Talking about Karma seems to have brought up a lot of different commentary along with some amusing moments. So we’re going to talk a little more about Karma today and see if we can’t find a wider perspective to replace our narrow subjective takes and possibly rise above what we wish things were and try to find some kind of a comfort zone in the way things are; keeping in mind that the way things ‘really’ are may also be something we are missing. The way things are is not necessarily the way things are.
Today I went into town on some business with my trusty companion, Poncho Moonlight in the passenger seat. He doesn’t wear his seat belt, I do. Coming into town, I saw a dog walking by the side of the road. I had seen this same dog a few days earlier and noted how gaunt she was; ribs clearly defined and looking beaten and bedraggled. I wanted to stop and feed her but the circumstances weren’t good. First of all, I had to get somewhere within a pressing time frame and the location of the dog, for pulling over and attending to it, was not good.
Afterwards, I discovered, since things went far more smoothly than they usually do down here, that I would have had the time. I thought about the dog now and then and today, there she was in another inconvenient place. I was approaching the roundabout into town so I pulled into the V between where cars enter and come off at the direction I was coming from. This is one of the cool things about Italy. People park anywhere they want to. You have to see it to believe it. The Italians aren’t like everybody else; sometimes that’s a good thing and sometimes not so much; like when you’re trying to take care of some kind of official business.
I crossed the street and poured out some food for the dog in a driveway while she watched me. It seemed like she’d had pups recently because her dugs were hanging down or... she just may have had so many that that is where they were now. She was skeletal but also of that breed that tends toward thin anyway but... this dog was in bad shape no matter how you parse it. I left what would be a normal portion for a dog of that size and that was all that was in the bag anyway. I thought of getting the other bag out and leaving more but... I operate nearly all of the time off of intuition and so... off I went. As I passed that place on my return I saw that the dog was gone and half of the food was still there.
Perhaps the dog is dying. She didn’t look good. You couldn’t get much lower than this dog in the pecking order. Here is this member of the Devic Realm, a noble friend to humanity, with centuries beyond remembering of tradition and history reduced to terrible circumstance. No one is going to adopt this dog. I’m not the dog wrangler that Susanne is so I don’t have her deft touch with these creatures. Should I have tried to put her in my car and take her home? Can I take all these dogs, that I see wandering the streets, back to my house? You can see a variety of karmas here.
This dog has no friends, nowhere to stay and gets mounted by anyone who wants to every time she goes into heat. Here in Italy, as in Spain and certain other locations, people will take a pet for the summer and then just turn it loose on the streets when the season ends. Sometimes they just don’t want their dog anymore. I guess there are a lot of reasons with zero moral justification. I can’t imagine the mindset that would take in an animal that depends on you for everything and who gives unreservedly in return... I just can’t imagine abandoning a responsibility taken for another living thing with such a callous disregard.
I can’t imagine raping a child. I can’t imagine gunning down women and children. I can’t imagine trafficking in human beings. I can’t imagine defrauding people or beating my consort. I can’t imagine starting wars for economic profit. There are a lot of things that I just wouldn’t do but the same cannot be said for everyone.
Yes... there are people who do hideous things. Some of them do it out of ignorance and there are some who do it, knowing full well that it is wrong -and who do it for the sheer joy of doing evil. Yes... there are creatures like this. It has been said that, “what goes around comes around”. It can also be said that we come around too. We come around and around and around for as long as the need may be.
It has been said by some number of people far wiser than I that a human birth is a very special thing. It is a remarkable opportunity and it doesn’t happen often. You would do well to tremble as you read those words. You would do well to strive hard for all your days remaining. You would do well to do good at every opportunity and to repent and ask for forgiveness when you find that you are in error. You would do well to put away your pride in yourselves and your vain and insignificant accomplishments. You would do well not to imagine that you know anything at all.
Where is it that you think you are? What are this planet and this form in which you move? This planet is a planet of elements constantly at war with each other... within you and without you. This is a place of atonement and the key to understanding Job One is at-one-ment. Hidden within the language are a great many answers. Hidden within you are all the answers. If you do not seek you will not find.
Let us look at that Tibetan wheel again. This world is an intermediary zone between the worlds below and the worlds above. This is not the only world by any stretch so why is it that we think we are going to find justice and comprehension when we never can see any more than one loop of the Mobius Strip?
There is a reason that ‘understanding’ is among the most priceless of spiritual gifts. How does one come by understanding? One gains understanding through surrender only. Until we can surrender what we think we know, it is all we will know -and that is a mortal darkness, lit with false light, illuminating illusionary forms. We wander blind in disorderly dreams. We act without comprehending. We speak without understanding.
There are no accidents and that is karma too. Consider those who do such terrible harm. Should there be no recompense for this? That is the purpose of reincarnation which is eternally linked to karma. They are magnetized to each other. No one gets away with anything.
I felt so very bad for that dog but I know nothing of the circumstances. I do not know who that dog was or why it was there. I know what I felt and I thank god that I can feel as I do. Look around your world and tell me what you see in this immense and seething cauldron of suffering. What goes up must come down. It is better to stay small and be satisfied with a little than spend a lifetime acquiring useless things that will remain on your departure and ...depart you will. This is one of the most peculiar mysteries to me that people do not recognize that they will lose everything except the progress made within.
Where do your treasures lie? Upon that hangs your destiny and fate; according to that so is your karma. The queen upon the throne may awaken to find herself a sidewalk whore. The billionaire may wake up chained to a galley. It is all important what we do from this moment and in each succeeding one. We should be filled with gratitude at every opportunity to be of service. Our intentions guide the way. There is far less said here than what is implied.
'I Don't Love You Anymore' is track no. 3 of 10 on Visible's eponymous
'Les Visible' Music Album
Lyrics (pops up)
32 comments:
Bhagavad Gita...
Chapter 5, Verse 18
“The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned & gentle saint, a cow, an elephant, a dog & a dog eater. ..."
Chapter 5, Verse 10
"One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme God, is not affected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water."
For anyone interested in the explanation/purport of the above..
(any name for God may be substituted for Krishna)
"The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste]."
PURPORT
A Krsna conscious person does not make any distinction between species or castes. The brahmana and the outcaste may be different from the social point of view, or a dog, a cow, or an elephant may be different from the point of view of species, but these differences of body are meaningless from the viewpoint of a learned transcendentalist. This is due to their relationship to the Supreme, for the Supreme Lord, by His plenary portion as Paramatma, is present in everyone's heart. Such an understanding of the Supreme is real knowledge. As far as the bodies are concerned in different castes or different species of life, the Lord is equally kind to everyone because He treats every living being as a friend yet maintains Himself as Paramatma regardless of the circumstances of the living entities. The Lord as Paramatma is present both in the outcaste and in the brahmana, although the body of a brahmana and that of an outcaste are not the same. The bodies are material productions of different modes of material nature, but the soul and the Supersoul within the body are of the same spiritual quality. The similarity in the quality of the soul and the Supersoul, however, does not make them equal in quantity, for the individual soul is present only in that particular body whereas the Paramatma is present in each and every body. A Krsna conscious person has full knowledge of this, and therefore he is truly learned and has equal vision. The similar characteristics of the soul and Supersoul are that they are both conscious, eternal and blissful. But the difference is that the individual soul is conscious within the limited jurisdiction of the body, whereas the Supersoul is conscious of all bodies. The Supersoul is present in all bodies without distinction.
In other words, it is just part of existence in this body, on this Earth, this time around, that hog farmers hang unsaleable Sows by chaining them around the neck from a wrecking truck lift because in the next lifetime, the abusing hog farmer has a high probability of being perhaps an ill Sow himself? And we should not be aghast because all souls are equal and the Kharmic system has it all under control? And we should not be saddened by the cruelties, abuses and injustices performed by ignorant and greedy men because these men are not actually whom they appear, but recycled versions of someone else's lessons? Maybe one of the French Louies who still doesn't get it? But we are to trust that at some point in the cycle, they definitely will? And it is of no matter whatsoever their Kharma comes around in one or a hundred generations later?
The only problem I have with that is that I didn't say a single one of those things.
One thing I can say is that when we form opinions about anything, we always do it as if we were God and that our perspective and sense of righteousness; irrespective of our actual behavior, becomes reality for us and we're locked into that for as long as it lasts (that too is karma).
One thing I try to stay away from is matching punishments with crimes or debating about whether this 'specifically' turns into that. From what I understand about the principle, it's flawless and perfect.
Now, of course... any human being can come along and say that God must be fucked because I would never allow something like that or indicate that it's a poor justification for inaction to just casually imply that everyone is getting just what they deserve.
Then again, I didn't set any of this up. I'm just here doing what I do for whatever good may be in it for as long as I'm here to do it.
I think the larger body of the text with it's suggestion of doing the best we can within the moment and striving to make that comprehensive across the entire spectrum of our actions is pretty much where my focus is. For your particular questions you'd have to see someone in another department because I don't actually handle that end of things.
I realize, of course, that you might not be speaking to me but I thought I'd take it on as an exercise if that were not the case and also as a suggestion to direct your comments to the party of interest (grin).
on a positive note... the other night, my daughters and i had the honor of helping a grandmotherly type in somewhat distress..
dusk, the girls outside on the sidewalk, notice an elderly lady strolling.. somewhat tottering... she makes the circuit around our cul de sac, turns the corner and totters up the hill..
my eldest came in and told me the lady seem'd not to know where she was, as she took off in another direction than she had come.
as i watched her totter up the hill i could only imagine if she fell in the dark..how long it might be before someone out walking found her..
so, i sent my girls off after to tail her, in the darkening evening.. & got on my cell and called the non emer number for our local police.. gave the details and asked them to send a unit, if they had one free... then headed out to find my kids :) i should've sent a phone w/them.. silly me...
a couple of blocks from home, i found one of them and pick'd her up, she was en-route home (running) ms. fleet feet - to tell me which way the other two and the lady were headed...picked them both up almost a block away...
the lady turned around & saw our headlights, as i'd pulled the car pulled over, a bit up a hill from her, to keep an eye on her until the cruiser got there.
she started walking back to us, and started waving w/both hands... i got out and asked if she were lost, she said yes.
i asked if she were visiting as this week is spring break here, lots of visiting relatives... yadaX3...
ms. snook told me she knew that where 'her' house was, had brick mailboxes.. i knew that this subdivision was a couple of streets over from ours, and told her i'd called the police for help already, to come to her aid..
she was lucid, and calm but i could tell she was very tired...
we saw the cruiser take a street up the block, so i told her to stay put and i drove up the hill to flag down the cop, as that was the street i'd given to dispatch.
told him where she was and that yes, she was lost.. and she did know about the mailboxes (brick) and told him w/almost certainty, two streets over was probably where she'd wandered from..
got home and tried to find her son's phone#, no one answered.. i assumed they were out looking for her, as dark as it had gotten, and as frail as she was.. i know i would've been out looking for her, if she were mine :)
so anyway, i spun the car around, and stoppd again while she talked to the cop, and told ms snook, we were glad to help, and that we hoped she got home soon :)
i'm glad my kids had the empathy to come in and tell me of this little tottering lady..... :) some good karma:)
I was addressing Anonymous 1 and 2. I apologize for not indicating that from the start. And Visible, yes, it is a good exercise. I appreciate you taking the time to address it and find your comment illuminating. Thank you.
It's a narrow path you have to walk, or so I've heard ... on the one hand, the web of karma ensures that all get what they deserve, and so maybe that Palestinian girl who got beheaded by DIME was Eva Braun last time around, and this was her lesson. Well, maybe. But then on the other hand that little Palestinian girl is also a little girl ... it's easy for a lot of people to close their hearts off to the misfortunes of others by saying, well, that's karma. Of course if you don't believe in karma, it's easy to get outraged and demand justice (and isn't there a line in the Tao Te Ching about justice appearing in the absence of the Tao?) preferably to be taken out of the hide of the bad guy du jour. But then, in the long run that will just perpetuate the whirlygig and you don't have to believe in karma to see that (though it helps.)
What's the answer? Damned if I know. Every situation has to be taken on its own, I suppose ... and if you see a row of battery chickens living in their own filth and one antibiotic resistance step away from leprosy, well ... sure, it's there karma, but it's also your karma to see that, and maybe your karma to do what you can to stop it. Or something.
That probably didn't make any sense, did it? Heh, I can't even tell anymore ... halfway through a three-day water fast and my head-meats feel like hamburger helper.
This is probably the time to be more explicit about what I was 'implying' in both of the last two posts and which, the lack of- I see- has given rise to the same questions; differently presented by quite some number of respondents.
Yes.. karma is what it is and shit happens because shit happened and there is a cold, remorseless and relentless aspect to it but...
Well, let me start with something that happened to me once and which I don't want to illustrate except in the way I am going to.
I was 'told' once that various creatures were delivered into my hands who had done me great harm in the past and that I was free to act accordingly as I wished.
I remember suffering in this life at certain people's hands. On occasion it made no sense what certain people did to me and in some cases the intention was to take my life or worse and... there was no real reason for it. In one case I tracked it to simple jealousy over the fact that I was doing well and this person could not abide it. They obviously didn't know that much about my life because good fortune and I are relative strangers though that is now changing at an increasing rate.
I think about the harm done to me and I can't muster any sense of revenge at all. I imagine that the others of which I was told had, most likely, done worse. Still, I didn't even have the evidence of their crimes and could not remember the life in which it happened or how much what I lost might have mattered to me.
I will admit that closer to the events in this life I had a certain amount of temporary anger but even that went away because I find it impossible to keep my mind on things like that and... I know what karma does so if anything I feel sorry for them. This isn't meant to give the impression that I'm some kind of saint because I'm not. It's just how I am. I must have learned something somewhere and it stayed with me.
My point is, when we see an animal suffering or a person in terrible straights, most of us don't think... well, that's their karma. We might know that it is their karma for whatever reason and we don't know what that reason is but it should not stop us from feeling all the compassion that is possible and seeking, inasmuch as possible, to help 'if' we can. It's a good thing to know when and if when it comes to this.
So it doesn't matter in my mind if it is someone's karma or not. What I see is only what is in front of me and that I think is how we should be.
We should always be seeking to assist as we can and hope that we are wise enough not to hinder instead. More of the time we are dealing with ignorance more than anything else.
I realize that sometimes I speak in a clinical way about things but it is my hope that the reader understands that I believe in operating out of the deeper understanding of the heart as opposed to the dispassionate operations of the mind. I realize a balance must be struck and that is what life is; giving us the opportunity to weigh things against each other and by themselves until we achieve a harmony of purpose.
I can look at what I just wrote and find all kinds of things to argue with, mostly because there are things left unsaid or things not treated with the needed comprehensiveness. That's probably never going to happen by me or by anyone.
This is why all of the posts are around 1350 words or whatever it is. And they do themselves these days. People are supposed to make the necessary extrapolations and leaps of association by themselves. That's the readers job to take it to the next step.
It's the readers job to come back and add their thoughts which often illuminate the original post considerably. it's a gestalt and a symbiosis and it doesn't work otherwise.
I wish I would have seen this before. Thanks for the reminder.
"I realize that sometimes I speak in a clinical way about things but it is my hope that the reader understands that I believe in operating out of the deeper understanding of the heart as opposed to the dispassionate operations of the mind. I realize a balance must be struck and that is what life is; giving us the opportunity to weigh things against each other and by themselves until we achieve a harmony of purpose."
Z
To Les,
Nice karma.
Please enjoy.
Glenn
One day, when I was a freshman in high school,
I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.
His name was Kyle.
It looked like he was carrying all of his books.
I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?
He must really be a nerd.'
I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.
They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.
His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him...
He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes
My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.
As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks.'
They really should get lives.
' He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!'
There was a big smile on his face.
It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.
As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before..
He said he had gone to private school before now.
I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.
We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.
He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.
I asked him if he wanted to play a little football
with my friends
He said yes.
We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.
Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.
I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!
' He just laughed and handed me half the books.
Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends..
When we were seniors we began to think about college.
Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.
I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never
be a problem.
He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship..
Kyle was valedictorian of our class.
I teased him all the time about being a nerd.
He had to prepare a speech for graduation.
I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak
Graduation day, I saw Kyle.
He looked great.
He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.
He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.
He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.
Boy, sometimes I was jealous!
Today was one of those days.
I could see that he was nervous about his speech.
So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!'
He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.
' Thanks,' he said.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began
'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years.
Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends....
I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.
I am going to tell you a story.'
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the
first day we met.
He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.
He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.
He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.
'Thankfully, I was saved.
My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable..'
I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.
I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.
Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.
Never underestimate the power of your actions..
With one small gesture you can change a person's life.
For better or for worse.
God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way.
Look for God in others.
You now have two choices, you can :
1) Pass this on to your friends or
2) Delete it and act like it didn't touch your heart.
As you can see, I took choice number 1.
Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.'
There is no beginning or end.. Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.
Hey Nina, I had a feeling you were responding to Anon but I was responding to you ;) (truth was I barely even read Anon's comment ... lazy of me I know but when the focus is scripture I don't care what tradition it's from, my eyes glaze over....)
What you said about compassion is so key, V. It doesn't make sense but it seems to work and in the end there's no point in asking the heart for anything that can be picked apart rationally or subjected to intellectual analysis.
I've had some experiences with karma myself ... though it's taken me a while to realize that's what was going on. Not 'good' karma, either ... I've done some pretty shitty things, and one way or another it always came back to bite me (not in an expected way, of course ... often no one even knew what I'd done....) I must've wracked up some fantastically good karma in previous lives, that's the only way I can account for all the blessing's I've received, but it wasn't until recently that I even acknowledged the existence of such (ahhhh, philosophical materialism, you're a pretty girl but you're also a backstabbing bitch and a bad influence ... so glad I broke up with you, though I do wish my friends would stop sleeping with you.)
why is there always salvation or hell in the next world--either the glory or the septic tank--but you have to wait for the sequel--enjoy this life cuz' you're truly fucked in the next one--free lunch tomorrow--but it's never tomorrow--
render unto Caesar what is Caesar's-hasn't he been dead for a while-god appoints the rulers but you have free will--don't swat that fly or step on that ant or you're fucked--starving, don't eat that cow or you're screwed--it just seems to go around in more, ever widening circles that we lose sight of trying to keep our eye on the ball that we're told is either out there, or headed our way--
so, we can earn our way, but have we paid enough, and in who's eyes--does "it" even have eyes--and if so, how many---
is it all guesswork, or do we take consolation in who can prove their documents are older and therefore wiser--I'm tired
Jj
Glen,
Exactly!!!!
What goes around comes around.
RW
Amazing comments over here...like floating on soft billowy clouds on a warm summer day during an age when life on this planet was peaceful and soothing.
European American
I have heard that Karma is satisfied by forgiveness. So perhaps if we forgive orselves for not knowing, and forgive the other enough to care for their misfortune, that's the correct action-or as close as we can come, at any rate. :)
...continuation of a thought (isn't it all).....
Does the programming of our youth continue to provide the delusion in the illusion about enlightenment--i see-saw the "enlightenment" more as a purely good thing when it appears that you have to eat a little shit in your salad before the main course ever reaches the table-or is there no main course and we just think there is a talented chef in the kitchen--the lilly white angels singing sweet songs is gone, but your version seems to be more like (at times) Tom Waitts and Lurch on his harpsichord singing Ave' Maria with a few crusty hookers hanging out drinking bourbon from dirty glasses--I think I would be more "comfortable" there--
Can we still keep a foot in both worlds and gain anything more than just knowledge that we can't cash in for wisdom--It's back to realizing that the package deal is just another marketing tool that won't take you any further than the page it's displayed on--but there seem to be so many package deals--some in aramaic, some in hebrew, some in hindu, some in mandarin--are they just the same thing with some truth smattered in for effect---
How do you push the envelope when the envelope can't contain it--nor can any book--so much seems to be the same in the end and sits on the shelf collecting dust--here at Origami, and a select few other places, things seem to be alive and that is why I am drawn here--not to a dusty old book from somewhere although a lot of your understanding, knowledge and experiences come from those books-or at least some sort of understanding as to process-they are either confusing or the same words I have read before with either "The Original", or "New and Improved" on the cover--
I don't have that "hurry up, and wait--don't push it" thing happening right now so I am venturing out and seeking--
Until I am the dreamer, and in the dream, the words of others sometimes ring hollow--it's not a jelousy thing that your enlightenment (for lack of a better word) is bigger than mine, I just wonder how many flavors it comes in--
I hope you can see into what I have written--seems it was the only way I could write it--if that too makes any sense--
Thank you all in advance--
Jj
verification word "drayed"--either a dead fray or a frayed dread(lock)
sorry, me again--
is there a talking in "riddles" because we can't understand, or write about "it" and give it justice any other way--
Jj
Psychegram, water fasting seems to have exacerbated an already keen mind.
Dear beloved Visible,
I failed to mention earlier exactly which portions of your comment were illuminating, they are:
One thing I try to stay away from is matching punishments with crimes or debating about whether this 'specifically' turns into that. From what I understand about the principle, it's flawless and perfect...
the larger body of the text with it's suggestion of doing the best we can within the moment and striving to make that comprehensive across the entire spectrum of our actions...
I agree with Psychegram that scripture can throw us off, because bright people usually gloss in order to get to the point quickly. This is compounded by the various baggage we are carrying as well. Its not that we are flawed in absorbing heavy text, evidence proves we wade through it admirably, but it is your gift of translation that appeals to our intelligence. It is all to our benefit to continue on Kharma, as you do, and I love you for it, time and again feeling indebted to your light.
I really am unable to imagine the foul depths and wrenching disasters I would have found myself in had it not been for your translations.
There is no other explanation but that of Kharma. Everything shifted into balance. It comes apart and comes together again. And again.
Les,
A few weeks ago on a walk, I went around the corner on my bicycle and my vision was drawn to a really thin dog on the verge of death. She tried to walk but collapsed. A man walking past said "awful hey" and walked on.
And living here has forced this heart to close to a certain degree but in this case something about that dog burst this heart right open. I walked slowly over to her, she also must have had puppies, her teats were huge and raw looking. She let me touch her nose and licked my hand. In such extreme vulnerability she had complete trust.
I went home and collected the kids and a huge pot of homemade, self raised chicken stock. I put it in front of her and she started to drink. She drank and drank and every few mouthfuls, she looked up at him with complete love in her eyes.
We carried her to the car and bought her home. The kids wanted to keep her but we already have two bitches.
So I called St Pat. A remarkable woman in her 80's who tirelessly serves animals in need and here they are plenty. People try and keep her away from this field as they feel she is tired and needs a break but I called her.
She had heard of this dog running through the nature reserve between the dam and the village and had been looking out for her.
She put out a reward for the puppies but they were never found.
She came to fetch her and kept me informed of her progress.
She fed her daily on chicken and protein powder and after a week , this near death dog had become playful.
She managed to find her a home in Stellenbosch and on her way there showed me this creature.
Her coat was shining, her eyes bright, pure love and gratitude.
I don't know how many animals Pat has saved, but my hat goes off to her big time.
2:56 PM
Les
"We should be filled with gratitude at every opportunity to be of service. Our intentions guide the way."
Too true, and with a clear inner voice can this be. To grow ones self by taking apart this world is well to do. I find a helping hand, and the giving of it, a "putting together" of things too. Somedays I feel like I'm just putting loose ends together. Most of the ends arent mine to begain with, but the action is. Im a leo and this seems very much what I should do. I find most people just walk all over me for being willing to help at any cost. But what they dont know is, I have ends energy to do this. One or two days a month, Im drained, but for the most part, being true to myself and showing other what that can bring by way of helping others is enough.
I would have to agree with you Les, no one really knows what up and down and what comes from what, but if you move without fear, and understand time is not a factor, than it maybe ok to be wrong about the events before you. We have a loop of creation that never ends.
Matt durkeematthew@hotmail.com
Hey all, just thought I'd put this out there.
My wife suggested to me today, after much discussion and a few beers, that it was time to strike out and do some real-time recon work. I'm just about done with the bankruptcy thing, and before the trustee comes and seizes my Triumph I'm gonna pack up the tent and venture west to seek out a place for us to land once we get done selling all our "stuff". There is no time like right now to get going, and I'll be heading out within the next 2 weeks. First stop is the N. CA, Oregon, WA, Idaho loop. Any other destinations are of interest as well for later trips, but since my wife is CA girl and visiting there literally changed my life, I am strongly drawn west. The thought of leaving the country is there, too, but that seems like biting off a whole lot more right now - unless there are some intended communities that any of you know of.
Hey Les, time to make this virtual community thing "realer"? (chuckle)
I'm looking for paradise (tee hee!), but will settle for a rural area that offers the basics for survival(water, decent air and soil, minimal psychos) and warmer weather in the winter (I'm soooo done with MN after 44 years). Let's say 10K max for a little chunk of land and if there are any communities of folks looking for young energy I'm all ears.
I'd love to invite myself to camp in your yard, and would of course REALLY love to meet some of you in person. I'd leave some $$$ or lend my labor to your cause in return.
The time to jump is nearing. I'd rather do it on my terms rather than have my hand forced. Any suggestions, or even just good luck wishes would be most welcome.
carfish7@gmail.com is where to reach me.
I'm gonna test this Karma thing in real-time. I'm gonna shed all this material bullshit and start my tribe. I'd rather die out in the open at nature's hand than sit here in my current illusory safety net (it's a fucking prison - with health benefits!) waiting for......
Thanks so very much. You have my gratitude and love.
Z
You all have me pondering this question and it is complex. One factor that came to mind was a more shallower meaning that is, you create your own karma. Was place does fear play in our lives? I remember once I had an encounter with this big bully and he got in my face but I didn't back down. Karma was being played out moment after moment. I didn't provoke him but....being somewhat playful I turned the situation around, using words rather than fists. But, I kept leaning on him letting him know in very subtle ways that I was afraid of him. And suddenly the whole changed, like a light bulb went on. He suddenly became my friend.
Now, I know what would have happened if I had cowered to him, he would of harassed me forever. I could see the whole cause effect thing play out. So in that sense I created my own karma, and his too. Someone could have been killed or jail time etc... My thought was that fear would have created violence in this case.
Is one aspect of karma another way of saying cause, creating an effect, creating another cause, creating another effect, to infinity? And is fear one of the components in this play?
That is, does showing weakness or fear invite trouble, or violence?
I like asking questions.
Dadnerd: There are vibrations (for lack of a better word) that people emanate and are either receptive to—or repel. Why certain people get in fights, always choose abusive partners, etc. is due to these vibrations they put out—sometimes they are loud and clear, sometimes more subtle—They can be fearful, they can be shouting “VICTIM”, abuse me, or they can say Fuck Off, I’ve got it together—Sometimes they just say “Welcome”
Some people just have a target on them and others can see that target through not just the vibration but the fake swagger, the hunched shoulders, the downward gaze, or the opposite—someone who is alive and moving—purposeful, in charge of their life—Muggers can size people up this way—So can guys picking up women in a bar—or women being repelled, when something is below the surface with a guy—that danger warning that the girlfriends don’t, or can’t pick up on--
Les is a prime example—there is a lyrical style to how he writes (sometimes it’s a frying pan over the head, but mostly it’s interwoven with subtleties), —some folks can tune in, to others, it’s a scratchy needle on the record or static on the radio—they just don’t have the frequency on their dial—There is an artistry to writing—
Music is vibrationally the same—when you think about it, music is a series of vibrations in a certain order—you can remember a song from 30 years ago—and every word to it because it is accompanied by the vibrations—you like a song sometimes because of the tune, or the beat, whatever—and can’t remember the “meaning” of the words, or the words lose their meaning, or you overlooked them and didn’t catch their meaning until you really listen to it—sometimes years later—-- because the vibration of the music is so powerful—maybe even primal—writing can be like that too. It is like when a certain smell can take you back to a time, or feeling—our senses, as they were designed to be, are very powerful when cultivated and allowed to “be”.
It is also my observation that on some level, the gov’t, or at least those in power know this—think of the amount of HAARP, Microwave, AM-FM, cell phone, wireless internet, cordless phones etc. signals (vibrations) going through the air at one time—we are literally bombarded every day—and so is nature—add to that all of the receptor inhibitors that are in Aspartame, and other products that amplify the effect of these waves—It’s not just in the dreaded “Cancer” worry, it’s in not being able to hold a thought, or concentrate because your receptors are being short-circuited on purpose—Add to that the meds people are on and the extra weight the food packs on—aching joints in a teenager—fuck man, it’s a wonder we’re still alive—or are we?
Jj
Dadnerd-I think the answer to your question is yes. Maybe not obviously invariably but when it involves other people, bullies, yes.
I think standing up to bullies and intimidation gives one good memories to look back on.
Zone
I left MN in '76 and my daughter graduates from SFSU shortly. The weather is nicer and there aren't any mosquitos. Otherwise though. .
Theres little difference between a MN redneck and an OR or even rural kali redneck. spelling intentional!
The western sub-species has admittedly learned to integrate in a slightly more PC fashion to the predominance of thinking that takes place in say . . Portland or SF.
Both being places where people from other continents come and go more fluidly than they tend to in say. . St Cloud or Stillwater.
You see, it became "cool" to cop some sorta pseudo patriotic way of thinking thats somehow tied to the old west and concepts of manifest destiny, private property etc etc. . . across this entire continent. This came outa the closet as it were in the '80s and was watered by the so called economic boom of the '90s.
The whole thing flowered right before the NASDAQ crash and 9/11 on has been harvest time. What you see now is a seasonal process of wither and decay inherent in any agricultural endeavor. This "nation" is just a giant agribusiness operation that includes faux humanity being bred and raised to be cannon fodder for some global police force. And thats just the manifest tip of the iceberg.
There, it needed to be said.
I hate to break this to ya bro, but you're just being driven like a head of cattle if you stay stuck in some belief that "route 66" leads to some kinda better life.
I wish you the best on your journey
Btw. . the word verification for this comment just happens to be "messes".
Jj, W W:
Your remarks reminded me of something a friend from India once said. I just searched the net to see if I could find something that repeated what he said and I found this.
Om is the Original Sound. All sound, all vibration, is part of Om. If you could hear all the sounds of the Cosmos at one time, you would hear "Om".
So Om is much more than a mere sound, it has much deeper meaning.
You know that guy was half my age, and I looked at him like he was my son. And he had a bunch of friends down the hall and they all stopped in shock, and I found out they were part of some suburban gang, which I find to be ludicrous. He could have kicked my ass but I took on the face of his dad at that moment. It was quite a situation, and if I had to to think before I reacted I might have handled it differently. But it taught me alot about human nature, first hand.
I have known for most of my life that you never show fear to animals, and have experienced quite a few instances to prove it. One in particular. I was walking down a country road and this pit bull came out of the bushes and was heading straight for me with his head lowered. I bent my knees and called out to him in a kind but firm voice, knowing I was about to get nailed. Well needless to say he became my best buddy. Later I took him to a farm house nearby and this guy came out with this nasty scar across his face, and the dog was reluctant to get out. But he jumped out and ran off as the guy picked up and threw a rock at him yelling at the dog. I felt bad I took him back.
I find this whole subject of Karma to be flowing into many areas of life.
No way the next comment has this for the word verify
Phought
For anyone's interest..
Krishna says: "I am the syllable Om."(Gita 7:8)
In the Rg-Veda we find the following information;
"O Vishnu your self-manifest name, Om,is the eternal form of cognizance. Even if my knowledge about the glories of reciting this name is incomplete, still, by the practice of reciting this name I will achieve that perfect knowledge."
"He who has unmanifested potencies and is fully independent, manifests the vibration omkara,which indicates Himself. Brahman, Paramatma,and Bhagavan are the three forms He manifests."
"Om should never be thought of as impersonal. That is perhaps the greatest misconception amongst many philosophers of transcendence since the time of Sankaracharya. The impersonal misconception of
'Om' has become so popular that even personalist philosophers at the stage of practice are sometimes found to have developed an aversion to 'Om' thinking it a means to impersonal realization."
That was beautiful Les.
I had a dog show up a few weeks ago I could not get to. I was in an inconvenient place, cars behind me and could not pull over. I came home then went back after him, he was nowhere to be found. I thought of him constantly- then he showed up again several days later as I was driving to work and I was already late. I almost drove to work, then I was led to turn around, came home and pulled out the best sandwich meat and dog food and left it for him where I saw him. He never found it. The plate sat in the yard untouched. It broke my heart. I tried...I am happy with me that I tried...and I hope I got a passing grade on that test :) SJ
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