To him who asks, give. Do not turn away the beggar. Give freely as you have been given freely. Then you will find that no matter how much you give, there will always be a need. No matter how much you sacrifice, there will always be more asked of you. No matter what you do, it may not be returned. For to him who is asked, more will be asked. To him who sacrifices, more will be demanded. To him who surrenders all, even more will be taken away. No one said it would be easy. No one said it would be just. Human notions of justice are the last refuge of those who have not fully committed. How fortunate the ones who have not done so, for they may live their lives in self satisfying comfort, never fully risking anything and always able to stand on their own accomplishments.
Lincoln freed the slaves, and for it he was shot dead.
Moses brought his people out of bondage, and for it they rebelled.
Jesus accepted all the brokenness of the world, and for it died like a criminal.
How fortunate the man who gives nothing. And so enjoy your lives of comfort. Enjoy your world of positions and objects. Enjoy the people you have, just stop trying to own them. You have your reward. You have your time.
For those who ask for more the path is narrow and the gate is hidden. Some say it looks like submission and obedience. But doesn’t everyone know about that? Doesn’t everyone feel guilt? At east those who take the path of vanity have some enjoyment with their guilt before they die.
The other path is much harder to find even though it is all around us. It is much harder to follow even though it is always calling us. It calls us to give up far more than our earthly pleasures. It asks for far more than our worldly positions. It calls us to give up even our identities. But to those who have done this you already know that all I have said is only a riddle and an illusion. Dust and shadows. That is what all you have amounts to. I’m looking for something far more real. I am looking forward to never passing away. I’m looking into eternity.
I don’t look for detachment. I don’t want to escape samsara. My Dharma is to continue on. The wheel keeps turning and I turn with it. But a Light shines on my course and I cannot turn away. Follow this Light and remember the darkness no more. This leads to the world beyond illusions.
The comforts and pleasures of this world are their own reward, but look beyond them to something that will never pass. Then you know that regardless of what sacrifice you are to make, what offering you are to give and what blessing becomes a curse, you have the choice to let your actions stop here, or echo in eternity.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Always forgiven
It doesn’t matter how many times you fall. You can transgress 100,000 times over and it still won’t leave you.
It doesn’t matter how many times you turn away. You can run as for as you want and it will always follow you.
It doesn’t matter how much you don’t know. You can never have heard the name and it has still always known you.
All these actions come from the conscious mind. This is only a small part of who we are. The Lord is beyond this and embraces all that we are as He transforms the most lowly and twisted elements into the corner stones of glory.
His work is so complete that when you look back on your failures, they are as only small distractions on a course that was ever leading to the Light. For as it is the valley of the shadow of death for some, it will be remembered as the valley of the shadow of life for us when we step fully into such life as awaits even beyond our dreams.
The designs of eternal love are beyond the small perspective of deceit spoken by this world. Thus know that to the Divine, all your sins are as nothing. How could Light be troubled by a small shadow, which its shining glory causes to be no more? How can compassion turn away from brokenness? How can a mother ignore her child?
All these is the Lord, and infinitely more. So again embrace the beloved as it has always done so to you. Find safety and hope in that comfort and draw strength for eternity to come.
It doesn’t matter how many times you turn away. You can run as for as you want and it will always follow you.
It doesn’t matter how much you don’t know. You can never have heard the name and it has still always known you.
All these actions come from the conscious mind. This is only a small part of who we are. The Lord is beyond this and embraces all that we are as He transforms the most lowly and twisted elements into the corner stones of glory.
His work is so complete that when you look back on your failures, they are as only small distractions on a course that was ever leading to the Light. For as it is the valley of the shadow of death for some, it will be remembered as the valley of the shadow of life for us when we step fully into such life as awaits even beyond our dreams.
The designs of eternal love are beyond the small perspective of deceit spoken by this world. Thus know that to the Divine, all your sins are as nothing. How could Light be troubled by a small shadow, which its shining glory causes to be no more? How can compassion turn away from brokenness? How can a mother ignore her child?
All these is the Lord, and infinitely more. So again embrace the beloved as it has always done so to you. Find safety and hope in that comfort and draw strength for eternity to come.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Empire to come
It has been evident throughout history that religion is power. Moses lead his people to the promised land by the call of God. The teachings of Buddha informed empires. The followers of Mohammad carved out an empire.
Many wars have been fought in the name of a god or the God or some other spiritual truth. Many good things have been done also in the name of the same truths. However all such actions have only been pail attempts at reaching the divine at best and shallow and even evil power plays at worst. But none the less, such religion brought power to the hands of those who could effectively use it.
There was another who was so blessed with power. He, however never called his people to war or brought fame to himself in any way. Instead he died, but in so doing won a greater victory than any prophet or god kind before or after ever did, will or could. The empire set in motion of expansion at his death is not one that will pass. It's not one that can pass. The twisted and broken cannot fight against something so real.
The real embraces all regardless of past loyalty. Every good thing you did was in his name. His memory is pervasive and his spirit promiscuous. So shall it be for here to come. He isn't dead anymore. And he didn't leave. He lives in you and me.
Many wars have been fought in the name of a god or the God or some other spiritual truth. Many good things have been done also in the name of the same truths. However all such actions have only been pail attempts at reaching the divine at best and shallow and even evil power plays at worst. But none the less, such religion brought power to the hands of those who could effectively use it.
There was another who was so blessed with power. He, however never called his people to war or brought fame to himself in any way. Instead he died, but in so doing won a greater victory than any prophet or god kind before or after ever did, will or could. The empire set in motion of expansion at his death is not one that will pass. It's not one that can pass. The twisted and broken cannot fight against something so real.
The real embraces all regardless of past loyalty. Every good thing you did was in his name. His memory is pervasive and his spirit promiscuous. So shall it be for here to come. He isn't dead anymore. And he didn't leave. He lives in you and me.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
The dreams
You can fall, but you can never die. You can fall back, but you can never retreat. You can be lost, but you are never alone. The Divine flows through all. No one knows where it comes from. No one sees where it goes. Without beginning or end this ring surrounds all. Who can run from such power? Who can stand before such glory? Who can look at such beauty?
Such is the nature of overwhelming holiness, and yet it turns to look upon us. And when we are taken into the gaze of the divine lord, we are lost in light and found in love. You can't question it for it silences you with comfort. You can't fight it for your power fades like an extinguished flame. You can't look away even though it destroys everything you were. So be embraced by love and overcome by grace.
In my dreams the world is created again, and I am there as the stars are set. But it is as nothing when the truths unspeakable when I awake are spoken unto me by the Divine itself. I rise and realize it wasn't only a dream.
The vision begins again. I am lost at the head of the congregation. I am overpowered by the light and love. I open my arms like the Christ crucified to embrace all the weak, lost, orphaned, sick, suffering and broken. I hope it is not only a vision. I pray it is not only a dream.
Such is the nature of overwhelming holiness, and yet it turns to look upon us. And when we are taken into the gaze of the divine lord, we are lost in light and found in love. You can't question it for it silences you with comfort. You can't fight it for your power fades like an extinguished flame. You can't look away even though it destroys everything you were. So be embraced by love and overcome by grace.
In my dreams the world is created again, and I am there as the stars are set. But it is as nothing when the truths unspeakable when I awake are spoken unto me by the Divine itself. I rise and realize it wasn't only a dream.
The vision begins again. I am lost at the head of the congregation. I am overpowered by the light and love. I open my arms like the Christ crucified to embrace all the weak, lost, orphaned, sick, suffering and broken. I hope it is not only a vision. I pray it is not only a dream.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The Greatest Victory
The penitents rise and undulate as one mass in the ecstasy of worship to their god. Lost in divine union, they throw themselves relentlessly into the mass with divine passion. As a mandala the energy radiates from their center and out in all directions. Then a climax is reached. The old is cast off and light and living water flow forth to wash the worshipers. They are overcome as the old dies and they pass into new reality. Such passion and ecstasy to lose one's self in worship for one's god. Under and to the same sun all such rites are conducted.
But the sun is not God.
The sun is only a representation for the divine power that has no fixed location and no such limitation. It has no beginning and no end. It has no form and is in all form. It has nothing because it is beyond anything, and everything has its shape and meaning within its enveloping and compassionate manifestation. The root, the spring and the genesis of all responses to this compassion is beyond the scope of the limitations of those responses. No mater what sun the penitents lose themselves in holy ecstasy to, this service was done in the name of the divine.
Beyond illusion living water washes all.
And so I too am lost in light and found in love as I remember our greatest victory. Sacrifice and truly committed endurance borne of divine love brought forth battle unto death of our greatest prophet and God himself. Triumphant unto death and victorious unto life, that which gives all things shape and meaning committed the sacred rite of destruction against the subversion of reality. And his resurrection echoed across all eternity in the moment that united past present and future, and unleashed unrelenting power, bringing resurrection to all reality.
Divine Chaos, holy fire, lost in light, found in love.
All sun worshipers and even all subverters will be as well. This is our greatest victory. He is risen.
But the sun is not God.
The sun is only a representation for the divine power that has no fixed location and no such limitation. It has no beginning and no end. It has no form and is in all form. It has nothing because it is beyond anything, and everything has its shape and meaning within its enveloping and compassionate manifestation. The root, the spring and the genesis of all responses to this compassion is beyond the scope of the limitations of those responses. No mater what sun the penitents lose themselves in holy ecstasy to, this service was done in the name of the divine.
Beyond illusion living water washes all.
And so I too am lost in light and found in love as I remember our greatest victory. Sacrifice and truly committed endurance borne of divine love brought forth battle unto death of our greatest prophet and God himself. Triumphant unto death and victorious unto life, that which gives all things shape and meaning committed the sacred rite of destruction against the subversion of reality. And his resurrection echoed across all eternity in the moment that united past present and future, and unleashed unrelenting power, bringing resurrection to all reality.
Divine Chaos, holy fire, lost in light, found in love.
All sun worshipers and even all subverters will be as well. This is our greatest victory. He is risen.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Darkness
The valley of the shadow of death is not to be feared. Suffering is not to be avoided. Pain is not to be denied. Under threat of total collapse, our greatest power and most overwhelming transformations arise. Suffering is finite. Victory is forever. Embrace the darkness and let it wash over you. From the deepest point of that darkness, the light that shines across eternity shall be set free. All your pain will be transformed. All your brokenness shall be resurrected.
Darkness gives way to light. The divine is in all.
When your own voice is a weapon turned against you, turn again to strands of truth and hold on as you are dragged deeper. When you are cut and crushed with your guts in you hands not knowing what to do look deeper still and give way.
When you are brought down on one knee and ready to submit to the oppression on all sides, step off the edge and into the abyss.
Darkness gives way to light. The divine is in all.
Fear and loathing mixed with shame and sorrow. Torn apart by regret and failure. Disemboweled. Run through. Fallen.
It is here in deepest darkness we embrace our final solice because it is here we look in and then up and in holy vision see our final victory. Ever shining in eternal radiance salvation carries us to our resting place as we hold fast.
Darkness gives way to light. The divine is in all.
Surrender only to glory and you will have never surrendered at all.
Darkness gives way to light. The divine is in all.
When your own voice is a weapon turned against you, turn again to strands of truth and hold on as you are dragged deeper. When you are cut and crushed with your guts in you hands not knowing what to do look deeper still and give way.
When you are brought down on one knee and ready to submit to the oppression on all sides, step off the edge and into the abyss.
Darkness gives way to light. The divine is in all.
Fear and loathing mixed with shame and sorrow. Torn apart by regret and failure. Disemboweled. Run through. Fallen.
It is here in deepest darkness we embrace our final solice because it is here we look in and then up and in holy vision see our final victory. Ever shining in eternal radiance salvation carries us to our resting place as we hold fast.
Darkness gives way to light. The divine is in all.
Surrender only to glory and you will have never surrendered at all.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Vision
I was again staying in that place where reason is replaced by determination and determination is assaulted by despair. But despair can not be victorious even in the valley of the shadow of death for one who is actually in the valley of the shadow of life. And thus, by divine power, I was released of the weight that had gathered. The essential self was set free and light shown forth. I walked forth into the light and became one with it.
In divine passion, I saw the divine become real. I saw the light shine on all life. I saw the living water flowing through all things. I saw sacred power brake from all corruption. I saw the divine spark burning in all life. I saw all humanity lost in light. I saw all people found in love. I saw holy fire bringing forth new creation. I saw the sun rising. I saw the redemption of reality progressing.
And I found peace and contentment as I too was lost in light and found in love. I walked out in power and authority and spoke from the depths of eternity and the hights of divinity and said "be free".
In divine passion, I saw the divine become real. I saw the light shine on all life. I saw the living water flowing through all things. I saw sacred power brake from all corruption. I saw the divine spark burning in all life. I saw all humanity lost in light. I saw all people found in love. I saw holy fire bringing forth new creation. I saw the sun rising. I saw the redemption of reality progressing.
And I found peace and contentment as I too was lost in light and found in love. I walked out in power and authority and spoke from the depths of eternity and the hights of divinity and said "be free".
Realization
Pushed to the edge again. When I look over it this time I hold on to strands of reason and faith that have run the course of my life to date. I hook in and shuffle to the edge, then jump on over into the reality that awaits. I come from a place before this and that will be here when this is all gone. A place more real than any corruption, which completes for the right to call itself the truth. In the deepest darkness I am lost in light. In the harshest pain I am found in love. No shadow can compare and no illusion can contain the beauty of the moment in which all is made manifest as all that was before is made new. Here again, perception fades as understanding takes its place. No more sight. Only vision. No more dreams. Only realization. Ultimate power and ultimate humility become the same. From suffering comes love and death gives way to life. Holy fire, divine chaos, lost in light, found in love.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Unrelenting
On the journey to a far off land, hope and passion go hand in hand with pain and long suffering. When the darkness of that pain and long suffering are transformed by the light of hope and passion into brilliance of joy and courage, you know you are on the right path. Travel on and see how far that path goes. Pain becomes power and suffering is subverted by joy.
In the tension between unrelenting suffering and truly committed endurance, unending love is born. The power to shine in all darkness and to destroy every wall. Like water we flow from her and into all things.
Living water. Unrelenting compassion. True power.
Holy fever, divine chaos, lost in light, found in love
Until all is filled........
And what about those who who fall out, and what about those lost sheep in the darkness? It is not for the well, but the sick that this message of divine light is made flesh. And it is not for some contented golem that this message is made manifest. For into your own pit you will fall, and in your own traps you will be caught. Content in unrealities, you languish, and in your vanities you are destroyed. But divine light knows no darkness and threatens your festering enclave with unrelenting waves of living water.
Holy fever, divine chaos, lost in light, found in love
Light that shines across the universe and consumes the past, present and future. Unrelenting storm of sacred power from the very foundations of your suffering and deepest fears of your oppressors will strike with unrelenting transformation of all you were told you believe, and your deepest depths will resonate..... with sound that can consecrate...you all a new creation. heavenly fire consumes all and shines on a new course, and from now until forever we will burn.
Holy fever, divine chaos, lost in light, found in love
Found in love are all drained of strength, broken hearted, cut down, far away, near at hand. Children in darkness. Slaves of hatred. Sons of shame. Daughters of pain. Long suffering and now lost in light. It is unto these we are come and unto these the saints will be martyred. We spill our blood for such as these and are consumed for such as these. We are torn apart for such as these and left to die for such as these. Nailed to crosses we were for these and burned alive for such as these.
Holy fever, divine chaos, lost in light, found in love
Look to the horizon and you will see. Search in the sky and you will be free. Ever deeper we go, and forever we know.
It is coming closer and closer. And I know you feel it. It's coming nearer and nearer and I know you see it. Darkness fell and now it will be destroyed. look to the horizon. Here it comes. Relentlessly closer and I know I have won.
The Sun, the Sun. It rises. Here it is. THE SUN RISE!
Holy fever, divine chaos, lost in light and found in love
As living water from here and into eternity.
In the tension between unrelenting suffering and truly committed endurance, unending love is born. The power to shine in all darkness and to destroy every wall. Like water we flow from her and into all things.
Living water. Unrelenting compassion. True power.
Holy fever, divine chaos, lost in light, found in love
Until all is filled........
And what about those who who fall out, and what about those lost sheep in the darkness? It is not for the well, but the sick that this message of divine light is made flesh. And it is not for some contented golem that this message is made manifest. For into your own pit you will fall, and in your own traps you will be caught. Content in unrealities, you languish, and in your vanities you are destroyed. But divine light knows no darkness and threatens your festering enclave with unrelenting waves of living water.
Holy fever, divine chaos, lost in light, found in love
Light that shines across the universe and consumes the past, present and future. Unrelenting storm of sacred power from the very foundations of your suffering and deepest fears of your oppressors will strike with unrelenting transformation of all you were told you believe, and your deepest depths will resonate..... with sound that can consecrate...you all a new creation. heavenly fire consumes all and shines on a new course, and from now until forever we will burn.
Holy fever, divine chaos, lost in light, found in love
Found in love are all drained of strength, broken hearted, cut down, far away, near at hand. Children in darkness. Slaves of hatred. Sons of shame. Daughters of pain. Long suffering and now lost in light. It is unto these we are come and unto these the saints will be martyred. We spill our blood for such as these and are consumed for such as these. We are torn apart for such as these and left to die for such as these. Nailed to crosses we were for these and burned alive for such as these.
Holy fever, divine chaos, lost in light, found in love
Look to the horizon and you will see. Search in the sky and you will be free. Ever deeper we go, and forever we know.
It is coming closer and closer. And I know you feel it. It's coming nearer and nearer and I know you see it. Darkness fell and now it will be destroyed. look to the horizon. Here it comes. Relentlessly closer and I know I have won.
The Sun, the Sun. It rises. Here it is. THE SUN RISE!
Holy fever, divine chaos, lost in light and found in love
As living water from here and into eternity.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Men of violence
It is men of violence, and women of violence for that mater who will take hold of the message of the kingdom and spread it forth in all directions. We reject shame and the selfishness that comes of it. We reject ego and self sufficiency also. We stray from the middle path at every turn because we know that balance is not the answer. Instead, we seek the truth. We explore and embrace reality in all its forms and search for the deepest expression of it in all things.
We have role models, but we always strive to be avatars of our own deepest longings and expressions, for it is in these that the truth of the divine is found. It is the divine that we take hold of and emulate. It is holiness that first sought us out and shown with the light of eternal compassion upon our deepest brokenness, transforming our twistedness into a holy prayer and causing us to pore forth the same divine love.
It is this divine love that motivates and moves us because we can no longer be moved by revenge of craving or brokenness. We have been raised to a new place and can never go back. We see with new eyes and can never look away from the beauty of the divine in all things. We will not rest except in the grace of The Master until all things have been restored to their original holiness.
We have been consecrated as high priests and priestesses, warriors and champions, princes and princesses. We walk proudly, but never looking to our selves. We walk strong, but never in our own strength.
We start from here and expand across the Universe. We can run from one end of reality to the other and not faint. We can sleep on a frozen lake for a thousand years and not freeze. We can bite and hold until we die. But we will never die.
When our current form passes, we will remain on the verge of true immortality. We build no monuments except our songs of worship. We leave no legacy except our true love. We run the race and finish the fight. We are more than survivors. We are kings and queens.
As the light of the divine shines upon us, we are transfigured into our true forms and we too shine with the brilliance of 10,000 suns. The hosts of the heavens array themselves in parade lines on either side as we walk our triumph and beet their shields as the give the resounding battle cry. We command 100,000 legions in service to our Emperor.
The nations would bow before us if they did not see the glory of eternity behind us. The Emperor of reality stands in our presence and we fall as we say our holy holy hollies.
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY,
IS THE GLORY OF ETERNITY
But the sun is not God. It is only a representation, as we are only images of the divine. The light shines in the darkness, but the light is not God. Only God is God.
It is unto this we look and unto this we return. Unto this we pray and unto this we give all adoration. And as the the thunder causes all the cymbals to ring, so we resound with songs of victory.
And as we shine in glory, so the all around us are illuminated.
Divine love lives in us and we are its Prophet.
There is no God, but God and He gave himself away to us.
So we take hold with all the violence we have and fight with all our power, and take our rightful places in the kingdom of divine light.
Darkness and light will become one and all that is broken will be made new and the redemption of all eternity will expand forth until all of time is as it should be.
We have role models, but we always strive to be avatars of our own deepest longings and expressions, for it is in these that the truth of the divine is found. It is the divine that we take hold of and emulate. It is holiness that first sought us out and shown with the light of eternal compassion upon our deepest brokenness, transforming our twistedness into a holy prayer and causing us to pore forth the same divine love.
It is this divine love that motivates and moves us because we can no longer be moved by revenge of craving or brokenness. We have been raised to a new place and can never go back. We see with new eyes and can never look away from the beauty of the divine in all things. We will not rest except in the grace of The Master until all things have been restored to their original holiness.
We have been consecrated as high priests and priestesses, warriors and champions, princes and princesses. We walk proudly, but never looking to our selves. We walk strong, but never in our own strength.
We start from here and expand across the Universe. We can run from one end of reality to the other and not faint. We can sleep on a frozen lake for a thousand years and not freeze. We can bite and hold until we die. But we will never die.
When our current form passes, we will remain on the verge of true immortality. We build no monuments except our songs of worship. We leave no legacy except our true love. We run the race and finish the fight. We are more than survivors. We are kings and queens.
As the light of the divine shines upon us, we are transfigured into our true forms and we too shine with the brilliance of 10,000 suns. The hosts of the heavens array themselves in parade lines on either side as we walk our triumph and beet their shields as the give the resounding battle cry. We command 100,000 legions in service to our Emperor.
The nations would bow before us if they did not see the glory of eternity behind us. The Emperor of reality stands in our presence and we fall as we say our holy holy hollies.
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY,
IS THE GLORY OF ETERNITY
But the sun is not God. It is only a representation, as we are only images of the divine. The light shines in the darkness, but the light is not God. Only God is God.
It is unto this we look and unto this we return. Unto this we pray and unto this we give all adoration. And as the the thunder causes all the cymbals to ring, so we resound with songs of victory.
And as we shine in glory, so the all around us are illuminated.
Divine love lives in us and we are its Prophet.
There is no God, but God and He gave himself away to us.
So we take hold with all the violence we have and fight with all our power, and take our rightful places in the kingdom of divine light.
Darkness and light will become one and all that is broken will be made new and the redemption of all eternity will expand forth until all of time is as it should be.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Violence
For most, violence is a thing to fear and avoid. For a few, it is glorified and exalted as a rite of passage. For others, it is a thing of hatred and scorn. At the same time such individuals violently appose violence and don't seem to realize the joke is on them. For nearly all though, those who partake in violence are idealized as heroes because the do what others can not do. They stand against fear of pain and lose and enter battle wholeheartedly. This is why we idealize mixed martial artist, soldiers, police officers, action stars, etc. They go where others cannot and do what most fear. But, why is this? Why does conflict so enchant us? Why is the warier so highly regarded even in the modern age?
One could point to the central role the warier has played throughout human history. In the earliest societies, everyone was engaged at one point or another in violence to protect the family, clan and tribe. As the division of labor was established with ever larger and more complex societies, a distinct warier class began to develop. It was the responsibility of this group to insure the safety of the society and that safety was often challenged. Latter as societies became ever larger and more divers, the role of the warier class was directed in many cases towards expanding and enriching the state. The age of empire was born and violence for violence's own sake was also born, or so it would seam. Gladiators, death matches, duels, cage fights. All of these may appear to be nothing more than brutal entertainment. Indeed, in part they are. However, these are also ways of returning to and tapping into the older tradition of the warier in single combat. A trait that had been lost as warfare became, not clan against clan, but standing army against standing army. The prevalence of such traditions throughout the world suggests at something more than a limited phenomena. Rather it appear that it is the innate human need to live whether vicariously or directly, the path of the hero into violence and conflict.
We would do well to recognize this and attempt to understand it. The gods of war live on today and threaten to tear us apart if they are not given their proper due. Rather than repress and fear our violent instinct, they must be recognized and honored. We are a predatory species To hunt and to fight remains ever a deep drive for us all. All that differs is the expression of it. The rise of full humanity will require nothing less than acceptance and embrace of this nature and its harnessing to whatever good and productive end it can be put to.
One could point to the central role the warier has played throughout human history. In the earliest societies, everyone was engaged at one point or another in violence to protect the family, clan and tribe. As the division of labor was established with ever larger and more complex societies, a distinct warier class began to develop. It was the responsibility of this group to insure the safety of the society and that safety was often challenged. Latter as societies became ever larger and more divers, the role of the warier class was directed in many cases towards expanding and enriching the state. The age of empire was born and violence for violence's own sake was also born, or so it would seam. Gladiators, death matches, duels, cage fights. All of these may appear to be nothing more than brutal entertainment. Indeed, in part they are. However, these are also ways of returning to and tapping into the older tradition of the warier in single combat. A trait that had been lost as warfare became, not clan against clan, but standing army against standing army. The prevalence of such traditions throughout the world suggests at something more than a limited phenomena. Rather it appear that it is the innate human need to live whether vicariously or directly, the path of the hero into violence and conflict.
We would do well to recognize this and attempt to understand it. The gods of war live on today and threaten to tear us apart if they are not given their proper due. Rather than repress and fear our violent instinct, they must be recognized and honored. We are a predatory species To hunt and to fight remains ever a deep drive for us all. All that differs is the expression of it. The rise of full humanity will require nothing less than acceptance and embrace of this nature and its harnessing to whatever good and productive end it can be put to.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Firts steps in solving a problem
As has been explained, human trafficking functions in the same way as any other elicit product supply chain. To go beyond base line efforts at confronting the problem with by arresting the perpetrators and rescuing the victims, as important as this is, the beginning links in the chain must be addressed. As explained in the preceding story, these links go back to the hometowns and villages of people at risk of enslavement. However, this is not where they begin. They begin with the officials taking bribes to look the other way when brothels continue to illegally operate. They begin with the cost benefits analysis sheets that demonstrate it is more profitable to continue to ignore forced labor in the supply chains of everyday necessities than it is to do the ethical thing and intervene. They begin with bad economic policies that do not properly protect at risk populations. However, if evil really does exist because good people do nothing then this is not the true starting point. These chains begin in the government offices responsible for resource management and with the officials tasked with formulating plans for confronting poverty. They begin with local police officers too afraid to report how their superiors are taking bribes. They begin with people too compassion fatigued to move away from the assumption that the problems of the world are too large to really confront, and towards logical steps to begin that confrontation.
This is where the story really begins with those willing to take the first steps needed, not just to save the oppressed, but also to keep them from being oppressed in the first place. But what does this look like? What does it mean to stand up and confront such evil? Indeed it can take many forms. The falling story is a true account of one such form.
I was traveling in Thailand for much of 2008 trying to remain occupied until returning to the US to continue my education. With no concrete plan in mind other than to do what I could to help hill tribe minorities and survivors of the Burmese civil war, I traveled around the north of the country for quite some time becoming accounted with various ethnic groups in the region. On a visit to a Lahu village, I happened to meet a man how was taking care of a number of Burmese orphans. He was trustworthy as far as I could tell and was not asking for money, but rather for help in facilitation opportunities to make what he was doing, saving refugee children, sustainable. I jumped at the opportunity to do what I could and contacted my connections in the US as soon as possible. I found a lot of interest in the possibility and began to plan with my new friend how to set up a sustainable home, making us of social business models for the children in his care. The plans continued to grow and new possibilities continued to open. However, a critical element of protecting these children needed to be addressed sooner rather than later. This was their citizenship status. There are several levels of citizenship in Thailand, and being on the lower levels can be very limiting as it makes one more susceptible to not being protected by law enforcement and being forced into disadvantageous economic situations. These children had no status.
In order to begin confronting this issue, he proposed to move them to a district in which he was friends with a caring official who would do what he could to get citizenship papers for them. This cost much and put us in debt however, it was the only way open.
In Thailand, dealing with local government can be somewhat interesting to someone raised with western notions of respect for the written law and adherence to standards of due process. In the US, getting the government to do something can take months if not years. The bureaucratic maze must be respected. In Thailand knowing the rite people and getting on their good side can get citizenship papers over night.
I got invited to a gathering of the local officials to do just that. As mentioned, getting on an official’s good side can open a world of possibilities. At this gathering, getting on one’s good side consisted primarily of accepting as many drinks as possible in order to demonstrate gratitude and open the door for greater honesty. This is exactly what happened.
In a haze all the next day, I continued to wonder why I had so taxed my liver in the name of cultural recognition. That was until I was told that the officials decided to grant citizenship papers to all the children. I felt victorious in as my head continued to spin.
Perhaps it could have happened some other way, but in this way my caring friend, the ethical official who invited us and the sacrifice of my liver all contributed to securing the protection of several at risk children.
What remained to be dealt with was securing their economic protection and that of their brothers and sisters still at risk. How is they supply chain broken on the supply side?
Stay tuned for next time as we explore strategies for full spectrum human security.
This is where the story really begins with those willing to take the first steps needed, not just to save the oppressed, but also to keep them from being oppressed in the first place. But what does this look like? What does it mean to stand up and confront such evil? Indeed it can take many forms. The falling story is a true account of one such form.
I was traveling in Thailand for much of 2008 trying to remain occupied until returning to the US to continue my education. With no concrete plan in mind other than to do what I could to help hill tribe minorities and survivors of the Burmese civil war, I traveled around the north of the country for quite some time becoming accounted with various ethnic groups in the region. On a visit to a Lahu village, I happened to meet a man how was taking care of a number of Burmese orphans. He was trustworthy as far as I could tell and was not asking for money, but rather for help in facilitation opportunities to make what he was doing, saving refugee children, sustainable. I jumped at the opportunity to do what I could and contacted my connections in the US as soon as possible. I found a lot of interest in the possibility and began to plan with my new friend how to set up a sustainable home, making us of social business models for the children in his care. The plans continued to grow and new possibilities continued to open. However, a critical element of protecting these children needed to be addressed sooner rather than later. This was their citizenship status. There are several levels of citizenship in Thailand, and being on the lower levels can be very limiting as it makes one more susceptible to not being protected by law enforcement and being forced into disadvantageous economic situations. These children had no status.
In order to begin confronting this issue, he proposed to move them to a district in which he was friends with a caring official who would do what he could to get citizenship papers for them. This cost much and put us in debt however, it was the only way open.
In Thailand, dealing with local government can be somewhat interesting to someone raised with western notions of respect for the written law and adherence to standards of due process. In the US, getting the government to do something can take months if not years. The bureaucratic maze must be respected. In Thailand knowing the rite people and getting on their good side can get citizenship papers over night.
I got invited to a gathering of the local officials to do just that. As mentioned, getting on an official’s good side can open a world of possibilities. At this gathering, getting on one’s good side consisted primarily of accepting as many drinks as possible in order to demonstrate gratitude and open the door for greater honesty. This is exactly what happened.
In a haze all the next day, I continued to wonder why I had so taxed my liver in the name of cultural recognition. That was until I was told that the officials decided to grant citizenship papers to all the children. I felt victorious in as my head continued to spin.
Perhaps it could have happened some other way, but in this way my caring friend, the ethical official who invited us and the sacrifice of my liver all contributed to securing the protection of several at risk children.
What remained to be dealt with was securing their economic protection and that of their brothers and sisters still at risk. How is they supply chain broken on the supply side?
Stay tuned for next time as we explore strategies for full spectrum human security.
Introduction to human trafficking
Much of the time, policy makers and activists put a lot of focus on getting people out of slavery. Considering the number of people who are in slavery, which again is conservatively put at 27 million and is likely quite higher, this is absolutely critical. However, surprisingly little consideration and focus is given to stopping people from going into slavery in the first place. Thus we will consider the supply side. But instead of talking about this in theoretical terms, let me tell you a story.
Consider Dara. Dara is from a tribal group called the Akha. She and her people live in the mountains of Burma. They have always been marginalized by the dominant lowland civilizations because they are thought of as primitive and backwards. Likewise, most of them can’t speak the national language of the country that has drawn borders around them. This makes education and employment difficult, but it has never really been a problem for them because they have always been able to grow enough food to stay alive. Until now. There is a war in Burma and many Akha are moving to Thailand to avoid being used as human minesweepers. Dara and her family are among them. They live in a small village with no running water or electricity and don’t seem to be able to get enough food anymore. This is because the Thai government frowns on their slash and burn agriculture because it is destroying the rainforest. So Dara’s family resorted to growing and selling opium.
This went well for a while until the Thai government cracked down on opium growing. To their credit, they tried to introduce new cash crops like coffee and fruit trees, but these have a slow turnaround and those in the village need money to buy food now. They scrimp and save and do the best they can. But then Dara’s father died in a traffic accident while trying to transport some of the coffee they grow to market. In addition to growing coffee he also worked seasonally on construction sights in the city, when it wasn’t planting or harvest time. This brought in some extra cash for the family–enough to send Dara to school a few days a week. Since her father died this is no longer possible. Getting enough money for food is no longer possible either.
Things become really complicated when Dara’s little sister contracts a major infection from bad drinking water. Mother borrows what money she can to pay for the medicine. Little sister is safe for now. But the family is in serious debt, with not much hope. Mother does what is normal in the tribe and remarries with the hope that a new man will be able to bring in more income. Unfortunately, the man she marries already has a plan for getting more income. “That girl of yours is getting old enough. It’s time to put her to work in the Karaoke bars down in the city”, he says.
All the older people know what working in the karaoke bars means and everyone expects Dara to do it. After all, it is her duty to do whatever she has to do to support the family. It is every daughter’s obligation to do whatever she can when she is old enough. At 11, she is old enough. The next time the recruiter comes to the village, Dara is handed off to her. She doesn’t know what awaits her in the big city. She also doesn’t know she will never see her family again. After being “broken in” in the city, she is sent to Bangkok for a while and is then sold to a criminal organization that exports her. She ends up in Japan servicing those with a taste for “fresh meat”. She passes away not long after, beaten to death as an “example” to the other children.
This doesn’t need to happen. It wouldn’t have happened if the new stepfather actually cared about her. But it also wouldn’t have happened if the family hadn’t gone into debt paying for medicine to cure water born disease that would not exist if the village had running water. It wouldn’t have happened if her father didn’t have to travel on unsafe roads to get his produce to market. It wouldn’t have happened if there were better agricultural practices in place to provide enough food in the first place. It wouldn’t have happened if education were available to her village so people could learn the national language and get better paying jobs if they wanted. It wouldn’t have happened if there actually were alternative jobs to extremely low wage manual labor or prostitution. It wouldn’t have happened if villagers could have a safe place to bank what little money they have and to get low interest loans in order to start new enterprises. It wouldn’t have happened if the “recruiter” had been restricted from so easily going from place to place. It wouldn’t have happened if her family hadn’t moved from Burma. That wouldn’t have happened if the war were brought to an end in the first place.
This story plays itself out every day in various ways, in millions of lives, all over the world. It will continue to do so until all these the factors contributing to end “product” are dealt with. Stay tuned as we examine how to remedy these contributing factors.
Consider Dara. Dara is from a tribal group called the Akha. She and her people live in the mountains of Burma. They have always been marginalized by the dominant lowland civilizations because they are thought of as primitive and backwards. Likewise, most of them can’t speak the national language of the country that has drawn borders around them. This makes education and employment difficult, but it has never really been a problem for them because they have always been able to grow enough food to stay alive. Until now. There is a war in Burma and many Akha are moving to Thailand to avoid being used as human minesweepers. Dara and her family are among them. They live in a small village with no running water or electricity and don’t seem to be able to get enough food anymore. This is because the Thai government frowns on their slash and burn agriculture because it is destroying the rainforest. So Dara’s family resorted to growing and selling opium.
This went well for a while until the Thai government cracked down on opium growing. To their credit, they tried to introduce new cash crops like coffee and fruit trees, but these have a slow turnaround and those in the village need money to buy food now. They scrimp and save and do the best they can. But then Dara’s father died in a traffic accident while trying to transport some of the coffee they grow to market. In addition to growing coffee he also worked seasonally on construction sights in the city, when it wasn’t planting or harvest time. This brought in some extra cash for the family–enough to send Dara to school a few days a week. Since her father died this is no longer possible. Getting enough money for food is no longer possible either.
Things become really complicated when Dara’s little sister contracts a major infection from bad drinking water. Mother borrows what money she can to pay for the medicine. Little sister is safe for now. But the family is in serious debt, with not much hope. Mother does what is normal in the tribe and remarries with the hope that a new man will be able to bring in more income. Unfortunately, the man she marries already has a plan for getting more income. “That girl of yours is getting old enough. It’s time to put her to work in the Karaoke bars down in the city”, he says.
All the older people know what working in the karaoke bars means and everyone expects Dara to do it. After all, it is her duty to do whatever she has to do to support the family. It is every daughter’s obligation to do whatever she can when she is old enough. At 11, she is old enough. The next time the recruiter comes to the village, Dara is handed off to her. She doesn’t know what awaits her in the big city. She also doesn’t know she will never see her family again. After being “broken in” in the city, she is sent to Bangkok for a while and is then sold to a criminal organization that exports her. She ends up in Japan servicing those with a taste for “fresh meat”. She passes away not long after, beaten to death as an “example” to the other children.
This doesn’t need to happen. It wouldn’t have happened if the new stepfather actually cared about her. But it also wouldn’t have happened if the family hadn’t gone into debt paying for medicine to cure water born disease that would not exist if the village had running water. It wouldn’t have happened if her father didn’t have to travel on unsafe roads to get his produce to market. It wouldn’t have happened if there were better agricultural practices in place to provide enough food in the first place. It wouldn’t have happened if education were available to her village so people could learn the national language and get better paying jobs if they wanted. It wouldn’t have happened if there actually were alternative jobs to extremely low wage manual labor or prostitution. It wouldn’t have happened if villagers could have a safe place to bank what little money they have and to get low interest loans in order to start new enterprises. It wouldn’t have happened if the “recruiter” had been restricted from so easily going from place to place. It wouldn’t have happened if her family hadn’t moved from Burma. That wouldn’t have happened if the war were brought to an end in the first place.
This story plays itself out every day in various ways, in millions of lives, all over the world. It will continue to do so until all these the factors contributing to end “product” are dealt with. Stay tuned as we examine how to remedy these contributing factors.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
On the brink of a new decade. Behind us is ten years of fear and loathing, shame and scandal, war and terror. But these things happen all the time. The only thing that really changed was the level of involvement on the part of America in global conflict and crisis, as well as confronting domestic issues of greed and corruption. In that way it was a time of new beginnings. Polluted with short comings of course, but none the less real steps towards responsibility.
With regard to the decade to come, these beginnings have several possible trajectories. On the one hand, these new steps could lead nowhere. Constant military involvement in in the Middle East and ongoing mindless corruption at home may just continue in a holding pattern. On the other hand, fatigue from the fighting, or more accurately fear and close mindedness, and a lack of willingness to take responsibility could bring us to a tipping point of a shift inwards. We could become self absorbed and try to forget our sins. However, regardless of what seams likely, the question not of what is, but of what can and should be must be asked.
To continue as is in the Middles East would be foolish and counter productive. To allow the corruption that lead to the collapse to continue would be equally so. But to rage against the wars and demand sudden withdrawal would be heartless and irresponsible. Instead we must end put an end to passivity and complacency if it be in allowing things to remain as they are or in going with the crowd in demanding immediate withdrawal. We must take responsibility for our actions. More over we must take responsibility for our abilities. Corrections to the path of travel, which will direct this ship to highest way will not be made if good men and women do nothing.
It is time to act on the full spectrum of possibilities to bring forth the final objective of ultimate victory.
It is time to challenge ignorance and fear and take the steps needed to wine lasting positive peace.
With regard to the decade to come, these beginnings have several possible trajectories. On the one hand, these new steps could lead nowhere. Constant military involvement in in the Middle East and ongoing mindless corruption at home may just continue in a holding pattern. On the other hand, fatigue from the fighting, or more accurately fear and close mindedness, and a lack of willingness to take responsibility could bring us to a tipping point of a shift inwards. We could become self absorbed and try to forget our sins. However, regardless of what seams likely, the question not of what is, but of what can and should be must be asked.
To continue as is in the Middles East would be foolish and counter productive. To allow the corruption that lead to the collapse to continue would be equally so. But to rage against the wars and demand sudden withdrawal would be heartless and irresponsible. Instead we must end put an end to passivity and complacency if it be in allowing things to remain as they are or in going with the crowd in demanding immediate withdrawal. We must take responsibility for our actions. More over we must take responsibility for our abilities. Corrections to the path of travel, which will direct this ship to highest way will not be made if good men and women do nothing.
It is time to act on the full spectrum of possibilities to bring forth the final objective of ultimate victory.
It is time to challenge ignorance and fear and take the steps needed to wine lasting positive peace.
Friday, January 1, 2010
A start
The sun rises over the hill of the skull.
The blood sinks into the darkness of the earth.
It is the place where heaven and earth became the same.
Transformation of all reality expands in all direction
Even the past is transformed.
The sacred flame of the divine consumes all darkness. The holy fire burns in all shadows. The light reveals all truth and that which is bent is forged strait.
To the redemption of all reality is added the genesis of new life.
That which can not be contained and does not stop. In all directions redemption expands.
Sinners are sainted. Sick become phisitions. The weak become champions. True nature is revealed and extremes are reached and passed, as the divine wind passes on by.
Divine wind blow on by. Take my as you fly. Divine light shine on me. Holy fire consume me as I am lost in eternity.
The sun rises on skull hill and shines on love.
The blood sinks into the darkness of the earth.
It is the place where heaven and earth became the same.
Transformation of all reality expands in all direction
Even the past is transformed.
The sacred flame of the divine consumes all darkness. The holy fire burns in all shadows. The light reveals all truth and that which is bent is forged strait.
To the redemption of all reality is added the genesis of new life.
That which can not be contained and does not stop. In all directions redemption expands.
Sinners are sainted. Sick become phisitions. The weak become champions. True nature is revealed and extremes are reached and passed, as the divine wind passes on by.
Divine wind blow on by. Take my as you fly. Divine light shine on me. Holy fire consume me as I am lost in eternity.
The sun rises on skull hill and shines on love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
