The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is one of the oldest Chinese texts and serves as a manual of divination and philosophy. It has been used for centuries as both a spiritual guide and a means of interpreting the world. Its essence lies in the understanding that life, nature, and all phenomena are governed by dynamic, interdependent, and cyclical change.
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Friday, October 25, 2024
The closest model of reality
The closest model of reality at the moment, from the perspective of modern science, is a combination of several theories and frameworks that describe different aspects of reality at various scales. While no single theory perfectly explains everything, the following are the leading models that, together, form our best understanding of reality:
Turtle carrying three elephants supporting Earth
The image of a turtle carrying three elephants on its back, which in turn support the world (often depicted as a flat disk), is a rich symbol that appears in several ancient mythologies, notably in Hindu and Chinese cosmologies. This symbolism is deeply linked to ancient views of the cosmos and the search for stability and foundation.
Friday, October 18, 2024
60-based math - sexagesimal system
The sexagesimal system (base-60), developed by the Sumerians, is a mathematical framework that found its way into many aspects of ancient Mesopotamian culture, especially in astronomy and timekeeping. Interestingly, there are some speculative correlations drawn between this system and the cyclical time frameworks found in Hindu cosmology, including yugas, manvantaras, and kalpas. In both systems, large spans of time are divided into smaller units, and some believe that the base-60 system might offer an explanation for how such large numbers are handled.
Burnt offerings in the Hebrew Bible
The concept of burnt offerings in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh/Old Testament) is indeed intriguing and can seem strange from a modern perspective. The idea of God (Yahweh) "needing" or asking for burnt meat through animal sacrifices, as seen in texts like Leviticus, can be puzzling. However, within the context of ancient Israelite religion and broader ancient Near Eastern cultures, sacrifices, including burnt offerings, had profound symbolic and spiritual significance.
Shemihaza - Samyaza - Shemyaza
Shemihaza (also spelled Semyaza, Samyaza, or Shemyaza) is a prominent figure in various Jewish and Christian apocryphal texts, particularly in relation to the Watchers or Grigori, who are said to be fallen angels. The meaning and context of his name, as well as his role in ancient religious narratives, offer insights into how he was viewed in early traditions.
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
The Chakras and the Trimurti
The connection between the Chakras and the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) is a fascinating intersection of Hindu philosophy and esoteric traditions. In Hinduism and yogic traditions, the Chakras are energy centers within the human body that correspond to different physical, mental, and spiritual states. The Trimurti, representing the forces of creation (Brahma), preservation (Vishnu), and destruction/transformation (Shiva), are often symbolically associated with specific chakras and spiritual functions.