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markrobertfrank.bsky.social
@markrobertfrank.bsky.social
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markrobertfrank.bsky.social
Are we called to do something positive and necessary or is it our ego talking? Do we want to feel righteous and special, esteemed for our bravery or charity? How often do we fool ourselves in such ways?

#discernment #intention #mindfulness #retirement #otium

substack.com/@markrobertf...
Discernment and Living Into Retirement
When Intention Is Not so Clear
substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:26 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
Check out the first post of my new Substack! It’s not just for those approaching retirement.

#otium #retirement #mindfulness #intention #authenticity #spirituality

open.substack.com/pub/markrobe...
Introducing Otium Intentionalis
Preparing for an Intentional Retirement
open.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
Coming soon: Otium Intentionalis (Intentional Retirement)

#otium #intentional #retirement #authenticity
Coming Soon: Otium Intentionalis
November 25, 2025 at 7:38 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
Words can constrain us if we mistake them for reality.

#power #healing #liberation #Zen

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
The Power of Words
Words can constrain us if we mistake them for reality.
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:30 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
What is the relationship between power, wisdom, and will? Why is there such a dearth of truly wise leadership?

#power #wisdom #will #authoritarianism #NoKings #Project2025 #BLM #TankMan

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/11/powe...
Power, Wisdom, and Will
What is the relationship between power, wisdom, and will? Why is there such a dearth of truly wise leadership?
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:21 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
Lies are destructive. How do we keep them from darkening our hearts?

#lies #truth #factcheck #propaganda #biglie #tribalthinking

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
The Power of Lies
Lies are destructive. How do we keep them from darkening our hearts?
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:50 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
Evil only has the power we give it.

#evil #morality #ignorance #dukkha #authoritarianism #communication #understanding

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
The Power of Evil
When we believe that evil is a supernatural force, we give it undue power over us, we prolong its existence, and we exacerbate its impact.
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:58 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
Deferring judgment keeps our minds open and flexible, fostering deeper and more productive thought rather than reflexive and conditioned responses.

#ICE #shooting #violence #politics #RadicalLeft #RadicalRight #OpenMind #speculation #chaos #conspiracy

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
The Power of an Open Mind
Deferring judgment keeps our minds open and flexible, fostering deeper and more productive thought rather than reflexive and conditioned responses.
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
October 2, 2025 at 3:59 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
Without truthfulness about the fundamental facts of political violence, civility and peace will continue to be elusive.

#power #politics #violence #leftwing #rightwing #radical #antifa #CatoInstitute #Cato #Charlie #Kirk #CharlieKirk #truth #civility

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/09/powe...
Power and the Hypocritical Demand for Civility
Without truthfulness about the fundamental facts of political violence, civility and peace, will continue to be elusive.
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
September 27, 2025 at 7:22 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
Even as I love it, I must recognize that our country is sick with a culture of ignorance, delusion, cruelty, and violence.

#power #violence #conflict #tribalism #worldview #science #myth #understanding #conversation #CharlieKirk #Charlie #Kirk

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/09/our-...
Our Snake Pit of Views
Even as I love it, I must recognize that our country is sick with a culture of ignorance, delusion, cruelty, and violence.
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
September 14, 2025 at 5:45 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
The pros and cons of using political humor to resist the rise of authoritarianism.

#humor #comedy #politics #power #resistance #authoritarianism #Nazism #Judaism #privilege #shame

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-...
The Power of Laughter
Pros and cons of politically oriented humor in an age of authoritarianism.
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
September 7, 2025 at 7:38 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
“If we remain focused on those things we can actually accomplish, and which can make a meaningful difference, the outrage of the day will not be so debilitating.”

#authoritarianism #wellbeing #peace #joy #doomscrolling #outrage

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/08/main...
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
August 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
If those of us with power and privilege want peace, it is incumbent on us to understand the reasons for its absence.

#peace #power #privilege #understanding #holistic #compassion #ThichNhatHanh #prejudice #fear

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/08/it-i...
It is Incumbent on the Powerful
It is incumbent on the powerful to have a holistic view of the world and the problems humankind has created.
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
August 24, 2025 at 3:19 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social

While we’re keeping our eyes out for abuses of power, let’s be vigilant about keeping our own house in order.

#power #transparency #democracy #Democrats #DemocraticParty #Harris #Biden #Sanders #authoritarianism

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/08/what...
What the Democratic Party Doesn’t Seem to Get
Consider this an open letter to the Democratic Party. Transparency and a thorough discussion regarding what its platform will be is required.
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
August 15, 2025 at 12:52 AM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
The “answer” to a famous koan: “a wise person does not disregard karma.”

#karma #US #PolicyMurder #antiwar #IraqWar #WMD #bloodandtreasure #Buddhism

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/08/bloo...
Blood and Treasure and Policy Murder
It can take some time for the U.S. to learn from her mistakes. How long will it take us to own up to the policy murder we are presently committing?
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
August 9, 2025 at 5:25 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
I didn’t know Instrumental Nihilism was a thing until I Googled it. Perhaps it should be known by all of us!

#nihilism #authoritarianism #cynicism #apathy #malaise #depression #justice #community #action #agency #resistance

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/08/inst...
Instrumental Nihilism in the U.S.
A form of nihilism has taken hold of a great number of our leaders and a large part of the electorate.
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
August 2, 2025 at 6:20 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
Are Buddhist practice and protest at odds with each other, or is protest an inevitable outgrowth of authentic practice in these troubled times?

#Buddhism #Zen #protest #practice #BodhisattvaVow #resist

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/07/budd...
Buddhist Practice and Protest (Part 2 of 2)
Are Buddhist practice and protest at odds with each other, or is protest an inevitable outgrowth of authentic practice in these troubled times?
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
July 26, 2025 at 3:10 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
Does the “stereotypical Buddhist” practice Engaged Buddhism?

#EngagedBuddism #BuddhistActivism #MahayanaBuddhism
#BodhisattvaIdeal
#bodhisattva
#protest
#Zen
#practice
#SocialEngagement
#SocialActivism
#AmericanBuddhism

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/07/budd...
Buddhist Practice and Protest (Part 1 of 2)
Does the "stereotypical Buddhist" practice Engaged Buddhism?
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
July 20, 2025 at 1:08 AM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
It’s not that difficult…

#ethics #humanity #compassion #altruism #peace #bodhisattva
July 3, 2025 at 2:09 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
My relationship with the flag? It’s complicated. But perhaps it’s becoming less so.

#USflag #OldGlory #StarsandStripes #power #patriotism #PledgeofAllegiance #FourthofJuly #thinblueline #thinredline #punisherflag

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
The Enigmatic Power of the Flag
A discussion of the power and complexity of the U.S. flag in this age of fragmentation long past innocence.
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
June 27, 2025 at 1:42 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
A citizen of the world reflects upon the U.S. bombing of Iran.

#Iran #bombing #stealthbombers #B2bombers #power #technology #peace #morality #justice #righteousness

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/06/tech...
Technology and the Projection of Power
Reflections on the projection of power throughout the world.
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
June 22, 2025 at 8:34 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
The lure to use firepower is so great, the urge seems to have percolated up into the law of the land such that the urge might become manifest.
#peace #power #handguns #firearms #CastleDoctrine #StandYourGround #addiction #PoliceViolence

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/06/fire...
Firepower
The lure to use firepower is so great, the urge seems to have percolated up into the law of the land such that the urge might become manifest.
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
June 15, 2025 at 2:48 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
All spiritual traditions have their own form of good news. However, in this post I outline some fairly objective reasons for hope in these dark political times.
#politics #goodnews #hope #darkness #unrest #immigration #deportation #authoritarianism

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/06/good...
Good News in These Dark Times
Some reasonably objective reasons to remain hopeful in this current political climate.
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
June 11, 2025 at 5:17 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
A brief look at anonymity, from pseudonymous to sociopathic.

#masks #anonymity #peudonym #ICE #power #immigration

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
The Power of Anonymity
The ability to act anonymously can be of benefit to society or a danger. When should we allow public servants to remain anonymous?
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
June 7, 2025 at 4:16 PM
markrobertfrank.bsky.social
If not wielded in accord with the Way, even great power will eventually come to naught. When action accords with the Way, great power is unleashed.

#Taoism #Tao #TheWay #power #Nature #diversity #actualization

crossingnebraska.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...
The Power of Accordance with the Way
If not wielded in accord with the Way, even great power will eventually come to naught. When action accords with the Way, great power is unleashed.
crossingnebraska.blogspot.com
June 3, 2025 at 8:13 PM