Intuitive Notions

A Skull with Eyeballs This was a Zen master‘s answer to a question about The Way. My interpretation: An existence, a skeletal form with ought but a few senses. An unreflective life, consumed by consumption. The highest way is the simplest, so near, yet so far and few who find it. Our senses bring us, unbidden, a stream of data impressions from the cosmos. Our mind processes or filters out the signals and thoughts are formed: … Cat shape. There is a cat. Where are my dogs? Danger! Pulse increases, adrenaline squirts. Bad feeling. Anger. Grab dog about to pounce. Shout at dog. Feel bad about that. Consider getting rid of dog. Feel bad about that. Realise I am projecting my own internal disharmony onto my environment. STOP! … Meditation is about exploring our inner cosmos, our consciousness it’s the opposite of the sense driven story above. Close eyes, breathe. Watch as thoughts arise and then watch them pass without boarding the train. Listen for, and to the inner voice (or stifled screa...

Is there a dark side to compassion ? It's a term which is almost exclusively used in a positive context. There is, apparently, too little compassion in the world: everyone is only looking out for themselves. As a radically-left socialist my priority is the poor and vulnerable, at least in theory. If I was King for a day I would be all about reducing inequality and raising up the poor. Even my more conservative friends are behind such ideas. But that is the collective, systematic level... and, as King, it would cost me nothing. Let's dive deeper and explore the individual level. When you actually have a flesh and blood human being in front of you who is suffering, it's a whole different story. Only here can we recognize if we are really willing and able to help another human. This can be a beautiful and humbling experience, especially when we realise a bond and commonality with the "unfortunate" other or even end up learning something from them. Let's dive deep...

Have you ever met someone unhappy in their job who claims it's right for them? A few years down the road however, they quit and you hear how unappy they actually were? I've noticed the same tendency in myself: as long as we are in a problematic situation and perhaps, see no way out, we convince ourselves that it's "not so bad" or even that it's right for us or that we are happy. We are only able afterwards, to admit to ourselves that it was terrible. I'm trying to buy land and build a house. As long as I am battling the odds I convince myself it's the right thing for me. But I know myself well enough to recognize: if it all falls throug I will suddenly have a dozen reasons why it wasn't the right thing for me. The lies we tell ourselves to get by...

  Before there was an economy of exchange (or money) there was, with the exception of societies with slaves, little to no division of labor. Mankind, in their free and primal state, did not purchase a house they built it themselves. Food was found grown or hunted. What was needed was fetched and also used not wasted.O Cooperation was free or in kind: everyone helped raise my roof on the understanding that I would do the same for them. The answer to Help! was in the beginning simply a Yes! The response to help given was merely a gracious gift if possible. At some point, gracious gifts, say a feast for the village after the raising, a bucket of apples or the promise to help with some task, became an obligation and the first payments were invented. In a barter system, a man with lots of resources need no longer build his own house: others would do it in exchange for his wealth. Money followed and the division of Labor was complete. From then on the Butcher, Baker and Candlestick ...