Remember when I said I was done arguing over silly stuff on other people's blogs? Well, read this. No, really, go ahead. I will wait.
Some of that is funny. I love it when RO writes that way. It is funny in a sad sort of way. Yes, humans can be pretty darned stupid and selfish. But did you catch what he wrote at the end? I will quote here for your convenience,
"But I still do stupid things. I don't know if it's the meat suit that makes me stupid, or if my soul is somehow retarded or what. I don't give a shit. I just want the stupid to end. Make it stop, God, make it stop. But he won't. Oh no, he just sits there grinning and knowing and loving and shit. I really hope all this crap we wade through between birth and death is just a pre-school, a prep-realm and that when we die, if we pass all the exams and demonstrate understanding and practical application of the lessons of this world that we get to land a job as a Power or something. I really want the "stupid filter" taken off. I want to see the best course of action, and also to want to take that course, to choose it and stay with it, no matter what.
I believe anyone can do anything they set their minds to. I just want the power to set my mind to the right course of action. Is that asking too much, god damn it? I think not"
Now read this snippet from Lon DuQuette's recent interview over at patheos.com. No need to read the whole interview until you finish my post here. What you think I have all day to wait around? My point is he says this:
Looking back on your life, what rewards, if any, have your years of magickal practice and study given you?
This might seem too simple and corny, but my biggest "reward" has been a certain success in achieving a measure of (what I presumptuously will call) "enlightened happiness." Maybe it's all been merely a matter of good luck. But who knows, for sure what luck really is?
I had to get rid of my obsession. Now, I have this enlightened happiness (except when I am at work). RO may need to get rid of whatever he means by stupid or maybe he'll get rid of somethings else. Whatever it is, I can't say it, I can't describe it, I can't tell him what it is. However, when he gets rid of that mysterious "it", he'll experience enlightened happiness. I am here to tell you that it is pretty cool stuff.
I used to say things like I am seeking unity with the divine. I still am but this enlightened happiness is a big part of that. It is so freakin' awesome, cool and relaxing. I pray each of you find it. I know you can. As Lon sang from a song he ripped off from some hippie that lived under the Hollywood sign in the Hollywood Hills, "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is to love and be loved in return"
Peace.
10 comments:
Feh. ;)
After about a year or so of constant enlightened happiness it gets a bit boring. There are just so many better things to bask and wallow in.
The "Mysterious it" is the same thing people have wrestled with forever. Romans 7:15-19: "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [...] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing."
The evil in question is putting off getting my license renewed until after I've gotten a ticket, or putting off sweeping the basement until it takes way longer than necessary, or planning a ritual to make things better in my life, but then forgetting about it for some stupid reason, or driving my car when I know it's an inefficient energy hog that's indirectly contributing to the need for oil that has resulted in the spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It's yelling at my wife or kids after I've had a long day. It's not working on my job responsibilities so I can post a comment to your blog. It's all the little things that I do that aren't beneficial, and all the little things I don't do that I should.
I'm sick of being stupid. And I ache for the stupidity of the masses that causes everyone as much pain as my stupidity causes me.
Robjo, you may note that I said it is part of what I have been seeking. Does any part of this blog lead you to believe I am stopping here? Happiness is not the end goal but it is a nice thing to carry with you. There is no weight to it at all.
If all I ever accomplish in the work is this happiness, a little wisdom, and healing those that suffer from mental anguish, I say that would be a life well led. Fault me for that if you like.
RO, I hear you. It is a problem of humanity. In a way I see what you quoted here as a man struggling to live by cultural mores. That/is always an impossible task. Once that fellow finds his will, he won't be so torn up. Grin.
I try to see beyond the cutural mores to the actual humanity of the person. The guy writing that was aching to be "better." Soul-sick over his failings. But it was ultimately a source of joy when he realized he didn't have to live up to the standards he was failing to meet.
I can so relate to that...wait...I just related to a guy in the Bible? I'm meeeeeeeeeeelting! mellllllllllting! meeeeeeeellllllltttin'
.....
Actually I assumed you wouldn't stop there, because like I said after like a year it gets boring.
Sorry :( Forgot the smiley on the end of my last comment. :)
Dude, it was Paul too.
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