Throughout Eastern philosophies, there is an idea that we should remain in thecentre, for this is where the optimal being resides. Those in the centre are neither too ordered, not too chaotic. They are neither too masculine, not too feminine. They are neither too happy, nor too sad. They just are. Of course you cannot stay in the centre for long as the world, according to Buddhism, is ever-changing. Just as the Taoist symbol of the Yin Yang represents, we must walk the thin line between opposites such as chaos and order, pain and pleasure and happiness and sadness.

When misfortune comes, treat it as a blessing. When fortune comes, treat it as a disaster (1)

We have built societies and cultures that strive to keep us unaware. We watch movies to lose ourselves. We drink alcohol and use other drugs to lose ourselves. This, utilised too often, can be dangerous. When we lose ourselves, we lose our sense of livelihood. It is only when pain, suffering and theunexpected arises that we feel alive again. Thus it must be embraced as without it we wouldn’t feel calm when we are alleviated of said pain and suffering. Without pain, we wouldn’t feel pleasure. Without sadness, we wouldn’t feel happiness. Without evil, there wouldn’t be good.

This is why striving for the centre is the optimal mode of being. When we embrace both the pleasurable and painful sides of life, we are united. Therefore as the Zen poem says “when misfortune comes, treat it as a blessing. When fortune comes, treat it as a disaster” (1).

Keep On Struggling

Gregor

Podcast I’m Enjoying - Alan Watts Being in the Way

“Take a deep dive into the collected recordings of Alan Watts with Alan's son, Mark Watts. Being in the Way is a podcast series that explores the Alan Watts Archive's 100-hour tape collection - including recordings not heard in 40 years” (2). I’ve recently discovered the teachings of Alan Watts and find them extraordinarily profound and relevant to the topics of this newsletter. This podcast is a tremendous archive of his remarkable life and teachings.

Sweet Treat I’ve Started Making…A Lot - Fudge

I’ve longed for the fudge I had as a child recently and hadn’t found anything similar until a colleague brought in homemade fudge. I finally found the fudge I’d been looking for. Better still, it turns out that it’s incredibly simple to make. Below is what I used to make my own.

397g Tin of Condensed Milk
450g of Chocolate (Dealers Choice)
Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

Basically, I threw all of the above into a pot, cooked and stirred it until it was melted and smooth, then transferred the mixture into an 8X8 inch tin lined with parchment paper. Then refrigerated it for 3 hours to set and then cut it into squares. This will keep for 2 weeks if refrigerated. Enjoy.

Conversations I Enjoyed - Real Time With Bill Maher

I watch Real Time every week and the last two episodes I watched featured some very interesting debates surrounding mainstream news narratives with Russell Brand and John Heillemann and woke culture with John McWhorter and John Tyrangiel. Watch clips from these conversations on YouTube or watch the whole episodes on Now TV or Sky.

Quote to Ponder

Don't pay any attention to what they write about you, just measure it in inches - Andy Warhol

References

1 + 2) Alan Watts Being in the Way Podcast

3) Image Credit - Rawpixel