The gonzo zen newsletter 030508 : movies politics philosophy pie
“Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes.” - Alan Watts
Gotta start that blog then ya’all can look or no. This is a long one.
Important Things First – Friday after next is PI DAY (3.14)
ALL ARE INVITED TO OUR PLACE - COME EAT PIE - discuss the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter or how the symbol for pi kinda looks like the symbol for Buddha if you don’t look too close.
Gotta start that blog then ya’all can look or no. This is a long one.
Important Things First – Friday after next is PI DAY (3.14)
ALL ARE INVITED TO OUR PLACE - COME EAT PIE - discuss the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter or how the symbol for pi kinda looks like the symbol for Buddha if you don’t look too close.
Tradition (beginning now) calls for ya’ll to bring a pie, (but not mandatory), and taste some of ours. I take a liberal definition of pie; Pizza Pie, Quiche, Pasties, Cheesecake whatever – if it’s round and bigger than your face and you bake it, (or maybe you don’t) – I’ll call it pie.- RSVP VIA EMAIL
MOVIES:
I noted a whole lot of movies I've collected beginning with (for Di) – “My Kid Could Paint That” and ending with Mahabharata, {being the discussion of human goals (artha or purpose, kāma or pleasure, dharma or duty, and moksha or liberation), attempting to explain the relationship of the individual to society and the world (the nature of the 'Self') and the workings of karma.} That’s why it’s so long. Same for this email.
I noted a whole lot of movies I've collected beginning with (for Di) – “My Kid Could Paint That” and ending with Mahabharata, {being the discussion of human goals (artha or purpose, kāma or pleasure, dharma or duty, and moksha or liberation), attempting to explain the relationship of the individual to society and the world (the nature of the 'Self') and the workings of karma.} That’s why it’s so long. Same for this email.
Economy:
Read an interesting article on the free economy it’s from a cover story in Wired magazine, (the issue was offered free for awhile but now is only almost free), Anderson describes why free and almost free are so different, and why respect and attention are so scarce and valuable they are a commodity. You probably knew that but there were some eye openers to me.
Read an interesting article on the free economy it’s from a cover story in Wired magazine, (the issue was offered free for awhile but now is only almost free), Anderson describes why free and almost free are so different, and why respect and attention are so scarce and valuable they are a commodity. You probably knew that but there were some eye openers to me.
There are people who seem to have found a way to Make Money Around Free Content .Looking at diet and vegan/vegitarian nutrition lead me to StevePavlina.com (personal development for smart people – and you know who you are). Along with his tips on why not to get a job and how-to-make-money-from-your-blog, but don’t look at his wife’s link – she’s defiantly a Crystal head. I jest but I’ll be back to read more of his stuff. His latest, entitled Hopeless Situations offers advice to foreclosure victims that reminds me of Bobby Knights advice to rape victims to “relax and try to enjoy it”. If it wasn’t so callously insensitive it would be zen.
That led me to Elisa’s Green Scene who led me to Guy Kawasaki’s latest endeavor- an aggregator of green sites. I’ve read his “The Art of the Start”, and you may have heard of “Rules for Revolutionaries”. I remember the 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint and the definition of an elegant solution –“the simplicity on the far side of complexity”. He has a good mind mostly wasted on “marketing”. I believe he’s handicapped in his personal development by having been the initial marketing guy for the Mac. Too much success too early and he thinks it’s easy –was for him anyway.
I’m defiantly starting a blog – wanna be a co-owner-author-editor? Anyone? First I need a name and layout – suggestions in one week people. Maybe invent a fictitious blogger and his/her back-story, we’ll preach some zen without naming it or maybe we have to and throw in lots of Britney’s bear behind. Because according to the Society of Professional Journalists - International Journalism Blog Britney Spears' bare bottom is a good thing. “remember those National Geographic photo spreads of naked natives in Africa and South America. Well, now those naked natives can log on to the Internet at their local Web cafes and see pictures of us naked. And by us, I mean Britney Spears and Paris Hilton” Paris has exchanged her dog-in-a-purse for a fake Buddhist guru, you can not make this stuff up. So send me idea’s on what you’d like to see in a blog – what stuff would you go follow if you had the time? Got any blogs you frequent or subscribe to? And let me know if all these hyperlinks are a problem.
Speaking of journalism which leads of course to politics:
I nearly spent some time trying to sort out the chronology of the swirling music videos on the election. Obama Girl continues her run up the fame shalom with more video’s on utube leading to interviews by “mainstream press” to appearing on Saturday night live, which of course leads to more “traditional press coverage” – “tell us, Obama Girl – How did it feel to be a guest star on SNL?” I have to admit it brought a real guffaw to see it on the teevee.
In finding the video to post a link lead me to the AlterNet. I was intrigued by the video wars due to the sam-i-am video mash up of Obama quotes with celebrity quests – “Yes We Can” which Obama’s campaign posted on their site which was followed by the parody with McCain quotes “ No, You can’t” Not to be confused with “I Like Turtles”. If you haven’t seen them they are now part of American political History along with Pat Nixon’s republican cloth coat and Checkers the dog. Slates - The Obama Messiah Watch, Part 10 and Tina Fey’s editorial last week on SNL “Bitch is the new Black”. –along with the other SNL politic bits at the Huffington Post kind of represent a liberal backlash on Obaman .
Personally I’m a bit ambivalent about the dems. I was somewhat attracted to Edwards populism Hillary’s connection to better days, (for me anyway), (and I respect the power of bitch). I’m cynical enough to think it probably makes little difference but I’m hippie enough to think idea’s, attitude, and movements do make a difference. For what “appears” to be an optimistic youthful idealistic current behind Obama that might create real change. Because appearance is reality, in one sense, I’ve come to feel that just perhaps an overwhelming movement for change behind O could be a force for real change, regardless of whether he’s an opportunist seizing power because it’s available to him. The Zen of it is; whether he believes the rhetoric or not the more he “sells” it and the more it is “bought” the more “real” it becomes. It that sounds too much like manifesting intention, well - I guess I have a wee mystical streak in me. Musta been that mix of peyote and Castaneda back in the day. Speaking of which in looking up his name to get the spelling right, (Mark Twain said that the ability to spell denoted a lack of intelligence), I find yetanotherway.com, and Quantum Shamen, (Channeling, Gnosis, Silent Knowing, Toltec, Shaman, Ouija, Carlos Castaneda, Sorcery). One of the 9 billion names of god?
I nearly spent some time trying to sort out the chronology of the swirling music videos on the election. Obama Girl continues her run up the fame shalom with more video’s on utube leading to interviews by “mainstream press” to appearing on Saturday night live, which of course leads to more “traditional press coverage” – “tell us, Obama Girl – How did it feel to be a guest star on SNL?” I have to admit it brought a real guffaw to see it on the teevee.
In finding the video to post a link lead me to the AlterNet. I was intrigued by the video wars due to the sam-i-am video mash up of Obama quotes with celebrity quests – “Yes We Can” which Obama’s campaign posted on their site which was followed by the parody with McCain quotes “ No, You can’t” Not to be confused with “I Like Turtles”. If you haven’t seen them they are now part of American political History along with Pat Nixon’s republican cloth coat and Checkers the dog. Slates - The Obama Messiah Watch, Part 10 and Tina Fey’s editorial last week on SNL “Bitch is the new Black”. –along with the other SNL politic bits at the Huffington Post kind of represent a liberal backlash on Obaman .
Personally I’m a bit ambivalent about the dems. I was somewhat attracted to Edwards populism Hillary’s connection to better days, (for me anyway), (and I respect the power of bitch). I’m cynical enough to think it probably makes little difference but I’m hippie enough to think idea’s, attitude, and movements do make a difference. For what “appears” to be an optimistic youthful idealistic current behind Obama that might create real change. Because appearance is reality, in one sense, I’ve come to feel that just perhaps an overwhelming movement for change behind O could be a force for real change, regardless of whether he’s an opportunist seizing power because it’s available to him. The Zen of it is; whether he believes the rhetoric or not the more he “sells” it and the more it is “bought” the more “real” it becomes. It that sounds too much like manifesting intention, well - I guess I have a wee mystical streak in me. Musta been that mix of peyote and Castaneda back in the day. Speaking of which in looking up his name to get the spelling right, (Mark Twain said that the ability to spell denoted a lack of intelligence), I find yetanotherway.com, and Quantum Shamen, (Channeling, Gnosis, Silent Knowing, Toltec, Shaman, Ouija, Carlos Castaneda, Sorcery). One of the 9 billion names of god?
Here’s a very funny mash up video of the striking similarities in terms of the plight and the persona of Reese Witherspoon's incredibly determined perfectionist Tracy Flick, in the movie “Election”, and Sen. Hillary Clinton. Talking voices heard yesterday on 89.1kHrz believed the swing in momentum from Barak to Hillary began with the sketch on Sat Night Live, (The one with Obama Girl). Imagine if the key feather tilting the scale of fate to our next president is something written by a Hollywood writer the first week back to work after the strike. An unlikely labor union turns the tide. Hollywood writers, bloggers hyped-up on irony and web-video imprésario’s as the political forces of change in the 21st Century. From blogging for money and Obama Girl to Hillary and Shamans . You know, it’s only going to get weirder..
Finally to Zen.
I have been thinking about forgetting to do things. I’m not planning on forgetting some things. I mean contemplating the “act of forgetting”. Does that exist? Do we really forget or was it not really for us to do. As the chronically tardy aren’t really late, (they’re just on their own frackin time), the chronically forgotten is simply not in the equation, of no consequence. What then are the consequences of forgetting? Each forgotten thing is a step not taken. A decision. Each moment is a transition to the next. Where I am this very moment is where all my past steps have brought me. Yet from here all directions are available for my next step. My next step determines where I’ll be the next moment. Each next moment on top of each next is my future. In this way only, (as a literary tale told linearly), is the past prologue to the future. Because all the past steps and next steps beyond the first are beyond reach of my having any effect on…the first next one only matters. {{somebody correct me English}} What I do right now this very moment is the whole of reality. And creates a whole new world?
It occurred to me that each of our pets has become more spoiled because our understanding of their true nature has matured. As we recognize (awareness) their nature we adapt (because it’s easier for all of us), and in so doing establish another thread of connectedness with “nature” being the all-life-energy, “River of Life” or whatever you want to call it.
Radom bytes of Zen…
Ahangamage Tudor Ariyaratne, 76, who founded the Sarvodaya Shramandana movement in Sri Lankan and is urging the Buddhist community to “Please don’t do politics”. Makes sense doesn’t it, I mean radically violent Buddhist monks? I can’t quite get my head around the phrase “Zen Politics”. I wonder what Jerry Brown’s been up to?
I have been thinking about forgetting to do things. I’m not planning on forgetting some things. I mean contemplating the “act of forgetting”. Does that exist? Do we really forget or was it not really for us to do. As the chronically tardy aren’t really late, (they’re just on their own frackin time), the chronically forgotten is simply not in the equation, of no consequence. What then are the consequences of forgetting? Each forgotten thing is a step not taken. A decision. Each moment is a transition to the next. Where I am this very moment is where all my past steps have brought me. Yet from here all directions are available for my next step. My next step determines where I’ll be the next moment. Each next moment on top of each next is my future. In this way only, (as a literary tale told linearly), is the past prologue to the future. Because all the past steps and next steps beyond the first are beyond reach of my having any effect on…the first next one only matters. {{somebody correct me English}} What I do right now this very moment is the whole of reality. And creates a whole new world?
It occurred to me that each of our pets has become more spoiled because our understanding of their true nature has matured. As we recognize (awareness) their nature we adapt (because it’s easier for all of us), and in so doing establish another thread of connectedness with “nature” being the all-life-energy, “River of Life” or whatever you want to call it.
Radom bytes of Zen…
Ahangamage Tudor Ariyaratne, 76, who founded the Sarvodaya Shramandana movement in Sri Lankan and is urging the Buddhist community to “Please don’t do politics”. Makes sense doesn’t it, I mean radically violent Buddhist monks? I can’t quite get my head around the phrase “Zen Politics”. I wonder what Jerry Brown’s been up to?
And the Kumari Devi, is a living goddess in Nepal , who was very nearly relieved of her godhood for visiting the USA. {{On July 3, 2007, Sajani Shakya was removed from her position as a Kumari after visiting the US to attend the release of the movie Living Goddess at Silverdocs the AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival in Downtown Silver Spring, MD. The visit, according to the elders, had tainted her purity.[2] A couple of weeks later, temple authorities at Sajani Shakya's home town recanted their previous statement and said that she will not be stripped of her title because she is willing to undergo a "cleansing" ceremony. [3] }} Read this is your interested in the 32 attributes of perfection.. Looks like Amelia!
The Blog - Zen Habits looks interesting I was just beginning to try David Allens Getting Things Done System, GTD (because Hey, I wasn’t so much), and now ZTG, Zen to Done. “Zen and the art of 6 Sigma” - Geb? You know it would sell and you could charge a bundle for it on the corporate expense account. Hey buddhist’s are nuts too.Reminds me Buddha said that it is only oneself that knows truth and that each of us must find our own truth through seeing and knowing not belief. Our path to liberation is through ourselves not any other, and that all teachings are as a raft for crossing over not for getting hold of. It is not proper for a wise man to proclaim “This is the Truth and everything else is false”
Went looking for the ying-yang symbol and learned it’s the light and shadow graph of the year day by day from solstice to equinox around to begin again. Did not know that, (as Carson used to say). Now it looks like a pie to me. 
Today is a beautiful day, slightly different from the beautiful day yesterday. Yesterday I went for my 24 month a.s. checkup- Doc S says it looks great but guaranteed that he would be looking at cancer again if I hadn’t quit smoking. It seems for the last several years winter has been a real transition for me. From bus owner to d/b architect, separated to reconciled, b.c. to a.s. (before-cancer to as-a-survivor), employee to unemployed, smoker to a bit wiser, each death and rebirth has changed everything, (and nothing). I now choose to consciously use this winter-spring to transition to a more alive place. I hope I can remember to do that every winter – which brings up “forgetting” again.
The Prairie Zen Center in Champaign, Illinois (Next sesshin March 27 -30, on my calendar for now) claims to be the dharmic heir of Charlotte Joko Beck. Today’s reading from her…
“The ideal of how we should be is the most poisonous thing in the whole world.”“The thing that erodes self-centeredness - the mischief in our life - is the open experiencing of our life at the moment.” “The intelligent suffering of experiencing seems horrible from the usual self-centered point of view of most people.”“Practice is not thinking about our life; it is bodily feeling the totality of life.”“A good practice is absolutely simple."
Today is a beautiful day, slightly different from the beautiful day yesterday. Yesterday I went for my 24 month a.s. checkup- Doc S says it looks great but guaranteed that he would be looking at cancer again if I hadn’t quit smoking. It seems for the last several years winter has been a real transition for me. From bus owner to d/b architect, separated to reconciled, b.c. to a.s. (before-cancer to as-a-survivor), employee to unemployed, smoker to a bit wiser, each death and rebirth has changed everything, (and nothing). I now choose to consciously use this winter-spring to transition to a more alive place. I hope I can remember to do that every winter – which brings up “forgetting” again.The Prairie Zen Center in Champaign, Illinois (Next sesshin March 27 -30, on my calendar for now) claims to be the dharmic heir of Charlotte Joko Beck. Today’s reading from her…
“The ideal of how we should be is the most poisonous thing in the whole world.”“The thing that erodes self-centeredness - the mischief in our life - is the open experiencing of our life at the moment.” “The intelligent suffering of experiencing seems horrible from the usual self-centered point of view of most people.”“Practice is not thinking about our life; it is bodily feeling the totality of life.”“A good practice is absolutely simple."
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