We all cling to something
You cling to part of an old white birch tree
Some of us cling to corrupt politicians who promise sunny heaven
while connivingly making shady deals under the table
I’d rather cling to a simple old white birch
and then soar joyfully through the vast wondrous sky
rather than grasp onto what driveling babbling politicians say
I’d rather fly free into that wordless timeless immensity
Redpoll Finch. Video by Thomas Peace c. 2016
To be valiant, to be courageous in the deepest sense, may not involve merely following orders as part of some mechanized, calculated structure. Instead, it involves the deep and profound freedom of standing alone, away from all of the contrived patterns of others, away from all of the concocted and separative systems promising security. To truly — not feigningly — go beyond the ego (i.e., the central self or “I”) involves vast courage and penetrating insight from a realm of freedom. A mere follower cannot — and will not — do it. Too many of us run and cling to our little structures that we have absorbed and learned from others, without ever standing alone while seeing and thinking about things deeply for ourselves. It is easy to be told what to do; it is easy to be influenced by commercials, by propaganda, by so-called authorities, by words.
The mind can go beyond them. The mind can go beyond the ego and the so-called central controller or central self. The mind can go beyond what merely clings to one experience after another. The fearful, afraid mind will not care — among its modes of indifference and of being frightened — to have anything to do with this to any significant extent. When an experience or when fear occurs, the mind is not merely separate from the experience or from the fear. Freedom is in neither. Both are inexorably limited.
Ailanthus. (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Ailanthus. (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Eye couldn’t conceive so simply a pure blue
as perfectly miraculously feathered you
who far into the vast and cloudless skies
can fly deep from any terrestrial primate’s whys
Indigo Bunting. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Most of us avoid and run from pain. Our habit, as we were taught, is to run from pain and to seek pleasure. Most of us accept this as the way to react and perform. Commercials add to this tendency of ours, portraying pain as something horrible to avoid; additionally, they tempt us to go after exotic vacations, possessions, and fancy (though polluting) automobiles. The relationship that a truly intelligent and wise mind has to pain may be quite different than the relationship that most people have (or do not have) with pain. As long as it is not too unbearably intense, the intelligent mind may not merely detest it, avoid it, and flee from it. The intelligent mind doesn’t come to pain with all of the prejudices, judgements, and ingrained reactions that so many face pain with. Similarly, the intelligent mind doesn’t just approach certain races, ethnic groups, and certain classes of people with (and through) all kinds of preconditioned prejudices and judgements; they are seen simply as they are (without a mere separative viewpoint). There is much beauty in that; even pain can — and often does — have elements of beauty to it if one looks without mere condemnation. One can come to terms with pain in an intelligent, harmonious way.
We avoid pain so readily, so quickly, so mechanically. Avoiding pain goes back eons into our evolutionary past and does have its place. However, remaining in thought — and the limited (which is what thought is) — as so many of us inevitably do, is (in a big way) a real form of suffering and pain. It is like a man clinging to shadows and wholeheartedly taking the shadows to be what reality truly is. It is also like an organism taking a mere tool to be the essence of what it is. Very many of us cling to concepts, mental images, beliefs, and to our authoritarian leaders (who themselves are as lost as we are). So many of us have a central authoritarian leader whom we each call “me” or “I.” Yet this so-called central figure (purporting to be some sort of central authority) is what was conditioned into us (from others with the same syndrome); we continue, day in and day out, to look at the world with separation (yet we think we are healthy). Distortion isn’t healthy. Even though it may claim to be fine, it causes suffering and causes havoc in the world (directly or indirectly). You can’t intelligently come to terms with pain if there is not proper relationship to it and to other aspects of life, both psychologically and physically. When one is separate from what is experienced or thought, then fear, distortion, and suffering take place. (Very many think that they are separate from their thoughts, fears, and from others who are suffering.) When the mind acts without mere dependency upon what others have taught, then physical pain (personally) isn’t always so bad; and then the mind isn’t merely immersed in the pool of psychological suffering that so many accept as normal. Such a mind transcends (and helps to transcend) suffering. Such a mind doesn’t mind undergoing a lot of pain and discomfort (and lack of pleasure) in order to help others. Compassion negates pain (not necessarily in one’s so-called personal self). If wholeness and integrity aren’t there — they’re not two separate things, by the way — neither is true joy, deep intelligence, and profound bliss.
Feeling Slowly.(1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Feeling Slowly (2). Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Wherefore we alight upon these mineraled grounds
far from the dainty blossoming stores
with their nectar prizes all too pure and sugary seeded?
To extract something tangible and something intangible
must occur together as a unified whole
in and out of the recurrent clockwork of time that was needed.
The Cabbage Butterfly Club. Video by Thomas Peace c. 2016
“All the world’s a stage,” wrote William Shakespeare in “As You Like It.” That stage, too, is the mind and the perceptions of (and “as”) the mind. Whatever characters — as the thoughts and mental images of the mind — that make an appearance on that stage are inevitably what was absorbed from imitating others or from copying and taking mental snapshots of the external world. How these snapshots were taken and how they become rearranged, recognized, and recalled in (and “as”) consciousness has always involved learned and inherited processes. Snapshots and thoughts are of a partial, piecemeal, fragmentary nature; they are never the complete essence of that which they try to capture. The usage of supposed volition regarding the manipulation of these thoughts and images is itself sketchy and quite questionable, since — if truly intelligent observation is taking place — the “I” or supposed center that is allegedly manipulating is likely itself another specimen of the learned (sequential) images or thoughts. Mentally, whatever appears upon the stage (of consciousness) is fundamentally old and of the past; this is because it comes from stored memory (which is always of the accumulated past). Most of us are mentally existing as these images and thoughts (brought out and rearranged) from the past. Most of us are living in the past.
That stage — of consciousness — can exist (some of the time, anyway) without the components of the past making their appearance upon it. Then there is no spurious volition; then there are no obtrusions from (and “as”) the past… neither in the form of thought-oriented symbols nor imagined visual (or auditory) snapshots. Technique and practice have nothing to do with this, as techniques and practices are all extensions of the old, dead past. Then the stage is not the same-old stage anymore.
When the stage is truly empty naturally and intelligently, without having willed anything, or thought anything, or practiced anything, then it may be beyond the concocted, the old past, the symbolic, and the partial. When that takes place, the stage is not of mere experience, partial images, learned symbols, and jaded characters. You know, a limited little stage, with superficial dimensions, is what anyone can recognize and fill with the old and ordinary. However, a living, dynamic, whole, uncorrupt, limitless (immeasurable) stage is another thing altogether. Such a stage (in life) is beyond measurement by the antiquated patterns of the hoarded past.
The learned image of self (or “me”) creates an intrinsic radius (from a center) and a circumference around itself… with limited space between what is considered the central “me” and that which is observed. It is this learned image and absorbed space that helps manufacture a stage of limitation. Such a stage, with its concocted (or learned) center and a radius and circumference, is full of absorbed demarcations/boundaries. Compassion can take place when the falsity of that stage is wisely perceived. Such compassion involves eternity; it goes beyond the many limitations. If it is not perceived with (and “as”) wholeness and integrity then there will not be much compassion. There is no wholeness in a limited, false center (thinking that it is the center of the stage); such a center is partial and learned; neither does the limitless (which is not something that can merely be learned) manifest for such a center.
Two Together. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Here among the dust suspended is precisely where the story ended)
not that the end and beginning were ever the same
The agitating wings flapped a bird not far above rose leaves
while sequenced words inevitably turned eyes to the right
No superficial questions ever birthed deep answers
The yellow present became the future of past awareness
Ripples followed suddenlywetrocks unflinchingly
as adherents preceded authoritarians obtusely
Honey turned to nectar via six-legged winged creatures
as toilet paper touched crass politicians vehemently
(Elmer’s fun was glue as a child
Itching was scratching and blinking was deer
After the nectar. (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c.2016
After the nectar. (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c.2016
Boredom never occurs to the mind that is without a spurious, central regulator that is always dependent upon experience. If the mind is its own energy it does not always have to depend upon outside patterns of energy to function joyfully. So many depend on outside influences, outside patterns and forms. Often they internalize these patterns and forms and merely look with the accumulated remembrances of these. So many depend on internal influences, internal patterns and forms. However, a mind that often looks without merely accumulating, without merely storing patterns and attributes… may perceive freshly and joyfully without the dead and dusty past. When the mind is fresh it renews itself from moment to moment, beyond mere accumulation and storing. Without being dependent upon experiences at all times, it may enjoy experiences, but it often goes beyond them. Then boredom rarely or never sets in. If there is no false center to be entertained, then the mind is free of a learned center that was accumulated from others; such a mind may also be free of many other types of accumulated patterns, forms, and images (oftentimes). For instance, when perception of a creature takes place, it need not merely label it and look at it with a sense of separation. Or if it does label it, there is a “going beyond the label,” and the animal is seen without merely pigeonholing it, categorizing it, and looking at it from a separative stance. Such a mind is free to be fresh and uncontaminated, without the stale past and stored symbols. Boredom is not freedom.
Well, I Toad You So! Video by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Saying you live in the here and now still involves measurement and, as such, is still of time and limitation.
The bucket of the transitory has a hole in it… that is eternally pouring out.
When you are truly deep in the woods, you are not in the woods… the woods are in you.
If we are mostly conditioned, then free will has very little place. However, we are still responsible for bringing orderly behavior and getting things right.
Deep intelligence, compassion, wisdom, and real love are not four separate things.
We are all like the fingers of a hand… different, yet not really separate. (This, as was mentioned before in one of my postings, was told to one of the parrots who lives with us… and she said, “You are right!” At least some may understand me, different species or not.)
Veronica. Photo by Thomas Peace c.2016
We talk to ourselves internally all of the time; most of us do this most of the time. Most of us delineate and interpret the phenomena of the world through words and learned images. Words are the modus operandi by which and through which most of our minds function. We recognize the world’s phenomena by words, patterns, and images which we have absorbed from others. We continue to categorize and measure via learned words; we are not separate from what these patterns of words are, though we think (as we were told) that we (from some kind of internal distance) “use” them. All words are symbolic.
Divinity itself is even promised by others via words. They tell you to read and believe in a certain book, or system, or series of stories; then, so they say, you will come closer to the divine. Some will even claim to give you what can reach the divine (by way of repeating certain special words or mantras over and over again).
It’s all too easy to follow and cling to the words of others (especially when they promise to give you something fantastic, just like so many politicians do). It is easy because each of us clings to words repetitiously (as a habit) day in and day out. What isn’t easy — what is arduous and what is rarely done by anyone in this violent, chaotic world of ours — is to understand one’s mind (from moment to moment) throughout the day, without merely being dependent upon symbols, images, separation, judgement, conflict, control, and what was absorbed from others.
Unfurling (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Unfurling (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Dogs are so joyful to frequently hug
Dogs are fun to roll around with on the living room rug
Dogs cherish you in their own little pack
Dogs = oodles of love to give back
Dogs just wish you to be compassionately there
Dogs (if your face is ugly) do not give a care
Dogs each can be just a wonderful friend
Dogs chase their tails to no attainable end
[The first photo is of our 14-year-old Shih Tzu, Gabbie. She just turned 14; yesterday was her birthday! The second photo is a 12 million-year-old fossil wolf from Eurasia. Could it be a distant ancestor to the dogs who own us? Possibly! (Putting a perspective on time here, recent research reveals that the ancestors of humans and chimpanzees may have begun genetically diverging from one another 13 million years ago; 12 million years ago we were still in the trees, safe from the terrestrial, predatory wolves.) ]
Our dog Gabbie. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
12 Million Year Old Fossil Wolf. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
If we sincerely wish to be truly peaceful and help the world go beyond the conflict that tears people apart, then it would be prudent to exist as that which does not contribute to much of the separation and conflict. It would be wise to be a global citizen, not a mere adherent to a particular political party, country, or race. This isn’t anarchy here; it is intelligently working together as one, beyond all of the insane, disconnected nonsense. It would also be foresighted and very thoughtful to not belong to an organized religious structure, with its own separate set of dogmas, beliefs, and hierarchical systems. It is separative countries, traditions, organized religions, and beliefs that have largely contributed to wars and friction between people. This is no small matter; people die over this stuff; young people die. If we could come together, just as friends, putting away the absorbed patterns that cause so much of the friction, maybe that would be the start of truly being spiritual. However, so many refuse to let go of the inherited patterns and traditions that they cling to. If that would change, and if they would perceive and care instead of repeat and belong… we would have a planet with much less bloodshed. So many of us were brainwashed into thinking that belonging to things gives us security; however, real global security, ironically, comes when man transcends belonging to systems that separate and cause friction.
White-breasted Nuthatch. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
There is space between what is seen outwardly (i.e., there in the outer environment) and — for most of us — there is space between what is considered the central controller (i.e., the “I”) and the other (controlled) thoughts. It may be, however, that there is no space between the so-called central controller and the other thoughts whatsoever. Correct perception would be the thoughts or images of the mind (including the thought of “I”) without the imagined space (of using them at a distance) that most people have (and “are”). A mind with less self-deception would function more accurately with less friction and conflict than would a mind full of falsities and concocted limited space. Asserting power and domination (inwardly), when it really isn’t there, may be one of the reasons why people assert power outwardly, trying to dominate over others (or other life forms) while not perceiving their true relationship with them. True relationship, which often involves real compassion, insight, and holistic seeing, is what negates limited space and superficial domination. So many of us extend outwardly what we are inwardly. So many of us take this inward separation, domination, and limited space and (also) utilize it to look outwardly. Indifference is often what then occurs. All thought is limited, but thinking that one is something separate from thought (controlling it) from some sort of inward distance… is much more limited.
Instead, we can transcend inner (false) conflict, transcend separation (that really isn’t there if one sees accurately) and go beyond mere domination and isolation. We can tear down the walls that separate and divide us. We cannot do that fully, however, unless we go beyond our primitive inner separations and fragmentary ways. We can do this. There is something magical and whole beyond limited inner and outer perspectives, beyond mere (absorbed) limited space and conflict.
Spring flowing. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Foolish people eat unhealthy foods and swallow foolish thoughts. The wise man is beyond such indelicacies.
True meditation is beyond will and methods. You can’t, in a mental framework of conditioning, make meditation happen any more than you can make God come to you in enlightenment.
Profound awareness goes beyond the separation between the perceiver and the images perceived.
Except for moments of pristine insight, every thought (including the thought of “I”) is a conditioned response reaction.
Perception merely through the mental screen of learned and absorbed thoughts and images isn’t really much perception at all.
Most think way more than they feel. It is best the other way around!
The historical Christ was killed because he didn’t follow hierarchical orthodoxy… and now, many hundreds of years later, orthodoxy claims him as their own.
The purpose of life is not merely to feel good but to make a meaningful difference in this world.
How can you be free and perceptive if you are behind the gilded cage bars made of rigid beliefs and fabrications?
Nothing you can accumulate in your lifetime is worth the price of your integrity.
Reaching Still. (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Reaching Still. (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Truly seeing nature’s profound beauty requires a living, dynamic perception. Some people walk right past nature — or are indifferent to nature — hardly giving her any attention or deep appreciation. Nature’s beauty includes natural competition, cooperation, violence, stalking prey, compassion, fear, love, territorial friction, sharing, and tenderness. It also includes the simple yet profound action of being. Most animals have a deep joy, just to be living as they are, just to be existing as they do. Many animals go through many of the same things we do, although without a lot of the symbolic abstractions and complexities. Animals truly value their lives as precious… same as we do.
Elemental nature, on its own, survives quite well and does great without human intervention. If you are truly innocent — like a simple butterfly or bee that functions true to its basic, eternally flowing, elemental nature — the mystery of the universe will come to you (and pursue you); you won’t have to seek it. If one is wise, one can naturally, without drugs, be of a natural innocence that lives in great joy and beauty each and every day. There is an eternity in such joy and beauty. Profound perception in life reflects immortality… otherwise, it is limited vaporousness.
Sulphur. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Once, some time ago, someone asked me, “How much free will do we have?” My answer shocked the questioner. Have you every pondered about how much of what we do and think is conditioned, is essentially reaction? Obviously, the mind is based on and heavily dependent upon the physiology of the brain; the physiology of the brain involves biochemical processes that directly influence thought, awareness, and insight. Of the last three things mentioned in the aforementioned sentence, one of them (i.e., thought) is definitely of a residual quality, in the realm of reaction. Thought is always a reaction “about” something, and (being in, and of, the realm of reaction) it is always secondary in one way or another. All thought is inherently reactionary and symbolic, and as such it is what follows actual occurrences as a result or as a series of reactions. Shadows are secondary.
Most of us function mainly — because of the way we were educated — by (and “as”) thought/thinking. We view the world and react to it via thoughts. Most of us do not realize the profound significance regarding the possibility that thought — by its very intrinsic nature — is essentially totally conditioned. The thought of “I” or “myself” is (as we have suggested many times before) a part of all this. This “I,” for most of us, continues to act (actually react) as if it is “in control” of the “other” thoughts and mental processes. However, this is basically a totally fallacious process — whether we like it or not — as has been shown in previous posts concerning such things as the surgical severing of the corpus callosum in humans, thus producing two separate fields of consciousness. (Do not be overly perturbed about all this… as eternity still exists if one just takes the time to intelligently discover.)
As this movement has said before (and more elaborately in a previous posting), when one was very young, as a child, one had a very precious Raggedy Ann (type) doll that one kept as a close, dear friend. As time went by, one came to the sudden realization that the doll was in no way a friend or “feeling.” It was rather shocking, but maturity and intelligence adjusted to the realization just fine. Later, one went through a similar kind of thing… only this time is wasn’t a doll; it was the central ego, or “I,” or “me.” It took a certain degree of maturity regarding the realization about the doll; similarly, it took a certain degree of maturity regarding the realization concerning the supposed central ego or “I.” Most people have not yet reached that second realm of maturity… from what has been seen by this movement. Even people who say that they are one with everything and who claim to meditate haven’t really done it. Perhaps this is one the reasons why real enlightenment (in the profound sense) is so elusive for them. So many of us depend on (and think we exist as) this supposed central “I” or “me.” Another point: the self cannot decide to meditate any more that it can decide to be instantly enlightened. Most of us do not realize the deep implications regarding conditioning, the self, control, and time.
Thought — all thought — takes time. Deep insight is spontaneous and is essentially what does not take time. Few of us live in (and “as”) deep insight because we were educated to exist in (and “as”) a certain way, and we have never fully seen the immaturity of it. Why change? True insight is order beyond the influence of man, is compassion, is love, is immense and of integrity. Thought is symbolic; steadfastly remaining in (and “as”) mere symbols (especially a non-central, illusory one) is — whether we agree to this or not — suffering. We can do better.
Squirrely. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
We steadfast nouns supposedly dwell in a scientific watery world of wriggling verbs
where nothing is solid and where we shouldn’t exist
where movements as all cigarettesmokespacetime are perpetually changing
as silky smooth adjectives write themselves and bring you to their list
Here and there adverbs endlessly and wholeheartedly played
Said I: “My nominative singular pronoun was bound to go bust”
Through the looking glass, prepositional phrases swayed like beautiful flowers
In a verb-oriented cosmic movement: nouns and this self… inevitably turning to rust
Say they syntax matters a lot of a whole hell
We’ve got free will alright; you can bet all of your relatives’ ingrained conditioning on that
And we’ve enough determiners to keep these phantasmagoric choices exceptionally happy
But when nouns become old-fashioned, you’ll have to give up your hat
Eternally flowing. (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Eternally flowing. (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
The following are alleged sayings of Jesus from the ancient Gospel of Thomas. I do not know whether or not they were spoken by the historical Jesus; nor do i know whether or not the translation is accurate or if it has been distorted over time. One thing i do know, however, is that the Gospel of Thomas is considered by many top biblical scholars to be closer to the historical Christ than are the four synoptic gospels. Another thing is that it was high priests who arranged to have Jesus slaughtered; and, later, it was the hierarchy of priests who arranged to have everyone that cherished the Gospel of Thomas slaughtered.
A [person said] to him, “Tell my brothers to divide my father’s possessions with me.”
He said to the person, “Mister, who made me a divider?”
He turned to his disciples and said to them, “I’m not a divider, am I?”
Jesus said, “Whoever has come to know the world has discovered a carcass, and whoever has discovered a carcass, of that person the world is not worthy.”
“Whoever does not hate [father] and mother as I do cannot be my [disciple], and whoever does [not] love [father and] mother as I do cannot be my [disciple]. For my mother […], but my true [mother] gave me life.”
Jesus said, “The [Father’s] kingdom is like a woman who was carrying a [jar] full of meal. While she was walking along [a] distant road, the handle of the jar broke and the meal spilled behind her [along] the road. She didn’t know it; she hadn’t noticed a problem. When she reached her house, she put the jar down and discovered that it was empty.”
Truth may be at the top of a very high mountain. Some of us would like to get a glimpse of it. There are many who (all too willingly) would give you tools, systems, and methods to get to what they consider truth to be. Many of us inherit these methods and systems from birth, in the form or various religious beliefs and/or doctrines, practices, methods, and images… or through long lasting familial structures, language structures, political structures, socio-economic outlooks, traditions, etcetera. Many of us were taught, throughout our childhood years — by very caring parents and relatives — that certain beliefs and traditions are a means toward security and truth; we were taught that certain books or methods were to be accepted without question, because, otherwise, security and truth (for us) would vanish. (In each country this takes place; they, in other regions, with their separate beliefs, have as much ardent zeal for their doctrines as do those here.) We continue, in life, associating past physical security from relatives, and we extend it to involve — and exist as — supposedly safe ideological securities and beliefs; yet these ideological securities may be what contributes to friction and conflict in the world (involving all kinds of opposing ideologies and beliefs)… which, in reality, is not security whatsoever.
So… many of us would like to climb to the top of that mountain; yet we are carrying all kinds of baggage from (and “as”) the past. Secondary thoughts — and all thoughts (all beliefs) are secondary, symbolic reactions — are an impediment regarding receiving direct insight, direct perception. Baggage, between various groups worldwide, tends to involve inherited, residual reactions which often contribute to conflict and friction between groups. (This directly or indirectly contributes to wars and world turmoil.) Pure insight (that is not the contaminated result of others) is pure action; it is not a mere reaction or accumulated baggage encouraging reactions set by previous manipulators. Reaction tends to dull the mind (with heavy “loaded” burdens) as inseminated procedures (that were largely designed by others to get pre-planned results). Our perceptions are not separate from what we are… but most of us react as if they are; and we are those reactions, not something separate. When our accumulated, learned reactions help to separate us (while we cling to them) we cannot communicate globally as one; real intelligence goes beyond the heavy burden of loads of accumulations that directly influences the reactions that cause friction in (and “as”) the world. However, few really cherish that holistic intelligence thus far.
One will never make to a very high mountain if one is burdened with a lot of unnecessary baggage. The whole world might be a summit of bliss if we could stop carrying (and clinging to) all of our accumulated baggage and just observe without any prearranged ideologies. However, most of us do not wish to put aside our baggage. Most of us are that baggage — not something separate from it carrying it — and we are inherited and absorbed reactions that we refuse to set aside. Not carrying baggage is not another form of baggage. Most of us are heavily burdened and so something will remain forever elusive for us. However, more of us can fundamentally change in a truly light-oriented, profound way.
Unburdened. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
As we said last week…those who are psychologically separated from others — and this goes far beyond merely the human species — are also, by the very intrinsic nature of things, separated in time… with the past being separate from the future for them. Most of us, unfortunately, do not live in a true relationship with others and with phenomena, time included. For most people, it is space that separates the past (or the present) from the future. For most people, it is space that separates the ego, the so-called center, from others. This space divorces one from true and accurate relationship; one cannot be engaged — or married — to truth and accuracy if one is so divorced.
Space divides people in so many ways. We are talking about limited space here. There are separative notions caused by divisive countries, religions, political establishments, cultures, and groups; clinging to these, as so many rigidly do — because of old traditions or being second-hand — contributes directly or indirectly to the conflict, violence, and divisiveness in the world. A global citizen, because of intelligence and sapient consideration — by not blindly belonging to any “provided ideologies or beliefs” — goes beyond all of these inculcated divisions and separations, and does so fully, not because of some learned and absorbed dogmas, but because he or she has wisely gone beyond mere ideation and reaction. The absorbed space — taking many forms — that divides people is limiting, is very fragmentary. Intelligently going beyond belief and dogma is not another belief, is not merely another dogma. Going beyond primitive, ignorant conditioning is not another form of conditioning.
Some might say, “Well, I live in the here and now, so I am not merely entrapped by time, conditioning, and cold ambition.” However, for so many, this “here and now” still involves very limited, confined space. Many, though they think they are in the here and now, still look at things from and with a concept of a learned center; there is space between this center and the perceptions that thought thinks “it has”. That center, or supposedly separate “I,” is still a learned image; it remains of (and from) the old; it is still — like so many inherited or absorbed beliefs — an extension of the past (which is not, really, the here and now at all). Direct, uncontaminated perception — not mere absorbed concepts and images — goes beyond all this; it is this direct perception that may be the only true religious mind. Absorbed concepts and stuffy, learned images may feel that they are spiritual; but true spirituality is what goes beyond secondhandedness, the dead absorbed past, and absorbed beliefs and images that contribute to friction and conflict in the world (as well as to distorted perception).
To perceive very intelligently, the mind must look without bias, without preconceptions, without rigid, implanted patterns. A truly intelligent mind perceives directly, without the screen and false power of outside authority, without beliefs, without implanted values. Beliefs and implanted values warp perception and cause the mind to accept (and cling to) erroneous things. When one says that one “has” beliefs, one’s consciousness consists of (and actually “is”) those beliefs; and when such beliefs look, they see what they were taught or programmed to see… which is biased and “loaded.” True spirituality may be perceiving without mere distortion, without a (limit-causing) space between absorbed images (including the image of “me”) and the perceptions. Most people do not care to operate as wise action far beyond the distortion that ingrained reactions manifest as. There are better things to be than bias, distortion, contributing factors toward world conflict, blind acceptance, symbolic ideas, rigid reactions, and limited space.
Living in a rotten environment. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
The steering wheel of the car turned to the left,
then to the right
Then various forms of scenery continued to stream by
Later, the brake pedal was depressed (not that
the mind was)
and slowing down ensued
The car door opened; the camera’s
parameters were adjusted; the lens
cover came off and
shots were taken
A little bit of the beauty was (in a
superficial kind of way) captured; but
most of the majestic beauty was
left behind
The true beauty of Nature has not been, and never will be,
merely captured in a superficial photograph; it has not been,
nor will it ever be, captured in
a mere symbolic description consisting of words (which
merely are learned symbols)
The lens cap was put back in place;
the car door opened; then again, various forms
of scenery continued to stream by
The steering wheel turned to the right,
then to the left
The car door again opened
The front door of the house unlocked and
the computer turned on
We, who take photos with fancy,
modern inventions, need to be more humble
We don’t really capture Nature, though in a way, we
try to, (which is good and wonderful sharing in its own way;
but we can do better), and we shouldn’t take too much credit
for conveying Nature when
so many of our fossil fuels and fancy machines are
destroying Nature
We would do well to be more
environmentally active besides being
photo-reactive
Nature is beautiful
Again, we don’t really ever capture Mother Nature
with our little metallic, glass, and plastic machines; nor do
we really capture Mother Nature with the symbolic thoughts that we are
We need to be better environmentalists
Then, just maybe, Mother Nature will truly capture
us
A close friend. (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
A close friend. (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
We’ve said this before, and we’ll say it again. Those who are psychologically separated from others — and this goes far beyond merely the human species — are also, by the very intrinsic nature of things, separated in time… with the past being separate from the future for them. Additionally, for example, a mind that thinks that it is separate from the fears that it “has” is divorced from accurate relationship and is married to distortion. A mind that accepts the distortion of society, with all of its inherited, primitive fragmentation, perceives (and exists “as”) that distortion and fragmentation.
A very wise mind, interestingly enough, by truly transgressing separation and going beyond it (though this sounds rather strange), is capable of going beyond time. Time, and all of the parameters involved in it and with it, inherently depends upon various degrees of separation and friction. An immature mind exclusively depends upon time and time’s modus operandi: experience. Experience is, of course, very necessary and part of integral being. However, merely being dependent on experience — and all experience is based on separation and movement from the past to the future — is (despite what the so-called normal establishment thinks) not the only way. A mind that is not adulterated with mere knowledge, mere abstractions, mere piecemeal approaches (and all those standard ways and methods that man has clung to for millennia) may possibly be of the intelligence to go beyond the limitation of all this.
Trying to deny experience, or employing various methods and practices to go beyond it, is not prudent. Trying to go beyond mundane experience (by effort and various methods), in order to get some kind of supposed enlightenment or transcendental transformation, is likely the result of some superficial motives involving crude greed and acquisition. Instead, simply effortlessly be the experiences as they occur; perceive them deeply without mere conflict, fragmentation, desires, judgments, and ulterior motivations interfering. Then, perhaps, the mind will naturally flower without any selfish motivation, self-imposed direction, or contrived pattern; then, perhaps, it will not merely be molded by (and “as”) the belief systems of others. (In this natural flowering, experience may evolve and change into something else; but not by merely practicing something to make it happen… not by forcing things to happen via calculation and manipulation.)
Heaven, to people who have been conditioned by others, can be some learned, rather dead, and absorbed abstraction about the future. (But it is really just the old, rather dead, musty, learned past, as an image or images, projected into what the future may be.) Symbols (existing exclusively as mental images) — and all thoughts are symbolic — cannot be (or run parallel to) profound living, cannot be beyond what is caught in the net of time. (Time and conditioning go hand in hand; time is, by its very nature, conditioned.) To really come upon the timeless, the sacred, the mind cannot merely be full of contaminated, symbolic images implanted by others; to really come upon that vast order, the mind itself must be clear and not tarnished by the hand of others. Such a mind must be extremely orderly and perceptive beyond being shaped and molded (as so many countless are). Very few are passionate enough regarding this.
Nectar hunting. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Pristine beauty there beyond everything
(unnoticed by thoughts and all of their symbols)
in awareness limitlessly wisdom does spring
Boundaries dissolve and so time truly ends
Here,not just patterns and learned separations
Living magically in flowing harmony,my friend
Impeccable movement with deep immovability
where there doesn’t exist and neither do I
Beyond conflict,separation,and inscrutability
Red Cardinal. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Red Cardinal (2) Ditital Photo Art by Thomas Peace c. 2016
In photography, we want our cameras to be in good condition, with clear lenses that are not sullied with any debris or greasy smears. If the lens of the camera is opaque or grimy, we take care of it immediately.
What about consciousness? To be of keen understanding and discerning, holistic perception, the mind must be clear and untainted. Distortion doesn’t perceive things for what they truly are; therefore, it is prudent to care to observe without twisted or tainted patterns or values. A clear lens is a simple thing, even with complex, digital photography. A clear lens is not burdened with a lot of fabricated symbols, onerous images, or profuse patterns; it is simple and pure. The mind can be like that if it is lucky; but not if it is contaminated with the parameters and limitations that society implanted upon it. Indeed, our rote structures of rather mechanical and/or separative observation (that we have learned and blindly accepted), including our so-called separative countries, political groups, religions, hypnotic (mat-sitting) techniques erroneously called meditation, and that so-called separate “internal controller, called ‘I’,” are all, whether we like it or not, contributing factors toward limited and contaminated perception. Most of our mind-lenses are more than cloudy, yet we think we see just fine.
Only an inner lens untouched by man can be of the purity to transcend distortion.
Black and White. (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Black and White. (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
“There” has
an element of di(stance) and
sep a ra tion to it.
“Here” has
an element of di(stance) and
sep a ra tion to it.
Neither “here” nor “there,”how(ever),
negates conflict,and
ends what was
taught to us
(and reinforced for us)
to reabsorb.
Bottoms up! (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Bottoms up! (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
A poem on our wall, composed by E. E. Cummings and signed by
E. E. Cummings:
E.E.Cummings Poem Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
impossible union
mixed in the mud
dimmer than never
brighter when always
transcending shadows
creeping so shyly
(finer than sand dunes
silence)everlasting
nowhere to be found
worshiped fallaciously
falling with snowflakes
rising in time
once upon ever
words were their reading
slowly as learning
fast as a crime
Mixed in the mud. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Often, in the backyard, there “is” the trees, the birds, and animals and no “me.” The space between things (then) — like the clear parts of a dragonfly’s wings — does not separate them.
Beyond what was taught. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
later last night or maybe the other
one went walking, and not with your brother
whatever was scene was a part of the seen
then walked along nowhere with nothing between
unseasonable whether, weather you feel it or not
fossil fuels as greenhouseffect gases drive and fly a lot
golfing umpteen politicians sling us to war
making plenty of excuses about what fighting is fore
far from Teflon where sticking doesn’t matter
a happy wren eats oily seeds naturally fatter
an error in writin tis a beutaful ting
avoid Zika fliers early next spring
The Zika virus, as you have seen on the local news, is carried by mosquitoes, and is supposed to spread globally. Pregnant women who are bitten can have children who are micro-cephalic. I taught, before i retired, multiply handicapped students with mental retardation. One girl, who i had at one time in my classroom — who was born to a mother who had Dengue Fever as the result of a mosquito bite — had a severe micro-cephalic condition. When you would touch the top of her very small head, it was like touching a sponge; there was little skull support surrounding the brain. She had very little awareness of her surroundings. Be alert to where this virus is spreading. Please, if it is an area where you live, seriously think about curtailing pregnancy; if you are already pregnant, please stay indoors and use all kinds of precautions. Both of these viruses cause joint pain in people. Be very careful! (If it comes to the area where we live… you won’t be seeing as many nature photos from me.) Hopefully, this disease will not be nearly as widespread as many scientists are saying. This year, the Olympics in Rio are where the virus oriented mosquitoes currently exist; here, and other parts of the world where this is happening, is where people will be spraying like mad (which isn’t good for the environment, but may curtail much of the spreading, hopefully). If people would stop vacationing to distant countries, it would help slow the spread and progression of this disease, plus the earth would be better off with less pollution from fossil fuels (which aircraft spew out like mad). By releasing sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide higher in the atmosphere, aircraft allow molecules of pollution more time to trap heat, causing havoc for our environment. These mosquitoes, scientists say, will spread by hiding in jet planes and other aircraft as they move from one country to another. Sorry if this is a bit frightening… but this is a precarious thing. One has seen what it can do.
Mosquito Eater. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
To be avoided. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
True poise, as we have said, includes intelligence, compassion, awareness, humor, balance, and transcending separation and conflict. Part of the reason that many of us don’t have it has to do with wrong education; or, despite a wrong education, many just don’t care to go beyond the parameters of limitation.
In previous posts, some time ago, one wrote about the brain as being like two halves of a walnut… and about how certain surgeries splitting these two halves — by severing the corpus callosum — left each half not knowing what the other half was thinking. So, in actuality, two fields of consciousness were produced from one field, via advanced surgery. Therefore, times and evidence has changed; yet so many of us continue to cling to the erroneous (primitive) notion of a central “I,” a central “me” or controller. For a very long time now, one — when thinking — instead of using the term “I,” has been using the words of “this movement.” Of course, one doesn’t verbally say “this movement,” instead of “I,” when actually talking to others; (things are at a rather unrefined and strangely unpolished level here in the Midwest U.S.A., and the rest of the world, so one just talks to them in the way that they are familiar with.)
Clinging to the notion of a central “I,” by repeatedly using it, reinforces the perception and feeling of separation. We were taught to function in (and “as”) this separation throughout our lives; just look at all of the competition and indifference in the world. This separation includes — and involves — internal and external forms. “I” am apart from “you.” If “I” hurt “you,” “I” will not be hurt. This “I” thinks that it is apart from the fears that “it has.” This “I” is supposedly apart from the jealousy that it can later “deal with.” This “I” is supposedly something separate from the unhealthy habits that “it has.” This “I” is supposedly apart from other organisms; and it is “their” suffering. This “I” is going to quiet thoughts in order to “get something spectacular out of it.” This “I” has freedom to do whatever “it” pleases.
Instead of thinking “I,” thinking “this movement,” however, doesn’t tend to reinforce the notion of any (so-called) center (that is fictitious anyway) from everyone else. “This movement” can include — and does include, in a big way — everyone else. (Therein lies responsibility.) “This movement” need not be separate from the perceptions that take place, including butterflies and fears. Fear may not be separate from what “this movement” is; however, thinking there is an “I” that is separate from fear, controlling it or managing it freely, is conflict and utter nonsense. When “this movement” is used, it negates a lot of energy wasting conflict that inherently goes along with the separative (erroneous, crass) concept of a central “I.” Eternity, the sacred and the timeless exists, but it has little to do with robotic, fragmentary, illusory, virtual, isolated, central images; that is one of the reasons why “this movement” is sharing this.
Defying gravity. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Let’s pretend that thoughts
that are symbols
(and all thoughts are symbols)
are what a central “I” controls
And let’s pretend that this I
(that supposedly controls thoughts)
is not another one of the thoughts
is not another one of the symbols
Let’s wonder what the purpose of this poem is
and let’s think that we are sep
a rate
from the symbols regarding this poem
Let’s pretend that thoughts
that many cling to (and “are”) as superficial habits
have even a fraction of the substantive depth and reality
that genuine heartfelt feelings have
Let’s listen to the sounds around us now
and also hear the sounds
of thinking and pretending
which are not, of course, really sounds at all
Katy with sound sensing legs (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Katy with sound sensing legs (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
So many of us imitate others. We do this so much more than we realize. Everything that people see (in terms of patterns), think (in terms of patterns), and take for granted… is transferred to us. We absorb what they are. (We become what they are. Our thoughts and desires are what they are.) We absorb what they are from their teachings, their traditions, their mannerisms, and values (or lack of values). To go beyond all that is extremely arduous. However, it is very necessary if one is to be more than a mere second-hand shadow.
So many of us want to show off our accumulations to others. We think that these accumulations — often the result of grueling work at the job — reflect our ability to be successful. Real success, however, may not (unlike what we were taught) lie in material possessions, large families, or monetary wealth. To discover what is truly priceless, will one merely rely on others… who, themselves, are clones of innumerable others?
Real success, ironically, may exist beyond the measurable. However, most of our calculating minds have no clue as to what that means or entails. Most of us live in (and “as”) comparison and measurement. However, to merely accept comparison and measurement as the essence of one’s life — as so many, unfortunately, do — may be a sign of indolence and superficiality. Additionally, rigidly clinging to comparison and measurement invites (and “is”) sorrow.
Infinite joy is a measureless blessing that is beyond the grasp of mere greed and superficiality. It cannot be earned or acquired (like some silly, limited stuff), and that is part of its immeasurable beauty. Don’t ask “how to get it,” because — unlike so many of our ostentatious, limited accumulations — there is no “how to get it.”
These goats, at the county fair, were repeatedly jumping out of their stalls. They were not merely content with remaining in the limited. Should you be?
Beyond the Limited. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Just be ordinary
Just be what they programmed you to be
Just safely fit in and never stand out as being different
Just try to impress a large number of others who are just like you…
who are practically exact clones or copies of what you are
Just continue to perceive like you and everyone else
were taught to perceive
Just continue to constrain or manage internal fears
while thinking that they are something separate from what you are
Just try to get ahead and have a wonderful time
impressing yourself while thinking that self is something separate
from animals plants experiences others thoughts and time…
just like everyone else tends to
No Irony Here. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
Many of us go through life regurgitating what was spoon fed to us throughout our youth. Many of us function and perceive in the ways that we were taught… and, therefore, what we perceive and think is tainted with (and “as”) the dusty past. Many of us, even when we are encouraged to go beyond all that — in order to, perhaps, see things freshly and anew — tend to just momentarily see the importance of it… but then go on with our lives in the same old ways. (Which means we never really observed the deep importance of it whatsoever.)
So many of us were so painstakingly drilled (and filled) with the separative systems and symbols of the past… that we tend to habitually cling to them and repeatedly depend on them. Many of us rarely, if ever, are truly silent and beyond being the absorbed symbols by which we perceive and think. Many of us are constantly relying on and calculating with (and “as”) these symbols; the very way we perceive things in the world is dictated by what these symbols are constituted of. We perceive through — and “as” — these symbols. These symbols have an inherent distance and line of demarcation to them. They inevitably tend to be fractional, piecemeal icons. However, thoughts and mentally absorbed symbols/images, no matter how substantial they may seem to be, are almost always mere partial tokens that are mere representational patterns. Many of us are slaves to these mere representational symbols. Look at how so many so-called young people constantly are texting to each other. Instead of enjoying the integrity and wholeness of a moment… they are constantly electronically writing about it to others (all the while conveying with dead words about what could have been a living, joyful occurrence).
There is a good chance that the only true depth and the only real living (in this life) is what takes place beyond mere symbols, beyond the second-handedness (and virtual reality) that symbols reinforce and foster. What is superficial will not, however, seriously see the need for transcending all of the symbols and images that people cling to. What is immersed in superficiality, unfortunately, will not likely truly see the need for going beyond it.
Projections (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
Projections (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
the hopping toad was the garden’s movement
toward that which wasn’t apart
from the symphonic moonlit night that was
crickets chirping as one beyond silence
while hands washed each other in blended sequence
a spacious window gazed out of itself
then one very shiny silver spoon quantified instant coffee
and the rhythmic ticking of the clock walked to the kitchen sink
right foot preceded left foot at measured intervals
as distance carefully calculated momentum
eyes moved from left to right repeatedly
wondering about the elemental purpose of this poem
Garden Hopping. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
So, I am cleaning cages, and getting their food ready. Tweetie Pie (one of the parrots that lives with us) is standing on a perch right near to where I am. (We don’t call them “pets,” as — I’m sure like a lot of you dog, cat, and bird caretakers know — we turn into more “their personal servants” than “pet owners.”) I turn to Tweetie and ask, “What do you want from Santa for Christmas?” “Do you want a new learning video, a new toy, extra peanuts, pizza cheese, or maybe a lot of carrots, or tasty grapes, or apples?” “So, Tweetie, what do you want?”
The following is what Tweetie’s response was (which we did not teach her… and which she also had said around a week prior to this when I had asked her the very same question):
“Everything”
She learns things from watching others interact, not only by teaching her directly. I have (with Tweetie nearby observing) said things to the other birds like, “Wow! Your bowl is empty; good job! You ate everything!” (Dr. Irene Pepperberg, who does extensive research with parrots, says many of them have the mental understanding of a 5 year old and the capacity to verbalize of a 2 year old.)
Afterwards, as I keep cleaning, I said, “If you want all those things, you better be extra good, because, as you know, Santa sees everything, he is always watching everything you do at all times.” As I said this, one of the other parrots enthusiastically said, “Yeah! Yeah!,” and Tweetie Pie looked up scanning her eyes all around the ceiling (as if wondering how Santa could see everything at all times).
They really like Christmas oriented videos, like Polar Express, and I’ve been playing those a lot lately.
Happy Holidays! 🙂
Tweetie Pie (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
Tweetie Pie (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
Fear. You can run from it all you want, but — if you do — it will always be there (in one form or another).
There are intelligent forms of fear and other forms of fear that are largely unintelligent. If you are walking through the woods and see a cluster of poison ivy (and have gotten severe rashes from it before) you naturally avoid it with (and “as”) a fear that is sensible and intelligent. If you are going along with others in an activity that you don’t really deem wise or wholesome, but are doing it just to “fit in” and not be rejected (as so many do with drugs, for example)… that may stem from a form of fear that is rather unintelligent and lopsided.
So many of us were taught that we are separate from our fears. When fear takes place, is it truly something that is separate from what you are? Instead of running from fears, or merely trying to manipulate them, it may be prudent to be in relationship with them… to carefully understand them and examine them (without manufactured distance and learned concepts, without fleeing). Fear often involves time; fear feeds on (and is) time. So many have fears about what the future may be (or may not be). Interestingly — though fear feeds on, involves, (and is) time — fleeing from fear involves time.
Separation from fears may go along with separation from other aspects in life… such as hopes, aspirations, dreams, speculations, and the images of others (that one deems separate from oneself). Hate often springs from unintelligent fear, for both are intrinsically bound in modes heavily involved with separation. Mental separation breeds both hate and indifference. When there is a wall of circumference around a (supposedly) separate self apart from fear, images, aspirations, and others… friction and turmoil often ensue. We can grow and wisely flower beyond the fragmentation and needless friction — internally and externally — if we perceive beyond mere separative and primitive processes.
Instead of merely just running from boredom, or fear, or loneliness, it may be prudent to remain with them (effortlessly observing) and learn from them intimately; then (out of the intimacy) if relationship with them truly changes naturally, they may flower into what transcends mediocrity, tradition, and fragmentation; then boredom and fear are no longer what they were (as part of broken, fragmentary isolation and separation).
Fire and ice. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
Do we have free will? Most of us would get quite irritated if we were told that we do not really have it. To be free is to be unhindered; it is to not be tethered to parameters that bind, blind, and limit you. To truly be free, one must have expansive intelligence beyond common boundaries. To truly be free, the cause and effect relationships that constitute one’s environment must all be understood and accounted for (without bias or flaws from one’s past education or from one’s genetic — including mental genetic — makeup). To truly be free, there must be no distortion or fragmentation in the way that one perceives.
As it is, most of us see and react from learned (and inherited) modes involving separation, fragmentation, and views that are cemented by culture and tradition. With all this limitation, we think (and feel) that we are free. So many are enslaved — in more ways than one — without ever realizing it. To perceive that you are not free may be the beginning of wisdom that brings freedom. Merely craving for freedom, however, does not bring it (i.e., psychologically). If you are conditioned — and we all are — perceive and examine that conditioning throughout the day. That conditioning is what you are; it is not merely something that can be accurately viewed with separation, from a distance. Distortion, that sees itself for what it is (without the further distortion of imagined separation, without the projection of ideals or of fanciful utopian freedom) can — through clarity and understanding from direct relationship — change and transform. Distortion, however, that clings to learned modes of internal (and external) separation and false images of freedom (which are unreal)… likely will remain in (and “as”) the conditioning that it is.
Intelligence that (without mere separation and pre-conceived ideals) perceives the conditioning and distortion that is what it is… may transform beyond that conditioning and distortion. Distortion that merely looks (with learned separation) from that distortion and thinks that it is free… mostly remains in (and “as”) distortion. By the way… harming another organism intentionally and using the excuse that one has no free will (because of being conditioned) is a cop-out; it’s a song and dance. We are all, whether conditioned or not, responsible. We can respond either from (that spaceless place of) direct relationship and compassion (beyond mere division) and intelligent caring (beyond learned and absorbed boundaries)… or from cold indifference, learned separation, and hatred. (Separation and friction that is internal — in the brain — can express and project itself outwardly, as conflict and hatred.) We can go beyond crude, unrefined patterns. We are all capable of growing.
Ant Domain. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
Beyond what is
possible
one irrefutable mystery
existing
Beyond what was
there
one not so distant
here
Beyond all that
fear
leaping beyond death
living
Beyond profound change
stagnating
one ordinary mind
imitating
[Note: The photo is of a piece of fossil Baltic Amber containing a Pseudoscorpion (with 2 mm body) and a Gnat; the Pseudoscorpion is posed as if attacking the Gnat as prey. This amber is around 50 million years old. Pseudoscorpions (and Gnats) continue to exist worldwide, even in cold climates, like in the United States and Canada. Are “mostpeople” — who tend to live ordinary (so-called) lives, who merely exist accepting (and copying) the commonplace values, routines, and perceptions — stagnating (almost as if they are imbedded in rock-like amber)? You decide.]
Pseudoscorpion and Gnat in Baltic Amber. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
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When I was very young, (before I became a vegetarian) I was an avid fisherman. I loved fishing tremendously; being out there, with nature, was a large part of it (and was very special). There was a manmade lake that I would often fish at that was fairly new; adjacent to it, and connected to it by a narrow channel, was a huge, shallow swamp area (that was nearly as big as the lake itself). Most people who fished at the lake didn’t know about the swamp area; it was a superb area that contained many fish, many of which would go there to spawn and lay eggs. All kinds of other wildlife were there. There was a large factory not far from the swamp, however, and each year the swamp would get more and more slime and oily residue floating at the surface, much of which was undoubtedly due to pollution from the factory and from the industrial environment. Each year would be exponentially worse than the next. There would be less and less fish each year and more and more noxious algae and scummy debris. Back then, as a kid, I felt that what was going on in the swamp was a precursor to what would be going on for our entire planet; I deeply felt that often.
Now scientists are saying that we don’t have much time left (before it’s too late) to “get it right” with changing things for the better with regard to the environment. The permafrost of the globe is melting rapidly, and they say it will get exponentially worse each year, which will affect our environment in drastic ways. Our weather is getting more and more erratic and violent and the coral reefs are rapidly dwindling. Please try to do something more green; please try to use fossil fuel planes and automobiles less frequently and please recycle and look into using alternative energy forms that don’t leave as big of a carbon footprint. Our human population, additionally, needs to be regulated more and intelligently diminished; an aquarium with too many fish within it cannot adequately recycle the waste and remain balanced. Each one of us is highly responsible and must do our part.
(This won’t fit under a rug; it’s our planet.)
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Fly-catching. (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
Fly-catching. (2) (Digital Crayon). Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
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If one cares to understand the entirety (i.e., the completeness) of the universe as a whole, then one must essentially be complete in oneself. One can’t be complete in oneself if one merely perceives fragmentarily, with conflict, separation, and with mere conceptual images that were learned. So many try to spread their conceptual images of what they themselves absorbed (in terms of what they believe wisdom and truth to be). However, truth is never secondhand, and it is never what one merely rearranged or calculated from what one absorbed from others. Too many (online and in books) try to point the way to truth, when — throughout their entire life — enlightenment never occurred. Many merely share what they were brainwashed with (or “as”), which isn’t (usually) real substantial sharing at all. When the blind lead the blind, both eventually end up in the ditch. Writing about facts and about certain basic things like “love for others” or about “love of life and all of life’s creatures” is good (from others) and admirable; however, when they go beyond that and spill into delicate philosophical areas, without having gone beyond secondhand concepts or realizations, that is something else.
Profound truth is never secondhand, nor a free ride; you have to do the work. Don’t adhere to what anyone says about what the truth is; discard all leaders, gurus, sages, religious cults, and all those popular lemming groups. Find out for yourself. If you don’t find out for yourself, then what is discovered will (more than likely) largely be conceptual or rehashed… which is no substantial discovery whatsoever.
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In the pink. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
Not In the pink. (Digital Charcoal). Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
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Having money
in the bank
is important
2 many;
but this mom
has something
much more precious
in the bank.
Money isn’t
everything.
.
Precious little one. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
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Many minds depend upon experiences in order to exist… without fully realizing that they are those experiences. Reacting to (and “as”) experiences involves conditioned responses following each other, in sequence. Without such experiences most minds would be lost, for their very composition desperately depends upon such experiences. Even ancient organisms, such as the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex, had brains that exclusively depended upon experiences. However, a few very intelligent minds — very few — though being highly appreciative of many experiences, have realized that they need not just exclusively depend upon experience. Such minds, though they often use and appreciate experience, go beyond it at times. Such minds are a light to themselves, and they do not exclusively depend upon things… not even upon experience. To be beyond dependence is to be truly free; the other way is primitive, limited, partial, and without majestic vastness.
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Duck with a T-rex face. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
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All of the mumbo jumbo
from all of the politicians
and bureaucrats
doesn’t hold a candle
to the radiant mojo
that a white candle heron
in nature has
as it silently
wades
beyond
the
superficial
.
Heron gulping down its prey. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
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The wellspring of truth isn’t to be found by secondhand thoughts and formulations… (and all thoughts are directly or indirectly secondhand). One can’t discover the new with an instrument ingrained in the old.
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Together. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
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Experience is good oftentimes, especially when it is occurs with sensitivity and learning. However, too many fall into experiences, exclusively, just like moths into the flame. A mind that does not habitually, robotically blast into experience… goes beyond it at times. It might seem odd or strange that one suggests that going beyond the realm of experience is beneficial and healthy… (but it is). Many of us seek new and “more exciting” experiences. In doing this, one thinks that one will achieve happiness. However, once something is experienced, its supposed “newness” tends to quickly evaporate and when we experience similar things, they tend to lose their quality of being beyond the same old patterns; so we seek new and different patterns, different experiences. However, different patterns are still mere patterns. A mind that clings to various series and strings of patterns (to be stimulated) becomes dependent upon such patterns. A brain dependent upon mere patterns, for its happiness, is a mind that is not at all independent and free; it is enslaved with dependency upon the patterns (as so many people, unfortunately, are). Then boredom, frustration, and depression often easily slip in; for a mind that is based merely upon patterns (an their recognition) easily gets fixated in robotic cause and effect reactions (based largely on what the patterns may or may not provide). Inevitably, they never provide enough. The experience and the experiencer are not two separate things.
A mind beyond mere experience — and there are few such minds — is really independent and free. It goes beyond mere patterns and the recognizing of patterns. It doesn’t do so out of volition and will; it just happens; intelligence is a factor. When it happens, the mind is still (though highly active and aware); however, it is not merely absorbing or rearranging patterns. Being beyond sequential reactions and patterns of recognition, it is an explosion of the new and immeasurable. Joy and insight, beyond dependency upon experiences, exists then.
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Moth Head Study. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
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In an oscillating universe, if an entity does not get it together and transcend mediocrity psychologically, then the consequences remain infinitesimally dull, like a seed that never germinates. If one flowers and grows, the winds of enlightenment may be truly endless.
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Wild Beebalm. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
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Top scientists have stated that it is likely that our universe functions in ways that are totally different than what we expect or think. One couldn’t agree more. So, one has to discard what one has been taught, and look and perceive freshly, without all that was poured into one to mold and shape the way that one perceives. If one merely sees with the patterns that were implanted into one, then there is likely mostly jaded perception (that is looking through a fabricated psychological screen). Only a dynamic mind can go beyond what was rigidly poured into it. If we don’t see beyond the limitation that has been provided, then we will remain circumscribed by those who were also defined and shaped by others who, in the old past, delineated and fabricated them. If we remain in the limited, we will never discover the new, the timeless, and the truth.
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At the County Fair… Rooster, Hen & Youngster. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
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One must purge what all the pundits, leaders, and experts have taught. Most of them are full of themselves. We (despite thinking otherwise) live in very primitive times psychologically… and if one doesn’t figure things out for oneself, one will remain within (and “as”) the quagmire of the false and crass. If one’s very mode and manner of thinking (and, hence, perceiving) was constructed by them, then there must be a fundamental transformation of the mind if one is to see without past corruption and without merely looking with old patterns and standard modes. To observe without distortion, one must look without a blueprint, methodology, system, or absorbed structure; that can only take place via pristine observation that is unsullied by past dictates or precepts. Most are unwilling or unable to do this. They are too mesmerized by what was poured into them, unfortunately. When they try to guide others, psychologically and spiritually, they are often (even unknowingly) merely projecting what they were taught, (which is essentially second-hand). Direct observation, without all the garbage and distortion, is possible; deep insight and profound understanding depend upon it.
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[Note: If you are using the “Reader”/ “Blogs I Follow” method, note that they have recently revised it. Personally, I am not too fond of the revision (photograph-wise). If you wish to see my photos much better than what happens after “one” or “no” clicks… please click on the “three dots” at the upper righthand corner of the initial presentation, then click on “Visit Site.” Then you will see the photos the way that they were meant to be seen. (WordPress needs to explain the revision better to everyone.) Of course, my site is primarily about philosophy, mindfulness, and true self-awareness… not merely about pictures/images. The photos are an accompanying addition (about splendid nature), but are not the primary thing that I really want to share.]
Three’s company. (There’s a fourth, but it’s hiding.) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
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Each and every drop has its place
and is accounted for
The tears of the world are
all accounted for
What lies beyond all the tears
is accounted for
is blossoming
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Returning. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
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We are the mountains
We are the golden sun
We are the butterflies
We are the stirring spoon
We are the bird’s song
We are the turning key
We are the churning thoughts
We are the thunderstorms
We are the wars of lies
We are the poetry lines
We are the rocking chairs
We are the light through the forest down the lane
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We are the butterflies. (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
We are the butterflies. (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2015
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 