"THE PERFECT WORLD"

God of lost souls, thou who art lost amongst the gods, hear me:
Gentle Destiny that watchest over us, mad, wandering spirits, hear me:
I dwell in the midst of a perfect race, I the most imperfect.
I, a human chaos, a nebula of confused elements, I move amongst finished worlds --
peoples of complete laws and pure order, whose thoughts are assorted, whose dreams are arranged, and whose visions are enrolled and registered.
Their virtues, O God, are measured, their sins are weighed,
and even the countless things
that pass in the dim twilight of neither sin nor virtue are recorded and catalogued.
Here days and nights are divided into seasons of conduct
and governed by rules of blameless accuracy.
To eat, to drink, to sleep, to cover one's nudity, and then to be weary in due time.
To work, to play, to sing, to dance, and then to lie still when the clock strikes the hour.
To think thus, to feel thus much, and then to cease thinking and feeling when a certain star rises above yonder horizon.
To rob a neighbour with a smile, to bestow gifts with a graceful wave of the hand,
to praise prudently, to blame cautiously, to destroy a soul with a word,
to burn a body with a breath, and then to wash the hands when the day's work is done.
To love according to an established order,
to entertain one's best self in a pre-conceived manner,
to worship the gods becomingly,
to intrigue the devils artfully --
and then to forget all as though memory were dead.
To fancy with a motive, to contemplate with consideration, to be happy sweetly, to suffer nobly -- and then to empty the cup so that tomorrow may fill it again.
All these things, O God, are conceived with forethought, born with determination, nursed with exactness, governed by rules,
directed by reason, and then slain and buried after a prescribed method.
And even their silent graves that lie within the human soul are marked and numbered.
It is a perfect world, a world of consummate excellence,
a world of supreme wonders, the ripest fruit in God's garden,
the master-thought of the universe.
But why should I be here, O God,
I a green seed of unfulfilled passion, a mad tempest that seeketh neither east nor west,
a bewildered fragment from a burnt planet?

Why am I here, O God of lost souls, thou who art lost amongst the gods?

- Gibran Khalil

The Mask I'm wearing..

"Don't be fooled by me. Don't be fooled by the face I wear.
I wear a mask.
I wear a thousand masks - masks that I am afraid to take off, and none of them are me.
Pretending is an art that is second nature to me, but don't be fooled. For my sake, don't be fooled.
I give the impression that I am at peace, that all is sunny and unruffled within me as well as without, that confidence is my name and coolness my game; that the water is calm and I am in command, and that I need no-one.
But don't believe me please. My surface may seem very smooth, but my surface is my mask, my ever-varying and ever- concealing mask. Beneath lies no smugness, no compliance. Beneath dwells the real me in confusion, in fear, in aloneness. I hide that. I don't want anybody to know it. I panic at the thought of my weakness and fear being exposed.
That's why I frantically create a mask to hide behind - non-chalant, sophisticated facade - to help me pretend, to sheild me from the glance that knows. But such a glance is precisely my liberation, my only peace, and I know it.
That is, it's followed by acceptance if it's followed by love. It's the only thing that can liberate me from myself, from my own self built prison wall, from the barriers I so painstakingly erect.
It's the only thing that can assure me of what I can't assure myself - that I am really something...
I am who I am ? Who am I ? You may wonder. I am someone you know very well. I am every man you meet. I am every woman you meet. I am every child you meet. I am right in front of you."Please - LOVE me !"

ANNOYANCES

Because your mind minds it, it annoys you. But my mind does not mind it, it just quietly watches it, that's why it does not annoy me, like it does you.

Dont mistake the inessential for the essential, and the essential for the inessential!

This unquestionably - as read by me was so stated by the Lord, was so stated by the Arahat:

"For the noble friend, who by will, who fully aware, who delibereately brin infinite, boundless and endless friendliness into being, this mountain like limitless Goodwill makes any substrate evaporate, the chains of mind, the mental fetter wears thin, slender and slack. If one without ill will cares for even one single living being, such one through that becomes quite skilled and clever, so far more the case for the Noble Friend, who by possessing a caring heart for all sentient beings without any even single exception, accumulates massive - yeah! - monumental amounts of merit!

Those Kings, gurus and priests who sacrifies life, objects of fire, who baths ceremoniously, devoted to mere forms and empty ritual, blindly attached to and obsessed by culture, tradition of ancient and unknown habit, do not ever experience even a sixteenth of the Release of Mind by Friendliness fully brought into being, just like the vagueness of even all the stars together, cannot neither ever outshine the moon. Since there cannot be any animosity whatsoever, nor enmity at all, neither any even atomic trace of hostility in a Nobly Released One, who by caring indicriminatelty and infinitely for all living beings, who by possessing such treasure of a Mind Relased into Firendliness, simply cannot never ever suppress, harm, repress nor kill any being, and cannot niether never ever cause antother to suppress, harm, repres or kill any breathing being.'

Source from the Pali Tiptaka, which are the 56 volume ancient sacred scriptues of the Buddhist, recited and compiled 483 BC, approximately 4 months after Buddhas death.

Comment:

Even minor Goodwill breaks major barriers, ever spreading like sweet rings in water!

What then to say about infinite Goodwill! Such forceful tidal wave of pure loving-care cannot ever be restrained nor surpassed.

MAKE MIND LIKE A SMILING MOUNTAIN!

:o)

Free Will - Yes or No?

I strongly believe in the saying that - Where there is a Will there is Way..

.. BUT I also started reflecting on Free Will. Its a controversial subject.

Are we the captain of the ship? Or, are we living our destiny - our past deeds, our Karma?

Here is what Robert Anton Wilson has to say from a scienftic perspective:

"All your joys and your sorrows, your memories and your ambitions, your sense of personal identity and free-will, are in fact no more than the behavior of a vast assembly of nerve cells and their associated molecules"

hmm.. Is there a self? May be its too early to discuss that subject. So lets concentrate on.. IS there such thing as Free Will or do we live a pre-defined pattern ?

Arthur Schopenhauer put the puzzle of free will and moral responsibility in these terms:
Everyone believes himself a priori to be perfectly free, even in his individual actions, and thinks that at every moment he can commence another manner of life. ... But a posteriori, through experience, he finds to his astonishment that he is not free, but subjected to necessity, that in spite of all his resolutions and reflections he does not change his conduct, and that from the beginning of his life to the end of it, he must carry out the very character which he himself condemns...."

Cause and Effect. Its called determinism, Free Will vs Determinism..

We are limited according to the laws of the universe, in our choices to x. Moreover, we are limited to our subconsious imprint,. WE will always make a choice that reflects our behaviour pattern, we might believe its Free and Independent however it is not.

UNTIL we are aware that we always react in the same way, until we say NO to our inner programming and choose be anew, to think differently, to react differently.. Until then we are a prisoners to our mind, to our self.. and there is no trace of Free Will.

My conlusion is that only liberated and enlightened beings can be Free of Will, Free of Cause & Effect, Free of limitations..

Down the Rabbit Hole

Through a coincidence I came across the "What the Bleep do we know anyway?" movie, which I have started watching a couple of days ago.. Its amazing how quantum physics, philosophy and spirituality all come together to form this blossoming lotus filled with unity, peace and love.. This movie is about getting a true insight into reality, and not about gaining anything for self-serving purposes.

The latest version is called "Down the Rabbit Hole", which you can find on http://www.whatthebleep.com/

Although I assume that most of my readers have already watched this movie, however for those of you who havent please stop what you are doing right now and go and get it..

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin." our beloved Mother Theresa..

To Infinity and Beyond

When you try to imagine infintiy, what comes to mind? I immediately visualise never-ending Space. But infinity is much more than that, it may be the answer to our never-ending questions.. May be ;-)

Bertrand Russell said very rightly: "If any philosopher had been asked for a definition of infinity, he might have produced some unintelligible rigmarole, but he would certainly not have been able to give a definition that had any meaning at all."

May be we have to re-phrase our question, rather then asking what is infinity we should ask what does infinity mean? How can infinity be applied to our every day living?


Douglas Adams points it with humor:

"It is known that there are an infinte number of worlds, simply because there is an infinite amount of space for them to be in. However, not every one of them is inhabited. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of all the planets in the Universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the whole Universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely products of a deranged imagination."

Well the opinions may vary here.. To be or not be? Lets just accept the undebiable fact that we somehow think that we exist, hence lets look at the way infinity influences our world.

A very interesting point that Jean-Jacques Rousseau made is this:

"Falsehood has an infinity of combinations, but truth has only one mode of being." Is there anyone, who will deny this fact? Although, as I wrote in earlier posts, RIGHT and WRONG can vary from being to being, from perception to perception, however TRUTH undeniably has only one mode of being. Agree?


William Wordsworth further stated: "Suffering is permanent, obscure and dark, And shares the nature of infinity". This is very similar the Buddhist Teachings, which in my words has this underlying message:

.. for eons humas have been reborn.. suffering they choose, trapped like a mouse in a cage, walking the scroll wheel, over and over again. Yet they choose to come back, to do exactly what they have done before..


H. P Lovecraft sheds further light into this mystery: "We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far." May be it is right what Thomas More said: "By confronting us with irreducible mysteries that stretch our daily vision to include infinity, nature opens an inviting and guiding path toward a spiritual life." Somethings we can simply not describe by words, only with feeling with faith, with awareness can they be understood. "Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of finitude we are surrounded by possibilities that are infinite, and the purpose of life is to grasp as much as we can out of that infinitude" - Alfred North Whitehead

I would like to close this post with Swami Sivananda's quote: "Meditation is the dissolution of thoughts in Eternal awareness or Pure consciousness without objectification, knowing without thinking, merging finitude in infinity."

I can only encourage you to meditate. And I can promise you that it will bring calmness, and insight if practiced right. If you are confused and looking for a way out. Meditate and be here in the now. The answers will come to you effortlessly.

BE!

- mehtap

The Tao of Pooh

"Well, what do you think, Pooh?" I said. "Think about what?" asked Pooh. "The Tao of Pooh, of course." "The how of Pooh?" asked Pooh. "Do we have to go through that again?" I said. "Go through what again?" asked Pooh. ""The Tao of Pooh," I said. "What's the Tao of Pooh?" "You know - the Uncarved Block, the Cottleston Pie Principle, the Pooh Way, That Sort of Bear, and all that." "Oh," said Pooh. "That's the Tao of Pooh," I said. "Oh," said Pooh. "How would you describe it?" I asked. "Well ... this just came to me," he said, "I'll sing it to you." "All right." "Now, then ... (erhum),

To know the Way,

We go the Way;

We do the Way

The way we do

The things we do.

It's all there in front of you,

But if you try too hard to see it,

You'll only become Confused.

I am me,

And you are you,

As you can see;

But when you do

The things that you can do,

You will find the Way,

And the Way will follow you.

"That's what I think it is," he said. "Perfect," I said, "But you know, don't you ..." "Know what?" said Pooh. "It's the same thing." "Oh," said Pooh, "so it is."

Contradiction

I wonder, why do people always want to be right?

Am not exluding myself.

Why cant we be happy about not being right?

The more progress happens, the stronger our individual egos become, it seems. We think our opinions are the only ones, we are narrow minded regardless of you us perceiving ourselves as openminded. Bullshit! Excuse my French :)

Why is it so difficult to listen? Why do we shut down our attention when it comes to a discussion, which is opposite to our opinion?

Why do we cling so much??

Why cant everyone be right?

Bottomline, we all have different parents, different cultures, different beliefs, different traditions, different languages, different EXPERIENCES.. Does that mean one is better than the other? Doese that mean one is right and one is wrong?

When we cut our finger, blood comes out. There we go, that makes us equal. We will all die. Thats an ultimate truth, huh? We all laugh, we all cry, we all grief.. hmmm you too?? We all eat, we all .. well you know..

So what is it that makes us sooo different?

Because once upon a time, someone draw a line in the country.. '..Now my people This is X and Y is your enemy..' Its actually funny thinking about that.. :) Seperate Territorium. Land is land. Right? So, then why are we radicals, fashists, patriots, proud to be this and that.. :) Sweety, proud of what?? You came to be through the same way as I did. Lets be friends, shall we? We have ATOM BOMBS? Who is going to push the button? Its a sad Joke!

Oohh you are jewish and you are muslims? Well thats different? Why is that different?

We are living in the 21st century. We have science and mathematics.. We have opportunities. At least some of us.. Shouldnt we be role models.. Why choose differentness?

I choose sameness, and I excuse myself and us, in the only thing that makes us different. And that is Experience, which makes the mind perceive things in diffent ways. So I excuse us when we are harsh, self centered, griedy, fundamentalistic, etc etc.. Its ok than you have seen differently, and you are right from your point of you. And I am right, from my point of you.

Its ok. Understanding will lead us further. Understanding eachother, and offering a helping hand will lead us further. In loosining up, in not taking ourselves so seriously will lead us further.

It will lead us further in a good way.

I hope.

Hand in Hand in 2008

In 2008 ..

I wish that we ALL become calmer and eventually find our inner-peace. I wish that we become more understanding and more compassionate, towards one and other.

I wish that hence the world becomes more peaceful and a bit wiser... I wish..

------------


The greatest achievement is selflessness.


The greatest worth is self-mastery.


The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.


The greatest precept is continual awareness.


The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.


The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.


The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.


The greatest generosity is non-attachment.


The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.


The greatest patience is humility.


The greatest effort is not concerned with results.


The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.


The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.


Atisha

Can a face see itself without a mirror?

Morpheus:
It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes, to blind you from the truth.

Neo: What truth?

Morpheus:
That you are a slave, Neo. Like everyone else, you were born into bondage, born into a prison that you cannot smell, or taste, or touch... a prison for your mind.

Agent Smith:
I must get free, and in this mind is the key, my key.

I can open you the door but its up to you to enter!

Let me ask you how can you be so happy and contend with the things you have, when your friend or neighbour or some human being suffers immensely from some misfortune. How is it that we became so Ego centered. Its always me me me me.. Stop it! I can barely hear the silence.. Its so loud!

I feel sad!

Sagen - durfte ich nie das. To say – I could never that.

Sagen - was ich wirklich dachte. To say – what I really thought.

Sagen - was ich wirklich fühlte. To say – what I really felt.

Sagen - was mich wirklich bewegte. To say – what really moved me.

Sagen - was mich ärgerte. To say – what really annoyed me.

Sagen - was mich freute. To say – what made me happy.

Sagen - was mir Angst machte. To say – what I was afraid of.

Sagen - was ich wollte. To say – what I wanted to say.

Sagen - durfte ich immer nur das. To say – I was only allowed to..

Sagen - was andere für richtig empfanden. To say – what others thought of being right.

Sagen - was andere dachten. To say – what others thought.

Sagen - was andere fühlten. To say – what others felt.

Sagen - was andere bewegte. To say – what moved others.

Sagen - was andere ärgerte. To say – what made others angry.

Sagen - was andere freute. To say – what made others happy.

Sagen - was andern Angst machte. To say – what others were afraid of.

Sagen - was andere wollten. To say – what other wanted me to say.

JETZT SAGE ICH WAS ICH WILL !

BUT NOW I SAY WHAT I WANT!

Quote for the YEAR

If I accept you as you are, I will make you worse; however, if I treat you as though you are
what you are capable of becoming, I help you become that.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Eternal Recurrence

"What, if some day or night a demon were to steal after you into your loneliest loneliness and say to you: 'This life as you now live it and have lived it, you will have to live once more and innumerable times more' ... Would you not throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse the demon who spoke thus? Or have you once experienced a tremendous moment when you would have answered him: 'You are a god and never have I heard anything more divine." - Nietzsche (The Gay Science)

The name

NOAH remember !!!

IF...

"Knowledge, skill and ability are conducive to success and benefit, and are auspicious omens, good in their own right regardless of the movements of the heavenly bodies. With the benefits gained from these qualities, one will completely outstrip those foolish people who just sit making their astrological calculations. " And: " If the water in rivers (such as Ganges) could really wash away sins and suffering, then the turtles, crabs, fish and shellfish living in those sacred rivers ought by now to be freed of their sins and sufferings too." And: " If a man could eliminate suffering by making offerings, paying homage and praying, there would be no one subject to suffering left in the world, because anyone somehow can pay homage and pray. But since people are still subject to suffering while in the very act of making obeisances, paying homage and performing rites, this is clearly not the way to gain liberation."

- says Buddha

Undeserving of L O V E

Abandon everything that contradicts logic and experience!

Lost my sense of daily living..

Have I lived up to my own expectations? NO! Have not. Am I unable, is my being unable? So it seems. It seems we are all our worst enemy. Today is an exampalary day..



Everything seems so undeserving to me.. Everything cries and bleeds, with hopeless eyes. This illusion has captured us. We are confused "what is right" "what is wrong", is there such thing. What makes you better than me.. Or better, is there any YOU or ME? Your purity, your calmness, your angelic views of life. Whose is that? Why all of this? Man what is the purpose. We are tired of analysing..



There is no such thing as inherent existence they say. Reflect on it they say. They say you dont exists, neither anyone else. The mind and body exists, but there isnt any you in it. Perception through senses exist, thoughts exists, hence conciousness.. But no U exists. Try to realise this. It currently enwraps my whole being.. I catch myself denying it. Catch myself diving into ignorance. Ignorance is the root of all suffering they say. Learn, understand they say. Abandon all that contradicts logic and experience they say. Dont believe blindly they say. Compassion is the highest good they say. How can they lie? They say everything is conditioned, impermanent. Nothing lasts forever, no happiness, no breath.. Dettach, seclude, concentrate, clear.. Dont get caught in Mayas trap they say.



Do not stress yourself, find your peace. On your own record. Slowly but surely.. they say!



And it confuses me more, makes me cry everyday. Lost my sense for daily things. Cant find myself anymore. What is this all about?

FEAR

"...these fears that fell to my lot out of every day stirred a hundred other fears, and they stood up in me against me and agreed among themselves, and I couldn't get beyond them. In striving to form them, I came to work creatively on them ; instead of making them into things of my will, I only gave them a life of their own which they turned against me..."

-Selected Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke