Lateral thinking gets me NO-WHERE
In a world of infinite possibilities;
Like pissing in the wind
And clutching at straws -
Grabbing at the "What might have beens,"
Whilst stumbling along with what IS.
Your material successes reflect my failures,
Futile attempts evolve into negative impressions;
Low self-esteem borne out by oppression,
Spits in the face of free expression.
I am ALL of what I always NEVER wanted to be:
Living in BAD FAITH.
Man is defined insofar as he acts:
Rudderless vessels set adrift
Find their own compass
In seas of infinite possibility.
Drifting with the currents of popular belief
Till they find their own course.
Action-without-Action
Determines the results;
Born of non-being We Are
Empty creatures full
Of fruitless intellectual efforts.
Monday, 13 July 2009
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Because some head exploded (One journey through insanity)
An impoverished Daemon sat, whispering
In a recess of the formative mind.
At first suggestive tendrils spread, slow
With paranoia, hate and dread - And
So the volume and the chaos climbed, till
Shouting obscenities: drowning and scrambling
Cognition most times - It strove to leech
And pervert an existence:
To thrive on fear, then break free,
By committing its' subject to play out suggestions;
Shaking the bars of its cerebral cell,
Chasing ruin through a now unquiet tortured mind,
Which manifest in desperate self-administered cuts;
Or blisters from some stubbed out fags;
Or bursts of violence: Unbalanced and Unjust.
A remorseless contest
In meta-realms of Subconscious
And the Conscious Prime,
Erupted from the core
And the façade fell all to pieces;
No longer troubled whole - but shattered Self,
Void - Devoid of any purpose left to call.
The rot took hold as isolation settled round,
Self-imposed Apartheid splits the rational and the lost.
And so the Daemon gorged and shat
On the imploded remnants in that head;
It fed and fed then choked to death
On one remaining gram of pride -
Barbed with a steeled drive for life -
Silently, patiently waiting deep inside.
For some years the captive wandered on,
In mental purgatory - Feeling Nothing and Caring less:
One of the many concealed dead who walk this world,
Popped full of pills to fix an illusion of existence
And permeate the void inside them:
Masking negativity, whilst suppressing positivity;
Another subject of the zombie state.
Then a psychiatric voodoo priest
Delved deep inside his alchemist chest,
And plucked from a medical book of conjecture
Yet another attempt at psychological salvation;
A tablet of Quetiapine - Etched
With symbols on its front and back:
One more calcium-based promise of hope.
Each day - One swallow flooded the being,
Disrupting each ling'ring fear-flecked shadow
Of the former lurking Daemon.
Cementing each surviving scrap
Of rationale and gentle ways,
Reforming values and distorted ethics,
Till a newly wired, rebuilt subject
Emerged with cautious concepts probing;
Testing out each new found process
As calmed order steadfast descended.
And so a Phoenix from the ashes -
With fewer foibles: Less fucked-up thinking -
Stood unaided, whole and stable,
Each thought its' own - no longer buckled:
Clear in purpose, strong and reasoned;
Bourne from the depths of silent sources.
An offspring of a quiet mind.
In a recess of the formative mind.
At first suggestive tendrils spread, slow
With paranoia, hate and dread - And
So the volume and the chaos climbed, till
Shouting obscenities: drowning and scrambling
Cognition most times - It strove to leech
And pervert an existence:
To thrive on fear, then break free,
By committing its' subject to play out suggestions;
Shaking the bars of its cerebral cell,
Chasing ruin through a now unquiet tortured mind,
Which manifest in desperate self-administered cuts;
Or blisters from some stubbed out fags;
Or bursts of violence: Unbalanced and Unjust.
A remorseless contest
In meta-realms of Subconscious
And the Conscious Prime,
Erupted from the core
And the façade fell all to pieces;
No longer troubled whole - but shattered Self,
Void - Devoid of any purpose left to call.
The rot took hold as isolation settled round,
Self-imposed Apartheid splits the rational and the lost.
And so the Daemon gorged and shat
On the imploded remnants in that head;
It fed and fed then choked to death
On one remaining gram of pride -
Barbed with a steeled drive for life -
Silently, patiently waiting deep inside.
For some years the captive wandered on,
In mental purgatory - Feeling Nothing and Caring less:
One of the many concealed dead who walk this world,
Popped full of pills to fix an illusion of existence
And permeate the void inside them:
Masking negativity, whilst suppressing positivity;
Another subject of the zombie state.
Then a psychiatric voodoo priest
Delved deep inside his alchemist chest,
And plucked from a medical book of conjecture
Yet another attempt at psychological salvation;
A tablet of Quetiapine - Etched
With symbols on its front and back:
One more calcium-based promise of hope.
Each day - One swallow flooded the being,
Disrupting each ling'ring fear-flecked shadow
Of the former lurking Daemon.
Cementing each surviving scrap
Of rationale and gentle ways,
Reforming values and distorted ethics,
Till a newly wired, rebuilt subject
Emerged with cautious concepts probing;
Testing out each new found process
As calmed order steadfast descended.
And so a Phoenix from the ashes -
With fewer foibles: Less fucked-up thinking -
Stood unaided, whole and stable,
Each thought its' own - no longer buckled:
Clear in purpose, strong and reasoned;
Bourne from the depths of silent sources.
An offspring of a quiet mind.
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Prabhupada
I have just sent the following message to a YouTuber who is the follower of Prabhupada, a disciple of Hare Krishna:
Please don't think I am attacking you or mean you any wrong, I was listening to the Radha Krishna Temple album at home and Googled it, which led me to your YouTube channel. But after a brief visit to a couple of the links, I was left with a few questions I needed to pose to you concerning certain elements of your views. Furthermore, I like to be able to engage in philosophical exchanges as each one assists my comprehension and experience of this life, helping me to relate and empathise with others around the world and make sense of my observations and contemplations on life.
Please could you explain to me why you consider this enlightened man to be a divinity? Surely all that he is, is a human being who has attained a level of existence which allows him to glimpse at a clearer understanding of life above that which is not even contemplated by billions of closed, lost people around the world?
It always troubles me when I encounter beings who allow themselves to be revered as "gods," regardless of whether their intentions are for the good or for other ulterior motives. Jesus Christ; the Dalai lama; Halie Selassie; Sathya Sai Baba; His "holiness" the Pope. etc. etc.
I personally don't accept or believe any form of god exists simply because the concept requires believers to employ blind faith above everything else. Placing their lives and their "fates" in the hands of something which will never physically intervene to make any difference. Each beings' experiences and understanding of life is relative to that specific individual, none of us knows what is inside the head or heart of anyone else. A snail's concept of life is poles apart from from a bird's and the same is true for everything else. None of us can ever truly "know" what it is to be the other.
'Humanity's' understanding or concept of "god-head" is more or less the same regardless of which particular religion they follow: An otherworldly extra-dimensional life force which is responsible for and determines the existence of everything else in the universe. A creator or originator with some kind of divine plan or purpose for everything and everyone, who resides in another dimension considered to be a form of "heaven" or "Nirvana," where each of us might go if we have devoted ourselves freely to its prescribed subjection and oppression of the true self.
Maybe Prabhupada is different and the teachings you and he follow do not require acceptance of this form or mode of theology, however, I did read that he is not in agreement with Darwin's theory of evolution, claiming that it could not have occurred through an act of random chance. To which I would ask the question, "Why not?" Why is it not possible, if he himself has found a degree of enlightenment (and through doing so altered and shaped his own existence), for every other living thing which possesses a life force to achieve the same? Obviously this would be relative to the individual life force and subject to a myriad alternative experiential processes, but if each life force, after having negotiated an apparently random event, then retains the experience and conveys it to others within its species during its lifetime, so that they may prepare themselves for a similar occurrence happening to them, then wouldn't that original random event be the impetus for a "change" in the whole species over many generations?
It would not be enough to make claims that, "Maybe the event was not random because it was orchestrated by "God" in order to initiate the alterations and conditions needed for the life forms to continue to propagate and evolve," or, "Through reincarnation, the "Soul" or "Spirit" retains its past life experiences which in turn become the vehicle for change and the impetus for evolution to take place" because that would require the above mentioned act of faith and empirical scientific proof that everything is in fact ordered and predictable, which it is not. Furthermore, if the "Soul" is eternal and it carries its past experiences and knowledge through with it, then wouldn't that preclude the need for any new "souls" to come in to "being" after a set amount of time?
As a philosophical Taoist I can accept that certain "energies" are constant, after all it has been scientifically proven that matter can not be entirely destroyed, because of this I also ascribe to the notion that these "energies" become "re-cycled" or "reused" and "re-formed," however, my senses will not allow for me to accept that whole entities remain intact in the event of death, then proceed to take another "host" and get "re-born." Following "The Way" one becomes enlightened to the notion that our brief existence is the one and only opportunity to embrace the challenges and demands of life, our opportunity to be a living example of spiritual evolution. Through our interaction with others and by the choices we make given our relative circumstances, we alone have the ability to determine our "fate" and the direction of our lives. Whether we are born rich or poor; in England or in India; whatever the random circumstance into which we are born, we alone choose to be who we are.
As for trying to make guesses about whether there really is an afterlife or not, isn't it wiser just to accept and make the most of what we have in the physical world, rather than expending energy on preparing for the "after-life" based on divine conjecture?
I'm sorry if my arguments are clumsy and ill formed, hopefully, if you are willing and able to respond to this message, I will be able to redress this.
I will leave you with a chapter from "Tao Te Ching" which I feel is potentially hypocritical given my ramblings above, however, it may provide you with a little more insight as to why I am intuitively suspicious of organised religion and troubled by human "divinities," it is not specifically directed at anyone in particular,
71
Not-knowing is true knowledge.
Presuming to know is a disease.
First realise that you are sick;
then you can move toward health
The Master is his own physician,
He has healed himself of all knowing.
Thus he is truly whole.
Lao Tzu.
Please don't think I am attacking you or mean you any wrong, I was listening to the Radha Krishna Temple album at home and Googled it, which led me to your YouTube channel. But after a brief visit to a couple of the links, I was left with a few questions I needed to pose to you concerning certain elements of your views. Furthermore, I like to be able to engage in philosophical exchanges as each one assists my comprehension and experience of this life, helping me to relate and empathise with others around the world and make sense of my observations and contemplations on life.
Please could you explain to me why you consider this enlightened man to be a divinity? Surely all that he is, is a human being who has attained a level of existence which allows him to glimpse at a clearer understanding of life above that which is not even contemplated by billions of closed, lost people around the world?
It always troubles me when I encounter beings who allow themselves to be revered as "gods," regardless of whether their intentions are for the good or for other ulterior motives. Jesus Christ; the Dalai lama; Halie Selassie; Sathya Sai Baba; His "holiness" the Pope. etc. etc.
I personally don't accept or believe any form of god exists simply because the concept requires believers to employ blind faith above everything else. Placing their lives and their "fates" in the hands of something which will never physically intervene to make any difference. Each beings' experiences and understanding of life is relative to that specific individual, none of us knows what is inside the head or heart of anyone else. A snail's concept of life is poles apart from from a bird's and the same is true for everything else. None of us can ever truly "know" what it is to be the other.
'Humanity's' understanding or concept of "god-head" is more or less the same regardless of which particular religion they follow: An otherworldly extra-dimensional life force which is responsible for and determines the existence of everything else in the universe. A creator or originator with some kind of divine plan or purpose for everything and everyone, who resides in another dimension considered to be a form of "heaven" or "Nirvana," where each of us might go if we have devoted ourselves freely to its prescribed subjection and oppression of the true self.
Maybe Prabhupada is different and the teachings you and he follow do not require acceptance of this form or mode of theology, however, I did read that he is not in agreement with Darwin's theory of evolution, claiming that it could not have occurred through an act of random chance. To which I would ask the question, "Why not?" Why is it not possible, if he himself has found a degree of enlightenment (and through doing so altered and shaped his own existence), for every other living thing which possesses a life force to achieve the same? Obviously this would be relative to the individual life force and subject to a myriad alternative experiential processes, but if each life force, after having negotiated an apparently random event, then retains the experience and conveys it to others within its species during its lifetime, so that they may prepare themselves for a similar occurrence happening to them, then wouldn't that original random event be the impetus for a "change" in the whole species over many generations?
It would not be enough to make claims that, "Maybe the event was not random because it was orchestrated by "God" in order to initiate the alterations and conditions needed for the life forms to continue to propagate and evolve," or, "Through reincarnation, the "Soul" or "Spirit" retains its past life experiences which in turn become the vehicle for change and the impetus for evolution to take place" because that would require the above mentioned act of faith and empirical scientific proof that everything is in fact ordered and predictable, which it is not. Furthermore, if the "Soul" is eternal and it carries its past experiences and knowledge through with it, then wouldn't that preclude the need for any new "souls" to come in to "being" after a set amount of time?
As a philosophical Taoist I can accept that certain "energies" are constant, after all it has been scientifically proven that matter can not be entirely destroyed, because of this I also ascribe to the notion that these "energies" become "re-cycled" or "reused" and "re-formed," however, my senses will not allow for me to accept that whole entities remain intact in the event of death, then proceed to take another "host" and get "re-born." Following "The Way" one becomes enlightened to the notion that our brief existence is the one and only opportunity to embrace the challenges and demands of life, our opportunity to be a living example of spiritual evolution. Through our interaction with others and by the choices we make given our relative circumstances, we alone have the ability to determine our "fate" and the direction of our lives. Whether we are born rich or poor; in England or in India; whatever the random circumstance into which we are born, we alone choose to be who we are.
As for trying to make guesses about whether there really is an afterlife or not, isn't it wiser just to accept and make the most of what we have in the physical world, rather than expending energy on preparing for the "after-life" based on divine conjecture?
I'm sorry if my arguments are clumsy and ill formed, hopefully, if you are willing and able to respond to this message, I will be able to redress this.
I will leave you with a chapter from "Tao Te Ching" which I feel is potentially hypocritical given my ramblings above, however, it may provide you with a little more insight as to why I am intuitively suspicious of organised religion and troubled by human "divinities," it is not specifically directed at anyone in particular,
71
Not-knowing is true knowledge.
Presuming to know is a disease.
First realise that you are sick;
then you can move toward health
The Master is his own physician,
He has healed himself of all knowing.
Thus he is truly whole.
Lao Tzu.
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Some thoughts on the demise of Michael Jackson and the subsequent hypocitical popularity explosion
If one were to comment upon the relatively recent emergence of a notoriety obsessed, credit driven, "get rich and famous quick!" mindset infecting vast swathes of the population right across the western world; with fulfilment being measured in the accumulation of wealth and "fame;" and the subliminally imposed, narcissistic aspirations of countless of misled millions resting upon "that one big break" to catapult them to "stardom." Then the overwhelming sense of grief and loss displayed by huge numbers of Michael Jackson "fans" serves to act as an example of how morally blinded and ethically selective people have become in their quest to identify with the cult of celebrity.
If Jackson had been an ordinary Joe Bloggs he would most undoubtedly have become a social pariah and more than likely have served time for certain offences. At the least he most probably would have been placed on some sort of register or surveillance order. But no, he was an above standard international multi-millionaire "star" who's foibles have always been passed off as a combination of eccentricity and the result of a difficult, abusive upbringing which left him vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous parties both inside and 'outside' the Jackson family. Reasons given, I might add, by thousands of prisoners and sex-offenders in their defence as to why they committed their crimes.
During his more controversial years Jackson was subject to a barrage of character assaults which cost most of his fortune and completely battered his reputation and moral standing. Even Jon Snow (Channel 4 News) admits in one of his blogs that, "the even stranger, even sinister, delight in the menagerie of young children with whom he consorted in his home, undermined my total appreciation of what he achieved." A sensation and opinion which once-upon-a-time reverberated throughout a number of people in Jackson's broad fan base, as it was whipped into a frenzy by almost the entire membership of global media networks.
Jon was most definitely not alone in his uncomfortably felt concerns regarding Jacko's interests. I for one can relate to Jon when he alludes to "strange" and "sinister" apprehensions, which automatically overshadowed any regards, respect or appreciation of Jackson's undoubted talent and gift for entertaining.
What concerns me however, is the observation that now Jacko is dead, people around the world are once more lauding his praises, selectively remembering his "best" bits and jumping on the band wagon to promote his kudos born of "fame."
The only way in which this switch of judgement and morals has been allowed to occur, is through blind public acceptance of an insidious form of ideology which promotes "celebrities" to a "higher order" among "average" human beings. A form of Demi-God status which places them above and outside the regular rules and terms which govern the realms of Terra firma.
Of course there have been numerous "stars" whose careers have ended due to a misdemeanour or two, but only a very small handful who have dodged the moral bullets and returned to their original Stella magnitude. Unfortunately I think Jackson was poised to become one of those 'forgiven' through misplaced concepts of 'truth.'.
According to existentialist theory,
"There is no meaning to be found in the world beyond what meaning we give to it. People actually make decisions based on what has meaning to them rather than what is rational. That there are no values to be found in the world in-itself doesn't mean that there are no values: Each of us usually already has his values before a consideration of their validity is carried through, and it is, after all, upon these values we act. Making "choices" without allowing one's values to confer differing values to the alternatives, is, in fact, choosing not to make a choice - to "flip a coin," as it were, and to leave everything to chance. This is considered to be a refusal to live in the consequence of one's freedom, meaning it quickly becomes a sort of 'bad faith.'"
We encounter experiences every day which support this notion, as people are constantly making judgements based on how they "feel" about something. Their values are frequently challenged and each time they are required to make a decision, they will apply; emotion; personal historical experience; and their appropriated, circumstantially acceptable social morals, ethics, beliefs and values. It is the third of these foundations of decision making which holds most influence over the way people 'choose' to think and behave.
Hypocrisy is borne upon the dark wings of "Bad Faith," in the thousands of freshly inspired "Jacko jokes" doing the rounds; in the way people are so easily programmable and infinitely malleable, and so ready to follow the herd in their complicit acceptance and 'forgiveness' of wrongful deeds; And via the means of the masses to sell out on their values and judgement before the alter of Idolatry delights.
If Jackson had been an ordinary Joe Bloggs he would most undoubtedly have become a social pariah and more than likely have served time for certain offences. At the least he most probably would have been placed on some sort of register or surveillance order. But no, he was an above standard international multi-millionaire "star" who's foibles have always been passed off as a combination of eccentricity and the result of a difficult, abusive upbringing which left him vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous parties both inside and 'outside' the Jackson family. Reasons given, I might add, by thousands of prisoners and sex-offenders in their defence as to why they committed their crimes.
During his more controversial years Jackson was subject to a barrage of character assaults which cost most of his fortune and completely battered his reputation and moral standing. Even Jon Snow (Channel 4 News) admits in one of his blogs that, "the even stranger, even sinister, delight in the menagerie of young children with whom he consorted in his home, undermined my total appreciation of what he achieved." A sensation and opinion which once-upon-a-time reverberated throughout a number of people in Jackson's broad fan base, as it was whipped into a frenzy by almost the entire membership of global media networks.
Jon was most definitely not alone in his uncomfortably felt concerns regarding Jacko's interests. I for one can relate to Jon when he alludes to "strange" and "sinister" apprehensions, which automatically overshadowed any regards, respect or appreciation of Jackson's undoubted talent and gift for entertaining.
What concerns me however, is the observation that now Jacko is dead, people around the world are once more lauding his praises, selectively remembering his "best" bits and jumping on the band wagon to promote his kudos born of "fame."
The only way in which this switch of judgement and morals has been allowed to occur, is through blind public acceptance of an insidious form of ideology which promotes "celebrities" to a "higher order" among "average" human beings. A form of Demi-God status which places them above and outside the regular rules and terms which govern the realms of Terra firma.
Of course there have been numerous "stars" whose careers have ended due to a misdemeanour or two, but only a very small handful who have dodged the moral bullets and returned to their original Stella magnitude. Unfortunately I think Jackson was poised to become one of those 'forgiven' through misplaced concepts of 'truth.'.
According to existentialist theory,
"There is no meaning to be found in the world beyond what meaning we give to it. People actually make decisions based on what has meaning to them rather than what is rational. That there are no values to be found in the world in-itself doesn't mean that there are no values: Each of us usually already has his values before a consideration of their validity is carried through, and it is, after all, upon these values we act. Making "choices" without allowing one's values to confer differing values to the alternatives, is, in fact, choosing not to make a choice - to "flip a coin," as it were, and to leave everything to chance. This is considered to be a refusal to live in the consequence of one's freedom, meaning it quickly becomes a sort of 'bad faith.'"
We encounter experiences every day which support this notion, as people are constantly making judgements based on how they "feel" about something. Their values are frequently challenged and each time they are required to make a decision, they will apply; emotion; personal historical experience; and their appropriated, circumstantially acceptable social morals, ethics, beliefs and values. It is the third of these foundations of decision making which holds most influence over the way people 'choose' to think and behave.
Hypocrisy is borne upon the dark wings of "Bad Faith," in the thousands of freshly inspired "Jacko jokes" doing the rounds; in the way people are so easily programmable and infinitely malleable, and so ready to follow the herd in their complicit acceptance and 'forgiveness' of wrongful deeds; And via the means of the masses to sell out on their values and judgement before the alter of Idolatry delights.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
A brief comment on the sad state of British society
I was shooting the breeze with my brother-in-law the other day. Mostly stuff about computers and cars - man's talk my mother calls it, when we just couldn't resist a short social commentary on the subject of "fame" and social aspirations. We both came to the conclusion that people in general have massive gaps in their thinking with regards to what is really important in life, and that all that seems to "mean" anything nowadays is the pursuit of fame and the emulation and adoration of celebrity.
Pretty fucking shallow if you ask me and the BIL.
Lao Tzu has an opinion on this also:
44
Fame or integrity: which is more important?
Money or happiness: which is more valuable?
Success or failure: Which is more destructive?
If you look to others for fulfillment,
you will never be truly fulfilled.
If your happiness depends on money,
you will never be happy with yourself.
Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realise there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.
Pretty fucking shallow if you ask me and the BIL.
Lao Tzu has an opinion on this also:
44
Fame or integrity: which is more important?
Money or happiness: which is more valuable?
Success or failure: Which is more destructive?
If you look to others for fulfillment,
you will never be truly fulfilled.
If your happiness depends on money,
you will never be happy with yourself.
Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realise there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.
The way to the world
33
Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
Mastering yourself is true power.
If you realise that you have enough,
you are truly rich.
If you stay in the centre
and embrace death with your whole heart,
you will endure forever.
The path to freedom from oppression begins in your own mind - once you are free from your own ideas and have forgotten all knowledge learned - then you are on the way to becoming truly free.
Seek enlightenment through action-without-action - When nothing is done, then nothing is left undone.
Your greatest treasures are Simplicity, patience and compassion. With these you can conquer the world.
Peace to you and yours.
Stay Safe.
Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
Mastering yourself is true power.
If you realise that you have enough,
you are truly rich.
If you stay in the centre
and embrace death with your whole heart,
you will endure forever.
The path to freedom from oppression begins in your own mind - once you are free from your own ideas and have forgotten all knowledge learned - then you are on the way to becoming truly free.
Seek enlightenment through action-without-action - When nothing is done, then nothing is left undone.
Your greatest treasures are Simplicity, patience and compassion. With these you can conquer the world.
Peace to you and yours.
Stay Safe.
Monday, 11 May 2009
MP's "Expenses"
In light of the recent revelations regarding U.K. MP's expenses and allowances, exposing the extent of corruption and greed within this so-called "Democracy" of our once great island nation, I have decided to transcribe 10 chapters from the Tao Te Ching to reveal how the ancient Tao Masters viewed the role of the ruling classes; describing best practice and ascribing the roles of benevolent guidance and selfless endeavours to leaders, when engaged in the governance of others.
Unfortunately, over the past 30 years, the ethos of materialism and personal gain has rippled through the entire nation in one guise or another and slowly but surely engaged itself in breaking down the social structures, altruistic consciousness and familial cohesion of the British Isles. The "I want it - I'm gonna take it," attitude of our present day "leaders" is simply a reflection, or product, of a global capitalist political agenda, which aims to put the interests of the wealthy, influential individual before that of the nation, and of society in general. The sick joke is that: the rest of society is also wrapped up in, and have bought into, this illusion as well.
It doesn't even make a difference if the governing political party is Labour or Conservative (even Liberal) because as we've seen in the newspapers and t.v. news, they're mostly all on the 'take' and are even trying to defend their amoral behaviour with insulting claims that "everything was within the rules," therefore it was all fair game and by the book. It doesn't make a difference to the politicians if the majority of people in this country have to struggle to keep afloat (and that's just with 1 house/abode) to furnish and keep up with the rent or mortgage on. Just so long as them and "their mates" are raking it in at the taxpayer's expense, that's all that seems to matter to these people..
These anti-heroes (anti-role models) will promise anything to get into power, and usually do through the use of semantic subversions and promises of more cash in the "individual's" pockets in the form of tax cuts. None of them are willing to admit they have acted immorally or in self-interest; none of them will ever admit they are WRONG. One day all this may be a distant uncomfortable fact of history, a noted mistake which helped to shape a truly democratic future, however, I sadly feel, due to human nature, that the situation will never change so long as kudos is measured in terms of wealth and fame over personal integrity and the common good.
17
When the Master governs, the people
are hardly aware that he exists.
Next best is a leader who is loved.
Next, one who is feared.
The worst is one who is despised.
If you don't trust the people,
you make them untrustworthy.
The Master doesn't talk, he acts.
When his work is done,
the people say, "Amazing:
we did it, all by ourselves!"
30
Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men
doesn't try to force issues
or defeat enemies by force of arms.
For every force there is a counterforce,
violence, even well intentioned,
always rebounds upon oneself.
The Master does his job
and then stops.
He understands that the universe
is forever out of control,
and that trying to dominate events
goes against the current of the Tao.
Because he believes in himself,
he doesn't try to convince others.
Because he is content with himself,
he doesn't need other's approval.
Because he accepts himself,
the whole world accepts him.
46
When a country is in harmony with the Tao,
the people breed oxen and make ploughs.
When a country goes counter to the Tao,
Weapons are stockpiled outside the city.
There is no greater illusion than fear,
no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself,
no greater misfortune than having an enemy.
Whoever can see through all fear
will always be safe.
53
The great way is easy,
yet people prefer the side paths.
Be aware when things are out of balance.
Stay centred within the Tao.
When rich speculators prosper
while farmers lose their land;
when government officials spend money
on weapons instead of cures;
when the upper class is extravagant and irresponsible
while the poor have nowhere to turn -
all this is robbery and chaos.
It is not in keeping with the Tao.
57
If you want to be a great leader,
you must learn to follow the Tao.
Stop trying to control.
Let go of fixed plans and concepts,
and the world will govern itself.
The more prohibitions you have,
the less virtuous people will be.
The more weapons you have,
the less secure people will be.
The more subsidies you have,
the less self-reliant people will be.
Therefore, the Master says:
I let go of the law,
and the people become honest.
I let go of economics,
and the people become prosperous.
I let go of religion,
and the people become serene.
I let go of all desire for the common good,
and the good becomes as common as grass.
58
If a country is governed with tolerance,
the people are comfortable and honest.
If a country is governed with repression,
the people are depressed and crafty.
When the will to power is in charge,
the higher the ideals, the lower the results.
Try to make people happy,
and you lay the groundwork for misery.
Try to make people moral,
and you lay the groundwork for vice.
Thus the Master is content
to serve as an example
and not to impose her will.
She is pointed, but doesn't pierce.
Straightforward, but supple.
Radiant, but easy on the eyes.
59
For governing a country well
there is nothing better than moderation.
The mark of a moderate man
is freedom from his own ideas.
Tolerant like the sky,
all-pervading like sunlight,
firm like a mountain,
supple like a tree in the wind,
he has no destination in view
and makes use of anything
life happens to bring his way.
Nothing is impossible for him.
Because he has let go,
he can care for the people's welfare
as a mother cares for her child.
60
Governing a large country
is like frying a small fish.
You spoil it with too much poking.
Centre your country in the Tao
and evill will have no power.
Not that it isn't there,
but you will be able to step out of its way.
Give evil nothing to oppose
and it will disappear by itself.
61
When a country obtains great power,
it becomes like the sea;
all streams run downward into it.
The more powerful it grows,
the greater the need for humility.
Humility means trusting the Tao,
thus never needing to be defensive.
A great nation is like a great man:
When he makes a mistake, he realises it.
Having realised it, he admits it.
Having admitted it, he corrects it.
He considers those who point out his faults
as his most benevolent teachers.
He thinks of his enemy
as the shadow that he himself casts.
If a nation is centred in the Tao,
if it nourishes its own people
and doesn't meddle in the affairs of others,
it will be a light to all the nations in the world.
75
When taxes are too high,
people go hungry.
When the government is too intrusive,
people lose their spirit.
Act for the people's benefit.
Trust them; leave them alone.
Lao Tzu (circa 5-4 B.C.)
Unfortunately, over the past 30 years, the ethos of materialism and personal gain has rippled through the entire nation in one guise or another and slowly but surely engaged itself in breaking down the social structures, altruistic consciousness and familial cohesion of the British Isles. The "I want it - I'm gonna take it," attitude of our present day "leaders" is simply a reflection, or product, of a global capitalist political agenda, which aims to put the interests of the wealthy, influential individual before that of the nation, and of society in general. The sick joke is that: the rest of society is also wrapped up in, and have bought into, this illusion as well.
It doesn't even make a difference if the governing political party is Labour or Conservative (even Liberal) because as we've seen in the newspapers and t.v. news, they're mostly all on the 'take' and are even trying to defend their amoral behaviour with insulting claims that "everything was within the rules," therefore it was all fair game and by the book. It doesn't make a difference to the politicians if the majority of people in this country have to struggle to keep afloat (and that's just with 1 house/abode) to furnish and keep up with the rent or mortgage on. Just so long as them and "their mates" are raking it in at the taxpayer's expense, that's all that seems to matter to these people..
These anti-heroes (anti-role models) will promise anything to get into power, and usually do through the use of semantic subversions and promises of more cash in the "individual's" pockets in the form of tax cuts. None of them are willing to admit they have acted immorally or in self-interest; none of them will ever admit they are WRONG. One day all this may be a distant uncomfortable fact of history, a noted mistake which helped to shape a truly democratic future, however, I sadly feel, due to human nature, that the situation will never change so long as kudos is measured in terms of wealth and fame over personal integrity and the common good.
17
When the Master governs, the people
are hardly aware that he exists.
Next best is a leader who is loved.
Next, one who is feared.
The worst is one who is despised.
If you don't trust the people,
you make them untrustworthy.
The Master doesn't talk, he acts.
When his work is done,
the people say, "Amazing:
we did it, all by ourselves!"
30
Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men
doesn't try to force issues
or defeat enemies by force of arms.
For every force there is a counterforce,
violence, even well intentioned,
always rebounds upon oneself.
The Master does his job
and then stops.
He understands that the universe
is forever out of control,
and that trying to dominate events
goes against the current of the Tao.
Because he believes in himself,
he doesn't try to convince others.
Because he is content with himself,
he doesn't need other's approval.
Because he accepts himself,
the whole world accepts him.
46
When a country is in harmony with the Tao,
the people breed oxen and make ploughs.
When a country goes counter to the Tao,
Weapons are stockpiled outside the city.
There is no greater illusion than fear,
no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself,
no greater misfortune than having an enemy.
Whoever can see through all fear
will always be safe.
53
The great way is easy,
yet people prefer the side paths.
Be aware when things are out of balance.
Stay centred within the Tao.
When rich speculators prosper
while farmers lose their land;
when government officials spend money
on weapons instead of cures;
when the upper class is extravagant and irresponsible
while the poor have nowhere to turn -
all this is robbery and chaos.
It is not in keeping with the Tao.
57
If you want to be a great leader,
you must learn to follow the Tao.
Stop trying to control.
Let go of fixed plans and concepts,
and the world will govern itself.
The more prohibitions you have,
the less virtuous people will be.
The more weapons you have,
the less secure people will be.
The more subsidies you have,
the less self-reliant people will be.
Therefore, the Master says:
I let go of the law,
and the people become honest.
I let go of economics,
and the people become prosperous.
I let go of religion,
and the people become serene.
I let go of all desire for the common good,
and the good becomes as common as grass.
58
If a country is governed with tolerance,
the people are comfortable and honest.
If a country is governed with repression,
the people are depressed and crafty.
When the will to power is in charge,
the higher the ideals, the lower the results.
Try to make people happy,
and you lay the groundwork for misery.
Try to make people moral,
and you lay the groundwork for vice.
Thus the Master is content
to serve as an example
and not to impose her will.
She is pointed, but doesn't pierce.
Straightforward, but supple.
Radiant, but easy on the eyes.
59
For governing a country well
there is nothing better than moderation.
The mark of a moderate man
is freedom from his own ideas.
Tolerant like the sky,
all-pervading like sunlight,
firm like a mountain,
supple like a tree in the wind,
he has no destination in view
and makes use of anything
life happens to bring his way.
Nothing is impossible for him.
Because he has let go,
he can care for the people's welfare
as a mother cares for her child.
60
Governing a large country
is like frying a small fish.
You spoil it with too much poking.
Centre your country in the Tao
and evill will have no power.
Not that it isn't there,
but you will be able to step out of its way.
Give evil nothing to oppose
and it will disappear by itself.
61
When a country obtains great power,
it becomes like the sea;
all streams run downward into it.
The more powerful it grows,
the greater the need for humility.
Humility means trusting the Tao,
thus never needing to be defensive.
A great nation is like a great man:
When he makes a mistake, he realises it.
Having realised it, he admits it.
Having admitted it, he corrects it.
He considers those who point out his faults
as his most benevolent teachers.
He thinks of his enemy
as the shadow that he himself casts.
If a nation is centred in the Tao,
if it nourishes its own people
and doesn't meddle in the affairs of others,
it will be a light to all the nations in the world.
75
When taxes are too high,
people go hungry.
When the government is too intrusive,
people lose their spirit.
Act for the people's benefit.
Trust them; leave them alone.
Lao Tzu (circa 5-4 B.C.)
A Speculative YouTube Message
I received the following speculative message from an Israeli artist, who appears very skilful at advertising his channel and his work. However, he doesn't appear to have viewed my channel prior to sending me the message. Either that or he is anti-Zionist, or just not concerned with the Palestinian situation on either side of the conflict.
hi
you probably think to yourself this is just another guy trying to advertise his videos , well i won't lie , i am advertising well ... it's just that i'm an artist (painter / musician) and i'm pretty good at what i do ... as an artist i want to share my art with the world.
i have soooooooooo much to give ( the videos you'll see on my page are only the beginning )... and you would have never got to my channel any other way
so please check this out if you have a minute ... (this is a painting video of mine)
you might even get surprised ... and please consider subscribing if you feel you'd like to see my future work take care and have a great day sorry for taking a bit of your time.
This was my response:
When you next send out speculative messages, I think it would be best if you actually took a look at the channels of the people you are posting to. I joined YouTube as a response to the documentary "Occupation 101" (a mainly Jewish collaboration) which describes the historical background (and present day situation - Pre 2008/09) of the conflict between the Zionists and the Palestinians in Israel. Hence, my reasons for making the video "Hassan I Sabbah - Hawkwind."
I believe that humanistic pursuits such as art, music, theatre etc. should transcend all earthly boundaries, however, the insidious, pervasive nature of politics ensures that no art form is free of it, hence, I feel that we must always remain true to our confirmed beliefs and not compromise our position through association with individuals who are complicit in acts contrary to our own moral or ethical codes.
Thus, even though I enjoyed your work and commend you for your talent, I will not be subscribing to your videos, or adding you to my friend's list on the grounds that you are more than likely a supporter of the Zionist movement, or complicit in some way that is detrimental to the plight of the Palestinian people.
Thank YOU for YOUR time. I hope you take a while to look at MY channel and some of MY videos, in order to gain an insight as to why I have responded to YOU so. I have attached my latest video to give you a flavour of what I am about.
Peace to You and Yours.
Stay Safe.
obviouslyFAKE.
I will await the outcome of this situation and cut and paste any responses or further contact.
hi
you probably think to yourself this is just another guy trying to advertise his videos , well i won't lie , i am advertising well ... it's just that i'm an artist (painter / musician) and i'm pretty good at what i do ... as an artist i want to share my art with the world.
i have soooooooooo much to give ( the videos you'll see on my page are only the beginning )... and you would have never got to my channel any other way
so please check this out if you have a minute ... (this is a painting video of mine)
you might even get surprised ... and please consider subscribing if you feel you'd like to see my future work take care and have a great day sorry for taking a bit of your time.
This was my response:
When you next send out speculative messages, I think it would be best if you actually took a look at the channels of the people you are posting to. I joined YouTube as a response to the documentary "Occupation 101" (a mainly Jewish collaboration) which describes the historical background (and present day situation - Pre 2008/09) of the conflict between the Zionists and the Palestinians in Israel. Hence, my reasons for making the video "Hassan I Sabbah - Hawkwind."
I believe that humanistic pursuits such as art, music, theatre etc. should transcend all earthly boundaries, however, the insidious, pervasive nature of politics ensures that no art form is free of it, hence, I feel that we must always remain true to our confirmed beliefs and not compromise our position through association with individuals who are complicit in acts contrary to our own moral or ethical codes.
Thus, even though I enjoyed your work and commend you for your talent, I will not be subscribing to your videos, or adding you to my friend's list on the grounds that you are more than likely a supporter of the Zionist movement, or complicit in some way that is detrimental to the plight of the Palestinian people.
Thank YOU for YOUR time. I hope you take a while to look at MY channel and some of MY videos, in order to gain an insight as to why I have responded to YOU so. I have attached my latest video to give you a flavour of what I am about.
Peace to You and Yours.
Stay Safe.
obviouslyFAKE.
I will await the outcome of this situation and cut and paste any responses or further contact.
Thursday, 7 May 2009
A New YouTube Video Release
I haven't added any comments recently as I have been engaged in compiling and editing a new - obviously-FAKE-production - for the obviouslyFAKE2 YouTube channel.
Taken from Underworld's album "Dubnobasswithmyheadman," Track Number 9 - "M.E." (goodbye Mother Earth); with video edits from BBC series "Planet Earth"; and NASA footage of Apollo 11 and Apollo 16 Moon landings.
Feel Good video and Chilled out Tunes. EnJoY.
Taken from Underworld's album "Dubnobasswithmyheadman," Track Number 9 - "M.E." (goodbye Mother Earth); with video edits from BBC series "Planet Earth"; and NASA footage of Apollo 11 and Apollo 16 Moon landings.
Feel Good video and Chilled out Tunes. EnJoY.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Expanding Into What?
Follow the link below and read the information concerning the history of humanity’s developing theories on the origins, properties and ultimate direction of the universe.
http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr1/en/astro/universe/universe.asp
The opening lines of the above link pose several questions regarding the origins and structure of the universe, “Does the universe go on forever, or does it have an edge somewhere? Has it always existed, or did it come to ‘being’ some time in the past?”
At present science can offer some extremely compelling theories to prove that the universe is expanding, and has been from a single point (the Big Bang), for around 15 Billion years. It can also determine the original basic elements as being helium and hydrogen, and reveals that all the other essential elements were generated in the formation and collapse of stars, during the initial and continuing expansion of the universe. From the realisation that “the expanding universe is finite in both time and space,” scientists were then able to focus upon the questions surrounding the specific form of the universe and thus its ultimate “fate.”
The questions which aren’t posed in the above article are, “What is the universe expanding into / issuing out of?” and, “What is the force or phenomena which drives the engine (gravity) of the universe to continue its expansion?”
Science doesn’t have any real solid answers or theories to respond to these questions because, as some scientists point out, humanity is not able to reach the outer limits of space in order to be able to see both its shape and its size. Follow this link to read one explanation of this idea and the resulting answers:
http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=274
As you can see, without being able to view the entire universe, one can only guess at where its limits / boundaries lie, therefore, the answer to the question “What is the universe expanding into,” can never be answered scientifically. As Dave Rothstein says, “because we are, by definition, stuck within the space that makes up our universe and have no way to observe anything outside of it, this ceases to be a question that can be answered scientifically.”
You will notice that this astronomer chooses to lean on semantics in order to prop up his theories, seeking to substitute the term “Expansion” for “Stretching,” which in my opinion is a trifle pedantic because both terms involve the universe’s movement to be “within” or “into” something else “outside of it.” The term Rothstein uses to define this phenomena potentially “outside” the universe is, “Hyperspace,” or, “Another dimension.”
The name used to describe this “Hyperspace” or “other dimension,” by the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu (Circa 4th century BC), is the Tao.
It is here that I am willing to acknowledge a transition between science and philosophy has taken place; however, I would like to emphasize the two and a half thousand year difference between the philosophical conjecture of Lao Tzu, and the scientific theory of Rothstein Et al. Lao Tzu’s philosophical concepts may not, at first, appear to be based on any measurable scientific process, thus one might argue any analogy between the two disciplines is worthless; nevertheless one could argue that, the ideas and assertions of master Lao are not too dissimilar to a modern scientific theorist engaged in the development of new, raw conceptions, or strands, of an idea based on observation and an amount of informed intuition. The technological ability to physically measure the potential accuracy of a modern astronomer’s theory is obviously far greater now than in Lao Tzu's day, however, in dealing with the concept of the Tao (hyperspace), there is a shift to a more level playing field as both schools of thought become inextricably linked in terms of the amount of “factual” and "mathematically provable" evidence they have to support them. In both cases - None.
In chapters 7, 25 and 32 of the Tao Te Ching, Master Lao characterizes the Tao like so:
7
The Tao is infinite, eternal.
Why is it eternal?
It was never born;
Thus it can never die.
Why is it infinite?
It has no desire for itself;
Thus it is present for all beings.
The Master says behind;
That is why she is ahead.
She is detached from all things;
That is why she is one with them.
Because she has let go of herself,
She is perfectly fulfilled.
And again in chapter 25,
25
There was something formless and perfect
before the universe was born.
It is serene. Empty.
Solitary. Unchanging.
Infinite. Eternally present.
It is the mother of the universe.
For lack of a better name,
I call it the Tao.
It flows through all things,
Inside and outside, and returns
to the origins of all things.
The Tao is great.
The universe is great.
Earth is great.
Man is great.
These are the four great powers.
Man follows earth.
Earth follows the universe.
The universe follows the Tao.
The Tao follows only itself.
And again in 32;
32
The Tao can’t be perceived.
Smaller than the tiniest particle,
It contains uncountable galaxies.
If powerful men and women
Could remain centred in the Tao,
All things would be in harmony.
The world would become a paradise.
All people would be at peace,
And the law would be written in their hearts.
When you have names and forms,
Know they are provisional.
When you have institutions,
Know where their functions should end.
Knowing when to stop,
You can avoid any danger.
All things end in the Tao
As rivers flow into the sea.
In the reading of these three chapters we are able to deduce that Lao Tzu and his contemporaries (as well as the contemporaneous ancient Greeks mentioned in the skyserver.sdss.org web page), understood the earth’s position within a greater universe. The Taoists’ also seemed aware that the universe had been randomly formed by, and was contained within or issued from, an even greater phenomena outside which could not be measured or seen. To the ancient masters of the Tao, the presence of a god was inconsequential to the creation and direction (or Fate) of all things, as the driving force behind everything was seen to be the Tao. Furthermore, it also appears that they believed the universe had begun as a result of a single incident in time akin to that of the “Big Bang” (a Birth) and that prior to the “Big Bang” there existed a state of ‘formlessness’ and ‘emptiness.’
4
The Tao is like a well:
Used but never used up.
It is like the eternal void:
Filled with infinite possibilities.
It is hidden but always present.
I don’t know who gave birth to it.
It is older than God.
In Taoist philosophy, the Tao is unconscious of its existence, without purpose or desire it is constantly issuing and absorbing the various forms of matter and states of existence, hence, it is in a permanent state of flux and random change. It not only encompasses that which is physical and tangible, but it is also connected with and goes to form that which is insubstantial and incorporeal.
34
The great Tao flows everywhere.
All things are born from it,
Yet it doesn’t create them.
It pours itself into its work,
Yet it makes no claim.
It nourishes infinite worlds,
Yet it doesn’t hold on to them.
Since it is merged with all things
and hidden in their hearts,
it can be called humble.
Since all things vanish into it
And it alone endures,
It can be called great.
It isn’t aware of its greatness;
Thus it is truly great.
Both science and philosophical Taoism agree that the universe is finite in terms of its size within ‘hyperspace’ (or the Tao) at any one time. They also agree that matter is not destroyed, but is constantly reused in the process of the formation and reformation of the universe. They also agree that the universe is constantly evolving or “expanding” or “stretching” and new matter is constantly being generated. Hence, it could be argued that because the universe is contained within, and a product of, the Tao, the combination of both ‘hyperspace’ (Tao) and universe can be deemed as being infinite in size, shape and distance. Not to mention possibility. Science is also becoming aware of other phenomena such as “Dark Matter,” and a strong likelihood of there being a myriad alternative dimensions. All, once again, encompassed in the notion of an all pervading force which runs through the fabric of our existence and takes on unlimited amount of forms, constantly shaping and transforming it’s self.
It would be foolish to believe that humanity will ever gain such insight into the entire workings of hyperspace or truly ever come to know the Tao. Thus, we will only ever be able to rely on the speculations and conjectures of scientists and philosophers with regards to this matter. The important notion I have been attempting to convey throughout has not been to prove the existence of the Tao, but to reveal the potential relevance of the writings within the “Tao Te Ching,” in its intuitive approach to understanding the “human condition” and our relationship with what is both interior and exterior to us.
The message, that man is one of the “Four Great Powers” and is required to maintain the balance and harmony of the earth, without interfering in its natural processes, can not be more relevant today with regards to the impending doom of “global warming.” Humanity / Civilisation is on the verge of collapse or extinction, but people are beginning to wake up to the consequences of their existence and their impact on their environment so it may not be too late for us.
What I hope for the world, is that every being should come to know “the book of the way,” taking what they want from it or not, but accepting their responsibilities; coming to know the potential they have to make a difference through adopting their three greatest treasures of simplicity; patience; and compassion. Learning about their true selves away from the illusions of ritual and religion and the solicitations of wealth and fame; free from the propaganda and the oppression of single-minded, unbalanced dictatorial governance; understanding the freedom of the individual as being key to the freedom of humanity; accepting this life as being the one and only chance they have to make a difference; accepting death without fear, in the knowledge their consciousness will be gone forever, but their substance will be returned to the root of all things and their legacies will live on; coming to learn how to use the Tao for the benefit of all mankind.
http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr1/en/astro/universe/universe.asp
The opening lines of the above link pose several questions regarding the origins and structure of the universe, “Does the universe go on forever, or does it have an edge somewhere? Has it always existed, or did it come to ‘being’ some time in the past?”
At present science can offer some extremely compelling theories to prove that the universe is expanding, and has been from a single point (the Big Bang), for around 15 Billion years. It can also determine the original basic elements as being helium and hydrogen, and reveals that all the other essential elements were generated in the formation and collapse of stars, during the initial and continuing expansion of the universe. From the realisation that “the expanding universe is finite in both time and space,” scientists were then able to focus upon the questions surrounding the specific form of the universe and thus its ultimate “fate.”
The questions which aren’t posed in the above article are, “What is the universe expanding into / issuing out of?” and, “What is the force or phenomena which drives the engine (gravity) of the universe to continue its expansion?”
Science doesn’t have any real solid answers or theories to respond to these questions because, as some scientists point out, humanity is not able to reach the outer limits of space in order to be able to see both its shape and its size. Follow this link to read one explanation of this idea and the resulting answers:
http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=274
As you can see, without being able to view the entire universe, one can only guess at where its limits / boundaries lie, therefore, the answer to the question “What is the universe expanding into,” can never be answered scientifically. As Dave Rothstein says, “because we are, by definition, stuck within the space that makes up our universe and have no way to observe anything outside of it, this ceases to be a question that can be answered scientifically.”
You will notice that this astronomer chooses to lean on semantics in order to prop up his theories, seeking to substitute the term “Expansion” for “Stretching,” which in my opinion is a trifle pedantic because both terms involve the universe’s movement to be “within” or “into” something else “outside of it.” The term Rothstein uses to define this phenomena potentially “outside” the universe is, “Hyperspace,” or, “Another dimension.”
The name used to describe this “Hyperspace” or “other dimension,” by the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu (Circa 4th century BC), is the Tao.
It is here that I am willing to acknowledge a transition between science and philosophy has taken place; however, I would like to emphasize the two and a half thousand year difference between the philosophical conjecture of Lao Tzu, and the scientific theory of Rothstein Et al. Lao Tzu’s philosophical concepts may not, at first, appear to be based on any measurable scientific process, thus one might argue any analogy between the two disciplines is worthless; nevertheless one could argue that, the ideas and assertions of master Lao are not too dissimilar to a modern scientific theorist engaged in the development of new, raw conceptions, or strands, of an idea based on observation and an amount of informed intuition. The technological ability to physically measure the potential accuracy of a modern astronomer’s theory is obviously far greater now than in Lao Tzu's day, however, in dealing with the concept of the Tao (hyperspace), there is a shift to a more level playing field as both schools of thought become inextricably linked in terms of the amount of “factual” and "mathematically provable" evidence they have to support them. In both cases - None.
In chapters 7, 25 and 32 of the Tao Te Ching, Master Lao characterizes the Tao like so:
7
The Tao is infinite, eternal.
Why is it eternal?
It was never born;
Thus it can never die.
Why is it infinite?
It has no desire for itself;
Thus it is present for all beings.
The Master says behind;
That is why she is ahead.
She is detached from all things;
That is why she is one with them.
Because she has let go of herself,
She is perfectly fulfilled.
And again in chapter 25,
25
There was something formless and perfect
before the universe was born.
It is serene. Empty.
Solitary. Unchanging.
Infinite. Eternally present.
It is the mother of the universe.
For lack of a better name,
I call it the Tao.
It flows through all things,
Inside and outside, and returns
to the origins of all things.
The Tao is great.
The universe is great.
Earth is great.
Man is great.
These are the four great powers.
Man follows earth.
Earth follows the universe.
The universe follows the Tao.
The Tao follows only itself.
And again in 32;
32
The Tao can’t be perceived.
Smaller than the tiniest particle,
It contains uncountable galaxies.
If powerful men and women
Could remain centred in the Tao,
All things would be in harmony.
The world would become a paradise.
All people would be at peace,
And the law would be written in their hearts.
When you have names and forms,
Know they are provisional.
When you have institutions,
Know where their functions should end.
Knowing when to stop,
You can avoid any danger.
All things end in the Tao
As rivers flow into the sea.
In the reading of these three chapters we are able to deduce that Lao Tzu and his contemporaries (as well as the contemporaneous ancient Greeks mentioned in the skyserver.sdss.org web page), understood the earth’s position within a greater universe. The Taoists’ also seemed aware that the universe had been randomly formed by, and was contained within or issued from, an even greater phenomena outside which could not be measured or seen. To the ancient masters of the Tao, the presence of a god was inconsequential to the creation and direction (or Fate) of all things, as the driving force behind everything was seen to be the Tao. Furthermore, it also appears that they believed the universe had begun as a result of a single incident in time akin to that of the “Big Bang” (a Birth) and that prior to the “Big Bang” there existed a state of ‘formlessness’ and ‘emptiness.’
4
The Tao is like a well:
Used but never used up.
It is like the eternal void:
Filled with infinite possibilities.
It is hidden but always present.
I don’t know who gave birth to it.
It is older than God.
In Taoist philosophy, the Tao is unconscious of its existence, without purpose or desire it is constantly issuing and absorbing the various forms of matter and states of existence, hence, it is in a permanent state of flux and random change. It not only encompasses that which is physical and tangible, but it is also connected with and goes to form that which is insubstantial and incorporeal.
34
The great Tao flows everywhere.
All things are born from it,
Yet it doesn’t create them.
It pours itself into its work,
Yet it makes no claim.
It nourishes infinite worlds,
Yet it doesn’t hold on to them.
Since it is merged with all things
and hidden in their hearts,
it can be called humble.
Since all things vanish into it
And it alone endures,
It can be called great.
It isn’t aware of its greatness;
Thus it is truly great.
Both science and philosophical Taoism agree that the universe is finite in terms of its size within ‘hyperspace’ (or the Tao) at any one time. They also agree that matter is not destroyed, but is constantly reused in the process of the formation and reformation of the universe. They also agree that the universe is constantly evolving or “expanding” or “stretching” and new matter is constantly being generated. Hence, it could be argued that because the universe is contained within, and a product of, the Tao, the combination of both ‘hyperspace’ (Tao) and universe can be deemed as being infinite in size, shape and distance. Not to mention possibility. Science is also becoming aware of other phenomena such as “Dark Matter,” and a strong likelihood of there being a myriad alternative dimensions. All, once again, encompassed in the notion of an all pervading force which runs through the fabric of our existence and takes on unlimited amount of forms, constantly shaping and transforming it’s self.
It would be foolish to believe that humanity will ever gain such insight into the entire workings of hyperspace or truly ever come to know the Tao. Thus, we will only ever be able to rely on the speculations and conjectures of scientists and philosophers with regards to this matter. The important notion I have been attempting to convey throughout has not been to prove the existence of the Tao, but to reveal the potential relevance of the writings within the “Tao Te Ching,” in its intuitive approach to understanding the “human condition” and our relationship with what is both interior and exterior to us.
The message, that man is one of the “Four Great Powers” and is required to maintain the balance and harmony of the earth, without interfering in its natural processes, can not be more relevant today with regards to the impending doom of “global warming.” Humanity / Civilisation is on the verge of collapse or extinction, but people are beginning to wake up to the consequences of their existence and their impact on their environment so it may not be too late for us.
What I hope for the world, is that every being should come to know “the book of the way,” taking what they want from it or not, but accepting their responsibilities; coming to know the potential they have to make a difference through adopting their three greatest treasures of simplicity; patience; and compassion. Learning about their true selves away from the illusions of ritual and religion and the solicitations of wealth and fame; free from the propaganda and the oppression of single-minded, unbalanced dictatorial governance; understanding the freedom of the individual as being key to the freedom of humanity; accepting this life as being the one and only chance they have to make a difference; accepting death without fear, in the knowledge their consciousness will be gone forever, but their substance will be returned to the root of all things and their legacies will live on; coming to learn how to use the Tao for the benefit of all mankind.
Monday, 27 April 2009
Only the dead have seen the end of war: Plato
I wrote this poem, concerning the issues that shaped me, around 14 years ago.
SOMETIMES FOREVER
War-babies' babies
Born in a summer of love
when insect gurus preached intrinsic needs,
and a hundred million voices demanded
Peace beneath a pall of napalm,
Born in a summer that seemed to rock
old-school-tie establishments, as two
colours clashed in a new land
full of star-striped rockets and broken promises.
Through spangled platform Glitter-days
And power-starved nights of pitch
us War-babies' babies -
Bright sparks of a new revolution -
Played safe in childhood innocence; oblivious
As Her Blue tide banked against Brother Red.
Then God - aged ten in seventy-seven - rebuked
Its queen with subversive children's lyrics,
As we partied - Jubilee - in carefree fancy dress.
At fifteen or there abouts, us War-babies' babies
clapped and cheered as we saw the lads off
with a smile (They'd pursue Her imperial quest)
Whilst we probed with minds and fingers, seeking
to plunder virgin treasures in hyper-hormone frenzies.
And when they returned from their scrap with the scrap-metal
Merchants, we showed our support with more cheering,
And our broad smiles were mirrored by the tight smiles
of the Dead, lying cold and alone beneath Falkland turf.
When Her Blue tide drowned all miner resistance;
With major aggression she quelled the peasant spirit:
Spitting coal-dusted lies compressed in diamond offerings,
Her 'wealth' and 'equality' kissed the arse of the many-faced Dollar,
And sold us all off, bit by bit, to the highest Private bidder.
Then Druid stones were defiled: Her corporate army scattering
Anarchy with blunted blows, sent the Celtic tribes back into the hills
And plucked out the Soul from the Heart of the Nation,
Whilst the War-babies' babies lapped up all the bull-shit.
Sick cultures grow on fertile manure,
In the un-education from Teachers and Leaders preaching
Needs of the 'Self' and Brother/Sister greed.
Blinkered War-babies' babies bought up all the shares
And sold their souls for a slice of space-cake,
Tripped out on credit, then debated along
vast emphatic amphetamine lines of pseudo-concern,
Concealing Apathy with pathetic gestures
of allegiance, to a lost and forgotten cause.
War-babies' babies, brought up
on a diet of continuing strife,
Saturated by the torrents of tears which pour
from the eyes of too many children:
Afghan; Bosnian; Chechen; Dalmatian -
The alphabet's riddled with so many bullets -
Rwandan; Sri-Lankan; Tanzanian; Ugandan:
Our summer of love belied the simple truth that
Forever we are Deaf - Forever we are Dumb - Forever we are Blind.
Forever will belong to War-babies' babies.
SOMETIMES FOREVER
War-babies' babies
Born in a summer of love
when insect gurus preached intrinsic needs,
and a hundred million voices demanded
Peace beneath a pall of napalm,
Born in a summer that seemed to rock
old-school-tie establishments, as two
colours clashed in a new land
full of star-striped rockets and broken promises.
Through spangled platform Glitter-days
And power-starved nights of pitch
us War-babies' babies -
Bright sparks of a new revolution -
Played safe in childhood innocence; oblivious
As Her Blue tide banked against Brother Red.
Then God - aged ten in seventy-seven - rebuked
Its queen with subversive children's lyrics,
As we partied - Jubilee - in carefree fancy dress.
At fifteen or there abouts, us War-babies' babies
clapped and cheered as we saw the lads off
with a smile (They'd pursue Her imperial quest)
Whilst we probed with minds and fingers, seeking
to plunder virgin treasures in hyper-hormone frenzies.
And when they returned from their scrap with the scrap-metal
Merchants, we showed our support with more cheering,
And our broad smiles were mirrored by the tight smiles
of the Dead, lying cold and alone beneath Falkland turf.
When Her Blue tide drowned all miner resistance;
With major aggression she quelled the peasant spirit:
Spitting coal-dusted lies compressed in diamond offerings,
Her 'wealth' and 'equality' kissed the arse of the many-faced Dollar,
And sold us all off, bit by bit, to the highest Private bidder.
Then Druid stones were defiled: Her corporate army scattering
Anarchy with blunted blows, sent the Celtic tribes back into the hills
And plucked out the Soul from the Heart of the Nation,
Whilst the War-babies' babies lapped up all the bull-shit.
Sick cultures grow on fertile manure,
In the un-education from Teachers and Leaders preaching
Needs of the 'Self' and Brother/Sister greed.
Blinkered War-babies' babies bought up all the shares
And sold their souls for a slice of space-cake,
Tripped out on credit, then debated along
vast emphatic amphetamine lines of pseudo-concern,
Concealing Apathy with pathetic gestures
of allegiance, to a lost and forgotten cause.
War-babies' babies, brought up
on a diet of continuing strife,
Saturated by the torrents of tears which pour
from the eyes of too many children:
Afghan; Bosnian; Chechen; Dalmatian -
The alphabet's riddled with so many bullets -
Rwandan; Sri-Lankan; Tanzanian; Ugandan:
Our summer of love belied the simple truth that
Forever we are Deaf - Forever we are Dumb - Forever we are Blind.
Forever will belong to War-babies' babies.
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Some Existentialist observations
________________________________________
"Man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world – and defines himself afterwards.
Man is defined only insofar as he acts and he is responsible for his actions. It can be said that a man who acts cruelly towards other people is, by that act, defined as a cruel man and in that same instance, he (as opposed to his genes, for instance) is defined as being responsible for being this cruel man. Of course, the opposite applies: You can choose to act in a different way, and to be a good person instead of a cruel person. Here it is also clear that since man can choose to be either cruel or good, he is, in fact, neither of these things essentially. To the world, metaphorically speaking, there is no such thing as a good person or a bad thing; what happens happens, and it may just as well happen to a good person as to a bad person.
There is no meaning to be found in the world beyond what meaning we give to it. People actually make decisions based on what has meaning to them rather than what is rational. That there are no values to be found in the world in-itself doesn't mean that there are no values: Each of us usually already has his values before a consideration of their validity is carried through, and it is, after all, upon these values we act. Making "choices" without allowing one's values to confer differing values to the alternatives, is, in fact, choosing not to make a choice - to "flip a coin," as it were, and to leave everything to chance. This is considered to be a refusal to live in the consequence of one's freedom, meaning it quickly becomes a sort of 'bad faith.' Since man is free, and since he already exists in this world, it is implied that his freedom is only in this world, and that it, too, is restricted by it.
A reference to "common values" doesn't "excuse" the individual's actions, because, even though these are the values of the society he is part of, they are also his own in the sense that he could choose them to be different at any time. One is not only responsible for one's actions, but also for the values one holds. The relationship between freedom and responsibility is one of interdependency, and a clarification of freedom also clarifies what one is responsible for."
(edited and pasted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism)
________________________________________
The notion that, "Man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world – and defines himself afterwards," is very present in chapter 51 of the "Tao Te Ching":
"Every being in the universe
is an expression of the Tao.
It springs into existence,
Unconscious, perfect, free,
takes on a physical body,
lets circumstance complete it.
That is why every being
spontaneously honours the Tao.
The Tao gives birth to all beings,
nourishes them, maintains them,
cares for them, comforts them, protects them,
takes them back to itself,
creating without possessing,
acting without expecting,
guiding without interfering,
That is why the love of the Tao
is in the very nature of things.
The existentialist idea of a world "in-itself" without judgement or rationality, accepting both 'good' and 'bad' without the presence of 'human values', is constantly present in the Tao Te Ching as it is the essential nature of the Tao:
"The Tao does not take sides; It gives birth to both good and evil. The Master does not take sides; He welcomes both saints and sinners." ("Tao Te Ching" chapter 5).
The idea that we are all subject to the processes of this random, tentative existence is supported by the proof of evolution and natural selection and our experiences of daily life in general, but it is mainly the way we apply meaning to our world and how we exercise our freedoms to choose which really matters. Both to the existentialist and to Lao Tzu.
6
The Tao is called the Great Mother:
empty yet inexhaustible,
it gives birth to infinite worlds.
It is always present within you.
You can use it any way you want.
Existentialism, like Taoism, is concerned with the idea that we are all 'free' to act in what ever way we like according to our own values and beliefs, however, we must also be aware of the consequences of our actions and the inevitable repercussions or resistance from society, or life in general, if our actions do not conform. Likewise, when we modify our behaviour to conform with society's values and standards we may also be modifying and adjusting our true values and beliefs. This is what the existentialist calls bad faith (not being true to oneself) and at odds with the concept of total freedom. Furthermore, the facility to be aware of and question the values and practices of the societies we live in, is paramount to maintaining our true freedom from detrimental or immoral systems of control which may lead us into a conflict of ethics, morals, values and practices contrary to our own.
53
The great Way is easy,
yet people prefer the side paths.
Be aware when things are out of balance.
Remain centred within the Tao.
When rich speculators prosper
while farmers lose their land;
when government officials spend money
on weapons instead of cures;
when the upper-class is extravagant and irresponsible
while the poor have nowhere to turn -
all this is robbery and chaos.
It is not in keeping with the Tao.
The intention from both schools of thought is not to promote immorality or anarchy, or to detach or excuse one from one's actions, but to pose a set of rules whereby we accept the arbitrary nature of life but remain constantly aware of the impact our choices have on the world around us and subsequently on ourselves. As in the "Tao Te Ching", existentialism encourages us to practice action through 'non-action', placing the onus on the individual to create the meaning in their life through their freedom to choose whether or not to do something based on the values of their collective social group and the freedom allowed by this world. Divine will or redemption are dismissed or considered unnecessary because "to the world there is no such thing as a good person or a bad thing," we create our own Heaven and Hell on earth in life though our collective choices and actions. For it is man who applies meaning to the universe and creation, not God, and it is through human experience and action that the concepts of good and evil, the 'meaning' of God and the Devil, are born.
"Man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world – and defines himself afterwards.
Man is defined only insofar as he acts and he is responsible for his actions. It can be said that a man who acts cruelly towards other people is, by that act, defined as a cruel man and in that same instance, he (as opposed to his genes, for instance) is defined as being responsible for being this cruel man. Of course, the opposite applies: You can choose to act in a different way, and to be a good person instead of a cruel person. Here it is also clear that since man can choose to be either cruel or good, he is, in fact, neither of these things essentially. To the world, metaphorically speaking, there is no such thing as a good person or a bad thing; what happens happens, and it may just as well happen to a good person as to a bad person.
There is no meaning to be found in the world beyond what meaning we give to it. People actually make decisions based on what has meaning to them rather than what is rational. That there are no values to be found in the world in-itself doesn't mean that there are no values: Each of us usually already has his values before a consideration of their validity is carried through, and it is, after all, upon these values we act. Making "choices" without allowing one's values to confer differing values to the alternatives, is, in fact, choosing not to make a choice - to "flip a coin," as it were, and to leave everything to chance. This is considered to be a refusal to live in the consequence of one's freedom, meaning it quickly becomes a sort of 'bad faith.' Since man is free, and since he already exists in this world, it is implied that his freedom is only in this world, and that it, too, is restricted by it.
A reference to "common values" doesn't "excuse" the individual's actions, because, even though these are the values of the society he is part of, they are also his own in the sense that he could choose them to be different at any time. One is not only responsible for one's actions, but also for the values one holds. The relationship between freedom and responsibility is one of interdependency, and a clarification of freedom also clarifies what one is responsible for."
(edited and pasted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism)
________________________________________
The notion that, "Man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world – and defines himself afterwards," is very present in chapter 51 of the "Tao Te Ching":
"Every being in the universe
is an expression of the Tao.
It springs into existence,
Unconscious, perfect, free,
takes on a physical body,
lets circumstance complete it.
That is why every being
spontaneously honours the Tao.
The Tao gives birth to all beings,
nourishes them, maintains them,
cares for them, comforts them, protects them,
takes them back to itself,
creating without possessing,
acting without expecting,
guiding without interfering,
That is why the love of the Tao
is in the very nature of things.
The existentialist idea of a world "in-itself" without judgement or rationality, accepting both 'good' and 'bad' without the presence of 'human values', is constantly present in the Tao Te Ching as it is the essential nature of the Tao:
"The Tao does not take sides; It gives birth to both good and evil. The Master does not take sides; He welcomes both saints and sinners." ("Tao Te Ching" chapter 5).
The idea that we are all subject to the processes of this random, tentative existence is supported by the proof of evolution and natural selection and our experiences of daily life in general, but it is mainly the way we apply meaning to our world and how we exercise our freedoms to choose which really matters. Both to the existentialist and to Lao Tzu.
6
The Tao is called the Great Mother:
empty yet inexhaustible,
it gives birth to infinite worlds.
It is always present within you.
You can use it any way you want.
Existentialism, like Taoism, is concerned with the idea that we are all 'free' to act in what ever way we like according to our own values and beliefs, however, we must also be aware of the consequences of our actions and the inevitable repercussions or resistance from society, or life in general, if our actions do not conform. Likewise, when we modify our behaviour to conform with society's values and standards we may also be modifying and adjusting our true values and beliefs. This is what the existentialist calls bad faith (not being true to oneself) and at odds with the concept of total freedom. Furthermore, the facility to be aware of and question the values and practices of the societies we live in, is paramount to maintaining our true freedom from detrimental or immoral systems of control which may lead us into a conflict of ethics, morals, values and practices contrary to our own.
53
The great Way is easy,
yet people prefer the side paths.
Be aware when things are out of balance.
Remain centred within the Tao.
When rich speculators prosper
while farmers lose their land;
when government officials spend money
on weapons instead of cures;
when the upper-class is extravagant and irresponsible
while the poor have nowhere to turn -
all this is robbery and chaos.
It is not in keeping with the Tao.
The intention from both schools of thought is not to promote immorality or anarchy, or to detach or excuse one from one's actions, but to pose a set of rules whereby we accept the arbitrary nature of life but remain constantly aware of the impact our choices have on the world around us and subsequently on ourselves. As in the "Tao Te Ching", existentialism encourages us to practice action through 'non-action', placing the onus on the individual to create the meaning in their life through their freedom to choose whether or not to do something based on the values of their collective social group and the freedom allowed by this world. Divine will or redemption are dismissed or considered unnecessary because "to the world there is no such thing as a good person or a bad thing," we create our own Heaven and Hell on earth in life though our collective choices and actions. For it is man who applies meaning to the universe and creation, not God, and it is through human experience and action that the concepts of good and evil, the 'meaning' of God and the Devil, are born.
Aldous Huxley & Tao Te Ching
I don't know if Aldous Huxley ever read 'the book of the way' although he was heavily into philosophical mysticism and influenced by several Indian mystics/ holy men, so I expect he knew it well and probably miles more than me. Anyway, I was thinking (and Procrastinating at times) about religious issues (as usual) and Huxley's book - "The Doors of perception and Heaven and Hell" - came to mind. I had to grope around in my subconscious before I came up with one of the profound quotes from it (The Famous One)...
"If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern."
Huxley's intention in "The doors of perception.." is to discuss the effects of mescaline on human perception, referring to and frequently practising the Shamanistic art of attaining a higher state of awareness through the use of hallucinogenics. However, as an analogy or a commentary on the inability of many to open their minds on more than one level, especially in today's materialistic society, this quote is very apt and for my purposes I have drawn upon it.
One could also apply this observation to the troubling theological/religious unrest festering away in the world today and the way that our ruling bodies dupe us and indoctrinate us into following their programmes of belief without actually having to explain or tell us too much about it. They just create and allow certain ideas, opinions and stories to run in the media and let people formulate their impressions and beliefs 'by themselves' based on the available (often heavily biased) information. What they don't do is give us the whole truth about anything because sometimes 'silence speaks louder than words.'
Another quote from Huxley says it all:
"Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth. By simply not mentioning certain subjects... totalitarian propagandists have influenced opinion much more effectively than they could have by the most eloquent denunciations."
That's probably why politicians never answer questions directly. That and legal culpability blended with spin and a liberal sprinkling of semantic bollocks.
The Tao Te Ching explains things this way in the final chapter,
True words aren't eloquent;
eloquent words aren't true.
Wise men don't need to prove their point;
Men who need to prove their point aren't wise.
The Master has no possessions.
The more he does for others,
the happier he is.
The more he gives to others,
the wealthier he is.
The Tao nourishes by not forcing.
By not dominating, the Master leads.
I have chosen to link the next passage from the "Tao Te Ching" with the ideas above, of opening oneself to the infinite nature of life and the Tao, which is the essence and source of everything, and attaining some idea of the real truth or what really matters. Having (heavily) explored the hallucinogenic trail myself using both synthetic and natural means, I have at times fleetingly seen the wiring under the board and experienced the wonder of infinity within a raindrop. Also, at times when I was in my deepest madness I had brief visions of such clarity no 'sane' person could have accessed because in our 'normal' closed state, we are less able to accept our varied metaphysical relationships with the world around us. We are unable to view life from other dimensions, other states of being, because we are predominately attached to our physical senses and primary drives for life and we are conditioned to accept the physical to be the only reality. Furthermore, our ever-increasingly materialistic life-styles serve to crowd our conscious mind and stifle our connection with what is natural and what it is truly possible for us to do and experience when we cleanse our doors of perception and we find ourselves centred within the Tao.
Once I learned to accept life as it happened and stopped trying to look too hard into things; once I began mastering my craving and desire for the material pleasures of life; once I began to learn how to let go of my anger, frustration and lust, my existence became more peaceful and more purposeful and more complete.
14
Look, and it can't be seen,
Listen and it can't be heard,
Reach, and it can't be grasped.
Above, it isn't bright.
Below it isn't dark.
Seamless, unnameable,
it returns to the realms of nothing.
Form that includes all forms,
image without an image,
subtle, beyond all conception.
Approach it and there is no beginning,
follow it and there is no end.
You can't know it, but you can be it,
at ease in your own life.
Just realise where you come from:
this is the essence of wisdom.
"If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern."
Huxley's intention in "The doors of perception.." is to discuss the effects of mescaline on human perception, referring to and frequently practising the Shamanistic art of attaining a higher state of awareness through the use of hallucinogenics. However, as an analogy or a commentary on the inability of many to open their minds on more than one level, especially in today's materialistic society, this quote is very apt and for my purposes I have drawn upon it.
One could also apply this observation to the troubling theological/religious unrest festering away in the world today and the way that our ruling bodies dupe us and indoctrinate us into following their programmes of belief without actually having to explain or tell us too much about it. They just create and allow certain ideas, opinions and stories to run in the media and let people formulate their impressions and beliefs 'by themselves' based on the available (often heavily biased) information. What they don't do is give us the whole truth about anything because sometimes 'silence speaks louder than words.'
Another quote from Huxley says it all:
"Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth. By simply not mentioning certain subjects... totalitarian propagandists have influenced opinion much more effectively than they could have by the most eloquent denunciations."
That's probably why politicians never answer questions directly. That and legal culpability blended with spin and a liberal sprinkling of semantic bollocks.
The Tao Te Ching explains things this way in the final chapter,
True words aren't eloquent;
eloquent words aren't true.
Wise men don't need to prove their point;
Men who need to prove their point aren't wise.
The Master has no possessions.
The more he does for others,
the happier he is.
The more he gives to others,
the wealthier he is.
The Tao nourishes by not forcing.
By not dominating, the Master leads.
I have chosen to link the next passage from the "Tao Te Ching" with the ideas above, of opening oneself to the infinite nature of life and the Tao, which is the essence and source of everything, and attaining some idea of the real truth or what really matters. Having (heavily) explored the hallucinogenic trail myself using both synthetic and natural means, I have at times fleetingly seen the wiring under the board and experienced the wonder of infinity within a raindrop. Also, at times when I was in my deepest madness I had brief visions of such clarity no 'sane' person could have accessed because in our 'normal' closed state, we are less able to accept our varied metaphysical relationships with the world around us. We are unable to view life from other dimensions, other states of being, because we are predominately attached to our physical senses and primary drives for life and we are conditioned to accept the physical to be the only reality. Furthermore, our ever-increasingly materialistic life-styles serve to crowd our conscious mind and stifle our connection with what is natural and what it is truly possible for us to do and experience when we cleanse our doors of perception and we find ourselves centred within the Tao.
Once I learned to accept life as it happened and stopped trying to look too hard into things; once I began mastering my craving and desire for the material pleasures of life; once I began to learn how to let go of my anger, frustration and lust, my existence became more peaceful and more purposeful and more complete.
14
Look, and it can't be seen,
Listen and it can't be heard,
Reach, and it can't be grasped.
Above, it isn't bright.
Below it isn't dark.
Seamless, unnameable,
it returns to the realms of nothing.
Form that includes all forms,
image without an image,
subtle, beyond all conception.
Approach it and there is no beginning,
follow it and there is no end.
You can't know it, but you can be it,
at ease in your own life.
Just realise where you come from:
this is the essence of wisdom.
Saturday, 25 April 2009
YouTube's Attack on the community who made it
Over the past few months YouTube's new owners, Google, have elected to allow the new management to turn the once loved, self-policed community of video bloggers and budding video creators, into an advertisement and copyright revenues cash cow no longer concerned with the voice of the individual and the people who helped it grow to the phenomena it is today.
I am but one member of a multitude of victims whose channel has been sidelined and hidden away, to make room for the burgeoning corporate sector of big film production and media companies; politicians; advertising agencies; International Stars;and any other video which complies with the beliefs, morals and ethics of the Google elite.
Below is the first video I produced and uploaded to YouTube. I used to get about 30 -35 hits a day (sometimes a lot more) until recently when I noticed the figures had dropped dramatically. So now I have had to resort to uploading the file again, in order for it to be accessible to the wider public audiences it was attracting in the earlier stages.
I added the following comments to the file in the hope they would be read and digested along with the many other critical voices out there who have been offended by Google's blatant assault on free speech.
After over 8,000 hits and a multitude of support, the original version of this was flagged up during the more recent (2008/9) illegal and disproportionate assaults by israel on the Palestinian people of Gaza. As a result viewing figures have dropped like a stone. This is a direct result of money grabbing/ zionist propagandist puppets introducing ridiculous new rules and formats which are designed to frisk more dough out of you, so they can spread it around with their rich capitalist buddies.
THEY are choosing what you watch - NOT YOU. THEY'RE opting out of allowing FREEDOM OF SPEECH and FREEDOM OF CHOICE and electing to get even fatter on the revenue they get out of you watching their copyrighted material. This is the DEATH of the INDIVIDUAL in the interest of CORPORATE TROUGH FEEDING. Their statistics are an ILLUSION just like their feigned benevolence. They muzzle and isolate the individual voice and deny FREEDOM of INFORMATION and access to resources, shattering the original concept of a platform for all opinion, without censorship or interference. A venue where the common person could air their views without imposed judgement or values determining what they said.
The battle for total control and surveillance of your surfing habits is HERE RIGHT NOW. Your PRIVACY and international CIVIL RIGHTS are UNDER THREAT and will soon be in their death throes if action is not taken soon. Stand up to these corporate bullies by boycotting their products and reducing their advertising revenue- use a different browser or search engine and never visit their recommended pages. YOU have the POWER to make this dot.com boomer go BUST.
LET YOUR PRESENCE BE FELT VIA YOUR ABSENCE.
I am but one member of a multitude of victims whose channel has been sidelined and hidden away, to make room for the burgeoning corporate sector of big film production and media companies; politicians; advertising agencies; International Stars;and any other video which complies with the beliefs, morals and ethics of the Google elite.
Below is the first video I produced and uploaded to YouTube. I used to get about 30 -35 hits a day (sometimes a lot more) until recently when I noticed the figures had dropped dramatically. So now I have had to resort to uploading the file again, in order for it to be accessible to the wider public audiences it was attracting in the earlier stages.
I added the following comments to the file in the hope they would be read and digested along with the many other critical voices out there who have been offended by Google's blatant assault on free speech.
After over 8,000 hits and a multitude of support, the original version of this was flagged up during the more recent (2008/9) illegal and disproportionate assaults by israel on the Palestinian people of Gaza. As a result viewing figures have dropped like a stone. This is a direct result of money grabbing/ zionist propagandist puppets introducing ridiculous new rules and formats which are designed to frisk more dough out of you, so they can spread it around with their rich capitalist buddies.
THEY are choosing what you watch - NOT YOU. THEY'RE opting out of allowing FREEDOM OF SPEECH and FREEDOM OF CHOICE and electing to get even fatter on the revenue they get out of you watching their copyrighted material. This is the DEATH of the INDIVIDUAL in the interest of CORPORATE TROUGH FEEDING. Their statistics are an ILLUSION just like their feigned benevolence. They muzzle and isolate the individual voice and deny FREEDOM of INFORMATION and access to resources, shattering the original concept of a platform for all opinion, without censorship or interference. A venue where the common person could air their views without imposed judgement or values determining what they said.
The battle for total control and surveillance of your surfing habits is HERE RIGHT NOW. Your PRIVACY and international CIVIL RIGHTS are UNDER THREAT and will soon be in their death throes if action is not taken soon. Stand up to these corporate bullies by boycotting their products and reducing their advertising revenue- use a different browser or search engine and never visit their recommended pages. YOU have the POWER to make this dot.com boomer go BUST.
LET YOUR PRESENCE BE FELT VIA YOUR ABSENCE.
Tao Te Ching - 67
Some say that my teaching is nonsense.
Others call it lofty but impractical.
But to those who have looked inside themselves,
And to those who put it into practice,
this loftiness has roots that go deep.
I have just three things to teach:
Simplicity, Patience, Compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and in thoughts,
You return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
You reconcile all beings in the world.
"Nostradamus said in quatrain III.92:
"Le Monde proche du dernier periode,
Saturne encor tard sera de retour:
Translat empire devers nation Brodde..."
"The world is nearing its final period.
Saturn will again be late on his return.
The empire will shift toward a black [Brodde]
nation...."
Could this be a reference to Obama's ascendancy to power?
And as Saturn is a god of plenty and commerce, could the "late return" refer to some kind of recession?
I know Nostradamus's predictions are obscure and I'm also sceptical about predictions per se.
However, the possibility is still there, so watch this space."
"Le Monde proche du dernier periode,
Saturne encor tard sera de retour:
Translat empire devers nation Brodde..."
"The world is nearing its final period.
Saturn will again be late on his return.
The empire will shift toward a black [Brodde]
nation...."
Could this be a reference to Obama's ascendancy to power?
And as Saturn is a god of plenty and commerce, could the "late return" refer to some kind of recession?
I know Nostradamus's predictions are obscure and I'm also sceptical about predictions per se.
However, the possibility is still there, so watch this space."
Tao Te Ching
Here are two pearls from the Tao Te Ching about flexibility of the mind and triumph gained through non-action:
76
Men are born soft and supple;
Dead, they are stiff and hard.
Plants are born tender and pliant;
dead, they are brittle and dry.
Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible
is a disciple of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding
is a disciple of life.
The hard and the stiff will be broken.
The soft and supple will prevail.
69
The generals have a saying:
"Rather than make the first move
it is better to wait and see.
Rather than advance an inch
it is better to retreat a yard."
This is called
going forward without advancing
Pushing back without using weapons.
There is no greater misfortune
than underestimating your enemy.
Underestimating your enemy
means thinking he is evil.
Thus you destroy your three treasures
and become an enemy yourself.
When two great forces oppose each other,
the victory will go
To the one who knows how to yield.
By "yield" Lao Tzu is alluding to the method of stepping back slightly in order to take stock of the situation, providing your opposition with a false notion that you have either given up or that you are becoming weak. It's something like a boxer might do when he rests back on the ropes to catch his breath or to give himself time to adjust his tactics: By doing it he has not only gained some respite, but his opponent has also expended more of his own precious energy in his attack. Furthermore, he has come to know his opponent more because of the exchange.
The most obvious analogy regarding 'yielding' in order to obtain the upper hand is the 'pincer movement,' successfully used by armies over countless years.
Being supple of mind is about 'yielding' also because if one is able to think more flexibly and not remain blocked by dogmatism and intransigence, one becomes skilled at exchanging ideas across a wide spectrum of belief systems and social groupings. Fostering positive reactions through the establishment of a common ground based on the willingness to listen, reflect and comprehend empowers the 'yielding mind' with further knowledge and understanding on how to influence and exact the most positive results from a situation.
If you mentally 'yield' in an argument and offer your opponent victory on some of the less important issues, you will undermine their offensive by taking the power out of their assault. 'Yielding' does not mean 'giving in,' or having to acquiesce to negative or unreasonable demands. It means acceptance and recognition of opposing forces. If you are seen not to budge an inch, so will your opponents adopt this stance and thus it will be harder to unbalance them in the exchange. Intransigence will undermine your ability to manipulate your opponent into accepting your ideas, by denying you any foothold in their argument.
If you allow yourself to become rigid and unyielding then, one day, the force of constantly pushing back at everything is bound to break you.
Yielding is not weakness but benevolence
76
Men are born soft and supple;
Dead, they are stiff and hard.
Plants are born tender and pliant;
dead, they are brittle and dry.
Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible
is a disciple of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding
is a disciple of life.
The hard and the stiff will be broken.
The soft and supple will prevail.
69
The generals have a saying:
"Rather than make the first move
it is better to wait and see.
Rather than advance an inch
it is better to retreat a yard."
This is called
going forward without advancing
Pushing back without using weapons.
There is no greater misfortune
than underestimating your enemy.
Underestimating your enemy
means thinking he is evil.
Thus you destroy your three treasures
and become an enemy yourself.
When two great forces oppose each other,
the victory will go
To the one who knows how to yield.
By "yield" Lao Tzu is alluding to the method of stepping back slightly in order to take stock of the situation, providing your opposition with a false notion that you have either given up or that you are becoming weak. It's something like a boxer might do when he rests back on the ropes to catch his breath or to give himself time to adjust his tactics: By doing it he has not only gained some respite, but his opponent has also expended more of his own precious energy in his attack. Furthermore, he has come to know his opponent more because of the exchange.
The most obvious analogy regarding 'yielding' in order to obtain the upper hand is the 'pincer movement,' successfully used by armies over countless years.
Being supple of mind is about 'yielding' also because if one is able to think more flexibly and not remain blocked by dogmatism and intransigence, one becomes skilled at exchanging ideas across a wide spectrum of belief systems and social groupings. Fostering positive reactions through the establishment of a common ground based on the willingness to listen, reflect and comprehend empowers the 'yielding mind' with further knowledge and understanding on how to influence and exact the most positive results from a situation.
If you mentally 'yield' in an argument and offer your opponent victory on some of the less important issues, you will undermine their offensive by taking the power out of their assault. 'Yielding' does not mean 'giving in,' or having to acquiesce to negative or unreasonable demands. It means acceptance and recognition of opposing forces. If you are seen not to budge an inch, so will your opponents adopt this stance and thus it will be harder to unbalance them in the exchange. Intransigence will undermine your ability to manipulate your opponent into accepting your ideas, by denying you any foothold in their argument.
If you allow yourself to become rigid and unyielding then, one day, the force of constantly pushing back at everything is bound to break you.
Yielding is not weakness but benevolence
Heavy handed policing is never a thing of the past
In response to a forum thread concerning the manslaughter of news-seller Ian Tomlinson by a police officer on the channel 4 website, I posted the following regarding an incident when I was beaten up in police cells back in 2005:
I for one hope that these latest incidents provide the impetus for a truly independent, less biased, open I.P.C.C. With a view to exposing and uncovering hundreds of similar cases where police officers abuse their position and assault and mistreat members of the public. I was a teacher for a while until I had a nervous breakdown and developed full blown symptoms of Bi-Polar disorder, back in 2000. In 2005 I was arrested after I had been drinking heavily and got into an argument with an ex-friend, outside their house. The police were called and I was taken to the local station and put into a cell. For some reason my shoes and clothes had been removed and I had been given a set of green forensic clothing. After a time of being in the cell, I decided I would attempt to hang myself and tied a leg of the trousers around my neck. I remember looking around the cell for somewhere to attach the other leg, when the cell door burst open and an officer (I recognised him as the desk sergeant) rushed in drawing his ASP and stood in the right-hand corner, away from the door, and began hitting out at me. I was not very happy at this attack so I began swearing at him and I also nearly managed to grab the Asp from his hand. At one point I remember that the blows were not hurting me, so I began to laugh at him. It was at this point when two other officers stormed in, one each side of me, grabbing both my arms and pinning them to my side. Within a moment, another officer entered the cell and punched me full in the face with his right fist. I was then pushed to the floor with my face down. One officer stamped on my feet and then knelt on my legs whilst the other two forced my arms behind my back. They removed the blankets and remaining clothing and left the cell, leaving me in a considerably bloody state. In fact there was enough blood coming from my mouth that I was able to write the words PIGS in 4FT high letters on the cell walls. After an hour or so they sent in a police photographer to take pictures of my wounds, along with pictures of the bloody writing. They told me that they would be charging me with criminal damage of the cell for the graffiti. I was then left all night without clothing or blankets and had to try and keep myself warm under the thin mattress. In the morning my foot had swollen so much, that I was unable to put my right shoe on. On my release I informed the police I would be making a complaint against the officer who punched me, as I believed that it constituted excessive force and was totally unwarranted action. A few days later I was visited by the station inspector who offered me a deal to drop the charges against the officer in exchange for the police dropping a charge of assault against me on another officer which they claimed happened during the course of the evening. The inspector told me that I my leg had struck an officer in the stomach as I was taken to the floor, causing him some pain. She also said that the aforementioned officer would be prepared to drop the charges against me, if I dropped the charges against his colleague. I refused to comply with this request and subsequently went to a solicitor to help me file my complaint. From the start the solicitor was highly sceptical about the success of my complaint, but agreed to pursue it. At this time I also found out that the charges for criminal damage had been dropped. I speculate that this was because of the means by which I was able to write the word PIGS - my blood and its potentiality to substantiate my claims of unfair treatment. The upshot of the whole saga was that, after six months of due process, the I.P.C.C. found the officer not guilty and I was convicted of a section 5 public order offence and assault against a police officer. I have a facial scar (on my lip) which I have to mind when I am shaving, that I don't reopen it. During the course of our consultation my solicitor had told me of several other cases, which seemed more extreme than my own, whereby the charges had been dropped and the offending officer had been reinstated and allowed to continue working. If only there had been some independent photographic evidence at the time of the assault against me. Maybe I would not now have to explain the reasons for my conviction for assaulting police to every organisation I work for? Yeah, the police do a good job in some respects - I class them as a necessary evil now. But I certainly think it is time for this type of police brutality to come to an end. At a time when civil rights are being constantly eroded, I think it is poetic justice that us filming them has shown the police in a more realistic light. I only wish it had not taken yet another innocent (Just like Jean-Charles de Menezes) to bring these issues to bear. |
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