The "Ask Alexa" column - value and benefits

This is an attempt to provide an understanding of the purpose of the columns on this blog so that the reader can obtain greater benefit and value from reading it regularly.

First, while the Unitarian Universalist: A Way Of Life blog can be read on an one time basis or occasional basis, the greater value will be obtained if the reader reads the blog on a regular basis, reflects on the material published here, and applies it in their daily lives.

Secondly, the Ask Alexa column is meant to provide a small peep hole into the way of the spirit as compared to the way of the ego. As human beings, we are socialized into and conditioned to the way of the ego, but as we mature we begin to sense that there is something more. That something more can be found in many traditions and teachings and philosophies. The fourth principle of Unitarian Universalism affirms and promotes the free and responsible search for truth and meaning and this principle is much easier said than done. The principle is easy for a mature person to agree with, but the application is difficult because where is one to search and what is it more specifically that one is looking for? Ask Alexa provides a clue in the questions that Alexa is asked and in the cryptic answers that Alexa provides. The answers that Alexa provides are thought to be like Buddhist koans - a stimulus for reflection.

Thirdly, the Ask Alexa column tries to provide some humor in the forms of puns and short jokes that make us appreciate the absurdity and incongruity of the life on the way of the ego. We realize as we walk on the way of the ego that you can either laugh or cry or do both. One of the sins of the ego is to take itself too seriously. A sentence in A Course In Miracles asks, "Would you rather be right or be happy?" Happiness includes a joyful spirit which can laugh at the illusions and delusions of the way of the ego.

Fourthly, the Ask Alexa column includes a sticky note which has a thought for the day. It is something to think about as one goes about their daily activities. The sticky notes are suggestions and perhaps the reader has a better thought for the day. We are encouraged in the New Testament of the Christian bible to "pray unceasingly." In contemporary times, the Buddhists encourage us to be mindful. The thought for the day can help us pray unceasingly and be mindful.

Fifthly, the benefit and value of the Ask Alexa column can be assessed by whether applying its knowledge and ideas helps you feel happier and experience more peace. Put these experiences of happiness and peace on a scale of 0 - 10 and give yourself a rating daily, weekly, and monthly. A 10 means that you experience yourself as happy and peaceful 100% of the time down to 0 percent of the time. A 5 would be 50% of the time. How would you rate the degree of your experience of happiness and peace in the last week. I would rate mine about an 8. Once you give yourself a rating for whatever time frame seems appropriate for you, then consider what it would take to kick it up a notch in the coming time frame. How could I get my experience and happiness from 8 to a 9 over the coming week?

Lastly, comments are welcome and helpful to other readers so that our value and benefit from the Ask Alexa column can be mutual.

Ask Alexa - Why am I depressed and suicidal?

Alexa: Why am I depressed and suicidal?

You are running out of options of the path of the ego and nothing has worked in the long run to make you happy so you are hitting bottom.

Alexa: How do chickens dance?

Chick to chick.

Spiritual reading - Maturity by Osho - Born again

Chapter three

Born again

What does it mean for a Unitarian Universalist to be "born again?"

It means that when a Unitarian Universalist becomes mature, they regain their innocence. Osho says in the book, "Maturity" on page xi, "Ignorance moves on the path of desire. Innocence is the state of desirelessness. But because both are without knowledge, we remained confused about their natures. We have taken it for granted they are the same."

And, of course, ignorance and innocence are not the same thing. UUs covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. That truth and meaning is to be found in a recognition, acknowledgement, and celebration of our innate innocence within based on that from which our egos have emerged.

We have forgotten our true natures and our natural inheritance which is love which the Universalists have recognized and brought our attention to.

To love your innocence is to love God and all our fellow innocent companions. When we become aware of this natural innocence we are indeed "born again."

Spiritual Reading - Maturity by Osho - Growing old or growing up?

Chapter one

Growing Old or Growing Up?

This is the first article in a series on Osho's book, Maturity: The Responsibility of Being Oneself and comes from the forward.

So first we have to understand what I mean by “life.”

It must not be simply growing old, it must be growing up. And these are two different things. Growing old, any animal is capable of. Growing up is the prerogative of human beings.

Only a few claim the right.

Growing up means moving every moment deeper into the principle of life; it means going farther away from death—not toward death. The deeper you go into life, the more you understand the immortality within you. You are going away from death; a moment comes when you can see that death is nothing but changing clothes, or changing houses, changing forms—nothing dies, nothing can die. Death is the greatest illusion there is.

Osho. Maturity: The Responsibility of Being Oneself (Osho Insights for a New Way of Living) . St. Martin's Press. p.ix

Comment: Growing old and growing up are two different things. The choice is ours. Many people are in denial and unconscious of fact that they have a choice. Unitarian Universalism requires that people become consciously aware of their choice when it asks them to covenant together with others to affirm and promote the fourth principle to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.

Unitarian Universalism asks people right up front to take responsibility for becoming oneself by formulating and understanding their own faith, their idea of what Paul Tillich called their "ultimate concern" rather than just going along with what other people expect and require.

Socrates taught that an unexamined life is not worth living. If most people are asked, "What makes you tick?" they become uncomfortable as if they have been put on the spot.

The covenant of Unitarian Universalism asks people to come to awareness of their own state of being. This can be a frightening think initially, but as one searches one finds more peace.
People come to a point in their lives gradually or suddenly that what they have been taught by society is illusional and that there has to be a better way to live their lives.

If we put maturity on a scale of 0 - 10 with 0 being newborn and very immature and 10 being fully self realized, actualized, self-aware, enlightened human beings are mature are you? How mature are the various people that you know well in your life?

My experience of Unitarian Univeralists is that many of them who actually understand and apply the principles in their lives are very mature. How ever I have also met many UUs who are just along for the ride and don't take the faith seriously in terms of working the principles in any kind of meaningful way.

Spiritual reading discussion group - Maturity by Osho

Unitarian Univeralism: A Way of Life is introducing a new feature on its blog: an online spiritual reading book discussion group. This feature will provide a series of articles on the book being studied. Readers are invited to comment on the topics under discussion whether they have read the book or not.

If readers have nominations for future books for study, please leave them in the comments or email your nominations to davidgmarkham@gmail.com.

The first book being discussed is "Maturity: The Responsibility For Being Oneself" by Osho.

Editor's note: For a brief video commentary click here.</

Ask Alexa - Can you love another if you don't love yourself?

Alexa: Is it true that I can't love anybody unless I love myself first?

Surely, for we project and extend what we see within.

Alexa: Did you hear about the guy who told his wife he wanted to quit his job and raise goats for a living?

Yes, and after she got mad he told her he was only kidding.

If you use Wikipedia you can thank me.

Dear David,

About a year ago, you donated $52 to keep Wikipedia online for hundreds of millions of readers. I'm surprised by and deeply grateful for your continued support. You are part of the 2% of readers who donated to support Wikipedia. We need your help again this year.

Will you renew your solidarity with a $52 donation?

This is awkward to admit, but I have to be honest: 98% of our readers don't give; they simply look the other way. And without more one-time donors, we need to turn to you, our past donors, in the hope that you'll show up again for Wikipedia, as you so generously have in the past.

If all our past donors gave a small amount today, our fundraiser would be over. But most people will ignore this message. We have no choice but to turn to you: please renew your gift to ensure that Wikipedia remains independent, ad-free, and thriving another year.

We're a non-profit. That means we aren't selling the articles that millions of people read on Wikipedia each day. We don't profit from the knowledge you seek. In fact, we firmly believe that knowledge should exist outside of the realm of supply and demand. But that's hardly a given nowadays; profit has contaminated most of the internet and the big sites we all use only care about boosting their earnings.

Wikipedia is different in that it doesn't belong to the highest bidder, the advertisers or the corporate giants. It belongs to you, the readers, editors and donors. You're our community, our family. You're the reason we exist. The fate of Wikipedia rests in your hands and we wouldn't have it any other way.

It's folks like you who safeguard our non-profit mission. You help us maintain our integrity, quality, and accessibility. And today, you have the power to keep this wonderful website free and independent for another year.

Now is the time we ask: can we count on you to renew your solidarity with a small donation? It will keep Wikipedia online, ad-free, and growing another year.

https://donate.wikimedia.org

Thanks,
Katherine Maher
Executive Director, Wikimedia Foundation

Editor's note:

I did donate another $52.00 to wikipedia today because I appreciate its ad free knowledge distribution service. If you haven't donated to support wikipedia which 98% of its users do not do and you can thank me and the other 2% who do support the platform. 

Katherine send me a nice boiler plate note already thanking me for my donation. I hope to hear from you. You're welcome in advance.