cosmic rapture

improperly cooked: the pottage sure is a mess

It's a strange world, and getting stranger by the minute. If you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem.

I don't know what the solution is, but we all know what the problems are. And if people of good will and goodwill put their heads and hearts and hands together, we can help steer the doomed Titanic of human culture out of the path of the iceberg of human greed and selfishness.

IMHO many of the problems are the direct result of the actions of large corporations, especially 'multi-nationals'. Below are a couple of ideas to (hopefully) spark some debate.

drunken hearted man revisited

Thanks to 'autotune' (vocoder) and a complete lack of singing ability, the so-called lyrics to the song confusingly entitled 'zombie bloodeater' are completely inaudible. Needless to say, when I wrote the words I was pissed out of my mind. So whether you want 'em or not, below please find the lyrics to 'drunken-hearted man'

Should be "drunken-minded man" but who cares
the main thing is no-one can even think of selling their wares
covered in vomit, sprawled pubes-up in a gutter
(and I don’t care what you mind about what I should or shouldn’t utter).

take ten tablets and call me in the morning

The Ten Commandments	the ten suggestions
I am the Lord thy God.	we're all in this together
Thou shalt have no other gods [for the Lord thy God is a jealous god].	thou shalt have as many gods as thou damn well pleaseth (but try to avoid obedience and priests)
Thou shalt not worship graven images or likenesses.	graven or not, art is a great way to express ideas, emotions and relationships (but go easy on the worship: it's bad for the knees)
Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain.	it's good to be on first-name terms with those you love
Remember the sabbath day [and keep it holy].	don't forget to rest and relax, and remember, every day's a holiday
Honour thy father and thy mother.	honour everyone and everything
Thou shalt not kill.	it's usually possible to avoid killing; live and let live
Thou shalt not commit adultery.	enjoy all pleasures to the max; sex is great and good, as long as you don't hurt anyone
Thou shalt not steal.	property is theft
Thou shalt not bear false witness.	telling lies will hurt you and haunt you
Thou shalt not covet.	you won't find peace or joy in being envious

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lost in transit

Person #1: "...for ye have sent me nothing but angels..."

Person #2: Yes, but most weren't very helpful.

Person #3: And it gets monotonous after a while: How 'bout some devils, just to bling it up a little?

Person #4: OK, consider it done. All you gotta do is ask.

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an esoteric instruction as to why meditation is fruitless for some fruit-eaters

Thangkas painted by Shawu Tsering and photographed by Jill Morley Smith are in the private collection of Gyurme Dorje.

This is part of a series of posts about The Tibetan Book of The Dead. I'm reading the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition, first published in Britain 2005, with introductory comments from the Dalai Lama. Includes amazingly stunning artwork.

Previous posts in this series include the assembly of peaceful and wrathful deities, and how eating dogshit can help you avert death

What I now believe is that... What I'll believe tomorrow is... Concerning the peaceful and wrathful deities, they're growing on me! I'm trying to build a richer, deeper understanding of them. Part of that understanding is that I think each is an aspect or aspects of themselves, each other, and ourselves.

paradox of Zeno

The ancient greek philosopher Zeno argued that motion is an illusion, just can't happen. And yet, he had many stools.

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yes, I'm talking to YOU

Something amazing and wonderful has happened, is happening.

You know what I mean. You already know what it is. And if you don't you will soon enough. So I don't need to tell you any more, do I? (Deranged laughter!)

Love you lots!

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a new stove, before my symmetry is violently compactified

Due to a darkly energetic headache, I ain't gonna do any more work on the following non-quantum entanglemeant: sorry.

Do I hear "boring: Here he goes again!"? Yes! But at least this time it's briefish, being simply two less-than-super knotty strings to cut, unravel or totally ignore, as you pleeze.

symmetry breaking... violence... killing cats... collapsing the wave function... imposing a value on a variable... birth... death ... black hole... white bang...

the assembly of peaceful and wrathful deities

The male buddha Vairocana in union with the female buddha Akasadhatvisvari. Thangkas painted by Shawu Tsering and photographed by Jill Morley Smith are in the private collection of Gyurme Dorje. First, an apology for the previous post. Making fun of things by quoting them out of context is unproductive. Another apology-warrantable offence is making fun of things one doesn't know very much about: sorry.

This post is about the so-called "peaceful and wrathful deities" referred to in The Tibetan Book of the Dead (deluxe edition, Penguin, 2005).

Here's a crude summary: when you're dead, initially you may encounter things that may seem to be deities but which are really just products of the mind/imagination.

how eating dogshit can avert death

Wrathful deities of the Vajra family. Thangkas painted by Shawu Tsering and photographed by Jill Morley Smith are in the private collection of Gyurme Dorje

Been reading the Tibetan Book of the Dead (deluxe edition, Penguin, 2005). Here's an excerpt from the "Specific Rites for Averting Death":

"When the indication of protruding ankle bones appears, one should face westward towards the sun when it is close to setting and remove one's clothes. Then, placing a dog's tail under oneself,

enlightenment? or a cold beer instead?

What is this thing called "enlightenment" and why would one want it?

I've got nothing against the concept: I just want to know what the specific benefits are.

the evil sandwich

Once upon a brunch I bought a sandwich from a gnarled and rustic seller ensconced quite gaily in a gaudy booth one inauspicious day.

‘Twas ham and cheese: I remember it well, as if ‘twere but this very toothsome morn itself that I reluctantly but expectantly forked over four clinking dollarim, sponduleks if you will, to that aged and curly purveyor ensconced within zir gaudy booth that foul and fractious morn.

categories of insomnia

Having trouble sleeping? Read this post. It's about category error. See how many paragraphs you can get through before you nod off.

Consider the statement: "nothing doesn't exist". Two meanings, apparently contradictory.