11 Comments
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Mim's avatar

Funny you quote Marcus Aurelius as he was quoted in another newsletter today. I hear Thich Nhat Hahn’s words on our finite nature daily. As I’ve reached 82, and grateful for that, I am enjoying every day’s offerings. And I’m enjoying your writings.

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Cecil Touchon's avatar

Thank you!

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Elizabeth Bogard's avatar

Great post! A take-away for me, a 80 year old artist, is to put something back for your "eternity home" every day. If we believe Oppenheimer's explanation to his wife about what is quantum mechanics, we are not solid, that's an illusion; rather we are atoms moving rapidly, in many directions, in space. If this is true, then, at death, do we lose our solid appearance and return to the atoms hurling around in space? Sounds weird to me! 🏋️‍♂️

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Nico's avatar

The greek cypriots have a similar saying I grew up with: “cypriots build their houses like they were going to live forever and eat like they were going to die tomorrow.”

Have you ever heard of the Lindy Effect? I’m curious what you think about it...

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Cecil Touchon's avatar

I have never heard of it but looking at wikipedia it comes from Lindy's delicatessen at Broadway and 51st St in New York City where the comedians hung out after the shows. When I am up in NYC artists hang out together at Katz's Delicatessen at 205 E Houston at least the mail artists and Fluxus artists that I know. I briefly read that wiki article and have an alternate theory in mind. I'll think it over and write my own Post-Dogmatist version - I have some ideas... That will give me a chance to add a couple more pages to my journal. Thanks for bring that up Nico. What are you thinking about the Lindy Effect?

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Bob Cardinale's avatar

Oops! Accidentally hit send before I was finished. ... spiritual practice of A Course In Miracles, I am learning that "Nothing real can be threatened, nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God" and I'm here to help to remove the blocks to the awareness of Love's presence. - I do that by living a good life and in a special way by making my art.

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Cecil Touchon's avatar

Nice Bob, your art is prayer in a physical form. Emitting the blessings of prayer like a Tibetan prayer wheel.

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Bob Cardinale's avatar

What a beautiful compliment! I treasure it. So many people, even insightful artist and good friends just see a model of a church. The motto of the Benedictines is "Ora et labora."Literally Work and Prayer, for metphorically Work is Prayer or even Prayer is Work!

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Bob Cardinale's avatar

An excellent post! And for an 84 year old artist that is still making art, still enjoying the process, and still liking the works that I am producing, still having exhibitions, doing commissions, and integrating by spiritual prac

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Donna Stiller's avatar

Today’s entry really resonated for me. It’s my birthday today (62!) and you’ve articulated some of the same thoughts that have been kicking around in my head. I’ve always believed that “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear” and that we are, at different times, both student and teacher for each other. Thank you for sharing, and for being my teacher today!

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Cecil Touchon's avatar

Thank you! I always wonder in an artist setting such as this if I should feel free to express my spiritual thoughts. I don't have a crystalized belief system. I avoid that. I try to stay fluid and open. But I do have my unique sensibility on the topic from so many years of studying many mystical traditions and having my own inner experiences. I see the various scriptures as love letters of our single Beloved written across all times and cultures to us humans where ever we are and when ever we are to urge us forward and to point us inward.

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