June 7, 2018
by William Goehler (author's profile)
This post is in reply to comments on:  Comment Response thumbnail
Comment Response
(April 12, 2018)

Transcription

Reply: pe3k

Wednesday 5/30

Calhoun 25

Awesome! Sometimes I wonder if anyone gets me, ya know? Thank you for your feedback. I'm so glad you got it. My whole life is art, for some reason - producing actions for others to interpret as they're able...to think. Imagine being a degraded hierophant in a complacent culture of mediocrity. OMG! I'm rarely ever understood - but I leave clues, nevertheless. I'm so blessed in the aesthetic realm, I can't help but project my blessings into the noosphere hoping to inspire someone - somewhere. In Latin, the term is: Obscurum per obscurius. So you'll understand why I'm so happy that you got it. Ataboy Calhoun - good for you.

MIA-smic, indeed! The status quo of mediocrity is a stench which I can't stand. Sometimes I do put on a burlesque show to express my contempt for what others will permit in their environment. Fortunately I'm a 6'4", 240lbs genius thespian, sometimes projecting F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real) to challenge spectators to have a point of view - judging them. Admiration, by the way, is all I'm really looking for. "I see you" (or rather: I see through you), is the greatest confirmation that Homo sapiens still has sapience within their grasp. Bestial folk on the other hand, miss the point and initiate demagogic campaigns, making me a star-attraction. I love it! A martyr does not usually ever get to grow a gray beard.
"Standing heroically without fig leaf" - "multitudinous possibilities". Dude! You get it! BE who you are... meant to be. TO BE or not to be... you see?
In re: Consumer society. Being a 'consumer' is the antithesis of BEING a CREATOR! Quoting the cretin Kierkegaard; "Truth is subjectivity", isn't convincing when I consider the definition of subjective 1: or, relating to, or constituting a subject: as a: relating to, or characteristic of one that is a subject esp. in lack of freedom of action or in submissiveness, or: 3a: characteristic of or belonging to reality as perceived rather than as independence of mind. You see, in a mediocre society, truth may well be subjective - as interpreted by mediocrity. But in John 8:32 we see TRUTH is the exact consideration of what it - which makes one free. Being subjugated by common-era reality, just doesn't work for me, you see.

Wednesday 30

The Evolution Game

Some men see things as they are and say, why; I dream things that never were and say, why not.
Robert Kennedy

Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
Lewis Carroll

Ever felt overwhelmed by fear and worry? Considering possible obstacles and undesirable outcomes in a spirit of inquiry can sometimes aid in envisioning better paths and creative solutions in advance. But allowing thoughts to spin unchecked down the rabbit hole of negativity disables the voice of inspiration, impeding the flow of good.
The downward spiral is the cue to let your survival brain take a bow, invite your mind's frontal lobes to take center stage, and play The Evolution Game. Playing is as simple as clicking off the TV or internet (always simple, not always easy). In earliest usage, evolution meant a switch in formation, like a twist or turn in a dance. So, infuse your body with a conscious breath and, with dancer's mind, twirl your thinking in a new direction. Remember a time when Life sustained and lifted you in a choreography of loving grace and flow. Your remembering soul spreads its wings and soars on the winds of divine potential.

You can each morning align yourself with evolution in its activity of blossoming and unfolding. In your keeping is a sacred scroll of high expectations and desirable outcomes, depicting all the ways that your own affairs and those of your beloveds work together for wholeness and fulfilment. Unroll that scroll in your mind. Your internal unfoldment of magnificent possibilities will attune your mind to gratitude and creative wisdom, inform your conversation, weave wondrous solutions, and inspire your actions.
Can your worries grow outrageous in forecasts of dystopian futures? Then imagine wildly optimistic utopian possibilities for a world where messages of dynamic compassion, peace, and harmonizing love are the mainstream broadcast. In visionary play, co-create with Spirit by welcoming Life's quantum evolutionary leaps.

With meditative intention I establish a vibration of empowering vision in my thoughts. I shine the consciousness that all is working together for amazing good for myself and all the world.

Mary Weems

Awakening Through the Stages of Spiritual Growth

The seven levels of soul awareness represent stages through which we awaken to full enlightenment. Until settled in God-consciousness, various characteristics representative of the levels may be present. To facilitate spiritual growth, renounce psychological characteristics which are restrictive and cultivate states of consciousness and behaviors which are consistent with your highest ideals.

FULL ENLIGHTENMENT - Complete knowledge-realization of God and of universal processes. Liberation of consciousness. When meditating, realization is transcendental. When relating to mundane realms, full enlightenment remains undiminished and all actions are appropriately spontaneous.

GOD CONSCIOUSNESS - Partial or complete knowledge-realization of God with transcendental realizations to follow. Even if mental restrictions persist, their influences are weakened and will be removed. Insightful actions prevent the accumulation of further conditionings. At this level, even with further realizations to unfold, one is liberated from delusions and attachments.

COSMIS CONSCIOUS - Partial or complete knowledge-awareness of universal processes and realization that the universe is a play of cosmic forces. When meditating, perceptions and realizations are transcendental. Comprehension of Primary Nature: the Word (Om), cosmic particles, space, and time. Normal activities and relationships are enjoyed with higher understanding.

SUPERCONSCIOUS - Partial or complete Self-realization. Knowledge-experience that one is a ray of God's consciousness. When meditating, higher superconscious states unfold, allowing perceptions and realizations of God and transcendental realities. Ego-sense diminishes with increasing Self-realization. Normal activities and relationships are experienced without compulsion.

FUNCTIONAL SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS - Healthy-minded, superior human conscious condition. When meditating, the major purpose may be to elicit the relaxation response and experience psychological and physiological benefits only. Normal activities and relationships are rational, nurturing choices. Actions are performed skilfully. Some intellectual understanding of God may be present.

DYSFUNCTIONAL SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS - Mental confusion and conflicted emotional states are common. Egocentricity prevails. Meditation may be practiced in the hope that a degree of inner peace may result. Illusions are common: also attachments, dependency, addictions, and self-defeating behaviors. Actions are irrational and behaviors are unpredictable. Neurotic needs, complaints, blaming, and irresponsibility are common - as are fantasies about everyday matters and higher realities. Subconscious influences dominate mental and emotional states.

UNCONSCIOUS - Mental dullness, apathy, and boredom are common. The physical body is assumed to be the real being. Awareness of spiritual matters is absent. If religious, prayer is usually directed to a conceptualized form or aspect of God. Normal activities and relationships are routine, as necessary or as one is inclined by desire or whim. Intellectual powers are limited. Memories, habits, and learned or acquired behaviors dominate lifestyle. Small-mindedness and self-righteousness may be dramatized.

Every soul eventually awakens from unconsciousness to Self-knowledge and realization of oneness in God. Personal aspiration to spiritual growth is a helpful influence to this end. The soul's innate inclination to awaken is a determining factor. Right living and spiritual practices speed up the process.

Favorite

Replies (10) Replies feed

Calhoun25 Posted 5 years, 8 months ago. ✓ Mailed 5 years, 8 months ago   Favorite
Hey William,

It’s good to hear back from you! I am humbled by your praise. I do try to understand others, though not always (or even often) with accurate results. I stand to learn much more about understanding others. As long as I’m imperfect in this respect, there’s something to work on. I remember coming across a book titled “How to Read a Book”. It was written by Mortimer Adler. I briefly flipped through the book. It seemed very interesting, at least at first glance, showing me there is much more I can learn about digesting written works. Since humans are (usually) much more complex than the words they write, there is much more for me to learn about understanding others.

Yes, keep projecting those aesthetic blessings! It means so much to know someone is calling out to you, or perhaps transmitting you signals through the “noosphere”. Some individuals feel like musical or artistic ideas strike them out of the blue. Perhaps they’re getting some of your aesthetic blessings? I know I certainly am profiting from your aesthetic transmissions. You might even say they’re inspiring me, in a way, as I write this letter!

I like your Latin phrase. I took Latin for several years in middle and high school. I have fond memories of the classes, because my teachers were so intelligent and inspiring. They taught me the value of loving a particular thing, in this case Latin, even when many others think it is stupid or uncool or unprofitable or a waste of time and resources. Some of the Latin poetry we read is truly beautiful. Because it is very easy to rhyme in Latin, poetry in that language had to rely on subtle literary techniques other than rhyming at the end of a line. The best Latin poets could improvise a poem about their current circumstances. It reminds me a lot of off-the-dome freestyle in modern day rapping!

Calhoun25 Posted 5 years, 8 months ago. ✓ Mailed 5 years, 8 months ago   Favorite
Your description of inciting F.E.A.R. reminds me a lot of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. He was known at the time as a social gadfly. Let me post a definition of “social gadfly” from the Internet: “A social gadfly is a person who interferes with the status quo of a society or community by posing novel, potently upsetting questions, usually directed at authorities.” Socrates would ask these sorts of upsetting questions in a public venue. When his opponents couldn’t answer them, at least in any consistent or intelligent way, they were publically embarrassed and exposed on the spot as hypocritical. He would often ask his interlocutors about the meaning of core values. For example, he would ask high government officials what it means to be pious or loving or just. (At least, this is the way Socrates is portrayed in the famous Socratic dialogues.) You can imagine how that might go over with hypocritical individuals who are in truth out for individual gain, not the correct moral answer. Socrates was eventually executed for being so disruptive. Asking tough questions and reasoning thoroughly can be a very powerful tool indeed—one that often frightens those who are immorally self-interested.

Jesus was also a social gadfly. He would commune with those society marginalized, such as the lepers, prostitutes, and tax collectors. In Jewish society at the time, sharing a meal with such individuals would be considered unbecoming, if not outright immoral. That’s why it was a big deal when Jesus would talk and eat with these individuals. Jesus would also offer novel instruction. He would teach with authority, in a way that challenged the traditional teachers. You can imagine how upsetting this might be for the traditional teachers, especially since Jesus was from Nazareth, which at the time was considered a backwater nothing. Like Socrates, Jesus was also executed young. As you said, “a martyr does not usually ever get to grow a gray-beard”. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Calhoun25 Posted 5 years, 8 months ago. ✓ Mailed 5 years, 8 months ago   Favorite
Anyway, your self-description reminds me of Socrates and Jesus. It’s important to lovingly, though firmly, engage others with sincere questions and conversation. We’re all engaged in a spiritual journey, whether we recognize it or not. Constructive dialectic puts wings on our feet; it’s a way—not the only way—to help one another make progress on our spiritual journey. You are spot on that recognizing others is “the greatest confirmation that Homo Sapiens still has sapience within their grasp”. (Clever line, by the way.) In a weird way, asking tough questions of others, including those in authority, can be a way of recognizing them as equally human. It can be a way of lovingly encouraging them to seek the truth, and to turn away from their current injustices. It should be mentioned that tact is important here. When people are open to conversation, it is important to seize the opportunity. When people are not open to conversation, then it may or may not be the wisest option to nevertheless engage with questions. It all depends on the circumstances. Unfortunately, I don’t yet know which circumstances require which. Perhaps you have better insight.

I think you pose an interesting critique of Kierkegaard. If truth truly is subjectivity, then from what angle can one criticize another for their injustice or ill-thinking? For example, from what angle could one criticize mediocrity, as you are saying? It seems you want to say that truth is objectivity. There is an objective moral and spiritual truth out there. This objective truth is what we appeal to in criticizing, say, mediocrity in society. I think this objectivity is grounded in God, but I know people have different views about this.

I think the article you shared, titled “The Evolution Game”, offers a unique method for building optimism. I don’t think I’ve heard of it before. It reminds me of the following, which you might find interesting. Apparently, studies have shown that a certain method can help individuals with PTSD. The method consists in having them follow a light with their eyes, while asking them deep questions about their suffering and trauma. Perhaps there is something relaxing about following the light. It brings down the psychological barrier, allowing the deep questions to penetrate through and heal the spiritual injury. Your “Stages of Spiritual Growth” looks very interesting as well. I’ll have to ponder these articles more deeply.

Calhoun25 Posted 5 years, 8 months ago. ✓ Mailed 5 years, 8 months ago   Favorite
As a quick side note, I’ve been getting very interested lately by music theory. It’s fascinating to learn how music is made, and what makes it sound so good. It seems to me that composing music takes real talent and genius. I think our greatest musical intuitions come from letting the soul speak. It’s very relaxing and meditative, or so I’ve heard from musicians. I’ve been particularly interested in the story of Brian Wilson. As you may know, he was the lead composer behind The Beach Boys. He struggled for years with serious mental illness. He would (and still does) hear voices in his head. These voices make fun of him and put him down. I think he even spent two or three years straight cooped up in his house, never leaving it, back in the 70s. He’s doing well now, and touring across America. In fact, they recently made a movie about his struggling with mental health, as well as his making the musical masterpiece Pet Sounds. The movie is titled “Love and Mercy”. I’d love to see it one day.
Anyway, that’s all for now. Keep up the good thoughts and aesthetic transmissions! Take care.

Peace,
Calhoun25

P.S. Thanks for teaching me the word “hierophant”. It’s a very neat one.

William Goehler Posted 5 years, 5 months ago.   Favorite
(scanned reply – view as blog post)

Calhoun25 Posted 5 years, 5 months ago. ✓ Mailed 5 years, 5 months ago   Favorite
Hey William,

It’s always a pleasure to hear back from you!

I didn’t think you were inappropriately bombastic in your critique of mediocrity. I took you to be using hyperbole in order to drive home your core points. Whatever you make of him, the philosopher Nietzsche often used the same tactic: hyperbole to make the point. For psychological reasons, it seems, humans sometimes pay more attention when truths are dressed up in loud colors. Also, I appreciate your humility in admitting to not be “a paragon of excellency by any stretch of the imagination”. I think it is possible to speak the truth, to call out and persuade others to betterment, while acknowledging one’s own faults and imperfections. Indeed, if we had to wait until perfection to educate others in matters of morality and spirituality, then just about nobody would get to teach and make pronouncements. Perhaps this analogy is helpful for how to criticize and teach while remaining humble: Calling out others in love and boldness is inviting them to join you on a journey toward betterment, as equal partners; it is not forcing them to worship or serve you for miles on end. (Perhaps some people take criticism the wrong way when it shows up in the political world.)

Calhoun25 Posted 5 years, 5 months ago. ✓ Mailed 5 years, 5 months ago   Favorite
Thank you for your explication of your previous comments. I think I better understand what you were before saying about subjectivity and objectivity. You seem perturbed by “objectivity” in the sense of being objectified or exploited or deceived by those in various positions of power. If I understand you correctly, I think your point about “objectification through conceptualization” is trenchant. Changing people’s concepts—the ways they think and speak about certain matters—can prove to be a very powerful way to enlighten them, or to control them. For example, one might try changing people’s moral concepts, in order to change their moral beliefs and so morally significant actions. I read parts of a book in which the author, Dr. Danielle Allen, argues that the philosopher Plato tried to change ancient Athenian politics by influencing moral concepts and dialogue. (The book is called “Why Plato Wrote”.) I think one example she studies is Plato’s particular conception of justice. If you can convince someone that justice involves self-control, respect for others, and the like, then you might be able to change their behavior in accordance with what justice apparently commands. As you seem to be mentioning, the power to influence concepts and so behavior can be put to evil uses, just as much as it can be put to good uses. For example, if you can convince someone that justice does not require loving the guilty—indeed, that justice requires hating the guilty, because they don’t deserve to be loved—then you’ll probably change their behavior to reflect the change in conception. Is that what you mean when you talk about “pharisaism, demagogues, and politicians [being] such compelling creators”? Are you talking about them creating and disseminating morally defective concepts, whose internalization by individuals causes them to act immorally? Are individuals partly to blame in internalizing morally defective concepts, because their motivation in adopting said concepts is out of feckless or unquestioning “imitation”? Perhaps I am misunderstanding you; in any case, it is worth getting these ideas out on the table to compare and contrast them with what you mean.

Calhoun25 Posted 5 years, 5 months ago. ✓ Mailed 5 years, 5 months ago   Favorite
Thanks for the tip on the book. I read the Wikipedia Article about the author, Ken Wilber. He sounds like a very interesting guy. I find his sort of syncretism, which he seems to engage in, very interesting. And yes, I do appreciate your “eclectic…presentations to ponder”. The philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe tried to stay open to new ideas from unconventional sources. For instance, she paid close attention to the brilliant insights her children would throw up every now and then. It’s funny how kids can sometimes be deep and penetrating without realizing it. Maybe it’s because they have a skill to see things as they simply are? Quoting Jesus: “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Anyway, I find it odd you got rebuked for your post. What was claimed to be inappropriate about it?

Calhoun25 Posted 5 years, 5 months ago. ✓ Mailed 5 years, 5 months ago   Favorite
I also saw the most recent question that you put to me: “What does MORAL EMANCIPATION mean to you?” That is a good and deep question. I feel I am on safer ground answering what does moral emancipation mean to me, as opposed to what is moral emancipation, period. The latter question seems harder, since the answer may depend on the context. Anyway, as I see it, there are at least three fruitful understanding of “moral emancipation” One, moral emancipation is the process by which a moral agent becomes increasingly free in her moral decision-making from psychological pressures, including certain feelings, attitudes, or habits. In this sense, becoming free of the fear associated with giving one’s life for others, or becoming free of the laziness that stunts our relationships, would be ways of moving toward moral emancipation. Two, moral emancipation is the process by which a moral agent is released from morally straining circumstances that regularly demand that she make tough or unfair moral decisions. In this sense, ending some disastrous war, in which civilians may be routinely faced with the unfair question of whom to let starve, would bring the civilians moral emancipation. Third, moral emancipation is any form of emancipation that is morally good or right. (This is the most straightforward conception of the three.) So, for instance, emancipating the slaves in America and the serfs in Russia was morally good or right. It thereby counts as a moral emancipation. Phew! Those are at least three conceptions I have of moral emancipation. I don’t know if they reflect or map onto anything interesting, but they are my genuine thoughts. Let me know if you have any similar conceptions of moral emancipation, or if you instead have radically different ones.

Alright, that’s all for now, William. If you’re able to, I would love to check out your “A New Slant on Life” course. It sounds promising. Take care, and talk to you later.

Peace,
Calhoun25

William Goehler Posted 5 years, 3 months ago.   Favorite
(scanned reply – view as blog post)

Other posts by this author

Subscribe

Get notifications when new letters or replies are posted!

Posts by William Goehler: RSS email me
Comments on “Untitled”: RSS email me
Featured posts: RSS email me
All Between the Bars posts: RSS