The Reality of the Darkness and the Call to the Dark Side 09/24/2018 “Yeshua said: Blessed are they who know at what time of night the thieves will come. They will be awake, gathering their strength and strapping on their belts before the thieves arrive.” Logion 103, Gospel of Thomas Continuing slightly from the last post, we will here explore a very helpful view of how many Jedi fall and turn to the dark side so that perhaps we can be better prepared if we are ever so tempted. It is fear and/or shame which are the path to the dark side. Yoda, in his wisdom but
“Yeshua said: Blessed are they who know at what time of night the thieves will come. They will be awake, gathering their strength and strapping on their belts before the thieves arrive.” Logion 103, Gospel of Thomas Continuing slightly from the last post, we will here explore a very helpful view of how many Jedi fall and turn to the dark side so that perhaps we can be better prepared if we are ever so tempted. It is fear and/or shame which are the path to the dark side. Yoda, in his wisdom but
True Selflessness and the Fall of the Jedi 09/24/2018 “The constant benediction of understanding: we in our ignorance cry out to be understood. The Buddha power cries out to understand. As long as we desire to be understood we will suffer. As soon as we desire to understand we will be relieved of suffering to that degree.” Manly P. Hall, The Buddhist Regeneration Myths, Comparative Mythology lectures (available on Spotify) The words “selfish” and “selfless” are often conceived of as opposites, but if we are to seek the deepest truth
“The constant benediction of understanding: we in our ignorance cry out to be understood. The Buddha power cries out to understand. As long as we desire to be understood we will suffer. As soon as we desire to understand we will be relieved of suffering to that degree.” Manly P. Hall, The Buddhist Regeneration Myths, Comparative Mythology lectures (available on Spotify) The words “selfish” and “selfless” are often conceived of as opposites, but if we are to seek the deepest truth
Superheroes vs. Utilitarianism 09/10/2018 Superheroes are the people we want to be. We all have our own favorite superheroes, and in comparison we may like others less, but each one is a character based on deeply held and highly esteemed common virtues. They are our heroes, given immensely more power, concentrated into a “superhero”. Thus, in looking at the character of a superhero, we can observe our values and ideas in concentrated, caricaturized form. This allows us to see clearly the values we and society hold, because when we
Superheroes are the people we want to be. We all have our own favorite superheroes, and in comparison we may like others less, but each one is a character based on deeply held and highly esteemed common virtues. They are our heroes, given immensely more power, concentrated into a “superhero”. Thus, in looking at the character of a superhero, we can observe our values and ideas in concentrated, caricaturized form. This allows us to see clearly the values we and society hold, because when we
Astrology, Omens, and Tarot Readings—Evidence of the Connected Energy 08/06/2017 I am not very familiar with astrology. This is not an exposé on your horoscope for the year. But I did come to a realization recently which put me in a much more open relationship with the occult arts than I ever thought I might consider. How, and better yet why, would the planets control me, or have any significant effect on my life? What good, other than imagined (and therefore false) hope, would looking at a bunch of randomly shuffled cards do me? What is misfortune
I am not very familiar with astrology. This is not an exposé on your horoscope for the year. But I did come to a realization recently which put me in a much more open relationship with the occult arts than I ever thought I might consider. How, and better yet why, would the planets control me, or have any significant effect on my life? What good, other than imagined (and therefore false) hope, would looking at a bunch of randomly shuffled cards do me? What is misfortune
The Primacy of Belief 07/09/2017 There is an interesting dichotomy between the virtues of acceptance and non-acceptance (the call or necessity for change) forwarded by spiritual groups. Often the same group will post seemingly conflicting messages about accepting reality, the truth, or oneself (all are the same), and about rising up against injustices or, at least, combating the ‘do nothing’ doctrine that often comes out of promoting the value of acceptance (a famous Zen teacher once decried the ‘do nothing’ Zen school). This
There is an interesting dichotomy between the virtues of acceptance and non-acceptance (the call or necessity for change) forwarded by spiritual groups. Often the same group will post seemingly conflicting messages about accepting reality, the truth, or oneself (all are the same), and about rising up against injustices or, at least, combating the ‘do nothing’ doctrine that often comes out of promoting the value of acceptance (a famous Zen teacher once decried the ‘do nothing’ Zen school). This
Order, Chaos, Divinity, and Faith 05/25/2017 When, in line with Jung and all those of deepest faith, we say that within Chaos there is order, we are not disowning or subordinating Chaos. Just as the Basin cannot be captured by the term Chaos, and so must be tempered with this attitude, neither will ‘order’ do it justice. To say there is order in Chaos is to say the opposites are one; the two are one. The word Chaos, or randomness, implies a tragedy, a mishap—that the lack of control and predictability have led to (or stem from) a basic
When, in line with Jung and all those of deepest faith, we say that within Chaos there is order, we are not disowning or subordinating Chaos. Just as the Basin cannot be captured by the term Chaos, and so must be tempered with this attitude, neither will ‘order’ do it justice. To say there is order in Chaos is to say the opposites are one; the two are one. The word Chaos, or randomness, implies a tragedy, a mishap—that the lack of control and predictability have led to (or stem from) a basic
On the Afterlife 04/22/2017 “They ask me whether I know the soul immortal. No. But do I not Know the Now to be eternal? Is it not a sufficient reply to the red and angry worldling, coloring as he affirms his unbelief, to say, Think on living, I have to do no more than you with that question of another life? I believe in this life. I believe it continues. As long as I am here I plainly read my duties as writ with pencil of fire; they speak not of death. They are woven of immortal thread.” (Emerson) The answer to this
“They ask me whether I know the soul immortal. No. But do I not Know the Now to be eternal? Is it not a sufficient reply to the red and angry worldling, coloring as he affirms his unbelief, to say, Think on living, I have to do no more than you with that question of another life? I believe in this life. I believe it continues. As long as I am here I plainly read my duties as writ with pencil of fire; they speak not of death. They are woven of immortal thread.” (Emerson) The answer to this
