Today’s Agenda
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
This is the first edition of this newsletter! Today, we’ll be munching on Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, which seems fitting for our first edition. We’ll also take a look at a fun paradox to consider. After all that, I’ll get into some news and some announcements as this is our first ever upload at Thought Breakfast! Anyway, welcome to the very first edition of Thought Breakfast!
Today’s Breakfast
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
If you want to read the entirety of Plato’s allegory, I’ll provide a link here. For those familiar with it, or are satisfied with a simple summary:
There are 3 men in the cave who have been chained down facing the wall since birth.
There is a fire behind them, and people walk in front of the fire, casting shadows onto the wall so that the 3 men’s perception of reality is solely the two dimensional shadow on the wall.
One man breaks free from his chains, and exits the cave, seeing the three dimensional world for the first time.
When he goes back to tell the others of what reality exists outside of their perception, they don’t want to believe it and ultimately kill the man who made the discovery.
This conversation of Socrates has persisted throughout history as the initial stepping stone to the philosophical inquiry. Most people live their lives in ignorance and mistake shadows for reality until they find an awareness of philosophical reasoning that allows them to perceive true knowledge and better understand the nature of existence.
What does this mean for you?
Have you had any moments that felt like exiting the cave?
What did that moment look or feel like?
Who around you may still be living in ignorance?
How would they react to an abrupt awakening?
Munch on this food for thought today and feel free to reply to this email with any of your own thoughts on this concept for a chance to be featured on one of our next editions! We want to hear your thoughts too!
Today’s Paradox of Choice
The Ship of Theseus
If The Ship of Theseus is renovated, replacing one panel of the ship every day… eventually, every single part of the ship will have been replaced. Is it still the same ship? Further, if you saved the old pieces and reconstructed them into a ship, which would be the original (real) ship?
This paradox challenges or sense of identity and change.
Are you the same as you were five years ago?
How many pieces of you have been replaced?
Does this make you now, entirely different from you five years ago?
Or are you still the same you, but with refurbished pieces?
This week in Creation
Godly News
✝️On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV gave tremendous insight on a developing trend regarding tradition and novelty in faith.
“The supreme rule in the Church is love. No one is called to dominate; all are called to serve,” - Pope Leo XIV (10/26/25)
☸️Buddhist monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas are undertaking a 3,700km pilgrimage to Washington, DC to promote peace and mindfulness.
✡️The Bais Chabad of West Bloomsfield is hosting a Jewish Learning Institute series on living with purpose. Rabbi Shneur Silberberg is launching a 6-part series on the meaning of “meaning” and how we can find it in everyday routines and relationships.
☪️On Saturday October 18, the Logan Islamic Center, Cache County Islamic Society, and Muslim Student Association of Utah State University hosted the community for “The Jesus Exhibit” which is a display regarding the life of Jesus Christ and the role He plays in the Islamic faith.
Book Nook
Today, we’ll consider a passage from Thich Nhat Hanh’s (Thây) “Going Home - Jesus and Buddha as Brothers” that should encourage you all to make peace in every breath you take for the day.
In Part 1 - The Birth of Understanding, Thây writes a small section that has a big impact called “Looking Deeply: Mindfulness and The Presence of God.” This section concerns the Judeo-Christian attitude of acting as thought God is always watching. With every part of your routine, each brush of your teeth, and each stroke of your pen, remember that God is watching, noticing, and is aware of your actions. Thây says, “You do everything in the presence of God.”
Thây then goes on to talk about the Buddhist concept of “mindfulness” and how Jews and Christians don’t use that word because it’s a Buddhist word. Thây says, “Mindfulness is to be aware of everything you do every day.”
Thây bridges these concepts beautifully. Many people think the thought “acting as though God is watching” is meant to make you feel guilty for your sins in the presence of the Lord. On the contrary, acting as though God is watching is simply being mindful of the source of your being in every action you take.
Thây ends this section with a beautiful remark, “Mindfulness is the equivalent of the Holy Spirit, the energy of God.”
Take a second to ponder on this idea.
Are you mindful and present?
Do you eat slowly, feeling grateful for nourishment and continued life?
Do you see God in your daily routine? Your interactions and exchanges? Does your awareness influence your decisions or make life pass more naturally?
Consider these questions as you embark on today, and try to take a moment and feel the cool air fill your lungs.
New Faces
Was this email forwarded to you?
You ought to thank your friend/colleague/parent/forwarder because they’ve blessed your inbox with something special. Every day we will upload more thought-provoking content that will ignite your day will a sense of mindfulness and thoughtfulness.
That’s it for today.
Remember to stay mindful, smell the flowers, and take it easy.
Chef Ricky - Thought Breakfast
P.S.
This is a developing project, we want your feedback! You might notice some style changes and content updates as we progress. Take the journey with us!
