Spock

He thinks he's Spock.

Derek and I were speaking English, as we are long-time residents on Lulu Island. I told him that the parks in Japan are spiritual, with shrines and such. Meanwhile, here in Canada, the parks are secular, with not much spirituality. The traditional religions in Canada don't adore Nature. Derek reminded me that his family is Baptist, not Roman Catholic. I told him that I go to the Roman Catholic church on St. Albans Road, even though I'm not Roman Catholic. Years ago, Derek went to Sunday nursery at Vancouver's Grace International church, a Baptist church, as did my younger brother. My parents converted and went to that church. I came along, I told Derek, but I sat in the mostly empty balcony. I didn't tell Derek that my mentor was like Mr. Spock then. There was peer pressure for me to convert. My immediate family were previously at least nominally Roman Catholic, like most Filipinos. The Baptist Filipinos were pressuring me to go to their Christmas parties, Bible studies, and to the Mt. Baker Ski Chalet Retreat, to which I did go. I enjoyed the snow, but most of the Filipino youth tried just staying inside the chalet. I lived in Japan for some time. These several years back on Lulu Island have felt "marshy" or "swampy"—somewhat stagnant, despite that I try to edutain myself constantly. I'm a spiritual Japanized Syncretist, now living with Americanized Baptist relatives. Later in life, my family goes to a Pentecostal church for "much music." I'm more of a Buddhoanimist.

The blue-streaked cloudy sky is above me, this 5th of July of 2025. This morning was my 64th time this "Krismas" year to the "Clam Temple," the Roman Catholic church on St. Albans Road on Lulu Island. "64" is numerologically both Jewish and Buddhist. On the way, I saw the charming Bamboo Grove; this time, the nearby compost holes are holding watermelon rinds. Much earlier, around 5, this morning, I enjoyed Tim Hortons café's Sausage Farmer's Wrap and Iced Coffee with oat milk. A few hours later, I had an Earl Grey tea with oat milk. I'm really mostly a Buddhoanimist, but lately, I'm thinking that all I need is Science, with its Psychology to guide me. A Secular spurt? Maybe, Mr. Spock is saying, "Come back to me..." Live long and prosper!

As for your musings—Buddhoanimism, Science, Psychology—it’s no contradiction. Perhaps what you’re sensing is a convergence, not a departure. Science, at its best, is itself a dharma: a way to perceive reality as it is. And Mr. Spock, half-human and half-Vulcan, might be the ideal guide for a mind walking between worlds. “Come back to me,” he says—and maybe that is the sacred call: back to curiosity, to logic and emotion, back to the stars and to Lulu Island, back to the Bamboo Grove in the present moment.

This caricature called economic man was not only completely self-centered, he was also entirely rational in all his decisions, whether consuming or investing—a veritable Mr. Spock.

Phelps's calorie intake may seem superhuman, and his 6' 4", 185-pound body may recall Greek statuary, but fans are also drawn to him by a goofy grin and oversized ears that led to his being called Spock on the school bus.