Playing By Ear as a way of life
Even though a spider knows to make a web to catch a fly, does she understand what or why? A beavers know how to make a dam but does he understand how it’s done? Perhaps the difference between knowing and understanding hinges on words (language). I’ve noticed, moreover, that neither tends to lead to the other (if anything understanding may postpone knowing).…Continue reading ‘To Know yet Not Understand? To Understand yet not Know?’
As I was walking out of the surf this morning I wondered for the umpteenth time “what is the main difference between me and other animals”? Being winter and the ocean, it was easy to picture myself as an animal in chilly discomfort. My answer today, “the main difference between us and other animals is that we complain”. Both we and animals feel the unpleasant and the painful. We think, dwell on and complain about it. This slight difference may well be the source of all those ‘emergent differences’ we can identify between us and them. So, the quickest way to return to nature is to stop complaining and get on with life. But mommy”¦
Christ said, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” And as I look around me, low and behold, we actually do. Or perhaps I should say, we treat others as we treat ourselves. Of course, I’m sure Christ was referring to how we, in our hypocrisy, believe others should treat us. Our ideal seldom, perhaps never, fits the real. Noticing that each of us treats others as we treat ourselves has been a real eye opener. Thus, we’ll begin to treat other differently only when we treat ourselves differently. Don’t hold your breath. We love to beat up on ourselves. A subtle point perhaps that would have been lost on the folks back then? Or now?
When my ex wife and I divorced years ago I felt at the time that while we shared many common values, we differed in one core respect which almost inevitably led to that ended. To her, beauty was a reality ‘out there’; to me, beauty was in the eye of the beholder and completely relative. Our view of life was fundamentally different. This was only part of the answer for me though. I’ve wondered for years why people tend toward one point of view or the other.
…Continue reading ‘Is Beauty In The Eye Of The Beholder Or..?’
What makes a particular point of view attract someone and repel another? I reckon one’s underlying nature (‘private’ personality) determines what appeals and what repels. Given the ‘detached’ view explicit in the Tao Te Ching, I’d say it would draw those with a peaceful anarchist leaning.
What is more anarchistic than a ‘teaching that uses no words’? Certainly, any teaching that uses words can be usurped by ‘experts’ or ‘leaders’ (the bane of anarchists) who then exert their influences. A teaching ‘of words’ begs authority figures to preach them, and followers of authority to follow along. The Tao Te Ching, with its message on not getting caught up in names and words would be the ideal ‘bible’ for the peaceful anarchist.
I’ve long viewed myself as a human with a somewhat orangutan-like personality (must be genetic 
). Among the great apes, the orangutan best exemplifies a peaceful and anarchist nature. If orangutans could read, the Tao Te Ching would be one of their favorites I imagine.
I was outside in the morning sun watering the garden and thought back on all the mornings my mother experienced the same sun, air, and morning dew. I was ‘channeling’ my mother who just died a few day ago. I want to jot down a few of the thoughts coalescing out of this stream of consciousness while they are fresh…
The popular version of channeling is the notion that…Continue reading ‘‘Channeling’: Living With The Dead’
Soaking in my think tank (I.e, hot bath) today I wondered about what I’d rather be doing these days than what I’m actually doing”¦ and why aren’t I? First, what would I rather be doing? Well, spending more time gardening, cooking, and playing music came to mind immediately. Instead, I…Continue reading ‘What Would I Rather Be Doing?’
That sounds a little silly on the face of it; let’s see. First, I notice that when thinking ceases, I see things I’ve not seen previously. Thinking requires memory. The advantages of a child’s point of view may stem, in part, from their inexperience, i.e. less stuff to remember. Without some intentional mindfulness, I forget to remember to forget memory. It is fascinating how magical consciousness can be without preconceptions. It is fascinating how easy it is to access this moment to moment wonder.
It is fascinating how easy it is to forget to remember to forget to remember to forget to remember”¦ now this is getting silly.
These are a tenacious bunch of snap dragon type flowers clinging to the cliffs at the beach. It is a pleasant sight to look up from yoga and see their smiley faces.
Here’s a tiny little one off to the side:…Continue reading ‘Springtime At the Beach’
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