Peanuts for Christmas..

  

   "Beggars can't chose - givers can, CHARITY is  the giving of what beggars can't chose to refuse" 

   

  To give, 'donate' stuff cluttering up one's live & space, (trash) to others one imagines might welcome them with open-arms due to their marginalized social or economic situations, then gleefully congratulate one's generosity and charity; is self delusional, misplaced,  flawed !

Very few practice charity with complete altruism. Other than Love being the nature of God (Agape) few by the very nature of being human can do true charity or practice Love - making sacrifices; loving another (especially a completely unrelated person) with no expectations whatsoever of self gain. 

If at all, one wishes to love altruistically, by first subduing instinctive impulses for ego affirmation, self-satisfaction or gratification; by killing any expectations for benefits, or gains, material or imagined; one might then (perhaps)  come closer to the practice of truely loving.

"A Lover is utterly selfless - has no regards than to give all to the Loved"

Do we really Love anyone?

Merry Christmas?

Confucius never said ....

                                             

"Problems" faced by the elderly besides the obvious physical deterioration & age related medical conditions, are also and very importantly "intellectual"(not referring to High IQ, rather 'of the mind').

You know I have zero qualifications to expound on this topic other than my age (not really OLD - but getting there:)

Being an avid observer of human nature specially in respect to spirituality & how humans are so tempted to indulge in basic instincts & selfish urges, as well as faithfully obeying artificially planted (media created) needs, I find it amusing but not at all surprising, when reading this particular case of a Dr from a certain nation, who obviously could not get happy 'cos of his (self perceived) failed materialistic ambition/aspiration.

  In a certain nation, held out as an example of a high achieving country, the craving, the all consuming urge so glaringly obvious across every age sector is MATERIAL success! No one does nothing i.e. every body is all the time on the go...chasing an illusive-getting-harder-to-ever-obtain goal ... which is: "Come hell or high water" must be top dog: Get successful, Be counted among the Elite (in every government-defined idea of Success, & Elitism).

That ideal, those cognizant with Buddhism, is THE factor for INABILITY to attain any level of happiness. 
BUT Who cares for Happiness per Buddhism anyway when that kind of Happiness is not enjoyable?

     *See the frightened young parents ... every moment from the day when the prenatal ultra sound INDICATED  [indicated-not confirmed] life in the female parent's  womb... getting frenzied, initiating the quest to ensure their imminent child must become successful in every way humanly possible. So Mozart (unfinished symphony - of course) is piped next to her abdominal walls 24/7. Multi-potent multi-vitamins, specially designed exercise programs to ensure uneventful NORMAL birth of a physiologically/anatomically 'normal' but highly IQ'd child are subscribed to.  Designer diets, the engaging of other prenatal gurus with programs that actually make no difference; are  adhered to - an almost fanatical undertaking to ensure absolutely zero chance, the still undeveloped, unborn, unconfirmed as a viable child, will be denied any possible human input that will guarantee success in later life. (if at all birthed)

     
*The young preschooler, & other children from junior  schoolers to college, University students, are subjected to a frenzied, very purpose-filled and directed (regimented) program of life. I would not use the word 'live' as they do not have life, as most kids know it; there being little free & easy time to lazily, gleefully explore the wonders that must be the world to their 'youngish' perception. They have almost no self determination in their growing up years, than keeping up, staying on top, or (to the joyful ecstacy of the parents) besting the government set patterned & regimented development program that is good for the nation's survival, growth, achievements etc. etc.

     *The Middle-aged group running on an ever speeding treadmill  - going nowhere, having to keep running faster - the alternative - falling off is unacceptable?

There is no resident  of this "success-at-all-costs" nation, whether transplanted from another country or natural born, who does nothing.. i.e. not chasing or pushing or in action towards an end! NO ONE  worth his salt STOPS or DOES NOTHING at any time. Even slowing down is considered 'unproductive', 'frowned upon' and 'not encouraged' 

   *At a mass transit station above the escalator, hanging over the heads of all commuters like the Sword of Damocles : "It does not matter how slow you go, as long as you don't stop" a huge billboard supposedly quoting Confucius. 
Would a sage, a wise guy like Confucius be stupid to never stop? To smell the roses (or Chinese Peony), to savor the melody of the bubbling brook, to take in the majesty of a Technicolored Sunset as only the Creator can? Would a wise guy like Confucius be wise like Confucius if he DID NOT STOP? He would have been going very slowly AND stopping countless times in his journey through life to be able to deliberate and come up with the wisdom associated with him. Many of his 'wisdoms' are as you no doubt would gather are of dubious origin, tending toward mass manipulation (indoctrination). 

  There is uncertainty if this subtle indoctrination of the citizenry thru subconscious mind messages  'blasted' across the media and everywhere like the over-hanging sign boards (sword of Damocles) is a psychological brain conditioning of the people. The motives & real-life beneficiaries - anybody's guess. There are many obvious answers as to why people are made to run faster on the spot. It is safer not to vocalize or speculate.

The only safe way out of this shining (glaring?) example of a "socially engineered successful" nation of busy bustling (?mindless) mob is to STOP three or more times a day. Stop & redirect or reassess the objectives in the lives of its nationals.

If any sanity is to be obtained by any age group, it definitely is not down the path towards material aspirations...huge condos...huge foreign automobiles... huge bank accounts... glamor foreign degrees... foreign husbands/wives...foreign sounding glam names (Caucasian usually) ...faked foreign accents…Glam Religious Affiliations, in other words the acquiring of Pseudo-Prestige/Class & the associated badges of Success.

My point, you would realize by now ... the nation is barking up a very wrong tree - equating success, happiness, fulfillment, achievement, even patriotism with material acquisition ! Or perhaps that isn't the intention of those who planted these ideas of 'success & achievements' in the first place BUT in reality the means to a yet unrevealed  agenda?

If that were so it was a very well thought out strategy implemented very subtly over years, through inculcation in impressionably minded generations of pre-schoolers; "That being competitive, maintaining high GDPs, KPIs, besting everyone else, doing anything at all BETTER, BIGGER, FASTER, HIGHER, CHEAPER" 

 All SUPERLATIVES which together with other suicide inducing ideals -  ensure that the country with no natural resources would be able to survive and compete against a hostile world which owes it nothing for a living!  - asking Olympian standards of real life people. Ordinary everyday people who only wish to live in a peaceful, safe environment, with sufficiency (not more of  everything plus extra) in all needs.

Do you know, under the tiny garden stone, the earthworm which lives in this same nation in the same equally resourceless environment, with no marketable talents, no foreign acquired abilities, is happily living his life - with enough of everything he would ever need for his equally short existence ?

Of course who in this nation wants to live like a worm?

They'd rather commit suicide!

AND if you've come to 67 with a life long brain-tuned attitude of need to climb to the material mountain peak regardless, not even knowing what for, and you suddenly woke(perhaps due to deficiency in testosterone) that 'hey I am not at where I should be" would that not make you depressedly suicidal ?

Have a peaceful week my young friend.

BTW are you happier in Canada? Do they have many psycho-therapists there?

LIFE IS GOOD ANY AGE (even under a stone) IF YOU (not your government) SET YOUR HEART TO MAKE IT SO 

 God permitting 

The Connecticut Carnage..

    No one is NOT angry - there is no sure-fire remedy to the problem - moral re-education, inculcating better social & moral values, fear of the Divine (the Govt?)adoption of extreme punitive measures; anything anyone has or will come up with; very categorically will not solve this problem adequately.      

  Many countries elsewhere around the world, though, do not allow anyone other than armed forces, police & (certified) security personnel, to carry, own or use firearms. Screening is stringently conducted before anyone (not in the categories allowed by law) owns and operates a weapon. When license is given the purchase of bullets too is very strictly documented, recorded & accounted for by the (stringently screened) dealers to the authorities.

  In such countries crimes are committed with use of arms too (illegally acquired). The incidences of mass slaughters through semi or automatic firearms though are very infrequent as compared to the USA -  reason  - the ease of obtaining such weapons is zero.

 These countries practice Democracy too, perhaps not identical to USA's version. Their citizens are human beings (not some aliens with higher angelic values). They have similar leanings, negative human urges & anti-social inclinations & propensity towards criminal acts too. There are people living in these places with severely disturbed and troubled personalities too. They do run berserk on and off BUT usually with machetes at most. NEVER with semi automatic weapons. 

 The extent of the carnage in human lives, is thus restricted by the killing force of the weapons available.

The glaring difference between the US & such other countries - THE NEAR IMPOSSIBILITY TO EASILY GET A GUN ! 

   Perhaps Huckabee is partly right. The de-God-ing of society might be a factor.     

    An Asian saying "Fear the guy who fears neither god or man" 

   It could also be the abdicating of parental responsibilities as first role models to their children. Many parents are qualified only in their biological ability to procreate. 

   Likely too the delegation of fostering good values to equally unqualified  (not in academic qualifications) teachers. Teachers lacking commitment, dedication, focus & motivation to 'build' a socially adequate person from the children under their tutelage. A teacher in only for a livelihood.

  And not completely without accountability for these incidences 

-  those who formulate, approve & ensure the system Americans live in is safe, wholesome & conducive to the pursuit of their dreams & aspiration as laid out in the Freedoms - cherished by & held forth by Americans.  

Every answer to why a disturbed individual did this is at best only a conjecture. Only someone equally troubled or perhaps a supernatural being might have more than an inkling.

Besides all ills of society, that could possibly account for such acts, isn't it undeniable if guns had been impossible (or near impossible to lay hands on)what happened at Newtown, and the very unacceptably painful loss, would probably be a non-event?

  Despite the overwhelming outpouring of grief on live national TV, in the breaking hearts of those bereaved, in every feeling American (normal) - the need for a complete over-haul of value systems that made US what it is, especially on gun control, very unacceptably is overdue.

No one man, Obama or whoever will come up with a comprehensive answer -  the cause of the disease being "MUTIFACTORIAL"  it will not be found in a single silver bullet ! 

No one is patient - for workable solutions to be initiated !

Filled to the Brim & Over-flowing ...

A semi-wise guy told his half-witted friend as they ruminated, one afternoon over their warm mugs of Capusino-betah-dahn-d'next at BitwinAveryHaRTRock&DipBluC Cafe: 

   "When we arrive at Heaven, at the Banquet which our Lord has prepared for all His faithful servants, every faithful servant will drink from cups filled to the brim and over-flowing: your cup, my cup, his cup, her cup, even those with ambiguous gender's - cup, will be filled to the brim AND all will be overflowing." (He obviously had  insider knowledge)

     "BUT (now he shows his semi-wisdom) your cup may contain ONE liter, mine 500 mls, hers 50 mls, the ambiguous gender's may hold 24 liters."   

Then the semi-wise concluded :

     "If your cup holds only 10 ml of 'Blessed Beer' don't try to act 'drunk' like you had 325 liters of Holy Spirit,  OK?"  

The Pastor drinking  incognito nearby quietly went : "Buuurp". 

Whether the half-witted friend could swallow his Capusino, after this  revelation from the semi-wise that  afternoon at BitwinAveryHaRTRock&DipBluC  Cafe is not known  till this day.

Criminally suspicious acts.

When some one gives herself (himself) completely to someone else the response evoked in the recipient is not necessarily a 'feel good'.

  Your friend (selflessly) do things for you. She (he) serves you literally hand and foot. Whatever you may wish for even before you verbalize it she provides. 

Be it  an article of food, a comforting act, a thought. Be it a physical, emotional, intellectual need you might have, wish for, even think vaguely about; your friend in almost an inhuman manner, anticipates & provides.

  NORMAL human beings in the first place don't or are not able/inclined to do that. 

  NORMAL human beings think of self first, less often of others thus their inability, disinclination to do that.

Most human beings are  - NORMAL.

No normal person would act, or be inclined to behave that way. She would cause uncertainty & doubt, in you if she behaves thus.

What is the expected gain? 

Human relationships not unlike trade,  profits & losses almost always are ingrained in human interactions.

You begin to find these acts of devoted friendliness, (servitude) unsettling, & difficult to accept.  You do not expect to get a free ride, a free meal, anything at all free. You are a typical human. 

Unless these acts clearly are for  'rewards', 'benefits', 'gains' or some yet unknown "pluses", & unless  payments for these 'devotions' 'servitude' 'volunteerism' are made & paid well, her purpose would be elusive  to one's understanding, hard to accept & properly responded to. 

In fact she would evoke doubts, suspicions, fear, rejection even animosity if she does them for no apparent conceivable human intent.

  Nobody in the world would do that; completely, selflessly, with no apparent motives, obscure or otherwise. With no indication  for gain or self enrichment in one or more ways.  

 Does your parents ? (You would prefer they do, for the reasons you think are inherently noble)

 Your spouse (male, female or other)? You are sure, for reasons atypical of humans?

 Your live-in companion?  Ditto as above?  Your friends with benefits? Your pastor, priests, spiritual gurus, Popes,?

  Your crew ? The PM, Congress? Members of political parties? Your obsessed with Rock Star?

In fact - Does anyone at all (for selfless reason) ? 

If they did were these acts not in some ways 'paid'  for by you. 

If not paid for, were they selfless & atypical, unpolluted, untainted  by narrow human considerations? 

That we regard acts like these as done with anticipation of rewards, reaffirms the HUMAN in us.

Some call that inclination to question plain pure 'good'  - paranoia, suspicious minds, inability to be gracefully accepting, the XXXXXXX of a human.

Parents, siblings, friends, others,  should they act thus, do so  from feelings of responsibility, of love, charity, kindness, tenderness, friendship.  

                                    Some do such sacrificial acts for Love of the ONE. 

Should one whom we never knew from Adam, comes along and allows us to completely consume ('share' - a word too abused to correctly convey the meaning) his entire being, would one find that easy to doubt, mistrust, suspect, fear and reject?

Should one perceive  such acts; especially from one we never knew from Adam, were done for  typical human intentions  - for  GAIN;   by such thoughts one would be impeded from knowing Peace.

If one acts or behaves based on such premise - for personal gain, in any conceivable form; one would not only be impeded but would not at all easily find Peace.

Thus when a sacrificial act atypical of  humans, is performed, by one unrelated in any way, with absolute disregard for gain of any sort or other, He is always viewed with cautious (even criminal) suspicion.

 Ultimately He will be hung  - for attempting to be an atypical  'good' human person!

The asses in one's life.

  
  A young person just launching into adulthood, getting settled in the first job seeks  his first  "S" - Success

  Years passed; he advances in age & experience, gaining understanding & wisdom (probably) together with increasing career stability and upward mobility his eyes shift to his second - S" : $ -  the almighty Dollar.

  More water flows under the proverbial bridge & just  as with the turbulence of the racing waters so it is with the youngster's raging hormones. 

  The third "S" rears it's head - Sex -  a natural DNA pre-determined sensual response. Call it -  'the procreative urge for  ensuring the propagation & continuation of the species'  so to ennoble its actual carnal intent and purely sensual motivation.

  (Besides the noble & glorious functions & purpose of Sex, which mostly is not the actual reason or urge for engaging in the act; there is the (undeniable) exhilaratingly unique sensual pleasures like no other;  which normal beings repeatedly crave indulging in. Thus the act of engaging in the sexual act  which brings that kind of a sensual rush, effectively ensures the survival & propagation of the species. Instead of an intensely pleasurable sensation which is un-achievable by any other means, imagine if sexual orgasms bring unbearably intense painful sensations ? Would any normal/sane person wish to do any sex anytime soon ? And would that not effectively spell the end of the race)

  Much time, energy &  effort were  applied, spent and depleted when the youngster reaches a less robust, less physical, more intellect-dependent state of being when he realizes the physical provides little relief, almost no respite and hardly any complete fulfillment.  

     

                He looks for the forth "S" - Spirit.

  Ideals, aims, goals, must do's, must have's which were main agendas in his earlier (younger) considerations while riding or attempting to mount the crest on the after-burn from the first 3 "S"s now fade from his  primary focus as the  less youthful person turn his focus & dwells on matters more spiritual.

 Thoughts and intellectual activities turn inwards, his spirit (?soul) attempt to reestablish the non-physical bond  with a long lost primal cord  -  an ethereal connection broken & cut loose when the 'being' was 'birthed'  years ago in his murky existential beginnings.

  Seek as he might  though, with all zeal & fervor, his spiritual quest would bring no satisfying soul--quenching elixir of stillness, nor peace-filled centeredness till he aimed his sights at the final 'S'

  The 5th all important "S" in any person's journey towards the Ultimate Truth - the SELF.

When one after an entire life of seeking, would arrive at & be comfortable with  this crucial 5th "S"  -  SELF, one would achieve centeredness, balance & stillness of soul. 
A transitory period in one's life long journey toward the Ultimate at which stage, one is certain of the reachability of the next  stage - Bliss. 

Many seek but do not arrive at  the 5th "S" - SELF.

They cul-de-sac at  an alternative "S"

Their quest culminates & stagnates, when looking in the mirror they see & recognize they had been the hugest 'aSs' ever. 

  Peace is attainable when one arrives, feels one with and is totally home - at one's Spiritual Sanctuary - SELF.

All other stops are only lay byes.

Life is NOT about ....

Some know what LIFE is about. Many think they know. As for me - Life is NOT :

*A Business,

*A Job

*A contest

*A race

*A trial 

*A task with compulsory modules 

*About getting even

In plain speak the precious commodity given to each of us … LIFE, is an opportunity, a one time offer with an expiry date, to experience what it is to be a human person!

Living is not about getting somewhere before others do as in a race or contest. Eg. If one's friend has 3 sons who are world renowned physicians, should one feel any less if the only daughter one has is happily working at mothering one's grandchildren? Or should one feel lousy if one has to yet have a child?

It is NOT a business where the beautiful experiences to be had only once during one's prescribed years are abandoned in the pursuits of profits! There are no balance sheets to add up at the end of days; living is not to acquire gains & stave off losses. Even if one should amass an impossible amount of earthly riches, the question that one should next be able to answer should be "What do I actually own"?

Life isn't about how fast, how high or how strong one is.

It is not a performance sport for entertaining others or affirming personal prowess.

It is not about who gets more of whatever or who gets to wherever first.

There are no tests to pass - (contrary to religious beliefs) No one does better or worse in life.

It is not a journey where the destination has to be arrived at in the shortest possible time, with the most possessions before everyone else; especially those one feels are the competition.

Life is about all those happenings also know as experiences, that are going to take place from the first instance one becomes sentient; till the day the 'offer' reaches expiry date.

The experiences one endure, the emotions, the agonies, the ecstasies, the passions that incinerate, consume the soul, that elevate the spirit above that of the animal. It is about the sensations; sensual, spiritual and intellectual that envelop and immerse one as one lives life.

It would be a fruitless, wasteful, ineffective spilling of the precious cup of life if one were to use up the the years given, fulfilling mainly carnal purposes, intent on achieving  what one thinks is successful living.

More wasteful and 'criminal' if the life one lived destroyed more than built, hurt more than healed, inflicted more anger then peace. If one lived indulging all urges (mayhem & anarchy) to the detriment of everyone else; that might not be 'wrong' (right & wrong being subjective); but one would have wasted a precious commodity.

Has one in spending of the privileged years allotted brought about anything 'good', 'worthwhile','true', beautiful', 'noble', 'right', 'honest', 'admirable'?

Or did one do everything with every fiber of one's gifts & abilities, to affirm one's 'ego', to ensure one's transient presence in this life was etched indelibly onto some self satisfying template? Or was one's existence all about fulfilling/achieving a list of immature glamor seeking goals, destinations or tasks? 

Most definitely Life is not about GETTING EVEN, apportioning Blame, recriminating missed opportunities.

SH*T is it so hard to live right?

Pearls before swines..

No one of correct mind with proper consideration, respect, etiquette, & decorum dresses like a whore (unless IS one) in a place of worship, though many do; perhaps perceiving it to be fashionable, glamorous, liberal broad-mindedness.At a private orgy it is 'correct & respectful' to other orgy participants to dress like a whore and no one with proper consideration, respect, etiquette, & decorum  would dress like a religious person at an orgy. Notice absence of "correct mind" If one wishes to affirm one's superiority of; acute intellect, vastness of knowledge, holy spirituality, strength, openness of attitude, infinite experience in life (at 35 or 53, or even 99), been-there–done-that-ness in every human, cultural, historical, visual, geographical  and whatever qualities one imagines one possesses; which one feels would benefit others, it is best if one does that through a platform or avenue where one is 'invited/welcomed' or appropriate. Try preach the Gospel @ a sex Orgy uninvited!Or go to Church and display extreme sexual licence without imprimatur!Sufficient unto the sittuation the evil thereof.Similarly, & as relevant sufficient unto the situation the Good thereof.Evil as Good, are counter beneficial when imbibed/consumed to excess.Heroin as with other mood altering chemicals used with prudence, proper considerations, understanding & intent has great "good'The same substance is abused when used otherwise. We are neither saints (always DEAD people) nor devils (mostly alive)BUT neither excesses Evil Good is appropriately beneficial in all and every situation.In a war or combative enviro, aggression tinged with some evil is appropriate as intent is destruction of the other. God decrees we battle Satan - to covert Satan into Love ? No! To Destroy Evil.  It is not called a bad name i.e not an act of Evil. Thus which side you come from would determine your intention  - Good Evil. Besides Satan (Evil) is not an Entity outside of human's biological, mental, physical, spiritual, intellectual 'body'. More on that ...

In an atmosphere of harmonious peace-filled reaffirmation of human good - Evil has to be subdued, suppressed & disallowed to rear its head.

When one casts pearls before 'swines', 'swines' know better cos one's 'pearls' may be just a load of complete BS. Similarly a swine sitting in the Universal Library of Complete Knowledge is as stupid/uninformed as it would be in the sty, i.e. in the Knowledge contained therein.A wise man(wisdom Hahaha )would be just as stupid/uninformed as to the Knowledge housed in the Universal Library of Complete Porcine Knowledge.

Cast not any pearls to Swines or Men (both pronouns getting scaringly synonymous) Shove them all down one's throat & eat one's pearls by oneself; by example, conduct, utterances, intentions, one's pearls might bear fruit. God Willing.It might just reappear @ one's other end, as so much BS (the possibilities are infinite :)

ONLY to His Glory.

It's your call .....

   


    Belief in a CREATOR called God in the English language is an individual undertaking, a personal commitment to an ideal/concept of a divine supernatural MAKER.
Belonging to a religious group be it Catholic, Protestant, Bahai, Islam, (even a cult group) only provides opportunity for spiritually like-minded believers to worship, pay homage, & express devotions of love &  other divine inspired emotions of holiness as a cohesive group.
     A believer  is at complete liberty to pay homage or worship the CREATOR any time, place or with whomever, as long as the motivation is homage to & acknowledgement of the SUPREMACY of the MAKER.
Religious organizations not withstanding however, whenever, or by whomever's authority established, & supposedly representing a divine God; has zero personal relevance to any individual believer of the Creator, in the paying of homage, love, devotion, submission to Him unless one choses to allow it that privilege. Thus unless one  choses to belong to & adhere to an organisation administered and  functionalized by other humans claiming to be somehow knowledgeable of what our Maker wishes that we should conduct our entire living experience, then it should be perfectly permissible for one to pay homage to Him in one's respective duly respectful way.  And most certainly if one's innermost intent is to do entirely only that - pay Him homage, acknowledge His supremacy  as well as our entire dependance on Him, bringing glory & honor to His name by our live, would an omnipotent Creator be displeased?
     Many individuals both past & contemporary, who though not affiliated spiritually to any organized religious groups, through their acts of (the universally accepted understanding of) good, put many of organized religious groups' combined (claimed) acts of glorious 'achievements'  to the uttermost insignificance, in as far as values of holiness, charity, generosity, as well as love, & sacrifice for God & man are concerned.
    Thus if one decides to stand by oneself, or as a group; outside of the known human 'CHURCH' (as now understood by believers)YET holding steadfastly in every way humanly possible with one's understanding of GOD's Will for one; would one be denied Kingdom when He comes into His Glory? 
    He came that the blind have sight. Yet how many are yet still blind?? Or do some not wish to be awake since basking in the (seeming) warmth of the Church's 'benevolence', has lulled us into spiritual stupor? Have we become unable to exercise any discernment, like lost sheep, losing even the little god-given clarity of thought when matters pertaining to correctness of Church affairs/conduct, are subconsciously given blanket 'imprimatur' !


Yes give to Caesar what is rightfully Caesar's & to God what is God's.
Most certainly we cannot give to Caesar what rightfully should only be for God?

Each one of us has to thus make up our own mind (& heart & spirit) to whose authority shall we bow!
Or should one just take the easy way & follow the path of least resistance & most fashionable?
Be an atheist ?


Oh well.....

Confucius says...

Confucius the veritable sage.

"Until a man lies in his coffin & the final nail is in, no one can be called good or evil"                         

The depth of Evil & Perversity a man can descend to, is as deep & dark, as the Fire of his Love & intensity of his Sacrifice is glorious & inspiring. Both being expressions of similar overpowering passions - only diametrically directed.

One is thus as capable of supreme sacrifice & limitless love as is one of depraved perversion & dastardly acts of supreme Evil. 

No one other than creatures (or beings) of non-human origin would be ordained with  complete purity (or total pervasion).

Man is inherently possessed of a dual nature of good & evil. 

Whichever passion predominates in one's conscious and subconscious psyche,  would determine if darkness or glory is manifested through one's acts whilst alive.

Thus till the day a person is completely disabled (as in death); no one should be predetermined as completely good or totally evil. As a man is capable of extreme evil, equally capable is he of attaining unimaginable heights of glorious nobleness.

Thus it would be prudent that one refrain from pre-concluding on any living person's status - if he be good or evil. That advice from the Chinese wise man Confucius, often quoted when wisdom is referenced.

Thus is not Judgement rightly reserved for the Creator, since one's integrity or infamy could only be determined posthumously?

To live or actuate an agenda which is counter to or entirely different as professed to be is called lying. How many of us are guilty of such?

It is not of much consequence if we only are ordinary men & women, where even if we have evil agendas we end up doing the devil's work, ultimately harming only ourselves.

If one were however in a position whereby one's conduct, acts, and speech would influence, incite, motivate, encourage others who look to one as a leader, a shepherd, a parent, a teacher; & if one were then to adopt & propagate agendas contrary to what one has sworn to uphold i.e. values of benevolence, honesty, fairness & of universally accepted truths; would it not then be fair to say one is acting evilly? 

And even before one is disabled permanently by Death is it not fair then to call one EVIL?

Be wise thus when deciding whose ideals one imitates

Peter Pan will grow up...

From the time of childhood when drifting through the ocean of life, like the vulnerably exposed and unprotected larva of the crab, the need was only to live simply, to find a measure of "happiness", holding onto a sense of purpose that meets simple goals. 

      As childhood innocence gradually gave way to "adulthood"  - Avarice, 

Selfishness, Envy, Competitiveness, Greed, Pride, etc., etc. … & the 7 (& more than) deadly sins deemed crucial ingredients for a "successful"  life became unthinking reflex actions. 

That - is "growing" ? ...

Or the acquiring of a harder, nastier, pricklier, crabbier external shell?

                   Simple goals for living a simple life are all abandoned & forsaken.

Generation after generation, the transformation of childlike innocents  into  grabby self-centered asses imbued with distinctive traits so recognizable, so despicable in almost  all grown ups in most major cities, sadly but surely & un-relentlessly continues.

If every child were able to retain that innocence; that wonderment at life, that generous charity & acceptance of others' differences & shortcomings, that naivete towards other beings; right onto adulthood & beyond; what glory would our world not be filled with  ?

Unfortunately most of us are so unable to hang on to that childlikeness. The god-given qualities critically central to securing a simple, yet rich; uncluttered, happy life, are compromised & traded off so quickly.
In their place - meaningless peer status, delusionary grandeur, all cheap, transient, trivial treasures are claimed and held as crucial to success.
All values which would ensure happiness, heaven on earth are discarded, thrown away to acquire fleeting satisfaction & gratification like everyone else; living a successful life …. (a very short temporary life of seeming opulence).

Sadly, being fallen in nature very few "children" are able to withstand predatory instincts that turn them into "adults". 

Thus would  His call to "Let the little children come unto me ...." find any?

Needle in the Haystack...

                 Countless people visit the Great Wonders of the world;  the Great wall of China, the Pyramids of Egypt, Niagara falls, among many. 

After having  been to & seen first hand, these wonders it does make one wonder if these Wonders are so wonderful anymore.

Familiarity does breed (maybe not) contempt, but a loss of the feeling of "overwhelmingness" a diluting of the "awesomeness" a "waking up to reality" that the WONDER was just another "thing"

If one knows who, what, how, when,  and every in-&-out of a friend, or someone revered as iconic idols, pretty soon that personality becomes no more a "Wonder", but a mundane (perhaps), uninteresting, 'un-awesome', not at all overwhelming persona. He becomes like an everyday 'thing", our car or that familiar item we use, see, touch, interface with - our battered soon to be upgraded PC or Mac or mobile phone?

One may develop an intimacy with the Maker - as some have been able to attain, (AND many maintain living in the same tent with Him or has His personal home #).  

              God is never & not meant to be understood, explained, put under the Scanning Electron Microscope. 

He definitely is not in the same league or the same crew & is not one of us. Not just because of our defilement or spiritual impurity. Neither is He an artifact, a concept any human person can comprehend or figure out. If He were would it not make Him similarly perceived as those so-called Wonders of our earthly world which had lost their luster ?(perhaps not on the first visit)
He definitely is not a "wonder " or a "thing" of the human world!

That though does not detract from our choice of turning to Him for spiritual sustenance, strength, consolation, inspiration, love; or for a greater, more meaningful purpose in life than plain existence as any other creature/organism.

If one's god is a sub-way ride away, a call away, on a block downtown; he would not be the God one should pay homage to.

If one has a god with whom one finds happiness & fulfillment only when in feel good moments, perhaps that god isn't what one should "go for"?

If our god is only for the asking and granting of needs we humans can't obtain, then again a re-look is necessary.

         
                  He so loved the world He made (& seemingly lost) that He went to great lengths to re-associate with us.
Why then can't we ever find Him, or experience, make contact with Him & have Him as our personal god in the context of a feeling, palpable, personality with whom REAL life experiences can be shared & lived!!?? 

His inaccessibility, non-tangibility, remoteness, & seeming "non-existence" is:

                  *Not because He is invisible.

                  *Not because He has no form (as we understand form to be)

                  *Not because He is unapproachably Pure & Spotless

                  *Not because His time is not yet

                  *Not because it would destroy us physically...

It possibly could be because we are looking for the NEEDLE  in a haystack... when the needle is the haystack.

Perhaps the oft repeated perception of Him being everywhere gains clarity & relevance...?

HE is already here, with us, in us.

Live & die TWICE ...

      

Just like little kids in the play yard, some grown men (who should know better) in their vain attempts to raise their self esteem & sense of pomposity in the eyes of those who do not know better, act like the fast guns in westerns we know so well, shooting down the fastest gun alive so to establish themselves as the fastest & greatest.
With minds filled with the same warped psychology as that of political assassins throughout the ages, who bring down icons, leaders of societies or nations in order to establish themselves as greats in the halls of infamy they go round tearing down established icons of human greats.
 

Which icon among human perception is the greatest if not GOD himself?
 

Thus a host of (so-called) intellectual, philosophical, analytical thinkers;  using their understanding of logical reasoning powers supposedly centered on Socratic evidence based scientific deductions conclude and proclaim as "ridiculous and unproven gibberish & superstition" the faith many have in GOD.  
What greater infamy than to tear down  an ICON so great as that of GOD himself. 

How much esteem would that not bring one!

However if one were to slow down a little to realize the insignificance of oneself when held up against the vastness of even just the known universe, would not one quiver when held up in comparison against the yet unknown, yet immeasurable greatness of the Maker of all that is seen and unseen ?
Would not any logically intelligent mind (imbued with or without scientifically tuned Socratic analytical abilities) be of the opinion that it is NOT important whether we the insignificant creatures known as human beings believe in the Maker God; RATHER whether the Maker gives a hoot at all about us ?!

Thus the story ends here; not in some grandiose verbose loaded pseudo scientific philosophical ranting to huge audiences & pod/broadcasted to every known electronic receptors, filling libraries of denouncements about the non-existence or the un-provenness of GOD. Nothing ever is decided or ever concluded at these displays of semantic prowess and exercises in intellectual arrogance. HUMILITY is never acquired, it has to be administered via a hard fall.

Living only once is insufficient for some - these should die twice… once in ignorant arrogance and then again in utter humility.

Please never grow old...

The confusion, dissension & debate about "unbelief", "disbelief" or "non-belief" is not about God.

Neither is it about the existence or not of God.

Not also if He can or cannot be proven.

It is not about lack of faith or the need for God.

Nor is it whether God is relevant in daily living.




It all came to pass (how biblical that phrase) because those entrusted with initiating, fostering, encouraging, making relevant & effective as well as edifying & strengthening, belief in God (ORGANIZED RELIGIONS & their minions i.e. pastors, priests & religious), messed up BIG TIME … giving God a "dirty image", in the eyes of ordinary folks who desperately want to trust in & believe a good benevolent God.




It does not help too with the many so-called highly educated (by human standards only) great & sundry, fringe philosophers espousing the folly of inflicting an unproven, false, illogical, unreliable personal faith in Religion.




It would be enlightening if these so called logical analytical great minds who are so well equipped with their elusive mysterious gifts of fathoming everything with no help from anyone other than their own abilities; could truthfully answer this question:

"If a loved one eg. a child of one of these gifted philosophers is dying very soon, of an unknown cause which no one in this world or any where else has the ability or technology or means to prevent, who would he call to for help, consolation or solace? Socrates? Einstein? Richard Dawkins? Some other philosophers or would he use his superior analytical mental abilities to work out an answer"?




Would appreciate if answers can be forthcoming as a truthful answer might help many in their direction in life.




There are many who do not ever imagine the day will come when they will grow old weak, senile & lose their many superior (so they imagine) abilities of body & mind.

If all they rely on is in the abilities of mind and body whilst in the spirit department they have set little store…their "awakening" in their twilight years is not going to be 'luminous' or 'illustrious' it would probably be 'disastrous'!

Good luck in their human pursuit of spiritual arrogance, independence & superior analytical thought processes.

If only...

Of all the most important decisions in the world, the one which could be called the greatest mistake ever made; which most affected the course of Man’s history; was the one Adam & his wife, Eve made when they disobeyed His order not to eat of the tree of Knowledge.


Following that TRAGIC act of total DISOBEDIENCE - very weirdly peculiarly every other order; not withstanding how far fetched, ridiculous or illogical; has met with total compliance. (more or less)






• Abraham went so far as to consent to killing his ONLY son Isaac as sacrifice (what a guy Abraham must have been!)
•
• Joshua, a fighting man asked to "walk" around the city of Jericho with his troops to ensure its collapse.
•
• Moses being asked to strike an arid,
• bone dry rock with his rod to obtain a streaming fountain of water!!
•
• Peter (quite well off & successful by the standards of his days) & the others obeyed the very unfathomable request of Christ, to become "fishers of Man", dropping their nets and everything else to take after someone they hardly knew.
•
• After fishing the whole night and catching nothing, they agreed to try one more time, tired like hell they were; when so ordered by Christ.. catching their biggest haul ever!
•
• Peter defying common sense and logic; attempted walking on water!
•
• Even the dead are obedient... Lazarus; dead by all medical definitions known then, rose to life again when so ordered!
•
• Noah built an immense vessel, on DRY land, in anticipation of rising waters, when asked to; filling it with WILD creatures not normally known to be domesticated.




All these & more seemingly illogical orders/requests, which to us present day creatures are so glaringly of unsound logic possessing not even the least of common sense, are obeyed to the letter.
JUST BECAUSE He asked for them to be done!


Due to Man’s ego & refusal to submit, every living being has been paying ever since Time began.



If only Adam had been a little less disobedient...


Paradise would not have been lost.


If......

Inaccurate misconceptions

• Democratically elected Governments are never corrupt. Only Fascist or Communist or Dictatorial countries are. 
• You are your father's and mother's biological child. 
• You are the center of the Universe. 
• If a person is smiling, he cannot be angry or 'bad'. 
• A man of God can always be trusted. 
• Anything in hard copy has a letter-head/logo is genuine, & is official. 
• They who are not with us are against us. 
• If you love God you have to tithe till it hurts, even at the expense of your family's/dependents' well being. God's love cannot be measured in dollars and cents. Your sacrifice, tho not needed by God, will yet be greatly rewarded. 
• If I ask people about anything I do not know, I am stupid. 
• A person with a degree and letters after his name is intelligent & to be trusted. 
• When an old man, especially a non-Caucasian, un-wealthy- looking &Asian, speaks to a stranger young lady, (the subject is not relevant) he never has honorable intentions. 
• An old person is trust-worthy and will never cheat or try to get inside your panties. 
• Young people know nothing about life or sex or anything important. 
• When there is a sale the prices are always cheaper then when none. 
• If you own hi-tech gadgets like the latest iPhone or iPad you are someone to admire. 
• When a product is guaranteed for life it will always be replaced as long as you live. 
• A person who uses public transport, cash not plastic, eats at stalls not restaurants, dresses in unbranded attire, is unimportant, a nonentity. 
• Your enemies are God's enemies too. 
• One who drives an expensive car, is rich & famous; fucking with the guy is safe. The risk of catching STD/HIV is zero. 
• Smoking is cool, matured, attractive to the opposite sex & indicates a seasoned international jet-setter. 
• A person who speaks a foreign language or with a foreign accent is a super star. 
• Those who do not subscribe to your views, are wrong, must be despised & isolated. 
• One who dresses like a tourist is a tourist. 
• Titled people are definitely trustworthy, principled and highly educated, and will not try to get inside your pants. 
• Highly educated people seldom commit criminal acts. 
• What is on the news, TV and Internet about current events are true and factual. 
• Justice is never politically influenced or controlled. 
• The ruling government of a democratic country always has the peoples' welfare foremost. 
• Communism is BAD and it's leaders are Evil. 
• Money can't buy love. 
• To be Successful is to own an expensive car, a huge house, exotic pedigreed pets, has membership of an exclusive club, yacht, & a foreigner as spouse, plus many Facebook friends. 
• You can trust your spouse in all things. 
• You can trust your friendly neighborhood police man to watch out for your neighborhood's safety & security. 
• You can trust your Boss or supervisor in all things related to your job, your career advancements and your assured employability. 
• Western Democracies are successful political structures. 
• Anyone who is good looking, can karaoke, & dresses cool is a good person. 
• A person who looks like a man is one. 
• A person who looks like a woman is one. 
• Sex is the least of people's intentions & when someone picks you up, it's due to your interesting personality. 
• Your child is your biological offspring. 
• You catch cold because of getting drenched in the rain. 
• Love is never having to say you are sorry. 
• Love can overcome all hardships. 
• If some one says he loves you, it's ok to fuck with him. 
• Going to Sunday services in Church is enough to become a good person. 
• There is no need be courteous, especially to migrants, old people or nonentities. 
• A person who has a badge, & wears a uniform is authorized to do what he/she wants to do with you. 
• Eating sweets & candy will definitely spoil your teeth & health. 
• Going to far away places as a tourist improves your appreciation, knowledge & understanding of other cultures. 
• Mosquitoes spread AIDs. 
• Budget Airlines are concerned with saving money for you. 
• Patriotism is instilled by (Compulsory) National Service. 
• Patriotism is cheering the national football team hysterically & getting stoned (especially) at the all night Bar during the World Cup. 
• If a stranger, especially if male, smiles at your young child, he IS a Pedophile. 
• Those on Death Row are guilty beyond reasonable doubt & deserve their sentence. 
• No one is above the Law. 
• Corruption of any public officials, can be eliminated with lucrative remuneration. 
• What you get is what you pay for. 
• Good stuff is always highly priced. 
• Cheap stuff can never be worthwhile. 
• Highly salaried people are highly motivated & usually super-achievers . 
• Everyone is equal in the "Eyes of the Law" 
• Money can buy anything. 
• To be respected you must have power, money and good looks plus an expensive foreign car, & your spouse is a foreigner preferably Caucasian. 
• Talk is cheap. 
• Frequent masturbation leads to blindness, ED, sexual problems, & makes one a gay, or a lesbian. 
• You definitely don't need anyone when you are sick or in trouble as long as you believe in God. 
• Absence makes the heart grow fonder. 
• Silence is consent. 
• If a man opens the door for you & behaves generally like a gentleman, he IS one. 
• It is pointless & totally unnecessary to do anything other than to benefit self. 
• If you repent all the evil you (deliberately) did while young God will forgive & take you back. 
• It is praising God when someone says Praise The Lord or Amen. 
• West is best. 
• Admitting you are wrong is a sign of weakness. 
• When a fellow colleague does well or achieves a feat at work, it is ok to be envious & bitchy. 
• If a person is better off (financially) it is entirely ok to always allow him/her to pick up the tab. 
• When a gadget or instrument is broken, it is better to discard it. 
• The earth is to be saved for our future generations. 
• Keeping the earth "Green" will save it for future generations. 
• What looks dirty & unpalatable is usually 'bad'. 
• If some one says he loves you, he is not lying & it's ok to fuck with him. 
• What appears 'wholesome', "nicely packaged' & smells 'great' is always Good. 
• God loves you. 
• You are most important to Him. 
• If God is with you no harm will ever come to you. 
• Free will is a gift from God. Thus you are free to do anything you please. 
• You can trust the labels on the stuff you buy. 
• It is safe to place your money in Banks. 
• Investing in the Share market is trendy & assured to bring you good returns. 
• You can rely on your Insurance agent to be concerned with your welfare. 
• Your share market remisier has the welfare of your portfolio in mind. 
• Money can never become "useless". 
• Anything that goes up will surely come down again, including inflation. 
• You will never grow old, unimportant or irrelevant. 
• If a person is a foreigner or if he speaks with a foreign accent & is white, he is a good person & can be trusted. 
• Someone not of your faith or religious conviction IS an INFIDEL. 
• God has no favorite race/nation. 
• List will be periodically updated....