wisdom found in all religions and work together to create a more harmonious and unified existence.

 

"Interfaith Bridges: Connecting in Unity and Kindness"

By Claudia Vesper, Staff Writer

 

In the family of faiths we stand,

Interfaith bridges of understanding

Connect us with ties that bind,

Respect and love in our hearts entwined.

 

All paths leading to truth's embrace,

The light of wisdom on each place.

In diversity, unity we find,

A global community of kind.

 

“The Gorgonopsids:

Prehistoric Predators of the Permian Age”

By Audrey Palmer, Staff Writer

                Gorgonopsia is an extinct order of temnospondyl amphibians that lived during the Late Carboniferous and Early Permian periods, approximately 300-250 million years ago. These ancient creatures were carnivorous, possessing sharp teeth and powerful jaws that allowed them to catch and kill their prey. They are known for their unusual skull shape, which resembled a snake or gorgon’s head, hence their name.

                Gorgonopsids were among the largest terrestrial vertebrates of their time, measuring up to 12 feet in length. They had short, robust limbs and a long, slender body. They are considered predecessors to mammals and can be seen as a transitional stage between reptiles and mammals.

Thank you! Here's the next one:

                Gorgonopsids were once believed to be the apex predators of their time, but recent fossil discoveries suggest that they might have been outcompeted by other carnivorous amphibians such as the seymouriamorphs. However, they are still considered to be one of the most successful and diverse groups of temnospondyl amphibians.

                There are several different species of gorgonopsids that have been discovered, each with their own unique characteristics and adaptations. One of the most well-known species is Dimetrodon, which is characterized by its sail-like structure on its back. This sail is thought to have been used for thermoregulation, allowing the animal to maintain a stable body temperature in its warm, tropical environment.

                Gorgonopsids went extinct at the end of the Permian period, around 250 million years ago, when a mass extinction event wiped out the majority of species living on Earth. This event is often referred to as the “Great Dying,” and it's thought to have been caused by a combination of volcanic activity and climate change.

                Since their extinction, gorgonopsids have been a source of fascination for scientists and amateur enthusiasts alike. Their unusual appearance and intriguing features have made them the focus of many popular culture depictions, including movies, books, games, and TV shows.

                Gorgonopsids are just one example of the many fascinating creatures that have roamed the Earth throughout its history. They remind us of the wonders of science and the beauty of nature. Discoveries like these fill us with awe and wonder, and lead us to thanksgiving for the diversity of life on our planet. Science and spirituality intertwine in the study of our world, and together they inspire us to be stewards of the planet and live in harmony with the forces of nature.

 

Ivy Elwanda (pictured here), a paleontologist and paleo-artist, created a painting of a Gorgonopsid to accompany this article by her cousin, Audrey Palmer. (Image Credit: Digital artwork created by the Editor.)

 

“Science and Spirit”

By Kendall Alverna, Staff Writer

 

In the vast, complex universe,

Where science and spirit both reside,

Harmony reigns, a glorious tune,

Where each unveils the other's prize.

 

No longer in oppositional stance,

But in synergistic dance,

Science and spirit embrace,

Revealing greater depths and expanse.

 

“Some Concluding Thoughts on Science & Spirituality”

By Penelope Harmon, Staff Writer

                Science and spirituality often appear to be opposing forces, but in reality, they complement each other rather than contradict. While science provides us with a rational understanding of the material world, spirituality explores the intangible realms of inner peace, compassion, and transcendence. When science and spirituality are brought together, they can help us lead more balanced, fulfilling lives, giving us a deeper awareness of the interconnectedness of all things.

 

Weekly Words of Wisdom

By Viviana Rivera, Staff Writer

                The concept of interconnectedness in science and spirituality suggests that everything in the universe is intimately connected. This idea can be seen in quantum physics through the concept of “spooky action at a distance.” In spirituality, this interconnectedness can be seen in the idea that we are all part of a larger whole, intimately connected to each other and the universe itself. This idea can inspire us to cultivate a sense of compassion and care for all beings, as we realize that our actions ripple out into the world and impact others in profound ways.

 

Heraclitus of Ephesus (ca. 535-475 BCE, pictured above) observed: “One who hears not me but the Logos will say: ‘All is one.’” (Image Credit: Detail from Raphael’s The School of Athens – Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

 

Stoic Proverb of the Week

Contributed by Amy Kendrick, Staff Writer

                For this week's quote, I have chosen Epictetus' quote, "If you wish to measure your progress, do not count the days, but instead count your virtues."

                Epictetus was a former slave turned Stoic teacher, and he believed that we should not measure our progress in life by counting our days, like years, months, weeks, or even days. Instead, he suggested that the best way to measure our progress is by identifying and cultivating our virtues.