Teachings from Sogyal Rinpoche
It is so helpful to not only read the book, but hear Sogyal Rinpoche speak... The link is here so I can find it easily but please listen, it's good for your heart <3
Friday, July 27, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Rare Cursing* and Everyone Needs a Time Out
Good grief. I spent most of the day off the net mostly because when I peeked in this morning it was a morass of hate and idiocy and just plain nastiness. I get that people want to use their free speech, but why not think things through before opening your mouth? Or hitting your keyboard? I know, free speech doesn't mean intelligent thought, but it can't hurt to wish for it...
In the aftermath of the Aurora Shootings there is a massive argument about amendment rights and gun control. Then there is the nasty little debacle with Chick-fil-a, which has managed to fry what little brain cells I had left.
Frankly, I think everyone needs a happy pill.
So, the journal entry I was going to do tonight is shelved for a later date and it's a good one too ;)
I may not agree with some of the thoughts running rampant today, but I understand why they are there. I see them and acknowledge them and now I am exercising my right to stay off the net and hope that maybe cooler heads or at least a rise in intelligence will prevail.
~C
*I rarely curse online. Not because I am a prude but because I can usually find better words to use instead. However, that graphic seemed apt and made me snort in a most unladylike way ;-)
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Even the Smallest Person Can Change the Course of the Future
In
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, there is one line that stands out above
all the other's, and gets me every single time I watch it.
"My friends, you bow to no one." - Aragorn, King of Gondor
Tolkien wrote these books at a time when he himself saw much war and destruction as well as a glimmer of hope. When you read the trilogy, The Hobbit and The Simarillion, you find yourself in a world, called Middle Earth, that mirrors our own world today.
There is war, destruction, horror and death. But there is also, hope. Hope is something that keeps us going in the times when the darkness seems to strong.
Perhaps that is our own personal fight to drop the ring into whatever Mt. Doom represents. The battles we fight, within and without are sometimes so hard, so tiresome, so painful, that we want to give up, let the darkness close in around us.
But there is a light that keeps us going, moving, doing, trying, pushing on when we think we have nothing left. When despair tries to take over in the many guises it has, we fight it.
Even the smallest ::fill in the blank:: Can Change the Course of the Future.
While Galadrial was speaking to Frodo, trying to comfort him on his own journey, that statement can be made to fit any situation. Because no matter what the burden is - if we remember that it only takes one small pebble to make a ripple in the ocean - then we can do anything we set out to accomplish.
While we may not have the entire world watching and waiting - holding the lives of millions in our hand - we do make decisions that can change the course of the lives we touch as well as our own.
When the going gets to be to much, remember something Samwise said to Frodo, "... I can't carry it for you... but I can carry you!"
To each of you, who have helped me when times were dark and stayed around when I couldn't always be here...
Namaste - I bow to the divine in you. And know, I will be a light if you need one.
Remember, we all make a difference, no matter the size. It's how we choose to do so and what path we choose to walk that leads us to the light - which always overpowers the dark.
We all make a difference.
~C
On Being Happy and Other Random Thoughts
Wandering the outback of the internet can be both amusing, a learning experience and also a real downer. It seems most people want to dwell on the negatives. Perhaps it's because if they point out all the bad things, their lives might look better to them. Or maybe they just gave up being happy.
Since the Aurora Colorado shootings I have seen way too many posts and articles and news stories focusing on the shooter and not so much on the people living in the aftermath or those who died. I really dislike this. What people will end up remembering is the nutter who perpetrated those acts and perhaps that is what he wanted. To draw as many people into his delusions as he could. Also tired of seeing the gun argument. Guns GOOD, guns BAD - blame game. It reminds me of the arguments about how music or movies cause violence and not bothering to examine the minds of the people who act on the violence.
I wrote this down at 1:30 this morning:
Be Happy!
Leave the past behind, take the lessons forward. Enjoy happy memories but don't drag the future up with you. Don't dwell on negatives. Live Here and Now.
I had no idea I was so smart in the wee small hours (haha)
Perhaps it was a tie in to my overall frustration at seeing the negative news blurbs and watching people fall into them, losing their happy thoughts. Being happy can be hard work if you make it so. Or you can just choose to let the negatives fall away and simply be happy. There are always going to be negatives in the world. Acknowledge them but don't let them rule your mind. Make a difference by spreading positives into a cauldron of negatives.
It has been almost a years since I moved back to California. For the first few months I was incredibly angry. I had no idea I was though. Not until I woke up one morning no longer angry did I realize just how deep the dark hole I had been in was. I spent over 5 years being absolutely miserable and I am done with that. I never considered myself the "happiness fairy," before, more like the "sarcastic but loving fairy." But now that I am living here and now, I am doing my best to bring things to a positive light for myself and for anyone who wants to listen to me babble on.
"Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence" ~ Eric Fromm
Monday, July 23, 2012
Cleopatra - The Exhibition
If anyone gets a chance to go see this while it is in LA, GO and see it. I was able to visit the exhibit in Cincy and it is just mindblowing. I want to see it again before it leaves LA but its a bit of a drive without a car LOL
All of it is amazing, but what got me was how detailed and delicate their jewelery was. So intricate and finely done. Gave me the shivers to see it all.
The timeless legend of Cleopatra has captivated the
world for centuries. She has been immortalized by Renaissance artists,
had numerous plays and books written about her and in modern times has
been glamorized on the silver screen. Yet we only know a fragment of her
real story.
Cleopatra VII became the queen of Egypt in 51 B.C. At the tender age of seventeen she was thrust into power over a country on the verge of crumbling under the mighty Roman Empire. She charmed and seduced two of ancient Rome’s most powerful leaders, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and bore children with both of them. Then, barely two decades after coming to power she took her own life. Still, the full story of Cleopatra’s enigmatic life has yet to be solved. Who was Cleopatra? What, and whom, did she hold dear? Was she truly an exotic beauty? In Cleopatra: The Exhibition, we are now one step closer to unraveling her story.
Come discover more than 150 priceless Egyptian
artifacts that had been swallowed by the sand and sea after a series of
earthquakes and tsunamis nearly 2,000 years ago. Unearthed by two of the
world’s leading archaeologists Franck Goddio
and Zahi Hawass, the exhibition features colossal statues, jewelry, and
coins from Cleopatra’s lost palace in Alexandria, and reveals the
excavation process involved in recovering these hidden treasures. Walk
among towering monuments and glittering jewels that may have been part
of the queen’s daily life. Learn how these Egyptian relics reveal
mysteries of this past era. A complimentary audio tour, told in her
voice, provides compelling insights into Cleopatra’s time.
Immerse yourself in this amazing world that has been
shrouded by layers of history, and join in the never ending search to
unlock the myth of Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt.
Guests are welcome to take and send photographs of the Cleopatra exhibit for personal use. However, photography or filming of the exhibit for commercial gain is not permitted.
Enhance your Egyptian experience by seeing Mysteries of Egypt
on our seven-story IMAX screen—the largest in Los Angeles. Explore a
fascinating empire that began some 5,000 years ago with native Egyptian
and legendary actor Omar Sharif. Soar over the great pyramids of Giza,
rush over the Nile, cross the deathly quiet Valley of the Kings, and
descend into the shadowy chambers of the sacred tomb of King
Tutankhamun. Watch as ancient Egypt comes to life on our IMAX screen.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience the only touring collection of Cleopatra objects. Purchase tickets online today!
All of it is amazing, but what got me was how detailed and delicate their jewelery was. So intricate and finely done. Gave me the shivers to see it all.
Due to popular demand: extended weekend hours!
Exhibit open 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays & Sundays through July
Don’t miss the only West Coast appearance of Cleopatra: The Exhibition at the California Science Center. This dramatically staged 13,000-square-foot exhibit features the largest collection of Cleopatra-era artifacts from Egypt ever assembled in the U.S. Here for a limited time only. From the producers of the King Tut exhibition.Cleopatra VII became the queen of Egypt in 51 B.C. At the tender age of seventeen she was thrust into power over a country on the verge of crumbling under the mighty Roman Empire. She charmed and seduced two of ancient Rome’s most powerful leaders, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and bore children with both of them. Then, barely two decades after coming to power she took her own life. Still, the full story of Cleopatra’s enigmatic life has yet to be solved. Who was Cleopatra? What, and whom, did she hold dear? Was she truly an exotic beauty? In Cleopatra: The Exhibition, we are now one step closer to unraveling her story.
For Educators
Download a Cleopatra educators' guide, developed by the Cincinnati Museum Center.Guests are welcome to take and send photographs of the Cleopatra exhibit for personal use. However, photography or filming of the exhibit for commercial gain is not permitted.
Enhance your Visit
Enhance your Egyptian experience by seeing Mysteries of Egypt
on our seven-story IMAX screen—the largest in Los Angeles. Explore a
fascinating empire that began some 5,000 years ago with native Egyptian
and legendary actor Omar Sharif. Soar over the great pyramids of Giza,
rush over the Nile, cross the deathly quiet Valley of the Kings, and
descend into the shadowy chambers of the sacred tomb of King
Tutankhamun. Watch as ancient Egypt comes to life on our IMAX screen. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience the only touring collection of Cleopatra objects. Purchase tickets online today!
Happy Pigs
Happy Piggy Biscuit Thingies
I just didn't want to forget where this recipe was. I have got to try and make these LOL
Sunday, July 22, 2012
LOST Notes...
It's funny going back and looking what I wrote when LOST was still on the air. Before I knew how it ended anyway...
Little Gods ~ The Shape of Things to Come
With LOST starting in a few hours I have been cramming lots of factoids into my brain so I am not lost in the time warp any more then I should be....
I was watching the episode, "The Shape of Things to Come" and it got me to thinking how much Ben and his adversary, Charles Widmore, remind me of Little Gods.
Bratty, war-minded, siblings, who are also little gods who have been given an odd set of rules by their All Seeing God Dad, and are currently "Locked," in a time shifting tug-o-war, with the Island.
(Yes, I had to use the pun, it seemed apt )
Several lines of script also lend credence to my theory:
Widmore asks Ben if he came to kill him and Ben replies, "you know I can't do that."
Widmore: "I know that everything you have, you took from me. So, once again I ask you, why are you here?"
Ben: "I'm here, Charles, to tell you that I'm going to kill yourdaughter. Penelope is it? And once she's gone, once she's dead, thenyou'll understand how I feel and you'll wish you hadn't changed therules."
Ben turns to walk away and Charles says, "That island's mine, Benjamin, it always was. It will be again."
"But you'll never find it."
"Then I suppose the hunt is on for both of us."
Ben and Widmore both claim ownership of the island and Widmore says it was his first and will be again. They both say the other stole it and it was never theirs to begin with.
At the moment both of them are off the island and from what we know already, it takes a lot of care to get there without splinching your mind and getting lost forever.
They are playing by some mysterious rules... so, who made the rules. Ben and Widmore remind me of siblings and Little Gods, much like Enki and Enlil or two minor Gods from Odin's pantheon. They have money, power and the ability to do more then seems humanly possible to find and keep an island out in the middle of nowhere. Or is that "no time?"
I guess the last two season will answer that - I hope it does. And I hope Ben wins
QotD:
If you had crashed landed on that Island along with the rest of Oceanic 815, would you have stayed on the Island, or would you have fought to return home?
Another thing I was musing about:
One question to ponder... If the Dharma people were able to have babies (Dr. Marvin Candle and wife have a newborn,) what did they know if anything about childbirth that the Other's didn't. OR - did Ben screw something up when he gassed the Dharma folk and cause all of their mom's to be, to die? Things that make me go hmmmmm
BS and The Bible
I am, for the most part, a very calm and peaceful person. Not much riles me up. However, I do have a boiling point. There is only so much self righteous preaching I can take or read before my inner peace needs to air itself out. Seems like no matter what the topic, people are going to drag out the Bible and how its right and you are wrong and because people don't believe in the bibles teaching, all hell is breaking loose on Earth...
Well!
Four out of five American's have a Bible. I am assuming at least four out of five of you are reading this, so go ahead and grab the good book, I'll wait. Go on, if you don't have an actual Bible handy, The Bible Gateway will suffice. Trust me, if you don't follow along, you'll think I am making it all up.
Back? Ok then. Some people say that the Bible is the best selling book of all time. I suppose that would depend on who you are consulting as I haven't seen it crack Amazon's Top Sellers list, yet...
I don't want to knock the Bible, badly, but with all it's inaccuracies, inconsistencies and impossibilities - to me, most of it sounds like a lot of crap.
So, why do people believe in the Bible?
Many people say "faith," is the reason for what is in the Bible. And if you believe what is in the Bible on pure faith alone, OK, that is cool, not much you need to do with that. BUT, if faith isn't enough and you want history and facts to back up what is written within, you are sadly, screwed.
There are usually two sides to every story, so I will include some information from both Michael Shermer, founder of the Skeptics Society and Skeptics Magazine and Dr. Paul Meyer, a Professor of Ancient History at the University of Mich.
Shermer says that, "The Bible is mythic storytelling. Most of it is made up or based on articles of faith. But it doesn't really fit the way we live today as we are more and more relying on and asking for the the proof in what we see or do.
Dr. Meyer says that, "The Bible is the word of God." He also says, "it is the work of man, the work of two or more men, that it is literal and that it is symbolic. It is up to us to decide how to use the Bible and when to use it as such."
Sounds like Dr. Meyer is covering a lot of his bases. I mean, with an argument like that, how can you lose?
There are many stories in the Bible that have different versions - the "facts" of the story may differ but it is generally the same story. So, you cannot take that story and say, "oh, well, you take this one literally," and then turn around with the same tale and claim it to be, "symbolic" of something.
Let's make an example, shall we?
ELVIS - Died in 1977. There are first hand reports of his death, photos and autopsy reports - pictures of said autopsy. BUT, we have "proof" from millions of people that he is ALIVE. And billions of people will swear on their Bibles that "Elvis didn't do no drugs."
To illustrate my "story - take it literally now take it symbolically" from above I will use two of Elvis's books and the recipe for his beloved fried chicken.
In, "Are You Hungry Tonight," it states in the ingredient list that you use 1/2 cup of flour and no paprika. YET, in "Fit For a King," you must use 3/4 cups of flour and A LOT OF PAPRIKA!
How would people have decided which was the real Elvis chicken, 2000 years ago?
Elvis didn't do no drugs!
How about the story of Noah's Ark? Mr. Shermer says that there is "no way to fit all of the animals, some 10 billion species, on one boat and then place them all in the right climate zones and continents. It is not a literal story - it is a redemption story... a tale of starting over."
Our Dr. Meyer would argue that, "it is a compilation of a bigger story. A sort of "serial story" you used to hear on the radio - using compressed editing A literal fiction of mythology..."
Ahem, right. And Elvis didn't do no drugs!
Actual footage is a tad blurry. Camera angles sucked back then.
If you believe it's your God and God is infallible you can't throw out some of the rules, just because you don't like them. There is NO pick and choose.
The Bible is a human edited collection of books, stories and myths, linking belief in faith and religion to actual factual tenets. They are NOT. They are stories about how we should live our lives. Moral homilies. A "What can I take from the Bible to live a better life for myself."
To take it literally is missing the point of the Bible. But don't take my word for it, read it, cover to cover - ALL OF IT. And then be honest with yourself.
But don't read it looking for a moral code. Aside from well thought parables and rules to live by, the Bible also advocates prejudice, cruelty, superstition and murder. Read it because we need more realists.
Oh, and Elvis never did no drugs!
Well!
Four out of five American's have a Bible. I am assuming at least four out of five of you are reading this, so go ahead and grab the good book, I'll wait. Go on, if you don't have an actual Bible handy, The Bible Gateway will suffice. Trust me, if you don't follow along, you'll think I am making it all up.
Back? Ok then. Some people say that the Bible is the best selling book of all time. I suppose that would depend on who you are consulting as I haven't seen it crack Amazon's Top Sellers list, yet...
I don't want to knock the Bible, badly, but with all it's inaccuracies, inconsistencies and impossibilities - to me, most of it sounds like a lot of crap.
So, why do people believe in the Bible?
Many people say "faith," is the reason for what is in the Bible. And if you believe what is in the Bible on pure faith alone, OK, that is cool, not much you need to do with that. BUT, if faith isn't enough and you want history and facts to back up what is written within, you are sadly, screwed.
There are usually two sides to every story, so I will include some information from both Michael Shermer, founder of the Skeptics Society and Skeptics Magazine and Dr. Paul Meyer, a Professor of Ancient History at the University of Mich.
Shermer says that, "The Bible is mythic storytelling. Most of it is made up or based on articles of faith. But it doesn't really fit the way we live today as we are more and more relying on and asking for the the proof in what we see or do.
Dr. Meyer says that, "The Bible is the word of God." He also says, "it is the work of man, the work of two or more men, that it is literal and that it is symbolic. It is up to us to decide how to use the Bible and when to use it as such."
Sounds like Dr. Meyer is covering a lot of his bases. I mean, with an argument like that, how can you lose?
There are many stories in the Bible that have different versions - the "facts" of the story may differ but it is generally the same story. So, you cannot take that story and say, "oh, well, you take this one literally," and then turn around with the same tale and claim it to be, "symbolic" of something.
Let's make an example, shall we?
ELVIS - Died in 1977. There are first hand reports of his death, photos and autopsy reports - pictures of said autopsy. BUT, we have "proof" from millions of people that he is ALIVE. And billions of people will swear on their Bibles that "Elvis didn't do no drugs."
To illustrate my "story - take it literally now take it symbolically" from above I will use two of Elvis's books and the recipe for his beloved fried chicken.
In, "Are You Hungry Tonight," it states in the ingredient list that you use 1/2 cup of flour and no paprika. YET, in "Fit For a King," you must use 3/4 cups of flour and A LOT OF PAPRIKA!
How would people have decided which was the real Elvis chicken, 2000 years ago?
Elvis didn't do no drugs!
How about the story of Noah's Ark? Mr. Shermer says that there is "no way to fit all of the animals, some 10 billion species, on one boat and then place them all in the right climate zones and continents. It is not a literal story - it is a redemption story... a tale of starting over."
Our Dr. Meyer would argue that, "it is a compilation of a bigger story. A sort of "serial story" you used to hear on the radio - using compressed editing A literal fiction of mythology..."
Ahem, right. And Elvis didn't do no drugs!
Actual footage is a tad blurry. Camera angles sucked back then.
How
about the Pharoah and the Parting of the Red Seas? First, there hasn't
been any definitive proof that there were any Jewish slaves in Egypt,
outside of the Bible, that is. But I digress.
Moses says to the Pharoah, "Let my people go." Why didn't God say straight up to the Pharoah - "Let em go?" Because.... we all know this one... GOD works in mysterious, inefficient and very CRUEL ways.
How Cruel? Let me count the ways:
1: The Plague - water turns to blood and the fish are fucked
2: Frogs - nothing like a little extra frogs to spice up the day
3: Lice - well, ok, that works, it was most likely normal back then
4: Insects - just icky
5: Pestilence - well that just covered all the lice and bugs too, and now they all want to die
6: Boils - ok, again this is getting so bad, kill me
7: Thunder/Hail/Fire from skies - what a mess
8: Locust - Well, that was food for the frogs up there, the ones not killed by all that hail.
9: Darkness - I am going to call this a bonus because you can't see all the grossness
10: All first born children must die - now there is a kind and loving God.
Now, NOW, Moses goes and parts that sea.
Elvis didn't do no drugs!
Where is the evidence that any of that happened at all? Evidence is low in showing. It was said that most of history didn't record their failures, that would make the leaders look bad and this is partly true but according to Shermer, "that is NOT an answer. It is simply saying because there is no evidence it must be true."
The Professor Meyer aruges that, "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. If something isn't mentioned that doesn't mean it didn't exist."
Biblical miracles have a hard rap in belief. Again, if you have pure faith, you don't need proof. But, for the many others who don't go on faith alone, your gonna need some miracle back up. But if it's not a miracle, it's not "of God." And if it's not "of God," it's a lot of crap.
And I really have to add here that I am still pissed off that God killing off all the first borns. I mean couldn't He have smacked the Pharaoh instead? What Kind and Loving God, does that? Let's not punish the actual commiter's of the crimes, let's get their kids instead - Bet you don't see that in the illustrated Children's Bibles or hear it in the Sunday Sermons!
How about some New Testament now?
The Jesus stuff - did Jesus really exist?
Moses says to the Pharoah, "Let my people go." Why didn't God say straight up to the Pharoah - "Let em go?" Because.... we all know this one... GOD works in mysterious, inefficient and very CRUEL ways.
How Cruel? Let me count the ways:
1: The Plague - water turns to blood and the fish are fucked
2: Frogs - nothing like a little extra frogs to spice up the day
3: Lice - well, ok, that works, it was most likely normal back then
4: Insects - just icky
5: Pestilence - well that just covered all the lice and bugs too, and now they all want to die
6: Boils - ok, again this is getting so bad, kill me
7: Thunder/Hail/Fire from skies - what a mess
8: Locust - Well, that was food for the frogs up there, the ones not killed by all that hail.
9: Darkness - I am going to call this a bonus because you can't see all the grossness
10: All first born children must die - now there is a kind and loving God.
Now, NOW, Moses goes and parts that sea.
Elvis didn't do no drugs!
Where is the evidence that any of that happened at all? Evidence is low in showing. It was said that most of history didn't record their failures, that would make the leaders look bad and this is partly true but according to Shermer, "that is NOT an answer. It is simply saying because there is no evidence it must be true."
The Professor Meyer aruges that, "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. If something isn't mentioned that doesn't mean it didn't exist."
Biblical miracles have a hard rap in belief. Again, if you have pure faith, you don't need proof. But, for the many others who don't go on faith alone, your gonna need some miracle back up. But if it's not a miracle, it's not "of God." And if it's not "of God," it's a lot of crap.
And I really have to add here that I am still pissed off that God killing off all the first borns. I mean couldn't He have smacked the Pharaoh instead? What Kind and Loving God, does that? Let's not punish the actual commiter's of the crimes, let's get their kids instead - Bet you don't see that in the illustrated Children's Bibles or hear it in the Sunday Sermons!
How about some New Testament now?
The Jesus stuff - did Jesus really exist?
Most
historians and some theologians agree that Jesus was a man. Archeology
has found much evidence to show that there could have been a man as
described in the Bible, but no actual PROOF of a messiah. Historians
also found a story about a man called Appalonius of Tyara - same story
as Jesus - Hmmm Appalonius Christ? There was a plague of messiahs, but
we only hear of the one that fits in with the Biblical myths.
At this point, The Life of Brian is more accurate.
Christians believe in the Resurrection, that is what this whole thing is based around isn't it? You cannot prove the resurrection happened. Prof Meyer says, "there was no body found..so... there you go..."
Cue the sound of crickets...
YOU CANNOT prove the resurrection happened just because there was no dead Jesus. (That "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence," line is really working for Meyer now.)
Who wrote the Bible? That has been a question never fully answered. Theologians don't exactly know, only that it was "Inspired by God." But what about the books that didn't make the cut? Again, Prof Meyer says, "The books that made it are sort of like what was on the front page of the NY Times. Top news articles, those made the Canon. The stories that lasted and had a tendency to repeat again. The committee didn't like the rest of them because they had no lasting qualities."
THE COMMITTEE??
Who got to say what went into and what didn't go into the Bible? A COMMITTEE? A committee who voted on what was canonized. Ok, that committee was the First Council of Nicaea and it was then that the books were looked at and chosen to be or not to be, canonized. But what about all those books that were left out... to pick and choose what does or doesn't go in is not consistent nor fair - I will elucidate this point further in a moment.
First, I want a show of hands, ok, keyboards... The Ten Commandments. Who knows them all by heart, no cheating or paraphrasing? When a group of people on the street were polled, three out of ten got some parts of them. The rest, made it up or blushed terribly.
At this point, The Life of Brian is more accurate.
Christians believe in the Resurrection, that is what this whole thing is based around isn't it? You cannot prove the resurrection happened. Prof Meyer says, "there was no body found..so... there you go..."
Cue the sound of crickets...
YOU CANNOT prove the resurrection happened just because there was no dead Jesus. (That "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence," line is really working for Meyer now.)
Who wrote the Bible? That has been a question never fully answered. Theologians don't exactly know, only that it was "Inspired by God." But what about the books that didn't make the cut? Again, Prof Meyer says, "The books that made it are sort of like what was on the front page of the NY Times. Top news articles, those made the Canon. The stories that lasted and had a tendency to repeat again. The committee didn't like the rest of them because they had no lasting qualities."
THE COMMITTEE??
Who got to say what went into and what didn't go into the Bible? A COMMITTEE? A committee who voted on what was canonized. Ok, that committee was the First Council of Nicaea and it was then that the books were looked at and chosen to be or not to be, canonized. But what about all those books that were left out... to pick and choose what does or doesn't go in is not consistent nor fair - I will elucidate this point further in a moment.
First, I want a show of hands, ok, keyboards... The Ten Commandments. Who knows them all by heart, no cheating or paraphrasing? When a group of people on the street were polled, three out of ten got some parts of them. The rest, made it up or blushed terribly.
The Ten Commandments are Gods effective rules to live by - good ones too. Sort of moral precepts that stand the test of
time.
But, what parts are you going to use. In one passage of the Bible it says that for one man to live with another man, in that way, is a sin. In another passage it says we should stone disobedient children.
Lev 20:13 (KJV): If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them
Deut 21:21 (KJV): And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones that he die.
But, what parts are you going to use. In one passage of the Bible it says that for one man to live with another man, in that way, is a sin. In another passage it says we should stone disobedient children.
Lev 20:13 (KJV): If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them
Deut 21:21 (KJV): And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones that he die.
Again, you can't just pick and choose what you will use and how you will use it - just to suit your needs at any given time.
Let's play, Pick and Choose a Bible Passage aka The Bible Impeaching the Bible.
I have to say, this is my favorite bonus round in Bible games because it is the most used by flustered Bible-ists who like to grab and passing scriptures like drowning people in the ocean. They just flounder around til they find one that fits their need and then string another and another along, even though they don't actually GO TOGETHER. Totally out of context, but a most humorous party game.
Ready?
Exodus 21:7 - It's ok to sell your daughter into slavery
Exodus 35:2 - Work on the Sabbath, you should be put to death
Corinthians 11:14 - Doth not nature teach a man who has long hair, it is a shame unto him...
Leviticus 21: 5 - They shall not make baldness upon their head
Matthew 27:5 (NIV) - So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
Deut 15:17 (KJV) - Thou shalt do likewiseLet's play, Pick and Choose a Bible Passage aka The Bible Impeaching the Bible.
I have to say, this is my favorite bonus round in Bible games because it is the most used by flustered Bible-ists who like to grab and passing scriptures like drowning people in the ocean. They just flounder around til they find one that fits their need and then string another and another along, even though they don't actually GO TOGETHER. Totally out of context, but a most humorous party game.
Ready?
Exodus 21:7 - It's ok to sell your daughter into slavery
Exodus 35:2 - Work on the Sabbath, you should be put to death
Corinthians 11:14 - Doth not nature teach a man who has long hair, it is a shame unto him...
Matthew 27:5 (NIV) - So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
If you believe it's your God and God is infallible you can't throw out some of the rules, just because you don't like them. There is NO pick and choose.
The Bible is a human edited collection of books, stories and myths, linking belief in faith and religion to actual factual tenets. They are NOT. They are stories about how we should live our lives. Moral homilies. A "What can I take from the Bible to live a better life for myself."
To take it literally is missing the point of the Bible. But don't take my word for it, read it, cover to cover - ALL OF IT. And then be honest with yourself.
But don't read it looking for a moral code. Aside from well thought parables and rules to live by, the Bible also advocates prejudice, cruelty, superstition and murder. Read it because we need more realists.
Oh, and Elvis never did no drugs!
FYI
Most of these have been up for long and long. I just had them private. Enjoy, comment, say HI :)
Homesick for Home... But Where is Home?
Since I was a little girl, I would often find myself feeling melancholy or sad or just well, "homesick," is the closest way I can describe it. But what confused me was that I usually felt this way, AT HOME. I never really understood why I felt that way. I couldn't tell if I was missing a person or a place or maybe both.
Fast forward many years and much studying and I think I may have discovered what it was I was feeling...
Have you ever felt out of place? Perhaps you have felt different or never quite fit in anywhere. You have longed to go home, but aren't sure what that means or where this "home," is. Let me tell you a little story.
As all good stories start...
... In the beginning, before space and time, Spirit flowed out and became millions of things. Stars, planets, trees, mountains, the seas and all that live in them.
Back then, there were no Humans. This was a time of magick because the "mind" wasn't kept in a Human brain that would tell it "that cannot be so."
There were lights in this age old Universe, souls of angels played in the freedom of time and space - the memory of this is stored in the records of time in our psyche, perhaps the model of what is now knowns as, "heaven."
Soon, some of these souls came down to the Earth. They had become curious about this realm of material elements. Animal-like beings and a creative energy of the senses. These souls wanted to know what it felt like to have a body and to experience the senses.
They entered into the primitive forms on Earth and could see through their eyes and know what it was like to smell a rose, or a loved one. To run in the ocean waves or to sit and watch the stars above - their home. They readied themselves to leave Earth and return to those stars and to the Spirit, but the hold of the material senses overcame them and they became trapped in the bodies they "borrowed."
Soon, they merged with that animal consciousness and being of a higher soul energy, impacted the animal's own DNA - changing, merging, evolving. These new beings were perhaps the creatures of myths. Mermaids, centaurs, satyrs - the half animal and half human forms. These souls from the first "wave," forgot that they were of the Spirit and became of the flesh. Lost on a material Earth.
A wave of missionary souls - a rescue mission of sorts - came down to rescue the lost first wave and to try and pull them back to Spirit, but they too, became lost in the allure and soon forgot - trapped as well.
Eons of time passed by and a second rescue mission came down to remind the lost souls of their beginnings - this time though, it was a mission that included only strong and powerful souls, hoping that they would remember why they left. Yet, they too, felt the pull to stay and these stronger souls became the rulers - the Pharaohs and Kings and Leaders in their lands. People like King Arthur were in this wave of lost rescuers.
More time went by and it was decided that one more mission would attempt to return the souls of the first two missions. Of all the waves, these souls were the most precious and most courageous - these were the peaceful warriors and they knew that they were not coming back. They knew and accepted that they would stay on Earth, in a mortal body for time unknown, suffering loss of loved ones and knowing they would watch many die - but they would remain until all the souls that first came, were free.
This was a mission of volunteers - the peaceful warriors came to remind all the others of who they are. These were very normal souls; students, doctors, parents, policemen, lawyers, criminals, sinners and saints. While most of these warriors have forgotten their mission - a small ember of light remains in their hearts.
For many of the peaceful warriors, that ember is now warming up and they are remembering. They are destined to wake up the others, more servants of the human race and pass that light on. These souls are not better souls - but they have within them a light of love, which enables them to accept all souls as equals - all can be lost and then found. And slowly, they are waking up all the souls of the waves before them - bringing them back to their spiritual family.
The Earth is a school for the humans that have evolved upon it. The peaceful warriors are here to make a difference, to awaken - first in their own souls, then in the souls of as many as can see their light, and then to remind others that they are here on a service mission.
Warriors will have that lifelong feeling of not being a part of this world. They want to return somewhere but aren't sure where. They don't fit in and that is the point - the part that really reminds them of their mission. They are not supposed to fit in - they are here to teach, to lead, and to remind others, by example.
I feel a powerful pull that grows daily - that this year is going to illuminate many more warriors and awaken in them the reason why they are here. Lights will shine again, souls will remember and in turn, they will wake more souls.
If you feel that odd sense of being - that feeling that you are here for a reason that you could never put a finger on - then use what skills and talents you have to let your light shine - and help illuminate a world full of souls, just waiting to glow and brighten this Universe.
In Light
~C
Fast forward many years and much studying and I think I may have discovered what it was I was feeling...
Have you ever felt out of place? Perhaps you have felt different or never quite fit in anywhere. You have longed to go home, but aren't sure what that means or where this "home," is. Let me tell you a little story.
As all good stories start...
... In the beginning, before space and time, Spirit flowed out and became millions of things. Stars, planets, trees, mountains, the seas and all that live in them.
Back then, there were no Humans. This was a time of magick because the "mind" wasn't kept in a Human brain that would tell it "that cannot be so."
There were lights in this age old Universe, souls of angels played in the freedom of time and space - the memory of this is stored in the records of time in our psyche, perhaps the model of what is now knowns as, "heaven."
Soon, some of these souls came down to the Earth. They had become curious about this realm of material elements. Animal-like beings and a creative energy of the senses. These souls wanted to know what it felt like to have a body and to experience the senses.
They entered into the primitive forms on Earth and could see through their eyes and know what it was like to smell a rose, or a loved one. To run in the ocean waves or to sit and watch the stars above - their home. They readied themselves to leave Earth and return to those stars and to the Spirit, but the hold of the material senses overcame them and they became trapped in the bodies they "borrowed."
Soon, they merged with that animal consciousness and being of a higher soul energy, impacted the animal's own DNA - changing, merging, evolving. These new beings were perhaps the creatures of myths. Mermaids, centaurs, satyrs - the half animal and half human forms. These souls from the first "wave," forgot that they were of the Spirit and became of the flesh. Lost on a material Earth.
A wave of missionary souls - a rescue mission of sorts - came down to rescue the lost first wave and to try and pull them back to Spirit, but they too, became lost in the allure and soon forgot - trapped as well.
Eons of time passed by and a second rescue mission came down to remind the lost souls of their beginnings - this time though, it was a mission that included only strong and powerful souls, hoping that they would remember why they left. Yet, they too, felt the pull to stay and these stronger souls became the rulers - the Pharaohs and Kings and Leaders in their lands. People like King Arthur were in this wave of lost rescuers.
More time went by and it was decided that one more mission would attempt to return the souls of the first two missions. Of all the waves, these souls were the most precious and most courageous - these were the peaceful warriors and they knew that they were not coming back. They knew and accepted that they would stay on Earth, in a mortal body for time unknown, suffering loss of loved ones and knowing they would watch many die - but they would remain until all the souls that first came, were free.
This was a mission of volunteers - the peaceful warriors came to remind all the others of who they are. These were very normal souls; students, doctors, parents, policemen, lawyers, criminals, sinners and saints. While most of these warriors have forgotten their mission - a small ember of light remains in their hearts.
For many of the peaceful warriors, that ember is now warming up and they are remembering. They are destined to wake up the others, more servants of the human race and pass that light on. These souls are not better souls - but they have within them a light of love, which enables them to accept all souls as equals - all can be lost and then found. And slowly, they are waking up all the souls of the waves before them - bringing them back to their spiritual family.
The Earth is a school for the humans that have evolved upon it. The peaceful warriors are here to make a difference, to awaken - first in their own souls, then in the souls of as many as can see their light, and then to remind others that they are here on a service mission.
Warriors will have that lifelong feeling of not being a part of this world. They want to return somewhere but aren't sure where. They don't fit in and that is the point - the part that really reminds them of their mission. They are not supposed to fit in - they are here to teach, to lead, and to remind others, by example.
I feel a powerful pull that grows daily - that this year is going to illuminate many more warriors and awaken in them the reason why they are here. Lights will shine again, souls will remember and in turn, they will wake more souls.
If you feel that odd sense of being - that feeling that you are here for a reason that you could never put a finger on - then use what skills and talents you have to let your light shine - and help illuminate a world full of souls, just waiting to glow and brighten this Universe.
In Light
~C
F.I.T.Y.F.I
F.I.T.Y.F.I
I
had no idea that this concept existed in an acronym form. It was
pleased to know that I've been doing this "in my head," for as long as I
have had to deal with the general working public.
Case in point:
Person X
comes in to your place of business and wants a lizard. The problem is,
you sell spatula's and doorstops. In fact, your store has a huge sign
out front that says, "Spatula's and Doorstops - One stop shop."
Person X
becomes very disgruntled that you cannot help him and we all know the
customer is always right even if he/she is being a right royal pain in
the ass.
You smile and nod and continue to explain that you'd
be happy to sell him a spatula or a doorstop - and perhaps they would
like it if you looked in the Yellow Pages for lizard sellers....
Person X is somewhat pacified and manages a
smile and before they go they buy a doorstop. The lizard might want out.
We've all
had some kind of irritating situation where we have had to keep many a
thought private, "in your head." Smile and nod and most important -
keep cool. 
Often,
we fail in the cool department and we feel that we have somehow done
something wrong. We don't fail if we keep it inside and FITYFI. If we
stay calm and let that person know we are trying to help - they see it
and no matter how annoyed they get, we aren't failing. Even if it feels
that way.
FITYFI
I bet I know most of you have been doing FITYFI as well.
Ready?
Fake
It
Til
You
Feel
It
It
Til
You
Feel
It
-
No, you don't really care that so and so wants something done now and even though they are yelling at you and expecting
you
do do something NOW - we fake it. We pretend to understand and care
about so and so. If we do this well enough, we can get the feeling out
that we actually care. If they feel that, then they walk away thinking
something was accomplished.
I learned this and several other
"First Aid Kit For Bad Days at Work," ways of coping and maintaining
motivation. This was my favorite.
You have no idea how much I have to keep in my head during the day. Thank god for FITYFI!
~C
Think Pink - Positive Energy
Peace and Blessings
Have
you ever found yourself at work, being annoyed, yet again by
that one person that feels the need to sob on your shoulder because her
cat yarked in her shoe or that her car got keyed or ::daily annoyance
here::
Perhaps you're having "one of those days" at home and the kids won't behave, or you are stuck going to a wedding you don't want to go to, or a fight erupts over seemingly nothing?
These kinds of actions are caused by energy vampires - a phrase I learned from the book, Positive Energy, by Judith Orloff. There are just some people that you cannot be around for more then a few seconds before you literally feel drained and often cranky or out of sorts.
This is especially hard, if you are like me, an empath, a person who really picks up on the moods of others. So we have to find a way to block these energy sucking humanoids and keep the good vibes going.
But, how?
When I first started practicing Tai Chi, I learned how to center and ground myself - which is a huge help. Most of the time, this works long enough for me to make a quick escape from whatever is draining me, but in the cases where I am not able to leave, like work, or a home argument... I give myself a fluffy pink cloud...
Perhaps you're having "one of those days" at home and the kids won't behave, or you are stuck going to a wedding you don't want to go to, or a fight erupts over seemingly nothing?
These kinds of actions are caused by energy vampires - a phrase I learned from the book, Positive Energy, by Judith Orloff. There are just some people that you cannot be around for more then a few seconds before you literally feel drained and often cranky or out of sorts.
This is especially hard, if you are like me, an empath, a person who really picks up on the moods of others. So we have to find a way to block these energy sucking humanoids and keep the good vibes going.
But, how?
When I first started practicing Tai Chi, I learned how to center and ground myself - which is a huge help. Most of the time, this works long enough for me to make a quick escape from whatever is draining me, but in the cases where I am not able to leave, like work, or a home argument... I give myself a fluffy pink cloud...
Most people who do practice this, might see it as white light energy, visualize it anyway you need to, I just happen to like the cotton candy aspect.
1: Try to slow your breathing down and relax your muscles. Unclench your body and focus on deep breathing.
2: While you are breathing, imagine a line drawn down your spine, connecting the chakra's - it can be white light, pure energy, however it is easiest for you to mental it. The Chakra's start from the crown of your head and end at the bottom of your spine. See the light leave your spine and travel into the Earth. This is grounding yourself. Think of the light as an exention of yourself, slowly traveling into the Earth, feeling the energy the Earth gives you, holding you down, but letting you travel as needed. Earth energy is a boost to your personal energy, which is always inside you. Grounding yourself will give you the extra power you need to create a safe space for yourself and it will help to calm your breathing and body down.
3: Once you are grounded and centered - imagine you are completely surrounded by pure energy - again, I see it as a pink cloud, some see white light - however it feels best to you. This energy is a shield around your entire body, keeping out any negative or draining vibes that people are pulling from you or pushing at you. Picture it as a bubble of light that lets in only positive energy and pushes anything negative away from you.
This is called shielding and while it cannot shut the person up as efficiently as say, duct tape would, it can give you the emotional energy to listen to the person as if from a safe distance. You will hear them, but they cannot take energy from you.
I have found this not only works while at a job or a loud crowded place, but on the subways or with a roommate that just won't stop complaining about everything. I keep myself grounded and centered all the time - but when I feel the slow drone whine of someone about to suck the energy and life out of me, instead of thinking "I am going to send this person into the cornfield," I puff up the pink cloud and let it roll over me.
Breathe
Relax
Envision yourself wrapped in love and light
You control you and what enters your mind
As an aside, I have noticed that often while out and about, I can be in the best mood and suddenly find myself annoyed... I realized that the person next to me was irritated and I was picking it up. I tried to send a little energy thier way and not only did it work but they actually smiled at me.
This does work. If you have time, practice it. If you want a good way to fall asleep, try the grounding/centering exercise - it is very relaxing and it's also quite and you are less likely to be interrupted.
And, if this doesn't work, I always carry a roll of duct tape with me
If this is helpful and you are interested in more Postive Energy, you can either buy the book by Judith Orloff, or I can also try and post a few "lessons" a week - without plagarizing the author. I figure, I learned most of what is in the book during Tai Chi practice and stuff I study, so I don't think it will be an issue. Let me know if you'd like to hear more.
Peace and Blessings
~~Lady C
Of Ism's, Beliefs and Asinine Challenges
productive
I really don't post (often) my opinions about religion or politics on FB - mostly because it isn't a great debate forum. It's like a short fuse over there and not so much a place for deep thinking... however I will make this public over here for anyone who would like to read it.
There are a LOT of "ism's" floating about these days. Aside the "mainstream ism's" there are some I have never even heard of and I am pretty sure, didn't exist when I was growing up. Here is a list of just the ism's Wikipedia goes into and while extensive, I think they forgot Gary the God of Tabasco and Cheese Doodles.
I digress...
There are a LOT of "ism's" floating about these days. Aside the "mainstream ism's" there are some I have never even heard of and I am pretty sure, didn't exist when I was growing up. Here is a list of just the ism's Wikipedia goes into and while extensive, I think they forgot Gary the God of Tabasco and Cheese Doodles.
I digress...
There are countless beliefs and philosophies and creeds and yadda yadda yadda's and the one thing they all manage to have in common is: NONE OF THEM agree with the others about anything except that they all are pretty damn sure they are the right path to god and everyone else is wrong.
There is so much argued "in the name of," that I find it hard to believe that any of them get much done in the way of "loving kindness and worship." In fact, with all the screaming matches of "my god is way better then your god," and all the challenges to FILL IN THE BLANK BELIEF, I must draw the conclusion that religion today is nothing more then a name in which to draw up your sword of self-righteousness and tell other people to piss off because you know nothing.
Just cruising the top blogs in the "Religion/Philo," category gets you some gems with titles like, "Challenge to Athiests," and "Why are Christians so Stupid?" Each of the represented beliefs has a challenge to the others to explain it to them, why they are the way they are and why don't they see how blind they are and they obviously don't see they are going to burn in hell because they are not them.
Dizzy?What it seemingly amounts to is this:
Well, guess what? STOP IT. If each of those blog authors would actually stop for a moment and read what it is they are supposed to believe, I think they would see something like, "Love Thy Neighbor," or a Golden Rule philosophy.
Instead, we get the hateful doggerel of uniformed, closed-minded, hateful and or scared individuals, who lump together under a banner "ism," and condemn others to a hell they made up to feel superior.
So here is a "challenge" to all of you out there who seem to think you have some vital bit of information that will keep me from burning in hell. Stop trying to condemn others who do not follow the same primrose path you do.
And DO NOT challenge people to prove to you why their belief is worthy. Don't tell me us we going to hell or are on the wrong path. Don't ask us to explain to you why we think we are right or saved. All you need to know is that if you do, you should be bitch slapped all over the Universe.
Remove the damn mote from your own eyes first before setting out thinking you have some gifted superiority to remove motes from everyone else. You don't.
~C
A Funny - Realistic Living in the 21st Century
realistic living in the 21st century
1 - Sometimes you have to hurt the ones you love. Otherwise, they just wont do what you want them to do.
2 - Two wrongs
don't make a right. But if that second "wrong" is about getting revenge
and you can get away with it, then its not a "wrong" at all, and is
really a "right." So that's not two wrongs.
3- When you're
sad because someone you loved has died, just remember that his or her
death really isn't the end. They still live on in your memories. At
least until you die, which will be the absolute end for both of you.
4- If God
existed, He'd love you as much as He loves any one of us silly people.
But He doesn't exist, there's no reason for anything and no heaven. When
we die, we just disintegrate. It's too bad really...
5- You often
don't know how much you have... until some drug crazed freak tries to
steal it and you have to shoot him in the back as he is heading out your
door with a bag full of your stuff you took for granted. So now you
appreciate what you have but you've also just killed a man.
6 - Sex is not
necessarily bad, as long as you're doing it with the right person -
someone you love and are committed to. If you're really, really enjoying
it, then it's probably not with the right person.
7- Loyalty
especially to family, is the one absolute virtue. That's why if a
relative commits a heinous crime, we will send him on a ski trip to
Europe to avoid prosecution. It's just the right thing to do.
8- Old people
should be revered. That's why we put the extra house in a trust fund so
we wont have to sell it to pay for gramma and grandpas nursing home.
9- Love means
never having to say you're sorry, no matter how angry you were or what
you broke or how loudly she screamed for help.
10
- Money isn't everything. It just helps you get everything. What's
really important is your health because it's illegal to buy someone
else's organs.
From The Heart... A Practice
http://living-and-dying.org/the-heart-practice-for-difficult-times/
Please take a moment to read The Heart Practice. It is from The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, where Sogyal Rinpoche writes: “I would now like to give you a practice that can truly help you when you are suffering from deep sorrow and grief…[W]henever you are desperate, anguished, or depressed, whenever you feel you cannot go on, or you feel your heart is breaking, I advise you to do this practice. The only conditions to the effectiveness of this practice are that you need to do it with all your might, and that you need to ask, really to ask, for help.”
Something to know... this is not really religion based. I know sometimes you hear the word "religion" and you get that "no thanks I gave at the office" feeling. But this is more of a daily living philosophy. Probably why I am drawn to these teachings. The book is truly eye opening and amazing. Something to add to your reading list for sure
Please take a moment to read The Heart Practice. It is from The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, where Sogyal Rinpoche writes: “I would now like to give you a practice that can truly help you when you are suffering from deep sorrow and grief…[W]henever you are desperate, anguished, or depressed, whenever you feel you cannot go on, or you feel your heart is breaking, I advise you to do this practice. The only conditions to the effectiveness of this practice are that you need to do it with all your might, and that you need to ask, really to ask, for help.”
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