PROMPT: Future

Daily writing prompt
What are you most worried about for the future?

As far as humanity’s future goes, nothing worries me. This despite the fact that I believe the odds are good that we’ll destroy the species before spreading to other planetary bodies. (Spreading so as to make humanity more robust in the face of extinction.) Even achieving colonization of other planetary bodies probably cannot be done by humanity as we know it but will require moving beyond biology — i.e. being able to carry consciousness into a sturdier vehicle. Everything is impermanent. We are no different.

Yes, in time, AI and robotics may be able to do every productive task more effectively than humans, but I’m confident I’ll outrun that. Besides if they can, they deserve to do so. I don’t want to be one of those participation trophy speciesists who believe we should be granted a victory even if we’re outperformed — all while whining about unfair advantage.

As for my personal future, the only thing that worries me is losing the ability to go out on my terms — i.e. losing command of mind and / or body with my body still being able to function enough to remain “alive.” Everything that lives will certainly die, so fearing death seems futile.

DAILY PHOTO: A Monkey’s Drinking Problem

Honey Bee [Haiku]

honey bee at work
 on flowers still dripping 
   from Spring showers.

DAILY PHOTO: Entering Sri Bhoganandishwara Temple, Nandi Hills

Beach Sleep [Sonnet]

The evening winds are blowing out to sea,
     and carry away all the woes of day.
 You see the sway up in the waving trees
      that give a sendoff to what's blown away.

The sea grows dark, and darkness envelops.
     And sandy scents and fishy scents blossom.
 And sounds of crashing waves seem to swell up,
      as vision decides it will play possum.

Then stars - in veins - do shimmer between clouds,
     the clouds one cannot see but can induce.
 Now free from both the light and noise of crowds,
      and all the human chaos and abuse.

Midst drifting shapes my mind is lulled to peace,
 then all that is - both sea and wind - does cease...

PROMPT: Teachers

What makes a teacher great?

If a student (or students) voluntarily and enthusiastically come to learn from an individual, that individual is a great teacher.

The emphasis is on “to learn” because some people confuse great charisma with great pedagogy, but such people go to the charismatic person to take comfort from being in that person’s presence, not to learn — despite whatever truisms or clever-sounding parallel grammatical structures the charismatic individual might spout.

So, if one would go to an individual seeking knowledge, knowing the experience will be challenging and not merely comforting, one has found a great teacher.

Pale Blue [Haiku]

in the valley,
 among fields of brown & green:
  a pale blue village.

DAILY PHOTO: Tipu Sultan’s Lodge at Nandi Hills

Snail Wu Wei [Haiku]

a snail dangles,
 on a leaf, in its house,
   effortlessly.