Laughed my ass off!! Best Episode Ever...
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Thoughts on Religion
I was raised as a Christian as was everyone in my family. For years as a child I'd go to church with my grandmother and cousins every Sunday. there would be the main sermon followed by Sunday school. We'd get taught about the different facets of the bible, told the various stories and their morals and when I was younger I took a major interest in it. I remember having conversations with a guy called Pastor Bill Hopley who was an awesome guy. I'd have so many questions and he'd always be on hand to answer them for me, which to this day, more than 20 years on, I've always appreciated.
I was baptised at 11 years old and had taken religion into my life completely. Everything I was taught I took on board without question and believed it whole heartedly. However, years later, my life had progressed as had my thought processes and I realised that I had many questions. Does God actually exist? What if when you die - that's it. No pearly gates, no fire and brimstone and no (as George Carlin would say) "baking cookies, without an oven". Just everlasting nothing and a total cessation of consciousness.
For me, important questions with absolutely no one to answer them.
So, about 6 years ago I'm walking around Huddersfield and I see that one of the local churches is having an open "do" in the town centre. I stand and watch for a while and within no time at all I'm approached by a smartly dressed man who asks me "do you believe in God?". I reply by asking a question of my own. "If I don't believe in God, would that mean I'd be going to Hell?". "Yes". "Really?!?! So even if I live my life as a good person, I give to charity, help my fellow man and basically follow all of the tenants of the ten commandments but don't believe in God - I'm bound for hell?". "Yes. There is no way to get into heaven without first accepting the lord into your life..." The conversation soon ended and I couldn't help but think that what he was saying made no sense what so ever.
Firstly, who gave this person authority to make such a claim. Faith can be such a wonderful thing but it's nature dictates that it is in no way absolute. Saying you have a strong belief is fair enough - saying you know for sure is something totally different!
Secondly, how on earth does his statement make sense? What if I were Muslim or Sikh, or practiced Judaism? Would that mean that even though I lived my life according to good I would go to Hell because I was unlucky enough to be raised in the wrong religion? I asked a friend who I would class as very religious that same question quite recently and was told that God is a jealous God. What?!?! Jealousy requires ego and there are many on this earth who strive to rid themselves of ego. Therefore, are we meant to maintain and even cultivate the many aspects of ego? I just think that if I were an all powerful being - I'd be a great deal more like the Dalai Lama as opposed to say...George Bush.
So, moving on - I think that maybe we (or they - the writers of the bible) could have got it wrong. Not completely - but enough to mess things up a fair bit. I'm not going for the agnostic route by saying that god does not exist as I feel he does. Just not in the way that we see him. Maybe - he is not a "he" at all, or a "she". Maybe this being is so complex in it's make up that we are not yet evolved enough to comprehend it's existence. Therefore the only way to comprehend God, would be to imagine a better version of us (with a head of white hair no less).
The other possibility is that God exists, but not as described in the bible. Maybe the authors of this doctrine have written it in a way as to control people.
"Do what we say or burn in hell."
"Don't wanna give us 10% of everything you earn? hell it is for you fucker."
"Don't fancy coming to church? don't forget the oven mitts bitch!"
"Wanna worship someone else? wrong choice shit for brains! We'll tell you where you're going with a self righteous attitude and a smile on our faces."
History has shown us that fear is an effective method of controlling people. We've seen it as far back as recorded history all the way through to present day. Get rid of marijuana because it's used by "Blacks and Mexicans" who will rob your houses and by the way, if your daughter does happen to have any, she'll have Sambo hangin' out the back of her before the day is through.
N.B. I gotta say it - that last paragraph made me giggle as I was writing it.
OK another one, ID cards. "we need them to help prevent terrorism" ...What?!?! So will this ID card not only have biometric information but a few "extra's" too?
Name: Joe
Age: 26
Occupation: Terrorist since 1998
Does it mean that anyone of middle eastern decent will get stopped in the street and asked to present said card? That being the case does that mean there is no possibility of their being terrorists in any other ethnic group? How does that explain the 7/7 London bombings where one of the terrorists was a black man? And does that mean that anyone of African/Caribbean decent would be singled out too? Starting to sound a touch familiar? Rhymes with Mitler.
My point is that people were more open to these proposals because of fear. They were perfectly willing (in one of the aforementioned cases) to allow someone else to take the reigns and tell them what they should do.
OK, another question. If you do believe in God and Religion, how would you live your life if I could absolutely prove to you, that god did not exist? Would you still be a good person? (presuming that is how you live your life) and if not - couldn't your current life be classed as a form of lie? In essence, it would mean that the person being good is doing so out of fear or punishment rather than it due to the simple fact of...it's the righ thing to do. Does that even count?
Again - a great many questions so, where does that leave me? Well, my decision is this. I take from it what I feel makes sense and the rest, I leave alone. Sounds a bit flakey maybe, a "have your cake and eat it" type scenario. But I can not put any faith in something that makes no sense to me. I also think that having such a deep routed belief leaves your mind closed to new possibilities, experiences and level of understanding. Not to mention ensuring that your view will never change, while possibly closing an avenue into a world of opportunity and growth. Malcolm X once wrote something along the lines of - He remained open to new possibilities and based his actions on the facts of what was laid before him while being open to being subjective enough, as to alter his given action on the basis of new evidence. I like that idea.
I don't think that when we die it just turns into nothingness. I feel that we may move to a different plane of existence. Do I know this for sure? Of course not - but I'm glad I'm in a place where my decision to remain open gives me comfort. I feel there is something more than this and that gives me comfort. I just don't feel that whatever it is, is how most of us see it. I'll never know for sure, and I still have questions, but that, for me, is OK.
Peace and Love
I was baptised at 11 years old and had taken religion into my life completely. Everything I was taught I took on board without question and believed it whole heartedly. However, years later, my life had progressed as had my thought processes and I realised that I had many questions. Does God actually exist? What if when you die - that's it. No pearly gates, no fire and brimstone and no (as George Carlin would say) "baking cookies, without an oven". Just everlasting nothing and a total cessation of consciousness.
For me, important questions with absolutely no one to answer them.
So, about 6 years ago I'm walking around Huddersfield and I see that one of the local churches is having an open "do" in the town centre. I stand and watch for a while and within no time at all I'm approached by a smartly dressed man who asks me "do you believe in God?". I reply by asking a question of my own. "If I don't believe in God, would that mean I'd be going to Hell?". "Yes". "Really?!?! So even if I live my life as a good person, I give to charity, help my fellow man and basically follow all of the tenants of the ten commandments but don't believe in God - I'm bound for hell?". "Yes. There is no way to get into heaven without first accepting the lord into your life..." The conversation soon ended and I couldn't help but think that what he was saying made no sense what so ever.
Firstly, who gave this person authority to make such a claim. Faith can be such a wonderful thing but it's nature dictates that it is in no way absolute. Saying you have a strong belief is fair enough - saying you know for sure is something totally different!
Secondly, how on earth does his statement make sense? What if I were Muslim or Sikh, or practiced Judaism? Would that mean that even though I lived my life according to good I would go to Hell because I was unlucky enough to be raised in the wrong religion? I asked a friend who I would class as very religious that same question quite recently and was told that God is a jealous God. What?!?! Jealousy requires ego and there are many on this earth who strive to rid themselves of ego. Therefore, are we meant to maintain and even cultivate the many aspects of ego? I just think that if I were an all powerful being - I'd be a great deal more like the Dalai Lama as opposed to say...George Bush.
So, moving on - I think that maybe we (or they - the writers of the bible) could have got it wrong. Not completely - but enough to mess things up a fair bit. I'm not going for the agnostic route by saying that god does not exist as I feel he does. Just not in the way that we see him. Maybe - he is not a "he" at all, or a "she". Maybe this being is so complex in it's make up that we are not yet evolved enough to comprehend it's existence. Therefore the only way to comprehend God, would be to imagine a better version of us (with a head of white hair no less).
The other possibility is that God exists, but not as described in the bible. Maybe the authors of this doctrine have written it in a way as to control people.
"Do what we say or burn in hell."
"Don't wanna give us 10% of everything you earn? hell it is for you fucker."
"Don't fancy coming to church? don't forget the oven mitts bitch!"
"Wanna worship someone else? wrong choice shit for brains! We'll tell you where you're going with a self righteous attitude and a smile on our faces."
History has shown us that fear is an effective method of controlling people. We've seen it as far back as recorded history all the way through to present day. Get rid of marijuana because it's used by "Blacks and Mexicans" who will rob your houses and by the way, if your daughter does happen to have any, she'll have Sambo hangin' out the back of her before the day is through.
N.B. I gotta say it - that last paragraph made me giggle as I was writing it.
OK another one, ID cards. "we need them to help prevent terrorism" ...What?!?! So will this ID card not only have biometric information but a few "extra's" too?
Name: Joe
Age: 26
Occupation: Terrorist since 1998
Does it mean that anyone of middle eastern decent will get stopped in the street and asked to present said card? That being the case does that mean there is no possibility of their being terrorists in any other ethnic group? How does that explain the 7/7 London bombings where one of the terrorists was a black man? And does that mean that anyone of African/Caribbean decent would be singled out too? Starting to sound a touch familiar? Rhymes with Mitler.
My point is that people were more open to these proposals because of fear. They were perfectly willing (in one of the aforementioned cases) to allow someone else to take the reigns and tell them what they should do.
OK, another question. If you do believe in God and Religion, how would you live your life if I could absolutely prove to you, that god did not exist? Would you still be a good person? (presuming that is how you live your life) and if not - couldn't your current life be classed as a form of lie? In essence, it would mean that the person being good is doing so out of fear or punishment rather than it due to the simple fact of...it's the righ thing to do. Does that even count?
Again - a great many questions so, where does that leave me? Well, my decision is this. I take from it what I feel makes sense and the rest, I leave alone. Sounds a bit flakey maybe, a "have your cake and eat it" type scenario. But I can not put any faith in something that makes no sense to me. I also think that having such a deep routed belief leaves your mind closed to new possibilities, experiences and level of understanding. Not to mention ensuring that your view will never change, while possibly closing an avenue into a world of opportunity and growth. Malcolm X once wrote something along the lines of - He remained open to new possibilities and based his actions on the facts of what was laid before him while being open to being subjective enough, as to alter his given action on the basis of new evidence. I like that idea.
I don't think that when we die it just turns into nothingness. I feel that we may move to a different plane of existence. Do I know this for sure? Of course not - but I'm glad I'm in a place where my decision to remain open gives me comfort. I feel there is something more than this and that gives me comfort. I just don't feel that whatever it is, is how most of us see it. I'll never know for sure, and I still have questions, but that, for me, is OK.
Peace and Love
Monday, 20 September 2010
Fair well Brother
So, started a new Job today working with my old boss. At around 5pm he ask's me "have you heard about Tim?". "No..." (My initial presumption was that something had happened in terms of a change of job etc). "He died about 3 weeks ago". Died! I still. Can't believe it.
Tim helped me a great deal during my first few months at Hammonds Direct, taught me a lot about .net and different ways of coding and basically took me under his wing. I always appreciated that, but what I appreciated more were his words of wisdom which I unfortunately at the time did not quite understand. Telling me things such as "you create your own reality" which I totally understand now. I wish I could tell him that his words, although at the time fell on deaf ears, mean so much more to me now. While I didn't see it at the time, I realised later how enlightened he actually was. Like most of us, he had his faults but like very few of us, he was always looking to make himself better and evolve as a human being. Not through fashion accessories or material objects (that in the great scheme of things do not matter) but through understanding the human condition and doing what he could to make things just a little better.
"Each day, the stories of life expand our intelligence. They stun us with originality and creativity. They call to us within our boundaries. They bridge each of our realities, one to another.
The dreams are free and so are we."
~Tim Smith, June 2010
I wish I could tell him the positive effect he had on my life and that it was an honour to call him my friend and while I'll miss him, I feel confident that he is in a far better place, free from ego and filled with love and positivity.
It's a shame that it takes the sudden passing of someone you respect to make you realise how each moment with anyone that you can call a friend is something precious. Every breath we take, every time we laugh, every connection we make is treated like water in a progressive country. We have it in abundance and need it often but due to its readiness we don't appreciate it as we should. If it was a rarity however, we would appreciate it a great deal more than we do.
I shall miss you brother and I thank you for the positivity you brought into my life.
Tim helped me a great deal during my first few months at Hammonds Direct, taught me a lot about .net and different ways of coding and basically took me under his wing. I always appreciated that, but what I appreciated more were his words of wisdom which I unfortunately at the time did not quite understand. Telling me things such as "you create your own reality" which I totally understand now. I wish I could tell him that his words, although at the time fell on deaf ears, mean so much more to me now. While I didn't see it at the time, I realised later how enlightened he actually was. Like most of us, he had his faults but like very few of us, he was always looking to make himself better and evolve as a human being. Not through fashion accessories or material objects (that in the great scheme of things do not matter) but through understanding the human condition and doing what he could to make things just a little better.
The dreams are free and so are we."
~Tim Smith, June 2010
I wish I could tell him the positive effect he had on my life and that it was an honour to call him my friend and while I'll miss him, I feel confident that he is in a far better place, free from ego and filled with love and positivity.
It's a shame that it takes the sudden passing of someone you respect to make you realise how each moment with anyone that you can call a friend is something precious. Every breath we take, every time we laugh, every connection we make is treated like water in a progressive country. We have it in abundance and need it often but due to its readiness we don't appreciate it as we should. If it was a rarity however, we would appreciate it a great deal more than we do.
I shall miss you brother and I thank you for the positivity you brought into my life.
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
The Gifts of Progression
Getting to know ones self has so many hidden benefits and in my experience (relating to the people that I know) is something that people rarely do. Don't get me wrong, we all know the things we like and don't like and the obvious traits that define us but getting down to the nitty gritty and doing a great deal of self analysis has been one of the best things I have done for myself - EVER! In my post "Why" I went into how our failure to ask why can leave problems in our lives unresolved. I did however fail to mention that initially - it can be difficult to figure out. It takes a shorter time for me than it used to because it's something I work on constantly but back in the day when I first started doing it, it could take days or even weeks for me to come up with the answers. Nowadays it's something that happens far quicker by comparison. One of the hidden gifts of self progression.
The thing is, the better we know ourselves and the more we progress the more of these gifts/abilities we receive. My cousin (who has helped a great deal with my own progression) has excellent abilities (All sounding a bit like Heroes I know). Her ability to analyse someone is awesome to say the least and this is because of her own self progression (she's been doing it far longer than I have). I have seen her analyse people I know who she has met for a mere moment almost perfectly and here is the trippy bit, I don't think this is an intellectual ability but more of a spiritual one (I know, sounds a great deal like "Hippy Stoner" stuff as some of my friends would say, but I'm convinced it's not). I think if we close ourselves off to such possibilities we negate the ability to acquire and put into practice these gifts (or maybe they're already there and just need honing - remember, these are all theories based on personal experience and I don't quite have everything figured out yet).
Ever heard the phrase "Don't get stressed out when you're around a baby"? That's because a new born baby has not yet had the social programming that we all get and is therefore forced to rely upon instincts that we all possess but never cultivate. For a baby that can not speak (and initially is unable to understand speech) - they only have their instincts to go on and their academic knowledge is quite literally non existent, so the ability to "read" someone, while possibly being partially intellectual, must be for the most part, spiritual/instinctual.
Now, while I don't believe in religion, I do believe in God. I think along the years we've some how misinterpreted what and/or who god is and added an ideology to it in the form of Religion. I also think that Jesus quite possibly did exist and that he was merely (I use that word very loosely) just like us but a representation of what we could become - Evolved far before his time. I know it sounds extremly far fetched - turning water into wine, walking on water, feeding 5,000 homies with a touch of bread and a few fish - but what if he was evolved enough to be able to manipulate energy? Have you ever thought of someone and next thing you know the phones goes and it's them? Ever got a text message and you just instinctively know who it is before you look at your phone? Could be coincidence or it could be a natural progression in the next stage of human evolution. Personally, for my closest friends - (Well I say closest...2 of my long time friends) - for some reason I just instinctively know when they're in trouble (my best friend especially). Something in me just has a feeling and I get that instinct to fire that message "Are you OK?". It's the strangest thing but it's been happening for years and I'm always on the money. This does not work with everyone I meet - but again, I think this is another gift of self exploration and progression.
For some this may sound ridiculous but the fact that it sounds ridiculous does not negate the possibility. Remember, the world was once flat, 100 years ago everything that was going to be invented had been invented and the moon was less than 100 miles away. I'm not attempting to say I know fore sure because I don't - these are all just theories on the basis of my own thoughts and experiences.
Mushrooms, Marijuana, Salvia, DMT - they're all drugs that take your conciousness to a different place - I think we currently need to use these as our evolution is not evolved enough (yet) to get us there on our own (atleast for most of us). With that said, there are still those who have the ability to transcend ego, who see things for what they are and appreciate the universe on a totally different level. No Paris Hilton, No Kat Stacks, No Katie Price, No Silly ass game show where people are selling their souls for an existence that will fill the giant void in their lives with attention - just peace, peace with themselves and a true connection to the world.
The more we concentrate on the investigation of the self - the further we will go into our evolution. Our growth is never ending and our potential unlimited. My parents did not think as I did when they were this age as their parents did not thing as they did when they were my age. Our spiritual progression as a human race is increasing with each generation and I have every faith and hope, that if I ever have kids - their evolution will surpass my own and with it, they will recieve more gifts. Eventually, more and more people will become spiritually (not the same as religiously) enlightened to a point where it will take hold in a "Critical Mass Effect" to the point where while not everyone will accept it, they will at the very least be aware of it's existence and possibility.
Once again - Peace and Love
The thing is, the better we know ourselves and the more we progress the more of these gifts/abilities we receive. My cousin (who has helped a great deal with my own progression) has excellent abilities (All sounding a bit like Heroes I know). Her ability to analyse someone is awesome to say the least and this is because of her own self progression (she's been doing it far longer than I have). I have seen her analyse people I know who she has met for a mere moment almost perfectly and here is the trippy bit, I don't think this is an intellectual ability but more of a spiritual one (I know, sounds a great deal like "Hippy Stoner" stuff as some of my friends would say, but I'm convinced it's not). I think if we close ourselves off to such possibilities we negate the ability to acquire and put into practice these gifts (or maybe they're already there and just need honing - remember, these are all theories based on personal experience and I don't quite have everything figured out yet).
Ever heard the phrase "Don't get stressed out when you're around a baby"? That's because a new born baby has not yet had the social programming that we all get and is therefore forced to rely upon instincts that we all possess but never cultivate. For a baby that can not speak (and initially is unable to understand speech) - they only have their instincts to go on and their academic knowledge is quite literally non existent, so the ability to "read" someone, while possibly being partially intellectual, must be for the most part, spiritual/instinctual.
Now, while I don't believe in religion, I do believe in God. I think along the years we've some how misinterpreted what and/or who god is and added an ideology to it in the form of Religion. I also think that Jesus quite possibly did exist and that he was merely (I use that word very loosely) just like us but a representation of what we could become - Evolved far before his time. I know it sounds extremly far fetched - turning water into wine, walking on water, feeding 5,000 homies with a touch of bread and a few fish - but what if he was evolved enough to be able to manipulate energy? Have you ever thought of someone and next thing you know the phones goes and it's them? Ever got a text message and you just instinctively know who it is before you look at your phone? Could be coincidence or it could be a natural progression in the next stage of human evolution. Personally, for my closest friends - (Well I say closest...2 of my long time friends) - for some reason I just instinctively know when they're in trouble (my best friend especially). Something in me just has a feeling and I get that instinct to fire that message "Are you OK?". It's the strangest thing but it's been happening for years and I'm always on the money. This does not work with everyone I meet - but again, I think this is another gift of self exploration and progression.
For some this may sound ridiculous but the fact that it sounds ridiculous does not negate the possibility. Remember, the world was once flat, 100 years ago everything that was going to be invented had been invented and the moon was less than 100 miles away. I'm not attempting to say I know fore sure because I don't - these are all just theories on the basis of my own thoughts and experiences.
Mushrooms, Marijuana, Salvia, DMT - they're all drugs that take your conciousness to a different place - I think we currently need to use these as our evolution is not evolved enough (yet) to get us there on our own (atleast for most of us). With that said, there are still those who have the ability to transcend ego, who see things for what they are and appreciate the universe on a totally different level. No Paris Hilton, No Kat Stacks, No Katie Price, No Silly ass game show where people are selling their souls for an existence that will fill the giant void in their lives with attention - just peace, peace with themselves and a true connection to the world.
The more we concentrate on the investigation of the self - the further we will go into our evolution. Our growth is never ending and our potential unlimited. My parents did not think as I did when they were this age as their parents did not thing as they did when they were my age. Our spiritual progression as a human race is increasing with each generation and I have every faith and hope, that if I ever have kids - their evolution will surpass my own and with it, they will recieve more gifts. Eventually, more and more people will become spiritually (not the same as religiously) enlightened to a point where it will take hold in a "Critical Mass Effect" to the point where while not everyone will accept it, they will at the very least be aware of it's existence and possibility.
Once again - Peace and Love
Monday, 13 September 2010
Joe Rogan
Forget classical music - this should be played to little kids before they're pushed out!
...Enjoy!
For more of the truth (and some funny ass comedy) check out The Joe Rogan Experience.
...Enjoy!
For more of the truth (and some funny ass comedy) check out The Joe Rogan Experience.
Sunday, 12 September 2010
Why?
So maybe a month ago, I get back from work, I'm in the kitchen and I'm thinking to myself "mashed potato". So I start looking for my potato peeler but I can't find it anywhere. After about 3 minutes I'm ready to start throwing shit off the balcony in a major tantrum and then it dawns on me the reality of the situation. My flat is not without knives, I got at least 20 in the kitchen (sharp too). So I take a step back and ask myself "what is actually going on here?". After a short period, I figure it out. Not happy with where I was working plus a few other personal problems was really getting to me. Anyway, that's not the point I'm trying to make. What I'm trying to say is, how often do we ask ourselves why? I remember a time in my life where the thought would not even cross my mind. Something would make me unhappy and it would effect other parts of my life. I'd realize that this "other part" of my life was causing irritation but wouldn't think that the cause would more often than not have been something totally unrelated, I just knew that I was unhappy and pissed off.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if we stopped to ask ourselves why, maybe it would have a positive effect on other parts of our lives. The ability to resolve any issues lies in first knowing the cause of the issue. Our failure to ask why, can leave problems unresolved and can put us into a cycle of doing the same thing over and over, hoping for a different result while at the same time reenforcing behavior patterns that effect us negatively.
Asking ourselves why, opens the gate to finding the problem. Finding the problem then gives us 4 options.
1. Leave everything as it is.
2. Change it.
3. Accept it.
4. Get rid of it.
Leaving everything as it is tends to be a crap option. If we need to ask ourselves why, the reason generally indicates that some form of change needs to happen. So, can we change it? If not, are we able to accept it. Finally, failing those - we're left with the remaining option of getting rid of it (for you crazies out there, no, I don't mean off someone!). It's a simple concept overall but works for me every time.
A conscious decision to simply ask "why?" has helped me resolve problems that would have otherwise been left alone.
I'm not trying to preach or tell anyone how to live their life. However, if you're able to take something positive from this then the 25 minutes it took to write this was worth every second.
Peace and Love.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if we stopped to ask ourselves why, maybe it would have a positive effect on other parts of our lives. The ability to resolve any issues lies in first knowing the cause of the issue. Our failure to ask why, can leave problems unresolved and can put us into a cycle of doing the same thing over and over, hoping for a different result while at the same time reenforcing behavior patterns that effect us negatively.
Asking ourselves why, opens the gate to finding the problem. Finding the problem then gives us 4 options.
1. Leave everything as it is.
2. Change it.
3. Accept it.
4. Get rid of it.
Leaving everything as it is tends to be a crap option. If we need to ask ourselves why, the reason generally indicates that some form of change needs to happen. So, can we change it? If not, are we able to accept it. Finally, failing those - we're left with the remaining option of getting rid of it (for you crazies out there, no, I don't mean off someone!). It's a simple concept overall but works for me every time.
A conscious decision to simply ask "why?" has helped me resolve problems that would have otherwise been left alone.
I'm not trying to preach or tell anyone how to live their life. However, if you're able to take something positive from this then the 25 minutes it took to write this was worth every second.
Peace and Love.
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