When I got a My Space invite from Truth Universal, I was very surprised. “Isn't he the guy that I put out that album that I negatively reviewed for Exclaim! magazine?" Surely, I thought, he didn't seek me out from the review; he was probably just another artist adding other My Space artists, as we all do, to accumulate a healthy bank of “friends.”

So I accepted the friend request and thought nothing of it. Boy was I wrong. Turns out, Truth Universal wanted access to my public comment wall in order to verbally shank me for my negative review. Had this been a private matter, I would respond privately, but since he's so comfortable with his venting in the public domain, I will share it with you.

That review was disrespectful and elitist. How could you belittle someone striving to elevate the art/culture and challenge the status quo. "Cryogenically frozen?" Man FUCK YOU! And to find this rudimentary BULLSHIT you call rapping up here is hilarious. You think this is better than my work? I mean really? Who would buy this shit you're doing? Have you ever rocked a crowd? I mean REALLY rocked a crowd. Show and prove. Search me out and check my work. Shit, look in my blog here. I ROCK CROWDS! I AM an eMCee! Approach the people I have worked with that crap you have recorded, and ask them about collaborating with your wack ass and see what the response is. haha. Go back to your bedroom and make some more wack ass shit on your Mac book. hahahaha

My problem with people like you is that you can't objectively critique a body of work. And if you took the time to even research the song you called "pedantic and rhythm-less" (you think you have rhythm dude? no, really?) you would see that the Angola 3 case is a very complex one, and to be able to succinctly break it down is task in itself. In addition to that, it rhymes and is step with a beat.

Check yourself before make asshole assessments.

-TU

Now first of all, I want to explain something about reviews. (Sorry if it sounds elementary.) What is an art review and what does it matter? An art review is just the opinion of one person, who is hopefully educated in the genre pertinent to the body of work, and it matters very little unless you are familiar with that critic's other reviews and you share tastes. What are reviews, and what is their significance? Reviews are a collection of opinions from a group of educated art-lovers (in my case, rap listeners) that make up an blown up picture of a specific body of work, and their significance together is very large: they dictate the direction of the discourse.

So as my review stands alone, not only is it just one drop in a bucket, but a very insignificant drop because of what it is precipitating upon: good reviews. (This is why I include every review in full text on my site, on the same page, including a very tough review from UGSmag.com, for the surfer to explore the collective interpretation. But alas, as much as TU wants you to believe this is about my music, it's not and never was.)

TU's album, Self Determination, has been lucky enough to garner a very positive review with OkayPlayer and got a feature in The Source magazine's Independence Day column. But amongst the praise, there was my negative reaction to it. If more people reviewed it negatively, then my review would have more credence, but until then, it's a black sheep. So congratulations to TU on his mostly well received album, but his poor handling of my interpretation is embarrassing.

I admit that my review was caustic, but only because what I heard gave me a sour taste. How, you may wonder, could a positive, educational artist sour me, given my opinion of most rap that is materialistic, mysogonistic, homophobic, and insubstantial? Well, for one, TU's music lacks humility. Something we both have in common as rappers is the didactic implications of our aliases (Assault Of Knowledge/Truth Universal), but TU's self-appointed place as the educator of the masses with no modesty makes for a very dry experience. Even though he covered very human topics--about egregious killings, corrupt governments, and African American culture--he, as a person, has no modesty. He sounds like someone who thinks he or she knows the absolute truth and is going to tell it to you--not how that person sees it--but how it is, absolutely. Hence, I said that his music comes off as "self-righteous."

As for me being disrespectful, I admit that I could have conveyed my views with less sarcasm and more quoting from his lyrics. So let me do that: ("Angola 3") "In '72 apparently prejudicial/ To stop from organizing the prison officials/ Concocted murder charges/ Making them accuse killers/ Of a prison guard by the name of Brett Miller".

My exact words from the review were, "["Angola 3" is] so pedantic and rhythm-less that it sounds like he’s got a Wikipedia window open next to his word processor."

To me, when you just list facts and ensure the last word of each sentence rhymes, you are not rapping well, you are juggling an encyclopedia and a rhyming-dictionary. It sounds as if a university professor started rapping from a text book. The entire song is like that. It may serve to educate, sure, but there's no emotion in it--especially sad considering how emotional charged the Angola 3 case is. Yes, it is complex, but to put the words together with intricate cadence and in a passionate delivery is part of your job as a poet: to translate the complexity of life (or whatever) in a way invoking an emotional reaction. Angola 3 and almost every track off Self-Determination are not repeatable songs because they're short, incomplete documentaries, and his delivery is boring--so forgive me for tuning out. I may find the Angola 3 case fascinating after listening to his track, but I'm unlikely to listen to it over and over again--not just because his dull talking is painful--but because it wouldn't serve me other than the one time I heard it. If I want more information, I'll grab a book. Maybe that's all TU wants is to give you a crash course so you can go elsewhere for information, but if that's the case, he's wasting dope beats. (To understand more of what I'm saying, listen to Nas's "Autobiography of Rakim" off Street's Disciple.)

As for me being elitist, well, that's just one of those words that gets tossed around improperly.

e·lit·ism
1. practice of or belief in rule by an elite
2. consciousness of or pride in belonging to a select or favored group

So what is my favored group here? People who believe rap isn't simply prose with a rhyme conveniently placed at the end? This is something hip-hop has grown out of in the last 15 years. I love Gangstarr, but for me the experience is nicely nostalgic of when I first heard them. Truth is, Guru is a poor lyricist. Back then, rap was still a baby and people were more interested and struck by the concept of its very being than anything else. But now, in its middle age, rap is more complicated and the standards have risen. Compare the best Rakim verse with the best Brother Ali verse, and I'm sorry, but Brother wins. Flash back 20 years, what Rakim was doing, "Fish, which is favorite dish", is amazingly fresh and praised just for being so brand new.

TU then wants to criticize my review on the basis of my own music. Well, he's wasting his time because I don't rate music according to mine, and if I did, most of what I hear would be classic. I am a new rapper, and a transient rapper, and when I rap I am not thinking of how this will "elevate the art/culture and challenge the status quo". I'm more humble than that, even though I too can be pretty self-righteous, I always try to come down to the fact that I am just a guy who loves rap, loves to rap and wants to express myself through the form I cherish. Whether it works for others is completely up to them. That's me, that's my style, and that's what I'm about.

So, do I know what it's like to rock a crowd, like he really rocks crowds? No, I don't. I live in Edmonton, Alberta, and I grew up in a rural town of 3000 people for 80% of my life. I don't travel for rap cause rap is just my hobby--so I don't know what it's like to rock crowds. Also, as everyone knows, live music does not always superimpose perfectly onto a recording. Mac Lethal, for instance, puts on an amazing live performance, but his last album, 11:11, was weak in comparison.

TU also challenges me to approach the people he's worked with (admittedly very gifted people, of whom I was sure to credit in my review for holding his hand), and see how I get laughed at. Well, I would never approach stic.man for a collaboration because I'm not ready and I wouldn't dare embarrass myself. The most famous person I've suggested a collabo with, on boards or mic, is Cadence Weapon, who I know personally, and it still took a lot of guts. Does this make his music better than mine? Probably, if that's how you determine quality. But my review was not a double critique about how his music matches up to mine. It was about his album, that's it.

(And for the record, much of my new album was indeed recorded in my bedroom. But it was not on a mac book, it was on a Sony VAIO. But still, the sound quality is not much different from the shaky quality on Self-Determination, so I fail to see the significance.)

What else? His problem with me (amongst many others) is that I can't objectively critique a body of work. Well, your opinion of 'objective' is actually subjective and therefore holds no merit. Moving on.

Do I think I have rhythm? Sometimes, yes, sometimes, no. If you've heard my music, you will know when I do and when I don't. Does TU? Sometimes, but on the songs I called "rhythm-less", I thought he didn't.

At this point, the word count is now 1735 words. The maximum given to me by the magazine I reviewed TU's album for? 200 words. (There is so much more I want to say about the importance of balance in music, but instead I'll direct you to this good HipHopDx.com article.) This is why I use analogies like , "It’s as if an Afro-centric rapper was cryogenically frozen in 1990 and unfrozen 18 years later in a modern day studio." Because without 1694 words to explain the feel of album, I try to convey it in creative, clear ways. Was it disrespectful? Sure. But respect for artists simply for the fact that they are artists is overrated. Everyone is an artist, from the kid who smears poo on the wall to Salvador Dali. Do I have to appreciate the shit on my walls? No. Even if the shit conveys a moral, educational message about the happenings of the world, it's still shit on my walls.

The truth about Truth Universal's album is that I didn't even want to review it. I don't review independent artists that I don't like unless I'm told to review it. So when I heard it, didn't like it, and put it away for a month, I was told by the editors that this album needs to be reviewed. That's right, needs to be, which is at least indicative of the fact that TU is making noise on the scene, and big ups to him for that. So I did review it, I didn't like it, and I added my disliking to the discourse of mostly praise. And if TU can't handle that, then he doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the press at all.

So hustle homie. Sling your mix tapes, rock your crowds, do your tours and sell your albums -- but don't expect a word from the media if you can't handle an honest, dissenting view.

securities that perform well, in one of the most heavily secured securities markets in the world, which just happens to be in one of the most dangerous and unsecured cities in the world.

translation: one of the best places to invest your money right now is also one of the most dangerous.

ladies and gentlemen i give you the iraqi stock exchange:

addendum to universal truth no 15:

joy:

is being in it while everyone else is bleeding on every other market in the world.

:D

universal truth no 15 - the alternate ending:

supreme genius and supreme stupidity both rely on the same process of thinking outside the universe that holds the galaxy, that holds the solar system, that holds the earth, that holds the continent, that holds the country, that holds the city, that holds the block, that holds the building, that holds the room that holds the box which you are thinking outside of.

exactly which i am guilty of has yet to be determined.

By Michael Beckwith (from The Secret)

6 CD Course. 6 Hrs. $75. (yours free =) - from monica

Life has 4 Stages:    1.) TO US –victim                3.) THROUGH US - channel

                                 2.) BY US- manifestor         4.) AS US – being

(These Stages are interchangeable and in flux.)

VICTIM:   Life happens “TO US” and against us. Believing that God has “let” this happen.  This is the average person. This is the consciousness of most of the world’s population.   When we think the solution is OUTSIDE ourselves. We blame.  Repeat our sad stories over again (Do not avoid the void. We have our break-downs right before our break-throughs! Then, all of our pain TRANFORMS us. We open again.

       FORGIVENESS: is the tool for breaking out of this thought pattern. 

You do not have to agree with whatever "injustice" occurred.   It's about healing negative energy that is holding us. It's about freeing up space in our minds and hearts for positive flow.

MANIFESTOR: "TO IT, BY US." Manipulating energy in our favor. "Make it Happen."

When we understand there are LAWS OF NATURE.

Intention. Visualization. Attention. Affirmations.

(sometimes denial to material. Sometimes addiction to material.)

 Survival. Negotiation. Thoughts = experience. So we re-program our thoughts/   energy.

 Make it happen through the power of our mind. (through our opinions and actions.)

 Envisioning the conditions we would like to create. Consciousness always precedes form.

Learning self-worth. Self love. Appreciation.

 Entry Level for Metaphysics and Ancient Wisdom.

 Omnipresence - only 1 power. Unified Field. Jointly participating in the Field of Love.

 Our prayers change from begging -à allowing àgratitude.

Relationships: stabilize. We realize no one or no thing can make us feel happy or loved.

When we don't engage in competition or feeling inferior. (that's the victim again).

Health: stabilizes. We are more aware of our vitality, creativity, and express this more deeply.

Belief Systems: stabilize. When you KNOW something, you are not defensive. Conviction of knowledge.

(people who argue / fight for what they believe are afraid they are not right.)

Financial Structure: stabilizes. Instead of thinking spending = money gone, it just circulating energy.

Contribute = Prosperity.

Community Structure: When we share with out ego, we have a beneficial presence.

 CHANNEL: "THROUGH US." When we are an instrument for Spirit to come through us.

 Surrendering. Releasing. Letting go. Life is not about getting. It's about releasing.

 Athletes, artists, writers (etc) say: "Something just came through me. I was only a witness."

 When we are in The ZONE. You are IT !

 It's not telling God what to do or how to do it. But instead being OPEN for God to emerge through us.

 Open. Available. Flexible. Allowing life to happen.

Intuition increases. Our senses sharpen. we see the invisible and hear the inaudible.

1 power. 1 Life. Oneness. High awareness. Witness.

The world has nothing for us. We have something for the world. We bring the love, compassion, integrity, etc. through whatever we do.

"I am available for more than I have ever imagined, manifested and experienced before!"

  This statement releases doubt, fear and worry. (making space for the Greater Good).

 Birth yourself into the awareness that it is already so. (it IS in another demention becoming physical).

 There is never "nothing happening" in a multidimensional universe.

 BEING: "AS US." There is no separation between us and God.  The Divine = us.

  When we ask with a child-like mind for Heaven to become us.

  ASK and you shall receive. = making yourself open / available.

  Unmanifested energy seeks to become our art, our book, our business.

  Energy seeks to create through us and "as us" with our unique qualities and talents.

What is God's idea for my life, relationships, career? (truly listen to the answer.)

Where must I grow and change? (skills, qualities, release, enhance… ?)What talents and gifts do I have right now to support this vision?(Sometimes we are sitting on our assets. =)

 *** What must I become?*** Essential for TRANSFORMATION.  Let go of embarrassment. Become the right condition for your vision to grow.

 We cannot have anything we are not willing to be in consciousness. You want abundance? Be abundant. You want love? Be LOVE.               

For anything to manifest, there must be a consciousness/ space/ willingness for the energy to fill the            

Mold or blueprint. Groups: are collective like-minded energy amplifying the desired results.      

                  Welcome  to  Prospero Manifesto.     Let the God Times roll !                    .                            

All say that sky is the limit!! The truth is there is no sky!! Its all open.

Untold Truth:

We the people ourselves create limits and we never target anything to achieve out of the circle.

write off our loans!

mo' money, mo' money,

write off our loans!

so the mp's are headed back into parliament to demand yet another KD50 salary + pension increase and the debt write off.

haha, sweet!

thats even more government oil money that wont be wasted on the future generation, and i wont have to wait for the government to allocate the money into investment funds before it hits my pocket.

you see if they did invest it wisely, as they should,...

then it would have gone into investment companies, with professionals managing the future generations' assetts, and only the profits would have filtered into the investment companies' earnings before being paid to me as dividends next year.

but now, if approved, the new salary increase will hit the market during the summer. which means that it'll all be spent by summer. so the money will actually be transfered to the companies, and their earnings will get a nice little boost.

so instead of waiting a whooooole year, the companies whose shares i own will be flush with cash, which will be reflected in their earnings and therefore their share price will float up to heaven on the green wings of the money gods. and all this on top of the dividends that i'll be getting next year!

god bless the mentally handicapped indeed!

much better than wasting it all on future generations.

and on the debt write off issue,... yet again.

i say " Write it all off!"

they say that you should never argue with a retard cos people from a distance cant tell who is who. and i agree.

the people of this nation campaigning for this will not wake up one morning and go

" i say old boy, perhaps this isnt the most proper course of action for the future of our nation. perhaps we should just bear the burden of our own financial retardedness?"

you see, as long as people are in debt, justifiable debt or otherwise, they will always be the pawns of those promising to fight for the debt write off. and as long as there are people in debt, then every MP under the sun will support it cos thats where the votes are. for the MP's its an easy target. is it any wonder that so many "conservatives" who happen to favor the bearded look got into power?

so the skunk shall make a public endorsement:

" i hereby support the motion to write off personal debts that have been built up over time so that everyone can drive a merc and live in a big ass house with 10 servants."

but,...

and its a big ass "but", as big a "but" as a big ass butt on a big butted ass.

in order to do it fairly across the board, so that those who havent taken out loans will also be helped, i propose the following crucial "but":

before being eligible for the loan write off, you must declare yourself financially bankrupt.

because thats exactly what you are.

and with the status of financial bankruptcy you will qualify for aid and a debt write off,.... but,.... with the aid, and with the write off you also have to deal with everything that comes along with your status of being bankrupt.

you will get a new number on your ID card stating that :

a) you are bankrupt, and

b) you are bankrupt to the sum of, for example: class1 - KD5,000, class2 - KD10,000, class3 - KD50,000, etc. ( i know you love your social class hierarchy :P )

and with that number on your ID:

you will not be allowed to take out new loans, cos you've proved that you cant handle the money.

you will not be allowed to have credit cards, cos you've proved that you cant deal with them like an adult.

you will not be allowed to obtain credit of any kind until such a time that you can prove that you are no longer financially bankrupt, and until you can put up collateral other than your nationality and your government job.

but the good thing is that no one will come after you cos you havent paid your loans. you'll keep everything you stupidly bought, the house, the furniture, the maids, the cars,..

its just that you'll probably have to drive the same car for the next 10 years.

:O

shock horror!!!

that my friends is the only fair way to resolve this matter. its the only way to make it fair on the hard working people who live a life based on principles and securing the future of their family. and its the only way to make this debt write off a one time deal.

cos in this region, shame and saving face are the only things that matter. its the whole reason these morons are in debt in the first place.

so i say use your own worst traits to better yourselves. get to the heart of how your peoples function and you will understand how to divert all this mis-spent energy into something positive.

so yeah debt write off and salary increase! bring it on!

i'm gonna go count my money now,... :P

If you’ve been around me for the past while, you’d know I’m absolutely smitten with the song ‘Warrior’ by Andy Caldwell, with Lisa Shaw. It’s a beautiful song on so many levels. Musically, there’s an incredible balance between the edgy and melodic, and lyrically I believe it symbolizes what we all should be.

Surprisingly when I spoke to Caldwell, I learned that this too was a result of tragic circumstance, and is one that also speaks to him on many levels. Dark and mysterious, it offers an open-ended explanation about life – as do most of his songs.

But I can’t honestly admit to fully understanding Caldwell’s work. I almost wanted him to “show me the way,” and expand on all the mini-truths he was alluding to. But perhaps that was the flaw in my method. Most of his songs, and especially those on Universal Truth, tend to fall to extremes and trying to demystify and abstract meaning, well, sometimes one just needs to leave ones songs alone. The song is the meaning.

His new album, to be released either in Fall 2008 or Spring 2009 will be an expansion of the vibe of ‘Warrior,’ with the same sensibility to the song-writing.

I don’t know what you’re doing, but whatever it is, Andy, it’s working.

Visit: www.myspace.com/djandycaldwell

“Warrior, show me the way…
show me how you got to be so strong…”

If you’ve been around me for the past while, you’d know I’m absolutely smitten with the song ‘Warrior’ by Andy Caldwell, with Lisa Shaw. It’s a beautiful song on so many levels. Musically, there’s an incredible balance between the edgy and melodic, and lyrically I believe it symbolizes what we all should be.

Surprisingly when I spoke to Caldwell, I learned that this too was a result of tragic circumstance, and is one that also speaks to him on many levels. Dark and mysterious, it offers an open-ended explanation about life – as do most of his songs.

But I can’t honestly admit to fully understanding Caldwell’s work. I almost wanted him to “show me the way,” and expand on all the mini-truths he was alluding to. But perhaps that was the flaw in my method. Most of his songs, and especially those on Universal Truth, tend to fall to extremes and trying to demystify and abstract meaning, well, sometimes one just needs to leave ones songs alone. The song is the meaning.

His new album, to be released either in Fall 2008 or Spring 2009 will be an expansion of the vibe of ‘Warrior,’ with the same sensibility to the song-writing.

I don’t know what you’re doing, but whatever it is, Andy, it’s working.

Visit: www.myspace.com/djandycaldwell

Well I talk that way, and I can write this way. You just have to be paying attention.

Kate Chopin, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau wrote that way. It's most unfortunate that by and large, no one seems to really understand what they were writing. They see only what they want to see, and then they rally behind it and use it to trumpet their own cause. People do that a lot.

The English language is a very inexact thing. It can't quite properly convey what we're thinking or feeling to others by itself. But those authors who can use common experiences, symbolism, and imagery to craft a true work of art can, if the reader is paying attention, speak as close to universal truth as is possible without the direct aid of God. You just have to listen to what's being said.

I wish my own weak words could convey what I feel and what I think right now. Some day they might, if all goes well. Alas, I am no warrior-poet. I am no Shakespeare. I am no Chopin. But please, study these unworthy characters of mine. Try to understand.

We all want to be understood in this great search that is humanity. Sometimes we're looking for the answer. Sometimes we have the answer. But sometimes, we just want the comfort of knowing that somewhere out there...someone else is searching too.

    I went to see the movie "Into the Wild" on Tuesday night.

    It was one of the first movies in a long time where I've walked out in complete and utter silence, just in awe really.  It's hard to believe it was based on a true story.  Anyone who has that much courage to live their dream to the end is hard to come by.

I thought I was embarking on a journey to change my life, but it seems like a joke compared! Here I am, living in a house, having most of my meals cooked for me, hanging out with friends, and basically being on a five month vacation.  Whereas he hitchhiked across the country, found ways to feed himself (mainly by hunting for his own dinner), and slept wherever he could find a place.

It's wild thought because if a woman of the same age tried to do the same, she'd have to constantly be worried about being kidnapped, raped or even worse. It's sad that that's what society has done to women.  It has taught us to constantly be worried about who could be around the next dark corner or who's walking just steps behind us.

However, it's impossible to avoid, for fear that something awful will happen to you while your guard is down.

It shows how sick the world we live in has become.  Where we target those weaker  than ourselves and take complete advantage of their weaknesses.  This can be seen as a twisted world truth.  It happens between males & females, adults & children, big corporations & small business, and it even extents to large industrial countries & small undeveloped third world countries.

What Ray's reading right now:

The fact is that we are beings living in a world that none of us completely understands. We can hide that fact beneath layers of belief in some ideology, religion, or even scientific certainty. The fact remains; we never have all the facts to pass the judgment we are often too ready to pass upon others.

In a world being shrunk by technology and proliferating civilization ending weapons, we might be wise to take stock. Given our permanent state of uncertainty, maybe, just maybe, we should think about giving the other guy a break. 

This can be as simple as, "live and let live." You don't have to agree with the other person. You don't have to endorse their behavior. You simply have to understand that you can never completely understand his or her perspective and he or she can never completely understand yours.

The world watched this week as Slavic nationalism was stoked by the declaration of independence in Kosovo. Turkey has become emboldened to start a low-grade war with the Kurds in Iraq. We have the ever-present monotheistic struggle for dominance in the middle east. The problem shows itself everywhere.

Narrow-mindedness and tribal group-think were luxuries humanity has lived with, despite the brutal consequences, throughout its history. We have reached the point now where it is about to break budget for our survival on this planet.

Saddest of all, there are forces on this planet who have powerful control over information outlets and government who thrive and profit by stirring the conflict that generates wars and foments hatred. They have played the masses like a fiddle to keep us divided and powerless. For our world to take the next steps, the people must see the manipulators for who they are and negate their ability to lead us around by our collective noses.

The alternative, should we persist in our unwillingness to take this approach in world affairs, is the destruction of us all. Who will be right then?

Albert Einstein is famously quoted as saying, "The world's problems will not be solved by the level of thinking that created them." We are a world in desperate need of a new level of thinking. We need a level of thinking that is not so sure of our group's perfection and the other group's evil. We need a level of thinking that sees people as the human beings they are and not subhumans summed up by the term "them".

We have the power to change our perspective and mend our ways. We can and we must! We have it within us to say, "enough". It all begins with "live and let live". Until we are willing to do it, we walk on dangerous precipices.

Back in 2003, I wrote the following simple dialogue between a student and his teacher to illustrate this point to a friend during a discussion. I used a non-human thing to take the emotion out of it and help focus on the concept.

Student: Master, why do people not seek truth?

Master: People do seek truth, but they confuse personal truth with universal truth.

Student: Master, what is the difference?

Master: Do you see the rock over there?

Student: Yes, Master, I see the rock.

Master: How are you different from the rock?

Student: Master, I have intelligence and wisdom. I can change and grow. I offer more value to the world than the rock.

Master: So you are more important than the rock?

Student: Yes, Master, I believe I am.

Master: What do you think the rock thinks of you? Do you think the rock sees its place in the universe as more important than yours?

Student: Perhaps, Master, but that is the rock's point of view.

Master: Ahh, your truth puts you at the center of the universe. The rock's truth puts it at the center of the universe. WHOSE TRUTH IS CORRECT?

Student: Master, I know not.

Master: When you have attained universal truth you will no longer be concerned with my question. You and the rock will live in harmony rather than conflict; he with his truth and you with yours.

Be Peaceful Be prosperous!

Ray

This is, of course, universal truth.  Most religions I am aware of have something about turning aside anger, forgiveness for your sake if not for the sake of the transgressor, etc.  It just takes the tiny thing that turns a switch for you – or for me. 

I have been watching myself for almost 24 hours, and things have changed.  They will stay changed so long as I remember this lesson.  How wonderful the mind is and how blessed we are when we learn to give it the same strengthening and discipline that we provide to other areas of our lives.

Instead of remembering slights and hassles, I spend my time in peace and prosperous pursuits.

Patience

“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby”.(I Peter 2:2) 

Pure Concepts, what does that mean? It means getting to the point; asking, ‘what is this all about? The division in the Religious community doesn’t add up since they believe in the same principle ideas such as Life, Love, Truth, Peace and One God. The Bible says: 

 “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” (Matthew 12:25) 

The Quran says:

 “But the Unbelievers (are steeped) in self-glory and Separatism.” (Quran 38:2) 

The Religious world is clearly in disarray, therefore, I realized that they either didn’t believe what scriptures said or they Truly didn’t understand. “How could you say such a thing?” (you may say).

Well, just as the scripture says:

“For every Tree is known by its own fruit.”(Luke 6:44)

And judging from the division as well as the condition of the world’s growing dissatisfaction, Religion has not been the answer. In fact, it has become more popular to exploit and make mockery of various Religious beliefs commercially. Shows like John SaFran vs. God (Sundance Ch.), South Park and Real Time with Bill Maher challenge and mock many Religious concepts which reflects the outright dissatisfaction and disappoint many people share regarding bias, and extreme concepts of belief in God. (Jeremiah 8:11)

 This attitude toward rituals and beliefs that exclude people from God for they way they dress, how much money they give (or have), how often they attend meetings, sexual preference or the idols they bow to in the sanctuary is continually becoming questionable amongst God’s Children.In essence these archaic concepts are being rejected more and more. Why? Simply, people desire a more all inclusive concept of God. This, my Friends, is called EVOLUTION.    

The Bible says:

“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”(Jeremiah 31:33-34)

 The Quran says:

“God will establish in strength those who believe, with the word that stands firm, in this world and in the Hereafter”.(Quran14:27) 

Both of these prophesies (Bible and Quran) are speaking of a Time when God would make Himself so clear One day that “we would all know Him”, and we wouldn’t have to preach nor be preached too about it. We would be given a message so clear that it would be something that would ‘Stand Firm’ in this world and the next. This indicates a shift in spirituality moving to a pure Universal understanding. In the Bible this is called Sound Doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3).  In a world of Unsound emotional states, choices, and Confusion, we need Mental Technology that can balance Human Beings.

We need something that is naturally “written in our minds and on our hearts” to free us from suffering, division, and chauvinistic doctrines. We need something Pure to bring us into the Mind and Understanding of a Living God.  For to long we have been fed doctrines that limit people, saying ‘come follow us we know the way, follow our Teacher he is the answer’ and some say ‘don’t follow such-n-such, they’re this or that’.  But fortunately the one’s that speak this way have no doctrines that backs them up. Truly spiritual people seek the common ground in their beliefs, anyone who condemns the ideas or beliefs of another don’t understand their doctrine.  In fact it was said by a great Religious leader; 

“Someone who honors his own religion and condemns other religions may do so out of devotion to his religion, thinking, "I will glorify my religion'; but his actions injure his own religion more gravely. Concord is good. Let all listen and be willing to listen to the doctrines professed by others.” (S.N Goenka)

 And all the scriptures say:

 “Pursue peace with All people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”(Hebrews 12:14)

 “The Believers are but One brotherhood: So make Peace and reconciliation between your two contending brothers.”(Quran 49:10) 

“For by One Spirit we were all baptized into One body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into One Spirit.” (I Corinthians 12:13) 

“See all the Universe, animate and inanimate, and whatever else you wish to see; all stands here As One in my body.” (Gita 11th Teaching) 

“The splendid chariots of Kings wear away; the Body also comes to old age; but the virtue of the Good never ages. Thus the Saintly teach each other”.(Dhammapada Chp. 11) 

Why do they all say this? Simply because…“I said, You are gods, And all of you are Children of the Most High.”(Psalm 82:6) Pure Concepts is the Oneness that connects us all to each other and to God, from the Greatest to the so-called least, on the Micro and Macro level. The pureness of Oneness is Neutral, it is not bias, it is Universal, and free from the perversions of the carnal mind.  This means doctrines that promote escape goats like the existence of a devil or a ‘being’ that is ‘out to get you’ is not a Pure Concept. The Truth of the matter is that evil does exist, but it is Human Beings doing evil not anyone underground or in a red suit with horns unless a person puts on a red suit with horns to commit evil.  Any doctrine that suggests otherwise is teaching you to be reactive rather than proactive, by blaming the causes of evil on something else other than ‘Self’ or other Human Beings. Any doctrine that suggests that Humans are not responsible for their own Causes is Teaching Self denial and is promoting Blindness. It’s a fact that if you cannot identify Causes of an illness your doomed to remain sick or continue to get the same DIS-EASE.  

The Bible says; “My people are destroyed for lack of Knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6) 

What type of Knowledge? The Knowledge of Self. We have to learn to look at our Root Causes in society, and stop trying to blame invisible spooks for our problems, so we can heal and make progress. What good is produced by ‘devil’ doctrines and curriculums that promote Fear and punishment? These teach you nothing but to be dysfunctional and detached from Reality. Fear is the demon or devil in the world. 

“Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men”.(Isaiah 29:13) 

The Quran says:

“Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians, - any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”(Quran 2:62) 

Doctrines that promote fear, division, extremism, war, sexism, supremacy, and classism are the devil. We Need PURE CONCEPTS.    The scripture heading this discussion says, “As new born babes desire the Pure Milk of the word that you may grow thereby”. (1 Peter 2:2) Babies need the purest sources of nourishment to grow. When the baby is in the womb it draws the nutrients from the mother first before the mother, especially if the mother is vitamin deficient. A baby needs the Purest forms of Love, the way its held, spoken to, and caressed. You don’t feed babies fear and punishment, or they grow mentally and emotionally unhealthy. In fact, if a woman is pregnant and she experiences trauma the child is either born per-maturely or is stillborn.  So the scripture says to desire the Pure Word so you can Grow. That’s what this is all about, GROWTH. But the world is not growing, its only becoming more dangerous and hostile, why? Because we need the Pure Word. 

So the Bible says:

“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness.”(Malachi 3:2-3) 

This means God would come and strip down the world’s concepts; Religion, Human identity, and Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding to the simplest terms. God Himself would Purify the world with Universal Concepts that embraces everything He created, starting with Human Beings.  

                             Except from Book "Tree of Life" by Rock M.Godchild © 2008

everybody has one.

which is an old saying,...

and thats fine,...

but,....

its just that some people are full of shit,

and have a chronic case of diarhea and Irritable Boewl Syndrome.

:D

*****

- phil dreams of playing tetris at 20G levels says (11:00 PM):
state hess law
Иovа-эх || nova-ex.net- I am a strange loop. says (11:00 PM):
whichever way you go
Иovа-эх || nova-ex.net- I am a strange loop. says (11:01 PM):
the end point is the same

*****

- Shawn スオン タン {confessions} STOP MUGGING NOW! PG ROCKS. says (6:51 PM):
yea we down

*****

^PΨŦ 영텅 || Something More says (10:00 PM):
regular people like us are 10% of his total only

*****

patrick let's do everything for the first time forever says (12:38 AM):
there appears to be a huge insect on my bed
patrick let's do everything for the first time forever says (12:38 AM):
i have just flicked it into careless oblivion

As I mentioned in my last journal, recently I undertook an amazing experience in Vipassana meditation.
Vipassana is believed to be one of India's most ancient meditation techniques. Once long lost to humanity, it was rediscovered by the Buddha over 2,500 years ago. The meaning of Vipassana is to perceive true reality through a process of self-observation and practicing Vipassana is believed to have led to the Buddha's enlightened state of being.

Before beginning any studies, the law was laid out to us all. This was going to be true monastic living and there would be a strict code of discipline to be followed:
Each morning we would awaken at 4am to begin meditation in the main hall.
All students will maintain noble silence. That means no speech (I have ex-girlfriends who would tell you that would not be so difficult for me!), no sign language, no touch, no eye contact.
No-one is to leave the centre, there will be no contact with the outside world for the duration.
Physical exercise and practice of Yoga, although compatible with Vipassana, had to be suspended for this course.
We could only eat food from the dining hall (simple vegetarian and mostly bland) at designated meal times. There was breakfast and early lunch, but after midday it was tea, peanuts and fruits only.
No reading and writing, all books and journals were confiscated until the end of course.
No music, radio, cameras or any other sensual pleasures (whatever they may be).

One starts by observing the natural breath to concentrate the mind. This is a painstaking process of quietening all thoughts and seemingly endless commentarys that the mind produces. It is a true battle with your ego which doesn't want to shut-up, it wants to be controlling, a steady stream of inane chatter, selective past memories and future daydreams.
Our group sat for the first 4 days, just trying to maintain focus on respiration, all attention fixed on the point of the nostrils where the breath enters the body. 10 hours of sitting upright in a darkened room with a simple objective - respiration and the awareness of the present moment.
The Vipassana theory is, with the development of this sharpened awareness, one proceeds to observe the chanting nature of the body and mind. Through the sensations of pain, pleasure, pressure, lightess and random thoughts/emotions that emerge and move on again, one experiences the universal truths of impermanence, suffering and egolessness.

I will be honest and admit that the first days of the course felt like a living hell of physical pain and mental frustration. I kept asking myself,
"Why do this to yourself? This is a full 10 days of my journey in India, why don't I just quit this place and head into the mountains again. Anywhere would be better than here. I can't keep this up, my back aches, my knees hurt, I can't sit still, this can't be good".
So this is what it's like to do battle with ones ego. The ego wants to convince the higher self that it can assert itself at any time. But would I let it win? I had been warned of this cycle of thought and that steady patience will see it pass. Only then can the true benefits be reaped.

Then, sometime on the morning of the third day, I had a moment of inspiration that made me believe that not only was I going to make it through, but also receive a taste of truth-realisation.
While seated back at my cushion in cross-legged torture, my thoughts alternating between a dedicated internal focus and the idea of getting the hell out of there, I developed a sudden shift in consciousness. I had reached a dark void in my mind and felt detached from the heavy qualitys of the body that I have always been present and accepted by my naive awareness. Now, my consciousness observed a weightless, vibrating field of energy, a very peaceful and painless state of being. And then the session ended and I was back with my physical body again, yet I believe my outlook may have changed forever.
So, is our reality made of clusters of sub-atomic particles closely organised in rythmic patterns and vibrating at particular frequencies? On the back of that experience I can only say yes. Another step on the path to enlightenment.

On day four we began true vippasana meditation, observing the subtle sensations over every minute part of the body surface, developing a sense of energy movement much like a tingling free flow that gradually overrode all pain.
With continual focus over the following days I began to observe blockages in the free flow, areas of no sensation where I had to work with far more intent and patience until I observed subtle energy movement there. Often this was accompanied by some powerful emotions leaving my body. Anger, frustration, resentment, sadness - they were all in there just waiting to come out, and vipassana was the tool to achieve the release. Strong medicine indeed.
By the last days of the course I was completely absorbed in the practice and could sit for hours on end in complete stillness. And it felt so good, so shanti. I can now understand why people devote their lives to the clergy and monastic existence.
So the big question (at least the one my parents keep asking!) is - will I become a monk? Well, no. I still enjoy booze and fast women too much.
But I have now developed skills that have bettered me as a person and can take with me and use throughout my life.

As I draw towards the completion of my journey in India, I have chosen Rishikesh as the ideal place to gather my thoughts.
Rishikesh is a holy settlement on the banks of the Ganges river, close to its source in the Himalayan ranges so the waters remain clean and unpolluted. It is a colourful place with many bright Hindu temples, yoga ashrams, stoners and holy men getting around in loinclothes, dreadlocks and red spots on their foreheads. All surrounded by sub-tropical jungle and some beautiful sandy beaches on the riverside for cooling off in the holy waters.
There is also a lot of music in Rishikesh. Whether it's singing from the temples, chanting from the ashrams or flute, tablas and sitar drifting from the guesthouses, these are the sounds that will always epitomise the culture of India for me.

Earlier today I had an incident with an innocent looking cow that was grazing alongside the roadway.
Now, first I must explain that cows are a very sacred animal to the Hindu faithful, and therefore are allowed to roam wherever the hell they want. Often they will block a roadway as they plod along and even lay down on the warm bitumen for a rest. No-one can force them to move and so they act like they really are holy beings and understand that they rule the place.
Anyway, I see this cow ahead turn to slowly approach me. No big deal, as most are quite used to existing in close and ambient contact with people. I usually enjoy giving them a pat and scratch behind the ear as I stroll past.
In the back of my mind I noted something a little unusual about this particular beast - the points of its horns had been cut and filed down. Still, I continued on my way until, within meters, it dropped its head and charged straight at me. Taking a cows horns in the thigh, even a blunt one, is a particularly painful experience, which in my country-bred mind requires swift retaliation. Just as I was about to take the bull by the horns (pardon the pun) and teach this beast a lesson in manners, I remembered where I was. To belt a cow amidst a holy community in India is a sacrilege that would have seen me mobbed and beaten. In order to keep the shanti of the place I had to quickly retreat over a nearby fence with an aggressive cow close on my heels and many smiles and laughter from the crowd of witnesses. Laughing myself (and limping!), I vowed to take my vengeance on the bovine race upon my return to Australia. Looking forward to a big, juicy steak...

Love, light and much happiness going out to all,

Paul

bisexuals would only be attracted to big fat men with manboobs.

Hi God.

It's me, again.

I know that you hear me everyday, chatting, begging, pleading, reasoning-asking for faith. You would think the mere fact I turn to you is faith itself, wouldn't You?

But I know me, and You know me, and I am wrestling with my ego, unwilling to give it up, unwilling, because I think I will lose me, and my faith in You in the process.

Is that what they call, a paradox?

My "second" letter to You I started in a small, discounted, bound leather brown book, gold edged pages, a piece of fabric to mark where I left off. Small enough to go with me wherever I choose, anywhere but in my pocket. I will get back to that, that the book I choose to speak to You within could not fit within the smallest spaces. But not yet God, not yet.

I started my book, the first page, like this:

"To any who may enter here, turning the pages - remember - this is my journey - my perception of the world. Without collective consciousness, you may find yourself lost and without understanding as to my wording, my intent, my context and that will be as it is.

Namaste."

But I continued God, I turned the page.

Another day I said to You:

I am unsure whether it is truly a grand awakening or as we stumble step by step, we find ourselves in a new place of thought.

I desire in these pages to embrace my voice, my connection with God, to truly hear the voice of God and live with that knowledge.

We know so little, barely skimming the surface of this Earth. What can I say as to how much I know of ultimate Truth or knowledge?

I long to amass, piece by piece, a web, a ladder, a matrix of higher learning. Why is there so much unknown? It came to me that with a shift in the energy fields, a rebalancing, we could accomplish anything. We could form energy barriers to prevent destruction of humanity along shorelines. Energy bumper fields to prevent cars, trains and planes form impact and consequent calamity.

On some level, answers are known. At the point it becomes realized, we will have most likely also have abolished the need for mechanical transport.

The hardest part is breaking out of the self created barriers. The nine to five of the imposed Society.

I no longer have any aspiration to remain a lawyer. None. I find it distasteful and I resent people's refusal to move toward resolution.

I want to cry. Big, tearing gulping sobs. It is my own own inaction that keeps me stuck in place.

Hi God. Yup, me.

Here I sit. In a "County", a seat of justice. I drove down the highway, a torrential rain pour. I was lucky I even brought myself to drive 50 mph and the other people, flying by, driving so fast, do they wonder what would happen if they hydroplaned?

Same day, later than who I was this morning. So much later that I must try three times to flip the pages of this journal, so thick the leaf edge, I don't dare believe I bought this for myself to speak to God. I throw down my old glasses, they fall from my nose anyway, so stretched the arms have become. I don't need them to read these pages.

So, anything new?

There is so very much I write in my head, between the moments - now and before - it never gets on the page. For now, I will put aside this journal, this memorable me, put it aside and read the book I bought on Gandi. I so passionately want to continue reading and I will slip inside the realm of semi-consciousness sleep state, when I dream in guarded dreams of tomorrow.

*If they ever obliterate tactile writing and reading, I will elect to ascend, immediately.

Siting outside today, another day without a blackberry. How much more peaceful. Sitting outside, a small diner, with tables set out on brick pavers. Small sign says: 'sorry, we do not accept credit cards'.

Quickly I ask, how much for a cup of coffee and a toasted english muffin? $2.25, plus tax. I check. I have a five and some change, fair enough for a decent tip, I order.

I sit across from the courthouse, another case where settlement negotiations will change and the mood of the equity judge, King of all Kings, or as Alice said, the King of nothing, all at once, is less predictable than a storm at Sea.

I had a dream last night, I'm sure of not many things, but this I recall...a bird coming to land on my shoulder, momentarily frightened as I am not sure if it will claw me; then my fear becomes less and I began to worry of the bird relieving itself on my back. It begins to sing with me. I ran around to show people the miracle, but another bird, a small sparrow, flew into my mouth.

I'm tired now God. I will go, there is never a moment You don't hear me anyway.

***Hey God, as an afterthought, I sound like I'm just stamping my feet.

***Upon further thought God, I need to say, although You know this already, I was in fact stamping my feet.  I complain about the justice system, about being a lawyer, and the simple fact is, I simply wish we lived in a world where we needed neither a justice system nor lawyers.  My acts of complaining about it, poking at different sectors of the system, does nothing to change the whole and only adds negativity.  So thanks for listening.

while they're on the phone ( probably to god),...

zigzagging in and out of traffic,...

cos they're in a hurry to get to paradise, and want to take as many of us with them as they can.

we must be like extra credit.

[young morons who play hollywood chase scene on the highway i can deal with, but 40-50 somethings who obviously think god loves them cos of the style of their facial hair, not giving a shit,.... now that really annoys me] 

The word intrigued me as much as the word Namaste intrigues me.

Synchronicity lead me to buy the latest Vanity Fair Magazine, highlighting different people and their efforts in Africa. Within that magazine was a conversation between Desmond Mpilo Tutu, the archbishop emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa, and Brad Pitt, the well known actor, and now well recognized humanitarian.

I first read the article regarding Jeffrey Sachs, entitled Jeffrey Sachs's $200 Billion Dream, by Nina Munk. I wasn't simply enthralled with the intelligence that lead to the ability to create and foster both dreams and a realized reality for others, I was left in a state of incomprehension by the tenacity, the sheer perseverence of the mission Mr. Sachs, his family, people working with him, and countless others exhibit. I have a dream, it's a smaller one, called surface earth, the zipcode exchange: the intent is to create a web, beginning within a single community, then spanning silken strands, community by community, until no person or no part of this Earth is left untouched, people helping others, constantly, as a natural way of life, a readjustment. I am still working on my matrix, whereas Mr. Sachs has run with his.

I continued reading on....

From the table of contents on Vanity Fair Online you can see:

"THE TUTU CONNECTION Archbishop Desmond Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize for opposing apartheid in South Africa. Talking with Brad Pitt, he explains why the fight for equality must go global. Photographs by Annie Leibovitz".

I, however, have the print edition because I prefer in many ways, the printed page. I was wildly pleased when I began the article at page 96, to see within the fifth exchange the following:

Brad Pitt: What is this concept of Ubuntu I keep reading about?

Desmond Tutu: Ubuntu is the essence of being human. And in our language a person is ubuntu, and ubuntu is a noun to speak about what it means to be human. In essence, it is something that you find especially in the Old Testament, where you're not quite sure sometimes-when you are reading, say the Psalms-whether the Psalm is speaking, where it says, 'I,' only of an individual, or is it speaking in a corporate sense? We say a person is a person through other persons. You can't be human in isolation. You are human only in relationships.

Brad Pitt: So that speaks to our interconnectedness.

Desmond Tutu: We are interconnected......................

Normally, I would go on, type more of the article, the exchange, but some things must be made palpable, must be received through sensory perceptions, since we so long ago closed off other means of perception...read the article, in fact, read the entire magazine.

I am convinced - Ubuntu - is not just a beautiful word that sings without need for comprehension, Ubuntu is also a journey.

Namaste.