A: I once heard that there’s a special hell – and a special heaven – for the best and worst of humanity. I don’t know how – certainly not why – but I feel like I’m living in that special heaven right now. I know it won’t last; nothing does – but right now is awesome.
J: Glad you’re in a “good place.”……I was reflecting the other day about how lucky I am. When I think back on all the stupid crap I did growing up, it’s amazing I’ve made it this far. I’ve worked hard over the years, but that’s not all of it. I swear, “someone” must be looking out for me (an angel on my shoulder or some such thing)…..
A: I totally relate to the “angel on your shoulder” remark. Too many times my ass has been miraculously saved to be coincidence.
I probably shouldn’t add this but you already know I’m off the reservation: I believe that there are aspects of life that we’re not only unaware of but – by nature – are beyond human comprehension. Some of which might explain that sort of thing, how sometimes you know someone’s looking at you before you see them, prodigies, etc.
Some folks believe that we all share a common, cosmic, infinite consciousness – and by our individual physical, energetic and mental constitution (some of us have more Yin, less Yang – and visa versa) somehow are drawn to – or repelled – by similarly-constituted people, circumstances – and, here’s the leap into Crazytown – that – somehow we can communicate subconsciously.
Clearly two embodied beings can communicate subconsciously. If you believe that you ARE your “consciousness” (rather than that aging bag of water and bones) – and that consciousness survives the cessation of your body’s functioning – why can’t that disembodied consciousness communicate “subconsciously” with an embodied consciousness? Wouldn’t it be fun to “stick around” after your body stops working and watch out for your kids?
Like I said….off the reservation…
J: I spoke with a woman recently who has some of your same beliefs. Or at least they sound similar. Very interesting, very educated woman who taught at Oxford, etc.
A: a lot of it is from a 2500 year old text – sort of the original self-help guide to life: it’s all about self awareness: looking at everything objectively; learning to control both our physical and mental “aspects” (i.e., there’s no need to – nor is it possible to – affect your “consciousness”) – so that we can act in a “balanced” manner, and better cope with life’s heartaches.
It’s a “universally applicable, though individually applied” course of conduct which becomes self-perpetuating: if it feels good to stop banging your fist against the wall – it may feel good to stop banging your head against it too!
I’m convinced that people were at least as smart 2500 years ago as we are now – frankly, probably smarter. All we have that they didn’t is the benefit of other people’s experience.
The text itself is fewer than 200 sentences; written in what’s been called a perfect (e.g., mathematically precise, “rich”) – albeit dead – language. The actual script is “linguistically succinct”, communicating so much more than the translated English. The thing is like a philosophical rubik’s cube. Granted I’m a bit slow, but I’ve spent 12 years ruminating on just the first 100 sentences. 😉
Because it’s an individual practice – and because the author didn’t leave behind any notes on how to interpret his “poem” – while most people agree on its main themes, there are countless interpretations – and in this country unfortunately (in my opinion) most of those are commercially-driven.
I feel like Don Quixote – trying to #bringbackpatanjali. Someone named Patanjali is credited with writing the Yoga Sutras some 2500 years ago; I love the fact that the guy didn’t somehow “sign” his work; he anonymously gave humanity a path to individual – and thus by definition, our collective – or global peace; if that isn’t what the world needs now, I don’t know what is!
The thing is like a cryptic treasure map to lifelong bliss. Here it is in a nutshell: we can choose to see everything as miraculous – even if “only” statistically – and act accordingly – knowing that EVERYTHING that has EVER happened HAD to happen EXACTLY as it did in order for you to be reading this – or in short, “everyone take a fuckin’ chill pill!”
It’s universal in part because we’re encouraged to act out of devotion to whatever we personally have faith in (encouraging us to find faith in something, or to turbocharging our existing faith – in a “devoting your life to someone or something provides strength of purpose” kinda way.
Love you. Thanks for the chance to “download” some of what’s rattling round in my mental aspect! Happy trails.
