Mister E.

                                                          I must save the discussion of "Mysticism" for a later date .   There's the term "Mystical Experience" which can be ANYTHING from a "sex act" to moving a 2 ton boulder a quarter of an inch .   Personally I find the Practice of Zen a ~Mystical Experience~ ... how is it that "Dried Shit on a Shovel" can BE a manifestation of Mysticism is a question for QUANTUM Zen where Quantum Zen is the Quantum Mechanical Aspect of the Physics of Buddhism, a book still in the Planning Stages .   

                         At some point I MUST include >Truth< in the Global Code .   To date I have been somewhat satisfied with referring to Ancient Kung Fu Masters as "Defenders of the Truth" , but that is problematical in that Truth, like Beauty, is "in the eye of the beholder", and besides THAT, Truth, itself, is RELATIVE .   

                        I've gone to the Extreme :   Where most folks want to   "Live the Truth" I want to BE the Truth .   You can see the Problem ... .  

"The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly"

                                                           I wondered if I should include 

                                                > Endeavor to recognize and identify the Difference between

                                                       Instinctual and Civilizational Behavior .< 

                         'Recognize'  looks like this :    "Something is up" or, "Something doesn't look or FEEL Right" .    This This is vital to our GENERAL Development since Social Interaction appears as INSTINCTUAL NECESSITY  --- we have been taught that Humankind is a "Herd"--- that we have what is known as a "Herd Mentality", in other words, we do WELL in groups,  it is NATURAL to seek out Others either formally or informally .   It's INSTINCTUAL  to "Live together" .   Indeed, "Together Action" DEFINES Civilization .   It may be said that Evolution DEMANDS >Co-Operation< in order for Civilization to "Advance" {toward Perfection} .  

                      Here it is where 'Instinctual Behavior' carries with it "The Law(s) of the Jungle" --  to adhere to these Laws is to define one's self as Barbaric, i.e., Crude, Lewd and Rude .   To be "Civilized" is to have "Refinement" and "Sophistication" in both physical conduct and mental faculty .   It's difficult to tag one as "ugly" and the other as 'beautiful' , BUT ..........  .

Miss Bea Gotten

                                                          What does it mean to "Live the Miracle" ?    Good one .

                         We speak of "The MIRACLE of Birth" but rarely is that followed by >The MIRACLE of Life< .   To Live the Miracle of Life is to be ever-Mindful that Life has been "Given" to us and that this Life is SACRED and by being SACRED the UTMOST Respect for Life and for those Others that Live among Us is absolutely ESSENTIAL for one's Spiritual Development .   Remember, the Evolutionary Trajectory of EVERY HUMAN BEING is ALWAYS toward "Perfection" .  Here it is where Buddhists and Zen Buddhists alike identify 'Perfection' as Enlightenment .   Does this THIS mean I WANT the entire Planet to be Buddhist ????   Another "Good one" .   2 words :  Unrealistic .

                         I have queried my Gentle Readers, Would you rather Live in Beauty or reside in Ugliness [?] .    It looks like a "no brainer" but I KNOW good folk struggle with this because who's to say what is Beautiful and what is Ugly ???    We are handcuffed and shackled by "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and that is adequate to establish Reality as far as it goes .    I will contend that the Miracle itself IS >Ultimate Beauty< .   Keep in Mind that, Beauty in Humans is reflective of HEALTH .    A beautiful woman and a beautiful man are perceived as INTENSELY  Healthy and as such, are GREATLY DESIRABLE, indeed, we sometimes find ourselves WORSHIPPING those who are BEAUTIFUL, to a FAULT, I must add .   

Equals

                                                           It's IMPERATIVE to 'see' that the Precepts are NOT

                                                               >>>IRON CLAD LAW<<<

                          which, when broken,  results in some form of punitive consequence .   Zen Masters INSIST that the Precepts are "GUIDELINES" --- suggestions almost --- to be utilized when Correct Conduct comes into question inside a circumstance or event .   

                             "All Life Is Sacred" is a BELIEF that I WANT to register as

                              HUMAN >>>>>>>DEVOTION<<<<<<<<< to Planetary Well Being .    

                         The Nature of this Devotion must be given Attention .  This Devotion is NOT to a Belief, but rather to the Beings and Entities that inhabit the Earth .   The Miracle of Life for THEM is the same as the Miracle of Life for US --- in this,,, WE ARE EQUALS.  

Miss Conduct

                                                           An example of a "Code of Conduct" comes from the First Five Precepts that Buddhists and Zen Buddhists employ to aid in navigating Public and PRIVATE exposure to the General Public and one's own Mind .  Here they are :

                              

                                                                         DO NOT KILL

                                                                         DO NOT STEAL

                                                                         DO NOT ENGAGE IN SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

                                                                         DO NOT LIE

                                                                         DO NOT TAKE INTOXICANTS 

                           Look familiar ?    Ya-gotta admit, "They sure do" .    

                           There is a Ceremony for those that wish to Accept these Precepts as Core Components of an Individual's Spiritual Refinement .    Chants are recited followed by the Zen Master's 'burning' of a small point on the Student's forearm, this is done by touching a lit incense stick to the area, which produces a noticeable scar/dot, identifying the Student as a "Devout" .  

                           Kwik* aside :    If you want to declare yourself a Buddhist you simply recite, "I take Refuge in the Buddha, I take Refuge in the Dharma, I take Refuge in the Sangha" ...  this is repeated 3 times and VOILA !!!  You are now a Buddhist .  I cant help but chuckle at this (I'm NOT a well man) .

The Global Code

                                                           Last night I had a something 'arrive' that caught my attention :    it was this ;  ---> Global Code<---  .    It's 'arrival' was mildly THRILLING since, for some time, I've been wondering what, exactly, the 'Global Citizen' should have as a Core of Beliefs, meaning, what would the be the "Guidelines" that would Aid the Citizen in navigating the Ocean of Suffering that is the Planet's Karma .   Throughout the Ages Humankind has Valued various 'Codes' --- from The Code of Hammurabi, to The Ten Commandments,  Codes that Define Civilization and its resultant Societies and Cultures .

                           Generally, it is safe to say that 'Code' is part of    >Code of Conduct<   where 'Conduct' is the Way we "act" around Others, specifically PUBLIC Others, Humans whose names we do NOT know but who share our "Space and Time" .   I should have used General Public , that's makes it clearer .   

                           The First Global Code maxim is this Beauty 

                                                                    ALL LIFE IS SACRED .

                           The Second is this exhortation

                                                                    LIVE THE MIRACLE .

                           I questioned whether or not to change Miracle to Mystical ,  but the employment of Mystical is my own bias .  I mean, straight out, I Believe Zen is Mystical in Outer Form and Invisible Substance .   Shit we can't see  nor explain, that enters our Domain of Reality , has been characterized by the Ancient Chinese as originating in the "Invisible Realm" .   I LOVE that .   

                          

"The Break-up"

                                                           As far as "Break-ups" 'go' there was that time when we, us guys, who worked at R.I. Import, were gathered at a local 'watering hole' and Steve Jezerney  arrived with with his girl, a fucking Cosmic "NO-NO" .   We stood AGHAST as she was introduced to all of us .   She had coal-black hair, cut short, but not a "bob" and she was ENDOWED, meaning, she was as VOLUPTUOUS as any "Earth Mother" figurine ever hand-crafted by a DEVOUT .   "IT" didn't stop there, during the evening she USED OUR NAMES as though she had already memorized them ---AND SHE BOUGHT US A COUPLE OF PITCHERS OF BEER .  I mean, HOLY FUCKING GAWD .  ALL of us were IN LOVE .

                         Next time we saw Steve we asked about Kate, he looked away and saddened, "I broke up with her" .    WE BEGAN TO WAIL NO NO  NO NO SHE IS BEAUTIFUL AND WE LOVE HER .  It was to no avail, their relationship had been dissolved and with it our Hearts.  

                         In those days Relationships were Extravaganzas of Lust, and Sex --- we were ever mindful of ,   "There are PLENTY of other fish in the sea", so, I mean, there's THAT .   Did THAT justify the Divorce ?????????    Uhhhhhh ... .