A poor substitute (Freeman)

The reinforcement of failure is a poor substitute for its correction.

Chas W. Freeman, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, speaking of Bush's recent "surge" strategy in Iraq

Cooperation

Cooperation does not require compliance.

Nothing inscrutable

The entire historical trend has been for humans to investigate the mysteries of causation at ever-closer range and in ever-finer detail, and the closer we have learned to look, the further we have banished ignorance and the ineffable. It now seems reasonable to conclude that there is nothing inscrutable, that "mystery" truly means no more than "not yet understood."

Body and Mind

When body and mind dissolve, they do not exist anywhere, any more than musical notes lay heaped up anywhere. When a lute is played upon, there is no previous store of sound; and when the music ceases it does not go anywhere in space. It came into existence on account of the structure and stem of the lute and the exertions of the performer; and as it came into existence so it passes away.

In exactly the same way, all the elements of being, both corporeal and non-corporeal, come into existence after having been non-existent; and having come into existence pass away.

There is no self residing in body and mind, but the cooperation of the conformations produces what people call a person. Paradoxical though it may seem: There is a path to walk on, there is walking being done, but there is no traveler. There are deeds being done, but there is no doer. There is blowing of the air, but there is no wind that does the blowing. The thought of self is an error and all existences are as hollow as the plantain tree and as empty as twirling water bubbles.

adapted from the Visuddhimagga, translated by Henry Clarke Warren

Innocent, unemployed thinking (Grutter)

When I enter the scene with a farmer's mind, with a fisherman's or businessman's mind, everything alive seems alarmed and runs, afraid to be butchered for its calories, its wool, for one of its qualities which happens to be in demand. Every one of my thoughts when I do not leash it to a goal, takes me on a safari through the wonders of jungleland where all sciences are free to interact.

So many incessantly computing brains are now out all hunting useful thoughts, for finer food, for fame, better tanks, mousetraps and walls. Many minds became as clever as a raven who lost one eye and so the depth perception, but trained his other eye to a superb flatland vision. We know how to focus our mind in a way no other species does.

Ah! A day with absolutely no trying; I will not try to please, to scheme, to have an erection, to turn my insides out and be truthful; I will not try to live up to my reputation, to be good and to please God pretending I know his wishes. I will just sit in my canoe drifting with bliss—no paddling—simply curiously looking around, floating and whistling my thanksgiving.

Innocent, unemployed thinking has such a wonderful prize. It delights in just sipping wisdom. It's the sabbatical for my mind. It plants seeds of adoration. It hangs lamps in the dark and bridges leading into enemy land. It's a luxury I like.

Theo Grutter, Dancing With Mosquitoes

Emergent patterns & meaning

Emergent patterns and phenomena don't necessarily mean anything. It is enough that they can be interesting.