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| So a little back ground...... | August 15, 2010, 2:01PM |
 by: Misplaced_soul |
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A little background first.... Dragons exist. To perplex the world and dodge tax and dragon hunters etc they had a little get together with the devil n whilst they did come to the conclusion that despite the fire and brimstone and toasty humans that had frequently crossed paths with both parties they weren't really all that evil. However, they did take abit of inspiration from one aspect of the Devils existance or lack there of as it may be. To quote a certain statement: 'The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.' Ditto now for dragons. All manner of mythical creatures actually exist n fleetingly appear in our midsts from time to time. Though admitedly few of quite the size and status of dragons. But then its easy to hide when you can fly anywhere in the world and crispify anyone who spots you. BBQs are alot easier too. Some people, and certain beings, are aware of the dragons. Painfully so. Not least of these groups are Ninja Pixies & Legomen. At some point in time Ninja Pixies lived blissfully care free lives along side dragons and depending on who you speak to this was either down to their peaceful nature or the fact that neither knew the other existed despite essentially living next door to each other. Given that most Ninja Pixies have now picked up the word 'Death' into their names (Ninja Death Pixies) it is fairly safe to assume that ignorance was probably the main reason behind previous peacefulness. Legomen on the other hand are entirely different story. The background of how they became aware of the dragons is lost in the past somewhere, hidden somewhere in the depths of time amongst the mysteries of velcro and marmite and oh yes the intricate details of quite how legomen came to actually somehow be sentient beings whilst still maintining their large presence in the toy market. But the fact still exists today that they are aware of dragons and are one of the few races not to be a favoured snack of the Dragons (Even dragons don't like eating melted plastic). Ninja Death Pixies spend a large bulk of their time causing mischief, however unlike their slightly more pleasant relatives the leprechauns, their mischief (as the name would imply) generally ends somewhat more fatally.... Not the brightest of mythical creatures and yes not always deadly. But experts at infuriating everyone be it the tiny little things like tying your headphones in knots the second you put them down. Or more complex interference with human affairs that last highlighted itself in a certain cuban missile crisis. Legomen on the other hand are much more pleasant creatures, happy to remain innert and enjoy their place in millions of households world wide as play things. They often indulge in building projects, with their humans or sometimes just by themselves (ever woken up to find that lego model is just a bit more assembled then you remember it being (Or occasionally a bit less assembled and half way across the room looking distinctly like a drink driving incident has just occured?)? | |
topic: Philosophy | |
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| Of Scientists and Philosophers | July 31, 2010, 12:59PM |
 by: Desecration |
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Firstly, let it be said that I am often criticized by others for my predominantly empirically-minded attitude towards the world around me, and as such, my admiration for and appreciation of the empirical sciences is great. Whilst my admiration however, for both the profession and the professors of each is vast, only the latter of the two is appropriated my reverence. For while I can claim not to be a scientist, as such a severe insult that would be to science itself, I can liken its professors (perhaps, however, giving concession to those of the theoretical, and thus very much philosophical, realm) to the common builder, mechanic, or craftsmen. This again, is intended as no insult, but rather as an allegory. Science as it is now, although once being derived of philosophy, has limits which are comparatively infinitesimal. The professor of science may know the inner-most intricacies of the empirical world, the most minute detail of the corporeal building blocks of the universe we find ourselves in, but what he may fail to grasp, is the profundity which lies therein. The philosopher’s job is of much greater scope, not only in and of itself, but also in the prerequisite scientific competency, which is necessarily incorporated into his work, should it be taken at all seriously. So, whereas the scientist is the mechanic or builder, with only a practical understanding (once again I must remind the reader of the aforementioned concession), the philosopher is the architect, with both a practical competency (I must stress the use of the word competency, so as not to undermine the much more rigorous understanding of scientists), and a metaphysical, theoretical wisdom, which allows him to gaze beyond the “muddy vesture of decay”, and catch a glimpse of the sublime that lies beyond. | |
topic: Philosophy | |
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July 5, 2010, 8:17PM |
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 by: Herm |
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Okay so I've been going on about this film to a few people I know in real life, on-and-off, for a little while now. And on my lunch break today I stumbled across it for £10... The Fourth Kind (2009) ... The blurb is as follows: In remote Alaska, citizens have been mysteriously vanishing since the 1960s. Despite multiple investigations, the truth behind the phenomena had never been discovered - until now. While video taping therapy sessions with traumatised patients, psychologist Dr. Abigail Tyler (Milla Jovovich) unwittingly exposes terrifying revelations of multiple victims whose claims of being visited by alien figures all share disturbingly identical details. Based on actual case studies, The Fourth Kind uses Dr. Tyler's never-before-seen archival footage alongside dramatic reenactments to present the most disturbing evidence ever documented in this provocative thriller critics are calling "terrifyingly real... The most shocking alien abduction movie to date." ~ I'd seen this before, so I knew what the film was like and what to expect. But then I'd watched that with two other people, and one was far more scared than me so it helped me get around being freaked out by it. But then I bought it earlier and made the plan to watch it on my own in my flat. Which I duly did. So I watched this in my small flat, filled with blind spots, corners, and all sorts of things that exacerbate nightmarish thoughts (not to mention that it's down the end of a dark alley, and completely devoid of people except for me... even the upstairs flat is vacant). I always watch movies in my chair, with my beanbag, with the main light off and a small lamp on behind me. It cuts out visual interference, and makes it a lot easier to get involved in a film. I wish I hadn't now! This film is about traumatised patients who suffer from sleeping problems and wake up at strange times of the night. They report seeing a white owl that is constantly looking at them whatever they do. I wouldn't say I'm traumatised, but I suffer from sleeping problems and often wake up at strange times of the night. And I know what I'm like... I have a strong imagination, and if I wake up at stupid o'clock tonight I'm going to instantly tell myself not to imagine an owl, and then I will and will start panicking for no reason! I mean jeez... when the film ended and it went back to the menu screen I quickly turned the TV off, but have not been able to bring myself to turn the PS2 off! (That's what I played it on...) It's still on now! As are all the lights... I'm sat here generally apprehensive about nothing specific, wondering if I'm going to try and keep myself up all night... despite being exhausted at only 10 to 1 in the morning! Ohh I'm not looking forward to the rest of the night now... --- If you have seen this movie, please don't ruin it for those who haven't. Discussions on this article would be a lot more productive as discussing Alien Abduction theories or anything of the sort, as opposed to the specific subject matter I've approached... despite it being damn good. | |
topic: Philosophy | |
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| Winds of Time - 4TH of July | July 1, 2010, 11:01PM |
 by: Crazydude13666 |
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Sitting A mist the lit sky a bright red, white and blue, Holding and embracing the glow of her all natural features, Thinking what it is like to be an American in the land of the free, To be independent in a world of uncertain futures. Here we are Standing Tall amongst the shadows of the forgot empire, Where those bright colors simply fade into the background of the night sky, Bombs Bursting and Rocket blazing in this night sky with the booms and crashes you all grew to love, Soldiers and Patriots Recalling times of Real Bombs bursting and people crying in the deep woods and cities. Forgot in the winds of time to a generation of the uncaring society of "reason" | |
topic: Philosophy | |
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| Thoughts on the History of Civilization | March 9, 2010, 7:18PM |
 by: Sgath |
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Our species evolved as hunter gatherers. During the last ice age, human beings were forced into a smaller habitable area namely in Mesopotamia, leading to population crisis, where there were not enough resources for everyone. Our species was forced to adapt. This lead to agriculture. Since less people were involved in gathering food, people found new ways to operate in societies. Soon there were blacksmiths and potters, tailors and soldiers. The lack of need to be directly involved in food acquisition lead to an increasingly complex array of social functions. What happened as a result was the information available to transfer exploded in volume, where blacksmiths taught blacksmiths, soldiers taught soldiers, tailors taught tailors, leading to a need for essential information to be recorded, usually involved with trade. So came math, and writing. Then as more information was recorded, more adaptations formed around the new information. It has in a way lead to a sort of external evolution of mutating behaviours, as societies adapt to the new sum of external information available, allowing cultures to shift their behaviours as their acquired information changes. This has lead to vast changes in the structure of societies, leading to urbanization, industrialization, and the fracturing and competing of philosophies over how to organize and govern them. But this has never meant progress, only change. External evolution has actually lead to the degradation of humanity's habitat, and may ultimately lead to its destruction, so to say the changes that have taken place in our behaviours are progress is misleading, and false. Some things about modern behaviours benefit the species, some serve to its detriment. In the same way, our hunter gathering brothers and sisters adapt to their environments in the same rational fashion. But without the need of agriculture, social functions often have no need to become increasingly stratified since an environmental balance serves the culture's longevity, and there is limited need to adapt to degrading resources through war, trade, and technology. One of the major problems of modern civilization as we call it is that while our external evolution allows us to adapt to the sum of ideas of a society and therefore change our behaviour in more complex ways, they sometimes serve us very poorly in the real world, as creeds, codes and ideals fail to satisfy the real situation, and often lead to imbalances both environmentally and socially. Countless examples exist in history, as ideologies battle each other, empires collapse, opposing ideologies endanger the entirety of life on the planet and often result in severe destruction. They may yet destroy the planet. "It is not the strongest of the species that survive, but the one most responsive to change" - Charles Darwin. Whereas hunter gathers have adapted perfectly to their environment, unfortunately they have also been incapable of necessary change often and are destroyed by more aggressive cultures, not because of lack of strength, as Darwin points out, but because of lack of ability to change. So while modern civilization may seem to be more 'developed' or 'progressed' that is not the case at all, there are merely specific differences in behavioural adaptations, as humans have a remarkable capacity for changing their behaviour due to complicated communications skills. If by progress we define human capacity for survival, modern behavioural adaptations may very well lead to the end of life on Earth, and therefore cannot be identified in any way as progress. But neither can we say hunter gatherer civilizations are more progressed than modern civilizations simply because of better environmental adaptation, since they are often destroyed by failure to adapt to conquerers. I hope this gives us a better appreciation for the diversity of human behaviour, and that we can rationally reject notions of progress and merely be satisfied to identify the benefits and disadvantages of individual behaviours in individual societies. | |
topic: Philosophy | |
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| The New Conformity | March 1, 2010, 5:04PM |
 by: quirky_one |
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Not long ago, the businessman was an admired symbol of success. Today conforming nonconformists cut him down to size. The businessman is a loser, an anonymous cog. He has not reclaimed his identity, announced his specialness. As the rising tide of nonconforming conformity crests into a tidal wave, the roles that once symbolized respectability and normalcy (e.g., the corporate player) become targets of ridicule. As a result, almost everyone is an aspiring celeb, remixologist, or rock star biding time on the tradingroom floor. They are announcing themselves to the world as individuals dedicated to the establishment of their own fleeting narratives and recorded legacies. By regulary pursuing activities that function primarily as channels to proclaim difference, mixing ongoing performance with their everyday responsibilities and deliberately seeking a place for themselves in the global mass culture - intentionally signalling their specialness. The obsessive marketing of one's "individuality" as celebrity can be found all over the world. Jean-Marie Messier was dubbed "France's first rock star CEO" by Fortune. He wrote a book called J6M.COM where he tells us in this modest tome,"Never having to answer to a higher authority, that is what guided me. I have been lucky. At each turn in my career, I have succeeded in increasing my independence." Not long ago such crass egotism and dismissal of the idea that there might be a higher authority thatn the successful CEO would have been shocking. But in the age of new conformity, he's just very special. Reality TV further spreads the ideology of new conformity. Everyone could and should sperate themselves from the crowd, be more themselves. Losers are those who are content to stick to the crowd. Winners are those who reinvent themselves to stand out. Reality TV pulls us even further into the dreamy world of externalized perpetual performance and internal normalcy that is the hallmark of the new confromity. The message is clear: With a little tweaking, you, too can be a more and better you. | |
topic: Philosophy | |
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| "My life went to hell when I fell in love with music" | June 9, 2009, 3:25PM |
 by: JV |
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Music, a wonderful thing, great outlet, great escape, though it has been argued before (but not recently) that music is the ticket to your life going straight to hell (metaphorically speaking), I am a musician and without music I feel I would slowly drift away....or climb a clock tower with an Uzi. Though music is my life I can see where some might see it as a grand way to ruin your life. Music brings out many emotions, you connect with it (when you find the right band or song) you get pulled in and it becomes a part of you, BUT... it makes all of your pain and misery known both to you and others, and can send you spiraling down into depression or bring out the hatred from within. (Sometimes liquor is the key ingredient to get the ball rolling) If I (and many others) hadn't found our passion we would be lost. But to actually know what would happen is impossible, for us to turn back the hands of time is only an idea the mind can contemplate but it can't create a direct and official result. Just a good hypothesis. Is music like the forbidden fruit in a way? Once you eat it there's no turning back? A sin even..Is it corrupting our minds or freeing it? I have left many arguments open for you guys to examine and think about, both sides have a decent point. Thank you JV | |
topic: Philosophy | |
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| Money is the root of all good. | March 12, 2009, 5:02PM |
 by: Vampire_Lycan_Bich |
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Since the beginning of time money has been a driving force behind the decisions of everyday life. Even before such standards of the dollar and the euro, bartering had the same economic effect. During the Renaissance, the Silk Road was a major bartering center for Europe and Asia. Eventually the idea turned into what is known today as the monetary system. Despite its antiquity, proper management and control have eluded the rulers of most states because they have taken a broad interpretation of the importance of money. Economists tend to overestimate the purely economic, narrow, and technical functions of money and have placed an emphasis on its negative social, institutional, and psychological aspects. This has created the notion that money is the root of all evil. It is my goal to prove that money is not the root of all evil but the root of all good. Money yields powerfully important psychic returns such as an individual’s social rank or a countries position in the Gross National Product league table. However, money should be widely interpreted to include discussion not only of currency and banking but also building societies and the fiscal framework. Even in medieval times these aspects were of considerably great importance than conventionally believed. One of the timeless problems caused by a history of misusing money is inflation. In his book, A History of Money, Glyn Davies analyzes this never ending conflict between the interests of creditors vs. debtors. Debtors want to increase the quantity in an attempt to give themselves a better financial standing, while creditors attempt to increase its value over others to maintain a good quality. For example, the Price Revolution in England, which lasted from 1540-1640 was an issue of population pressure taking control. This caused grain prices and the cost of living to increase and resulted in demand-pull inflation. These situations create a sense of lacking neutrality in its effects among the fortunes of the community. However, rising population is not the only cause of inflation. Wars, throughout history, have also been a major contributor not only to inflation but also to the corrupted belief of money. Over the past 1,000 years the “war ratchet” has succeeded in increasing prices while devaluing money. Davies explains this when he says, “Most of that time debasement was the most common, but no the only way of strengthening the sinews of war.”(646) The financial consequences of Alexander the Great, the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the crusades, the 100 years war, the civil war, and especially the two world wars are treated in this way. The importance of war as a cause of inflation increased with the adoption of paper money in the west. This ideology is what turned the United States into the Arsenal of democracy and the Merchant of death because we choose to allow the war ratchet to control our government. When we look to the history of the United States it is noted that money plays a significant role in corrupting politics and government, through not only elections but also the everyday policies that are being passed. Bill Moyers depicts the greed and corruption seen in elections and policies through his story “A Culture of Corruption.” He allows for some analysis that because campaigns are privately financed people with real meaning get shut out of our “democratic process.” This is because lobbyists don’t see the safety in surrounding themselves with these officials. He further shows how outrageous the cost is to gain political office. A seat in the House of Representatives has reached the price of over a million dollars. Then once an office is gained each member of congress is surrounded by 65 lobbyists. The total cost of maintaining the influence of these lobbyists is $200 million each month. That’s $2.4 billion per year just to seduce federal officials. Now when we look even further into the legislation that has gone through in the past it becomes obvious that the bulk of legislation passed through Congress is purely tax breaks for huge companies such as Exxon Mobil to ensure that even with the wilting economy they make profits around $30 billion through subsidies. Society has reached a point where anyone who attempts to be successful through ability is removed. In her book, Atlas Shrugged, philosopher Ayn Rand expresses this societal problem when the character Hank Rearden creates an amazing lightweight yet highly durable metal that could replace steel. However, the government is so influenced by the already existing steel company run by Orren Boyle; Rearden gets shut out by the science institute claiming his metal to be unsafe and unreliable. The government also goes to the extremes of forcing Rearden to only own one type of resource and make him share the formula for his metal with everyone else. When Rand makes this depiction of government she’s speaking of the direction the U.S. federal government is headed. Now, you have seen what money is not and because of that we are in the poor state of considering it the root of all evil. Now I would like to show you what it truly is. The United States was the first society to use and give emphasis to the phrase, “to make money.” This is what has created the misconception that money is made by the strong at the expense of the weak. However this is inaccurate because money is abused by the strong at the expense of the weak, and the abusers are the one who attack the makers of money. However money and wealth cannot be a product of the “strength” of the looters with their muscles and their guns that are condoned by government, Wealth is the result of a person’s ablility to think. However, money isn’t made by the intelligent at the expense of the fool. Neither at the expense of the incompetent nor the lazy. As Rand says, “Money is made by the effort of every honest man, each to the extent of his ability. An honest man is one who knows that he can’t consume more than he has produced.” Bill Gates, who began with nothing but an idea, this idea which became the world know Microsoft program. He had the will to use his ability to its extent and excel beyond all the already in place programs blocking him. Because of this, a simple program, Microsoft Word, turned him into the most well know multi-billionaire. Money is the means of all trade. It was the means of trade to get Bill Gates started. An investor made the trade of materials for a product, and this product was adopted into the market at a value to be traded for the fundamental need of money to trade for goods. Money allows no one to decide the value of your own efforts but for two voluntary parties to trade efforts with each other. Nothing more, nothing less. It allows for the judgment to be made without force on deals that are mutually beneficial. When searching for a job you don’t present an employer a list of your vices and expect to be taken seriously. You present them every value you have to offer and expect to receive an equal benefit. Reason is the basis of decision making. This is the basis of existence that is recognized by the symbol of money. Is this what you consider the root of all evil? “Money will not purchase happiness for the man who has no concept of what he wants: money will not give him a code of values if he’s evaded the knowledge of what to value and will not provide him with a purpose if he’s evaded the choice of what to seek.” It does not give intelligence, prosperity, respect, or wealth to the undeserving. The majority of the “wealthy” today have seen money destroy them. This is because they do not see what it truly means to have wealth. We are standing in the middle of one of the greatest achievements of productive civilization. In this technological age we have the ability to do great things whether it be to create lunar colonies on the moon or turn Mars into a livable place. Since the initial landing on the moon we have not set foot back there again, nor are we making any decent progress toward Mars. Why might you ask, because we are placing a damn on the lifeline to the programs- money. It’s quite ironic how this phrase, to make money, which so easily slips through the mouths of many, originated from a time where wealth was achieved through the labor of slaves. The looter is the one who sees no difference between the power held in the dollar versus the power held in a whip making him the most ignorant of men. Now we speak of this term as looters would speak of producers, slaves, traders, shopkeepers, industrialists, positions that a child wouldn’t dare to wish to achieve. These are the people who show the ability to follow that phrase coined by Americans, who have the ability to make money. Yet now looters feel the ability to denounce the people who follow these words as being un-American or just worthless of anyone’s time. “Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good you ask for your own destruction.” When you refuse to see this you and no long allow money to be the simplistic tool of trade it was meant to be, you become the politician that corrupts the government through greed. In this moment you become the tool to be abused. “Blood, whips, and guns—or dollars.” It’s your time to choose, and you don’t have forever. Money is nothing more than an simple tool and that when you allow it to be something else you are no longer an heir worthy to your wealth. Society needs to realize this. Inventors like Bill Gates and scientists like Albert Einstein and Leo Salard used their intelligence to produce objects of value and therefore earned the respect of others not through the amount of money they had but through their hard work and ability. Money gave them absolutely nothing but was only a tool to their success. When money becomes the success then it is no longer money, or at least what money truly is. Because of this, money is not the root of all evil, but the men and women who attempt to corrupt our belief of money are. | |
topic: Philosophy | |
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| Theory of Seven Planes of Conciousness | February 26, 2009, 3:07PM |
 by: Nyx |
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Theory of Seven Planes of Conciousness This is a very rough outline of 7 major frequency planes and their corresponding sub-planes. I've added some of my own thoughts to this located in brackets. Note that a human residing in the physical plane can achieve projection to as far as the Buddhic plane, and if I remember right a number of its sub-planes through eastern traditional practices. I also believe that you would have a very difficult time functioning in our society today if you achieved a mental state able to penetrate into these higher planes beyond the mental plane. You already gain a kind of awkwardness with mundane society even after achieving the ability to traverse the Astral plane. My own opinion though. There are better works on the subject, but this was the shortest piece I could find and though it could use a more indepth explanation, it still gives an idea about the theory. The Seven Planes of Consciousness and Matter by Robert Wilkinson All we know is vibration. From the grossest to the subtlest, the densest to the most ethereal, everything we think, feel, perceive or imagine is vibration. We are told in "esoteric philosophy" that there are 7 "frequency zones" that describe our entire reality and that which is beyond. Today we begin an exploration of what are called the "7 Planes" of our individual and collective existence. We begin with the dense Physical Plane. This is the plane of matter in all its forms, where all physical structures exist. The second Plane, more subtle than the Physical, is the Astral, or emotional plane. This is the plane of feeling, less dense than the Physical, but more dense than the next plane, the Mental plane. The Mental Plane [Mediary between Astral and higher planes] is the plane of thought, and is divided into two areas, the Lower Mental [Astral Plane] and the Higher Mental. The lower mind shows as logical, rational thinking, concrete thoughts about things, feeling, and ideas. The Higher mind is the arena of abstract or subtle thoughts, ideals, aspirations, and philosophical awarenesses. The 4th Plane is the even more subtle and rarified Buddhic Plane, or Plane of Soul. These are the higher, subtle, evolved loving feelings that we all have all the time, even when the lower thoughts, feelings, and things momentarily distract us from these higher loving feelings. These feelings are altruistic, compassionate, and powerful. This plane is where we are naturally lovingly wise and wisely loving. The 5th Plane is the Atmic Plance [Plane], or the Plane of Spirit. While virtually unsubstantial in a physical, emotional, or mental sense, it is the Plane where "the spark that ignites" originates, inspiring us and changing our lives forever. Some are never sensitive to this plane while alive, while others are touched by it once or even many times. The 6th Plane is called the Monadic Plane, our Oneness beyond division, our "Father-Mother God in Heaven which is ONE indivisible." [This is a view by the author that gives his obvious favor to christianity. I view this plane as more of a type of energy then a concious "God"] This is the Plane of our Divine Archetype. When we pray to Deity, it is this plane we seek to experience and see made manifest. It is associated with the "Anupadaka," from the Sanskrit "parentless", "self-existing", a self-created arising of Eternal existence. The 7th Plane has no name other than the Divine Plane. It is associated with the "Adi," from the Sanskrit "the first." Other possible associations are "the original," "the creator," "the Source," and "the beginning of existence. " Since all vibration is interpenetrating, [real word, look it up XD] it is useful to see these not as linear rankings of levels, but as co-existing states of consciousness. We can be thinking, feeling, and acting all at the same time, as well as being loving and inspired. From one point of view, we are all existing on all the levels and Planes simultaneously all the time. Also, besides all these levels of awareness being active all the time at the same time in all of us, each of these has 7 subplanes within its frequency zone. Thus there is a physical sub-plane, an emotional sub-plane, a mental sub-plane, a Buddhic sub-plane and so forth in each of the 7 Great Planes of Consciousness. [Some theories believe there to be as many as 7 sub-planes for each of the major planes, not just 1 sub-plane. An example would be the belief of the Astral Graveyard located just below the Astral plane] Each sub-plane is a distinct frequency zone in itself. For example, the physical sub-plane of the Physical Plane is matter, the astral subplane of the Physical is water and other liquids, the mental sub-plane of the Physical is air, the Buddhic sub-plane and higher are the sub-planes of Ether in its various stages. The physical sub-plane of the Astral are dense feelings, often referred to as "emotional thoughtforms." The astral sub-plane of the Astral plane are feelings about feelings, while the mental sub-plane of the Astral are feelings about thoughts, or feeling-infused thoughts. There are feelings about Soul and "higher" feelings, feelings about inspiration and oneness, and feelings about the unknown. And so it goes, with each Plane having distinct sub-frequencies with their specialized qualities. Various sub-planes resonate with various other sub-planes, as well as Planes, much as certain notes on a piano resonate with other notes, since many similar notes are shared between various keys which may or may not be in harmony or discord with one another. | |
topic: Philosophy | |
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| Speed of Confusion | February 22, 2009, 10:01PM |
 by: Satchell |
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Forgive me if this is misplaced, its one part philosophy, one part short story, one part poetry. -- The familiar colored stripes of my coffee mug smudge. The orange becomes acquainted with red and the rim is pushed ever so slightly upwards. It is a smear of porcelain. At first, they vaguely resemble a snail. No, that would be silly. I convince myself that this isn't happening. Not in real life. Not to me- here, now. Hyperventilation slides up to you like a close friend. What are you? My hands dissolve into the sidewalk and my arms crawl, working their way into the landscape. They slink into mother earth without hesitation because this is the natural flow of the world. Skin becomes the mat your face is compacting onto. Thrown Judo-style from the little old lady that plays bridge with grandma. Your thoughts fade into the shrinking distance between nose and floor. Your hair shrieks like a dirty mop of horrified wind chimes. Eyes open up like your 7th chakra. Impact. The ride is over. You get off the bus and return to the daily life but it really isn't yours at all. You're 2rd-hand account to life is being washed and recycled to make two billion paper cups. Life is like a bowl of jellyfish they say. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Don't question it. You can't stop here. Move on. No time to explain. Hey, you're holding up the line. Run, run to catch up. No time for a coffee break now. Sacrifice lunch for the status quo. Sacrifice your first born, your lover, your favorite marble. Here you are again. Back to the mat. Impact. Where the toaster did that come from? Why do I keep finding myself here? For the love of god, explain yourself! You're back, hanging a foot above that mat. You stare down the white sponge inching it's way to you. The mat grins in contempt for your very being and it knows exactly what happens next. It's read this part of the manual. It knows what to do. It enjoys every minute of your enlightenment. Your advent of human awakening. Don't you dare. Don't you dare. Don't you- Impact, impact, impact. Tossed again and again. Often, and with great enthusiasm. In every moment of every day we are being thrown into life and it is up to you to recognize the moment when it comes. The beatings will continue until zen is achieved. But,... I am zen. You try to explain. You won't mind another toss then. You're being too much in your head. Too many words, too much 'understanding'. We will crush you like a discarded can if you don't pick up the pace. It is our purpose to bring you out into this beautiful place we call consciousness. We get these brief moments of pure understanding, pure mindfulness, pure- right here, right now, uh-huh and then we go and muck it up with- Impact. You don't understand yet. Don't try. Zen is already here. Sit with it. Sit with it. Sit with it. Sit with it. Sit with it. Itch the foot. Sit with it... Gah. Itch the ear. Think about the dog. Sit with it. What was I going shopping for? Zen!! Zen? Got to go buy that meditation pillow. I need one for- SIT WITH IT!! Is my pizza done cooking? Zen in 3... 2... 1.... This finite zebra makes contact with the real world. Press the little red button. Pull the little lever. Eat the yellow fruit. Get paid your big bonus. Sit with it. Sit with it. Sit with it. There is no moment without that impact. I am the sock without a mate in a dryer. I hit every single surface on the way down. When this wave of emptiness washes over me, something else takes over. I stop moving my own hands and I simply watch. This ghost manipulating a husk. I don't know. I close my eyes and nothing. Something echos inside me and spills out of my mouth unto the page. I see veins on my arms and know that I am alive. I know my nerves send signals, convincing me of my physical presence but I seem to always come back to that question. What is more real, the beach in my mind or the snow in my boots? I have a story. I come from somewhere. This ghost does not. Maybe I am just tired, I don't think that is it, but we can entertain the possibility. I like to call it a hallucination so I keep some sort of distance from it. Impact. Impact. Impact. Delirium kicks in and we become unsure if our feet are even moving. Gliding over pavement with our brand new sneaks. Unsure of which way we are falling, we take comfort in the self- we all know the feeling. When you find that you are so much more aware of your entire body. You retreat into yourself during uncertainty. We hermit back into our caves and in that moment, we are so very sensitive to the wind. The slightest brush feels like you were just decked by a linebacker. Swimming out into the ocean, it's the moment the coral drops off and you realize that if something DID come up, you'd be boned. Totally out of cover, retreating. It's a beautiful moment, to be sure- if you can appreciate it. Its a defining moment and can mean the difference between a great experience and one that you will never come back for. Impact. Zen. Here, now. Pushing yourself into the speed of confusion, life blurs before your eyes. Unsure the nature of the core of your being, you press forward. We make that leap from rooftop to rooftop without estimating the distance. It's that moment that you realize it is much further than imagined. That wide-eyed bushy tail moment of "Oh. Well then." You remember lifting up your right leg and pushing off with the left. You remember placing your right foot forward but it doesn't respond. You don't know the current status so, you either try to keep running or take a sidewalk sandwich. Impact. It is all over. You're not getting up from this one. | |
topic: Philosophy | |
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