The Bottom Line

If this has not been stated explicitly yet in these pages, here is the bottom line:

Love is no good when saved.

Life is a succession of one moment after another. None of the moments past can be altered, none in the future can affect the present. 

We can only be truly happy (this should be our purpose) if we live as fully as possible in this moment. 

We must be; love; now. 

i.e. Love must rule our lives and we must be fully conscious of the MAIN EVENT - Now.

Scenes and Myths

As we attempt to understand the hidden form and meaning of what could be termed 'reality' (that which is truly in control of our perceived reality), it becomes clear that this reality (or God) has many levels. 

Among these, at the personal level, are the 'scenarios' which individuals plan in dreams and are carried out with the aid of (as a small conspiracy of scenarios) other souls who are available for 'bit parts'. *

At the higher level we have grand schemes or 'myths' which can create the mass experiences of vast numbers of people. 

* It may seem to be quite bizarre for some, but I really believe we are all connected and inspired at the soul level and even if we are not conscious of the part we play in other peoples scenes, we are bit players for them and they for us. 

Inevitable Changes?

I just read The Transformation: A Guide to the Inevitable Changes in Humankind by George B. Leonard*.
Mass culture craves a return to life and freedom. 

Witness the popularity of two shows:

1. t.v. - Kung-Fu, about a man who is brought up in a Buddhist monastery in China; people were fascinated by this Kung-fu master's ONENESS with everything; a man of peace confronted by others whose only thoughts were violent and death-filled. 

2. movie - Rambo - a man comes home from the Vietnam war; a commando able to exist in any physical surrounding. He is hounded by violent, death-filled people - all he wanted was to be left alone. 

In both cases these were very popular programs. 

Because of this, their violence was exploited. 

The powers in the industry did not really understand their appeal. 

*Published 1972 by Delacorte Press

Looking back, it is my naivety that jumps out from the page. Now it is quite obvious that the media understood only too well the appeal of these and other programs of the time. The slow turning of the public appeal to movies and television that feature and glorify violence is only too obvious now. The heroic aspects are minimal; sometimes only hinted at in the current media. 

Yin and Yang

It is difficult when you don't believe in fire and brimstone, or judging or forgiving Gods, to interpret the prayers of some Christians. 

What forgiveness is needed if I played my part in your drama?

After all, how do you expect to learn love in the absence of the challenges of hate?

How can we recognize faith if we have no desperation and hopelessness to challenge it?

Where is light when all around is brilliance?

As long as we are incapable of accepting the 'all there is ~ love' that is all around us, we will draw challenges to learn what love is not. 

DON'T CURSE 

GOD'S MESSENGERS

Thoughts on food and shelter for all

We should ask ourselves, "Is work in return for food and shelter good in and of itself?"

This might seem like a simply-answered question. We must guard against allowing a 'knee-jerk' response, however. 

In the past it has never been possible for all the members of a society to have free food and shelter without the voluntary or involuntary submission of others for the provision of these needs. 

Slavery provided such a situation. 

Welfare systems provide it in our time. 

Personally I cannot advocate slavery. 

Welfare systems have traditionally ridden on the backs of a heavily-taxed populace. This is also hard to approve. 

So far our original query gets yes. 

In a world where robot labour can provide food and shelter, will the answer be the same?

If the answer changes, how will our perception of the 'freeloader' or the 'slavedriver' change with it?

Submitting to the system

Someone ought to write a manual for the average person. In it should be some chapters on submitting to the system.

Throughout human history we have benefitted from centralization of power. In return for the "benefits" we have submitted to the authority of some "higher" power. 

Over time, we have experienced an increasingly complicated system, until today* virtually every aspect of living (work, play, travel, foodstuffs, etc.) is controlled for the 'benefit of society'. 

The idea of a house on Walden Pond is almost impossible to imagine in a society where zoning laws, lobby groups, and the like would stifle the freedom to build such a simple structure (especially if the pond contained rare wildlife). The ordinary person attempts to get by, while ignoring the fetters worn in the name of 'benefits of society'. 

Many attempt to 'play the system' while legislators create ever more circuitous regulations. Such a 'tennis match', leading to a Gordian knot of do's and don'ts is inevitable in our world, and is leading to an almost incomprehensible jumble. 

Meanwhile, the average Joe and Josephine attempt to put food, shelter, and creature comforts ahead of working the system ~ somewhat unsuccessfully. 

We are constantly reminded of the confused bureaucracy by an onslaught of media-hype, driven by pseudo-experts in various fields, giving their analysis of each new turn in the already too complex road we attempt to travel. 

Woe to the business-person who tries to create a new product or service without first hiring at least one accountant and a legal expert. 

Even farmers must become expert in international trade laws, marketing boards, and the like, before putting plough to ground. 

The realist will say "It has to be this way these days. We would have chaos otherwise."

At what price do we avoid chaos?

In Canada, a fairly enlightened nation, over half of the productivity of the average person is spent in support of government and its system. We are told that it is necessary to increase taxes to decrease the national debt.

At this point, it seems, I ran out of gas for this rant. Sad to think that in the interim, nothing has improved. Perhaps I am the only one who noticed there was a problem? More likely the problem, when noticed, is much too difficult to correct. 

* written sometime in 1987 likely

Insomnia

When I rarely do have trouble sleeping at night, it is usually because my mind is occupied by some worldly problem. 

~ Money

~Arguments or misunderstandings with family or friends

~ Some incomplete project that is giving me problems

It is not surprising that the average person needs sleeping pills since these seem to be the things that preoccupy the average person constantly.