Here's another Penguin 'editorial note', written by one Helena Kennedy: liberty. 'Liberty is individual freedom, of which there are two forms: firstly, a sense of freedom and release from the chains of external control (negative liberty), and secondly an internal freedom of choice (positive freedom). This also entails the notion of self-determination, which leads to inequality with others. It can also involve the taking of risks, which may not lead to the desired outcome.'
Plenty to mull over there. One problem only: '...…. which leads to inequality with others.' The words 'equality' and 'inequality' are doorways to such a pandora's box, as to end up being meaningless, really. My own life is too short and precious to spend the rest of its limited span in discussion of the issues connected with these most vague and emotionally-propelled words. If we substitute 'difference' for 'inequality', we may get closer to the truth of the matter.
We can now begin to dimly perceive this strange reality: there are two distinct types of human being. There are those who see 'freedom', 'liberty', as the basis of a healthy human society, and as the axis on which human aspiration can be properly fulfilled. And there are those who see fit to control others; who are certain of their rightness, and furthermore seek to silence and otherwise disempower anyone who happens to disagree with them. We had a peek into this infernal world in the previous post.
These two types of being also manifest the broader meaning of the 'telestai/gnostics versus illuminati' dichotomy which John Lash describes, again outlined in a recent post. There are those who seek gnosis, and there are those who endeavour to lord it over others, be it out of nefariousness or self-righteousness. This is the focal division among human beings, I suggest. Not right v left, Christians v Muslims, Christians v atheists, or whatever.
Part Two
Any social/political notions which may turn up on Pale Green Vortex are a direct mirror of what, for want of a better term at the moment, I'll call my spiritual life. Not a term I feel completely happy with, but I don't want to get too nit-picky or literalistic just now.
My approach to 'spiritual life' is nowadays highly individualistic. Self-determination is the key. Actually, I've always been like that, it's only recently that I've become vividly aware of it. The individualistic flavour is only accentuated when one sees how much of 'the world' as described by official sources, by the mainstream, is a fabrication, designed to manipulate you and most likely lead you far from your own divinity. You're on your own, buddie, you're on your own.
Self-determination doesn't mean that you don't attend meditation classes, join study groups, have friends, meet and learn from like-minded people. All this may be what you need to do. But it's you, and you alone. You are unique, and any connection you may have with Buddha, God, spirit, whatever, will be unique as well.
I benefitted from a considerable period of living within a context of 'organised Buddhism', but the time came when I had to say goodbye to all that. I required the freedom to wake up in the morning and believe, feel, experience, do anything without bias, prejudgement, or preconceived notions about how life works. If I felt I needed to put pictures of Donald Trump, Teresa May or Lady Gaga all over my bedroom walls, I needed to be internally free to act without a little voice asking 'Yes, but is it Buddhism? Is it consistent with Buddhist principles?' Even the smallest voice putting the questions would have meant death to me. In all honesty, I have thrived since leaving behind any allegiance to a religion, group, movement, or what have you.
An 'aspirational soul' on its unique spiritual journey may survive, flourish even, regardless of the socio-political climate and system it turns up in: 'to gnosis' may be the destiny and purpose of that particular life, come what may. At the same time, different set-ups will encourage or squash that aspirational force to varying degrees. I haven't heard of a lot of Buddha-minds emerging from Soviet Russia.
I have done my share of trashing the shortcomings and inadequacies of modern western societies, I confess to that one. But despite their shortcomings, they remain more favourable to the individual than most others on the planet currently. Above all, there is - or has been - a recognition, at least a cursory nod of the head, in the direction of that most precious of attributes: liberty.
Part Three
It's a never-ending game, a game of cat-and-mouse. The forces that would sever us from liberty, that very simple freedom to think and say what we feel to be right; and the force of humanity trying to discover itself, to be its unique yet universal. Today, the bases of 'positive liberty' are under serious attack. With the cat out of the bag (lots of felines in this paragraph) in the form of internet spread of information, the dark controllers are desperately attempting to exert their authoritarian will and put it back in the bag.
In retrospect, it has probably been folly to go along with the incredible centralisation that has characterised the growth of internet technology. It means in effect handing over great power to a mere handful of gigantic tec organisations. This in turn makes removing an undesirable's voice all that much easier. But there we are, as Facebook, Amazon, and the rest, come down on those who refuse to play the game - which consists primarily of globalisation, counterfeit sameness, the cloak of multiculturalism, and silencing of dissent.
That a human being might wish to control another's freedom of mind, through restricting their free access to opinion and information, strikes me as ridiculous. It is one of the worst things that one can do to a fellow human being. 'Liberty' being the focal point of higher human aspiration. Conversely, it goes without saying that anybody wishing to control others will try to cut off the path to authenticity, realisation of uniqueness. We have 'climate change deniers'; we have 'holocaust deniers'; we also have 'aspiration deniers'. And they are out there in force.
Video link: Oh man, YouTube won't link to the vid. 'Video unavailable'. Must be a coincidence, folks, it's available. Go to YouTube, it's there. Search for 'Sargon of Akkad, To Honour the Dissidents.' 5 minutes, well presented, well worth it.
