Tag: The Bhagavad Gita

Nelson Mandela, Will, A Few Good Men, Cory Booker, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Nelson Mandela, Will, A Few Good Men, Cory Booker, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on February 19, 2023

Sunday Supplement #93 (February 19th, 2023)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“It always seems impossible until it is done.”

– Nelson Mandela

Book of the Week:

Will – Will Smith & Mark Manson

I only read Will Smith’s autobiography the other week, but it’s still fresh in my mind as a reminder of perseverance and growth. It helps that the book is wildly entertaining too.

For those that don’t know, Will Smith is a Grammy Award-winning musician, Academy Award-winning actor, and NAACP winner.

Smith covers his journey from his youth in Philadelphia to his career as a hip-hop artist, conquering Hollywood, and all the struggles in between.

Mark Manson, the #1 New York Times bestseller of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, pens Smith’s autobiography and helps it flow while still being authentically in Smith’s voice.

I don’t put too many books on my must-re-read list, but this is one of them.

Movie of the Week:

A Few Good Men

Rob Reiner’s A Few Good Men follows a military lawyer assigned a case of two Marines accused of murder despite their claims of being under orders.

Tom Cruise stars as the military lawyer, and Demi Moore, Wolfgang Bodison, Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon, and Jack Nicholson all give phenomenal supporting performances.

The actors are so brilliant in the film because of the writing by Aaron Sorkin. The story and the characters are wonderfully crafted to supply a compelling drama.

A Few Good Men was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (for Nicholson).

I typically put this film on once a year, and I always find it worth the watch.

Brainfood of the Week:

Cory Booker Interview | The Tim Ferriss Show (Podcast)

I wouldn’t usually recommend a politician in a brainfood of the week since I don’t know much about politics.

However, Tim Ferriss’s podcast interview with Cory Booker is one of the more memorable episodes I’ve come across.

The interview was conducted in 2017, so it’s a bit dated, but the conversation has much worth tuning in for.

Booker talks about his mentors, receiving a Rhodes Scholarship, his participation in a hunger strike to draw attention to urban development issues, and much more.

I’ve featured Tim Ferriss’ podcast on many previous Sunday Supplements, but I’m still finding more that are worth highlighting. This is one of them.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“You have the right to work but never to the fruit of work. You should never engage in action for the sake of reward, nor should you long for inaction.”

– Bhagavad Gita 2:47

This passage from the Bhagavad Gita makes me question the purpose behind my actions.

I think it’s an interesting prompt to consider whether or not you would pursue something if the result isn’t guaranteed.

I don’t think that means we shouldn’t want to achieve our goals, but it helps me focus more on the love of the process.

Thinking about why you’re truly engaged in any endeavor is an interesting insight into what you really want. Sometimes our surface-level wants often have much deeper needs.

Think about what you truly love in your life, nurture it, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Michael Crichton, The Hero With a Thousand Faces, Mulan, Ken Burns, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Michael Crichton, The Hero With a Thousand Faces, Mulan, Ken Burns, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on January 15, 2023

Sunday Supplement #88 (January 15th, 2023)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“If you don’t know history, you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree.”

– Michael Crichton

Book of the Week:

The Hero With a Thousand Faces – Joseph Campbell

In The Hero With a Thousand Faces, Campbell shows his research into the many different cultures and how many mythologies contain portions or the entirety of “the hero’s adventure.”

The book can read like a textbook at times, but the research he composed is a fascinating look at the stories from many different cultures across history.

Campbell’s work also offers an interesting look at how these stories shaped our ancestors and how they guided their people.

Portions of the book discuss how these roots are present in today’s society but have also been lost in many cases.

I featured Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth in Sunday Supplement #26, which is a lighter dive into Campbell’s work. Check out whichever calls to you!

Movie of the Week:

Mulan

Disney’s 1998 version of Mulan follows a young woman who secretly takes the place of her elder conscripted father in the Imperial Chinese Army’s defense against the invading Huns.

The script and characters are expertly woven to create an entertaining and meaningful story about identity, culture, war, and family.

The Academy Awards didn’t have a category for Best Animated Feature in 1998, but Mulan was still nominated for one Oscar, Best Music. It could have easily won Best Animated Feature if the category had been around then.

Mulan stands out in the Disney annuls as one of their best and should be on anyone’s watch list if they’re looking for a fun, meaningful, and comedic animated adventure.

Brainfood of the Week:

Ken Burns – Documentaries

Instead of a specific video this week, I’m highlighting the work of documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.

Burns’s work is often produced with the National Endowment for the Humanities and is distributed by PBS.

His documentary series cover a wide array of events and pieces of history. Some of his most known series are The Vietnam War, The National Parks, and The Statue of Liberty.

Instead of putting forth a specific series, I’ll put a link here to the catalog of his work. Check it out and see which one piques your interest.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Worshippers of the celestial gods take birth amongst the celestial gods, worshippers of the ancestors go to the ancestors, worshippers of ghosts take birth amongst such beings, and My devotees come to Me alone.”

– Bhagavad Gita 9:25

This passage from the Bhagavad Gita is an interesting look at how what we worship is often where we end up.

In this verse, the Bhagavad Gita discusses the destinations of the different worshipers of the time, but you could extrapolate this pattern to modern times as well.

In Swami Mukundananda’s commentary on the passage, I thought it was interesting how he spoke about the value of being grateful for our ancestors but how an undue concern for their welfare can be detrimental.

I think it raises a prompt for knowledge and appreciation of what came before us but to learn from our past and move forward.

Learn from the past, choose the direction you want to grow, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Iyanla Vanzant, The Myth of Digital Democracy, The Social Dilemma, Simon Sinek, and the Bhagavad Gita

Iyanla Vanzant, The Myth of Digital Democracy, The Social Dilemma, Simon Sinek, and the Bhagavad Gita

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on November 20, 2022

Sunday Supplement #80 (November 20th, 2022)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“The journey into self-love and self-acceptance must begin with self-examination. Until you take the journey of self-reflection, it is almost impossible to grow or learn in life.”

– Iyanla Vanzant

Book of the Week:

The Myth of Digital Democracy – Matthew Hindman

The Myth of Digital Democracy researches internet usage data with the aim of seeing what voices are most heard and if the public sphere is more inclusive.

The data describing web traffic and voice distribution was the most interesting aspect of the book for me.

Hindman’s book is a fascinating insight into how the internet works in these areas, but I think his conclusions are somewhat biased.

The Myth of Digital Democracy was published in 2008 by the Princeton University Press. Hindman’s sequel, The Internet Trap, was published in 2018.

Matthew Hindman’s book is one I’d recommend with a grain of salt. I found the research and data intriguing but didn’t entirely agree with the author’s conclusions.

Movie of the Week:

The Social Dilemma

A significant number of the human population uses some form of social media, and The Social Dilemma reveals how those platforms operate.

The documentary explored the dangerous effects of social networking, with many experts weighing in on platforms they helped create.

It does a brilliant job of weaving a dramatic narrative through the technical information to show how social media can negatively affect its users.

The Social Dilemma received praise for its content and won two Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program.

I think there are many benefits to social media and the internet, which is echoed in the documentary, but it’s worth being aware of how you engage with them.

Brainfood of the Week:

Simon Sinek on How Reflection Informs Personal Growth | Capture Your Flag

Capture Your Flag is a career documentary interview series with up-and-coming leaders that shares knowledge to help better plan, pursue, and achieve life and career aspirations.

This is a clip from a 2012 interview with Simon Sinek where Sinek answers the question, “What role has reflection played in shaping your personal growth?”

Sinek defines self-reflection as the ability to look at oneself critically— not overly critical and not full of hubris.

“The ability to say I can take some responsibility for the outcome of that, good or bad. And I can learn to do that again, or I can learn to spot those situations and avoid them in the future.”

The short video is well worth the watch.

I’ve featured bestselling author and public speaker Simon Sinek in previous Sunday Supplements. Check them out if you like this video.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“For those who have conquered the mind, it is their friend. For those who have failed to do so, the mind works like an enemy.”

– Bhagavad Gita 6:6

I’ve heard this verse before and have come across many variations of the same theme, but it is still one of my favorite reminders for mindfulness and self-reflection.

The Bhagavad Gita passage highlights how mastering your thoughts makes the mind a friend, but having no control allows it to be an enemy.

I find that control over my mind mainly pertains to if I consciously decide if I want to pursue a train of thought or not.

When I’m a conquerer of my mind, I recognize quickly that I do not need to pursue a negative train of thought if I don’t want to.

I don’t think you always need to control your thoughts, especially when they are happy or creative, but the ability to turn the control switch on is extremely powerful.

Keep track of your thoughts, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Mandy Hale, The Old Man and the Sea, The Lives of Others, Sadhguru, and Bhagavad Gita 13:11

Mandy Hale, The Old Man and the Sea, The Lives of Others, Sadhguru, and Bhagavad Gita 13:11

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 9, 2022

Sunday Supplement #74 (October 9th, 2022)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“A season of loneliness and isolation is when the caterpillar gets its wings. Remember that next time you feel alone.”

– Mandy Hale

Book of the Week:

The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway

The Old Man and the Sea tells the story of Santiago, an old experienced fisherman who’s gone almost three months without catching a fish.

Santiago is considered unlucky by the community. His pupil Manolin is forced to work with another boat by his parents even though he remains friends with Santiago.

The old man decides he will venture far out to sea and catch fish, confident his unlucky streak will come to pass.

Earnest Hemingway’s last major work of fiction published during his life won him a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

I read the novella a few years ago in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and loved the story and prose. Give it a chance and see what it brings up for you.

Movie of the Week:

The Lives of Others

In 1984 East Berlin, a secret police agent is ordered to spy on a prominent playwright, who has previously escaped state scrutiny due to his international recognition.

The agent, Gerd Wiesler, and his team bug and set up surveillance equipment in the playwright Georg Dreyman’s apartment.

Wiesler becomes increasingly absorbed by the playwright’s life with the complexities between the theatrical community and the state due to conflicting motivations.

The Lives of Others won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year at the 2007 Academy Awards.

The film made $77 million from a $2 million budget and currently places at 58 on IMDb’s Top 250 list. I highly recommend checking it out.

Brainfood of the Week:

How to Overcome Loneliness | Sadhguru

A student asks Sadhguru how to deal with loneliness and feelings of not belonging, not being accepted, and not being loved.

Sadhguru answers the question with many insights on attachment, freedom, and the struggles of living a non-fixed life.

He explains that the number of chemicals running through us varies and makes up a sort of chemical soup of being. How can we make this function at its highest level?

Once your way of being is not determined by anything outside you, there is no such thing as loneliness.

There are many amazing points in this video. If you enjoy the content, check out the other Sunday Supplements where I featured Sadhguru.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“…an inclination for solitary places and an aversion for mundane society; constancy in spiritual knowledge…— all these I declare to be knowledge.”

– Bhagavad Gita 13:11

When I come across passages like 13:11 in the Bhagavad Gita, I try to find the lesson or the wisdom each word imparts.

Other sections of this passage describe humbleness, nonviolence, self-control, and more under the umbrella of declared knowledge.

The messages in these seemed apparent, but the inclination for solitary places and an aversion for mundane society caused me to think a little harder.

Many gurus remain in solitude in the Hindu texts I come across. However, solitude is often a punishment in many other cultures.

That being said, I think the idea of an inclination for solitary places is wanting moments where you can seek peace and refine yourself.

When I fill my schedule with too many things (productive or not), they can be a distraction and a way to avoid reflecting and recharging.

Make time for a quiet space to reflect or meditate, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Evelyn Beatrice Hall, Battle Royale, Straight Outta Compton, The History Channel, and Bhagavad Gita 6:35

Evelyn Beatrice Hall, Battle Royale, Straight Outta Compton, The History Channel, and Bhagavad Gita 6:35

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on August 28, 2022

Sunday Supplement #68 (August 28th, 2022)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from the recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

– Evelyn Beatrice Hall (Voltaire)

Book of the Week:

Battle Royale – Koshun Takami

Koshun Takami’s first novel, Battle Royale, tells the story of a class of junior high school students who are forced to fight each other to the death on a deserted island.

The students make up one of fifty random classes selected each year by the fictional racist government known as the Republic of Greater East Asia.

This novel isn’t one I recommend lightly. Controversy and acclaim followed the novel’s publishing in Japan and its subsequent film and manga adaptations.

The book contains many acts of violence and isn’t a story that should be consumed on a whim. However, I think the novel has many valuable facets.

I highlight Battle Royale because of the quality of the writing and storytelling and its exploration of the themes of totalitarianism, courage, and friendship.

Much like William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, which I featured in Sunday Supplement #41, Battle Royale pushes boundaries in thought-provoking ways and is worth checking out.

Movie of the Week:

Straight Outta Compton

F. Gary Gray’s historical drama Straight Outta Compton covers the genesis of the rap group N.W.A. and the controversy around the group.

The rap group’s music changed the hip-hop world and became a mainstream phenomenon that received heavy criticism.

Straight Outta Compton does an excellent job telling the stories of the members of N.W.A, their personal and public struggles, and why their story is important.

When looking back on the music from the rap group, there are plenty of criticisms to be made, particularly around the treatment of women.

However, the group was pivotal in bringing marginalized voices to mainstream attention. And just because some didn’t like the music doesn’t mean they should be silenced.

Censorship of music isn’t a new phenomenon, but Straight Outta Compton does an excellent job of capturing an important part of its history.

Brainfood of the Week:

What Does “Freedom of Speech” Mean in the U.S.? | The History Channel

This short clip from The History Channel breaks down free speech, how it factors into the U.S. Constitution, and the limitations and protections of free speech in the U.S.

The video starts with the Bill of Rights and how the First Amendment guarantees freedom of press, protest, religion, assembly, and speech.

As the video addresses each question around free speech, it shows how much history the Constitutional right has over the years.

From the inception of the idea of free speech in the Constitution via Cato’s Letters to rulings on fighting words in 1942, there is much information in this three-minute video.

This is my first time highlighting The History Channel (YouTube page) in a Sunday Supplement, but I’m looking forward to delving into their catalog.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“The mind is indeed very difficult to restrain. But by practice and detachment, it can be controlled.”

– Bhagavad Gita 6:35

This passage of the Bhagavad Gita reminds me not to lose control of my thoughts. The Robin Sharma quote, “The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master,” comes to mind.

It is easy to get lost in our thoughts and let negative emotions control how we view ourselves, others, and the world around us.

The Bhagavad Gita passage alludes to the ability to control our minds and how we think.

Practicing mindfulness is one of the best ways to combat stray thoughts and negative thinking patterns. Awareness of our thoughts is one of the best ways to start.

No outside influence should dictate how we think or feel without our permission.

The quote from the beginning of the post coincides with this passage in how we ultimately can choose not to listen to others but should never silence them.

Practice awareness of your thoughts, and have a blessed week ahead!

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