Thanks for this great article. Sharing your point of view about the 3 lists.
I’m not confused, but still struck, to see how much the affective can obliterate an otherwise free mind : e.g. someone really ”analytic” about covid and jabs and all that stuff, suddenly becomes unable to hear a slightly balanced opinion about the Israel/Palestine issue.
Human mind can be incredibly strong... affects lead the dance, for the best or for the worst.
The mind is a powerful tool indeed... The Hermetic Principles state: "The All is mind, the universe is mental." Which appears to be true at least to the extent of our own perceived universes!
You and I think a lot alike. Most of my life I was almost an outcast because I always questioned the trends in our society. I was like this even in school. I credit a lot of this to my grandfather and my great uncle who were wise in the ways of the world even back in the early '60's. I remember my uncle telling me that they were going to kill JFK because he did not stand with hysteria of the time. He explained that the USA could not survive without perpetual war as it was the foundation of their whole economy. Any threat to their propaganda had to be quashed. I remember my grandfather calling me in from play to watch Martin Luther King deliver his "I have a dream" speech. He told me to watch and to listen as this was one of the most momentous occasions in U.S. history. Later, he told me Mr. King would not survive as peace had no place in American politics. He had me sit down at about thirteen or fourteen years old and read Howard Fast's Spartacus. When I watched the movie I was appalled at how they had done their best to destroy what was and is one of the greatest literary works ever to comment on our society. This is how governments destroy pure thought. They take truth and subtly shift it away from the true context and people fall for it.
I find it troubling to read the rhetoric being blasted out by most people on both sides of our political fence regarding all that is happening today. Hatred and a lack of empathy are turning the majority into mindless goose steppers. I is sometimes overwhelming.
As for laying on the grass to watch the sunset, I was watching the sunrise light up the lake in my front yard and bring it to life just before I came in the house this morning and read your article. The lake is my anchor to all that is left of the good that is still in thus world. I instills a warm feeling of peace in my soul.
Great article! It was. for me. very moving and reaffirming note on what I perceive to be our duty to comment on. Keep up the good work and never comply or submit.
Thank you for the feedback and for sharing; it's fascinating to see how we come to be as we are from different times, places, and experiences. Though I see we share a commonality in the family member providing much of the stimulus - for me it was mainly my father while for you, it was your grandfather and great uncle.
It deeply concerns me how much of my generation, and what I witness of the next generations, are, as you say, goose steppers, with them now raising children with the same lack of critical thought and awareness... Overwhelming indeed, but I'm reminded of a quote I wish I'd heard a lot sooner -
"Concern should drive us into action and not into a depression. No man is free who cannot control himself." - Pythagoras
A lake in your front yard, what a place to live! That sounds like a wonderful way to start any day. I had the recent pleasure of staying next to Lake Balaton in Hungary and your description of what your lake gives you echoes what I also felt there.
Thank you for the Spartacus recommendation, it certainly sounds worth the read if not the watch! Having said that, I'll certainly watch it afterwards to see just how they spin the original and to what ends.
Excellent. Reading it twice. Thanks for the images, they keep me engaged, am simple that way. This documentary of Gilad Atzmon relates to the topic, Gilad briefly discusses how 'believing you are a chosen person' (he was told this as he was raised in Isreal) really does feel great, at least for a few minutes! but in the end one must see that it is not true. He evolved from it to move from Isreal to the US. https://gilad.online/gilad-and-all-that-jazz
I'm still trying to find the balance with images, how much is too much and all that jazz. So many of us are visual learners and, as we see from memes, good quality visuals can convey so much, so easily.
Also, there are few among us who truly love just a massive wall of text!
Thank you very much for the Gilad Atzmon recommendation and link, I'll check it out tonight.
Not the best grounding experience I've ever heard :)
Wild swimming might be a better option! Failing that, I've seen grounding bedsheets, pillows, and even mouse-mats, though I can't vouch for any of them working.
Welp, good essay, lots to digest and consider. I think lots of your list items are spot on.
I’ve certainly been at odds with most of societies beliefs and I’m saddened by the viciousness I see and hear when ppl are confronted by ideas that conflict with their own.
If I’ve learned anything at all about myself it’s that when someone says something that triggers an angry response, it’s something I need to really need to look at. Anger, being a secondary emotional response to fear, means that I am either afraid of loss or some really undesirable consequence. It is always a fear based response.
Your article resonates with me so I shared it on my fb wall. Thank you for clearly explaining how I often feel, alone, yet so alive with my own way of thinking. I feel most in the minority when I do not take sides on an issue. I've been known to argue both sides which confuses most people. I'm learning to say "okay" more often, especially when I disagree with something and want to remain in a peaceful frame of mind. Not always easy, but I practice often. I look forward to connecting with you again. Kind regards.
Not taking a side is sadly unfathomable for most these days... and their inability to safely label you as friend or foe likely causes problems.
That being said, I'm happy to hear you're finding a balance and remaining peaceful; a lack of inner peace cost me dearly for far too long, keep practicing!
Yes, that lack of inner peace haunted my Being for six years as I fell down the government conspiracy rabbit hole and, although I lost my marriage and many friends, I've gained new, more enlightened ones to fill the void. It takes great courage to think differently from the masses, and I cannot imagine my life without my measure of courage. I've come to realize though that not everyone has my level of courage and that is now okay with me. And, yes, I'll keep practicing.
A great point - we can't expect of others what we expect of ourselves; we all have different strengths and weaknesses, but above all, great capacity for change.
Yes, quite the mind prison I built for my Self, and dwelled therein for six lonely years until I found my own spiritual Self. What a relief it was there all the time, waiting for me to arrive. Non-duality is my way forward. Thanks for the poem, it resonates deep within me.
Non-duality is certainly an interesting one! It's an experience to walk through a city, looking past outward appearances and into peoples eyes, seeing yourself in there.
To grok the fact that I am not my body, I once went into a small market with the intention of seeing everyone as a soul, apart from the body which houses it. It was an amazing experience, how it made me feel so connected to everyone in there. I left the market with such a sense of wonder and I conjure up that feeling when I take in too much of the outside world. Non-duality is where it's at because both sides exist at the same time, we're just choosing one over the other, like flipping a coin. Living a life of non-duality is my challenge every moment, and I greet it with a smile.
Thanks for this great article. Sharing your point of view about the 3 lists.
I’m not confused, but still struck, to see how much the affective can obliterate an otherwise free mind : e.g. someone really ”analytic” about covid and jabs and all that stuff, suddenly becomes unable to hear a slightly balanced opinion about the Israel/Palestine issue.
Human mind can be incredibly strong... affects lead the dance, for the best or for the worst.
Thanks for the feedback :)
The mind is a powerful tool indeed... The Hermetic Principles state: "The All is mind, the universe is mental." Which appears to be true at least to the extent of our own perceived universes!
As for people suddenly becoming deaf to reason, this article by Markus might go some way toward explanation - https://markusmutscheller.substack.com/p/stupid-people
This rang true for me too -
"Some of those who saw through 9/11 got played by Covid,
Some of those who saw through Covid got played by war in Ukraine,
Some of those who saw through war in Ukraine are getting played now by Hamas,
The Arabic word for human is derived from the root 'to forget'"
Quoted from a Substack I read and can't remember in order to credit.
Thank you so much for your words. Markus’ article is just great. Quite ”hard” but a must...
A very well written and entertaining look at someone like me! Thanks.
Thank you Lynn, you're very welcome!
This sort of thing is so therapeutic for me to write, so I'm not at all surprised to see similar souls are enjoying it.
You and I think a lot alike. Most of my life I was almost an outcast because I always questioned the trends in our society. I was like this even in school. I credit a lot of this to my grandfather and my great uncle who were wise in the ways of the world even back in the early '60's. I remember my uncle telling me that they were going to kill JFK because he did not stand with hysteria of the time. He explained that the USA could not survive without perpetual war as it was the foundation of their whole economy. Any threat to their propaganda had to be quashed. I remember my grandfather calling me in from play to watch Martin Luther King deliver his "I have a dream" speech. He told me to watch and to listen as this was one of the most momentous occasions in U.S. history. Later, he told me Mr. King would not survive as peace had no place in American politics. He had me sit down at about thirteen or fourteen years old and read Howard Fast's Spartacus. When I watched the movie I was appalled at how they had done their best to destroy what was and is one of the greatest literary works ever to comment on our society. This is how governments destroy pure thought. They take truth and subtly shift it away from the true context and people fall for it.
I find it troubling to read the rhetoric being blasted out by most people on both sides of our political fence regarding all that is happening today. Hatred and a lack of empathy are turning the majority into mindless goose steppers. I is sometimes overwhelming.
As for laying on the grass to watch the sunset, I was watching the sunrise light up the lake in my front yard and bring it to life just before I came in the house this morning and read your article. The lake is my anchor to all that is left of the good that is still in thus world. I instills a warm feeling of peace in my soul.
Great article! It was. for me. very moving and reaffirming note on what I perceive to be our duty to comment on. Keep up the good work and never comply or submit.
ie
Hi Peter,
Thank you for the feedback and for sharing; it's fascinating to see how we come to be as we are from different times, places, and experiences. Though I see we share a commonality in the family member providing much of the stimulus - for me it was mainly my father while for you, it was your grandfather and great uncle.
It deeply concerns me how much of my generation, and what I witness of the next generations, are, as you say, goose steppers, with them now raising children with the same lack of critical thought and awareness... Overwhelming indeed, but I'm reminded of a quote I wish I'd heard a lot sooner -
"Concern should drive us into action and not into a depression. No man is free who cannot control himself." - Pythagoras
A lake in your front yard, what a place to live! That sounds like a wonderful way to start any day. I had the recent pleasure of staying next to Lake Balaton in Hungary and your description of what your lake gives you echoes what I also felt there.
Thank you for the Spartacus recommendation, it certainly sounds worth the read if not the watch! Having said that, I'll certainly watch it afterwards to see just how they spin the original and to what ends.
Thanks again for the brilliant feedback!
All my best,
Adam
Excellent. Reading it twice. Thanks for the images, they keep me engaged, am simple that way. This documentary of Gilad Atzmon relates to the topic, Gilad briefly discusses how 'believing you are a chosen person' (he was told this as he was raised in Isreal) really does feel great, at least for a few minutes! but in the end one must see that it is not true. He evolved from it to move from Isreal to the US. https://gilad.online/gilad-and-all-that-jazz
Thanks Jacquelyn!
I'm still trying to find the balance with images, how much is too much and all that jazz. So many of us are visual learners and, as we see from memes, good quality visuals can convey so much, so easily.
Also, there are few among us who truly love just a massive wall of text!
Thank you very much for the Gilad Atzmon recommendation and link, I'll check it out tonight.
Adam, I believe that every item on all 3 of your lists is spot on. Also love that you ‘lie on the grass to watch the sunset’ - grounding is great!
3/3 not bad! I had to really hold back on the final list to avoid it being entirely too much for those I'm hoping to get through to :D
Grounding really is great and unknown I think to most! I'm one of those lunatics you see walking around barefoot everywhere.
Too many prickles in the grass here for bare feet; also, got stung by a bee in the clover and it took a week for the inflammation to die down.
Not the best grounding experience I've ever heard :)
Wild swimming might be a better option! Failing that, I've seen grounding bedsheets, pillows, and even mouse-mats, though I can't vouch for any of them working.
Welp, good essay, lots to digest and consider. I think lots of your list items are spot on.
I’ve certainly been at odds with most of societies beliefs and I’m saddened by the viciousness I see and hear when ppl are confronted by ideas that conflict with their own.
I look forward to reading more of your thoughts.
Thanks Maureen, I'm really glad to hear you both enjoyed it and will take some of it away for further thought.
Vicious indeed, that emotional response so effective at protecting tightly held beliefs!
If I’ve learned anything at all about myself it’s that when someone says something that triggers an angry response, it’s something I need to really need to look at. Anger, being a secondary emotional response to fear, means that I am either afraid of loss or some really undesirable consequence. It is always a fear based response.
Absolutely!
I can imagine a world where we're all taught this kind of self-observation as children.
Superb! Thanks Joe.
Your article resonates with me so I shared it on my fb wall. Thank you for clearly explaining how I often feel, alone, yet so alive with my own way of thinking. I feel most in the minority when I do not take sides on an issue. I've been known to argue both sides which confuses most people. I'm learning to say "okay" more often, especially when I disagree with something and want to remain in a peaceful frame of mind. Not always easy, but I practice often. I look forward to connecting with you again. Kind regards.
Never apologize for being open-minded enough to argue both sides.
Thank you Laila :)
Not taking a side is sadly unfathomable for most these days... and their inability to safely label you as friend or foe likely causes problems.
That being said, I'm happy to hear you're finding a balance and remaining peaceful; a lack of inner peace cost me dearly for far too long, keep practicing!
All my best,
Adam
Yes, that lack of inner peace haunted my Being for six years as I fell down the government conspiracy rabbit hole and, although I lost my marriage and many friends, I've gained new, more enlightened ones to fill the void. It takes great courage to think differently from the masses, and I cannot imagine my life without my measure of courage. I've come to realize though that not everyone has my level of courage and that is now okay with me. And, yes, I'll keep practicing.
Congratulations for making it through, it sounds like quite the trial to say the least.
Though it ostensibly pertains to addiction and depression, you may relate to this - https://www.spiritualengland.org.uk/adams-collection/descent-ascent
A great point - we can't expect of others what we expect of ourselves; we all have different strengths and weaknesses, but above all, great capacity for change.
Yes, quite the mind prison I built for my Self, and dwelled therein for six lonely years until I found my own spiritual Self. What a relief it was there all the time, waiting for me to arrive. Non-duality is my way forward. Thanks for the poem, it resonates deep within me.
You're very welcome.
Non-duality is certainly an interesting one! It's an experience to walk through a city, looking past outward appearances and into peoples eyes, seeing yourself in there.
To grok the fact that I am not my body, I once went into a small market with the intention of seeing everyone as a soul, apart from the body which houses it. It was an amazing experience, how it made me feel so connected to everyone in there. I left the market with such a sense of wonder and I conjure up that feeling when I take in too much of the outside world. Non-duality is where it's at because both sides exist at the same time, we're just choosing one over the other, like flipping a coin. Living a life of non-duality is my challenge every moment, and I greet it with a smile.