Why are there human's in the universe?

Here’s a mystery. Why are there human’s in the universe? Does the universe need us to be here so that it can be observed; so that we can be awed by the wonder of it all? 

I believe that the universe is human in the sense that without humans (or other equally sentient conscious creatures there would be no one, nothing to honor the glory of the creation). 

Spontaneity

Spontaneity as a result of meditation practice. Meditation class talk.

Mining Building

View from my classroom in the Mining Building. 

A perfect place for teaching Engineering Ethics. 

Beauty, design, and the implications of our actions.

All at once.

Who are We

Who are we? Golden rays of light moving around on the Earth's surface. Mostly, we forget how wonderful and wondrous we are. Sometimes we act in the worst of ways. But most of the time it is loving kindness. Don't forget that. Don't believe the news. We are creatures born of love, born to share millions of moments of kindness with one another. This is so. If not, we would not be here today.

Roots of the Golden Rules

The world's religions are rooted in experiences of cosmic consciousness. Often these experiences came after long periods of isolation and fasting. By looking at this common root, we can come to greater understanding of the unity within the diversity of religions.

Surprise

Everyday is a surprise
You wake up in the morning
And suddenly it's different from yesterday

Perhaps it's useful to experiment
with different ways of expression
in writing, in recording, etc.
Shake things up slightly
Be a little more spontaneous 
not so worried that the "English teacher"
is going to come by and grade you down
for using the "wrong" format for a word

Life and language and art
are infinitely wide open
Why close ourselves off so much from the ultimate sources of creation which we are reflecting in every moment of living with every breath?

Be not worried
Express yourself
Like a child again
All life evolved on this Earth as acts of creation
Some worked; some failed
and with what is called "natural selection" 
leading to evolution of consciousness
leading to technology
leading to this computer
leading to the extension of 
this mind
this moment
this expression
this little act 
this spontaneous
creation  
here and now

Still Point of the Turning World

Meditation talk at Berkeley City College, June 24, 2014. Title of talk comes from a line in T.S. Eliot's "Burnt Norton" within the Four Quartets.