Ewen's Newsletter - July 31, 2024
Hi All
Here’s this week’s newsletter.
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Film: The Cranes Are Flying (1957)
Synopsis: Veronica plans a rendezvous with her lover, Boris, at the bank of river, only for him to be drafted into World War II shortly thereafter.
Undervalued Films page - Watch Trailer
Book: Dropping Ashes On The Buddha
About: “Somebody comes into the Zen center with a lighted cigarette, walks up to the Buddha statue, blows smoke in its face, and drops ashes on its lap. You are standing there. What can you do?” This is a problem that Zen Master Seung Sahn is fond of posing to his American students who attend his Zen centers.
Music: Out Of Time
Artist: Metahesh
Undervalued Music page - Listen
Reflections
"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." - Helen Keller
"Two of man's basic needs are to love and to share. Both of these needs are satisfied in greater or lesser degree by friendship." - Mother Angelica
"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." - Audrey Hepburn
"The years teach much which the days never know." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." - Eleanor Roosevelt
Grateful For
This week, I’m most grateful for: People, in particular, the kindness that they can share.
What are you grateful for this week? (You’re welcome to share with me. But I encourage you to share your gratitude with those close to you)
Book Competition
WIN A BUNDLE OF INSPIRATIONAL FICTION & NON-FICTION!
Video
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The Philosophy of Focus
When I was younger, I used to have a very set way of looking at the world. Like most growing up, I used to have an unwavering set of beliefs that were almost stuck on me. But as I’ve gotten older, all those beliefs have gradually fallen away to the point where I can’t even remember most of what I used to believe in. And now I don’t hold any beliefs. None whatsoever. And I am aware that this is quite antithetical to what most tell us. People say “You have to believe in something”, “You have to believe in yourself”, etc., etc. But I don’t believe in anything anymore.
What has brought this on has been my widened perspective. As I’ve come to new realisations of life, I’ve realised more ways in which I could disprove my beliefs. And quite naturally, my beliefs have eased. It’s not that I don’t have thoughts anymore. It’s just that I don’t believe any of my thoughts are true. They’re just words that float through my mind.
But what does all this have to do with focus?
Film
Watch my film Śūnyatā:
Books
If you haven’t already, grab both my books The Flow of All Things and The Shadow Stalker for free by clicking the covers:
Thanks for checking out this week’s newsletter. If you have any feedback or would just like to say “Hi”, you can simply reply to this newsletter. I do my best to respond to every email.
Have a great rest of your week.
Cheers,
Ewen