The Stair Landing: Reading Log

The Stair Landing: Reading Log

The Stair Landing: May Reading

The Stair Landing: May Reading

Truth What is truth ?

[Photo]All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) philosopher, astronomer and mathematician
last weekend friends from up north were in town visiting, I immediately noticed their license plate. I didn't know precisely what satya meant and had to ask. I was informed that satya is a sanskrit word which is means truth and love. knowing the meaning, their custom plate is even more special given the motto for ontario - yours to discover.

wikipedia has a pretty good entry on satya for those curious cats out there. this really struck a chord in my heart "Satya is the benevolent use of words and the mind for the welfare of others." I do believe I've discovered a new mantra....satya

john lennon's classic song 'gimme some truth' although written in 1971 the sentiments of the lyrics still ring true today.

just in case you'd like to sing along:
I'm sick and tired of hearing things
From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocritics
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth
I've had enough of reading things
By neurotic, psychotic, pig-headed politicians
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth

No short-haired, yellow-bellied, son of tricky dicky
Is gonna mother hubbard soft soap me
With just a pocketful of hope
Money for dope
Money for rope

No short-haired, yellow-bellied, son of tricky dicky
Is gonna mother hubbard soft soap me
With just a pocketful of soap
Money for dope
Money for rope

I'm sick to death of seeing things
From tight-lipped, condescending, mamas little chauvinists
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth now

I've had enough of watching scenes
Of schizophrenic, ego-centric, paranoiac, prima-donnas
All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth

No short-haired, yellow-bellied, son of tricky dicky
Is gonna mother hubbard soft soap me
With just a pocketful of soap
It's money for dope
Money for rope

Ah, I'm sick and tired of hearing things
From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocrites
All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth now

I've had enough of reading things
By neurotic, psychotic, pig-headed politicians
All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth now

All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth now
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth

Why do people hide from the simple truth in the name of having what is to them a positive view of the world.? Theirs is the ultimate nihilism rooted in narcissism, the deceptive "feeling good of the soul."

The Pollyannas of this present time

What makes me angry is the shallowness and polyannic thinking of this present time by large numbers of the unthinking public. They have not and do not wish to study the past to discern our blighted nature and delineate those who do so study as "doomsayers". To assume this polyannic stance is the most negative position I can conceive of.

Journalizing is a rare phenomenon these days and understandably so, in an illiterate age such as ours. Illiteracy at this time is commensurate with computer finesse and computer research skills. The more we absorb in this knowledge explosion the less we are able to handle and contain it. McLuhan said that the medium is the message and that indicates that form prevails over thoughtful and critical analysis of substance , the true measurement of literacy as I define the term. Literacy is the ability to think critically and evaluate sources. In the past literacy was more predominant than now because of the widespread reading of the classics, the rigor of scientific inquiry per se, and the value given to a classical and liberal arts education.These have been deemphasized in the name of "computer literacy" so it seems.

Angels. Paul has written we may unwittingly be visited by angelic beings . Movies have been involved in a series bringing this visitation experience to light in a dramatic setting. It is both feasible and probable.
http://www.cherrylaneangels.com/angel_visitations.htm
Note the following article as food for thought (link above)

When one takes a look at history; we find that many major religions have been started from an angelic visitation and divine messages. The Jehovah Witnesses, Mormonism, Islam and most other new religions are no exception. The New Age movement receives their “divine” information from what is called “spirit guides” through deep channeling and automatic writing. Many of these groups hold “angel seminars” so one may learn how to make contact with their appropriate angel or spirit guide. Psychics also receive their spiritual guidance by spirits who may be identified as “fallen angels”. One could also say
Christianity was started by a visitation from the angel Gabriel who brought God’s message to Mary, Joseph and other shepherds in the field.
Since the beginning of recorded time, angels have been involved in relaying the spiritual and divine to mankind. They have also been known to bring false information. This depends on which spirit one makes contact with. 42% of Americans believe they have had some type of contact with the deceased, and almost 15% agree that the work of spirit mediums is a legitimate practice. These and other religions have communion with spirits and or angels for creating extra-biblical books. They are given new revelation or new additions applicable to the Bible.

The new age movement claims them as do the major religions as both their point of origin and ongoing revelation. They are with reason as warning and revelatory messages as in the case of Joseph for leaving Nazareth and going to Egypt. "Out of Egypt have I called my son". Spirit mediums is also a practice predicated on the confidence in visitation. The angel Gabriel to Mary is a case in point.Communion with spirits or angels are prevalent in the pseudepigraphic and extra canonical accounts as well.

An angel can say two different and contradictory utterances in two different traditions:

Can the same angel say two different things concerning a single subject and both have validity? Islam for example, claims this has transpired in the Koran. They believe the Koran was dictated verbally by the angel Gabriel (the Holy Spirit) based on heaven’s eternal tablets.
In the Bible, the angel Gabriel announces of the birth of Christ to Mary, and is told he would be called the Son of God (which means having the same nature as God). (Luke.1:35 also in Matthew.1:23) He would be called "Emmanuel", God with us. This is allegedly the same angel that told Muhammad that God does not have a son, and that god is unable to incarnate as a man, which is ultimate blasphemy for a Muslim. This and other info: http://www.threeq.com/pdf/4A.Religionsstartedby.pdf

Apparently the incarnation is a blasphemy in the Islamic tradition from the above statements. God in His entirety cannot incarnate but some unknown, yes I say unknown manifestation, of Him can as the "Son of God". Do we have a precise idea of what this means? Apparently not with accuracy.

synch-ro-ni-zing: journaling

synch-ro-ni-zing: journaling

The Stair Landing: A Fairy Tale, Part 3

The Stair Landing: A Fairy Tale, Part 3
Self nurturing a protected haven such a necessity. This post struck a responsive chord.

The Stair Landing: Shakespeare on Mercy

The Stair Landing: Shakespeare on Mercy
I wrote of mercy as sustaining the world and built into universal law which could not abide strict justice.