From Twitter:
Student: How do I meditate?
Teacher: Sit and breathe.
S: I keep＊having thoughts.
T: Yes.
S: I thought the goal was to achieve a clear mind.
T: Yes.
S: How do I do that?
T: Keep＊ trying.
S: How?
T: Let ideas disappear, like clouds, and breathe.
＊Keep means:
own
continue
have
Answer and Explanation:
The answer is ‘continue’ (in this context).
In other contexts the meaning is to have or own/take for oneself.
From Twitter:
“You are not you’re body and hair style,
but your capacity for choosing well.
If your choices are beautiful,
so too will you be.
– #Epictetus
(Italics, mine)
The Greek philosopher meant:
a. Mind is better than body.
b. Fashion is choice.
c. Our choices make us.
d. We are mind, not body.
Answer And Explanation
I think the answer is C. I mean–that is the best answer, in my view–because yes d.sounds correct, but I think it isn’t; we are notmind or body; we are both (many philosophers, scientists, and physiologists, these days, think it is true that mind and body are not separate; they are one thing).
Choice a. also could be mistaken for the answer; surely, religion teaches people that “the soul” (really a spiritual word for the mind) is the thing that matters. This is what leads people to think that they are (a spirit or a mind) “riding around in their heads”, as philosopher and neuroscientist Sam Harris says. This also seems wrong. “You,” or your mind, is no more separate from your body than your cornea is separate from your eye.
Choice b. is probably correct, but anyone who thinks that the great and honored philosopher #Epectitus was merely talking about fashion (in this statement) must be missing the point.
From Twitter
Police Officer: What are you doing in Japan?
American: Mind your own business.*
PO: Ya know my job?
A: Crossing guard?
PO: Nope. Try again.
A: Meter Maid?
PO: No!
A: Tax man!
PO: Wrong.
A: Security guard?
PO (Looks at sky): “…”
*Means:
a. Go to work
b. Care for your concerns
Answer And Explanation:
The answer is b., Care for your concerns. We say this ( “Mind your own business”) when it seems someone is looking into and minding (watching over/involving him or herself in) our affairs unsolicited (unwanted, not asked for). For better and more thorough explanations than this, come to class at Shinjuku English Institute. Social media cannot replace a good teacher in the flesh!
