The Present

[kosmo]

I consider all postings that purport to teach the truth as thought experiments. It is impossible, practically speaking, to know the intent and even the veracity of those who create such sweeping explorations that I don't even try.

The words speak for themselves, the ideas have a momentum, and we can discuss it in good faith that it is meant to be taken seriously.

I will probably have some comments at some point, and hopefully, so will others.

[Jethro Tull]

A very positive attitude kosmo.  An open mind and being honest with yourself are necessary to read this book.

laughingwillow, if you do not want to give out your e-mail address, you can always make an anonymous e-mail.  I use gmail for that purpose.  I would really like to hear your opinions about this book; I'm sure you would offer some great opinions that we can all learn from.

[laughingwillow]

I don't think my email addy will help. I don't have microsoft word on this machine.

lw

[kosmo]

lw, a public library will likely give you access to this site and the paper.

[laughingwillow]

Got on a machine this morning that would let me view the Present.....

On some levels, I appreciate the effort. On other levels, it falls short, imo. Fro instance, I think the material would make good reading for the general public who doesn't think much about the topic at hand. But for this community in general , and myself in particular, I feel the read is a shallow and superficial 250 + pages of assorted historical quotes coupled with a person's desire and attempt to explain the inexplicable. I could see it helping to point some folks in the right direction, but the truth, at least on levels that interest me probably can't be defined so easily with words. (Maybe not at all.)

As far as the spiritual connection to music in general and the Beatles in particular, again, I find the work to be shallow. Lyrics, verse and music have been used to transcend every day reality for eons. The beatles didn't invent this. And while I do find much wisdom in their lyrics, again, the real spiritual treat for me exists as live musical performances, preferably under the influence of one of the active sacraments.  

As far as the beatles earlier work being more spiritual, as opined on the work in question, I disagree. I say the band's musicianship and song writing abilities evolved over time, as one would expect. While their older compositions on love might have been more overt (to the point of teenage girls readily getting into that frenzied groove, their later work was more obscure, and interesting on levels not readily associated with their early sound.  Evolution number nine, if you will.

lw

[Zaka]

Irie,
Jethro thanks so much......
Absolutely brilliant......
Scanned through about half of it before having to go out ...but from what I read someone has done a excellent & concise job in collating all that info.....
I like the idea that the old saying so be "I don't think therefore I am"!
Agreed with 90% of what I read....the other 10% maybe my misinterpretation....
I'll be sure to spread the info....
Big Respect
Z

[Zaka]

Irie,
Just read the beatles bit........was a bit reluctant to accept it at first...
But then I can see where you're coming from.
I believe that most great music maybe channeled & realized that you are just using the beatles as an example.
Not sure if I'm ready to idolize them....?
Yes it's true that there was a real change that occurred in '64....
I have been pondering on harmonics, colors and vibrations as energy & their uses.
Listening to Yesterday again does bring in new insights....listen to the cello's harmonics.
I'm sure a lot of the early Bowie have similar messages hidden within....but I've always suspected Bowie of knowing about them!?......"Man who fell to Earth"....!....Have you re-watched any of the old rock movies..."Tommy"....I wonder if there are any subliminal messages in the "Monkeys"???Wouldn't surprise me! Not sure they were taking enough LSD though?
I wonder if it has anything to do with the use of LSD at the time.......most music seemed to lose it's soul by the early eighties....??
Respect
Z

[laughingwillow]

Zaka brings up a good point concerning the use of active sacrament (LSD) during the decade of the Beatles.

To ignore that aspect of the message found in the Beatle's music is similar to the use of symbolic sacrament in modern church services rather than the active, imo. On a continuum between spiritual milk and meat, I would put the referenced work in the "soft food" category. And for that reason, I see the target audience as those looking to be weaned from the spiritual milk diet provided by the teat of the Church rather than the folks around these parts who have much experience with the solid spiritual nutrition mentioned above.

ps: I got a chuckle out of the description of footage of a Beatles concert where the author calls the male members of the audience conservative squares while the hysterical females were getting the beamed message of love. That was simply the look of the day, imo, coupled with the expressions caught on film of those not able to hear jack-shit from the stage due to the mass hysteria caused by the band's mere presence on stage. Later, sound systems were developed that actually allowed everyone to hear the music.

lw

[dendro]

I'm an old coot that took a lot of acid in the '60's, and I still Lu-uv the Beatles.

I really love the solo work of Lennon and Harrison. "The Dream is Over", baby...Everything is clearer in my world.

"All Things Must Pass" is an epic album. Gushing with divine realization. "Until you realize the art of dying."  :smoke:3

So I haven't read the article you offer, but I love the Beatles too, like you.

Don't have Word, like LW and a percentage of the rest. Can you summarize the Beatles part of the doc?

[laughingwillow]

den: I doubt your pleas will be addressed.

I also get the impression that the author lacks experience with the active sacrament you mentioned above. And because of that, I'm having a tough time figuring out why the work in question has been brought before this particular community.....  

lw

[Amomynous]

A little off-topic, but Word documents can be opened in Open Office and exported into PDF. PDF, while not an open standard, is much better for distributing documents which are to be read, not edited.

And it's entirely free.

[laughingwillow]

Thanks, amam.  I was actually wondering about pdf files in this case just yesterday.

lw

[laughingwillow]

quote from initial post: ....I hope this book helps you grow spiritually like it did for me.

Reading the quote above may give one the impression that READING the linked material helped the guy who started this thread to grow spiritually. However, after reading at the Lycaeum, its become clear that the fellow who started this thread also WROTE the book in question.

Please understand that a third party reading another's work, finding finding it enlightening and posting for others to read  is not the same as an author claiming a book he wrote will enlighten others as it enlightened him to write it. That is just plain disingenuous, imo.

lw

[laughingwillow]

One more question, Jethro...

You quote Joseph Campbell in your linked work in an effort ot define the truth, yet also appear to have a disdain for mythology. As Joseph Campbell was the ultimate researcher/proponent on the contribution of mythology in the evolution of mankind, I'm wondering how you reconcile those seemingly polar-opposite positions?

lw

[Jethro Tull]

Aye, I'm very sorry that I have not been keeping up with this conversation.  I have been quite busy, and this website has been giving me problems over the past few weeks.  It seems to be working now.

I'll gladly respond to all the posts in the next few days.  You have all had some very interesting input.   :idea:

Peace