What we’re about
A casual and friendly reading and discussion group. We are planning to read texts such as Plato, Kierkegaard & Nietzsche.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Asian Philosophies | Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 & ReviewLink visible for attendees
Our schedule for 2024 is every Saturday 2:00pm Pacific (5:00pm East)
We will continue the Bhagavad Gita study and discussion in 2024.
Here is the reading material: (please read Chapter 17)- Sri Aurobindo's verse by verse translation: Click here
- Gandhi's interpretation: Click here
Gita is basically a poetic song of God, if you will, not meant to be taken literally. The notion of God is commonly understood as Krishna, but the way we approach it here is as the God within us all. Its our own song, that we all seem to have forgotten and we are reminding ourself our purpose of life via Gita. You can read it as God, or you can read it as a human. Ultimately, its our own personal journey to that higher state and deeper depths within ourselves to the Parm-atma (The Supreme Soul).There are 1000s of interpretations of Gita, some in English and many in other languages. Each interpretation has that author's personal take. We can start with any one of those, but depending on your specific place in your life you will need to internalize this for yourself with the goal that one is able to stay mentally unperturbed even in chaos. Please feel free to explore on your own, in the context of your life.The presenter will use the verse translation listed above and guide the conversation with a philosophical interpretation.
There are 18 chapters in this book. We have completed through Chapter 14 sine 2023. For rest of 2024 we will have a session every two weeks. We will cover the remaining Chapter 15-18. We will alternate the session content between the whole Bhagvad Gita review for new comers followed by a chapter in as much detail as possible in the 2 hours.
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Our Schedule as follows:- (2024-06-29) History of Chinese Philosophy -9 : Lao Zi, Tao Te Ching
- (2024-07-03) Bhagvad Gita Chapter 14
- (2024-07-13) History of Chinese Philosophy-10: Zhuang Zi
- (2024-07-20) Bhagvad Gita Review 1 - Crisis, Conditioning, Dilemmas
- (2024-07-27) Bhagvad Gita Chapter 15 (2024-07-27)
- (2024-08-03) History of Chinese Philosophy -11 Later Mohists
- (2024-08-17) Bhagvad Gita Review 2 - Action, Duty, Humility
- (2024-08-24) History of Chinese Philosophy - 12 : Yin-Yang School
- (2024-08-31) Bhagvad Gita Chapter 16
- (2024-09-07) No Meeting
- (2024-09-14) History of Chinese Philosophy -13 Xun Zi
- (2024-09-21) Bhagvad Gita Review 3 - Devotion, God, Ego
- (2024-09-28) History of Chinese Philosophy -14 Legalism - Han Fei
- (2024-10-05) No Meeting
- (2024-10-12) No meeting
- (2024-10-19) ** Reading The Book of Odes (Shi Jing)
- (2024-10-26) Bhagvad Gita Chapter 17 & Review
- (2024-11-02) ** Reading Book of Changes (I-Ching)
- (2024-11-09) Bhagvad Gita Chapter 18 (final)
- (2024-11-16) History of Chinese Philosophy -15 Confucian Metaphysics
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please see all our past presentation :
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1moDzDM4xb--hDgw7zXC7Rrayq-GEwQYETyJKa4W9usU/edit?usp=share_link
History of Chinese Philosophy
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXkeU_Ho4cmOF1TQb2xrEW0-RVNhnJXje
Bhagavad Gita Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXkeU_Ho4cmOShIitClQSIlGa26pY1KJk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - FTI: Illegal surveillance by the government was retroactively legalizedLink visible for attendees
# Illegal surveillance by the government was retroactively legalized, why should we care
The 4th amendment states: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Essentially it says the government has to have a reason to spy on us - meaning they need to have a specific thing they’re looking for (that is violating the law) and can not just search us or our belongings indiscriminately. Our digital belongings are very much being searched by the government. And the man who pointed out this was being done - Edward Snowden - had to run to Russia to prevent him from suffering severe punishment by the united states government. This is something that should worry any american that thinks the constitution should be honored in spirit in the modern world. Our government did not make an amendment overturning the 4th, but they have still legalized the government’s violation of the 4th amendment with illegal digital surveillance.
Format: Lecture and discussion
Note: social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
Host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (PlateRate.com is his company). His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (http://freethinkerinstitute.org/), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.To get familiar with our organization, feel free to learn more here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E16-qv-OZZoKh4HSyHCtQ_eZA-ko_n3Kd3SwxfLpk84/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.qsvmnmkadvaqAfter registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.
Here’s our legal notice: For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.
Not open - FTI: Illegal surveillance by the government was retroactively legalizedLink visible for attendees
# Illegal surveillance by the government was retroactively legalized, why should we care
The 4th amendment states: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Essentially it says the government has to have a reason to spy on us - meaning they need to have a specific thing they’re looking for (that is violating the law) and can not just search us or our belongings indiscriminately. Our digital belongings are very much being searched by the government. And the man who pointed out this was being done - Edward Snowden - had to run to Russia to prevent him from suffering severe punishment by the united states government. This is something that should worry any american that thinks the constitution should be honored in spirit in the modern world. Our government did not make an amendment overturning the 4th, but they have still legalized the government’s violation of the 4th amendment with illegal digital surveillance.
Format: Lecture and discussion
Note: social time for our community 15 minutes before the presentation.
Host:
Garrett is a programmer turned award-winning software inventor turned entrepreneur (PlateRate.com is his company). His hobby is writing and discussing practical philosophy, and he does life coaching on request to help people live happy, moral lives. He is also the executive director of The Free Thinker Institute (http://freethinkerinstitute.org/), which aims to create a community that helps members increase happiness and decrease harm for themselves and those they can influence.To get familiar with our organization, feel free to learn more here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E16-qv-OZZoKh4HSyHCtQ_eZA-ko_n3Kd3SwxfLpk84/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.qsvmnmkadvaqAfter registering via zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.
Here’s our legal notice: For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish any and all Zoom recordings for trade, advertising and any other commercial purpose, and to alter the same without any restriction. I hereby release Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from all claims and liability related to said video recordings.