Skepticism . . . .
. . . . has to be one of the highest virtues.
After all, it is the quality which will always precede future journeys of growth.
What I mean to say is that it seems logical that we can grow without skepticism, but only if we where completely unburdened by any preconceived concept or belief system.
How many of us can say that?
As humans we need to find ways which offer comfort and distraction from the unknown. Beliefs about the unknown, even the belief that these beliefs themselves are not purposeful. . . . all need to fall away, before we are really free to examine and face what may be there.
So in that sense I am suggesting that everything should be called into exception, absolutely everything.
This is where skepticism comes in to the picture. It is the sign that a belief system, idea, or concept, is being vigorously questioned. And that can never be a bad thing. Examination, realization, transformation, the process has to begin with skepticism, and skepticism plays a key role in all it's dealings.
If you have read this BLOG for awhile then you may have come to the misconclusion that I have fallen prey to the "new age" ideas. But that would be backwards.
The poorly researched, often shady, quackery of the new age movement serves the same essential role that the upside down, often spiteful, theology of the fundamentalist religions do.
They both serve as institutions which through carefully placed heresy, irrational ideologies, and obvious hypocrisies, move individuals into a realm of deep skepticism. A skepticism which will serve as fuel along the path of real human growth and spirituality.
Repression always creates a curiosity and stirs desire. It always has, and always will. That is no secret is it?
Since it is used over and over again, that is also clearly its purpose.
The desire steers experience down a certain course, and we call that reality.
So in order to keep that game going, to fuel societies needs for evolution and freedom, fundamentalist religions help produce the radicals which will eventually move the culture into a future through the use of dynamic quality that the static institutions themselves can, and will, never know.
In otherwords, the next time you decide to thank someone for the high rates of sexual promiscuity, drug use, and self esteem issues, make sure you include people like Jerry Falwell. Without them it would be so much harder to keep a certain element of our population involved in activities which can do them harm.
Said another way, preachers are there to push societies rules out of fashion. It is what they do best. And they always do it by pretending* to defend those same rules.
*(note that this does not mean any particular individual knows they are serving the otherside.)
Faith is backwards and fundamentalist morality is upside down. But when you know the outcome, you stop the game.
Now about the "new age". . . I will use the example of a movie I have mixed feelings on. The movie is "What the bleep do we know?!" What I really loved about the film was that alternative theological views where reaching large masses of people which may have otherwise never heard such things. What I disliked was the loose way it strung its ideas together, and its poor use of science.
In the movie several well known and respected physicists are interviewed on the subject of quantum physics. Mixed in with these experts in their field is a chiropractor named Joe Dispenza, and a women who claims to channel a being named "Ramtha". Mr Dispenza relates several ideas about the brain which hold no scientific basis.
Isn't it clear, cutting edge theories about the brain are best left to the scientists who are highly educated on that particular topic. And I mean no offense to chiropractors, but that probably rules many of them out doesn't it?
Next we see the work of a man named Masura Emoto. Mr Emoto claims to have taped words to the outside of water bottles. And that the water then forms crystals which spell out the words. The reality is of course that the water is frozen, which is where the crystals come from, and there has been no replication by any scientists, no control groups, and no publications in peer reviewed scientific journals of his work. . . . . .and that can be said for a large percentage of the things which are peddled in the name of the "New Age".
"The heart surrenders everything to the moment. The mind judges and holds back."
When the director of the movie, along with Mr Dispenza where invited to Portland State University to have a discussion related to 'Free Will' they where shown a photo of a downsyndrome child and asked if this child was free to "create any reality" he wanted? The director responded that he is in fact to blame as he is paying for digression's from a previous life. And with that poorly articulated explanation of reincarnation and karma the director also showed himself to be an amateur in the field of Hindu and Buddhist doctrine; and not just science.
Isn't it obvious that these above mentioned folks do engage invaluable work. . .but it is always for the otherside.
They help tear apart the beliefs they claim to uphold by refusing to examine what they actually mean. . . .and this makes others / you have to do it.
It is beautiful really.
Free will is the concept which I believe ties much of this together. The idea of free will is the corner stone of all the marketing which pours out for the new age movement, all fundamentalist religions, and pop psychology. All three begin with the concept of individual choice, and then proceed to offer methods by which an individual can gain increases in health, wealth, and various forms of power.
All three prey off of desire, fuel further desire, and require a certain self deception in order to operate.
"Whenever we identify with a need or desire, everything and everyone else becomes an object to achieve that desire."
Just as the majority of modern "self help"* books promise a world which will act like a candy store, where every individual is "free" to "choose" as they see fit, free to choose any thought, feeling, or emotion they want. . . .So to do the old patriarchal fundamentalist religions offer a world of black and white. A universe where one can choose eternal damnation, or eternal life in paradise. A universe that is run by a giant anthropomorphic old man, and all you need to do to gain his favor is follow "their" rules-church-dogma-belief.
And so to does much of the "new age". . .with its pseudo science, misunderstood mythology, and appeals to the individual ego. It promises increases in health, wealth, and power, just as fundamentalist religion does, but maskes it under the guise of the words self development, or personal growth.
And that is where much of the new age and much of pop psychology merge. . the "free will" become a player intersection. . ..and in that merging they serve the same purpose to society. . . .they create healthy skepticism in those ready to carry it.
They do it by means of their persistent use of irrational thought, repression, guilt, and refusal to surrender to the greater human spirit. The spirit of love, which has no rules, and promises nothing.
"Everything changes once we identify with being the witness to the story, instead of an actor within it."
The Buddha often told people to never believe a word he said. No matter what was said, or who said it, to test everything. That not only was blind faith not helpful in these matters, it was in actuality harmful.
And I think we can examine it for ourselves and with a certain dose of common sense see that he was absolutely right. . . .. . .skepticism is crucial.
In staying sincere to the search for truth what possible conflict could ever be had with real science?
And in staying true to that purpose of truth how can we pass on an irrational guilt based on an unexamined notion of free will?
And in staying true to that purpose how can we continue to believe Adam and Eve where actually real flesh covered human beings that walked in a garden filled with with friendly animals. . . . .and that when Jesus said, "I am the vine and you are the branches" he was talking about everyone but you.
And what I really want to write about is Indra's Net, and Freedom, and Love. . .so I will see what happens, and that is the truth.
We can't push away the world. We have to enter into life fully in order to become free.
.
After all, it is the quality which will always precede future journeys of growth.
What I mean to say is that it seems logical that we can grow without skepticism, but only if we where completely unburdened by any preconceived concept or belief system.
How many of us can say that?
As humans we need to find ways which offer comfort and distraction from the unknown. Beliefs about the unknown, even the belief that these beliefs themselves are not purposeful. . . . all need to fall away, before we are really free to examine and face what may be there.
So in that sense I am suggesting that everything should be called into exception, absolutely everything.
This is where skepticism comes in to the picture. It is the sign that a belief system, idea, or concept, is being vigorously questioned. And that can never be a bad thing. Examination, realization, transformation, the process has to begin with skepticism, and skepticism plays a key role in all it's dealings.
If you have read this BLOG for awhile then you may have come to the misconclusion that I have fallen prey to the "new age" ideas. But that would be backwards.
The poorly researched, often shady, quackery of the new age movement serves the same essential role that the upside down, often spiteful, theology of the fundamentalist religions do.
They both serve as institutions which through carefully placed heresy, irrational ideologies, and obvious hypocrisies, move individuals into a realm of deep skepticism. A skepticism which will serve as fuel along the path of real human growth and spirituality.
Repression always creates a curiosity and stirs desire. It always has, and always will. That is no secret is it?
Since it is used over and over again, that is also clearly its purpose.
The desire steers experience down a certain course, and we call that reality.
So in order to keep that game going, to fuel societies needs for evolution and freedom, fundamentalist religions help produce the radicals which will eventually move the culture into a future through the use of dynamic quality that the static institutions themselves can, and will, never know.
In otherwords, the next time you decide to thank someone for the high rates of sexual promiscuity, drug use, and self esteem issues, make sure you include people like Jerry Falwell. Without them it would be so much harder to keep a certain element of our population involved in activities which can do them harm.
Said another way, preachers are there to push societies rules out of fashion. It is what they do best. And they always do it by pretending* to defend those same rules.
*(note that this does not mean any particular individual knows they are serving the otherside.)
Faith is backwards and fundamentalist morality is upside down. But when you know the outcome, you stop the game.
Now about the "new age". . . I will use the example of a movie I have mixed feelings on. The movie is "What the bleep do we know?!" What I really loved about the film was that alternative theological views where reaching large masses of people which may have otherwise never heard such things. What I disliked was the loose way it strung its ideas together, and its poor use of science.
In the movie several well known and respected physicists are interviewed on the subject of quantum physics. Mixed in with these experts in their field is a chiropractor named Joe Dispenza, and a women who claims to channel a being named "Ramtha". Mr Dispenza relates several ideas about the brain which hold no scientific basis.
Isn't it clear, cutting edge theories about the brain are best left to the scientists who are highly educated on that particular topic. And I mean no offense to chiropractors, but that probably rules many of them out doesn't it?
Next we see the work of a man named Masura Emoto. Mr Emoto claims to have taped words to the outside of water bottles. And that the water then forms crystals which spell out the words. The reality is of course that the water is frozen, which is where the crystals come from, and there has been no replication by any scientists, no control groups, and no publications in peer reviewed scientific journals of his work. . . . . .and that can be said for a large percentage of the things which are peddled in the name of the "New Age".
"The heart surrenders everything to the moment. The mind judges and holds back."
When the director of the movie, along with Mr Dispenza where invited to Portland State University to have a discussion related to 'Free Will' they where shown a photo of a downsyndrome child and asked if this child was free to "create any reality" he wanted? The director responded that he is in fact to blame as he is paying for digression's from a previous life. And with that poorly articulated explanation of reincarnation and karma the director also showed himself to be an amateur in the field of Hindu and Buddhist doctrine; and not just science.
Isn't it obvious that these above mentioned folks do engage invaluable work. . .but it is always for the otherside.
They help tear apart the beliefs they claim to uphold by refusing to examine what they actually mean. . . .and this makes others / you have to do it.
It is beautiful really.
Free will is the concept which I believe ties much of this together. The idea of free will is the corner stone of all the marketing which pours out for the new age movement, all fundamentalist religions, and pop psychology. All three begin with the concept of individual choice, and then proceed to offer methods by which an individual can gain increases in health, wealth, and various forms of power.
All three prey off of desire, fuel further desire, and require a certain self deception in order to operate.
"Whenever we identify with a need or desire, everything and everyone else becomes an object to achieve that desire."
Just as the majority of modern "self help"* books promise a world which will act like a candy store, where every individual is "free" to "choose" as they see fit, free to choose any thought, feeling, or emotion they want. . . .So to do the old patriarchal fundamentalist religions offer a world of black and white. A universe where one can choose eternal damnation, or eternal life in paradise. A universe that is run by a giant anthropomorphic old man, and all you need to do to gain his favor is follow "their" rules-church-dogma-belief.
And so to does much of the "new age". . .with its pseudo science, misunderstood mythology, and appeals to the individual ego. It promises increases in health, wealth, and power, just as fundamentalist religion does, but maskes it under the guise of the words self development, or personal growth.
And that is where much of the new age and much of pop psychology merge. . the "free will" become a player intersection. . ..and in that merging they serve the same purpose to society. . . .they create healthy skepticism in those ready to carry it.
They do it by means of their persistent use of irrational thought, repression, guilt, and refusal to surrender to the greater human spirit. The spirit of love, which has no rules, and promises nothing.
"Everything changes once we identify with being the witness to the story, instead of an actor within it."
The Buddha often told people to never believe a word he said. No matter what was said, or who said it, to test everything. That not only was blind faith not helpful in these matters, it was in actuality harmful.
And I think we can examine it for ourselves and with a certain dose of common sense see that he was absolutely right. . . .. . .skepticism is crucial.
In staying sincere to the search for truth what possible conflict could ever be had with real science?
And in staying true to that purpose of truth how can we pass on an irrational guilt based on an unexamined notion of free will?
And in staying true to that purpose how can we continue to believe Adam and Eve where actually real flesh covered human beings that walked in a garden filled with with friendly animals. . . . .and that when Jesus said, "I am the vine and you are the branches" he was talking about everyone but you.
And what I really want to write about is Indra's Net, and Freedom, and Love. . .so I will see what happens, and that is the truth.
We can't push away the world. We have to enter into life fully in order to become free.
.
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