The wise man wipes in the garage
No one pays him
Any attention he gets is squandered on refutation
No one pays him
He owes no one
The key to the car unlocks independence
The key to wisdom unclogs the drains
Windshield wipers can solve the problems of obscurity
Monday, July 31, 2006
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Verse Twenty-nine
Those who look down upon this world will surely take hold and try to change things. But this is a plan I've always seen fail. The world is Tao's own vessel. It is perfection manifest. It cannot be changed. It cannot be improved. For those who go on tampering, it's ruined. For those who try to grasp, it's gone.
- This is the problem with politics, usually liberals
- One should embrace change yet not bring about change because change always comes
Application: This is what helped me lose interest in politics. It also helped me away from voting either Democrat or Republican. I find myself closer to the Libertarian Party than even before, but I'm not sure if I'll vote for them. Politicians usually change the world for the worse. Its the people that change the world for the better.
Allow your life to unfold naturally. Know that it is a vessel of perfection. Just as you breathe in and breathe out, sometimes you're ahead and other times behind, sometimes you're strong and other times weak, sometimes you're with people and other times alone.
- For everything there is a season
- Do not fret during times of weakness and loneliness because they pass
Application: I found this passage to be full of hope. When I'm down, I know I can only progress upwards. When I'm up, I cherish the moment because it won't last forever.
To the Sage all of life is a movement toward perfection
So what need has he for the excessive, the extravagant, or the extreme?
- One can find pleasure in the commonalities of the world
- People and things that often catch the senses have problems of their own
- Being excessive, extravagant, and extreme cause isolation from the world
Application: The news media glorifies the abnormal. Sometimes it makes us feel great to be normal. Other times it makes us wish we were abnormal (famous). We should be comfortable with who we are. In the end, we will achieve perfection. All we have to be is patient. Patience was my biggest lesson of 2006.
- This is the problem with politics, usually liberals
- One should embrace change yet not bring about change because change always comes
Application: This is what helped me lose interest in politics. It also helped me away from voting either Democrat or Republican. I find myself closer to the Libertarian Party than even before, but I'm not sure if I'll vote for them. Politicians usually change the world for the worse. Its the people that change the world for the better.
Allow your life to unfold naturally. Know that it is a vessel of perfection. Just as you breathe in and breathe out, sometimes you're ahead and other times behind, sometimes you're strong and other times weak, sometimes you're with people and other times alone.
- For everything there is a season
- Do not fret during times of weakness and loneliness because they pass
Application: I found this passage to be full of hope. When I'm down, I know I can only progress upwards. When I'm up, I cherish the moment because it won't last forever.
To the Sage all of life is a movement toward perfection
So what need has he for the excessive, the extravagant, or the extreme?
- One can find pleasure in the commonalities of the world
- People and things that often catch the senses have problems of their own
- Being excessive, extravagant, and extreme cause isolation from the world
Application: The news media glorifies the abnormal. Sometimes it makes us feel great to be normal. Other times it makes us wish we were abnormal (famous). We should be comfortable with who we are. In the end, we will achieve perfection. All we have to be is patient. Patience was my biggest lesson of 2006.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Verse Twenty-eight
Hold your male side with your female side. Hold your bright side with your dull side. Hold your high side with your low side. Then you will be able to hold the whole world.
- If you can acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses, then you can acknowledge the world
- If you can bring together the microcosm, then you can do the same for the macrocosm
Application: This calls for self-reflection. I must acknowledge my masculinity and my femininity, my intelligence and my stupidity, and my virtue and my disgraces. Once I embrace both sides then I can feel better in the world I live in. I can accept others as easy as I accept myself.
When the opposing forces unite within there comes a power abundant in its giving and unerring in its effort. Flowing through everything, it returns one to the First Breath. Guiding everything, it returns to No Limits. Embracing everything, it returns to the Uncarved Block.
- More power comes through unity than division
- Acknowledge and embrace your imperfections to grow stronger
- The path to perfection divides oneself and is inhuman
Application: Here is another difference I see between Christianity and Taoism. In Christianity, I have been told to seek perfection. As I was raised, I had to admonish all of my sins. The more I sinned, the more I hated myself. This does nothing but belittle the human spirit and bring about miserable humility. But we should embrace our sins and realize that the whole world struggles in the same way. We should strive for the balance and not for the extreme of goodness and virtue because that is inhuman, only godly.
When the Block is divided, it becomes something useful and leaders rule with a few pieces of it. But the Sage holds the Block complete. Holding all things within himself, he preserves the Great Unity which cannot be ruled or divided.
- Individuals can only use or hold power over other individuals
- When one is with Unity, then he is useless to the greedy individual
- This is why Taoists may feel useless in a materialistic world
Application: Individuals have tried to overpower me by causing an imbalance within myself. They have tried to make me strive for extreme goodness and neglecting anything bad. They have tried to make me strive for extreme masculinity and neglecting anything feminine. I should hold on to everything that I am, and not let others unbalance me, causing them to overpower me. I have witness an imbalance cause vulnerability to the powers of another.
- If you can acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses, then you can acknowledge the world
- If you can bring together the microcosm, then you can do the same for the macrocosm
Application: This calls for self-reflection. I must acknowledge my masculinity and my femininity, my intelligence and my stupidity, and my virtue and my disgraces. Once I embrace both sides then I can feel better in the world I live in. I can accept others as easy as I accept myself.
When the opposing forces unite within there comes a power abundant in its giving and unerring in its effort. Flowing through everything, it returns one to the First Breath. Guiding everything, it returns to No Limits. Embracing everything, it returns to the Uncarved Block.
- More power comes through unity than division
- Acknowledge and embrace your imperfections to grow stronger
- The path to perfection divides oneself and is inhuman
Application: Here is another difference I see between Christianity and Taoism. In Christianity, I have been told to seek perfection. As I was raised, I had to admonish all of my sins. The more I sinned, the more I hated myself. This does nothing but belittle the human spirit and bring about miserable humility. But we should embrace our sins and realize that the whole world struggles in the same way. We should strive for the balance and not for the extreme of goodness and virtue because that is inhuman, only godly.
When the Block is divided, it becomes something useful and leaders rule with a few pieces of it. But the Sage holds the Block complete. Holding all things within himself, he preserves the Great Unity which cannot be ruled or divided.
- Individuals can only use or hold power over other individuals
- When one is with Unity, then he is useless to the greedy individual
- This is why Taoists may feel useless in a materialistic world
Application: Individuals have tried to overpower me by causing an imbalance within myself. They have tried to make me strive for extreme goodness and neglecting anything bad. They have tried to make me strive for extreme masculinity and neglecting anything feminine. I should hold on to everything that I am, and not let others unbalance me, causing them to overpower me. I have witness an imbalance cause vulnerability to the powers of another.
Friday, July 28, 2006
The Robot's Exhibition, part 7
For every busy shopper in the Mall of America there is a gift certificate the size of a deluxe bite-size Whopper. The shopper with the most coupons can win all the gift certificates if nine and nine never add up to twelve, a yellow twelve with pieces of chocolate surrounding the savory number. Twelves are for sale next to the jugs of ale in the counselor's twisted sense of bail.
The barrister on a banister rejected any illegal reasons to open a discotheque written on a legal pad. He did not know that the place was called THE LEGAL PAD after the barrister's backwards and fiendish scandals involving linen closets and the easy women found inside them. No, they weren't dead. The banister found a way to preserve women's sex appeal, but they had to be stored in linen closets. That's the story written by the journalists from the land of Overhype.
Overhype flashes in the eyes of dullards. Dullards are the people who love living in Overhype. Overhype is the land where it is possible for very small things to create big explosions. The land of Overhype is ruled by the Esquire Enquire and the Sun-Times of the Round Table. Esq. Enquire has the special capability to create any substance from concrete.
The real story behind the barrister on the banister is this: The sexy women volunteered to wait in the linen closets awaiting the butterfly's insectual message. There's nothing true about preserving sex appeal. Those rabble rousers from THE LEGAL PAD will go to the far reaches of the globe, such as the land of Overhype, to find a valid argument for their dancing establishment.
Without hesitation, an anchor detaches itself from the almighty cruise ship and heads for the underworld. This rebellious incident causes the Aluminux to float with the trade winds in the middle of the Atlantic night. Meanwhile the anchor finds the reservoir of other lost anchors joining in a current towards the rupture between the ocean floor and the underworld in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Blue whales and bottle-nosed dolphins stare at the amazement as the procession of lost anchors head into a small fissure in the ridge. The intense heat emanating from the breach keeps the sea creatures distance, but it's not hot enough to keep away the insurgent anchors.
Once the Aluminux anchor marches through, it is amazed to discover a field of ice cream plasma. The surroundings are sweet and blinding because of an unknown source of light remaining a mystery to the renegade anchors. An anchor's realm of perception is very limited. What they cannot perceive is that the source of light is the fugitive eye from Eightron, the largest octopus that ever existed. Eightron could have easily become the King of the Ocean, but it was cursed with the fugitive eye that leads anchors astray. One day a cruise ship will veer so far off course that it will accidentally destroy Eightron, but this octopus has superintelligence. She speeds backward through the seven seas like a frightened lobster. Every living thing clears the way for Eightron, her body easily doubling the size of Bluto, the daddy-o of blue whales.
High above the speeding mass of the blind octopus is Radar Island, a vast desert island containing five thousand satellite dishes, none of them belonging to the superpowers of the globe. The only living being on this island is the hyphenated buffalo. Every morning it melts into a puddle of primordial residue that seeps into the bases of each satellite. The DNA sequence of the hyphenated buffalo is a sequence, which programs the satellites to either receive or transmit information not for the world, but for itself. The hyphenated buffalo's goal is to expand its mental capacity so large that the whole universe will collapse within its cranium.
By the afternoon, the hyphenated buffalo forms back into its hyphenated self to recreate alien viruses that were received as data to Radar Island. The first virus the hyphenated buffalo ever created is in all of us, but it is basically harmless. It makes us blind to the hyphenated buffalo and its island.
The alien races with higher morals than the buffalo and the human race try to stop this scheme, but they are always thwarted to the extent of extinction. The hyphenated buffalo has successfully killed off all aliens with morals greater than its own. It is a wonder that the human race still exists.
The robot's exposition's secret purpose is to eradicate the hyphenated buffalo, but no living thing knows of this scheme. Once the robot has the gentry in high spirits, the buffalo will be in no spirits. As the buffalo's life passes out of its malleable anatomy, then the infinite dimensionality of the universe will also pass away because the robot will unknowingly destroy the continuity of infinity. Things will begin to end and never reappear again. So as all forms of energy try to bail out, the Double-Pope will supply the planet Earth with a very convincingly easy exit.
THE END
The barrister on a banister rejected any illegal reasons to open a discotheque written on a legal pad. He did not know that the place was called THE LEGAL PAD after the barrister's backwards and fiendish scandals involving linen closets and the easy women found inside them. No, they weren't dead. The banister found a way to preserve women's sex appeal, but they had to be stored in linen closets. That's the story written by the journalists from the land of Overhype.
Overhype flashes in the eyes of dullards. Dullards are the people who love living in Overhype. Overhype is the land where it is possible for very small things to create big explosions. The land of Overhype is ruled by the Esquire Enquire and the Sun-Times of the Round Table. Esq. Enquire has the special capability to create any substance from concrete.
The real story behind the barrister on the banister is this: The sexy women volunteered to wait in the linen closets awaiting the butterfly's insectual message. There's nothing true about preserving sex appeal. Those rabble rousers from THE LEGAL PAD will go to the far reaches of the globe, such as the land of Overhype, to find a valid argument for their dancing establishment.
Without hesitation, an anchor detaches itself from the almighty cruise ship and heads for the underworld. This rebellious incident causes the Aluminux to float with the trade winds in the middle of the Atlantic night. Meanwhile the anchor finds the reservoir of other lost anchors joining in a current towards the rupture between the ocean floor and the underworld in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Blue whales and bottle-nosed dolphins stare at the amazement as the procession of lost anchors head into a small fissure in the ridge. The intense heat emanating from the breach keeps the sea creatures distance, but it's not hot enough to keep away the insurgent anchors.
Once the Aluminux anchor marches through, it is amazed to discover a field of ice cream plasma. The surroundings are sweet and blinding because of an unknown source of light remaining a mystery to the renegade anchors. An anchor's realm of perception is very limited. What they cannot perceive is that the source of light is the fugitive eye from Eightron, the largest octopus that ever existed. Eightron could have easily become the King of the Ocean, but it was cursed with the fugitive eye that leads anchors astray. One day a cruise ship will veer so far off course that it will accidentally destroy Eightron, but this octopus has superintelligence. She speeds backward through the seven seas like a frightened lobster. Every living thing clears the way for Eightron, her body easily doubling the size of Bluto, the daddy-o of blue whales.
High above the speeding mass of the blind octopus is Radar Island, a vast desert island containing five thousand satellite dishes, none of them belonging to the superpowers of the globe. The only living being on this island is the hyphenated buffalo. Every morning it melts into a puddle of primordial residue that seeps into the bases of each satellite. The DNA sequence of the hyphenated buffalo is a sequence, which programs the satellites to either receive or transmit information not for the world, but for itself. The hyphenated buffalo's goal is to expand its mental capacity so large that the whole universe will collapse within its cranium.
By the afternoon, the hyphenated buffalo forms back into its hyphenated self to recreate alien viruses that were received as data to Radar Island. The first virus the hyphenated buffalo ever created is in all of us, but it is basically harmless. It makes us blind to the hyphenated buffalo and its island.
The alien races with higher morals than the buffalo and the human race try to stop this scheme, but they are always thwarted to the extent of extinction. The hyphenated buffalo has successfully killed off all aliens with morals greater than its own. It is a wonder that the human race still exists.
The robot's exposition's secret purpose is to eradicate the hyphenated buffalo, but no living thing knows of this scheme. Once the robot has the gentry in high spirits, the buffalo will be in no spirits. As the buffalo's life passes out of its malleable anatomy, then the infinite dimensionality of the universe will also pass away because the robot will unknowingly destroy the continuity of infinity. Things will begin to end and never reappear again. So as all forms of energy try to bail out, the Double-Pope will supply the planet Earth with a very convincingly easy exit.
THE END
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Verse Twenty-seven
A knower of the Truth travels without leaving a trace, speaks without causing harm, gives without keeping an account. The door he shuts, though having no lock, cannot be opened. The knot he ties, though using no cord, cannot be undone.
- Traveling from one life to the next, one cannot bring his individuality
- Once beyond the realm of individuals, one cannot return physically or mentally
- One cannot keep anything beyond this world
Application: I cannot say I have spoken without causing harm or given without keeping an account. Both are difficult to stop. A solution to speaking without causing harm can be found with a famous Sufi quote, "Speak to those according to their understanding." There is no need for shocking statements. Giving without keeping an account contradicts our modern society, but it can be done easily. I've only done it once or twice, but it's hard not to expect something. As for my outlook on life beyond death, I agree with what is stated.
The Sage is always on the side of virtue, so everyone around him prospers. He is always on the side of truth, so everything around him is fulfilled.
- When following the Tao, everything works out
Application: This is a very general statement. For me to claim to be always on the side of virtue and truth would be preposterous. What I can say is that when I am virtuous and truthful, things around me do prosper and become fulfilled. My problem is the "always" condition.
The path of the Sage is called "The Path of Illumination." He who gives himself to this path is like a block of wood that gives itself to the chisel--Cut by cut it is honed to perfection.
- Don't control your destiny, let your destiny control you
- Let life take you where it may; the journey will be more enjoyable
- The wisdom of Unity supercedes the wisdom of one individual
Application: During the past few months, I have seen this to be true. The more I try to control my destiny, the more struggles I encounter. But when I give up the driver's seat to the unified consciousness, then I end up in a good place--sometimes somewhere I would have never expected. It's like riding a wave.
Only a student who gives himself can receive the master's gift. If you think otherwise, despite your knowledge, you have blundered.
- Be in the moment of servitude when in need
- Do not aggressively pursue your goal--serve your goal
Application: I also realized this in the recent past. This is a psychological change when pursuing a need or goal. Instead of chasing it head on, I should think of it as service. Humility may achieve the goal that aggression cannot. I have found this to relieve the mental anxiety from false responsibility. False responsibility is perceiving responsibility for something you do not have.
Giving and receiving are one. This is called, "The great wonder, the essential mystery, the very heart of all that is true."
- This is another cycle like unity and individuality
- One cannot occur without the other
Application: Almost all religions have written about this: when one gives, one will receive. When one receives, when will give either voluntarily or involuntarily. Nature has its way of giving and taking. You can see this everywhere. So when I receive something, I expect to give something in return. And when I give something, I know something will come my way either directly or indirectly. I shouldn't demand something in return because it's not my decision to make.
- Traveling from one life to the next, one cannot bring his individuality
- Once beyond the realm of individuals, one cannot return physically or mentally
- One cannot keep anything beyond this world
Application: I cannot say I have spoken without causing harm or given without keeping an account. Both are difficult to stop. A solution to speaking without causing harm can be found with a famous Sufi quote, "Speak to those according to their understanding." There is no need for shocking statements. Giving without keeping an account contradicts our modern society, but it can be done easily. I've only done it once or twice, but it's hard not to expect something. As for my outlook on life beyond death, I agree with what is stated.
The Sage is always on the side of virtue, so everyone around him prospers. He is always on the side of truth, so everything around him is fulfilled.
- When following the Tao, everything works out
Application: This is a very general statement. For me to claim to be always on the side of virtue and truth would be preposterous. What I can say is that when I am virtuous and truthful, things around me do prosper and become fulfilled. My problem is the "always" condition.
The path of the Sage is called "The Path of Illumination." He who gives himself to this path is like a block of wood that gives itself to the chisel--Cut by cut it is honed to perfection.
- Don't control your destiny, let your destiny control you
- Let life take you where it may; the journey will be more enjoyable
- The wisdom of Unity supercedes the wisdom of one individual
Application: During the past few months, I have seen this to be true. The more I try to control my destiny, the more struggles I encounter. But when I give up the driver's seat to the unified consciousness, then I end up in a good place--sometimes somewhere I would have never expected. It's like riding a wave.
Only a student who gives himself can receive the master's gift. If you think otherwise, despite your knowledge, you have blundered.
- Be in the moment of servitude when in need
- Do not aggressively pursue your goal--serve your goal
Application: I also realized this in the recent past. This is a psychological change when pursuing a need or goal. Instead of chasing it head on, I should think of it as service. Humility may achieve the goal that aggression cannot. I have found this to relieve the mental anxiety from false responsibility. False responsibility is perceiving responsibility for something you do not have.
Giving and receiving are one. This is called, "The great wonder, the essential mystery, the very heart of all that is true."
- This is another cycle like unity and individuality
- One cannot occur without the other
Application: Almost all religions have written about this: when one gives, one will receive. When one receives, when will give either voluntarily or involuntarily. Nature has its way of giving and taking. You can see this everywhere. So when I receive something, I expect to give something in return. And when I give something, I know something will come my way either directly or indirectly. I shouldn't demand something in return because it's not my decision to make.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Verse Twenty-six
The inner is foundation of the outer. The still is the master of the restless.
- One's definition is found within
- Image only appeals to other individuals but it does not define the self
- One at peace can master anything because he has no worries to distract him
- The restless mind seeks solace in the still and peaceful sage
Application: I definitely believe this and have believed this since I can remember. I, like most others, have put more faith in those who were still and calm than those who were busybodies. This is something I already knew.
The Sage travels all day yet he never leaves his inner treasure. Though the views are captivating and beg attention, he remains calm and uninvolved. Tell me, does the land of a great empire go out begging for rice?
- Everyone carries unity within and should not worry about external matters
- When the outside world seems exciting one should not get caught up in it, that is the way of things
- When one has unity than all individuals should not cause him worry
Application: This part of verse 26 refers to the now common idea of "finding one's center." When I was in Japan, I felt that I accomplished what is in this verse. I remained calm and uninvolved in the captivating views of Japan. Just because I am somewhere new and exciting, that doesn't mean I have to do something. The world is not an amusement park that requires payment for a short ride. If I am "centered," I can enjoy the world through observation.
One who seeks his treasure in the outer world is cut off from his own roots. Without roots, he becomes restless. Being restless, his mind is weak. And with a mind such as this, he loses all command below Heaven.
- When looking outward rather than inward, he loses all command below Heaven
- When one loses touch with himself, he has nothing to fall back on and that wears him down
- Eventually the total loss of control brings him back without his effort
Application: While I was transcribing this part of verse 26, I going through this process. I was seeking my treasure in the outer world, so I became cut off from my own roots, becoming restless with a weak mind. I felt out of control of my destiny. It took a long time for me to recover from this uprooted feeling, and as I was healing the treasure was revealed to me. Because I witnessed it working, my faith in my beliefs was strengthened.
- One's definition is found within
- Image only appeals to other individuals but it does not define the self
- One at peace can master anything because he has no worries to distract him
- The restless mind seeks solace in the still and peaceful sage
Application: I definitely believe this and have believed this since I can remember. I, like most others, have put more faith in those who were still and calm than those who were busybodies. This is something I already knew.
The Sage travels all day yet he never leaves his inner treasure. Though the views are captivating and beg attention, he remains calm and uninvolved. Tell me, does the land of a great empire go out begging for rice?
- Everyone carries unity within and should not worry about external matters
- When the outside world seems exciting one should not get caught up in it, that is the way of things
- When one has unity than all individuals should not cause him worry
Application: This part of verse 26 refers to the now common idea of "finding one's center." When I was in Japan, I felt that I accomplished what is in this verse. I remained calm and uninvolved in the captivating views of Japan. Just because I am somewhere new and exciting, that doesn't mean I have to do something. The world is not an amusement park that requires payment for a short ride. If I am "centered," I can enjoy the world through observation.
One who seeks his treasure in the outer world is cut off from his own roots. Without roots, he becomes restless. Being restless, his mind is weak. And with a mind such as this, he loses all command below Heaven.
- When looking outward rather than inward, he loses all command below Heaven
- When one loses touch with himself, he has nothing to fall back on and that wears him down
- Eventually the total loss of control brings him back without his effort
Application: While I was transcribing this part of verse 26, I going through this process. I was seeking my treasure in the outer world, so I became cut off from my own roots, becoming restless with a weak mind. I felt out of control of my destiny. It took a long time for me to recover from this uprooted feeling, and as I was healing the treasure was revealed to me. Because I witnessed it working, my faith in my beliefs was strengthened.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
The Robot's Exhibition, part 6
In order to proceed as directed by personal respect, the assassination will have to be canceled. Human life has just surpassed the domination of souls as moral order. Long live the pope until further notice.
This is when the robot enters with its plans of an exposition magnetically pressed into laser-accessible circuits. Wires and cords are crisscrossing the plaza of the palace as the robot's arrangement. A sphere of electricity is planned to balloon from the fountain like a soap bubble from a plastic ring. Lords, ladies, dukes, and duchesses from around the planet have been invited to witness the robot's exposition.
A stainless steel framework containing plasma injectors and concentrated tritanium ore will create a structured order of synthetic sound to provide the plaza with magnetic resonance. In the amalgamation of every dimension of time will the images of the robot's exposition be projected.
This creation will be drawing condensed infrared rays from the sun as a source of energy. During the process of this exposition the infrared rays will be reversed and returned to the sun in the form of ultraviolet waves. The consolidated ultraviolet effect will be a reverse of the color spectrum cast from the largest source of light. Green grass will become red and the blue sky orange. Blonde hair turning magenta and everybody's eyes will glow a purplish hue as if in a black light.
Since this mighty fair releases intense heat, industrial size fans will blow across the plaza. The power of these fans is so strong that it could move a heavy-set man off his feet. Aerodynamic bodysuits have been constructed by the robot for the invited gentry. In all this splendor, these people will have the ability to fly.
The exposition would be impossible without the robot and the robot would be impossible without Dr. Harvey Ewald, scholar. Born during the Stuben Comet crash into the moon during a solar eclipse, Ewald was born to break barriers. After inventing the frictionless engine and the first fuel which emits ozone-binding molecules as exhaust, therefore repairing the atmosphere, Dr. Ewald invented the robot who's sole purpose is to put progressive scientific ideas into realities that benefit the humans' need for entertainment.
Today Ewald relaxes in his bungalow in the Bikini Atoll that he raised from the ocean and radioactivity-proofed it with his device, which uses that radioactive energy to clean itself off all matter, and into the device. Inside the device, the radioactive molecules are broken down to power the Bikini Atoll's resort: Ewald's Escape from Entropy.
All the money Ewald makes from his totally beneficial inventions is put forth to entertain the population of the planet. All his endorsed amusements are pumped full of subliminal messages to reduce crime and to stop all habits that destroy one's health. None of these companies refuse Ewald because he has rescued the world from the rot of human entropy, and he is by far the richest man on Earth. No money goes to him only because, "He shares as much as everyone else in the world."
Such a man cannot be stopped unless it is the Double-Pope who stops him. The Double-Pope has spiritual influence over all man-made devices. All thinking power coming out of the human force is supplied by the Double-Pope's agent. Therefore he can inspire the machines, computers, and robots to turn against the inventors since the initial energy source of thoughts are spawned from the beast himself.
This is when the robot enters with its plans of an exposition magnetically pressed into laser-accessible circuits. Wires and cords are crisscrossing the plaza of the palace as the robot's arrangement. A sphere of electricity is planned to balloon from the fountain like a soap bubble from a plastic ring. Lords, ladies, dukes, and duchesses from around the planet have been invited to witness the robot's exposition.
A stainless steel framework containing plasma injectors and concentrated tritanium ore will create a structured order of synthetic sound to provide the plaza with magnetic resonance. In the amalgamation of every dimension of time will the images of the robot's exposition be projected.
This creation will be drawing condensed infrared rays from the sun as a source of energy. During the process of this exposition the infrared rays will be reversed and returned to the sun in the form of ultraviolet waves. The consolidated ultraviolet effect will be a reverse of the color spectrum cast from the largest source of light. Green grass will become red and the blue sky orange. Blonde hair turning magenta and everybody's eyes will glow a purplish hue as if in a black light.
Since this mighty fair releases intense heat, industrial size fans will blow across the plaza. The power of these fans is so strong that it could move a heavy-set man off his feet. Aerodynamic bodysuits have been constructed by the robot for the invited gentry. In all this splendor, these people will have the ability to fly.
The exposition would be impossible without the robot and the robot would be impossible without Dr. Harvey Ewald, scholar. Born during the Stuben Comet crash into the moon during a solar eclipse, Ewald was born to break barriers. After inventing the frictionless engine and the first fuel which emits ozone-binding molecules as exhaust, therefore repairing the atmosphere, Dr. Ewald invented the robot who's sole purpose is to put progressive scientific ideas into realities that benefit the humans' need for entertainment.
Today Ewald relaxes in his bungalow in the Bikini Atoll that he raised from the ocean and radioactivity-proofed it with his device, which uses that radioactive energy to clean itself off all matter, and into the device. Inside the device, the radioactive molecules are broken down to power the Bikini Atoll's resort: Ewald's Escape from Entropy.
All the money Ewald makes from his totally beneficial inventions is put forth to entertain the population of the planet. All his endorsed amusements are pumped full of subliminal messages to reduce crime and to stop all habits that destroy one's health. None of these companies refuse Ewald because he has rescued the world from the rot of human entropy, and he is by far the richest man on Earth. No money goes to him only because, "He shares as much as everyone else in the world."
Such a man cannot be stopped unless it is the Double-Pope who stops him. The Double-Pope has spiritual influence over all man-made devices. All thinking power coming out of the human force is supplied by the Double-Pope's agent. Therefore he can inspire the machines, computers, and robots to turn against the inventors since the initial energy source of thoughts are spawned from the beast himself.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Verse Twenty-five
Something formless, complete in itself. There before Heaven and Earth. Tranquil, vast, standing alone, unchanging. It provides for all things yet cannot be exhausted. It is the mother of the universe. I do not know its name so I call it "Tao." Forced to name it further, I call it "The greatness of all things," "The end of all endings." I call it "That which is beyond the beyond," "That to which all things return."
- Unity is described here.
- It is the space that connects all individuals.
- Without it, the universe would collapse.
Application: There's not much to act upon a description. What is described here is close to my own concept of God.
From Tao comes all greatness--It makes Heaven great. It makes Earth great. It makes man great. Mankind depends on the laws of the Earth. Earth depends on the laws of Heaven. Heaven depends on the laws of Tao. But Tao itself depends on itself alone, supremely free, self-so, it rests in its own nature.
- Civil laws only apply to humanity.
- Science laws only apply to individual perception.
- Interconnectivity applies to unity and that why Tao only needs itself.
- Tao is the universal law.
Application: Here I discovered the limits of politics and science, one serving humanity and one serving the physical world. But there is more than that and that's where philosophy, spirituality, or religion come in. Almost all sacred texts describe their own universal law. Here is the Tao Te Ching, which has a freeing and open message. Knowing this leaves me content. I believe there is more to the universe than humanity and the physical realm. I'm afraid many people do not. But if people are left to think things over and meditate, I believe they will find more if they can get over the fear of nothingness.
- Unity is described here.
- It is the space that connects all individuals.
- Without it, the universe would collapse.
Application: There's not much to act upon a description. What is described here is close to my own concept of God.
From Tao comes all greatness--It makes Heaven great. It makes Earth great. It makes man great. Mankind depends on the laws of the Earth. Earth depends on the laws of Heaven. Heaven depends on the laws of Tao. But Tao itself depends on itself alone, supremely free, self-so, it rests in its own nature.
- Civil laws only apply to humanity.
- Science laws only apply to individual perception.
- Interconnectivity applies to unity and that why Tao only needs itself.
- Tao is the universal law.
Application: Here I discovered the limits of politics and science, one serving humanity and one serving the physical world. But there is more than that and that's where philosophy, spirituality, or religion come in. Almost all sacred texts describe their own universal law. Here is the Tao Te Ching, which has a freeing and open message. Knowing this leaves me content. I believe there is more to the universe than humanity and the physical realm. I'm afraid many people do not. But if people are left to think things over and meditate, I believe they will find more if they can get over the fear of nothingness.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Verse Twenty-four
On his tiptoes a man is not steady. Taking long strides he cannot keep pace.
- Trying too hard causes a fall.
- When one overexerts his energy, the goal cannot be attained.
Application: I usually know my limits of physically overexerting myself, but it's more difficult to find my limits of mental overexertion. Usually others will have to tell me that I'm mentally straining myself. It's like a kind of torture. I need to develop an internal mechanism to tell me when my mental limits have been reached.
To the self-serving, nothing shines forth. To the self-promoting, nothing is distinguished. To the self-appointing, nothing bears fruit. To the self-righteous, nothing endures.
- Since the individual serves the self, nothing else will.
- Being self-absorbed, nobody else can come through.
Application: When it comes to selfish acts, I believe I do quite well avoiding most of them. I'm not into material greediness. I don't always demand attention (from most people). Only when I get into politics can I become self-righteous, but that is changing. The contradiction comes when pride sets in. It's impossible to be proud of one's selflessness. That doesn't make any sense.
From this viewpoint of Tao, this self-indulgence is like rotting food and painful growths on the body--Things that all creatures despise. So why hold onto them? When walking the path of Tao, this is the very stuff that must be uprooted, thrown out, and left behind.
- All bragging, all egocentrism should be abandoned
- We are blessed to experience individuality but we should not revel in it
- When self-love overshadows love itself then one becomes despised
Application: I try to keep my braggadocio to a minimum. My weakpoint is when I start comparing myself to others. This is an expression of the yang energy, the competitive, individualistic spirit that we all have. Most of our lives is spent comparing things to make choices. I make choices because of desire, and the teachings of Buddha can explain the rest. So I should enjoy the differences and not feel better or worse about them.
- Trying too hard causes a fall.
- When one overexerts his energy, the goal cannot be attained.
Application: I usually know my limits of physically overexerting myself, but it's more difficult to find my limits of mental overexertion. Usually others will have to tell me that I'm mentally straining myself. It's like a kind of torture. I need to develop an internal mechanism to tell me when my mental limits have been reached.
To the self-serving, nothing shines forth. To the self-promoting, nothing is distinguished. To the self-appointing, nothing bears fruit. To the self-righteous, nothing endures.
- Since the individual serves the self, nothing else will.
- Being self-absorbed, nobody else can come through.
Application: When it comes to selfish acts, I believe I do quite well avoiding most of them. I'm not into material greediness. I don't always demand attention (from most people). Only when I get into politics can I become self-righteous, but that is changing. The contradiction comes when pride sets in. It's impossible to be proud of one's selflessness. That doesn't make any sense.
From this viewpoint of Tao, this self-indulgence is like rotting food and painful growths on the body--Things that all creatures despise. So why hold onto them? When walking the path of Tao, this is the very stuff that must be uprooted, thrown out, and left behind.
- All bragging, all egocentrism should be abandoned
- We are blessed to experience individuality but we should not revel in it
- When self-love overshadows love itself then one becomes despised
Application: I try to keep my braggadocio to a minimum. My weakpoint is when I start comparing myself to others. This is an expression of the yang energy, the competitive, individualistic spirit that we all have. Most of our lives is spent comparing things to make choices. I make choices because of desire, and the teachings of Buddha can explain the rest. So I should enjoy the differences and not feel better or worse about them.
Friday, July 21, 2006
The Robot's Exhibition, part 5
The people try to stop the money, but the pressure is too great and the dike is broken by the bribe. Rich runs up the nostrils of Mister and delivers a highbrow consciousness to him. He says, "I am very intelligent," as he looks over the killing floor. Money permeates throughout his pants like an octopus in the ocean. Rich and richer, Mister pays the snails to slaughter the pirates and the alligators to chew up the billboards. Anything is in the pockets of Mister in today's stimulated event.
Mister, the nabob, crawls like a baby to the supermarket and the busy traffic stops. Look at the rich man go! They start to laugh and, within a minute, his motorcade takes him to a farm. Like a fox, Mister robs the eggs right from the chicken but tosses the farmer a vintage coin worth $800.
After he swallows the owl-infested eggs, Mister and his many moneys seem unstoppable, but that's when the wurly-glove touches his ticklish sleep neurons. Mister is sleeping for the next couple of days with a new intention, an intention of impossibilities with subtle conformities to make it catchy and fun.
Red carpets are rolled out in every town because the pope's assassination is scheduled today. Senator Gilbright had the chance to interview the pope last night over a bottle of cream soda and kielbasa. "Let loonies be loonies," was the most important sentence from the Holy See's lips that night. Once the pope is rubbed out, the Antichrist will take the seat of the Vatican. This Antichrist will be disguised as the most powerful Roman Catholic man ever to live; he is called the Double-Pope. This will fool all. Bill Cosby and the Republic of China are the conspirators behind this assassination. It is not execution because the Holy Catholic Church and the United Nations did not officially approve it. Cosby and China have hired the Vice President of the United States of America to carry out the assassination. Here is his speech on this predicament:
"Beware! Citizens of the United States, a predator of each of your souls lurk around the world without restraint. It is time to give this predator the title and power of pope to successfully drain each and every one of you of spiritual power. I, your Vice President, have been chosen to carry out the deed of destroying the present pope. If I am killed afterwards, I will not be able to install the Double-Pope as the usurper. I hereby request that the American Senate fulfill this duty if I do not survive. To hell with Monster Giaour! Precision shall never wither from my mind as I go into the Mediterranean climate and fire the iron-cased olive into the heart of the pope. We, the people of the United States of America shall witness our most favored death and the crumbling of desolate land. I shall now persist as of the Official Assassin of the Pope. Thank you!"
The Double-Pope has come back from witnessing the re-enactment of the crucifixion. He was most deeply honored to be in the presence of a digitally re-mastered savior. Today he stands protected by a powerful Italian family in Milan awaiting the death of the pope. That's all we have for the news. Stay tuned because we will have full coverage of the assassination--live.
Mister, the nabob, crawls like a baby to the supermarket and the busy traffic stops. Look at the rich man go! They start to laugh and, within a minute, his motorcade takes him to a farm. Like a fox, Mister robs the eggs right from the chicken but tosses the farmer a vintage coin worth $800.
After he swallows the owl-infested eggs, Mister and his many moneys seem unstoppable, but that's when the wurly-glove touches his ticklish sleep neurons. Mister is sleeping for the next couple of days with a new intention, an intention of impossibilities with subtle conformities to make it catchy and fun.
Red carpets are rolled out in every town because the pope's assassination is scheduled today. Senator Gilbright had the chance to interview the pope last night over a bottle of cream soda and kielbasa. "Let loonies be loonies," was the most important sentence from the Holy See's lips that night. Once the pope is rubbed out, the Antichrist will take the seat of the Vatican. This Antichrist will be disguised as the most powerful Roman Catholic man ever to live; he is called the Double-Pope. This will fool all. Bill Cosby and the Republic of China are the conspirators behind this assassination. It is not execution because the Holy Catholic Church and the United Nations did not officially approve it. Cosby and China have hired the Vice President of the United States of America to carry out the assassination. Here is his speech on this predicament:
"Beware! Citizens of the United States, a predator of each of your souls lurk around the world without restraint. It is time to give this predator the title and power of pope to successfully drain each and every one of you of spiritual power. I, your Vice President, have been chosen to carry out the deed of destroying the present pope. If I am killed afterwards, I will not be able to install the Double-Pope as the usurper. I hereby request that the American Senate fulfill this duty if I do not survive. To hell with Monster Giaour! Precision shall never wither from my mind as I go into the Mediterranean climate and fire the iron-cased olive into the heart of the pope. We, the people of the United States of America shall witness our most favored death and the crumbling of desolate land. I shall now persist as of the Official Assassin of the Pope. Thank you!"
The Double-Pope has come back from witnessing the re-enactment of the crucifixion. He was most deeply honored to be in the presence of a digitally re-mastered savior. Today he stands protected by a powerful Italian family in Milan awaiting the death of the pope. That's all we have for the news. Stay tuned because we will have full coverage of the assassination--live.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Verse Twenty-three
Speak little. Hold to your own nature. A strong wind does not blow all morning. A cloudburst does not last all day. The wind and rain are from Heaven and Earth and even those do not last long. How much less so the efforts of man?
- Patience brings reward
- There is no permanence for individuals
- An individual shouldn't expect anything to last forever
Application: I don't expect anything to last forever, but there are a few things I hope will last for the rest of my lifetime like my marriage and my health. I know friends and family will pass away. And I am very aware that my lifestyle will not last forever.
One who lives in accordance with the Truth becomes the embodiment of Tao. His actions become those of Nature, his ways those of Heaven. It is through such a one that Heaven rejoices, that Earth rejoices, that all of life rejoices.
- When one accepts unity one becomes a part of it
- When one accepts the present moment than all becomes harmonious
- All individual effort gives way to the Tao
Application: I must accept the way of things. I shouldn't let the shortcomings of others, my community, and my country get to me. That is how things are. I should do what I can do, but no more. Nature has a way of letting things work out in the end. So when I hear some bad news, I should only act in a way that I can. I should not grumble and complain.
- Patience brings reward
- There is no permanence for individuals
- An individual shouldn't expect anything to last forever
Application: I don't expect anything to last forever, but there are a few things I hope will last for the rest of my lifetime like my marriage and my health. I know friends and family will pass away. And I am very aware that my lifestyle will not last forever.
One who lives in accordance with the Truth becomes the embodiment of Tao. His actions become those of Nature, his ways those of Heaven. It is through such a one that Heaven rejoices, that Earth rejoices, that all of life rejoices.
- When one accepts unity one becomes a part of it
- When one accepts the present moment than all becomes harmonious
- All individual effort gives way to the Tao
Application: I must accept the way of things. I shouldn't let the shortcomings of others, my community, and my country get to me. That is how things are. I should do what I can do, but no more. Nature has a way of letting things work out in the end. So when I hear some bad news, I should only act in a way that I can. I should not grumble and complain.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Verse Twenty-two
"Surrender brings perfection." The crooked become straight. The empty become full. The worn become new. Have little and gain much, have much and be confused.
- When at a low point, progress is on your side
- Without expectations, your life will be fulfilled
- Too many choices confuse the mind
Application: This is difficult to do in times of anxiety. I had this really tested for about four months. The more that time drags on, the more anxiety builds. What I need to learn is to not worry even if it takes years. Everything works out anyway. What caused me anxiety is an unknown picture of the future. Once I know where I am headed, my anxiety decreases. How can I stop being worried about the future at a point when all routine has stopped?
So the Sage embraces the One and becomes a model for the world. Without showing himself, he shines forth. Without promoting himself, he is distinguished. Without claiming reward, he gains endless merit. Without seeking glory, his glory endures.
- When with unity, one doesn't need to reward the individual
- One was already blessed when with Unity
- Individual desires just pulls one away from Unity
Application: If you do what you're supposed to do, then that alone is the reward. This is hard to conceive in a society where all work is paid with money. The whole world expects to be paid. I have to ask myself, "What work would I do for free?" It would have to be work that benefits my community. I imagine most people would answer the same. Politics cannot interfere with this goal, and that's the trouble with the world we live in.
The Sage knows how to follow so he comes to command. He does not compete so no one under Heaven can compete with him.
- Having the humble point of view gives a leader trust
- Transcending competitions leaves competitors baffled
- Only individuals can compete because in unity you compete with yourself
Application: I don't like most competitions. What I like about sports is getting together, but once competition becomes serious I want out. It's not because I "can't handle the pressure." It's because it's stupid. I don't understand the urge to demonstrate defeating someone in order to show off one's superiority. When I am in a competitive situation, I try to take the seriousness out of it. Nobody's #1 forever. Competition just shows how fleeting one's individuality is.
The ancient saying, "Surrender brings perfection" is not just empty words. Truly, surrender brings perfection and perfection brings the whole universe.
- Surrender your individuality and then all you have is unity
- Unity is perfection and the universe
Application: This is the answer to competition--don't compete. Oh, how I disappoint so many when I give up in a competition. I think the only competition I actively engage in is the race for a good job. If only I could give up the rat race and laugh at the money grubbers. That type of competition really strains my life. It strains at everyone's life. It keeps the world the way it is. Are you happy with it?
- When at a low point, progress is on your side
- Without expectations, your life will be fulfilled
- Too many choices confuse the mind
Application: This is difficult to do in times of anxiety. I had this really tested for about four months. The more that time drags on, the more anxiety builds. What I need to learn is to not worry even if it takes years. Everything works out anyway. What caused me anxiety is an unknown picture of the future. Once I know where I am headed, my anxiety decreases. How can I stop being worried about the future at a point when all routine has stopped?
So the Sage embraces the One and becomes a model for the world. Without showing himself, he shines forth. Without promoting himself, he is distinguished. Without claiming reward, he gains endless merit. Without seeking glory, his glory endures.
- When with unity, one doesn't need to reward the individual
- One was already blessed when with Unity
- Individual desires just pulls one away from Unity
Application: If you do what you're supposed to do, then that alone is the reward. This is hard to conceive in a society where all work is paid with money. The whole world expects to be paid. I have to ask myself, "What work would I do for free?" It would have to be work that benefits my community. I imagine most people would answer the same. Politics cannot interfere with this goal, and that's the trouble with the world we live in.
The Sage knows how to follow so he comes to command. He does not compete so no one under Heaven can compete with him.
- Having the humble point of view gives a leader trust
- Transcending competitions leaves competitors baffled
- Only individuals can compete because in unity you compete with yourself
Application: I don't like most competitions. What I like about sports is getting together, but once competition becomes serious I want out. It's not because I "can't handle the pressure." It's because it's stupid. I don't understand the urge to demonstrate defeating someone in order to show off one's superiority. When I am in a competitive situation, I try to take the seriousness out of it. Nobody's #1 forever. Competition just shows how fleeting one's individuality is.
The ancient saying, "Surrender brings perfection" is not just empty words. Truly, surrender brings perfection and perfection brings the whole universe.
- Surrender your individuality and then all you have is unity
- Unity is perfection and the universe
Application: This is the answer to competition--don't compete. Oh, how I disappoint so many when I give up in a competition. I think the only competition I actively engage in is the race for a good job. If only I could give up the rat race and laugh at the money grubbers. That type of competition really strains my life. It strains at everyone's life. It keeps the world the way it is. Are you happy with it?
Sunday, July 16, 2006
The Robot's Exhibition, part 4
Greg Chantorian became a tourist of New York City instantly when he bought a Hawaiian shirt, a camera, and piece of Chew Brother's formaldehyde/Naugahyde-flavored gum. Chew Brothers are not afraid of naming their flavors after the real ingredients. Wrigley denies that any of their gum is made from a combination of formaldehyde and Naugahyde, but all big Chicago companies are famous for denial.
Once Greg had this special gum coagulating in his mouth, it over took his perception of New York. It became a stimulating city, the Empire State Building got pointier and the World Trade Center* budded a third tower slightly taller than the second. The Statue of Liberty switched hands with the torch and document. Chew Brother's formaldehyde/Naugahyde gum in not a hallucinogenic food product. It is a special agent that interacts with physical reality instead of the perceptual reality. Chew Brothers know how to make a very convincing gum.
Greg found this out as New York entertained him more than any other tourist. Other tourists became jealous and hid behind huge billboards only to find waiters of five-star restaurants gathered together in their nudity. "Preservatives?" asked Ewan VanHuewy, a waiter with a nasty birthmark. His question could be interpreted in so many ways. What it really meant was, "It's time to take the elevator to waiter class."
A grain elevator coming down the train tracks nearby delivered an entire course with such precision that it became dangerous. An explosion instantly occurred and then canceled the final result of the explosion, which is a mass number of casualties. Nobody died and that's what fascinated Greg. His jealous tourists remained in life.
"Bravo!" said Greg before he swallowed the gum. DO NOT SWALLOW GUM! It may entertaining to chew but, once swallowed, gum has unexpected results. Mr. Chantorian developed a delusion, a rare delusion, a delusion that is contagious, a delusion involving weightlessness. Greg thought he was floating. As the Big Apple watched Greg pretending to float (although he thought he really was), other New Yorkers got the feeling of floating. They mentally became bubbles helpless in the wind and traffic.
Everyone saw the city of New York get smaller and smaller as they floated towards the stratosphere. This never actually happened, but in the minds of New Yorkers that day it did. Delusions of weightlessness unified the seeds of the Big Apple and a real perception of togetherness fought off the delusion. When hugs began, they noticed that their feet never left the ground. That feeling led to the feeling of being lied to. By the time everyone needed someone to blame, Greg Chantorian was on the expressway to Philadelphia.
Birds hummed escalator tunes, a new kind of muzak. Most birds can whistle elevator tunes, but escalator tunes need to be hummed. For instance, "Majorie's Halfway Shuffle" is hummed with a velvet banana. The bird sits on the banana and hums, not because the fruit is made of a synthetic fiber, but because an escalator tune is reverberating around the auditory realms of the aviary. Yes, the bird hums.
The best compact disc to get, as great escalator music is concerned, is BLAIR'S ELECTRIC STAIRS. "Majorie's Halfway Shuffle" is among the tracks on the disc. The best humming bird to get not a hummingbird but the fissilingual lingbird, the meadow pipit with the forked tongue. The combination of BLAIR'S and the lingbird will create the keenest fete champetre this side of the Bosporus Strait.
Six months later, on the crayon of the cask, lay down Mister. His mustache made from the finest paper bags and his eyes polished like ivory bubbles. A sleeping face like that can beam anyone to the groves. In the many awaken states he experiences, Mister's favorite is the event of the grassation. His wandering intimidates people, and it should. Mister's grassation only carries discontentment and glass satchels though today Mister lies on the crayon of the cask like an impenetrable balloon. Flags of nylon and pylons of rag try to out-shadow the shadow of the resting Mister, but it's of no use. When Mister awakes, he intends to join the nabobs in their hobnobbing.
*This was originally written in 1996 by Dirk Babbage. A 10-year anniversary if you will.
Once Greg had this special gum coagulating in his mouth, it over took his perception of New York. It became a stimulating city, the Empire State Building got pointier and the World Trade Center* budded a third tower slightly taller than the second. The Statue of Liberty switched hands with the torch and document. Chew Brother's formaldehyde/Naugahyde gum in not a hallucinogenic food product. It is a special agent that interacts with physical reality instead of the perceptual reality. Chew Brothers know how to make a very convincing gum.
Greg found this out as New York entertained him more than any other tourist. Other tourists became jealous and hid behind huge billboards only to find waiters of five-star restaurants gathered together in their nudity. "Preservatives?" asked Ewan VanHuewy, a waiter with a nasty birthmark. His question could be interpreted in so many ways. What it really meant was, "It's time to take the elevator to waiter class."
A grain elevator coming down the train tracks nearby delivered an entire course with such precision that it became dangerous. An explosion instantly occurred and then canceled the final result of the explosion, which is a mass number of casualties. Nobody died and that's what fascinated Greg. His jealous tourists remained in life.
"Bravo!" said Greg before he swallowed the gum. DO NOT SWALLOW GUM! It may entertaining to chew but, once swallowed, gum has unexpected results. Mr. Chantorian developed a delusion, a rare delusion, a delusion that is contagious, a delusion involving weightlessness. Greg thought he was floating. As the Big Apple watched Greg pretending to float (although he thought he really was), other New Yorkers got the feeling of floating. They mentally became bubbles helpless in the wind and traffic.
Everyone saw the city of New York get smaller and smaller as they floated towards the stratosphere. This never actually happened, but in the minds of New Yorkers that day it did. Delusions of weightlessness unified the seeds of the Big Apple and a real perception of togetherness fought off the delusion. When hugs began, they noticed that their feet never left the ground. That feeling led to the feeling of being lied to. By the time everyone needed someone to blame, Greg Chantorian was on the expressway to Philadelphia.
Birds hummed escalator tunes, a new kind of muzak. Most birds can whistle elevator tunes, but escalator tunes need to be hummed. For instance, "Majorie's Halfway Shuffle" is hummed with a velvet banana. The bird sits on the banana and hums, not because the fruit is made of a synthetic fiber, but because an escalator tune is reverberating around the auditory realms of the aviary. Yes, the bird hums.
The best compact disc to get, as great escalator music is concerned, is BLAIR'S ELECTRIC STAIRS. "Majorie's Halfway Shuffle" is among the tracks on the disc. The best humming bird to get not a hummingbird but the fissilingual lingbird, the meadow pipit with the forked tongue. The combination of BLAIR'S and the lingbird will create the keenest fete champetre this side of the Bosporus Strait.
Six months later, on the crayon of the cask, lay down Mister. His mustache made from the finest paper bags and his eyes polished like ivory bubbles. A sleeping face like that can beam anyone to the groves. In the many awaken states he experiences, Mister's favorite is the event of the grassation. His wandering intimidates people, and it should. Mister's grassation only carries discontentment and glass satchels though today Mister lies on the crayon of the cask like an impenetrable balloon. Flags of nylon and pylons of rag try to out-shadow the shadow of the resting Mister, but it's of no use. When Mister awakes, he intends to join the nabobs in their hobnobbing.
*This was originally written in 1996 by Dirk Babbage. A 10-year anniversary if you will.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Verse Twenty-one
Perfect action. True action. Supreme power. That is how the Tao is revealed through those who follow it completely.
- These 3 things must come naturally.
- They come from unity and not the individual.
- Individual action, virtue, and power do not reveal the Tao.
Application: These lines could be taken out of context to contradict the message of the Tao Te Ching. I realize that it is the Tao that is revealing the action and power and not the individual.
Though formless and intangible, it gives rise to form. Though vague and elusive, it gives rise to shapes. Though dark and obscure, it is the spirit, the essence, the life-breath of all things. "But is it real?" you ask--I say its evidence is all of creation.
- Many individuals arise from the invisible unity
- Something seems to be created out of nothing
- Emptiness is a source and an end of the individual and should not be feared
Application: This part of verse 21 is comforting in that it helps me view nothingness/emptiness/without as something beneficial. In modern American society, it seems that that's what everyone is afraid of. This is also the core of the fear of death. Why should we be afraid of what we came from? Nothing is how it is perceived as individuals, but through meditation that nothing is revealed as God or unity.
From the first moment to the present, the Name has been sounding. It is the gate through which the universe enters. The witness by which the universe sees.
- Unity is limitless and without form or borders
- It cannot end or be perceived physically
- It is the energy that makes us feel alive
Application: What we don't perceive is what gives us consciousness. We are more than an amalgamation of chemicals in a humanoid form. This realization helps me to understand the overused tag of someone being "special." That something special is the energy of life.
How have I come to know all this? That very Name has told me. That Name which is sounding right here, right now.
- I perceive therefore I am.
- Tao or the unity can be discovered through meditation, perceiving all as one
- It interprets the outside inside
Application: Through the context of unity, I am the universe and the universe is me. When I look into the vast depths of space, I am looking at a part of me. Time and space come together as one unit, the universe, me. This thought is both liberating and frightening. On one hand, I control my destiny. On the other, my destiny controls me. It is both. What makes life worth living is balancing the two.
- These 3 things must come naturally.
- They come from unity and not the individual.
- Individual action, virtue, and power do not reveal the Tao.
Application: These lines could be taken out of context to contradict the message of the Tao Te Ching. I realize that it is the Tao that is revealing the action and power and not the individual.
Though formless and intangible, it gives rise to form. Though vague and elusive, it gives rise to shapes. Though dark and obscure, it is the spirit, the essence, the life-breath of all things. "But is it real?" you ask--I say its evidence is all of creation.
- Many individuals arise from the invisible unity
- Something seems to be created out of nothing
- Emptiness is a source and an end of the individual and should not be feared
Application: This part of verse 21 is comforting in that it helps me view nothingness/emptiness/without as something beneficial. In modern American society, it seems that that's what everyone is afraid of. This is also the core of the fear of death. Why should we be afraid of what we came from? Nothing is how it is perceived as individuals, but through meditation that nothing is revealed as God or unity.
From the first moment to the present, the Name has been sounding. It is the gate through which the universe enters. The witness by which the universe sees.
- Unity is limitless and without form or borders
- It cannot end or be perceived physically
- It is the energy that makes us feel alive
Application: What we don't perceive is what gives us consciousness. We are more than an amalgamation of chemicals in a humanoid form. This realization helps me to understand the overused tag of someone being "special." That something special is the energy of life.
How have I come to know all this? That very Name has told me. That Name which is sounding right here, right now.
- I perceive therefore I am.
- Tao or the unity can be discovered through meditation, perceiving all as one
- It interprets the outside inside
Application: Through the context of unity, I am the universe and the universe is me. When I look into the vast depths of space, I am looking at a part of me. Time and space come together as one unit, the universe, me. This thought is both liberating and frightening. On one hand, I control my destiny. On the other, my destiny controls me. It is both. What makes life worth living is balancing the two.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Verse Twenty
The difference between a formal "yes" and a casual "yeah"--how slight! The difference between knowing the Truth and not knowing it--how great! Must I fear what others fear? Should I fear desolation when there is abundance? Should I fear darkness when that light is shining everywhere? Nonsense! The people of this world are steeped in their merrymaking as if gorging at a great feast or watching the sights of springtime. Yet I sit here, without a sign, staring blank-eyed like a child.
- There is a correlation between fear and frenzied consumption.
- When free of fear, one's desires decrease to a minimum
- Happiness is something that cannot be grasped. It is something to live.
- Grasping for happiness is a desire that brings suffering.
Application: This verse hits to the spiritual core of consumerism. If I desire something to buy that means I am lacking it. The lack of that consumer good causes my unhappiness. This philosophy keeps me from going on a shopping spree. When I do go on a shopping spree, I horde books and CDs. That means my lack of specific information and interesting music cause my unhappiness. Usually that makes me feel shallow inside, especially when it comes to purchasing music. Books can help bring about change. Look at what the Tao Te Ching has done for me.
I am but a guest in this world. While others rush about to get things done, I accept what is offered. Oh, my mind is like that of a fool, aloof to the clamor of life around me. Everyone seems so bright and alive with the sharp distinctions of day. I appear dark and dull with the blending of differences by night.
- The light that burns brightest dies quickest.
- The desire to appear bright and alive is an individual goal, seperate from unity.
- Letting go of appearing unique aids in becoming closer to others, bonding relationships.
- The paradox of conformity of the West
Application: This part of verse 20 sparked a chain reaction of ideas in my mind. It reminds me of the difference between my desire to become independent between the ages of 16 and 20, and my spiritual quest at the present moment. Most teenagers strive for a unique identity. Not only are they gaining independence from their parents, but they are trying to make their (immature) mark in the world. I think this striving for uniqueness in me faded sometime between Beloit College and Japan. Perhaps it was the bonding of new friendships that caused it--acceptance. Now I think I'm unique enough and I get tired of standing out in a crowd, especially with my lifestyle. Although this "standing out" maintains my youth. But how long should I maintain it? What's the purpose of holding onto one's youth? I'm beginning to think that is foolish. I don't care if I act or look young. I hope I regret nothing when I reach the age of mid-life crisis.
I am drifting like an ocean, floating like the high winds. Everyone is so rooted in this world, yet I have no place to rest my head. Indeed I am different...I have no treasure but the Eternal Mother. I have found no food but what comes from her breast.
- Clinging to identity and "home" is the desire of the individual
- One must free the self from all that ties one to this physical world
- God provides
Application: This part of verse 20 is a lot like the teachings of Jesus. All that is really important in the world is love (relationships) and trust in God (no worries). Everything we own serves no spiritual purpose. Our possessions bind us to the physical world of desire. Every place we call home should have no special meaning. Our hometown binds us to tribal thinking of us versus them, when us and them are in fact one.
- There is a correlation between fear and frenzied consumption.
- When free of fear, one's desires decrease to a minimum
- Happiness is something that cannot be grasped. It is something to live.
- Grasping for happiness is a desire that brings suffering.
Application: This verse hits to the spiritual core of consumerism. If I desire something to buy that means I am lacking it. The lack of that consumer good causes my unhappiness. This philosophy keeps me from going on a shopping spree. When I do go on a shopping spree, I horde books and CDs. That means my lack of specific information and interesting music cause my unhappiness. Usually that makes me feel shallow inside, especially when it comes to purchasing music. Books can help bring about change. Look at what the Tao Te Ching has done for me.
I am but a guest in this world. While others rush about to get things done, I accept what is offered. Oh, my mind is like that of a fool, aloof to the clamor of life around me. Everyone seems so bright and alive with the sharp distinctions of day. I appear dark and dull with the blending of differences by night.
- The light that burns brightest dies quickest.
- The desire to appear bright and alive is an individual goal, seperate from unity.
- Letting go of appearing unique aids in becoming closer to others, bonding relationships.
- The paradox of conformity of the West
Application: This part of verse 20 sparked a chain reaction of ideas in my mind. It reminds me of the difference between my desire to become independent between the ages of 16 and 20, and my spiritual quest at the present moment. Most teenagers strive for a unique identity. Not only are they gaining independence from their parents, but they are trying to make their (immature) mark in the world. I think this striving for uniqueness in me faded sometime between Beloit College and Japan. Perhaps it was the bonding of new friendships that caused it--acceptance. Now I think I'm unique enough and I get tired of standing out in a crowd, especially with my lifestyle. Although this "standing out" maintains my youth. But how long should I maintain it? What's the purpose of holding onto one's youth? I'm beginning to think that is foolish. I don't care if I act or look young. I hope I regret nothing when I reach the age of mid-life crisis.
I am drifting like an ocean, floating like the high winds. Everyone is so rooted in this world, yet I have no place to rest my head. Indeed I am different...I have no treasure but the Eternal Mother. I have found no food but what comes from her breast.
- Clinging to identity and "home" is the desire of the individual
- One must free the self from all that ties one to this physical world
- God provides
Application: This part of verse 20 is a lot like the teachings of Jesus. All that is really important in the world is love (relationships) and trust in God (no worries). Everything we own serves no spiritual purpose. Our possessions bind us to the physical world of desire. Every place we call home should have no special meaning. Our hometown binds us to tribal thinking of us versus them, when us and them are in fact one.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
The Robot's Exhibition, part 3
Stopping a stop sign is ironic, but a very dumb thing to actually do. Picture someone like your grandma walking up to the red octagon and saying, "Stop!" Surreal but more half-witted than a piece of avant-garde performance art. The last leg collapsing under a dog is avant-garde, especially if it was a cat playing the role of a dog. All the cat fanciers would dig it.
Illustrations by the Madman interested Mr. Frederix, but when he opened the book he was surprised to see no illustrations at all. Instead he saw infinity and couldn't take his eyes away from it. No one take his or her eyes off infinity. Mr. Frederix lived the rest of his life with the book with the Madman's illustrations dangling just beyond his nose.
The Madman adopted Mr. Frederix as his coat hanger and tipped him a dime every time he hung up a new coat. The Madman always had one coat and it was an old one. Mr. Frederix died a very pitiful death from a pitiful existence. The Madman's books still sell like hotcakes, so he won't have to worry about losing a coat hanger for long.
Mr. and Mrs. Bickens were trapped and now have to support the Madman while he sleeps. They're adopted as beds. Miss Ketchum was adopted as his showerhead, and Mr. Childers as his spoon. The Madman's house is made of adopted people with books dangling off their faces.
In that land, a conveyor belt serves as the highway. It goes down, so far down that you have to shrink to pass through the pores of the earth's crust. Most of the passengers are droplets of rain that will have the privilege of not quenching the earth but visiting the world-renowned Magma Flow of Arachnes. Arachnes is the stingy turtle with the head and neck of a giraffe. She oversees the magma flow and makes sure that the minerals it spews contain something that will screw up humanity's industry.
Cough syrup is the only daily supplement that Arachnes demands. And so the rain droplets make sure to contain some evaporated cough syrup as they enter the spectacular Magma Flow. The steam rises to create a demi-god of new rain droplets. Arachnes' one super power is to give the gift of invincibility to the droplets that bestow evaporated cough syrup. This is why the water cycle never ends.
As the steam pushes the demi-god out of the Magma Flow of Arachnes it finds that the world is hilarious and whispers the secret of the Earth's jocularity to the clouds that then have such a laughing fit that they cry new cough syrup messengers down.
The bit about the clouds is hypothetical. What is known about the clouds is that within their condensed vapor are pieces of sports. A fraction of football was detected in a cumulus about an hour ago. This is why bad weather does not ruin the reception of sports events. Bad weather can only interfere on the game itself and that's if it's played outdoors.
The sports industry is building too many domes. This is because the municipal industries rejected the dome corporation's contract as bad weather protection. One dome company, Good Weather Domes, was near a contract with New York City to provide a unique ventilation system that would rid the town of all air pollution. Top secret government documents intercepted by certain individuals revealed that the reason for rejection was that it would hurt New York's tourism.
Illustrations by the Madman interested Mr. Frederix, but when he opened the book he was surprised to see no illustrations at all. Instead he saw infinity and couldn't take his eyes away from it. No one take his or her eyes off infinity. Mr. Frederix lived the rest of his life with the book with the Madman's illustrations dangling just beyond his nose.
The Madman adopted Mr. Frederix as his coat hanger and tipped him a dime every time he hung up a new coat. The Madman always had one coat and it was an old one. Mr. Frederix died a very pitiful death from a pitiful existence. The Madman's books still sell like hotcakes, so he won't have to worry about losing a coat hanger for long.
Mr. and Mrs. Bickens were trapped and now have to support the Madman while he sleeps. They're adopted as beds. Miss Ketchum was adopted as his showerhead, and Mr. Childers as his spoon. The Madman's house is made of adopted people with books dangling off their faces.
In that land, a conveyor belt serves as the highway. It goes down, so far down that you have to shrink to pass through the pores of the earth's crust. Most of the passengers are droplets of rain that will have the privilege of not quenching the earth but visiting the world-renowned Magma Flow of Arachnes. Arachnes is the stingy turtle with the head and neck of a giraffe. She oversees the magma flow and makes sure that the minerals it spews contain something that will screw up humanity's industry.
Cough syrup is the only daily supplement that Arachnes demands. And so the rain droplets make sure to contain some evaporated cough syrup as they enter the spectacular Magma Flow. The steam rises to create a demi-god of new rain droplets. Arachnes' one super power is to give the gift of invincibility to the droplets that bestow evaporated cough syrup. This is why the water cycle never ends.
As the steam pushes the demi-god out of the Magma Flow of Arachnes it finds that the world is hilarious and whispers the secret of the Earth's jocularity to the clouds that then have such a laughing fit that they cry new cough syrup messengers down.
The bit about the clouds is hypothetical. What is known about the clouds is that within their condensed vapor are pieces of sports. A fraction of football was detected in a cumulus about an hour ago. This is why bad weather does not ruin the reception of sports events. Bad weather can only interfere on the game itself and that's if it's played outdoors.
The sports industry is building too many domes. This is because the municipal industries rejected the dome corporation's contract as bad weather protection. One dome company, Good Weather Domes, was near a contract with New York City to provide a unique ventilation system that would rid the town of all air pollution. Top secret government documents intercepted by certain individuals revealed that the reason for rejection was that it would hurt New York's tourism.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Verse Nineteen
Abandon holiness. Discard cleverness and the people will benefit a hundredfold. Abandon the rules of "kindness." Discard "righteous" actions and the people will return to their own natural affections. Abandon book learning. Discard the rules of behavior and the people will have no worries. Abandon plots and schemes. Discard profit-seeking and the people will not become theives.
- All these things that we must abandon and discard are human inventions
- They seperate us from the natural world
- They distort ourselves as we become removed from nature
- They turn us into posers, a fake impression for all other posers
- They distract us from what really matters in the world
Application: This verse helps me view what is good according to humanity (individuals) and what is good according to nature (unity). To me, it seems that what is good according to humanity are a bunch of rules to control people and a bunch of titles for people to aspire to--all of them are really unnecessary. As an American, I live more in a world removed from nature so it is hard to avoid following social and legal rules and it is hard to aspire to a certain social status. At this point in my life, it seems like the alternative is to become a hermit or join some clergy.
These lessons learned are mere elaborations. The essence of my teachings is this: see with original purity, embrace with original simplicity, reduce what you have, decrease what you want.
- The things that seperate us from nature make like unnecessarily complex
- Remaining true to nature makes life simpler
- There are no distractions in nature, just a straight focus
- This is what distinguishes Taoism from Christianity, which tells us to be removed from nature
- Christianity calls for a permanant schism between "god" and nature when there is none.
Application: This is one element that pulled me away from Christianity--many natural behaviors are seen as ungodly. We were taught shame with many of our animal instincts, which Freud later pointed out causes certain neuroses. I believe God's laws are simpler, meaning the laws can be found through nature and self-reflection. For forgetful people, perhaps a book can help to remind them. But I don't believe a book should be analyzed to death when its purpose is to remind us that God's laws are found within us and around us. When there is a conflict between what is natural and what is written, then all sorts of unwinnable debates arise. I take the side of what is natural.
- All these things that we must abandon and discard are human inventions
- They seperate us from the natural world
- They distort ourselves as we become removed from nature
- They turn us into posers, a fake impression for all other posers
- They distract us from what really matters in the world
Application: This verse helps me view what is good according to humanity (individuals) and what is good according to nature (unity). To me, it seems that what is good according to humanity are a bunch of rules to control people and a bunch of titles for people to aspire to--all of them are really unnecessary. As an American, I live more in a world removed from nature so it is hard to avoid following social and legal rules and it is hard to aspire to a certain social status. At this point in my life, it seems like the alternative is to become a hermit or join some clergy.
These lessons learned are mere elaborations. The essence of my teachings is this: see with original purity, embrace with original simplicity, reduce what you have, decrease what you want.
- The things that seperate us from nature make like unnecessarily complex
- Remaining true to nature makes life simpler
- There are no distractions in nature, just a straight focus
- This is what distinguishes Taoism from Christianity, which tells us to be removed from nature
- Christianity calls for a permanant schism between "god" and nature when there is none.
Application: This is one element that pulled me away from Christianity--many natural behaviors are seen as ungodly. We were taught shame with many of our animal instincts, which Freud later pointed out causes certain neuroses. I believe God's laws are simpler, meaning the laws can be found through nature and self-reflection. For forgetful people, perhaps a book can help to remind them. But I don't believe a book should be analyzed to death when its purpose is to remind us that God's laws are found within us and around us. When there is a conflict between what is natural and what is written, then all sorts of unwinnable debates arise. I take the side of what is natural.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Verse Eighteen
When the greatness of Tao is present, action arises from one's own heart. When the greatness of Tao is absent, action comes from the rules of "kindness" and "justice." If you need rules to be kind and just, if you act virtuous, there is a sure sign that virtue is absent. Thus we see the great hypocrisy.
- Rules are meant for those who are too impatient to find the Tao
- Blindly following the rules keeps one in line but off the path
- Kindness and justice come naturally and need not be enforced
- Kindness and justice are not an act
- Do no act virtuous, be virtuous through the Tao
Application: A lot of self-reflection and meditation upon morality and ethics have revealed the inner laws. Laws are made to control people who can't control themselves. When there is no critical thinking involved, then rules are necessary. All just laws make sense. Unfortunately we live in a world where people don't think critically or even for themselves. We can either let them be, causing harm to themselves and others, or we can control them through the law. I believe we could reduce problems caused through stupidity by educating people about spirituality and interpersonal relationships. A lot of education is spent on dealing with things rather than people, so we grow up treating people like things. I would like this to change.
Only when the family loses its harmony do we hear of "dutiful sons." Only when the state is in chaos do we hear of "loyal ministers."
- This is the difference between Confucius and Lao Tzu
- Rules cannot bring peace, only you can
- One can only control oneself
- Leave the order of the universe to the Tao
- When one tries to control more, he runs into conflict with the Tao
Application: This shows the problem with the first part of verse 18. I said I would like to change the focus of education from dealing with things to emphasizing relationships and spirituality. This is control--the more one tries to control the education system, the more one runs into conflict with the goal itself. If I managed to change the education system, it could not be strict and rigid. But many educators will not buy into a system without clear-cut boundaries and limits. I hope this demonstrates how spirituality can only successfully change one person instead of a family or a community. Nobody likes the guy/gal in charge telling them what to do and how to think.
- Rules are meant for those who are too impatient to find the Tao
- Blindly following the rules keeps one in line but off the path
- Kindness and justice come naturally and need not be enforced
- Kindness and justice are not an act
- Do no act virtuous, be virtuous through the Tao
Application: A lot of self-reflection and meditation upon morality and ethics have revealed the inner laws. Laws are made to control people who can't control themselves. When there is no critical thinking involved, then rules are necessary. All just laws make sense. Unfortunately we live in a world where people don't think critically or even for themselves. We can either let them be, causing harm to themselves and others, or we can control them through the law. I believe we could reduce problems caused through stupidity by educating people about spirituality and interpersonal relationships. A lot of education is spent on dealing with things rather than people, so we grow up treating people like things. I would like this to change.
Only when the family loses its harmony do we hear of "dutiful sons." Only when the state is in chaos do we hear of "loyal ministers."
- This is the difference between Confucius and Lao Tzu
- Rules cannot bring peace, only you can
- One can only control oneself
- Leave the order of the universe to the Tao
- When one tries to control more, he runs into conflict with the Tao
Application: This shows the problem with the first part of verse 18. I said I would like to change the focus of education from dealing with things to emphasizing relationships and spirituality. This is control--the more one tries to control the education system, the more one runs into conflict with the goal itself. If I managed to change the education system, it could not be strict and rigid. But many educators will not buy into a system without clear-cut boundaries and limits. I hope this demonstrates how spirituality can only successfully change one person instead of a family or a community. Nobody likes the guy/gal in charge telling them what to do and how to think.
Monday, July 10, 2006
The Robot's Exhibition, part 2
The sun made the other stars jealous. This jealousy started a fad in the stellar galaxy. Stars used their light to beam aboard certain anatomical features for their luminescence. Alpha Centauri, the closest star to the Earth, took my best friend's nose. Now we got a bunch of human body parts as large as the world a hundred times over sneezing, winking, and farting at us. I liked the light and I liked the heat, but that's all the stars should have. This new consciousness of stellar life and their jealousy to be human makes the universe a bit unrealistic.
Who's to say what's real? asks a fictional philosopher. A cardboard scientist made by semi-real scientists was programmed to define real. And so it did: "Real is the perception of all unimagined things." Only a thing that can't image can say that. Way to go semi-real scientists!
"Let's paint the moon blood red," said the Revelationaries, a cult that encourages the second coming of Christ and the threat of the Antichrist. They program wars and stir natural disasters as if they were a government agency. The United States, encourager of competition, hated this competition with their war and natural disaster agencies, so they tried to dissolve the Revelationaries by exposing untrue but very treacherous things about them. That's how the Revelationary War started and God intervened and how we've got Armageddon.
A piece of cloth without a tag ripped the juice of an instinctual delegate. Just as vitreous minstrel pinchers vouch their way to righteous positions, so will umbrella fiends find you in their self-perpetuated rain. A handout was specifically made for the enjoyment of gasoline electricians. To my dismay and your delight, the frock-wearing Ecclesiaste poured an empty glass of milk onto his own contents.
Back to the story, the castle captured a dragon princess. Luckily the prince of planets knew of this predicament. Hurriedly he did something. Weirdly he always does something where an adverb sets off his sentences. Actually they're the author's adverbs and not the prince of planets'.
Let's see where were we...Ah! Hurriedly he rushed off to the castle, the castle with no name, the castle that is not capitalized because there should be emphasis placed on the castle that captured the dragon princess. Easily the dragon princess was saved from the clutches of the stupid castle. Stupid castles were all made by the hillbillies of the Ural Mountains. Were they European or Asian? Nobody knew, not even them. That's why castles they built were so stupid.
A restaurant in northern California was called the Stupid Castle and a lot of bewildered Russians ate there, but it was nothing like home, so the place closed down and the entire town starved to death.
The United States should blow up the Ural Mountains because it makes sense to do so. Todoso should be someone's name. You should change your name to Todoso because it ended the first sentence of this paragraph. If your last name were Fulton, you would be Todoso Fulton. Doesn't that sound like the best name you could possibly have? Even if your last name isn't Fulton, just indulge in the thought of having the name Todoso. Doesn't it make your viscera curdle?
A badger with nail polish on its claws died of curdled viscera. I saw this because it's a popular joke among Wisconsinites. Wisconsin being the Badger State and America's Dairyland and all. Some people confuse our animal with our food. Wisconsin does have carnivorous citizens you know. There's nothing more irritating than an antagonizing non-Wisconsinite. Stop it!
Who's to say what's real? asks a fictional philosopher. A cardboard scientist made by semi-real scientists was programmed to define real. And so it did: "Real is the perception of all unimagined things." Only a thing that can't image can say that. Way to go semi-real scientists!
"Let's paint the moon blood red," said the Revelationaries, a cult that encourages the second coming of Christ and the threat of the Antichrist. They program wars and stir natural disasters as if they were a government agency. The United States, encourager of competition, hated this competition with their war and natural disaster agencies, so they tried to dissolve the Revelationaries by exposing untrue but very treacherous things about them. That's how the Revelationary War started and God intervened and how we've got Armageddon.
A piece of cloth without a tag ripped the juice of an instinctual delegate. Just as vitreous minstrel pinchers vouch their way to righteous positions, so will umbrella fiends find you in their self-perpetuated rain. A handout was specifically made for the enjoyment of gasoline electricians. To my dismay and your delight, the frock-wearing Ecclesiaste poured an empty glass of milk onto his own contents.
Back to the story, the castle captured a dragon princess. Luckily the prince of planets knew of this predicament. Hurriedly he did something. Weirdly he always does something where an adverb sets off his sentences. Actually they're the author's adverbs and not the prince of planets'.
Let's see where were we...Ah! Hurriedly he rushed off to the castle, the castle with no name, the castle that is not capitalized because there should be emphasis placed on the castle that captured the dragon princess. Easily the dragon princess was saved from the clutches of the stupid castle. Stupid castles were all made by the hillbillies of the Ural Mountains. Were they European or Asian? Nobody knew, not even them. That's why castles they built were so stupid.
A restaurant in northern California was called the Stupid Castle and a lot of bewildered Russians ate there, but it was nothing like home, so the place closed down and the entire town starved to death.
The United States should blow up the Ural Mountains because it makes sense to do so. Todoso should be someone's name. You should change your name to Todoso because it ended the first sentence of this paragraph. If your last name were Fulton, you would be Todoso Fulton. Doesn't that sound like the best name you could possibly have? Even if your last name isn't Fulton, just indulge in the thought of having the name Todoso. Doesn't it make your viscera curdle?
A badger with nail polish on its claws died of curdled viscera. I saw this because it's a popular joke among Wisconsinites. Wisconsin being the Badger State and America's Dairyland and all. Some people confuse our animal with our food. Wisconsin does have carnivorous citizens you know. There's nothing more irritating than an antagonizing non-Wisconsinite. Stop it!
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Verse Seventeen
To know Tao alone, without trace of your own existence, is the highest. Next comes loving and praising it. Then fearing it. Then despising it.
- The relationship between the individual and the unity
- One one extreme, you may lose your individuality without fear or control
- On the other, you may lose touch with unity and perceive life as a war with all who oppose you
Application: Because I'm writing this blog, I am currently in the second tier of "loving and praising it." I am burdened with the conflict between the yin and yang energies constantly. Although the Tao has brought me closer to the yin, my individuality keeps the yang energy going. I can't help but want things for myself. And it's also hard to love people who usually annoy me and it's hard to help people who rarely reciprocate. According to the unity, I should love and help regardless of the outcome. And that's the conflict I face nearly every day.
If one doesn't trust himself, how can he trust anyone else?
- Trust bonds individuals, brings them closer together
- Trust will only work to achieve unity
- Trust never works for individual gain
Application: A common complaint about modern society is that there is less trust. I believe the central component in "modernization" is individual gain. When people realize that this creates a loss of faith and trust, they turn to religion. Those with lots of fear turn to fundamentalism. Those are two extremes which pit person against person or community against community. I am finding this out now through a lot of books and documentaries I have encountered. Modernization is isolation.
The great ruler speaks little and his words are priceless. He works without self-interest and leaves no trace. When all is finished, the people say, "It happened by itself."
- When individual gain is not considered, the goals of a community/nation can be accomplished
- A greedy leader leaves his people behind
- Everything works out well when greed are power are not involved
Application: I can't help but think of today's rulers who do the opposite of what is written in verse 17. Although I believe it is in their self-interest and therefore an essentail guideline in modern politics to watch out for #1 meaning themselves. This immediately stops the function of a representative democracy. All that is representated is greed and power--nothing else. This is how I perceive politics these days--they control the power but they inspire no leadership at all. Politicians are not people we should look up to. And a union between politics and certain religions take the spirit right out of the religion and replace it with the same greed and power. I see this tainting the fabric of my country today. But I comforted by the fact that nothing lasts forever.
- The relationship between the individual and the unity
- One one extreme, you may lose your individuality without fear or control
- On the other, you may lose touch with unity and perceive life as a war with all who oppose you
Application: Because I'm writing this blog, I am currently in the second tier of "loving and praising it." I am burdened with the conflict between the yin and yang energies constantly. Although the Tao has brought me closer to the yin, my individuality keeps the yang energy going. I can't help but want things for myself. And it's also hard to love people who usually annoy me and it's hard to help people who rarely reciprocate. According to the unity, I should love and help regardless of the outcome. And that's the conflict I face nearly every day.
If one doesn't trust himself, how can he trust anyone else?
- Trust bonds individuals, brings them closer together
- Trust will only work to achieve unity
- Trust never works for individual gain
Application: A common complaint about modern society is that there is less trust. I believe the central component in "modernization" is individual gain. When people realize that this creates a loss of faith and trust, they turn to religion. Those with lots of fear turn to fundamentalism. Those are two extremes which pit person against person or community against community. I am finding this out now through a lot of books and documentaries I have encountered. Modernization is isolation.
The great ruler speaks little and his words are priceless. He works without self-interest and leaves no trace. When all is finished, the people say, "It happened by itself."
- When individual gain is not considered, the goals of a community/nation can be accomplished
- A greedy leader leaves his people behind
- Everything works out well when greed are power are not involved
Application: I can't help but think of today's rulers who do the opposite of what is written in verse 17. Although I believe it is in their self-interest and therefore an essentail guideline in modern politics to watch out for #1 meaning themselves. This immediately stops the function of a representative democracy. All that is representated is greed and power--nothing else. This is how I perceive politics these days--they control the power but they inspire no leadership at all. Politicians are not people we should look up to. And a union between politics and certain religions take the spirit right out of the religion and replace it with the same greed and power. I see this tainting the fabric of my country today. But I comforted by the fact that nothing lasts forever.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Verse Sixteen
Become totally empty. Quiet the restlessness of the mind. Only then will you witness everything unfolding from emptiness. See all things flourish and dance in endless variation. And once again merge back into perfect emptiness--their true repose, their true nature. Emerging, flourishing, dissolving back again--This is the eternal process of return.
- When the mind is full of worry and tension, the path grows obscure
- One can only clearly observe one's place when one's mind is at peace
Application: Verse 16 is a call for meditation. There are all sorts of meditation from Hinduism to Buddhism to the contemplative prayer in Christianity. Another reason Taoism appeals to me is its take on meditation. Like almost everybody else, I don't do it enough. I can blame distractions, but that's only half true because I can get away from them half the time.
To know this process brings enlightenment. To miss this process brings disaster.
- A mind unquieted may throw one off his/her path.
Application: This happened to me a few months ago where I let worries and anxiety get to me that I could not focus on anything else and it may have cost me a few opportunities I could have had if I had a clearer, more peaceful mind. I have to learn to let go of my worries even though I feel like it is my responsibility to worry. I should feel carefree even though many things depend on what is to come soon.
Be still. Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity. Eternity embraces the all-possible. The all-possible leads to vision of oneness. A vision of oneness brings about universal love. Universal love supports the great truth of Nature. The great truth of Nature is Tao.
- This is the message found through meditation.
- The answer is always available when you let things go.
Application: This part of verse 16 probably summarizes "the truth" revealed to me through the Tao Te Ching and meditation. When I read this part, I nodded my head in whole-hearted agreement. This is it! If only others would get into this, then perhaps we could reach a unified goal of peace. But we all know that selfish individualism gets in the way.
Whoever knows this truth lives forever. The body may perish, deeds may be forgotten. But he who has Tao has all eternity.
- Time ceases but one continues beyond time
- The individual existence is necessary for the perception of time
- When the body dies, time is no longer perceived or needed
- This is how meditation can breach the infinite
Application: What originally brought me into the meditation that revealed Taoism to me was contemplating my own mortality. That's when I realized what is written in verse 16. I was comforted to discover that an entire philosophy/religion had also come to the same conclusion I did. And this origin of thought wasn't too far from where I was living at the time. This really removed all worries from me. I think the hardest thing for all people to do is let go of their individuality--confronting death. When you realize what is written in verse 16, then the fear of death or God's judgment subsides.
- When the mind is full of worry and tension, the path grows obscure
- One can only clearly observe one's place when one's mind is at peace
Application: Verse 16 is a call for meditation. There are all sorts of meditation from Hinduism to Buddhism to the contemplative prayer in Christianity. Another reason Taoism appeals to me is its take on meditation. Like almost everybody else, I don't do it enough. I can blame distractions, but that's only half true because I can get away from them half the time.
To know this process brings enlightenment. To miss this process brings disaster.
- A mind unquieted may throw one off his/her path.
Application: This happened to me a few months ago where I let worries and anxiety get to me that I could not focus on anything else and it may have cost me a few opportunities I could have had if I had a clearer, more peaceful mind. I have to learn to let go of my worries even though I feel like it is my responsibility to worry. I should feel carefree even though many things depend on what is to come soon.
Be still. Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity. Eternity embraces the all-possible. The all-possible leads to vision of oneness. A vision of oneness brings about universal love. Universal love supports the great truth of Nature. The great truth of Nature is Tao.
- This is the message found through meditation.
- The answer is always available when you let things go.
Application: This part of verse 16 probably summarizes "the truth" revealed to me through the Tao Te Ching and meditation. When I read this part, I nodded my head in whole-hearted agreement. This is it! If only others would get into this, then perhaps we could reach a unified goal of peace. But we all know that selfish individualism gets in the way.
Whoever knows this truth lives forever. The body may perish, deeds may be forgotten. But he who has Tao has all eternity.
- Time ceases but one continues beyond time
- The individual existence is necessary for the perception of time
- When the body dies, time is no longer perceived or needed
- This is how meditation can breach the infinite
Application: What originally brought me into the meditation that revealed Taoism to me was contemplating my own mortality. That's when I realized what is written in verse 16. I was comforted to discover that an entire philosophy/religion had also come to the same conclusion I did. And this origin of thought wasn't too far from where I was living at the time. This really removed all worries from me. I think the hardest thing for all people to do is let go of their individuality--confronting death. When you realize what is written in verse 16, then the fear of death or God's judgment subsides.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
The Robot's Exhibition, part 1
THE BEGINNING (evidence of its linearity)
And now it's time for the re-enactment of the crucifixion. Let me bring the grill this time for the disciples. I heard that Simon Peter got hungry on that Good Friday. I'll cook some Oscar Mayer wieners and burgers made from 100% beef. And then a re-run of The Mary Tyler Moore Show will come on after he dies.
Insects did exist in the dawning of anno domini, so I assume the caterpillar will be there. I saw a caterpillar carry a sink on its back once. The thing was as big as an oil tanker. As a matter of fact, I do remember it inching across the sea. Or could it be boiling tea? It did smell like the Imperial Blend. They make tacos in the shape of swastikas now. Somebody's got to keep the Klan happy.
His name is Devron and he owns a foghorn in a lighthouse. Here's a list of his Monday routine: 1) socks, 2) the tick-tock of his cuckoo clock, 3) Bach, 4) pince nez, 5) chafe, 6) a roller derby, 7) and finally the end. Devron likes to make tacos without cooking the shells. Only the meat's hot.
Casey walked to work in his sweatsuit. A flock of flamingos followed him to the subway. Inside the train is Her Majesty's Royal Gardens filled with eyes. When the eyes bloom, the Spanish Armada sails through in their galleons. A flag constructed of feathery toothpicks shall flutter and cover the ships and reveal Christ on the cross again.
Like Star Wars, the digitally re-mastered Jesus Christ enacted the entire New Testament again to get people hyped up about the second coming a few years later. Him and guy named Paul (previously Saul) did most of the work. The best thing about our time is media coverage. That got Christ more disciples than he could handle. I recall the Last Supper had to be booked in a football stadium outside of Jerusalem.
He was clean-, Jesus was. The Bic company offered him $5 million to shave his beard, but the Son of Man did it for free. Everyone was trying to make money off this guy. Well he died and everything, and when this guy named John finished his reading of Revelations the whole world stood up in applause. It brought back the memories of sitting in Sunday School. What if it were all true? I used to ask myself. The special edition crucifixion convinced me.
Enough about religion. I went to the Spyrox Cafe to watch my dentist play the trumpet in a jazz band called the Luncheon & the Bunch. His horn blinded me a few times because the glare from the sunshine hit me directly in the eyes. It wasn't the first time my dentist tried to damage me. Besides my teeth, he almost hurt my ears when pealed a high note in his improvisational solo in "A Taste of Honey." The solo was in bad taste, mind the pun, since it clashed with the classic theme.
I found out how to make bananas from honey: just pour some on raw eggs and voila! Every time I see the word "voila," I read "viola." My chiropractor plays the viola, but I didn't go to watch his ensemble because my previous chiropractor plays as well. I never told him why I switched doctors, but the reason had to do about a bad back he never cared about.
Meanwhile a sunray caught my eye and beamed it about the sun. The sun liked it so much, it took the form of my eye and now I look up at the sky and see my other eye winking back at me. "Thank you, sir," says the sun. At least that's what I think it says since suns can't talk.
And now it's time for the re-enactment of the crucifixion. Let me bring the grill this time for the disciples. I heard that Simon Peter got hungry on that Good Friday. I'll cook some Oscar Mayer wieners and burgers made from 100% beef. And then a re-run of The Mary Tyler Moore Show will come on after he dies.
Insects did exist in the dawning of anno domini, so I assume the caterpillar will be there. I saw a caterpillar carry a sink on its back once. The thing was as big as an oil tanker. As a matter of fact, I do remember it inching across the sea. Or could it be boiling tea? It did smell like the Imperial Blend. They make tacos in the shape of swastikas now. Somebody's got to keep the Klan happy.
His name is Devron and he owns a foghorn in a lighthouse. Here's a list of his Monday routine: 1) socks, 2) the tick-tock of his cuckoo clock, 3) Bach, 4) pince nez, 5) chafe, 6) a roller derby, 7) and finally the end. Devron likes to make tacos without cooking the shells. Only the meat's hot.
Casey walked to work in his sweatsuit. A flock of flamingos followed him to the subway. Inside the train is Her Majesty's Royal Gardens filled with eyes. When the eyes bloom, the Spanish Armada sails through in their galleons. A flag constructed of feathery toothpicks shall flutter and cover the ships and reveal Christ on the cross again.
Like Star Wars, the digitally re-mastered Jesus Christ enacted the entire New Testament again to get people hyped up about the second coming a few years later. Him and guy named Paul (previously Saul) did most of the work. The best thing about our time is media coverage. That got Christ more disciples than he could handle. I recall the Last Supper had to be booked in a football stadium outside of Jerusalem.
He was clean-, Jesus was. The Bic company offered him $5 million to shave his beard, but the Son of Man did it for free. Everyone was trying to make money off this guy. Well he died and everything, and when this guy named John finished his reading of Revelations the whole world stood up in applause. It brought back the memories of sitting in Sunday School. What if it were all true? I used to ask myself. The special edition crucifixion convinced me.
Enough about religion. I went to the Spyrox Cafe to watch my dentist play the trumpet in a jazz band called the Luncheon & the Bunch. His horn blinded me a few times because the glare from the sunshine hit me directly in the eyes. It wasn't the first time my dentist tried to damage me. Besides my teeth, he almost hurt my ears when pealed a high note in his improvisational solo in "A Taste of Honey." The solo was in bad taste, mind the pun, since it clashed with the classic theme.
I found out how to make bananas from honey: just pour some on raw eggs and voila! Every time I see the word "voila," I read "viola." My chiropractor plays the viola, but I didn't go to watch his ensemble because my previous chiropractor plays as well. I never told him why I switched doctors, but the reason had to do about a bad back he never cared about.
Meanwhile a sunray caught my eye and beamed it about the sun. The sun liked it so much, it took the form of my eye and now I look up at the sky and see my other eye winking back at me. "Thank you, sir," says the sun. At least that's what I think it says since suns can't talk.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Verse Fifteen
The masters of this ancient path are mysterious and profound. Their inner state baffles our inquiry. Their depths go beyond all knowing. Thus, despite every effort, we can only tell of their outer signs--Deliberate, as if treading over the stones of a winter broke. Watchful, as if meeting danger on all sides. Reverent, as if receiving an honored guest. Selfless, like a melting block of ice. Pure, like an uncarved block of wood. Accepting, like an open valley.
- Sages can only be identified through their individual appearances
- There is a lot more to a sage than meets the eye
- The appearance is calm and unmoving as if a tree, at peace in its place
Application: If I find someone at peace in their place, then I know I have spotted someone who knows a bit of universal truth. I like this part of 15 because it makes me view all trees as sages. Perhaps we become like trees when we reach enlightenment, if you believe in enlightenment. Perhaps trees are step ahead of us. Maybe the food chain is the reverse of the spirit chain--just a thought. I don't see this verse as a prescription of becoming a sage because that is not my goal. One should always seek to perfect oneself and not worry about transforming into a sage.
Through the course of Nature muddy water becomes clear. Through the unfolding of life man reaches perfection. Through sustained activity that supreme rest is naturally found.
- Undisturbed time heals all wounds
- Nothing needs to be forced to reach its solution
- One just needs to complete the task at hand and not worry about the future
Application: This part of verse 15 promotes the development of a skill, an important Taoist concept. Perfecting a task through repetition, patience, and lack of anxiety is a common Taoist goal. While the body is busy with the task, the mind can enter the trance-like state of higher consciousness/unity. I enjoy completing a task well without thinking about it. When it is finished, I snap out of the trance feeling good because the task was effortless finished and my mind was not strained by the stress of fears and desires.
Those who have the Tao want nothing else. Though seemingly empty, they are ever full. Though seemingly old, they are beyond the reach of birth and death.
- Being content with nothing is all that one needs
- No desire means no suffering
- One has everything only when one has nothing
Application: I agree that I am the happiest when I want nothing. When I want nothing, my complete focus is on the present. The present is my present. This is a struggle when I do want something, and the more desperate I want it, the worse I feel, and my complete focus is on the unpredictable outcomes of the future. The mind races and races and doesn't stop because the desire doesn't end. Once that desire is gone and not replaced with another desire, then I can again feel at peace.
- Sages can only be identified through their individual appearances
- There is a lot more to a sage than meets the eye
- The appearance is calm and unmoving as if a tree, at peace in its place
Application: If I find someone at peace in their place, then I know I have spotted someone who knows a bit of universal truth. I like this part of 15 because it makes me view all trees as sages. Perhaps we become like trees when we reach enlightenment, if you believe in enlightenment. Perhaps trees are step ahead of us. Maybe the food chain is the reverse of the spirit chain--just a thought. I don't see this verse as a prescription of becoming a sage because that is not my goal. One should always seek to perfect oneself and not worry about transforming into a sage.
Through the course of Nature muddy water becomes clear. Through the unfolding of life man reaches perfection. Through sustained activity that supreme rest is naturally found.
- Undisturbed time heals all wounds
- Nothing needs to be forced to reach its solution
- One just needs to complete the task at hand and not worry about the future
Application: This part of verse 15 promotes the development of a skill, an important Taoist concept. Perfecting a task through repetition, patience, and lack of anxiety is a common Taoist goal. While the body is busy with the task, the mind can enter the trance-like state of higher consciousness/unity. I enjoy completing a task well without thinking about it. When it is finished, I snap out of the trance feeling good because the task was effortless finished and my mind was not strained by the stress of fears and desires.
Those who have the Tao want nothing else. Though seemingly empty, they are ever full. Though seemingly old, they are beyond the reach of birth and death.
- Being content with nothing is all that one needs
- No desire means no suffering
- One has everything only when one has nothing
Application: I agree that I am the happiest when I want nothing. When I want nothing, my complete focus is on the present. The present is my present. This is a struggle when I do want something, and the more desperate I want it, the worse I feel, and my complete focus is on the unpredictable outcomes of the future. The mind races and races and doesn't stop because the desire doesn't end. Once that desire is gone and not replaced with another desire, then I can again feel at peace.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Verse Fourteen
Eyes look but cannot see it. Ears listen but cannot hear it. Hands grasp but cannot touch it. Beyond the senses lies the great Unity--invisible, inaudible, intangible.
- Unity is beyond individual perception
- When all, it can be perceived, but it cannot be relayed person to person
- It is futile to get because the goal of the individual contrasts the goal of unity--take and give.
Application: The individual's desire repels unity. If one seeks unity to see God, take wisdom, and boast about it, that search will never end. It is strange to write about this because in a way it seems like I'm showing off wisdom and boasting my "enlightenment." But any boasting I do shows that I have not been enlightened. Instead of desiring spiritual awakening, one should desire inner peace and universal love. But here I go again, an individual telling people how to do things.
What rises up appears bright. What settles down appears dark. Yet there is neither darkness nor light, just an unbroken dance of shadows. From nothingness is fullness and back again to nothingness. This formless form. This imageless image cannot be grasped by mind or might. Try to face it--In what place will you stand? Try to follow it--To what place will you go?
- An individual cannot enter a place with no entrance or exit
- An individual cannot follow what has no time
- What is perceived/experienced as unity can be expressed by an individual
Application: When I first transcribed this verse, it addressed what I was reading in The Tao of Physics at the time, about particle physics. This part of verse 14 says to me that Unity or God is something an individual cannot possess. Possessing anything is selfish and therefore not in the realm of Unity/God. I like this verse because it erases the spiritual or moral righteousness--something I dislike in all fundamentalist faiths.
Know That which is beyond all beginnings and you will know everything here and now. Know everything in the moment and you will know the Eternal Tao.
- The Tao does not follow time, no beginning and no end.
- The present lasts forever.
- Experiencing now is experiencing Unity
- All that was and will be can be found now through Unity.
Application: I love this part of 14 because it's such a freeing concept in terms of time. If we see the past and future as part of the present, we can feel more empowered. The past is not etched in stone and the future is not eminent. I like to see the present as infinite instead of limited to a fraction of a second. We can learn from the past but we don't have to hold on to the past. We should make the present greater than the past. When we see all as one, we find that we ourselves are also infinite and not limited to the short time we have on Earth. Instead of grasping every second of one's life in a panic, we should enjoy the present as long as possible.
- Unity is beyond individual perception
- When all, it can be perceived, but it cannot be relayed person to person
- It is futile to get because the goal of the individual contrasts the goal of unity--take and give.
Application: The individual's desire repels unity. If one seeks unity to see God, take wisdom, and boast about it, that search will never end. It is strange to write about this because in a way it seems like I'm showing off wisdom and boasting my "enlightenment." But any boasting I do shows that I have not been enlightened. Instead of desiring spiritual awakening, one should desire inner peace and universal love. But here I go again, an individual telling people how to do things.
What rises up appears bright. What settles down appears dark. Yet there is neither darkness nor light, just an unbroken dance of shadows. From nothingness is fullness and back again to nothingness. This formless form. This imageless image cannot be grasped by mind or might. Try to face it--In what place will you stand? Try to follow it--To what place will you go?
- An individual cannot enter a place with no entrance or exit
- An individual cannot follow what has no time
- What is perceived/experienced as unity can be expressed by an individual
Application: When I first transcribed this verse, it addressed what I was reading in The Tao of Physics at the time, about particle physics. This part of verse 14 says to me that Unity or God is something an individual cannot possess. Possessing anything is selfish and therefore not in the realm of Unity/God. I like this verse because it erases the spiritual or moral righteousness--something I dislike in all fundamentalist faiths.
Know That which is beyond all beginnings and you will know everything here and now. Know everything in the moment and you will know the Eternal Tao.
- The Tao does not follow time, no beginning and no end.
- The present lasts forever.
- Experiencing now is experiencing Unity
- All that was and will be can be found now through Unity.
Application: I love this part of 14 because it's such a freeing concept in terms of time. If we see the past and future as part of the present, we can feel more empowered. The past is not etched in stone and the future is not eminent. I like to see the present as infinite instead of limited to a fraction of a second. We can learn from the past but we don't have to hold on to the past. We should make the present greater than the past. When we see all as one, we find that we ourselves are also infinite and not limited to the short time we have on Earth. Instead of grasping every second of one's life in a panic, we should enjoy the present as long as possible.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Fusion (take one)
Endlessly creating
Is poetry necessary?
Endlessly pulsating
With comfortable perfection; hygienic future
Whatever we see or don’t see
They contemplate the annihilation (always imminent) of art.
Whatever exists or doesn’t exist
At this point they desire more artistic art.
Tao is limitless, unborn, eternal—
Hygiene becomes purity o God o God
She is the very face of the Absolute
The gate to the source of all things eternal
Listen to Her voice
Hear it echo through creation
Must we cease to believe in words?
Since when have they expressed the opposite of what the organ emitting them thinks and wants?
Without fail, She reveals her presence
Without fail, She brings us to our own perfection
Here is the greatest secret:
The thought is made in the mouth.
I still consider myself very charming.
Is poetry necessary?
Endlessly pulsating
With comfortable perfection; hygienic future
Whatever we see or don’t see
They contemplate the annihilation (always imminent) of art.
Whatever exists or doesn’t exist
At this point they desire more artistic art.
Tao is limitless, unborn, eternal—
Hygiene becomes purity o God o God
She is the very face of the Absolute
The gate to the source of all things eternal
Listen to Her voice
Hear it echo through creation
Must we cease to believe in words?
Since when have they expressed the opposite of what the organ emitting them thinks and wants?
Without fail, She reveals her presence
Without fail, She brings us to our own perfection
Here is the greatest secret:
The thought is made in the mouth.
I still consider myself very charming.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Verse Thirteen
What does it mean, "Be wary of both honor and disgrace?" Honor is founded on disgrace and disgrace is rooted in honor. Both should be avoided. Both bind a man to this world. That's why it says, "Be wary of honor and disgrace."
- Honor and disgrace are two sides of the same manmade coin
- They should serve as a means rather than an end
- They are abstract labels that are not applied to nature
- Do things in the way of nature rather than in the way of man
Application: This is a contradiction to the beliefs of Confucianism and many religions--being wary of honor. Honor is a label invented by humanity to control people, binding them to their word. If an authority figure doesn't like what a subordinate did, he can say that it was not honorable. When there is no real relationship between people, the seal of honor can keep them tolerant of one another. Personally, I can apply this but I should be silent about it. Announcing that you have no honor or you honor no one can quickly make you an outcast from society. But most Taoist sages and spiritual leaders were social outcasts, so the choice is mine.
What does it mean, "Endess affliction is bound to the body?" Man's true self is eternal, yet he thinks, "I am this body. I will soon die." This false sense of self is the cause of all sorrow. When a person does not identify himself with the body, tell me, what troubles could touch him?
- Only the individual endures suffering because it desires
- We are both individual and unity. And there is no suffering in unity.
- When you see yourself as a part of the universal process then you know your resources are unlimited.
- Find yourself in others and live forever
Application: This another one of my favorite parts of the Tao Te Ching--realizing that you are more than just your body, your physical image. If you want to look at it through the Western mind/body dichotomy, then we can say that the body is limited and the mind unlimited. The body is ours alone and the mind is shared with all. Love is the expression of feeling and sharing the mental connection. This gets easily confused with sex which is the expression of feeling and sharing the physical connection. Marriage is the union of both mind and body with a partner. When in deep meditation, I have come to the sensation of being connected to the whole world. That feeling generated an incredible feeling of love and peace. It goes away at the moment the connection is severed--like when you begin to worry about something. This message of universal love is found in every single religion. Check it and see.
One who sees himself as everything is fit to the be the guardian of the world. One who loves himself as everyone is fit to be the teacher of the world.
- Avoid focus on the self along with selfish matters and the world is you
- The guard and the teacher do not discriminate when all are one as one
Application: If I am able to keep the aforementioned mental/spiritual connection with the world, then I could be the guardian of the world because I feel what everyone feels. As for being a universal teacher, I can be entrusted because I am invested in universal love. I don't think I am able to do this at this time in my life. I still believe I have to work out things as an individual with my own fears and desires.
- Honor and disgrace are two sides of the same manmade coin
- They should serve as a means rather than an end
- They are abstract labels that are not applied to nature
- Do things in the way of nature rather than in the way of man
Application: This is a contradiction to the beliefs of Confucianism and many religions--being wary of honor. Honor is a label invented by humanity to control people, binding them to their word. If an authority figure doesn't like what a subordinate did, he can say that it was not honorable. When there is no real relationship between people, the seal of honor can keep them tolerant of one another. Personally, I can apply this but I should be silent about it. Announcing that you have no honor or you honor no one can quickly make you an outcast from society. But most Taoist sages and spiritual leaders were social outcasts, so the choice is mine.
What does it mean, "Endess affliction is bound to the body?" Man's true self is eternal, yet he thinks, "I am this body. I will soon die." This false sense of self is the cause of all sorrow. When a person does not identify himself with the body, tell me, what troubles could touch him?
- Only the individual endures suffering because it desires
- We are both individual and unity. And there is no suffering in unity.
- When you see yourself as a part of the universal process then you know your resources are unlimited.
- Find yourself in others and live forever
Application: This another one of my favorite parts of the Tao Te Ching--realizing that you are more than just your body, your physical image. If you want to look at it through the Western mind/body dichotomy, then we can say that the body is limited and the mind unlimited. The body is ours alone and the mind is shared with all. Love is the expression of feeling and sharing the mental connection. This gets easily confused with sex which is the expression of feeling and sharing the physical connection. Marriage is the union of both mind and body with a partner. When in deep meditation, I have come to the sensation of being connected to the whole world. That feeling generated an incredible feeling of love and peace. It goes away at the moment the connection is severed--like when you begin to worry about something. This message of universal love is found in every single religion. Check it and see.
One who sees himself as everything is fit to the be the guardian of the world. One who loves himself as everyone is fit to be the teacher of the world.
- Avoid focus on the self along with selfish matters and the world is you
- The guard and the teacher do not discriminate when all are one as one
Application: If I am able to keep the aforementioned mental/spiritual connection with the world, then I could be the guardian of the world because I feel what everyone feels. As for being a universal teacher, I can be entrusted because I am invested in universal love. I don't think I am able to do this at this time in my life. I still believe I have to work out things as an individual with my own fears and desires.
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