Regarding those who are pompously dogmatic, who pontificate, telling you exactly what to do according to rigid creeds or beliefs that they expect you to adhere to… may i suggest running away from them (and wisely discovering and examining things for yourself beyond set patterns). And many say they’ve “gone beyond society’s crude patterns” while, all the while, they continue to carry them around mentally (tricking themselves that they’ve gone beyond). It’s so easy to deceive oneself and to wallow in (and “as”) that deception; it’s so easy to live a mechanical, robotic-automaton life, falling into programmed, spoon-fed habits and perspectives sadly beyond the natural, holistic, unfettered (living) beauty.
My Blog primarily consists of close-up nature photos (that I've taken locally) combined with original holistic-truth oriented prose and/or poetry involving mindfulness/awareness. I love nature and I love understanding the whole (not merely the parts and the details). I'm a retired teacher of the multiply handicapped.
I have a number of interesting hobbies, such as fossil collecting, sport-kite flying, 3D and 2D close-up photography, holography, and pets. Most of all, I am into holistic self-awareness, spontaneous insight, unconventional observation/direct perception, mindfulness, meditation, world peace, non-fragmentation, population control, vegetarianism, and green energy.
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It’s hard to awaken to a life that isn’t interpreted by others since we are scripted by our environment and family and friends from infancy. Often times it takes experiencing great loss that can’t be mitigated or great love that is wholly undeserved to give us the impetus to start trying to wake up.
Yes indeed, wishforwater, great loss or great love can be factors that greatly enhance one’s passion for waking up beyond the asleep norm. Lucky is the man or woman who wakes up significantly! 😀
Tom, now this is a drop the mic reflection, “it’s so easy to live a mechanical, robotic-automaton life, falling into programmed, spoon-fed habits and perspectives.” 🎤🎤🎤 If that doesn’t say it all, I don’t know what will. Thanks a million for today’s share my friend. 🤗💖🥰🙏🏼🌞
I keep wondering whether to leave off the few minimal rituals I do. But then I think, why make a political issue of everything? Sometimes it’s pleasant to follow tradition even if you know it doesn’t make sense.
Rituals, Harini, may seem pleasant and somewhat meaningful but they essentially — because of their repetitive, redundant nature — dull the mind. They are fundamentally “non-awareness” apart from a true, spontaneous, heartfelt, genuine, dynamic blossoming. 😉
This may seem silly, Harini, but it’s not… The fish of the past are our ancestors; they turned into the Tetrapods and the Tetrapods came out of the water and became reptiles, dinosaurs (birds), and mammals (of which we are a part). The fish did not have rituals (and neither need we). 😉
Rituals are one way to allow awareness of that which is greater than oneself to surface by deliberately using repetitive words or behavior, like breathing deeply, or chanting, or walking quietly – I think it is a mistake to denigrate these practices if they done with awareness. i think what you are referencing is unconscious behavior. Right?
Sara, i could not disagree with you more. Rituals and repetitive patterns do not allow or promote deep awareness. On the contrary, they help deaden the mind.
A milkweed seed and fiber or dandelion fluff … I am pondering and think the former, not the latter. It is perfect and I like that it is not free falling because there is way too much of that lately.
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
Well said. I couldn’t agree more.
Thanks much, Kim! Glad you see something there! 😁
Wow – how did you capture that photo? Perfect image for “unfettered”!
Thanks, Jazz! Maybe the potential photo captured me and not the other way around. 😉
It’s hard to awaken to a life that isn’t interpreted by others since we are scripted by our environment and family and friends from infancy. Often times it takes experiencing great loss that can’t be mitigated or great love that is wholly undeserved to give us the impetus to start trying to wake up.
Yes indeed, wishforwater, great loss or great love can be factors that greatly enhance one’s passion for waking up beyond the asleep norm. Lucky is the man or woman who wakes up significantly! 😀
Beautiful pic, Tom! And so appropriate!
Thank you, Harini! 😊
Tom, now this is a drop the mic reflection, “it’s so easy to live a mechanical, robotic-automaton life, falling into programmed, spoon-fed habits and perspectives.” 🎤🎤🎤 If that doesn’t say it all, I don’t know what will. Thanks a million for today’s share my friend. 🤗💖🥰🙏🏼🌞
Yes, Kym, so many are engulfed by society’s dull (mechanical) norms, and they do not even realize the cadaverous quagmire that they are in. 😏😉🥰
I keep wondering whether to leave off the few minimal rituals I do. But then I think, why make a political issue of everything? Sometimes it’s pleasant to follow tradition even if you know it doesn’t make sense.
Rituals, Harini, may seem pleasant and somewhat meaningful but they essentially — because of their repetitive, redundant nature — dull the mind. They are fundamentally “non-awareness” apart from a true, spontaneous, heartfelt, genuine, dynamic blossoming. 😉
Don’t you think sometimes these things can be done with awareness and with affection for one’s ancestors, without being dogmatic?
yes, indeed.
This may seem silly, Harini, but it’s not… The fish of the past are our ancestors; they turned into the Tetrapods and the Tetrapods came out of the water and became reptiles, dinosaurs (birds), and mammals (of which we are a part). The fish did not have rituals (and neither need we). 😉
Rituals are one way to allow awareness of that which is greater than oneself to surface by deliberately using repetitive words or behavior, like breathing deeply, or chanting, or walking quietly – I think it is a mistake to denigrate these practices if they done with awareness. i think what you are referencing is unconscious behavior. Right?
Sara, i could not disagree with you more. Rituals and repetitive patterns do not allow or promote deep awareness. On the contrary, they help deaden the mind.
agree
Great to read, Sylvia! 😉
Oh, how could I have forgotten – that photos is superb!!!!
A milkweed seed and fiber or dandelion fluff … I am pondering and think the former, not the latter. It is perfect and I like that it is not free falling because there is way too much of that lately.
Yes, Linda, our society is falling rapidly, unfortunately. Blindness and indifference have a lot to do with it. 🙄