Apech

I suppose West is East when you are upside down This is a big subject which perhaps I shouldn't have opened up as it deserves its own thread. I would say that what I mean by 'now' (which I admit has a New Age ring to it) is more like what Blake meant: To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour In other words the whole reflected in the moment - not a frozen clock. If you see what I mean. Anyway my main point was that when I focus on what seems immediately real ... its not the human world of thoughts, emotions, struggle and fight - but more a kind of presence or energy (more words would be blah). Yeah but for instance I have recently some how incurred the eye of Sauron ... or what is better known as the Portuguese IRS tax authorities ... which is not really a concern (honestly) except that I know it will involve a myriad of complex rules, lots of form filling, some angst, money and interacting with some not so helpful people. All of this is somehow 'unreal' - and yet it is part of the human world and therefore real. If I look at it in one way it's just a load of human invented nonsense - but its affect could suck my attention into a black hole of shite.

The recent events in Gaza/Israel and the various commentarial positions taken my the media and governments could illustrate the difference in perception of the two populations. The Israelis as a kind of outpost of the West and the Palestinians as a representatives of the (Middle) East ... that is slightly 'other' and more than a little threatening. The Israelis tend to get a soft ride even though many object to their colonising of the West bank and so on because they portray themselves as somehow generally in the fold of Western liberalism. While actually full on Zionism is as fanatical and un-liberal as any ideology. This is quite a good illustration of how, even granted the East-West divide is a human construct, we use our minds to discriminate different zones within the world. Which leads me back to something that has puzzled me for a long time. When I sit and examine the 'now', the reality in which I sit, it is natural and pure, ultimately free of contamination, an expression of energy if you like. This is always the case. It wouldn't matter where I was in the world or what externally to me was happening. And yet in the world these differentiations exist. And I don't mean the natural ones between say water and fire, I mean the human world. Which leads me to ask - is the human world real, or not. I have my own answer but would be interested in what you guys think.

in charge of this mess is an angel of star light indigo at dawn.

Caress inky shoals? Fishy, fishy, fishiness, I could not care less.

In Britain what I said is called ironic banter.

So ... Brits evil ... Nazis not so much. Thanks for the clarification.

Is that you Mr. Churchill?

I wonder what it means to be evil? (only answer if you can be bothered :) )

I certainly noticed a sense of 'comfort' from the mainstream media journos reporting from India. A pandemic actually in the west left them breathless and confused (and caused a lot of misinformation and blame hurling) - but when it came to India - distant, 'third world' (?), teeming with people of another culture - they were back in their comfort zone ... look at these poor people with their crowded hospitals, the desperate battle for huge cylinders of the blessed oxygen ... we must send help, aid, pity etc. The subtext being 'they have disease because they are undeveloped and 'there are too many of them' and so on. And this goes with the funeral pyre fascination (echoes of the Indian Raj reaction to suttee) and general voyeurism of it all. I don't think it is harsh or unfeeling to expect in a country of billions more people will die than one of millions - I don't think it reflects on the value or dignity of human life to make percentage comparisons. But it's a blunt tool which could lead to enormous misconceptions. India for instance is vast and comprises thousands (?) of communities, local populations densities, villages, jungles, deserts etc etc. To apply a figure to the whole that actually means anything is probably impossible. Just as in my own country when they reported so many death in a day ... I would just ask but where, were they linked how was it spread, did they die of Covid or with Covid? and so on.

https://tricycle.org/podcast/sam-van-schaik/ Link has audio interview with the author.

Or comes to realise all is Spirit? including yourself of course. This I see as a non-dual realisation, in other words you are not trying to dissolve into it but more to realise that it is you and you are it. Cultivation, as I understand it, occurs at every level - for instance conducting your life properly, being ethical, conscientious, respectful of others etc. - is cultivation, as is energy working, as is open heartedness, as is insight. So however, or at whichever level you choose to conceptualise it ... it is cultivation. As Plotinus said (paraphrased) - first perfect the intellect and then take the flight of the alone to the alone. By intellect he didn't mean what we mean exactly but perhaps our own ability to shed light on our condition. We work hard on the path ... but the realisation comes from what is beyond and we cannot compel it. So we have 'the work' - but the result is up to God (or take your pick on the name you choose to give the ultimate). PS. I await Bindi to say we must make the alchemical child

Ecstasy means something like standing outside yourself.

The basic problem is that Americans don't know how to pronounce Scarborough ... many a relationship has been rent asunder by this truth.

Bring back the seventies ... now!

@Nungali I thought a Royal Enfield was a rifle ...

Quite relieved to find the Covid jab has no side effects so far:

That is an important question because the term is used rather loosely. In Western psychology it is an aspect of the self which negotiates between the id and the super-ego but most people use it to mean a 'bad' self ... a selfish self if you like. Obviously this is all nonsense. Western buddhists use it to refer to the 'self' that Buddha denied ... the atman ... which according to Buddhism doesn't actually exist but is an affect of the manas which imputes 'self' on to mental activity.

You have what you have, you see what you see. All people are not the same and some are childish, some are mature and wise. To discriminate between them is not a fault. You cannot get rid of awareness. If you were to remove your ego ... then you would become the 'great-one-who-removed-their-ego' ... which would be hard to get over. It's better to try to understand what the ego actually is, what is the nature of your being ... and submit yourself to life as a learning process which will quickly strip away any conceit you may have if you devote yourself to the path.

Stop undressing in front of the mirror @dwai :)

I did the Cambridge TEFL training about ten years ago (you reminded me with that IELTS reference) - I only used it in a voluntary capacity with some migrant/asylum seekers in England ... but I enjoyed learning how to teach a language. Good luck with the Canada residency - I hear its a great country although I've never been there ( a bit cold though ). Wanting sex is the biggest hook for men particularly and the world is littered with stories of the crazy stuff that men have done for 'love' - although of course it isn't love it is lust which is not the same thing. You may not believe in permanency of relationships - and you may be right - but one thing is certain that any relationship lasts a good deal longer than the sex act. Honestly man, you are in the grip of something which is not worth it ... but then the rule is 'do what you will ... but pay the price'. Everything has a price ... that is certain.

Thanks, My thoughts are that you say you are 'blinded by her beauty' and you want her as a possession ... for me this is not a good basis for marriage ... unless you like being a slave to passion and risking being cheated on again. You are the mother's preference because you are educated and have a good job. Well that's not about you as a person but you as a commodity. Ok as a Westerner I don't understand your religion(s) or culture to know for sure. But even in a traditional, conservative, formal culture you need to feel some kind admiration, respect for the other persons mind and character to consider marriage, if you want it to be successful in the long term and find real happiness. Just my thoughts. Best wishes. A.

Hi Velly, Thanks for telling us your story. I find it difficult to answer without knowing what country/culture/religion you are from - also how old are you and how old is the girl? If you don't want to supply details that's fair enough but it would be easier to comment if you feel you can. Cheers. A.