What we call “self” is a tiny aware part of an unimaginably complex universe, consisting of trillions of independent organisms, bacteria outnumbering our cells by an order of magnitude, and an electrochemical net of trillions of connections, with everchanging ordered patterns forming us. Parallel universes are right here. They are you and me.
Reflected sky is less distinct, but more.
Enriched by overlay of varied patterns
and unified by palette – still and somber.
Uneasy sky interpreted by water
contains a wealth of novel information,
conceals a deeper joy,
a longer journey.
I will shut up
and open up
and look.
There is the way of the rail,
the dao.
Not the big important one, with the capital “D”,
but the little “d” that doesn’t last.
It does not constitute something profound.
If it changes you – the change is cumulative,
almost imperceptible.
It can, if you let it,
take you over –
just for a bit of your journey,
just for a change.
The rhythm of motion
overrides habits and hopes,
dreams and desires,
oaths and obligations,
wishes and wants.
They all depend on localisation in time
and impermanence in space
dislodges you in time –
just enough to allow for some space
to move out of time.
The waves of
space
wash over you,
time
becomes elastic,
stretching
and shrinking,
rising
and sinking.
The way of the wave:
tidal,
rhythmic,
joyuous,
altering you for a second or forever –
who knows?
who cares?
Social media algorithms are designed to keep you looking. They flatter you, telling you how fundamentally great you are. They are also designed to sell you shit. So, they tell you you are horrible without the shit, but, because of your fundamental greatness, deserve all the shit you can get. As a result you get individual plastic bottles to conveniently carry the water you so richly deserve instead of public fountains to go to for a drink you need. The process invariably ends up with broken public fountains and empty individual bottles.
Abstract reasoning is the consequence of language – naming commonalities in individual concrete phenomena. Thus, a better vocabulary is a prerequisite for better abstract reasoning.
With no noise to compete all the birds are distinct and loud
And the light very bright, and the air pristine and cold.
Every breath resurrects what was lost and is now found
As I walk through the park, through the morning and through the world.
Pragmatic acceptance of the facts is the only way to deal with evil. Hatred is the admission of ultimate defeat, allowing your foe to preoccupy and control you.
I completely disagree with Descartes, Pascal and Kant about the existence of God. I think their conclusions that God exists were a desperate resort to wishful thinking. And yet they gave more to my atheism than anyone who came after them denying the existence of God. They gave me an example of intellectual courage and a method of systematic doubt.
