Ladies and gentlemen of the Philosophical Jury. Regarding the question of whether there is meaning, morality, and justice inherent in life, I present into evidence this photograph of two men walking on a red carpet prior to their meeting yesterday in Anchorage, Alaska, where they discussed how to end the war in Ukraine.
There are those who argue that life is fair, that we get what we deserve, that what goes around comes around. I beg to differ.
For the man on the right is Vladimir Putin, Russia's dictator, though his official title is something less honest. Putin kills his political enemies in a cruel fashion as befits his training as a KGB intelligence officer. Putin invaded Ukraine, a sovereign nation, for no reason other than a desire to reconstitute the Soviet Union, as noted in my post yesterday on one of my other blogs.
Following that invasion, hundreds of thousands of Russians and Ukrainians have been killed in the ensuring war. Many thousands of Ukrainian children have been kidnapped and given to Russian families. Russian missiles and drones have killed thousands of Ukrainian civilians. Putin has been convicted of war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
Yet there Putin is, walking on a red carpet after being greeted by Donald Trump, the authoritarian leader of the United States. Trump has been convicted of falsifying business records and committing sexual abuse against a woman. On January 6, 2021 he stood by and allowed a mob to break into the nation's capitol where many police officers were seriously injured and a rioter was killed by a law enforcement officer.
Trump is notorious for lying incessantly, pushing the boundaries of law beyond what is allowed by the U.S. Constitution, weaponizing the Justice Department against his political enemies, and using the power of his office to extort money from law firms, universities, and corporations who he believes have wronged him.
In short, these are two despicable men with no discernible moral compass who, nonetheless, have ascended to the highest rank in their respective countries. I realize that there is plenty of other evidence in the 10,000 years or so of recorded human history that supports my contention that life lacks inherent meaning, morality, and justice. But I wish to add this red carpet photo to that body of evidence.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Philosophical Jury, the only way Putin and Trump can be deemed to be held responsible for the heinous acts they have committed is to bring into your deliberations completely unproven supernatural assumptions. For both Eastern (past life karma!) and Western (God's inscrutable will!) religions have conjured up fantastical explanations for why good things happen to bad people, and why bad things happen to good people.
The undeniable truth is that life is simply as it appears to be: inherently meaningless, amoral, and unjust. Whatever meaning, morality, and justice is to be found in life arises not from life itself, but from our precious human ability to manufacture meaning, morality, and justice to the best of our ability — which, sadly, often is lacking, as evidenced by the photo above. I rest my case.
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Yes, Putin invaded Ukraine but the tragic truth is that if the West had not pursued NATO expansion into Ukraine, it is unlikely there would be a war in Ukraine today and Crimea would still be part of Ukraine. In essence, Washington played the central role in leading Ukraine down the path to destruction.
La Madrugada
With the advent of the global information, a global cultural clash was unavoidable.
Western culture, has colonized the media in such a way that there is less and less room left for other cultures as equal …. that has developed into “the evil of cultural wealth” … or …. America first
Listen to what the ideologists in the different cultural power blocks have to say …the people in the background of the entourage of the ruling presidents … they all offer justifications for the power games they play … everywhere in the world
They all try to give birth to national dreams, often born hundreds years ago
P.S.
The development in Europe and North America is mainly to be found in the low lands of the moderate climate zone … in all other climate zones and geographic conditions the same human activities are more costly, more difficult.
If the development of these countries is presented and used as a standard huge parts of the world run the risk of ending up as to be seen as underdeveloped, uncivilized nations and cultures …. THAT … imo …has given raise to the aggressive Islamic movements for example.
Even Russia due to its geography and climatologic circumstances and its vastness of territory can never come up to those living standards as to be found in West Europe.
And do not forget the many social factors …. many cultures cannot afford their women leave their traditional participation in culture ….etc etc.
Yepp. It’s infantile, intellectually and emotionally, to imagine there’s some kind of a moral order in the world in the form of a paternal God or of an inerrant cause-and-effect Karma. As you say, Brian, life isn’t, in fact, fair. Shahid Kapoor would be heartbroken to hear *you* say it, but there it is.
That said, we humans are indeed equipped with a moral sense, and with empathy, and with the sense of right and wrong. And, importantly, within our limited spheres, and to a limited extent, of being able to guide our actions in agreement that sense of right and wrong. Arguably, it is that that goes a long away towards making us humans. Arguably, we’re less than fully human without that faculty, and less than fully humanwhen we fail to act in consonance with that faculty.
Which is why, what we’re seeing here? Certainly this grotesque spectacle of this Trump-Putin summit. And, even more so, way more so, the even more grotesque spectacle of what has long been happening, and has now accelerated further, and now draws close to a macabre end-game, over in the Middle East? …Those represent not so much an amorality in the world generally — which amorality is fact, absolutely, but what I’m saying is, what we’re seeing here represents not that so much, as it represents a failure of us humans to live up to being fully human.
It is grotesque that someone as vile as Trump should be President. It is grotesque that Putin should get to hobnob with him like this instead of being shunted off to prison. And it is even more grotesque that that even bigger war criminal, his crimes immeasurably more egregious, Bibi Netanyahu, should get to be treated like a head of state rather than clapped in irons the moment he sets foot outside his benighted Mordor, to be tried and sentenced for his crimes.
It is a vile world we live in, vile times we live in. Certainly there’s no Karma, certainly no sky-daddy God watching over us, certainly the universe is amoral and does not accord itself with our human morality. But what we’re seeing now represents not so much that larger amorality as a failure on our part, ours, to live up to what it is to be truly, fully human. Our sons and grandsons will be ashamed of us, for having let Gaza happen, for having let Trump happen, for — as things seem now to be shaping up — letting Putin happen, for letting him succeed in his designs.
Everyone is flawed. Even that one in the mirror.
Trump and Putin believe they are doing the right thing.
They’ve convinced themselves of it just as you and I do every day, simply to go on functioning.
Some function better here than others.
Trump’s wealth, the wealth accumulated over his entire life, has doubled since taking office. What other feedback can compete with this, or even hope to have a balancing, sobering effect.?
And seeing the horrible effects of the actions of their own leaders many recoil in horror. Others just accept that they themselves may not be suited for this harsh world.
“When crime succeeds it is called virtue”
Seneca
And so in the midst of this there is the lesson of spirituality, that a place exists without corruption, where we are all truly brothers and sisters: The actual fulfillment that all are created equal. We already have a home there, within.
It is the very awakening to the reality of this place, where crime can succeed at an unimaginable level, in any society, that makes seekers after something pure, good and permanent. And then comes the discovery that there has always been an internal path to that place buried within each of us. And this leads to the building of a simpler, responsible life here, conducive to pursuing that life within.
I guess many people were hoping that the Trump/Putin meeting was going to result in some plan that would halt the war in Ukraine. The lack of anything concrete arising from their meeting could result in our giving up of their being any justice in life. And there are millions of people around the world suffering appallingly in many ways; often depending on their religions and attributing their lot to Karma and the such like.
But life (nature) has no preference, no inbuilt qualities of justice or morality, no good or evil – such are the provinces of human beings in order to make sense of life. There is no inherent meaning, no justice or morality in life, but we humans, for our mental well-being must have to believe that there is.
In nature, with the higher species, evolution has developed in them hierarchies and rankings. We have the same yet more sophisticated systems with our laws and rules; all designed to give our-selves some workable security and justice. But yes, those in power or wealthy, or both, seem to be able to circumnavigate the rules that apply to everyone else – and we only have ourselves to blame.
We all have natural needs for food, clothing and shelter, and we hope, that by electing the leaders who promise us more of that, we believe, will enhance our security and happiness – and longevity. Following close to that, we also have a need to know who and what we are. Through these drives we seem to have sadly created leaders who take advantage of our fears, hopes, wishes, inadequacies and insecurities, turning us into disciples, followers and supporters.
There may be a few who have realised the core reasons for our dilemma, but because they don’t offer the expected wishes of any grandiose visions; whether worldly or spiritual, they are dis-missed.
Karma is much simpler:
What you do has consequences. You can pretend your actions don’t affect others but that is an illusion. They do. And you yourself have been conditioned by your past and your environment to think and act as you do. And so your actions were caused long before you acted, and they in turn will cause others to act.
This has been the simple law of cause and effect.
When we find we have harmed others or ourselves, or we have been harmed by others, or conversely we find ourselves blessed when we did nothing to earn it, and we see others much less fortunate than ourselves, we seek to help, we seek to avoid harm, we seek liberation from the limitations and the conditioning that bind us.
These dynamics have never changed, nor has the solution provided by sages and saints down through recorded time and long before. All that has changed is the language used to fit the metaphors, urban legends and common sense “rational / scientific” thinking of the time.
And the answer is the same: it is within us, not in this world. The strength to act with full responsibility comes from a power deep within us.
“Powerful melodies reside within your inner being – why do you delay?”
Swami Ji
How strange that reading this blog has accelerated the evaporation of my already shallow waters of spiritual interests..pro and contra and turned my attention towards the simple things of everyday life and .. some coffee when gazing purposeless outside the window … realizing that for such a life no “knowledge” was never and is not needed and easily distracts.
Hi Um
A small candle is easily extinguished by a light breeze. But a strong flame grows into great fire in the howling winds of a storm.
True love for Master and the Spirit only grow larger facing any adversity at all. And the greater the adversity, the greater that love, if it is sincere, grows and cannot be extinguished.
But a passing interest without any anchor in conviction, is easily extinguished.
@ Spence Tepper
Well, well Spence .. well written words as usual …. hahaha
This deserves a quick answer. otherwise I will not react
Sorry Spence I was not swift enough I had to delete a very long answer.
But out of a phrase i can not help to cut some words
“Those that say that they know it all and have it all”
They have been instrumental in waking up in the cinema
Just read your little piece um “…some coffee when gazing purposeless outside the window … realizing that for such a life no “knowledge” was never and is not needed and easily distracts.”
Quite true. At such times, when self is not, when there is ’just this’ – no need to introduce meaning into this space; no need to conjure up knowledgeable authorities, teachings, teachers, saviours or masters and so on. Just to be, just to come home to this present moment – no more.
@ Ron E.
I do not know how to make a smiley other wise I would have done it.
I’ve never been to India but I would put on a turban in a heartbeat. If Zelinsky would only put on the business suit for once please. You don’t have to be boxed in.
Hi Um
In most things, in Tennis or in Nuclear Physics, Medicine and Healing, Science, the Arts and Philosophy, progress is the result of effort.
And effort, reliable and continuous effort requires practice. Perfect practice makes perfect progress, but even flawed practice leads to perfect practice, if that practice is made with the desire for real improvement: from quantity congress quality, said Maharaji.
Progress in any endeavor requires several different skills we all have to one degree or another. Lack of progress is often nothing more than a healthy balance of these:
Acknowledgment and Acceptance of what is, and of our limitations.
A vision, a hope for better things (often a vision for a better way).
Submission to reality as best we understand it and to anyone who can guide us further along, who understands : a better coach, a better professor.
Effort towards our own next step.
Confidence to proceed, faith that results will come in their own time.
Finding or building Pleasure in the practice itself.
Willingness to review, revise and re-engage regularly.
These are very healthy things to work on in any field of endeavor. They most certainly apply to spirituality as well as to a career, even one in politics.
Oops typo
“From quantity comes quality said Maharaji”
@ Spence Tepper
Spence, I learned making and mastering the art of making ice cream from my father. What sweet memories. I loved making ice cream, and selling it to small kids and enjoying their faces. Ice creams are “serious” business for kids … hahaha the seldom laugh when awaiting for an icecreame the be made and handed over to them.
I also love the training I received of my father and came to understand, during that training many things about humans, all things not related to icecream making
That said I will never and never did say to another human being ..act as I did … and … you have to learn to make ice cream in order to appreciate live or to understand your purpose in life.
Let alone that I would suggest that one would become an better human being.
@ Spence Repper
AND … i do hope …. that you understand that I am no longer making Ice cream and that making ice cream is an metaphor for many other things I did in life , included my interests in worldviews, spiritual practices in general and Sant Mat included.
Once a person wakes up in the cinema, he is free to pay attention to what lays just before him that very moment, return to the simplicity of everyday life.
Let me end this with an event with my dad … one day I asked him, whether I should go to the univeristy or not … hahaha … I could have known his reaction and I should not have asked him such an “stupid” question … only a stupid person when thirsty would ask another human being “shall I drink” …hahaha …so dad, peace be upon his soul if he has one … answered .. I did not study, why would you ?!…… hahahahaha
Writting these things makes me laugh my heart out, reminding myself the many things my dad said and later in another way the late MCS. How much did I enjoy MCS telling that story of the farmer that was advised bu his wife to see the king to solve their famine ..the tone in which MCS made his wufe say … You know, …That mand … that said .. he was a king … hahahaha I can talk for hours about the beauty of the intonation … making it clear that whatever status a person has is irrelevat for his status as human being.
Think back of you own youth at the dinner table, the discussion etc
Hi Um
We all come from different places and of course see things a little differently.
My only point about spirituality is that, practically speaking, it boils down to some practice that helps us make progress along those lines. It is no different than any other pursuit, from that perspective.
We have the grace of what we were given, and we have our effort.
Now, you can say that every human being has life in them. They have it all from that perspective.
But we are ignorant of the life within us. Why? We are also wired to focus on the senses, both pain and pleasure, the beauty of the day, the smell of the coffee, and the pressures of making our way through life. These are also wonderful expressions of life. But we, being passive, witness them through the flawed vehicle of the body and mind, which are geared for outward functioning, and use the very derivate symbols we see around us, the products of life and what people and evolution have done with them, and some which our mind creates.
This is very distorted to our personal way of thinking and we learn, as we gain a different vantage point, how severely limited, even bigoted, that derivative, outward, superficial perspective really is. Sometimes time and objectivity give us that more independent perspective. Sometimes time and distance simply magnify our biases and solidify, crystallize our misunderstanding and bigotry.
Once you experience that for yourself naturally you want to be liberated from it, and may go to great lengths, even doing things the world labels as ludicrous, just to rise a little bit above the thick blanket of your own biology and conditioning. The blanket between you and truth.
You can say all creation depends upon life to exist. Or you can claim life doesn’t actually exist. It is all vanity. But who actually has an honest relationship directly with that life?
That life is in you and I, Um, but do we know it? Are we making any effort to know it? That would require attending directly to it. If you see where you are and realize your own bigotry, then of course you are not satisfied with your perspective. You want to work to raise it. That is certainly my personal situation. My own stupidity has become intolerable, and I suggest it is the same with anyone who has had a glimpse either of their own stupidity or something amazing, the life force that runs all creation, or some mix of both. Any glimpse of Truth at all makes this place and this bag of chemicals we label body and mind, intolerable as our “Home.” It is not our home. It’s a camping tent, and thank God this unpleasant camping trip is almost over, and we can go home once and for all.
And that is where the whole notion of spirituality takes us, to focus within and away from the distractions of senses and mind, to make use of the muscles of inner perception we were given as part of human birth; to spend more time in our true home, where we long for, where we love to be; to find the more direct channel for perception. And so that is a path, with some level of complexity, and so guidance is necessary, and effort.
That is all predicated on a desire to do so. For some of us that desire, and effort to make progress is our life. That may seem very limited to some, since we are working to turn away from the world and withdraw even from our own addictions, mental and otherwise. It’s ok for those who think this place is their home. But it’s not my cup of tea.
@ Spence
>> That life is in you and I, Um, but do we know it? Are we making any effort to know it? That would require attending directly to it. If you see where you are and realize your own bigotry, then of course you are not satisfied with your perspective. You want to work to raise it. That is certainly my personal situation. << I know! It is indeed YOUR personal situation and all chances in the world , if in your shoes I would feel, think as you do. THAT is not at stake. Humans are al unique variations of the same. That Unique makes you and the world know you as Spence Tepper and only you can live that uniqueness, ... you have to walk your path through live your way .. nobody can change it, ad to it alter it it is you and you alone ..nobody can and should help you to be .. to be who you already are And all others face the same fate in their way In the sameness of being human there is no progress to be made Mcs now and then would remark to a person putting something before him "Brother, Sister, if you would not have brought it up, I would have had no knowledge of it" Many would react, upon hearing his answer that he "knew" but acted in the opposite out of humility ...I ...I was never to be found among these people. Later in life, I came to understand that most if not all what I knew, felt, thought was related to what .... T HEARD ...HEARD from O T H E RS . And again later I accepted that I did not have these interests out of myself, so I started de-cluttering my mental house as much as I could. I found that doing away with what was "put" inside me by conditioning, very little was left if at all. Being emty handed, is something one has to learn to deal with and that was not always a simple ride So if these days somebody argues with me that this or that expert, venerable sage says this ar that ..I will answer .. so what? I miss that calling in life Spence to be something OTHER, MORE and BETTER than I happen to be. Rumi said .. come as yo are
AND … I feel called to state that I am glad and grateful that I could free myself of all that acquire luggage of OTHERS without finding fault with either myself or others.
If some one want to climb the Mnt Everest let them do so.
If they seek guidance from and expert sherpa, let them do so
but I do not see that the Mnt everest exist to be climbed nor that I do live to follow in the foodsteps of others
“Yes, Putin invaded Ukraine but the tragic truth is that if the West had not pursued NATO expansion into Ukraine, it is unlikely there would be a war in Ukraine today and Crimea would still be part of Ukraine. In essence, Washington played the central role in leading Ukraine down the path to destruction.”
If it were really about NATO, Russia would politely withdraw from Ukraine in exchange for security guarantees.
Hi Um
You wrote
“I miss that calling in life Spence to be something OTHER, MORE and BETTER than I happen to be.
Rumi said .. come as yo are”
Rumi also wrote
“Be like melting snow.
Wash yourself of yourself.”
You wrote
“I feel called to state that I am glad and grateful that I could free myself of all that acquire luggage of OTHERS without finding fault with either myself or others.”
If you have been able to do that, in whatever way you have found, that is certainly admirable.
Each of us finds our own way. Mine happens to involve Maharaji, not as an accomplished feat, as a done deal, so that now there is nothing ahead left.
In my case, despite so much light, there is at least one enormous chasm of complete darkness to traverse. And I cannot do it alone. So that has to be in His company, and I’ve got lot of work ahead to build that with His help. And it may take what you might consider an enormous amount of time and effort. But so what? What else is there to do when this is my passion? Nothing else at all.
My experience is not that the more I saw the less was left to do. Quite the opposite. Just as in the traditional sciences, the more I have seen, the more work there actually is that I had been entirely unaware of. And no doubt, given my blindspots, there is work ahead I have no idea of yet.
If you can see the house has not actually been built, then you understand that this beautiful field now requires your active participation.
That’s how it is in a relationship. It’s not up to you or I alone. Our partner has something to say about our next steps also, if we take the time and make the effort to listen.
@ Spence Tepper
My mind remained silent reading your words, as it would do if I happened to see you face to face and and hear from you and your inner quest …until …. until you started to use the word “you” again where you no longer just related but started to instruct .. instructing while I am not with you on the same project.
Again if I would have inner experiences, I would and will have to deal with them, like I have to deal with hunger if it is there but as MCS for a person to declare “I eat” he needs food on the plate and hunger in his body …and ..both are GIVEN
And he is or was right. Not that given means there is a “giver”but it should be clear that these things cannot be created at will .. they just arise.
How often have I not mate it clear to you that both are not there???
How often did I not put before you how the late Professor B. sitting next to MCS made it clear to me that the pull must come from within, and if it is not there …there is NOTHING one can do about it.
Mystical literature in its poems describe that pull as hunger and or thirst, a feel that is experienced and one cannot escape. I do understand all these things and … I have come to accept them for what they are .. without any feeling that something is not as it ought to be.
When that longing would make itself present, time will come to deal with it but for now spirituality is not on the menu.
Hi Um
Certainly your sensitivity to being preached at is understood. However I think that doesn’t apply to me at least here.
I wrote
“If you can see the house has not actually been built, then you understand that this beautiful field now requires your active participation.
” That’s how it is in a relationship. It’s not up to you or I alone. Our partner has something to say about our next steps also, if we take the time and make the effort to listen.”
This all applies to my own example, of seeing an incomplete work within myself.
But each person sees what they see, Um. It isn’t to cast judgment on anyone else, nor to accept your statement as true.
And you do form opinions about other people as you give your own view of the Bible, current and past politics and different cultures, try as you might to avoid casting negative judgments on other people, yet you do so freely.
However, we must reach our own conclusions. People live quite well for entirely different reasons, and this diversity is actually a beautiful part of reality.
Sant Mat can’t be taught, but must be caught, Maharaji used to say. It is something that must be rebuilt within each follower of that path, and it’s only complete as each of us interprets and understands it.
You could say that Sant Mat is actually 10,000 different paths. Or you could say that it is one single path of many, many different places and stages, that apoears different for each Satsangi as they pass through them. And at each stage what they see is the legitimate path, the only path for them at that moment.
So, as for spirituality, that lifestyle is entirely appropriate for some, but inappropriate for others.
As our speaker said at last Sunday’s Satsang, If you have had any experience of spirit, then spirit is real for you. And if you haven’t had any experience of spirit, then for you it isn’t real. Both are real places, both part of the sacred human experience.
Living honestly according to your experience is vital, and sacred, whatever that is, Um.
You don’t need me to tell you, and neither do I need your acceptance nor approval, which obviously has zero influence on what we understand to be the truth for each of us in this moment.
Um, if I preach anything, it is acceptance, and submission to reality, as incredibly, mind-bogglingly diverse as it truly is.
I’m getting with some of my big wig entertainment connections and trying to draft George Clooney for 2028 to run for president. Maybe I should ask the music and film loving guru who.
@ Spence Tepper
>> This all applies to my own example, of seeing an incomplete work within myself.<< I did never see such an work but I did honestly look for it in giving credit to others whom I met walking the path of life and ... after many years of looking for it, I found there was not such an thing, so I let go. In that proces of looking for what there had to be according OTHERS, I came to understand many valuable, valuable to me, about human psychology. just to name one ... there is nothing wrong with asking advise accepting guidance etc but it can be done for several reasons, intentions and motives and THESE are the very KEYS to whether something will work or not. Hahaha these keys are to be found where they were l;eft ...inside the [personal] house.
@ Spence Tepper
And … yes I do believe the stories people tell about their inner experiences, to be true
Why for heavens sake would I call a persons hunger etc an illusion .. it is his experimental FACT
What is done with that experience in the public domain ia a whole other issue and is THAT what I have addressed all the time
Again, If I would have to have an so called inner experience, that will be a fact of life for me, something to deal with and apart from that personal digestion, I have to decide whether or not to do with it in regard to others in the public domain.
People that hear voices inside do hear voices and they must find a way how to deal with them personal but as soon as these voices tell one what to do in the public domain it becomes a different piece of cake ..remember the founding fathers of the three main religions
When I see this picture and what was shown to day on tv about the gathering of presidents in the white house and seeing the expression on their faces I can’t help but to think of movies about the international crime families coming in terms with one another about who is allow to take what piece of the cake
They to fight one another but also com together and talk to prevent it and maintain their territory after all it is all about the cake
There are the different capo famiglia’s, the respect Don that rules it all.
Funny and tragic at the same time
Hi Um
I think the problem of how spirituality becomes religion, and how religion becomes government and tyranny is a simple one.
Students decide, for whatever reason, that they must now become teachers.
Had they remained students and avoided attempting to become teachers the world would be a different place.
Where we find teachers who remain students, keep learning, and keep to what they know for themselves, I think that’s a good safeguard.
There are great teachers, masters of their subject, at least from my position as a student, but as a student naturally I am in no position to suggest who or what might be the appropriate teacher or teaching for anyone else. Only a great teacher can rightly judge the needs of their students.
However, a student is also a great thing to be, a noble job, and the more deeply I learn, the better student I become. I don’t become a teacher. That’s a separate job altogether. Entirely different skill set.
That’s someone else’s job. But I can become a better student.
@ Spence
The carrot makes the the donkey going, without ever getting it
Hi Um
The donkey is fed by the one holding the carrot every day. Their health is cared for by the one holding the carot, and they are given their work by the one holding the carrot. But the donkey doesn’t know this. Hence the carrot.
The carrot doesn’t feed the donkey nor is that carrot their actual food. The donkey thinks the carrot is their food. And they may shed a tear as they eat their grains and drink their water rag fast. They are mistaken.
Each day they are fed and cared for but they do not see it. Their tragedy is that they don’t see it
@ Spence
It would be clever and more natural for de donkey, not to be fooled and live his own natural life.
Hi Um
The donkey is a donkey, Um. As you have written, the crow is the crow and its natural life as it is. But these lives are interrelated. They must be what they are.
If the donkey dreams of the carrot each day, that’s ok. When it looks to see who is right there feeding them and caring for them, that donkey may come to understand things differently. It may come to love the one who husbands them. And then the donkey won’t feel like it was denied something wonderful all that time. It will feel like it has gained the greatest love of its life, just by becoming gradually more attentive to the one feeding and caring for them, more aware of what is already happening, and the one who is already caring for them.
Letting go of the carrot can take time. When it happens the Donkey may not even be aware of it. The carrot’s impression began fading away long ago.
Then the donkey follows its master, and has no more care nor sadness over the carrot. They have their master! They are now in love with their Master and that relationship is much more satisfying. Now they have it all, just by letting the presence of their husband finally connect with them.
@ Spence
>> Then the donkey follows its master, and has no more care nor sadness over the carrot. They have their master! They are now in love with their Master and that relationship is much more satisfying. Now they have it all, just by letting the presence of their husband finally connect with them.<< You must have read books of the ancient Romans and greek
Hi Um
The rise of the Roman Empire rested on the Donkey and the Slave, both of whom could traverse vast distances and together move large supplies, both for building cities and reinforcing their troops.
In simple things there is nobility. Where these were treated well, much was accomplished.
@ Spence
Freedom
Hi Um
When the entire creation depends upon the Lord for their existence every moment of every day, how can we speak of freedom, of independence?
We can, in stages, I believe, gain freedom from our own ignorance. We can, with help, work our way out of the harm we underwent (however pleasant or painful the experience at the time) which earlier created that ignorance in us. We can, using what tools we are given, dissolve the harm that our own ignorance causes to others and ourselves.
And that involves, at least in my experience, learning to accept, which leads to great joy, the awakening fact that we are part of a system and are being cared for by a great soul.
That’s all I know about freedom.
@ Spence Tepper
Alright .. the word “freedom” was just a little for a decent dessert.
With regard to your reaction:
If you say so, I probably must be so .. but … . “I” …I have no idea what you are talking/ writing about.
I will try to explain:
Language was poured into me like sucking the milk from the breasts of my mother, peace be upon her soul if she had one.
That “intake” didn’t stop there and then. After the liquid milk came the solid food and the concepts. Years were invested to make me understand and use the so that O could see the world as THEY did.
The next level of “intake” were the different views related to the so called big questions ..not that these questions were big for me but i was again told that these questions had to be addressed and that is what I did.
Deep down a voice was screaming … “UM wake up, they are fooling you around” .. but i frighted that voice untill i lost the power to do so and gave in and did wake up in the cinema realizing that my whole life was gone by looking at the world as OTHERS made me believe.
That was freedom ….freedom at last
You have no idea, and you cannot have it, how much the late MCS has been instrumental in becoming free and reading and writing here … I can’t stress enough it was not what you and others said but what I came to see about others as human being and what they did with their “knowledge” in the public domain.
It is painful in a sense, that I cannot answer you without making use of the language an concepts that are by them selve not mine … for that I have to wait … and waiting I can … it is a “secret” gift patience and endurance,.
So lately I satisfy myself with making coffee, looking at the birds, walking and more of these simple things and leave the answers to the big questions for others to deal with
Hi Um
I’m not sure I’m answering you or you are answering me. Or we are just putting into words our thoughts.
All is good.