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archives 2004
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archives 2004 |
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Questions & Answers - 2004 archives(formerly The Arizona Forum of Esotericism) Question (12/04): Finding the right moods in which to write, say poetry, or even to read are often elusive, what gives? Answer: Yes, it does seem to take a particular mood and being overly pragmatic seems to be the culprit. Perhaps one could say a melancholy mood is the best. If you'd like to catch up on your poetry or reading, don't expect that you'll be in the right mood after balancing your checkbook or fixing the roof. Try being philosophical upon awaking (which should carry over) and don't take on anything mentally taxing beforehand. Question (11/04): You speak of shamelessness but you too are pushing your books rather hard... where do you draw the line? Answer: Ah, the boundaries indeed. Well, lets call that line honesty and while salesmen know when they are crossing it, probably all have from time to time. While that in itself is a shameful act, using overly aggressive sales tactics is another. One shouldn't be so aggressive as to be irritating, I think shamelessness also comes when promoting something of which the downsides aren't voluntarily addressed. And where do I think we stand? As to honesty, we felt compelled to address the downsides of our books through our own (1) reviews (2) reviews. As to aggressiveness, while we try to promote our books the best we know how, we try not to be tacky or pushy. If anyone thinks we are, we'd like to know. Neither do we think our claims about our books are outrageous. Only those persons who never got in tune with the spirit world while reading our books would think so. Question (10/04): There is talk that the Internet is a bad influence on kids, what do you think? Answer: I agree, shamelessness is rampant on the Internet and demonstrated in many ways. There is a certain amount of anonymity associated with running a website of course and anonymity can bring out the worst in human nature. While this could be a positive learning experience for children, otherwise known as reality, the fact that it is seemingly condoned by almost everyone is the downside. Such should always be openly lambasted. Question (9/04): Is there uneasiness in the air these days? Answer: It seems so, but it is most evident in a curious way... aloofness. It seems more and more people are becoming less down-to-earth in casual conversations. To avoid speaking of reality is to avoid thinking about it. Aloofness is to hide one's frustrations. There are many reasons for this uneasiness, from the war in Iraq to other negative trends. Any of these can effect people and they seem to be piling up. Question (8/04): How can one routinely keep up spirituality? Answer: Well, first of all I'm glad you recognized it as a necessary exercise... since most people don't recognize spirituality as even being an actual function. While to think spirituality should be as much a daily regimen as combing your hair, but realistically, in light of the daily distractions, it's not easy to think spiritually. Also, as you might know, it takes awhile before the rewards from thinking spiritually become evident and a sustained period is usually necessary. While there are often 'practical' reasons thinking spiritually may be counterproductive (for the task at hand), a daily situation often, or even hourly, nonetheless there are many times when it is possible. However, we don't always seize those opportunities... being hard to turn one's mental attitude around on a dime. Whether one can manage a routine or not, the main thing is that the spirit world isn't routinely forgotten. Question (7/04): Am I alone thinking America has taken a turn for the worse? Answer: Well, it's not the American people going bad... the current administration just makes it seem so, but bad examples always influence some. While it could be said it is evil at work, I'm not so sure, but it is about stupidity... and arrogance. The current administration, it often seems, is the most inept in American history since they've done more damage to America's reputation than all the others combined. In less than one term, they've managed to burn every bridge we've built in the last 150 years. At this rate, and given a second term, World War III is probable, if not already in the first stages. I'm even fearful war with Europe might no longer be inconceivable... ironically, because of what lurks in the shadows of the newly-formed International Criminal Court (ICC). Bush's war against the one-year-old ICC has not only alienated us from Europe, but worldwide... but most Americans don't know this because the U.S. media rarely mentions it. Bush's war against the ICC is one of the hottest news stories circling the globe, except in America. Europe is outraged over Bush's actions against the ICC but, it is becoming increasingly clear to me, Europe's backing of the ICC is not solely for humanitarian reasons. If you're not aware of what's going on, see our ICC webpage. All along I've been trying to remain open, trying to give Bush the benefit of the doubt... but not without uneasiness. The only possible saving grace for Bush, in the end, is if the war in Iraq is really about keeping nuclear weapons out of greater Arabia (the Middle East). If that is truly the main reason, then despite Bush's crude, callous and bungling ways, his actions (Iraq War) could be justified. Yet, for decades in America, for various political and strategic reasons, it has not been in vogue to tell the public the real reasons we fight wars. In other words, I think Bush knew there weren't any WMD in Iraq. So, perhaps by not telling us the truth is why his actions look so stupid... but then again, he has 'unlawful combatants' held indefinitely in Cuba without being charged (that's either stupid or evil, take your pick). However to curb the proliferation of nuclear weapons, any cleverness in the manner he's going about it... successes will tell. Yet embedded are acts of stupidity and callousness everywhere. It makes one wonder about the wisdom of a master plan if all its components are flawed, most notably uncompromising and arrogant attitudes which are recruiting terrorists faster than our military can destroy. Question (6/04): How best can one handle impoverishment? Answer: We all know it's a matter of attitude but it revolves around making adjustments. Making these adjustments, of course, is often the hard part. For many, thrown out the window is also one's pride. But with the bath-water is not the baby... it just seems so at the time. In order to have a healthy attitude about this is to be objective... that's the secret. Considering the worst part is the loss of one's 'social standing', then it is to consider what real value a social standing has. For the most part, it is plastic and a false sense of worth. Once you recognize this, being broke is just a bump in the road... farmers experience this dozens of times. Question (5/04): Some believe spiritual contacts are a private affair and should remain private, what say you? Answer: I've heard that myself just recently from a woman who has participated in Indian 'sweat houses' (American Indian). A few years earlier, I knew a man who wouldn't talk about it either. At the time, I thought this man was just the type who didn't like expressing deep personal experiences. However, I should have known there could be a taboo attached, as the woman said. From my own experiences, although not in a sweat house, was the feeling it was a private affair also. Each time I related an experience, it was as if I shouldn't. I've since wondered what repercussions, if any, there might be. So far, there hasn't been. Actually, my luck has changed for the better. Nor was I denied experiencing more, although it sometimes seems to have subsided. In my case, I can understand why it has subsided... my situation is different. One's realities dictate their frame-of-mind which, in turn, dictate one's degree of spiritual experiences. It is also the case of being different types of experiences, as if evolving. This leads me to believe there really isn't a taboo, but the feeling it should be kept private is for other reasons. First of all, to relate them is to feel you're coming across like a madman. Whether consciously or subconsciously, I'm not sure which, we know that isn't in our best interests. It doesn't take long for the word to spread. It would be as if to admit for the first time you once robbed a bank... besides jail, your reputation would be ruined. In short, we are always on guard to protect our vitally important reputation. Secondly, although perhaps primary, is the strong sense for one-upmanship in spiritual matters. It seems to be a matter of competition, of a primordial and basic nature. Instinctually, as if we were still sperm, every advantage, one feels, should be kept close to the vest. For more on this see Divine Intellect. On the other hand, those who have experienced nirvana (bodhisattvas), unselfishly are willing to share their knowledge. Question (4/04): What do you make of the current situation in Iraq and terrorism? Answer: The collection of worldwide events occurring today seems to indicate World War III is already underway. Thankfully it may not resemble the two previous world wars but a world war nonetheless. However a matter as to what constitutes one I suppose. Is it the number of countries involved or the level of destruction? Even though much of the world was involved in Yugoslavia, it was localized whereas today religious terrorism is practically worldwide. Perhaps one would have the tendency to use WWI and WWII as comparisons but I don't think all world wars will be the same. This world war should be far less destructive than World War II for example. Just because WWII caused more destruction than WWI doesn't mean each world war will get progressively worse as expected... these are only two instances and not enough to make a reliable projection. And who are the warring parties today? Since there are no discernable front lines, actually one could say it is the 21st century fighting the middle ages... primarily western civilization versus religious radicalism. Who says all world wars must be the same? The 4th world war may be humanity vs. transnational corporations. Question (3/04): In your most recent (January 2004) assessment of dreams, what did you mean by 'this adaptability could represent the capabilities of the soul'? Answer: I should have expanded on that. What I meant was that the soul could, in the afterlife, have the ability to choreograph its existence at will, first by creating and then adjusting its circumstances on the fly. Before I elaborate, a few things first. My contentions are predicated on how I believe the soul's state of existence would be in the afterlife... that is, the soul would exist only in what might be described as being in a dream state. Actually, this 'dream state' is just another form of existence... that is, assuredly 'existence' itself is not just limited to life as we know it (requiring a physical body). While probably everyone expects the afterlife will be different, with many believing the afterlife would mean 'being alive' but in spiritual form, I'm suggesting how one might experience such an existence except it wouldn't be the same as 'being alive'. For this purpose let's consider 'soul' and 'spirit' as being one-in-the-same. While there is a difference between 'life' and 'existence', but if to bring the spirit world into the analysis, the end result is somewhat the same... it is to experience. Experiencing is what life and/or an existence is all about. Not to experience is not to exist. Actually, humans can 'experience' in two different ways, both consciously and while dreaming. Whether or not that would be an advantage over being a spirit, without human form or human senses, who knows? While not to know pain, a soul is not to know sensory pleasures either, except for its memory of them. As to how the soul 'experiences', it would be similar to the most vivid of dreams, but effectively as real to them as tangibility. We've all experienced dreams which, at the time, seemed real. Importantly for this argument, we were experiencing these dreams oblivious to all physical realities around us which, in essence, makes no reality more 'real' than another. As for this spiritual 'existence', a previous life (as a human) enriches that experience and, I believe, the reason for being human. It is a way to collect memories to feed upon later because without taking on a physical form, worthwhile memories could not develop. As we've noticed while dreaming, the experience can rapidly evolve and change directions. Yet, humans have no conscious control over this, dreams seem to be randomly influenced by a multitude of factors, primarily by memories, cravings and anxieties, past and present. As for the soul, essentially an imagination with a memory, it should have the ability to manipulate the action to some extent, more to its liking... but I only sense this, I can't back it up. The extent of this ability could vary and be predicated on those things surrounding 'worthiness'. This 'action' would likely be unlimited in scope, endless in diversity, encompassing all things an imagination could possibly project based on memories. As memory should influence the action to a great extent, for some the experience could effectively be heaven, for others... hell. Question (2/04): With so much to consider, how can we generalize about a country? You know, the impression we have of it as a whole. Answer: First of all, in peacetime you can't really judge a people as a whole. People are people throughout the world, all having the same human traits, the exception being sociopolitical attitudes. Even though they can vary widely, usually there's one particular dominate attitude among people within a nation, often different from that of other nations. Government and religious propaganda is the main reason but also because cultural differences can affect attitudes. It is nonetheless pitiful why people so easily adopt the most popular attitude, almost always artificially generated. We know the usual reasons though, for a sense of belonging and for fearing rejection, but if that's the only reasons it makes it even more pitiful. At any rate, however dominate the consensus within a country, most of the time it may only represent a simple majority although depending on events it can fluctuate. During peacetime, never is one particular attitude unanimous but if a country was at war then almost every citizen is of the same mind... making that attitude represent the face of the country. In other words, in peacetime a country can have many faces, perhaps thousands, but in war, usually just one. If a country was instead a multi-headed creature, it would be a situation whereby the more faces it had the more harmless it would be. The faces of this creature would change however as political climates change and so would the number of faces it had. Even if it had 3-4 larger faces and hundreds of smaller ones, it would still be docile. Only when one face overly dominates is when we need to worry. Question (1/04): Your thoughts on dreams are intriguing, how did you ascertain them? Answer: If you are referring to dreams representing the activities of the soul, I only believe that could be true for some 'types' of dreams. For some reason, undoubtedly because of the nature of dreams I've been having the last year or so, I began to diligently analyze them upon awakening. In doing so, there actually seems to be 'types' of dreams... some are different because of being very involved with more continuity. I've also noticed that after awakening from some, I'm breathing heavily to catch my breath. Not so surprising, I've also found that the contents of some dreams contain many things I observed or was thinking about the previous day. The types of dreams that interests me the most are the ones that are long-running adventures, or seemingly long-running. These types of dreams don't seem to draw on memories or recent thoughts, but create, out of the blue, the scenes, action and personalities involved. These types of dreams could represent, I think, the activities of the soul... but for language limitations, semantics, I can't quite explain why yet since I haven't found a way to structure my arguments. On the other hand I've concluded that most dreams are merely that, just dreams... with no more meaning that a twitching muscle. There is something else interesting about these long-running adventures, the meaning of which I never pondered at first... that they evolve. In other words, what might be a car one instant becomes a bicycle the next. Or that the person you are with, who is often nobody you've ever known in 'real life', can change into someone else after awhile. This adaptability, while probably believed due to merely straying thoughts, I think instead there is a great significance. While it would be premature to draw any conclusions, I sense that this adaptability could represent the capabilities of the soul if it were, say, on its own... as in the afterlife. End of 2004 sessions For information about this website and its contents (about us), see Introduction >TOP >HOME ... the place of smoke signals from the spirit world |
A.O. Kime articles —AGRICULTURE
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