AI will never gain consciousness but it will retard our attention and aesthetic judgments.
I remember a lovely saying my English professor at university told us regarding the importance of human art vs “technological” art (I’m paraphrasing): “What we lose with technology creating products is the human touch which is its flaws. When you look at a gargoyle made by hands you will notice the slight irregularities in its shape. The human strives for perfection but can never achieve it in the world. That’s what makes human art so beautiful and art made by computers or machines feel soulless.”
I will never forget Jimmie E. Cain. He was my Grammar and Victorian Literature professor. He was also a scholar of Bram Stoker and wrote a convincing book on how Dracula shows signs of Russophobia!
(づ ◕‿◕ )づ 💙—Regarding the final image here - I don't know as well, Dr. Hart 💙, but I do know I would love to see you wearing a very similar outfit (or at least, a picture of that💙🙏), and that the AI-generated image did aid/help me in better realizing that in some way/sense 💙, that it would be good and desirable/fitting 💙 (to me personally, at least 💙🙏).
P.S.: I just ordered your book yesterday on Amazon 💙 and it's arriving tomorrow 💙. I am very interested and look forward to reading your book on the Tao Te Ching 💙 [Being of Chinese descent 💙]. But I was wondering here, are there parts of the Tao Te Ching that you don't agree with [to whatever extent]? [or have nuances about that you would like to offer? 💙 - I have a sense that you would align and assent to most of the teachings, just based on the book's description—which I agree with also (tho in my own way/my thinking, at least-from what i have gained at a glance of that - as I am not familiar in-depth with the Tao Te Ching 💙)—and what i know/have a sense of right now 💙🙏. Would love to hear your thoughts & any clarifications regarding that 💙, as I do value your way of thinking-very much so, and often find them really valuable 💙.]
Hope you are well Dear David 💙, Thank you for all that you do 💙🫶🙏
I don’t think it’s the sort of text one disagrees with, in whole or part. It’s one that you interpret and in so doing reveal something of yourself to yourself.
Thank you, Dr. Hart 💙. You always yield[produce] a glad smile on my face 💙-i did do that a few times, while thinking about what you have said.
One thing I've realized—(in many instances from your writings/way of thinking & one made very apparent here in this instance 💙 for me, personally-and for that i'm very grateful 💙)—as i've pondered on what you are saying 💙, is that a high degree of accuracy in presenting or stating things-as they are (in reality/in-fact 💙), yields to many meaningful truths-in mind 💙, at the very least 💙 [that are true in many "ways"/aspects, and as such very deeply profound-in essence (because of that, it allows such is what i am trying to say 💙)].
My immediate thought was-it's just like the Bible 💙, but then I've realized in some very important sense (personally 💙) it is true for everything-pretty much 💙 (imho 💙 my two-cents), because there is Beauty and Goodness in everything-afterall 💙 [To whatever extent 💙🙏], and i don't think it vacuous because afterall, there needs to be meaningful content in order for something to be interpreted or sensed, to begin with 💙🙏 [even in Chaos, there is Order].
But I also take what you are saying, to mean that 💙🙏-it is a very Beautiful text indeed 💙 [recalling what I have watched and learned from your video on Metanoia], and in that sense it reflects (or at least as such then better allows 💙) more profoundly what oneself is to oneself 💙.
Maybe regarding the initial 💙🙏-also then too, with regards to people and everyone (and really everything) 💙, because I thought about what St. Porphyrios said-to focus on the good and ignore evil, personally-to mean to be (more) fully & hence effectively, focusing on[or dealing with] evil 💙. If even in Chaos, there is still Order. Then to "disagree" simply means to better agree (or more fully agree 💙), in this sense 💙 (the more & very important one - or "greater" 💙), I think this is Biblical as well, as we are called to love [1 Cor. 13 💙]-to "bear", to accept then but imo then to more fully accept and yearn and long for that goodness (wholesomeness 💙). To be moved by such 💙 and progress towards that 💙.
I am aware language is tricky 💙🙏 [and never "complete"], I am not making the point that we should forego the word, but to do away with the sense of opposition/"disagreement" (in heart/mind 💙), because words have meanings and the connotation of love [not just for people 💙, but for everything & in everything we do 💙🙏] may be lost then or not be as full then-as it could be 💙 [love always look towards betterment by/via doing that, imho 💙-how i interpret the verses relevant to love in the Bible 💙]. That means much to me 💙-it is the kind of philotimo love that St. Porphyrios talked about, personally 💙 not just love for honour, but "to care" and being very careful not to offend but to take care/honour 💙, and so then what things may be or more fully are/could be [That in some sense we are all together in/with Christ (at a future point), or even things, plants-anything, to (love)nurture to develop towards flourishing 💙]. To look towards a more fuller and harmonious picture, because that is The Truth-in some sense 💙 [not what we can see right now 💙, and to have faith and hope 💙, But yet love is the greatest 💙].
I think my reflections are a result of your philotimo-love 💙 Dr. Hart, for thinking about things deeply and profoundly (very tenderfully and carefully & clearly), honouring truth as true as it can be stated/thought of 💙🙏. You have my gratitude Dr. Hart, truly 💙-in some sense, I write as an appreciation of you (because of the love i have for you & also for the sake of love 💙🫂🙏, and maybe what love really means-giving honour where honour is due (and with a loving sense then 💙, maybe that also means looking forwards and more fully/in entirety-To better or in order to better do that, and i mean this for everything-as the love verses in the Bible says to do so, not just for humans 💙 (even if it may come to fruition at a later point in time) 💙, or in its maximal-potential 💙 (as good as it could be, if one likes to think of things such ways 💙). My only regret, is I am a poor writer (not as eloquent and my vocabulary is limited 💙🙏-not a good one yet 💙, not as good as I can be-But there goes my Hope 💙), maybe that also says about thinking too (to clearly apprehend something is to be able to phrase it simply 💙, but yet I am not good with words 💙).
One thing I really want to develop and my take-away though 💙 [learn from 💙], is how you think about things and state them so truthfully and yet still eloquently 💙. That I am made more aware of and am grateful 💙🙏. This i really aim to strive more towards and I won't give up 💙, Love never does and it never did 💙 [Jesus on the cross 💙, in gethsemane 💙], and i believe also-never will 💙🙏. [That I realized and learned more because of you DBH 💙, for that you have my joy-Forever 💙 (really wish I could give you a hug, 🫂-this will do for now, and maybe/probably not in this lifetime, but I do wish so in the afterlife, whether that be in Heaven or Paradise or New-Earth-one day and someday, I hope and look forward-to that, just my gratitude expressed via a warm-embrace 💙].
P.S.: I have a feeling this book will be something I will read and revisit often 💙 and to ponder about 💙, one thing not that clear to me (relative to the rest) is just this part, right now: "a world always full because inherently empty of itself". But I look forward to reading and discovering for myself, as best as I can 💙🙏. [Learning and gaining new wisdom, insights, perspectives - as well 💙🫶🙏].
*After thinking for a bit more, maybe it means Love and why Love is so full & beautiful 💙🙏, practically-doing away with the 'ego', and being more mindful of the abundance what this world has to offer, as it really is [via Love/opening up to Love 💙]💙. [I am reading Happiness and Holiness, and more about Thomas Traherne, because of you as well, your recommendation - Dr. Hart 💙 from a youtube video on Love Unrelenting 💙🙏]. I am grateful 💙🙏, and despite the lengthiness as a result of lacking eloquence, et al., I do hope that comes through - if it makes you Happy 💙.
Your joy is mine 💙 Dear David 💙, and so too everyone else's 💙🙏. That's why I'd like to see a 'real' picture of you wearing that outfit [i have a sense it would bring you some form of joy-having done so 💙, and it would be the same for me 💙].
I also somehow remember having read you want to visit Kyoto 💙, that would be good and one I am praying and hoping for 💙🙏. God Bless you Dear David 💙.
Ah, The Life of Moses! Mentioned in our Adult Formation class at Trinity Episcopal Church, Asheville, this past Sunday, the third of our four classes on the Sibling Saints (the Cappadocian siblings of Basil the Great, Macrina the Younger, and Gregory of Nyssa, also including their "college buddy," Gregory of Nazianzus (sp?)). Life of Moses has been recommended before; I should read it though there are limits to my patience for extensive allegory. I prefer looser allusion.
You have to be careful showing Rainn Wilson nipple and areola the crowd is getting rowdy and excited. The moms of America will have this taken down for indecency.
If the AI has been prompted to generate an image of a sage of unfathomable wisdom, angelic serenity, and beautiful countenance … this is a resounding success.
On the Dao book… do you speak Mandarin? Or did you work with a translator for the transliteration? I had Mitchell’s in my youth, but have settled on copies of Le Guin’s and Red Pine’s currently. Wondering what the background was for your endeavor here.
I just worked from the best manuscripts available. Other than the title of the volume, which was dictated by market concerns, I employed current Pinyin conventions for transliterations. Originally, the text contained the original characters as well, in all the notes and in the front matter, but that would have made the editing difficult for Yale.
That’s a copy of Les Misérables that young Roland has just finished.
So it is. You’re right, now I recognize the cover.
Boston Terriers are the best. I'm on my second!
AI will never gain consciousness but it will retard our attention and aesthetic judgments.
I remember a lovely saying my English professor at university told us regarding the importance of human art vs “technological” art (I’m paraphrasing): “What we lose with technology creating products is the human touch which is its flaws. When you look at a gargoyle made by hands you will notice the slight irregularities in its shape. The human strives for perfection but can never achieve it in the world. That’s what makes human art so beautiful and art made by computers or machines feel soulless.”
I will never forget Jimmie E. Cain. He was my Grammar and Victorian Literature professor. He was also a scholar of Bram Stoker and wrote a convincing book on how Dracula shows signs of Russophobia!
Some of your cousins, Dr Hart? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/groundbreaking-dna-analysis-identifies-13-million-living-relatives-of-colonial-marylands-earliest-settlers-180988778/
Ah, I thought the book was Stendhal’s Le Rouge et Le Noir.
When your favorite character in a book is the Jansenist priest, you know that the book was not written to endear the characters to the reader.
(づ ◕‿◕ )づ 💙—Regarding the final image here - I don't know as well, Dr. Hart 💙, but I do know I would love to see you wearing a very similar outfit (or at least, a picture of that💙🙏), and that the AI-generated image did aid/help me in better realizing that in some way/sense 💙, that it would be good and desirable/fitting 💙 (to me personally, at least 💙🙏).
P.S.: I just ordered your book yesterday on Amazon 💙 and it's arriving tomorrow 💙. I am very interested and look forward to reading your book on the Tao Te Ching 💙 [Being of Chinese descent 💙]. But I was wondering here, are there parts of the Tao Te Ching that you don't agree with [to whatever extent]? [or have nuances about that you would like to offer? 💙 - I have a sense that you would align and assent to most of the teachings, just based on the book's description—which I agree with also (tho in my own way/my thinking, at least-from what i have gained at a glance of that - as I am not familiar in-depth with the Tao Te Ching 💙)—and what i know/have a sense of right now 💙🙏. Would love to hear your thoughts & any clarifications regarding that 💙, as I do value your way of thinking-very much so, and often find them really valuable 💙.]
Hope you are well Dear David 💙, Thank you for all that you do 💙🫶🙏
I don’t think it’s the sort of text one disagrees with, in whole or part. It’s one that you interpret and in so doing reveal something of yourself to yourself.
Thank you, Dr. Hart 💙. You always yield[produce] a glad smile on my face 💙-i did do that a few times, while thinking about what you have said.
One thing I've realized—(in many instances from your writings/way of thinking & one made very apparent here in this instance 💙 for me, personally-and for that i'm very grateful 💙)—as i've pondered on what you are saying 💙, is that a high degree of accuracy in presenting or stating things-as they are (in reality/in-fact 💙), yields to many meaningful truths-in mind 💙, at the very least 💙 [that are true in many "ways"/aspects, and as such very deeply profound-in essence (because of that, it allows such is what i am trying to say 💙)].
My immediate thought was-it's just like the Bible 💙, but then I've realized in some very important sense (personally 💙) it is true for everything-pretty much 💙 (imho 💙 my two-cents), because there is Beauty and Goodness in everything-afterall 💙 [To whatever extent 💙🙏], and i don't think it vacuous because afterall, there needs to be meaningful content in order for something to be interpreted or sensed, to begin with 💙🙏 [even in Chaos, there is Order].
But I also take what you are saying, to mean that 💙🙏-it is a very Beautiful text indeed 💙 [recalling what I have watched and learned from your video on Metanoia], and in that sense it reflects (or at least as such then better allows 💙) more profoundly what oneself is to oneself 💙.
Maybe regarding the initial 💙🙏-also then too, with regards to people and everyone (and really everything) 💙, because I thought about what St. Porphyrios said-to focus on the good and ignore evil, personally-to mean to be (more) fully & hence effectively, focusing on[or dealing with] evil 💙. If even in Chaos, there is still Order. Then to "disagree" simply means to better agree (or more fully agree 💙), in this sense 💙 (the more & very important one - or "greater" 💙), I think this is Biblical as well, as we are called to love [1 Cor. 13 💙]-to "bear", to accept then but imo then to more fully accept and yearn and long for that goodness (wholesomeness 💙). To be moved by such 💙 and progress towards that 💙.
I am aware language is tricky 💙🙏 [and never "complete"], I am not making the point that we should forego the word, but to do away with the sense of opposition/"disagreement" (in heart/mind 💙), because words have meanings and the connotation of love [not just for people 💙, but for everything & in everything we do 💙🙏] may be lost then or not be as full then-as it could be 💙 [love always look towards betterment by/via doing that, imho 💙-how i interpret the verses relevant to love in the Bible 💙]. That means much to me 💙-it is the kind of philotimo love that St. Porphyrios talked about, personally 💙 not just love for honour, but "to care" and being very careful not to offend but to take care/honour 💙, and so then what things may be or more fully are/could be [That in some sense we are all together in/with Christ (at a future point), or even things, plants-anything, to (love)nurture to develop towards flourishing 💙]. To look towards a more fuller and harmonious picture, because that is The Truth-in some sense 💙 [not what we can see right now 💙, and to have faith and hope 💙, But yet love is the greatest 💙].
I think my reflections are a result of your philotimo-love 💙 Dr. Hart, for thinking about things deeply and profoundly (very tenderfully and carefully & clearly), honouring truth as true as it can be stated/thought of 💙🙏. You have my gratitude Dr. Hart, truly 💙-in some sense, I write as an appreciation of you (because of the love i have for you & also for the sake of love 💙🫂🙏, and maybe what love really means-giving honour where honour is due (and with a loving sense then 💙, maybe that also means looking forwards and more fully/in entirety-To better or in order to better do that, and i mean this for everything-as the love verses in the Bible says to do so, not just for humans 💙 (even if it may come to fruition at a later point in time) 💙, or in its maximal-potential 💙 (as good as it could be, if one likes to think of things such ways 💙). My only regret, is I am a poor writer (not as eloquent and my vocabulary is limited 💙🙏-not a good one yet 💙, not as good as I can be-But there goes my Hope 💙), maybe that also says about thinking too (to clearly apprehend something is to be able to phrase it simply 💙, but yet I am not good with words 💙).
One thing I really want to develop and my take-away though 💙 [learn from 💙], is how you think about things and state them so truthfully and yet still eloquently 💙. That I am made more aware of and am grateful 💙🙏. This i really aim to strive more towards and I won't give up 💙, Love never does and it never did 💙 [Jesus on the cross 💙, in gethsemane 💙], and i believe also-never will 💙🙏. [That I realized and learned more because of you DBH 💙, for that you have my joy-Forever 💙 (really wish I could give you a hug, 🫂-this will do for now, and maybe/probably not in this lifetime, but I do wish so in the afterlife, whether that be in Heaven or Paradise or New-Earth-one day and someday, I hope and look forward-to that, just my gratitude expressed via a warm-embrace 💙].
P.S.: I have a feeling this book will be something I will read and revisit often 💙 and to ponder about 💙, one thing not that clear to me (relative to the rest) is just this part, right now: "a world always full because inherently empty of itself". But I look forward to reading and discovering for myself, as best as I can 💙🙏. [Learning and gaining new wisdom, insights, perspectives - as well 💙🫶🙏].
*After thinking for a bit more, maybe it means Love and why Love is so full & beautiful 💙🙏, practically-doing away with the 'ego', and being more mindful of the abundance what this world has to offer, as it really is [via Love/opening up to Love 💙]💙. [I am reading Happiness and Holiness, and more about Thomas Traherne, because of you as well, your recommendation - Dr. Hart 💙 from a youtube video on Love Unrelenting 💙🙏]. I am grateful 💙🙏, and despite the lengthiness as a result of lacking eloquence, et al., I do hope that comes through - if it makes you Happy 💙.
Your joy is mine 💙 Dear David 💙, and so too everyone else's 💙🙏. That's why I'd like to see a 'real' picture of you wearing that outfit [i have a sense it would bring you some form of joy-having done so 💙, and it would be the same for me 💙].
I also somehow remember having read you want to visit Kyoto 💙, that would be good and one I am praying and hoping for 💙🙏. God Bless you Dear David 💙.
Ah, The Life of Moses! Mentioned in our Adult Formation class at Trinity Episcopal Church, Asheville, this past Sunday, the third of our four classes on the Sibling Saints (the Cappadocian siblings of Basil the Great, Macrina the Younger, and Gregory of Nyssa, also including their "college buddy," Gregory of Nazianzus (sp?)). Life of Moses has been recommended before; I should read it though there are limits to my patience for extensive allegory. I prefer looser allusion.
You have to be careful showing Rainn Wilson nipple and areola the crowd is getting rowdy and excited. The moms of America will have this taken down for indecency.
If the AI has been prompted to generate an image of a sage of unfathomable wisdom, angelic serenity, and beautiful countenance … this is a resounding success.
No, you’ve confused the picture of me with one of Roland the Younger.
I believe my words above would be catastrophically inadequate to describe the Bodhisattva of Wiltshire.
On the Dao book… do you speak Mandarin? Or did you work with a translator for the transliteration? I had Mitchell’s in my youth, but have settled on copies of Le Guin’s and Red Pine’s currently. Wondering what the background was for your endeavor here.
Classical Chinese and modern spoken Mandarin are not the same.
Yes, I’m aware—I have some proficiency in modern Hanzi and Mandarin. I was curious about your process in this translation.
I just worked from the best manuscripts available. Other than the title of the volume, which was dictated by market concerns, I employed current Pinyin conventions for transliterations. Originally, the text contained the original characters as well, in all the notes and in the front matter, but that would have made the editing difficult for Yale.
That would have been incredible, but it's understandable. Looking forward to reading it!
Is the last pic from your fable “Ensō”?
I hope not.