"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest." (Matthew 11:28, Message)
In the above video, I noted that the speaker was sharing his reflections on Slavoj Zizek’s “The fragile absolute, or why the Christian legacy is worth fighting for”. I applaud him for being an open-minded atheist who is willing to look beyond differences and have an open dialogue with Christians on how they can work together to form an alternative community that opposes the societal ways of oppression, discrimination and consumerism. As a non-believer, he has a surprisingly good grasp of the gospel about the mission that Jesus and Paul were preaching and promoting, such as the universal truth that we are all one, for there is neither slave nor free, rich or poor, and so on, for all are one in Christ.
I also like his interpretation of Jesus’ words about hating one’s father, mother, brothers and so on, which is about unplugging from the old system of discrimination and injustice and hating this system, and actively challenging instead of passively accepting it. Indeed, we can pursue the mission of Christ by the way we live, such as creating an alternative community that is based on equality and universal brotherhood, regardless of our differences in ethnicities, backgrounds and belief systems.
On 12 March 2013, I went to watch the movie “Oz: The Great and Powerful” with my colleagues. It has been about a couple of years since I last watched a movie. For some reasons, I didn’t enjoy watching this movie. As a matter of fact, I hardly watch movies nowadays, compared to, say, 20 years ago when I was a teenager. Maybe I have grown up somewhat, and my perspective of life has changed. I still appreciate good, thought-provoking and meaningful movies, which are perhaps few and far between. I also appreciate documentary-movies such as “Zeitgeist: The Movie”, “What the Bleep Do We Know?” and “The Living Planet” as these are insightful and interesting, reminding us that we are all equal and we are all connected in the universe and there is more to what we see in the physical world.
“We are here to awake from the illusion of separateness”
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
So, when I watched the movie “Oz: The Great and Powerful”, I felt that the whole premise of the story presentation didn’t quite sit well with me because it appeared to be based on classism, colonialism, imperialism, moralism, monarchy, hierarchical mindset, racial supremacy, and a dualistic mindset of good and evil. With due respect to the actors and actresses who have by and large done fairly well for their respective roles, and I do love fantasy stories that are filled with charm, magic, wonder and adventure, what struck a dissonant chord in me is that somehow the movie came across as a shallow fantasy movie based on racial stereotypes and superficial appearances.
For the past few days, I have been wondering whether I am being overly critical and sensitive to have such an unconventional view of the movie because it seems that the movie is generally well received by the masses in terms of box office figures. So, I decided to google the movie title and add “racism” as a key word, and I am somewhat heartened to know that I am not alone in detecting undertones of racial superiority and discrimination in the movie.
For example, one article noted that “Oz: The Great and Powerful, is based on the novels of L. Frank Baum. Baum was a white supremacist; a flaming racist who called for the extermination of all American Indians.”
Another reviewer wrote:
“I would like to think, as a society, we are beyond such childish and outdated tropes. I wanted Oz the Great and Powerful to take me back to the original movie, not the original time period in which it was released. This movie is damaging. Perhaps I’m over thinking it and taking it too seriously, but this is what we need to start thinking about when watching films, especially films aimed at children. What stereotypes are reinforced? What agenda is being pushed? Even if it’s not intentional, I think it’s high time we embark into a new era of films made for children, one in which expired ways of life and existence aren’t the norm. We should be challenging kids to think harder, imagine deeper and progress at a slightly faster pace. I’m sick of boring. I’m sick of mind numbing nonsense. You should be too. Oz the Great and Powerful is hindering progress with silly messages, racist stereotypes and sexist gender roles.”
Yes, we need progressive movies, not retrogressive ones. As the world becomes more globalised and we are awakening to our oneness and interconnectedness, we need to find new ways to express art and entertainment that are not based on stereotypes and discrimination but rather diversity and equality.
ocean (Photo credit: Stephen Edgar – Netweb)
“All of us are made of the ‘same stuff’, having evolved from the same First Source. To use an analogy: When the ocean first appeared, and then expanded, it was not created as something other than its drops. A drop of the ocean is the same as the ocean. It is the ocean, in smaller form. No single drop is other than the ocean. All the drops of the ocean are One Thing: THE OCEAN.
It would not, therefore, be inaccurate for one drop of the ocean to say to another drop: ‘We Are All One’. The second drop would simply say, ‘Of course we are. Just because we have been singularized does not mean we are other than each other, nor are we other than that of which we are a singularization. We are all the same thing, The Ocean, in singular form.’
This is also true about human beings. We are all the Same Thing, simply individuated. We are not separate from That From Which We Have Emerged, nor are we ‘other than’ each other.”
“Today I put 1200 screws into 100 face frames. So basically that freed up my brain to think about other stuff. Like why am I here? Where am I going and where was I before here?
What if the New Agers are right?
What if we all are one?
What if we had complete intimacy with each other before we came to earth?
And what if this is our first experience in a body?
What if our insecurities are really rooted in separation anxiety from each other? Maybe we really miss the that unity with each other?
What if this is our first time where we can’t hear each other’s thoughts?
What if before we came here we never had to guess each other’s motives?
What if we chose to come to earth because we wanted our souls to grow in wisdom, love, forgiveness, knowledge and compassion?
What if our enemies were our best of friends in a previous life?
What if the rich and famous are the beginners in their soul refinement and the poor minorities are ready to graduate?
What if suffering produces substance to the soul?
What if our souls have no gender and that’s why people of the same sex love each other?
What if we’re no longer human after we die?
What if this is the first time I’ve been given the opportunity to have a self?
What if I was so intertwined with the rest of you that selfishness wasn’t even a possibility for me then?
Why do I have these thoughts? Because I’ve tasted true intimacy. I’ve been intimate with both men and women in a non-sexual way. I’ve experienced compassion within myself that moved me like nothing else ever has. It’s beautiful to feel someone’s hurt. It’s a privilege that someone would let me feel their pain. And of course it’s exhilarating to be so supportive of someone that you explode with pride when they accomplish the seemingly impossible.
I don’t think life is a test. I think life is a college. And maybe we’re not graded on our performance. Maybe we’re all just auditing the classes that interest us. And maybe everything I just wrote is total bullshit. Either way, I’m not dogmatic about life anymore. I have lots of questions now. And that gives my soul a sense of awe that it didn’t have when I knew everything when I was a Christian.
I hope we all enjoy earth while we can. We’re not here very long. So seize the day!”
-Mike Myers
Being free from the institutional religion does encourage us to think beyond the theological box, freely and boldly indeed. I like the questions he posed – some of them are similar to the questions that I have considered before, such as the possibility that we are all one and the new agers are right (since they subscribe to ancient wisdom that depends on intuition). He has asked many other good questions based on reason and observation – such as “What if suffering produces substance to the soul?” I think that may be a mystery that unfurls and unfolds over time because many a times, we see and experience suffering in ourselves or in others as a means to become more compassionate and understanding, which otherwise might not have developed if we had an easier life.
This in turn may answer the question “What if the rich and famous are the beginners in their soul refinement and the poor minorities are ready to graduate?” It seems to me that, apart from some rag-to-riches stories of how hardship builds people’s character and compassion, most of the people who are addicted to fame and wealth (in business, entertainment, religious, political circles, etc) are spiritually impoverished compared to those who do not have as much and are free from such addictions – maybe that’s what Jesus means by “blessed are the poor (in spirit), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” to describe the paradoxical reality.
Overall, I agree with his view that life is a college in which we learn and “grow in wisdom, love, forgiveness, knowledge and compassion”. There may be no definite answers to the mystery behind the afterlife, but it is always worth being open to the possibilities of being connected to the eternal realm and being temporary visitors on earth, as described in the Australian Aboriginal proverb in this blog.
“There will come a day when people of all races, colors, and creeds will put aside their differences. They will come together in love, joining hands in unification, to heal the Earth and all Her children. They will move over the Earth like a great Whirling Rainbow, bringing peace, understanding and healing everywhere they go. Many creatures thought to be extinct or mythical will resurface at this time; the great trees that perished will return almost overnight. All living things will flourish, drawing sustenance from the breast of our Mother, the Earth.
The great spiritual Teachers who walked the Earth and taught the basics of the truths of the Whirling Rainbow Prophecy will return and walk amongst us once more, sharing their power and understanding with all. We will learn how to see and hear in a sacred manner. Men and women will be equals in the way Creator intended them to be; all children will be safe anywhere they want to go. Elders will be respected and valued for their contributions to life. Their wisdom will be sought out. The whole Human race will be called The People and there will be no more war, sickness or hunger forever.”
“Man Prayer” – A postmodern definition of masculinity
Video information
Violence against women hurts everyone, including men. We invite our brothers to take up this cause, and be free from the limiting structures of our modern definition of masculinity! #MenRise
Here’s sharing this video on “man prayer” I watched just now, which is meant to “invite our brothers to take up this cause (of ending violence against women), and be free from the limiting structures of our modern definition of masculinity”. I agree with its postmodern definition of masculinity, which is about having confidence that comes from the depth of his being and understanding that vulnerability is his greatest strength. Yes, perhaps it can be said that a postmodern man is one who creates space rather than dominates it, who appreciates listening more than knowing, who seeks kindness over control, who cries when the grief is too much, who refuses any act of violence, who cherishes touch more than performance and the experience more than getting there, and is brave enough to share his fear and shame as well as gather other men to do the same, as mentioned in the prayer. Yes, and may the resonance of that love translates into loving all women and living things.
1BRSD “Break The Chain” Flashmob San Diego
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The San Diego One Billion Rising Crew pulls off a “Break the Chain” flashmob in Balboa Park on February 2, 2013. This is part of ONE BILLION RISING, a global movement to end violence against women.
On 2/14/13:
STRIKE at 2:14 pm for 20 minutes. See our website for mini-rising locations.
MARCH at 4:30 pm at City Hall with Mayor Bob Filner. See our website for march route.
DANCE at 6:30 pm at the Organ Pavilion with a lineup of special guests and musical artists (free!)
Lyrics by Tena Clark
Music by Tena Clark/Tim Heintz
Intro-
I raise my arms to the sky
On my knees I pray
I’m not afraid anymore
I will walk through that door
Walk, dance, rise
Walk, dance, rise
I can see a world where we all live
Safe and free from all oppression
No more rape or incest, or abuse
Women are not a possession
You’ve never owned me, don’t even know me I’m not invisible, I’m simply wonderful I feel my heart for the first time racing I feel alive, I feel so amazing
I dance cause I love
Dance cause I dream
Dance cause I’ve had enough
Dance to stop the screams
Dance to break the rules
Dance to stop the pain
Dance to turn it upside down
Its time to break the chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain
Dance, rise
Dance, rise
In the middle of this madness, we will stand I know there is a better world Take your sisters & your brothers by the hand Reach out to every woman & girl
This is my body, my body’s holy
No more excuses, no more abuses
We are mothers, we are teachers,
We are beautiful, beautiful creatures
I dance cause I love
Dance cause I dream
Dance cause I’ve had enough
Dance to stop the screams
Dance to break the rules
Dance to stop the pain
Dance to turn it upside down
It’s time to break the chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain
Dance Break Inst.
Dance, rise
Dance, rise
Sister won’t you help me, sister won’t you rise x4
Dance, rise
Dance, rise
Sister won’t you help me, sister won’t you rise x4
This is my body, my body’s holy
No more excuses, no more abuses
We are mothers, we are teachers,
We are beautiful, beautiful creatures
I dance cause I love
Dance cause I dream
Dance cause I’ve had enough
Dance to stop the screams
Dance to break the rules
Dance to stop the pain
Dance to turn it upside down
Its time to break the chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain
English: the picture consist of articles on bullying, I obtained it from public domain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I have read this article entitled “Utah mother hopes son’s death will help put a stop to bullying”, and I can relate to the boy’s experiences of having been bullied when he was growing up as I have also been bullied before when I was in school. Although it was not intense bullying unlike the case reported in the article, the episodes in which I was made to feel I don’t fit in resulted in me having memory flashbacks by the time I reached university, and their hurtful words would remind me I don’t matter. I had suicidal thoughts at times, and writing diary entries and poems was an outlet for me to vent the feelings of rejection and loneliness.
The past hurts have in a way enabled me to understand what others go through when they were bullied – I have come to realise words are powerful and have a long term psychological effect. The schoolmates who said hurtful words to me probably didn’t realise the impacts and some might think they were just making fun of me. I can understand why the 13-year-old boy would take his own life because of the frequent psychological bullying he received in school when he was made to feel he could not fit in.
I think teenagers growing up at that age usually are finding their own identity and peer acceptance was important to them. If they are made to feel rejected constantly, it would seem like life would no longer be worth living for them. Like what the boy’s mother said, she hopes people take to heart the message of kindness and acceptance for schools and communities and households, and she wants to be able to say her son’s death was not in vain.
Stop Bullying Now – ASL
Video information
Gallaudet University graduate students in the Dept. of social work made this video as part of the honor society, Mu Pi.
Our hope is to spread awareness, address bullying within our schools and communities, and prevent future harm to children and adolescents.
#StopBullyingNow
Video information
I know what it feels like to be bullied. It sucks. Please make sure you share this video with your friends! Together we can put a end to bullying. #StopBullyingNow
Slave to the senses Spirit prevails over the material
Go and Get it Sit in You and Attract
(work harder/work smarter) everything you need
I find that the quick reference chart that compares between Pisces and Aquarian ages mostly resonates with me, especially the excerpt I have typed out above. For example, as we move into the dawn of the Aquarian age in 2012, so to speak, we are seeing more awareness of our oneness and unity, instead of duality and illusion of separation. We are also becoming more aware of abundance, instead of scarcity (as propagated by the old world monetary economic system).
As more and more of us are leaving organised religions and dismissing fear-based doctrines, we are learning to be motivated and led by love within. We are also taking personal responsibility instead of depending on authority. Those who want to remain in the old world mindset that belongs to the Piscean age in order to hold on to power, control and money through fear, manipulation and greed will not have an easy time in future because more and more of us are awakening to the divinity and abundance in ourselves.
Last but not least, yes, our spirit prevails over the material realm and no longer goes by the five senses. We are learning to be still and know we are God/Goddess, and remain in peace, and we will attract everything that we need. When we rest in our true identity, we will be able to follow our intuition closely and make wise decisions in life.
“The Aquarian Shift” – J. Walker
Video information
The Aquarian Shift has been called by many the first “New Age Rap Song”. J.Walker is an emcee who has always lived life metaphysically minded. When presented Eric Rankin’s novel “The Aquarians”, J.Walker wrote a song which speaks to the hope, magic and synchronicity which fills the book and many of the mapmakers in today’s world.
The Aquarian Shift explores the possibility that the end of the Mayan Calendar is the beginning of a new consciousness. December 21, 2012 is not the end of the world but the beginning of a new reality, one where we will focus on peace and love, one where imagination and creativity will be valued more than ever, one where the old ways of the Pisces age take a back seat to the Aquarian energy.
Here’s sharing a video I came across recently which I found to have a hopeful message.
In the video, Albert Einstein was quoted as saying “the field is the sole governing agency of the particle”, and it was explained that this refers to the energy field in quantum physics that connects all things. Incidentally, Gregg Braden was then shown to be saying that we can speak a meaningful, non-verbal language to this field, which is similar to his message in the video on his new book “The spontaneous healing of belief – shattering the paradigm of false limits”.
Some parts of the above video seem familiar, and I think it may have watched a similar 2012 awakening video that was made along similar lines. I like the message in the video, such as “the power of many hearts in a state of unity have the awesome potential to bring peace to our planet.” I think this is possible only or mainly when more people practise meditation and deep breathing. It reminds me of what I read in the book preview of “The Silence of the Heart: Reflections of the Christ Mind – Part II” recently by Paul Ferrini.
“Take a deep breath and relax. Now take another one. Breathe and return to the heart. Breathe and return to your essential Self.
Unless you return to the heart, you cannot see with compassion. And one who does not see with compassion does not see accurately. All that is perceived is a fabrication, a hyperbole. It simply feeds your boredom or anxiety.
Breathing is the key to living a spiritual life in physical embodiment.
…
If you want to lead a spiritual life breathe deeply and slowly. … One who breathes is not afraid or overwhelmed by what life presents because he or she has the energy to meet all circumstances.”
I have listened to this recent message by Ralph Smart about “2012: The Great Shift—The Hidden Comes to Light…Love or Fear”, and many of the things he shared is in alignment with what I have personally believed. For example, while the year 2012 may be a significant year to many people in terms of a Great Shift going on, marked by the expansion of universal consciousness on the planet whereby people are going within and connecting with kindred spirit, it is in and of itself not really different from 2000 or 2050 because ultimately we are beyond time as we are infinite beings and part of the fabric of a timeless and self-existing Universe/Nature. We are the past, present and future, as he put it.
I am realising that 2012 can be used as a tool or instrument for human beings to move towards a global awakening of our oneness with Divine Love and with one another, and at the same time, it has been “hijacked” by mass media (such as Hollywood) to propagate visions of physical destruction of the world to spread fear because fear can be used as a money-making machine. So 2012 can be seen as a neutral year – neither good nor bad – and it depends on how people see it and use it for their own purposes.
As he has shared, the apocalypse in the Greek means “uncovering hidden” and “removing the veil”, and I agree many of us are indeed coming to realise we have been living in an old world system that is a lie, and we are awakening and creating a new world – that we came here to discover who we are, and to live in abundance and freedom and celebrate the gift of the present moment.
Meet Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher of North Carolina. They have been married 86 years and hold the Guinness World Record for the longest marriage of a living couple. Zelmyra is 101 years old and Herbert is 104! 1 like = congratulations to the both of them ♥
Here is a beautiful couple of centenarians who have been married for 86 years. I am happy for them and I find them inspiring for having the longest marriage for a living couple – they looked strong, healthy and blessed in the above photograph too.
“Remember marriage is not a contest—never keep a score. God has put the two of you together on the same team to win.”
I am a beloved child of God, and so are you. We are spiritual beings on a human journey. My main interests in life include Nature, music, spirituality, inspiration, philosophy, sports, reading and photography.
