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articles d'intérêts général agrémenté d'une image ou d'un dessin personnel
Wednesday, April 02, 2025
Silence
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Spiritual life and bouddhisme
The Western world, primarily composed of followers of the Catholic, Protestant,
or Jewish faiths, is gradually witnessing the decline of these beliefs in favor
of other denominations. The main catalyst for the decline of the influence of
the Catholic Church was the Second Vatican Council, which took place from 1962
to 1965. Supposed to bring modernization to the church, this initiative
nevertheless led to a sudden break in religious practice. This change has led
to a completely different perception of worship, now less considered an
indispensable social and moral duty. Most believers do not completely abandon
their faith but set aside the practices taught for decades, and part of their
convictions is brutally shattered. Recently, the church has been shaken by
sexual conflicts, and numerous dubious practices within its institutions have
come to light. Which only poisoned an already very precarious situation.
What stands out to me now is that the three predominant religions - Judaism, Catholicism, and Islam - coexisted in Palestine, yet they are now the source of enduring conflict. Every faith possesses a distinct location in Jerusalem. The Temple Mount, also known as Mount Moriah, holds religious significance for the Jewish people. According to the Bible, Solomon's temple contained the Tablets of the Law and the Ark of the Covenant. The Holy Sepulchre is venerated by Christians as it contains the tomb of Jesus Christ, where he is thought to have been interred following his crucifixion. The Temple Mount, situated in the same location as the Al-Aqsa Mosque, is the third most sacred site for Muslims, following Mecca and Medina. This is the location where the prophet Muhammad is believed to have ascended on a winged horse to encounter Allah. Would it not be fitting to compare these three faiths and coexist in a state of universal tranquility? Historically, numerous religions have instigated protracted and violent conflicts; why not pursue a spiritual existence that honors humanity and nature and ensures tranquility?
The Buddhist monks are engaged in tranquil meditation, immersed in prayer and
intense contemplation on the nature of their existence. This practice is
frequently regarded as a philosophy, a religion, and a lifestyle
simultaneously. Philosophy provides profound contemplation on the essence of
existence, suffering, and the journey toward awakening or enlightenment. The
Buddha imparted teachings like the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold
Path, which serve as frameworks for ethical living and deep comprehension of
reality. It qualifies as a religion due to its fulfillment of conventional
religious functions, including rites and ceremonies. It encompasses ideas
regarding reincarnation, karma, and spiritual entities like the Buddha and
the bodhisattvas. Ultimately, it constitutes a way of life because of its
pronounced focus on daily practice and personal growth. Meditation, compassion,
ethics, and wisdom are elements incorporated into the daily routines of
practitioners. Buddhism, as a lifestyle, can serve as a source of happiness,
well-being, and joy. This faith originated in India between the 6th and 5th
centuries BCE and has persisted through the millennia to the present day. In
nations where Buddhism has established itself, it coexists harmoniously with
other faiths: Confucianism (Southeast Asia), Taoism (China), Shinto (Japan),
and Bön (Tibet). Buddhism remains fundamentally a philosophical, mythical, and
ritualistic framework. It does not depend on supernatural revelation, a creator
deity, or sacred texts, which enhances its durability over time.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Optimism
Optimism is a conquest, a choice of life, a decision that at a given moment we can choose to make or not to make to give meaning to everything that happens to us. Optimism is a strategy to positively build one's future, but if misused or taken to excess, it can cause more suffering than anything else due to the disappointment it can bring. Optimism is the key to joy and often a lock against sadness. However, we cannot deny what sometimes happens to us without warning, such as the death of a loved one. So, on the contrary, it is necessary to leave the door open for sadness to express itself. Otherwise, repressed and unacknowledged sadness will surely not be a source of balance and joy, but rather of stress and unhealthy tension.
Monday, March 17, 2025
Hauser & Dimash
In the nineties, when Starmania, composed by Michel Berger, was released, I listened to that moving composition "Only the very best" sung in English by Peter Kingsbery and the French version "SOS, pour un terrien en détresse," sung by Daniel Balavoine. Nothing to do with the version by Dimash Qudaibergen accompanied by the cello of Croatian virtuoso Stjepan Hauser. When I listen to this idyllic music, I get chills, I am deeply moved, and I literally melt into tears in front of so much talent and beauty. Dimash is particularly endowed with an impressive vocal range, covering more than seven octaves, practically the extent of my piano, which I played a long time, from the low la0 of the lowest register (bass) to the highest notes of the soprano register up to the whistle register re8. He is capable of transitioning from the pop register to the lyrical register very quickly, producing melismas and very complex vocal figures without apparent difficulty, and he also masters the whistle voice, which is the highest register of the human vocal range considered the most extensive in the world. I am astounded; I close my eyes, unable to believe that these sounds originate from a single person. I feel as though I'm dreaming. As for Hauser, the talented, rebellious virtuoso. Listen to his Adagio by Albinoni; it's fantastic, marvelous, and emotional. There are no words great enough to describe this talent.
Friday, March 14, 2025
Fidelity
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Luck and Happiness
Luck
It is of no use
to cheer or to grumble
you see the flowers you pick
still wither in time
Flowers touch the heart where words can no longer reach it!
Monday, March 10, 2025
L'Elephant d'Afrique
Best photo of this century
A lioness and her
cub were crossing the savannah, but the heat was excessive, and the lion cub
was in great difficulty. An elephant realized that the cub was dying and
carried it with its trunk to a puddle, walking next to its mother.
And they are called
wild animals!
From a very young
age, I have been fascinated by this African animal. This animal is remarkable
in many ways. Its imposing size and the distinctive presence of its proboscis,
equipped with two membranes at its tip, make it remarkable, like two skilled
human fingers. Its weight can reach 8 tons. Unfortunately, it is frequently
poached because of its precious tusks, which are essential for its food and
protection. In these herds, it is the leadership that is provided by the
females, setting up a system of matriarchy, a social structure that differs
from that observed in the human species, where domination is often exercised by
males.
The horses we kept at
home consumed about 10 liters of water per day, a negligible amount compared to
the 150 liters an elephant needs to drink. Regarding plant-based food,
elephants consume between 200 and 300 kg, while our horses are satisfied with 5
kg of grains and prairie grass. The horses received regular care, including
grooming, deworming, and vaccinations, which contributed to their average
lifespan of 30 years. Elephants must rely on their acquired immunity to face
the various dangers present in the savanna and the forest. That is why they can
only reproduce at the age of 30, even though they reach sexual maturity around
the age of 12. Their average lifespan is around 70 years, but they can live up
to 100 years. The expression "to have an elephant's memory" comes
from these animals' remarkable ability to recognize places and individuals even
after many years.
In August 2024, the Namibian government
recently announced its plan to cull 83 elephants, 30 hippos, 60 buffaloes, 50
impalas, 100 blue wildebeests, 300 zebras, and elands on its territory. The
government's decision to task professional hunters with the culling of these
wild animals is motivated by the goal of providing meat to distribute to the
population in food insecurity. The country has been impacted by a severe
drought that has led to the devastation of food stocks and crops. It is
anticipated that 50% of the population will face food shortages in the coming
months. The number of animals in parks and protected areas exceeds that of
animals in pastures and water reserves. The 157 animals that were sacrificed
generated a total yield of 57,000 kg of meat. Wildlife protection advocates
have strongly criticized this disastrous hunting program and have launched a
petition to demand its immediate cessation. No environmental impact assessment
or precise animal census has been conducted. We must understand that human
subsistence takes precedence over that of animals, of course, but it's so sad
to have to come to this.
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