doc benway

My sign

Serhii Vasylkivsky Sunset over the Lake National Art Museum of Ukraine

Every one of us, but only ever for ourselves really.

David Byrne of the Talking Heads launched a "non-profit editorial project" that shares inspiring stories. Mainstream media for me is unreliable, untrustworthy, and unbalanced. If you are not yet familiar, take a look at the Reasons to be Cheerful site and perhaps it will give you a lift. I'll keep this thread open, dedicated to good news, sharing of our own inspiring stories, and things that we find supportive in our own lives. There is more than enough information out there to reinforce fear, hopelessness, frustration, and other negative states of mind. The good news is that it is possible to feel good about oneself and the world, even in the most challenging of circumstances. Especially in a community of supportive friends. My love to you all!

Macadamia nut

On reflection, it seems to me that most folks believe something. If they are atheist, they are very likely to be materialist, rationalist, artist, republican, democrat, socialist, scientist… something. It is the rare mystic! that has overcome identification. We find great support in identifying and defining ourselves, be it familial role, profession, avocation… all are limiting. The theist may have a taste for the divine essence of things and this might be instrumental for awakening in some of us. A profound support like that can help us to let go fully and can be a blessing when the process gets dark and nihilism looms. Hard to know what factors will open us up. One thing is likely, they’re related in some way to whatever is preventing us from opening and connecting.

cracker

You may also enjoy something I just read - Helgoland by Carlo Rovelli. It detours a bit into history and politics for context but mostly concerns itself with modern physics (quantum mechanics primarily) and its implications regarding consciousness and reality.

@Shadow_self & @Pak_Satrio … it is finished, enjoy!

I’ve been reading some very interesting things related to entropy and time, the subject has fascinated me for a long time. There are many misconceptions, even in the scientific community. Fascinating stuff. Here is a somewhat technical but fascinating article on the subject. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7516914/ Another great resource is the book Time's Arrow and Archimedes' Point by Huw Price. Regarding freedom, the greatest sense of freedom I’ve yet experienced is the ability to be with whatever is currently present in my field of awareness without feeling compelled to judge or change it. Being equally OK with order and disorder alike. I agree that a certain sense of order can be liberating and yet freedom does not need to depend on circumstances, like the degree of order. It can be more fluid and flexible than that, although this type of freedom can also quite fragile and elusive.

Covid, like Trump, is a particularly thorny subject for online discussion. Given the politicization, polarization, and evolving "post-truth" culture we are increasingly subject to, I foresee rocky times ahead for communities such as ours. We are very fortunate to have a group of committed, experienced, and knowledgable practitioners; and the ability to connect to each other, unrestrained by temporal or physical distance. The only way to survive and thrive is for the leadership, and community, to remain flexible, open, and empathetic to one another. It is very reassuring to see such qualities on display here. Cudos to @Trunk @zerostao @dwai and @ilumairen for their wisdom and service. My own approach to the Covid topic has been to make a decision for myself, as informed as possible, and to move on. For me, continuous attention and engagement in such a difficult topic can be as harmful, if not worse, than the disease or related treatment... YMMV

Magical creatures… cicadas and humans

You can dress ‘‘em up…. but don’t take ‘‘em out!

Very nice discussion…

Thanks to the gods! 🤓

@steve cowered beneath a huckleberry bush, trying to catch his breath. The power of the shape-shifter’s gaze had sapped him of all creative energy. “I’ll be good, I’lll be better “ he croaked. “Please!” The cat slowly morphed back to human shape and the group collectively shrugged, carrying on as if nothing unusual had transpired…

@Apech had been gaining the advantage over @Nungali with a rarely seen, and questionably legal, wrestling hold. He was uncharacteristically and only briefly distracted by @mrpasserby’s unexpected return when the ever vigilant @Nungalitook the initiative. The friendly competition was over in a matter of seconds….

When @mrpasserby arrived at the clearing, he found his companions engaged in taijiquan practice. Some were in a group moving slowly through forms, others engaged in pushing hands, a few scattered about immersed in qigong and zhan zhuang. @Apech and @Nungali were involved in a lively randori, their knees and bottoms smeared with mud...

... Don't you see?! mumbled @steve, It's RON JEREMY and deci belle, they're controlling everything! it's why @liminal_luke is wandering around in the buff, going on about vaccines and viruses, and now locked in a paranoid delusion of incarceration... it's the only possibly explanation! We need to save @liminal_lukefrom the large-breasted blonde! @Apech recognized her at the cave. We always thought she was being channeled by @Jeff, but it seems he was only one of @RON JEREMY's many masques... This is a matter for our occultists and mages...

... as the sky darkened and the air developed a chill, there was a soft glow just beyond a patch of blue spruce. @zerostao led a small recon group to investigate. Crawling stealthily through the undergrowth, a wide-mouthed cave came into view. Just inside the opening was a small fire. An androgynous appearing form sat dimly illuminated in the shadows, cloaked in ochre, creating complex mudras using both hands and feet. Only a distinctive birthmark and sanguine lips could be made out at this distance. Perched above the fire, immune to the heat and stinging smoke, loomed a tall, gangling figure shouting pornographic obscenities at a superhuman rate and volume... ... shimmering, colorful figures danced above his head, writhing in rhythmic bliss... RON JEREMY! hissed @zerostao just loudly enough to be heard by his companions, and that must be deci belle in the shadows! added @Apech with a sense of urgency. With that the small band quietly made their way back to report to the larger group. This unexpected discovery would certainly mean rethinking their next steps...

@steve slows, a wide vista opens divided by a steady current, this spot seems nice, he sits and rests the black guitar on one knee, fondles a khorlo tied at his neck, i’ll rest here for a while a beautiful view expansive in its shared vision as open as the sky as alive as the sun above a line of friendly clouds follow the flow which has no beginning no end neither here nor there ever and always as it is now

One of my favorite films

Yet another method of teaching, particularly in spiritual and martial matters, is by example. No need to preach or even teach, simply live it. Share it through relationship. The most powerful lessons I’ve had were to be in the presence of masters walking the walk. If we want to teach, we need to do so through our view, practice, action, and realization.

We are able to change our minds far more easily than it often feels. Changing our mind changes reality. Imagine the power to change reality at will... It's always in our grasp! https://wearenotdivided.reasonstobecheerful.world/are-you-liberal-are-you-sure/