MO-MENTS or IDLE THOUGHTS

Symbolising the two levels of thinking. [Sunrise in Sri Lanka - edited.]

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................21 Almost like hens teeth! ......................................................................24 Education and ethics. ..........................................................................24 The cost of time...................................................................................24 The cost of fear. ...................................................................................24 Communication - language. (1) ..........................................................24 Environment and mentality. ................................................................24 Self-justification. .................................................................................24 Nuclear weapons. ................................................................................25 Technology. (1) ...................................................................................25 The rainbow.........................................................................................25 Communication - language. (2) ..........................................................25 The chosen path. .................................................................................25 Migration and opportunity. .................................................................25 Vegetation. ..........................................................................................25 Positive change. ..................................................................................25 News media. ........................................................................................26 Boundaries, flags and conflict. ............................................................26 Unemployment. ...................................................................................26 Modern youth. .....................................................................................26 Prudent saving. ....................................................................................26 A concept of success doomed to failure. .............................................26 Jewellery and religion. ........................................................................26 An in-depth view. ................................................................................27
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Little things mean a lot. ......................................................................27 Patience and self-control. ....................................................................27 Seedless fruit. ......................................................................................27 Love. ...................................................................................................27 Out of site, out of mind. ......................................................................27 Circulation booster. .............................................................................27 Artificial life. .......................................................................................28 Machines and people. ..........................................................................28 World politics. .....................................................................................28 The title God. ...................................................................................28 Waste - the world economic system. ...................................................28 Ethical advertising...............................................................................28 Betting and gambling. .........................................................................28 Housing and land. ...............................................................................28 Toys. ....................................................................................................29 Technology. (2) ...................................................................................29 Speculation. .........................................................................................29 Cleverness and wisdom. ......................................................................29 Deaths. ................................................................................................29 Health of the body. ..............................................................................29 Gaia. ....................................................................................................29 Baby vegetables. .................................................................................29 White tea. ............................................................................................30 Energy fields. ......................................................................................30 The mega rich. ....................................................................................30 The giving people. ..............................................................................30
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The United Nations. ............................................................................30 Records in sport. .................................................................................30 The mountain builders. .......................................................................30 Cooking and food. ...............................................................................31 Communication - language. (3) ..........................................................31 Aggression and violence. ....................................................................31 Tourism. ..............................................................................................31 National donations. .............................................................................31 Posting on the Web. ............................................................................31 The Holocaust. ....................................................................................31 Animal behavioural research. .............................................................32 The law of cause and effect. ................................................................32 The camel and the rope. ......................................................................32 Aphorisms. ..........................................................................................32 The body. .............................................................................................32 No quick fix. .......................................................................................32 World improvement. ...........................................................................32 The field of dandelions. ......................................................................33 A special day. ......................................................................................33 The Nobel Peace Prize 2012 ceremony...............................................33 Exploitation of labour. ........................................................................33 Titles. ...................................................................................................33 Mass shootings - U.S.A.......................................................................33 Stephen Hawking: There is no God.................................................34 The English language and communication. ........................................34 Moral and statutory law.......................................................................34
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Human failings. ...................................................................................34 The world. ...........................................................................................34 12,000 toys. .........................................................................................34 Game hunting. .....................................................................................34 Compensation for life. ........................................................................35 Household pesticides...........................................................................35 The vacuum in our mentality. .............................................................35 Political nomenclature.........................................................................35 Boasting. .............................................................................................35 Feel good. ............................................................................................35 Contentment with life. ........................................................................35 The media. ...........................................................................................36 Scientific speculation. .........................................................................36 Words and meaning. ............................................................................36 The ubiquitous, advertising Now. ...................................................36 A politicians declaration. ....................................................................36 New inventions. ..................................................................................36 Global unemployment. ........................................................................36 Superior attitude. .................................................................................37 The unchristian christian. ....................................................................37 Our pursuit of unnecessary standards. ................................................37 Cash lotteries. ......................................................................................37 A matter of priorities. ..........................................................................37 The value of gold. ...............................................................................37 Fourfold success. .................................................................................37 Walled in rivers. ..................................................................................38
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Womens equality at law. ....................................................................38 The rules of cricket. ............................................................................38 Very clever children. ...........................................................................38 Food and drink advertisements. ..........................................................38 Gladiatorial mentality. .........................................................................38 War. .....................................................................................................38 Money and war. ...................................................................................39 Moral decay. ........................................................................................39 Education the solution? .......................................................................39 Chuck it! ..............................................................................................39 Exploitation of farmers. ......................................................................39 Mass delusion. ....................................................................................39 Those expensive garments. .................................................................39 Addicted governments. .......................................................................40 Spiritual values. ...................................................................................40 Sportsmanship in tennis. .....................................................................40 Advertising and station breaks. ...........................................................40 Pink or magenta? .................................................................................40 Earth security.......................................................................................40 Entertainment. .....................................................................................41 World order. ........................................................................................41 Speeches and statements. ....................................................................41 As soon as possible or soon?...............................................................41 Half the worlds food going to waste. .................................................41 Evolution. ............................................................................................41 The humble palaces. ............................................................................42
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Death by guns. ....................................................................................42 Religious groups. ................................................................................42 Sun glasses and communication. ........................................................42 Emotion in sport. .................................................................................42 Climate change and enjoyment. ..........................................................42 Rare commodities. ..............................................................................42 Good deeds. .........................................................................................43 From natural to unnatural. ...................................................................43 Ones homeland...................................................................................43 Graphene. ............................................................................................43 Inefficiency and slackness...................................................................43 The free market. ..................................................................................43 Physical well being. ............................................................................43 The purpose of human life. .................................................................44 Ancient wisdom. .................................................................................44 Body size and sport. ............................................................................44 Sacrifice and indulgence. ....................................................................44 Cruelty to animals - human prey. ........................................................44 Food waste. .........................................................................................44 Carnivores and meat eaters. ................................................................44 The cost of artificial longevity. ...........................................................45 Moral and ethical standards. ...............................................................45 The drift of modern culture. ................................................................45 Sporting behaviour. .............................................................................45 The spiritual war. ................................................................................45 Sports commentary on TV. ..................................................................45
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Bottled health. .....................................................................................45 Changing the world. ............................................................................46 Natural event breakdowns. ..................................................................46 War by computer disruption. ...............................................................46 Meddling with nature. .........................................................................46 Walks in nature. ..................................................................................46 None of our business. ..........................................................................47 Buying power. .....................................................................................47 No time for lunch. ...............................................................................47 Just a few decades ago. .......................................................................47 Plastics. ...............................................................................................47 The lucky country. ..............................................................................47 Spiritual and animal success. ..............................................................47 Religions. ............................................................................................48 Economics or people? .........................................................................48 Union of same sex couples. ................................................................48 Mass immorality. .................................................................................48 Disrespect of sovereignty. ...................................................................48 Feel good fantasy. ...............................................................................48 Employment. .......................................................................................49 Advertising generates consumption. ...................................................49 Mass lunacy. ........................................................................................49 Original Milk.......................................................................................49 Creatures of habit. ...............................................................................49 The English language. .........................................................................49 Mobile phones and stress. ...................................................................49
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Fear and anger. ....................................................................................50 Language. ............................................................................................50 Truth control. ......................................................................................50 The road to success. ............................................................................50 A sign of the times. .............................................................................50 Just desserts. ........................................................................................50 The modern focus of the news media. ................................................51 People power: cohesive coercion. .......................................................51 Education. ...........................................................................................51 Consumerism. .....................................................................................51 The physicist and the theologian. ........................................................51 The health of the human body. ............................................................52 Courtesy. .............................................................................................52 The throw away civilization. ...........................................................52 Farmers. ..............................................................................................53 The constant battle. .............................................................................53 Secular laws. .......................................................................................53 Saluting guns and guards of honour. ...................................................53 The high life. .......................................................................................53 Media behaviour. .................................................................................53 Boom, boom, bust. ..............................................................................53 The deep rut. .......................................................................................54 Not good enough. ................................................................................54 Will power. ..........................................................................................54 Scientific study. ...................................................................................54 Dates - Use By, Best By etc. ...............................................................54
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Lifestyle. .............................................................................................54 The believer. ........................................................................................55 The general state of flux. ....................................................................55 Standards. ............................................................................................55 Full circle. ...........................................................................................55 Equality for women. ............................................................................55 Obesity. ...............................................................................................55 Duty of care versus negligence. ..........................................................55 Material graveyards.............................................................................56 Rooftop safety. ....................................................................................56 Big is better. ........................................................................................56 House keys and security. .....................................................................56 Oratorial words. ..................................................................................56 A new Pope. ........................................................................................56 Advice. ................................................................................................57 Science. ...............................................................................................57 Existing in isolation. ...........................................................................57 Book publishing. .................................................................................57 China - the economy or the environment. ...........................................57 Super bugs. ..........................................................................................57 Buy national.....................................................................................57 Charity begins at home. ......................................................................58 Belief. ..................................................................................................58 The GFC and Wall St. .........................................................................58 Evolution and the effect of man. .....................................................58 The Only Reality. ................................................................................58
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Timelessness. ......................................................................................58 What fools we are. ..............................................................................58 It seems so easy. ..................................................................................59 The evolution of advertising. ..............................................................59 Civilization Z. .....................................................................................59 Agriculture and weeds. .......................................................................59 The beauty of nature. ..........................................................................59 Illogical logic - anthropology. .............................................................59 Nature and science. .............................................................................59 Dream homes and office blocks. .........................................................60 Afghanistan. ........................................................................................60 Habits die hard. ...................................................................................60 Principle and convenience. .................................................................60 Principles of marketing. ......................................................................60 Marketing/business ethics. ..................................................................60 Mind disorders of returning service personnel. ..................................60 A sad commentary. ..............................................................................61 Technological innovation. ...................................................................61 Mobile phones. ....................................................................................61 Cruelty to animals. ..............................................................................61 Packaging of products. ........................................................................61 The enemy within. ..............................................................................62 Karma. .................................................................................................62 Honour amongst thieves. ....................................................................62 Company behaviour. ...........................................................................62 Belief. ..................................................................................................62
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The right to kill. ..................................................................................62 Respect and value. ..............................................................................62 The convenience of convenience. .......................................................63 Teachers and teaching. ........................................................................63 Such is life. ..........................................................................................63 Our world and compassion. ................................................................63 The art of living...................................................................................63 The fool and fighting...........................................................................63 Spiritual encrustation. .........................................................................63 Sounds and gestures. ...........................................................................64 Medicine - vocation or job? ................................................................64 Decibels and dissent. ...........................................................................64 Fighting wars.......................................................................................64 Conservative governments. .................................................................64 Advertising. .........................................................................................64 In God we trust. ...................................................................................64 Peace. ..................................................................................................65 A fools paradise. ................................................................................65 Customer service par excellence. ........................................................65 The truth and blasphemy. ....................................................................65 Spiritual personality cult. ....................................................................66 Pollution - old and new. ......................................................................66 Pinnacles of physical achievement. ....................................................66 Aspirations of sexual equality. ............................................................66 Convenient forgetfulness. ...................................................................66 The fundamental cause. ......................................................................66
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Natural beauty. ....................................................................................66 Servility reversed. ...............................................................................67 Armed forces. ......................................................................................67 The Pearly Gates - a major conundrum. ..........................................67 Same sex marriage. .............................................................................67 Mans Word of God. ........................................................................67 Fashion. ...............................................................................................67 Progress. ..............................................................................................68 The natural condition. .........................................................................68 The greatest musician. ........................................................................68 In the fullness of time. ........................................................................68 Education and jobs. .............................................................................68 Global mobility. ..................................................................................68 Feelings and welfare. ..........................................................................69 Martyrdom. .........................................................................................69 The age of knowledge. ........................................................................69 Attachment and non-attachment. ........................................................69 Gun lobbies. ........................................................................................69 The discontented one. .........................................................................69 Childbirth. ...........................................................................................69 Living in the now. ...............................................................................70 I told you so! .......................................................................................70 The enquiring mind. ............................................................................70 Harmony. .............................................................................................70 News and communication. ..................................................................70 Television. ...........................................................................................70
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Television and politicians. ..................................................................71 The scientists cocoon. ........................................................................71 God is Good. .......................................................................................71 The precipice. ......................................................................................71 Farming aspirations. ............................................................................71 Hormones and genes. ..........................................................................72 Consciousness. ....................................................................................72 The leeches of longevity. ....................................................................72 Living and learning. ............................................................................72 Luxury. ................................................................................................72 Craving. ...............................................................................................72 Harmony. .............................................................................................73 Politicians and politics. .......................................................................73 Shooting the messenger. ......................................................................73 The Buddha and Buddhism. ................................................................73 Frugality and responsibility. ................................................................73 The way forward. ................................................................................73 Pilot and co-pilot. ................................................................................74 A culture of prevention. ......................................................................74 Business and jobs. ...............................................................................74 Airlines and obesity. ............................................................................74 Modest living. .....................................................................................74 Environmental damage. ......................................................................74 Nourishment elitism. ...........................................................................74 News presentation. ..............................................................................75 Cost and principle. ..............................................................................75
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Ill-gotten gains. ...................................................................................75 Hatred is a cancer. ...............................................................................75 Ignorant preaching. .............................................................................75 Terrorism old and new. ........................................................................75 Hoarding. ............................................................................................75 Lifestyle and religious beliefs. ............................................................76 Hierarchical spiritual systems. ............................................................76 Business culture. .................................................................................76 Temperate and polar zone seasons. .....................................................76 Living in a cocoon...............................................................................76 Ones physical death. ..........................................................................76 Knowledge. .........................................................................................77 Psychiatric illness. ...............................................................................77 Normalcy. ............................................................................................77 The weight of excess. ..........................................................................77 Garbage tips. .......................................................................................77 Speculation - future. ............................................................................77 Compassion and diet. ..........................................................................77 Future food. .........................................................................................78 Inflation. ..............................................................................................78 Fear of infection and contamination. ..................................................78 Spiritual growth and learning. .............................................................78 History. ................................................................................................78 War. .....................................................................................................78 Humour. ..............................................................................................78 Sports - behaviour. ..............................................................................79
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What might have been done. ...............................................................79 What is the mind?................................................................................79 Self interest. ........................................................................................79 Seeking closure. ..................................................................................79 Ignorance. ............................................................................................79 Negativity and positivity. ....................................................................80 Innovation. ..........................................................................................80 Company power. .................................................................................80 The unscrupulous. ...............................................................................80 Political charades. ...............................................................................80 The benefit of anti-social behaviour?..................................................80 Christianity and death. ........................................................................81 Physicians and infectious disease. ......................................................81 Compulsory immunization. .................................................................81 The river of no return. .........................................................................81 Mind and memory. ..............................................................................81 Developing countries. .........................................................................82 Exemplary spectators. .........................................................................82 The truth will out.................................................................................82 Vacuity. ................................................................................................82 Nelson Mandela. .................................................................................82 A modern day rarity.............................................................................82 Guantanamo prison. ............................................................................83 Misrepresented rubbish. ......................................................................83 Crass stupidity. ....................................................................................83 The cost of living. ...............................................................................83
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Peoples tsunamis. ...............................................................................83 Praying for Nelson Mandela. ..............................................................83 External orifices of the human body. ..................................................84 Killer balloons. ....................................................................................84 Racism and anti-people feelings. ........................................................84 The spoken English language. ............................................................84 The streams of life...............................................................................84 Functionality and aesthetics. ...............................................................84 Mind readers. ......................................................................................85 The spoken English language. ............................................................85 Three words of wisdom.......................................................................85 The protection syndrome. (1) ..............................................................85 Food - leaving well alone. ...................................................................85 Fear and reason. ..................................................................................86 Online shopping. .................................................................................86 Blind faith. ..........................................................................................86 Caring. (1) ...........................................................................................86 Power and corruption. .........................................................................86 Obesity, food, ethics and profit. ..........................................................86 Castles and cathedrals. ........................................................................87 Poverty and wealth. .............................................................................87 The escalating cost of healthcare. .......................................................87 The car habit. ......................................................................................87 I cant give that up...............................................................................87 Climate change and business. .............................................................88 The headlong rush to failure. ..............................................................88
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Exploiting Earthly resources. ..............................................................88 Peace and reconciliation. ....................................................................88 Knowledge and intellect. ....................................................................88 Athletics and sport. .............................................................................88 Carnage in Syria. .................................................................................89 Respect for the land.............................................................................89 Caring. (2) ...........................................................................................89 Futurists. ..............................................................................................89 Our taste in food. .................................................................................89 The urge for profit. ..............................................................................89 Animal protectionists. .........................................................................90 On the birth of a child. ........................................................................90 Being civilized. ...................................................................................90 For generations to come. .....................................................................90 What a lovely day! ..............................................................................90 A royal baby. .......................................................................................90 Civilizations. .......................................................................................90 Modern spoken English. .....................................................................91 If something needs to be done.............................................................91 Technology. .........................................................................................91 Spiritual attitudes. ...............................................................................91 Excessive profit. ..................................................................................91 Motivation. ..........................................................................................91 The spoken English language. ............................................................92 The inheritance mantra. ......................................................................92 The solitary journey. ...........................................................................92
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One-eyed. ............................................................................................92 The modern white grin. .......................................................................92 Gourmet food. .....................................................................................92 The grand red carpet. ..........................................................................92 Intellectual slavery and ignorance.......................................................93 Out of sight, out of mind. ....................................................................93 Communication. ..................................................................................93 Patents and copyright. .........................................................................93 How are you? ......................................................................................93 Vibrational harmony - food. ................................................................93 Cities. ..................................................................................................94 The purpose of Earthly life. ................................................................94 Illness paranoia. ..................................................................................94 Speculation. .........................................................................................94 Social and environmental problems. ...................................................94 Statesmen. ...........................................................................................95 Incredible, wasted billions. .................................................................95 Crying - tears. ......................................................................................95 Life taken by mining. ..........................................................................95 Fish farming - ocean. ..........................................................................95 Lifestyle aspiration. .............................................................................95 Leaving the forests. .............................................................................96 No need to conform.............................................................................96 Human health. .....................................................................................96 Pointing a gun. ....................................................................................96 Clear communication. .........................................................................96
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Thank goodness...................................................................................97 Inventions. ...........................................................................................97 Meat farming and consumption. .........................................................97 Time. ...................................................................................................97 What to eat. .........................................................................................97 Human mentality. ................................................................................97 Shooting wildlife. ................................................................................98 The protection syndrome. (2) ..............................................................98 The invasion of Tibet 1950-51. ...........................................................98 Money. ................................................................................................98 Self interest and voting. ......................................................................98 Radical medical intervention. .............................................................98 Traffic congestion. ..............................................................................98 Technological trap. ..............................................................................99 Cheating your government. .................................................................99 Award winners. ...................................................................................99 Stones in rice. ......................................................................................99

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MO-MENTS or IDLE THOUGHTS

INTRODUCTION From The Milk Is White: *Thought creates; Creation manifests; Thought manifests.
*These three lines encapsulate the cause and effect of everything relating to life.

What is the Mind? Surely the brain is not the mind! True, the brain is a highly complex organ of the body responsible for the unconscious functions of the body as well as the more abstract functions we need for our mental/ physical bodies. In the latter respect it is more like a computer which consists of the screen, registering thoughts, experiences etc., the disc/s storing these and the system that effects this as well as recall for re-use in many ways. Both the brain and the computer utilise energy for power. Both are 'mechanical' in their function, and both need external input to function fully. This input comes from the Mind except where the autonomous activity is concerned. Both need the 'human element' to function and, when 'the plug is pulled' or 'half pulled' function ceases or goes on standby. The Mind consists of three intermingled elements v.i.z. the conscious, subconscious and superconscious. This terminology implies levels or layers but that is not the reality. To, by description, approximate the reality we can take the analogy of water vapour in the atmosphere which, depending on varying conditions influenced by local and global factors, forms clouds of varying density, colour and potential whilst still being water. The result of what is formed creates shade, darkness of varying density, storms, clear skies or rain. Similarly, the Mind creates peace and placidity, gloom, fear and turmoil, happiness or emotions. The structure, so to speak, of the Mind is formless and in a continual state of flux, responding to the interaction between existing 'data' and the constant influx of new 'data', and underscoring this is the innate 'data' of the soul or, responding to the interaction of the conscious, subconscious and the superconscious. Hence, the brain is not the Mind but a tool of the Mind, and is free to function independently of the mind whereas the converse is not the case. The Mind is a reflection of the soul. The body and the personality of an entity incarnate are not
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the Mind but only a creation of that part of the soul relevant to the soul's purpose and/or mission in any given life. Like the Great Spirit the Mind is beyond description - it just is. Mental Drift. This is the condition where we, individually or collectively, drift through life without thought; we just go with the flow created by society and culture. Sometimes, thought kicks in and we become aware of our thoughtless drift - and, sometimes, with this awareness we realise that we are on the wrong road and do something about changing direction. Mind/Thought. The mind is that state of Thought which is limited to the five senses. Thinking where the brain is the transformer to the physical (plane) - is an activity of the mind and is Thought in action. Thought itself is a constant. The Soul, Thought & Thinking. When the Buddha said that there is no such thing as the atman or soul he was correct. The soul is merely the sum total of past experiences and is, therefore, not an entity in itself; it is merely an "attachment" to the Spirit entity or, figuratively speaking, the "garments" of the Spirit entity. It is these attachments or garments that are shed in the process of enlightenment. The Buddha posed the question, "What is it that thinks?" and answered it by saying, "It is thought that thinks." The Great Spirit, God, The Creative Force is Thought and we are created in It's image. Hence, although there is no soul as such, we are Spirit, which is Thought; and as humans we are Thought manifest in human form or Thought manifest "in the flesh" (from the Latin in + carno, with carno meaning flesh.) Does the brain think? No, it is only a mechanical organ, a transformer between the soul and the physical being, and a device programmed to perform autonomic physical functions. Does the mind think? Yes, if we consider this activity in terms of mental "thinking", but it is only mental activity which we term thinking. Does the soul think? No, as it is only a bank of experiences. Thus, we arrive at the question "What thinks?" Thinking is not Thought because Thought does
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not involve activity - it just is, but Thought creates, and one thing it creates is the activity of thinking - it is the origin of thinking but is not, of itself, thinking. If we coined new words such as ment (mental) for 'think' or a 'thought', and menting (mental activity) for 'thinking', we remove the confusion with Thought caused by our use of the words 'think' and 'thinking'. Thought and Thinking. There is thinking and there is Thought. Thinking is a mental process, Thought just is - it is still, it is all-encompassing, limitless, indescribable and allpowerful. Thinking is a soul activity, Thought is Spirit, and from it all knowledge flows. Mind and Thought. As the mind shrinks at the will of the initiate, thought flows in to fill the spaces so created. The Bubble of Thought. If awareness is a pond, a Thought* is the bubble that rises from the depths and bursts at the surface. (*For my definition see Ians Dictionary.) Thought and Menting. Regarding other references to menting, ment, mentivity etc. try this: For Thought manifesting one might best refer to the common expressions "It dawned on me." and "It occurred to me." in which is implied the absence of mental activity; in other words no menting or mentivity. NOTE The inquiring mind will wonder why we are the way we are and the wise will read my writings which set out the answers - the same answers which others have set out over at least 2500 years. Quo vadis, my friends?
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MO-MENTS or IDLE THOUGHTS

Almost like hens teeth! They may be almost as rare as hens teeth but there are some who do not blindly follow the American Dream so intensely aspired to by the majority of earthlings and so loaded with negative consequences. Education and ethics. Worldwide the panacea for all ills is maximum improvement in intellectual education (as opposed to experiential education) whilst there is no mention of ethical/moral improvement. The cost of time. When time became a cost and convenience was measured in time we became enslaved by both the cost of time and convenience which now are now major drivers of technological innovation. The cost of fear. When a country is motivated by fear the cost is the loss of moral fibre and the manipulation of declared, moral, legal and spiritual laws in a futile attempt to eliminate such fear whilst only aggravating the consequences of such actions. Communication - language. (1) When the language we use changes in a way that adversely affects clear communication and we mindlessly adopt the changes we are jeopardising our ability to communicate clearly: something which can cause all sorts of problems. Environment and mentality. The wilful or unthinking damaging of our environment is not primarily a matter of the environment but one of mentality and attitude. Self-justification. When, in a country, self-justification, particularly at the highest levels, is entrenched that country is on a slippery slide.
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Nuclear weapons. It seems that there is an I am holier than thou! attitude prevailing in the countries currently armed with nuclear weapons and it is pertinent to ask on what basis is it decided that a country is allowed to have them or not - even those countries which deny having them but do? Technology. (1) Boon or scourge? Think fully, laterally and widely. The rainbow. The aspirational rainbow painted by modern culture is just that - a rainbow. Communication - language. (2) Structuring of the English language is rapidly breaking down due to the absence of a standard. What the ultimate consequences of this are is unforeseeable. The chosen path. There are, and probably always have been, those who by inclination or wisdom have eschewed the chosen path of the majority. Migration and opportunity. Around the world, as people increasingly migrate to cities and, therefore, greater exposure to television and advertising, the scope increases for predatory organizations to inculcate, by any means and with callous disregard for health and other consequences, still more ignorant people to further increase the profits of their organizations. Vegetation. The plants of today were, or are derived from, the weeds of yesterday and the plants of tomorrow are the plants and the weeds of today. Hence, be mindful of this when creating the next weed eradication mindset. Positive change. Very often it is the awareness of the negative that is the catalyst for a change to the positive.
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News media. The news media loses its validity and credibility when it starts to manufacture sensation to attract attention to itself rather than the news. It started this some years ago and the habit is now well entrenched. Boundaries, flags and conflict. First there were animals with territorial boundaries, then there were humans with territorial boundaries who later added national flags. Both territorial boundaries and national flags create the mentality which makes the weakness of conflict flourish. Unemployment. If over the last few decades the mean level of unemployment is, say, 5% it amounts to some 300,000,000 employable people being unemployed today. What does this say about our much vaunted system of world management and way of life either lived or aspired to? Modern youth. More freedom = more choices = more responsibility to self, others and the Earth. Prudent saving. In China today we see the official discouragement of the prevalent prudent peoples habit of saving money for the sake of the imprudent government policy of spending to sustain growth although even a child knows that bubbles burst. A concept of success doomed to failure. The world controllers are mired in the quicksand of a concept of success, and a system designed to achieve and maintain this concept, which is unachievable because its foundations are fundamentally flawed from a practical as well as spiritual point of view. Practically, because no system can succeed which is based on consumption of goods (A bit of lateral thinking extrapolating this illustrates this point) and spiritually, because it is based on a spiritual negative desire/craving. Jewellery and religion. Throughout the years the colossal expenditure on gold and jewels etc. On and in religious buildings is a colossal waste and something that the founders of these
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religions or philosophies would certainly of deprecated. It was not something even remotely suggested in their teachings. An in-depth view. When you next see a coastline take a different perspective, mentally remove the water from what you see to expose the land beneath and you will see what is. Little things mean a lot. We see or hear about so little genuine goodness - positivity - in the world. Are we humans, as a whole, so devoid of goodness? We have to stop and think to find genuine goodness but it is there . . . . and that is uplifting to the spirit. Patience and self-control. Patience and self-control achieve far more than impatience and self-gratification. Seedless fruit. We find seeds in fruit we eat inconvenient so we breed them out of the fruit. This is our mentality but what are the long term consequences of such foolishness? Love. Love, that enigma which is almost universally considered to be essential and important to us, the reason, in fact, for our very existence is ephemeral and in various situations it is highly variable: depending on the objects and/or people it is directed at, it lasts for varying periods, exists with varying intensity, and is unpredictable. It is also the cause of anger and hatred. Out of site, out of mind. How often, if at all, do we stop to consider what is happening to the billions of organisms, vital to the functioning of our world, beneath our feet and the grinding wheels of our vehicles? Circulation booster. For sale in a pharmacy: Circulation Booster $ 299.95. In other words pay $300 for what you can do by a short walk!

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Artificial life. In the not too distant future some 33% of the population of the developed world will be kept alive by pharmaceuticals much to the glee of the shareholders of pharmaceutical companies although many of them will simply be recouping expenditure. Machines and people. About 32 years ago I heard a Christian priest talking on radio say, In the past we loved people and used machines. Now, we love machines and use people. World politics. To support a child because of family ties despite its belligerence, paranoia and intransigence neither helps the child nor its classmates who feel the brunt of its negativity. The title God. What is described as God, by any name, is a simplification of the reality, or just simplistic, intentionally or through ignorance. Waste - the world economic system. The worlds economic system is based on waste; waste because it depends on people consuming what they do not need. What people actually need is simply the essentials for fitness, mental and physical health and contentment. Ethical advertising. Wasnt there a time when it was a legal requirement that advertising be truthful? Betting and gambling. In Australia two things are happening simultaneously: Some politicians and sections of the community are trying to limit gambling because of its serious adverse affect on some people and society. Advertising of gambling and other facilitations of gambling are increasing vastly. Housing and land. In many countries, particularly the Middle East, people have lived happily and proudly in one house for centuries whereas in the developed world we are not
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only using up our prime agricultural land for housing but building houses twice as big as those we built fifty years ago. Toys. As children we played with toys we made or bought and some of us grew up and played with grown ups toys like guns for sport, cars, motorcycles etc. Now, for young and old we have Information Technology toys which young and old use often to excess. Technology. (2) We have made huge strides in technology but have we made even a small step in improving our mentality? Speculation. The section of the world which is exposed to the media seems to be fixated on speculation. Essentially, this is living in the future which does not make for peace of mind and, therefore, wellness. Cleverness and wisdom. Clever we may be but are we wise? Deaths. If we are truly concerned about the number of deaths, discounting those from natural causes, we would prevent the design and manufacture of the causes. Health of the body. Whilst we are manufacturing and consuming large quantities of unhealthy and processed foods thereby damaging our bodies, where good health is a major factor and attained, we are damaging the body by excessive activity. Gaia. If what we have already done to cause climate change does not wreck Gaia the other things we have done and continue to do will. Baby vegetables. Eating baby vegetables is an indulgence of the rich whilst the poor starve. Will this continue when, in the future, there is a world shortage of food - as is predicted?
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 White tea. Black tea contained silver tips which were the result of the apical bud of the two leaves and a bud traditionally picked. These added a special taste to the brew. However, in relatively recent times it became the practice to extract these tips, call them white tea, and market them at exorbitant prices with no reduction in price of the black tea which is degraded. Only the wealthy can afford white tea. Energy fields. The human body, like any object, is, essentially, energy as in all matter. Energy exists in fields and these fields interact with one another. The consequences, therefore, of the almost continuous exposure of the body to man-made energy fields so common today - fields to which the body is possibly naturally unused are unknown. The mega rich. The mega rich must have a type of insanity involving ego mania which isolates them from others not having the save psychological needs. The giving people.
Around the world there are people, generally ignored by us and, therefore, the media, because they or their activities lack the component/s that titillate us, giving freely of their skills and/or money and/or time towards helping others who are in need.

The United Nations. As long as the United Nations has members with the power of veto, an elitist and self-elevated few, it will be dysfunctional and undemocratic. Records in sport. With the evolution over the years of sports laws, equipment, venues etc. the comparison of performances is largely a waste of time. The mountain builders. Unlike the mound builders of pre-history we in the civilised world are mountain builders but, unlike the mound builders, we build mountains of our rubbish in the oceans, under ground, on the ground and in the sky and, not satisfied with that progress, we want to colonise the moon, Mars and possibly other planets! We are fiddling while Rome burns!
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Cooking and food. In the developed world celebrity chefs have been sprouting like mushrooms and television is replete with their programs as well as other programs about cooking; all this while obesity is rampant and others are dying of starvation. Communication - language. (3) Circa 1992 a Time Magazines Essay was titled The Demise Of The Humble Comma and, although the demise of the comma has not been complete its minimal, or incorrect, use has adversely affected clarity of communication. Meanwhile, the subsequent dropping of the word that, used as a relative pronoun, and, more recently, prepositions, has had a cumulative effect the results of which are evident everywhere. Aggression and violence. These days aggression and violence are manifest almost everywhere: in the news, perhaps because we are attracted to it, in sport, in politics and more. These emotions seem to accompany the intensity with which life is now led by so many. This is a sad indictment of our spiritual state - individually and collectively. Tourism. Tourism is productive, and often necessary, for the economy but destructive for the environment and native culture. National donations. We plan eight years ahead and invest billions for lavish sporting events but constantly fail to deliver on our promises of emergency aid to suffering refugees from crises. In democratic countries it is the people who have to take responsibility because it is they who vote for the government. Posting on the Web. How many of us post on the Web with the conscious or subconscious wish for recognition? The Holocaust. The past event of the Holocaust does not justify the later continuos persecution of another peoples. It should have created the opposite mentality. However, fear is no diplomat.
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Animal behavioural research. Too many theories about animal behaviour are too often biased towards the way humans would behave. Thus, there exists not science but the proclivity of the scientist to subconsciously apply this bias. The law of cause and effect. It is much easier for us to believe in a God who forgives our sins than in a law of cause and effect which brings about spiritual growth. The camel and the rope. 1. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. 2. It is easier for a rope to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Note: In Aramaic, the language of the Essenes, the word for rope and camel is the same. Take your pick! Aphorisms. An aphorism, where it relates to a spiritual truth and where it does not appear to fully explain something, can be the wrapping of a precious gift. The body. When the body gets old, as it must, and starts presenting the painful symptoms of ageing we should happily acknowledge the reality and let nature take its course with only natural amelioration of pain and discomfort as much as possible. No quick fix. In this life alone my spiritual discoveries took 54 years to coalesce and another 15 years to crystallise. World improvement. If this world is to become a better place, even one conducive to living in, there has to be a change in the mentality of the collective human psyche. This has to start with each individual and, thereby, to the collective - a change from the in32

ward focus to the outward focus - that is, a change from selfishness to unselfishness. Pie in the sky? Flying pigs? Anything is possible . . . Although not probable. The field of dandelions. In a field of dandelions there are billions of seeds. They get blown away in the breeze to go about their business - and they do this without a murmur. Why no murmur? No emotions. Why no emotions? No mind! Neither happy nor unhappy - peace. A special day. A special day for goodwill to others implies a lack of goodwill to others on other days. But then, in modern times we have a plethora of special days - which seem to make little difference to us. The Nobel Peace Prize 2012 ceremony. Here we see illustrated the farce that our world system is: in one nation the glitterati, including world leaders, gather at an extravagant banquet and ceremony in connection with the presentation of this prize whilst elsewhere, unseen and out of mind, are the millions starving and sick without a morsel to eat or clean water to drink in conditions of acute deprivation. Exploitation of labour. So, we have it again; big name garment producers demanding, to maximise their profits, unfairly low manufacturing costs from low labour cost countries and thus encouraging, even necessitating, the exploitation of labour, and then purporting to be unaware of the exploitation etc. Titles. The adjective millionaire has almost been supplanted by the adjective billionaire but now these adjectives are used as titles such as Doctor, Father, Sir, Count etc. This is how important money is to us - no matter how it was earned. Mass shootings - U.S.A. If you live by the sword you die by the sword. This quote is from the Bible so Christian prayers in particular are no remedy.
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Stephen Hawking: There is no God. Stephen Hawking was correct when he recently said, There is no God. but his conclusion would be incomplete if it stems from reasoning, logic and scientific theory. The English language and communication. Whilst a lot of words have been, and are being, dropped - some with benefit many words have been, or are being, added that are incorrect or unnecessary very often simply tautology. Moral and statutory law. Where a moral law exists it is not good enough for someone to say, with only statutory law in mind, I/We did nothing illegal. Human failings. Paedophilia and sexual misconduct in the Christian Church is not the fault of the essential Christian teachings but a matter of human failings both in respect of the thoughts and acts as well as the institutionalised cover up due to a misguided defence of the Church. A reference to the teachings would have made this defence untenable. The world. It is now being said that obesity is a bigger problem than hunger - what an irony . . . . and what an indictment of our constantly much vaunted progress. 12,000 toys. In Australia yesterday, a body connected with children in care announced that in response to a request for donations of toys, with a target of 8,000, the number of toys received, in just the main place, was 12,000. Game hunting. Normally this term starts with the word Big - but let us generalise. This game, called hunting, involves a human animal going into the wild with weapons it has invented, to kill a fellow animal purely for pleasure, whilst ignoring the pain and suffering it can cause to that animal or other animals that escaped wounded - perhaps mortally.

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Compensation for life. Ancient aborigines learned from their life experiences. If one of them died from eating a berry they learned that it was poisonous and did not eat it thereafter. They did not sue the tree or God. When an unwell person was being treated by a shaman and died they did not sue the shaman. They sought no compensation for life. Household pesticides. What the advertisements do not tell us, and what we do not read, is that these products are poisonous to us and that, therefore, as we kill the insects we slowly kill ourselves in small cumulative ways. N.B. On the label, under First Aid, it may say, If poisoning occurs etc. etc. The vacuum in our mentality. People might denigrate religious or spiritual teachings but it is the absence of them from the mentality of the majority of us that is the cause of mans inhumanity to man that is so prevalent in recent history and today. Political nomenclature. In political nomenclature the second largest group of members after the governing group is termed The opposition. This designation is fundamentally inappropriate because it fosters, in selfish individuals and groups, unnecessary and/ or irresponsible opposition to the Government. Perhaps the term The Alternative would be more appropriate and more conducive to high moral standards. Boasting. Boasting is an indication of a lack of self-esteem. Feel good. Many people dress up to feel good yet, if their spiritual state is elevated, they will feel good no matter what they wear . . . . . and think of the savings! Contentment with life. People are often quite content with life until someone comes along and tell them that they are missing things.

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The media. Because of the increasing unreliability of the information given us via the media, due to a large part to the influences imposed on it, combined with the vast amount of uncontrolled information, of varying degrees of veracity, available at the click of a button, the need for discernment ranks high. Unfortunately, many people are either unable to be discerning or are disinterested whilst a large segment of the young in the developed world has switched off completely. Scientific speculation. Scientific speculation (theory) far too frequently becomes fact although a discerning listener to comments made on, say, a documentary by a scientist will be aware of this fact. A case in point is anthropological discourse. Words and meaning. Many words which are now disparaging, or are considered to be disparaging, did not have this quality initially but acquired it over time for various reasons. The ubiquitous, advertising Now. The ubiquitous Now, an advertising mantra, is now largely ignored because we are inured to it and because very often, when exposed to it in this context, we can take no such action even if we wished to. However, the advertising industry cannot let go of it - such is its power. A politicians declaration. What does a politician declare loudly but silently about himself or herself when they put their political life ahead of the loss to others of life itself - perhaps very painfully? New inventions. How many new inventions are of genuine benefit, directly or indirectly, and how many are merely gimmicks and gadgets which people take to in droves? Global unemployment. The current global population is estimated at just over 7,000,000,000 and the unemployment rate, according to the current methodology, is just about 7%. This equates to some 490,000,000 who want work but are unemployed. By 2020, as more countries become developed and more people become developed, can the worlds current system provide employment for at
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least another 140,000,000 - based on a projected global population of 9000,000,000 people - wanting work? Superior attitude. The imperialism and colonialism of the last few centuries is characterised by the arrogance of superiority of Europeans in assuming the superiority of their short civilizations over those of the conquered which preceded theirs by centuries and even millennia. This arrogance still exists, even if only subliminally, in people, and therefore governments, of the First World. The unchristian christian. Although I am aware of the stupidity and extremism of some religious fundamentalists I was appalled to see an American evangelical priest in Africa vehemently recommending the legally putting to death of homosexuals. Insanity exists in religious circles too! Our pursuit of unnecessary standards. Washing, sorting and grading fruits and vegetables for uniformity, perceived perfection etc. is both unnecessary and costly - a waste of money. Cash lotteries. Huge lottery prizes are unproductive and the prizes would do far more good if they are broken down into many smaller ones. Unfortunately, however, this is not likely to happen because common desire blocks common sense. A matter of priorities. Pensioner defers non-essential dental work for two or three years to enable his periodic contribution of $2,000 towards the education abroad of a poor young man from the East. He told his dentist, His need is greater than mine. The value of gold. In the Christmas Eve Mass at the vatican the predominant single colour was gold - almost flaunted. Fourfold success. To attempt something positive is success. To persist in that attempt is success. To complete it unsuccessfully is success. To complete it successfully is success.
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 Walled in rivers. When we wall in rivers and streams, or any body of water, we set back, if not kill, all life that would normally live in and around the banks. Womens equality at law. The persistent inequality of women at law in most countries stems from the fact that the laws were originally written by men for men and, to date, most governments are comprised mostly of men. The rules of cricket. For some years the width of the webbing between the thumb and fore finger of wicket keepers gloves has been gradually reduced from the liberal width it had attained. This reduction was effected because the extra width was deemed to be advantageous to the fielding side. However, whilst this was being done, no action was taken to limit the modifications to bats which have been to the advantage of the batting side. Very clever children. Parents creating celebrities of their very clever children are not only creating spectacles of them for their, the parents, vicarious pleasure and/or self-esteem but exposing them to psychological damage. Food and drink advertisements. The volume of advertisements for food and drink are an indication of the susceptibility of our minds to the stimulation of our palates and the degree to which it is exploited - too often very efficiently and to our detriment. Gladiatorial mentality. In the spectators in sports stadiums across the world we are re-experiencing the gladiatorial mentality of the spectators in the Roman arenas of some two thousand years ago. War. War is the instrument of the weak.
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Money and war. Money and war; we just cannot do without them, can we? Specks of wasteland, hitherto lying waste in the ocean, are found to have immense mining benefits so we start a race to claim ownership and threaten war! This is a disgrace, although the mentality is not new, but who will admit it? No government will . . . . . . but will people? Moral decay. Are so many countries becoming virtually dysfunctional due to a preponderance of crime and/or other moral decay that the world, as a whole, is on the path to becoming dysfunctional? Education the solution? Education is said to be the answer to everyones future but what happens when all are educated and are then unwilling to accept the menial, but necessary, jobs? Chuck it! Considering the rapidity with which technology now develops we could be producing for the throw away mentality and the scrap heap thus stimulating, or pandering to, a fast, costly and wasteful buy, lose interest and chuck it civilization. Exploitation of farmers. The unconscionable exploitation of farmers by large companies, many having the power of large market share, is putting the worlds food producers out of business. Whilst this is going on the profits of these companies benefit their shareholders, who should, themselves, be more responsible. In the long term their attitude endangers the food supply of all human beings.

Mass delusion. All the fun and good life we are fed constantly in all media is simply a recycling of mass delusion which the great majority of us cling to - at least subconsciously. Those expensive garments. A $5000 suit or dress is no indication of what hides within the wearer.
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Addicted governments. Governments too get addicted to addictive products but in their case the addiction is to the revenue from the excise they apply to the product. Spiritual values. Religious values, except where they correspond with spiritual values, in Scandinavian and some northern European countries seem to have no great affect on the people but spiritual values certainly have. Sportsmanship in tennis. In great contrast to some of his predecessors and contemporaries Andre Agassi was a true gentleman on the professional tennis circuit and his gestures of thanks to the spectators at matches have been adopted as their own by so many current players of both sexes. This fact is both significant and pleasing. Advertising and station breaks. Although I rarely watch commercial television and limit my watching of the national channels as much as possible to watching without sound, I am, at times, compelled to watch the former for some sports, and my experience makes me wonder whether the extremely frequent program breaks that occur are causing, or have already caused, a shortened attention span in juvenile and adult humans i.e. causing limited extended concentration. Pink or magenta? Red + white = pink [or used to be]. Red + white + blue = magenta [or used to be]. Yet many now call magenta pink! So, since magenta is now pink what is magenta? Earth security. To prevent the invasion of our planet by aliens all we have to do is broadcast into space the daily news of our world. This would deter the most determined aliens! On second thoughts, however, this may not work: it may result in the destruction of Earth by aliens to eliminate possible moral and environmental pollution of the universe as we attempt to further expand our interference in space.

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Entertainment. All indications are that we need a large amount of entertainment and it is probable that this is subconscious escapism; perhaps escape from the need to change our spiritual direction. World order. Our world systems are unsustainable because they have grown from our unsustainable ideals and aspirations. If the systems are to change, as they must and will, our ideals and aspirations have to change. This being unlikely, there has to be a complete collapse of the existing order and a completely new order established: one with more elevated ideals and aspirations. Speeches and statements. Speeches and statements of politicians et al are no longer sincere and/or subjective. Instead they are insincere and often scripted and expedient. The truth is not the purpose of the exercise. As soon as possible or soon? All and sundry now use the phrase As soon as possible. when they mean Soon This indicates a lack of thought about what is coming out of their mouths: a lack of a connection between what the speaker wishes to say and does. As soon as possible means just that and the possibilities are varied and numerous between immediate and infinite whilst Soon means, in the immediate future. Apparently intelligent people, who should know better, are guilty of this absence of ability to co-ordinate intention with outcome and it seems to stem from a fear of offending some vague someone or something. It points to character weakness. Half the worlds food going to waste. A news headline this morning : Half the worlds food going to waste. and, no doubt, 90% of it is in the so-called developed world where we humans have developed some very wasteful and destructive habits. All other animal and life forms waste virtually nothing. Evolution. As science and technology influences all life on Earth Darwins theory of evolution will become inapplicable - if it ever did apply.
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The humble palaces. With humbleness being a virtue in Christian teachings what inspired bishops of old to call their abodes palaces - and those of the present to continue to do so? Death by guns. The U.S.A. declares itself to be staunchly Christian so it should be aware of the Christian principle, If you live by the sword you die by the sword. Religious groups. Religious groups around the world are creating violence but if they were following the teachings of their religion this behaviour would no occur. Too often they are misled by clergy, or pseudo clergy, who are ignorant or have a selfish agenda. Sun glasses and communication. Human communication is not limited to audio, as we all know, and the eyes communicate in many ways. It is for this reason that, until the latter part of the twentieth century, people wearing sun glasses removed them when talking to someone. This was also a gesture of courtesy. Emotion in sport. There is something wrong when the emotional reaction of players on the field, in reaction to a success, reaches the levels it now does. These levels often border on the limits of self control. Climate change and enjoyment. Since those individuals whose huge need for enjoyment is contributing to climate change are enjoying themselves so much doing it, and with so many others aspiring to the same enjoyment, what chance is there for catastrophic change to be averted? Rare commodities. Customer service and courtesy are rare commodities these days so it was very pleasing to get a call at 8 a.m., from a company whose technician had an appointment with me between 7.30 and 8.30 a.m., to advise me that the technician was delayed on his last job and would be about ten minutes late.

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Good deeds. Most good deeds remain unsung and that is how most of the doers of the deeds would have it. From natural to unnatural. We have forgotten how to pick a fruit off a tree and eat it - we were huntergatherers then; now we first process it - we are civilised. The body was designed for fresh food so civilisation has brought us ill health. Ones homeland. Would those countries that have sovereignty over Kurdish lands as a result of the arbitrary division of those lands last century feel and behave as they do if it had been their lands that had been divided? Of course not! Graphene. So, here comes another magic discovery from which thousands of fantastic things can be made. This discovery, it is said, opens up huge potential but I simply see yet another pointless exercise. All such actions are driven by our inherent discontent with the status quo - all the way back to the beginning! Inefficiency and slackness. There seems to be a widespread, conscious or unconscious, desire or need for people to make excuses for the inefficiency or slackness of others that adversely affects an organization rather than take action to improve standards. The free market. Economic rationalists have, over the past half century or so, advocated free market forces as the panacea for all economic ills but the free market is neither free nor a market: it is fettered by the self-interest of the rich and a closed shop for such interests. Physical well being. Recent and current aspirations of governments and/or the people of the so-called advanced countries, and those in other countries attracted to their principles, consist of good education, health, longevity, employment, comfort etc. But these are worthless if they do not make us better people. We are in much greater need
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of spiritual growth than in physical well-being; the latter being of spiritual importance in a completely different way than perceived by most. The purpose of human life. What a waste it would be, and how pointless, if the purpose of human life was merely that some are born to indulge themselves at the expense of others born to be deprived. Ancient wisdom. Ancient uncivilised peoples learned from their mistakes and changed their ways. We persist with our waywardness whilst, if we think that far, leaving it to science and technology to solve the problems we create - a vain hope. Body size and sport. Concurrent with the increase in the size of the human body over the last decades there have been developments in science and technology which, in some sports, has resulted in brawn taking over from brain. Guile and skill, which were previous vital to success, are being superseded by sheer power abetted by technological developments in equipment etc. Since guile and skill require more intelligence than brawn we could be losing another positive quality as we develop. Sacrifice and indulgence. The feeling one gets from giving up something one likes is deeper and longer lasting than the feeling one gets from indulgence. Cruelty to animals - human prey. The days of the Neanderthal are long since gone but the mentality lingers on. Food waste. The waste of fresh food resulting from unnecessary selectivity of produce by supermarkets around the world is astonishing yet governments of the world do nothing. Carnivores and meat eaters. If Homo sapiens was meant to be carnivorous it would have evolved with the physical characteristics of carnivora. We have chosen to be meat eaters.
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The cost of artificial longevity. If we wish to be kept alive on a costly diet of pills and expensive medical procedures plus institutional and/or palliative care towards the end we have to pay for it through taxes or other means. Moral and ethical standards. In the second half of the twentieth century to date there has been a progressive fall in moral and ethical standards in the developed and developing world - that part of the world which has been affected by what is called progress. The drift of modern culture. The culture of the U.S.A., with all its flaws, is suffusing the world and the U.S.A. Language, with all its flaws, is doing the same . . . . . and the cumulative effect is negative to the spirit. Sporting behaviour. Earlier in my post titled Sportsmanship in tennis I touched on negative sporting behaviour but recently, while watching the Australian Open tennis matches, I was reminded of the high standard of sporting behaviour on display in recent years. In the last decade or so to date there have been, and are, many exemplary players. The spiritual war. The most intense war currently being fought is a subconscious war; a war between self-interest and the conflicting interests of compassion and peace. Sports commentary on TV. The commentators on live TV commentary on sports match play seem to feel the necessity to maintain an incessant stream of comment most of which is obvious or irrelevant. This interferes with the connoisseurs concentration and enjoyment of the game. Bottled health. According to the advertisements good health is all there, in bottles and packs, on the shelves.

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Changing the world. It is said that if you wish to change the world you have to change yourself: this is how it works. As in the 100th monkey syndrome the act, influence or thought first spreads within the immediate group, thence to the larger group and then across space to other groups and so on because thought is a thing which moves in time and space without hindrance* In modern times we have the added tool of the Internet.
*Extract from The Milk Is White Chapter 3: However," thoughts are things" as the Cayce Readings say. Thought is a force, energy, a field, as evidenced by experiments conducted by Russian scientist in the early half of the twentieth century. It 'travels' instantaneously **and is not impeded by distance or any known substance.
**

'Travel' and 'instantaneous' are a contradiction in terms.

Natural event breakdowns. When a natural weather event causes disruption to power supply there is no refrigeration, food spoils, no eftpos, no cash, no banking no electric trains or buses etc. at present and in the future we can anticipated thousands of patients hitched up to computers in one way or another who will suffer excruciating pain, even death when power fails. What we call progress comes to a halt in the affected area and the other areas indirectly affected. If this is progress would we not have come up with a solution for such disruption? Or is this inept and irresponsible creation? War by computer disruption. It is now a recognised fact that the most potent, effective and cheap weapon a country can use upon another is computer disruption. What fools we are - after this surely we are not clever - to create without due care and consideration. Yet we have such an exalted view of ourselves! Meddling with nature. In the process we call progress we meddle with nature in reckless disregard for possible consequences - without even the precautionary principle applying. Animal cloning and genetic modification are but two examples of this. Walks in nature. During morning walks one can hear the tumbling of the creek over the rocks, the songs of the birds, the flutter of their wings and all the little sounds of nature yet some people walk with an earplug stuck in one ear, or both, listening to the sounds of man.
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None of our business. There is so much we get involved in that is none of our business yet some of us even take umbrage at the reactionNo time for lunch it sometimes causes. Buying power. Let buying power serve to prevent exploitation of the buyer and not serve to exploit the seller. No time for lunch. It appears that this has become more of a fact as recent decades have passed. It also seems that the cause is more to do with peoples response to an inner demand than pressure at work. Whatever the cause it is not good for body or for mind. Just a few decades ago. Not that many years ago I used to admire views of the worlds cities at night with their myriads of lights; and in this see signs of progress. Now I am a lot wiser! Plastics. There is a place for plastics in the modern world but the extent to which it has been foisted upon us - something we have accepted and embraced enthusiastically until relatively recently - by the numerous parties involved in the extraction of the source product, petroleum, and its subsequent conversion into the various plastic products is nothing to be proud of. At present the environment is overburdened by the accumulation of this product in its variety of forms and the situation gets worse. The lucky country. If this is the lucky country, as so many pronounce it to be, why are so many here either over-weight or obese? What is disturbing them mentally and/or spiritually? It is quite likely that many, at a spirit level [no, that one is a builders tool :-) ] are aware of what we humans are doing and, being unhappy about it, are reacting in the flesh. Spiritual and animal success. Desire, greed, pride, power, physical urges, selfishness, and vanity are the traits needed for animal success and to be eschewed for spiritual success.
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Religions. We have the religion, whose god is money, which is more radical than the most radical of the extremely conservative factions of the other religions. Economics or people? All the talk is about economics and not about people and there is no sense in blinkered commentators and pundits stating that the progress of a countrys economy benefits all its people because this is patently incorrect: the rich benefit at the expense of the poor who are reluctantly dragged along far behind. Union of same sex couples. The Oxford English Dictionary defines marriage as: The formal union of a man and a woman, typically as recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife. It seems to be the term marriage which is the problem in this contentious debate. But why the fuss? Surely it is still possible to coin a new, suitable word such as uniteage for instance? This word contains unity, unite, a bit of the word marriage, uni for one sex etc. What more is necessary in a mere word? Surely it is the act that is important and not the word. It is time to let go! N.B. Where laws now exist where the word, perhaps with some qualification, is inscribed in the law it can easily be changed and exist in its own right. Mass immorality. The positive side to the widespread immorality in the world today is the opportunity it presents to the billions to change their ways. Disrespect of sovereignty. Some powerful countries and their satellites countries have, for entirely selfish reasons, assumed the right to invade the sovereign space of other countries with scant regard for accepted diplomacy. A current example of this is the use of drones for surveillance and attack. This happens with impunity because those who could censure this are themselves desirous of this freedom. Feel good fantasy. To gain and/or maintain ratings and, therefore, profits television stations subliminally create a feel good sense in the viewer. Thus, the majority of viewers
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live in a partial fantasy and one which favours mindless spending on advertised goods and services. Employment. If all those unemployed in the EU, Africa, Asia, the Americas etc. find employment w.hat will they be doing and who is to utilise the result of their work? Is this sustainable or is the system stuck with the present state of affairs? Advertising generates consumption. Advertising, for which we all pay ultimately, is the generator of unnecessary consumption. Mass lunacy. Since early in the last century human beings have progressively increased their desire to protect themselves, and particularly their children, from all conceivable illness and damage resulting in a corresponding erosion of the immune system. This fear has reached the state of mass lunacy. Original Milk. Amazing as it may seem, in recent times, something called Original Milk has appeared on grocery shelves. That says it all! Creatures of habit. Humans are creatures of habit and, therefore, conservative. The consequence is that the vast majority go along in life blithely ignorant of, and/or disinterested in, what is happening in the world that adversely affects them. The English language. The enunciation of and emphasis on words recently introduced into the TV media in the last few years, and now migrating to common speech, is confusing because they appear to be meaningless: for example numbers are emphasised because they are numbers as are certain words emphasised. Mobile phones and stress. It has long been established that one of the causes of stress is not knowing what will happen next i.e. not being in control of ones situation and an example sited was that of the job of telephone answering. The mobile phone, if left switched on, keeps the owner in a state of constant expectation - conscious or unconscious - which is stressful whether notice49

able or not. Furthermore, having got so used to it being switched on, if it ever has to be turned off the owner is in a situation of deprived expectancy - also stressful whether noticeable or not. This is a lose lose situation. Fear and anger. Fear pervades Israel and anger pervades the Palestinians. Fear is debilitating and anger destructive. Both can be shed but fear is tenacious. Language. The proper management of the evolution of language is necessary as the consequence of not doing so is a breakdown in communication which will cause major problems - even disastrous ones. Truth control. It is not possible to control what people think or believe by proscribing information but it is possible to control what they know by proscribing the truth. The road to success. Apparently, according to the pundits, the road to economic success is Buy! Buy! Buy!, Spend! Spend! Spend!. Well, if you have vision, extrapolate this and consider what do you see or sense as the result. A sign of the times. My unit number is the same as that of a resident in the adjacent block of units and for a number of years I have received mail for that person in my mail box. In days gone by this error would have displeased the postie very much as standards were high. Yesterday, all my written complaints over the years to the postal authorities having failed, I had a long chat with the postie with the result being that as my unit was at the end of his motorcycle run he is tired when he reaches my box and does not notice the error. I asked whether the authorities had come up with any suggestions and he replied that they had not. Just desserts. Because we now choose out politicians from a shallow basis of TV image and staged performances whilst disregarding true performance over a past period when possible, we deserve what we get.

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The modern focus of the news media. The focus of the modern media away from informing to selling papers and increasing ratings has made the media largely irrelevant to the thinking person. To a large extent the quality of material now apparently important is what the readers want or because the readers will simply read anything (and believe anything?) or are stuck in the groove of the habit of reading and/or viewing. Discernment appears to have vanished. People power: cohesive coercion. If properly harnessed people power is more powerful than company power so the only reason for the existence of the unethical activities of companies is people - people not acting. Without people most companies would cease to exist so, if they want a change to company culture, all they have to do is act cohesively to coerce the company into changing its culture or go bust. Education. We have got to the stage where we do not know where our food comes i.e. from cows, farms, soil, trees etc. and this is quite a remarkable achievement: partly due to an education system which decades ago decided to focus on mathematics and engineering at the expense of the humanities and what were considered non essential disciplines. The ideology of the time forsook a rounded education - the myopic view of a culture which was focussed on science and technology as the panacea for all ills. Consumerism. Everything we need is available in nature. The problem is that there are too many of us using too much and wasting too much of that whilst relying on science and technology to solve the problems we create - a lazy irresponsible mentality. Well, it should be apparent to us that this reliance is misplaced because science and technology create more problems than they solve. It is we who have to take responsibility. The physicist and the theologian. Today I watched a question and answer program on the ABC where, as a result of a question posed by a member of the audience, a physicist and a theologian got to discussing what came before creation. In a nutshell it became a matter of there being nothing before creation but that nothing was actually something with the theologian seeing that nothing as something viz. God. I sat watching this, to me, impossible effort at realisation and I kept on saying, You cannot resolve this dilemma by use of the mind! It requires the elimination of the mind!
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The fact is that I had already written about this in my book in 1993 and at various times since then. I had no difficulty with doing this because I had, by then, developed the ability to eliminate the mind and free up Thought - what I termed neoption or seeing without eyes. All this is available to anyone by simply reading what I have written where this aspect of the reality is but a small part of the whole. Here is an extract of a page as one example: Each cell is made up of, and contains, material that consists of molecules that, in turn, consist of atoms, then protons and electrons and so on down to a state of subatomic energy now said by physicists to alternate between a state of existence and non-existence. This is the point of Creation of all 'matter', the point at which Spirit becomes matter or, more correctly, the basics from which matter is formed. The "state of non-existence" is the creative intelligence that is the Great Spirit i.e. "Thought", and the "state of existence" the primary state of all matter and all that is derived from it. And here, also from the book, an enigmatic explanation of the whole in a nutshell: Thought creates Creation manifests Thought manifests.1
The "Quo Vadis?" File
1

These three lines encapsulate the cause and effect of everything relating to life.

The health of the human body. The human body was designed to be exposed to the elements and derive benefits from them. Consider the lifestyles of the indigenous peoples of the world (with the exception of that of the eskimos where special adaptation is a feature) before exposure to civilization and compare that with what this civilization has developed for us and its effect on human health. Courtesy. It appears to be that the courtesy Thank you. has passed out of the vocabulary and minds of people particularly where small courtesies are concerned. By this I do not mean that one should thank all those who send unsolicited jokes, news items etc. by the dozen or everyone who likes a post but the hitherto common courtesy of thanking someone for being helpful to or mindful of one. The throw away civilization. Yesterday there was a news item on the ABC that 30% of the food purchased in this country is thrown away in the home - from cupboard, fridge, cooking, plate etc. What an indictment! What goes on in the minds of so-called advanced peo1

These three lines encapsulate the cause and effect of everything relating to life.

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ple? Almost daily there are news items, accompanied by video, I might add, of horrendous conditions in refugee camps and the like but we, it seems, are too busy care. We deserve what is coming to us. Farmers. We are putting our farmers out of business by not paying them enough for their produce and this is happening when huge food shortages are predicted for the not too distant future. It is essential that we act to stop this plunder. The constant battle. The centuries old problem of industry profit at the expense of people and the environment continues unabated to this day . . . . . . . . we do not change, do we? Secular laws. In the case of secular laws we have, over centuries, made significant progress towards being a civilized society. However, in many countries these are flouted behind the scenes: behind the facade of justice presented to the world and often boasted about. Saluting guns and guards of honour. Since there is no honour in guns it is time countries discontinued the puerile practice of gun salutes, e.g. the 21 gun salute, and armed guards of honour. Guns - bearing arms. Anyone claiming that bearing arms is a god given right had better search to infinity and beyond to find that god because none such exists. The high life. The high life is the froth on a void. Media behaviour. The reason the media so often behave in a despicable manner is that there is a large number of people who thrive on reading the results - what people crave the media will supply. Boom, boom, bust. Boom, boom, bust . . . . . so goes the cycle. Constant analysis of this phenomenon keeps millions occupied and millions interested but we persist with this sys53

tem only because we can do no better . . . . and the rich are the only beneficiaries. The deep rut. It is anticipated that by 2030 air traffic will increase fivefold and the stated solution to high costs and availability of fuel is biofuels. No mention was made of how much of the worlds food producing land will go to feed the aircraft. We are stuck in a rut so deep that we cannot see out - a bit worse than the ostrich burying its head in the sand which, incidentally, is a myth. Not good enough. Expressions like, I have always done it that way., My mother did it this way., My father told me to do it this way. etc. are not good enough; the wise subject their actions to their own critical scrutiny. Will power. Will power is one thing; wishing to use it another. Scientific study. The scientific study of things in isolation when nothing exists in isolation is a fundamental flaw. Dates - Use By, Best By etc. The purpose of the introduction of this system by governments was well intentioned and a boon to producers. Unfortunately, for all but the producers, to most people these dates came to mean Discard Date because they were unable, for whatever reason, to logically think through the purpose of the dating and realise that these dates were a guide and not absolute. They instantly forgot what they did before the introduction of the system and millions of tonnes of perfectly good food started on its way to the tip. An example of costly and wasteful mental inertia. Lifestyle. Some people live life on a high of alcohol and/or drugs and/or their business activities and thus make life decisions from a mind state remote from their actual lives - decisions that are prone to failure.

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The believer. A friend of mine believes that Moses actually smote the Red Sea to make it part and allow him to take the Israelites through. He does not believe the thousand or so of scientists, including some from the highly regarded Australian CSIRO, who state that humans are responsible for the unnatural climate change which is occurring but, when he talks about how terribly unsafe microwave ovens are, he quotes the CSIRO scientists. The general state of flux. Just about everything humans do has been in a state of flux from its inception but with little adverse effect. In recent times, however, it has been so fast that there appears to be a pronounced negative effect manifesting across the board; an effect highlighting the full range of human weakness. Standards. Generally speaking, necessity and mentality have lowered standards and are lowering then further. Full circle. We have just about come full circle this time around and, on completion, we will return to the spiritual restarting point for our next cycle. The character of the end of the cycle is determined by what we created. With each cycle we achieve some spiritual progress individually and collectively as a result of our experiences. Hence, each cycle is an opportunity. Equality for women. The efforts being made, though tokenistic in many places where it is in the hands of men, to eliminate archaic attitudes towards women are due to welcome enlightenment - both socially and spiritually. Obesity. Obesity, that increasingly common state of the human physical condition, is not simply due to lack of exercise and unhealthy diet; there must be subconscious contributory factors such as lack of self-esteem, stress - actual or imagined - and dissatisfaction with life. Duty of care versus negligence. The defining and/or interpretation of duty of care, as against negligence, by courts has been so absurd that it is farcical at times. It has also led to a massive
55

increase in costs in the community because of the disproportionate penalties awarded in the courts. Material graveyards. Aircraft graveyards are just small examples, in kind, of what is to come. As the speed of invention, technological advances and innovation increases monuments to our ingenuity, and waste, will blot the Earth at massive expense. This will not be paralleled by corresponding spiritual progress, however. Rooftop safety. In the arab world old style buildings do not have railings surrounding the flat roofs yet few, if any, people seem to fall over the edges despite the roofs being used frequently. Compare that to the fuss made in the developed world over protecting people. In the former people learn whilst in the latter they have to be protected. Big is better. In business at one time big was best then, some decades ago, it was not best and many very big companies, like Bell Telephone, were split into many parts. Then, more recently, and since, big again became better. However, big is not better trying to get bigger and bigger sends many enterprises to the wall. Also, big creates an advantage and advantage of this sort is unfair, although the big companies will not agree with this, and this is the strategy adopted to maximise profits at the expense of smaller businesses. This is called the free market which should be renamed the predators market! House keys and security. Around the world people hide the keys to their houses in the same one to three places and expect the house to be secure from burglars. Oratorial words. Oratorial words are often the spur to unspeakable acts like killing and war. A new Pope. A new Pope? Will anything change or will he live in splendour whilst millions of his flock languish in poverty?

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Advice. When advice sought, given and taken brings negative results the only one responsible for the results is the one who took the advice. Science. Is it correct that an experiment in which one factor is not measurable is not scientific? This is not a rhetorical question - I am looking for an answer. I ask this because, a couple of nights ago, I had a neoption that this was so. I suspect, no more, because I cannot remember, that although the experiment may not be scientific it may be true - that science is not the final arbiter. Now, having written the paragraph immediately above, I am more convinced that although the experiment may not be scientific it may be true. Existing in isolation. Nothing material exists in isolation so whatever we chuck into the water in one place affects water everywhere. So it is with all pollutants but not enough of us care enough for us to stop this in time. Hence, as we sow so we reap - karma, the immutable law of cause and effect. Book publishing. If major publishers were truly interested in literature for reasons other than profit, they would publish books of valuable content, but without best seller potential, and medium demand. China - the economy or the environment. Pollution or growth? In the economic environment we have created on Earth, and worship, China has no alternative but to opt for growth. Super bugs. Apparently, medically dangerous super bugs are on the increase. This is happening at the same time that we are ruining our immune systems in a number of ways including vaccination/inoculation, excessive use of pharmaceuticals and protection against numerous things previously tackled by the immune system. Buy national. People of many countries are often exhorted to buy things made in their country but where this exhortation occurs in a developed country it is one of limited, moral, vision because there are other countries struggling to develop and feed
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their people, let alone give them one tenth of what the developed countries provide for their people. Charity begins at home. This is a common catchphrase. However, from a moral, or spiritual, point of view it is literally shortsighted because true charity goes where it is needed most and that is not necessarily at home. Sadly, it is true that the awareness of many people spreads no further than their eyesight. Belief. No one has to believe anything because, in the end, everyone will know everything. The GFC and Wall St. The prosecution of those at the top in Wall St, and deemed to be responsible for the GFC in 2008, amounts to nil. What a farce! . . . . . and this is the country claiming to be the worlds saviour. Evolution and the effect of man. It has taken many hundreds of thousands of years, as far as is estimated, for humans to evolve to their present state. Of this period all but the last couple of centuries have been in a environment free of internal and external pollution and the consequences of these factors, past present and future, will only manifest over generations where this has not already done so even slightly either in humans or animals. The Only Reality. The only reality is that we exist in Spirit as one and project the perceived reality.
[Neoption at 5.09 a.m. 23.03.13.]

Timelessness. Today is my dogs birthday but it makes no difference to him because, like all animals except Homo sapiens, he lives in the reality of timelessness. What fools we are. What fools we are for the rubbish we buy because of the claims made on the labels etc. by the manufacturers.
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It seems so easy. These days it seems so easy for someone to stab another - with anything to hand. Quo vadis? The evolution of advertising. Advertising started as a means to inform the public of the availability and description of something but, human nature being what it is, it did not take long for us to see how informing could be turned into profiting without ethical inhibitions. Civilization Z. This civilization could very easily be Civilization Z. Agriculture and weeds. Weeds are an integral part of nature and the soil so their elimination in agriculture is not the solution to the difficulties they cause. Instead of continuing to resort to chemical herbicides that are detrimental to the soil we should be looking for ways to incorporate the green manure that is weeds into the soil as would normally occur naturally. If, as a consequence, land productivity plateaus we will have to find more land or regenerate infertile land biologically. We have to get our priorities right: there is no point in trying to improve agricultural production whilst simultaneously misusing prime agricultural land as we do. The beauty of nature. The dawn of a bright, sunny day after a period of clouds and rain is announced by the chorus of a multitude of birds loudly singing their happiness at the change and lifting the hearts of the humans still able to notice the beauty of nature. Illogical logic - anthropology. The anthropological theory of human evolution currently followed is only logical because the fact that the logic relates to an assumed starting point is overlooked.
[Neoption at 1.24 a.m. 26.03.13.]

Nature and science. The penis and the uterus of nature are the pipette and test tube of science.
[Neoption post 1.41 a.m. 26.03.13.]

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Dream homes and office blocks. The problem with the huge panels of external glass used in the construction of these edifices is that, to reduce maintenance costs, they are self-cleaning on the outside and that this self-cleaning is achieved by coating the glass with chemical which slowly erode and wash away, taking the dirt with them. These chemicals then find their way into the ground. A matter of a solution creating a problem. Afghanistan. In Afghanistan the West has presumed, from an assumed position of superiority, to artificially move into another time an ancient culture, but things are not that simple because, like water finding its own level the subdued culture will do the same when freed, whatever its actual or perceived shortcomings, and grow from there in its own way. Everything happens in its own time. Habits die hard. Habits die hard = It is difficult to still the mind (or moul as I call it). Principle and convenience. Principle is frequently sacrificed to convenience. Principles of marketing. The principles of marketing dictate that goods are priced according to the ability to pay. Therefore, in a high income country the profit is greater than in a country where the incomes are lower. However, does it follow that some of these profits are devoted to selling at below cost in a country where the population is largely destitute? Marketing/business ethics. Worldwide, businesses, with few exceptions, are rapacious, exploitative and unscrupulous where their customers are concerned but are completely blaze about it - and the shopper pays for it! Sadly, all this is considered good business. Mind disorders of returning service personnel. The very high occurrence of these disorders is, in all probability, due to a spiritual, or superconscious, antipathy to war and killing - something well beyond the comprehension of those treating them or sending them to war in the first place.
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 A sad commentary. It is a sad commentary that the much vaunted system directing the state of things in the world grows from a worsening cesspool of human morality. Technological innovation. Technological innovation is now occurring for its own sake followed by buying and updating for their own sake. Mobile phones. The mobile phone, if its use is not wisely controlled by the user, is an infringer of liberty. Cruelty to animals. For a long time I have suspected that some dairy farmers in Australia have been shortening (docking) the tails of dairy cows but yesterday, having seen that, in a 1500 strong herd of Holsteins in China all the tails were docked, my suspicions are confirmed not only where Australia is concerned but worldwide. Depriving the animals of a, to them, vital tool - that of fly swatter, is cruel because without a tail they are like humans would be if they, humans, were unable to wave their hand in front of their face to drive off flies. The result is, of course, stress! Media culpability. The media is culpable, it has a great deal to answer for in respect of the negative way in which the world and its people have developed and are developing. The reason for this is that its focus has not been on promoting positive thinking and actions: it has had, and continues to have, no moral imperatives or impetus and is driven, by the proclivities of the owner/s or, like most everything else, by profit. Packaging of products. Within the last two decades there was sufficient concern in the world about excessive packaging and its effects and consequential costs that at least one country, Germany, started making the manufacturers responsible for post-purchase disposal of parts and packaging. This, in Australia at least, is not the case and, frequently, in a single item there is more packaging than product and more packaging cost than product cost with the former cost being an imposition on the purchaser by the manufacturer. We have, therefore, unnecessary cost with negative consequences to the community as well as the environment.
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 The enemy within. Any person, or body of persons e.g. a nation, constantly fearing attack, needs firstly to seek the primary cause of the animosity and act to eliminate it - not the perceived cause but the root cause - that which lies within. Karma. Karma is the greatest and most perfect teacher. Honour amongst thieves. It would be gratifying if large companies doing business in a country other than their own, particularly where the country was a poor one, actually contributed honourably to that country. Company behaviour. No matter what the bean counters say, no customers = no company; so, people have the power to change things - if only they would get up and do what is needed: Which is to work together en masse to act until your demands are met; and that will certainly not take long! These days there is the convenience and power of the Internet. Belief. Belief without intelligent analysis is foolish. Belief of hearsay, spoken or written, is also foolish but if belief makes one a better person it is a step in the correct direction irrespective of the source. The right to kill. The human presumption of the right to kill, for sport or food, includes the killing of fish in large and small numbers with scant regard for their suffering from suffocation, either above or below water, and the pain inflicted by gaffs or line hooks. Respect and value. While respect for, and the value of, paintings, other collectables etc. has increased exponentially over the last many decades the same consideration towards the elderly, especially parents, has decreased correspondingly, thus severely diminishing the quality of the collective human psyche.
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The convenience of convenience. The convenience of convenience prevents many people from putting in the effort to help themselves drop bad habits, of diet or something else, that are causing them physical or spiritual harm. Teachers and teaching. The rapid changes in communication technology mean that more and more of teachers time is absorbed in learning how to use the new technology. This raises the question of whether there is a limit to the benefits of such technology, at least in the short term. Such is life. You cannot polish a silver vessel without abrasion.
[Comment: This morning I was talking to an obviously advanced spiritual seeker whose moul is burdened with what she calls the mental suffering she has been through and, listening to her, I neopted the above. When I repeated it to her she smiled knowingly and appreciatively.]

Our world and compassion. It is an indictment of the people in a world when, in that world, some have a billion times more than they need whilst others a billion times less i.e. absolutely nothing. The art of living. As we get more and more accomplished in living in an artificial world of innovation and invention we are getting less and less accomplished in living in the natural world. The fool and fighting. It is a fool who fights: The foolish coward from afar and the foolish brave at close quarters. Spiritual encrustation. Homo sapiens is an animal and encrusted on the human spirit is aeons of animal wants, instincts and habits which will take aeons to rub off - but rub it off we will!

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Sounds and gestures. The sounds and gestures of good humour in one last a lifetime and are a pleasure to friends and acquaintances. The sounds and gestures of ill humour in one last a lifetime too and are a burden to friends and acquaintances. Furthermore, the good
humour in some falls by the wayside whilst in others it is recovered.

Medicine - vocation or job? It is sad commentary that in modern times there are few doctors of medicine who want, or are willing, to go to remote areas to practice their vocation but then, on the other hand, perhaps it is no longer a vocation. Decibels and dissent. We are more vociferous and noisy about what we disagree with than what we agree with. Hence, the often disproportionate influence of the noisy minority to that of the silent majority. Fighting wars. One hidden reason for fighting wars is to give employment to the nations people. Conservative governments. When conservative governments do things which disadvantage many people, particularly amongst the middle and lower classes, it is no use telling members of that government the ethical error of their ways because they either know no better or because it is in their doctrine. Advertising. The current pervasiveness and cost of advertising, to the community, is indicative of an excess of product. In God we trust. The declaration In God we trust. has to be considered in the light of what God has apparently stated viz. As you sow, so shall you reap. So be it - Amen.

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Peace. There is no peace in revenge. There is no solution in murder. A fools paradise. Spiritually, we live in a fools paradise and our ignorance is our bondage. Customer service par excellence. 15.04.13: Having the previous day found that I had made a $900 mistake in a funds transfer I spoke to my bank where some excellent, courteous, understanding and helpful advice resulted in my finding the company to which I had sent the $900. To this company, Xtreme Herbs{http://www.xtremeherbs.com.au/}, I sent this email on 16.04.13. On 12.03.13 The XXX Bank paid you $900.00 due to an error on my part and this is to request you to return that money to me urgently. It is part of my savings for an important dental procedure. I am a pensioner and such savings are difficult to make. Please let me know how you propose to return this money to me. Thanking you, 16.04.13: Reply from Xtreme Herbs{http://www.xtremeherbs.com.au/}
Thanks for contacting us. We can absolutely transfer the money back to you. Please send us your Account Name, BSB and Account Number and we will process this ASAP. Please let us know if you have any other questions or comments! Best regards,

16.04.13: I replied giving the require details and received notice that the funds had been transferred and to allow two days for the transfer to appear in my account. 16.04.13: $900 was credited to my account. The truth and blasphemy. The Truth - the description of the Reality - can never be blasphemy.

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Spiritual personality cult. When teachings about the spiritual reality create a personality cult of the teacher the value of the teachings is diminished. Pollution - old and new. Three hundred years ago when we polluted we did so naturally and locally. Now we pollute naturally, unnaturally and globally as well as in space - and we aspire to go further. Pinnacles of physical achievement. In Australia, with reference to the recent exposure of doping in (human) sport, people are talking in terms of the use of performance enhancing drugs to reach the pinnacle of an individuals performance. Well, this pinnacle would be the false pinnacle and not the natural pinnacle. Aspirations of sexual equality. No matter how much we do to correct sexism in societies human nature remains Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. until, since Thought Creates, the species changes or ceases to exist. Convenient forgetfulness. Human behaviour is responsible for the extinction of numerous animal species but is such that it forgets that Homo sapiens is a species of animal. The fundamental cause. The fundamental cause of all that happens is the way we think - our mentality. Natural beauty. How beautiful the natural beauty of the unspoiled landscapes of the world.

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Servility reversed. In the westernized world the practice of richer people employing poorer people ceased some decades ago, except where the very rich were concerned, but has now reappeared in the form of contractors providing these services, thus reducing the scope for exploitation and increasing gainful self-employment. Armed forces. Over the last few decades the progressive increase in the number of security personnel and the exponential increase in the armaments of both security and military personnel has become necessary due to us, as a whole, having a less civilized mentality. The Pearly Gates - a major conundrum. In westernised countries the eagerness to stay alive for as many years as possible is causing ever increasing huge costs to governments in medical care, pharmaceuticals, housing and other ancillary needs of the elderly. In these same countries the predominant religion is Christianity where the belief is that the after life is heavenly and that all sins are forgiven yet Christians are in no hurry to go there; they are, apparently, mortally afraid to do so. All this is irreconcilable. Same sex marriage. Provided that equality in all respects exists in law legalizing a ceremony is irrelevant. What matters is the commitment of the individuals involved and tolerance by all others. Any authentic religious or spiritual teaching promotes the latter. Mans Word of God. There is no place in life for man made laws touted as the word of God whether as a result of ignorance or design. Fashion. Fashion emerged amongst the aristocracy of old as a counter to boredom and still is an indulgence by the rich, or fashion victims, at the expense of the poor.
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Progress. Since the advent of progress we have regressed physically and spiritually. The natural condition. In its natural condition any thing in nature exists in relation to its surrounds and is designed to work in, or from, its natural condition. Hence, to use any thing in any other than its natural condition, that is to first isolate it, is fraught with danger the consequences of which may not manifest for hundreds of years. The greatest musician. The greatest musician is air because it is what creates sound. However, it is also creates other sounds and that is something else! In the fullness of time. In the fullness of time is a phrase that correctly describes the spiritual schedule, whose events and times are self determined, applying to all human beings. Education and jobs. To date a good education has meant the choice of a good job and now the catchphrase in the western world is A good education for all means a good job for all. However, when all are educated there will not be good jobs for all. Thus, we would have come full circle and, thus, we would have made no progress. Global mobility. Increased global mobility has facilitated the mass movement of people which, in turn, has facilitated the melding of races and cultures for the spiritual purpose of giving us the opportunity to manifest, in the fullness of time, the inherent positive traits we possess irrespective of the traits we might demonstrate given this challenge.

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Feelings and welfare. The feelings of individuals become unimportant when one is considering the welfare of all.

Martyrdom. What motivates one to help others is spiritually very important. Often, people help others in order to help themselves satisfy a psychological need and when this helping is constant, and occurs despite personal hardship, it is martyrdom, not helpfulness. The age of knowledge. The age of old knowledge of the Reality is thousands of years whilst the age of the new knowledge of the Reality, to the extent that it exists, is a few hundred years and still emerging; yet only a wise few refer to the first. Attachment and non-attachment. Most humans are so attached to their profligate, unhealthy and damaging ways that they refuse to let go of them despite the obvious daily, visible effects and the most probable dire consequences. One cause of this is self-centredness. Gun lobbies. Those behind the gun lobby in the U.S.A., and any other such body in the world, simply do not know any better - and that says a multitude of things. The discontented one. From the beginning all animals were content with their lot; except for one human kind who, from the start, set out to change things suit themselves. Childbirth. A great deal of the problems modern westernized women have with childbirth, if they are not given a cesarean by the obstetrician that is, is due to children not being allowed to experience this natural phenomenon throughout their early years as is normal in "less civilized", but infinitely wiser, communities.
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 Living in the now. In terms of our world one day is actually and naturally from one dawn to the next dawn or something similar based on the movement of the sun but the absurdity of our system is the inevitable presence of the date line and the situation on either side of it. Living in the now is the solution but, sadly, this can only be achieved in the abstract! I told you so! To say, I told you so! when something goes wrong is unhelpful and is often the voice of an inflated ego which is best advised that silence is golden. The enquiring mind. The enquiring mind is already halfway to the goal: it is subconsciously aware that there is something it needs, or wants, to know. Harmony. We appreciate harmony in sound but are unable to live in harmony with too many. News and communication. At a time when the news is negative worldwide the technical ability to spread it is at its highest and, beneath the surface at least, there is always a positive reason for what happens. Television. It is either a fact or it is assumed by the television industry that, to hold the interest of viewers, numerous artifices are required. If we do have a short attention span is this because we are frivolous or actually disinterested?

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Television and politicians. With the advent of television into politics one wonders how many voters can separate the television actor from the politician and make a sound judgement before voting. The scientists cocoon. Sadly, most scientists think and work in a mental cocoon and it is only when they remove themselves from this mindset that modern science will progress beyond its current limitations. God is Good. The news was of three girls being imprisoned in a house, by three men, for years and in that time raped and ill treated before being discovered and rescued. Soon after, in the attendant crowds, was a large banner stating in large letters, God is good. Was God good for rescuing the girls or for putting them in that situation in the first place or was God good for both acts? Had the authors of that banner been better taught they would have known that God was responsible for neither. The precipice. It is interesting, to say the least, that people driving headlong towards a precipice attempt to overcome the obstacle instead of stopping the vehicle. Farming aspirations. Because I watch a weekly program about Australian farming and farmers I see the monstrous machines used on enormous farms and my thoughts go to the farmers in other parts of the world with a single animal on a small patch - and I think of the difference in the aspirations of the two groups; the difference between huge assets and variable but huge profits on the one hand and the difference between subsistence and starvation on the other. . . . . . and I wonder about the much touted success of our system.

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Hormones and genes. We now know a lot about hormones and physiologists say that hormones are secreted by the endocrine glands*. What activates these glands? We are told that it is the brain that activates them but what activates the brain? Aha! The same applies with reference to genes. * see chakras anywhere. Consciousness. Human consciousness is restricted to what is immediate and expresses itself emotionally whilst spiritual consciousness is all-encompassing and if expressed emotionally will result in nervous breakdown because of the sheer volume in existence. The leeches of longevity. From the shareholders and executives of pharmaceutical companies to doctors of medicine there are millions of people profiting or profiteering from the increased and increasing longevity of humans in the westernised world or those parts being westernised. Living and learning. We live and learn is an old phrase and most people do but some do not. Luxury. Five star hotels and similar houses - oh, the THINGS we crave! Craving. When we crave and get what we crave for, we crave more. When we crave and do not get what we crave for we get dissatisfaction.

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Harmony. We relate to harmony deeply because harmony, a state of balance, is our essential spiritual state, our essential state of being, and we relate thus because we recognise the relationship. Politicians and politics. Except for a few admirable exceptions politicians play politics with other peoples money whilst their incomes are virtually guaranteed to increase. Shooting the messenger. When someone points out that something we like is bad for us it is most often human nature to shoot the messenger and do nothing about the message. The Buddha and Buddhism. The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama*, did not speak about Buddhism; he spoke about the Reality and what he said became Buddhism. *This is the Sanskrit spelling. The later Pali spelling is Siddhattha Gotama. N.B. Buddha and Christ are titles denoting enlightenment. There have been, are, and will be, many of these. Frugality and responsibility. Frugality and responsibility are almost identical states of mind which create a way of life; they are not just things indulged in occasionally for some frivolous or fleeting reason and they are the result of the upwelling of wisdom through the superficiality of the modern way of life in the westernised world. The way forward. The way forward is never easy when you have to fight your mind!

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Pilot and co-pilot. Ones life is like an aircraft with a pilot and a co-pilot. The pilot has a flight schedule but his co-pilot has other ideas and is doing his best to overcome the wishes of his pilot. The aircraft, therefore, does not keep to its scheduled path and responds to whichever of its two pilots has greater influence. However, this aircraft will not crash; it will merely weather many storms before the pilot regains control and brings it to a safe landing. A culture of prevention. A culture of prevention now pervades this civilization which, in its attempt to prevent illness, death, accident, injury and a plethora of other such possible calamities, is bankrupting its governments. Of course, the root cause of all this is fear - the most physiologically damaging of emotions. Business and jobs. Business is not about jobs; business is about profits. Airlines and obesity. Airlines and similar organizations are doing obese people no favours when they supply wider seats for these people without a proportionate increase in fare. Modest living. Was there ever a time when someone had a beneficial product which was priced at cost plus a margin that would provide them with a modest living? Environmental damage. In the distant past when we polluted our environment it was localized; now it is not only globalized but spread outside the globe with massive and long lasting adverse effects. Furthermore, the per capita pollution has increased. Nourishment elitism. Unlike half a century ago when we ate offal because, firstly, it was both palatable and nourishing and, secondly because it was wasteful to throw away some74

thing beneficial, today we, in the western world, are too proud or foolishly fussy to eat it; many even spurn it. News presentation. Too often news presentation is irresponsible whilst, at times, it borders on incitement. Cost and principle. When cost is the determining factor higher principles are frequently compromised. Ill-gotten gains. Those giving away ill-gotten gains are not philanthropists and most gains are illgotten. Hatred is a cancer. Hatred is a cancer of the mind that cannot be cured by medical science but can be cured by understanding its primary cause. Ignorant preaching. If preachings from a standpoint of ignorance make one a better person the preachings have been worthwhile as a means to an end. Terrorism old and new. The terrorism being perpetrated by errant Muslim believers in the present does not compare with that perpetrated by Christian believers a few hundred years ago when it was officially and openly sanctioned. Hoarding. In their curious efforts to call everything that is not normal an illness psychiatrists have now classified hoarding as an illness; an act that is liable to cause more mental illness.
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 Lifestyle and religious beliefs. Too often ones lifestyle does not reflect ones professed religious beliefs. Hierarchical spiritual systems. It is noteworthy that the teaching of spiritual beliefs in Europe evolved into a hierarchical system, like the social system extant at the time, whilst elsewhere it evolved into a less controlled system free of the strictures that go with hierarchy although the social system there was hierarchical. Business culture. Sadly, the business culture we have developed over the years derives from the base instincts of man including those of territoriality, survival, greed, pride etc. Temperate and polar zone seasons. It is quite ridiculous to persist with the habit we have of officially stating, particularly in an agricultural or horticultural connection, that the seasons start on the first day of a particular calendar month when the actual starting date is determined by the relative positions of the sun and Earth - the solstices and equinoxes. Children grow up to believe the fallacy they are taught by default instead of knowing the facts. Living in a cocoon. Some people live in a cocoon of overt religious platitudes and saintly appearance without the awareness to live accordingly or to monitor their performance against them. Ones physical death. Ones physical death is like one logging out of a virtual reality website where one has been playing at life.

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Knowledge. Knowledge alone is not enough: intelligence is needed for it to be digested and/ or understood and then applied. Psychiatric illness. Since psychiatrists have now seen fit to classify a tendency to hoard as an illness would they also similarly classify the obsession they and medical scientists have to find and label human illnesses as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? Normalcy. What one person considers to be normal does not necessarily correspond with what another considers to be normal. The weight of excess. Excess eventually tips the scales. Garbage tips. Those in the garbage tips of the well off, struggling to keep themselves and their children from starvation, are symbols of the abject failure, morally and materially, of our civilization. Speculation - future. Any speculation about the future is a waste of time and effort. Compassion and diet. A much bandied about sentiment is compassion but where is it when it comes to all the animals that are slaughtered for human dietary pleasure, including the alleviation of hunger?

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Future food. If the diet of humans is not to be compromised in the future the variety of foods, particularly of staples, available in the various parts of the globe has to be maintained at least and protected against the depredations of those hell bent on profits at any cost. Inflation. The cause of inflation is the demands we make on life by our lifestyle , our wants rather than our needs. These demands are the result of dissatisfaction with the pre-existing state of contentment with life and the potential for inflation was laid when the first barter arrangement was made. Fear of infection and contamination. In the developed world our high preoccupation with preventing infection and contamination is doing our immune systems no good and will harm those of future generations yet no one seems able to do anything about this foolishness. Spiritual growth and learning. In spiritual growth one does not learn something but unlearns something else. History. The general view of history does not include the awareness that it is being created every millisecond and part thereof. War. War: what a farce - the expression of the basest human instincts. Humour. The perceived need to humour television viewers almost continuously is perplexing. It is as if we all need a huge, and very regular, dose of this medicine lest we fall in a heap of mental trauma. Is there really such a need or is it something drummed up by psychologists in the marketing field? If there really is a need our civilization has delivered us another malady.
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 Sports - behaviour. A game is defined as a form of competitive activity or sport played according to
rules and a sport as one played to rules for entertainment. Now, in many sports rules are flouted openly, the disgraceful spectacle of on-field fights is frequent and the entertainment is that of a blood sport - banned where non-human animals are concerned.

What might have been done. It is not possible to determine what might have been done unless one can perfectly replicate the circumstances and influences, including ones state of being, existing at the time - and this is impossible. However, to reflect on the possibilities then extant, for the purpose of learning, is beneficial. What is the mind? What is the mind is a question I have asked, over the years, of many people including a professor of English, a bookshop owner, doctors of medicine as well as other scientifically qualified people and have received no answer, not even an attempt, from any except one: a manager, academically unqualified, who answered correctly in a matter of seconds. Self interest. Self interest being such a powerful human trait, instinct even, if humans were to be aware of the why and how of the law of karma many would, out of selfinterest, change the way they act but not the way they think - their mentality. However, all selfishness creates negative karma. Seeking closure. Seeking closure is the modern term for a requirement for peace of mind. The equivalent requirement in spiritual terms has been spoken of for at least two and a half thousand years and that requirement is non-attachment, the attainment of which is part of the process of enlightenment. Ignorance. The prime cause of ignorance in people in general is lack of observing and analytical thinking.
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 Negativity and positivity. Concurrent with the mass of negative behaviour in the world today is a significant, if small, amount of positivity which, human variability being what it is, always exists. The seeds of a rotten fruit sprout and flourish without the stench of the fruit. Innovation. Where our innovations are concerned our ultimate test is whether we are able and willing to discard those that turn out to have negative effects on anything worthwhile. Company power. Many companies are so big, and there are many of these, that governments are unable to control their anti-social behaviour: it would cost a huge amount and taxpayers would not pay for it even though they would be the beneficiaries. The unscrupulous. If there is the slightest chance the unscrupulous will use unscrupulous means to put anything to unscrupulous ends. Political charades. One ponders the motivation of political heads of state to make fools of themselves by participating in the charades of them acting in a friendly manner with another of their ilk for the cameras. The benefit of anti-social behaviour? Perhaps the culture of business justifies anti-social behaviour by the guilty claiming that they are benefitting shareholders.

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Christianity and death. According to Christian teachings the soul lives on after death and goes to heaven yet not even the fervently religious Christians seem to accept this considering the attitude of the vast majority to death. Even Pope Benedict XVI used the popemobile to protect himself from death by a bullet. Sadly, this appears to indicate a flaw in the way the scriptures are taught. Physicians and infectious disease. Half a century ago physicians practiced their vocation of tending to the needs of the sick with hardly a thought for their own infection and/or safety and it was very seldom that they got infected even though they used their bare hands and their only prophylactic was to was their hands. This immunity was due to regular and/or gradual exposure to infection and their attitude to their vocation. Compulsory immunization. The notion that compulsory immunization is a benefit to society is ignorant because, in the short term, and for as long as it exists, it is an infringement of the right of choice and, in the long term, all it does is reduce the efficiency of the natural functioning of the immune system. No doubt, if this blinkered mindset continues, there will be compulsory examinations and tests for all conceivable illnesses because of fear and to reduce the burgeoning cost of health. The river of no return. The collective human mind is, at times, like a river of no return as exampled by its present state: times when decisions have been made which make the current irreversible despite the portents; the river acquires a self-generating momentum and heads towards the abyss in the ocean. Mind and memory. Ones memory is a picture bank exclusively and when we recall something we recall a picture of that something or one containing it. If there is an emotion connected to that picture we may feel that emotion but without the picture there is no emotion. Even words are stored as pictures where each letter is a picture and each word, or collection of words, a composite picture. Memory does not fade; what fades is the ability of the brain, the mechanical device we have in the physical state, to access the mind, or memory.
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 Developing countries. Sadly, these countries are developing into mirror images of the increasingly shameful developed countries where the selfishness of the haves rules. Exemplary spectators. In the rugby test match between the Australian Wallabies and the British Isles and Ireland Lions played in Brisbane, Australia, last Saturday 22nd June there was, apart from the high quality of the game, a high quality of behaviour displayed by the 50,000 spectators: there was no noticeable noise created to distract the player preparing for a conversion of a try or during his lead-up to the kick - a disgraceful practice prevailing world wide in similar situations in similar sports. The truth will out. The U.S.A. is again acting out of fear and self-righteousness in pursuing Edward Snowden. He was only the means to the end and one is reminded of the saying. The truth will out as it always does. If the boot were on the other foot the reaction would have been totally different. Changing ones values to suit ones convenience is a demonstration of ones lack of moral fibre. Vacuity. When it is not intellect, intelligence or outstanding positive behaviour that creates a celebrity what does? Simply exposure! Nelson Mandela. Even the biggest trees must fall; unless he wishes otherwise let him die peacefully without the pointless indignities of modern medical practice. A modern day rarity. A man walking down the towns main street notices a contractor using a motorised clipper clipping a hedge to perfection. He gets the attention of the contrac82

tor, who stops the motor, and says, You know how to use that machine and you obviously take pride in your work! making the contractor very pleased. The man was also very moved; not by what he had done but by how it pleased the contractor. Guantanamo prison. Keep it open. It is needed - the U.S.A. will see to it. Misrepresented rubbish. If the primary focus had been on retaining the original quality of food of all sorts we would not, today, be consuming so much misrepresented rubbish. Crass stupidity. If someone suggested that Obama gain a photo op with Nelson Mandela in the latters dying days it is an indication of how low one can stoop. If Obama refused this crass tastelessness he acted with dignity and respect and if he banished the ignoramus from his sight forever he may have done that person a favour. The cost of living. Whilst Telcos are laughing all the way to the bank phone users are seeking higher wages because of their increased cost of living caused, in part, by their greatly increased use of mobile phones etc. Peoples tsunamis. The vibration of molecules is the force behind a tsunami. Hence, people can create a tsunami against anything they wish to change - it is called people power. Praying for Nelson Mandela. There is no benefit to Nelson Mandela in his continuing to live unless, of course, it is his expressed wish to do so, therefore those praying for him to live are doing it to satisfy their own needs unaware of their selfishness.
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External orifices of the human body. There is an old cautionary adage that counsels against putting into ones ear anything smaller than ones fist. This applies equally to the five orifices in males and the six in females. In the beautifully designed human body each external orifice is precisely designed for specific purposes so to put any orifice to any other use is both irresponsible and reckless in almost all instances. Killer balloons. Despite the awareness that exists of the carnage to wildlife in and above the oceans caused by ordinary rubber balloons and their attachments we continue to entertain ourselves, or celebrate, by releasing these singly and in their thousands, often with lethal strings or ribbons attached. The media, of course, give this no publicity because such publicity is not revenue generating. Racism and anti-people feelings. What is interesting about racism and other anti-people feelings is that they cease to exist when one gets to know the other. Thus, they are unwarranted in the first place. The spoken English language. Whilst often inexplicable changes in English continue here are two spoken examples I heard from a commentator at the current Wimbledon tennis championships: . . . whether hes got the capability to . . . . instead of whether he can. . . . . to get some time to be able to . . . . instead of to. The streams of life. There are two streams of life: the visible, conscious one above and the invisible, unconscious one below. The first empties periodically into pools of experience and the second continues unbroken to its inevitable, superlative destination. Functionality and aesthetics. Functionality before aesthetics is a good attitude to hold.
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 Mind readers. After some incident or series of incidents it is surprising how many people, including experts, seem to know exactly what went on in the minds of those involved in the incident or series of incidents. The spoken English language. The word possibly is now often replaced by arguably - the replacement of a non-confrontational word with an confrontational word. Is this a reflection of our mentality? Three words of wisdom. Three words of wisdom too often ignored by the majority of people and most of the bodies they comprise: From The Oxford English Dictionary The precautionary principle noun
the principle that the introduction of a new product or process whose ultimate effects are disputed or unknown should be resisted.

The protection syndrome. (1) Let us call this sort of mindset the protection syndrome. No doubt ever since dogs were wolves they have been picking up and playing with, amongst other things, sticks. Now, we are being told by veterinarians not to give sticks to dogs to play with because the sticks can damage their mouths! Like so many other things this mindset is becoming a mental tsunami. Food - leaving well alone. For millennia humans have survived fit and well but since about sixty years ago the clever ones decided that we had to add this or remove that and then put it back again - in other words meddle. Wisdom would have decreed it best to leave well alone.
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Fear and reason. Fear dispels reason and, used properly, reason dispels fear. Online shopping. Five of the benefits of online shopping are: 1. Less buildings because less expensive space and equipment are required for display. 2. Considering that most purchases are from sites away from the home, with one person travelling to and from for even one item at times, online purchase deliveries from the final centre to the purchaser is done by one vehicle making multiple deliveries in the same distance or less. 3. Less time consuming. 4. No travel costs. 5. Less stress. Blind faith. Blind faith is a seed, faith is a bonsai, knowing is the tallest tree, and enlightenment is that tree dead and reverted to its origins in the earth. Caring. (1) Today at the supermarket checkout I was joking to the checkout lady about having to pull my trolley up the steep hill to my house when an acquaintance standing close by, having overheard what I said, volunteered to take me in his car. I am always deeply moved by such actions. Power and corruption. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. is an old adage but this is true only when corruption is inherent in an individuals psyche and when that individual lacks the strength of conscience to resist its manifestation. Obesity, food, ethics and profit. One of the visible causes of obesity and over-weight is the abundance of poor quality food knowingly produced by food manufacturers and excessive weight is, apparently, killing more people than other killers like cigarettes whilst some governments and some businesses are trying ineffectually to tackle this problem.
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However, in the final analysis the answer is to put ethics before profits and the ultimate responsibility for this lies with all, repeat all, shareholders of the companies responsible. Castles and cathedrals. There are numerous examples of aesthetically pleasing and architecturally admirable buildings in the world but, when viewing such edifices, it is worth remembering that these were often built, by the privileged few, at great human cost of one kind or another. In the case of cathedrals this was often for their own selfish motives though ostensibly in the glorification of God. Poverty and wealth. Poverty and wealth are both challenges but wealth is the greater because it offers more opportunity for moral error. The escalating cost of healthcare. A major factor in the alarmingly escalating cost of healthcare in the developed world is the apparent inability of doctors to diagnose without expensive technological assistance although it must be acknowledged that the propensity of people to sue for perceived negligence and/or fault may also be a factor in the use of this technology. The car habit. The car habit has become so entrenched that the natural walking habit is often almost non-existent. Now, if we need to drop someone off somewhere we have to get as close as we possibly can to the destination even, in some cases, to the extent of illegally or selfishly parking at the door. I cant give that up. I cant give that up! How many times do we hear this; and often when giving it up has major benefits? However, life is a succession of choices, is it not? . . . . . . . . and we are all free to choose.

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Climate change and business. There is no justifiable purpose in businesses bleating about adverse effects on them of measures proposed or taken to mitigate the consequences climate change because the alternative is that the adverse effects of probable climate change will affect all life on Earth. The headlong rush to failure. The mantra of Consume or perish! is live and well: China has been building, and continues to build, cities in order to urbanise many of its people to provide its economy with more consumers as a means to boost its economy. This is like a dog chasing its own tail - something no dog has ever been able to sustain. See: http://themilkiswhitepart2.wordpress.com/2010/08/13/civilization-2/ Exploiting Earthly resources. The deeper we go below the surface the deeper we go into the spiritual mire. Peace and reconciliation. It is a great pity that the family of Nelson Mandela, a man responsible for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, cannot find peace and reconciliation amongst themselves. Knowledge and intellect. Having knowledge available on the Internet is not enough; as much as possible it should be in ones head and available in life at all times for instantaneous use of the mind as and when needed. Athletics and sport. The true athletes are those who performed, or perform, with no technological assistance - either external or internal.

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Carnage in Syria. The carnage and suffering in Syria is not only an indication of the abject spiritual failure of all those immediately responsible but also an indication of he abject failure of humanity as a whole and as represented by The United Nations. However, a few will learn from this and that is a measure of success no matter how small: drops of water make up the oceans! Respect for the land. Aboriginal people respected the land they walked on and it thrived under their stewardship until the current civilization, with its gods, self interest and fixation with tangible wealth, took hold and started exploiting it and the life it sustained so well for millennia. Caring. (2) I had been looking for Glucosamine tablets or capsules in the shops and had been discussing this with a friend I meet on my morning walks. He said that he would bring a container this morning to illustrate what he was using rather than try to describe the container. This morning he greeted me from a fair distance away by waving something in the air which I took to be the container. Well, it was, but it was also a large one of 200 tablets - AND it was a gift for me! I made the point that it is the thought that counts. Futurists. Unfortunately, futurists seem to confine themselves to science and technology whilst ignoring, or being unaware of, the spiritual aspect. Our taste in food. In the developed world how fickle and demanding is our taste in food: gone is simplicity, economy, local and seasonal. The urge for profit. This urge is so pronounced that industries which damage the Earth and/or the environment do not act to remedy the results of their misdeeds although, to any89

one with a modicum of intelligence, humanity - all life - can do without profits but cannot do without its environment. Animal protectionists. I wonder how many ardent animal protectionists eat animal flesh. On the birth of a child. I have often wondered why it is customary, in certain parts of the world, to congratulate a couple on the birth of a child to them. Being civilized. The meanings of the word civilized are all positive as well as its concept so how can we, who consider ourselves to be civilized, be civilized whilst doing the things we are doing and behaving as we do? For generations to come. The phrase . . . for generations to come . . . used often in the past to denote longevity or a permanence of sorts can, sadly, no longer be used with any confidence. What a lovely day! What a lovely day! is an expression often used by us on a dry and sunny day but, for amphibians, worms and creatures of their ilk it is just the opposite! A royal baby. What is the difference between a baby born to royalty and any other baby? Nothing except people - those caught in an emotional vortex. Civilizations. Learning about the Australian aborigine some 20,000 years ago I am struck by their profound awareness and culture and the fact that, by comparison, the awareness and culture of modern mankind in the first world is puny and shal90

low. The perceived achievements of the latter pale into insignificance in a comparison. The spiritual test of modern mankind was probably to continue to live with this awareness and culture, at no cost to the Earth, with a massively increased population. Modern spoken English. It seems, from modern spoken English, that the speaker is never going to do something but always going to try to do something: an intention is expressed as an attempt so how does one express the intention to attempt something? If something needs to be done. If something needs to be done do it - but remember, whether something needs to be done is a decision fraught with difficulty. Technology. Technology generates human wants which generate new technology making technology self-perpetuating e.g. the car and computers. Spiritual attitudes. Numerous spiritual attitudes are, in modern culture, considered negative. Excessive profit. The drivers of the excessive profits so manifest today are the shareholders and the stock markets. Motivation. Two motivators of mental or physical action are fear and a sense of essential morality. The first is of no spiritual benefit and the second is. Note: The situation of flight or fight is irrelevant here because it is to do with living and dying which are of no spiritual importance in themselves.

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The spoken English language. As the word exactly appeared with increasing frequency, and unnecessarily, in spoken English the language itself has become increasingly inexact. The inheritance mantra. The mantra about parents leaving their children a better life than their own is very short-sighted. Project this idea worldwide into the distant future and what do you get? The solitary journey. In the final analysis our spiritual journey is solitary - those we meet on the way are pilgrims like us but we encounter them for the specific experience and the opportunity to learn from what the encounter presents. One-eyed. We applaud and look up to a nations material accomplishments but ignore or cannot see its moral turpitude. The modern white grin. Unnaturally white teeth in a mirthless, insincere arrangement of the mouth is the now fashionable smile. Yet another artifice. Gourmet food. Gourmet food can be considered an entitlement but from a bountifully finite Earth and as long as there is no one starving. The grand red carpet. The grand red carpet, now, often, a hundred times bigger than it used to be, is an indication of inflated egos and money being wasted.

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Intellectual slavery and ignorance. Wittingly or unwittingly religions may hold their followers in intellectual slavery and ignorance but none can contain Spirit. Out of sight, out of mind. The use of insinkerators is a lazy and costly way of waste disposal. Out of sight, out of mind! Passing the buck! Communication. People are not thinking about what they are saying and neither are television script writers. This is evidenced by rampant repetition of meaning. In many other respects too the speaker/writer is not reviewing the communication for clarity and definition. Is the brain changing? Patents and copyright. With increased human mobility came patents and copyright, the products of selfishness. Probably the first invention, the chip of flint, was not patented whilst one of the first messages was the thorn through a leaf saying, I/we went his way. and this was unaffected by copyright. How are you? This common greeting is usually perfunctory and, if answered properly and not monosyllabically, would usually take up far more of the questioners time that he or she had intended. Besides, how often do we really know how we actually are? Even a more sensible question like, How do you feel? or How do you think you are? would, perhaps, require one to carry around a chair on which to sit while the question is answered. How much simpler, and more sensible, is a single word or sign of greeting. Vibrational harmony - food. The Cayce readings advised that food grown close by is best for the body because all things in a locality were in vibrational harmony (my words) and, therefore, more compatible than otherwise. To me this makes a lot of sense although I cannot pinpoint my reason for it doing so.
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The fact that we now transport food for thousands of miles, as well as store it for long periods in artificial conditions, is relevant in this context as is the readings recommendation that fruit and vegetables be cooked or consumed within five hours of picking. Cities. Cities are the creators of much intellectual ignorance about nature and how it accommodates and entertains us. The purpose of Earthly life. The purpose of Earthly life is to enable us return to our original, fundamental state of tranquility, of blisstasy, through enlightenment. Illness paranoia. We are actively cultivating illness paranoia whereas, if we were spiritually aware, we would be acting with the wisdom of awareness. Speculation. Speculation about aspects of life is a waste of time unless a result is known or is a high probability, in which event one can apply the moul to plan or implement. However, if the moul continues to speculate without conclusion confusion and stress will result and both confusion and stress are non-productive as well as being negative in every respect. Social and environmental problems. With balancing solutions to social and environmental problems the answer lies not in trying to improve both where both have declined or are declining, but to first improve that which provides long term sustainability for the other and that, in this case, is the environment.

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Statesmen. It is significant that in a world of some seven billion people there is no one who even remotely approaches the stature of Nelson Mandela. This is a sad indictment of the majority of those occupying this Earth during the last century; a period during which morality has plummeted, across the planet, where our civilization has touched the people. Incredible, wasted billions. Mining and exploration companies are spending colossal amounts of money on projects with an estimated life span of a few decades. This is incredible when one stands at a distance. Crying - tears. What silly taboo makes people ashamed of crying? Life taken by mining. For every cubic millimetre of earth mined billions of minute living things are destroyed . . . . and observe the capacity of just one excavator bucket! Fish farming - ocean. Firstly, the long term adverse effects of having millions of large fish artificially confined and farmed in one comparatively shallow spot close to land are unknown and should not, therefore, be allowed. Where natures balance is upset the results are usually negative. Adverse effects could easily outweigh any benefits. Secondly, the mechanisation of the harvesting of the fish is done with absolutely no consideration for the fish and what they experience - another example of human disregard for the suffering they cause to other life forms particularly where the motivation is profit. Lifestyle aspiration. Unfortunately, in the developed and developing worlds, the standard used for what people need is the aspirational, increasingly costly, seen as de rigueur lifestyle so ardently pursued by so many - those many searching for the literal and metaphorical pot of gold at the bottom of the elusive rainbow.
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 Leaving the forests. When we left the forests we left sustainability behind. No need to conform. Where there is someone we know well and, therefore, whose condition we know quite well, we do not, for the sake of keeping up appearances, need to enquire of others as to the state of that persons health, particularly where the person in question keeps us informed of their state of health when they feel it necessary. Here is an extract with a bearing on this from The Milk Is White: On the other hand, if we make any decision based on what others may think, we have sold ourselves by handing our well being to others. We make these decisions because of a lack of self esteem in that we are looking to others for approval instead of approving of ourselves and standing on our own two feet in that regard. Human health. The human race, or at least the developed part of it, is not actually getting healthier. The illusion is created by the use of vast quantities of mainly inorganic pharmaceuticals.

Pointing a gun. In the middle of the twentieth century, and before, one never pointed a gun at anyone. This was drilled into gun users for the obvious reason that there was always the possibility that it was loaded and that it could fire. These days I do not know what the practice actually is but on television promotions and advertisements and the like staring down the barrel of a gun is commonplace for the viewer - something likely to give the wrong impression to the young in particular. Clear communication. Often, to someone with a low level of literacy the wish for clarity of communication by another is pedantic.
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Thank goodness. A conversation between two people early one clear morning. A: What a lovely day! B: Yes, but everything is getting very dry. A: Good for some life but not for others. B. We are not in control of the weather. A: Thank goodness! Inventions. Anyone can invent something but everyone decides what to do with it. For example take the wheel and explosives. Meat farming and consumption. As long as there are Earthlings who are attracted to the taste of meat there will be Earthlings who farm the animals for slaughter. This is necessary for both sets to work towards the spiritual goal of unqualified, total respect for all life. Time. Attachment to things past is pointless because each time has its purpose although time itself is a mirage. What to eat. Unlike humans other animals usually know what to eat for their own good. Human mentality. Human mentality is at an all time low unless it is proportionately as it always has been. If it is the former we are on a slippery-slide to nowhere and if the latter we have not advanced spiritually in millennia.

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Shooting wildlife. Shooting wildlife is egocentricity. The protection syndrome. (2) Would you believe it: Anti-Bacterial rubber gloves of the kind used domestically for washing dishes etc? The best protection we could have is the cessation of birth because, with no more births and the death of all existing people, there will be no danger from all the things we now try to prevent. The invasion of Tibet 1950-51. One karmic reason for the invasion of Tibet was that the people of the world needed the diaspora of Tibetans, in particular the religious orders, to revitalise the spirituality of the western world in particular. There were, of course numerous other karmic reasons - the law of karma being all-encompassing. Money. The necessity to pay for things creates and fosters an elite which is self perpetuating. Self interest and voting. When self interest in the undeserving dominates voting motivation in an election in a democracy, as is commonly the case, the end result is not in the interests of the deserving. Radical medical intervention. Radical medical intervention in a persons health is counter to that persons spiritual wellbeing and progress. Traffic congestion. What is the extreme traffic congestion on the roads in developed and developing countries a sign of - what does this indicate - a juggernaut?
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Technological trap. We are in a technological trap: there is so much dangerous, or potentially dangerous, to life and health that is constantly being developed and allowed to be used that we are incapable of monitoring it to make wise choices. In this environment some of us carry on uncaringly, others in blissful ignorance, yet others with aggravation and others still just do their best. Cheating your government. If you ever feel like cheating your government financially, e.g. tax evasion or fraudulent social security claim, remember that the government is the people and that you are, by this act, depriving the people. Award winners. It is remarkable how many award winners there are - a veritable plethora of them - and it seems that anyone quoted, described or otherwise referred to in the media has to be an award winner to be worth anything. Stones in rice. Anyone who has had the misfortune to bite a stone whilst eating rice in some form will know the feeling: the crack that sounds as if teeth have broken and reverberates inside the skull, the shock, the feeling of wanting to immediately get rid of the pieces - to spit them out. This is the feeling, though not literally, I get when I come across unwarranted foul language in someones writing.

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