Thursday, February 26, 2009
Here and There
I went from here to there but not just from here to there because i went there from there, there, there and there. to go from here, i want back there and then i came back here so that i could go there. but before i could go there i went here and there and from there to here and back there. i first had to come here and then go there. finally i got there from here, but the moment i got there, there became here. now i want to go back there as it was here before. so i went back there to make it here again and once again what was there became here and what was here became there.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Role Reversal
Your senses impede the truth and delude,
Envy, shame and shamelessness shine through
Grey clouds smother hope
Gusts free the shackles and sunshine burns with jealousy
Ashes disperse as ennui grips
Out of harms way and in desolation
Inevitability beckons and the spirit roams
After the rubik cube of the cherubic quest
Plunging depths with no walls
Scaling heights with a myriad slopes
Time dissolves, as dawn and dusk grovel
The ascent leaves faith below
A crack appears in the sky
The allure of eternity charms
Destiny awaits and the souls exults
All, but a glance into the memory
Conquering gravity and deserting destiny
Gift the angel of mortality
Breathing life into the lifeless
And waking up the dormant
Envy, shame and shamelessness shine through
Grey clouds smother hope
Gusts free the shackles and sunshine burns with jealousy
Ashes disperse as ennui grips
Out of harms way and in desolation
Inevitability beckons and the spirit roams
After the rubik cube of the cherubic quest
Plunging depths with no walls
Scaling heights with a myriad slopes
Time dissolves, as dawn and dusk grovel
The ascent leaves faith below
A crack appears in the sky
The allure of eternity charms
Destiny awaits and the souls exults
All, but a glance into the memory
Conquering gravity and deserting destiny
Gift the angel of mortality
Breathing life into the lifeless
And waking up the dormant
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Pursuit of HappYness
For what? For what? For what? The question raged on in my head as Chris Gardner chased, chased and chased. The film ‘The Pursuit of Happiness’ repeatedly built a pattern of understanding in me and repeatedly shattered it with paradoxical images and conflicting ideologies. As an audience you are left wondering, what is it that you are going to take away from the film.
The film’s narrative progresses through a conflict between consumerism as a tangible indicator of happiness, versus a higher more spiritual meaning. Is a brand new Porsche the real answer to the pursuit? Is a bar of chocolate or a basketball the real answer? As all these thoughts germinate, suddenly paradoxical images that uproot your perceptions hit you like a thunder bolt. An example of this polarity in values is when Chris fails to make headway with a pension fund deal, but his young son is oblivious to this in all his glowing innocence, as only a child can. Throughout the film you are confronted with the maze of consumerism, possession, love, deception and an entire mocktail of other emotions.
Just as I was struggling to sift through the meanings and multiplicity of emotions, the deep numbness that had set in was replaced by a feeling. Yes a feeling, I was inspired! Chris was chasing a dream, a belief that only he had in himself, a journey whose destination only he knew. As he ran, my muscles ached, as he worked through sleepless nights, my eyes strained and as he pursued, I pursued. From inspiration I seamlessly slotted into a stupor where I made droll observations. When I heard “14’s the number”, I suddenly remembered that my ALP batch consisted of 14 people. And once again, I rudely woke up from my stupor. The child insisted “where are we going? Where are we going?” and Chris snaps back “I don’t know!” How can he not know? Where was the unshakable faith, the belief?
Then, there was another epiphany, or rather an obvious fact that was overlooked. Chris was indeed human, like other people. Like people who grapple with theories such as, ambition and innocence, perception and deception, capitalism and socialism, hopelessness and hope and all for one and one for all, poverty and privilege. And you are back to square one, “For what?”
“There was a ragged band that followed in our footsteps
Running before time took our dreams away
Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground
To a life consumed by slow decay”
- Pink Floyd (High Hopes)
To a life consumed by slow decay? Not! Once again, Chris ploughs on and on and he reaps and leaps with happYness. Now, would he have given up if the outcome was different? Probably not or should I say possibly not?
The film’s narrative progresses through a conflict between consumerism as a tangible indicator of happiness, versus a higher more spiritual meaning. Is a brand new Porsche the real answer to the pursuit? Is a bar of chocolate or a basketball the real answer? As all these thoughts germinate, suddenly paradoxical images that uproot your perceptions hit you like a thunder bolt. An example of this polarity in values is when Chris fails to make headway with a pension fund deal, but his young son is oblivious to this in all his glowing innocence, as only a child can. Throughout the film you are confronted with the maze of consumerism, possession, love, deception and an entire mocktail of other emotions.
Just as I was struggling to sift through the meanings and multiplicity of emotions, the deep numbness that had set in was replaced by a feeling. Yes a feeling, I was inspired! Chris was chasing a dream, a belief that only he had in himself, a journey whose destination only he knew. As he ran, my muscles ached, as he worked through sleepless nights, my eyes strained and as he pursued, I pursued. From inspiration I seamlessly slotted into a stupor where I made droll observations. When I heard “14’s the number”, I suddenly remembered that my ALP batch consisted of 14 people. And once again, I rudely woke up from my stupor. The child insisted “where are we going? Where are we going?” and Chris snaps back “I don’t know!” How can he not know? Where was the unshakable faith, the belief?
Then, there was another epiphany, or rather an obvious fact that was overlooked. Chris was indeed human, like other people. Like people who grapple with theories such as, ambition and innocence, perception and deception, capitalism and socialism, hopelessness and hope and all for one and one for all, poverty and privilege. And you are back to square one, “For what?”
“There was a ragged band that followed in our footsteps
Running before time took our dreams away
Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground
To a life consumed by slow decay”
- Pink Floyd (High Hopes)
To a life consumed by slow decay? Not! Once again, Chris ploughs on and on and he reaps and leaps with happYness. Now, would he have given up if the outcome was different? Probably not or should I say possibly not?
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Eighth Deadly Sin
Writing is an extension of the spoken word, conversely the spoken word is often seen as the most convenient means of communication. Therefore, I've been sticking to speaking over writing which I find infinitely more effective. But, also it's been because there hasn't been any noticeable shift in my ethos. Now, in fact a little earlier today, a realisation came over me and at that moment hit me like a ton of bricks but now that I've had time to mull over it, the realisation measures a little less on the richter scale but still significant for me.
The expansion of this realisation is critical, for it could shatter some previously held inclinations and biases. I think I've beaten around the bush enough, the realisation is that the perfect society could be a distinct possibility. Happiness, equality and balance of power, all tenets of a healthy society are actually emotions and not tangible entities. To redress such issues, what we need is a few minor tweaks to exisiting morality systems. Basically, add a few more sins to the seven deadly ones... Power should be the eighth deadly sin, and an emotional stigma equal to that of the worst kind of social offenses must be attached to the emotion of seeking power. The cosmos is made up of an eclectical mix of power equations, with practically everything hinging upon, which entity has the advantage in the balance of power in a contextual reality. Therefore, a stigma against the acquisition, use and abuse of power could be a breakthrough!!
Power is often the flipside of ensuring security. Throughout history, the most powerful have been the most secure, therefore a world where security is universal will take us a long way in creating that stigma and attaining utopia. In the coming days, I will try to articulate, argue and elaborate this draft further to see if it isn't a false dawn.
The expansion of this realisation is critical, for it could shatter some previously held inclinations and biases. I think I've beaten around the bush enough, the realisation is that the perfect society could be a distinct possibility. Happiness, equality and balance of power, all tenets of a healthy society are actually emotions and not tangible entities. To redress such issues, what we need is a few minor tweaks to exisiting morality systems. Basically, add a few more sins to the seven deadly ones... Power should be the eighth deadly sin, and an emotional stigma equal to that of the worst kind of social offenses must be attached to the emotion of seeking power. The cosmos is made up of an eclectical mix of power equations, with practically everything hinging upon, which entity has the advantage in the balance of power in a contextual reality. Therefore, a stigma against the acquisition, use and abuse of power could be a breakthrough!!
Power is often the flipside of ensuring security. Throughout history, the most powerful have been the most secure, therefore a world where security is universal will take us a long way in creating that stigma and attaining utopia. In the coming days, I will try to articulate, argue and elaborate this draft further to see if it isn't a false dawn.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Average is the law
It's nice to be back. A long lay off! Read writer's block, stagnation, fixated state of mind and most of all nothing to say. Or just loyal servility to convenience, guilty pleasures and just not been bound by morality! Actually as much morality.
Rationale has been sparring with the gut all the way and the battle is equal. A left hook to match the heavy right and progress has been halted. But really, the strides have been parallel and is at a happy pace. Liberated but responsible, happy but respectful, creative but non-controlling, lazy but adequate and enough but more. I have possibly described every average soul on earth and that is what I am now.
Average and happy with potential to improve. That's more or less what it says on my second standard report card and that's what i feel like now. Higher reality can wait and so can sinking paucity.
Rationale has been sparring with the gut all the way and the battle is equal. A left hook to match the heavy right and progress has been halted. But really, the strides have been parallel and is at a happy pace. Liberated but responsible, happy but respectful, creative but non-controlling, lazy but adequate and enough but more. I have possibly described every average soul on earth and that is what I am now.
Average and happy with potential to improve. That's more or less what it says on my second standard report card and that's what i feel like now. Higher reality can wait and so can sinking paucity.
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