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when the earth dances..
a mother dies
a seed is planted
animals eat the harvest
and defecates in the fields
where mushrooms grow
and snakes eat the mice
madness is the same as love
standing here... here... arms out stretched, --pretending I'm free to roam, terrified of being... (with/without) perpetually returning home. always going home. .. Release Me .. It's not as Black and White as I was once led to believe. Even the color of light is... illuminated illusionary Our body is.. Our body is.. illuminated illusion / eternal mystery Mystery is the landscape of the ... infinite (or at least mildly expansive) Headline: General Strike declared Reporting from: Atlantis (or Avalon, refer to your local map) The planets are on a general strike, they detest the working conditions and their depiction in the collective unconscious. Expect forthcoming civil litigation.
Sun, Mar. 4th, 2007, 03:11 pm
March Fourth
March is always an interesting time of year. Slowly the pregnancy of winter is coming to an end and life is about to SPRING forth from every imaginable orifice on the earth... I can't wait. But this is also a somber time as we approach the 4th anniversary of the War in Iraq. (I wanted to say "The War" but the truth is that we are waging many more than the Iraq War. We are *still* in Afghanistan fighting the War on Terrorism - and an Australian citizen sits in Guantanamo. And then many would go on to argue that we wage a War on Drugs, millions are spent on projects like CAMP, Campaign Against Marijuana Planting. A War on Immigration demands a triple border fence and stronger paramilitary. A Class War that legislates against the working class and the institution of poverty.) But citizens consciences are asking, "why are we sending more troops into a 'mission' that was 'accomplished'?" "I don't want MY tax dollars to put ME in jail!" It was 1869 that Henry Thoreau wrote "Resistance to Civil Government", better known as "Civil Disobedience". So that was more or less, 3-4 years after the annexation of Texas and the beginning of the American-Mexican War. Thoreau was disgusted by the ongoing slave class, and the use of violence by government in the name of Manifest Destiny. How could we, as citizens, standby while our money was being used in a conspiracy of death and lies?! So here we are brethren... March 4, 2007. 4 years in Iraq, 5.5 in Afghanistan, 16 years since the Gulf War, 18 years since the Berlin Wall, 27 years since I was born, 40 years since the Summer of Love, 45 years since the Cuban Missile Crisis, etc. So this day I ask, how will we March Fourth? Do you want another year in Iraq? Do we want to pay War Profiteers with our tax dollars to underpay Workers to serve food to the International War Makers? How will you march fourth? Pope Anonymous Presidential Candidate Guns and Dope Party 2008
The Aneristic Principle is that of APPARENT ORDER; the Eristic Principle is that of APPARENT DISORDER. Both order and disorder are man made concepts and are artificial divisions of PURE CHAOS, which is a level deeper that is the level of distinction making. With our concept making apparatus called "mind" we look at reality through the ideas-about-reality which our cultures give us. The ideas-about-reality are mistakenly labeled "reality" and unenlightened people are forever perplexed by the fact that other people, especially other cultures, see "reality" differently. It is only the ideas-about-reality which differ. Real (capital-T True) reality is a level deeper that is the level of concept. We look at the world through windows on which have been drawn grids (concepts). Different philosophies use different grids. A culture is a group of people with rather similar grids. Through a window we view chaos, and relate it to the points on our grid, and thereby understand it. The ORDER is in the GRID. That is the Aneristic Principle. Western philosophy is traditionally concerned with contrasting one grid with another grid, and amending grids in hopes of finding a perfect one that will account for all reality and will, hence, (say unenlightened westerners) be True. This is illusory; it is what we Erisians call the ANERISTIC ILLUSION. Some grids can be more useful than others, some more beautiful than others, some more pleasant than others, etc., but none can be more True than any other. DISORDER is simply unrelated information viewed through some particular grid. But, like "relation", no-relation is a concept. Male, like female, is an idea about sex. To say that male-ness is "absence of female-ness", or vice versa, is a matter of definition and metaphysically arbitrary. The artificial concept of no-relation is the ERISTIC PRINCIPLE. The belief that "order is true" and disorder is false or somehow wrong, is the Aneristic Illusion. To say the same of disorder, is the ERISTIC ILLUSION. The point is that (little-t) truth is a matter of definition relative to the grid one is using at the moment, and that (capital-T) Truth, metaphysical reality, is irrelevant to grids entirely. Pick a grid, and through it some chaos appears ordered and some appears disordered. Pick another grid, and the same chaos will appear differently ordered and disordered. Reality is the original Rorschach. Verily! So much for all that. The words of the Foolish and those of the Wise Are not far apart in Discordian Eyes. (HBT; The Book of Advise, 2:1)
Today is the 100th anniversary of Satyagraha, Gandhi's "Truth Force" which fought against British Imperialism. Below is an angsty forum post of mine, regarding this anniversary. I hope you find it informative and offensive... --------------------- While I feel that I've personally gained from the study of Satyaagraha philosophy. I have the burning angst-filled drive to point-out the unpleasant truth about Gandhi and the hateful/racist things he was saying about Africans in 1906. I hope we can have the courage to learn and improve upon him. And 9/11 conjures up a lot of issues regarding race/ehtnicity. After all, G.W. can't even tell the difference between an Arab, a Pakistani and a Persian. And please, oh please, look up "kaffir" if you'd like to fully understand the vulgarity of these statements: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaffir_%28ethnic_slur%29 Quote: "Ours is one continued struggle against degradation sought to be inflicted upon us by the European, who desire to degrade us to the level of the raw Kaffir, whose occupation is hunting and whose sole ambition is to collect a certain number of cattle to buy a wife with, and then pass his life in indolence and nakedness." Quote: "Why, of all places in Johannesburg, the Indian location should be chosen for dumping down all kaffirs of the town, passes my comprehension. Of course, under my suggestion, the Town Council must withdraw the Kaffirs from the Location. About this mixing of the Kaffirs with the Indians I must confess I feel most strongly. I think it is very unfair to the Indian population, and it is an undue tax on even the proverbial patience of my countrymen. " (part of a letter dated February 15 1905, in which Gandhi wrote to Dr. Porter, the Medical Officer of Health for Johannesburg. It was later published in Gandhi's paper, the Indian Opinion.) Quote: "You say that the magistrate's decision is unsatisfactory because it would enable a person, however unclean, to travel by a tram, and that even the Kaffirs would be able to do so. But the magistrate's decision is quite different. The Court declared that the Kaffirs have no legal right to travel by tram. And according to tram regulations, those in an unclean dress or in a drunken state are prohibited from boarding a tram. Thanks to the Court's decision, only clean Indians or coloured people other than Kaffirs, can now travel in the trams." -June 1906 (From Gandhi's South African publication called "Indian Opinion".)
"Toward a Psychology of Being" by: Abraham H. Maslow second edition, 1982 Chapter 1 : Indtroduction
Toward a Psychology of Health There is now emerging over the horizon a new conception of human sickness and of human health, a psychology that I find so thrilling and so full of wonderful possiblities that I yield to the temptation to present it publicly even before it is checked and confirmed, and before it can be called reliable scientific knowledge.
The basic assumptions of this point of view are: 1. We have, each of us, an essential biologically based inner nature, which is to some degree "natural," intrinsic, given, and, in a certain limited sense, unchangeable, or at least, unchanging. 2. Each person's inner nature is in part unique to himself and in part species-wide. 3. It is possible to study this inner nature scientifically and to discover what it is like --(not invent--discover). 4. This inner nature, as much as we know of it so far, seems not to be intrinsically or primarily or necessarily evil. The basic needs (for life, for safety and security, for belongingness and affection, for respect and self-respect, and for self-actualization), the basic human emotions and the basic human capacities are on their face either neutral,, pre-moral or positively "good." Destructiveness, sadism, cruelty, malice, etc., seem so far to be not intrinsic but rather they seem to be violent reactions against frustration of our intrinsic needs, emotions and capacities. Anger is in itself not evil, nor is fear, laziness, or even ignorance. Of course, these can and do lead to evil behavior, but they needn't. This result is not intrinsically necessary. Human nature is not nearly as bad as it has been thought to be. In fact it can be said that the possibilities of human nature have customarily been sold short. 5. Since this inner nature is good or neutral rather than bad, it is best to bring it out and to encourage it rather than to suppress it. If it is permitted to guide our life, we grow healthy, fruitful, and happy. 6. If this essential core of the person is denied or suppressed, he gets sick sometimes in obvious ways, sometimes in subtle ways, sometimes immediately, sometimes later. 7. This inner nature is not strong and overpowering and unmistakable like the instincts of animals. It is weak and delicate and subtle and easily overcome by habit, cultural pressure, and wrong attitudes toward it. 8. Even though weak, it rarely disappears in the normal person - perhaps not even in the sick person. Even though denied, it persists underground forever pressing for actualization. 9. Somehow, these conclusions must all be articulated with the necessity of discipline, deprivation, frustration, pain, and tragedy. To the extent that these experiences reveal and foster and fulfill our inner nature, to that extent they are desirable experiences. It is increasingly clear that these experiences have something to do with a sense of achievement and ego strength and therefore with the sense of healthy self-esteem and self-confidence. The person who hasn't conquered, withstood and overcome continues to feel doubtful that he could. This is true not only for external dangers; it holds also for the ability to control and to delay one's own impulses, and therefore to be unafraid of them.
From the last journal entry of Psychologist Abraham Maslow, May 7, 1970: Somebody asked me the question... How did a timid youngster get transformed into a (seemingly) 'courageous' leader and spokesman? How come I was willing to talk up, to take unpopular positions, while most others didn't? My immediate tendency was to say: "Intelligence - just realistic seeing of the facts," but I held that answer back because - alone - it's wrong. "Good will, compassion and intelligence," I finally answered. I think I added that I'd simply learned a lot from my self-actualized subjects and from their way of life and from their metamotivations, which have now become mine. So I respond emotionally to the injustice, the meanness, the lies, the untruths, the hatred and the violence, the simplistic answers... So I feel cheap and guilty and unmanly when I don't talk up. So then in a sense, I have to. What the kids and the Intellectuals - and everyone else too - need is an ethos, a scientific value system and a way of life and humanistic politics, with the theory, the facts, etc., all set forth soberly... So again I must say to myself: to work! (Lowry, 1979, Vol II, pg 1309)
personality analysis from ColorQuiz.com. Generated on Sun Jun 18 07:05:52 2006. Your Existing Situation Readily participates in things that provide excitement or stimulation. Wants to feel exhilarated. Your Stress Sources Has an unsatisfied need to ally herself with others whose standards are as high as her own, and to stand out from the herd. This desire for preeminence isolates her and inhibits her readiness to give herself freely. While she wants to surrender and let herself go, she regards this as a weakness which must be resisted. This self-restraint, she feels, will lift her above the rank and file and ensure recognition as a unique and distinctive personality. Your Restrained Characteristics Exacting in her emotional demands, especially during moments of intimacy leaving her frustrated in her desire for a perfect union.<P>Insists that her goals are realistic and sticks obstinately to them, even though circumstances are forcing her to compromise. Very exacting in the standards she applies to her choice of a partner.<P> Your Desired Objective Wants to establish herself and make an impact despite unfavorable circumstances and a general lack of appreciation. Your Actual Problem Needs to be valued and respected as an exceptional individual, in order to increase her self-esteem and her feeling of personal worth. Resists mediocrity and sets herself high standards.
I would like to take this opportunity to compare and contrast Samkhya Yoga and Shankara's Advaita Vedanta. While discussing some concepts from each in class, I realized that I did not have a critical and delineated understanding of each philosophic system. considering that Samkhya is more than 2500 years old, while Shankara lived 1200 years ago. Inherently these were systems of thought that flourished in very different cultural milieu. The axiomatic model of cosmology is radically different in Samkhya Yoga and Advaita Vedanta. Samkhya fundamentally defines reality with dualism: purusha/prakrti, yama/niyama, active/passive. And attempts to understand samsara and halt it through categorical research and discourse. Samkhya defines three valid modes of thinking, or pramanas: anumana (logical inference), pratyaksha (sensory evidence), sabda (authority of others). With valid thinking, each of us are capable of attaining moksha for ourselves. But to Shankara, humans are subject to a world of illusion and constant gross misapprehension of what is real. And while philosophizing may serve it's purposes, it alone cannot lead to moksha. I believe this was a major highlight in Indian polemic history which was part of a larger trend of making this tradition of religious considerations more accessible. In this sense, Advaita categorizes three states of truth: Paramarthika (only Brahman is true), Vyavaharika (the pragmatic world in which jiva are real and the material world is not), Pratibasika (where the apparent/material world is true).
CHAOS NEVER DIED. Primordial uncarved block, sole worshipful monster, inert & spontaneous, more ultraviolet than any mythology (like the shadows before Babylon), the original undifferentiated oneness-of-being still radiates serene as the black pennants of Assassins, random & perpetually intoxicated. Chaos comes before all principles of order & entropy, it's neither a god nor a maggot, its idiotic desires encompass & define every possible choreography, all meaningless aethers & phlogistons: its masks are crystallizations of its own facelessness, like clouds. Everything in nature is perfectly real including consciousness, there's absolutely nothing to worry about. Not only have the chains of the Law been broken, they never existed; demons never guarded the stars, the Empire never got started, Eros never grew a beard. No, listen, what happened was this: they lied to you, sold you ideas of good & evil, gave you distrust of your body & shame for your prophethood of chaos, invented words of disgust for your molecular love, mesmerized you with inattention, bored you with civilization & all its usurious emotions. There is no becoming, no revolution, no struggle, no path; already you're the monarch of your own skin--your inviolable freedom waits to be completed only by the love of other monarchs: a politics of dream, urgent as the blueness of sky. Hakim Bey, T.A.Z.
"God is a concept in which we measure our pain. I don't believe in magic, I don't believe in I-Ching I don't believe in Bible I don't believe in Tarot I don't believe in Hitler I don't believe in Kings I don't believe in Elvis I don't believe in Zimmerman I don't believe in Beatles I just believe in me, Yoko and me, and that's reality. The dream is over, yeterday I was the dreamweaver, but now I'm reborn. I was the walrus, but now I'm John. And so dear friends, you just have to carry on, The dream is over."
I figured I'd post this for anyone interested in the source of my nick...
It's not much, but here's the Prospectus for my big research paper in my "Spiritual Traditions of India" class. Nagas: Human/Snake experience I am interested in the exploring the human experience of reptiles, particularly snakes, throughout the regions South Asia . I plan on investigating the inter-species relationship and the human psyche . And reflect on how this interpretive understanding could or couldn't be re-applied cross-culturally. My personal goal is to work on the skills that would benefit a publishable social science discourse. And strengthen the phenomenological research perspective, while being able to provide a comprehensive and entertaining read. I believe that research regarding Anthropomorphization and mythological psychology along with primary source texts will set the tone I'm looking for.
Ŗta I'm not sure how to begin a description of ŗta since any attempt to explain or define could be a disruption of ŗta itself, due to the prone fallibility of rhetoric. But I'll attempt to explain this concept properly. I found the Vedic philosophic essence of Ŗta comparable to the western philosophic idea of the "unmoved-mover," in that the qualities of ŗta are absolute and stand alone - governing the cosmic process, not participating in it. Ŗta is primary impersonal while all deities are merely cosmic arrangers in the grand scheme of things. And ŗta is not isolated but in fact "inextricably interconnected, and by which [all worlds are founded and] sustained." (Mahony pg3) It seems much clearer to me now, how the upanişadic concept of Brāhman evolved from and was strongly influenced by this impersonal vedic notion of the underlying reality. Yet Upanişadic thought came to internalize and transcend this framing with ātman and Brāhman. I found it particularly interesting that Ŗta is distinctly known as order, with absences of chaos. Chaos is like an opposing force that gradually breaks down that stasis of ŗta, actually making the existence of ŗta dynamic. This seems to be the underlying motivation of vedic religious acts - the systematic methods of slowing the depreciation of ŗta (ritual). This type of cosmological thinking emphasizes deities like the goddess Vāc (speech), who's essence is moral or virtuous action. Whereas the later Upanişadic thought emphasizes dharma/karma and sanātana. The Lord Śiva If I had to explain the Lord Śiva to somebody that had never heard of him before, I may call him "The Deconstructor". He embodies the ever-present, yet ever-difficult process of change that is neither benign nor negative. Given the very cyclic cosmology, the "destruction" of life is simply deliverance of the continuing cycle. I am most fond of Śiva's seeming contradictory nature. He encompasses the modernizing monist philosophy of "ultimate creator/destroyer," able to manifest the most severe reality. In a creation story, Śiva introduces a sexual component to creation (copulation for the purpose of reproduction) that is a unique role amongst deities in creation mythology. He also has the ability to invoke and divide śakti from his body - which logically leads to the conclusion that he encompasses the masculine and feminine essence. Yet Śiva demonstrates extreme and fundamental duality. The story of Sīta and Śiva exemplifies the independence of his chosen consorts and their conjoined nature. Both Sīta and Śiva show their free will mutually striving to be with each other, despite of any consequences. And in the absence of Sīta, even the Lord Śiva is susceptible to external influences like the madness and remorse of the arrows of Kāmadeva. Śiva has numerous attributes throughout many stories. As the ultimate yogin, Śiva is the deconstructor of illusion - which sounds nice enough but can cause terror in the human existential disposition. He is known for his dance, which unfolds his mysterious nature of bliss (also associated with ascetic practices). The only behavior I have come to find surprising from Śiva mythical character are acts of moderation. (word count: 513)
Here is a post in a Politics forum in response to a post with the subject: "Soliders are not heroes": -------------------------------- An underlying problem I have been watching arise again and again, throughout a plethora of topics is: the escape of individual responsibility through conglomerate (and/or monopolized) structure. Example, there are very few rich people that acutally pick the pockets of the poor. Like wal-mart or the WTO whom just conspire to shake the change out of the pockets of the poor. The process of oppression is a collective force, rarely the acts of an individual. But it's a reasonable and critical question to ask, is my inactive participation in the "machine" morally objectionable? Ideally, this question is asked before one signs up. The only person you have to answer to is yourself (and maybe God) in the end, the judgement by others is moot. Thoreau discussed these problems of passive consent very clearly in "Civil Disobiedence". Of course, you have to make your own decsions, paying your taxes might be in your best interest these days. Quote: My husband's job is to DIRECTLY protect American soil from foreign attack. My intention isn't to pass judgement, but this is the type of rhetoric that the military uses to justify it's activities (PR)... -harassing domestic activists (newly leaked Talon database and office of Counter-Intellegence Field activities, and we all thought the COINTEL PRO days were over then just call 800-CALL-SPY, it's real, i swear) and, -people all over the world fitting a profile of some type (See al-Masri vs. Tenet, regarding Rendition), -or the conflicting and excessively revised stories about the use of white phorsphorous that jeopardizes the health of iraqis and soliders alike. -We even justify violating the sovereignty of other countries like Venezuela (recent US broadcasting to the people of Venezuela) who have democratically elected leaders. The propaganda machine has made me suspect of this language (not you or your husband). I'm ALL for Freedom... even security. Quote: "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -Benjamin Franklin But Freedom comes first, and I have a certain ability to protect and care for myself (which seems to tbe the spirit of the 2nd amendment). Frankly, what really pisses be off about the solider/hero worship is how easily we forget them. When I lived in San Diego, the commonly accepted belief was that 75% of the homeless in San Diego were veterans. I met many expatriate veterans living in mexico because they felt they had a better chance keeping a roof over their head and their medical needs met in mexico, not at the VA. Now soliders are coming home from Iraq, tired, traumatized frequently, and often family-less and homeless and the best the VA can do is put them on a waiting list for a cot. And the ones getting services at the VA are getting treated with 30 year old medicine. I've seen San Diego city police arrest a lawyer with a spanish revolutionary flag for a "municipal code violation regarding flag poles" while disregarding the "counter-protesters" with a Marine corp flag and poll the same violation. Make no mistake, this is harassment carried out by a larger system, not the individuals. These are things that I've seen and it makes me sick. I want the bumper sticker that says "I support more troops that you!"
To a San Diego activist regarding a news article on San Diego radicals. Let me preface by saying, I no longer reside in San Diego, but I spent years there giving my labor, invention and compassion to San Diego's radical movement and I have always considered you a comrade (although I've only known your work from a distance). First, I wouldn't be so quick to consider the San Diego "radicals" as "youth" or necessarily "anarchist". While the circle of radicals is seemingly small, young and dressed in black, they *have* solidarity for very different reasons. And there are many behind the curtain that help in many ways, but may feel reserved in action for various reasons. After all, association was enough to get you Black Listed 50 years ago. I took to the streets with the radicals in black just before the war started. I was fed up with parades that only seemed like excuses for people to say "they did something", "they followed their conscience". What what were they doing? Don't get me wrong.. they have their place with many throughout the world, like on J20. But why stop there? Are you being true to your principles if you pick up a starbucks on the way home from the SDCPJ rally? I think that most people are overwhelmed by the level of corruption all around them, 24/7. It creates an existential crisis only best medicated with consumerism and seeming practices of Free Speech. No one really believes they have anything to say any more, that is worth protecting. I am not an anarchist, nor have I ever really considered myself one. However, many of the methods and means of anarcho-syndicalism I am on board with, namely direct action. Many people have many different ideas about what constitutes direct action and what is considered ethical direct action. Where I have found that much of the "Peace movement" has failed, is this idea that you on board and subscribe to every last opinion of your organization, or you are not one of us. While consensus has it's place there is also an absence from vote. When I put on my black sweater and cover my face, I am supporting an action, at that time, in solidarity. And at every point in an action, I am re-evaluating my participation, effectiveness, and ethical consent. And if another group were to dress in black, the next day and I did not have ethical consent for that action, I simply do not participate, it's my vote. I've heard numerous people discount the entire "liberal" movements based on bumper sticker slogans. Granted, most people aren't given much more than a sound bite these days anyways, hence the importance of alternative media sources. It's no different that voting for Boxer because she's pro-choice or Bush because he's pro-rich. We MUST NOT allow ourselves to be pigeon holed into one liners. I'd happily participate in monkey wrenching the "Friends of the Border Patrol" but I don't appreciate it being under the banner of "Tear down the border". How many of us really, honestly talk about politics, current events, means of livelihood with each other, friends, neighbors, comrades. How many of us really listen, contemplate and return with questions for clarity. Why aren't we arming ourselves with political theory, philosophy and history. If our aim is not to repeat history, then we mustn't tear down the emperors of the past, lest we forget. Perhaps if our movements had better understandings of each others ideal ends and *means*, instead of getting caught up in particulars of mission statements or bumper sticker slogans, we'd have a greater sense of *solidarity* as one people, trying to go to one (better) place together.
Free personality analysis from ColorQuiz.com. Generated on Sun Nov 13 00:01:42 2005. (Bolds added by kaivalya) Your Existing Situation Trying to improve her position and prestige. Dissatisfied with her existing circumstances and considers some improvement essential to her self-esteem.Your Stress Sources Wants to overcome a feeling of emptiness and of separation from others. Believes that life still has far more to offer and that she may miss her share of experiences if she fails to make the best use of every opportunity. She therefore pursues her objectives with a fierce intensity and commits herself deeply and readily. Feels herself to be completely competent in any field in which she engages, and can sometimes be considered by others to be interfering or meddlesome. Your Restrained Characteristics Able to achieve satisfaction through sexual activity but restless and inclined to be emotionally withdrawn, which prevents her from becoming deeply involved. Your Desired Objective Takes easily and quickly to anything which provides stimulation. Preoccupied with things of an intensely exciting nature, whether erotically stimulating or otherwise. Wants to be regarded as an exciting and interesting personality with an altogether charming and impressive influence on others. Uses tactics cleverly so as to avoid endangering her chances of success or undermined others' confidence in herself. Your Actual Problem Has a fear that she might be prevented from achieving the things she wants. This leads her to employ great personal charm in her dealings with others, hoping that this will make it easier for her to reach her objectives. Your Actual Problem #2 Seeks to avoid criticism and to prevent restriction of her freedom to act, and to decide for herself by the exercise of great personal charm in her dealings with others. Thank you for using http://www.ColorQuiz.com/Please recommend us to your friends. (Werd, check this shit out, Yo -kaivalya)
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