The Restory Retreat Centre

Artificial Intelligence   What I'll Miss Should Humanity Fade The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Creative Piece Starting with this week's blog entry, we're adding a new facet - something creative in whatever form, that expresses the theme without words. This week it's the famous painting by Joseph Turner, "The Fighting Temeraire" (1838). An old, glorious wooden warship (the Temeraire, which had fought in the Battle of Trafalgar) is being towed away at sunset by a small, black, smoking steam tug to be broken up. It is probably the most famous visual metaphor for the transition from the old, hand-crafted, wind-powered world to the cold, efficient machine age. The steamboat does not care about the history or beauty of the wooden ship; it is simply efficient. The word Temeraire literally means "the one who dares" or "the fearless one" (from the French téméraire). And the ship repeatedly lived up to her name; at the Battle of Trafa...

Kunsmatige Intelligensie Wat Sal Ek Mis As Menslikheid Sou Vervaag Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Kreatiewe Stuk Vanaf hierdie week se bloginskrywing bring ons 'n nuwe faset by - iets kreatiefs in watter vorm ook al, wat sonder woorde uitdrukking aan die tema gee. Hierdie week is dit die bekende skildery van Joseph Turner, "The Fighting Temeraire" (1838). ’n Ou, glorieryke hout-oorlogskip (die Temeraire, wat nog in die Slag van Trafalgar geveg het) word teen ’n sonsondergang weggesleep deur ’n klein, swart, rokende stoom-sleepboot om opgebreek te word. Dit is seker die beroemdste visuele metafoor vir die oorgang van die ou, handgemaakte, windgedrewe wêreld na die koue, doeltreffende masjien-era. Die stoomboot gee nie om vir die geskiedenis of die skoonheid van die houtskip nie; dit is bloot doeltreffend. Die woord Temeraire beteken letterlik "die een wat dit waag" of "die onverskrokke een" (van die Franse téméraire). En die skip het haar naam her...

  Buttoning and Unbuttoning (1/2) The "smallness" of life can sometimes feel heavier than its great tragedies. A life needn't be "full" of tragedy. If it's "empty" of meaning, that emptiness can eventually become a crushing weight bearing down on the one living that life.  The Conversation Elements From The Conversation In contemplative spirituality, the "buttoning and unbuttoning" is resolved not by ignoring or sidestepping the task, but by changing the nature of the button. Instead of an obstacle to be overcome so that life can "begin," the act becomes life itself. Music ABBA's song  describes a life where the "buttons" are done perfectly, but the person inside is sleepwalking. Lord, We are not blind to the burden of the repetitive . The same plate, the same path to work, the same buttons, the same masks we put on. Please help us with the discouragement for “the next thing.” We know deep down that a task that is ...

  Knoop en Losknoop (1/2) Die "kleinheid" van die lewe kan soms swaarder voel as sy groot tragedies. 'n Lewe hoef nie "vol" tragedie te wees nie. As dit "leeg" van betekenis is, kan daardie leegheid uiteindelik 'n verpletterende las word wat neerdruk op die een wat daardie lewe leef. Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek In kontemplatiewe spiritualiteit word die "knoop en losknoop" nie opgelos deur die taak te ignoreer of te systap nie, maar deur die aard van die knoop te verander. In plaas van 'n hindernis wat oorkom moet word sodat die lewe kan "begin", word die daad die lewe self. Musiek ABBA sing hier van 'n lewe waar al die knope perfek vas is, maar die persoon daarbinne is 'n slaapwandelaar. Here, Ons is nie blind vir die las van die aanhoudende nie. Dieselfde bord, dieselfde pad werk toe, dieselfde knope, dieselfde maskers wat ons opsit. Help ons asseblief met die moedeloosheid vir “die volgende”. Ons weet ten ...

  Vulnerability The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Music There is something very vulnerable about the melody and the words of Treaty , one of the tracks on Leonard Cohen's very last album, You Want It Darker . Love to you. Always.  George & Matilda

  Kwesbaarheid Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Musiek Daar is iets baie kwesbaar aan die melodie en die woorde van  Treaty , een van die snitte op Leonard Cohen se heel laaste album, You Want It Darker . Liefde van ons af. Altyd. George & Matilda

  Wonder "Wonder is the quiet knowing that the world is so much more than what we can see or touch. It is the practice of beholding—not just looking, but letting the beauty before us change us. Wonder is the antidote to the lie that everything is ordinary, that the sacred has abandoned us. Even in the midst of grief, even in the unraveling, wonder reminds us that we are held by something vast and tender." Cole Arthur Riley                 The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Molly down below Music The original is much longer, but Louis Armstrong would have said that this rendition encapsulates beautifully what he wanted to convey.  A Jewish blessing at moments of celebration or wonder:  Blessed are You, Eternal God, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this moment of wonder. With love. George & Matilda

Verwondering "Wonder is the quiet knowing that the world is so much more than what we can see or touch. It is the practice of beholding—not just looking, but letting the beauty before us change us. Wonder is the antidote to the lie that everything is ordinary, that the sacred has abandoned us. Even in the midst of grief, even in the unraveling, wonder reminds us that we are held by something vast and tender." Cole Arthur Riley                 Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Mily Musiek Die oorspronlike is veel langer, maar Louis Armstrong sou sê dat hierdie weergawe baie mooi saamvat wat hy wou oordra. 'n Joodse seën wat saamgaan met verwondering:  Geseënd is U, Ewige God, wat ons aan die lewe gehou het, ons onderhou het, en ons tot by hierdie oomblik van verwondering gebring het. Met liefde. George & Matilda

What The Mystics Know   2) We Don't Have To Be Perfect “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.  I’ll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me  and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭MSG                                The Conversation Elements From The Conversation ~ ❖ ~ Question of the Day: How does one incorporate imperfection? In a Navajo rug there is always one clear imperfection woven into the pattern. And interestingly enough, this is precisely where the Spirit moves in and out of the rug! The Semitic mind, the Eastern mind (which, by the way, Jesus would have been much closer to) understands perfection i...

Wat Die Mistici Weet   2) Ons Hoef Nie Perfek Te wees Nie “Kom na My toe,  almal wat vermoeid en swaar belas is,  en Ek sal julle rus gee.  Neem my juk op julle, en leer van My,  omdat Ek sagmoedig en nederig van hart is,  en julle sal rus vind vir julle gemoed.  Want my juk is draaglik en my las is lig.” ‭‭Matteus‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭AFR20‬ ‬                               Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek ~ ❖ ~ Question of the Day: How does one incorporate imperfection? In a Navajo rug there is always one clear imperfection woven into the pattern. And interestingly enough, this is precisely where the Spirit moves in and out of the rug! The Semitic mind, the Eastern mind (which, by the way, Jesus would have been much closer to) understands perfection in precisely that way. The East is much more comfortable with paradox, mystery, and non-dual thinking than the Western mind which ...