Tuesday, February 22, 2011

IS NORMALCY A PSYCHOSIS OF ITSELF?

http://www.realitysandwich.com/further_reflections_psychotic_knowledge


Lacan famously defined psychosis as foreclosure of the Name of the Father. But has not society itself foreclosed the Name of the Father -- the reality of the Absolute -- as a matter of ideological necessity? Are we not all (to the extent we are "well-adapted") committed to remain cut off from the Self in order to genuflect to the altar of ego-consciousness? And if some of those who refuse to swear allegiance to the ego fall into hell realms, others ascend to divine luminosity. The latter group, the successful mystics, can offer the only real help to those who have dropped into the abyss of psychosis. Rather than confine those who suffer in nightmarish mental institutions, we should be creating joyous spiritual refuges under the governance of mystics rather than psychiatrists. Our current approach to treatment is bankrupt. With a few exceptions, such as the clinic led by Willy Apollon and the Ecole Freudienne du Quebec, treatments are primarily drug-based and lack sufficient depth of understanding and willingness on the part of therapists to enter into the world of the psychotic. There have been great pioneers in this realm, of course, including Jung, Klein, and more recently Harold Searles, Wilfred Bion, Donald Winnicott, and others. But the field of depth psychology has been under attack and losing ground for years to the minions of pharmacological repression.
SCIENCE ANOTHER FORM OF DOGMA/?
The ruling approach today is a rigid refusal to recognize the insanity of the ego itself. Yet this rigidity is understandable. It comes from the same mindset that, in biology, leads to the refusal to even consider the possibility of intelligent design being a more rational hypothesis than Darwinism. In that case, the scientistic establishment fears precisely a return to the Middle Ages, and a faith-based approach to matters that we need to deal with scientifically. But has not science in its battle against religion merely become another dogmatic religion?
THE TRUTH OF DUALISM IGNORED-THE ABORTIVE DEATH EXPERIENCED AND REVERIFIED A MYRIAD NUMBER OF TIMES
The religion of science is a belief system without the possibility of transcendence of the ego. Not only must a scientist be an atheist, but also a materialist. Not even Cartesian dualism is allowable -- even though there is plenty of evidence that dualism is true, as a matter of subjective experience. For example, in the so-called near-death experience (better thought of as an aborted death experience), consciousness leaves the body and yet continues to exist in non-corporeal form, both in this dimension and in a higher dimension. This phenomenon has been verified thousands of times. Therefore, consciousness is not simply an emergent property of the brain. It is a separate substance. That is dualism. Of course, there may be a resolution of the dualism of consciousness and form at a higher level of understanding, in which even matter is recognized as a manifestation of consciousness. That is the Advaita position. But at the first level of cognition of subtle reality, dualism is a fact.
WE DENY THE SOUL ON DOGMATIC GROUNDS ALONE: PHYSICISTS HAVE DISCOVERED MATTER IS A MYTH-NOTE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTENCE OF DARK MATTER AND DARK ENERGY-WE HAVE THE DISCOVERED THE REALITY OF THYE QUANTUM LEVEL DEFYING ORDINARY LOGIC- WEHAVE DISCOVERED THAT CONSCIOUSNESS IS A FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL OF REALITY
Yet, science cannot accept such facts. For science, the near death experience must by definition be a hallucination produced by lack of oxygen to the brain. There is no other possibility. This is because we "know" that there is no such thing as a soul; there is only matter in motion. Even though physicists have already discovered that matter is a myth; that the universe is filled with other kinds of stuff, given such names as dark matter and dark energy; and that at the quantum level, particles do not act like material objects at all, but as waves and swarms, defying ordinary logic; and most importantly, that consciousness is fundamental to the nature of reality.
SOCIAL DARWINISM A NECESSAY UNDERPINNING TO THE GREED AND COLLECTIVE PSYCHOSIS DESTROYING OUR PLANET FOR THE DELUSIONAL WEALTH OF MONEY
None of this has yet been digested by the modern mind. Politically, the capitalist system requires a belief in social Darwinism to justify its modes of action and methods of control. The communist system did likewise. Social systems that operate on other principles have been largely eliminated. That has included most indigenous tribal societies and most monastic societies. Modern thought, trapped in its material greed, is now psychotically destroying the planet in order to amass delusional wealth in the form of money. To call this collective psychosis is not exaggeration. This is even understood by many secular rationalists, yet they cannot change course.
THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF NON MATERIALISM
The real problem for secular rationalists is that acceptance of these non-material facts would put them on a slippery slope. Where do we stop, once we accept teleology and higher dimensional beings? Must we not then accept such phenomena as channeling, the downloading of information from akashic records, and so on? What criteria can we use to ascertain truth from charlatanry?
THE EPISTEMOLOGICAL IMPASSE OF CRYPTO RATIONALITY
If a young woman declares, for example, that she is possessed by a thirty-five-thousand-year-old male warrior spirit from another planet -- then on what basis can we say she is deluded? But do we then believe everyone all the time? And when we end up with conflicting narratives, how do we decide if the aliens who are speaking through the people in front of us are from the Pleiades or Sirius or Zeta Reticuli? Clearly, we are at an epistemological impasse. How do we solve this problem, without holing up in our fortress of materialist crypto-rationality and denying all of that as impossibly mad -- or giving up on discourse altogether?
THE GREAT SYLLOGISM OF SHANKARA
Here is where the ancient Indian spiritual traditions, such as Yoga, Advaita, and Buddhism, can be of immense help. First, let us examine the great syllogism of Shankara:The world is illusion;The only Real is Brahman (the Absolute);The world is Brahman.
THE ADVAITA PRINCIPLE
This bit of Logos, the Advaita Principle (non-duality), forces us to accept that any belief system regarding the world is delusional -- because the world itself is Maya, illusion, through and through. What is real is the Absolute. But Brahman is also nirguna (without qualities). That means that the Real cannot be described or explained by any means. This leads to the Advaya Principle, which was the ground of the steadfast silence of the Buddha. This principle states that there is no form of discourse that can approach an accurate understanding of the nature of reality. In Christianity, there is a congruent principle of apophatic theology, which accepts that nothing true can be said of God. But the Advaya Principle is far more radical, maintaining that no aspect of reality can be captured by language
FULLER PRINCIPLE OF OMNICENTRISM
Yet there is a further principle, that of omnicentrism, which is implied by the doctrine of Shunyata (Emptiness), that is found most clearly in Tien-Tai Buddhism, but also in the model of the Net of Indra, which is similar to the modern notion of the holographic paradigm. This principle states that every moment of conscious experience is valid in its own right, and that every individual consciousness mirrors the whole, and is part of the whole. The Absolute appears as the many and the momentary. But if we put these three principles together, then what is Real is every arising of pure awareness, but stripped of its subsequent interpretation. What we must sacrifice is the hermeneutic desire, if we are to regroup into harmonious interbeing at a higher level of consciousness than the one that we are now trapped in. The epistemological impasse is itself an illusion created by the psychotic delusion known as the ego. Only from egoless Brahman-consciousness can the current lethal encounter with psychotic knowledge be surpassed

Such a shift in actually existing consciousness, once enlightenment has become the new normal, will by itself bring the current epistemological impasse to an end. Once we are operating from quantum consciousness, with our siddhis (spiritual powers) fully deployed, with telepathic intercommunion in place, with everyone sharing in cosmic consciousness, and each Atman Self-realized as an equal point source of the Absolute, then the problem of psychotic knowledge will have been resolved. The current state of pseudo-normality -- which is a thin veneer of courtesy over a boiling pot of paranoid aggressivity -- will have become a psychic relic of the past dark age of kali yuga, which is now blessedly coming to an end.
VALID LIFE CHOICES TO EXPAND CONSCIOUSNESS SAT YOGA LEAST DANGEROUS
Now the final question: How do we get there? Using plant medicine or meditation? Or can we arrive at Illumination through the cognitive discipline of metaphysics? Or will devotional chanting do the trick? In fact, any or all of these may work, depending on the temperament of the consciousness that is seeking Itself. So there is no conflict between the entheogenic quest via the tryptamine palace, or the crystal castle of consciousness that can be attained through meditative means. And gyana yoga (the path of metaphysical knowledge) and bhakti yoga (prayer and devotion) have been recognized since the Vedic age as excellent means to attain jivan mukti, the Supreme Liberation. Meditation is the best path for some, while ayahuasca works better for others. There are also dangers in every path. The psychedelic path can obviously involve bad trips and blown-out brain circuits. Meditation can also bring up repressed traumas and anxieties and the whole dark night of the soul. The devotional seeker can get caught up in a cult that exploits rather than liberates. The philosopher can get bogged down in books and never reach Nirvana. Ultimately, everyone must follow their own way, and that way will probably include at least a little of every means and method.The approach of Sat Yoga, which focuses on meditation practice, bringing about the naturally arising endo-production of entheogens; plus sattvic self-discipline to purify the karmic and dharmic fields; plus the processing of dreams, symptoms, and other psychic manifestations to raise consciousness to higher assemblage points and transform the ego; plus cognitive action to gain understanding of the multidimensional structure of consciousness that forms our reality; plus the determination to sacrifice the ego into the Supreme Flame of the Absolute; plus performing the charitable service of karma yoga, and receiving the support of a spiritual community and the wisdom of well-trained and adept transformational guides; all together create a path of great power with minimal danger. Such a path is not for everyone, and it is not intended to be. But those who seek such a path, and such a refuge, including having the option of living in an ashram as a contemplative renunciate of the destructive jouissance of ego-consciousness, should know that this is available as a valid life choice.
PURE AND WHOLE HEARTED INTENT A MUST BLESSINGS COMMENSURATE WITH INTENT KARMIC ENTAGLEMENTS THAT CAN SWALLOW ONE UP FOR LIFE
The choice to lead one's life according to the highest Dharma (whether it be Buddha-Dharma, Sat Yoga Dharma, or some other similarly sattvic set of disciplines, such as those of Christian monastic orders, Sufi or Shiite religious orders, or Jewish halakha) must be made only with the highest degree of seriousness of purpose and determination. To a certain point, the greater the renunciation, the greater the rewards -- but that is true only if one's intention is pure and wholehearted. If the decision lacks authenticity or maturity, then it is likely to backfire. But clearly the more one's actions are in alignment with what is highest and most vital and virtuous within one, the greater are the blessings of ascension on the stairway to heavenly consciousness. The conscious choice of one's life purpose should be considered carefully before stumbling into karmic entanglements that can swallow one up for a lifetime. This is especially true now, as we near the end of civilization, as we know it. If we are not clear about where we are in the destiny vortex of our planet, then that should be studied in depth as well. None of these epistemological and ontological issues would be of such intense concern if not for the urgency of our existential situation.

EITHER LOVE OR PSYCHOSIS REALITY OF LOVE

What should be clear to all is that the end point of the trajectory of consciousness lies beyond what is currently called knowledge, beyond language, beyond the mirage of duality, beyond the world of Maya to the realization that this entire cosmos is only the dreamlike manifestation of the One Supreme Being. If we start with that recognition, even if it is only conceptual to begin with, we will be able to open our hearts to the higher reality of love. All paths are in agreement that love is the gateway to the Infinite. May we recognize our oneness in the indescribable Emptiness of ego that is the Fullness of the Absolute, and which is manifest always in the form of unconditional divine love. Love or psychosis: we must choose.Namaste,Shunyamurti




The Magic of Place:The Magic of Cities

http://www.mousemedicine.com/2011/02/new-york-city.html
A place -NYC- can be especially invested with a magic aroma of escape to make the world mythical, magical, or at least tolerable

One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years.
Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938) writer
the mouse is on a wander. first stop is new york city - I love new york! got in thursday evening after a longer than usual train ride - two hours longer than normal to be exact. ah, if only amtrak ran as fast and smoothly as the trains in europe and japan, but I didn't have any plans for thursday night nor did I have a shortage of reading material so no worries.what a gift to have a huge chunk of time to just be - read, look out the window, think, converse with others if one wants, whatever
Paul Auster
I read two wonderful novels on the ride, both were written by new york based writer paul auster. auster is a well-established and renown author, but totally new to me. last week I picked up his book the brooklyn follies while I was at the library, my interest was piqued the moment I read the blurb on the back, and was so swept away by auster's style and voice, I had to read more. so before leaving cleveland, I ran to the library and traded in brooklyn follies for two more auster books - timbuktu and oracle night. I highly recommend all three books. but if you want a small book that is sweet and serious and will touch your heart in all sorts of surprising ways , timbuktu is a must read. technically timbuktu is probably a novella (only 180 magic filled pages of prose) and the other book is not much longer. after checking out auster on the portal I discovered I was familiar with his work, he wrote the screenplay and co-directed one of my all time favorite films smoke (1995) .
External links
This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. Please improve this article by removing excessive and inappropriate external links. (July 2009)
Paul Auster (The Definitive Website), Stuart Pilkington's website about Paul Auster, first set up in 2000, with comprehensive information on the author's work and life - apparently not edited since 2008.
'The Searcher', interview with The Guardian in May 1999
'An Interview with Paul Auster', interview with 3:AM Magazine in November 2001
'Dem old Bush blues', interview with The Times in April 2004
'The Tyrannies and Epiphanies of Chance', interview in the Oxonian Review in June 2004
'Paul Auster and Siri Hustvedt in conversation' at the Key West Literary Seminar in September 2007 (audio)
George Dunford interviews Paul Auster, interview with Cordite Poetry Review in August 2008
'Interview: Paul Auster on His Newest Novel, Man in the Dark', interview with Village Voice in September 2008
Interview with Auster, discussing Man in the Dark with George Miller in November 2008 (audio)
'The mechanics of reality', discussion between Paul Auster and school students in January 2009 (includes audio)
I want to tell you a story piece by Auster at The Guardian, November 6, 2006. The subtitle reads: "one of America's greatest living novelists, argues that fiction is 'magnificently useless', but the act of creation and the pleasure of reading are incomparable human joys that we should savour"
Paul Auster: Bio, excerpts, interviews and articles in the archives of the Prague Writers' Festival
Guardian Books "Author Page", with profile and links to further articles.
Blog about Paul Auster in Portuguese, with news and reviews.
This is Brooklyn, Blog about Paul Auster in Spanish, new site!
'Dossier - The Brooklyn Follies', a collection of essays on Paul Auster's The Brooklyn Follies (English and French), on La Clé des Langues
Paul Auster at the Internet Movie Database
Persondata
Name
Auster, Paul
Alternative names
Auster, Paul Benjamin (full name); Benjamin, Paul (pseudonym); Queen, Paul (pseudonym)
Short description
Novelist, poet, essayist, screenwriter
Date of birth
February 3, 1947
Place of birth
Newark, New Jersey, United States
Date of death
Place of death
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Auster"
WANDERING IN THE STREETS
yesterday, my first full day in new york, was absolutely perfect - that is if one considers 60 degree temperatures, blue skies and streets filled with smiling, happy people perfection. a friend from connecticut came in to spend the day and hanging out with a friend of almost thirty years only added to the perfection of the day. we had a relaxing day wandering about and catching up - nancy came to see me, and we had the shared goal to visit the rubin, but it was hard to stop wandering the streets, soaking it all in and go inside. sometime after 4 we finally did. on fridays the museum is open until 10 p.m. so we didn't feel too much pressure. thanks nancy for spending your day off with me.
EDNA'S HOUSE
willow, if you are reading this post, I want you to know that since we were in the neighborhood, we walked by edna's old flat - affectionately known as the narrowest house - and gave the house (and any lingering essence of edna) your regards. and oh yes, I snapped a picture for you just in case you have a st. edna altar!with this post concluded, the mouse is now on holiday! I'll be back the beginning of march - until then take care, be kind, and have fun!! namaste!