When I was younger, I tried to be immune to all of nature’s forces. I tried to strong-arm the universe into the shape I wanted. I look back and laugh at my hubris.
Now, I realize that the trick is to open myself to the correct force. To let it consume me and build me into something better.
Integrity is beyond “doing the right thing when nobody’s looking.” It’s doing the right thing when everybody-including friends/family-is against you. When you are spit on and ridiculed; shunned and cast out.
In that moment, when you openly choose torturous truths over soothing lies, the highest caliber of integrity is demonstrated. That’s moral courage.
A somber warning to Us Few: Us Few who see the fragility of society. Of the white picket fence and the 1.2 children. Us Few who want more than deadening comfort and the deep sleep of convention.
Be careful to hide your otherness, for as you become strong/sharp, strangers/friends/family will come for you. Drag at you. Implore you: “Do not be this ‘other’.” And you must be strong. Strong enough to lift them up when they selfishly pull down. Aikido that sh**.
And in the end, after long isolation, when we lift up those who drag us down, Us Few will be united. And content beyond measure. Peace.
If any of you have an interest in the core philosophies of eastern mysticism that goes beyond mumbo jumbo and withered old dudes in orange robes check out alphabuddha.com. Featured are emoji zen koans and spiritual people from a historical perspective that include the fictional to the unexpected, from storied monks to George Washington.
When I argue, I outwardly see it as a way to manipulate the energy and flow of debate. But inwardly, I see it as an exercise in grasping context. The wisest leaders/illuminaries grasped context to an ultra fine degree, and simply spoke what we all knew to be inherently true through a clean and shimmering contextualized filter.
My goal is to sharpen and weaponize my grasp of context to such a degree that any proposition with the slightest ignorance or extremism will break against it and wash away.
In some martial arts some moves block/punch at the same time. In running you simultaneously breathe/move your legs. In other sports/endeavors, there is similar overlap.
We all love the Zen cliche, “Do one thing at a time,” but it is entirely possible to focus 100% of attention on breathing. So where does that leave us? To only act between breaths? When I look deeper, the message reveals itself:
Not to hem/haw over engaging in one action per moment, but to engage in a purity of focus that renders all actions singularly sublime.
(Not political) I look up to Oprah and McCain. Both have experienced abuse that I would expect to destroy their spirits, but instead they end up excelling. Post Traumatic Growth Syndrome, if you will. I don’t see them as excuses to judge others who haven’t done the same, but as welcome proof that adversity may propel me to unheard of heights.
“Normal” is powerful/dangerous. A fence that may protect or trap the flock, who see it as an impenetrable barrier.
Or an arbitrary construct that a shepherd uses to guide or subjugate, depending on his or her character.
After establishing a measure of discipline and toughness-to paraphrase Yoda-effort is not enough. “Good try” becomes meaningless. Only two benchmarks remain:
Respect your enemies by dismantling them through all appropriate means, from kindness to killing. In the end it’s nothing personal.
Dirty Sci-Fi Buddha 