Prayer for Haiti

It is when we see the terrible suffering and devestation that others suffer that we realise how lucky we comartively are. Here I would like to pray for theose caugt up in that trajedy and that we find the strength to help in whatever way we can. The country wasn't exactly in great shape in the first place and this has really compounded the situation. At least now, with the help to rebuild, they are back on the map and attracting the sympathy of the world, rather than being scornfully ignored.

It is also a chance for so many actors of the world scene to be seen to do some good, a bit like the way school kids clean up after an event. You can see the Saudi Dubaian Malaysian Indonesian Russian Chinese Israeli, European and US relief teams helping save countless lives. They can't agree on everything, but they do see the need to help out there and have cultures that teach the necessity of giving to those in need. Sorry, but some of the countries complaining the loudest are doing the least to help. Truly, by their fruits you shall know them and whatever their shortcomings, this is bringing out the best in them. Perhaps this is part of God's mysterious plan?

Life being so hard there, it is hard for the Haitians to feel safe and there does seem to be a breakdown of order. It is really important that basic needs are met as soon as possible and criminal gangs aren't allowed to run off with the donations given so kindly by millions around the world. If the US saw a need for security to stabilise the place then it is legitimate, I just hope with everyone going cold turkey when it comes to American power projection, they can still function effectively and respond to nuanced criticism, to give help where it is most needed.

So here we pray, that this will be an occasion where we can all come together, putting aside our differences to give what we can to the Haitians, to restore their island to decent conditions. We ask that we show empathy for their situation and help as much as we can, remembering our common humanity. If a hungry man is an angry man, then a starving man is a desperate man. Let us all help to meet their basic and other needs, and bring peace and safety to them.

Lets pray that all the nations can work together on this harmoniously, not just to increase their reputations, but out of compassion for the people living there every day.

God, please give us strength and love for this

Amen.

Towards Peace in the Middle East

Starfire Thinks having been established, here we can return to what seems to be the most important issues at hand. Reaching a state of peace and understanding in this life, and helping that to be reached on in the planet we live on. This is the mission, this is worth talking about.

The nexus of world conflict is that in the so-called Holy Lands of the Middle-East, the approximate location of the ancient Mesopotamian civilisations and around the original land of 'Eden'. Despite repeated attempts to bring peace through holy messengers there, we are even now in a position in which their messages are being used for separation and conflict- there is little honesty as to the fact that we are as our hearts are and the veil of religion is no excuse for hypocrisy.

The answer is quite clear- crafty politics, emotional manipulations aside, what is needed is a real, loving acceptance of one another, an embracing of common humanity and also of differences inherent in being human. Central to this is the Arab-Israeli/ Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a microcosm of the sea of misunderstanding between the West and the 'Near-East'. The little states there have to move on from their nationalistic aims and think of working together, or they will forever be a figure of fun to the rest of the world, that watches them in a shocked, horrified but nevertheless fascinated way as embodying the very worst example of a region unable to adjust to today's multicultural world.

That region is generally seen as a home to religious hypocrisy and negative emotion. I will go further and say that the people are simply lying not only to one another, but actually to themselves. They are holding back their natural, loving feelings because they think it 'unmanly', in their patriarchal system, in which honour, revenge and the law of survival looms so high. To change from this backwards and terrible misconception is not something that can be done unilaterally. It is not even something that this important region can do alone. It necessitates a wide reassessment and evolution of the masculine-centered world-view that pits the strong against the weak, with no mind for the consequences.

We need to all do this in our own lives. the evolution of the whole race begins in it's members. We have to put aside our addiction to bullying and revenge and speak out against it. We need to push for the acceptance of many different types of persons, all along the lines of 'if they hurt no-one by doing something, let them be free to live their lives as they choose'. However, those that are causing pain or hurt, whether by negligence or intent need to change their ways.

Whoever you are and wherever you are, you need to help balance the world by bringing back a feminine understanding of the need to accept others, along with a masculine urge to build and progress. We are not calling for some kind of soppy, purely feeling-based way of being- we all have a responsibility to better ourselves and those around us. What we are speaking for is a feeling-based way of doing this, a warm and caring way, one which is consistent with our true natures.

As the Dao De Ching teaches, virtue comes when we stop talking about morals. We need to do, to be, not just to talk- for just talking is the way of hypocrisy. As Jesus taught, the spirit behind the law is what matters and not just it's letter. As I say here, being true to our feelings means reaching beyond the influences that try to make us negative-feeling, which is actually an inversion of feeling and a lack of it.

Feeling is life and life feeling. Riches, victories, are a feeling of mutual gain, or shared happiness. This is a dream we all share and we need to set aside whatever is in us that blocks it's fruition.

To these goals and to the aim of the Middle-East embodying them as the spiritual teachers sent there have ever hoped, we must work tirelessly, with endless joy. To this we must commit, as does the work of The Foundation, a fountain-spring of unchanging truth, an umbrella to the needy now as ever before.

Amen.

Remember Jesus

Today, we need to think and meditate on what Jesus did for us, what the God of our universe did in being incarnated into our world in human form, to share our hopes and joys, to share our lives. What bravery, for an infinite being to submit to the pains and limitations of mortality, and on such a primitive and confused world as ours! What kindness, to bestow such loving guidance as to live amongst us and to show how ultimate values can be realised, even in such a sphere!

The way is clear- that we need to keep our minds on the things of heaven, the things of love, the things of immortality and the path to eternal life. As men, we may be seen as being unmanly in such an undertaking, especially now that certain countries are trying to 'reinvent' themselves as military rather than civilian entities. We may be laughed at, scorned, spat on- but the joys of the Kingdom are so much greater than the pains of this world that it is all worth it. Through our examples, the joy of salvation may spread throughout this world to everyone- and in fact some of the most powerful forces active here are in tune with this mission- only the weak and rebellious ones even try to oppose it and then in their ignorance.

So let us remember the calm, loving, peceful yet firm in primncipal and loyal to truth qualities of Jesus- an illustration of the very qualities of the God of all existance, of the 'real' boss, who made us to be free to choose His ways if we but wake up to them.

Thank you God of our Universe, our Micheal, for coming to Earth as this baby Jesus, to show the ways of eternal life and open the door for all those who wish to walk through. Let more and more beings from this and other worlds find the true way, by whatever route appeals best to their nature. Please protect us from evils, sins and temptations in this coming year and indeed for ther whole of our existence. We, for our part, seek diligently to be loyal to your ways and rules and commandments- most especially the most important one- to love one another as you love us.

Thank you God

Amen.

New Dreams

These days I have been sleeping in deeply, as I often do in the winter months. Thoush I am somewhat anxious about what will happen with my school and what comes next, I also realise that such anxieties are part and parcel of the insecure human condition- one in which all things change and degrade if left too long- one in which we never really know what the future holds.

So relaxed with this awareness, I drift into deep inner worlds. The other night I was in a dream, drifting above the Earth, where the god who controls disneyland decided that people were taking the place forgranted and not appreciating the deip mythic messages within it, so he disconnected the electricity. I was surprised when, a few days later, my girlfriend told me that in fact the electricity had stopped there for a while a week ago and many people complained as they had come so far and the most interesting rides were out of action! Living in high-tech Japan, Disney is a kind of heaven so I can appreciate their disappointment.

Another dream last night had me witnessing a robot who had the desire to seize control of an empire or something like it. This future had decided that to limit the possibility of wrongdoing, each advanced robot would have a team-member son they can keep each other in check. This particular robot was giving orders to his very loyal team-member that were helping him seize power, all along intending to destroy what might be his one real barrier. Pushing him from a high ledge to his doom,, I was saddened to see him carry through such terrible plans and reminded of the ways of the Sith in Star Wars, in which the apprentice seeks to destroy the master and thus gain his wrongfully held power.

One more of these fantastic, but ultimately rather disturbing dreams saw me in some mythic past, watching as one of a team of warriors was carrying out his task to destroy a horde of aliens deemed unclean and dangerous. He felt no wrong-doing in what he saw as a neccessary task- but as he pursued them downhill into a valley, one of them leapt toward him, a seeming mix between a human and a deer. Suddenly, he fell in love with her and she with him- he forgot his now despised task and they kissed- at which point she was transfigured into a beautiful creature. I was then told that this was the reason why we call those we love 'dear'- all steming from this moment. Then I heard wonderful, full classical music, perhaps that of Bach. It was as if it was supra-live, all around me and enriching the air itself with it's sounds. Sometimes I hear this heavenly music and believe it to be the famous 'music of the spheres'.

I am now alternating to going to parties, cooking, taking and sharing photos and this deep sleeping and dreaming. It is a wonderfully bohemian existence and I hope it long continues. I am, learning so much, feel so warm and safe in God's healing love. I suppose these dreams are some way of dealing with my deepest fears, of the abuse of power and the unfair treatment of people. Yet coming as fantasy, they have an excitement, emotionally moving aspect and sheer aesthetic joy that comes from art itself. So I wish to know more. To know more of the victories of Love and what it means in each and every dimention.

God be praised for revealing truth now as he ever has done,

Amen.

The Bees

One of the things we can see all around the world these days is the unrelenting assault on the feminine. As more and more people are being coerced by the so-called ‘New World Order’ into occupations which are considered more ‘productive’, ‘profitable’, ‘economically viable’, traditional crafts, gentle lifestyles and the very appreciation of beauty is being driven further and further underground. In an increasingly pragmatic, goal-oriented culture, the appreciation of the beautiful things in life is considered ‘uncool’, ‘unhelpful’, and ‘time-wasting’. “Don’t smell the flowers, get back to work”, is the cruel cry. Yet, there are questions as to whether an even more industrialised, brutalised world is even sustainable, many of these revolving around the devastating impact on the environment they cause.

Just as it is proving psychologically traumatic to force millions into concrete jungles, where little natural beauty is there to inspire and lift people’s spirits, leading to a decayed life affected by drug abuse, criminality and unsettled personal relationships, so attempts to industrialise nature are leading to unexpected calamities. One of these is the sudden decline in bee populations.

When I was growing up, it was always fun to see the bumble bees playfully (or so it seemed), hopping from one flower to another, pollinating them so that future flowers and fruits could emerge. Yet, this sight is becoming increasingly rare in a landscape that discriminated against the natural growth of ‘pretty but useless’ flowers in favour of ‘cash crops’ that can be sold at a profit. The flowers that the bees rely on are increasingly rare, which means that, as the flowers likewise rely on bees, we are facing the possibility of an increasingly barren landscape that can sustain neither.

A mysterious new disease has also sprung up in many industrialised country’s bees, called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), in which for some reason whole colonies of bees suddenly disappear or die. No-one yet knows what causes it, but combined with the loss of available flowers, it is threatening bees all the more. On top of this, there are all the floods and droughts that appear to be caused by climate change,
What can we do about it? First of all, gardeners can plant more flowers that bees like, to help make up for the deficit. Then, farmers can plant more ‘bee-friendly’ crops in areas that are less profitable anyway, like hedgerows.

But the real change, to my mind, is a much more dramatic one. People need to be encouraged, in school and elsewhere, to appreciate the beauty and importance of flowers- that beautiful things are vital to the life of the planet. I somehow doubt we can totally avoid the great destruction that our ignorant, brutalising policies have brought upon us, in terms of global warming and other environmental problems. But we can help to stem the tide and alter destructive attitudes as much as possible. For our current attitudes to the natural world are not only selfish- they’re downright suicidal.

A Step Towards Peace.

Let's get personal- no, not personally insulting, lets get back to seeing things humanely rather than abstractly, from a personal respective. This is perhaps a 'feminine trait', one that we need more of. Many religions, political parties, and sop on thrive on dividing people by making them feel part of abstract groups, within which they supposedly feel safe. Then,when the group feels threatened they react, lashing out at another group, inviting in turn a similar response. The answer is to dilute the group somewhat and also to bring a great harmony around them. Now look at the 'melting pot' of the US- sure, it has it's problems, but it shows that a hugely various group of people can make a great nation together, 99% of the time associating peacefully, at least as regards ethnic identities (financially-inspired crime at all ends of the spectrum is another story). I know some would say Europe is doing a better job of it, but since Europe is young and not exactly integrated (people still talk in terms of immigrants), it is not yet the best example.

Now, in this personal voyage you are joining me on, I want to cast my mind back to my personal 'fact finding tour' of the Middle East many moons ago. I had first gone there to experience life on a Kibbutz, which was a life I enjoyed a lot when in an international setting, i.e. when mixing with both the foreign Kibbutz Volunteers and the local Kibbutzniks (who were generally keeping a distance from the ever-changing group of volunteers, reasonably enough). I had originally come there to support Israel, but I soon found that I am an internationalist and that it was hard to break through to talk to many of the 'sabras' (native born Israelis), who, like their namestake have a brittle outside but a soft, sweet inside- if you take the patience to see it.

Actually, I made many good friends from California, where there seems to be a high concentration of liberally minded, 'constitutional Americans'- that is, Americans who remain true to their constitution's open-mined, peace-loving and friendly spirit. Also, I had great times with the beautiful Scandinavian girls there, mostly from Denmark. Why they choose to go to Israel is a mystery to me, but I like to think it has something to do with their historical kindness to the Jewish people and their wish to help the region attain peace (peace being the very antithesis of revenge, folks). However, it may well all have more to do with their wish to find a hunky Israeli boyfriend!

So I met Israelis, saw they were good people, and decided it was time to meet some Arabs too. I went to Jerusalem and also stayed in Egypt for a time. Along the way, I stayed in Jewish homes for Shabbat dinner on Friday nights and stayed with some Arabs who I met in Egypt and later in Jordan. Everywhere, I met good people. True, I didn't spend too much time around fanatics, but I met enough good 'ordinary people' to see that no group there is a 'family of demons', as they are often supernaturally seen. Which means that human rights should take precedence and apocalyptic fantasies remain just that- fantasies.

So, what should be done? First of all, Israel should extend aid to the Palestinians. Any Arabs who try to prevent this should be stopped from doing so, even by international legal measures. The lack of Israeli aid is what makes the aid from groups like Hamas, along with their perverse ideologies, so attractive and it needs, as soon as possible, to replace the current contact which is limited to 'reprisals'. This aid should be given with no strings attached- as good works, asking nothing in return. The idea so popular of Israel' vacating territories' is obviously a cold-hearted one as the very principal of the Israeli-Palestinian states is that they live together in harmony- separation is a ridiculous idea. In fact, the best thing would be a co-habited state, a marriage.

Secondly, religious freedom should unfurl in both places. In Israel, any form of religion should be allowed and the Orthodox Judaism lose it's position as so central to the state. Of course, they should have the same freedom as other groups, but no special perks. Missionary activity should be permitted, so long as it does not encroach upon personal privacy- it should be sensitive. It should be allowed throughout the Middle East- as the teachings of Jesus are vital to that region and should no longer be suppressed. The fact that they were given long ago does not in any way diminish their value or relevance. Likewise, the Baha'i teachings should be spread, as they also teach peaceful co-existence, as does Buddhism. If Islam and Judaism lose adherents, it'll be their own fault for placing loyalty to mystical doctrines before cosmic essentials- they need competition to be at their best, just as companies do. Ideally, though, it will not be about conversions to other religions, but about conversions of the heart, to the living, loving God.

Although I see terrorism as essentially a satanic force, not even a rational one, that seeks to target the innocent in it's lust for revenge, it does gain a lot of sympathisers from the present situation. Leaving Palestinians to rot in terrible, walled cities and camps is likely to breed criminal levels of insanity. People need a fair chance and Israel has to be seen as improving their lot so as to heal the wounds and bitterness. If it comes from another source, the anger will still be there, there to be manipulated by unscrupulous pseudo-religionists. We have to heal it- that will end the problem, not cynical politics or military violence. For it is all about hearts and minds, and creating a will to love one another, as such a will will find a way to be. The current way of life is just not befitting human dignity- it has to change. We should all look to ourselves to solve our problems, not just blame others. Narrow-minded religious dogmatism is what's holding Israel back, as it stops Israel from doing the right thing, the natural thing. The thing that would do a lot to ease tensions.

Political changes may go too and fro. Since it has such a vengeful, pessimistic base of support, a Palestinian State probably won't really bring peace- interlocked communities are more likely to. This is idealistic, I know, but grass-roots activists need to work to make it a reality, to bring the communities together in a greater understanding. The internet is a great tool for this. It seems to me that everyone wants peace, but very few people are seriously committed to it. The Arabs may need to give up on their dream of destroying Israel- an understandable desire as she is such a new entity there- but still a wicked one. Likewise, the rulers of Israel may have to give up on having an overwhelmingly Jewish State, certainly on allowing the 'Orthodox' groups to have so much power. In this sense, Israel as we know it now will end, politically at least. But as it begins again, it will be a safer one for all, especially for religious freedom.

New Beginnings

I am starting to realise that the traditional, monotheistic religious perspective is not for me. Having encountered various 'prophets of doom', online and in real life, I have to say that too much time being spent meditating on an old-testament view of the world is an unhealthy thing. We need to free ourselves from the clutches of superstition. We need to live vibrantly, full of life and compassion. These true values cannot be found in the traditional, 'patriarchal' view of the world. This is not to say that traditional, true male values like inquiry into truth, risk-taking, courage and scientific or religious dedication are not without value. On the contrary, they are as valuable as ever. But their true value only can be appreciated when seen in harmony with the feminine virtues of compassion, understanding, love of beauty and delicacy for it's own sake. If we want a healthy life, a healthy society, we will have to embrace this gender-equality change. Which is not the same as one gender's values seeking to cancel out those of the other.

We have all seen how feminism once sought to make women more equal by encouraging them to be more masculine. Whilst equality is good, a solely masculine society would be a monstrosity, for the reasons outlined above. Each gender has virtues which we can share- they are gender virtues, but not exclusive ones. We have a long history of saints, mystics, prophets, and also scientists, artists, philosophers illustrating the mostly male virtues of inner seeking and love of truth. Women of course love truth just as much, but traditionally more in a receptive, feminine, devotional way- whihc is why there are so many sincerely religious women around. However, the feminine virtues have long been neglected, even despised, even as all the housework that has made homes comfortable refuges for the millenia was ever left unpaid.

Beauty, joyfulness, lightness, kindness, generosity- all these values need a fresh appreciation, not just as commodities for society to trade (as in advertising campaigns) but as end-values in their own right. Why is the young lady carefully putting on make-up so as to look prettier seen as wasting her time, compared to the office worker shining his shoes, identically black to the others in his office? Why is one set of mannerisms and preoccupations seen as 'more important' than the other? Because one is legitimately profitable and that any woman who is profiting through her looks is immoral, whilst a man profiting by his hard work is more morally upstanding? How does this fit in with Jesus' revolutionary teaching that it is love and faith that matter most, not conventional work?

It would seem that the revolution that Jesus preached has yet to make serious inroads into any society to any great degree. Yet it is for us spiritually-minded people to try to help it do so, just that little bit more, permeating through the ages like molten gold dripping into a mercurial base. An appreciation of the feminine is part of this, along with the corresponding love of natures, the Earth and people who are different to us- as throughout the ages, even when following fashions, women have never sought to be 'uniform', but rather to differentiate themselves from their peers. One could say that this is a necessary next step in a society as advanced as our own. Let us make it together.

Self-Help

Here is a new section that I am starting on Cosmic Teachings, dedicated to helping people to reach their potential for enjoying life. Of course, I could speak about how the appropriate religious beliefs or psychological approaches can help. But others can do this- I want to step away from ideology and into the realm of positive self-help.

First of all it's important to realise that this is something we have to decide for ourselves. All around us are negative influences, dragging us down like gravity. We have to have a foil for these, a means of resistance. This is the immense power of our own positive focus. The universe around us is infinite, infinitely variable, though we may just see a portion around us. Thus, we can always have open to us this view that the universe is mostly good, that we are free, that we are safe. Then we can start to enjoy life more.

First of all, we need to always be aware of the beauty around us. It is the way this world was meant to be, right from the start. Amazingly beautiful, take-your-breath-away beautiful. This may be a rarely held view on this planet, but rest assured that it is the universal norm, to have this feeling of thankfulness. Secondly, we have to appreciate just how many wonderful things have been given us. Our partners and friends. Our 'things' that we enjoy, and just this wonderful world to live in. Thirdly (not in this order, necessarily), we need to love those around us with a heart-aching tenderness. In contradiction to commonly-held views, there are really not quite so many people in existance that we can take anyone forgranted. Each person is unique and special, even the ones who are living in as way we would rather they didn't. As a person, they are precious and worthy of love.

Finally, we need to realise that nothing ever stays still- we grow or we decay. Hence the need to always be open to beauty, compassion, love- the human core of what often seems to be an animalistic existance. As we grow, we learn and as we learn, we grow and this is a source of great happiness. Let us grow together, in the spirit of love.

Amen.


Note- though this is really a Cosmic Teachings type of thing, it'll be available here, too, though the pieces there may be edited differently.

Dreamin'- Bird Salvation

Note- Here's the last of the dreams for now. This one was actually more of a vision, had in waking time. I must have a very vivid imagination, as all kinds of psychedelic things are occurring to me all the time. Only a fraction make it to the stage of beinmg blogged about- but I want to share them more with others. I don't know if something changed in me when, so many moons ago, I experimented with LSD so often. Either that, or I'm just a very open-minded person (I have friends who tried it too and so far as I know, none of them had the same types of experiences).

So here is a vision I had on 5/18/07...


I was walking to school, pondering as I sometimes do just how hard it all is, how vulnerable the little man is in life, with all the forces arrayed around him, often seeming so unsympathetic of our fate. "Who is to help us?", I wondered. I imagined the Guardian Angels, ever-watching over us, ever sympathetic. I wondered why angels were so often depicted with white, out-stretched wings.

Suddenly, into my mind flashed an image of a huge, Garuda-like bird, coming down to save a man and carry him to safety on her back. With a hard, almost armoured head, the difficult things of life are nothing for such a bird, who can protect us from any danger. I was reminded of the saying of Jesus that God looks after even the smallest of birds, he sees when they need food and when they fall from the nest.


Commentary- Imagine my surprise when I came into school, a warm feeling of safety suffusing me after my vision, to see that charming Yoko-Chan had rescue a little bird. In an ironic reversal of my vision, a human was helping a bird. She had saved it from her cat, who had hunted it and brought it to her the day before. She was taking it to school so as to take it to an animal charity later in the day, not wanting it to be endangered at home. She told me that she had lain awake all night worrying about it.

I was struck not just with the similarity of the vision, but that also another teacher that I had become very friendly with had had a similar experience, in which she saved a poor dogs life when another teacher had wanted to call the animal catcher and have it put down instead. This was such a similar show of heartfelt compassion and purity of mind, that I started to wonder if it is a sign, God telling me that these are people to be trusted. For them, too, it is like a kind of life-test... which is more important, their convenience or ending the suffering of another. In each case, they chose the path of kindness, which is beautiful.