THE ACID TEST is "a conclusive test for the success or value of something".

I'm sharing wisdom I find to be true and authentic which can serve as an "Acid Test" when you compare it with whatever is your particular point of view.

I believe this offers a way out of the quagmire of the kind of particularly entrenched, vehemently antagonistic political debate I've been seeing in the social media, and in the news. The current, what boils down to the "Blame Game" is zero sum. Heeding the advice from our wise elders, we can transform what seems like an inextricable quagmire into a "Win-Win". 

Applies to life in general too ... that is, if you find the advice from my trusted sources to be valid.

TAKE THE ACID TEST!

NOTE: There's a lot here to go over and read. Any one will do. The test is taken once you've read it. Pick any one. No need to agree. Or, disagree. Just to have read it. Then, you've taken The ACID TEST. How'd you do? You tell me.

These are reliable sources. How do I know? They are reliable to me. If, dear friend, I am reliable to you ... then, try it on. See if it fits for you. Make up your own mind.

Or, if you are content with your certitude(s) ... fine, if that's the way you want to be. Go on. THE ACID TEST is always there, if and when you decide to give it a go.

Shunryu Suzuki:

"Shikantaza is to practice or actualize emptiness. Although you can have a tentative understanding of it through your thinking, you should understand emptiness through your experience. You have an idea of emptiness and an idea of being, and you think that being and emptiness are opposites. But in Buddhism both of these are ideas of being. The emptiness we mean is not like the idea you may have. You cannot reach a full understanding of emptiness with your thinking mind or with your feeling. That is why we practice zazen." 

Kalu Rinpoche:

"My advice, don’t be a Buddhist. In the end it’s all about personal gain, fame and business. Just be a person with a good heart, that’s the meaning of a truthful Dharma practitioner.

"We live in illusion and the appearance of things. There is a reality. We are that reality. When you understand this, you see that you are nothing, and being nothing, you are everything.

"That is all."

Tangen Harada Roshi:

"It seems like no time at all since I first met my teacher, Daiun Roshi. I could only judge the world then by my own deeply held beliefs. To see the beauty, we have to break through such beliefs.

"Some fifty-five years have flashed by since then. And now, here, the universe is embraced in the One. I can assure you that all is well. All eternity is now, here. Bold, clear, dignified. Now, here, it is so vivid, so alive, so filled with joy, and waiting for you to see it. ‘I will do whatever I can to benefit others.' This is just life as it is, naturally.

"Please, please see it: everything is alive. Great, greatly alive. This is the happiness of all happiness. And this ‘Now Here' can never be destroyed. The light of your eternal life is shining brightly, now. What joy there is in this radiance!"

Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche:

"But if, through fundamental misperception of reality, the individual enters into the confusion of dualism, primordial consciousness, which is in fact the source of all manifestation (even of dualistic consciousness and, in fact, of all phenomena), itself becomes obscured. The individual's deluded mind then mistakes the manifestations of its own pure, innate primordial awareness for an external reality existing separately from itself, which it endlessly, and ultimately unsuccessfully, attempts to manipulate, trying in vain to bring an end to the continual underlying sense of dissatisfaction and unease which is the inevitable experience of the obscuration of pure awareness. The experience of underlying dissatisfaction (or 'dukha' in Sanskrit) that unavoidably arises with a deluded mind, continues, no matter how 'successful' the individual becomes in dealing with his or her world in materialistic terms, until the individual regains the experience of the primordial state."

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu:

"There is a saying that some Mahasiddhas, Tilopa and others, when giving advice to the students said, “Vision is the not problem.” That means it is not necessary to always have pure vision. If you have bad vision, vision is not the problem; the problem is attachment. Attachment is not outside. You can understand that. So how can get in the state of self-liberation? For example, if I am a practitioner of Dzogchen and I am here and I open my eyes, when I open my eyes I can see something. In the same way also I can hear some-thing with my ears, I can smell with my nose, all my senses are open. That means I have contact with objects, objects of senses. That is part of vision. So that is not a problem if I am in instant presence. Any kind of vision, good or bad, doesn’t change anything.

"The problem is, in general, that we immediately lose presence. We follow that vision. When we see something very nice, we think, “Oh, how nice that is! Wonderful! I like it.” What does it mean, “I like it”? It means, “I want it also. I want to try to get that.” If I can’t get it, there are problems and I feel angry. Then other emotions arise, attachment plus others. So that is called, in the Buddhist teaching in general, Chag Dang. Chag and Dang. Chag means attachment, Dang means anger, we don’t like it and we refute it. If we are attached, we accept.

"We accept, reject, accept, reject, even if it is not necessary. We pass our lives that way. That means we are always distracted with this. That is a problem. For that reason, when we follow the Dzogchen teaching, we say, “Try to be aware, not always distracted! That is not good.” With our two legs of attachment and anger we accept and reject. Now I accept, now reject, accept, reject, then we are walk, walk, walk that way in Samsara; it never finishes. Then we add many actions and accumulate many negativities. When we say “self-liberate” we should self-liberate that, be in instant presence. You don’t need any antidote or some particular method to liberate that. Just by being in that state, everything liberates. So this is called “self-liberation”.

Lama Gendun Rinpoche:

"Happiness is not to be found with many efforts or will, but is here, nearby, in your relaxing and surrendering.
Don't worry, there is nothing to be done.

"Everything that comes up to your mind has no importance because it has no reality. Don't conceive any attachment for it. Don't judge yourself. Let it be.
Let it come up and down without changing a thing.
It all vanishes and begins again, endlessly. Nothing but the quest for happiness prevents us from seeing it. It is like a rainbow that one is always chasing without ever reaching it.

"It is because it has no existence. It has always been here and goes with you all the time. Don't believe in the reality of experiences, good or bad. They are like rainbows. Because we want to grasp what is not to be grasped, we exhaust our strength in vain. As soon as we relinquish our hold, space is here, open, welcoming & comfortable. 

"So, do enjoy it. Everything is yours already. Stop searching. Don't go into the jungle to look for the elephant that is quietly waiting for you at home.
There is nothing to do. There is nothing to force.
There is nothing to desire. And all comes by itself."

Lama Yeshe:

Examining Buddha’s teachings for ourselves ...

"Whenever Buddha spoke he stressed the importance of making a personal investigation of his words and their meaning. Only when we are convinced that the teachings are accurate and applicable to our own lives should we adopt them. If they fail to convince us, they should be put aside. He compared the process of testing the truth of his teachings with that used to determine the purity of gold. Just as we would never, without testing, pay a high price for something purporting to be real gold, we are also responsible for examining Buddha’s teachings for ourselves to see whether they are reasonable and worthwhile."

Lama Yeshe:

Be honest with yourself  ...

"What is important to understand is that the view you have of yourself and the view you have of your environment are based on your own mind: they are a projection of your mind and that is why they are not reality.

"I will give you a good example. When a French man or woman looks for a girl or boyfriend, there is this research energy from both sides and when suddenly they see each other they make up an incredible story. 'Oh, so beautiful! Nothing wrong inside or outside.' They build up a perfect myth. They push and push, the mind makes it all up. If they are Christian they say, 'Oh, he looks just like Jesus.' Or 'She looks just like and angel. She is so nice, so pure. I wish always to hear her!' Actually, they are just projecting their own fantasies onto each other.

"If she is Hindu, then he would say, 'Oh she looks like Kali, like Mother Earth, like my universal mother. I hope to always be near her. She will teach me who I am and where I am going. Each time I see her, my whole body shakes. I am sure that it must be incredible karma! And because it is our karma I have to serve her, to accept!' You understand? Actually, you are making the karma at that moment, you are inventing it. Of course, you do have some connection, but....

"And if you are Buddhist you fold your hands and say, 'Oh, she is a dakini and she is showing me the true nature of all thing.' You understand? 'When I am near her she gives me energy, energy. Before, I was so lazy, I couldn't move, I was like a dead person. But now whenever I go near her I can't believe my energy!' I tell you, all this is superstitious interpretation. You think that she is your spiritual friend and that before you were not so clear and that now she speaks to you about dharma and everything becomes clearer. And all she does is really perfect, even her kaka and pipi are so pure! Excuse me, perhaps i shouldn't talk like this — I'm a Buddhist monk! But when we speak about Buddhism, about reality, then we have to speak practically from daily life, about what is earthy, what we can touch and see, not just get caught up in concepts.

"What I mean is this: you should recognize how every appearance in our daily life is in fact a false projection of your own mind. Your own mind makes it up and becomes an obstacle to touching reality. This is why, our entire life, no matter what kind of life we have, it is a disaster. If you have a rich life, your life is a disaster. If you have a middle class life, your life is a disaster. Of you have a poor life, your life is even more of a disaster! You become a monk and your life is a disaster. You become a nun and your life is a disaster. If you become a Christian, your life is a disaster. If you become a Hindu, your life is a disaster. If you become a a Buddhist, your life is a disaster. If you become a Muslim, your life is also a disaster.

"Be honest. Be honest with yourself!

"Even if you go to a cave, disaster! You can stay in a mountain cave, in the snowy mountains, and still you carry your ego with you. You carry your entire world with you and all your fantasy clothing doesn't help.

"I'm not talking about religion here, I'm talking about personal things, who we are, what we are, where we are going, what we are doing! I am disaster, my mind is making it. Everything is always with me, always with me, my attitudes poison me. That is what I am talking about.

"All this religion you follow ... as long as you don't touch reality in yourself, as long as you don't eradicate your fantasies, you are a disaster. (Now I am disaster hot!)

"In fact, reality is very simple. The simplicity of the mind can touch reality, and meditation is something that goes beyond the intellect and brings the mind into its natural state."

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche:

Appreciating the whole cycle of impermanence ...

"We usually appreciate only half of the cycle of impermanence. We can accept birth but not death, accept gain but not loss, or the end of exams but not the beginning. True liberation comes from appreciating the whole cycle and not grasping onto those things that we find agreeable. By remembering the changeability and impermanence of causes and conditions, both positive and negative, we can use them to our advantage. Wealth, health, peace, and fame are just as temporary as their opposites."

 

Finally! A Candidate We Can ALL Support!

THE RENEWAL PARTY is the 3rd party choice for 2024. With a candidate we can all support. And, a platform we can all confidently stand on.

You might know that recently, there's been a move by a coalition of Democrat and Republican moderates to form a third political party. A party that purports to represent the great moderate majority in America. Good news! If they can show they have their shit together ... give them the vote. The alternative otherwise might yet again be voting for the less preferable choice. The Dems with their likely rehash of "Not Trump ... Not Fascism!". The GOP with their "Say No to Socialism! Say No to the Dems."

The political climate has devolved into partisan stalemate and apocalyptic narratives to such an end point degree it seems that the next step could literally be civil war (?). Or — and we've seen it play out in the news very recently — someone taking the bit in their mouth and going forth toward some violent, murderous "patriotic" act. "Fatwa" may not just be a Muslin thing any more. 

Completely understandable, if you draw the current narratives to their logical foretelling that it's the "end of Democracy" conclusion. Surely someone among the millions of us proles is brave/stupid enough to go for a grand gesture. Of course, when the fate of the world is at stake. I'm not at all for that. There's an even better option. A no-fail option.

Stay with me ...

Regardless of whatever the heck party you will vote for ... vote for RENEWAL! I know you can't vote twice. Or, shouldn't. No. The vote we are campaigning for is the vote of your Heart. It's a choice. 

And, a real choice. Someone called that a platitude. If you know your true Heart ... bruh, it ain't no platitude. The Heart is the center. Literally. It's where you come from. So, pilgrim, where do you want to come from? 

What kind of world do we want to live in? The current Right/Wrong duality if we carry on with it much longer will only go south. And, by south, I mean KABLOOEY! War! Famine! Pestilence! Dawn of the Dead kind of stuff. After hearing the news, if you don't see that,  ... oh, boy! Keyword: @Russia. And, soon ... @China. And, those proxies: @Ukraine and @Taiwan. @NorthKorea is still on the game board too. But, let's not forget @InternalStrifeRightHereAtHome. That latter, would simply be the current political rhetorical heat writ large ... and, in your face. Torches and pitchforks. Some auto weapons in there too.

Vote RENEWAL!

How do you do that? Really, very easy. It's a choice.

But, first ... why?

Peace. Love. Understanding. Sounds kind of 60s hippie. Yeah. Can't we all just get along? Give peace a chance! It is after all the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. Dig?

RENEWAL Party Platform

• This is My World ... This is Our World

• Am I in the world? Or, is the world in me?

• I Want to Wake Up from the Illusion of Simply Being a Separate Individual

• My Healing is the World’s Healing

• Let the Healing Begin With Me.

• I'm Gonna Keep One Eye on the Lord

• I Am Responsible for My Experience

• Not Two

RENEWAL Party Agenda

• 180 degree Turnaround

• Be Here Now

• Resource/Recourse/ Recoup

• Let It Settle Itself

• I Choose Peace

• Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness*

• Abide in Choiceless Awareness*

* Read Jiddu Krisnamurti to get it from the Source

* Nothing new on that last item. No need to through the baby out with the bath water. Inalienable rights are ... well, inalienable. Something to reconsider on that "Pursuit of Happiness" though. Usually that idea is understood as a "going out for"; going after things, situations, people, experiences that "make" me happy. Moy Importante: Some who see clearly would also say with certain knowledge that, since happiness is innate, going within is where you will find it. How? Sit down. Be quite. Close your eyes. You're there! That "going within" could be seen as a "pursuit"; but, if happiness is innate, what's to pursue? This is it: removing the barriers to that innate happiness. That's the pursuit. And, it's the easiest thing to do. Just let those obstacles come ... and, go. Just like that!

RENEWAL Party Candidate(s)

• You are!

That's right. You read it right. You are! The RENEWAL Party recognizes the existential fact that the healing of one is the healing of all. Take as much responsibility for that as you will. Stop waiting for others to agree, or join. Your vote counts ... 100%. How about that for "grass roots"? Be responsible. Whether understood or not, take the point of view that you are cause in the matter. It's all your fault! But, that's the good news! If it's my fault, then I can do something about it. Or, stay stuck in the too easy to fall into trap of putting all my energy into making out that it's someone else's fault.

That's the choice. Choose! 

VOTE NOW!

[Get the Merch!] 

I'm David D. Wronski, and I approve this message.

Vapid Pols

I'm critical of the current Democrat Party for what in my view is not having anything to offer other than spitting out whatever the latest focus group suggests will get a vote. And, with no end in sight to driving with a tank full of "Not Trump"

They have made out the opponents be so evil as to represent an existential threat to the country. What could go wrong with that?

Joe's idea of unity is when everybody agrees with him.

In 2024, whoever is the Dem candidate, the strategy will be, "Still Better Than Trump". And, that's irrespective of whether DT will in fact run again. 

Isn't it foreseeable that some Joe Blow's could get it into their heads to do some real damage given that the stakes have been raised to a do or die level?

Don't way I didn't warn on this.

Game On!

 We are living in interesting times. For ... sure.

I've been watching the political rhetoric in this US of A over the last several years and the ante of "anti" seems to have been raised to the point now where we're all in. One side sees the other as the devil incarnate. The other side ... pretty much the same thing. Maybe with different words. Pick a side!

When you caste the situation in absolute, black and white terms I don't see any way forward with that except to some sort of violent confrontation. Scorched earth outcome, when you draw it out to its final end point.

The problem with political rhetoric spewed out in world-ending, cataclysmic terms is that it can put someone or someone's in mind to do something about that. 

Pols frighten me with their words. Calling the other the devil, a fascist, a nazi, a war criminal, a murderer, a mad man, a pariah ... them's fightin' words, bruh. I don't get that those slinging that stuff have any more motive in it than to get a vote. So I come out that the socio-political climate is rife with cynicism and prevarication. Doubly troubling, thinking that those who mouth like that don't seem to even look down the road much toward possible, and likely outcomes. 

The Psychiatrist and author R. D. Laing hosted a workshop I attended. He posed the question: what can we do to make the world right? My answer: "I will purify my heart". He responded that that "... is the most anyone can do". It stays with me, he's confirmation. I know it's true. The power of the individual is great. When you look at how we and everything are so interconnected, you begin to see the effect it has on the whole for just one soul directed toward The Real.

In his book, Knots, Laing early in the treatment on how we relate ...

“They are playing a game. They are playing at not playing a game. If I show them I see they are, I shall break the rules and they will punish me. I must play their game, of not seeing I see the game.”

So, at the risk of calling the game ...

What is the game? It's called "Taking Sides". The deal is that, whatever your side, you commit yourself to defending a position. Politically, we seem to be so entrenched on sides that there isn't much room for what politics is supposed to be about; negotiated compromise ... for the common good. 

Like I said, it seems to have devolved to nothing more than a power struggle. When I point out to some that it's a power struggle, they completely miss that regardless of which side it is, when one side has authoritative power over the other, that's what called authoritarianism. I don't know if that's what we're headed toward. But, even if we do get there, it will probably not be a pretty process.

"Taking Sides." That's the game. Pointing it out is a bitch. Mostly the response is dug in over how one side is right [my side!] and the other is wrong. Pointing out, nevertheless, regardless of who's right and who's wrong, the endgame of "Taking Sides" is violence. It's a dead end game. 

My little suggestion in all that is this: go ahead, take sides; fine. Just, also, acknowledge the common humanity we share under whatever game [or myth] we play to organize our common life together here in God's Creation. If we don't find the capacity to appreciate our common humanity, it's not gonna go well. Dig?

 

Wise Elder Father Speaks ... Listen

Hopi Indian Chief White Eagle commented a few days ago [July 9th 2021] on the current situation:

′′ This moment humanity is experiencing can be seen as a door or a hole. The decision to fall in the hole or walk through the door is up to you. If you consume the news 24 hours a day, with negative energy, constantly nervous, with pessimism, you will fall into this hole.

“But if you take the opportunity to look at yourself, to rethink life and death, to take care of yourself and others, then you will walk through the portal.

“Take care of your home, take care of your body. Connect with your spiritual home. When you take care of yourself, you take care of everyone at the same time.

“Do not underestimate the spiritual dimension of this crisis. Take the perspective of an eagle that sees everything from above with a broader view. There is a social question in this crisis, but also a spiritual question. The two go hand in hand.

“Without the social dimension we fall into fanaticism. 

“Without the spiritual dimension, we fall into pessimism and futility.

“Are you ready to face this crisis? Grab your toolbox and use all the tools at your disposal.

“Learn resistance from the example of Indian and African peoples: we have been and are exterminated. But we never stopped singing, dancing, lighting a fire and rejoicing.

“Don't feel guilty for feeling blessed in these troubled times.

“Being sad or angry doesn't help at all. Resistance is resistance through joy!

“You have the right to be strong and positive. And there's no other way to do it than to maintain a beautiful, happy, bright posture.

Has nothing to do with alienation (ignorance of the world).

“It's a resistance strategy.

“When we cross the threshold, we have a new worldview because we faced our fears and difficulties. This is all you can do now:

- Serenity in the storm

- Keep calm, pray everyday

- Make a habit of meeting the sacred everyday.

“Show resistance through art, joy, trust and love.”

This Explains a Lot

I recently saw this: “According to the U.S. Department of Education, 54% of U.S. adults 16-74 years old - about 130 million people - lack proficiency in literacy, reading below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level.”

I don't know what the stat would be on "logic", but I bet the number is even higher.

Doesn't that give a little insight into to how come the pols talk to us the way they do? Small, easily assimilated morsels of assumed meaning(s) loaded with subtext and meta messaging. Its called propaganda. Remember, "Kids in cages". Immigrant detainees held in "concentration camps". "Insurrection!" "Coup!" "Sleepy Joe." "Fake News*." In each case there's a grain of truth. My point is to be on the alert for attempts to convince you that the grain is the whole enchilada. Or, as Doctor Jill would put it, the whole "Breakfast Taco" at the local "Bodaga". *That "Fake News", there's more than a grain of truth with that one. Like, Gee Whiz! Did you see what Kim wore to the party??? Like that ... Fake News. This just in ... Ben and Jen got married!

And all those extra modifiers pols and press tack on to whatever they want you to how to see it. Like, as an example, "he walked across the lawn". No, he walked skulking across the lawn. "Suspiciously." "Languorously." "Lazily." "Sprightly." You can add whatever your personal fave denigrator word is. 

If you don't see that happening, maybe you're a dupe to confirmation bias? It's part of the playbook. But, that's what I think. You?

Then there's our individual mentality. Big subject. We generally assume that the world I see is the world you see. The world everybody sees. Well, the real world. But, given our individual makeups and individual unique experiences layered on/in along the way, we each see a different version of the world. Then, we argue over it.

I want to point out that there is the body-mind ... the mind/mentality that goes along with the identified person. Then there's the MIND. The one that the Buddhists describe as Clear, Luminous, and Unobstructed. The essential Mind. Tathakathagarba. [Gesundheit.] Put another way, there's the truth of our perception. Then there's Truth. Not perceived, but known directly. This is nothing new. You got this!

Of course the propaganda is all about getting us all on the same page, mentally. The nation that thinks together ... Majority rules. Problem is, just who wants us to think what? Those kids finagling all those algorithms, that's who. And, pollsters, with their focus groups where pols find out what to say so it goes in and gets you to go do whatever it is they want you to do. Or, think. And, let's not forget the machers. Those in the spotlight on the world stage telling us what's so, and how so. I wouldn't mind that so much except most in such positions of supposed influence are ignorant. Cooking up what's best for you and me out of their own ferkakta; pretending to know what's best, with all the answers.

We all deep down know that we don't know. The day seems to go to the one(s) what make the best pretense at knowing. Just say just about anything with confidence and a good crowd you can get on your side. If you're a movie star, make that an even bigger crowd.

If you watch for it you'll see that the whole media enterprise is geared toward framing our reality. And, we lap it up. Unaware. A prime example for me, pharmaceutical advertising. Seems like a service, don't it. Ask your doctor about "Copacetic", it'll give you a happy day. It's not the drug itself. The missed underlying point is that we are being framed into a world where chemical drugs are considered part of everyday life. [You know there's a difference between chemically correct, and biologically correct. If you don't think that's an important distinction, just follow the smooth talking disclaimers with soothing music on any given drug commercial. "You may experience projectile vomiting, loss of vision, possible death ... or, worse. Ask your doctor."] Doctors. And, that doctors are THE experts. Well, they are; when something's broke. Otherwise, they make the big bucks keeping sick people alive. The cure? Ain't no money in the cure! The money's in the drugs. And, the comeback. [Props to Chris Rock for them words.] Take that Kervorkian MD. Please. "As your doctor there isn't anything more I can do for you to allay your suffering. Well, maybe, except to kill you. Don't worry, I'll make it nice."

Net, net ... we're conditioned. From birth. And, not aware of our conditioning. Yet. There is such a thing as waking up. Not "woke". Awakening. Awakened. Big diff. 

So, where TF are we?

What we may have now is an end game situation where each side of the political divide is fully and righteously, absolutely with God-on-our-side cock sure that we are right; and, the others — read, those who disagree with us — are not only wrong, but the devil incarnate. If you follow the news surely you know what I'm talking about. Otherwise, you too, are what Hillary so aptly put it: a deplorable. Yes, you! Deal!

It even seems it's men versus women. Or, whatever you call them with the dicks and pussies that won't offend even the most sensitive listener. The battle of the sexes is not meant to be won! Nuff said. I refer you to your local jin/yang symbol for better understanding on that one. 

In this climate it's not a far stretch to see torches and pitchforks out in front of su casa. As Chuck Schumer would put it ... "reap the whirlwind!". As Maxine Waters would put it ... you "are not welcome here!" [i.e., those who disagree with her]. Even Prez 46 has trashed the legitimacy of the Judicial Branch over his disagreement with the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Disagree, fine. But, to suggest the institution itself is bogus ... What conclusion should we draw. "Don't trust!" That is, don't trust what we want you to don't trust. But, trust us. Hillary! Elizabeth! OAC! Where are you when America is in need of a hero? I wouldn't be surprised if in the not too distant future some smooth faced star of the silver screen will be the president. Again. Then we'll have what we want, something "presidential". Kanye 2024! He'll reunite with Kim and we'll have all the boxes checked in the White House. And, in a gesture of reconciliation and unity and noblesse oblige, Pete Davidson appointed Secretary of State. The youth vote, that's the ticket.

Is it just a matter of getting the kids to go to school?

Rabindranath Tagore, in Personality (1917: 116-17):

"We have come to this world to accept it, not merely to know it. We may become powerful by knowledge, but we attain fullness by sympathy. The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence. But we find that this education of sympathy is not only systematically ignored in schools, but it is severely repressed. From our very childhood habits are formed and knowledge is imparted in such a manner that our life is weaned away from nature and our mind and the world are set in opposition from the beginning of our days. Thus the greatest of educations for which we came prepared is neglected, and we are made to lose our world to find a bagful of information instead. We rob the child of his earth to teach him geography, of language to teach him grammar. His hunger is for the Epic, but he is supplied with chronicles of facts and dates ... Child-nature protests against such calamity with all its power of suffering, subdued at last into silence by punishment." 

My own take is that we've indoctrinated ourselves into servitude. Compliant robots. Functionaries for tasks. As progress progresses, of course, we'll have machines to do all that. Then those mindless twits we've educated for the culture can be left to their own devices, incessantly bombarded with political and mercantile propaganda to be "good" citizens, and eager buyers of goods, services, and entertainments. We are indeed a consumer culture. But, beware, when you are not in a position for whatever reason to be a consumer, some smarty pants might just get the idea that you are cancelable. 

There's a choice. I made mine. Make yours. What's the choice, you ask? I don't have that answer for you. Just a hint: of all the choices that are presented to us as voters and consumers, also remember that in addition to any one of those choices you may make, there's yet another choice. Sit with that. It will present itself. 

The Sri Chinmoy Mobile

The Sri Chinmoy Mobile

Remembering ... One day on Thompson Street in The Village in New York City, I found a storefront space with the art works of Sri Chinmoy on display. He had a significant spiritual following in the New York City area.  

Sri Chinmoy, from of what I know to tell was a high minded Yogi and Spiritual Teacher. He espoused a kind of BE ALL YOU CAN BE approach. [Totally that's my take.] Himself, he was an artist, a musician [I saw him in concert at the Beacon Theater where several instruments were set on stage and he came out and played every one of them. Expertly, with Spirit.] I believe he ran marathons, and recall something about lifting stupendous weights. Looking up his biography I see also he was a prolific writer, and poet. Like we say in NYC, he was a real Mensch. Make that Real Mensch.

At the art exhibit one was prohibited from taking pictures. But, Outlaw Dave was in charge that day, and I persuaded one of the devotee lovelies, to share her charms.

I also bought a small child’s crib mobile designed by The Master. Several random rounded shaped flat pieces with generic designs sprinkled with gem colors of glitter. I took it to be a child’s crib mobile; but, now, at this moment as I’m writing I’m thinking about that glitter falling on the kiddo’s face! NO! So, I’ll take full responsibility for taking it as a crib ornament. Didn't occur to me then, about the falling glitter. I didn't get any complaints.

But, but ... as a crib ornament. Think about it. We usually set a crib ornament decorated with sweet pastel images of bubbles, rainbows, little lambs, all that ootsy-cutesy. This one was as delicate as a butterfly, with pure shapes, and jewel colors. What the designs were, I don’t recall. Maybe just brushed gestures. Which, when you think about it — Sri Chinmoy was a Man of God — spoke a beautiful language all its own. If anything, he gave his essence in that little mobile.

I gave the mobile as a welcome gift to my friends’ brand new baby Girl. I think they set it up on the crib.

Today that little baby is a grown woman. I don’t have contact with her, or her parents. I wonder how she’s doing. And also wonder what impression that little mobile left; and, how it’s unfolding.

And, receiving that gift back today in recalling the time, and contemplating how we form our world from the first sight.