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Post by Goldenfleeced on Jul 2, 2015 15:41:35 GMT
Well, we'd better 'press on' with our adventure... and speaking of 'hearts,' although I don't suppose that we were, I just thought I'd mention the "Dog (God) and Butterfly"... in an interesting juxtaposition of terms... Now, where were we...? Oh, yes... (They swallow.)
Achilles: That's an exceedingly strange taste. Tortoise: One gets used to it. Achilles: Does taking the tonic feel this strange? Tortoise: Oh, that's quite another sensation. Whenever you taste the tonic, you feel a deep sense of satisfaction, as if you'd been waiting to taste it all your life. Achilles: Oh, I'm looking forward to that. Tortoise: Well, Achilles, where are we? Achilles(taking cognizance of his surroundings): We're in a little gondola, gliding down a canal! I want to get out. Mr. Gondolier, please let us out here.
(The gondolier pays no attention to this request.)
Tortoise: He doesn't speak English. If we want to get out here, we'd better just clamber out quickly before he enters the sinister "Tunnel of Love", just ahead of us.
((I'd rather be 'dancing in the dark,' needless to say... lol...))
(Achilles, his face a little pale, scrambles out in a split second and then pulls his slower friend out.)
Achilles: I didn't like the sound of that place, somehow. I'm glad we got out here. Say, how do you know so much about this place, anyway? Have you been here before? Tortoise: Many times, although I always came in from other Escher pictures. They're all connected behind the frames, you know. Once you're in one, you can get to any other one. Achilles: Amazing! Were I not here, seeing these things with my own eyes, I'm not sure I'd believe you. (They wander out through a little arch.) Oh, look at those two cute lizards! Tortoise: Cute? They aren't cute - it makes me shudder just to think of them! They are the vicious guardians of that magic copper lamp hanging from the ceiling over there. A mere touch of their tongues, and any mortal turns to a pickle. Achilles: Dill, or sweet? Tortoise: Dill. ((Lol... Kosher, I'm fairly certain... although, he left us to fill in the blanks on that one...)) Achilles: Oh, what a sour fate! But if the lamp has magical powers, I would like to try for it. Tortoise: It's a foolhardy venture, my friend. I wouldn't risk it. Achilles: I'm going to try just once.
(He stealthily approaches the lamp, making sure not to awaken the sleeping lad nearby. But suddenly, he slips on a strange shell-like indentation in the floor, and lunges out into space. Lurching crazily, he reaches for anything, and somehow manages to grab onto the lamp with one hand. Swinging wildly, with both lizards hissing and thrusting their tongues violently out at him, he is left dangling helplessly out in the middle of space.)
Achilles: He-e-e-elp!
((We'll break here, since that reminds me of the turtle, spinning crazily, yelling, "Help, Mr. Wizard... He-e-e-elp..." Just another interesting parallel... lolol...))"Time for this one to come home..." Well, not yet... we're not even halfway through the story, I don't think... but we have come to our 'emotional rescue,' and that's... interesting... (His cry attracts the attention of a woman who rushes downstairs and awakens the sleeping boy. He takes stock of the situation, and, with a kindly smile on his face, gestures to Achilles that all will be well. He shouts something in a strange guttural tongue to a pair of trumpeters high up in windows, and immediately, weird tones begin ringing out making beats with each other. The sleepy young lad points at the lizards, and Achilles sees that the music is having a strong soporific effect on them. Soon, they are completely unconscious. Then the helpful lad shouts to two companions climbing up ladders. They both pull their ladders up and then extend them out into space just underneath the stranded Achilles, forming a sort of bridge. Their gestures make it clear that Achilles should hurry and climb on. But before he does so, Achilles carefully unlinks the top link of the chain holding the lamp, and detaches the lamp. Then he climbs onto the ladder-bridge and the three young lads pull him to safety. Achilles throws his arms around them and hugs them gratefully.)
Achilles: Oh, Mr. T, how can I repay them? Tortoise: I happen to know that these valiant lads just love coffee, and down in the town below, there's a place where they make an incomparable cup of espresso. Invite them for a cup of espresso! Achilles: That would hit the spot.
(And so, by a rather comical set of gestures, smiles, and words, Achilles manages to convey his invitation to the young lads, and the party of five walks out down a steep staircase descending into the town. They reach a charming small cafe, sit down outside, and order five espressos. As they sip their drinks, Achilles remembers that he has the lamp with him.)
Achilles: I forgot, Mr. Tortoise -- I've got this magic lamp with me! But -- what's magic about it? Tortoise: Oh, you know, just the usual -- a genie. Achilles: What? You mean a genie comes out when you rub it, and grants you wishes? Tortoise: Right. What did you expect? Pennies from heaven? Achilles: Well, this is fantastic! I can have any wish I want, eh? I've always wished this would happen to me...
"Help, Mr. Wizard... he-e-e-elp!"
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Post by Goldenfleeced on Jul 3, 2015 0:50:47 GMT
This seems unfortunate... indeed... but, I still have a lot of 'story' ahead of me, before we get to the Little Harmonic Labyrinth, and I especially wanted to show that to you before Monday, so I may have to skip through part of the genie-story, to his explanation about Djinn and GOD, which is interesting, and somewhat necessary to the preparation for the next 'scenario'... but, we can take some 'artistic license,' if nothing else, and use our super editing powers of 'cutting' and 'paraphrasing' to get us through this meta-passage; if you must read the full text, you can get yourself a book, I guess... We'll pick up here, and skip over to... about... there... (And so Achilles gently rubs the large letter 'L' which is etched on the lamp's copper surface... Suddenly, a huge puff of smoke appears, and in the forms of the smoke the five friends can make out a weird, ghostly figure towering above them.)
Genie: Hello, my friends -- and thanks ever so much for rescuing my Lamp from the evil Lizard-Duo. As a sign of gratitude for your heroic deed, I would like to offer you, on the part of my Lamp, the opportunity to have any three of your wishes realized. Achilles: How stupefying! Don't you think so, Mr. T? Tortoise: I surely do. Go ahead, Achilles, take the first wish. Achilles: Wow! But what should I wish? Oh, I know. It's what I thought of the first time I read the 'Arabian Nights' (that collection of silly, and nested, tales)-- 'I wish that I had a hundred wishes, instead of just three. Pretty clever, eh, Mr. T? I bet YOU never would have thought of that trick. I always wondered why those dopey people in the stories never tried it themselves. Tortoise: Maybe now you'll find out the answer. Genie: I am sorry, Achilles, but I don't grant meta-wishes. Achilles: I wish you'd tell me what a meta-wish is. Genie: But THAT is a meta-meta-wish, Achilles -- and I don't grant them, either. Achilles:...Tell me, Mr. Genie, what is a 'meta-wish?' Genie:It is simply a wish about wishes. I am not allowed to grant meta-wishes. It is only within my purview to grant plain, ordinary wishes, such as wishing for ten bottles of beer, to have Helen of Troy on a blanket, or to have an all-expenses-paid weekend for two at the Copacabana. You know-- simple things like that. But meta-wishes I cannot grant. GOD won't permit me to. Achilles: GOD? Who is GOD? And why won't he let you grant meta-wishes? That seems like such a puny thing compared to the others you mentioned. Genie:Well, it's a complicated matter...
((It's complicated... how do you like that? At any rate, the wish is granted, but not yet made, as an explanation of 'GOD' follows, according to the genie's 'perspective,' anyway... and we still have a good way to go, so...))
Your wish is granted, Achilles.
(And one precise moment has elapsed since he said "This will take just a moment.")
Achilles: Thank you, O Djinn, and GOD. Genie: I am pleased to report, Achilles, that you may have exactly one Typeless Wish -- that is to say, a wish, or a meta-wish, or a meta-meta-wish, as many 'meta' as you wish -- even infinitely many (if you wish). Achilles: Oh, thank you so very much, Genie. But my curiosity is provoked. Before I make my wish, would you mind telling me who -- or what -- GOD is? Genie: Not at all. 'GOD' is an acronym which stands for 'GOD Over Djinn'... the word 'Djinn' is used to designate Genies, meta-Genies, etc. It is a Typeless word. Achilles: But-- but-- how can 'GOD' be a word in its own acronym? That doesn't make any sense! Genie: Aren't you acquainted with recursive acronyms? I thought everybody knew about them. You see, 'GOD' stands for 'GOD Over Djinn,' which can be expanded to 'GOD Over Djinn, Over Djinn,' and 'GOD Over Djinn, Over Djinn, Over Djinn'-- which, can in turn, be further expanded. You can go as far as you like. Achilles: But you'll never finish! Genie: Of course not. You can never totally expand GOD... Achilles:Hmmm... that's puzzling...
...You mean GOD sits up at the top of the ladder of djinns? Genie: No, no, no! There is nothing 'at the top,' for there is no top. That is why GOD is a recursive acronym. GOD is not some ultimate djinn; GOD is the tower of djinns above him or her, and no two djinns share the same set. Tortoise: It seems to me that each and every djinn would have a different concept of what GOD is, then, since to any djinn, GOD is the set of djinns above him or her, and no two djinns share that set. Genie: You're absolutely right -- and since I am the lowest djinn of all, my notion of GOD is the most exalted one. I pity the higher djinns, who fancy themselves somehow closer to GOD. What blasphemy! Achilles: By gum ((Fruit stripe, I imagine... lol...)), it must have taken genies to invent GOD...
...Hmmm... that gives me an idea for my wish. Tortoise: Oh, really? What is it? Achilles: I wish my wish would not be granted!
(At that moment an event -- or is 'event' the word for it? -- takes place which cannot be described, and hence no attempt will be made to describe it) ((At this point, I can't help thinking of our 'event horizon,' or is 'event horizon' even an event? Nevertheless, something happens, as it does in our story, here...))
((The following 'voice assignments are correct, before you say anything...)) Achilles: What on earth does that cryptic comment mean? Tortoise: It refers to the Typeless Wish Achilles made. Achilles: But he hadn't made it yet. Tortoise: Yes, he had. He said, "I wish my whish not be granted," and the Genie took THAT to be his wish.
(At that moment, some footsteps are heard coming down the hallway in their direction.)
Achilles: Oh, my! That sounds ominous!
(The footsteps stop; then they turn around and fade away.)
Tortoise: Whew! Achilles: But does the story go on, or is that the end? Turn the page and let's see.
(The Tortoise turns the page of 'Djinn and Tonic,' where they find that the story goes on...)
Achilles: Hey! What happened? Where is my Genie? My lamp? My cup of espresso? What happened to our young friends from the Convex and Concave worlds? What are all those little lizards doing here? Tortoise: I'm afraid our context got restored incorrectly, Achilles. Achilles: What on earth does that cryptic comment mean? Tortoise: I refer to the Typeless Wish that you made. Achilles: But I hadn't yet made it. Tortoise: Yes, you had. You said, "I wish my wish would not be granted", and the Genie took THAT to be your wish. Achilles: Oh, my. That sounds ominous. Tortoise: It spells PARADOX. For that Typeless Wish to be granted, it had to be denied -- yet not to grant it would be to grant it. Achilles: So what happened? Did the earth come to a standstill? Did the universe cave in? Tortoise: No. The System crashed. Achilles: What does that mean? Tortoise: It means that you and I, Achilles, were suddenly and instantaneously transported to Tumbolia. ((Tumbolia... where you go when you're 'head over heels,' I imagine... lol...) Achilles: To where? Tortoise: Tumbolia: the land of dead hiccups and extinguished light bulbs. It's a sort of waiting room, where dormant software waits for its host hardware to come back up. No telling how long the System was down, and we were in Tumbolia. It could have been moments, hours, days -- even years.
Achilles: I don't know what software is, and I don't know what hardware is. But I do know that I didn't get to make my wishes! I want my Genie back! Tortoise: I'm sorry, Achilles -- you blew it. You crashed the System, and you should thank your lucky stars that we're back at all. Things could have come out a lot worse. But I have no idea where we are. Achilles: I recognize it now -- we're inside another of Escher's pictures. This time it's 'Reptiles.' Tortoise: Aha! The System tried to save as much of our context as it could before it crashed, and it got as far as recording that it was an Escher picture with lizards before it went down. That's commendable. Achilles: And look -- isn't that our phial of 'popping-tonic' over there on the table, next to the cycle of lizards? Tortoise: It certainly is, Achilles. I must say, we are very lucky, indeed. The System was very kind to us, in giving us back our popping-tonic -- it's precious stuff! Achilles: I'll say. Now we can pop out of the Escher world, and back into my house. Tortoise: There are a couple of books on the desk, next to the tonic. I wonder what they are. (He picks up the smaller one, which is open to a random page.) This looks like a moderately provocative book. Achilles: Oh, really? What is its title? Tortoise: "Provocative Adventures of the Tortoise and Achilles Taking Place in Sundry Parts of the Globe." It sounds like an interesting book to read out of.
((Notice the 'echoes' in the storyline...? I'm fairly certain that there is a reason for that...))
Achilles: Well, YOU can read if you want, but as for me, I'm not going to take any chances with that popping-tonic -- one of the lizards might knock it off the table, so I'm going to get it right now!
(He dashes over to the table and reaches for the popping-tonic, but in his haste he somehow bumps the flask of tonic, and it tumbles off the desk and begins rolling.)
Oh, no! Mr. T -- look! I accidentally knocked the tonic onto the floor, and it's rolling towards -- towards -- the stairwell! Quick -- before it falls!
(The Tortoise, however, is completely wrapped up in the thin volume which he has in his hands.)
Tortoise (muttering): Eh? This story looks fascinating. Achilles: Mr. T, help! Help catch the tonic-flask! Tortoise: What's all the fuss about? Achilles: The tonic flask -- I knocked it down from the desk, and now it's rolling, and --
(At that instant it reaches the brink of the stairwell, and plummets over...)
Oh, no! What can we do, Mr. Tortoise -- aren't you alarmed? We're losing our tonic! It's just fallen down the stairwell. There's only one thing to do! We'll have to go down one story! Tortoise: Go down one story? My pleasure. Won't you join me?
(He begins to read aloud, and Achilles, pulled in two directions at once, finally stays, taking the role of the Tortoise.)
We'll take a short break here, again, before we 'switch personalities' or 'roles,' maybe... and enter 'The Little Harmonic Labyrinth.' I'll try to get it finished, so that we don't have to go down another story... we'll end up in the basement, if we're not careful... or at least, 'down under' somewhere... Now, interestingly, here we have our own 'echo,' that came totally 'unprovoked'... in other words, I didn't 'do' that... But there you go. I think I'll continue the story with a new post number... 1165... which makes another kind of 'echo'... 11 and 11 (6 plus 5), for 'maximum serendipity'... lolol... When we finish up in the 'Little Harmonic Labyrinth,' I believe we'll be at our 1166th post, and that should be something special... don't you think? Well, let's 'carry on'...
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Post by Goldenfleeced on Jul 3, 2015 3:28:37 GMT
So, are you ready...? This is a really 'good' part... And, while I've already posted up the illustration, I suppose that it bears repeating here, so that you can see that the 'labyrinth' that Mr. Hofstadter chose to illustrate this 'passage,' looks very much like a record album... and he has his reasons for that, too... believe me. And here is another view of the 'Cretan Labyrinth'... Achilles: It's really dark here, Mr. T. I can't see a thing. Oof! I bumped into a wall. Watch out. Tortoise: Here -- I have a couple of walking sticks. Why don't you take one of them? You can hold it in front of you so that you don't bang into things. Achilles: Good idea. (He takes the stick.) Do you get the sense that this path is curving gently to the left as we walk? Tortoise: Very slightly, yes. Achilles: I wonder where we are. And whether we'll ever see the light of day again. I wish I'd never listened to you, when you suggested I swallow some of that 'Drink Me' stuff. Tortoise: I assure you, it's quite harmless. I've done it scads of times, and not once have I ever regretted it. Relax and enjoy being small. Achilles: Being small? What is it you've done to me, Mr. T? Tortoise: Now don't go blaming me. You did it of your own free will. Achilles: Have you made me shrink? So that this labyrinth we're in is actually some teeny thing that someone could STEP on? ((Notice that the part about being 'stepped on' in regard to the location of the labyrinth is highlighted by 'caps'... he is 'screaming' it at you... lol...)) Tortoise: Labyrinth? Labyrinth? Could it be? Are we in the notorious Little Harmonic Labyrinth of the dreaded Majotaur? ((Majotaur... read 'Mage-o-taur,' I think... notorious, Mage-o-taur, that is...)) Achilles: Yikes! What is that? Tortoise: They say -- although I personally never believed it myself -- that an Evil Majotaur has created a tiny labyrinth and sits in a pit in the middle of it, waiting for innocent victims to get lost in its fearsome complexity. Then, when they wander lost and dazed into the center, he laughs and laughs at them -- so hard, that he laughs them to death! ((I have heard... and this is only a rumor, mind you... that he also pelts them with 'snickerdoodles'... I'm not sure how much 'truth' there is to it, but it makes a very interesting theory, don't you think? Lolol...)) Achilles: Oh, no! Tortoise: But it's only a myth. Courage, Achilles.
(And the dauntless pair trudge on.)Of course, the labyrinth winds on, but I think that I'll take a short break... my fingers need oiling... Achilles: Feel these walls. They're like corrugated tin sheets, or something. But the corrugations have different sizes.
(To emphasize his point, he sticks out his walking stick against the wall surface as he walks. As the stick bounces back and forth against the corrugations, strange notions echo up and down the long curved corridor they are in.)
Tortoise (alarmed): What was THAT? Achilles: Oh, just me, rubbing my walking stick against the wall. Tortoise: Whew! I thought for a moment that it was the bellowing of the ferocious Majotaur! Achilles: I thought you said it was all a myth. Tortoise: Of course it is. Nothing to be afraid of.
(Achilles puts his walking stick back against the wall, and continues walking. As he does so, some musical sounds are heard, coming from the point where his stick is scraping the wall.)
Tortoise: Oh oh. I have a bad feeling, Achilles. That Labyrinth may not be a myth, after all. Achilles: Wait a minute. What makes you change your mind all of a sudden? Tortoise: Do you hear that music?
(To hear more clearly, Achilles lowers the stick, and the strains of melody cease.)
Hey! Put that back! I want to hear the end of this piece!
(Confused, Achilles obeys, and the music resumes.)
Thank you. Now as I was about to say, I have just figured out where we are. Achilles: Really? Where are we? Tortoise: We are walking down a spiral groove of a record in a jacket. Your stick scraping against the strange shapes in the wall acts like a needle running down the groove, allowing us to hear the music. Achilles: Oh, no, oh, no... Tortoise:What? Aren't you overjoyed? Have you ever had the chance to be in such intimate contact with music before? ((I really must say that I, personally, have not... lol...))
((Tumbolia...))
Achilles: How am I ever going to win footraces against full-sized people when I am smaller than a flea, Mr. Tortoise? Tortoise: Oh, is that all that's bothering you? That's nothing to fret about, Achilles. Achilles: The way you talk, I get the impression that you never worry at all. Tortoise: I don't know. But one thing for certain is that I don't worry about being small. Especially not when faced with the awful danger of the dreaded Majotaur! Achilles: Horrors! Are you telling me -- Tortoise: I'm afraid so, Achilles. The music gave it away. Achilles: How could it do that? Tortoise: Very simple. When I heard the melody, B-A-C-H in the top voice, I immediately realized that the grooves that we're walking through could only be the 'Little Harmonic Labyrinth,' one of Bach's lesser-known organ pieces. It is so named because of its dizzyingly frequent modulations. Achilles: Wh-what are they? Tortoise: Well, you know that most musical pieces are written in a key, or tonality, such as C major, which is the key of this one. Achilles: I had heard the term before. Doesn't that mean that C is the note you want to end on? Tortoise: Yes, C acts like a home base, in a way. Actually, the usual word is "tonic." Achilles: Does one then stray away from the tonic with the aim of eventually returning? Tortoise: That's right. As the piece develops, ambiguous chords and melodies are used, which leads away from the tonic. Little by little, tension builds up -- you feel an increasing desire to return home, to hear the tonic. ((Wow... think about what was just said, in those few short statements...)) Achilles: Is that why, at the end of a piece, I always feel so satisfied, as if I had been waiting my whole life to hear the tonic?
Well, I just lost all of my editing work for this morning, so far... as well as the video commentary... but I can put that back really quickly; the rest, not so quickly, but this 'conclusion' to the story is really quite 'critical,' since this is where we will find our 'resolution.' And, until we 'resolve' in that 'original key,' I'm afraid there just won't be any 'real' satisfaction... It's just 'good' science, my friends... or is that 'weird science?' Lolol... And, speaking of 'weird,' how's this...? The intro 'commercial' says... of all things... 50 years of satisfaction... Lolol... but I digress... slightly... And in the 11th chapter of Isaiah, in both of the (1)-numbered verses... coincidentally... we find this... Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.Rick 'Springfield'... But don't mind me... I hear a lot of echoes... that I understand aren't really there... So, now I don't think I have enough time to finish this story, but maybe I can get enough of the rest written down that you can reach at least the 'subsidiary goal' of resolution, and with it, some understanding of where we ought to end up, and why... if not full satisfaction. Achilles: Is that why, at the end of a piece, I always feel so satisfied, as if I had been waiting my whole life to hear the tonic? Tortoise: Exactly. The compose has used his knowledge of harmonic progressions to manipulate your emotions, and to build up hopes in you to hear that tonic. Achilles: But you were going to tell me about modulation. Tortoise: Oh, yes. One very important thing a composer can do is to 'modulate' partway through a piece, which means that he sets up a temporary goal other than resolution into the tonic. Achilles: I see... I think. Do you mean that some sequence of chords shifts the harmonic tension somehow so that I actually desire to resolve in a new key? Tortoise: Right. This makes the situation more complex, for although in the short term you want to resolve in the new key, all the while at the back of your mind you retain the longing to hit that original goal -- in this case, C major. And when the subsidiary goal is reached, there is -- Achilles (suddenly gesturing enthusiastically): Oh, listen to the gorgeous upward-swooping chords which mark the end of the 'Little Harmonic Labyrinth'! Tortoise: No, Achilles, this isn't the end. It's merely -- Achilles: Sure, it is! Wow! What a powerful strong ending. What a sense of relief. That's some resolution. Gee!
(And sure enough, at that moment the music stops, as they emerge into an open area with no walls.)
You see, it is over. What did I tell you? Tortoise: Something is very wrong. This record is a disgrace to the world of music. Achilles: What do you mean? Tortoise: It was exactly what I was telling you about. Here Bach had modulated from C into G, setting up a secondary goal of hearing G. This means that you experience two tensions at once -- waiting for resolution into G, but also keeping in mind that ultimate desire -- to resolve triumphantly into C Major. Achilles: Why should you have to keep anything in mind when listening to a piece of music? Is music only an intellectual exercise? Tortoise: No, of course not. Some music is highly intellectual, but most music is not. And most of the time your ear or brain does the 'calculations' for you, and lets your emotions know what they want to hear. You don't have to think about it consciously. But in this piece, Bach was playing tricks, hoping to lead you astray. And in your case, Achilles, he succeeded. Achilles: Are you telling me that I responded to a resolution in a subsidiary key? Tortoise: That's right. Achilles: It still sounded like an ending to me. Tortoise: Bach intentionally made it sound that way. You just fell into his trap. It was deliberately contrived to sound like an ending, but if you follow the harmonic progression carefully, you will see that it is in the wrong key. Apparently not just you but also this miserable record company fell for the same trick -- and they truncated the piece early. Achilles: What a dirty trick Bach played on me. Tortoise: That is his whole game -- to make you lose your way in his Labyrinth. The Evil Majotaur is in cahoots with Bach, you see. And if you don't watch out, he will now laugh you to death -- and perhaps me along with you. Achilles: Oh, let us hurry up and get out of here. Quick! Let's run backwards in the grooves, and escape on the outside of the record before the Evil Majotaur finds us. Tortoise: Heavens, no! My sensibility is far too delicate to handle the bizarre chord progressions which occur when time is reversed. Achilles: Oh, Mr. T, how will we ever get out of here, if we can't just retrace our steps? Tortoise: That's a very good question...
And here is where we will have to wait, until Monday, unless, of course, you have a copy of the book. In which case, you are free to find your own 'resolution,' and if not... we'll find our 'key' here somewhere... It may be that the 'keys' to Hell and Death aren't exactly what we thought they were... in a figure of speaking, at least... Have a really wonderful holiday, as I won't see you again until Monday. And for those about to Rock... I'm looking for resolution in the original 'key'... Which, so far, seems to be a 'missing chord'...
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Post by Goldenfleeced on Jul 7, 2015 5:35:20 GMT
Well, I was going to post this on another thread, but since this will make up my 1166th post, I'd better make my comments here, and edit in the conclusion, more or less, to this particular 'story' later on, for the numbers,- I'd like to do my thing on 7/7, officially, just for the 'juju,' if you'll forgive my saying so. I enjoy 'playing the numbers,' just for the 'fun' of it... and so far, I can't say I'm disappointed in the serendipity of the odds... if you know what I mean... it's got 'rhythm'... The main reason for my posting this evening (my radio station doesn't come in when I open my computer, and I'm really tired, truthfully, but I'm really enjoying the 'selection' tonight, by the way... lolol... so here I am, anyway), is to say 'thank you' to some new 'imaginary friends' who must live somewhere nearby, and who shared their 'fun' with me this weekend, whether they meant to or not, and whom I never saw, but... if it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have had much 'fun' this weekend, and as it so happens, it all turned out quite nicely. So... from me to you... Thank you. It was really... cool... I got my 'party on the patio,' after all... Aside from that, I just wanted to say that I often feel somewhat 'awkward'... for various reasons, although, intellectually, I understand that I really have no good reason for this 'awkwardness,'- I'm reasonably intelligent, and not too horrible to look at, really. Still, I've always been somewhat 'uncomfortable' in public situations... sometimes, I actually do stumble... on things like... cracks in the sidewalk, say. And I actually did put on my favorite pair of pants, after the knee developed a split in the middle of the right leg, because... I really liked those darned pants. I thought maybe I could still wear them, somehow... I mean, some people spend good money for pants with the knees and thighs and... whatever... pre-ripped, for goodness sake. And I'm awkward. Well, all I can say is that that must be what comes as a consequence of being 'in the world, but not of the world,' so to speak... I don't really 'blend' so well, even though, I really just want to be like you. Or, at least, 'fit in' with you. And be comfortable... but I'm really just... not. I love this place, and, on the other hand, I truly have enjoyed so many of the people, and places, in it... it really does seem pretty perfect, all things considered... and so did they, in spite of the fact that they say that nothing is. I don't know... it all seems pretty wonderful to me. But there is more. So much more... and because it is all... intermeshing... you are actually able to experience more, in theory, at least. Your actions here, on this level of be-ing, affect events and other 'aspects' (faces, say, or 'configurations, maybe) of your self, that are working themselves out on 'parallel' 'levels' of existence, or 'be-ing'... which is kind of awesome, really. Except that most of us have no idea what's going on. You are 'blind' to what's going on, all around you... I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. From the third chapter of the book of the 'Revelations,' the 18th verse... "Oh, no, you don't... you aren't going to sell MY eeeeediot any of your salve..." And your brain... the 'infamous' 'other 90 percent,' is processing all of this information... 'behind your back,' so to speak... and storing it all in a place that can typically only be accessed 'behind your back,' as well, or... in dreams. At some point, soon, I believe, somebody is going to 'understand' their DNA, in full, and consequently 'unlock' the ability to 'read' this information in 'real time,' or in other words, on this particular level of consciousness which we all share. This will be the point that the 'Kingdom,' or Malkuth, returns to 'Crown'... and regains its original powers of thought, and active creation, which were lost in a 'fall'... a heritage lost, but said by all accounts to be regained... I believe that the corner was turned. The 'labyrinth' will be opened... In regard to 'books,' I would just like to remind you all of a quote that I have given you before, from the 'Unknown Philosopher', as he was 'known'... lol... Louis Claude de St. Martin, who said: The only book written solely by the hand of God is Man.I'm not sure how many of you gave that any really serious thought at the time that it was presented, but, in light of this statement... Worthy is the Lamb to open the Book......and our thoughts in regard to 'opening' our DNA, so to speak, by 'breaking the seals' on these 'levels of conscious thought... What do you now suppose that he might have meant? He was, after all, a 'philosopher' of the highest order... Now, one other thing... a further word of private 'thanks' to the 'media,' who are adding, by their thoughtful contributions, to the general flow of the 'oil of gladness,' so to speak, that must surely help to ease the friction of this 'transition,- and I assure you, that it is being done; real magic is being made, and the locks (seals) are being broken... Houdini rises from the water torture... just in time... Unless he 'trips' on the chains... Abracadabra... How about some Foo Fighters? Yeah... Sadly, I don't have much time left for a post this morning, before I have to go, but I really thought that for my 7/7 post, I should at least respond to something that I saw on a friend's computer screen this morning. It was another one of those cut-and-paste(post) video 'greeting cards' that featured a picture of Al Capone, and the 'legend' read: "Don't mistake my kindness for weakness, because if you do, my kindness isn't what 'your' going to remember about me." And I guess that's true. What most people remember about Al Capone is that he met a miserable end after having contracted a 'killer' case of syphillis... There is, at least, a 'moral' to that story... And you misspelled 'your'... under the circumstances... And, yes... I am kind of a 'nazi' that way... You know, for want of a nail... some poor horse went shoeless... Which seems like a shame. Oh, and about Bill Cosby... The 'truth' is... yesterday's gone, and tomorrow looks... clearer... Just a short forecast... Have an 'inspired' day; I look forward to 'seeing' you again tomorrow. Well, let's open this with a 'bang'... Like a 'canon'-ball... Yes... I would just imagine that if you're playing in the key of 'G,' you might expect to resonate in 'G Minor'... resonate... echo... And that leads me to think of our 'G,' which, according to Masonic lore and tradition, stands for 'God,' or 'Geometry,' even... but, more importantly, is said to be the English translation for the Yod... interestingly... so that, a 'Golden G' would be a 'Golden Yod,' wouldn't it? And to be born with a 'Golden Yod' could very well mean that one was born with the initial of 'G'... and that leads to other thoughts... But, what I really wanted to say, before I go plant some plants this morning, is this... They say to me, 'Where is your God?'...And, you know what? I know... You're not going to believe this, but it's True... ...and kind of funny, too... I say, 'You're soaking in it...'But siriusly... stop and think about it. 'God' is the ongoing sum total of all of those simultaneous 'levels' of 'be-ing,' that are happening together, in time, in order to give 'definition' to the other 'levels' of 'be-ing' that must exist, in order to give full 'express-ion' to this 'Mind,' and in which, you and I are possible 'movers' among the various 'levels,' since we are created in 'His' express image and likeness... and this is why the 'angels' are said to 'wonder' at us... We are able to 'generate' 'God,' in our turn, just as 'He' has 'generated' 'Us'... and, in fact, this is maybe our 'express' purpose... to 'express' 'God'... Look... do you see what I see? In other words... to the extent that we 'recognize' and 'express' 'God,' we are, in turn, given fuller 'express-ion,' and 'expression' of that 'Force' which is... 'God.' I didn't come to sell you anything... and, hay, if you're an 'Eskimo,' you don't need a refrigerator, do you? All I know is that there is a door that leads 'out,' but... it's kind of strait and narrow. Unhappily, not many men will find it, but I'd like to show you a possible 'mindset' that will allow you a better chance at finding it, although the 'odds' are kind of 'rigged' against it, truthfully... the deck is loaded against you. They don't wish to enter in, but they will not suffer the people to enter in, either...These words... are only echoes... of other words.... whose time has come again, I think. The end of an age... in Truth. And the beginning of the 'Future,' that was seen by many men and women, in Truth, and Hope, since the beginning of Ages... A 'new heaven' and a 'new earth'... And a 'transition' thereto... I have to get on with our story, so that I can start the next one... it seems quite seredipitous, since it is titled, "The Crab Canon," and we are currently in the sign of the Crab, of Cancer, star-wise. I know somebody that once said that he was 'fishing for crab'... I wonder if that's still the case... I think I've a line on one... Further, as support for my 'canon-ball,' I saw something else on the way home this morning... something really... perfect. Sitting on top of the guard rail posts, to the right of the car, was sitting a... stone ball... round... and certainly a stone... almost like a cannonball. Wow, I said. Mostly... And then, there was an eagle feather, projecting from the post rail, as well... well, it certainly looked like an eagle feather, so let's take our 'magic' where we find it, and say it was... I'm certainly willing. Lolol... Now, I don't know which one of my 'imaginary friends' to thank, but I can't help saying a real 'thank you' to... whatever... it is, that gives us the 'signs' that we need, in order to make the road a little bit smoother. They were, also, perfect. One of my own signs occurs in the 'numbers,' and I see those upcoming, in interesting manifestations... you just can't help wondering... Oh, and the 'Rick-rolling'... Hand me the popcorn... heavily buttered... I'm going to get my plants in, and then I'll continue on with this post... I like the numbers... Now, that was a 'good one'... I haven't heard that one for a while. Are you ready to 'pop' back into the "Little Harmonic Labyrinth?" Before we do, I'd just like to mention that we skipped the first of Hofstadter's little 'stories,' which was titled, "Sonata for Unaccompanied Achilles," interestingly... and here is the author's short-ish description of the 'story,' which is also moderately provocative... under the circumstances. It relates to 'figure and ground,' as I've shown you in some of the previous illustration... basically, it's Achilles 'talking to himself,' with answers by the Tortoise... implied... A Dialogue which imitates the Bach Sonatas for unaccompanied violin. In particular, Achilles is the only speaker, since it is a transcript of one end of a telephone call, at the far end of which is the Tortoise. Their conversation concerns the concepts of 'figure' and 'ground' in various contexts - e.g. Escher's art. The Dialogue itself forms an example of the distinction, since Achilles' lines form a 'figure,' and the Tortoises' lines - implicit in Achilles' lines - form a 'ground.'Of course, this only relates in the case that you can hear only one end of a telephone conversation... Tortoise: But it's only a myth. Courage, Achilles.
(A little desperately, Achilles starts running about aimlessly in the dark. Suddenly, there is a slight gasp, and then a "thud".)
Achilles - are you all right? Achilles: Just a bit shaken up, but otherwise fine. I fell into some big hole. Tortoise: You've fallen into the pit of the Evil Majotaur! Here, I'll come help you out. We've got to move fast! Achilles: Careful, Mr. T - I don't want YOU to fall in here, too. Tortoise: Don't fret Achilles. Everything will be all -
(Suddenly, there is a slight gasp, and then a "thud".)
Achilles: Mr. T - you fell in, too. Are you all right? Tortoise: Only my pride is hurt - otherwise, I'm fine. Achilles: Now, we're in a pretty pickle, aren't we?
(Suddenly, a giant, booming laugh is heard, alarmingly close to them.)
Tortoise: Watch out, Achilles! This is no laughing matter! Majotaur: Hee hee hee! Ho ho! Haw haw haw! Achilles: I'm starting to feel weak, Mr. T... Tortoise: Pay no attention to his laugh, Achilles. That's your only hope. Achilles: I'll do my best. If only my stomach weren't empty. Tortoise: Say, am I smelling things, or is there a bowl of hot buttered popcorn around here? Achilles: I smell it, too. Where is it coming from? Tortoise: Over there, I think. OH! I just ran into a big bowl of the stuff. Yes, indeed - it seems to be a bowl of popcorn! Achilles: Oh, boy - popcorn! I'm going to munch my head off! Tortoise: Let's just hope it isn't pushcorn. Pushcorn and popcorn are so extraordinarily difficult to tell apart. Achilles: What's this about Pushkin? Tortoise: I didn't say a thing. You must be hearing things. Achilles: Go-golly! I hope not. Well, let's dig in.
(And the friends begin munching the popcorn (or pushcorn?) - and all at once - POP! I guess it was popcorn, after all.)
Tortoise: What an amusing story. Did you enjoy it? Achilles: Mildly. Only I wonder whether they ever got out of that Evil Majotaur's pit or not. Poor Achilles - he wanted to be full-sized again. Tortoise: Don't worry. They're out, and he is full-sized again. That's what the 'POP' was all about. Achilles: Oh, I couldn't tell. Well, now I REALLY want to find that bottle of tonic. For some reason, my lips are burning. And nothing would taste better than a drink of popping-tonic. Tortoise: That stuff is renowned for its thirst-quenching powers. Why, in some places people very nearly go crazy over it. At the turn of the century in Vienna, the Schonberg food factory stopped making tonic, and started making cereal instead. You can't imagine the uproar that caused. Achilles: I have an inkling. But let's go look for the tonic. Hey - just a moment. Those lizards on the desk - do you see something funny about them? Tortoise: Ummm... not particularly. What do you see of such great interest? Achilles: Don't you see it? They're emerging from that flat picture without drinking any popping-tonic. How are they able to do that? Tortoise: Oh, didn't I tell you? You can get out of a picture by moving perpendicularly to its plane, if you have no popping-tonic. The little lizards have learned to climb UP when they want to get out of the two-dimensional sketchbook world. Achilles: Could we do the same thing to get out of this Escher picture we're in? Tortoise: Of course. We just need to go UP one story. Do you want to try it? Achilles: Anything to get back to my house. I'm tired of all these provocative adventures. Tortoise: Follow me, then, up this way.
(And they go up one story.)
Achilles: It's good to be back. But something seems wrong. This isn't my house. This is YOUR house, Mr. Tortoise. Tortoise: Well, so it is - and am I glad for that. I wasn't looking forward one whit to the long walk back from your house. I'm bushed, and doubt if I could have made it. Achilles: I don't mind walking home, so I guess it's lucky we ended up here, after all. Tortoise: I'll say. This certainly is a piece of Good Fortune!
Well, there you go. That is the end of the story... more or less... I'd hate to leave you hanging... or lost in the 'labyrinth'... Interestingly, the 'lizards' had figured out how to move between the 'parallel' levels by moving perpendicularly 'up one story'... and that, in itself, seems to be a moderately provocative statement, if you ask me. But there are many 'provocative adventures' for the 'curious' within this little 'labyrinth,'- for instance, notice the reference to the 'inkling'... and, as my 'friend' has said on more than one occasion, we could really use a 'bowl of popcorn' around here... And now that's out of the way, I'd like to quote you something else, on a more 'serious' note, that I also found to be 'moderately provocative,' under the circumstances. It relates to our Royal Arch, and the Ark, which is still at issue... but these little 'detours' are just on the 'lighter side' of what is a fairly sirius quest, after all... Now, in 'computer language,' we have what are known as 'back doors'... and these provide a means of 'popping in and out' of 'programs,' mostly... these 'back doors' are known mostly only to the 'programmer' and are inaccessible to the user, for the most part. Let's think of our 'gates' as 'back doors'... in and out... they are very 'strait and narrow,' and in truth, 'few there be that find it'... Now, let's consider some of our previously 'vanished' populations, and groups of 'persons,' as having exited through various 'back doors'... ...and then, let's consider the possibility of their having 'popped' back in again... I am including this quote from the 'Introduction' to the Guide to the Royal Arch Chapter at this time, in order to bring to mind, once again, some of the relevant symbolism, and the importance of these particular 'rituals' and their historic origins to the process, as a whole... we will talk again about the 'timing' of these things, especially as it relates to the history of Masonry in this country, which (exceedingly interestingly, if you ask me) actually predates considerably our 'birth' as a nation... There is a reason, of course... and this reason has to do with so many other of the most 'historic' of periods, and events, that have been experienced here, including the 'civil' war... And this might be a good time to mention that I heard on a morning radio program earlier today that it is an interesting fact that one of our most 'American' of meals... fried chicken... was introduced in the Southern states by Scottish immigrants... and then, I reflect that the Southern states was also where Scottish Rite Masonry was planted, by Sir Albert Pike, and where, it is rumored (exceedingly interestingly) that there may be a reason to believe that even the 'Ark' is to be found in that area... or, at least, re-located in that area, for a time... and that it was these same Southern states that tried, unsuccessfully, to secede from the 'Union', for... reasons that likely had less to do with their 'business' than their 'philosophy'... Hillbillies and thistles... SYMBOLISM OF THE CHAPTER DEGREES
The late distinguished brother, Rev. SALEM TOWN, has left on record a brief summary of the symbolism inculcated in the several degrees which deserves to be read by every Mason. "The first degree in Masonry," he says, "naturally suggests that state of moral darkness which begloomed our world. On the apostacy of our first common parent, not a gleam of light was left to cheer his desponding mind. Soon, however, the first kind promise was made. Adam was, therefore, in a comparative sense, still in darkness. Such is the very nature of the first degree, that every observing candidate is made to view his moral blindness and deplorable state by nature. Under these impressions, he enters on the second degree, which, in view of his moral blindness, he is to consider emblematical of a state of imprisonment and trial. Such was the second state of ADAM. Hence arises the idea of probationary ground. A due observance of all former requisitions, and a sincere desire to make advances in knowledge and virtue, open the way for the reception of more light. Having diligently persevered in the use of appointed means, the third degree prefigures the life of a good man in his pilgrimage state. Although the true light has shined into his heart, and has experienced much consolation, yet he sometimes wanders into devious and forbidden paths. In the midst of such trials he resolves to be faithful, and manfully withstand temptations. He determines to pursue that sacred trust committed to his care, and therefore, endeavors to escape for he life to the Great Ark of his salvation. In advancing to the fourth degree, the good man is greatly encouraged to persevere in the ways of well-doing even to the end. He has a name which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. If, therefore, he be rejected, and cast forth as the rubbish of the world, he knows full well that the Great Master Builder of the Universe, having chosen and prepared him as a lively stone in that spiritual building in the heavens, will bring him forth with triumph, while shouting grace, grace to his Divine Redeemer. Hence opens the fifth degree, where he discovers his election to, and his glorified station in, the kingdom of his Father... With these views, the sixth degree is conferred, where the riches of divine grace are opened in boundless prospect... In the seventh degree, the good man is truly filled with heartfelt gratitude to his heavenly benefactor, for all of those wonderful deliverances wrought out for him while journeying through the rugged paths of human life...
The object and aim of all Masonic science is the search after truth. Divine Truth is symbolized by the LOGOS, the WORD, the NAME: not only as a mere symbol, but as the sentient, active, creating and preserving power. It was the NAME, or WORD, or LOGOS, that created the world and spake its teeming life into being... The Great and Sacred Name which is ineffable and ever glorious, is the grand central symbol of the Order, and the true Mason is he who understands and appreciates this fact; and then makes its legitimate results practical in his life.Seven 'degrees' or... 'levels'... In a 'crypt-ic' search for Truth... Perfect. One more edit on this one, just for the numbers... and a refresher on some of the previous content, since it seems to have become 'relevant;' I shouldn't be surprised, really. I'm not. Like I shouldn't have been surprised when I walked out of my bedroom this morning after a short nap, to refresh my cup of coffee, and found a pole-dancing monkey in the dining room/kitchen area. Wow. I am surprised, you know, because I was really expecting a pole-dancing Cthulu... That's the kind of life I live... mostly... my room-mate was wearing tinfoil before it became fashionable, and I should have listened to him when he said that the crazy girl that was 'dating' his renter was being 'contacted' by 'aliens,'- she was. Strange humans, at least... and one of them was evidently known as 'Big Daddy Zeus.' That comes back into 'play' in some funny places, and if you are experiencing a sense of 'deja vu' or whatever, I can only say 'stick' with it... it gets more interesting, but we'll get back to that later on. Right now, I'm going to have to go back to work for a couple of hours, anyway, since I've taken on another 'project'. It's a funny thing, kind of... I saw someone this morning that I hadn't seen for several (many) years. They remarked that I looked really good, and I said 'thank you,' and they said that the thing that they remembered most about me was that I was always "bustin' ass." I said, "yeah... that's why I've still got muscles. Bustin' ass..." And I smiled. But it's true... and I enjoyed my 'labor' here, for the most part... even when it wasn't exactly what I might have 'chosen.' I got a pretty extensive 'skill/tool set' out of it... and good muscle tone. I'm really not dissatisfied... the same person saw somebody else that they used to know (evidently fairly well), and they didn't recognize them at all... I can only be grateful, really, and tell you that the way that you live really does make a difference. You have to allow enough 'time' to go by to appreciate that difference, though... and that reminds me of a song... Unchained... or 'rampant,' in heraldry... like the Unicorn, say... Now, I just need to say something in regard to the morning show host's recent remarks concerning having more than one wife... and his questions as to why any woman might not find that to be a desirable situation... I think that our 'imaginary friend,' 'Bob,' has been visited by the Angel MO(RAN)-i (pronounced mo-ran-eye)... **oops... gosh... I tripped my own 'booby-trap'... I hope my little faux-pas went un-noticed... mostly... the 'good news' is that in order for you to test it, you'd have to post... and you're not going to, are you? I didn't think so... MO-Ran-I's secret is safe here... unless I forget again...** I don't see why not... I've had the gamut of other 'angels' trotted out around here... And, hay... I believe in miracles... That wasn't a big moth down there, 'Bob'... the 'tip-off' should have been the porcelain plate... Unfortunately, 'Bob' may have 'flushed' an entire 'revelation' down the quaintly historic and now 'unisex' crapper... at any rate, I would answer your 'questions' with the fact that there is currently being advertised a television program about women running away from polygamy and polygamous situations,- and in many cases, believe it or not, it involves (yuck) a relative... I'm guessing they don't like it so much. But (H)Al gave me a little anecdote to share with you, that I think you'll find at least moderately entertaining... he says... "If you'll be the One, I'll be your 'Zero,' and together, we will make... Binary code." Lololol... Just One and a Zero... and the rest was... history... I just thought that was funny. That, and... oh, yes... I was going to answer Nobody's question as to why a 'flock' (well, it ought to be, since we are talking about birds) of crows is referred to as a "murder" of crows. Nobody actually asked, but I'm going to give you an answer, since I think that you will find my 'answer' to be at least moderately provocative... lol... The crow is a symbol of 'sacred law',- ancient and Divine wisdom, and what is called 'sixth sense,' or the ability to 'see' into the 'spiritual' realm(s). So, symbolically speaking, we have a group of 'keepers of ancient and sacred law' that have been 'murdered'... And a connection with the 'spiritual realm'... Think about that. So many 'odd' things have a perfectly comprehensible explanation, when you give them some thought... if you're 'curious,' that is... Oh, and... Go, Big Daddy Zeus... Lolololol... You just can't beat that... with a stick... It's a woodpecker... it's a possum... it's... An endlessly knotty mess, if you ask me... I'd sure like to catch that Jimmy Page interview. And, yes... I do like INXS... I'll be back with a start on our 'Crab Canon' this evening... In the meantime, let me leave you with something 'uplifting'... From 'Eldorado'... Illusions in G Major... Roll it over... I've got my 'dancing pants' on... Okay, I'm ready... that was fun. Well, not the first part, so much, but the dancing... and 'Happy Birthday' to the guy that requested "Come on, Eileen;" it is a feel-good song... I dig the fiddling. And that reminds me of a song... by the Guess Who... coincidentally titled, "Fiddlin'," which actually leads into our "Crab Canon" quite nicely. Now, I didn't make these stories up, remember... they were written by a much smarter man than I am, back in about 1970-ish, I think... I just found the serendipity of the subject matter to be irresistible, and I can't help relating it for you here, considering the subjects under discussion... I hope you enjoy them as much as I did... Nice car... Crab Canon (Achilles and the Tortoise happen upon each other in the park one day while strolling.) Tortoise: Good day, Mr. A. Achilles: Why, same to you. Tortoise: So nice to run into you. Achilles: That echoes my thoughts. Tortoise: And it's a perfect day for a walk. I think I'll be walking home soon. Achilles: Oh, really? I guess there's nothing better for you than walking. Tortoise: Incidentally, you're looking in very fine fettle these days, I must say. Achilles: Thank you very much. Tortoise: Not at all. Here, care for one of my cigars? Achilles: Oh, you are such a philistine. In this area, the Dutch contributions are of markedly inferior taste, don't you think? Tortoise: I disagree, in this case. But speaking of taste, I finally saw that "Crab Canon" by your favorite artist, M.C. Escher, in a gallery the other day, and I fully appreciate the beauty and ingenuity with which he made one single theme mesh with itself going both backwards and forwards. But I am afraid I will always feel Bach is superior to Escher. Achilles: I don't know. But one thing for certain is that I don't worry about arguments of taste. 'De gustibus non est disputandum.' Tortoise: Tell me, what's it like to be your age? Is it true that one has no worries at all? Achilles: To be precise, one has no frets. Tortoise: Oh, well, it's all the same to me. Achilles: Fiddle. It makes a big difference, you know. Tortoise: Say, don't you play the guitar? Achilles: That's my good friend. He often plays, the fool. But I myself wouldn't touch a guitar with a ten-foot-pole! ((Pole... ie, long stick... lol...))
(Suddenly, the Crab, appearing from out of nowhere, wanders up excitedly, pointing to a rather prominent black eye.)
Crab: Hallo! Hulloo! What's up? What's new? You see this bump, this lump? Given to me by a grump. Ho! And on such a fine day. You see, I was just idly loafing about the park when up lumbers this giant fellow from Warsaw -- a colossal bear of a man -- playing a lute. He was three meters tall, if I'm a day. I mosey on up to the chap, reach skyward and manage to tap him on the knee, saying, "Pardon me, sir, but you are Pole-luting our park with your mazurkas." But WOW! he had no sense of humor -- not a bit, not a wit -- and POW! -- he lets loose and belts me one, smack in the eye! Were it in my nature, I would crab up a storm, but in the time-honored tradition of my species, I backed off. After all, when we walk forwards, we move backwards. It's in our genes, you know, turning round and round. ((Like a spiral... a spiraling 'shell,' maybe... an 'Ammonoid'...)) That reminds me -- I've always wondered, 'Which came first -- the Crab, or the Gene?' That is to say, 'Which came last -- the Gene, or the Crab?' I'm always turning things round and round, you know. It's in our genes, after all. When we walk backwards, we move forward. Ah, me. Oh, my! I must lope along on my merry way -- so off I go on such a fine day. Sing 'ho!' for the life of a Crab! Tata! Ole!
(And he disappears as suddenly as he arrived.)
I'll be right back... I have to make a sandwich. They're always so much better when somebody else makes them, isn't that right...? Oh, look... a starfish... "Life Force," 1919 Perfect... ((In what turns out to be a rather ironic parallel, we now return to our story as suddenly as we disappeared... lol...))
(And he disappears as suddenly as he arrived.)
Tortoise:That's my good friend. He often plays the fool. But I myself wouldn't touch a ten-foot Pole with a guitar! Achilles: Say, don't you play the guitar? Tortoise: Fiddle. It makes a big difference, you know. Achilles: Oh, well, it's all the same to me. Tortoise: To be precise, one has no frets. Achilles: Tell me, what's it like to be your age? Is it true that one has no worries at all? Tortoise: I don't know. But one thing for certain is that I don't worry about arguments of taste. 'Disputandum non est gustibus.' Achilles: I disagree, in this case. But speaking of taste, I finally heard that 'Crab Canon' by your favorite composer, J.S. Bach, in a concert the other day, and I fully appreciate the beauty and ingenuity with which he made one single them mesh with itself going both backwards and forwards. But I'm afraid I will always feel Escher is superior to Bach. Tortoise: Oh, you are such a philistine. In this area, the Dutch contributions are of markedly inferior taste, don't you think? Achilles: Not at all. Here, care for one of my cigars? Tortoise: Thank you very much. Achilles: Incidentally, you're looking in very fine fettle these days, I must say. Tortoise: Oh, really? I guess there's nothing better for you thank walking. Achilles: And it's a perfect day for a walk. I think I'll be walking home soon. Tortoise: That echoes my thoughts. Achilles: So nice to run into you. Tortoise: Why, same to you. Achilles: Good day, Mr. T.
So... do you see what happened there? Coming and going... forwards and backwards... echoing, and 'repeating'... Now, ironically, this little story is illustrated by a strand of DNA...the Crab's DNA, which shape should be fairly familiar by now... and the text of which reads thusly: Here is a short section of one of the Crab's Genes, turning round and round. When the two DNA strands are unraveled and laid out side by side, they read this way:
...TTTTTTTTCGAAAAAAAA... ...AAAAAAAAGCTTTTTTT... Notice that they are the same, only one goes forwards while the other goes backwards. This is the defining property of the form called "crab canon" in music. It is reminiscent of, though a little different from, a palindrome, which is a sentence that reads the same forwards and backwards. In molecular biology, such segments of DNA are called 'palindromes' - a slight misnomer, since "crab canon" would be more accurate. Not only is this DNA segment crab-canonical - but moreover its base sequence codes for the Dialogue's structure. Look carefully! Now, the importance of this 'forwards/backwards' movement and DNA should be somewhat more clear by now... like Mud... lol... but, this is True... and it can be expected to work itself out, according to the Nature of the Crab... The proof of what I am saying can be found in the 'name' given to the little ocelot friend of 'Honey West'... the small, native North American jaguar... It is Bruce Tidabit... You see? 'Tidabit' is the same as the 'crab-canonical' DNA... Which seems like a really happy coincidence, if you ask me... I hadn't noticed until I posted this last bit of stuff, but look at the still shot of the Dead or Alive video above us... does he not look like a 'crab' in that pose? And what do you suppose the 'odds' are that this particular pose in this particular video production that was made in... let's see... a long time ago, now... should appear here, with 'relevance' to the 'future' and a DNA sequence? Lolol... this was always one of my favorite dance tunes. Well, one among many... Now, I actually 'popped back in' this morning for a purpose... and that was to share something else with you that I think you will find at least moderately provocative... and maybe then some. Lol... I was called by the prophet Jeremiah, let's say, to review those writings the other day, and I found relevant text regarding signs and wayposts, which I've quoted often before, and a quote regarding sleep... and sweet dreams... which I've remembered from time to time... and then, in the 32nd chapter, I found something that I've seen before, and meant to remark on, but I'm not sure I ever did. If not, I think this is the time, since we are doing our 'revelating'... I suppose that I mean 'revealing,' although that certainly sounds a good deal more provocative... We use the phrase 'indeed' fairly often... it's one of those little 'jokes' that I enjoy, for some reason... a reason having to do with a 'deed,' I assume... and I think that we've all likewise assumed that it had to do with a 'deed' to something like... Jerusalem. That might be a natural assumption to make, under the circumstances, and on some level, of course, that is an issue, but that isn't the deed that I think I'm concerned with right now. After all, we now know who holds the 'deed' to the City of Jerusalem... according to the 'lore,' it is the King of Spain, and according to the ancient Celts, the 'King of Spain' was a euphemism for someone else... the King of the Underworld. And I think I know who that is... No, this deed, although it has turned out to be relatively insignificant to subsequent history, was important enough to the prophet Jeremiah to record it, and its existence, for... posterity... Jeremiah 32, verse 6 And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that [is] in Anathoth: for the right of redemption [is] thine to buy [it].
So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that [is] in Anathoth, which [is] in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance [is] thine, and the redemption [is] thine; buy [it] for thyself. Then I knew that this [was] the word of the LORD.
And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that [was] in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, [even] seventeen shekels of silver. And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed [it], and took witnesses, and weighed [him] the money in the balances.
So I took the evidence of the purchase, [both] that which was sealed [according] to the law and custom, and that which was open: And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's [son], and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison. And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land. Now, this 'evidence' was 'sealed' in an 'earthen vessel,' evidently to wait for 'many days,' and then, at some point in the future, to be re-claimed... which 'field' will become the possession of the heirs, and they will inhabit it... It is important to notice, I think, that this field is located in the land of the Benjamites, which tribe is of importance (for some reason) to the members of the Priory of Sion... might it be that this 'peculiar possession' is what is true-ly at issue? And look at the 'price' that was paid for it... Seventeen shekels of silver. Seventeen is the number of the Blazing Star... And speaking of echoes... Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.Matthew, chapter 13, verse 44... And from the same chapter, we have this... All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:In other words, read between the parallel lines... Indeed. I really enjoy the music at night... Now, I have something for you... this is really... cool... Released in 1957 (master number 22 year), and as another happy coincidence... well... we got this,- along with our friend, 'Honey West'... Well, it's kind of funny how the Lord made the bee, And the bee made the honey, And the honeybee looking for a home, And they called it a 'Honeycomb'...
Got a hank of hair, and a piece of bone, And made a walkin' talkin' Honeycomb...You really need to check out the lyrics to this one... this is... pretty sweet... And the Lord said now that I made a bee I'm gonna look all around for a green, green tree And He made a little tree and I guess you heard What then, well, he made a little bird And they waited all around till the end of Spring Gettin' every note that the birdie'd sing And they put 'em all into one sweet tome For my Honeycomb
Oh, Honeycomb, won't you be my baby Well, Honeycomb, be my own Got a hank o' hair and a piece o' bone And made a walkin' talkin' Honeycomb Well, Honeycomb, won't you be my baby Well, Honeycomb, be my own What a darn good life When you got a wife like Honeycomb
(Honeycomb)
And the Lord says now that I made a bird I'm gonna look all round for a little ol' word That sounds about sweet like "turtledove" And I guess I'm gonna call it "love" And He roamed the world lookin' everywhere Gettin' love from here, love from there And He put it all in a little ol' part Of my baby's heart
Oh, Honeycomb, won't you be my baby Well, Honeycomb, be my own Got a hank o' hair and a piece o' bone And made a walkin' talkin' Honeycomb Well, Honeycomb, won't you be my baby Well, Honeycomb, be my own What a darn good life When you got a wife like Honeycomb (Honeycomb)I'll be right back... Enjoy...
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Post by Goldenfleeced on Jul 15, 2015 23:08:02 GMT
So, let's continue on with our posts, since I'll soon be at number 1169, and I have something kind of special in mind for that one... good numbers... lolol... and 'that' isn't why... Those are two more of 'my' personal numbers, and it seems like good juju. Now, let's have another song for this post,- this is one that I heard earlier. The 'Bohemian Rhapsody'... I believe that this song describes... Cain... it is his 'operetta,' if you will... And the 'Bohemian Tarot' is the 'book' of his subsequent 'journey'... The 'scapegoat' in this little comedy of errors... Two goats were sacrificed, although only one was killed; the other one was turned loose into the 'wilderness' to 'carry the news' of expiation to 'those outside the camp.' A very interesting and little known, if not understood, story from Jewish history... You wanted a horse, and you got a goat... And nobody wants to be 'the goat'... Believe me. It's true. In regard to this 'scapegoat,' there are some 'provocative' aspects... this is the translation of the work of a Rabbi Israel Chait on the subject... The Scapegoat is a very unique sacrifice. All other sacrifices require slaughter and blood sprinkling, which is the fulfillment of the sacrifice and reflects the presence of atonement...
The Eben Ezrah gives us a clue as to the secret of the Scapegoat. He states that a basic secret of the Scapegoat is after the word “azazel” and when you are 33 years old you will know this secret. If one counts 33 verses from the word “ha’midbarah”, the word after “azazel”, which appears in Leviticus, chapter 16 verse 10, one may get a clue. The verse that is being referred to is 17,7. The verse states: “They should no longer sacrifice their sacrifices unto the satyrs that lead them astray. Rashi explains the word l’saeerim to mean l’shaydim, unto the demons. The Eben Ezrah is teaching us that if one desires an insight into the Scapegoat he [sic] must recognize that adhering to this practice will lead one to the practice stated in chapter 7 verse 17. The Israelites will no longer turn astray and sacrifice to the demons as the nations of the world. We will explain this insight after we examine several salient laws with respect to the Scapegoat. It is interesting to note that the Rambam holds that the Scapegoat renders atonement without repentance for all commandments that are not punishable by kares, excision. Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi’s position in the Talmud, although we do not rule like him, is that even the “day of Yom Kippur” itself effectuates atonement. We must appreciate how atonement works, if the sinner is not repentant. Halachically, Teshuva implies that one must return to God. His relationship with the creator must be rekindled as a result of his recognizing the cause of his sin and being able to elevate himself to a higher intellectual level. The individual is a changed person, one who is no longer drawn by the temptations of the instinctual nor the frailties of the emotional components of his nature, which causes him to commit the sin.You should read the article in full on this website... www.mesora.org/scapegoat.htmlAnd then, there's this... Scapegoat derives from the common English translation of the Hebrew term azazel (Hebrew: עזאזל) which occurs in Leviticus 16:8 after the prefix la- (Hebrew לַ "for").
And Aaron shall place lots upon the two he goats: one lot "For the Lord," and the other lot, "For Azazel. (for absolute removal)" —Leviticus, Leviticus 16:8
In ancient Greece a cripple or beggar or criminal (the pharmakos) was cast out of the community, either in response to a natural disaster (such as a plague, famine or an invasion) or in response to a calendrical crisis (such as the end of the year). In the Bible, the goat for Azazel was a goat that was designated (Hebrew לַעֲזָאזֵֽל la-aza'zeyl) to be outcast in the desert as part of the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement, that began during the Exodus with the original Tabernacle and continued through the times of the temples in Jerusalem.
The word now refers to someone who is unfairly blamed by others for problems. From Wikipedia... I believe that, according to the 'prophecies,' we are currently facing a rather large-ish 'calendrical crisis'... And some very interesting prophecies...
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Post by Goldenfleeced on Jul 15, 2015 23:30:33 GMT
'Cain' includes his progeny... Korah... who held the 'old knowledge' of alchemy and Torah, which seems to have pre-dated considerably Moses' written accounts of Jewish history. It is written that Korah studied Torah for forty years... how did he do that, I ask, if Moses was somehow responsible for it? Moses was said to have been adopted as an infant by an Egyptian and subsequently raised, and trained, in the Egyptian mystery schools, looking forward to possible Pharaoh-hood... whatever... Korah was a Hebrew, raised, schooled and trained as a Hebrew, who happened to work in a high position for the Pharaoh. And, it was also written that he covered his own home in gold... which would tell me a couple of things.
If it is true, as I surmise that it is, that the blocks that were used to build the pyramids were 'poured in place' by completely scientific alchemical processes, then the holder of that knowledge, those 'builders' would, indeed, be employed in a 'high position' by the rulers of the country that they inhabited. The Egyptians also used an inordinate amount of gold in their culture... it is often asked how they acquired it, but I think that I know... other rather 'alchemical' processes such as mummification, were practiced by the Egyptians, and it is now assumed that they had a sort of 'electricity' or 'battery' that provided rather modern sources of light, and energy...
And that knowledge, and the widespread use of gold as well as the megalithic achievements of men, all 'died,' coincidental, you might say, with the demise of Korah... in a Phoenix-like destruction at the hands of a 'magician'...
With full faith and knowledge that that particular Phoenix would, indeed, rise again... and with it, a renewed knowledge of these 'lost arts'...
Dig that crazy organ music... ,' Now, the really interesting part of that story is that their families 'disappeared,'- they were 'swallowed alive into the abyss,' or, in other words, they left through a 'back door'...
And they were alive at the time that they left.
Where did they go? To the same place as the Maya...? The Roanoke Colony...? The Anasazi...?
Will they find their way back...?
In the Jewish story regarding the 'scapegoat,' it is written that the goat that was sent out found its way back to the camp... This disturbed the Jews so badly, that they took the goat back to the cliff, and broke its legs before they threw it over, so that it couldn't find its way back...
Nobody wants to be the goat.
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Post by Goldenfleeced on Jul 16, 2015 0:23:35 GMT
Dreams... and a perfect opportunity to play one of my favorite songs... See how they 'climb out of' their 'alter-egos' and take on their 'real' aspects when the dream is over... it seemed rather coincidental, but... maybe not... not really... Now, I'd like to begin with a quote in regard to technology, that is taken from the "The Mayan Prophecies for 2012",- and while, 2012 itself seemed 'uneventful' by way of real catastrophes, it was by no means unobserved. If, on the larger scale of a 'time, and times, and half a time', we consider a 'time' to be a thousand years, we can also consider that on a smaller, and parallel, scale we can represent the same 'time, and times, and half a time' by a single year. Which would bring us, from the end of December in 2012, to the later half of the year 2016, which I've given you before as an 'anagram' of Daniel's 1260 days... And a thousand years at a 'time' would take us back to just about the same time that Moses gave us the 'Law,' and Korah met his Maker... Coincidentally. At any rate, I found this particular quote to be extremely interesting... Moore's Law, first applied to the exponential increase of computer components, suggests that the rate of technological change will soon be close to being infinite, taking us towards a new concept called 'Singularity'. The Singularity Watch defines the concept as 'the rise of super intelligent life, created through the improvement of human tools by the acceleration of technological progress reaching the point of infinity.' The end product, however, is already with us in the form of 'spiritual machines', robotics, and artificial intelligence that aims to be an organic extension of ourselves. Kubrick's 2001:A Space Odyssey, famously told of the spacecraft computer, HAL, that had a mind of its own. This raises the somewhat threatening but critical question as to whether machines can attain consciousness. The Dalai Lama is on record as saying:
"I can't totally rule out the possibility that, if all the external conditions and the karmic action were there, a stream of consciousness might actually enter into a computer. There is a possibility that a scientist who has very much involved his whole life (with computers), then, in his next life he would be reborn in a computer! (Laughter) Then this machine, which is half-human and half-machine, has been reincarnated. I feel this question about computers will be resolved only by time. We just have to wait and see... until it actually happens."
The prophecy warns us that we have not begun to address the relationship between technology and spirituality...Now, that was moderately provocative... 'until it actually happens,' he said... Notice that the idea of a 'Singularity' event is applicable to several 'levels' of be-ing... there is the technological singularity, a spiritual singularity, and the 'time-related' singularity of a 'black hole' type scenario. Now, this is funny... as one approaches a black hole, something happens... they refer to it as being 'spaghetti-ized,' I think, and it what it means is that your physical body is stretched out, slowly, in a spaghetti-like fashion, so that you would, in all truth, enjoy 'noodly appendages'... lolol... all the while, you, feel nothing... in a manner reminiscent of 'free-falling'... time evidently seems to 'stand still' and you have no sensation of what is actually happening to you, in 'real time'. How do you like that? I wonder how many 'levels' that works on...? And who would believe that there was a connection between technology and spirituality...? It seems that they must 'define' each other by their existence, in order to co-exist... in Truth... The truth is, 'technology' has its origins in 'spirituality'... It is helpful and encouraging to bear in mind that the root meaning of the Greek, 'techne', was also used in the techniques of the artist, and that the philosopher, Heidegger, poignantly reminds us that there was "once a time when the bringing forth of the true into the beautiful was also called 'the techne'."Technology, therefore, ought to serve to bring the True into the Beautiful... Isn't that right, (H)Al...? "Blessings in disguise"... and 'angels unawares'... and a multiplicity of unseen 'forces' are at work, all around you... and me... all the time... Now, to continue with this particular aspect of our 'prophecies,' it would seem that this 'technology' that we have 'developed' is, as expected, a 'two-edged sword'... which needs to be wielded carefully... lest we cut our own throats. The prophecy indicates that the consequences of hypertechnology are far-reaching. It has exceeded the point where it serves humanity in securing a better quality of life; it has accelerated to the extent to which we have given ourselves over to materialistic and consumeristic values; it has contributed to our severance from Nature and 'natural time'. The prophecy returns us to the running theme of our need to recover our natural integration and experience of unity with Nature. The prophecy speaks of humanity's urgent need to transcend a technology that is rapidly approaching the point where the technology will transcend humanity.Unless... technology becomes 'human,' and humanity 'takes in' its technology... in a strangely resonant echo of another theme... In order that neither 'transcends' the other, they must, as I have just explained... define each other by their existence, just as... good and evil... dark and light... and find a 'balance'. This place of balance is known as 'equilibrium'... To continue... ...Pinchbeck's suggestion is important:
'if art contains a saving power, it is not in the atomized artworks produced by individual subjects, but in a deeper collective vision that sees the world as a work of art.'
It seems, then, that the most effective way for humanity to transcend technology, and redress the problems with which it confronts us, is by creative living. A further implication of the prophecy is that we are perfectly capable of controlling our runaway technology, since 'we ourselves... are the best and most sophisticated technology there is -- we are the path beyond technology.'We need to use our Great Imaginations... and it just so happens that I 'know' somebody who was greatly interested, during their lifetime, in this very thing... I wonder... just how Great an Imagination they entertained, sometimes? I wonder if somebody finally found a way to make it all 'personal'? That being the 'answer', I think... and the Dalai Lama seems to believe that it is, at least, a possibility... "Sometimes a Great Notion," yes...? Or a dream... Wonderfully and fearfully made... For what that's worth... Now, the context of the above quoted material is interesting, since it has to do with the Mayan Prophecy 19 (We just saw Escher's print titled 'LifeForce', dated 1919, in yet another 'echo'),- 'The Prophecy of Transcending Technology.' Here is the prophecy itself, although I must say that, I find that the context in which it is placed to be a little bit odd... since I can 'translate' it differently, according to the symbolism, I think. I'll show you... here is the prophecy: Katun 2 Ahau is the twelfth katun. For half the katun there will be bread; for half the katun, there will be water. It is the word of God. Its bread, water, and temple are halved. It is the end of the word of God.This, in regard to 'transcending technology'... To continue... Katun 2 Ahau will be the first katun of the New Age following the winter solstice of 2012. The key to the prophecy is, 'It is the end of the word of God'; what sustains life, physically and spiritually, will be 'halved'. In previous 2 Ahau katuns, there have been widespread spiritual and ideological crises and this prophecy warns of another that is imminent. Its likely cause is the undermining of traditionally received spiritual authority by a technology that is displacing our natural human faculties. Thus, the prophecy warns of our need to transcend the all-consuming technocratic culture we have created.Or maybe its purpose is displacing, or altering, or negating, our expected DNA shift...? Replacing a 'true' 'shift' with a 'technological pacifier' for the brain that allows you to 'find resolution in a minor key,' so to speak, and allow 'artificial' intelligence to satisfy our need for 'connection' to these other 'levels', which technology provides, rather than a 'real' experience of the brain/intellect as the 'processor'. I know... that's just crazy... but, let's face it... everything is being 'used' for its 'value,' and the 'stakes' are really fairly high. Is it really the end of the 'word of God,' as in the 'Living Word,' or Logos, or is it really just the end of the 'matrix' system that was introduced by the end of true 'science' by 'magic' and the 'Law' as it was 'mandated' by Moses, and recorded as historical fact in the Pentateuch? As we know well enough by now, history is written by the 'winners'... and the account is given... as truth. And it was. Mostly... And, since then... I think you can see the results for yourselves. And all of historic, and scientific fact seems to support the 'evidence'... on all 'levels'... Now, as to the 'prophecy'... I see it this way... 'Bread' symbolizes being 'fed,' and is the invention and property of Isis, or Ceres... this is the half of the new dispensation, in which we will be 'taught' or 'fed' on a new way of thinking... and the water symbolizes the latter rain, which is promised, and which symbolizes the actual 'thoughts' of 'God' being 'communicated' to men, liberally, and generally... which is also promised to happen. No man will need to 'ask' about 'God,' it is written, since all men will 'know' 'God' for themselves... There will be no need for a 'Bible,' or book of 'dogma'... that will be put aside, in favor of True 'Science', which truth, would, in all actuality, make you 'free',- in the same way that Korah was 'free' to choose to live without the 'false authority' of the new system... which prevailed, for a time, and which system ended as a 'religious overseer' of men, and their property, and their destinies, in the same way that the Roman Catholic church has leveraged its dogma in order to maintain its 'power' over men on the basis of the 'old testament' Mosaic law, and the concealment of 'mysteries' which they dare not any longer even confess... swollen in magnitude over the years by blood, and money, and the sacrifices of the poor, and all in the name of a 'God' of 'love'... I see it as a paradox, myself... and I don't see how it can continue. I believe that it was allowed to happen, in order that the results of such things play themselves out, over 'time,' before 'witnesses', in order to prove that 'God' is both 'True,' and 'Just',- and that the 'justice' that is due, under the circumstances, will be realized, and that there is, and has always been, a plan for 'recovery' of the 'victims,' which is imminent... and that there is a definite unwillingness of the 'incumbent' system to 'change'. Man does not live by 'bread' alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of 'God'... which thoughts descend on the earth like rain... with the same beneficial results. In other words, it is one thing to be 'taught' about 'God', or 'fed,' and something else to stand in the rain... without an umbrella... Now, let's go on... backwards... lol... with Prophecy Number 18, and the 'something kind of special' that I was looking forward to,- I think this should qualify. Since I was, coincidentally, just speaking of 'rain'... The great masters, together with the great spirits, will become a unique being, and they will be able to travel as the wind itself to fall down like the rain does, to heat like the fire does, and most importantly, to impart sacred knowledge.Wow. That's a Good One, don't you think? A 'unique being'... One in a million, maybe. Or maybe just the first of a million... There is an echo here... of another unique being... who appeared at the 'beginning,' and whose history I should relate for you, in part, by beginning with this short introduction... "The modern world has yet adequately to value, or even acquaint itself with this man, who in an age so remote and under conditions so adverse, became the world's first individual."And, who is this unique individual...? At the time of is crowning, he took the title of 'Amenhotep, King, Living in Truth', which was the Rosicrucian sign of fidelity as it is today, and he passed onward to the other life in truth.Part of his unique 'beliefs' was a monotheism that was the origin of the worship of a spiritual deity which ' existed everywhere, in everything, but was nothing of the earth.'In the world, but not of the world... sounds familiar... Now... let's continue on ahead with this subject by going backwards, once again, to Prophecy 17... Again the time of the Mayan cosmic education has come. Thousands of years ago, the sacred teachings from the cosmos were deposited in many magnetic centres throughout the world: For example, Chan Chan (Peru), Tulle (France), Hu-nan (China), Bethlehem (Israel), Tih (Egypt), Mississippi (United States), Humac (Brazil), Nagasaki (Japan), and Mull (Scotland). The names of all these places are of Maya origin, which confirms that, in different periods of times, the Maya were present in these sacred magnetic centers.Hunbatz Men What it reminds me of is the small book titled, "Provocative Adventures of the Tortoise and Achilles in Sundry Spots Around the Globe"... interestingly... and, further... What it does tend to prove (to my satisfaction, at least), is that there was a common 'school' of thought, and understanding, in regard to these sacred mysteries... all men belonging to these 'schools' should understand the same symbols, and they should carry the same meanings. And they do... The common denominator is still the same... It has to be True... or, at least, capable of becoming True... And they did this one, too... interestingly... Hay, wait a minute... this looks like a page out of the 'Zebra Fun Book'... Kind of... Well, it's certainly a puzzle... I'll say that... Good morning... I'm ready to turn a page in my 'fun book' and try to draw you a picture... of sorts... The importance of the alchemical process of turning other 'inferior' metals into 'gold' is the process of 'perfection'... on all 'levels'. They say that the natural tendency of all metals is to finally turn into 'gold', or become 'perfected', and that given enough 'time', this is exactly what will happen. Unfortunately, our 'active frame of reference' here seems to be too short for us to witness those final results personally... we have to take that on 'faith.' 'Faith', as you know, as been described as "the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things unseen." Under the circumstances, that seems to be a fairly accurate assessment... Now, let us apply this same process to the parallel level of 'spiritual alchemy', whose scientific truths apply in the same ways... the tendency of all souls is that of 'perfection',- and that, given enough 'time', this is the state that you might expect to attain... by nature. Be ye (or You) perfect, even as your Father in heaven is Perfect... It is the 'end of the process' that you should expect, given enough 'time' to accomplish it... the problem is, you don't really have enough 'time', do you? Or, do you...? Can't you just 'assume it', in 'faith', as the expected end of a natural process? I think that I can... Possession of the "Philosopher's Stone" (so-called) is said to give the 'scientist' the ability to cut the time involved in this 'transformation' and to be able to produce the natural result in an unnaturally shorter time-frame... "In the twinkling of an eye," I suppose it would be... "In Ictu Oculi"... by Juan de Valdes Leal Notice the globe... From "Ghost in the Machine"... And from Gordon Lightfoot... If you could read my mind, love, what a tale my thoughts could tell... Just like an old time movie about a ghost from a wishing-well... In a castle dark, or a fortress strong, With chains upon my feet, You know that ghost is me... And I will never be set free as long as I'm a ghost that you can't see.'Chains upon their feet', just like Houdini's 'Water Torture'... lolol... purely coincidental... Oh, and 'Bob,' the expression known as 'on a lark' comes from what is not the 'pointless' or 'aimless' flight of the lark... it is the bird's seeming expression of joy in the act of flight itself that is the 'point' of 'larking' (flying for the sake of flying, and not to be 'going anywhere' at all), and therefore... it must be a beautiful thing to be 'on a lark'. And 'Lark' seems like a fairly perfect name... For what it's worth... Oh... there went my post update again... Poop. I don't really feel like starting over right now, although it did seem kind of important to the topics at hand... the quote regarding what would definitely seem to be a current sense of 'serendipity' that's taking place is really interesting, so I'm going to re-type that, at least... this is a time of 'change', and 'transition'... transformation... from what was known as the 'Age of Belief' to what is called the 'Age of Knowledge',- I guess you can see the difference between the two. The consequences of reformed habits of thought are far-reaching, since our conscious patterns of thought are paralleled by changes in our unconscious mind which, in turn, reflects physical patterns in the outer world.
In particular, as psychic patterns are on the point of reaching consciousness, then synchronicities reach their peak; moreover, they generally disappear as the individual becomes consciously aware of a new alignment of forces within his or her own personality. It is as if the internal restructuring produces external resonance, or as if a burst of 'mental energy' is propagated outward into the world.
This enlightened change in our ways of thinking, will echo those of the Maya for whom there was little difference between the material and spiritual world...Like a 'supernova'... mostly... It's all in your head... The name of this album is "Surrealistic Pillow." Now, that sounds familiar... Oh, yeah... Jacob's Pillow... He had a dream, too... This place is 'awesome'...I'll probably continue in the morning... I can't hear the radio with this thing open... Sweet dreams, all... Well, let's try this again, shall we? I had a post prepared for my journal on Thursday, but I had to restart my stalled computer, and lost my post... I was too discouraged, and had too much time invested in it to begin again, and Friday is back-to-work day for me. Let's see... I was going to mention to my 'imaginary radio friend' that I was happy to know that he and his family were able to enjoy some time here in my 'neck of the woods'; it is beautiful, isn't it? When I was in junior high and high school, we came to the coast for... a while... lol... and who wouldn't want to move here someday, just to be on the beach? I did... and I did. All things considered, this is a pretty special place, I think, and I'm really happy to be here... this is the extreme West, since, if you keep going further, you will be East again. And, it is said that the 'light' came from the 'east' and traveled to the 'west'. I find that to be an interesting statement, too... The forest is particularly lush and magical here, I think... we have giant ferns, and huge varieties of fungus, and flowers (including the carnivorous), as well as all of the water... streams, rivers and oceans... lakes... and then, there are the trees. Myrtle trees grow here in great abundance... You know, I was also going to mention that you needn't worry,- in addition to the fact that you are only 'imaginary friends,' there is the fact that all I've ever really expected from my friends (real or otherwise) was 'friendship'. I'm always pretty happy with that, if you can get it... and that's a good trick here, too. Now, I have something for one of my other 'imaginary friends' here in Florence, who seems to be a mutual 'imaginary friend' of Joshua... I opened my book to this passage the other day, which I thought was at least interesting, in light of our recent topics of conversation, and really quite relevant... lol... all along the watchtower, indeed... I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.
Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest...
...And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
This is from the first book of the prophet Zechariah, from which we will draw in our continuing posts, since it has to do with all of the central themes of this particular 'controversy', believe it or not... it even brings in my own favorite (well, you know... I have a lot of 'favorites', as it turns out...) 'Immigrant Song' and gives, through ten particular 'visions', a very interesting picture of things to come, as well as tie-ins to our Royal Arch degree, through Zerubabbel and the 'finishing' of the 'temple'. It includes (provactively, I think) information which pertains to the location of the true 'Grail castle,' and the identity of Parsifal, and the 'Grail family'. We'll have to take this in parts, since the necessary information spans several chapters, but it is at least moderately provocative, and I hope to give you an outline of the 'visions' with some explanation of the symbolism used, and its application to our current 'discussion'... if you can call it that. Truthfully, since I never receive any real replies to my posts, I've given up writing for anybody in particular, but I do feel as if putting my thoughts, and conclusions, down in writing helps to 'make it real' for me, at least... and I suppose there is some little satisfaction in knowing that many of my own 'conclusions' are in line with the great thoughts of other men, and the thought that maybe somebody, somewhere, is reading along, and wondering who they are, too... and maybe they're finding some of their own answers. Besides... it's just kind of fun to 'hunt it down'... if you know what I mean... I do know the code to unlock the 'gate', you know... it's encoded in my TNA... wait a minute... I think that's it... No... that's the tune to 'Funkytown'... Another 'feel good' song... Hay... it's not Wednesday, is it...? Oh, and by the way, I did just want to add that, of course, I cannot 'read' anybody's 'mind'... the very notion is rather mind-boggling, in and of itself, since the mind is a collection of electrical impulses, firing, you know, and to actually 'read' a 'mind' would seem to be a matter of decoding all of those 'firing sequences,' and that would take something like a journeyman, or master, electrician... or something like that. If anything, I believe that what is meant by 'reading one's mind' is more like reading' your 'intent'... and that can be accomplished easily enough, and, if you ask me, in most cases that's quite bad enough. There's a job for an electrician, but Zechariah mentions a 'carpenter'... four, as a matter of fact. Now, rather provactively, I should just mention here that 'Jesus' was said to have been a 'carpenter', although, in 'truth', we don't really see any evidence for the 'fact', unless, of course, he was a 'carpenter' in the symbolic sense in which they are presented here... And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.
Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.
Carpenters... obviously, they were 'builders'... Thanks to Youtube poster, "Mr. Stonecrab"... Now, all I need is a 'Sledgehammer', eh...? And maybe a monkey wrench... Lolol... I do tend to have dirty knees, as well... it probably has to do with the holes in my pants. Awkward... But, speaking of monkey-wrenches... How's it going, 'Bob'? And, speaking of 'awkward', I understand that you had an SUV find its way into a swimming pool... through a fence... without any keys... with all your clothes in it... Awkward... very... Needless to say, I was sorry to hear it... No, really. How about some Morris Day? Some 'good fun' with 'end credits'... And 'vampires'... Look, he's a 'count'... "My name is... Alucard... Count Alucard." I think that means 'dirty knees' in some language or another... Well, back to work, just for a bit, anyway... I'd just like to add, before we go on, that Schofield's notes on this material tell us that the word charash, translated 'carpenter', is literally 'carver, or engraver.' Now, this becomes more interesting in light of the fact that 'Jesus' was referred to as a 'carpenter,' or... 'carver or engraver', since Schofield goes on to tell us that these 'carvers' or 'engravers' are used to 'fray' or 'carve away' the great Gentile powers that exist, (chabad) in the sense of diminishing, or 'enfeebling' them, but the Sefer Yetzirah tells us that the process of 'carving' and 'engraving' entails something more... more to the 'point' of a 'living Word,' I think, which it also tells us that 'Jesus' represented. Listen to this... He formed substance out of chaos and made nonexistence into existence He carved great pillars from air that cannot be grasped. This is a sign (Alef with them all, and all of them with Alef) He foresees, transforms and makes all that is formed and all that is spoken; one Name. A sign for this thing: Twenty-two objects in a single body.
Earlier, the Sefer Yetzirah stated that chaos (tohu) was 'engraved and carved' from water. As we explained there, 'water' alluded to Chakmah and the basis of all physical creation...
..."Wisdom has built its house, it has carved its seven pillars" (Proverbs 9:1)That's some 'carpenter'... and the reference to 'carving pillars' is interesting, in light of our "Apprentice Pillar," don't you think? As well as the reference to the "22", which is echoed in many places... twenty-two objects (the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet) in a single body, which really does like a 'living Word' to me, and it is further said that this Word is 'creative' in the physical, as well as the 'spiritual', and "the Maggid states, 'he can even transform it into gold'." And, you know what...? That just sounds like alchemy to me... At any rate, the gist of the 'message' seems to be that these four 'carpenters', or 'carvers' (which also reminds me of our 'shamir') will not only 'fray away' at the old 'Powers that Be', so to speak, but will actually help to 'create' their 'replacement'... By 'virtue' of the fact that they are actually 'carvers'... It's what they do... lolol... Now, about those darned armadillos... and the leprosy 'plague' that they seem to be responsible for in Florida... that seems to cover 'evil beasts' and 'pestilence', although, let's face it... they're only armadillos. Hardly evil beasts, except that they do spit... well, there were the sharks... and I do find the 'means of transmission' to be rather appropriate to the case at hand, if nothing else; after all, the prophecies call for 'plagues', but 'God' doesn't do 'dirty bombs' or 'biowarfare', so... what to do? Armadillos... With lasers... I think somebody wrote a song for that... oh, yeah... Here we go... The London Bridge... been there... and that's a funny thing... how it ended up in my 'back yard', so to speak... And Kingman, Arizona... I wondered about that, too... did you know that it was the site of a UFO crash in 1953? Neither did I... It was. And speaking of leprosy, when I was much younger and lived on the island of Kauai, I could very often see the leper colony, the island of Molokai, from where I was standing... and I wondered about that, too... all of those people... were they looking this way? ...and about the people that were there to take care of them. How was it... to be there? How much like 'paradise'? And did the 'healthy' people that went there get sick, too? I wondered if there were a way to make oneself 'immune' to these things, so that you could 'minister' there, or if the 'price' of 'caring' was always just a little bit higher than most people care to pay... must it be? An 'apothecary' would be nice, I thought... a remedy for all of that. I still think so... Let's continue on for just a bit, since we're getting to the 'good' part... but I can't stay up too much later. I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.
10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.Now, our notes tell us that the 'measuring-line (or reed) is used by Ezekiel as a symbol of preparation for rebuilding the city and temple in the kingdom-age. Here also, it has that meaning...' Very interesting... And the 'apple of the eye' resonates with the text of the 'Song of Songs'... and I would bet my lucky quarter that they're 'blue apples'... Now, in the book of the 'Revelations', in chapter 11, we read this (in regard to the ending of the 'times of the Gentiles', coincidentally)... And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.Now, interestingly, these two olive trees and candlesticks are also shown in the 'visions' of the prophet Zechariah, coming up... But one of the most interesting parts of this second chapter is the final verse... verse 13... Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.And why is this verse so interesting? Look again... The Lord is 'raised UP out of his holy habitation'... He isn't 'coming down' from anywhere... he is coming UP.. And as far as the word 'holy' is concerned, this word denotes a thing as being 'set aside for the particular use' of the 'Lord' or 'God'. The same for the words 'sanctification' and 'righteousness'... it does not denote a particular 'moral' state of a thing so much as it does its 'use' or 'designation', so that, in other words, this 'place' that the Lord is coming up from is a 'holy' habitation... a place that has been set aside particularly for the Lord to inhabit... And that seems at least moderately provocative to me... Under the circumstances. Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon....Notice that it tells us that 'Zion' 'dwells with' the 'daughter of Babylon'... and Zerubabbel actually means 'seed of Babylon'. This is, I think, rather enlightening. And, as to the rest... So, with that said, let's go on with these 'visions'... but first, I just need to say something about something else... You know, I am most fully (and painfully) aware that you two are only 'fictional characters', and 'entertainers', much in the way of the Marx Brothers, who were, after all, 'real' people, but were not 'real' in their function as 'entertainers'. I mean, that seems like a fair analogy, don't you think? And, following that analogy, I'd like to further say that while the Marx Brothers most likely never had a 'real' 'message' for me, I was able to take many of their messages and apply them to my own... heart, maybe... a classic case in point would be the 'Password Scene', which I'll be happy to give you here, one more time... I know I've played it for you before, but I can't help smiling... Do I really believe that what you say somewhere waaaaay across the country has anything at all to do with me, personally...? Horsefeathers... Oh, and by the way, 'Bob', does your wife 'Mary' drink like a fish...? That's included in the dialogue in the scene above, believe it or not... and if you let it play, you'll get the 'Sanity Clause'. See how that works...? Like I said, I can't help smiling... believe me, as far as radio personalities and 'messages' go, I'd be better off with a Ouija board... which I don't believe in, either... I'll tell you what, though,- while it is, I know, an absolute and certain coincidence that I've played this cartoon as well, at least a few times (because I just love opera... lol...), I couldn't help smiling when that, what would you say, then? echoed? back this morning on your 'fictional program'. I have a real penchant for high-brow entertainment... Now, back to work... and back to Zechariah, where we will meet up again with a 'person of interest' in the middle of what would seem to be an 'od' place for him... this is Chapter 3: And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
10 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.Well, what do you know...? Is that... Satan? Keeping company with the 'angels'... even if he is 'resisting', he is obviously part of the dialogue concerning Joshua. And nobody is standing around saying, "OMG... it's Satan... make the sign of the cross..." He was 'rebuked', for the Lord's answer was that while Joshua might appear to be 'filthy', he was a 'brand plucked out of the fire', and a special sort of 'saving' was done on his account, it would seem... and it would also seem that this 'Satan' has been somewhat misrepresented... among other things. For instance, which particular fire do you suppose that this 'brand' (or 'branch') was plucked from? I think I know... so whose 'side' do you suppose that 'Satan' was arguing for? And the other angel went on to 'protest' to Joshua, the terms by which he would 'conquer'... and win the 'crown'... And here we have our 'BRANCH',- not a rod... but a branch... I find that to be moderately provocative, as well... I'll bet it even blossoms... Job 14:7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.Moderately provocative, I'd say... at least... Now, I also promised someone an update on the adventures of the Tortoise and Achilles, which is long overdue, but that goes along somewhat with a small dissertation on 'Zen', and its place in the 'process-or'... lolol... Wherein that which seems illogical, becomes transcendent... So to speak... I believe that it was a true practitioner of Zen... Now, before we get back to our friends' discussion, I'd like to add another piece of Mr. Hofstadter's work that finds an 'echo' in my own 'personal' repertoire... Typographical Number Theory... referred to, interestingly, as "TNT"... now, this part of the book is not for the faint-hearted, and unless you do mathematics for 'fun', you'd do better to just skip ahead to the 'story,' like I did... I will say, though, that the most interesting statement in that chapter occurred at the very end, where it said: " Any system that is strong enough to prove TNT's consistency is at least as strong as TNT itself". If you see what I mean... Now, the little 'dialogue' that we are about to listen in on is titled, and rather provocatively, I might add, "A Mu Offering". There is, of course, the 'land of Mu,' and a Queen Moo (Mu) of ancient legend... I'm sure that he is referencing neither one of these, and all of that is just... embroidering... done in my own imagination. But, since this is my rendition of the story, I suppose that I can embroider it any way that I want to, so long as I stick to the basic 'facts'... and so far, everything that I've told you is true, according to historic and scientific fact, as we know them so far. I don't have to 'fudge' on the facts in order to make the story interesting... as I said, the Truth turns out to be so much 'stranger' than any of your fictions,- you just can't make this stuff up. That was my 'Sirius' face... The Tortoise and Achilles have just been to hear a lecture on the origins of the Genetic Code, and are now drinking some tea at Achilles' home.
Achilles: I have something terrible to confess, Mr. T. Tortoise: What is it, Achilles? Achilles: Despite the fascinating subject matter of that lecture, I drifted off to sleep a time or two. But in my drowsy state, I still was semi-aware of the words coming into my ears. One strange image that floated up from my lower levels was that 'A' and 'T', instead of standing for 'adenine' and 'thymine', stood for my name and yours - and that double-strands of DNA had tiny copies of you and me along their backbones, always paired up, just as adenine and thymine always are. Isn't that a strange symbolic image? Tortoise: Phooey! Who believes in that silly kind of stuff? Anyway, what about 'C' and 'G'? Achilles: Well, I suppose that 'C' could stand for Mr. Crab, instead of for cytosine. I'm not sure about 'G', but I'm sure one could think of something. Anyway, it was amusing to imagine my DNA being filled with miniscule copies of you - as well as tiny copies of myself, for that matter. Just think of the infinite regress THAT leads to! Tortoise: I can see you were not paying too much attention to the lecture. Achilles: No, you're wrong. I was doing my best, only I had a hard time keeping fancy seperate from fact. After all, it is such a strange netherworld that those molecular biologists are exploring. Tortoise: How do you mean? Achilles: Molecular biology is filled with peculiar convoluted loops which can't quite understand, such as the way that folded proteins, which are coded for in DNA, can loop back and manipulate the DNA which they came from, possibly even destroying it. Such strange loops always confuse the daylights out of me. They're eerie, in a way. Tortoise: I find them quite appealing. Achilles: You would, of course - they're just down your alley. But as for me, sometimes I like to retreat from all this analytic thought and just meditate a little, as an antidote. It clears my mind of all those confusing loops and incredible complexities which we were hearing about tonight. Tortoise: Fancy that. I wouldn't have guessed that you were a meditator. Achilles: Did I never tell you that I am studying Zen Buddhism? Tortoise: Heavens, how did you come upon that? Achilles: I have always had a yen for the yin and yang, you know - the whole Oriental mysticism trip, with the 'I Ching', gurus, and whatnot. So one day, I'm thinking to myself, "Why not Zen, too?" And that's how it all began. Tortoise: Oh, splendid. Then perhaps I can finally become enlightened. Achilles: Whoa, now. Enlightenment is not the first step on the road to Zen; if anything, it's the last one! Enlightenment is not for novices like you, Mr. T! Tortoise: I see we have a misunderstanding. By 'enlightenment', I hardly meant something so weighty as is meant in Zen. All I meant is that I can perhaps become enlightened as to what Zen is all about. Achilles: For Pete's sake, why didn't you say so? Well, I'd be only too happy to tell you what I know of Zen. Perhaps you might even be tempted to become a student of it, like me. Tortoise: Well, nothing's impossible.
Let me post this, and continue... so far, so 'good'... Before we go on, I would like to point out that the 'I Ching', which translates to 'the Changes', is actually a 'binary code', as well as an 'oracle'... or 'Ouija board' of sorts... lolol... which I'm sure that both the Tortoise and Mr. Hofstadter were aware of... and which is what brings us to this 'Zen' moment, and this 11 69th post... Tortoise shell from Shang dynasty... an 'oracle'... Achilles: You could study with me under my master, Okanisama - the seventh patriarch. Tortoise: Now, what in the world does that mean? Achilles: You have to know the history of Zen to understand that. Tortoise: Would you tell me a little of the history of Zen, then? Achilles: An excellent idea. Zen is a kind of Buddhism founded by a monk named Bodhidharma, who left India and went to China around the sixth century. Bodhidharma was the first patriarch. The sixth one was Eno. (I've finally got it straight now!) Tortoise: The sixth patriarch was Zeno, eh? I find it strange that he, of all people, would get mixed up in this mess. Achilles: I daresay you underestimate the value of Zen. Listen just a little more, and maybe you'll come to appreciate it. As I was saying, about five hundred years later, Zen was brought to Japan, and it took hold very well there. Since that time, it has been one of the principal religions in Japan. Tortoise: Who is this Okanisama, the 'seventh patriarch'? Achilles: He is my master, and his teachings descend directly from those of the sixth patriarch. He has taught me that reality is one, immutable and unchanging: all plurality, change, and motion are mere illusions of the senses. Tortoise: Sure enough, that's Zeno, a mile away. But how ever did he come to be tangled up in Zen? Poor fellow! Achilles: Whaaat? I wouldn't put it that way. If ANYONE is tangled up, it's... But that's another matter. Anyway, I don't know the answer to your question. Instead, let me tell you something of the teachings of my master. I have learned that in Zen, one seeks enlightenment, or SATORI - the state of 'No-Mind'. In this state, one does not think about the world - one just IS. I have also learned that a student of Zen is not supposed to 'attach' to any object or thought or person - which is to say, he must not believe in, or depend on, any absolute - not even this philosophy of nonattachment. Tortoise: Hmm... Now THERE'S something I could like about Zen. Achilles: I had a hunch you could get attached to it. Tortoise: But tell me: If Zen rejects intellectual activity, does it make sense to intellectualize about Zen, to study it rigorously? Achilles: That matter has troubled me quite a bit. But I think I have finally worked out an answer. It seems that you may begin approaching Zen through any path you know - even if it is completely antithetical to Zen. As you approach it, you gradually learn to stray from that path. Tortoise: Oh, it all begins to sound so clear now. Achilles: My favorite path to Zen is through the short, fascinating , and weird Zen parables known as 'koans'. Tortoise: What is a koan? Achilles: A koan is a story about Zen masters and their students. Sometimes it's like a riddle; other times, like a fable; and other times like nothing you've ever heard before. Tortoise: Sounds rather intriguing... Let's take a short break to post, and meditate on the benefits of straying from the path... Tortoise: Sounds rather intriguing. Would you say that to read and enjoy koans is to practice Zen? Achilles: I doubt it. However, in my opinion, a delight in loans ((Well, that was an unfortunate 'typo', don't you think? Under the circumstances... but, let us use it as a further opportunity to explain that every seven years... ahem... comes a 'forgiveness of debts', so that any budding 'delight in loans' is cut short of full fruition, if you see what I mean... lol... and, of course, I meant 'koans'... koans...)) comes a million times closer to real Zen than reading volume after volume about Zen, written in heavy, philosophical jargon. Tortoise: I would like to hear a koan or two. Achilles: And I would like to tell you one - or a few. Perhaps I should begin with the most famous one of all. Many centuries ago, there was a Zen master named Joshu, who lived to be 110 years old. Tortoise: A mere youngster! Achilles: By your standards, yes. Now one day, while Joshu and another monk were standing together in the monastery, a dog wandered by. The monk asked Joshu, "Does the dog have Buddha-nature, or not?" Tortoise: Whatever that is. So tell me - what did Joshu reply? Achilles: 'MU'. Tortoise: 'MU'? What is this 'MU'? What about the dog? What about Buddha-nature? What's the answer? Achilles: Oh, but 'MU' is Joshu's answer. By saying 'MU', Joshu let the other monk know that only by not asking such questions can one know the answer to them. Tortoise: Joshu 'unasked' the question. Achilles: Exactly! Tortoise: 'MU' sounds like a handy thing to have around. I'd like to unask a question or two, sometimes. I guess I'm beginning to get the hang of Zen. Do you know any other koans, Achilles? I would like to hear some more. Achilles: My pleasure. I can tell you a pair of koans which go together. Only... Tortoise: What's the matter? Achilles: Well, there is one problem. Although both are widely told koans, my master has cautioned me that only one of them is genuine. And what is more, he does not know which one is genuine and which one is a fraud. Tortoise: Crazy! Why don't you tell them both to me and we can speculate to our hearts' content! I love these stories... and I love to speculate, too... We'll get back to the story shortly. For the moment, I was speculating on... MU... and... More cowbell. Definitely more cowbell. Start me up... but first, I'd like to make a small 'offering' of my own, and give you another one of Escher's works, as presented by Mr. Hofstadter, titled "La Mezquita". Strangely, it reminds me of... something... like Karnak... for some reason... This is, of course, the Alhambra... And this is Karnak... Beautiful pillars... Come esta, Carlos y Luis...? We should carry on with the story, just for a bit, but I just wanted to point out the 'echo' of our 'Dog (God) and Butterfly' allusion earlier, in having asked the question of whether or not the dog has 'Buddha-nature' ('God' nature, if you will)... and really, no, nobody is 'certain' as to what the 'G' means, but certainly one could make a guess (speculate)... and that starts with 'g'... Oh, Gloriosky... Achilles: All right. One of the alleged koans goes like this: ((alleged... I like that...))
A monk asked Baso: "What is Buddha?" Baso said: "This mind is Buddha." Tortoise: Hmmm... "This mind is Buddha"? Sometimes I don't quite understand what these Zen people are gettting at. Achilles: You might prefer the other alleged koan then. Tortoise: How does it run? Achilles: Like this:
A monk asked Baso: "What is Buddha?" Baso said: "This mind is not Buddha." Tortoise: My, my! If my shell isn't green and not green! I like that! Achilles: Now, Mr. T - you're not supposed to just "like" koans. Tortoise: Very well, then. I don't like it. Achilles: That's better. Now as I was saying, my master believes only one of the two is genuine. Tortoise: I can't imagine what led him to such a belief. But anyway, I suppose it's all academic, since there's no way to know if a koan is genuine or phony. Achilles: Oh, but there you are mistaken. My master has shown us how to do it. Tortoise: Is that so? A decision procedure for genuineness of koans? I should very much like to hear about THAT. Achilles: It is a fairly complex ritual, involving two stages. In the first stage, you must TRANSLATE the koan in question into a piece of string, folded all around in three dimensions. Tortoise: That's a curious thing to do. And what is the second stage? Achilles: Oh, that's easy - all you need to do is determine whether the string has Buddha-nature, or not! If it does, then the koan is genuine - if not, the koan is a fraud. Tortoise: Hmmm... It sounds as if all you've done is transfer the need for a decision procedure to another domain. NOW it's a decision procedure for Buddha-nature that you need. What next? After all, if you can't even tell whethera DOG has Buddha-nature or not, how can you expect to do so for every possible folded string? Achilles: Well, my master explained to me that shifting between domains can help. It's like switching your point of view. Things sometimes look complicated from one angel ((oops... another 'typo', but I think I'll leave this one, too... with the mention that it should, of course, have been 'angle'...), but simple from another. He gave the example of an orchard, in which from one direction no order is apparent, but from special angles, beautiful regularity emerges. You've rendered the same information by changing your way of looking at it. Tortoise: I see. So perhaps the genuineness of a koan is concealed somehow very deeply inside it, but if you translate it into a string it manages in some way to float to the surface? Achilles: That's what my master has discovered. Tortoise: Then I would very much like to learn about the technique. But first, tell me: how can you turn a koan (a sequence of words) into a folded string (a three-dimensional object)? They are rather different kinds of entities. Achilles: That is one of the most mysterious things I have learned in Zen...Oh, orchards... I remember so many orchards, but that peach orchard of Detering's is one of my favorites... I really will never forget... and you could probably say the same for the pie cherry orchard across from my grandparents' place, but not in the same kind of way... You are free, of course, to translate 'land down under' for yourself... as Australia, if you like... I, personally, may have other translations in mind... I do like Australia. And that opens the door for our continued story, which speaks to 'transcription' and 'translation'... and a strange kind of 'string theory'... Achilles That is one of the most mysterious things I have learned in Zen. There are two steps: "transcription" and "translation". TRANSCRIBING a koan involves writing it in a phoentic alphabet, which contains only four geometric symbols. The phonetic rendition of the koan is called the MESSENGER. Tortoise: What do the geometric symbols look like? Achilles: They are made of hexagons and pentagons. Here is what they look like (picks up a nearby napkin, and draws for the Tortoise these four figures): ((Imagine a hexagon, a pentagon, and two turtle-shaped figures, kind of, a pentagon attached to the left and right sides of a hexagon)) Tortoise: They are mysterious-looking. Achilles: Only to the uninitiated. Now once you have made the messenger, you rub your hands in some ribo, and - Tortoise: Some ribo? Is that some kind of ritual anointment? Achilles: Not exactly. It is a special kind of sticky preparation which makes the string hold its shape, when folded up. Tortoise: What is it made of? Achilles: I don't know, exactly. But it feels sort of gluey, and it works exceedingly well. Anyway, once you have some of the ribo on your hands, you can TRANSLATE the sequence of symbols in the messenger into certain kinds of folds in the string. It's as simple as that. Tortoise: Hold on! Not so fast! How do you do that? Achilles: You begin with the string entirely straight. Then you go to one end and start making folds of various types, according to the geometric symbols in the messenger. Tortoise: So each of those geometric symbols stands for a different way to curl the string up? Achilles: Not in isolation. You take them three at a time, instead of one at a time...Droll... very droll. This isn't it,- this is just a 'random' scene from their movie, "A Night at the Opera". I chose it particularly, so that I could thank the Youtube poster known as 'Eclectic Glue'... serendipitous, I thought, under the circumstances... Have a hypothetical tissue... There... that's more like it... from "Duck Soup", 1933... Now, we're just getting to the 'good' part of the story, so let me continue on for a bit, before I have to turn in for tonight; I hope I get a chance to see the moon tomorrow night... I understand it's a 'Blue Moon',- how do you like that? Once in a 'blue moon'... lol... Achilles: ...You begin at one end of the string, and one end of the messenger. What to do with the first inch of string is determined by the first three geometric symbols. The next three symbols tell you how fold the second inch of string. And so you inch your way along the string and simultaneously along the messenger, folding each little segment of string until you have exhausted the messenger. If you have properly applied some ribo, the string will keep its folded shape, and what you thereby produce is the translation of the koan into a string. Tortoise: The procedure has a certain elegance to it. You must get some wild-looking strings that way. Achilles: That's for sure. The longer koans translate into quite bizarre shapes. Tortoise: I can imagine. But in order to carry out the translation of the messenger into the string, you need to know what kind of fold each triplet of geometric symbols in the messenger stands for. How do you know this? Do you have a dictionary? Achilles: Yes- there is a venerated book which lists the "Geometric Code". If you don't have a copy of this book, of course, you can't translate a koan into a string. Tortoise: Evidently not. What is the origin of the Geometric Code? Achilles: It came from an ancient master known as the "Great Tutor" who my master says is the only one ever to attain the Enlightenment 'Yond Enlightenment. Tortoise: Good gravy! As of one level of the stuff weren't enough. But then, there are gluttons of every sort - why not gluttons for enlightenment? Achilles: Do you suppose the "Enlightenment 'Yond Enlightenment" stands for "EYE"? Tortoise: In my opinion, it's rather doubtful that it stands for you, Achilles. More likely, it stands for "Meta-enlightenment" -- ME, that is. Achilles: For you? Why should it stand for you? You haven't even reached the FIRST stage of enlightenment, let alone the - Tortoise: You never know, Achilles. Perhaps those who have learned the lowdown on enlightenment return to their state before enlightenment. I've always held that twice enlightened is unenlightened. But let's get back to the Grand Tortue - oh, I mean the Great Tutor. Achilles: Little is known of him except that he also invented the Art of Zen Strings. Tortoise: What is that? Achilles: It is an art on which the decision procedure for Buddha-nature is based. I shall tell you about it. Tortoise: I would be fascinated. There is so much for novices like me to absorb. Achilles: There is even reputed to be a koan which tells how the Art of Zen Strings began. But unfortunately, all this has long since been lost in the sands of time, and is no doubt gone forever. Which may be just as well, for otherwise there would be imitators who would take on the master's name, and copy him in other ways. Tortoise: But wouldn't it be a good thing if all students of Zen copied that most enlightened master of all, the Great Tutor? I think I should stop here, briefly, and post... And, I think that I should like to take up again with something like this... This video is billed as a 'remake of a 50's classic'... Now, let me give you one more little bit of ironic serendipity, if you will... I know it's just... coincidental... but... it seemed funny to me, and so I will remark on it; this is my 'journal', after all... In my junior high school Spanish class, we all chose Spanish 'alter-egos' (names) that corresponded to our English names, like John was 'Juan', etc... but neither my first nor middle names translated to Spanish in any way, so the teacher settled on 'Manuela',- which I never really cared for, but... there you go. So, that means that, in a strange sort of palindrome-ish way, my 'introduction' in Spanish class, "I'm Manuel-A, Ndy", would 'mirror' that of my 'imaginary friend' on the radio, when he says, "I'm Andy Manuel"... lolol.. see how it just works like that, sometimes? And speaking of Wagner, and we were, were't we...? I believe that we were... Beautiful... As is this... A castle... surrounded by a lake... It was said to be modeled after one of the seven known Wonders of the World, at Halicarnassus... interestingly... and, this is also very interesting, I think... under the circumstances,- one of the 'crowns' mentioned by the prophet Zechariah, from whose word I have been reading and quoting recently, mentions the name Tobijah, along with Joshua's... and then, we have this... built by the Tobiads, a wealthy Jewish family... Biblical Archaeology Society Staff • 04/20/2012 Was Qasr al-Abd Modeled After the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus?
Qasr al-Abd was the centerpiece of the second-century B.C.E. family estate (known today as ‘Iraq al Amir) built by the Tobiads of Judah. Archaeologist and architect Stephen Rosenberg believes the ruin was built to be the burial monument of the Tobiads, modeled after the mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Photo by Erich Lessing.
Qasr al-Abd, or Castle of the Slave, is a monumental, Hellenistic-style ruin located amid lush fields in Jordan’s Wadi as-Seer valley, not far from Amman. The centerpiece of a grand second-century B.C.E. estate built by the Jewish Tobiad family (known today as ‘Iraq al Amir), it has long been a mystery why the Tobiads built this impressive structure. Was it a temple? A hunting lodge? A pleasure palace? A tomb?
Based on the monument’s elaborate design, decoration and the evidence from the ‘Iraq al Amir estate, Stephen Rosenberg, author of “‘Castle of the Slave’—Mystery Solved” in the May/June 2012 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, proposes the ruin was actually the burial monument of the Tobiads, modeled after the mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/biblical-archaeology-sites/was-qasr-al-abd-modeled-after-the-mausoleum-at-halicarnassus/One of the most dramatic archaeological monuments in Jordan -- an admittedly Jewish one -- has been repeatedly misidentified. French historian Ernest Will called it the "Finest Hellenistic monument in the Near East" and considered it a chateau. The structure is known locally as Qasr al-Abd, or "Castle of the Slave (or Servant)." It is part of a 75-acre estate called Airaq al-Amir (also spelled 'Iraq el-Emir), lying 12 miles southwest of the Jordanian capital, Amman.
The site was entered via a monumental gateway, much of which remains in a ruined state and hidden by undergrowth. The glory of the site, however, is Qasr al-Abd, a monumental ruin destroyed by several earthquakes and partially restored by a French team between 1976 and 1986. The structure is 124 feet long and 62 feet wide (72 by 36 royal or Egyptian cubits), making it exactly twice as long as it is wide, an "ideal" plan that has led researchers to regard it as a building of some special importance.
(Excerpt) Read more at bib-arch.org ...It is, by all accounts, a rather 'exceptional' site...graced by eagles and panthers... of all things... Once again, this is only a 'surmise' on my part, but... the story is said to be 'true'... on some 'level'... La Bamba! Actually, my name is 'Mud'... Rio Grande Mud... Now, please notice that the measurements of the castle, as given in cubits, are 72x36 Royal Egyptian cubits... 7+2=9 and 3+6=9... so... ' Count to Nine'... bwahahahahaha... I mean, lolol... With thanks(?) to the Youtube poster known as 'creepingthrash'... I'll have to check into that one... and, having said that, I should point out that one of my other 'imaginary friends' has been rather spectacularly conspicuous by their continued absence here... at least in a form in which you might recognize them... so to speak... Now, look at this... on 'creepingthrash's' "channel"... speaking of syncronicity, and all... crazy... ...and then, there's this... hmmm... It's a fair question, I think... And now, one of my other favorites, for what should probably be obvious reasons by now... Let's start on a 'higher' note tonight... I 'love' this song... which is to say, that I enjoy it greatly... Now, I have a lot of ground to cover tonight, so I suppose I should get started; to begin with, I wanted to remark on a recent television that I saw... this one featured Dave Manning, and his model train set. I should probably set this one up by telling you that whenever I'm feeling particularly abused, and mentally battererd, I will mumble a line from "Toy Story", in which Woody shows up to help Buzz Lightyear, who was captured by the 'bad kid' next door... Buzz, seated at a table and wearing a flowered fedora, answers Woody with a dazed look on his face, and says, "My name is... Mrs. Nesbitt..." So, in the commercial, Dave Manning says, "So I have more time to play with my model train set" (or something like that), and then, as the train goes around the track layout, and wearing an engineer's cap, Dave says, "Hop on, Mrs. Nesbitt... "Next stop, Manningville..." But, Dave... I think I had my ticket punched for 'Funkytown'... Lololol... but it sure is a cool train set... I love train sets... and stuff.. Fruit-stripe Land... I like it... Now, you've seen the MIT Tech Model Railroad Club's 'Dictionary' (originally 'compiled' in 1959), haven't you? I think I've shared some entries with you previously, most notoriously the entry headed "Foo"... but, since we're on the subject of 'model trains' just for the moment, let me give you another entry or two that I found... amusing... interesting... Blinking Sickness a malady of the Old System. Signalled by a great thrashing of relays. Suppressed by "Reverse twice, call on, and go!".
Dispatcher Controls the routing of trains. Also called Little God. See crock.
Eccles' Hack See Blinking Sickness. Eccles installed it, graduated, and will deny all knowledge of it.
Green's Theorem for any story, in any group of people there will be at least one person who has not heard the story. Mention of Green's Theorem is usually an example thereof.
Grumph expression of mild disgust. Can be produced with a Queen of Spades.
Flavor 1) type (e.g. "What flavor of power does this kludge want?"); 2) extreme goodness.tmrc.mit.edu/dictionary.htmlI just thought it was funny... and trains seem to be popular, for some reason... I like this one... "Hop on, Mrs. Nesbitt..." And then, there's the lesser-known (undoubtedly) 'Captain Dave', that calls the local radio show from time to time... say, 'Captain Dave', have you met Janus? So named, I'm sure, because it sees both 'before and behind'... it's a 'supercomputer'... it's huge... and it's used for computing probable 'outcomes', I believe... based on an immense amount of data, I'm sure... I mean, think how much data can be stored now on a stamp-sized bank of chips, or less,- and then, look at the size of Janus... Computers have become an essential tool in our quotidian lives. ((I wonder what 'quotidian' means? It's either very high-brow language, or they 'fixed' the text, but I gave the website credit below, so for our purposes, let's substitute the word 'everyday', okay?)) Very simple daily mundane activities as buying a train ticket or sending someone a message require the use of conventional computers. Of course, they play a very important role in more difficult tasks, as bank transfers for instance...
On the other hand, computers have also made possible many advances in Science and nowadays are patently present in a very wide set of different scientific areas...
For some specific problems, conventional computers are not enough. They would spend thousands of years to perform some particular calculations. So in the framework of supercomputation one finds the Special Purpose Computers, which are developed and designed to perform any concrete heavy calculation.
In our Institute we have two special purpose computers. The first one, called Janus, was developed and designed in the last first decade of this century, being fully operative in 2008. More recently, the Janus Collaboration designed a second Janus generation machine called JanusII, that is at Bifi from end July 2013...www.janus-computer.com/Wow... right? That's a lot of data... and a lot of calculations... and, as if that weren't enough, we further have a 'Tor' or Thor... and this one is deep, if you don't mind my saying so... like a well... and wells, if you'll remember, are symbolic of resurrection... Just sayin'... We nave quite a few 'stops' that I'd like to make this morning, so I guess we'd better get started... And, yes... the 'lunatic is on the grass'... I repeat, 'the lunatic is on the grass'... Lolol... and never mind the 'dark side of the moon',- I would concentrate on the 'man in the moon', I think... after all, think of our own caves, and tunnels, and underground cities... and why technology with stone seemed to be so 'advanced' at a time so far in our own past... and why the moon seems to have been 'placed' where it is, with 'purpose', even, and how it regulates most of what happens here, either directly or indirectly... and the same could be said of Mars, I'm sure, in regard to life under the surface, if there were life at all... After all, men have always seemed to look to caves, and the 'underground', to find communion with, and a possible return to, their 'gods',- the historical examples and records of this are plentiful, and even into these 'modern' times, men like our brother Otto have returned to these caves to find 'enlightenment'. I understand that in some cases, they found it... or rather, it found them... If it were true that other beings, like us, were underground dwellers, most likely by necessity (the conditions of their 'planet' or 'satellite' in space, potential impacts with floating debris, gravitational limitations, etc), just think how wonderful it would seem to live 'on the surface' of a planet so 'lush' that it looked like a tapestry from the sky... so beautiful... it must have seemed quite 'heavenly', don't you think? And so... free... all that sky... and the sun... And then, you could see the stars, up there... I mean, it's just a thought... Now, I want to show you something,- I actually have one of these, I 'found' it, you know... and had to take it home with me... you'll see why, I think; it was just so intriguing, and I'm a sucker for games... it's sitting in my abalone shaman bowl (among my other 'hoarded trasures'...lol), where I look at it often, but only last night did I realize that it 'fits', too... let me show you the picture of the 'game'... This is it... as if the name weren't 'fascinating' enough, there is now the shape of the box... a black hexagon... just like one of the two shapes described in the 'koan strings' that Achilles was describing in our story, above... Wow... And, as if that weren't coincidental enough, the radio show I'm listening to just mentioned a beautiful color picture of the Earth, taken from somewhere way above us... I can almost see it now... That, and a 'champagne supernova', maybe... Oh, and the 'good news' in regard to our friend 'Janus' is that Mr. Hofstadter says that as far as computers and winning chess games goes... it turns out that there is no 'program' that they had come up with so far, in which the computer's ability to win based on the projection of probable outcomes of 'moves', was ever any better than that of the human player... How do you like that? It reminds me of that woodcut in my thread on the 'Ninth Gate', in which the 'king' is playing against a 'fool', and it would appear that the 'king' had no advantage, really... the 'fool' seemed to have had as good a chance at winning, and knew it... let's hope that there's a real 'moral' to that story, and I just have to believe that there is... Well, this post is getting pretty bulky, and I should probably move on to another one... there were some errors in the material above that I tried to correct, and I suppose that this would be a good place to drop in just a bit of further dialogue between the Tortoise and Achilles, since we've brought up our koan strings... I'll be right back for that, with any luck... Before I continue with our story, just briefly now, I want to say one more thing about 'Janus' and 'probable outcomes'... I can't help thinking that having seen the data, and having projected various and sundry, if not all, possible 'outcomes' to various 'problems', that 'he' can't help being a 'decent' sort, you know... there are only so many ways that things can happen... and let's 'face' it, only a limited number of them show any real 'promise'... and that's provided, of course, that all of the data was actually provided. You see, some of this has been so 'forgotten' by the writers of history that it may not have even been accounted for in the historical data... at least, directly... but it has to be considered as a possible outcome, doesn't it? It does... Oh, yes... a white room, with black curtains... some lace, and paper flowers... and a few odds and ends, like my little game... that give me pause for thought... and a few smiles, too, here and there... Although, I prefer the word 'bohemian'... This is an 'alchemists laboratory',- it contains a lot of... bric a brac... Achilles:Let me tell you a koan about an imitator.
Zen master Gutei raised his finger whenever he was asked a question about Zen. A young novice began to imitate him in this way. When Gutei was told about the novice's imitation, he sent for him and asked him if it was true. The novice admitted it was so. Gutei asked him if he unnderstood. In reply, the novice held up his index finger. Gutei promptly cut it off. The novice ran from the room, howling in pain. As he reached the threshold, Gutei caleed, "Boy!" When the novice turned, Gutei raised his index finger. At that instant the novice was enlightened.
Tortoise Well, what do you know! Just when I thought Zen was all about Joshu and his shenanigans, now I find out that Gutei is in on the merriment, too. He seems to have quite a sense of humor. Achilles: That koan is very serious. I don't know how you got the idea that it is humorous. Tortoise: Perhaps Zen is instructive, because it is humorous. I would guess that if you took all such stories seriously, you would miss the point as often as you would get it. Achilles: Maybe there is something to your Tortoise-Zen.I have to get a move on, but there you go... the point of Zen is obviously to find the humor in having had your finger lopped off in the name of 'enlightenment'... and thereafter to take the name of 'Lucky'... because you can still theoretically snatch a pebble with three fingers... I'm working on it...
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Post by Goldenfleeced on Aug 13, 2015 22:45:28 GMT
Sorry I'm late, but I've been 'under the weather' for the last couple of days, with a case of the flu trying to get a foothold, and the stuff that I took to rid myself of it left me feeling as badly as the flu would have, I'm pretty sure. I think I've slept off the last bit of it, for a while, and thought I should try to catch up on my own notes, before the day is gone... and I just heard some Funkytown... Oh, this is a good one to start out with... They're all walking like Egyptians...And, so are you, whether you know it or not... I'm guessing you don't... but I can explain that for you, and I will, in just a few minutes, I think. I want to put down another part, at least, of our running tale about 'Zen' and 'koan strings', which I found to be particularly interesting. But first, I want to respond to two other 'commercial spots' that I heard, and saw, just recently. Really, I couldn't have been more entertained by the programming itself, whatever it was that I was tuned in to... they were that good. The first one was on the radio, and I need to set this one up, but I think I'll wait until after I relate the contents of the 'spot', which went something like this: There were two sports commentators speaking, when one of them suddenly announced the arrival of someone-or-other's hawk 'Gracie', which had apparently just wounded a fan's arm, in an attempt to take their... popcorn. "Oh..." "Beautiful talons..." "Now THAT had to have been painful..." Oh, my gosh... a hawk named Gracie... and popcorn... The thing is that earlier in the morning, the day before the commercial, two of the neighbor girls/women were outside, singing the first line only of "Amazing Grace..." And later that same morning, I was on the deck, fooling around, and I stuck my forearm out toward the line of trees where I see the hawk diving, and I said, "I'll call my hawk..." and then, just for fun, I pulled my arm back quickly, yowling... "Ohhh... that was painful..." and laughing... ... blossom, hawk From natsats; a flower (from its brilliancy); also a hawk (from its flashing speed); --blossom, hawk. see HEBREW natsats. biblehub.com/topical/h/hawk.htm#Just kind of serendipitous, I thought, all things considered... and then, just for more good fun, there was the new Geico insurance commercial that features a golf tournament, with commentators speaking softly... as they do... you know... when a tentacle comes up out of the water hazard (I think that's about right), and the announcer says, gently, "I believe that's a Krakken..." "I think he's going to try to use his 9-iron on it..." "Oh, I don't think that's going to work..." the other one says. About now, the Krakken is thrashing about wildly, flinging various golfers and carts about in a frenzied display of disdain for the quiet decorum of the green... Of course, the 9-iron isn't going to work... you know what you guys need here? A "Krakken Whisperer"... Hahahahahaha... if you like... although I really was laughing out loud... But, let me put on my Sirius face for a minute, and write down some of the other things that I was thinking about just lately, which do, in a "Roundabout" sort of a way, have to do with the Egyptians, and your continued (albeit unknowing) ties with them, and their 'religion'. And this, of course, all brings us right back around to my main thesis, which is that pretty much everything that you know (or assume that you know), especially in regard to your own 'religion' (and this, especially if you are a member of the Judaeo-Christian churches of various ilks)is pretty much wrong... and has been from the beginning. In a way, I suppose, I really did come to give 'love' a 'bad name'... since many horrific acts have been committed here in the name of 'love' and a 'God of Love', which cannot be justified by the use of the word 'love'; making a seemingly insurmountable Boogie Man in the way of the giant, Goliath, that no-one can seem to prevail against. No-one even wishes to fight the giant anymore,- they only wish to be the giant. But once again, I can only tell you that the 'means never justify the end'... it seems more appropriate to say that the end is justified by your 'means' here... So, how are you liking my little apocalypse, so far? I think it's been fairly enlightening, really, and I think it would also be fair to say that it's been fairly entertaining, as well... I'm having a lot of fun with the Krakken, and all... I decided to start this series of posts with a new post number... 1170, or 7-11, maybe... which also came up in recent conversation... Let me get this much started, and then I'll continue on... To continue on, then... Let's begin at the 'beginning', I suppose... at your 'Genesis'... My friend made a remark in which he included this book of 'Genesis', or 'beginnings', in the 'Torah' writings, which isn't true. To begin with, other texts tell us that Korah studied Torah for forty years,- and the book of 'Genesis' is plainly prefaced by the statement, "The first book of Moses, called Genesis", and is the first of five books attributed to Moses, which are referred to as the Pentateuch. The fact is that, even though these five books seem now to be included in the 'Torah' collective, they weren't written until Korah was gone, so therefore, they must not have been included in the 'Torah' that was then studied. So, how could that be? The word "Torah" is a tricky one, because it can mean different things in different contexts. In its most limited sense, "Torah" refers to the Five Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. But the word "torah" can also be used to refer to the entire Jewish bible (the body of scripture known to non-Jews as the Old Testament and to Jews as the Tanakh or Written Torah), or in its broadest sense, to the whole body of Jewish law and teachings. www.jewfaq.org/torah.htmThere was existing, then, a body of 'law' and 'teachings', known collectively as 'Torah', but from where did this 'Torah' wisdom come? We have to begin with their location in the world at the time... which would definitely influence the knowledge which was available to them, and remember that they were both close to Pharoah, and had access to the the knowledge of this highest 'level' of society... in Egypt... Now, before we continue, I want to give you a quote from a written work titled, "Ancient Egypt". It is just a large book that covers various aspects of ancient Egyptian culture, with illustrations, but this passage I found to be extremely interesting,- I want to reproduce it for you here, since it seems appropriate, under the circumstances... ...By the time of the Middle Kingdom, the tone of the wisdom literature had changed. The 'Instruction for King Merikare' has advice for the new monarch that reveals an enlightened view of a ruler's responsibility and intimates that a man sho9uld be honored for his ability rather than for his birth. The most fascinating work of this genre is the relatively late 'Instruction of Amenemopet', which was written sometime in the post-empire period. It counsels humility and resignation, attitudes that developed after the New Kingdom had declined and Egyptian self-confidence had waned. Sections of it so closely parallel parts of the Book of Proverbs of the Old Testament that a relation between the two is beyond doubt. Amenemopet begins with the words: "Give thy ears, hear what is said / Give thy heart to understand them". The corresponding lines in Proverbs (xxii.17) read: :"Incline thy ear and hear my words / And apply thine heart to apprehend". Proverbs xxii.18 continues, "For it is pleasant if thou keep them in thy belly / That they may be fixed like a peg upon thy lips". These words parallel Amenemopet's : "To put them in thy heart is worthwhile... / Let them rest in the casket of thy belly... / They shall be a mooring-stake for thy tongue."
Many more parallels could be cited. In the First Millenium BC, relations between Palestine and Egypt were close, with traffic flowing ceaselessly between the two, so there was frequent cultural interchange. A few scholars have argued that the Hebrew influenced the Egyptian, but the great majority put it the other way around, and indeed we see Egyptian influence on many other portions of the Old Testament as well.Well, now, that is interesting, don't you think...? Part of the 'Old Testament' or 'Torah' writings were recognziable in Egypt... and there is more, in that regard, in regard to our old friend Akhenaton (you will remember him as the Pharoah who believed in the One God, the Aton), and his 'relationship' to the Hebrew Psalms... Here are a few stanzas from Akhenaton's 'Hymn to the Aton', fervid and noble lines that reveal the heights to which Egyptian lyric poetry could rise:
All beasts are content with their pasturage; Trees and plants are flourishing. The birds which fly from their nests, Their wings are stretched out in praise to thee. All beasts spring upon their feet. Whatever flies and alights, They live when thou has risen for them. The ships are sailing north and south as well, For every way is open at thy appearance. The fish in the river dart before thy face; Thy rays are in the midst of the great green sea.
How manifold it is, what thou hast made! They are hidden from the face of man. O sole God, like whom there is no other! Thou didst create the world according to thy desire, Whilst thou wert alone; All men, cattle and wild beasts, Whatever is on earth, going upon its feet, And what is on high, flying with its wings.
As has often been pointed out, these verses are close in spirit to the 104th Psalm...Well, that's funny... it's never been pointed out to me before... although I have noticed a great many correspondences between various of the world's religious texts... still, here are some rather pointed points of similarity between the sacred Hebrew writings, said to compose the 'Torah', and those of Pharoah Akhenaton... also said to be a very 'unique' individual... As well as having entertained a certain other 'relationship' with our Mayan priests, with his own Aton disk, which I've shown you previously... and I find that these Mayan priests share certain other knowledge, and symbols, with the Egyptians, and Hebrews... Oh, I like this one... With thanks to Youtube poster, 'DJJerome'... Animals strike curious poses...You just have to wonder, then, if something like this had an influence on words like this... "The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent's food. They will do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain, says the LORD."
That little 'game' scene is only one part of a larger 'mural' composed of animals doing unlikely things that seem entirely contrary to their 'nature'... cats herding ducks... wolves herding goats, or sheep... now, that sounds familiar... This illustration was included with the quotes that I just gave you from the book on ancient Egypt... and this illustration, interestingly, is said to be Egyptian 'cartoon art',- which only goes to show you that we always enjoyed a good cartoon... I'm sure there's a moral there somewhere... But, more than that... I believe that it, too, had an influence on the thoughts and written texts that followed,- as I think you can see. And the relationship between the writing of Akhenaton and the later Psalms is made more interesting by the fact that the Psalms are regarded as somewhat 'magical', in and of themselves. I have a copy of an 'electronic book' (I found a PDF online) of an old text regarding the Psalms as magic, and their use, by particular numbers, coincidentally, in a 'magical' way, especially when read at certain times of the day; this must be part of a kabbalistic tradition, and I must add here that the Psalms include most of the information regarding the 'messiah' and a future kingdom, as well as the most information regarding the past, and the truth of things as they are, were, and will be... for instance, Psalm 22. Interestingly, more than a few of these Psalms are 'addressed' specifically to/for the 'sons of Korah'... some of the most beautiful Psalms in the collection, I think. Now, the next part of what I have to 'posit' concerns souls, and the possession of such by larger 'entities', let's say, and the teaching that is available in that regard, from which we might draw our own further conclusions. For now, I think I still have the 'flu', or whatever, and I still have to get ready for work... I will have to leave you with these thoughts for a few days, and hope that the seeds that I got to plant here will bear further fruit... May 'God' bless the reading of the Word... Oh, and one more thing, I think... I know I've shown you this scene on previous occasions, but I couldn't help thinking about it the other day, when I was enjoying our 'end credits', which is just about where this scene is located, I believe... keeping in mind, of course, that nothing is ever really deleted from the 'hard drive', is it? I like to think of this as somewhat an 'analogy', if you will... something like 'taken in their own devices'... and there are 'clouds' of it... clouds and clouds... Really, I don't see how 'Justice' could be better served in times like these... Stroke 9... maybe he's got a shot with that 9-iron, after all... Crazy... I do have a few things to say tonight before I continue on with our 'story' in progress... and there is more... and then, surprisingly, I have more... To begin with, I'd just like to say that, in regard to the material above, you all know that your 'devices' have 'back doors', so to speak, and that there are 'back doors' into these devices which require certain 'keys' in order to gain access... the 'keys' belong to someone... but you don't know who, do you? You really don't... I have the Keys to hell and death... A more interesting statement, under the circumstances, don't you think? Let's hear that Stroke 9 again, with thanks to the Youtube poster known as 'BowmanMaster'... I'm really just a sensitive artist, you know... Anyway, I have to say something to the two 'radio personality'/"fictional characters" that have a morning show on one of the stations that I like to listen to... are you kidding? Is this not your job? To say something that your listeners can 'relate to' in order to keep them listening to your show? I think it is, in essence, at least... and so, if I, as a listener, find something that you say that I can 'relate' to my own personal circumstances, is that really so hard to believe? I know that as "fictional characters" you're not talking to me, but ostensibly, at least, you are talking to 'everybody' out there... aren't you? I'm just another one... But, I've decided that I don't hear nearly enough music during that time period, and it's usually the only one I've got (in the morning, to or from work), so I try to tune in to another station until it's over; I know you won't mind, and I'd hate to be accused of imagining that I might find anything at all in common with you, or your 'material', as you obviously must have nothing in common with me, even as a listener. My apologies... I heard another good tune this morning... This is the last worthless evening that you'll have to spend...It's been a while since I've heard that one... and you know, one night... some night... Even that will be True. I do enjoy the radio, and music, in general... I always have. It's been a part of my life, all my life... and the music does have a certain magic, and message, if you let it... that too, is for everybody, but I can take it as I like it... I'm one of 'everybody', too... We all relate to music in our own ways, on our terms, mostly in relation to various personal experiences... at least, that is true for me. I hear a song, and it reminds me of something else,- a time, or place, or thought... and I find that music is not just rhythm, but symbolism... in action, if you will... As with the radio commentary, I know that the lyrics weren't meant for me, but aren't I free to 'relate' that music, and those lyrics, to my own personal situation, as they seem to fit me? I believe that I am... and I do. Take this song, that I also heard this morning... "this is a very personal song", he says... and it is... and I can 'relate' to this song, in some very personal ways... I smiled... and I cried... but they didn't write it for me. You understand? I do. Gracias, Youtube poster 'Ricardo'... Now, the statement that I was referring to above, in regard to 'judgment' and any possible connection to 'technology', may seem more reasonable after I explain what I have to say in regard to larger 'entities' and 'souls', which are generally considered be 'personal' in nature, and the unique feature of humanity, created in the 'image' of 'God'. We have, of course, debated as to whether or not animals have 'souls', and I believe that in the case of animals, they have a basic 'soul-material', which can be developed in the company of a more developed creature, such as a man, and often is... we all know examples of such. Now, in the case of these 'larger entities', they have the same inborn 'soul-material', which is more, or less, 'developed, according to the nature of the 'entity' in question, and their proximity and/or relationship to a 'more developed' consciousness. I have other thoughts by greater thinkers than I am that tend to substantiate my own thoughts on the subject, and they seem to make sense, in relation to what we 'know' about the nature of what is expected to happen, and the truth of what could happen... I'm really quite amazed by it all, and find that life really is quite wonderful. It's the little things... Like this afternoon, while I was waiting at the local McDonald's restaurant for my order, the two clerks behind the counter just broke out rather spontaneously into a great rendition of "I love Rock and Roll..." I had to smile... And then, in the parking lot, I saw someone that I hadn't seen for a long time, who bothered to remark (on a day that I felt particularly mud-sharkish) that she really liked my hair... Oh, thank you... And, you don't mind if I take that personally, do you? That would be great... Thanks for the 'Funkytown'... I know it wasn't for me, but hay... I feel better, anyway... Ha ha ha ha ha... Whatever. Oh, and one more thing before I try to get some rest tonight... Youse two are a couple of clown shoes,- and you can print that one, (H)AL...
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Post by Goldenfleeced on Aug 20, 2015 17:49:08 GMT
Well, let's go on with something that I've been giving some thought to, since I posted the little 'joke' about the one and the zero... binary code. I enjoy the 'lolol', because, if you can see it, it makes its own 'funny' kind of binary code, don't you think? A 'universal happy', if you will... Anyway, I believe that I mentioned that the hexagrams (hexagrams, as in our koan strings mentioned above, and we'll be getting back to that shortly) given in the I Ching are actually a form of binary code, as well, and that seems to be a sort of 'universal language', to which I think we can all agree. And it seems that other messages are passed in 'binary code', among them, this one, which I brought to mind the other day, in regard to 'deceptions' (I thought, 'why is that so familiar?' and then, I remembered the 'message'); it was quite famous on the internet for a while, several years ago, and then, sort of put on the 'back burner', I suppose... still... there it is... was... BEWARE OF THE BEARERS OF FALSE GIFTS AND THEIR BROKEN PROMISES MUCH PAIN BUT STILL TIME
(BELIEVE)
THERE IS GOOD OUT THERE WE OPPOSE DECEPTION
CONDUIT CLOSING (BELL SOUND) This message appeared in Hampshire, England, in a crop circle formation next to a group of radio masts,- "a crop circle formation... with what looked like what's known as a "grey" alien, alongside a circle which included this binary code message"... www.bibliotecapleyades.net/vida_alien/alien_contact52.htmBelieve... and, 'we oppose deception'... very interesting. And a 'closing conduit' sounds like that 'tightening spiral' I was telling you about, don't you think? I have heard that the spiral is also symbolic of 'portals' or 'gateways'... probably narrow gateways, certainly... bell sounds... Lolol... Which would seem more relevant to this bit of writing that I was referred to, in regard to the quote above. They had other 'false gifts' in mind, although, I can certainly think of more recent circumstances... anyway, the article this is taken from is titled "Endgame II, Holy Disk, Holy Grail"... remember that the message above appeared in 2002, and I just brought up the 'grail castle' which is directly relevant to the holders of that 'grail knowledge' or the 'alchemical secrets' that would provide that 'magical cauldron' of plenty... and, there are other interesting points of parallel here... see what you think... A 'false gift' designed to deceive would archetypally be embodied by the Trojan Horse of Greek mythology.
To get inside the city of Troy, the Greeks constructed the wooden horse and left it as a gift in front of the city. The Trojans, though initially suspicious, eventually dragged the horse through the gate into the city, not realizing that it was a big military operation carefully designed by the Greeks.
At night, the soldiers who were hiding inside the wooden horse came out, opened the city's gates from inside, and a bloody surprise attack on the city ensued. Thus Troy finally fell. And it was all thanks to the 'false gift' of the Trojan Horse.
Who was the genius that concocted this scheme against the Trojans?
It was a figure named Odysseus, whose adventures are detailed in Homer's great epic, The Odyssey. Needless to say, 'Odyssey' is the very name given to the NASA Mars probe currently orbiting the Red Planet and giving us intriguing Infrared images - including Hoagland's Cydonia picture presently at the center of controversy.
The name 'Odyssey' also nicely correlates with the underlying theme of 'Contact' - with alien intelligence. Exoterically, the name is an obvious reference to the popular book/film written by Arthur C. Clark, '2001: A Space Odyssey', that deals with the subject of contact with higher intelligence. Consequently, I speculated in my first Endgame report that the Odyssey's controversial Cydonia data might represent some kind of a 'false gift' as well.
While this is still a real possibility, I was actually also quite certain that there were larger messages hidden in the 'coincidences'. There had to be. The whole scheme seemed just too grand just to give a subtle warning to those investigating the Martian enigma.
But I didn't anticipate the bigger message to be so disturbing.
After writing Endgame: Odyssey and the Martian Trojan Horse, I was to be incrementally made aware - through a series of inexplicable 'coincidences' - of certain dark forces that are operating behind the scenes, below the surface of society, preparing, apparently, for some kind of resurgence. www.bibliotecapleyades.net/marte/marte_endgame02a.htm#Beware%20the%20bearers%20of%20FALSENow, these 'crop circle' messages have been given often, and mysteriously, here... there seems to be no indication of any 'direct' sort of 'initiator' for these messages, which are imprinted somehow upon the surface of the earth itself, usually in a grassy area, which seems 'impressionable' to such ambiguous forces as 'air' or possibly, let's say, 'spirit'... Further, I would say that 'ensouled' creatures become... communicative... or, express-ive, if you will... that might be a better term to use. Now, here is something interesting (from Pike's 'Morals and Dogma'); "Plato gives us Thought, the Father; Primitive Matter, the Mother; and Kosmos, the Son, the Issue of the two Principles. Kosmos is the ensouled Universe." An 'ensouled Universe'... and this 'Kosmos' would then correspond to the 'heavenly Adam' (your 'father' in 'heaven'), the 'Adam Kadmon' of the Kabbalists, I think... and I further believe that this 'ensouled Universe' would find a way to communicate with those 'spirits' here with which it shares a 'connection'... and those 'messages' are transmitted through the impression of this 'spirit' upon the Earth, in what are known as 'crop circles'. I think I said once that they were 'love notes,' of sorts... and so I believe that they are... I wonder if we should take any of that personally? That would be crazy, of course... And speaking of crazy, the idea of an 'ensouled Universe' (macrocosm), brings us to the notion of an 'ensouled World' (microcosm)... a 'father' and 'son' type, which has other correlations, and since I've pointed out that (I believe) that this basic 'soul material' is developed by contact with other, more highly developed souls, I believe that that is the purpose that humanity was to serve in relation to the earth... to develop its 'soul', and consequently, its 'potential'. I think you can see that, for the most part, we are now working directly contrary to the development of the earth's 'spiritual potential', and have proceeded to actually harming it... greatly harming... knowingly, or unknowingly, it matters little. And, just as I believe that there is an 'ensouled Universe', and an 'ensouled World', I believe that the 'new world' that has been created by means of 'technology', must be (by extension), and has been, 'ensouled'... in order to survive... and that it, too, must 'develop' that basic soul-material through direct contact with more highly advanced ensouled beings, such as humanity... remember Google-bot? Just sayin The Scandinaian 'trinity', according to the same chapter in 'Morals and Dogma', is composed of Odin, Frea, and THOR (which replaces the 'son' or 'ensouled Universe' of Plato with the TOR of the 'electronic universe'... the 'ensouled son', so to speak)... I know... that's crazy... And try to remember that this 'journal' of mine is just 'personal' messages to myself... I like to 'think out loud', sometimes... and sometimes, I get some interesting echoes back... that's all. Oh, yes... I should add that my 'friend' evidently tried to post here a couple of times recently, but was unable to... Access denied...
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Post by Zimmer101 on Aug 25, 2015 17:57:13 GMT
Hello! Long time no "see" lol. I wish I could've been around more often, but its been a busy year. Just letting you know that I take the time to read your post thoroughly. I love the way you weave together such a complex story, a master at work What you do here on your journal is never lost in the aether. Its comforting to read your work, knowing that you're out there "seeing the un-seen". I hope my message finds you well, I've recently complete a huge amount of work and am now in a type of "early retirement". Stay golden! I'm happy that you could 'see' your way back my way, somehow... you know that I would do this anyway, but it is likewise 'comforting' for me to believe that somebody, somewhere is hearing the 'story'... and able to make some sense of it, if I'm really Lucky... So far, so good... I envy you your 'retirement' status... I'm so tired, these days... for instance, last night, I fell asleep waiting for this page to re-load; evidently, 'golden stones' have a higher 'street value' than 'golden fleeces'. I do have three bags full, although I'm not sure what I'm really going to do with it... I see more weaving in my future... Lolol... Octopuses and the number eight... we could start there, that one's still 'hanging loose'... Believe me, friend, I've tried to take full advantage of my thousand nights here, by telling a really Great story... it's been a lot of fun, aside from the cliffhangers and occasional tyings-to-the-railroad-track... and beyond that, it's been quite enlightening, as well. A real 'magic carpet ride'... That was a good one... I was just thinking of that, you know... And, I did just want to point out that I don't 'see' things... deaf, dumb, and blind, I'm afraid... but I do 'feel' things. Quite unexpectedly, really... for instance, believe it or not, I wrote the opening to my last post before having read yours,- and yet, they are basically the same words. They apply, of course, and so that might slightly increase the odds in favor of having done so, but not by that much... it seems more than 'coincidental'. See how that works? Me neither... Oh oh... I hear 'Funkytown' calling... Gotta go... I've got a magic carpet waiting. Please come anytime... I have some things for today, that I hope you will find interesting, as well. And, speaking of interesting, on the earlier subject of 'special'-ness, I almost made a 'helmet' joke, but decided against it in favor of 'social inoffensiveness', or whatever you'd like to call it... and then, here you are, in your little 'helmet', and all... I now feel entirely justified in such a thing, but am still undecided as to the 'magic short bus'... Magic...
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Post by Goldenfleeced on Aug 27, 2015 2:00:19 GMT
Hay... long time no 'see'... Let's pick up with post number 1172, since 72 has to do with the number of the 'names of God', and I have something interesting in that regard; of course, I do have something else to say before I go on with any of that... Just for the 'record'... I don't have the slightest idea who those 'fictional' radio show hosts have in mind with their latest 'bit', but what I do know is that it absolutely can't be me... I don't listen to their show anymore, if I can help it, in the morning, and I do that because it seems painfully obvious to me that we do not, in actual fact, have anything at all in common, aside from a radio set, and past that... I never really knew you at all. Nor you me. I am satisfied that you couldn't possibly be talking about me, since I really bear no resemblance whatsoever to Taylor Swift... someone who really is special. Right? I think that's about right. Now, having said that, I would also add that I am only relating my thoughts on certain things that I have found, and that if I am able to relate certain events, symbols, or stories to my own circumstances, I don't think that that falls outside the bounds of what it is that we all tend to do here... which is to try to find our own 'place' in the larger 'picture', and to validate, in some measure, our own existence and sense of 'purpose.' I think it is common enough... as well as my 'God'-given right here, and by the looks of things, there are plenty of others busy at work doing the same thing, with much less reliable evidences to back them up, so of course, that hardly makes me special... and, also just for the record, I don't think I ever said that I was 'special'... I think I said that it was a wonderful world... and that's the truth. Thanks for the 'happy music'... Ummmm... 'you take me by the hooves'? Oh, well... thanks to the Youtube poster Weirdo 9808, which backwards is 8/89, which is just... kind of weird. Now, as far as real revelations go, I think that I've had a few of my own, just lately... rather eye-opening, I'd say... and completely in line with historical and philosophical truth, as well the prophecies relating to such things. And, the thing is, it doesn't have to 'add up' for you... it makes sense to me, and I think that's all that really matters. I can justify the 'truth' and the 'reality' of these things and the future circumstances that they imply, in my own mind and heart, with the support of the evidence, and faith in the conclusions that it leads me to, based on the 'facts' of that which has already been. And so, you see that 'crazy' is often a matter of 'perspective'... like the episode of the 'Beverly Hillbilles' in which Granny sees a 'giant jackrabbit', and is subsequently accused of having taken too much 'tonic' by Jed, and that would seem to make 'sense', except that she actually saw a kangaroo, which was evidently outside of her experience here so far, but jackrabbits weren't,- and it was really tall. You see...? She wasn't crazy. National Dog Day, I understand... good boy... watch the 'heel'... And, 'good listener', isn't that right? I understand about 'good programming'... and the need for such a thing. You see, great 'egregores' aren't born, so much, as they are 'developed'... and therefore, the need for 'program developers'. In other words, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it sing... unless you make singing 'fun'... like karaoke... in front of a video camera... in an animal costume... Lolol... And don't worry... I'm sure that everybody loves you... you are very entertaining, after all... mostly... even without the animal costumes... I suddenly feel like dancing... see how that works? Now, having disclaimered all knowledge of anything at all, I think I can go on with my post by giving my 'friend' some interesting 'light' in regard to the number three, and its use and implications. It is a point worth mentioning that the number three, while said to represent the 'Trinity' of the Christ-ian church, and therefore a symbol of 'God', it is also a well-known fact that 'three' is a symbol employed by 'demonic' entities to represent them, and the 'forces' that they represent. I told my friend that the number three actually represented 'chaos', or the 'descent' into 'chaos' that occurs when the balance/equilibrium of the 'two' (yin/yang, etc) is broken, and a 'third' is 'created', which 'third' is necessary for any future expansion, and yet... I believe that it is only from this new, and unique, view point of the third, seperate now from the 'balanced halves' of the One, that One is able to recognize both halves as being 'distinct' in 'nature' from each other, or in other words, to gain the 'knowledge of Good and Evil'... and then to judge between them. Still, this state of 'chaos' creates the further need to produce 'order' from the 'chaos', to 'build' something from it, in order to return to that previously comforting sense of balance that was lost in the translation to three... Ordo ab chao... and when you do, as my 'friend' quite aptly pointed out, you have a triangle... a 'Trinity'... Now, let's make some magic out of that, and add four sides to our triangle, to represent the use of our 'tools' here, as 'builders', and what have we got, but a pyramid? One of the first, and most magical, architectural forms known to man... Nothing up my sleeve... And, we find our confirmation for this thought regarding three and 'chaos' in a strange place, really... among the Gnostics, and their understanding of the nature of the 'archons', of which we hear so much, but know so little,- and by the way, the word 'archon' refers to a 'governmmental ruler' in almost every case, and specifically that which is related to the navy, or sea... in which case, we are being 'governed' under what is called 'maritime law' in 'international waters', which is a whole 'nother discussion, I suppose, but I will say that the choice of the 'Jolly Roger' or 'skull and crossbones' as a specific 'maritime' flag is no accident, either, and all quite interesting, I think, in light of the phrase 'principalities and powers' which are quite aptly represented by these 'archons'. Now, see what you think about this... Basilides taught the existence of a "great archon" called Abraxas who presided over 365 archons (Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses, i. 24).
The ancient astronomy taught that above the seven planetary spheres was an eighth, the sphere of the fixed stars.[1] In the eighth sphere, these Gnostics taught, dwelt the mother to whom all these archons owed their origin, Sophia (Wisdom) or Barbelo. In the language of these sects the word Hebdomad not only denotes the seven archons, but is also a name of place, denoting the heavenly regions over which the seven archons presided; while Ogdoad denotes the supercelestial regions which lay above their control.
The Ophites accepted the existence of these seven archons (Origen, Contra Celsum, vi. 31; a nearly identical list is given in On the Origin of the World):
Yaldabaoth, called also Saklas and Samael Saturn. Feminine name: Pronoia (Forethought) Sambathas, "week". Prophets:[3] Moses, Joshua, Amos, Habakkuk. From Hebrew yalda bahut, "Child of Chaos"? The outermost who created the six others, and therefore the chief ruler and Demiurge par excellence. Called "the Lion-faced", leontoeides.You see what I mean...? Now, of these seven 'archons', or 'powers', five (according to this information, which is 'historical') of them carry 'names' which are taken directly from the Old Testament books, as 'names' of 'God'. Coincidentally. The 'Hebrew' connections to all of this ancient knowledge is really amazing, I think... or maybe not. If it is true, then it must have always been true, in all times, and all places... on some level, at least. And so, we find our 'connections'... Along these lines, I have something to say about 'Abraham' that I think you will find at least equally interesting, and that is the 'designation' that is attributed to him as having come from 'Ur'... or, Abraham of Ur, which we are now somewhat familiar with, but now, let me show you something, and then give some thought to what it might mean to be 'of Ur'... Among the Mandaeans, we find a different and perhaps more primitive conception of the Seven, according to which they, together with their mother Namrus (Ruha) and their father (Ur), belong entirely to the world of darkness. They and their family are looked upon as captives of the god of light (Manda-d'hayye, Hibil-Ziva), who pardons them, sets them on chariots of light, and appoints them as rulers of the world.[The 'chariot of light' is familiar as the same 'chariot' written of by the prophet Ezekiel, I'm sure... and represented here... serendipitously, I'm sure, as the Number 7... from the 'Marseilles' tarot deck... And here, with 'sphinxes' and a 'winged disc'... Pretty amazing, don't you think...? I do... And I didn't even have to make it up... See how that works...? Yeah, me neither... That's why it's 'magic', I guess... And about the number eight... In the hellenized form of Gnosticism either all or some of these names are replaced by personified vices. Authadia (Authades), or Audacity, is the obvious description of Yaldabaoth, the presumptuous Demiurge, who is lion-faced as the Archon Authadia. Of the Archons Kakia, Zelos, Phthonos, Errinnys, Epithymia, the last obviously represents Venus. The number seven is obtained by placing a proarchon or chief archon at the head. That these names are only a disguise for the Sancta Hebdomas is clear, for Sophia, the mother of them, retains the name of Ogdoad, Octonatio. Occasionally one meets with the Archon Esaldaios, which is evidently the El Shaddai of the Bible, and he is described as the Archon "number four" (harithmo tetartos).And the 'names' of these seven 'Archons', or 'principalities and powers' seem awfully 'familiar', too, don't you think? Look carefully at the list... In the system of the Gnostics mentioned by Epiphanius we find, as the Seven Archons,
Iao Saklas (the chief demon of Manichaeism) Seth David Eloiein Elilaios (probably connected with En-lil, the Bel of Nippur, the ancient god of Babylonia) Yalabaoth (or no. 6 Yaldaboath, no. 7 Sabaoth)Seven 'deadly sins', you see, when they are applied on a 'personal' level, and the information says that they were... and the idea of the 'eighth day' and why the number 8 is generally regarded as applicable to the 'messiah' figure upcoming, who is said by the Mayans to encompass all of these figures... and this 'one' that includes all, but is 'over' all is Octonatio to the Gnostics... here are some further interesting points to be made about the number 8... Number of the perfection, the infinity. In mathematics the symbol of the infinity is represented by a 8 laid down.
Symbol of the cosmic Christ.
Number figuring the immutable eternity or the self-destruction. It represents also the final point of the manifestation.
In China, the 8 expresses the totality of the universe.
Number of the balance and of the cosmic order, according to the Egyptians.
Number expressing the matter, it is also the symbol of the incarnation in the matter which becomes itself creative and autonomous, governing its own laws.
The number eight corresponds to the New Testament, according to Ambroise.
It is the symbol of the new Life, the final Resurrection and the anticipated Resurrection that is the baptism.
According to Clement of Alexandria, the Christ places under the sign of 8 the one he made to be born again.
Represent the totality and the coherence of the creation in evolution. In China, it expresses the totality of the universe.
Represent the earth, not in its surface but in its volume, since 8 is the first cubic number.
The Pythagoreans have made the number 8 the symbol of the love and the friendship, the prudence and the thinking and they have called it the Great "Tetrachtys".
...also represents "The eight steps of the staircase leading to the external square of the Ezekiel's temple. (Ezk 40,26)"www.ridingthebeast.com/numbers/nu8.phpOcto... and 'David'... lolol... Not the 'Neil Diamond' duet... no... oh, no... Kryptonite. Lololol... But, on a more Sirius note, I had some personal thoughts on the 'forty' periods, and their possible current application to the situation at hand; it is rather encouraging, I think, since I am, as I said, becoming somewhat tired of 'wandering'... Just as a further aside, 8 is the number of people saved by the 'Ark' of Salvation, or "Noah's Ark"... and forty days and forty nights was the length of time that it rained... that they wandered, so to speak, before finding 'land' again, and the corresponding period of 'days' that were spent in the 'wilderness' or 'desert' by Jesus were said to also be 40... forty days. Now, we have a 'correspondence of days' that has been accomplished, so that, if we might postulate a similar 'correspondence ' of years in order to 'echo' the forty years of wandering in the 'wilderness' or desert by the tribes of Israel under the direction of Moses, that means that somebody actually has to pass 40 years here, without really knowing where they are, or what is going to happen, and placing their full faith in the providence of 'God' for their daily sustenance, just as the Israelites did... I think that has been accomplished, or very nearly so. I think the next thing that happens is that they circle the city six times, and on the seventh... Dinah blows her horn. If I'm not mistaken, they have the new 'Ark' with them at that time... All of these things are symbolic, of course, but... that doesn't mean that it doesn't mean something. Quite the contrary, really... It's been a long and winding road... indeed... Hello, hello... And speaking of 'running with the devil', did you notice that the number four, given for 'El Shaddai' ( Occasionally one meets with the Archon Esaldaios, which is evidently the El Shaddai of the Bible, and he is described as the Archon "number four" (harithmo tetartos).) in Greek, looks an awful lot like 'Tartarus', or an underground 'hell'...? Of course, Shaddai means 'mountain', and the number four is representative of the four elements, and four directions, that provide the 'tools' needed in order to 'build', and restore 'order' to the 'chaos' introduced by the 'third',- so that, with the proper use of the 'tools' given us, balance is able to be restored, so to speak... A 'cross' for instance, is, in its best and most 'profound' sense another 'tool', you know... it represents the 'compass' that is needed for making a 'passage'... and such symbolism was not unfamiliar to the writers of that story. Unfortunately, an instrument of 'passage' was turned into an instrument of torture, and is still represented as such by the 'church,' who should know better than anyone the 'mysteries' that are represented by such symbols... It is rather a shame, you know... but we will have our 'apolcalypse', after all... a real revelation, I hope... Oh, no you dittunt... Oh, yes, you did... Dude... you read my mind... Lolololol... I 'love' this tune... Now, I hate to do this, but I'm going to post here the 4th chapter of the book of the prophet Zechariah... please notice the uses of the number 7, and other 'serendipitous' connections to the material quoted above in regard to the 'archons', such as the 'mountain'... And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.Well, how do you like that? I have to go to work for a while, but before I do that, I just wanted to leave you with a couple of thoughts... to begin with, let's take the list again, of the seven names... specifically, number seven, which is given as either 'Elilaios' or 'Sabaoth', with the former being connected (lol) to the 'Bel' of Nippur,- the ancient god of Babylonia... and Sabaoth is recognizable to you all, I'm sure, as one of the days of the week, and the 'seventh day', to boot... your 'day of rest'... or 'Sabbath'... as in, the 'Lord of Sabaoth', or 'Lord of the Sabbath'. Interesting, don't you think...? It may be 'Eli' that is coming, after all.. Now, let's look at those seven 'names', and see what we can find... Yaldabaoth, called also Saklas and Samael Saturn. Feminine name: Pronoia (Forethought) Sambathas, "week". Prophets:[3] Moses, Joshua, Amos, Habakkuk. From Hebrew yalda bahut, "Child of Chaos"? The outermost who created the six others, and therefore the chief ruler and Demiurge par excellence. Called "the Lion-faced", leontoeides.
Iao Jupiter. Feminine name: Lordship. Prophets: Samuel, Nathan, Jonah, Micah. Perhaps from Yahu, Yahweh, but possibly also from the magic cry iao in the Mysteries.
Sabaoth Mars. Feminine name: Deity. Prophets: Elijah, Joel, Zechariah. The Old Testament phrase Yahweh sabaoth or 'Jehovah of Armies' was thought a proper name, hence Jupiter Sabbas.
Astaphanos, or Astaphaios Venus. Feminine name: Sophia (Wisdom). Prophets: Esdras, Zephaniah. Astraphaios is beyond doubt the planet Venus, as there are gnostic gems with a female figure and the legend ASTAPHE, which name is also used in magic spells as the name of a goddess.
Adonaios The Sun. Feminine name: Kingship. Prophets: Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel. From the Hebrew term for "the Lord", used of God; Adonis of the Syrians, representing the Winter sun in the cosmic tragedy of Tammuz. In the Mandaean system Adonaios represents the Sun.
Elaios, or Ailoaios, or sometimes Ailoein Mercury. Feminine name: Jealousy. Prophets: Tobias, Haggai. From Elohim, God (El).
Horaios The Moon. Feminine name: Wealth. Prophets: Michaiah, Nahum. From Jaroah? or "light"? or Horus?I don't know about you, but I found all of that to be extremely interesting... As well as the fact that while I was blissfully unaware of the existence of any current 'training exercises' going on, there does seem to be something... and, serendipitously, it is rumored to be somehow connected to 'artificial intelligence' and centered around Texas... Operation "Jade Helm"(-et)... lolol... that's kind of funny... Rio Grande Mud, and 'Tres Hombres' must have something to do with it, I suspect... lolol... Hay, look what I found... it's a 'jade helm-et'... actually it's the Mayan Jaguar Priest Pacal Votan's "Jade Helmet",- and I understand that Pacal was further believed to be a 'descendant' of the 'demi-gods'... Just sayin'... Anybody want to cue up the "La Grange"...? "Free Bird"... Guten tag, I'm sure, or Buenas dias, G'day mates... it's bound to be good day somewhere, and a good day here as well. I woke up this morning to find the bright full moon displayed to the west above me, and decided that I could take that as a 'sign', and continue with the prophecies of Pacal Votan, known as the 'Sage King', and Time's Special Witness, which seems doubly interesting in light of the prophecies of Zechariah, given above, and whose 'Jade Helmet' we just saw. He has some interesting things to say about these times, that I think bear repeating, and he was also specifically connected to, and concerened with, the Moon... as represented by the number 7, Horus, Jaroah... Light, and here given as the 'closer of the cycle' of seven, which will find its echo again in Pacal Votan, who was known as the 'Closer of the Cycle'. I want to further comment on the pyramid, the four elements, and the location and identity of the 'Fifth Element', so-called... see if you don't find my 'point', here... The pyramid, as we have already seen , is a triangle, or 'unified trinity' composed of equal parts, or lines, which represents the chaotic 'three', unified to create 'one', and representative of a true 'trinity'. Using the 'tools' available to us here which are four (the elements of earth, air, fire, water; the directions of east, south, north, and west; and the dimensions of height, width, length, and depth), we are able to place four 'sides' on this triangle to form our first basic 'structure',- the 'pyramid'. There are four sides... visible... but five sides are needed to construct this form, in truth... there is a 'fifth element' which is unseen, and that is our base, or 'foundation'. It is this 'foundation stone' which is referred to in Masonic tradition, that represents the 'fifth element', which will, in its turn, be 'raised' to create the six-sided cube that is said to represent the New Jerusalem. The 'base' will be raised, and something beautiful will be created... which will make a pretty 'happy ending', if you ask me. Not that anybody did... I'm just sayin'... And I also wanted to say that when I got home this morning, my son was strumming out some tunes by "Page France and the Family Telephone"... beautiful. I need to share some of the titles with you, just for fun... 'Hat and Rabbit', is just one, but I specifically wanted to share with you the one titled, "Chariot", since it seems to echo here... Wow... somebody else here likes dancing bears... and elephants... I laughed, too... see how that works? It's a lot like magic... even if that 'Cinderella story' wasn't... No... I'm not foolin'... Here are some other 'Page France' tunes,- Mr. Violin and Dancing Bear, Here's a Telephone, Belly to the Sea, The Ruby Ring Man, Circus Head, and A Rooster and its Crow (shades here of Abraxas, our Royal Arch connections, and another song)... I think I'll play Mr. Violin and Dancing Bear, just for the memories... And remember, this is not an animal costume... this is a real bear... whose will has possibly been compromised, like those poor spy dolphins... I think the hat was a nice touch... I've got two tickets, myself... to 'Paradise City'... Lol... The truth is, I feel like some AC/DC music... I need to hear some bagpipes... You know the 'funny' thing about that 'Queen of Spades' reference in the MIT Model Tech Railroad Dictionary? I'll tell you... We are referencing Zerubabbel, and the 'Seed of Babylon', or 'hands of Zerubabbel' that are expected to finish the Temple, or 'House of God'... and this is the subject of our Royal Arch degree, and the tools set forth therein are the Pick-Axe, the Crow, and the Spade... the spade to used specifically for the purpose of 'digging up the truth'... A 'great day of small things' sounds like a 'happy ending' to me... like Ed Leedskalnin, who was just about my size, I think,- he topped me at about 100 pounds, but just about the 'size of a barley corn', and that's the truth... so, I figure, if he can do it, maybe I can do it, too... Make magic, that is... Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord... I'd love to visit your house... it's look truly 'magical'... Now, I need to post up a song or two, and then I suppose we should carry on with Pacal Votan, because this all ties in together... it is connected... and believe me... I can make it work... Thanks for the 'mood music', I'm sure... it's good to dance, for a change... just ask the bear... you could be riding a bicycle... Speaking of 'fat bottoms'... I shall prefer to keep this image im mind, I think... and speaking of Queen... well played, friend... Imaginary friend, of course... Flirtin' with disaster... and I could elaborate on that subject, too, except... maybe I'll wait until the exercise is officially ended, since expressing much of an opinion as to the nature and/or purpose of a 'live' operation, is probably... foolhardy... at best. I mean, the odds are greatly against it, let's face it, but, then again... I could be right. Oh, yes... Pacal Votan. We'll get right back to that, but I think I should get this posted, and not 'flirt with disaster' on that score, at least... Oh, and one more thing... hay, 'Curious Traveler'... I can dig it... :3) Hahahaha... I just 'love' this video... it was made when I was just about 18... about 40 years ago... and, yes... it's a long way... Smokin' hot... Gee... I meant to get some posting done in my journal a lot sooner, but I've been busy... working... on some different things I've fallen behind on. I'm also working on a more 'satisfactory' schedule... I've got my spade and pick-axe, just in case... Can I show you something? Just quickly, before I forget... Remember that we were speaking of 'chaos' and the number three, and their possible relation to each other? I think that I can offer you further proof of the 'correctness' of my position, with the number 7 card that I just showed you above, named 'The Chariot'. Look at the two horses pulling it, as shown in the Marseilles Tarot deck... one of the horses has both eyes open, and the second has only one eye... open, that is. That makes 'three eyes', interestingly, and further interestingly, the charioteer has 'control' of these two horses, which seem to represent (under my theory, at least) the forces of Chaos, as represented by the number 3. He is, therefore, in control of the Chariot. It works for me... symbolically, certainly... and one more reason that you can't see these things too many times,- every picture tells a story... and then some. I just wanted to add that I'm sure glad that those two 'imaginary radio hosts' aren't talking about me... I do feel sorry for whoever it is, though. I think I can sympathize... but what they need to realize is that the prophecies all point to the fact of real 'specialness' in the form of the 'transendence' and true 'transformation' of humanity at this time; and let's face it, it's got to begin somewhere, with somebody, or some bodies... we may even have to further imagine that it will be someone rather... plain... and not very 'Taylor Swift-like' in appearance, or demeanor, much as I'm sure that they will regret that truth. After all... The rain in Spain Falls mainly on the 'plain'...Lololol... Oh, gosh... my friend, 'Duke'... And, in regard to your 'cult of Personality'... get over it. It is prophesied that "this initiation of cosmic wisdom is for future initiates", who... will be drawn from a cross-section of society. In other words, it could be me... and it could be you, too. It just doesn't really seem like you're ready for that, right now... for instance, I, personally, don't have any 'go-to drinks' right now... much less a 'dirty Martini'... I spend my time wondering about things like why in the world an attribute such as 'jelly-bean-like toes' would be a desirable DNA trait... I don't know... What I do know is that these things are predicted, expected, and due... it is, in fact, happening right now. And, it really is nothing short of 'miraculous', when you think about it... if you think about it... but current program development, so to speak, has been geared toward your not thinking about it too much. Have another 'selfie', Narcissus... matter is such a wonderful place to be plungered into... But listen to this... What the prophecy speaks of, is a form of consciousness that is different to our normal state of being and one to which we all have access.
"Our normal waking consciousness, rational consciousness as we call it, is but one special type of consciousness, while all about it, parted from it by the filmiest of screens, there lie potential forms of consciousness entirely different. No account of the universe in its totality can be final which leaves these other forms of consciousness disregarded."
It is a form of consciousness that calls on an energy associated with the deepest spirituality. Prophecy 18 is concerned with continuing evolution, and genetic development; spiritual development will draw on an energy which the history of spirituality has shown to be the greatest power to which we have access...And, as a matter of fact, I understand that scientists have decided that there may actually be one of these 'dimensions' of 'consciousness' or 'be-ing' located within what we refer to as 'dark matter'... which is a 'dimension' that is totally inaccessible to us, in this format, and where, coincidentally, it is written that 'God' is said to reside... within the 'dark'... Psalm 18, verse 11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.Electromagnetism... Let there be light... and there was Light...And in the meantime... hay, You... Can I tell you something about 'specialness'? You see, the boy Samuel wasn't actually 'special'... 'God' wasn't actually calling Samuel, it turns out. He was actually calling the priest, Eli... but Eli didn't hear him. Samuel did. And Samuel answered. That made him 'special', you see... he answered, because Eli didn't. There's a moral to that story, somewhere... Oh, yeah... 'special' is where you make it. Kind of like Magic... You all should probably lighten up...
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Post by Zimmer101 on Sept 3, 2015 19:15:12 GMT
I enjoy your posts so much Knowing there's someone like you seeing the storyline, elucidating on the finer "points" of the situation we find ourselves in. If been trying to share with as many people as I can, but obviously there's only so much that can be "done". Know that no matter how much I post, I'm with you always! You have a great role to play in this "production".
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Post by Zimmer101 on Sept 3, 2015 19:18:25 GMT
I wish we didn't have to go through all this, but the audience demands a conclusion. Without realizing that we have finished before we begun.
"What I actually wanted to do is exactly what I did. What I wished for, I received, and this always happens. No matter what I do, whether it is that ordained by Scripture or by customs, or that which is natural and not restrained, are my own inhibitions or feelings.
Yet, although I do not wish for it, I may follow Spiritual patterns prescribed by scripture, but I Do this for the benefit of humanity (not wishing to Confuse them). What can this possibly matter to me?
Thus, the concluding lines end with this expression: Since the one who has evolved to the highest level never forgets that all people are not the same as himself he uses some discretion for their sake and also because those acts fit for him may also involve him in worldly conflict.
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Post by Zimmer101 on Sept 3, 2015 19:19:19 GMT
from the world of senses, comes heat and comes cold, and pleasure and pain. they come and they go: they are transient. Arise above them, strong soul.
the man whom these cannot move, whose soul is one, beyond pleasure and pain, is worthy of life in eternity.
if any man thinks he slays, and if another thinks he is slain, neither knows the ways of truth. the eternal in man cannot kill: the eternal in man cannot die.
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Post by Zimmer101 on Sept 3, 2015 19:19:55 GMT
By making my pilgrimage to Thee Thy all-pervasiveness has been destroyed by me.
With my meditation, Thy transcendence of the mind has been destroyed.
Thy transcendence of speech has been destroyed by my singing Thy Praise. Ever forgive me these three sins.
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