Friday, May 30, 2014

Analogy of the Self


An analogy I like to use for viewing our selves is like a super-computer. There is the hardware- the body and our eyes and fingers and our brain and organs and skin... then the software (programming)- the mind, ideas, the soul/spark-within-us/, that which makes the brain function, etc.

The software, though basically similar from computer to computer (or person to person), varies for each computer (person) depending on the other programs (ideas, beliefs) present within it. When powered (turned on, awake, metacognitizant), these computers will process information faster or slower depending on how organized this software is arranged within the system. For example: an old Macintosh with a slow video-card and little memory will have a hard time processing complicated video-editing (great-grandparents learning to play Wii). Another example: a desktop that is organized with folders will load and find information much faster than a desktop cluttered with random files. A different perspective: computer hardware may be built by the same companies that make the software for it (like Apple), however most computers can be loaded with any operating system. Users frequently become "used to" how an operating system works and thus choose to navigate the world through that system. Companies make software specifically for certain operating systems (not compatible with others) and thus, identification with Mac or Windows (chocolate or vanilla, republican or democrat, boy or girl) begins.

The point here, is that although a computer (person) may have one operating system (idea, view) being used all the time to process information, these same computers (people) could just as easily process the same information through a different operating system (viewpoint, religion, culture) as well. Republicans write right-sided newspaper articles, mechanics talk shop, and barbers talk hair. None of these are "more right" than the other, they are all just experiences happening being interpreted by our programming. A wide-angle lense will take a wide-angle shot but what about beyond the lense?

It seems the less fragmented our minds are with opinion, the more options present themselves to us. The more ego (ideas we have about the way things work) we bring with us to each moment, the more the moment has to get through that to hit us.

It's like when mixing music, you have the direct sound (truth), and all the effects like reverb and delay and distortion (opinions, ideas). You always start with the SOURCE of the signal and follow it as it passes through each FX. All the extra processing takes time and slows down your computer as it tries to keep up with the original signal. If a computer is outdated, or too many effects are placed upon a track, the computer will dedicate all its energy to making that one program run smoothly and neglect other functions. Relating to humans and truth, the more filters of personality, ideas about right and wrong, opinions about this and that, that the raw experience you are having right now has to go through- the less you will actually FEEL that moment.

First you are aware of your finger, then you are aware that you are aware of your finger, then you are aware of the awareness itself, and then you are aware of the awareness of awareness, then you realize that the awareness is always here it's just focusing on different aspects of everything, then you wonder if you're TRYING to be aware of these processes or if IT JUST HAPPENS.

Infinite unfolding occurring non-simultaneously.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

As Above, So Below



it's interesting to imagine living underwater, where waves move in all directions and intercept other waves. almost like making jello with moving bits in it... if one bit moves its going to send waves and jiggle the other bits contained in the jello.


in the same way, we even above water live in a place where movement (energy) from one source radiates outward and interacts with other sources (a source being some-thing that can generate movement). take for example, smoke from incense. even in a very still room, the slightest disturbance in the air will pull or push that smoke too and fro as it leaves it's source and becomes disbursed in the environment around it.


or take sound waves. the sound comes out of a speaker, or mouth, or instrument, or car, and travels out from the source until it meets with resistance of another sound wave, a wall, a person's eardrum, etc. and as it travels further from it's source, becomes as I like to say "lost in the sauce" with all the other movements of energy.

of course, louder (more excited) energy, waves, will "overtake" the smaller, less excited waves, and some waves actually work together to create bigger waves (think of double-bouncing on a trampoline, or harmonies in music!).

so really i like to think of myself, and everything, suspended in a void, where each movement is recorded in the ever-spinning rolodex of life, reaching out and dancing with one another, interacting... like when you see someone on the dancefloor, and they give you the peace signs across the eyes Madonna-move, and you see that and respond with the robot... sometimes vibrations aren't just literal sound or physical touch... ENERGY GOES WHERE ATTENTION/THE MIND FLOWS and anyone sensitive enough can clearly TUNE IN to what's going on around them if they so choose to.


another example, think of when you're walking down the street, and street performers are playing drums down the block. you cant really help it but those drummers if they're good enough end up OWNING that block because everyone cant help but walk to the beat or dance a little bit and feel the energy that they're bringing and putting out.


or you see someone who's really got their stuff together. im talking top athletes, leading industry professionals, young start-up entrepreneurs, anyone who's genuinely passionate about life, and the energy with which they bring to life, the focus and fire, the love they bring, it RADIATES out and magnetizes people to them! on a subtle level everyone can feel that energetic output and when it's beautiful it's beautiful! animals can sense it, kids can sense it, sensitive (non-desensitized) people can sense it, it's the ability to freely create and expand outward from any point i suppose.


bottom line, above water and below water, aren't so different.