A weblog with random thoughts, reflections and more.
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Friday, December 20, 2002
Visual Representations & Transdual View
 Even before I heard of Odd Nerdrum, I thought that the most powerful paintings would be figuartive, infused with a sense of spirit and timelessness, and address the issues facing us today. I was later forunate enough to become his student, and parallel with that explored transdual views in various ways. I was struck with how his paintings in many ways represent a transdual view. They embrace polarities, and emphasize strongly each end of the polarities:
1. Parts and whole - immense attention to details, and the details integrated into an organic whole
2. Figurative and abstraction - a naturalism that makes human bodies come alive, and an abstraction in composition and background that is comparable with the best abstract painters
3. Color and Shade - vibrant colors and immense attention to light and shade
4. Aesthetics and content - beauty and message strongly present
5. Matter and spirit - bodies infused with a sense of the numinous
In our culture, we are trained to emphasize one end of a polarity, and deemphasize the other. Sometimes we take it further, and assign values and see one end as "good" and the other as "bad". We fracture our world that way, and remove ourselves further from our nature, and the nature of the Earth and Universe.
Modern art often reflects a blindly dualistic view, embracing one end of a polarity and rejecting the other. The same can be seen throughout our civilization. It is a view that leads to a sense of constant conflict, and to choices made out of blind attractions and aversions. Feeling that we must keep our distance to one end of the polarity, and seek the other, leads to a neurotic relationship to our world.
The world is one whole, embracing all polarities. Everything just is.
Embracing both ends of the polarities, we can familiarize ourselves with them both - in ourselves and the larger world. From that, we are freed up to make more consious choices of how we relate to our world. We can act more out of awareness and balance, and less from blind attractions and aversions.
Friday, December 20, 2002
Thursday, December 12, 2002
Feedback Loops & Life
A living system needs good feedback loops to self-correct.
We make choices based on the information we receive. We sense cold temperatures, and make a choice to wear thicker clothing, or move indoors or to a warmer climate. We sense hunger, and seek food. In the same way, we change our behavior based on the information we receive of its effects. Accurate and sufficient feedback information is vital for our quality of life, and ultimately our survival.
The same is true for larger living systems, including human culture and society.
Realizing this, it becomes of vital importance to analyze the important feedback loops in our current society. Where are they? Do they give us sufficient and accurate information? What impacts the quality of information we receive? How can we improve the quality of information? If we were to design a feedback system that gives sufficient and accurate feedback information, how would it look?
We can identify the feedback loops by looking at who determines public discourse in our current society. Who determines which issues people feel are important, and which questions are asked and not asked? It seems that the role is filled by two main players: media and politicians. To determine the quality of the information, we need to look at how they make their choices. How do they determine which issues are important and which angles to take? In today's world, the large majority of media outlets are owned by a few multinational corporations. These corporations often have significant interests outside of the media world (bioengineering, military industry, etc). The interests of the media then becomes aligned with the interests of multinational corporations. Similarly, politicians (especially in the US) are dependent on financial support from multinational corporations to be elected and re-elected. Their interests too are aligned with those of the corporations. What are the interests of multinational corporations? They are beholden to their stockholders, required to maximize profit in any way possible. Their interests are not aligned with the interests of people in general, and even less so with the interest of nonhuman beings and future generations.
Is this how we would design a feedback system that gives sufficient and accurate information?
What can we do about it? The long term solution is to limit the power of corporations. In the short term, one remedy is to support the emerging global independent media network. A network giving voice to those voiceless in mainstream media, and focus to alternative views and often ignored issues. For one dose of information from mainstream media, we can seek to balance it with one dose of information from the independent media.
A selection of my own favorites:
Common Dreams
Independent Media Center
One World
ZNet
Yes! Journal for a Positive Future
And more:
Independent Media
Media Literacy
News Sources
Thursday, December 12, 2002
Monday, December 09, 2002
Happiness & Choice
Happiness is a choice. Simple, but not easy...
Happiness comes from within, independent of external situations. It is chosen, or not. Of course, realizing it to the point where there is a real choice, takes skills and practice.
We are thoroughly trained, especially in our western culture, to experience our happiness as completely dependent on external situations. External situations "create" responses and feelings in us, just like a mathematical formula (2+2=4). Of course, this is not true, but it takes insight, practice and patience to turn this around.
Choosing happiness, independent on circumstances, can be learned, and the tools are there. I have found the most effective ones in the Tibetan mind-training (lo jong) teachings. (Lama Zopa's "Transforming Suffering Into Happiness" is an excellent beginning).
Monday, December 09, 2002
Sunday, December 08, 2002
Dreams of Impermanence
I did a solo retreat this weekend, and had the following dream on the last day:
An experienced diver lead me through a series of underground caverns. They were filled with ice cold water and I wore a dry suit as protection. The opening to the first cavern was a small hole in the ground, and I experienced a surprising amount of apprehension before entering.
The cavern was dark and cold. We dove down, and the floor was lit up by our headlamps. I noticed that the rock looked volcanic and ancient.
The entrance to the second cavern was small, as the first one. The surface was some feet below, and we had to drop down. Diving down, we saw shapes in the rock resembling a petrified city. We saw people in cars, light rail, streets, buildings. It reminded me of cities I have lived in.
The entrance to the third cavern was small, and with a drop to the surface. There, on the floor of the cavern, we saw fossilized imprints of the Earth and many similar planets which had harbored life.
In the fourth cavern, we saw the imprints of a multitude of Universes.
Throughout, there was a strong sense of impermanence: Human civilization, planets and Universes exists only temporarily. Then, there will be no trace of them.
At the last opening, we left the series of caverns and entered a sunlit natural landscape full of life. My guide was exhilarated and joyful.
I was left with a strong sense of the impermanence of everything. Of the importance of making the most out of what we experience at the moment, and the pointlessness of seeking fame and wealth, as there will be no trace left. Most of all, I was left with a sense of urgency in engaging fully in my spiritual practice.
Sunday, December 08, 2002
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Food Poisoning
I had food poisoning over the weekend (from a gift of smoked salmon).
It was an excellent lesson in just being with what is occuring. With no separation, without adding anything. Letting any thoughts (of self-pity, past, future, cause) pass. Holding on to them only added suffering to discomfort.
Extreme situations are often our best teachers, magnifying the patterns of our mind and their effects.
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Friday, November 29, 2002
Visualizations
I have practiced visualizations regularly for about a year now. I was initially skeptical, but have found it a valuable practice, and sometimes remarkably effective. It seems to work in setting a clear direction and purpose, which in turn gives guidelines for choices and actions.
I tend to visualize what I would like in my life, in long and short term.
For health, I visualize general good health, and the healing of specific ailments (e.g. scoliosis, food allergies). For my scoliosis, I visualize a smooth and supple spine, and it has encouraged me to seek out practices and therapies that may bring that about, such as yoga and therapeutic massage. The scoliosis has improved markedly over the months I have engaged in visualization. For my food allergies, it has helped me choose food that is good for me and does not give me reactions.
For relationships, I visualize clear communication, a good connection, and smooth cooperation. I use it with people I interact with regularly, as well as before meetings and other situations where I will interact with new people.
For work, I use it for ease, effectiveness, and efficiency. It has even proved valuable for nitty-gritty tasks such as computer programming. If I get stuck, I go for a walk, clear my mind, and visualize finding the solution with ease. It sometimes works!
Friday, November 29, 2002
Timeless Buildings
I am reading Christopher Day's "Spirit and Place", and am reminded of something I intuitively have known for a while: Timeless buildings tend to be close to nature, both in materials and design. They use natural or less processed materials, and often reflect/mirror organic forms - including those of the local landscape.
The buildings feel timeless, and in addition are more likely to be experienced as nourishing and appropriate to the place.
Friday, November 29, 2002
Initial Entry
This is my initial entry in the blog. I have used a paper journal for many years, and will continue to do so, but this may be a useful addition. It will help me organize my thoughts more as I can go back and edit past entries for clarity and content.
Friday, November 29, 2002
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