Is the King of the Golden Mountain Ruling in the Land of the Dead? (Clip)
About the Merchant’s son’s character: Early in life he showed faith in his father, himself, the world… How did he change? When he goes back home he is not recognized by the sentries of his hometown. ...
7 Nov 20253min
Grimm's “The Three Little Birds” Summary and Discussion
Back in the time of small kings, one was riding forth with his retinue from the castle to go hunting. Three sisters who were watching their cows saw them, and the eldest pointed to the king and said ...
4 Nov 202546min
Bearskin Walks the Earth, a Living Hell (Clip)
The character of Bearskin: courage, but then he learns perseverance with his seven years of living Hell. He must live truly wretchedly; he cannot even pray. (From a discussion on “Bearskin,” by t...
2 Nov 20251min
Rousseau, Happiness & Modernity
JJ Rousseau wrote in “Emile” that his principle aim in teaching his student is to feel the beautiful of all sorts to fix his tastes on it and prevent his natural appetites from corruption. In this po...
29 Okt 20252h 29min
The Brothers Grimm’s “The King of the Golden Mountain”
A wealthy merchant loses his ships, and a dwarf appears to him with an offer: sacrifice the first thing that touches you when you come home, and I will help you exceed your previous riches. He is dis...
26 Okt 202545min
Various Strands of Buddhism and the Meaning Crisis (Clip)
Ian talks about various strands of Buddhism, including Tibet and its philosopher rule, and Zen’s founder’s saying a lot of words about the problems with expressing things with words. This is within t...
24 Okt 20255min
The Brothers Grimm's "Bearskin"
A soldier returns from the wars, and now that his parents have died, he seeks shelter with his brothers. But they reject him, and he wanders, penniless and starving, into a field. The wind shifts, a...
20 Okt 202547min
Going the Right Way Without Knowing It (Clip)
The story teaches that one wants to find the good-hearted, but hard-working parts, and bring in the creative magic, and over time, alchemize the tyrannical ruler, and overcome him, without ruining its...
20 Okt 20252min
