Transgender Day of Visibility on Easter 2024

 

Transgender Day of Visibility has always been celebrated on March 31since its beginning in 2009. This year 2024 Easter also falls on that same date.

The pols are trying to make some hay versus the Biden White House on this. 

Pols will be pols. We got other fish to fry.

The central question which runs through this whole business has to do with the real matter of "identity".

The Jesus message is "We are all God's Children, every one loved by the Father". 

The issue this writer has with the "Trans" and "LBGTQI+" is over real identity. One would think that with all the talk among those so disposed is that that's the end of the subject. My take from what is being said: "I'm what I do with what's mine, what I like what you got, how I happen to feel what I am, and how I like to express that". Maybe the matter on one's true existential fact of the matter identity is also there, but the emphasis I read in the news sure don't seem like it's anywhere near ground zero. Are there any Trans and LBGTQI+ in Heaven. In fact, are there any men and women in Heaven?

Is that all there is? What about the Perenial Qusestions? "Who am I?" "What am I?" "Where did I come from?" "Where am I going?"

The awkward conjunction of the Trans Visibility Day and Easter is that Jesus testified with His Sacrifice on The Cross to the real question. Ain't hearing anything even in the ballpark from any drag queens. Sorry. Not.

That the pols would try to make hay on that just gives proof to their cynical manipulation of the issue to get votes. And, don't think for a minute that those pols who say they are for trans etcetera rights are any different. All just gaming the question to get votes. 

Prove me wrong. I am "Wronski"! Not, "Wrongski".

𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐡𝐚 ... 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞

Jesus and Buddha
—

What is the Difference?

[Every year I update this writing with new ideas, insights, stuff, and events. Currently we're in 2024.]

I first wrote this during Lent 2004. You know, that time between pączki and flashing skin at Mardi Gras and when the colored eggs magically appear in all the nooks and crannies around the yard. Chocolate bunnies. Peeps. Jelly Beans. Oh, let's not forget the reason for the season ... He Is Risen!

This version is slightly edited with deepened insights and recent developments. Jokes, too.

For 2024 ...

"There is only one absolute Truth, and all other truths emanate from it. When you find that Truth, your actions will be in alignment with it. Human action can reflect that Truth, or it can reflect illusion. Can the Truth be put into words? Yes, but the words are, of course, not it. They only point to it. The Truth is inseparable from who you are. Yes, you are the Truth. If you look for it elsewhere, you will be deceived every time. The very Being that you are is Truth. Jesus tried to convey that when he said, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.’ These words uttered by Jesus are one of the most powerful and direct pointers to the Truth, if understood correctly. If misinterpreted, however, they become a great obstacle.

Jesus speaks of the innermost I Am, the essence of identity of every man and woman, every life-form in fact. He speaks of the life that you are.  Some Christian mystics have called it the Christ within; Buddhists call it your Buddha nature; for Hindus, it is Atman, the in-dwelling God. When you are in touch with that dimension within yourself — and being in touch with it is your natural state, not some miraculous achievement — all your actions and relationships will reflect the oneness with all life that you sense deep within. This is love. Laws, commandments, rules and regulations are necessary for those who are cut off from who they are, the Truth within." — Eckhart Tolle

Read on ...

In 2004, that year Mr. Mel Gibson’s latest movie The Passion of the Christ kicked off the Lenten season. And almost everyone by now knows that it had created a whole lot of debate. Not to mention a few dollars, too. What was he thinking? A family movie? As David Denby wrote in the New Yorker Magazine, “Jesus said, ‘Suffer the little children to come unto me,’ not ‘Let the little children watch me suffer.’ ” Frank Rich in the NY Times called the movie a "sadomasochistic gorefest".

This is not a movie review. I’d like to give Mel Gibson some credit, however. [Yes. Credit. Even though he has since then moved on up and added public displays of racism and misogyny to his resume. But, this year is now an 2016 Oscar contender. Crowds! Sometimes they love you. Sometimes, not. Ask Jesus about that one.] 

By my lights, and setting aside whether you agree or disagree with his portrayal, or his Christology, I appreciate a healthy general debate on religion itself.

My hope is that the conversation opens to a discussion on what’s at the heart of religion, and not just be something to appropriate by someone seeking to win some narrow sectarian argument or co-opting it to gain a political prize. Or, shamelessly burnishing a public image with a reputation of sanctimony and goodness. I am all for goodness; saintliness, even. But, goodness gracious, not as a branding device. An old car sales dog I once knew had this sage advice, “Ya know how to tell if their lying? Their lips are moving.” [Completely unrelated, I am sure, watch Oprah on OWN network.]

It is at their heart that I find a great deal of unity among religions, even though, on the surface, there seems to be a lot of separation. Words, words, words.

My take (hope?) is that Mel’s movie has boldly triggered the “dangerous” theme of religion itself into our stridently secular cultural conversation. Secular, as in “Did you have a good Christmas? Get everything you wanted?” “Are you ready for Easter? Nice decorations at Michaels at the mall. There’s a sale on!” I am interested in living into the holistic worldview for myself and offer my expertise as a professional to those who would also want that for themselves. Religion fits. 

Read Why Religion Matters Huston Smith.

Religion (also, read spirituality) is concerned with everything that is, the whole enchilada; as opposed to only those things we can get our hands on (read science/technology). [Then there's Scientology. A complete got-the-world-on-a-string package. Or, Madonna and her Kaballa, and their little red string.] 

I see it as a plus to be confronted to consider the big life questions: Who am I? What is this? Where did I come from? Where am I going? For what purpose? WTF.

Don’t look at Reality TV for any of those answers. (Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Temptation Island! The Bachelor. Ya, sure.) [A personal aside: I’m working on a TV project with some of my show biz buddies. It’s called “Who’s Got My Divot? It’s about bald celebrities and patches of grass. That’s all I can reveal at this time. And there’ll be a real mind blowing twist at the end of the 20-week run. So far, the pilot is green lights as far as I can see. Even Trump is on board. Tune in.]

Returning: I don’t know if Mr. G had what I’m talking about in his mind for his controversial project, but I can make my own point, even if I don’t spend $25 million to produce this article. [For my appreciative and supportive readers, send only checks and money orders. In-kind contributions also accepted. I don't want much. Only, let it have taste and quality.]

Just to clarify a bit more, my hope is to see this conversation shift to a higher level. In the so called culture wars that may be a part of what now seems to be 24/7 political campaigning, the issue of religion could be appropriated only for political advantage to score points with potential voters by hanging that subject on some hot button issues. When I see a pitchman on TV prominantly wearing a Christian cross I role my eyes. Look for it, it's theres.  The real nugget could be overlooked. I am personally interested in making a religious orientation a part of the fabric of my life and support others who choose to do the same. So what is a religious orientation to life, anyway?

If you are a reader of books I highly recommend Why Religion Matters by Huston Smith. This is not about going to church on Sunday or whatever other observance you follow or the set of words and names unique to your religion. It is about the significance of the spiritual side of things; how in the current climate in our society the sphere of religion is marginalized to the sidelines in our mass/mad dash to a promise of a scientific and technological future of more, better, and different; and, as he so eloquently makes the case, why religion matters. Read the book.

Then, of course, there’s Jesus. If Henny Youngman wasn't a Jew he might say ... "Take Jesus. Please!"

I am not attempting to author the definitive exegesis. Just my own view.

Here it is: Jesus is a Buddhist!

Whoa, Ho, Whoa! Now before you take the heat off Mr. Mel and put it on me, let me s’plain, Lucy. The Buddha saw deeply into things and handed down teachings about the nature of suffering and the possibility for freedom from suffering. (Thank you, Buddha!) The key to this freedom is the practice of detachment, surrender. In that practice we free ourselves from our unnecessary involvements with the illusory nature of the world; most particularly, attachment and adversion. 

Here’s a mind teaser for you: Do we experience suffering, or do we suffer experience? I believe it was The Buddha who put it as, “All is suffering.” My go-to teacher, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, (in I Am That… the last book you will ever read) asserts the latter; indeed, we suffer experience. Read the book.

The message of the Cross is the same in this respect, I believe. Only, if Jesus transcended pain and suffering— saw through it — is he the real deal? You get to decide that for yourself. [I pray for you.] Bear your cross lightly. I see his crucifixion as his highest testament: “YES!” Not defeated and resigned to enduring the worst kind of torture. But, seeing through it. Accepting. Yes!

A long time ago at my est [Erhard Seminars Training] training (yes, I’m one of those) I learned about how, if you fully experience something, it disappears. See for yourself. Don’t just believe it, do it. You’ll see for yourself. Take heart in seeing Jesus as accepting his karma and sacrificing his own personal sense of self to demonstrate the possibility for all. His realization and sacrifice also earned enough grace/merit for humankind in all the three times — past, present, and future — that all’s you got to do is live into his example, follow his advice: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” “Forgive.” “Let it go.” "Trust." "Give it to the Lord." Cause when you let it go, isn’t it gone? I’m not much impressed for overlarge professions of faith and histrionic acceptings of Jesus, as such. Looks good on paper perhaps, but in the work place it’s still dog eat dog. On the highway, too. It’s time to walk the talk, pardner.

A priest, burdened by the importance of his work, went into the church pray. Falling to his knees, he lamented, "O Lord, I am nothing! I am nothing!"

Just then a prominent Christian judge passed by and overhearing the prayer was moved to join the priest on his knees. Shortly, he too, was crying aloud, "O Lord, I too am nothing! I am nothing!"

The janitor of the church, awed by the sight of the two men praying joined them, crying, "O Lord, I also am nothing! I am nothing!"

At this, the judge nudged the priest and said, "Now look who thinks he's nothing!"

I recently attended a talk by a Tibetan Buddhist teacher who suggested that it is beneficial to develop a loving compassion toward oneself and all others. He further said that in order to open one’s heart you have to also open your mind. Now we’re talking real religion. Would Jesus disagree with that advice?

When I was a boy there was a crucifix with a life-sized figure of Jesus staring down at me every day at Mass. I was sincere lad but not a little goody, goody. We were compelled by the good Sisters to attend services daily before school. In fact (a little confession) I myself was the subject of a Sunday sermon on how a boy should not behave. I’ll leave it to your imagination what could possibly have prompted our pastor to use this kid as an example of a bad attitude and how that affected my psyche. Talk about a guilt trip. Where was PeeWee Herman when I needed him…”I know you are, pastor, but what about me?” [I was guilty of speaking my mind a little too freely in front of my elders; Pastor Alexander, in that most memorable instance.] On top of that I used to imagine whether, if I were in Jesus’ shoes (sandals, really), how would I deal with such torture and pain. In short, no way. More guilt. Seeing my own cowardice and weakness in this fantasy only made me feel all the more unworthy.

Now that I’m a committed meditator and have developed a glimpse at detachment myself, I can appreciate Jesus’ sacrifice in a whole new light. Could I/would I walk in his shoes. Still, no way; please, Lord. But I am not, we are not, asked to live in any shoes other than our own. So no good Christian should go on suffering. Nor Buddhist. Jew. Hindu. Muslim. Nor the rest. As for you atheists out there, you’re gonna get yours. Suffering, pain… give it up! Swami Muktananda said as much in his book entitled, Getting Rid of What You Haven’t Got.

I’m not here to tell you more on the spiritual life, as such. There are books and teachers enough. Regard this as encouragement to practice whatever path you are on. Further, if you’re not on a spiritual path, what are you on? Medication? Busy figuring out what to put on your next Pizza? Racing to be first at the next red light? Tweeting with that world class “winner” Charlie Sheen?

So, just walk your talk. Get some religion. Practice makes perfect. Saying that pain and suffering are illusions may be true. But when you’re a-hurtin’, words-only may not be useful. The trick is to practice, and practice, and practice. And start ASAP. As they say, “Don’t wait until the house is on fire before you start digging the well.’ 

Grace is real. Take some. All you want. You don’t have to ask your doctor, I promise.

"Be Here Now" in ordinary conversation seems to have become a piece of toss-out jargon, the kind of thing you might want to put on a bumper sticker. I once recommended Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now) to a young fellow I know, and he brushed the subject aside with a "I have that on my book shelf". As the Church Lady says, "Well, isn't that special". The idea my dear young friend is to get it off the bookshelf and etch it on your bones. (I realize that there is some judgementalness in this recollection. Yet, if the shoe fits, you'll wear it. And, for the record, I am not concerned whether he or anyone else takes up this practice. It is enough for me to go there.)

But, the Present Moment is the master key. If you take the trouble to do it. Trouble? Well, at first, it may look like trouble. For to be in that Present Moment you have to let go of past things and future concerns. N'est–ce pas? It takes courage to enter the Present Moment. From the perspective of the past and the future it seems unknown and fearful. Death. Just to stress, where else could you be but the Present Moment? The past is over, the future not yet. Free your mind. Let's meet in the middle. Yes, the present moment my present you at first with the mess you've made of yourself. Forgive!

I'm also thinking about how the Cross figures into this conversation. If you are a fundamental type thinker then, of course, the Cross is the wooden device what our Lord was crucified on. There's symbolism there too. Think in terms of the vertical upright segment, and the horizontal, level one. In Oriental Qi Gung there are the concepts, pre-natal and post natal. Pre-natal refers to the Source of things. Post-natal, already happened things; that is, the created world. The post-natal orientation is the worldly, the mundane; past and future. The pre-natal refers to the Source of things, the creative, the yet to happen, the possible, the transcendent; you find that in the Present Moment, don't you know. The art of living is to find oneself at the intersection of these two directions. That I would say is the heart, the center of balance.

The World is Too Much With Us

by William Wordsworth 

The world is too much with us; late and soon,

Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;

Little we see in Nature that is ours;

We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!

This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;

The winds that will be howling at all hours,

And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers,

For this, for everything, we are out of tune;

It moves us not.--Great God!  I'd rather be

A pagan suckled in a creed outworn;

So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,

Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;

Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;

Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.

Let's leave it with Meister Eckhart…”What good is it to me for the Creator to give birth to His Son if I do not also give birth to Him in my time and my culture?”

To Jesus on His Birthday

By Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950)

For this your mother sweated in the cold,
For this you bled upon the bitter tree:
A yard of tinsel ribbon bought and sold;
A paper wreath; a day at home for me.
The merry bells ring out, the people kneel;
Up goes the man of God before the crowd;
With voice of honey and with eyes of steel
He drones your humble gospel to the proud.
Nobody listens. Less than the wind that blows
Are all your words to us you died to save.
O Prince of Peace! O Sharon's dewy Rose!
How mute you lie within your vaulted grave.
The stone the angel rolled away with tears
Is back upon your mouth these thousand years

Thank you all. Thank you Mel. Thank you Buddha. Thank you, Jesus. I believe in love. And I believe in forgiveness. I believe in you.

PS What’s this talk about anti-Semitism? (Mel Gibson, and now that most flaming fashionista and j'accused anti-semite, John Galliano) If you said to any half intelligent person that Jesus’ death was instrumental in the redemption of humankind for which we should be deeply grateful, then what should be our logical attitude toward the people who where supposedly also there for that event? [News flash: Pope Benedict the XVI has just recently exonerated the Jews in the matter of Jesus’ death. Finally!] And, to button it up, aren’t we all of us instrumental in crucifying Jesus all over again whenever we fail to love one another?

I am also smilingly remembering Mr. Myron Cohen, a Borsht Belt era entertainer I used to see on the Ed Sullivan show Sunday evenings. He once on network TV confronted his critics who charged him with being anti-Semitic. “Anti-Semitic?” he asked. “Anti-Semitic?” And then, “But, I am Semitic!”

Now that I’m on to the Jews. [Yes, you Jews, I am on to you.] Take the Jews. Please.

No, but really…

What is a Jew, anyway? Isn’t “Yaweh” the name of God in the Hebrew Bible? Let’s break it down… Yaweh… Yaweh-ish… Yaw-ish... Jew-ish. Does anybody else see the connection? I say, that to be a Jew, is to be… God-Like. And can’t we all be that? Aren’t we all, that? What’s this about anti-Semitism. So we’re all semitic! Literally, maybe not so much. But, figuratively, quite so. We be all wandering in search of our true home.

Happy trails.

God’s speed.

Try to be a mensch. (And, not a schmuck.)

This old Jewish lady comes back from her doctor check up. She says to her husband, Sammy, who’s engrossed in his newspaper at the kitchen table, “So, Sammy, you vant to know vat the doctor said about my brrreasts?” Sammy, showing the only slightest bit of interest and barely looking away from the paper, says, “Vat!” “The doctor said I have the brrreasts of a sixteen year old!” Now, here was his chance to level his proud bride, “And, vat did he say about your eighty year old ass?” After a small pause (wait for it), this curt come back, “Ve didn’t talk about you!”

Two men drinking together at a bar. One is Chinese, the other Jewish. After a few tilts the Jewish fellow punches the Chinese guy in the jaw, knocking him down. “Hey, what was that for? Huh?” “It was for Pearl Harbor!” “Pearl Harbor? That was the Japanese, not the Chinese!” “Japanese, Chinese… what’s the difference?” That seemed to end it and, after things settled back and a few more tilts, the Chinese man punches his Jewish friend, also knocking him down. “Hey, what the heck was that for?” “That was for the Titanic!” “The Titanic? That was an iceberg!” “Iceberg, Greenberg; what’s the difference.”

A man is walking down the street looking for a shop to have his broken watch repaired. There’s a store with a big clock in the window and he goes in. He says to the proprietor that he is there to have his watch repaired. The proprietor, somewhat perplexed, informs the customer that he is a Mohel, specially trained to officiate at the circumcision rite in the Jewish tradition. The even more perplexed man with the watch says, “But, you have a clock in the window?” The Mohel counters, “What would you put in the window?”

You know how there are things we say to one another that pretty much amount to what’s called “social grease.” How ya doin? What’s Up? How are you? How do you do? [On that last one, Groucho would say, “Well I haven’t had any complaints lately.”] The mot of the moment, Wassup? I am my father’s son and have a thrown urge to see such things as an opening to tell my life story. But, in fact, as you know, it’s just a way to toss something of an acknowledgement out there without any real expectation of a reply any more detailed than the usual fine, thank you. But I like to mix it up a bit. When I am feeling particularly Christian, I respond with that topper of all toppers, I am blessed. If I am feeling really frisky, I’ll add a Praise the Lord and a Thank you, Jesus. Who's the man? When my Jewish gene is dominant, my retort is---think Jackie Mason---Ech, how should I feel?



Fucking Election 2024

There's a meme going around making the point that the 2024 election is not about the lesser of two evils, but that 46 is the indisputably true Human being; that is, compared to you know who.

Having been in a life career teaching Human Beingness based on fundamental scientific factualities, I have no idea where to begin to unpack that comparison of the two, at this date presumptive, candidates.

I will make some observations. 

ALERT! Political bias may be on full display. 

Seems we're into a level of political competition that puts the fate of the world on the line. My opponent is the end of the world as we know it. No! Your's is! Black and white. Trust. Whom? Do you reflect even that your point of view is just a product of all the media propaganda you've been fed like a fattened Goose? [Did you know there's a statistic that 80% don't read past the headlines.] Time for that Jesus moment, folks. 

We're at an end of an era. End of an age. Lots of conflict in the world as the prevailing myth bites the dust. The myth? Good old Cartesian based dualism. You and me. You, versus me. Adam and Eve made that first distinction, and look where it got us. Still thinking that we are smart enough to make a nice home in the paper bag prison cell we've been living in since we left the Garden. 

Wake-the-fuck-up time. Geez. Good versus bad. That's a zero sum game. Statis. Just vying over who will get to make and manage their version of the status quo, and according to their lights. Trouble is that game's end game is death. Nobody wins. If you don't think that is in the cards, read past the headlines. It's a global "chicken" game.

The true life game is based on the fundamental unity and the simple firm grasp of that obvious. Not just the rhetorical mumbo jumbo "I'm a uniter!" The illogic of that is that you have to have a "divided" what to "unite". And, remember, "What God has put together, let no Man put asunder". Which you can't. But, that wild and crazy couple in the Garden, they gave it a shot. And, we're still playing their game. Both sides of the aisle claim to be the one(s) to make that happen. Again, so much time vilifying our opponents, when praying for them sincerely would do some real good. Do you pray. Or, like it seems in the culture, God is dead?

The devil in the details of that line about being a uniter we hear from the pols is that their idea of unite can easily become a totalitarian battle cry to get everyone agreeing with their one point of view. United under one flag. Rah, rah! I've tried to point that out, but there are large swaths of the public convinced that they are so in the right, that anything goes to keep the evildoers out. Scary. Like some of the bullshit scenarios recently floated. Yet, we still have items showing up like how this one or that one is cozy with the evildoer enemies of State. Let me ask you, Pilgrim, how far are we gonna go with that? Like we are in Ukraine ... 'til the bitter end? Then, everbody loses.

Time to get back to the Garden. Do you know how? Is that even a question you'll entertain? If not, you're doomed. 

The candidates. I made a deliberate point to frame the election 2024 in terms of "fucking". As in, you're gonna get fucked one way or the other.

The choice is between one on one side that can't even get it up to fuck a Donkey in the ass; and, even if he could get it up wouldn't know what to do with it. The other one claiming to be able to make an Elephant weak in the knees.

Put another way. One is a French tickler on a big ass dildo hung on a Donkey puppet with who knows who's hand[s] are pulling the strings. So skilled is he after years of political posturing to put on a brave face as he getting himself fucked by that Donkey. And the other is all take charge, big dick bareback with a bunch of pushers at his back. Admittedly, not all pushing in line, so there's a little wiggle going on to make the ream job interesting.

So, take your choice. And, bend over. You won't like it. But that's only on account that it's all the other guy fault. C'mon man, I'm just trying to fix the mess the other guy left behind. Sound familiar? And, let's not get into the gender stuff. Strap on's are a thing, didn't you know.

If you have some reaction to the political framing just made, consider this. Either choice, do you think that the outcome for either's pie in the sky promises will be different? Which candidate is for an end to war? To poverty? To suffering? To the degradation of the planet? You do know that fighting for piece is like fucking for virginity. Do we always have the frame all our ventures as a "War On"?

This recently from Reuters: "The new arms package is worth billions of dollars and contains more than 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs, sources said. President Joe Biden on the same day said he was devastated by the suffering of the people Israel is bombing in the Gaza Strip and that “we must also pause to reflect on the pain being felt by so many in the Arab American community with the war in Gaza."

Yes, here's a pause ...

Now, let 'em have it! Bombs away! Praise the Lord! With God on our side. 

Now, that is a Human response if I ever heard one. Like wishing for lube from the rapist shedding a tear for the victim. 

 

𝐀𝐈 ... 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥? [Reposted with some extras.]

AI ... Spawn of the Devil?

“We must realize that modern civilization is thoroughly oriented towards dehumanizing humanity in every possible way; that is to say, we are fast turning into robots or statues with no human souls. Our task is to get humanized once more.” — D. T. Suzuki

AI is for the ignorant. No, not like "ignorant" like you don't know something or other. But, this: "Ignorant", as in taking the false to be real, and the real to be false. Living distracted by the phantasmagoria. "Asshole" is the le mot juste on that.

The foundation basis for Artificial Intelligence is the idea that, if information is good, lots of it is better. And, what could be better than all the information, aggregated and considered by an oh-so-smart computer. Who would argue with that? A computer what got it's origin inputs from who knows and where.

As far as that goes, like it's a virtual cubby hole of all the known facts — can AI know any new facts, or just rearrange the facts that have already been inputted into it? 

Fine. Access to information is a good thing. Theoretically. But that depends on what one is accessing the information for what purpose. Or, will AI be able to suss the malefactors and deny access? And, having sussed, go shush to the bad guys. Depends, I suppose, on the ones that give AI it's marching orders. Bad guys are surely there to take advantage. And, even those with the best intentions, are they self aware enough and motivated to the Hightest Good; or are there skeletons in their closets under lock and key; but there nonetheless and operating under the surface. Unconscious little devils.

Having lots of facts, the right facts is smart. Intelligent, well that's what you do constructively with those facts. AI has no native intelligence in itself, but the intelligence foundation programmed into it. That's why I keep wondering if the folks who are jiggering the Brave New World of AI have their shit together. Shit in, shit out. 

So, Mr. AI, just what is the factor that will guarantee the things don't go shit? Not like we've ever seen that sort of thing before. Not. Or are we so saturated in our own ability to sort things out that we catapult headlong into every scientific and technical potentiality pridefully confident that we're smart enough to work out the kinks. I remember a US of A Secretary of Health or someone like that who would have solved the air quality problem by issuing the hoe polloi gas masks. A tech solution, not a Human one.

So, let's not ask AI by what standard guides its so-called intelligence, but by what standard are we Human guided? In a Godless society, suggesting a turning to God almost feels like a quaint sentiment.

Information. It is now God. If your car gets a flat it's good to know how the wheel is attached to the axle, which way to turn the nuts, and where to find the thingy what to turn said nuts, and the jack; and how the heck to work it so you don't kill yourself in the process. Like that. So too with how to get a rocket to the Moon. Information. And, good information. But, also the right information. It might be nice to know how to make a Pizza, but going to the Moon ... not relevant to the task. Kapische? Unless you're living in some future world where "WE DELIVER! TO THE MOON!"

The tell with AI is simple to read. As long as you're not all distracted with the endless permutations of acquiring practical knowledge, that is. The Achilles Heel of AI is ... it's artificial, bruh! Capische? Who said it: "All information is ignorance." To understand that little ditty, read I AM THAT by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

The extra demonic in the mix is that somewhere along the line that so-called self-evolving AI has been birthed with some a-priori intellectual genetics. Who's? Good question. Some asshole somewhere set that algorithm in motion with who knows what level of self-awareness, wisdom, common sense, and intent . And, let's not minimize the real probability for some malevolent intent. Read the news. Even without full blown AI ... look at the mess! Field of mendacity!

Call it it's DNA. That one point ... intent; keep an eye on that. That's the fucker. Even the ones with the "good" intentions. What could possibly go wrong putting all your eggs in that basket? And, who's to say that those ones pulling the strings are self-aware enough to be vigilant over their unconscious drivers. 

Oh, you say, there'll be checks and balances. But, who's watching the watchers? And, with so much mendacity afoot, you can bet someone(s) somewhere(s) gonna try to game the system. For good, for naught. If something goes awry, let's be sure to have a thorough investigation. Get back to you on that in a few years, and millions of dollars. Meanwhile ... 

How's this for a scenario? So, everything you do is pretty much in some database or other. Right now. Your profile. What you watch, how often, your preferences. What you buy, how much, which brands. Even this article; that is, if loads of people started to look in on Wronski's Wramblings. Success has it downsides. Where you go even — my auto insurance rates are linked to an in-car app which tracks trips and rates my driving. I got nothin' to hide, so why not; it saves me some bucks. But, it also gives a clue about me in terms of how I'm gettin' along in the world. What makes me tick.

Now imagine that all that information on little ol' me is sorted into some AI algorithm's analysis of who I am. As can be described in words, that is. Then aggregated into groupings of one sort of other with others of similar ilk. Now I belong to a category. Herded into a herd? Then AI can profile the categories to discern common denominators for any particular group. What are our wants and needs? What are our triggers? What's it gonna take to get me into that car today? In politics, whoa! That AI can tailor messaging to me right in the privacy of my own home via television or internet telling me just what I need to hear to get me to vote in a predictable way. This tech makes the old demographic sorting from my Mad Ave Ad Biggie days look like cave man scratching. Seems now, the system can literally tailor messaging directly to me; not just me in a group of millions. Just me. 

Or, to get me to buy some stuff. Imagine with all the propagandizing and indoctrination already being churned out, imagine the wonderful potential to get my party into office with just a flick of the finger to get my confirmation biases ticking.

Talk about "Manufacturing Consent."

By the time we realize that AI has taken us down yet another historic rabbit hole, finding the devil in the details will be impossible; and, quite possibly pointless. The problem isn't so much AI, it's our attachment to the tools of AI. This screen you're reading this on, to point to the obvious.

Who's to blame? Oh, that old spin? Really? Praise and blame? That currency has always been worthless, but look how long it's taken us to grok that! Have we?Maybe even some who are reading this will scratch their heads wondering what the F I'm talking about. I'm scratching my head wondering how come something that obvious gets past seeing. Just look at the political scene. One side saying the other will be the doom of us. The other talking doom too. Praise and blame. It'll be our doom. Or, same spin ... "right and wrong". 

Fuck all! There's gotta be a better way?!

So, artificial intelligence. What's the problem. In short, for all its promise, it can very easily usher in the Brave New World. Everything sewn up nice and neat. Everybody drinking the same Kool-Aid.

What about the devil in it? As I would put it that the fall of Man, the Original Sin, was embracing the idea that "I can do it myself". Now, all this way from Adam and Eve, we're essentially still saying "we can do it all". Now, though, we got all the info to get it done. And, done right! Just another kind of "Apple", don't it seem? 

Poem for Judgement Day: WE DID IT ALL/WE DID IT ALL/ WE DID IT ALL/ AND THAT/AND THAT/AND THAT AND.

That Creator Guy, thank you very much! Just stay on your heavenly throne. Now we can handle it ourselves from now on. Simple as that. If you think we live in a Godless world, look at the news. The devil is in the details. And AI is all about details. Such a temptation: Information will save us. [Not.]

So, Pilgrim, let me ask you ... who's [information]. And, answer me this, how much information does it take to be wise? Or, is life just about knowing how to fix a flat? It is, in a way. But, who is it what's doing the fixing in the first place? Who am I, really. Who are you? AI ain't gonna give that answer. It'll give you an answer; but it'll be ersatz. 

AI ain't gonna answer that question. Yet, without the answer to that question, we are doomed. Where to turn? All the acquired Wisdom of the World says just one thing ... look within. Simple as that. Yet, we go for complicated. And, out there. And, AI is nothing if not complicated. And, nothing about anything but "out there". Lots of devilish details.

As for me, I'll stick with the Akashic Record. Everything about everything ... ever. Makes AI look like the Tower of Babel. Which in a very real sense is exactly what it is. Just to pull the plug and it ceases to exist. Like Ol' Lot and his family in the Bible, hard to turn away. His Missus gives us a clue on the consequences.

So, here's the thing. AI obviously has it's benefits. How the world works. Sure.  Downsides ... plenty. No God there; except it's just a word. Like Marshall McLuhan says, with every new medium, something is gained ... and, something is lost. Not sure yet what is lost. Maybe it's a firm grasp of the obvious? Hold that thought. Maybe Socrates would say that what is lost is the honest fact that we really don't know. But, who goes around proud of not knowing. Seems the one who knows the most, the best, gets to win the day. 

As they say about Truth ... it's True. What's Real is True. No need for defense or explanation. Beyond argument. Like, when the Sun is up. Plain to see. Just to see it for what it is. The trick to get at that is to give up being distracted. And, guess what? AI is the big distraction. That "Apple" again. Just to see the false, as false. 

Big hint from The Man, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj: "Nothing you perceive is you. Nothing you perceive is your own." 

Bottom line ... is there anything beyond AI. Well, as that Man says, AI lives in the realm of perception. Hint. Hint. And, by its own admission, it's "artificial".

𝐄𝐥𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐤 𝐇𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐎𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 ...

From a reliable source I got this: "Psychic powers sweep the path of a great being".

Let's unpack that. With a good bit of the ol' "Wrambling" for good measure. Stick with it, I'll get you there. Hey, you got something better to do? If you do, do it. I could care. I already have your visit here right now scored on my stats. 

The context of that statement is from Yoga. Not the bendy, stretchy kind — which is a part of the whole Enchilada — but the Path of Yoga itself. Deep meaning, but short form of it Yoga = Union. With what? Truth. Not my truth, or your truth, or some smarty pant's truth. Not even The truth. Simply, Truth. What is. After you take away all the false. What irreducibly remains.

[If that spiel sounds like Advaita Vedanta, you'd be correct. I refer you to One Reliable Source: I AM THAT]

As such, Yoga is like involves an ascent. To Source. Actual Communion. You know, like how Heaven is up there. Above. The realization of the oneness with God and His Creation. Or, if "God" is dead for you, then let's say the Good of all goods. 

In the Christian narrative on this we have the business of the "Separation". On account of our Parents, Adam and Eve. We have them to thank for having the chutzpah to think they could do it themselves, without the Old Man. "Pride." Disobedience. The original sin. Still going strong after all these years. Check the news. We now not only know how to do it ourselves, but we have the balls to think that we can fix all the fucked up shit our doings do. Doo-doo, more like it. 

[But let's also not miss the opposite form of pride ... harboring the notion, "I'm no good". And, all its variants. To denigrate oneself is simply prideful. As in, "I should be able to do it myself, but I can't". The fact is that you can't do it yourself; but the sin is in disparaging oneself over that, and missing that God is in charge of His Creation. You and me were never in charge. Period. Full stop. Well, maybe as co-creators with the Big Guy. But, how you get to do that on the up and up, kosher-wise, that's a whole nother topic. Getting my will in line with the Creator's. That is central on the Yogic Path, don't you know.]

Lately we've been seeing a lot of bright guys with big bucks doing all sorts of "amazing" things. Very successful in business. Rockets to outer space. Visions of colonizing other planets. Underground coast to coast tubes to travel at warp speed to get to wherever it is you want to go and do whatever it is you want to do when you get there. In a nutshell, all of it designed for a "better" world. With its close handmaidens, "more" and "different".

Recently Mr. Elon Musk has be touting an implant chip what to for you can move mountains with merely a thought. He uses the word "telepathy". Look it up. It's on record. Not the mountains part, but chess game moves for a quadriplegic. Booyah! As for now, games. Yet, when you think big like Dear Elon, "mountains" are just a step away.

Never mind the direct opposite scenario should this "chipped in" culture become an everyday reality and we're all hooked up with an inserted chip which enables direct access to AI supported information from even the Akashic Records. Or, working from home thoughtfully managing the black boxes what make things go. Distance thought management. You think!

The real potential downside that could be missed with all the preoccupation with the wonderfulness of such chip enabled abilities is the reverse. You get a chip that you can do things on account of. That chip is connected to a way smarter system that can turn it around and get you to do things. Think about it. Aldous Huxley is spinning in his grave. Brave New World ... indeed. 1984 by George Orwell ... kid stuff.

But, back to the point of this. Not just on the Yogic Path, but on the path of life, we learn stuff. Some really smart stuff. Elon Musk is smart. Wise? That is, is he wise enough to get that all his smarts — nay, the smarts of all Mankind — only add up to a vast turd ball of ignorance. As in like how the man himself — Socrates — is supposed to have said, "The one who is wise, knows he knows nothing." The admonition being, one should not think they know what they do not know. 

Cut to the chase: To know everything, but to not know the Source of everything is fucking ignorance. Kapische?

We see this everywhere. Someone or other has a bright new idea. Right away they go off and make something of it. Like that all time great, the Popeil Pocket Fisherman. Sweet. I'd suggest that the chip thing is one such example. Writ large. Even though it is rather small. After all, what is life for anyway? To do stuff, better stuff; to have stuff, newer stuff ... and then, what? You die? We do seem to live that way. THE questions in all this doing and getting can be ignored: Where did I come from? ... Where am I going? ... Who am I? ... What am I?

If you are engaged with those questions, then psychic powers are just something to toss over one's shoulder. Swaha! Or, if you're Vedic, to toss in the fire [of Yoga].

Not just psychic powers. Good ideas too. That "chip" thingy is a fucking good idea. I guess I'm partial to seeing everyone on the Yogic Path. No problem with innovation, but let's not let it distract us from actually living. Herein is the gist of it. As we grow physically, mentally, psychologically, and spiritually, in that process of growth we discover things. New things. Wonderful things. The question is over whether we stop and make something hayful while the sun shines out of it. Or, do we stay the course and keep going. Throwing those bright shiny new ideas over our shoulder. The key factor in that process of "progress" is to have a firm grasp of the obvious in front of our eyes as a way to discriminate which ideas to keep and which to toss over that shoulder. If someone would come up with an easy way to open those self-opening cans of food, I'd appreciate that. An artificial brain called AI to sort out all of life's difficulties, nice idea on the surface. But even Elon Musk has reservations. Oh [Oy!], I get it, so let's be smart enough to teach AI to be nice. But, who's teaching the teachers. Back to the Big Guy. Pray. Repent. Forgive.

Interestingly, the conscious choice of throwing bright and shiny new discoveries over one's shoulder in fact "clears the path". How? Well, simple. You just don't stop at the next new thing. And build a shrine or monument of it. You keep going.

PS Look. I don't mind if Mr. Musk wants to transfer us all to Mars. Go for it. Just asking whether the gentleman knows he doesn't know. Unfortunately we would never pick a leader who admits to not knowing. Alas. When that is the reality of things. It begs the question whether we want to be led into the future, in life, without any true light to guide the way? It may just boil down to an individual matter. Let Elon do his what he must/Musk. It's really not for me to have an idea about whether Elon or anyone else is living in the Light. Just to suggest that that's the way to go. The way I want to go.

I you have the reading pleasure of having got this far, then here's more to read on the "chip" thing.

To whom it may concern:

The Taste Is Falling

Did you know there are some who spend thousands of dollars, up into the high six figures and maybe more, to get a true sound of the live music in the comfort of their living rooms?

But, for the average Joe and Jane, like you and me, it's whatever the level you get when you listen online, or through those devices which were supposed to be just for telephoning. In other words, nowhere near the fidelity you get from a mega-curated, multi-component high end sound system. 

We've become used to that fallen-off-from-the-real level of auditory quality. Accustomed to less than real. Way. That's already a thing that's usual in the sensory realm of the ears.

But, now ... images. AI generated imagery. We are accustomed to taking photographs as fairly good representations of visual reality. But, you no doubt have heard of things being "photoshopped". Lots of that has already been mainstreamed. Read the kerfuffle over Princess Kate and her photo with the kids.

But now ... AI imagery. Warts and pores are a thing of the past. Beautiful babes on steroids. Dreamscapes of what Club Med must be like in heaven. The downside — that is, if you think the extra wonderfulness of AI imagery is to your liking — the downside is ... fakes. 

AI meets Photoshop. With all the phony framing of narrative in the media — supposedly only 20% of Americans read beyond the headlines — combined with the desensitization of sensory perception, are we gonna read a ginned up fake photo as real? Oh, no, not me you say. Not me either. But, with the compound essence of time the sensitivity gets dulled. I know a photo, even the very sharpest, is a lie. It's a narrative visual. What you see in the photo you're looking at is a memory. It doesn't exist as such any more. 

If the world is an illusion, AI makes it an illusion within an illusion. 

Are we doomed? 

There's hope. The human spirit is inextricably connected to it's Source. There's friction in living in ignorance. It is a built in BS-dar. The Truth will out.

 There's hope for all us sinners.

Brave New World Update 2024

Watching out of the corner of my eye I see that Mr. Elon Musk's latest wet dream, Neurolink, has successfully implanted a gizmo so that a paralyzed man can play chess online, moving his pieces with his mind.

If you are not familiar with my other thoughts in this business of putting something in you for to link up to the Intranet, read this.

As much as I care to know how it works is somehow that there's an input connection into the online game activated with a glance. [Wonder what the dating scene will be like when the chip is mandated for all us hoi polloi ... "Just one look".]

But, like in all of duality there's the flip side. 

Suppose such implant is perfected to the point where just a thought, just a glance ... a gesture, can move mountains. Wow! Hey, Jesus, who needs faith when Elon Musk is on the case?

Then ... in that brave new world, if a gizmo can be jiggered for me to do stuff, then there's got to be a reverse input to get you and me to do stuff that some Wizard(s) behind the IT algorithm screen will decide what's best for us that we should do. 

What could go wrong? After all, our betters know best what's best for the little people. Maybe. But who defines "best"? And, "best" for who? But, let's face it, it does eliminate all that random flux and complications from having too many people having free will choice. 

Which begs the question, what is free will? Sorting out whether it's Pizza or Pappa John's for dinner? A shade of lipstick? The latest fashion. Like that?

The real free choice may simply be to stop taking the pill. Of either color. The narrative world is an illusion, don't you know. As Joe 46 would say, time for a Jesus moment.

PS The beauty of the thing for those who imagine themselves to be pulling the strings on the global comings and goings and doings is that the need for the messy and time consuming process of propaganda via the media will be eliminated. Just a push of a button. But, then, it'll be yet another war. A war among those movers and shakers to see who gets to frame the narrative. Not unlike it is so now. Just more efficient, without all the fussing and complaining. 

KODO SAWAKI ROSHI

To you who would like to leave your rivals in the dust ...

"We often wonder who here is really better. But aren’t we all made out of the same lump of clay?

"Everyone should sit firmly anchored in the place where there is no better and worse.

"Your whole life you’re completely out of your mind because you think it’s obvious that there is a “you” and “the others.” You put on an act to stand out in a crowd, but in reality there’s neither “you” nor “the others.”"
"Buddhadharma means seamlessness. What seam runs between you and me? Sooner or later we all end up acting as if a seam separates friend and foe. When we get too used to this, we believe that this seam really exists.

"Poor and rich, important and unimportant—none of that exists. It’s only glitter on the waves."

Leadership 2024

Leadership 2024

It’s currently now the year 2024, and in the US of A we’re gonna vote for President this November. 

Some choice. Each side making the strenuous case for a mountain of evidence that the other is ... THE WORST! 

Hate. Hate. Hate. Black and white. You like him — the red one ... we will cancel you! You like him — the blue one... we'll cancel you!! Third party candidate gets your vote? ... we'll both cancel you!!!

Is that what we want from our leaders? For ourselves. 

Unless you are already so unconsciously soaked in whichever's narrative side of the aisle propaganda what's been drilled into your head, you most probably lack the self awareness to see above the fray. Or even comprehend there might be another way to look at it. Or — amazing — that there's a level of perspective that sees the game for what it is. A game. Just to win you and me to a side and then steer the ship of state in the right direction. And, maybe, cash in a bit to boot. The saintly Obama's on Martha's Vineyard in a just shy of 15 million dollar estate. Like that kind of cashing in.  

In other words, their words are just to get you to do their bidding. Other than that, they couldn't care less. The game is a foot. And, it's longer than Pinocchio's nose.

In which case, let me ask you, Pilgrim ... what you gonna get out of hating the other guy? Remember, even Nancy Pelosi prays for Donald Trump. You can take that to the bank. Nancy, now there's a straight shooter if there ever was one. [Not.] I chalk her spiel up to how you can tell if they're lying ... their lips are moving.

Hating your political opponent is as productive as fucking is for virginity. Hate breeds hate. And, hateful winners. And, hateful losers. Hate, all around. It's a hard heart that carries hate. We're so soaked in the fever of one hatred or another all over this world it's not a wonder there's global warming. On account of it? Too many hot heads? And, look at the news; brinksmanship in Eastern Europe, righteous God ordained depravity in the Middle East. WWIII? What could possibly go wrong?

A visitor from another planet might easily conclude that fear is the lever that rules around here.

This is what our leaders offer us? Vote for me cuz the other guy is the WORST! EVER! It's the end of us if they get into office. It's all over the news. You'd have to be deaf and a dumbass to miss the setup. How to stop being a asshole dumbass ... admit that you are that. Well, better ... admit that I AM THAT. 

I graduated from the University of Detroit High School. Jesuit. Founded in 1877, it has educated young men to be — “Men for Others” — through academic excellence, faith, character formation, and community service for almost 150 years. The education of community leaders is a core value in the curriculum. Another is to live with the view Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam — "For the Greater Glory of God". We were required to write "AMDG" on the tops and bottoms of all our homework pages. Don't you think that is the leadership standard for all of Humanity? Unless, of course, God is for Sunday mornings in your book. And, still, only a quaint sentimental, out of date slogan on the currency.

Leadership. No short supply there. Of posers. And, posturing. Look in the news. Oh, boy! What in the hell are our “leaders” leading us to? By what lights? We've been hearing "nuclear" a bit much lately. Fearful. Intentionally fearful. One false move away from Humanity going belly up?

There's a piece of solid advice in this: Only he who obeys can command.

Here now we have in government politics a bunch of folks vying for our vote. Okay, no problemo. Just, though, let us ask, who or what are they following? Never mind the junk way they go about it. You wanna be a leader ... who do you follow? Your own lights? Some ethos of a set of individuals you associate with, none of them self aware enough to glean the underpinnings of their own unconscious agendas? Or, is it like the Book says ... The Lord is my Shepherd.

Or, like on the greenbacks, is the Lord even a factor in your world anymore? If there's hate, you can bet your sweet ass that you're on the road to perdition. Or, is that just a title to a movie that came and went?

Hate is for dumbass asshole dumbasses. 

Prove me wrong.

From Ann Serling ... 

AS I KNEW HIM: My Dad Rod Serling

"A sickness known as hate. Not a virus, not a microbe, not a germ — but a sickness nonetheless, highly contagious, deadly in its effects. Don't look for it in the Twilight Zone — look for it in a mirror. Look for it before the light goes out altogether."  ~Rod Serling

Twilight Zone: I Am the Night Color Me Black