Saturday, August 28, 2010
Zen Master Teaching #84
Zen Master Teaching #84: Pace yourself. Injuries and times of relaxation take devastating toll on cardiovascular abilities. Attempting to ruckmarch at old pace after six months of inactivity will result in near-death experience.
Zen Master Teaching #83
Zen Master Teaching #83: Do not question training. One should only take apart pieces of weapon one has been shown how to take apart. Losing tiny spring to weapon will cause rifle to function as well as blind, deaf, 3-legged cat.
Zen Master Teaching #82
Zen Master Teaching #82: Be on guard for foolishness always. When team leader decides to let unarmed personnel into unsecure complex in middle of warzone, best to advise them otherwise. Better to be cautious as nervous chipmunk than risk being ambushed by insurgents.
Zen Master Teaching #81
Zen Master Teaching #81: Danger is best teacher. It is when one faces fatality that one's mind becomes clear. Deployment to warring country, though not reccomended for general populous, is highly educational; it makes all insignifacnt worries melt away like snowman in mid-August.
Complacency
We soldiers have a phrase: "Complacency kills." And it's true. We let the vast complexity of life and drama grip us and pull us into a fatal vice. We seek out the pursuit of pleasure and the absence of pain, and do not allow ourselves to even be aware of these actions. We ignore everything and work in disharmony with our own well-being.
I have been complacent. It incites me to fury that I have been so foolish as to allow the petty events around me to distract me from what is necessary.
No longer. I impart this one small piece of wisdom to you all: do not get complacent. Harden yourselves and sharpen your minds, so you may better enjoy life. The fat wildabeast may be content, but it will always fall pray to the cheetah. Choose which you shall be.
I have been complacent. It incites me to fury that I have been so foolish as to allow the petty events around me to distract me from what is necessary.
No longer. I impart this one small piece of wisdom to you all: do not get complacent. Harden yourselves and sharpen your minds, so you may better enjoy life. The fat wildabeast may be content, but it will always fall pray to the cheetah. Choose which you shall be.
Zen Master Teaching #80
Zen Master Teaching #80: Dress wisely. One who does not think ahead and prepare does so at one's peril. Wearing short sleeves and shorts on cold rainy night will make one feel as comfortable as turtle without shell.
Zen Master Teaching #79
Zen Master Teaching #79: Be wary of natural elements. Man-made objects do not do well in environments where forces of nature exist. MP3 player will be as successful in survivng washing machine as swine is in flight.
Ripples
I want you all to take a short voyage with me. Some of you may need life rafts along the way, as the sea of my thoughts can be overwhelming at times, so I will do my best. However, I want the rest of you to just cling to the raft and let the current of my musings take you where you need to go.
I have often wondered whether or not anyone actually reads my writings. After all, most of the world is too busy in their own lives, trying to keep their head above the tide, to even take notice of anyone else or their thoughts. I see it everywhere: relationships, cultures, political parties, institutions, religions, corporations, militaries, focus groups... all of these gatherings of people are not really a way to connect to one another. They are simply a way to raise our own Jolly Rogers, a way to voice our own opinions and be heard above the crash of the waves. Speaking specifically for first world countries, very few among us actually wish to cooperate with each other as we go about our daily lives. We want what is best for us: an escape from pain and the pursuit of pleasure. We want to feel good, to feel loved, and to feel wanted. Our desires are those of the sharks and the killer whales; we need to feed, to breathe, to live, and to repeat the cycle. Individual motivations are what make the tides of the world move.
However, like the tides of the ocean, our actions have effects that are both far-reaching and invisible to the naked eye. And, as the predators in this sea, those who are from first world countries take little notice of those in third world countries. And why should we? They are the tuna and the sea bass. They are beneath us, there only as background imagery in the grand scheme of our existence. We appear much the same to them, although the lives of these people are much different. Haunted by barracuda and dolphins, the great masses of people in other countries who do not have the benefits we are so blessed with go about their lives scurrying in fear, just trying to survive. But again, their actions too have effects which are not readily apparent.
The world is a complex system. Every single movement and every single organism in it has a purpose or an effect. But how often do we really consider the sheer volume of each of those? Rarely. If it is not within our immediate sphere of influence, we disregard it. It is not real to us; just some story in a news paper, some event in some other country, just another small wave on the surface of the sea. But, as with the sea, there are underlying currents to these movements. We can’t see them, but they are there. For many centuries, we have not even taken these tides into consideration. We have either operated on instinct or adapted the world around us to suit our needs.
Think of the human race as the crew of a small ship. Instead of using sails to guide us and using the current to sweep us across the globe, we have instead developed motors to cut through the currents. Now, on the one hand, this has helped us to advance and overcome difficulty. It has allowed for the expansion of thoughts, goods, and civilization itself. However, the inherent problem with this method is the lack of respect for the tides and for the world around us. I am not saying the environment cannot handle itself; in fact, I am stating the very opposite. The world around us, with all of its thoughts and movements and organisms, is a force which we do not comprehend. We plow our way through hurricanes and typhoons, hoping for the best. And, by some way or another, we have managed to keep our little raft afloat.
Now, homo sapien is a strong, capable species. We are very adept at adapting, and know how to survive using our intellects as well as our instincts. However, I fear we are a bit short sighted. We are still taking the perspective of the fish or the small predator, fighting to survive one day at a time. Even the most “intelligent” and “capable” among us, those who we elect to lead us or who take charge of civilizations, still only consider things from a limited perspective, their minds clouded by the beauty of beautiful pearls and precious underwater gems. Rarely does one come along who has the foresight to think about the course of our voyage on this raft of ours, through this universal ocean. And those who have usually differ largely in their opinions about how which direction we should steer our rudder.
But the way to see pas the clouds on the horizon is this: we must start reading the stars. We need to look beyond ourselves and our tidepools of daily life to consider that there are more important things out there. Even the ocean, for all of its cycles of death and rebirth and movement of the tides, is finite space. It is subject to the pull of the moon. We need to start thinking in the long term, rather than the fight to survive. Use the currents of the sea of thoughts and emotions in our societies to our advantage, instead of attempting to plow through them with the newest and most advanced machinery. Instead of acting as a gathering of sharks at a feeding frenzy all of the time, we should learn from the fish, working together when the time is right for the benefit of both the masses and the individual. Only this way will we be able to come up from the depths of to sail triumphantly across the open ocean.
I have often wondered whether or not anyone actually reads my writings. After all, most of the world is too busy in their own lives, trying to keep their head above the tide, to even take notice of anyone else or their thoughts. I see it everywhere: relationships, cultures, political parties, institutions, religions, corporations, militaries, focus groups... all of these gatherings of people are not really a way to connect to one another. They are simply a way to raise our own Jolly Rogers, a way to voice our own opinions and be heard above the crash of the waves. Speaking specifically for first world countries, very few among us actually wish to cooperate with each other as we go about our daily lives. We want what is best for us: an escape from pain and the pursuit of pleasure. We want to feel good, to feel loved, and to feel wanted. Our desires are those of the sharks and the killer whales; we need to feed, to breathe, to live, and to repeat the cycle. Individual motivations are what make the tides of the world move.
However, like the tides of the ocean, our actions have effects that are both far-reaching and invisible to the naked eye. And, as the predators in this sea, those who are from first world countries take little notice of those in third world countries. And why should we? They are the tuna and the sea bass. They are beneath us, there only as background imagery in the grand scheme of our existence. We appear much the same to them, although the lives of these people are much different. Haunted by barracuda and dolphins, the great masses of people in other countries who do not have the benefits we are so blessed with go about their lives scurrying in fear, just trying to survive. But again, their actions too have effects which are not readily apparent.
The world is a complex system. Every single movement and every single organism in it has a purpose or an effect. But how often do we really consider the sheer volume of each of those? Rarely. If it is not within our immediate sphere of influence, we disregard it. It is not real to us; just some story in a news paper, some event in some other country, just another small wave on the surface of the sea. But, as with the sea, there are underlying currents to these movements. We can’t see them, but they are there. For many centuries, we have not even taken these tides into consideration. We have either operated on instinct or adapted the world around us to suit our needs.
Think of the human race as the crew of a small ship. Instead of using sails to guide us and using the current to sweep us across the globe, we have instead developed motors to cut through the currents. Now, on the one hand, this has helped us to advance and overcome difficulty. It has allowed for the expansion of thoughts, goods, and civilization itself. However, the inherent problem with this method is the lack of respect for the tides and for the world around us. I am not saying the environment cannot handle itself; in fact, I am stating the very opposite. The world around us, with all of its thoughts and movements and organisms, is a force which we do not comprehend. We plow our way through hurricanes and typhoons, hoping for the best. And, by some way or another, we have managed to keep our little raft afloat.
Now, homo sapien is a strong, capable species. We are very adept at adapting, and know how to survive using our intellects as well as our instincts. However, I fear we are a bit short sighted. We are still taking the perspective of the fish or the small predator, fighting to survive one day at a time. Even the most “intelligent” and “capable” among us, those who we elect to lead us or who take charge of civilizations, still only consider things from a limited perspective, their minds clouded by the beauty of beautiful pearls and precious underwater gems. Rarely does one come along who has the foresight to think about the course of our voyage on this raft of ours, through this universal ocean. And those who have usually differ largely in their opinions about how which direction we should steer our rudder.
But the way to see pas the clouds on the horizon is this: we must start reading the stars. We need to look beyond ourselves and our tidepools of daily life to consider that there are more important things out there. Even the ocean, for all of its cycles of death and rebirth and movement of the tides, is finite space. It is subject to the pull of the moon. We need to start thinking in the long term, rather than the fight to survive. Use the currents of the sea of thoughts and emotions in our societies to our advantage, instead of attempting to plow through them with the newest and most advanced machinery. Instead of acting as a gathering of sharks at a feeding frenzy all of the time, we should learn from the fish, working together when the time is right for the benefit of both the masses and the individual. Only this way will we be able to come up from the depths of to sail triumphantly across the open ocean.
Life and Times
Destruction
From days long past, I sit and stare
Of severe pain, fully aware.
Every moment is one long hour
The taste of memr’y has turned sour
I shake, I tremble, scream and shout
To go on, I have not the clout.
In the dark land of madness strange
All these thoughts, I can’t rearrange
Christopher’s Ballad no more heals
Hard waves still crash, my wounds won’t seal
Over and over, the scenes play
I want so badly just to say
“The air is clear, the dawn renewed
My once lost sense of gratitude;
And no more will you have to fear
The lunacy of this man here.”
But alas, I hold my red heart
Shredded, tattered, it will not start.
Still connected, I sew it up
Each tiny hole, a paper cut
Tremors run through my hands so cold
No longer able to be bold
The agony resounds so deep
Fading fast, I can’t help but weep
My mind has gone, the years have past
Each breath now thinks it is the last.
Resurrection
Shinedown sings to my ears stone deaf
Of Saul’s great peace, I am bereft
John and Paul can voice hopes and dreams
But will not love break my heart’s seams?
Drifting, I fall into God’s arms
Here, at last, I cannot be harmed
I’m stuck again, it’s safe to say
The rain won’t take my pain away.
But perhaps His words will ease strife
I look there for answers in life
Slowly, I turn, page after page
Calm swiftly replaces the rage
Soul, awake! Don’t droop in your sin.
What would they say, your kith and kin?
Rise up, don’t tarry, do your job
Strike out at the dangerous mob
Let in no sorrow, fear or grief
Let Christ bring you some true relief.
Reconstruction
Foundations are laid bare tonight
The morning will shed a pure light
Rebuilt, my castle is secure
Drawbridge down, I put out the lure
New agony will take over
The kind that tears up the clover;
Sprinting, dashing, I’ll not be beat
Cool water at the end is sweet.
Forged anew, this strong iron rod
Will help me up when I fall to sod
Time has past, and it’s time to go.
No patience left for hellish throes
Of torment’s knife, obsession’s pull
Or beating thud of doldrums dull.
A long road, it ever shall be
But this time, I’ll shed my mis’ry.
From days long past, I sit and stare
Of severe pain, fully aware.
Every moment is one long hour
The taste of memr’y has turned sour
I shake, I tremble, scream and shout
To go on, I have not the clout.
In the dark land of madness strange
All these thoughts, I can’t rearrange
Christopher’s Ballad no more heals
Hard waves still crash, my wounds won’t seal
Over and over, the scenes play
I want so badly just to say
“The air is clear, the dawn renewed
My once lost sense of gratitude;
And no more will you have to fear
The lunacy of this man here.”
But alas, I hold my red heart
Shredded, tattered, it will not start.
Still connected, I sew it up
Each tiny hole, a paper cut
Tremors run through my hands so cold
No longer able to be bold
The agony resounds so deep
Fading fast, I can’t help but weep
My mind has gone, the years have past
Each breath now thinks it is the last.
Resurrection
Shinedown sings to my ears stone deaf
Of Saul’s great peace, I am bereft
John and Paul can voice hopes and dreams
But will not love break my heart’s seams?
Drifting, I fall into God’s arms
Here, at last, I cannot be harmed
I’m stuck again, it’s safe to say
The rain won’t take my pain away.
But perhaps His words will ease strife
I look there for answers in life
Slowly, I turn, page after page
Calm swiftly replaces the rage
Soul, awake! Don’t droop in your sin.
What would they say, your kith and kin?
Rise up, don’t tarry, do your job
Strike out at the dangerous mob
Let in no sorrow, fear or grief
Let Christ bring you some true relief.
Reconstruction
Foundations are laid bare tonight
The morning will shed a pure light
Rebuilt, my castle is secure
Drawbridge down, I put out the lure
New agony will take over
The kind that tears up the clover;
Sprinting, dashing, I’ll not be beat
Cool water at the end is sweet.
Forged anew, this strong iron rod
Will help me up when I fall to sod
Time has past, and it’s time to go.
No patience left for hellish throes
Of torment’s knife, obsession’s pull
Or beating thud of doldrums dull.
A long road, it ever shall be
But this time, I’ll shed my mis’ry.
Zen Master Teaching #78
Zen Master Teaching #78: Adapt. Understand that no matter where you are or what you are doing, you are not in control of life. Better to understand that Universe will smash your dreams and ideas like nutcracker than to hope you will stand as firm as oak tree.
Zen Master Teaching #77
Zen Master Teaching #77: Quell frustration. No matter what the situation, violence should be last resort. Repeatedly beating steering wheel in fit of rage has damaging effect on hand.
Rain
Away, away, washed down the creek
My silent tears I no more weep.
The dawn has come, the time is ripe
Rise up, my soul, no longer gripe.
Each droplet falls, and in the rain
The stains of sorrow slowly wane.
No more does salt fall from my eyes
Clear, fresh dew drops from the skies
And beneath the skin wipes away fears
Along with memr'y, spanning years.
Calmly I smile, seeing all,
I now will run, not just crawl
And forget the past and all its hate
Resigning myself to unknown fate.
My silent tears I no more weep.
The dawn has come, the time is ripe
Rise up, my soul, no longer gripe.
Each droplet falls, and in the rain
The stains of sorrow slowly wane.
No more does salt fall from my eyes
Clear, fresh dew drops from the skies
And beneath the skin wipes away fears
Along with memr'y, spanning years.
Calmly I smile, seeing all,
I now will run, not just crawl
And forget the past and all its hate
Resigning myself to unknown fate.
Zen Master Teaching #76
Zen Master Teaching #76: Patience. To those who agonize over uncontrollable troubles, life will be harsh. Better to be as wolf, calm and patient for what comes, than jackrabbit who runs afraid and directly into snare.
A Memorial
Today, we remember those who have died for freedom.
Thinking about what that concept entails seems daunting to me. I have just begun to comprehend the meaning of my own life, and still struggle daily to find my own place in this world. How can one who knows so little of life contemplate death? In the past, I have called myself wise. However, due to certain events in the past months, I have come to realize I am nothing more than a child. This world holds much, and in it is wisdom which I have never seen and possibly will never see. And yet, today they ask us to remember, honor, and contemplate those who have died so that we may live.
As I said, such a thing is strange. We humans are fleeting, whispers on the wind, taking up only a brief existence before it is snuffed out. Death is what defines us best, I think, though many others have made that sentiment before. But we know so little of death itself. Humans have lived for centuries, and yet we can still be taken by the common flu and disease. Our light can be blown away like a candle in the moonlight, leaving those around us to grieve and lament at who we were when we walked on the unforgiving ground. It strikes me how amusing it is that we see death in a multitude of ways as well. Sometimes it is cold, cruel, and horrifying, that Grim Reaper which takes the spring and joy of youth. Other times, it is kind and thoughtful, removing the burdens of those who are weary and worn. And again, it is neither cruel nor kind, but just is. Think of the millions, the billions, the uncounted number of people who have died. The sheer numbers are staggering. Go back 100 years, and count the deaths. From 1910 onward, just in our country. Think about the number of lives which have been cut away from the warm blanket of life and taken to a place which we have yet to truly define or understand. I am not talking of deaths of soldiers, I will get to that in a moment. No, think right now of every person who has died. Consider the number. And that is nothing, nothing but a speck on the world. We now live for a long time by previous standards. We have lives which stretch out for numerous years, and in them many of us may never even see another death, save our own. But, inevitably, it waits for us.
Most, I think, go their lives without contemplating it. It surprises them, a wolf waiting for its prey in the forest, patient and strong and unchanging. If every living soul considered every second of their lives that the next they may be taken from what they know and sent on their way, how would everyone live? Would they be so careless, so naive, so whimsical? Many look at it through the lens of faith, but even then that is only a feeling based on no evidence to comfort them in the night. I am not saying to have faith is foolish (far from it, as I have much faith myself), but I am looking at it objectively. We do not know, therefore we cannot prove, the existence of anything beyond what we have here. And so many, including myself, have squandered it. We take so much of our lives for granted, wasting it and doing nothing. We wallow in misery, depression, grief, anguish, and a host of other harmful emotions. We stagnate ourselves with the petty entertainments of shallow and fleeting amusements. I am not stating that to have fun is a sin, but we rarely stop to consider the true nature of our amusements. The vices of homo sapien are many, and they are foolish to the last. Many are concerned solely with themselves and their moments of happiness, and think of little else. Is it a bad way to live? Or is that just the way it is?
However, I stray from the true point of my essay. While there are many philosophical questions which one should ponder, today we are asked to remember those who died fighting. And this I think is something which should not be taken lightly. There are men and women from around the world, in every army, who have stood up for what they believed in and put one price on the line for it: their lives. Yes, we are asked to remember our American military. But, for a moment, consider any person, in any country, who has fought for others to be free, and paid for it with the breath in their body. Now, put yourself in their place. As a solider, I can say that I know how they feel. I leave very soon for the place where the Persian Empire once ruled. I go there to stand and speak for the American people, for each one of you reading this essay and countless more. I willingly volunteered to put my life on the line (and even helped to speed up the process in certain circumstances) to go defend your right to call me a foolish, money-seeking torturer. Haha, of course some of you are more sympathetic, but you grasp my point. I go there with full knowledge that I may be obliterated in a blast of heat and iron, or taken by a sniper's bullet. However, I still go. I willingly bring that upon myself. Many, many more have done the same, and I honor each one of them.
Being a soldier, being one who fights for others... it is a strange life. And today we remind ourselves of it. We are the ones who put the thoughts and feelings of ourselves on hold. Yes, many soldiers think of themselves often. But when it comes down to it, when we are faced with the cold, hard reality... We do not fight for ourselves. We seek to survive, yes. But more importantly, we stand on that line so others will not have to stand with us. We pick up our weapons and defend the American politicians, workers, businesses, and way of life not because of personal gain. We may dislike many in the United States, and disagree with much that has been done in our country. We may say, and truly believe, that we are in this lifestyle for ourselves. But I can testify that very few do not take in the scope of what it is we do. We put our bodies in the crossfire so freedom may endure. I say freedom, and not democracy or some other such political ideology. Politics on the whole is a fool's game, one better suited for those who would rather spend their days arguing than laughing. No, I say for freedom. Because it is freedom which allowed me to willingly sign my name on that contract to fulfill my service to what I hold dear. I was not forced to do that, but did so of my own volition. And that is what I fight for. I fight for our ability to make the choice, and never have to be forced into a life which we do not choose. And it is today that we remember the many more who gave the ultimate sacrifice defending that ability. They should be praised higher than any other who has come before, because they gave up what is sweet and precious to face the unknown. They defended that which they loved to the last breath.
Today, we remember those who died. Remember them well. Think, if you will, on life itself. Consider what we all give up at the end. But, please, take into deeper consideration those who gave it up willingly. Remember the soldiers. Remember all those in the past who have stood against an oppressor and said that they would not let freedom be taken. And never forget who they were: common men and women, choosing to do uncommon things in a tumultuous time.
Thinking about what that concept entails seems daunting to me. I have just begun to comprehend the meaning of my own life, and still struggle daily to find my own place in this world. How can one who knows so little of life contemplate death? In the past, I have called myself wise. However, due to certain events in the past months, I have come to realize I am nothing more than a child. This world holds much, and in it is wisdom which I have never seen and possibly will never see. And yet, today they ask us to remember, honor, and contemplate those who have died so that we may live.
As I said, such a thing is strange. We humans are fleeting, whispers on the wind, taking up only a brief existence before it is snuffed out. Death is what defines us best, I think, though many others have made that sentiment before. But we know so little of death itself. Humans have lived for centuries, and yet we can still be taken by the common flu and disease. Our light can be blown away like a candle in the moonlight, leaving those around us to grieve and lament at who we were when we walked on the unforgiving ground. It strikes me how amusing it is that we see death in a multitude of ways as well. Sometimes it is cold, cruel, and horrifying, that Grim Reaper which takes the spring and joy of youth. Other times, it is kind and thoughtful, removing the burdens of those who are weary and worn. And again, it is neither cruel nor kind, but just is. Think of the millions, the billions, the uncounted number of people who have died. The sheer numbers are staggering. Go back 100 years, and count the deaths. From 1910 onward, just in our country. Think about the number of lives which have been cut away from the warm blanket of life and taken to a place which we have yet to truly define or understand. I am not talking of deaths of soldiers, I will get to that in a moment. No, think right now of every person who has died. Consider the number. And that is nothing, nothing but a speck on the world. We now live for a long time by previous standards. We have lives which stretch out for numerous years, and in them many of us may never even see another death, save our own. But, inevitably, it waits for us.
Most, I think, go their lives without contemplating it. It surprises them, a wolf waiting for its prey in the forest, patient and strong and unchanging. If every living soul considered every second of their lives that the next they may be taken from what they know and sent on their way, how would everyone live? Would they be so careless, so naive, so whimsical? Many look at it through the lens of faith, but even then that is only a feeling based on no evidence to comfort them in the night. I am not saying to have faith is foolish (far from it, as I have much faith myself), but I am looking at it objectively. We do not know, therefore we cannot prove, the existence of anything beyond what we have here. And so many, including myself, have squandered it. We take so much of our lives for granted, wasting it and doing nothing. We wallow in misery, depression, grief, anguish, and a host of other harmful emotions. We stagnate ourselves with the petty entertainments of shallow and fleeting amusements. I am not stating that to have fun is a sin, but we rarely stop to consider the true nature of our amusements. The vices of homo sapien are many, and they are foolish to the last. Many are concerned solely with themselves and their moments of happiness, and think of little else. Is it a bad way to live? Or is that just the way it is?
However, I stray from the true point of my essay. While there are many philosophical questions which one should ponder, today we are asked to remember those who died fighting. And this I think is something which should not be taken lightly. There are men and women from around the world, in every army, who have stood up for what they believed in and put one price on the line for it: their lives. Yes, we are asked to remember our American military. But, for a moment, consider any person, in any country, who has fought for others to be free, and paid for it with the breath in their body. Now, put yourself in their place. As a solider, I can say that I know how they feel. I leave very soon for the place where the Persian Empire once ruled. I go there to stand and speak for the American people, for each one of you reading this essay and countless more. I willingly volunteered to put my life on the line (and even helped to speed up the process in certain circumstances) to go defend your right to call me a foolish, money-seeking torturer. Haha, of course some of you are more sympathetic, but you grasp my point. I go there with full knowledge that I may be obliterated in a blast of heat and iron, or taken by a sniper's bullet. However, I still go. I willingly bring that upon myself. Many, many more have done the same, and I honor each one of them.
Being a soldier, being one who fights for others... it is a strange life. And today we remind ourselves of it. We are the ones who put the thoughts and feelings of ourselves on hold. Yes, many soldiers think of themselves often. But when it comes down to it, when we are faced with the cold, hard reality... We do not fight for ourselves. We seek to survive, yes. But more importantly, we stand on that line so others will not have to stand with us. We pick up our weapons and defend the American politicians, workers, businesses, and way of life not because of personal gain. We may dislike many in the United States, and disagree with much that has been done in our country. We may say, and truly believe, that we are in this lifestyle for ourselves. But I can testify that very few do not take in the scope of what it is we do. We put our bodies in the crossfire so freedom may endure. I say freedom, and not democracy or some other such political ideology. Politics on the whole is a fool's game, one better suited for those who would rather spend their days arguing than laughing. No, I say for freedom. Because it is freedom which allowed me to willingly sign my name on that contract to fulfill my service to what I hold dear. I was not forced to do that, but did so of my own volition. And that is what I fight for. I fight for our ability to make the choice, and never have to be forced into a life which we do not choose. And it is today that we remember the many more who gave the ultimate sacrifice defending that ability. They should be praised higher than any other who has come before, because they gave up what is sweet and precious to face the unknown. They defended that which they loved to the last breath.
Today, we remember those who died. Remember them well. Think, if you will, on life itself. Consider what we all give up at the end. But, please, take into deeper consideration those who gave it up willingly. Remember the soldiers. Remember all those in the past who have stood against an oppressor and said that they would not let freedom be taken. And never forget who they were: common men and women, choosing to do uncommon things in a tumultuous time.
Zen Master Teaching #75
Zen Master Teaching #75: Always know your limits. One must never push body or heart too fast. Feelings and muscles will both respond like man being crushed under fallen piano.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Zen Master Teaching #74
Zen Master Teaching #74: Think. One puts down words to remind for a reason; they are lessons to be constantly remembered. When one refuses to read own wisdom, one's mental state becomes akin to that of rabbit trapped by fox in winter.
Zen Master Teaching #73
Zen Master Teaching #73: Choose fights wisely. Most foolish to grapple with older brother when one is malnourished. Body will react like fluid filled sack waiting to be popped when punch lands on chin.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Day 15
The silence here is driving me crazy.
In these caves, the only real sound other than the passing of the guards is the slow, steady drip of water off the ceilings and into the floor. There are three spots in my cell where it drips, two by the door and one close my head as I sleep. Maybe that is why the Chinese prefer water torture. The slow steady rhythm gets on your nerves...
At first you don't even notice it. You just go on thinking. All that comes to my mind are old songs I remember from my last trip on leave. Couple of really good ones that I listened to often. Some of the new ones. Just snippets though. I can't remember all the lyrics, just the beat and the music. Funny that songs are what's on my mind. I should be thinking about how to escape or something but at the moment I can't.
But then it's back to that incessant drip. Just over and over and over again. The cave/cell I am in is only about 15 feet long by about 10 feet wide. It isn't a rectangle, more of an ellipse or circle. I have walked around the entire thing too many times to count. Nothing. Just sheer stone.
There are little cubbyholes in the walls. I don't know if they are natural or if they are bored out manually. Kind of weird, like a crypt in a movie or something. They made sure to remove everything before they tossed me in here. Still dripping. It's an offset pattern, too. The first two by the door go one after another, then about two seconds later the one by my head. Then a pause of about five seconds. Then repeat. I'll just try to ignore it.
Big Guy didn't come by my cell today. Instead, the guy with the long beard came around about midday and just stared at me for a while. Didn't say anything. He just sat there. Didn't really look hostile, either. More like he was contemplating me, taking stock. I don't know how long he watched me, but after I just stared back he nodded once and walked away. Maybe he is sizing me up, wondering if I will try to escape.
Drip drip, pause drip. Damn it, that's annoying. Reminds me of those stupid commercial jingles you can't get out of your head for local convenience stores or auto dealerships.
Wick on the lamp candle is dwindling. Hopefully they replace it.
In these caves, the only real sound other than the passing of the guards is the slow, steady drip of water off the ceilings and into the floor. There are three spots in my cell where it drips, two by the door and one close my head as I sleep. Maybe that is why the Chinese prefer water torture. The slow steady rhythm gets on your nerves...
At first you don't even notice it. You just go on thinking. All that comes to my mind are old songs I remember from my last trip on leave. Couple of really good ones that I listened to often. Some of the new ones. Just snippets though. I can't remember all the lyrics, just the beat and the music. Funny that songs are what's on my mind. I should be thinking about how to escape or something but at the moment I can't.
But then it's back to that incessant drip. Just over and over and over again. The cave/cell I am in is only about 15 feet long by about 10 feet wide. It isn't a rectangle, more of an ellipse or circle. I have walked around the entire thing too many times to count. Nothing. Just sheer stone.
There are little cubbyholes in the walls. I don't know if they are natural or if they are bored out manually. Kind of weird, like a crypt in a movie or something. They made sure to remove everything before they tossed me in here. Still dripping. It's an offset pattern, too. The first two by the door go one after another, then about two seconds later the one by my head. Then a pause of about five seconds. Then repeat. I'll just try to ignore it.
Big Guy didn't come by my cell today. Instead, the guy with the long beard came around about midday and just stared at me for a while. Didn't say anything. He just sat there. Didn't really look hostile, either. More like he was contemplating me, taking stock. I don't know how long he watched me, but after I just stared back he nodded once and walked away. Maybe he is sizing me up, wondering if I will try to escape.
Drip drip, pause drip. Damn it, that's annoying. Reminds me of those stupid commercial jingles you can't get out of your head for local convenience stores or auto dealerships.
Wick on the lamp candle is dwindling. Hopefully they replace it.
Zen Master Teaching #72
Zen Master Teaching #72: Prudence. If one is to have days filled with peace, one must plan carefully. Imbibing large amounts of Gatorade shortly before bedtime is no way to achieve restful slumber.
Day 14
They surprised me. I didn't realize it until they were already on top of me. The big guy, the one who called me a "kafir" was the one leading the charge. Socks full of batteries, couple of crowbars, and bare fists. Nothing I could really do. They beat me unconscious.
Didn't wake up for a day. When I did, woke up in my own blood. They didn't even clean it up. So I banged on the bars until they let me shower. I may be a prisoner, but I'll be damned if I get an infection. And there is obviously a reason they are keeping me alive. Otherwise, Big Guy would have ended it yesterday.
Amazed they had a shower in this place, but they do. Just a cave with a faucet. They blindfolded me when they moved me around, but it took about five minutes to get there. Means this place isn't tiny.
Spent two days recovering. They brought the journal but... I didn't feel like writing. Too many things on my mind. Right now, just trying to hold it together.
Big Guy makes it a point to rattle my bars every time he walks by. I gave him a scar when he came to my cell. Got ahold of one of the crowbars and hit his face. His right eye will sag for a while now. I think he is pretty high up on the food chain but not the highest. He tried to open my cell yesterday but was stopped by a short guy with a long beard. Big Guy didn't like it at all.
On the ride over to the Sandbox, one of my sergeants told me to keep track of everything going on if I were to ever get captured. I've been recording every little thing but I don't know if it will help me. Who knows... maybe I'll find a loophole in a guard schedule or something.
Maybe I won't. For now... I need sleep.
Didn't wake up for a day. When I did, woke up in my own blood. They didn't even clean it up. So I banged on the bars until they let me shower. I may be a prisoner, but I'll be damned if I get an infection. And there is obviously a reason they are keeping me alive. Otherwise, Big Guy would have ended it yesterday.
Amazed they had a shower in this place, but they do. Just a cave with a faucet. They blindfolded me when they moved me around, but it took about five minutes to get there. Means this place isn't tiny.
Spent two days recovering. They brought the journal but... I didn't feel like writing. Too many things on my mind. Right now, just trying to hold it together.
Big Guy makes it a point to rattle my bars every time he walks by. I gave him a scar when he came to my cell. Got ahold of one of the crowbars and hit his face. His right eye will sag for a while now. I think he is pretty high up on the food chain but not the highest. He tried to open my cell yesterday but was stopped by a short guy with a long beard. Big Guy didn't like it at all.
On the ride over to the Sandbox, one of my sergeants told me to keep track of everything going on if I were to ever get captured. I've been recording every little thing but I don't know if it will help me. Who knows... maybe I'll find a loophole in a guard schedule or something.
Maybe I won't. For now... I need sleep.
Soldiers
Tense, warm bodies all in a row
Waiting for orders that probably won't show
Chattering, laughing, but having no fun
Wishing for long days to be done
The dirt and the grime and the grit and the muck
Free men and women who just have no luck
Spending their time in dark holes and rooms
Wasting cold Mondays breathing vehicle fumes
This Army life sometimes isn't your style
But hey, suck it up, you'll be in for a while.
Waiting for orders that probably won't show
Chattering, laughing, but having no fun
Wishing for long days to be done
The dirt and the grime and the grit and the muck
Free men and women who just have no luck
Spending their time in dark holes and rooms
Wasting cold Mondays breathing vehicle fumes
This Army life sometimes isn't your style
But hey, suck it up, you'll be in for a while.
Day 10
Few new things today. Pretty much the same, but noticed something unusual.
One of the guards doesn't like me very much. Haven't caught his name yet. He's a big, burly, ugly specimen. Walks around with a really skinny teenager on the second shift. Usually when the guards walk by, all they do is spit on the ground and walk on. This guy came up to the bars with a big smile on his face, pointed his finger at me like he had a pistol and said "Kafir." Don't know exactly what it means, but it sounds bad. Felt like he was marking me as a target, the way a bully would in a fight with a elementary kid in the schoolyard.
I really don't want to have to kill him. It would cause problems for me, and probably get my throat slit afterwards. But the look in this guy's eyes... it was no damn good. I won't be be sleeping for a while, just in case he decides it is better for him to sneak in my cell at night.
It doesn't matter, I guess. Whether or not they come at me with one man or twenty, I will still take as many as I can. Would liven up the life here if he did start a fight. In fact, I am aching for one ever since they brought me here. Can't stand these cramped, damp stone walls, that annoying smell of hay in my nose every second of every day.
Heard a noise, too. It was right about midday, I think. My cell was as bright as it gets and I was laying on my cot thinking about basic when I heard an explosion. Not near. Actually, it could be near considering the amount of bedrock surrounding me. It sounded like a single explosion, maybe an artillery shell. But it wasn't expected because the guards started shouting and double-timed it away from their patrols. Who knows, maybe it was an accident, some idiot blowing himself up on an IED or landmine.
Cold in here. The meals are still disgusting but edible. I wish I had some music or something. The only thing around here is the call to prayer five times a day. Guards will be here in a few to take my pen and lamp away.
One of the guards doesn't like me very much. Haven't caught his name yet. He's a big, burly, ugly specimen. Walks around with a really skinny teenager on the second shift. Usually when the guards walk by, all they do is spit on the ground and walk on. This guy came up to the bars with a big smile on his face, pointed his finger at me like he had a pistol and said "Kafir." Don't know exactly what it means, but it sounds bad. Felt like he was marking me as a target, the way a bully would in a fight with a elementary kid in the schoolyard.
I really don't want to have to kill him. It would cause problems for me, and probably get my throat slit afterwards. But the look in this guy's eyes... it was no damn good. I won't be be sleeping for a while, just in case he decides it is better for him to sneak in my cell at night.
It doesn't matter, I guess. Whether or not they come at me with one man or twenty, I will still take as many as I can. Would liven up the life here if he did start a fight. In fact, I am aching for one ever since they brought me here. Can't stand these cramped, damp stone walls, that annoying smell of hay in my nose every second of every day.
Heard a noise, too. It was right about midday, I think. My cell was as bright as it gets and I was laying on my cot thinking about basic when I heard an explosion. Not near. Actually, it could be near considering the amount of bedrock surrounding me. It sounded like a single explosion, maybe an artillery shell. But it wasn't expected because the guards started shouting and double-timed it away from their patrols. Who knows, maybe it was an accident, some idiot blowing himself up on an IED or landmine.
Cold in here. The meals are still disgusting but edible. I wish I had some music or something. The only thing around here is the call to prayer five times a day. Guards will be here in a few to take my pen and lamp away.
Day 9
I wish they had let me keep a watch or something. Not knowing the time of day is maddening. All I can tell is when the sun rises and when it sets. I can't tell if it is minutes passing or hours, just days. This cave is dark and stale. Hay on the floor makes for a nice mat to sleep on, honestly better than some nights I have spent in the guard towers on FOB. The passage that runs in front of my cell is only lit when they come down this way, which they do about eight times a day. Flashlights and AK-47s and walkie talkies. Can't understand anything on the comms, though.
I should have listened to Marie and learned Arabic or Pashtu or something. Thought I wouldn't have time before I got over here. Now all I have is time.
They came in again to question me. This time, they didn't beat me. Figure they realize after the hell they put me through when I was captured, pain was not going to help. They just talked. Mostly trying to find out about me. Asking me about my family, my friends, my reason for being over here. They were being kind. Two of them: One, a short, stocky guy who introduced himself as Hamid. He did most of the talking. Smiled a lot too, and honestly not a bad guy from his demeanor. The other kind of stood in back and watched me. He called himself Jalil, and didn't say anything other than hello and goodbye.
I feel like the kindness is a ploy. When I look into these guy's eyes, I don't see sympathy. I see men trying to get information. Selling cars back at home before Ranger school taught me how to read people. And Hamid reads like a desperate dealer trying to get rid of a beat up Chevy Geo. Jalil just looks like... a bouncer at a night club. Creepy.
I just sat there and stared at them. When they asked me why I wasn't answering, I gave them the same thing as before: name, rank, and serial. I don't trust these bastards. Just literate and articulate terrorists, nothing more. We only talked for a little while, then they left. Hamid did me a kindness, gave me something to read: the Qur'an. It may be interesting, but right now I don't care. Still in too much pain to focus on anything. Still trapped in this hellhole. I know it's futile, but every time they open that door I want to rush the guardsa and go hand-to-hand. But I can't. I can't even move. I can only drag myself to get food and water at the door. They have to bring the lamp and pencil to me.
Should have watched my sector.
I should have listened to Marie and learned Arabic or Pashtu or something. Thought I wouldn't have time before I got over here. Now all I have is time.
They came in again to question me. This time, they didn't beat me. Figure they realize after the hell they put me through when I was captured, pain was not going to help. They just talked. Mostly trying to find out about me. Asking me about my family, my friends, my reason for being over here. They were being kind. Two of them: One, a short, stocky guy who introduced himself as Hamid. He did most of the talking. Smiled a lot too, and honestly not a bad guy from his demeanor. The other kind of stood in back and watched me. He called himself Jalil, and didn't say anything other than hello and goodbye.
I feel like the kindness is a ploy. When I look into these guy's eyes, I don't see sympathy. I see men trying to get information. Selling cars back at home before Ranger school taught me how to read people. And Hamid reads like a desperate dealer trying to get rid of a beat up Chevy Geo. Jalil just looks like... a bouncer at a night club. Creepy.
I just sat there and stared at them. When they asked me why I wasn't answering, I gave them the same thing as before: name, rank, and serial. I don't trust these bastards. Just literate and articulate terrorists, nothing more. We only talked for a little while, then they left. Hamid did me a kindness, gave me something to read: the Qur'an. It may be interesting, but right now I don't care. Still in too much pain to focus on anything. Still trapped in this hellhole. I know it's futile, but every time they open that door I want to rush the guardsa and go hand-to-hand. But I can't. I can't even move. I can only drag myself to get food and water at the door. They have to bring the lamp and pencil to me.
Should have watched my sector.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Day 8
Day 8
Daniels, Ezekiel; SPC US Army; 078-05-1120
Daniels, Ezekiel; SPC US Army; 078-05-1120
I have been here over a week and they now decided to give me a small lamp, a journal, and a pencil. They told me “Keep yourself busy.” I figure they want to make sure I don’t try to kill myself by going insane. Don’t know why. They are just going to do it for me.
Regardless, I am going to write to leave this as a record to anyone who finds it, because I doubt I will make it out alive. My patrol got hit hard by an IED going through some podunk part of Helamand province, along one of the smaller MSRs. Captain Trujillo called it out on the radio, but I don’t remember what he said. Miggs and Santo were in lead vehicle with me and him, but they are probably dead by now. It was a big blast, hit us hard on the driver’s side. Must have been one of those new ones with armor piercing rounds, because the armor on the 1114 peeled away like it was nothing. I still can’t wrap my head around it. One minute, Miggs is singing along to “Hotel California”, the next we are in the middle of Satan’s playground. They must have had a daisy chain, because next thing I knew the radio lit up and everyone in convoy was screaming and shouting directions. But, by that time, I could hear the small arms fire. I couldn’t see anyone because the blast knocked my head against the roof when the vehicle rolled over. Everything was blurry. Next thing I know, I am being drug out of the door, and I hear Captain yell out our grid, but then shots fired and I see nothing but an AK-47 butt stock.
I still don’t know why they kept me alive.
The first couple days were bad. They beat me pretty hard. Had me zip tied to a chair in some dark little cave. At first they just beat me with fists but then started on me with socks full of batteries. Not much, but enough to cause me to black out a couple times. Felt like a big fireball of pain all over. They gave me just enough time to recover, then went back to pulping me. They kept asking about the location of “the unit”. I told them I didn’t know. Haha, actually all I did was give them name, rank, and serial. I wouldn’t breach my code. Not for these animals.
They left me bloody in that cave for a while. I don’t know how long, probably a day or two. All I can remember is the pain. Next thing I know, a doctor is cleaning me up. Stitches to my face. Stitches along my back. Some cold packs on my sides and forehead. I saw them using thermometers and some other equipment... didn’t think they had those here out in the desert. Maybe they aren’t complete barbarians.
I am now in a small cell, fashioned out of an alcove in a cave. There is a small hole in the ceiling. I can tell when it’s daylight and when its dark. The guards come around every so often. They give me food and water. I remember Johnstone, one of our intel guys attached to our convoy, telling me how these terrorists don’t abide by the Geneva Conventions, but so far I would say the treatment is about what I would expect. Just enough to keep me alive. They told me the date when they threw me in here, as a kindness I guess. Only reason I know how long I have been here.
For now, my only task is to stay alive from day to day, hope for someone to come looking. Took me a hell of a lot of energy to write this. Getting dark now. Any second they will come to take the lamp and the pencil. They will let me keep the journal. All I can think of is Marie and Abigail.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Undertow
At first, the sublime taste
Of waves of affection kiss me
Glimmering, your waves
Show mesmerizing beauty.
I play along, swim to and fro,
Nothing felt this fresh before
Not ever desiring to go.
And leave your waters for the shore.
After a time, I get lightheaded
Dizzy, spinning, waterlogged.
Some people say this part is dreaded
I know now it is just a short fog.
It sits upon your ocean
Perched, a gull on the mast
Only with intense devotion
Can one through this whirlpool pass.
Some consider me crazy
They say these tides just will not flow.
They do not consider that just maybe
It’s better to be caught in the undertow.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Zion
In this life, very few things are certain. It is often said only two things are: death and taxes. The truth in this statement is very evident. Only the things in life which are feared and hated are irrevocably true. And why should they not be? We see so much pain and discomfort. We are forced into situations we abhor and cannot escape. We live lives full of misery, loneliness, and torment. Are we not comfortable with it? Think about it. Life is just one long protracted series of foolish events, and a person must develop a thick carapace in order to deal with the horror. We have to look at our lives daily and say "Well, this is just the way it is."
I wish I could tell you this is unnecessary. But alas, I cannot. Because I have come to accept the inevitability myself. I have come to realize that the things in life which I most want are things which are not available to me at this precise instant. I have become aware of things which throw my life into a kaleidoscope of suffering and torture.
However... in the back of my mind, there remains a constant thought. It is, perhaps, the only reason I have not gone completely insane. Every time I face death, every time I come upon tragedy, and every time I feel agony, I remember one single thing.
There is a better possibility. There is hope. The hope is scarce, I grant you. But there is hope.
There is hope for all of us to change our situations and to be better. The key thing here to realize is the difference in mindset. Instead of worrying about the situation, hoping it will change, wanting it to change, we must accept what it is. Then from there we can work to change it. We can climb up out of the depths of the ocean and reach for the stars.
Christ and many others spoke of a place called Zion. It is what the Socialists have called Utopia, but what Christ taught was extremely different. Whether you believe he was divine or not, he still had a good message: we are all brethren.
Think of that simple statement. Every person you have ever met, no matter who they are or what they believe, is like your brother or your sister or your father or your mother. What would you do if that were the case? Would we be cruel to one another? Would we discriminate and cause pain and profit off of others? No. We would accept the differences in opinion and love each other, realizing there is more to life than the simple bickering of individuals. We would accept life and attempt to live in harmony.
There is a key word here I want you to take notice of: attempt. It is not, as the Utopians would have you believe, something truly attainable in the sense of it being perfect. Ayn Rand in Anthem disproved socialism and collectivism. However, if we all at least tried to do the right thing (and punished those who did wrong, because that is the other half of the puzzle), we would get closer to being right. Societies are not perfect. By no means are they simplistic. We are a complex species, full of differing thoughts and differing ideas. We have so many options open to us.
However, as of late I feel like we have been making the wrong choices. And that is understandable, considering we are an imperfect people. But I think what we all need to do is stop and take a moment to think. Think about what we are doing and where we are. Think about where we wish to progress to in this life. Existence is not something to be wasted, but cherished. Should we take for granted all we are given? Should we live our lives with hatred and negative emotions? I say we should not. I certainly agree there are cases where force, justice, and a cold demeanor are necessary. But that is on a case by case basis.
As one man said: "Zion only works if I love you and you love me, even if we disagree." Sounds kind of like Barney, doesn't it? But then, we are children in the eyes of someone wiser, no? And when have you ever seen a group of good children not get along? Fight, bicker, play around, maybe. But hurt each other and cause real pain? No. Good children learn, grow, find the good things in life. I think the world would be a lot better if we all thought a little more about how our actions affect others and less how we feel about the negativity. That only goes to a certain point (because I do not believe the principle of altruism, which is another word for selflessness, can be possible to achieve on a total basis in an individualistic society, nor should it be possible) and sometimes we also have to live a lie in life in order to get what we want... but the truth is I think we all need to step back and look. We are not inherently a good people. We are products of our genetics and of our environment. We are beings on a tiny rock in the middle of a vast galaxy. We are all in this together. We may fight from time to time. We may see the presence of evil, and even commit atrocities. However, we as a society should be focused on something more. We should not get caught up in the daily life... we should realize what we cannot change, but work to change that which we can alter. That, I think, would be something like Zion.
I wish I could tell you this is unnecessary. But alas, I cannot. Because I have come to accept the inevitability myself. I have come to realize that the things in life which I most want are things which are not available to me at this precise instant. I have become aware of things which throw my life into a kaleidoscope of suffering and torture.
However... in the back of my mind, there remains a constant thought. It is, perhaps, the only reason I have not gone completely insane. Every time I face death, every time I come upon tragedy, and every time I feel agony, I remember one single thing.
There is a better possibility. There is hope. The hope is scarce, I grant you. But there is hope.
There is hope for all of us to change our situations and to be better. The key thing here to realize is the difference in mindset. Instead of worrying about the situation, hoping it will change, wanting it to change, we must accept what it is. Then from there we can work to change it. We can climb up out of the depths of the ocean and reach for the stars.
Christ and many others spoke of a place called Zion. It is what the Socialists have called Utopia, but what Christ taught was extremely different. Whether you believe he was divine or not, he still had a good message: we are all brethren.
Think of that simple statement. Every person you have ever met, no matter who they are or what they believe, is like your brother or your sister or your father or your mother. What would you do if that were the case? Would we be cruel to one another? Would we discriminate and cause pain and profit off of others? No. We would accept the differences in opinion and love each other, realizing there is more to life than the simple bickering of individuals. We would accept life and attempt to live in harmony.
There is a key word here I want you to take notice of: attempt. It is not, as the Utopians would have you believe, something truly attainable in the sense of it being perfect. Ayn Rand in Anthem disproved socialism and collectivism. However, if we all at least tried to do the right thing (and punished those who did wrong, because that is the other half of the puzzle), we would get closer to being right. Societies are not perfect. By no means are they simplistic. We are a complex species, full of differing thoughts and differing ideas. We have so many options open to us.
However, as of late I feel like we have been making the wrong choices. And that is understandable, considering we are an imperfect people. But I think what we all need to do is stop and take a moment to think. Think about what we are doing and where we are. Think about where we wish to progress to in this life. Existence is not something to be wasted, but cherished. Should we take for granted all we are given? Should we live our lives with hatred and negative emotions? I say we should not. I certainly agree there are cases where force, justice, and a cold demeanor are necessary. But that is on a case by case basis.
As one man said: "Zion only works if I love you and you love me, even if we disagree." Sounds kind of like Barney, doesn't it? But then, we are children in the eyes of someone wiser, no? And when have you ever seen a group of good children not get along? Fight, bicker, play around, maybe. But hurt each other and cause real pain? No. Good children learn, grow, find the good things in life. I think the world would be a lot better if we all thought a little more about how our actions affect others and less how we feel about the negativity. That only goes to a certain point (because I do not believe the principle of altruism, which is another word for selflessness, can be possible to achieve on a total basis in an individualistic society, nor should it be possible) and sometimes we also have to live a lie in life in order to get what we want... but the truth is I think we all need to step back and look. We are not inherently a good people. We are products of our genetics and of our environment. We are beings on a tiny rock in the middle of a vast galaxy. We are all in this together. We may fight from time to time. We may see the presence of evil, and even commit atrocities. However, we as a society should be focused on something more. We should not get caught up in the daily life... we should realize what we cannot change, but work to change that which we can alter. That, I think, would be something like Zion.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Zen Master Teaching #71
Zen Master Teaching #71: Not often does the Zen Master post a teaching which is set above the rest. But today, the Zen Master has this to say: Only when one has absolutely nothing to lose can one gain everything.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Good Point.
Something to ponder:
-A Ponzi Scheme is where you collect money over a long span of time as an investment with the supposition that the money will be paid back with a high return at some point in the future.... but instead, you squander it, using it for your own purposes. An important factor to remember is that this crime is not focused on what you did with the money (whether your intentions were good or not), But the fact that you did something that resulted in your inability to make good on your promise to repay the investor, with their due interest.
-Bernard Madoff was recently incarcerated for defrauding investors out of 65 Billion dollars. He was scentenced to 150 years in prison ( he is 71 years old ).
-The United States Government has been collecting Social Security since 1935. That is, congress passed a law that year which made it LEGAL for them to take a portion of everyones earned income, with the promise that it would be put into a "safe place", and that, after reaching a certain age, you would have access to it via a monthly check.
-As a result of our debt and deficits, Social Security is now broke.
Bernard Madoff was penalized with 150 years in Prison for squandering 65 billion dollars. He will die in captivity. I wonder...Will the people who have squandered literally trillions of dollars, be held accountable for their actions?
It seems that the difference lies in the fact that if you are a private citzen, and you break the law, you go to prison. But if you are a lawmaker, you are able to write the laws in such a way that provides you with a degree of exemption from any accountability after breaking those laws.
-A Ponzi Scheme is where you collect money over a long span of time as an investment with the supposition that the money will be paid back with a high return at some point in the future.... but instead, you squander it, using it for your own purposes. An important factor to remember is that this crime is not focused on what you did with the money (whether your intentions were good or not), But the fact that you did something that resulted in your inability to make good on your promise to repay the investor, with their due interest.
-Bernard Madoff was recently incarcerated for defrauding investors out of 65 Billion dollars. He was scentenced to 150 years in prison ( he is 71 years old ).
-The United States Government has been collecting Social Security since 1935. That is, congress passed a law that year which made it LEGAL for them to take a portion of everyones earned income, with the promise that it would be put into a "safe place", and that, after reaching a certain age, you would have access to it via a monthly check.
-As a result of our debt and deficits, Social Security is now broke.
Bernard Madoff was penalized with 150 years in Prison for squandering 65 billion dollars. He will die in captivity. I wonder...Will the people who have squandered literally trillions of dollars, be held accountable for their actions?
It seems that the difference lies in the fact that if you are a private citzen, and you break the law, you go to prison. But if you are a lawmaker, you are able to write the laws in such a way that provides you with a degree of exemption from any accountability after breaking those laws.
Zen Master Teaching #70
Zen Master Teaching #70: Experimentation with food is like trying to balance wide feet on bamboo bridge. One must be very cautious so as not to have disastrous consequences. Microwaving ice cream for long period of time will result in unedible product.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Today.
A subject was suggested to me a week or two ago. And I have been contemplating it every day. I attempted to write about it... but I simply couldn't find the words.
Until today.
The question is this: what is happiness? It seems so simple to so many. Many people answer the question of how to be happy in this life by a few methods.
One: material gain. Money, clothes, cars, interpersonal relationships. If I have my motorcycle, my iPod, my nice apartment with my nice suits with my nice girlfriends/boyfriends that I bring over, I am set. I have what I "want" in this world. I have things which are pleasing to the eye and to the senses. I have moments in my life where I can look around and the adrenaline rushes through my system and I think... This is it. This is what I want. Because so much has happened to me that I just want to replace it. Or I have been told this is what I should have, therefore I should get it. Or one of a thousand other motivations. Regardless, it all comes back to the present. What do I have, what tangible things do I possess that define me?
Two: an ideal. Some people go the extreme opposite way. They forget about the material things in a way. Yes, they are important to have. But some devote themselves to a belief. Some look at life and say "This mental ground I am on... this is what defines me." This is where I am in life. I have goals. I want to help cure cancer, want to research animals, want to open a bakery, want to run for president. I want to make change in this world. Because i see so much change. I see so much fluctuation and diversity... should I not be part of it? An example is poets. There have been poets and artists and writers which have lived in absolute poverty, but so strongly believed what they believed that they continued to write. One I know even gambled away all of his money so he was forced to write, forced to show the world what he believed, because he had such a close touch with death that he believed only through losing everything do we find what we have. So, for some people, it is to find the meaning of the things in life. It is to look at life, religions, ideals, beliefs, and choose. What do I believe personally that defines me?
Three: this is an interesting one. Some people... believe they are simply tools. Some believe there are higher forces at work which they cannot stop and should not, so the only thing they can do is to live what they believe is right and wait for whatever will happen to happen. Ask an LDS member about this philosophy. There are those who believe there is a plan. That plan is above what we can ever possibly know in this life. And therefore, the only thing to do is to enjoy life. This can be taken to either extreme... ask Neitzsche about that one. Because what is fun but a point of view? To some, living righteously is the right answer. To others, sadism and pain and cruelty to others are what makes the world go around. So, for some, life is simply about the moment. What can I do in life to make me happy?
There are more areas, I am sure. I am not the all knowing. Heck... I am only 20. But in my experience, I find that these three major methods are how people live and exist. These are the ways they make themselves happy. And who is to say who is right and who is wrong? I will tell you right now: a very large part of my belief system lies with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. There is a love and compassion with those people that I had never felt before in my life. There is an acceptance of diverse opinion while still remaining under the banner. And there is the belief that Jesus Christ died for our sins, so that we may live. And that falls under a large part of what I believe.
But who is to say I am right? No one. No one can say that this thing in life should make someone happy. What do they know about it? Have they seen what I have? Do they know what I know? Can they blame me for my vices when I am imperfect myself? I cannot pass judgement upon someone else because of what I believe. How is that right in any way? How does that breed happiness?
And at the same time... there are some things in this life that are just wrong, aren't there? Murder, rape, greed, corruption... these things are simply inefficient, wrong, and cruel. So we must stamp them out. Regardless of what someone may believe of them, the simple fact is that they cause harm. How can those things make people happy? Yet they inevitably do. For whatever reason, there is evil in this world. And all evil does not believe it is evil... some of it simply doesn't know any better.
So many conundrums, so many complications, so many contradictions. What is the right answer? How on earth do we find happiness? What is happiness? Why should we even seek it in this life?
Yet... there is an answer.
On this long road I have traversed,
I stopped by a stream and knelt down.
As the songs of the birds played,
I came up with some verse,
and looked all around me.
And suddenly the sun shone
Down upon the water. I stared
At the beauty of the reflection
And saw something new
That I may never have found
Had it not been for those clouds
Parting above me. Only the light
Has shown me the splendor
Of the meaning of life.
Ladies and gentleman, I submit to you that the only way we find happiness in this life is to take a look at who we are. Self discovery is the only true path. If you want material gain, then that is what you want. If you want to attach yourself to an ideal, then that is what defines you. If you you believe in living life for someone or something else, living for the moment, then that may be what suits you. Whatever you believe, there is a commonality here. You must find out what you are and what you believe. Some people go their entire lives and never figure themselves out. This is not the right answer. You cannot be happy unless you make happiness for yourself. If your happiness effects others negatively, maybe you need to ask yourself whether what you believe is right or wrong. But in the grand scheme, what will come to pass will pass. And we will all get what we deserve. It is all one endless circle. There are few truly right answers. But the only way we even begin to find those answers are to begin asking the questions. And the only place we can start doing that is inside of ourselves.
Those are my thoughts for today.
Until today.
The question is this: what is happiness? It seems so simple to so many. Many people answer the question of how to be happy in this life by a few methods.
One: material gain. Money, clothes, cars, interpersonal relationships. If I have my motorcycle, my iPod, my nice apartment with my nice suits with my nice girlfriends/boyfriends that I bring over, I am set. I have what I "want" in this world. I have things which are pleasing to the eye and to the senses. I have moments in my life where I can look around and the adrenaline rushes through my system and I think... This is it. This is what I want. Because so much has happened to me that I just want to replace it. Or I have been told this is what I should have, therefore I should get it. Or one of a thousand other motivations. Regardless, it all comes back to the present. What do I have, what tangible things do I possess that define me?
Two: an ideal. Some people go the extreme opposite way. They forget about the material things in a way. Yes, they are important to have. But some devote themselves to a belief. Some look at life and say "This mental ground I am on... this is what defines me." This is where I am in life. I have goals. I want to help cure cancer, want to research animals, want to open a bakery, want to run for president. I want to make change in this world. Because i see so much change. I see so much fluctuation and diversity... should I not be part of it? An example is poets. There have been poets and artists and writers which have lived in absolute poverty, but so strongly believed what they believed that they continued to write. One I know even gambled away all of his money so he was forced to write, forced to show the world what he believed, because he had such a close touch with death that he believed only through losing everything do we find what we have. So, for some people, it is to find the meaning of the things in life. It is to look at life, religions, ideals, beliefs, and choose. What do I believe personally that defines me?
Three: this is an interesting one. Some people... believe they are simply tools. Some believe there are higher forces at work which they cannot stop and should not, so the only thing they can do is to live what they believe is right and wait for whatever will happen to happen. Ask an LDS member about this philosophy. There are those who believe there is a plan. That plan is above what we can ever possibly know in this life. And therefore, the only thing to do is to enjoy life. This can be taken to either extreme... ask Neitzsche about that one. Because what is fun but a point of view? To some, living righteously is the right answer. To others, sadism and pain and cruelty to others are what makes the world go around. So, for some, life is simply about the moment. What can I do in life to make me happy?
There are more areas, I am sure. I am not the all knowing. Heck... I am only 20. But in my experience, I find that these three major methods are how people live and exist. These are the ways they make themselves happy. And who is to say who is right and who is wrong? I will tell you right now: a very large part of my belief system lies with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. There is a love and compassion with those people that I had never felt before in my life. There is an acceptance of diverse opinion while still remaining under the banner. And there is the belief that Jesus Christ died for our sins, so that we may live. And that falls under a large part of what I believe.
But who is to say I am right? No one. No one can say that this thing in life should make someone happy. What do they know about it? Have they seen what I have? Do they know what I know? Can they blame me for my vices when I am imperfect myself? I cannot pass judgement upon someone else because of what I believe. How is that right in any way? How does that breed happiness?
And at the same time... there are some things in this life that are just wrong, aren't there? Murder, rape, greed, corruption... these things are simply inefficient, wrong, and cruel. So we must stamp them out. Regardless of what someone may believe of them, the simple fact is that they cause harm. How can those things make people happy? Yet they inevitably do. For whatever reason, there is evil in this world. And all evil does not believe it is evil... some of it simply doesn't know any better.
So many conundrums, so many complications, so many contradictions. What is the right answer? How on earth do we find happiness? What is happiness? Why should we even seek it in this life?
Yet... there is an answer.
On this long road I have traversed,
I stopped by a stream and knelt down.
As the songs of the birds played,
I came up with some verse,
and looked all around me.
And suddenly the sun shone
Down upon the water. I stared
At the beauty of the reflection
And saw something new
That I may never have found
Had it not been for those clouds
Parting above me. Only the light
Has shown me the splendor
Of the meaning of life.
Ladies and gentleman, I submit to you that the only way we find happiness in this life is to take a look at who we are. Self discovery is the only true path. If you want material gain, then that is what you want. If you want to attach yourself to an ideal, then that is what defines you. If you you believe in living life for someone or something else, living for the moment, then that may be what suits you. Whatever you believe, there is a commonality here. You must find out what you are and what you believe. Some people go their entire lives and never figure themselves out. This is not the right answer. You cannot be happy unless you make happiness for yourself. If your happiness effects others negatively, maybe you need to ask yourself whether what you believe is right or wrong. But in the grand scheme, what will come to pass will pass. And we will all get what we deserve. It is all one endless circle. There are few truly right answers. But the only way we even begin to find those answers are to begin asking the questions. And the only place we can start doing that is inside of ourselves.
Those are my thoughts for today.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
The Artist's Joyous Lament
Splotch of paint on canvas
The bristles of the brush
My pencils, pen, and palette
Implements of creation
Tools I use to make my world.
Each line on my paper white
Reflects each thing I see
Reflects each thing I see
I paint, I draw, I think of
Each image which comes to mind
Words are nothing, just a blur
Transformation is the key
Translation of the syllable
Into one long stream of color
The beauty of the love
The splendor of my reality
All swirl into one another
Smiling, I paint again my life.
...
Suddenly, I breathe in sharp
In my bed yet one more night
The dream has passed,
Now once again is gone
I stumble out of my covers
The warmth of sunlight just a mem’ry
To the mirror, I stand cold and tired
Looking into a soul too old for the youth
But then, one image comes to me
And laughter bursts forth from my chest.
These are the days of remembrance
These are the days when each breath
Has a value, each day has a reason
For what is perfection, what can it be
But something mundane, monotonous?
Time without measure knows only itself
Pain and suffering, these make me real
Scars give me power over the world.
Because some scars never heal
But stay to remind us of what we have.
I look around and all I see
Are objects which make me flash back
To what I left behind so very long ago.
The wind can howl, the storm can blow
I relish in my reverie, for only I can see
The color of what is, what has been,
And the possibility of what will be.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
New Age
Folks, I have been paying attention to the news and our world events lately. Let me give you the broad strokes, as this post is intended to be short and to the point.
The major governments of the world are bickering like schoolchildren over candy. China is beefing up its interests worldwide, by buying more resources and selling more goods. The nations of Europe are banding together, to make some sort of super conglomerate, half business and half government. The nations of the Middle East are doing what they always have done: arming themselves tooth and nail against attack from each other and from within. However, in this age that is ever more important to pay attention to because now instead of armies with bows and arrows, we have death in cold hard steel and devastating explosives which can kill millions in a single detonation. South America, Africa, and all the "lesser" countries of the world are in uproars, civil wars, turf wars, and just about every other type of war you can think of. Meanwhile, Russia is trying to rebuild itself (and if you think they have forgotten the Cold War, you better think again). Every nation is competing for the newest technology, the newest fashion, the newest foothold in a global consumer market which ranges from what sort of toothpaste you buy to the type of armament a country can purchase from the lowest bidder. We are constantly changing, moving, adapting, renovating, and thinking up new ways to gain some sort of.... what?
What are we progressing towards here, ladies and gentleman? Are we paying attention at all to this? Where, as a species, are we going with this? Think about it. A friend of mine has told me repeatedly "All of history is just ripples in a pond" or something close to that effect. And it is true. Every major war we have ever fought as a race is a product of the Crusades. And what were those? They were a fight over land, resources, assets, and ideologies. But what was the point? In all these wars I see, I see no great benefit. You have to understand: I am a soldier. Though I have yet to be deployed, I understand the significance and overall point of defending yourself. It is why I joined. I want to serve my country. But as I look at the world today, I don't think my country is serving itself. I think we are missing the point here.
We as a species are constantly fighting and bickering over who gets this and who gets that. Does this seem like either a divorce settlement or a sibling rivalry to anyone else? Are we not seeing that as people get more and more caught up in their lust for power, we get less and less productive? It doesn't matter whether you are a socialist, capitalist, anarchist, or libertarian. It doesn't matter whether you are Islamic, Buddhist, Christian, or belong to some sort of other religion. It doesn't matter how much money you make or who you think should be president. And it sure as hell does not matter whether you buy Gucci or Prada. All those things could be gone in an instant if you die or the nukes fly tomorrow. And what will you have accomplished with your life? What will it really matter if you spend all your time fighting over things that don't matter? Shouldn't we be more focused on finding some sort of harmony within ourselves and the world around us? Notice I say harmony. I do not say peace. Nature in and of itself is not peaceful. It is hard, cruel, and uncaring. It is the reason we became civilized: to find some sort of shelter from the storm.
However, in all our "civilization", I think many of us have forgotten what it was to have that survival instinct. So many people band together and live in major cities of the world. We have upwards of 6 billion people on this planet. And we are all working our little lives, playing out our little drama for the purpose of what?
There are some who have it right. In fact, I will be generous and say many. There are those who look up to the stars and wonder if there is more. Truly wonder, and not just look up to see if they can make a profit. But many forget that we are all simply apes on this little rock orbiting a star that will destroy our planet in a matter of billions of years. And I fear that we will end soon before then because we have no restraint, no idea of what we should be progressing towards, no clue as to what it is we are here for. I have likened human kind to a five year old who suddenly has the body and strength of a 35 year old. He has no idea a) what his capabilities are, b) what he should do with his strength, or c) how to control it. All this proliferation of technology, weapons, styles, consumerism... I am not against progress, but am I the only one who thinks we should slow down and take a minute to reassess all our priorities?
Some may say it is happening. There is talk in the wind of "change". But I see only an old idea coming back to life. One that is both unappealing and restricting. I see the winds of a "collective" society blowing about. And this, I will not accept. Read Anthem by Ayn Rand, those of you who have not. You will see what I mean.
We are individual citizens, no matter if you live in New York, Dubai, Moscow, Beijing, Cape Town, Sydney, or Rio De Janeiro. I don't subscribe to the belief that we were meant to be a race which is a collective. Otherwise, we would have all hatched from eggs and had linked psychic abilities. But I do believe we need to help each other out for our own mutual benefit. I believe that we need to be ethical, exercise restraint, and above all be intelligent. And I think that in the years to come we will tip over one edge of the knife point or the other. We will either fall into grace or tumble into darkness. And I think we really need to take a look at who we are as humans and what we want. We need to find a way to live in our environment without destroying it, but also not believing that we are evil for adapting it to suit our needs. We need to find a way to defend ourselves from possible attack without having to be ferocious and stupid. We need to grow up and realize that we work better as individual nations all aiding one another when necessary, and not as some global synthesized society. It simply won't work. There is evil in this world, and there is greed. There are those who wish for the destruction, pain, and suffering of others. There are those who wish to further their own needs. And they day will come and is coming when they will try to take advantage of the weak, the stupid, and the weary. But they will be fought by the strong, the intelligent, and the resilient.
Think, ladies and gentleman, about what side you will be counted among. A new age is coming, whether you like it or not. You all better open your eyes and be prepared. One way or another... it will affect you.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Zen Master Teaching #69
Zen Master Teaching #69: Constant vigilance. At all times, one must be aware not only of surroundings but of body's natural rhythm as well. Just because foot is asleep does not mean one will not feel searing pain of hot needles shoot through appendage when it comes into contact with hard surface.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Proof
Haha, folks, I don't have a big ego. But I love being proved right.
This is simply more proof that capitalism works.
US To Push Crop Options To Afghans
By Associated Press
KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Taliban make Afghanistan’s opium business easy, offering credit, seeds, and fertilizer to farmers to grow the drugs that fuel the insurgency.
US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who wrapped up a three-day visit to Afghanistan yesterday, is determined to change that momentum by offering similar incentives to steer farmers away from the drug trade and toward grapes, wheat, and other legitimate crops.
“If the Taliban offer something, you have to be able to beat it with something else,’’ he said.
Farmers say they make five times more money growing poppies than wheat from the same amount of land.
The United States has pushed agricultural reforms to the top of its nonsecurity agenda as part of President Obama’s increased focus on stabilizing the country. Vilsack, who was making his sixth visit to Afghanistan in his current job, acknowledged obstacles, including the lack of credit facilities and poor coordination between Afghanistan’s central government and 34 provinces.
The US administration has reversed a Bush-era policy of destroying poppy crops in Afghanistan in favor of promoting legal crops. But officials have said the tactic has done little to reduce the flow of drug money.
Vilsack defended the US efforts. He pointed to incentives offered last year in Helmand Province, which produces more than 50 percent of the world’s poppy. Farmers were offered wheat seeds and fertilizer at a reduced cost and the poppy crop was reduced by a third, he said, adding the initiative could be extended to nut trees and fruit and vegetable production.
This is simply more proof that capitalism works.
US To Push Crop Options To Afghans
By Associated Press
KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Taliban make Afghanistan’s opium business easy, offering credit, seeds, and fertilizer to farmers to grow the drugs that fuel the insurgency.
US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who wrapped up a three-day visit to Afghanistan yesterday, is determined to change that momentum by offering similar incentives to steer farmers away from the drug trade and toward grapes, wheat, and other legitimate crops.
“If the Taliban offer something, you have to be able to beat it with something else,’’ he said.
Farmers say they make five times more money growing poppies than wheat from the same amount of land.
The United States has pushed agricultural reforms to the top of its nonsecurity agenda as part of President Obama’s increased focus on stabilizing the country. Vilsack, who was making his sixth visit to Afghanistan in his current job, acknowledged obstacles, including the lack of credit facilities and poor coordination between Afghanistan’s central government and 34 provinces.
The US administration has reversed a Bush-era policy of destroying poppy crops in Afghanistan in favor of promoting legal crops. But officials have said the tactic has done little to reduce the flow of drug money.
Vilsack defended the US efforts. He pointed to incentives offered last year in Helmand Province, which produces more than 50 percent of the world’s poppy. Farmers were offered wheat seeds and fertilizer at a reduced cost and the poppy crop was reduced by a third, he said, adding the initiative could be extended to nut trees and fruit and vegetable production.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Post #100.
Folks, I have now posted 100 different thoughts, memories, ideas, teachings, and various other things on this blog. Now, this is a very special moment and I want to take the time to explain some things I have discovered about life.
Let me give you all an image. It's a cliche, but it's an image.
Take your typical fantasy/adventure drama. You always have the scene where the hero/good side is inevitably fighting insurmountable odds. I will just list some epic ones here:
-Pirates of the Carribean: fight scene on the decks of the ship with the Kracken involved, the main characters nearly die many times.
-Lord of the Rings: Pretty much every time the characters come up against some sort of obstacle, someone is lost but they defeat the enemy.
-Harry Potter: Poor Harry, every time he fights Voldemort or his cohorts it seems like he comes so close to death.
-Star Wars: The odds are always against Luke, Leia, Han, and the sides of Light. The Dark Side is just too strong, but somehow they always get through.
However, the movie which best describes this heroic, against-all-odds, back-from-the-dead mentality (in my opinion) is Avatar. Not to spoil it for you, if you have not seen it, but let's just say the movie is a constant series of impossible situations.
Now. Why do we idealize this sort of thing? Ask anyone on the street, and they will tell you that life is not a movie. Life is cold, hard, and rough. You get spat on, tackled in the dirt, and kicked in the teeth. I guarantee you many people out there will tell you they would think it more likely that money would grow on trees than their lives would go well. Life is too damn hard, and we as human beings know this. So why on earth do we not just accept the inevitable? Why do we keep these sensations of hope about us when the universe is crashing down our ears?
Part of it is psychology. We need external validation, we need a reason to keep going with our lives. Otherwise, the suicide and mortality rate would skyrocket. Another part is... we simply do not wish to believe that good will not triumph over evil.
However. There are several issues with this. To many, and rightfully so, right and wrong are subjective. As a good friend once told me, "Wrong is not wrong, but left." What is right? What is wrong? What are these moral constructs we hold ourselves to? Is there any real reason for it? All of these are valid questions. After all, take World War II. A prime example of how an "evil" force conquered and wreaked havoc. Did Hitler believe he was evil? Evil people rarely do. They simply have a different outlook, different motivations. Examples of mass butchery and genocide are evidence that sometimes, the "bad guy" wins.
But, ladies and gentleman, let me tell you something. There is a right and their is a wrong. You have to traverse miles and miles of swampy marsh, climb cold mountains, and fry on vast desert plains to see the real reasons behind morality... but it is possible. Let me explain in further detail.
There are a few things in life which are certain. One of them is that when a certain action is performed by being, it either has a negative or positive effect. For the sake of not getting mired too deep in the weeds, let's say that anything that is "positive" is something that provides growth and productivity, and anything which is "negative" destroys that. If we look at the actions we take in life, we will see that this is true: every action we take either has a negative or positive result. Now, the complication arises (with most people) when on either side the choices are nearly ambiguous. If one is to choose something less painful but more pleasurable over a hard choice which is more fruitful than the other, who is to say what is wrong? Should human beings not be happy? I say yes... to a certain extent. The problem lies in the maturity/experience of the person and their choices. Children will reach for a stovetop because they want to... that does not necessarily mean it is the right thing to do. So, inevitably, we see that there actually is an outcome which is "right" and which is "wrong."
This may seem like common sense to many. But look at it. How many people are going around just existing without any thought to their actions? How many people are living solely for the purpose of gaining power for themselves? How many people do not have a respect for the righteous things in life? Many. People do not understand that their is a middle ground between being in it for yourself and being in it for the collective. It is the struggle between capitalism and socialism: one side is more "selfish" and the other is more "selfless" in theory. Now, the systems are utterly imperfect, but you see the point. We little apes on this planet have not yet received the message that if we don't find some sort of harmony with ourselves, our universe, and most importantly with each other, we are going to have problems.
This is not to say there should not be conflict. In fact, conflict is necessary for growth. Therefore, conflict is actually a positive thing. However, conflict for conflict's sake is a fool's errand.
We need to get our minds straight, people. If you are paying attention, you will see there are some big wheels turning out in the world. And soon, we are going to be facing a situation where we can either pull ourselves out of the down spiral, or just go ahead and destroy each other. Either way, it will be by our own doing.
There are more efficient ways to exist. Some people don't like that word, efficiency. However, this is how I define it: efficiency is anything that provides the growth and successful propagation of the species. The systems we have now are becoming obsolete. We really need to consider expanding our minds and opening up our souls to new ways of thinking. Because make no mistake... their is a good and their is an evil. At times, we may have to actually define them and they may switch places. I am not denying there is gray area. But overall... there are two ends of the spectrum. We need to figure out which end we want to land on.
Otherwise, the choice might be made for us.
Let me give you all an image. It's a cliche, but it's an image.
Take your typical fantasy/adventure drama. You always have the scene where the hero/good side is inevitably fighting insurmountable odds. I will just list some epic ones here:
-Pirates of the Carribean: fight scene on the decks of the ship with the Kracken involved, the main characters nearly die many times.
-Lord of the Rings: Pretty much every time the characters come up against some sort of obstacle, someone is lost but they defeat the enemy.
-Harry Potter: Poor Harry, every time he fights Voldemort or his cohorts it seems like he comes so close to death.
-Star Wars: The odds are always against Luke, Leia, Han, and the sides of Light. The Dark Side is just too strong, but somehow they always get through.
However, the movie which best describes this heroic, against-all-odds, back-from-the-dead mentality (in my opinion) is Avatar. Not to spoil it for you, if you have not seen it, but let's just say the movie is a constant series of impossible situations.
Now. Why do we idealize this sort of thing? Ask anyone on the street, and they will tell you that life is not a movie. Life is cold, hard, and rough. You get spat on, tackled in the dirt, and kicked in the teeth. I guarantee you many people out there will tell you they would think it more likely that money would grow on trees than their lives would go well. Life is too damn hard, and we as human beings know this. So why on earth do we not just accept the inevitable? Why do we keep these sensations of hope about us when the universe is crashing down our ears?
Part of it is psychology. We need external validation, we need a reason to keep going with our lives. Otherwise, the suicide and mortality rate would skyrocket. Another part is... we simply do not wish to believe that good will not triumph over evil.
However. There are several issues with this. To many, and rightfully so, right and wrong are subjective. As a good friend once told me, "Wrong is not wrong, but left." What is right? What is wrong? What are these moral constructs we hold ourselves to? Is there any real reason for it? All of these are valid questions. After all, take World War II. A prime example of how an "evil" force conquered and wreaked havoc. Did Hitler believe he was evil? Evil people rarely do. They simply have a different outlook, different motivations. Examples of mass butchery and genocide are evidence that sometimes, the "bad guy" wins.
But, ladies and gentleman, let me tell you something. There is a right and their is a wrong. You have to traverse miles and miles of swampy marsh, climb cold mountains, and fry on vast desert plains to see the real reasons behind morality... but it is possible. Let me explain in further detail.
There are a few things in life which are certain. One of them is that when a certain action is performed by being, it either has a negative or positive effect. For the sake of not getting mired too deep in the weeds, let's say that anything that is "positive" is something that provides growth and productivity, and anything which is "negative" destroys that. If we look at the actions we take in life, we will see that this is true: every action we take either has a negative or positive result. Now, the complication arises (with most people) when on either side the choices are nearly ambiguous. If one is to choose something less painful but more pleasurable over a hard choice which is more fruitful than the other, who is to say what is wrong? Should human beings not be happy? I say yes... to a certain extent. The problem lies in the maturity/experience of the person and their choices. Children will reach for a stovetop because they want to... that does not necessarily mean it is the right thing to do. So, inevitably, we see that there actually is an outcome which is "right" and which is "wrong."
This may seem like common sense to many. But look at it. How many people are going around just existing without any thought to their actions? How many people are living solely for the purpose of gaining power for themselves? How many people do not have a respect for the righteous things in life? Many. People do not understand that their is a middle ground between being in it for yourself and being in it for the collective. It is the struggle between capitalism and socialism: one side is more "selfish" and the other is more "selfless" in theory. Now, the systems are utterly imperfect, but you see the point. We little apes on this planet have not yet received the message that if we don't find some sort of harmony with ourselves, our universe, and most importantly with each other, we are going to have problems.
This is not to say there should not be conflict. In fact, conflict is necessary for growth. Therefore, conflict is actually a positive thing. However, conflict for conflict's sake is a fool's errand.
We need to get our minds straight, people. If you are paying attention, you will see there are some big wheels turning out in the world. And soon, we are going to be facing a situation where we can either pull ourselves out of the down spiral, or just go ahead and destroy each other. Either way, it will be by our own doing.
There are more efficient ways to exist. Some people don't like that word, efficiency. However, this is how I define it: efficiency is anything that provides the growth and successful propagation of the species. The systems we have now are becoming obsolete. We really need to consider expanding our minds and opening up our souls to new ways of thinking. Because make no mistake... their is a good and their is an evil. At times, we may have to actually define them and they may switch places. I am not denying there is gray area. But overall... there are two ends of the spectrum. We need to figure out which end we want to land on.
Otherwise, the choice might be made for us.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Zen Master Teaching #68
Zen Master Teaching #68: Thoughts are as wild animals in jungle. One must have proper equipment to catch and admire. To chase tiger with butterfly net will end in disaster.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Start. Paying. Attention.
Here it is, folks, right here in black and white. We need to start understanding what exactly is going on in the places we are operating. All the people in the US living their lives in their little bubbles, concerned with themselves, are going to get a real wake-up call (again... don't we remember Sept 11th?) if/when the fecal matter hits the wind propelling device.
U.N. Envoy To Afghanistan Offers Dismal Outlook
Eide warns U.S.-led coalition of failure if it doesn't pursue effective civilian strategy
By Colum Lynch
UNITED NATIONS -- The top U.N. envoy to Afghanistan on Wednesday delivered a gloomy assessment of the U.S.-led effort to restore stability in the country and warned "we will fail" if the strategy there relies too heavily on military force.
In a presentation to the U.N. Security Council, envoy Kai Eide called on the United States and its Western allies to invest heavily in Afghanistan's economy and its civilian institutions. He said the Obama administration's "military surge must not be allowed to undermine" those goals.
"What we need is a strategy that is politically and not militarily driven," Eide said in his final briefing to the council before he steps down in March. "If we do not take these civilian components of the transition strategy as seriously as the military component, then we will fail."
Eide's assessment comes just three weeks before the United States and its military allies meet in London for a conference on security in Afghanistan. His remarks, which stressed greater investment in education, agriculture and infrastructure, marked one of his final efforts to leave an imprint on Afghanistan policy.
He also advocated for better salaries for Afghan government administrators, and a peace and reconciliation process that would allow the integration of Taliban insurgents who renounce violence.
After Eide's remarks, Rosemary A. DiCarlo, the U.S. representative for special political affairs, sought to underscore the Obama administration's avowed commitment to beefing up civilian participation in the Afghanistan transition. She said the United States, which is preparing to send 30,000 additional troops there, will soon triple its civilian presence in Afghanistan, from 320 last year to nearly 1,000.
"U.S. experts are also working with their Afghan partners to help rehabilitate Afghanistan's key economic sectors so that Afghans themselves can defeat the insurgents, who promise only more violence," she said. "To help reverse the Taliban's momentum, we are focusing our reconstruction effort in areas where we can quickly create jobs, especially agricultural ones."
The United States also has supported Afghan calls for integrating reformed Taliban insurgents into society if they lay down their weapons. Afghanistan's U.N. ambassador, Zahir Tanin, asked the council to lift sanctions on Taliban members "willing to renounce violence and join the peace process."
The United States and European countries have sought to drop sanctions against former Taliban members who have cooperated with the government, but Russia has resisted such a move.
Eide said that he is "deeply worried" about waning public support in the West for the mission in Afghanistan, the failure of Western forces to counter the Taliban insurgency and the growing frustration among Afghans over what they see as the failure of the international community to improve their lives.
"If these negative trends are not soon reversed, then there is a risk that they will become unmanageable," he told the 15-nation council.
Eide said the Western alliance operates "in a way that Afghans perceive as disrespectful and sometimes arrogant." Such behavior, he said, "fuels suspicions of unacceptable foreign interference and breeds a sense of humiliation."
The United Nations is concerned that billions of dollars in foreign assistance for Afghanistan have not been used to strengthen the nation's institutions. Less than 10 percent of foreign aid has gone directly to the Afghan government, and most of that is earmarked for projects supported by donors.
U.N. officials said they think Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has settled on a replacement for Eide, Staffan di Mistura, a dual Italian and Swedish national who headed the world body's mission in Iraq. Jean-Marie Guéhenno, a French national who headed the U.N. peacekeeping department, and Ian Martin, a former U.N. representative in Nepal and East Timor, also have been under consideration for the job.
U.N. Envoy To Afghanistan Offers Dismal Outlook
Eide warns U.S.-led coalition of failure if it doesn't pursue effective civilian strategy
By Colum Lynch
UNITED NATIONS -- The top U.N. envoy to Afghanistan on Wednesday delivered a gloomy assessment of the U.S.-led effort to restore stability in the country and warned "we will fail" if the strategy there relies too heavily on military force.
In a presentation to the U.N. Security Council, envoy Kai Eide called on the United States and its Western allies to invest heavily in Afghanistan's economy and its civilian institutions. He said the Obama administration's "military surge must not be allowed to undermine" those goals.
"What we need is a strategy that is politically and not militarily driven," Eide said in his final briefing to the council before he steps down in March. "If we do not take these civilian components of the transition strategy as seriously as the military component, then we will fail."
Eide's assessment comes just three weeks before the United States and its military allies meet in London for a conference on security in Afghanistan. His remarks, which stressed greater investment in education, agriculture and infrastructure, marked one of his final efforts to leave an imprint on Afghanistan policy.
He also advocated for better salaries for Afghan government administrators, and a peace and reconciliation process that would allow the integration of Taliban insurgents who renounce violence.
After Eide's remarks, Rosemary A. DiCarlo, the U.S. representative for special political affairs, sought to underscore the Obama administration's avowed commitment to beefing up civilian participation in the Afghanistan transition. She said the United States, which is preparing to send 30,000 additional troops there, will soon triple its civilian presence in Afghanistan, from 320 last year to nearly 1,000.
"U.S. experts are also working with their Afghan partners to help rehabilitate Afghanistan's key economic sectors so that Afghans themselves can defeat the insurgents, who promise only more violence," she said. "To help reverse the Taliban's momentum, we are focusing our reconstruction effort in areas where we can quickly create jobs, especially agricultural ones."
The United States also has supported Afghan calls for integrating reformed Taliban insurgents into society if they lay down their weapons. Afghanistan's U.N. ambassador, Zahir Tanin, asked the council to lift sanctions on Taliban members "willing to renounce violence and join the peace process."
The United States and European countries have sought to drop sanctions against former Taliban members who have cooperated with the government, but Russia has resisted such a move.
Eide said that he is "deeply worried" about waning public support in the West for the mission in Afghanistan, the failure of Western forces to counter the Taliban insurgency and the growing frustration among Afghans over what they see as the failure of the international community to improve their lives.
"If these negative trends are not soon reversed, then there is a risk that they will become unmanageable," he told the 15-nation council.
Eide said the Western alliance operates "in a way that Afghans perceive as disrespectful and sometimes arrogant." Such behavior, he said, "fuels suspicions of unacceptable foreign interference and breeds a sense of humiliation."
The United Nations is concerned that billions of dollars in foreign assistance for Afghanistan have not been used to strengthen the nation's institutions. Less than 10 percent of foreign aid has gone directly to the Afghan government, and most of that is earmarked for projects supported by donors.
U.N. officials said they think Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has settled on a replacement for Eide, Staffan di Mistura, a dual Italian and Swedish national who headed the world body's mission in Iraq. Jean-Marie Guéhenno, a French national who headed the U.N. peacekeeping department, and Ian Martin, a former U.N. representative in Nepal and East Timor, also have been under consideration for the job.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Zen Master Teaching #67
Zen Master Teaching #67: Most important rule. Never underestimate ability of Universe to topple logic. When thinking one has life figured out, one Will be turned directly upside down like hourglass then thrown against wall like plaything.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Resolutions.
Yeah, yeah. I should sleeping. Not important.
I am really holding myself to these, people.
Some may have been left out... but these are the big ones.
New year... New rules.
This year, I resolve to keep my resolutions.
-I resolve not to slip up.
-I resolve to read the D&C/BOM cover to cover before my birthday.
-I resolve to lose 10 lbs by my birthday.
-I resolve to get more in touch with Heavenly Father.
-I resolve to read all the books I own.
-I resolve to learn how to draw better.
-I resolve to learn Spanish.
-I resolve to write down my philosophies.
-I resolve to begin my first novel.
-I resolve to get better at writing poetry.
-I resolve to be original.
-I resolve to not say or think anything hateful to/about anyone. ... Congress/This administration not included.
-I resolve to have my go-bag completely ready by January.
-I resolve to talk more to my parents, siblings, and friends.
-I resolve to be objective about myself.
-I resolve to finally start learning card tricks.
-I resolve to start learning how to dance.
-I resolve to start learning martial arts.
-I resolve to take life as it comes and live true to myself.
-I resolve to have fun this year.
If you know me... help me keep these.
I am really holding myself to these, people.
Some may have been left out... but these are the big ones.
New year... New rules.
This year, I resolve to keep my resolutions.
-I resolve not to slip up.
-I resolve to read the D&C/BOM cover to cover before my birthday.
-I resolve to lose 10 lbs by my birthday.
-I resolve to get more in touch with Heavenly Father.
-I resolve to read all the books I own.
-I resolve to learn how to draw better.
-I resolve to learn Spanish.
-I resolve to write down my philosophies.
-I resolve to begin my first novel.
-I resolve to get better at writing poetry.
-I resolve to be original.
-I resolve to not say or think anything hateful to/about anyone. ... Congress/This administration not included.
-I resolve to have my go-bag completely ready by January.
-I resolve to talk more to my parents, siblings, and friends.
-I resolve to be objective about myself.
-I resolve to finally start learning card tricks.
-I resolve to start learning how to dance.
-I resolve to start learning martial arts.
-I resolve to take life as it comes and live true to myself.
-I resolve to have fun this year.
If you know me... help me keep these.
Zen Master Teaching #66
Zen Master Teaching #66: Food is essential to survival. One must not go without sustenance for long period of time. Not eating anything for over 28 hours will produce feelings equivalent to angry bear clawing inside of stomach.
What You Get With State-Run Utilities
An interesting little article.
Oh yeah, and they aren't going to get me for this... I will post the link, but not the whole article, so I am not "re-publishing" ;) Haha, sorry, but you aren't going to nail me for that one...
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.227e6a4e11ba39c08630e5729d693330.9e1&show_article=1
Oh yeah, and they aren't going to get me for this... I will post the link, but not the whole article, so I am not "re-publishing" ;) Haha, sorry, but you aren't going to nail me for that one...
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.227e6a4e11ba39c08630e5729d693330.9e1&show_article=1
Oil-rich Venezuela ushered in 2010 with new measures rationing electricity use in malls, businesses and billboards, as Hugo Chavez's government aimed to save power amid a crippling drought.
The new regulations came into effect January 1, with businesses required to comply with reduced consumption limits and authorities warning of forced power cuts and rate hikes if the measures are not followed.
A decree published on Christmas Eve states that commercial centers may operate from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm on the electricity grid, but beyond that establishments would have to operate off-grid, using their own generators.
Venezuela is flush with oil -- the country's primary export -- and natural gas, but relies mainly on hydroelectric generation to meet domestic energy demand.
With the country in a widespread drought, late last year Chavez announced a sweeping campaign to reduce widespread energy "waste," stressing that rationing was necessary to avoid a systemic "collapse."
Shopping centers in Caracas Saturday opened at the appointed new hour, although industry representatives called for extending the time frame, arguing that night-time energy consumption is less than 10 percent of the total.
The power crunch is expected to have an impact on a wide variety of businesses, including cinemas, casinos and bingo halls.
Establishments failing to comply with the measures could face outages for a period of 24 hours, and up to 72-hour suspensions "in case of recidivism," according to the decree.
The regulation also orders businesses to institute savings plans aimed at shedding consumption by at least 20 percent, a measure that will be evaluated monthly by the newly-created ministry of electricity.
Tariff surcharges of up to 20 percent could be imposed on violators.
Rationing is also to apply to lighted advertisements.
Introductory measures were evident in Caracas last month, with the neon signs that traditionally welcome Christmas left unlit.
The state-controlled aluminum and steel industries halted some of their production lines in order to reduce energy consumption by some 560 megawatts (MW).
Electricity demand in Venezuela is more than 16,500 MW, far higher than what is currently generated. Experts say the power sector requires 18 billion dollars in investment through 2014.
In 2009 there were four nationwide blackouts, with daily failures common in several cities.
No headline. Sorry, guys :D
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