Forgetfulness of Being...

I, like most people today, have been wrapped up in my thoughts, problems, desires and fears. In this regard, I have been giving some thought lately to my worse fear... forgetfulness of being.

Living in forgetfulness of being is that state of forgetfulness of who you really are. In that every success is no more than a passing delusion. Whatever you achieve, soon you will be unhappy again, or some new problem or dilemma will draw your attention in completely.

As someone, who over the years, has read quite extensively on spiritual and philosophical matters, and who practices daily prayer and meditation, even I find it a struggle at times to maintain a balance in this crazy, hectic modern world we live in. My self-studies have taught me, one must have one's feet planted on the earth (material world) while keeping one's head in the heavens (spiritual world). In other words, one should take care of practical matters while also taking care of your spiritual needs as well.

Taking care of the latter can be a struggle today, when we are so busy just trying to stay alive or busy chasing after some material thing with the hope it will bring us some form of happiness. We forget or have forgotten that the only true happiness is found, from within. As someone once said, "Happiness is difficult to find within ourselves, and impossible to find elsewhere."

With the above in mind, I constantly remind myself to stop searching 'out there' for what is 'in here'.

You can call this post a 'wakeup call' or a reminder to myself (and others), to 'take time for yourself', and thereby, not lose yourself because of a 'Forgetfulness of Being'.



We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. - Buddha

Kudos to the 'Fab Four'!!!!

Attended last night’s council meeting in which I personally witnessed ‘democracy in action’, with respect to the Crowsnest Centre issue and Economic Development.

A number of motions were brought forward by Dean, John S., Ian and Choppy that dealt ‘decisively’ with the Centre issue. The ‘boys’ took care of business! Their resolve and determination was evident for all to see, and because of the actions taken by these men (I will leave it to our local media to report the steps taken), we as a community will now begin to move forward… at long last!

While at this meeting, I had a chance to talk with David Blacklock, who sat on council about ten years ago, before Irwin’s present reign. He told me that at that time, they had over $3 million dollars in reserves and no debt. Today, we have practically no reserves and have approximately $3 million dollars in debt (with very little if anything to show for it). In addition, we have had a depressed economy (while our neighbours have grown ‘fat and happy’), and leadership with no plan or vision.

In this regard, last night, council during the Annual Organizational Meeting 'removed' Mayor John Irwin from sitting on the Economic Development Board, and appointed Councillor John Salus in his place. In my opinion, this is a move that was long overdue, and one that should be welcomed news to the business community (locally and regionally), and to local taxpayers in general.

At last! Some accountability!!!

Last night’s council meeting truly was a ‘double header’ with the ‘majority’ winning on all counts!

Kudos to the `Fab Four`!!!!



Without change, something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken.

IF THE WORLD COULD VOTE?

Now, the 'whole world' can't be wrong. Can they?

http://www.iftheworldcouldvote.com/


After voting, view the results, they're incredible!

A 'touch' of Reality

Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.
- Ellen Goodman


The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under the bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.

Please Do Not Disturb

Now that the Federal election is over: Please Do Not Disturb. I am contemplating Seppuku. :-X :-( :-(

Just for the record...

I have been asked, "What is your blog all about?" It's about me, voicing my opinions and beliefs on societal issues, both here in the Crowsnest Pass and in the world around us, based on my acquired knowledge and life experiences. I don't ask for people to agree with me, nor do I expect it. That is not the intent behind this blog. If anything, it is to make people 'think' about what is and what could be, if only you believed, as I do, that all things are possible. In other words, I am an incurable idealist and somewhat of a romantic.

Unlike a fellow Realtor's blog, my blog is 'not' about selling real estate or looking to increase revenue streams. Its not about making money, it never has been with me. In fact, I make no links to this blog from either my Real Estate Website or my Real Estate Blog.

My point is, this blog is my 'personal blog'. It is the tool I use to maintain my sanity in a world gone mad. It is where I 'vent' my anger and frustration and share my feelings and my thoughts. Like Kafka's character in the 'Metamorphosis' it is my dark room of despair and anger, at a world which does not care.

Which brings me to, who am I? Am I like a caterpillar that turns into a butterfly? I like to think so. I like to think that over the years, 'I' transformed myself into who I am today. I AM THAT I AM!

My early beginnings were hard, and one's I do not talk about. Let's just say, I had a hard life, as many people have. They say the best tippers in restaurants and bars and such, are poor people, because they know what it is like to 'struggle' every day. Having been poor and with a life time of struggles and experiences of trying to stay alive, while living life 'My Way' in today's 'suffocating' society, I now have an opportunity through blogging to express myself and voice my 'outrage' at the injustices and inequalities I have seen and experienced, or have knowledge of. Or simply, have great feelings of 'empathy' towards.

I am a rebel without a cause, who like Marlon Brando in the ‘The Wild One’ when asked, “What are you rebelling against, Johnny?” simply says, "Whatever you’ve got."



Seemingly insurmountable obstacles confront all world reformers, when pure idea meets the opposing force in the inertia of the human mind and the resistance of entrenched power. It represents a revolution of the dynamic against the static, of higher values against pseudo-values, of freedom against slavery, and it is not limited to one time in history, nor to mankind as a whole, but occurs repeatedly in the life of individual man.

Poll closed, Jury in, 'Ritual Suicides' imminent :-)

The official tracking poll 'Should 'minority' on council resign?' has closed. The vote was 77% - YES, they should!

All I can say is "don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, boys!" :-) :-) And be happy you don't have to commit Seppuku or hara-kiri (as most people are used to calling it in everyday language) as men of 'honour' did, in days gone by. :-(

The truth is these days there is 'no accountability', and for that matter, 'no honour', either. In this regard, with world events being what they are, I think George Bush and the Republican (Conservative) party's legacy is going to be one of having 'let loose the bull in the china shop'. They had the 'fun' and got to walk away with their 'plunder', too. While ordinary folks have to pay the bill, pick up the pieces, and 'deal' with the carnage and mayhem caused by these people, and their kind.

On a local level, our residents have to pick up the pieces of a community left to rot from years of neglect and mismanagement, requiring truck loads of cash to fix, at a time when both the cupboards have been left bare, and we are deep in debt.

In both of the two cases above, there is no accountability, and obviously no honour among these thieves and despots. In real life, one is held accountable for their actions, past or otherwise, but it seems that old adage, "There is the law for the poor and justice for the rich", still applies. The way things are going, I am optimistic that soon that will change to "There is the law for the rich and justice for the poor"... as it should be...


Resentment and hostility boil in the underclass.

Is Democracy Dead?

Today, I read the Prairie Post in which a letter to the editor by Larry MacKillop informed me that it looks like there will not be an all-candidates forum in our Macleod riding, for the upcoming Federal election. The writer claims this is because the incumbent is being 'autocratic' by dictating to the other candidates his preferred schedule for any future forums, as a pre-condition for attending.

As we all know, the outcome in this riding is a foregone conclusion, and now to add insult to injury, there will not even be a 'pretence of democracy' by way of an actual 'debate' amongst candidates. This is yet another example of our 'failed democracy'. In my mind, no debate = no democracy. I don't believe people should have to rely on 'mainstream media' to tell us how to vote. We should be deciding that for ourselves by listening to the candidates debating at an open public forum!

The above, along with voter apathy in general (as a result of people feeling disenfranchised because of the fact their vote does not 'really' count under the present system), has me convinced, that until we have 'proportional representation' in this province and country, we will continue to be ruled by a 'minority' imposing its will, wants, needs, morals, ethics and values on the 'majority', while telling us how free and lucky we are to live in such a 'democratic' society.



Democracy cannot be advancing if its parts are autocratic.