As we move further into the digital age, becoming more reliant on personal digital devices, we are quickly becoming digital beings.  The integration of technology into the human condition is happening so rapidly, it overwhelms the imagination.  The integrated circuit or IC is being realized in a way that goes far beyond its initial intention. It is literally interfacing into the human condition and will soon play a dynamic part of our biological and social structure.  The movement from our analogue nature to a digital being extends our potential to unfathomable outcomes.  All stages of human life will be effected by the digital world and new undreamed of possibilities will emerge as microprocessors get smaller, faster and even more powerful.  But will this pervasive integration improve the human condition? What will be gained or lost in the process?  Will technology be the asteroid that causes the human race, as we know it today, to become extinct?  The answer may or may not lie with Google.

To begin we need to understand the difference between analogue and digital systems.  This difference is crucial to our understanding of all that we know.  An analogue system is one in which a continuously varying quantity is used to measure, or reference an outcome.  It always contains some infinitely divisible unit such as voltage and can be mathematically applied to amplitude, or frequency. On the other hand, a digital system has a set of mathematical values, usually binary, that can also represent amplitude or frequency but within a finite numerical range. Although the range can be very large, by its digital nature, it will always contain a finite amount of numerical data.  The dynamic between these two systems is significant.  It is the difference between infinity and finality.

Let us consider the difference between a vinyl record and a compact disc.  The record or LP, store’s the audio information as printed sound waves on the record’s surface.  A stationary needle sits in the record’s groove as it record spins at a specific speed.  The sound waves imprinted on the record, cause the needle to mechanically vibrate.  The vibrations are turned into electrical voltage and amplified for our ears to hear the collective content of the sound stored on the record.

The CD store’s binary data at a specific frequency rate: 44.1kHz samples per second (snapshots of sound waves) at a specific amplitude depth: 16 bits whose total value equals 65,536 possible vertical bits: 32,768 bits above and below a point of zero amplitude.  A laser reads the binary information by responding to pits on the CD’s reflective surface. The pits represent a binary value of 1. Everything that is not a pit represents a binary value of 0.  The binary code is then translated back into an analogue sound at the CD’s output, and amplified for our ears to hear the collective content of the data on the CD.  In both cases we hear the sound and comprehend it’s meaning.  However the mechanics of the needle as it skims the record surface, translating the sound wave vibrations into electrical analogue voltage, holds an infinite number of variables where the CD, with its finite numerical binary range, can only produce two possible outcomes, on or off.  To further illustrate this point, a vinyl record can sound good, like new, it may have some pops or other surface noises, or sound really bad do to record wear.  The turntable on which the record spins could vary in speed or be manually controlled by hand, creating even more possible outcomes. The CD, on the other hand, will work properly or not, that’s all that can be.

Now let us consider the difference between a circle drawn with a pencil and one created with a computer graphics editor.  In both cases the circle is understood to have 360 degrees and round in appearance.  But the computer-generated circle is not round at all.  It is made up of a series of very small steps that from a far look like a circle but in actuality is a series of straight lines.  This is one of the realities we face with digital images.  What truly is real?  It could be argued that a circle is a circle regardless of the vehicle used to illustrate the circle.  However, how much of a digital representation of an image are we willing to accept until finally recognizing the image we are looking at is intentionally manipulated data.  Because binary data is simple numbers: 0s and 1s, we can process this data byte very easily and precisely, making the appearance of the image to be the real thing, or anything else we so choose.  Moreover, as we become more familiar and comfortable with the digital process, learning how to manipulate the data for ourselves, will we begin to lose sight of individual intrinsic/spiritual value, trading that for endless digital possibilities?  So, what are those possibilities?

One possible outcome is the homogenizing of personal human value. No longer will something be good or bad based on our unique individual experience.  Instead, a system of measurement will be put in place to determine value. This system will be designed not by our selves, based on our own personal experience, but by something externally quantifiable, created by anything wishing to control a situation or behavior.  Commonly labeled as an “organizational tool,” this approach removes the responsibility of the individual from the evaluation process.  Once this occurs, our fate and freedom as individuals is in jeopardy.  But, is this already happening?  The answer to this question depends on where you look.

Consider your last service call to Comcast, Verizon, AT&T or any large corporate organization.  First, you were probably greeted by an automated phone tree and prompt to make a selection.  Your total personal choice was reduced to six or seven controlled choices.  Once you have selected the one you think best fits your need, you may be directed to another automated phone tree or placed on a waiting cue for the next available representative.  At this point you hear a recorded message saying your call will be monitored for quality assurance.  After some amount of time, while listening to mellow music, a representative answers and follows a scripted, corporate-approved business approach to your inquiry.  If the representative is unable to satisfy your request, you are transferred to another individual, perhaps higher in authority, with a different scripted-approach, to assist you.  This process goes on until your question is answered and resolved, or no one is able to help you with your problem.  Generally when this happens, even though your question remains unanswered, the representative says, “is there anything else I can help you with?”  This is the closing line of the script and the end of the data driven conversation.

If you’ve ever had this type of experience, you should know that it is a result of a carefully crafted and totally measureable approach to quantify and manage your call.  A very sophisticated psychological corporate-designed customer handling process has been put in place to not only deal with your questions and behavior, but also to measure, evaluate and quantify the responses of the corporate representative.  Since the organization you are calling has no real control of your actions, it can only limit your behavior by directing choices.  The representative, on the other side, has no choice.  Everything, mannerisms, responses, and even their working environment are under control.  Like the CD, they either follow the tracking of the corporate laser, spitting out data at a fixed rate, or they don’t work at all.  Add to this the possibility of a controlled economic environment and you wind up with a modern version of slavery for both the worker and the consumer.  The concern is that many of us totally accept this reality in the name of human efficiency and financial stability.  While efficiency and stability are important, do we really want to trade creative human individuality for these two controlled material outcomes?   So how does this relate to the digital being?

The relationship is multi-dimensional.  First, there is our eager and unquestionable acceptance of a quantifiable approach to human value and individuality.  We willingly reduce everything we are and what we know to a measureable outcome that fits some finite external system of control.  Then we accept this control because as individuals, we are cautiously frightened of difference, wanting so much to find some tangible explanation for the complexity that is our world.  We then gravitate towards a material system of reward because as material beings, we identify with this commonality.  At the same time, a monetary structure is put in place where we are reinforced for following the program and excluded for not conforming.  To put this simply, you’re either with us or alone.  This produces the quintessential binary outcome: 1 or 0, thus the digital being is born.

As an analogue being, although inefficiency and random variation is common, the result is each person is completely unique with no two people alike.  Our difference is what keeps us strong as a species.  Each of us has some form of unique brilliance that could be shared with the universe.  But to cultivate that brilliance and benefit from an individual’s gift, takes a free enlightened society that understands the value of difference and variation.  This understanding is completely contrary to the quantifiable structure that is quickly becoming a norm of today.

As a digital being, although a huge variety of choices maybe available, by its very nature, the total amount of choices is fixed by a finite range with the possibility of identical choices, resulting in a diminishing of variation, becoming far more likely.  In addition, the elimination of infinite variables creates a squared-off environment that may be ideal but not human.  This is known as the process of quantizing.  Although quantizing makes for perfection, as in an audio/music sequencer, the loss becomes the natural human feel of the real-time performance.  But does human feel really matter?  The dualism between analogue and digital performance may mean very little when it comes to overall conceptual purpose, and the fact may be that the digital data range is so large that there is no meaningful distinction between finality and infinity.

So what really is the issue?  The real challenge we face as human beings is the threat to religion and/or spirituality.  The ideal digital domain has no room for these totally unquantifiable concepts. We see this starting to manifest itself in the way people now easily turn to the Internet for answers instead of any form of inward spiritual reflection or transcendental meditation.  It could even be argued that the modern day God is Google and it may turn out that Google becomes the digital surrogate to this old-fashion term.  But is this bad?  For now, the decision on whether or not this is good or bad is based on our own analogue human value, and not some preset formulated tool of measurement.  However, with the rapidly accelerating advance towards the digital domain, coupled with our childish naivety and curiosity, we may soon consider the difference or change from the analogue being to the digital being, a necessary conversion in human history.

Finally, if we add to all of this a purely analogue concept such as the unknown, what we become as digital human beings of the future, maybe completely unexpected and perhaps unrecognizable.   How will our biological nature be affected and changed by advanced digital technology and intentional genetic manipulation?  What roll will our environment play as we integrate the failings and mistakes of the past into the being of the future?  How will climate change, air and water pollution, and nuclear radiation affect the species?  Will we adapt, or just die out.  Hopefully, we will arrive at some meaningful analogue solution.  In any case, our digital future is upon us and without question, the norm for today’s youth culture.  They know no other reality than the world of micro processing, data storage, and Internet communication.  These three entities maybe seen as the modern-day Father, Son and Holy Ghost of the digital domain for the next generation.  The loss of our analogue or spiritual nature could lead to the loss of the very thing we thought separated human beings from all that exists in the world.  And thus we become a digital being, taking our roll as just another bit of data in the collective history of the universe.

4-30-2012

Throughout history there have been periods of social consciousness that have culminated into progressive groups and thereby movements.  The civil rights movement of the 1960s, the Suffragettes of the 19^th century, the Abolitionists in the 1800s, the scientific revolution of the 17^th century, and so on.  History is riddled with dynamic changes in thought and politic, causing the human consciousness to awaken from its slumber of ignorance and barbarism.  In 1945, the dropping of the Atom Bomb brought us face to face with the dawning of the atomic age and the idea of global annihilation.  Once again we rise to the occasion and hence, the peace movement was born.  Still, our world teeters on the edge of global destruction by war-encouraging events that cause terror and hatred to occur in the human hart.  One such event was the 911 Attack on the United States by terrorists causing the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York City.  This single event was the predicate for two invasions, the cause of death for millions of people, and continues to create a legacy that will remain a part of us for many generations to come.  But what would happen if it turned out the attack was a domestic subversive co-venture that was designed to create a political atmosphere allowing men of money and power to gain profit and seize control.  Would the world once again arise to a new social awareness that would finally recognize greed and power is the causal link to all war?

Since the attack on September 11th 2001, a growing movement of people demanding a new investigation of the WTC disaster has been developing.  The movement is known as the 911 Truth Movement and is quickly becoming an international organization with over 40 groups worldwide.  So who are these people?  First and foremost, they are people who recognize that the collapse of all THREE World Trade Center buildings 1, 2 and 7, could not have been caused by fire, stated as cause for collapse in the official government documents: the National Institute of Standards and Technology report (NIST) and the 911 Commission.  They are a bi-partisan collection of scientists, architects, engineers, first responders, firefighters, lawyers, professors, businessmen, actors, and family members of 911 victims.  They demand a new independent investigation into the collapse of the buildings with contempt and subpoena powers, and they believe the destruction of the buildings was caused by planned demolition and not exclusively by terrorists.  How could they make such outrageous claims?  There argument is founded upon the observation and testimony of eyewitnesses (both video and audio), chemical forensic evidence, and scientific fact using the laws of basic physics.  However, even though the evidence they site is overwhelming, standing up to the scientific rigors of measurable, repeatable and verifiable processes; “911 Truthers” as they are called, are framed by the national corporate media as “a loony fringe element” or “wacky conspirator theorists.”  Why is this so?  For precisely the same reason why any new apposing mainstream idea is ridiculed, discounted and dismissed.  It makes people feel uncomfortable.  But truth, no matter how uncomfortable one might feel, is necessary for the health and wellbeing of a democracy.  And truth in this case is not only apposed to the skepticism put forth by the common person, it is also apposed to all the corporate and governmental influences that might have played a significant part in the tragedy.  In addition, if what the 911 Truthers claim is in deed the case, then the credibility of so many American institutions who accepted without question the official story will be discredited.  Also, our judicial system will be put to the test as never before.  High-ranking government officials such as the President, Vice-president, Secretary of State, Defense Secretary, along with top-level corporate executives will be called in for questioning and perhaps be indicted by the American people.  All this may result from a new investigation of the World Trade Center collapse.  Perhaps this is why there is so much resistance by the government and the national corporate news media to validate the 911 Truth Movement.

Now, let’s go beyond the 911 Truth Movement and imagine what the world would look like in a post 911 Truth era.  If the above outcomes materialize and it is found that the government of the United States under the Bush administration was in some way responsible for the act of terror and thus the WTC collapse, the world would change once again.

First, the Bush administration and all those associated with it would be condemned and punished.  Being such a horrendous crime, by the laws of the state, they would be charged with capital murder.  They would either be sentenced to death, or the death penalty would be revoked nationally.  The United States would be forced to pay reparations to the people of Afghanistan and Iraq.  We would immediately need to reduce our military forces around the world and formally apologize to everyone affected by our gross military imperialism.  Once that was done, we would need to look at corporate control over our national news media, the banking industry, communications networks, and other corporate related entities such as, oil and drug companies.  Once this was aside, the psychological impact on the American consciousness would begin to sink in.  How could we as a government of people allow this to happen and what can we do to prevent this from occurring in the future.  We would finally awaken to the idea that war is a direct product of greed and those who continue to profit from it, would need to be exposed to the world.  Companies that build military hardware and sell weapons to third-world countries would need to retool, find productive and not destructive ways of sustaining and conducting business, while providing financial support to all those affected by the corporate military war machine.

So how likely is this? Not very!  The chances of the above scenario are unfortunately slim.  The American people are too preoccupied with watching “reality TV,” and playing with Game Cubes, Xboxes, Play Stations, and all those other forms of fantasy-enhancing entertainment, no one really needs to face the truth of what we’ve become—a society of corporately controlled, technologically subservient, intellectually naive and ethically barren beings that spend more time saying nothing to each other than ever before.  But yet there is hope.  The shock and ah of the September 11^th tragedy awoke the world to the idea of terrorism. Now, the 911 Truth Movement may again awaken the American consciousness to the idea of greed, money and power, being the root cause of death and destruction of all human kind.  At this point, we either shrink from our responsibility for finding out the truth, or continue being the sacrificial pawns in the game of corporate military global domination—just like all the victims of 911.

5-19-2010

The word government comes from the term: “to govern.”  In a free society, to be governed could be perceived as a loss of freedom.  Perhaps this is why so many Americans today are skeptical, suspicious or even hateful of our government.  However, the purpose of our government is not to limit freedom but to ensure that all people receive an equal amount of freedom under the law. This freedom is guarantied by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In addition, in a democracy, the people themselves directly determine the amount of freedom they have in the society.  This is done through the election process.  However, in order for the election process to work properly the people must take the time and effort to be thoroughly and properly informed.  In addition, the informative outlets such as newspapers, radio, television and the Internet, must be free from influential control by any single state, religion, or corporate interest.  This is where problems with the government and the election process occur.  It is very difficult to objectively look at the issues without the influence of some external special interest.  If we add to that our own personal political bias, then making a clear, objective choice becomes a tough process.  It takes strength and a strong self-image to make a choice for the good of all and not just for ones own benefit.  If the people become weak and believe their single vote doesn’t count or even worse, their weakness is capitalized on by a strong state, religion, corporate interest or powerful minority, then the entire political process becomes meaningless and our representative government is at risk.  This in turn will allow extremists to dominate the political seen causing an imbalance of political power in our government.  Our government is only as strong, informed and empowered as the people allow it to be.  The responsibility for the health of our government rests squarely in the hands of the people who participate.  As long as people look at the facts, discuss the issues and understand the arguments on both sides, our government will remain healthy.  If we turn away from the facts and go only with a state sponsored religion, or privet corporate influence, then we no longer have a representative government, and our freedom will be lost forever.

Recently a new more sinister element has been injected into the political process undermining the direction of our democratic system of government.  That element is fear.  Fear, real or imagined, can be used by anyone or any organization to control the choices of a people and thereby reducing or even eliminating personal freedoms.  How much are we willing to give up if we are convinced by someone or some group with a subversive intent that our freedoms need to be curtailed in order to remain safe.  It does not take more than a single horrifying incident or economic upheaval for a people to turn over their political power and personal freedom to those who wish to have total political control.  This is when government is most at risk. 

The only remedy in all these cases is education.  The more we educate ourselves on what it is we fear the more we overcome that fear. However, education takes work: to sort through all the facts on both sides relating to the subject, perseverance: to continue looking even after you have satisfied certain conditions, and courage: to honestly face the outcome even if it does not support your initial position.  It is not enough to sit back and watch the daily newscast to think we are participating in our government.  Remember, the commercial media has its own specific agenda.  That agenda is to keep us entertained just to sell us products.  In this marketing process we have no say what so ever.  We can only turn off the television and rarely is this done.  Our complacency is just what the commercial corporate media ordered.  Keeping us dumb and entertained while encouraging consumerism resulting in the transfer of wealth is how control of a free society is managed.  Add to that marketing strategy a touch of fear and you now have a winning formula for total control of a people.

To overcome these kinds of political and social variables, we must stay informed, educate ourselves on all the issues, discuss through peaceful dialog the concerns, and be mindful of those who utilize fear as a form of persuasion.  We must stand up tall, look straight in the eyes of those who wish to control us, and say: how do you know this to be true and show us your unbiased, verifiable evidence.  And if so, how does what you perceived help all of us? What must always be remembered is we are the people and our government is of the people, by the people, and for the people. When you hear someone say the government is the problem and should be eliminated, they’re talking about you!

4-2-2009

Once upon a time there was a person.  This person was extremely smart, very kind, generous and helpful.  Although leading a fairly normal life he had one weakness, he was unknowingly addicted to alcohol.  This addiction however at first, did not hinder his relationship with others in anyway.  One day he offered to a good friend a drink from his prized collection of spirits.  The friend, who did not drink, refused and tried to warn him that too much of even the finest of liquors can cause problems.  The person didn't listen and in fact told the friend, by not drinking, doom would be inevitable.  So instead, the person continued to drink, spending family income on various elixirs, different containers, all the while regularly attending and giving lots of money to the local bar establishment.  He began to withdraw from the outside world associating only with those who supported his drinking habit and others at the bar who were addicted to alcohol just like him.  For some time, the good friend did not hear from him.  Although he wrote to the person enquiring how he was doing, the good friend would not get a response.  One day the friend sent him a provocative question regarding his addiction.  The question read:  which is more valuable: the high from your drink or the value of a sobering relationship?  The silence continued.

The problem with many religious institutions is their power to control mentors the addiction abuser model.  People who are strong believers, regardless of religious faith, may shrink from society at large, associate with only others of their faith, immures themselves within their beliefs, become hard to reason with, develop an illusionary self-righteous personality, relinquish their responsibility for their actions, and in some cases, turn violent and do harmful things to others not sharing in their religious ideals.  These characteristics parallel the model that arises when people are addicted to mind-altering substances such as alcohol, heroin, or methamphetamine.

While the religious leaders herd their flock, the poor user pays more and more to feel there heavenly high.  All the while, being told or made to feel guilty they are not living up to the "moral" standards of the shepherd.  And so the user becomes more dependent, pays more money, and looses more and more of a grasp on reality and/or their individual freedom.  To top it off, they become completely submissive, believing that any attempt to brake away will send them straight to hell.

Of course anything done to an extreme can become an addiction and yes, not all religious individuals end up in this condition.  In fact many good, spiritually minded people lead fine and healthy lives.  However, the financial success of many religious institutions, especially those of an evangelical or fundamentalist nature, praise heavily upon the weaknesses of people who are unable to confidently exist with their spiritual individuality.  As we all know, it is far easier to walk silently with others of your own kind rather to stand and face destiny alone.

4-30-2008

As today's corporate business world gets evermore competitive, you would think nonprofit corporations would serve as a safe-haven for people who are more interested in raising the quality of life then that of the bottom line.  Nonprofits, by there very definition, are not to make money but to provide people with enrichment and support.  Privet schools, hospitals, community agencies and charity organizations, although their survival depends on capital, should not put generating revenue before the needs of the people they serve.  Now you might say, you cannot properly serve the people without the financial resources to do so and with that, there is no argument.  However, when you shift agency focus from idealism to "K-Mart management mentality," there is a concern.  The concern is with applying for-profit business techniques to a business model specifically designed to be not for profit.  How might this happen?

Let's say a naive corporate nonprofit board of directors installs a new Executive Director (ED) who has financial business management expertise but no experience with the population that agency serves.  What would be the impact?  Since the new ED's hire is not based strictly on agency mission but rather on financial business management practices, agency focus would slowly shift to bottom-line finance.  This strategy, although very effective for many for-profit businesses, will in time erode the primary purpose of the agency and destroy the overall morale of those who put mission before money.  No longer would the focus be on the quality of life for those served by the agency but rather on how can we financially grow the agency.  Once this shift begins to take hold, those individuals who are truly dedicated to agency mission, either accept their employment as now "just a job" or leave the agency altogether.  As the dedicated employees leave or shift their motivation, new employees are hired (or those already employed are promoted) with similar interests, goals, and motivations as the new ED.  This is typical whenever a new ED takes over an organization however, as stated above, the new ED has absolutely no experience with the population the agency serves.  Therefore, the new employees will either have little experience with the population or only a superficial understanding of the populations' needs.  The cycle of old employees leaving and new employees coming on board continues until the entire culture of the agency has totally changed.

In the meantime, the new ED, who has cleverly convinced the board of directors that his services are of great value, begins to set vague verbal policy from his business management background ensuring his comfort and authority. The first to go is the free exchange of ideas by all members of the agency and in place, a top-down communication protocol.  Anyone who disagrees with the new ED's agency direction will be subjectively disciplined.  Next, the new ED begins to disrupt department-team relationships by spreading disinformation about various team members. This tactic allows the new ED to divide and conquer standing alliances within the organization. He courts the Human Resources director knowing full well he'll need he or she to defend his questionable policies even if they are harmful to the very employees HR is suppose to protect.  He will then begin to eliminate full-time line staff positions in place of part-time staff.  This lowers the overall cost of operation thereby improving the bottom-line of the organization.  But again, this franchised-food management technique, does not improve the quality of services by the agency.  Rather just the opposite.  As more and more part-time help are put in place of full-time workers, the level of seasoned experience with the population become scarce.  For the part-time worker, facing a learning curve that more than likely will be beyond their interest with the organization, will never come to know the subtleties necessary to serve with dignity the people the agency serves.  The quality of life for the agency's population further erodes.

Now you have upper-level managers with little or superficial knowledge of the population, middle managers who see their work as "just a job" and part-time line-staff with short-term employment interests.  Add to this a strictly business management style, a top-down communication business structure, a punitive and suspicious work environment, an all-inclusive team facade persona, and a leader who sees the non-profit workplace as Dolly Parton's movie, "Nine to Five," and every reason to stay for any dedicated, underpaid, hard-working advocate for the population, is gone.

And what of the population itself? If the model by the new ED is one of no respect or accommodations, a workplace that will not recognize unique individual talents and differences, an environment that promotes fear, and chooses workers with only a superficial understanding of agency mission, then this will be the eventual treatment for the population by the agency.  Now you may say, this is an extreme scenario and yes, that maybe the case.  However, in the for-profit business world, the above management approach is the norm and not the extreme.  To often we hear of large corporations disrespecting and taking advantage of their line-workers.  We know of the supervisor mentality: "you should be happy you even have a job," and we are aware of how commercial businesses will do everything to cut operational expenses even if that means down-sizing the full-time workforce, cutting benefits and creating a high-pressure working environment that dehumanizes employees while forcing productivity quotas.  Yes, this is the reality and if this reality is imported into the world of nonprofit do to cuts in state and federal funding, this will be the future for the corporate nonprofit.  So we are left with populations, organizations and community agencies that are unfortunate, compromised, and poor in spirit.

In conclusion, the assumption made by the nonprofit corporate board of directors: you can improve the agency by increasing its size is naïve of service. The concept of "the bigger the size the better the agency" is completely false and totally backward.  Its like saying, "the bigger the restaurant, the better the food."  No, you increase the size of the agency by focusing on the improvement of service quality.  By focusing on service and not on growth, the agency grows naturally—without sacrifice of any kind.  No loss of dedicated employees, no loss of agency reputation, no loss of community standing, and no loss of financial solvency.  However, by importing a commercial business model and shifting from service to growth, you jeopardize the life of the very agency your trying to help.

Finally, the moral and spiritual impact created by the focus of money over mission, business over benefit, control over council is ethically damming.  To do this to any nonprofit agency or organization that provides services and support to people in need is just plain wrong.  The responsibility for this outrages choice of ED fall directly on the hiring shoulders of the nonprofit corporate president and the board of directors.  Not even the ED can be called on the carpet.  For he will say, "I was only following the board's directive," and he would be right.

10-30-2007

Prayer and meditation are important to many of the World's religions. Art is a crucial element as well. Both prayer and art serve to take the worshiper out of the context of daily life. This is done in order to better align our selves with the larger cosmos. In a modern religious framework, the practice of art by the worshiping community can be understood as prayer itself.

First however, we need to dispose of the notion that prayer is asking God for some object, benefit or service. This approach suffers from the old problem that we alone may just get what we are praying for. Like childish wishes, these prayers, no matter how well intentioned, presuppose that we know exactly how the universe should unfold. But sadly, we do not. When we pray for a certain result, we’re in effect, trying to impose our will on future events. Whether the situation involves soldiers praying for victory at the beginning of a battle, or prayers for a sick relative, in all cases, we are hoping that our notion of the future will come to pass. But it may be that we are all better off in the long run with a different result. Perhaps it is wiser to refrain from asking God to intervene in the natural course of things so that we may get our way without mortal influence.

Prayer and meditation should be aimed at harmonizing ourselves with the universe. Through the daily practice of art, we are able to step outside of our usual role as self-seeking agents. Whether in song, drawing or writing, the act of creation can take us to new a level of connection with the universe. Think for a moment about a favorite piece of music, or the enjoyment of an engaging painting and you will know what we mean. It's the reason that traditional religions have always incorporated these elements into their rituals.

Now you may ask, how do I fit into this picture? Isn't art something to be done by professional artists? Isn't the purpose of art to create rare and highly valuable objects?

We would like to suggest that these questions reflect the old artistic paradigm that is already starting to wane. We are now entering an age where the tools needed to commune with ourselves and others through art are available to all. The history of progress is one of ordinary individuals breaking down hierarchies in order to gain a more direct connection with their spiritual, political and social needs. We are seeing a similar hierarchy begin to breakdown in the area of the arts.

So write a song, or make a picture in Photoshop. Do whatever you feel puts you in alignment with all things. Don't worry about "quality". We would suggest that in a spiritual context you do these things as ends in themselves and not for gain. In a spiritual context, creating art for economic gain or personal glory is much like praying for self-seeking desires. Better to put those intentions aside and, instead, create something that moves and surprises you and brings to the surface something previously hidden within your inner spiritual self.

7-12-2007

A lot of things have been said about global warming.  Everything from: “the process of global warming is a part of a naturally occurring cycle” to “global warming is just another sign of the end times.”  Whatever thought you employ to justify the changes in the world’s climatic process, the fact is: global warming is here and it is threatening our specie’s existence.  What we do now will demonstrate our level of responsibility towards one another.  We can either, do nothing and wait for unpredictable divine intervention or except our contributing roll in the hastening of global meltdown and get to work.  The path we choose will illustrate our love for each other and the planet itself.

If we do nothing and only pray or rely on an external God for assistance, we will surely be consumed by the floodwaters that will rise as the Earth’s polar icecaps melt.  We may think that by just having enough faith, our problems will simply resolve and the world will continue.  We may also think we should do nothing because this is part of God’s plan for our species and any attempt we make to change this intentional prophetic outcome will ultimately fail.  This kind of faith-based thinking is self-indulgent and completely anti humanity.  It is certainly not the attitude one would expect from a truly loving and compassionate God.

The reasonable spiritual path is: to accept our role and responsibility as contributors to the planet’s environmental crises and change our wasteful ways.  What this means is we need a dynamic shift in our personal consumer practice, making Earth’s environmental health a top economic priority.  Like so many other meaningful and valuable goals, this shift will be challenging, requiring everyone on the planet to buckle down and work together.

The process starts with us.  First, we must value all things and all peoples as God.  We must treat everything with respect and realize our actions affect all.  Next, we must do whatever is necessary to reverse the Earth’s rising global temperature.  This may mean using our cars only when absolutely necessary, investing heavily in public transportation and renewable energy resources, cut back on our excessive use of fossil fuels, begin reforesting the planet and eliminate our disposable product mentality.

Finally, and perhaps the most difficult, we must find a way through the educational process to respectfully curve the Earth’s human population.  We are the polluters and we are the ones responsible for the current state of the planet.  We either change our foolish and selfish ways or the Earth, not God, will do it for us.

6-17-2007

Originally developed as a form of casual family entertainment, television has become the dominating source for personal entertainment, advertisement and news information throughout the world.  With continuous live coverage, it has brought the natural disaster, the violent conflict, and the political arena, right into our living room.  It allows us to Instantaneously see what is occurring, providing graphic images of hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, floods, shootings, bombings, car chases and other dynamic “popular” events.  Television has become the Intrusive eye on local, national, and world changing events.  Television also provides us with the introduction to new consumer products, drugs and services through the use of commercials.  Television is used for education by broadcasting documentaries, debates and roundtable discussions.  Television is used to bring a message, tell a story, or show you what you "need to know" whatever that might be.  For this reason, we must be vigil and scrutinize the programs we choose to view.  In all cases, television is produced.  That means what we see on the TV (even in live broadcasts,) is intentional.  So what are the intentions?  This is the critical question we must ask every time we turn on the television.

If we really think about it, television is life-energy consuming. Although it provides a connection to our culture, it also allows us to tune out from the world and even our family. The process of watching television is much like smoking opium. You are completely engaged with the production and the only time you come out of it is when a commercial appears. Up until then, for some people, getting through to them while they are watching is impossible until the program is over.

Besides it's ability to remove us from reality, there is a very subtile yet powerful affect television produces. Television has been linked to the shortening of our overall attention span. Kids who watch a lot of television from an early age, get bored fast with any activity that takes a fair amount of time, and uses a good deal of focused Concentration. Plus, their ability to process information and relate it back in a cohesive, written form, in some cases, is greatly reduced. What this means is those things that are truly important, that takes great effort to comprehend, maybe eventually out of reach for future generations. Things like compassion, responsibility and forgiveness are but a few concepts that need far more understanding than a two-second video clip.

3-22-05