I enjoyed this conversation, especially the dynamics between Nikita and Boris, with Boris throwing some wild ideas out there and Nikita trying to keep it grounded.
On the topic of identity, I share the Russian language and the cultural heritage that comes with it with the two hosts, but originally come from (Eastern) Ukraine. Having grown up largely in Australia, for years I contented myself by saying I were Russian, when asked about my origin, since Australians usually hadn't heard of Ukraine back then. Now with Ukraine and Russia on opposite sides of this split world, I went back to being Ukrainian! Not so much out of convenience (I am also no longer in Australia, but in Switzerland now) but more because I've grown ever more dismayed (like Nikita and many others) at what's been happening in Russia. Still Russophobia sweeping some corners of the globe and the (re)emergence of tribalism in its many ugly forms is disturbing. Identity is a rather foreign concept for me, having moved countries twice, learnt 3 new languages and holding two passports, neither one of which is from the land I was actually born in. On a more intimate level too, this body never truly felt mine, but like many of us, I've learnt to make do. I resonate with Nikita's lauding the Armenians for their warmth and generosity and Adrian's mention of a open and relaxed reception of others. The world would be a very different place if we could show each other a little more kindness and what Rogers called, unconditional positive regard.
Incidentally, I experimented with 'shroom too in my younger days and have a somewhat ambivalent attitude to psychedelics (no strong opinion, but they did lead me to delving deeper into Zen, so a great "thank you" there). I try to stick with other practices for now.
You mentioned the sense of being, the (non)existence of the individual self, man arising as a contact of the material and the spiritual, being vessels for ideas, which are the truly living entities, etc, many deep and intriguing ideas. Here perhaps I could share something from my Zen Buddhist background. Buddhism has devoted a great deal to this topic and there are many profound and nuanced treatments which I cannot hope to do justice to in this brief comment (or even given unlimited space, for that matter). One thing they warn of is that the true nature of who were are is easily to mistake. There are many pitfalls, near and far, whether forms of nihilism, an amoral negation of responsibility, a quietism where one becomes attached to a very comfortable kind of a sense of tranquillity, etc.
The Buddha said that perception arises from contact (phassa) between the sense organs and the object. There are endless debates as to whether he had declared that there was no self, no enduring self, no personal self, no self that can be grasped, but one thing for sure, what we take for self, for "me" and "mine" is laden with grasping and delusion. It is largely a narrative stung together from memories and stories we like to tell ourselves (in words, ideas, feelings, images, remembered sense perceptions, etc). It is compounded and not really necessary. In a poem, the Buddha is said to have said "The Housebuilder, you are seen! You shall build no house anymore."
I enjoyed this conversation, especially the dynamics between Nikita and Boris, with Boris throwing some wild ideas out there and Nikita trying to keep it grounded.
On the topic of identity, I share the Russian language and the cultural heritage that comes with it with the two hosts, but originally come from (Eastern) Ukraine. Having grown up largely in Australia, for years I contented myself by saying I were Russian, when asked about my origin, since Australians usually hadn't heard of Ukraine back then. Now with Ukraine and Russia on opposite sides of this split world, I went back to being Ukrainian! Not so much out of convenience (I am also no longer in Australia, but in Switzerland now) but more because I've grown ever more dismayed (like Nikita and many others) at what's been happening in Russia. Still Russophobia sweeping some corners of the globe and the (re)emergence of tribalism in its many ugly forms is disturbing. Identity is a rather foreign concept for me, having moved countries twice, learnt 3 new languages and holding two passports, neither one of which is from the land I was actually born in. On a more intimate level too, this body never truly felt mine, but like many of us, I've learnt to make do. I resonate with Nikita's lauding the Armenians for their warmth and generosity and Adrian's mention of a open and relaxed reception of others. The world would be a very different place if we could show each other a little more kindness and what Rogers called, unconditional positive regard.
Incidentally, I experimented with 'shroom too in my younger days and have a somewhat ambivalent attitude to psychedelics (no strong opinion, but they did lead me to delving deeper into Zen, so a great "thank you" there). I try to stick with other practices for now.
You mentioned the sense of being, the (non)existence of the individual self, man arising as a contact of the material and the spiritual, being vessels for ideas, which are the truly living entities, etc, many deep and intriguing ideas. Here perhaps I could share something from my Zen Buddhist background. Buddhism has devoted a great deal to this topic and there are many profound and nuanced treatments which I cannot hope to do justice to in this brief comment (or even given unlimited space, for that matter). One thing they warn of is that the true nature of who were are is easily to mistake. There are many pitfalls, near and far, whether forms of nihilism, an amoral negation of responsibility, a quietism where one becomes attached to a very comfortable kind of a sense of tranquillity, etc.
The Buddha said that perception arises from contact (phassa) between the sense organs and the object. There are endless debates as to whether he had declared that there was no self, no enduring self, no personal self, no self that can be grasped, but one thing for sure, what we take for self, for "me" and "mine" is laden with grasping and delusion. It is largely a narrative stung together from memories and stories we like to tell ourselves (in words, ideas, feelings, images, remembered sense perceptions, etc). It is compounded and not really necessary. In a poem, the Buddha is said to have said "The Housebuilder, you are seen! You shall build no house anymore."