As I was walking today it occurred to me that happiness while pleasant is overrated and sadness while sometimes inevitable is fairly foolish. So what does that leave? That leaves what I feel at the core of it all is what we all truly want.....peace. Pure and simple peace.
Emotions will rise, things will happen that we will categorize as good and/or bad, but these things need not lead us by the collar. We don't need to constantly respond to them, let them dictate our moods and mannerisms. There is the conscious thought that as long as we are alive things will happen to us and we needn't give them control. We can chose to stay centered. We can chose to be still with life, chose to be the rock at the base of the stream and not the leaf that gets carried every which way by it.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
U.S. Enslavement
I'm frustrated beyond measure. I hate the way the world is set up. It's all wrong. All of it. From start to finish. Our food and water is contaminated. We are enslaved to corporations and financial institutions. We are pitted against each other in hate games. We are the pawns in a system made by people in the shadows, the 1% of the world that has true control and the power to do whatever they want. Do you think they follow laws? Do you think they uphold norms? Hardly!
We're the suckers, the worker bee's, the marching ants. We're the ones sent to jail for petty crimes. Do you think the 1 percenter's go to jail. Celebrities hardly ever go, now think of those with much more power and money. They don't even go to court. They probably don't even get arrested. I'm so sick of the hypocrisy in life. Judges, priests, cops telling us to do one thing while they do another. No one is good enough to judge, because we are all culpable. So why do we have this grotesque sham of a system? It doesn't work. Has no one caught on to that? And I have three words for anyone that says the U.S. is the place to be: Monsanto, Enron, Bailouts.
Note to people wanting to come to the U.S. from other countries. Don't come! Don't bring your children here! You have you're own land, your own culture. Work on making your country better. Fight for the rights that you want to seek where you are now. Don't strip your children of their heritage to bring them to a culture of indulgence and ignorance, a country that will enslave you as a second class citizen, rape your children of their childhood and teach them to be materialistic, superficial consumers. The freedom you think you seek is really only a long leash. I think it's far better to stand up for your rights where you are. Bring about what you think is here wherever your home is. Because what you think you will find here, I guarantee you is not here. It's all a facade, smoke and mirrors. There is no real freedom here, just a different kind of enslavement.
We're the suckers, the worker bee's, the marching ants. We're the ones sent to jail for petty crimes. Do you think the 1 percenter's go to jail. Celebrities hardly ever go, now think of those with much more power and money. They don't even go to court. They probably don't even get arrested. I'm so sick of the hypocrisy in life. Judges, priests, cops telling us to do one thing while they do another. No one is good enough to judge, because we are all culpable. So why do we have this grotesque sham of a system? It doesn't work. Has no one caught on to that? And I have three words for anyone that says the U.S. is the place to be: Monsanto, Enron, Bailouts.
Note to people wanting to come to the U.S. from other countries. Don't come! Don't bring your children here! You have you're own land, your own culture. Work on making your country better. Fight for the rights that you want to seek where you are now. Don't strip your children of their heritage to bring them to a culture of indulgence and ignorance, a country that will enslave you as a second class citizen, rape your children of their childhood and teach them to be materialistic, superficial consumers. The freedom you think you seek is really only a long leash. I think it's far better to stand up for your rights where you are. Bring about what you think is here wherever your home is. Because what you think you will find here, I guarantee you is not here. It's all a facade, smoke and mirrors. There is no real freedom here, just a different kind of enslavement.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Versions of Dorian Gray
I've been haunted all day by images of Josh Powell.
Some people, you can see it in their eyes. You can see that they are hiding deep dark secrets. You can sense rage, violence, danger. Others you can sense their pain and desperation. People eye's often deceive them, even if their demeanor and looks portray another story. When I looked at the pictures of Josh Powell, I really can not see anything abnormal. Just as Scott Peterson also and probably many more as well. Their body, their eyes, their actions simply do not give them away. Their secrets lay buried so deep, so guarded that no one seems to know their truth.
I remember recently hearing a radio D.J. say that when they polled grads from some famous university and asked them what was the most valuable skill they felt they learned, overwhelmingly, the vast majority said it was that lying pays. I was completely dumbfounded. Our future leaders of state, corporate CEO's, managers.... this is what they learned? How very sad is that? This is where we have gone?
I realize that we are all our own versions of Dorian Gray. Some of us much more so than others. Some of us are only hiding hurt caused to us. Some of us the hurt we have caused. While others of us are hiding the hurt we want to cause. The latter is, probably, the worse of them all.
I don't know how we can stem this. I don't know how we can be so advanced in so many areas: every single science, technology, medicine, etc.; yet we have not taken a single positive step in the realm of spirituality. If anything we have taken steps backs. We have lost information on that front, I can guarantee.
When we are getting better at being "Dorian Gray", when predators can hide under veils of complete normalcy, what does that say?
It saddens me profoundly.
Some people, you can see it in their eyes. You can see that they are hiding deep dark secrets. You can sense rage, violence, danger. Others you can sense their pain and desperation. People eye's often deceive them, even if their demeanor and looks portray another story. When I looked at the pictures of Josh Powell, I really can not see anything abnormal. Just as Scott Peterson also and probably many more as well. Their body, their eyes, their actions simply do not give them away. Their secrets lay buried so deep, so guarded that no one seems to know their truth.
I remember recently hearing a radio D.J. say that when they polled grads from some famous university and asked them what was the most valuable skill they felt they learned, overwhelmingly, the vast majority said it was that lying pays. I was completely dumbfounded. Our future leaders of state, corporate CEO's, managers.... this is what they learned? How very sad is that? This is where we have gone?
I realize that we are all our own versions of Dorian Gray. Some of us much more so than others. Some of us are only hiding hurt caused to us. Some of us the hurt we have caused. While others of us are hiding the hurt we want to cause. The latter is, probably, the worse of them all.
I don't know how we can stem this. I don't know how we can be so advanced in so many areas: every single science, technology, medicine, etc.; yet we have not taken a single positive step in the realm of spirituality. If anything we have taken steps backs. We have lost information on that front, I can guarantee.
When we are getting better at being "Dorian Gray", when predators can hide under veils of complete normalcy, what does that say?
It saddens me profoundly.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Irreligious or Arelgious
I am deeply against religion. I find it a vehicle for many of the worlds worst evils. I find it usually masquerades as one thing and is actually something much more sinister and vial. I think it is worst than politics and politicians, war and those that command it. To take something that at heart should be a good thing and use it to wield power, to control masses, for personal profit and to commit sins and violence against humanity. Is there anything worse?
And yet.....
I consider myself a very deeply spiritual person. I talk about God and other religious figures here frequently, but in my daily life I never mention them. Probably because to me spirituality is almost too deeply personal and real. It isn't something to just give lip service to. To bring up when I need something or to gain approval from others. My relationship with God is something I hold very dear and I don't have to prove it or explain it or demonstrate it to anyone. Thankfully.
I don't have to parade it around like a badge of honor. I don't have to use God's name in every sentence I speak. I honor God more by my happy, loving silence than by shouting out 100 Our Father's by rote. This seems lost to some people. Other's even find it offensive, which makes me laugh so hard. How can one consider themselves to be "from the Kingdom of God" and be filled with rabid hate and judgment? It makes no sense to me. But I don't discount their intentions. Who am I to judge? I'm just glad not to have been given that duty.
And yet.....
I consider myself a very deeply spiritual person. I talk about God and other religious figures here frequently, but in my daily life I never mention them. Probably because to me spirituality is almost too deeply personal and real. It isn't something to just give lip service to. To bring up when I need something or to gain approval from others. My relationship with God is something I hold very dear and I don't have to prove it or explain it or demonstrate it to anyone. Thankfully.
I don't have to parade it around like a badge of honor. I don't have to use God's name in every sentence I speak. I honor God more by my happy, loving silence than by shouting out 100 Our Father's by rote. This seems lost to some people. Other's even find it offensive, which makes me laugh so hard. How can one consider themselves to be "from the Kingdom of God" and be filled with rabid hate and judgment? It makes no sense to me. But I don't discount their intentions. Who am I to judge? I'm just glad not to have been given that duty.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Two fish
About 15 years ago I found myself camping with friends in Mammoth. On our last day there we decided to rent a boat and take it out on one of the smaller lakes with the intention of fishing. I eat fish, but I do not enjoy the process of catching them. In the same way that I enjoy flowers, but don't like watching them die sitting in a vase.
It was a pleasant morning, but as the hours rolled on it started getting cooler and late for us to make the long drive back. However, the single fisher was adamant that fish needed to be caught before we could leave. No one wanted to be disagreeable and more time rolled on.
I asked the fisher what was going to happen with the fish. He assured me they would get eaten. So as I was getting a bit frustrated and cold, I laid back in the boat, closed my eyes, summoned up my energy, and asked the fish to please acquiesce. Within less than 5 minutes a fish was snared. I thought we would be on our way, but then the fisherman decided 2 fish were needed for a good meal, since the fish caught was on the smaller side.
Not particularly in agreement, but wanting to simply end the ordeal, I sat back once again and asked the fish to please comply and again within a few minutes he had another fish. He tried going for a third, but this I would not agree to. I did nothing and after about 30 futile minutes more he submitted to just having gotten two and we left.
I later inquired as to whether he has eaten the fish and was sickened to my stomach that he had not. As silly as it sounds... I had promised the fish they would be eaten and I still to this day feel bad about it.
Now I can not prove that it was my thoughts that made it happen, but I'm satisfied knowing in my heart what happened.
If me, simple little me, could do something like that, I can just imagine how Jesus could indeed command a whole school of fish to come forth, and how the fish probably did so gladly. I have a deep admiration for fish since this time. Unfortunately I still also enjoy eating them. It's the crux of my life. My actions don't always match my ideals. But that's another story.
It was a pleasant morning, but as the hours rolled on it started getting cooler and late for us to make the long drive back. However, the single fisher was adamant that fish needed to be caught before we could leave. No one wanted to be disagreeable and more time rolled on.
I asked the fisher what was going to happen with the fish. He assured me they would get eaten. So as I was getting a bit frustrated and cold, I laid back in the boat, closed my eyes, summoned up my energy, and asked the fish to please acquiesce. Within less than 5 minutes a fish was snared. I thought we would be on our way, but then the fisherman decided 2 fish were needed for a good meal, since the fish caught was on the smaller side.
Not particularly in agreement, but wanting to simply end the ordeal, I sat back once again and asked the fish to please comply and again within a few minutes he had another fish. He tried going for a third, but this I would not agree to. I did nothing and after about 30 futile minutes more he submitted to just having gotten two and we left.
I later inquired as to whether he has eaten the fish and was sickened to my stomach that he had not. As silly as it sounds... I had promised the fish they would be eaten and I still to this day feel bad about it.
Now I can not prove that it was my thoughts that made it happen, but I'm satisfied knowing in my heart what happened.
If me, simple little me, could do something like that, I can just imagine how Jesus could indeed command a whole school of fish to come forth, and how the fish probably did so gladly. I have a deep admiration for fish since this time. Unfortunately I still also enjoy eating them. It's the crux of my life. My actions don't always match my ideals. But that's another story.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Turning my back to it
I think I've mentioned that when I went to the Buddhist retreat I was told to turn my back to evil. At first I thought that seemed ridiculous, but now that I've had time to process it a bit more, I think that that is good advice.
I only have this one life to live. I don't exactly know what's coming up next or if I will be back so this is it. Do I chose to let hatred, violence, fear, etc. ruin my life? Do I chose to let the bad of the world bring me down?
No! I chose to turn my back to it. I will not watch the news. I will not listen to mindless gossip. I will not pay attention to anything negative. If that means I have to live a life in a state of oblivion; if that means I have to live in a state of mild ignorance....so be it.
I prefer to live this one life I have happily. Meanwhile, I will do every thing I can to alleviate other people's burdens. I will do all I can to contribute in a positive way to the world, my world, my daily existence.
But as of this moment forward I turn my back to all that is negative in the world. I chose, mindfully, to ignore it... to leave it be, unless of course I can actively make it better.
Life, moment by moment, will direct me where to go, how to help, what to do. I refuse to live a fear based life any longer. This is my one and only shot at this thing...as far as I know, for all I know. I'm going to make the absolute best of it. I'm going to give it my very best. So why concentrate on anything other than the best and most positive in life? Nope. Not gonna. Just not gonna.
I only have this one life to live. I don't exactly know what's coming up next or if I will be back so this is it. Do I chose to let hatred, violence, fear, etc. ruin my life? Do I chose to let the bad of the world bring me down?
No! I chose to turn my back to it. I will not watch the news. I will not listen to mindless gossip. I will not pay attention to anything negative. If that means I have to live a life in a state of oblivion; if that means I have to live in a state of mild ignorance....so be it.
I prefer to live this one life I have happily. Meanwhile, I will do every thing I can to alleviate other people's burdens. I will do all I can to contribute in a positive way to the world, my world, my daily existence.
But as of this moment forward I turn my back to all that is negative in the world. I chose, mindfully, to ignore it... to leave it be, unless of course I can actively make it better.
Life, moment by moment, will direct me where to go, how to help, what to do. I refuse to live a fear based life any longer. This is my one and only shot at this thing...as far as I know, for all I know. I'm going to make the absolute best of it. I'm going to give it my very best. So why concentrate on anything other than the best and most positive in life? Nope. Not gonna. Just not gonna.
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