Non-Violent Response?

So, #OccupyWallStreet (on Twitter) REALLY got me going. I loved the #OccupyBurque crowd -- cheered them on, honking and waving on Central Avenue Saturday. But then Saturday night I was getting really hot under the collar reading right-wing Tweets. As usual I began to lambaste the worst offenders for their “ignorant views” such as claiming that liberals are just jealous of the rich. I am NOT envious of extreme greed and outrageous resistance to paying their fair share of taxes. I donate as much as I can to help those less fortunate and I make a pittance of the 1% Wall Street wealthy. Yes, I’ve invested in stocks over the years, but with companies of my choice, companies I want to support, not the "greedy bastards" (as Dylan Ratigan calls them in his book) that invented or use leveraged derivatives to make obscene amounts of money at the expense of innocent home owners. I stand with the 99% who have lost their jobs and homes over such excessive greed and corruption that has come from the alleged “self-regulation” of corporate America.

That said, the real point of this post is that my Buddhist Teacher, Pema Chodron, reminds us that whenever we feel really challenged (or angry) it’s definitely an opportunity to expand our Practice. In particular the teachings of today's audio were so timely as she described Peace Activists often being the most angry and aggressive protestors. I’ve used her example of this before when she describes turning down the sound on the television and seeing two “red faced men” arguing. You cannot distinguish one side from the other. All you see is anger.

Her point: in pitting opinion against opinion, no progress takes place. You cannot hear the other side when each person is shouting over the other. In the non-violent view (on this International Day of Non-Violence today, honoring Ghandi's birthday 10.2.1869), is it POSSIBLE to stop and actually HEAR another point of view? Ghandi, the Dalai Lama and Pema all claim it is. They teach that we don't have to give up our beliefs, but that we can be open enough to listen and at least agree to disagree. I find it very hard -- nearly impossible -- to listen to those who quickly resort to name-calling. Some right-wing tweeter insisted on calling the peaceful protestors "loons." Of course, I wanted to call him an ignorant asshole. So, where does that get us?? As Pema says, just two red-faced angry people.

We have to find a way back to civil discourse in this country. Congress is at an impasse: Republicans vs. Democrats, liberals vs. conservatives, rich vs. poor, and we find disagreements and differing views escalating on every front. There is no respect or willingness to listen. How do we get out of this stalemate?

Water in the Desert

Love this shot I took of the mesa that inspired Georgia O'Keeffe to paint and stay in New Mexico. After 30 years I finally saw Abiquiu Lake. Although it's smaller than Heron Lake (where I stayed in 2008) the setting is more spectacular. I camped here with the van for three days.

Before that I stayed one night at Jemez Springs and have brief (hokey) videos of both. (They should be viewed in order, I think.)
First, just a still shot of Soda Dam, a unique geological natural dam at Jemez River. I camped further downstream...



The Lake was just a few steps from the "rig" at Riana Campground!
Abiquiu is about 90 miles northeast of Jemez and the whole trip was almost exactly 300 miles. And, what you can't see is the unbelievable night sky and dense stars. I could see the Milky Way! There were many cosmic events :-0 Those are for my paper journal (for now ;)

Calm Abiding

What I love the most about Pema (Pema Chodron) and her way of presenting age-old Buddhist teachings is how fresh and non-religious she makes the message. When she talks about addictions and desire it's more like listening to a young, modern counselor. You would not suspect you are hearing a 75-yr old nun teaching on Kleshas (our grasping nature.) If you haven't met Pema, take a moment and look at this brief discussion where Alice Walker (author of The Color Purple) expresses her gratitude and asks Pema if suffering serves any purpose.

I think everyone could benefit from Pema's messages. For some, like my friend Lesley, it has changed her life-- almost instantly. Lesley said HHDL (the Dalai Lama) didn't "speak to her." That floored me. But when I thought about it, I could see why. He's Tibetan and... a man. Pema is speaking directly to Americans and often to women. She is an American. She was married, has children and grandchildren, and knows exactly the kind of problems we face.

But for me the very best part of Pema, and any Buddhist teacher, including HHDL, is there is no proselytizing. If I sound "preachy about Pema" it's only because she's so wonderful and I want the world to know. I'm really not trying to recruit Buddhists. When you get down to it, it's really much more a philosophy than a religion. The Dharma (teachings) is more like a tool box -- techniques that can help quiet a troubled mind. As HHDL is fond of saying, "You can be a Buddha and a Christian, but usually it's the Christian churches who don't like the vice versa." He laughs a full belly laugh when he says that. Namaste! (which literally means I bow to you, or see myself in you.) OH, and for the exuberant, I posted a lengthy discussion as a link on the title.

Think PKD is passe?

well, think again! Philip K. Dick (PKD as the Dickheads call him) is getting even MORE popular this fall! Every week we see a new book release about him, or even BY him -- even though he's been dead for nearly thirty years. This November fans will finally see the infamous Exegesis of PKD. Infamous, I say, because there has always been a swirl of controversy around Phil's private life. The Exegesis (in full) is said to be nearly ten thousand pages of raw, journal-like scribblings-- some typed, some hand-written. Much of it centers around Phil's personal speculations on the cause of his strange encounters in early 1974, the "pink beam" phase, as some of us lovingly call it. Other Dick fans hated these final years of Phil's life claiming he had a series of "pin strokes" (TIA is the proper medical term) beginning eight years before he died and that all of his visions and "religious" experiences can be tied to brain maladies. Phil died of a stroke, followed by heart attack, March 2, 1982.

Paul Williams, who was the first Literary Executor for PKD's papers and unpublished works, was adamantly opposed to publication of the Exegesis. He called it "incoherent and repetitive." Of course Paul has his own brain malady now (early dementia from a bicycle accident) so he's in no position to argue with the Trust (Phil's offspring.) Moot point, since Volume One of the material is set for November 7, 2011 publication. All of this was discussed in the last issue of PKD Otaku-- one of the only remaining PKD 'zines. (Interview about my novel, followed by my interview with Phil's widow Tessa and other AKS/PKD matters begin on page 8. Google doc loads fast, check it out!)

The Los Angeles public library is sponsoring a panel discussion about PKD and his Exegesis in November.

That's not all! As I said, every week something new comes out. Just today I received this pre-publication blurb. You can imagine how my heart lept when I saw that subtitle: Do Androids have Kindred Spirits!! On Amazon, however, I discovered the title appears to have been changed to Philip K. Dick and Philosophy: Who Adjusts the Adjustment Bureau? That one is due out October 11.

Postings have never been more frequent or furious than they are now on the "Secret PKD Society," a private Facebook group. Seventy-five Phil fans post every new sighting. Word of the Global eBook Award for my novel, A Kindred Spirit, received fifty comments. But, this my friends, takes the cake. PKD TV!! It wouldn't be hard to fill up an internet channel with the movies, documentaries, video clips and fan ravings about our man, PKD. There's talk of a Bladerunner remake (godforbid) and Radio Free Albemuth (a posthumously published PKD novel/now film) is currently seeking a distributor. The RFA film trailer looks dark and weird, just the way ole Phil liked things. There's plenty more Phil facts over on the Official Philip K. Dick Site to keep fans up-to-date on everything coming down the pike! (pun intended ;)

True Self Webinar

Really enjoyed MSIA (pronounced Messiah)'s webinar tonight. Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, that's the full name. I have been luke warm about this group, which some call a cult. However, I like some of their concepts, which are an odd blend of Buddhist philosophy, Taoism and what I call some Gnostic pre-Constantine Christianity (they don't say that, I do.) MSIA emphasizes Christ Consciousness and something they call Soul Transcendence, which they define as the process of becoming aware of yourself as a soul and as one with God.

I just finished writing about similar concepts for my forthcoming book Vision: Seeing Clearly.

The Gnostic Christians, early followers of Jesus, claimed that any of us could be Christed. It meant receiving the Christ Consciousness. When we become one with God, and the Holy Ghost, we are knowers or seers -- gnostics. The "good news" according to the original Gnostic Gospels was that no intermediaries are required. Everyone can experience God. To me, this is exactly what Buddhists call Enlightenment.

Anyway, tonight's online tele-workshop, as they call it, wasn't about anything "religious," it was about self awareness. How to deal with anxiety, fear, judgment, anger... that type of stuff. How to use simple techniques to overcome old habits, or as they say to reveal your True Self. The techniques are great -- the terminology might be off-putting for some. But, that's my job.

I am determined to express the essence of some of these excellent tools -- whether it's Buddhist mindfulness practice, heretical Gnostic wisdom (read that tongue in cheek because I certainly don't consider Gnosticism heretical), or Science of Mind methods in the non-fiction book I am writing.

I'm enjoying dabbling in a lot of spiritual traditions, including my ancient aliens and Sumerian Shamans, to present a mind blowing perspective on what's really real (as PKD would say.)

Speaking of PKD and AKS, hop on over to the AKS Book Blog and read all about the award and what's next in the ongoing AKS adventures ;) I've got to get back to writing!

Analog Underground

I just love this! An Analog Revolution... back to the Future, again. Typewriters are having a renaissance! Along with vinyl albums, 35 mm film and not mentioned in the NY article, but another personal fav of mine: fountain pens.

As a writer, I recently had a hankering for a typewriter. At first, I thought about a real vintage model. You know, a black Underwood with the cool round keys like this one. I quickly gave up that idea for two reasons: too expensive now and not really useful. If I'm going to put a typewriter in my library, then it might as well be one I could actually use. Something fun. Talking to my friend Mo, I fondly recalled the portable I had as a teenager, an aqua Smith Corona. Then she sent me the NY mag article (linked in the title above) and lo and behold, it led me straight to a pic of my dream machine.

Here it is, a 70s era SCM "Cougar." I want one! For all I know, my old one could still be in the basement along with my inherited blue and mother of pearl accordion (don't get me going on that!) No, I wouldn't want to type out a book. Think of the problems with THOSE revisions! But, it would be fun to play around with...

just like my pens. Here is a sample of those. The new big Acura dragon (top), my beloved tiger eye Monteverde (left) followed by two Jinhao dragon pens, an ultra fine Jinhao and my bronze/pearl Laban. My new Picasso is on top of my journal. Two favorite inks there, too. The fabulous Caran d'ache "Storm" in it's leaded bottle and the round, inkwell included, Namiki blue. (click to enlarge) Love 'em all!