Zen and the art of interstellar genocide.

CW · #1 August 29th, 2001, 05:49 PM

I do.

And I wonder how they memorised so much! (yes I MEAN memorising!)

Sean92 · #2 August 29th, 2001, 07:40 PM

Another good book on strategy is "A Book of Five Rings" by Miyamoto Musashi.

dmm · #3 August 29th, 2001, 08:17 PM

Not Zen or anything, but "The Prince" by Machiavelli is also great Evil Emperor strategy guide, and also short.

More on-topic would be "Jonathan Livingstone Seagull." Also short. I don't agree with its underlying philosophy (reincarnation), but I liked how JLS kept striving to be better. Supposedly Winnie the Pooh is Zen-like, at least according to "The Tao of Pooh." And physics is Zen-like, according to "The Tao of Physics." Personally, I think you'd be better served by just reading the Pooh books and studying physics.

dmm · #4 August 29th, 2001, 09:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by dogscoff:
I'm particularly interested in any kind of speed meditation, which could be practised in periods of, say 6 or 7 minutes spaced 15- 40 minutes apart, with occasional short breaks for tactical combat.

"Speed meditation??!!" LOL! That is SO typically American. This reminds me of one of the few Zen stories that I know:
A young man goes to a monastery and says he wants to achieve oneness with the universe (or enlightenment, or something like that), and asks how long that will take. "10 years," says the head guy (priest or lama or something). The young man is dismayed; he has a life to lead, things to accomplish. "That's too long," he says. "What if I work at it day and night, much harder than anyone else here?" "Ah, in that case," replies the head guy, "it will take you 50 years."

Also reminds me of the "I'd like a half a cup of God, please" email that gets circulated periodically.

Menschenfresser · #5 August 29th, 2001, 09:40 PM

If you want something along this line that will take 6 months to read and 12 to understand, then check out "On War" by von Clausewitz.

900 pages of 19th century German.

dogscoff · #6 August 30th, 2001, 09:54 AM

QUOTE:
Supposedly Winnie the Pooh is Zen-like, at least according to "The Tao of Pooh." And physics is Zen-like, according to "The Tao of Physics." Personally, I think you'd be better served by just reading the Pooh books and studying physics.
QUOTE

Don't know about Winnie the Pooh but there is a very strong crossover between physics and Zen. Both (as I understand it) are essentially studies of cause and effect in an impassive and chaotic universe.

An excellent TV series for understanding Buddhism (not necessarily the same thing as zen, but again there are crossovers) is the 70s kungfu comedy masterpiece Monkey Magic. It uses a load of mythological metaphors to demonstrate the buddhist way of thinking. Loads of cool kungfu, character comedy and improbable magic too. It's a really good watch, try to find it on video. (Then lend it to me=-)

(BTW, I wasn't really serious about speed meditation. Just in case anyone missed the mile-wide sarcasm=-)

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Saxon · #7 August 31st, 2001, 01:52 AM

Speaking of ancient memorization, did you know that to gain admission to the University of Cairo during most of the Middle Ages you had to pass an entrance exam. The exam was to orally recite the entire Koran to a panel of judges. It usually took a few days. Bit tougher than getting a B average in high school.