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Public essays and reflections published from the Gamantra community.
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The Empty Boat
Nov 3, 2026
An old Daoist story, found in the Zhuangzi, tells of a man crossing a river. His boat is moving quietly through the water when suddenly another boat drifts toward him. It is coming straight at him. He calls out. “Move your boat!” No answer. The boat keeps coming. He shouts…
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The Temptation to Find the Correct Point
Sep 26, 2026
The mind would prefer a number. Tell me where the middle is. How much should I work? How much should I rest? How much should I care? How much should I let go? How much should I speak? How much should I tolerate? How ambitious should I be? How spiritual…
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Dear Fermi is here
Sep 11, 2026
Dear Fermi is now live. It began with a question from science: Where is everybody? The universe is vast. The stars are countless. The silence is immense. But somewhere along the way, the question turned inward. What if “everybody” is not only somewhere else? What if everybody is already here?…
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Odin’s Sacrifice for Wisdom
Aug 24, 2026
In Norse mythology, Odin is not only a god of power. He is a seeker. A restless one. He wants wisdom. Not information. Not cleverness. Not the appearance of knowing. Wisdom. So he comes to Mímir’s Well, a place associated with deep knowledge. But wisdom is not given freely. There…
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The Burning Bush
Aug 11, 2026
In the Book of Exodus, Moses is tending a flock near Mount Horeb when he notices something strange. A bush is burning. Yet it is not consumed. Moses could have continued walking. Instead, he says: “I will turn aside and see.” And only then does the story unfold. He approaches.…
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The Salt Doll
Aug 5, 2026
In a parable told by Sri Ramakrishna, a salt doll sets out to measure the depth of the ocean. It wants to return and tell the others how deep it is. The doll steps into the water. It goes farther. And farther. But as it enters the ocean, it begins…
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The Bhagavad Gita Battlefield
Jul 13, 2026
In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna stands on a battlefield. The war is about to begin. The armies are gathered. The conch shells have sounded. The moment of action has arrived. But then Arjuna looks across the field. He does not see enemies. He sees teachers. Relatives. Friends. People he has…
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The Two Monks and the Woman
Jul 12, 2026
There is an old Zen story about two monks walking together. They come to a muddy crossing. A woman is standing there, unable to pass without stepping into the mud. One monk quietly lifts her, carries her across, and sets her down on the other side. Then the two monks…
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The Gift of Impermanence
Jun 18, 2026
Impermanence can first appear as loss. And yes, there is loss. Things pass. People change. Bodies age. Moments end. But impermanence is also what allows renewal. Without impermanence, grief would never soften. Anger would never fade. Confusion would never clear. A wound would remain forever raw. A mistake would define…
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Pandora's Box
Jun 8, 2026
In the old Greek myth, Pandora is given a mysterious jar. Later retellings call it a box. She is told not to open it. But curiosity rises. A question forms. A pull begins. The forbidden thing becomes impossible to ignore. And so Pandora opens it. Out rush sorrow, sickness, fear,…
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