Mudita Forum: Wake Up to Your Life
Mudita Forum will begin a chapter-by-chapter discussion of Ken McLeod's excellent book Wake Up to Your Life on March 8, 2003. From the introduction:
The forms Buddhism has taken in many cultures, including our own, may suggest that it is a religion. It is not. Buddhism is a collection of methods for waking up from confusion.
Our purpose in our discussion will be to examine this "collection of methods," as described by McLeod, with an eye towards understanding their value in creating a happy life.
Proceeding on the assumption that valuable psychological practices will be consistent with a well-reasoned approach to philosophy, regardless of cultural orientation, we will also examine the book's chapters through the lens of Objectivism.
The following kickoff essays have been archived for future reference:
Chapter 1: The Mystery of Being
by Joshua Zader
Chapter 2: Buddhism in a Nutshell
by Kirez Korgan
Chapter 3: Cultivating Attention
by Andrew Schwartz
Chapter 4: Dismantling Attachment
by Damian M.
Chapter 6: Dismantling Reactive Emotions
by Mark Michael Lewis
Below is a schedule for the discussion, and guidelines for writing the "kick-off essay" that will help stimulate discussion for each chapter.
KICK-OFF ESSAY SCHEDULE
| Date |
Chapter |
Kickoff Essay By |
| March 8 |
The Mystery of Being (Intro & Chapter 1) |
Joshua Zader |
| March 18 |
Buddhism in a Nutshell (Chapter 2) |
Kirez Korgan |
| March 28 |
Cultivating Attention (Chapter 3) |
Andrew Schwartz |
| April 7 |
Dismantling Attachment (Chapter 4) |
Damian M. |
| April 17 |
Karma and Dismantling Belief (Chapter 5) |
[e-mail to sign up] |
| April 27 |
Dismantling Reactive Emotions (Chapter 6) |
Mark Lewis |
| May 7 |
The Four Immeasurables (Chapter 7) |
[e-mail to sign up] |
| May 17 |
Mind Training (Chapter 8) |
[e-mail to sign up] |
| May 27 |
Insight and Dismantling Illusion (Chapter 9) |
[e-mail to sign up] |
| June 6 |
No Separation (Chapter 10) |
[e-mail to sign up] |
KICK-OFF ESSAY GUIDELINES
The purpose of the kick-off essay for each chapter is to (1) summarize the chapter's main points, (2) comment on the chapter's content, and (3) stimulate further discussion.
Toward that end, each kick-off essay should follow the basic format outlined below:
1. Summary
This section should be written "from the book's perspective," i.e., with a focus on re-creating rather than critiquing. This is an opportunity to demonstrate that you understand what McLeod is saying.
- What is the theme of this chapter?
- How does it fit in the context of the overall book, and how does it relate to the book's previous chapters?
- What seemed to be the author's major goals with this chapter?
- What are the chief ideas any reader should carry away?
- Of these ideas, which seem most critical?
2. Commentary
- What seemed to be the chapter's strengths?
- What were its weaknesses?
- Are there aspects of the chapter that seem to compliment Objectivism (or a well-reasoned approach to life based on enlightened individualism)?
- Are there aspects of the chapter that seem problematic from the standpoint of Objectivism (or a well-reasoned approach to life based on enlightened individualism)?
3. Discussion
- What aspects of the chapter especially warrant further discussion by the group?
- What questions are you yourself left with?
Additional Guidelines:
- Date: Please submit your kick-off essay to mudita @wetheliving.com by 5:00 p.m. on the evening before it is to be distributed (see the schedule listed above).
- Plain Text: Please assure that your essay is submitted in plain text format, not in styled formats such as MIME or HTML.
- Subject Line: When you submit your kick-off essay, please use the following subject line for your message: Kickoff Chapter XX
- Questions: Feel free to write Joshua with any other questions you may have!
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