Why is it that we age? Does how we approach our life during our living years have a deeply profound effect on how we conduct our selves through our older years. Yes, our body eventually physically breaks down, the efficiency of our cellular prodeuction becomes deminished, this process is faster for some than it is for others, nevertheless we are carbon based life forms, therefore our bodies have a physical expiry date of some form. What I would like to concentrate on is what we do we with ourselves when we are in our latter years. Is how we act when we are younger directly influence how we act when we are older? Let me provide an example; If a man or woman leads a very selfish life does that portray through to their later years? The same applies to any character trait or succession of one's life. I am attempting to not generalize to extremely, I realize that individuals are highly influenced by many factors, such as age, sex, culture, religion, sexual orientation, history (both collective and individual), experiences adn so fourth. What I am attempting to convay is that by an individual living a certain way throughout their life in how their psyche functions, does this way of living directly affect their life in latter years?
Another example, lets dive in tio the concept a person being quite lazy in their approach to life, whilst growing, throughout the adult years and in to their older years. We are all aware of the fact that one of the factors contributing to rapid aging is the fact that we slow down, both mentally and physically, we do less and age quicker. If on is lazy throughout their life, and continues to be lazy through their older years, do they die a pre mature death, do they purposly end their life early, by not being as physical as what they could be, by not maintaining a sharp mind, via practice of any sort. I am not interested in genetically gifted persons, this is not the point I am attemoting to convey.
We must attempt to contemplate on this question? Do we age because we cease to try, we cease to dive in to challenges, in to testing ourselves, in to pushing our being? Or do we age because society says that we must, that once we reach a certain age we believe it is time to stop? I believe these false beliefs are what slow us down, is what kills us pre maturely.
It comes down to one important defining factor, knowing thyself, on as many levels as possible, the only one to do this is to constantly push ourselves, that is how we learn our limits, test our being, make ourselves uncomfortable then find a way back to comfort. Who are we really? why are we? and what governs our existance? Is it our environment that surrounds us and what it contains responsible for what and how we think? Yes ofcourse, BUT, we are responsible for what we do with that information, and how it is processed internally. Again I am well aware that this is circular, the way we process is also influenced by that which surrounds us, as we influence it, BUT again, we should not allow collective ideas govern our existance without carefull thought, reflection and consideration in to the details of all this...
Namaste
SS
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
29.10.08 - Thought of the Day...
How does one psychologically and emotionally disasociate themselves from love, from friendship, from knowing something all of their lives, from understanding and being surrounded by that energy for the most part of their lives, then in one instance in time that energy at a certain level ceases to exist, it simply disapears... Death, how does the human person understand death? How does the human person prepare for death? To prepare for something efficiently, adequately and with inner content and satisfaction we must know in full or at the very least as close to possible what we are pareparing for? how do we prepare for death, our own, another's, how? Death is something that belongs in it's own category, in it's own space, is death something that can be prepared for? can we conditionion ourselves sincerely to death, or is it something that appears to be conditioned for but in reality is a process that is simply surpressed.
The pain at so many levels that accompany death is immense, intense and at the least confusing. Does one understand death via pathways of acceptance? Do we simply accept death as part of life (which it obviously is) a stage of life which is necessary for all, physically but also for our psychological growth, when truly a loved one physically dies we are forced to deal with inner conflict, grief, sadness, anger, an array of intense usually negative emotions that can define either negatively or positively the human person, this is growth, if we as individuals allow growth to take place through critical self reflection, deeper states of consciousness and an attempt to know oneself at a very different level.
What is death though, what significance does it hold with societies? As a method of dealing with death has the human person constructed a mythical or spiritual place where we all go, another destination, a new life begins, one road ends, another starts. Is this all created to simply satisfy the not knowing in all of us? Is death the cause of spirituality, that of abstract thoughts, the divine and more, or is death simply a process, which enables us to know all these truths which exist beyond our primary physical senses?
I leave on that note, I leave by stating that many answers and truths lay in the concept of death and its pyschological and physical act...
namaste...
SS
The pain at so many levels that accompany death is immense, intense and at the least confusing. Does one understand death via pathways of acceptance? Do we simply accept death as part of life (which it obviously is) a stage of life which is necessary for all, physically but also for our psychological growth, when truly a loved one physically dies we are forced to deal with inner conflict, grief, sadness, anger, an array of intense usually negative emotions that can define either negatively or positively the human person, this is growth, if we as individuals allow growth to take place through critical self reflection, deeper states of consciousness and an attempt to know oneself at a very different level.
What is death though, what significance does it hold with societies? As a method of dealing with death has the human person constructed a mythical or spiritual place where we all go, another destination, a new life begins, one road ends, another starts. Is this all created to simply satisfy the not knowing in all of us? Is death the cause of spirituality, that of abstract thoughts, the divine and more, or is death simply a process, which enables us to know all these truths which exist beyond our primary physical senses?
I leave on that note, I leave by stating that many answers and truths lay in the concept of death and its pyschological and physical act...
namaste...
SS
Friday, October 24, 2008
25.10.08 - A message from a friend...
Let us not dwell excessively in the world of theory and subjectivity. To absorb the teachings of those who have gone before us is only useful in understanding where we are in our spiritual journey.
That is not to disregard the intelligence of humanity – those who have committed their lives to expanding their physical minds, to bring others a greater understanding of our physical journey.
If these comments seem simplistic in relation to how much we think we “know” – consider this – life as most people live it, is made up of doing what we have to do, dreaming about what we’d like to do and wondering what it is we should be doing.
Through the ages we quest for a greater understanding of ourselves, of the world as we see it around us.
All of this becomes irrelevant once we are able to un-focus from our upside down reality and understand, all is as it should be.
This does not disregard the poverty, the world at war, the greed, the corruption – but where do you choose to focus? It is not time right now for equilibrium, we are a work in progress.
The answer is simple in life once you “know”. Now listen with the ears of the soul, look with your heart, not with your eyes; “Knowing” is the gift of oneness with the universe, shining through the veil of our humanity, an attainment we all reach at different times.
Consider if you could follow the journey and separate one drop of water in the vastness of our oceans – it is this we try to analyse.
When we feel connectedness to all that is in nature, feel love, euphoria,empathy and compassion for our brothers and sisters, when injustice cuts us to the core in our earthly body – this is our connection to all that is, to unconditional love, to the cosmos.
The cosmos is us, we are all each other, all connected. Such is the illusion of separation , of perceived reality in our journey home.
To those of you who know and love me, who know the mistakes I have made and roads I have walked, to falter yet seek my spiritual path with such unwavering faith and optimistic joy – to understand so much at one level and still succumb to painful lessons – aahh – such is the paradox of spirituality within the shell of humanity.
Would not change one step of my journey. Walk with faith and joy my brothers and sisters.
Arohanui (all my love)
Marangi Ahorangi Tautoru
That is not to disregard the intelligence of humanity – those who have committed their lives to expanding their physical minds, to bring others a greater understanding of our physical journey.
If these comments seem simplistic in relation to how much we think we “know” – consider this – life as most people live it, is made up of doing what we have to do, dreaming about what we’d like to do and wondering what it is we should be doing.
Through the ages we quest for a greater understanding of ourselves, of the world as we see it around us.
All of this becomes irrelevant once we are able to un-focus from our upside down reality and understand, all is as it should be.
This does not disregard the poverty, the world at war, the greed, the corruption – but where do you choose to focus? It is not time right now for equilibrium, we are a work in progress.
The answer is simple in life once you “know”. Now listen with the ears of the soul, look with your heart, not with your eyes; “Knowing” is the gift of oneness with the universe, shining through the veil of our humanity, an attainment we all reach at different times.
Consider if you could follow the journey and separate one drop of water in the vastness of our oceans – it is this we try to analyse.
When we feel connectedness to all that is in nature, feel love, euphoria,empathy and compassion for our brothers and sisters, when injustice cuts us to the core in our earthly body – this is our connection to all that is, to unconditional love, to the cosmos.
The cosmos is us, we are all each other, all connected. Such is the illusion of separation , of perceived reality in our journey home.
To those of you who know and love me, who know the mistakes I have made and roads I have walked, to falter yet seek my spiritual path with such unwavering faith and optimistic joy – to understand so much at one level and still succumb to painful lessons – aahh – such is the paradox of spirituality within the shell of humanity.
Would not change one step of my journey. Walk with faith and joy my brothers and sisters.
Arohanui (all my love)
Marangi Ahorangi Tautoru
Saturday, October 11, 2008
11.10.08 - Thought of the day...
What exactly is evolution from a cultural perspective? How do we measure evolution? Is it based on interpretation or does evolution have some methodological, scientific value and definition? I think that evolution is a very deep topic at every level, and there are so many elements that effect true evolution. I do not want a dictionary definition of evolution, or a scientific one, I would prefer to think openly about it and adjust my position as the topic of evolution changes forum. For example social evolution differs greatly from technological evolution. I see evolution as adaption and growth. Again the problem here is how do we define growth? What measuring apparatus do we refer to; numerical or abstract notions such as wisdom? Intelligence (another complex issue, various cultures measure intelligence in different ways, what western culture consider important for intelligence to be present, a tribe in east Africa wouldn’t) it becomes problematic when so many factors come in to play, there is such difference in this world, socially, culturally, emotionally, the way we function, eat, sleep, practices, the way we conduct ourselves relationally, various religions and spiritual beliefs, the list goes on...
The major point that must be taken away is that diversity breeds adaptive qualities for that specific environment. Specificity plays a large part within the context of evolution. Comments were thrown; “why haven’t the Aboriginal people ‘evolved’ or developed, like the English”. This is ignorant, but by no means am I attacking the person who stated this comment, it is by no fault of theirs that they repeated this comment, they, as we all are, are products of our environments, history, families, media, dominant views within society, the list goes on. Many a time as I still do put my foot in my mouth, it is good to do so, ONLY if we learn, in the sense that we reflect upon what we believe, think, say and feel, that is our responsibility, once we have that knowledge or awareness, it is then our duty, our moral obligation to ourselves foremost then those around us, to change, adapt and ‘evolve’ our position. Interesting, back to the comment, based on this, which I acknowledge is my own personal belief based on many before me, from that line of thought, I believe that is the colonizers which could not adapt to their environment successfully or have the capacity to understand diverse cultures and integrate ‘civilly’. Civilization is part of evolution and quite frankly any colonization throughout history really hasn’t been done civilly, where is the evolution here? It seems that Indigenous tribes and Native tribes seem to be far more evolved socially, morally and spiritually than Western civilization. These attributions are an integral part to human existence; technological evolution seems minute compared to the above. Not to misplace the importance of technology, as it is important, and if we trace back through history we can see how evolution on various levels has affected the human race both positively and negatively. This is standard, this is how the human person evolves, through trial, application, then learning and adapting the new more improved skill, but if there is no need for change, why reinvent the wheel? Does this indicate that because there is no tender, no infrastructure and no alphabet, that the Indigenous people are primitive? I somehow doubt so, technology has provided us with much greatness, astronomy, accommodating population growth for survival purposes, cosmology, oceanography, and much, much more, but it has also caused disease, pollution, death, the list again goes on. Because of this more technology is required to fix the past technology, and so the cycle continues? Is that progress? Truly is that evolution? Its adaption, its intelligent, because we are adapting to our evolving and ever changing environment. But Indigenous tribes never required such radical advancements in technology. Indigenous tribes adapted without destruction, isn’t that intelligent, to gain and continue life without the chaos, without draining recourses from the land at a rapid rate? I am well aware that population density amongst Indigenous tribes compared to Western civilization differs dramatically, and that this could have a grand effect on how both civilizations function, but to state that Indigenous tribes are not civilized, advanced as a society or have become ‘evolved’ I feel is ill informed. Because evolution is adaption, Indigenous tribes have adapted marvellously, taking from the land in regards to recourses yet maintaining a harmony and balance where they do not deplete and pollute, or harm the land. Whereas Western civilization struggles to find balance between survival and allowing adequate space for others in the future, we then have foresight, respect, resourcefulness, understanding of habitat and environment, in depth knowledge of the land that is lived on, health, vitality, immunity to harsh external environmental conditions, strength of physical body, deep culture, mythology and history and respect for all living beings. This and more is what Indigenous tribes have, to me this seems extremely civilized.
SS
The major point that must be taken away is that diversity breeds adaptive qualities for that specific environment. Specificity plays a large part within the context of evolution. Comments were thrown; “why haven’t the Aboriginal people ‘evolved’ or developed, like the English”. This is ignorant, but by no means am I attacking the person who stated this comment, it is by no fault of theirs that they repeated this comment, they, as we all are, are products of our environments, history, families, media, dominant views within society, the list goes on. Many a time as I still do put my foot in my mouth, it is good to do so, ONLY if we learn, in the sense that we reflect upon what we believe, think, say and feel, that is our responsibility, once we have that knowledge or awareness, it is then our duty, our moral obligation to ourselves foremost then those around us, to change, adapt and ‘evolve’ our position. Interesting, back to the comment, based on this, which I acknowledge is my own personal belief based on many before me, from that line of thought, I believe that is the colonizers which could not adapt to their environment successfully or have the capacity to understand diverse cultures and integrate ‘civilly’. Civilization is part of evolution and quite frankly any colonization throughout history really hasn’t been done civilly, where is the evolution here? It seems that Indigenous tribes and Native tribes seem to be far more evolved socially, morally and spiritually than Western civilization. These attributions are an integral part to human existence; technological evolution seems minute compared to the above. Not to misplace the importance of technology, as it is important, and if we trace back through history we can see how evolution on various levels has affected the human race both positively and negatively. This is standard, this is how the human person evolves, through trial, application, then learning and adapting the new more improved skill, but if there is no need for change, why reinvent the wheel? Does this indicate that because there is no tender, no infrastructure and no alphabet, that the Indigenous people are primitive? I somehow doubt so, technology has provided us with much greatness, astronomy, accommodating population growth for survival purposes, cosmology, oceanography, and much, much more, but it has also caused disease, pollution, death, the list again goes on. Because of this more technology is required to fix the past technology, and so the cycle continues? Is that progress? Truly is that evolution? Its adaption, its intelligent, because we are adapting to our evolving and ever changing environment. But Indigenous tribes never required such radical advancements in technology. Indigenous tribes adapted without destruction, isn’t that intelligent, to gain and continue life without the chaos, without draining recourses from the land at a rapid rate? I am well aware that population density amongst Indigenous tribes compared to Western civilization differs dramatically, and that this could have a grand effect on how both civilizations function, but to state that Indigenous tribes are not civilized, advanced as a society or have become ‘evolved’ I feel is ill informed. Because evolution is adaption, Indigenous tribes have adapted marvellously, taking from the land in regards to recourses yet maintaining a harmony and balance where they do not deplete and pollute, or harm the land. Whereas Western civilization struggles to find balance between survival and allowing adequate space for others in the future, we then have foresight, respect, resourcefulness, understanding of habitat and environment, in depth knowledge of the land that is lived on, health, vitality, immunity to harsh external environmental conditions, strength of physical body, deep culture, mythology and history and respect for all living beings. This and more is what Indigenous tribes have, to me this seems extremely civilized.
SS
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