Buddhism ~ religion, philosophy, psychology, arts, community, life
HELLENICA & ANCIENT WISDOM
Information
This group is to give access to and a space for discussion of spiritual issues in general and from the Western traditions, as distinct from the groups on eastern wisdom (Buddhist, Taoist etc) including the ancient sources of mystery religion, especially but not exclusively Greek mythology, religion, mysteries, oracles and practices.
Members: 34
Latest Activity: Jun 2
Access to Sources
Homeric Hymn to Demeter
Gregory Nagy translation
Hugh Evelyn-White translation
Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite
Gregory Nagy translation
Hugh G. Evelyn-White translation
Discussion Forum
DIOGENES
Started by David Brazier Apr 2. 0 Replies 0 Likes
If there anyone I envy,it’s old Diogenes, dog that he was and I more a cat.But… Oh to be in a world where such naturalnesswas possible!I hope we have a few sparks in common.Like that honest man, I am a citizenof nowhere in particular.Which polis?…Continue
WITH FIRE IN THEIR HAIR
Started by David Brazier. Last reply by Mat Osmond Apr 9, 2017. 2 Replies 1 Like
I've been reading The Bacchae by Euripedes. It is the only extant play based on the rituals of Dionysus in which women went in groups into the hills and engaged in orgiastic activities under the influence of wine. The theme of the play is the…Continue
SECRETLY PUT DOWN A DEEP ROOT
Started by David Brazier. Last reply by David Brazier Feb 11, 2017. 12 Replies 5 Likes
In the practice of spirituality, there is always an interesting tension between form and spontaneity. Too much form can easily become empty hypocrisy whereas too much spontaneity can easily become self-indulgence and dilettantism. The sage Kuya once…Continue
THOUGHTS GENERATED BY READING THOMAS SMITH ON ARISTOTLE
Started by David Brazier Jul 19, 2016. 0 Replies 1 Like
I have started rereading the book Revaluing Ethics: Aristotle’s Dialectical Pedagogy”. I shall not give an account of the book, merely of some of the stimulating ideas that he advances or that occur to myself as I read it.1. Since Plato never speaks…Continue
ANSHIN: PART THREE ~ Symbolism of My Island Home
Started by David Brazier Jun 20, 2016. 0 Replies 3 Likes
In the teaching yesterday we looked at the emoticon image for peace, being a dove with an olive sprig in its beak. In ancient Greek mythology, the dove and the olive branch were attributes of Eirene the goddess of peace. The olive was also…Continue
A FIRE FOR ARTEMIS
Started by David Brazier. Last reply by David Brazier May 31, 2016. 4 Replies 0 Likes
This evening I lit a fire for Artemis. She is the goddess of wild things. On our land she has dedicated to her the most wild part, the forest area including 'the Enchanted Wood'. There is something unreachable about Artemis - especially if you are a…Continue
LESSONS FROM POOH
Started by David Brazier. Last reply by David Brazier Apr 17, 2016. 8 Replies 3 Likes
I have recently been reading Winnie the Pooh and, among other things, it is a wonderful account of everyday small mindedness. Pooh is the personification of greed. If the chance of getting "a little something" comes along he immediately becomes…Continue
HAVING FAITH IN FAITH
Started by David Brazier. Last reply by David Brazier Apr 15, 2016. 4 Replies 6 Likes
Faith is Part of What We Are Spirituality requires us to have faith…Continue
FAITH AS A RATHER HUMAN FRIEND
Started by David Brazier Apr 7, 2016. 0 Replies 1 Like
The conclusion I have reached and that serves me best is that the basic default setting of life is faith. The snail proceeding across the garden lives in faith that she will reach the cabbage. It may be that all manner of misfortune may prevent her…Continue
LOVE IS THE LIFE THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE - Part Two
Started by David Brazier. Last reply by David Brazier Apr 7, 2016. 2 Replies 4 Likes
If you are reading this it might be that you live in a country torn by war and devastation and the Spirit may then be your lifeline, but, given that you do have time to read, it is more likely that you live in a country that is at peace, that is not…Continue
Comment Wall
Add a Comment
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Comment by Annie Parry on April 2, 2016 at 2:04 -
I'm interested to know more about the black and white image used as the emblem for this group? Thanks in advance ....
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Comment by David Brazier on February 14, 2016 at 13:05 -
Happy is the one whom the Muses love. Sweet flows the speech from that mouth. For though we have sorrow and grief in freshly-troubled spirits, and though we live in dread because our hearts are distressed, yet, when a singer, the servant of the Muses, chants the glorious deeds of men of old and the blessed gods who inhabit Olympus, at once we forget all of our heaviness and sorrows. The gifts of the goddesses soon turn us away from these cares. Hesiod: Theogony 90-103
Events
ITZI Conference 2019
Groups
Blog Posts
MY REAL LIFE
Posted by David Brazier on December 8, 2018 at 15:20 3 Comments 0 Likes
I'd like to try to say something about real life, which is the only thing that is really interesting.
I have been a bookworm ever since I learnt to read, which was not until I was seven years old. By that time I had already had important spiritual experiences. I was a rather odd child. Many ideas went through my head that tended to set me apart from other children.
Now,…
Continue
More Will Be Revealed!!
Posted by Dayamay Dunsby on November 5, 2018 at 12:46 2 Comments 1 Like
Adjusting to the extreme contrast between India and England has been a truly enlightening experience for me and I will probably be processing it psychologically for quite a while to come!
It is impossible not to be affected by the seething mass of raw energy that flows endlessly there, seemingly toward no apparent goal except pure survival. It often seemed like hell…
Continue MARY MIDGLEY
Posted by David Brazier on October 21, 2018 at 17:25 1 Comment 2 Likes
Born: September 13, 1919, London, United Kingdom
Died: October 10, 2018
Mary was a dear friend and inspiration. I first met her when she came to a meditation class I was leading. Her husband had recently died and she was grieving. She did not need meditation, she just needed to grieve and that be OK, which it definitely was, but she continued to come to meetings and made a…
Continue Running a Course in Korea and Elsewhere
Posted by David Brazier on August 3, 2018 at 1:40 2 Comments 1 Like
I am currently leading courses on Buddhist psychology here in Seoul, Korea, but as I am putting the course onto this site as we go along, members of La Ville au Roi (Eleusis) are also responding so it is a bit as though the course is going on in several countries at the same time which is nice.
© 2018 Created by David Brazier.
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