Book Keepers

 
By Earon S. Davis

7/6/08

 

My library contains the breadth and depth of human thought,
at least to me, it does.
It contains books I’ve read, partially read, hope to read, and will never read,
but the thoughts are mine, even the books that have wandered off.
And they speak to me, a constant faint whisper on the shelves and in the small piles waiting for a home on the shelves, or in a box.
The whisper grows louder when I peruse their spines, touch their flesh, let their words flow into my temporal awareness.
Holding a book is a powerful feeling, a connection to the author and to countless other readers and book keepers throughout time and space.

 
A cybershelf has power, indeed, but one’s own physical book shelf is a miraculous extension of our own minds.
There are old books, some very old and/or obscure.  And there are the books that followed me home from the book shop like stray dogs or cats, butterflies or apes.
There’s not much that is practical about a personal library,
except perhaps the role it plays in my own life support system,
my own connection with the peoples, cultures and ideas that squirm though my brain periodically,
In the form of words preserved in books,
books that I keep.

I wanted to share with you a funny, thought-provoking little video on YouTube that helps present the idea behind my "Divine Primates" work.  "Dance, Monkey Dance" is a video from Ernest Cline http://www.ernestcline.com . 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a15KgyXBX24



This is not just a cute metaphor.  Humans are primates.  We are not perfectable creations of a divine being, but rather are close cousins to apes and obviously related to the other complex animal species on this planet.  We are different in a way, because of our complex symbolic thinking, but we live our lives with precisely the same motivations as the other animals.  We seek to meet our basic needs in ways that allows us to function in our social groupings in relative peace and security!  

No matter how long you spend at a university or in an upscale urban or suburban neighborhood, there will still be pick up trucks with gun racks and bars where people go to get drunk and strip clubs and fundamentalists acting as if they were licensed to enforce "God's Will" upon everyone else on earth.  There will still be religious leaders who have sex with children and there will still be business people who lie, cheat and steal.  Greed and fear are part of human nature just as generosity and hope.  We are inconsistent and quirky and will never become "vulcans" or "robots" or "angels."

So, what do we do with this information about humans being primates?  Do we give up all of our spiritual metaphors and aspirations?  No.  In fact, we learn to take better care of ourselves, to see through the greed and fear-based cultural constructs that create a culture where fear, depression and feelings of meaninglessness and futility are endemic.  We learn that there is no such thing as a "free market" or "victorious war" or "bombing our enemies into the stone age." 

What we do, is we slow down.  We stop buying so much stuff.  We recognize that buying more stuff and having lots of waste and money isn't going to give our lives more meaning.  We take action to protect our security, but we don't bully and abuse other nations or other species just for the sport of it.  We come to understand that killing and maiming and terrorizing other people encourages them to return the favor as soon as they are able.

Does this mean our economy will collapse?  Things are changing either way.  Our current way of looking at the world is grossly dynfunction and unsustainable.  It is already "hitting the fan."  Our greed and arrogance have caused us to fail to prepare for natural disasters and economic cycles.  "Free market" delusions leave us open to real estate and mortgage crises that make many people wealthy at the risk of creating a depression.  Primates should not be trusted to run an economy until we understand how to control our inevitable excesses - until we understand that we are primates.

When we learn to live more within our means, we become more grateful for being alive, and respectful of other people because, after all, we're quite a wonderful species.  But we get carried away with things and we have to remind ourselves to behave in ways that help society function - rather than creating huge problems all the time.  We become good neighbors because that is how things work well and everyone stays happy.  We don't become good neighbors because we are afraid of going to Hell, but because we finally figure out that our consumerist culture, which is destroying our planet, IS hell!

There are paths to a better life, a sustainable life.  To travel these paths, we will have to give up some of the things to which we are addicted.  We will have to spend less time as workaholics and more time as partners and parents and friends and neighbors.  We will need to consume far less gasoline and other nonrenewal energy and other resources.  We won't all follow the same path, but we will each seek better ways to live.  We will experiment and will learn to depend upon each other in new ways.

And we will build a future of meaning and compassion and partnership.  It will not be perfect, but it does not need to be perfect.  After all, we're primates - not gods.

Peace,

Earon

My first experience with posting my favorite books online in a library database was the Zaadz/Gaia "Books" function, which allows members to post their favorite books, write reviews, communicate with others who have similar interests, etc.  What a good experience that was.  In fact, I have found that posting the lists of books we've read may tell more about who we are - than the stuff we write in our profiles.

I guess I'm not alone, because there are other websites that are dedicated to networking about the books we are drawn to.  You might check out http://www.goodreads.com and http://www.librarything.com.  I'll always have a special place in my heart for the Zaadz/Gaia library, but there's also a place for these specialized websites.  Those of you who are authors can be designated as such on these other websites, which have additional ways to help spread the word about your books, and to connect with other authors.

And, if you stop by these websites, be sure to look me up.

Peace,

Earon

 

Faith Comes, In Daily Life

by Earon S. Davis

Faith comes, in daily life,

from the embrace of a loved one,

the sound of laughter,

a song sung for no reason,

a spectacular sunset,

or an ordinary sunset shared with a beloved.

Faith comes, in daily life,

from a deep breath,

a hot shower or a crisp dip in the pool.

It comes from a mediocre meal when you are famished,

A comfortable seat at the end of a long day,

or from the bus, cab or car that finally arrives to pick you up.

Faith comes, in daily life,

from the outstretched arms of a friend,

the sharing of an idea with lofty intentions,

the rain which ends a drought, a simple rainbow,

a soaring hawk, a grateful smile,

or the touch that helps us feel like we belong.

Faith comes, in daily life,

when we notice we've woken up

and have a new day of life.

It comes from all around us, including religion,

but does not come from a god or a church or a book.

It comes from life, from our human nature,

our connection with the people,

other beings and the world around us.

Faith comes, in daily life,

and can not be stored or hoarded,

not in a book, even if memorized chapter and verse,

but must be renewed daily,

with the fresh air of open hearts and minds.

If you wish to see how faith comes, in daily life,

open your heart and mind to the beauty of life,

and sit quietly, patiently

to experience what it is to be fully alive, fully human.

When the heart is open, faith comes,

and inside faith is the greatest courage of all,

the faith to live and to love.

There is a strong focus in this community on feel-good insights that leave our hearts soaring in a tranquil space, and much of this does resonate with me.  I love the poetic soul in flight, but also value its grounding in the real world.  Living a life of sercice and mindfulness requires some vision and idealism, but life is still a dance between the various facets of our nature and the world around us.  We are primitive animals with amazing imaginations and, at times, computer-like precision.  Yet, we are so challenged in modulating our inquiries and bringing attention towards vital problems on a grand scale. 

We appear incapable of living sustainably on this planet, and yet spend so much time trying to convince ourselves that everything can be okay, that we might fail to implement the efforts required for that reality to manifest.  We seek balance, but our inertia steers us towards complacency and mediocrity.  We are amazing creatures, but we make the mistake of taking our divinity too seriously - a danger for any race of gods.

Those of us living in America are so complacent, it amazes me.  We are stealing the resources of the developing world every second, as we feel badly about that, but we do little about it - because that might require a change in our lifestyles, perhaps.  We tolerate an incompetent in the White house and are content to allow him in office for 8 years, when he should have been impeached after starting an inappropriate, unnecessary war.  We are so patient in waiting for the political pendulum to swing back, but without a solid understanding of how the entire course of the pendulum may have changed.  We think that it is our kindness and compassion that are causing dissatisfaction with the current administration - and yet it is our fear of conflict and our complacency which have allowed it to wreak havoc.

Marriane Williamson's quote about how we most fear our power and our success is profound wisdom which we recognize.  However, we sit here in our fear, unwilling to get involved with the political struggles going on - so afraid of our power that we can barely get ourselves to vote - let alone live lives of the courage we admire in Gandhi.  We want to "become the change we seek" by meditating and feeling tranquil in the face of our rampant consumerist stampeeds, pleased that we purchase less cheap plastic crap than our neighbors, or a more energy efficient vehicle.  Change takes more than that.  It takes the courage of Gandhi - not just flowing robes and high-sounding speech - but a flexing of our political muscles.  We dare not stand up with our power and demand a government that is responsible and competent and doesn't manipulate its citizens and  deliver us to the corporate gods of consumerism and neo-colonialism.

There are leaders who are seeking to create change and shift the momentum of America from its multinational-corporate-military-industrial-fundamentalist complex towards an economy in which the average person can have dignity and a productive job.  I'm going to be spending more time as a citizen of this nation and, more importantly, this planet.  Please find ways in your own lives, in your own communities, to stand up for our values and manifest our visions through involvement and living in our power - rather than relying upon the law of attraction to somehow turn demented old men like Cheney and Rumsfeld into giggling schoolgirls.  Sometimes, the "secret " is being an informed electorate and claiming our power - not falling prey to manipulative marketing schemes with pie-in-the-sky materialistic promises that make us docile and unwilling to stand up for our values.

Is this wisdom?  Or foolishness?  I don't know.  What do you think?  I'm not advocating extremism or violence, but some shifting of the balance over to political action and organizing.  Sometimes, wisdom means standing up for your values - not sitting out elections and being passive - even if the latter is the most comfortable and easy path.

Peace,

Earon

I admire Hillary Clinton and have deep respect for her intelligence, courage and her years of service to this nation.  But Barack Obama has the intangibles on his side in this primary.  He has the vision we can all share - a vision of a new system where party politics don't matter - where America is one and where the world is one.  He invites us to become the change we seek - not just to beat up on Republicans - for being so greedy and putting an incompetent in the White House - but to move forward together.
 
Please don't equate spirituality with passivity.  Stand up for your visions and your hopes for a better future.  Say "Yes We Can!!!"  Gandhi was the most courageous, outrageous and stubborn of humans.  Yet, he held an unyielding vision of peace and freedom.  That is what we need today. 

Let's not just bring our soldiers in Iraq "OM."  Let's bring them HOME.  Let's not sit in our inner peace and let the world fall apart.  Let's dare to get involved in the world again.  Open your heart and listen to the leader who inspires you to be the best person you can be.  Now is the time to unleash our love and feel our power - sending it out into the world where it can make a difference.  Yes, We Can!

Peace,

Earon

Okay, now this is a sensitive topic, and I'm sure you'll have an opinion.   Should children and teenagers be raised to fit into a particular religious congregation or system?  I've been told by many people that children are better off if they are exposed to the concepts of God and morality.  And it makes a lot of sense to introduce kids to a particular tradition in which they might grow to seek knowledge and wisdom, providing a moral compass.  It could also provide a way to seek solace when things go wrong in life.  For most people, that's a no-brainer.

What about alcohol?  Many people believe that we should introduce children to alcohol consumption in the home.  It provides a safer environment in which to experiment, because they will be tempted into drinking at some point, anyway.  Many people believe that alcohol should be kept in the home.  This, makes some sense.  And, it also provides a way to seek solace when things go wrong in life.  Oops!

And guns?  Children raised with guns are likely to be able to use them more safely, and probably more responsibly.  They learn to respect the power of the weapon.  Many people believe that guns belong in the home, kept safely and securely.  And, they also provide a way to seek solace when things go wrong in life.  Oops, again!

Maybe we should revisit the safety of religion in the home.  I wonder whether religion does make sense.  We do all need forms of belonging and social support, ways to relax and let go of the burdens we carry.  Yet, if we are providing children with a moral compass, are we providing them with the cheap variety that comes packaged with a dozem party favors, or are we providing the best, most versatile compass?  Are we testing out the compass, or just passing along the one we were given as a child, long ago, which may not have worked particularly well for us?

In a profound way, moral education belongs in the home.  It is called ethics.  And it derives from compassion, respect for the law, and common sense.  Religion today, in the fundamentalist vein (To many of us, all fundamentalists sound pretty much the same, regardless of the religion.), often inculcates terrible disrespect for the law, our legal system and the opinions and sensibilities of other people.  As such, it is not teaching ethics, but zealotry.  I favor religion that promotes compassion and cooperation, and which respects the necessary separation of Church and State, with which many, many religious people in the US and around the world agree.

So, we come back to the question of whether it is safe to raise our children with religion, guns and alcohol.  Each of us will have their own answer to these questions, depending upon our life experiences and backgrounds.  My own answer was to avoid guns altogether (living in the suburbs rather than a rural area), limit alcohol to wine at a special dinner or celebration - and to employ religion sparingly and with great compassion for divergent beliefs, including atheism. 

Respect for our fellow beings begins at home.  Knowledge of human nature and our propensity towards fanaticism, violence and addiction must also be taught at home, with wisdom and guidance, and not left to either schools, a house of worship or to the street. 

Parenting is not a science.  There is no one "correct" way to do things, but there are wrong ways.  Surprisingly, some people still talk about "spare the rod and spoil the child."  Of course, this biblical expression was never meant to endorse child abuse.  The "rod" is the staff of the shepherd, symbolizing the guiding of a flock with patience.  There is no substitute for parents learning how to be teachers and guides for their children, as imperfect as we all are.

What do you think?

Peace,

Earon

I have a question for you.  What should be the nature and extent of political discussion on Zaadz, which is envisionied as a safe place where the harshness of judgment and zealotry are tempered with compassion and the unity of all beings?

This is an election year in the US.  We've been drained by an unnecessary war, with enormous costs, and a President who is an embarassment to a large number of us.  What should be the nature of the discussion here regarding the 2008 US elections?  Should we feel free to express our visions for a better future with our favorite candidate, or should we refrain from saying anything that might offend others?

What do you think?

I know that it is "all the rage" to debate atheism vs. theism vs. agnosticism, but I believe that the nature of the debate does not address the real issues being faced by people.  Attacking faith as illogical seems rather pointless to me.  Faith (whether religious-based or not) is something that everyone needs and that can lead in tremendously positive directions.  The more useful question is faith in what?  If one is theistic, does one believe in a mean, angry god or a peaceful, loving god?

Does one believe in a God that forgives sins and loves all beings or a god that punishes them ruthlessly to the ends of the earth or condemns them to spend eternity in unspeakable pain and anguish?   Even Mother Theresa had very serious doubts about God throughout her life, so belief certainly does not exclude doubt - and doubt makes us wiser, more compassionate, and thus probably closer to God (at least the loving one).

Like religion, belonging to a college fraternity or sorority also requires a leap of faith.   Getting married requires a leap of faith, as does choosing to have a child, choosing a career, joining a fraternal order, relocating to another city, buying a house or car, etc.  Sometimes, getting on a highway or walking on a dark street requires a leap of faith.  Yet, we do not seem as troubled by the rationality of the beliefs which go into those decisions, focusing instead on the practical consequences of a particular decision.

Fraternities and sororities are organizations where people join a group to have a sense of belonging to a community and have fun and a greater ability to mix socially - and potentially develop career opportunities and connections.  It is easier to make this leap of faith if one has family members who have had this experience or if one is on a campus where there is a high level of participation and where the "Greek system" has a strong reputation.

In order to belong to a fraternity of sorority, pledges of obedience and loyalty are often made, and even recitations of beliefs.  However, most people don't take these beliefs literally outside of the group.  They know that they have joined a club/organization and beliefs have little to do with it, although they generally accept and recite these beliefs pro forma.  With the sorority or fraternity, there is no problem honoring the "separation of Church and State."  There is little pressure to inflict these beliefs on outsiders, nor to pursue hidden agendas in the larger world (conspiracy theories about the skull and bones notwithstanding)  : >)

Religions are also easier to join, and more difficult to resist, when the community has a high degree of participation/membership.  People are often drawn in by family traditions, and camaraderie and community cohesion rather than the need to "believe" in a particular way.  Often, people are drawn in by crisis. 

If we view Theism as a side-effect of religion (belief following belonging), rather than the main issue, we may be better able to understand the power of belonging and how it becomes dangerous when we surrender our own ethical judgment and common sense.  Zealotry is a corruption of faith, rather than a higher order of faith, because one's entire grasp of reality becomes dependent upon one particular delusion, as being the one and only truth.

I have heard numerous accounts of people staying with, or tolerating, theistic belief systems because of peer pressure or because they become so attached to the peer group that they naturally go along with its belief system.  Likewise, many adhere to theistic beliefs because they fear that life would seem meaningless if there were no God.  It is possible that these beliefs may be more functional in people with particular neuropsychological characteristics or life experiences.

In the debate over atheism vs. theism, the focus has been on whether it is rational to believe that God exists.  Yet, this is not the chief outcome.  Far more practically, people decide whether it is rational to suspend one's disbelief in order to have a more full social life and be more popular in the community.  In such a situation, it would appear to be quite rational to transform one's beliefs, as with the fraternity.  In the extreme, during an inquisition, is it more logical for an atheist to admit to atheism and die -- or to accept conversion and live?  This is not about the rationality of belief, but about power and domination - and the instinct to survive.

In a community where everyone has the same religion, one might have to choose to accept a solitary, unpopular life as the price for being atheist.  In a community where there are myriad beliefs, a robust secular social scene, and no social costs for being atheist, there are likely to be more atheists and agnostics.

My conclusion is that the problem with religion is not theistic belief, but rather attempts to spread those beliefs to others or manipulate the beliefs of insiders, fanning the flames of intolerance and domination.  While the rationality of belief in God is being debated, the real ethical and rational problems of proselytizing and fundamentalism go unaddressed.  When the light is shown on the extremism, judgement, arrogance and proselytizing of fundamentalist religions, their attempts to control civil society, and institutionalized tolerance of sexually abusing children, these do not fare well, because these have no social utility, and no place in a diverse world.  When the debate shines light upon upon the utter irrationality of faith, it shines on Mother Theresa and countless acts of courage, self-sacrifice and grace. 

As such, it is the fundamentalist position which benefits from the current debate on faith because most people will find it supremely rational to have a rich social life and feel like an important part of a community.  By focusing on a philosophical critique of faith, atheists draw attention to the refreshing, attractive aspects of religion, such as the wish to transcend adversity and fear, coupled with the desire to be popular.  They thus take the focus away from the arrogant, dysfunctional fundamentalist aspects of religion and let them hide behind the faith, love and belonging which are important parts of being human.

Perhaps more importantly, attacking the rationality of theism does an immense disservice to theists who are behaving ethically and serving as role models for us all.  Progressive congregations abound, many of which are essentially deist, ascribing no omnipotent divinity to that which they worship.  Others are multifaith or interspiritual, serving as important links of communication and compassion in our diverse world.  When we elevate respect and love for all beings as primary beliefs, and the separation of religion from civil government, surely there must be some logic in embodying those values in a symbolic divine consciousness.

Friends, some of you may have never heard of the Earth Charter, which is a statement of common values of peoples throughout our world.  It was inspired by a United Nations process and has evolved into a marvelous groundwork of common values.  As such, it is a wonderful teaching device and an inspiration for us all.

According to the Earth Charter website:

The Earth Charter ... is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society for the 21st century. Created by the largest global consultation process ever associated with an international declaration, endorsed by thousands of organizations representing millions of people, the Earth Charter seeks to inspire a sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of the human family and the living world. The Charter is an expression of hope and a call to global partnership at this critical time in history.

According to the Wikipedia entry, following are the basic principles:

"The Earth Charter urges environmental responsibility, peaceful coexistence, respect for life, democracy, and justice. It is organized into 16 general headings, each covering a general principle, as follows:

1. Respect Earth and life in all its diversity. Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion and love.
2. Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable and peaceful.
3. Secure Earth's bounty and beauty for present and future generations.
4. Protect and restore the integrity of Earth's ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life.
5. Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is limited, apply a precautionary approach.
6. Adopt patterns of production, consumption and reproduction that safeguard Earth's regenerative capacities, human rights and community well being.
7. Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired.
8. Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social and environmental imperative.
9. Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human development in an equitable and sustainable manner.
10. Affirm gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health care and economic opportunity.
11. Uphold the right of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment supportive of human dignity, bodily health and spiritual well-being, with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities.
12. Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision-making, and access to justice.
13. Integrate into formal education and lifelong learning the knowledge, values and skills needed for a sustainable way of life.
14. Treat all living beings with respect and consideration.
15. Promote a culture of tolerance, nonviolence and peace. "

See for yourself.  You can go to the earthcharter.org website to endorse this charter.  But, at least make people aware of it.  We all talk about "being the change" but that has little meaning if all we are doing is seeking our own personal peace and enlightenment and finding ways to develop successful businesses.  Our planet is in crisis and we need to become citizens of the world, and not just anxious, overstressed consumers!

Peace,

Earon