Thoughts Part 1

Do not listen to me. As my thoughts are my own. And my experiences are mine as well. Gain and find your own thoughts, experiences, and you will find whatever that is you seek!

The Second Book of the Tao by Stephen Mitchell (Part 1)

 

I have been reading an outstanding book called. “The Second Book of the Tao” by Stephen Mitchell. If anyone is familiar with Tao Te Ching, then you will love this book. In the coming posts, I will start posting quotes from the book. I will include my own commentary, as this will help me understand the book better.

Let us begin with the first quote:

What is bestowed on us at birth

is called human nature.

The fulfillment of human nature

is called the Tao.

The cultivation of the Tao

is the deepest form of learning.

 

The Tao is the way things are,

which you can’t depart from

even for one instant.

If you could depart from it,

it wouldn’t be the Tao.

Therefore the Master

looks into her own heart

and respects what is unseen and unheard.

 

Nothing is more manifest than the hidden;

nothing is more obvious than the unseen.

Therefore the Master

pays attention to what is happening

within her innermost self.

Commentary:

When someone tells you, "You are born with it," you accept it. When scientists do experiments in the lab, hoping to find the cure for Cancer we praise them. However, when human civilization stops moving with human nature, we throw our hands up high because we believe we have not found the cure. Nevertheless, in reality, there is no cure, as we have ignored to move with human nature.

Look into your own heart first, before you judge nature. As all human beings are, nature and all things living is nature as well. Move with it and let nature and others guide you in understanding yourself.

Knowing that you can change your path in anyway, should be one of the reasons to keep waking up in the morning.

Self Image of Self

When you walk down the street and people look at you, how do you think they perceive you? Do people stare at you in awe or do they stare in disgust because you lack an image that society is used to having for each individual? What impression do you want to give out to people when you walk down the street? Do you care what you look like? Do you think your image if poor, portrays you in a bad light? It certainly, does not have to be the way you dress. It could be as simple as your posture or the way you speak.

The way you look is certainly important in a society like ours. What if some people don’t care about what they look like? What if some ignore to take care of their basic grooming, do you think they will do better or worse in our society? I am wondering if our Self-Image is important to people. From what I have observed, it seems to be very important. It seems nowadays; even if you have, chest hairs that are visible on your body, it could make a woman feel like upchucking or worse pointing and laughing.

It seems that our culture has changed dramatically in the last few decades. Things that were attractive decades ago seem to be unpalatable or just plain stomach-churning. It seems that being a man, is unattractive, nowadays. Today we focus less on masculine men and more on how long a man’s eyebrows are. Has the media become more powerful and more aggressive? I believe so. Why is it that if a man has not taken care of his eyebrows he is less attractive in women’s eyes?

Are we moving to a society that uses aggressive marketing in order to make profit? How much longer can we take, before we start using our common sense? Why is that women cannot choose who is attractive and who is not on their own? Why do they need Magazines, Televisions, Internet and other media outlets, to make their decisions for them? It could be the comfort in everything being chosen for them and it is easier to follow along, than make their own decisions. The easier things are the more people want it and desire whatever is being offered.

Will our society continue to disintegrate before it becomes noticeable is a question I ask daily. I suppose most of us will continue observing and questioning, hopefully, the questions asked lead to answers somewhere before our self-destruction.

Consumption Is Killing Us (What Are We Going To Do About It?)

In the past three decades, our society has become an abuser of consuming material objects. We forgot that love, is the most precious commodity we posses and instead, we began competing with our neighbors. We love shopping so much, that we have a saying in our culture, “shop, until you drop.” What has been a society content with being with their friends and loved ones has become a society full of zombies, who believe, that a discount of 10% of off, $5,000 is a great buy. The speed we consume; food, clothes, friends, cars, computers and other, unnecessary objects, is atrocious. For instance, instead of making coffee at home, we go to a coffee shop. We don’t realize that the lines at those coffee shops are astonishingly out the door and the time spent, arguing and yelling at a barista, can be ignored by preparing your pot of coffee at home, while reconnecting with your family.

The speed of our consumption is obnoxiously scary. We usually get tired of one thing we recently bought and move onto the next. It seems to be somewhat of a plague, which continues spreading widely. Who is to blame for our ways? I believe the answer lies, in us. We are mind controlled to believe that we must buy; because we believe it is the last computer, car or other material object of its kind. We lack the logical skills, our families had, decades ago.

Our society revolves around consumption. What a scary way of looking at our culture. We feel so patriotic and so full of heart, that we ignore the symptoms, which continue bleeding onto the oceans, rivers, mountains and other parts of our planet earth. Ignoring these symptoms produces an effect of misery, begging and poverty. Do we not desire love and happiness for the people on this planet? Why must we continue destroying and ignoring our children, who will continue living here, after we pass on? Do we not want to take care of the beauty so precious, so pure and so full of light? I’m sure you are thinking, of course we do! Then what the hell are you doing about it? How are you assisting Mother Nature? I’m sure these questions are hard questions to answer, but they are the questions, I ask myself when I fall a sleep at night.

As human species we cannot continue growing, if we do not heal or help our “weakest links”. Asking for help should not have to be “pulling teeth.” Focusing on an individual group can be one way that could help. One way to do this is to start focus groups, or an online magazine that would offer helpful advice for people who struggle with consumption. We must unite and guide the ones who are having trouble. We all struggle in someway or another.

Love Is An Ability And Not An Emotion

Love is an ability not an emotion. A strong statement for me to make, but I believe it is the right statement. If you break down love into an aspect of levels, you can see that to love is to have an ability to do so. For instance, can a child love his or her parents? Most, I presume would answer a definitely, yes! However, let us break things down a bit further. You cannot have an emotion floating without having the ability to do so. When a child comes into this world, he or she doesn’t love, he and she doesn’t know how. Throughout the years, the child learns how to have that ability. An ability to love and to care for the other person.

Now, let us ask another question. What is the difference between, an emotion and an ability? An emotion is a feeling created through the use of using your brain. When you look at something, you give it value. For instance, when you look at a rose, some will agree the beauty in it. However, if another person who has never seen a rose, looks at it. The person will disagree that it has any significant beauty.

Let us focus now on the ability part. The ability is a feeling that can be considered an emotion, but you cannot compare apples nor oranges, now can you? Having an ability is not easy as it sounds. Considering, in order to have any ability, you must develop it. For instance, when you work out a body part long enough, you will in return, see it gradually developing from being flabby, skinny into more defined body part. An ability, is more like a muscle. The more you work on love, the easier it becomes in the long run.

I have outlined a few of my philosophies and hope to write many more. I will most likely expand this, into more simpler language. For now, however, I hope that it gives everyone something to think about.

League to Lay off About 80 Amid Economic Slowdown (Analyzing the News)

The NBA is laying off 9 percent of its work force over worries about the U.S. economy, commissioner David Stern said.

"We made a decision some months ago that the economy was going to be a bit wobbly, so we began a belt-tightening that will result in a work-force reduction of about 9 percent domestically," Stern said Sunday, speaking before an NBA preseason game at London's O2 arena.

This translates into about 80 jobs, he later told Reuters.

"There is a season-ticket renewal rate decline, and new sales are also being hit," he said. "My guess is when [the regular season] kicks off, we will be down modestly in season ticket sales."

Leon's View

I just do not understand the logical reasoning behind this plan. One player makes 22 million a year, while most of these; hard working people make 10hr, where is the logic behind this? I am amazed every single day when I read things like this. It seems like we do not care anymore about what is right and what is wrong. Let us continue paying “basketball players” top money while the people who are struggling to survive on minimum wage lose jobs and end up on the street. Let us continue helping these pro athletes buy cars, houses, and other unnecessary material crap.  

Read Full Article

Homeless Man Dies After Being Set Ablaze (Analyzing the Incident)

A homeless man died after being doused with gasoline and set on fire on a street where he had lived for many years and was a familiar face to residents of Koreatown, police and local merchants said Friday.

Police were called to Third Street west of downtown Thursday evening and found the man, who was pronounced dead at a hospital.

A man in his 20s was seen throwing gasoline on the man, chasing him, throwing more on him and running from the scene, said Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz.

Leon’s View

Young people today seem to have a different definition in how to have fun. Chasing after a homeless person, harassing him is not only problematic but truly a psychological problem. I would blame the media for these terrifying acts, but it seems that blaming just one particular group or industry is not always the right way to workout the problem. We have to first look into the young man’s personal connection with his parents. Were the parents there when this young man was growing up, or were they too busy working or just plain-fully ignoring the signs. Most likely, it was a combination of the few reasons outlined. I feel that parents are a problem, but we do not have enough information about what caused this young man to act the way he did. It must be a mix of multiple things.

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Tips on Women (Just say “Hi”)

Saying “Hi” seems as simple as breathing. Yet many men feel afraid when a beautiful woman walks by them; feeling that they cannot build up enough courage to say “Hi”. This simple technique, if done in the right manner, can guarantee success with the woman you are trying to pursue. The way to say “Hi”: When a women walks by, say "Hi" in an affirmative tone. Do not stop and try talking to her; just continue walking as if nothing happened. If you stop, you could risk giving away the element of mystery, which makes you more attractive to a woman. Giving away information about yourself will not benefit you in the end. Once you say “Hi” for the first time, continue walking as I mentioned before, and continue saying “Hi” every time you see her. Each time you say “Hi”, you make her put her thinking cap on. She will wonder why it is that you have not approached her yet. Once you have said “Hi” 5 times, switch to “Hello”. You should do these more than 10 times. After a solid number of “Hello's” and “Hi's” she will approach you herself; women cannot take the element of mystery that you have built up.

Conclusion: You are not losing anything; you are simply being your-happy-self; who is always happy. Once you get in the process of saying “Hi” to all of the beautiful women, you will realize that your confidence will improve dramatically. When women start talking to you, they will not look at you as some average guy; they will see you as a happy and outgoing guy who has not a problem in his life.

Our Society Is On A Decline

Our society is on a decline. I know that this is a bold statement to make. However, I know, it is the right statement. After consistent encounters with teenagers and young kids, I came to this conclusion solidly based on their actions, views and the way they were able to communicate with me. I have not always felt this way. However, looking at our society today, and taking even a further look into the future, I can without much thought, conclude our society is on a decline.

Parents have not taken control of their young children. It has been proven repeatedly, parents are not as disciplinary as they were two decades ago. If there is no role model, what other person in the child’s life, who will be left to mold the child’s mind? The proof is everywhere. Most television shows you see on have only dumbed people down. There have been an array of reality shows, which have popped up, which gets a big viewership. Networks like MTV and VH1 have been marketing to the younger generation for a few years now. The shows that are aired on these networks have D ratings at best.

Schools have also played a pivotal role in our society. Schools have stopped giving our children the basic life skill tools that are necessary to succeed in America today. Today’s youth does not know how to balance a checkbook, perform basic academic research, or embrace self-confidence. Everything seems to be surrounded by formulas and memorization techniques to merely pass standardized tests. Personally, I feel that instead of building high intelligent society, we are building drones, which will follow orders and do as they have said. There is no presence of analytical skills, nor is there a prevalence of vivid imagination anymore. Everything seems to be on a decline, and we are hardly recognizing it.

When will we as a human civilization wake up and do something about it? Why do we sit on the sidelines and let the drones control what we think and how we think? Things being shown on television screens, does not improve our intelligence is just continues killing our brain cells one by one. We are told what to think, how to think and when to think each thought. We buy what the media tells us to buy, we eat what the media tells us to eat, and we listen to the kind of music the media wants us to listen to. We live a life of convenience, because it is convenient. It is the easiest way to live, and we’ve been encouraged to find the shortest route to success. We live in an era where success is measured by our test scores, the size of our social network, and brand names we flaunt. Even still, the natural tendency is to find the quick answer, make shallow friendships, and buy counterfeits to give the illusion we have accomplished the illusion of success. We do not have our own views anymore. I beg someone to show me differently.

Is Radio an Exotic Tool for the People by the People?

What kind of question is that, someone might say to a person who believes profoundly about this particular communicating tool. I for one believe strongly, that for a fact radio is an exotic tool. How could that be? Well, look at it this way, radio was used in the early 1950’s to bring news, express opinions, advertise products and capture people’s imaginations. Not everyone had a luxury, to sit by the fire with family, wrapped in blankets while looking at the radio, as if it was something God has sent. It was an exotic tool, because only a handful of people could afford the radio. It was something many people desired, but fell short from purchasing.

It was an exotic tool, because that is when the economy took a big slide forward. Marketing geniuses and advertisers used this particular tool to gather people’s attention, which lead people to graciously buy things without thinking if it was a necessity or a burden. Many families realized that they could get installment plans, which would help them owe what they always have dreamed off. They forgot to realize, they were not thinking for themselves. The marketing genies were telling them what to purchase. That is manipulation better produced then anything we have had in a long time. Personally, people were just a little more greedier than today. I know, that might not be the case, because the human civilization have always been greedy and will always continue down that path, I just feel that there was much more emphasis on owning, needing and wanting. However, all of those three feelings were not things you wanted, but more solidly, what marketing geniuses told you to have.

I know that today, we have another exotic tool, that will surpass and actually produced higher results. The Internet was born a decade ago and is being compared to the radio constantly. I do agree that the Internet is an exotic tool, as well. I will also go along and say, the radio is going to be lost in translation, and the Internet will thrive. However, you cannot deny the fact, that radio was and is a blueprint for exotic tools.

I cannot predict what the next hot new exotic tool will be, but I can promise it will produce better results in less time. All of these exotic tools mentioned, can and have been used in a bad way, but you can also, agree, they have been used in wonderful ways as well. I am watching and continuing using both exotic tools for the better.

Is College A Necessity?

I continuously ask myself this question and I have not come to conclusion as of yet. I feel that it is not… but, at the same time, my subconscious mind takes a deep breath and speaks for me.

College is very important it speaks.

I get tired of people telling me in order to achieve success; you need to go to College. I mean my goals are not the same as other peoples. It is so difficult to confront these people and let them know head on… I am not interested in what you have to say about College and you cannot make me do what you want me to do. Do not get me wrong, I love learning and growing. However, I feel that in order to learn and grow, you need “real life’s lessons.” People tell me… Oh, you can network, develop friendships and learn very important new skills in College. Well, I am here to say, you can do all of those things without going to College.

You can network through volunteering; you can learn a new skill through reading a book and actually following directions. Friendships can be discovered through travel, you can also go to different countries, or even travel locally, which not only, helps you meet new people, it helps you learn new things at the same time.

I feel that school system is a joke. It does not challenge me as much as “real life” does. In addition, I feel that the system has not implemented 21st century learning; it is decades if not centuries old. It is a big business and the people who are CEOs are the only ones who are benefit the most. A few decades ago, you could turn a television on and see all kinds of advertisements thrown at the kids. And from their, parents took notice, and put major pressure on the kids, telling them, maybe even threatening them to go to High School. In addition, they not only make them go, but demand they play four sports and become valedictorian all at the same time. This has lead to a depressional childhood, which leads to Prozac and other unnecessary drugs, and continues to push kids into suicide.

It seems that parents have not paid much attention to these kids, and are losing grips with reality. When they do catch their wrongful doings, they are a few seconds to late. I just wonder how many more kids need to cut their wrists, before someone takes notice. How many more pills do youngsters have to pop, before parents stop putting so much pressure towards these wonderful kids, who’s only wish, is to just roam free, just how we were born to be free.