Nanashi

I've read elsewhere that Benazir Bhutto mentioned Osama died in 2004. Pity she isn't alive now to comment. I thought this essay does a nice job of explaining the May 1st symbolism-- Hitler being announced dead on May 1st, connecting the mass jubilee to the May Day sacrifices of old.

I am curious-- does anyone have some examples of modern day sages? On a news show, I once heard Karl Rove referred to as a sage, which is a laugh. But do you guys see any active sages-- in the Daoist sense-- running around the world today, or even in the circles of power? Seems like everyone is chasing Confucian success; are the true sages hiding in seclusion? Also, how do you guys feel about the Lao-tzu saying a country's leadership shouldn't be turned over too often-- like frying a fish, it falls apart. Doesn't this clash with our western democratic idealism?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqlnSi9KNs4 Full documentary link.

I haven't read Promethea, but after reading a few reviews, it sounds interesting enough to check out.

Here I simplified your OP, and I will isolate parts of the 46 to try make a clearer connection. I see it, but maybe language is too obtuse? To use the implied metaphor, it's like a tree growing into the boundless sky; branches and leaves spreading toward the loving energy of the sun.

Magister Ludi-- Master of the Game, or The Glass Bead Game-- man, what a terrific book. I've been a lifelong admirer of Hesse and his works. He really champions the human spirit without needless decoration, taps into the universality that all artists crave (especially with the main character's short stories at the end). Hesse, after Steppenwolf and Glass Bead Game, truly deserves his place in that Pantheon of Immortals.

No, you are right-- Lucas lifted his characters and scenes from Kurosawa's early works; his story and plot are spoon-fed lectures from Joseph Campbell. Not to say the video isn't bad, but those are easy clips for a "spiritual" montage. Only one scene from Kung Fu Panda? I may have cried with the turtle master died.

Neti neti.

Mu.

The "tao" is not a thing that will judge you for anything, but I suspect most people agree murder is a shitty thing to do, unless you have a damn good reason.

Sling Blade. It is sappy, but Legends of the Fall will sometimes make me tear up. So much love and tragedy.

I too think modern music is an empty, commercial product rather than a form of art. Everyone knows rock attained perfection in 1974, everything since has been synthesizers and auto-tuners. Though, that old style jazz is such the perfect sound-- Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Parker, Coltrane-- man, I don't think music will ever reach the heights from that era. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3Fkuq5Lf0Q

I am going to throw out a wild speculation; pieced together from what some of torus has shared, some of my own research, and a large allusion to what Drew Hempel recently named this Japanese crisis as: a "mass tantric ritual". So, it may be highly improbable but not impossible that "super villainy" Elites, in possession of weather modification technology (as HAARP's official research is documented in that field), cracked up the earth's crust as a mass occult ritual to the dragon/serpent spirit-energy they worship, as some sacrificial token to the Moon. (Think "Monsters, Inc." where the monsters' energy was dependent on human fear.) I'll admit I could be wildly off base here.

Heheh-- I thought Blasto was posting a real news article until he started listing off forum members.

Yes, I think I can see why such strong emotions emerge when these topics are brought up-- among most of the social faux pas (religion, money and politics), the subjects that connect all three tend to challenge deep rooted value systems. And many ideas can sound so silly, of course a "rational" man will scoff at what isn't scientifically known. Back to tying crisis and reaction: I liken it to Rinzai or Soto Zen sects. Events can happen over a long period of time, that the "camel's broken back" forces people awake, or that there is one gigantic circumstance that jolts one into another awareness. But we can only watch what happens and endure. This may be a period of testing where the gradual and sudden disasters come to a head.

Heheh, they are worried you will delete or edit your posts. Posterity measures, I suppose. Thanks for your feedback-- very interesting material.

Notice how it attempts to give an inspiring impression, yet these words can also be heard as rather sinister.