Religion, Philosophy, Working Understanding
Religion, Philosophy, Working Understanding
A Few Initial Resources
Kevin A. Sensenig | October 3, 2012 | Updated September 27, 2014
A Few Initial Resources
For a take on class squash/instance squash: N Study Direct, Encapsulated, 1011.pdf.
For a take on philosophy, there are some interesting features in The Republic by Plato, translated by Richard Sterling and William Scott. This may be a specialty work.
There’s Aristotle’s The Basic Works Of Aristotle, edited by Richard McKeon. Thorough work. You might find this or that. The first 3 pages of the paper Categories is already very strong, very interesting.
There’s Hegel’s The Philosophy Of Right, translated by Alan White. This might be a fundamental work.
For various takes on justice, one could consider the book
Six Theories Of Justice. By Karen Lebacqz.
From the table of contents:
The Utilitarian Challenge: John Stuart Mill
A Contract Response: John Rawls
An Entitlement Alternative: Robert Nozick
A Catholic Response: The National Conference Of Catholic Bishops
A Protestant Alternative: Reinhold Neibuhr
A Liberation Challenge: Jose Porfirio Miranda
That gives range.
When here next I say “for a diversion” I really mean a way to find awareness, insight, and centering; to study. These will introduce their own dilemmas, and resolutions thereof; or simply to balance, and to provide a center; and so forth. The material thus far has been as this, also.
For a diversion, one could study the Bible.
For a diversion, one could study the Gospel of Luke, in the Bible.
There’s another strategy I’d take if I were a Christian, or consistent with much of “inner-type” Christian thought (but
that’s my own view).
There’s Hebrews 11:1, from the New Testament:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (NKJV)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (NASB)
There’s James 1:4:
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (NKJV)
And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (NASB)
For a diversion, one could study mathematics.
For a diversion, one could plant and grow a garden.
For a diversion, one could take a walk in a forest. Either know what you’re doing, or stay to the trail.
For a diversion, one could study Michelle Obama’s book American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America.
For a diversion, one could buy a copy of
Yoga Journal, a magazine. See yogajournal.com, or your local magazine stand.
Online, YogaGlo may be another option.
There are many resources on yoga. Start with careful attention to balance, and subtle strength.
For a diversion, one could take up Tai Chi.
Tai Chi Chuan: 24 & 48 Postures With Martial Applications. By Master Liang, Shou-Yu and Wu, Wen-Ching.
There are many books on tai chi.
For a diversion, one could pick up a book on Taoism.
Tao Te Ching. By Lao Tzu. Translated by James Legge.
I would start here and another translation.
Tao Teh Ching. By Lao Tzu. Translated by John C. H. Wu.
A classic translation, straightforward feel.
Tao Te Ching. By Lao Tzu. Translated by Jane English and Gia Fu Feng.
A classic translation, subtle feel, and photographs.
Tao Te Ching. By Lao Tzu. Rendition by Stephen Mitchell.
A modern translation, resonant.
For a diversion, one could pick up a book on Zen. (There are different schools, and other schools of Buddhism.)
Zen Flesh Zen Bones. By Rep and Senzaki.
The thing itself.
Opening The Hand Of Thought: Foundations Of Zen Buddhist Practice. By Kosho Uchiyama.
More of an introduction. Also the thing itself.
Like A Dream Like A Fantasy. By Senzaki.
A more philosophical treatment.
Zen Training: Methods And Philosophy. By Sekida.
Two Zen Classics: The Gateless Gate And The Blue Cliff Record. By Sekida.
A particular mode of training.
For a diversion, one could pick up instead a book on Vipassana meditation like
Mindfulness In Plain English (Updated And Expanded Edition). By Bhante Henepola Gunaratana.
For another take on religion, to make available the domain, one could consider the book I’ve put online. It also touches a more free-form expression, but also Christianity and Zen.
Roll Your Own Religion. By Kevin A. Sensenig. www.RollYourOwnReligion.net.
If you want something from a more Western take on the mental realm — depth, interesting, and dimension — you can look into the book
The Society Of Mind. By Marvin Minsky.
Minsky also has a book
The Emotion Machine. By Marvin Minsky.
If you want an interesting discussion of what children bring to philosophy, you can look into the book
The Philosophy Of Childhood. By Gareth B. Matthews.
If you want to better focus, balance, or center, and/or you feel somewhat disoriented, one could take up the book
Ten Zen Seconds. By Eric Maisel.
If you want to study information and evidence statistics display, and how to put dimension on flat-land (paper or otherwise), you could look into the website (and the books Tufte has written) at