note: Dedication, Acknowledgments & Preface are in Part I
Friday, April 6, 2012
About this Book (blog)
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
With PEACE - Nothing Less than Love
The
choice of happiness or unhappiness is like a choice between ease or disease or
lastly one of peace or _____. I do not
know the answer to that one, as I search for a word that resembles the opposite
of peace. Anyone out there want to take
a shot at it? _____. It could possibly be “havoc,” “mayhem,” or
“war.” I am not sure there is a word,
because all the words that even come close seem to be words of action. Action is not a feeling. Peace is a natural feeling. If one opposes peace, their behaviors go
against nature with unmerciful actions that are beneath the feeling of
love. Being below love is being in an
environment where suffering grows wild.
This is why all of our actions and feelings should be ones of nothing
less than love.
With FEAR - Seeds, Weeds, and Needs
Many think that the opposite of love
is hate, although this can be true. I
often have to disagree, because fear seems to be the root of hate. Fear is the seed that manifested hate. Hate is the weed visible above ground. Fear is the root below. Weeds have the power to destroy miles of
fertile ground. So, where does love
stand in this analogy? Love can be the one thing that changes our perceptions
of these weeds. If we only see them as
weeds, then this is how they will remain and continue until they are
destroyed. Yet, if we can see the damage
of the roots, then we have the possibility to repair or replace them so they
can become the most beautiful flowers.
Motivation Masters
If
one gets on the train here in New York City, there are constant announcements
from the police department about protecting yourself and your belongings at all
times. “If you see something, say something. Be on the look out at all times.”
Sure, the motivation is to create a safer environment to live in, but if we
cannot use our vision to see this message as one of security rather than fear,
then we may carry this fearful energy with us throughout our entire day. I
think of the times when I have carried fear with me throughout my days, and I
look back and can see that perhaps I closed myself off to other more positive
forces of energy that may have come my way.
Are we available to give and receive love from those who are naturally
meant to come your way, instead of those who can be scared away?
…
I feel the motivation of fear now
seems to surround us daily. The media
and government are masters of using fear as motivation. Fear has found a place into our economy and
army, both domestically and intentionally.
What is looked upon as a normal, natural occurrence is used to get us to
feel that something is missing internally; therefore, something is needed “now”
to fulfill this void. This idea is used
by the media to persuade people to buy products and services that they do not
need, especially “now.” The idea is used
by the government with a less than healthy motivation to get people to take
unnecessary actions. So if they can get
people to believe that something is missing, then they have grabbed our
attentions and occupied our minds to replay these messages over and over. Before we know it, they will make a quick
move to distract some person in a different direction to create yet another
false need, as opposed to getting people to stay with the original root of
their insecurities. It is hard to find
the media or government telling us that there is only one place to find
security. This place is in us and is our
intuition. It is hard to find media
outlets and even harder to find the government motivating us by ways of love
and faith. Why not? Because love is a
harder sell and fear seems to have a better financial track record. Why is this? It’s because love only creates
one need which is love and, at the very most, more love, whereas fear creates a
million-plus needs that generate a million-plus dollars.
Do our media and government overlook
what is truly “needed?” Why do they continue to interrupt our progress through
distractions? I feel what is “needed” is overlooked, and this is a well-rounded
education for our youth and for healthy, balanced lifestyles for adults. The
concentration is on making money as opposed to making healthy minds, thus
making for a functioning, healthy society. Each choice takes time, but if this
time goes towards only generating profits, there will be more and more work
until we reach a system where people’s minds and bodies are so overworked and
exhausted that their efficiency in life becomes diminished. As a result, there
are a number of people doing a number of unneeded tasks, pulling them away from
the things they should be naturally doing.
It is easy for me to point the finger
at media, government, and even corporations because so many take full advantage
of their audiences, consumers, citizens, and employees. It is our
responsibility, being motivated by our natural, loving spirit, to take
action rather than constantly fulfill the wishes of the few who feel as if they
do not have enough. Then some impose
their thoughts of “not having enough” on the masses so they are not alone in
their fixations and mentalities.
Ironically, these “employers” try to
instill a fear-based mentality into their employees. We do not always have the
accuracy in our vision to see what is truly occurring in front of our
eyes. This is when the accuracy of our
vision should be used, and hopefully, it will lead you to the right questions. Who and what are you working for? These
answers can lead you to the truth, and with self-reflection, you can determine
who you want to work for, what to work for, and what you truly want and need in
your life minus what is constantly being sold to you. Lastly, and most
importantly, it will help you to ask who you are helping and what team you’re
playing for. So, if you’re pleased with all of your answers, then you should
keep doing what you’re doing. But if not, you should start thinking about a
change.
…
A Quick
Recipe for Change:
Take one
part inspiration, one part education,
and one
part motivation.
Mix this
together in a clean bowl (like a mind),
and we
can have infinite creations.
Recycle
As I became sharper and able to “keep
the love,” my next step was to find the proper place for the waste. In this case, it was the fear. I have seen many people who do not know where
to put their fears, so they carelessly give them to someone else. Then there
are others who do not even give it away; they try to sell it. I was determined not to be like these people
because I saw the karmic currency for their sales – a bank account of poor
choices resulting in suffering. So,
where is the right place to put this waste?
This sounds like the same garbage dilemma that our planet is faced with
today. The answers of environmentalists are the same as mine – recycle. Well, the same can be said for the waste of
fear, hate, jealously, envy, greed, and so on.
Recycle! Recycle the waste of
fear into love.
Unknowingly, this concept is what led
me to become an artist. Art is no more than
recycled waste transformed into some of the most beautiful, engaging,
entertaining, and stimulating things in this world. It comes down to what we can transform. I feel the less art we have in this world,
the more fear, pain, anger, jealously, greed, and so on that we will have. Our media industries try so hard to be
artists, but unfortunately, many of them have factories of fear to sell. Love has become such a challenge to sell
because our factories have fewer products to produce. It is our duty to change how things are
manufactured from these machines and fear factories so we can have a back stock
of love to be the abundant commodity in our society.
With ART - Labor or Love
At
times, I have been motivated to act by way of fear, and I later realized that
this is a delicate and dangerous thing.
The motivation of fear started with the feeling that my freedom was at
stake. Yes, at times, this fear
jump-started me on to change, but it was important that the energy I gave off
as result of this fear was something other than fear, like love. The transformation of fear to love needed
thoughtful, disciplined, and focused effort, because fear can cause
insecurity. Love is the most secure
thing. Today, I find it is an easier
motivation to change when the transformation is from love to love because,
actually, there is no transformation to be made. Love is what is inside of us, and love is what
I should be exuding from my presence, a loving motivation versus a fearful
one. Yes, for myself, I have
accomplished things when fear was the motivating factor, although the main
difference came in the enjoyment of the process. When motivated by fear, I often labored
through the process. The outcome may
have stimulated others, but throughout the process of “making it happen,” it
felt like hard work, a painstaking task, a feeling of labor rather than love. On the other hand, when I found myself
motivated by love, I found the process to be effortless, as I embraced the joy
in each ounce of labor.
We Are All Artists
I
have always believed that art and love have the power to increase the flow of
oxygen throughout our bodies. The other
day I spoke to some doctors and nurses in the oncology department of the
hospital where I volunteer. I inquired if it is possible for a cancer cell to
live in an environment that is solely of oxygen. They told me that a cancer cell could not
survive. So I thought, “If art and love
have the power to increase the flow of oxygen, then with art and love, there
might be more environments in our bodies where cancer cells can’t survive.”
…
I feel we are
all artists, yet most of us do not act when it comes time to transform our
energy. Or, sometimes, we do not know how to act or express ourselves, so we
act in ways that only build more negative energy versus transforming. Artists
transform energy and create something new with their energy. Good artists create something that exercises
another person’s ability to look at things differently. The great ones create something not only to
help others to look at things differently but also to help others feel
differently and ultimately act differently with a positive motivation to change.
Transforming Energy
Transforming energy has become
essential towards making any changes, as well as my growth. Change, though, can be a tough food to digest
because it appears to increase the suffering in our lives. Many of my own changes became part of my
education. I look back and sometimes
think that maybe suffering was like attending one of the greatest schools. This is because the purpose of school is to
learn, and often, the lessons we can learn from suffering lead us to the truth,
and the truth can lead us to freedom.
Freedom is not only what every artist needs but is what every person
needs.
The more I learn, the more I value
freedom and the power we have when we accept it. “Transforming energy” is kind of like “proper
digestion.” Good digestion keeps us
sharp; bad digestion makes us dull. Yet,
like any process of change, questions arise.
What do we want to be? What kind
of people do we want to be around? What
kind of a lover do we want to be? What
kind of parent do we want to be? What
kind of friend do we want to be? What
kind of leaders do we need? What kind of
artist do we want to be? (A) sharp or
(B) dull
In the case of “good digestion” or
“transforming energy,” it begins with the proper balance of movement and relaxation. It’s about allowing the internal to do the
work as needed and doing the same with the external. Forcing what does not come naturally in time
will only cause pain and will many times lead to poor choices. Good digestion will let us get rid of the unneeded
waste and hold on to what is needed for us to survive and grow. It has the power to transform the fear into
love. And some great artists use this
ability of “transformation” to make others look, hear, and even feel that
things can be different.
What is Art?
ART =
Authentic Reality Transformation
I ask myself often, “What is the
difference between “authenticity” and “reality”? Don’t they both mean ‘what is
real?’ I suppose authentic is what is
honest. Reality is about the now. The transformation process towards art starts
with the honest feelings that have accumulated in our souls. Then transforming
them into whatsoever comes out of us. Passion seems to be the fuel that gives
an audience the feeling of honesty.
Passion is felt and not seen. I
think this is why religion has such a strong following because it is something
felt, and naturally, as humans we feel. Passion is often interpreted in the
same sense as one’s fire. Sure, we can look into another’s eye and think we see
his or her fire, but for there to be fire, there has to be heat. Heat can only be felt, just like passion.
The entire groups of artists, who I
have come to love and respect, have a heated passion. It is fire and
desperation in their souls to reach their dreams, often at any cost. When I have felt this fire in myself, I have
found great pleasure in chasing my dreams, though there always seem to be a
price to pay for every pleasure. What is
the price or the cost? The cost often
lies in my judgment of where and when to put my passion and energy.
…
Most
great artists never run out of ideas; they just run out of time to execute
these ideas. This lack of time makes it
so crucial to be open and flexible to give help and receive help when needed. I think the goal for most artists comes down
to transforming and exposing feelings.
The good ones can communicate ideas, but the great ones can communicate
emotions and feelings. I believe working
with others can bring out the apex of a goal. Quoting the liner notes from
George Benson’s 1975 album “Good Bad King,” he said about working with his
producer at the time, “As for me, I want the freedom to express myself along
with the kind discipline like Dave (the producer) can provide. I just want the
room to dance on my instrument.” I think
so many artists fight the needs of others. So many feel they are the only “one”
and do not realize that they are not alone.
This is true even if this need is saying or doing “nothing,” though
often this “nothing” is “something” as long as “others” are in reaching
distance to feel the artist is alive.
The Truth of Art
No matter what the medium, I feel all
“good art” is sculpture. I feel this way
because art seems like the process of carving away the unnecessary to get to
the essence of one’s voice. This voice
is one that I think all artist hope will speak their truth. Finding the truth in a work of art can be the
same as finding the truth in a relationship. It takes time, action, and silence
to speak with our own voice and find our truth.
Essence of Time
What is often mentioned about great
sculptors is they have the ability to look at a stone and never see just a
stone. Rather, they see what is inside this stone looking to be exposed. But,
often, this process takes time. Many great sculptors feel there was never just
a stone, as there was never just a second or a year. Each moment is timeless,
making the process more priceless than any completed work to show.
…
I
think of my favorite sculptor, Constantin Brancusi. He was the underdog, like
many of the most famous artists at that time, battling his way through moral
and religious challenges to expose not only his wonderful work but also his
passion and love for “the essence of things.” If he sculpted a human figure, a
face, a bird, or a kiss, his honesty towards the essence has stood the test of
time.
…
The
truth of time in art should speak with a one-of-a-kind voice, communicating
various elements such as truth and beauty.
This truth can be communicated not only in one viewing, but they may
possess the power to resonate with us over longer time periods or even change
us forever. Viewing art can communicate the process or passion poured into the
piece of work, but most importantly, it opens our eyes to a person and, not
just the artist, but ourselves.
Who’s Saying “Action?”
Some
years back, I received a call from one of the producers of “Video Openings,”
which I was directing at the time. He
said, “Spike Lee says he wants to be in one of the videos, but he wants to
direct it.” The producer had told Spike Lee about me, and Spike said, “Have him
meet with the camera crew on Christopher Street and the Henry Hudson at 11:00am
tomorrow.” The next day came.
We were standing on the edge of the
road as cars buzzed by. Spike and I were going back and forth with ideas of how
things were going to be shot and at what angle. We said things like, “What I’ll
do is walk in between the cars, while you walk backwards with the camera.” “How
about you stand on top of that garbage can and swing this towel on the side of
the highway, and I'll shoot it with a low angle.” This went on for the next hour or two until
it was all in the can. When the video
was finished, it aired at the opening of the next Knicks playoff game. After
the crowd of twenty-thousand chuckled and cheered, Spike and I gave each other
a nod of approval, and I continued with my work that day.
…
I asked myself, “Why do I have respect
for this artist?” I was not the craziest about all of his work. So what was it?
I feel my respect comes from the honesty of his action because it told the
truth of his passion. I remembered one
of my film professors telling me in his Russian accent, “Paul, characters that
‘do’ are more interesting than characters that don’t do.” I concluded that my
first step was to speak the truth regardless of the medium I chose for my
expression. To quote a line from my
favorite Spike Lee film: “There’s too many people saying ‘I’m gonna.’ ‘I’m
gonna this, and I’m gonna that, to I tell you what I’m gonna do…” My answer: I’m going to find the truth of my
voice and finish this book.
The Truth Between the Notes
Miles
Davis said it best when he described playing the trumpet with particular moods.
He said it was important not only to play the notes but to play what was in
between the notes – play the silence.
When you listen to Miles Davis’ music, you can honestly feel the mood of
his sound lying in the silence. In the
search for the truth, so much lies in silence.
I will restrain myself from going into a jazz history lesson, but if I
did look in the archives, I would find that so many artists are linked to
Miles, decade after decade. Why? I
believe it comes from his honest ear and his ability to listen to the silence,
not only music but in the people around him. Regardless if others liked him
personally or not so many in the jazz community wanted to a part of his truth.
…
Clearly,
Miles was an incredible player. At the
same time, there were other incredible players around, and some, in my opinion,
were even better than Miles. But what Miles brought to music, few could even
come close to replicating. The gift came from how he used his honest vision and
sound. First and foremost, he seemed to
feel the truth, and more often than not, this laid in the silence.
Signs of Smile
When I used to
visit one of my favorite jazz spots on 132nd Street, Big Apple Jazz, I would
witness smiles firsthand. I looked at
the faces of the musicians as they made countless efforts to get to a place
that was free and full of passion. I could
feel their constant conversions with pain and joy. Usually, they were unconscious of their
facial expressions as they expressed their pure passion. At these times, I can turn away and look
toward the audience and feel the freshness or see smiles that are
indescribable. I then reflect on my own
feelings and vibrations within my soul.
Then I ask, “Why are these musicians playing?” And why am I sitting here
writing this book? At times, my own face and feelings fluctuate from pain to
joy as I write. Why? I realize it is not
about my face and feelings (which make it all worthwhile). It is about the smiles and feelings of those
who surround me, whether in the jazz club or in my everyday life. The feeling
of my word or energy helping at least one person find a better place within
puts a smile on my face.
…
Often in the process of doing
“something,” we need to ask ourselves why we are doing it. It is easy to lead
this back to our own self-stimulation, excitability, or happiness. The truth
is, most of us love to see others happy, whether it’s kids, family, friends, a
fan, or whoever can smile. Often, you may not be able to see your own smile,
but if you can truly feel those the ones around you, you will feel a great
intensity.
…
Those
who feel the signs of a smile possess the best encouragement for one’s spirit.
There will always be a pleasant purity in seeing the bodily chemistry in one’s
soul. It is all about the elevation of our human spirit and knowing we need to
rise and when we need to be still. Those
who give of their souls will ultimately realize that a spirit who is still can
also be active at the same time and will always rise.
With SOCIETY - Keeping Time
“Give me
a beat!”
A beat is
the one of your heart and soul
that
creates the breath of your functioning humanity.
Without
gratitude towards this,
there
will be nothing worth living for.
Unforced
feelings are what keeps time for the universe and allows us to grow. In music,
keeping good time is what the great drummers and band leaders do. Without this unforced feeling, we do not
move. We do not dance. We do not love.
We do not procreate. We cannot give hope
and energy to those in need. We cannot
feel the down time and thrills of the successes of our efforts.
I
think we all want to feel love, just as we do the glow of the sun. Joy is like the heat of the sun or the heat
of another. Without it, all flames will
die. Yet, one flame can ignite infinite
amounts for others without losing its own properties of heat and light. Yes, it
may seem like the flame of a candle might be weakened if it touches another,
but it will be back at full strength within moments. True timing has no number, only feeling. It is a feeling of warmth when we know we are
in love or when the fire burns in our souls, letting us know we are alive. Without this one flame, there would be no
light to see who is in need of the warmth.
Seed of “We”
We are the trees trying to grow. When we turn a majority of our time and
attention to the media, especially those at young ages, we are looking in its
direction to give seeds of growth. Many
times, this natural search for seeds is taken advantage of by advertisers and
corporations. Making this statement
seems as if I am pointing fingers. But who am I pointing fingers towards? I am pointing fingers at the advertisers and
these corporations. Well, who are they? They are us, and we are them. We have created and condoned this behavior. We are the ones who work for these
corporations, and we are the ones who try to build these advertisements. We are the ones with the power to create
images of an ideal reality. We are the
ones who are responsible for our future as well as for our children’s.
I
feel its time we begin to act on the answers to our happiness. I must emphasize the word “our” here because
we can do our best to convince ourselves of our own personal
happiness without looking in the mirror.
…
We
need to take good a look in the mirror and truly tell ourselves what we see.
But wait a second. Before you head over to the bathroom mirror, let me send you
in a different direction where the mirror might not be fogged up. Let’s take a look out the front door. This is where you can find the truth of YOUR
happiness. Take a good look at our culture, our youth, and our future. Do you like what we see? If not, well, what should we do? Do what comes naturally. What can we do to change?
…
If we want to change, we must turn our
attention to not only what we are giving off but also what we are
receiving. It may help to view our
children's brains as we do their stomachs. Ask the same questions. Is this too spicy? Am I feeding them too
much? Is it too late to be eating? Will this be hard to digest? Will this help them grow up to be strong and
healthy? Now take this same analogy of
viewing their eyes and ears as their mouths. Do these visual components help
their growth now or in the future?
So maybe I only talk to the souls of
the few who are aware of this numbing of the human spirit by the media. The
soulful few continue to take great pride in their abilities to taste the love
found in the food or energy they consume.
Maybe these fearless few can cook up some love not only for themselves
but for others. Changing the taste
continues to become ever so challenging as today’s appetites for love are
slowly ceasing. The taste for love is often lost in favor of the flavor of the
day. Love might be the taste, but the
flavor is often one of fear. We
ultimately hold the power to can change the flavor of fear in efforts to
stimulate our natural tastes for love. I might speak of the powers that “be,”
but who is this “be?”
The
powers that “be” are we, me, he, and she.
It’s up to us make the choice to
change these artificial flavors of fear into the natural flavors of love
because there isn’t anything like the real thing. Anything less is just
recycled from the presently over-stocked factory of fear.
Street Signs
I need to look in the direction and
trust the needs of the universe to provide the signs to inspire change. It
feels like many times on my journey I am driving down a road with a slight
feeling of uncertainty of what direction to travel. Then, I see a street sign that gives me a
choice. Should I be afraid of the street
sign? Should I feel blessed to see
it? I believe the universe is full of
street signs that inspire change that can help all who have been created. My
efforts to function and help the universe, regardless of the quantity of my
efforts, should not tarnish the quality of what I have accomplished. For
example, this book can be 5 words or 50,000 words if it helps even one person
get to a happier place I feel I’ve done my job.
I hope to encourage myself and others to work towards the proper balance
of quality and quantity with a real knowledge of what is actually
“needed.” This starts with having
gratitude towards the signs which help each of us reach the ultimate balance
for humanity – being one with nature’s environments.
The Fitting Room
So often in our present society, we
are faced with the mindset of “We need this or that, and if we don’t have it,
then we might not fit in.” If we are not “in,” then we are “out,” but what are
we “out” of? Are we “out” of a someplace where we don’t belong in the first
place? This all goes back to the fear of loneliness. Why will we not fit
in? Often, TV and today’s “talk” shows
swim in the water of stereotypes and judgments. Each of us is naturally one of
a kind; therefore, it is impossible to fit “in.” Sure, there can be some sort
of a resemblance, but beyond that, it will always be far from us as
individuals.
It is mostly one big sales pitch. But
depending on the sharpness of your vision, you will be able to sense if this
“talk” is information, communication, entertainment, or a way to get you to
“play now” or “pay later.” This is where many use the power of hope against us,
and essentially pull us apart rather than bring us together. It is used in the idea of credit. If we “play now,” we will have a better
opportunity of not being alone now or later.
It is also spun in the opposite way
when we “pay now” and “play later.” As a
result, many end up working themselves into unnatural, altered psychological
states of greed and attachment. By the time we begin to realize it (if we
realize it), we are so overworked that we no longer have the mental or physical
strength to enjoy the “play time we paid for in full.” Often, this behavior does not totally stem
from greed or vanity but from what we might feel our loved ones need or want For
example, I see so many parents buying and doing things out of love for their
children, but as time passes, they regret not giving their children what they
needed most — themselves.
Human Spirit
Unfortunately, I feel we have become
complacent with the distractions of our human spirit. These distractions have
found their way into our daily routines.
It’s as though each day we are consuming hotter and hotter foods. And each time these foods touch our tongues,
we are burning more and more of our taste buds.
Soon, great tasting food and experiences will go unnoticed. More
importantly, the original main ingredient to the cooking process – love – is
lost and tasteless. Without this sensitivity toward love, are we truly
living? Without our taste buds, are we
eating to live or just to survive? If so, will we no longer grow?
We
live in a world of inanimate objects.
They are all just tools, and we must keep this in perspective if we want
to fulfill the needs of our universe. Do these tools have needs? Or do we have
needs? We have needs; our needs are to be as one. It’s so clear that relationships among humans
(in essence, between nature and nature) should be the priority, not that
between human and tool. It is once again
about finding balance. I have witnessed
time and again humans working with inanimate objects over long periods of time
and suffering from mental disconnect and depression. If we concentrate on giving to humanity, our
needs will be put in perspective. What
can we give? You can give your love and
your story.
If we make movies, write, paint,
dance, or whichever tool we use, we should do it so well that our stories move
emotions in ways that uplift the human spirit and intellect. This will bring
people together with positive energy. We
should help others to feel their brightness and feel like they are not alone. This is “success” – being with the ones you
love, mentally or physically, and, most importantly, spiritually. In New York City, it feels like the city of
time, probably like many other places in this present age. We are constantly feeling like we have less
time to be with the ones we love. If we
only accepted that our nature is to love each other, then we will take in
consideration that this is also a city of people.
Yesterdays, today’s, and tomorrows
man-made creations have and will continue to try to imitate life, be it
computers, TVs, phones, and other such devices. The root behind all of them is
to stop the feeling of loneliness. But the truth is that there is only one
thing that can put a stop to feelings of loneliness, and that is the human
spirit. If we can control our minds, we
have a better chance of controlling our suffering. When we control our suffering, we can feel
together and go in the direction of happiness, giving not just a story about
passing and failing but of what we learned.
…
Give
hope, not hate.
Hope will
Have Only Positive Experiences.
Adjust the Volume
I feel balance often seems to come
down to a question of volume. There are
two levels of volume, both of material and non-material energy. When it comes to material energy, volume is
about quantity, either a lot or a little.
With non-material energy, it is about vibration, low or high. Many times, it seems like the volume of the
public is getting to be so high that we might blow an amp or a speaker.
How does this analogy reflect on what
happens in the world? It can get to the
extreme level where one takes another’s life.
Or on a grander view, it is the events that so many of us fear – war,
slavery, racism, holocausts, apartheid, genocide, terrorism, and so on. In my
life, a few of these moments just missed me by a mere block or two. When I lived in Los Angeles, it was the
riots. When I lived in London, it was the bombings of the IRA. And when I lived
in Tribeca in New York City, it was 9/11.
I could literally feel the vibrations of these man-made disasters. Perhaps the volume in the ears of the people
who caused these disasters was so loud and intense; they could no longer
withstand the volume. As a result, an “amp,” a “speaker,” or even a building
was blown.” The most valuable thing that is blown at these times is an ear drum
because, usually after these events, the people cannot hear anything, let alone
what is really going on around them.
How
can a high volume affect the universe on the natural (non-man-made) level?
There are tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, tidal waves, earthquakes, and other
such natural disasters. (My block has
been shaken by a few of these as well.)
With this kind of disaster, I feel we just need to listen and respect
the nature of our spirit and our universe.
If so, the volume will stay at an audible, tolerable, and enjoyable
level. However, maybe it is time to better access our volumes and vibration
levels, not only on a national, international, and universal level, but from an
individual level. We should focus on
finding the real causes of these after-effects, like obesity, depression, drug
abuse, or even just the tensions that arise when dealing with each other and
our loved ones.
Game Time
It is important to be aware of the
forces of energy we “take in” and “put out.”
For example, we might choose to have a drink which contains alcohol, and
you decide talk during or afterwards. The “in” and “out” of the energy choices
will soon change, as do the vibrations surrounding us. Being in touch with this little inner voice
will help you feel the vibrations surrounding each given situation. Often, these vibrations tell us what is true
and who and what we can trust.
Understanding the energy of human interaction is the real game. The pre
and post-game is patience. It is most needed when we are alone, trying to reach
for that spiritual side of our being.
That is why sometimes it feels like a threat to be alone. Many fear their little voice, afraid they will
tell them they are alone. But if we honestly let the voice resonate, we can
feel part of an internal community that resonates on levels that bring joy and
hope.
My choice to listen to this little
voice often goes against the larger, popular voice like the voice of our
environment, country, and society who promotes capitalism. I am not totally opposed to capitalism, but as
for the popular voice of the people, I do not think it is necessary at this
time. I feel the voice of the future
should be one of mutual support and of a positive, peaceful nature. It should be of praise, gratitude, and
admiration for our natural spirit.
…
I
ask myself often why this book is needed. Well, the need is felt in my soul as
I walk and talk with people in our culture.
My choice in finding ways to help others does not seem like the popular
choice, but my direction is more towards a peaceful option. I am writing this
book in hopes of helping on a grander scale than just talking with someone on a
park bench. I do feel, however, that
either action can hold an equal amount of potential to manifest healing and
happiness with an infinite magnitude. The words and energy I share with a
person on a park bench can possibly reach millions, just as I feel the words
and energy I share with anyone who this book could reach. We each have our own
unique, natural energy to help just one or millions. It is a part of the “game of life” which has
no end.
…
Accuracy in recognizing injustice is
one of our most important tools in these days of false imagery. Unlike animals, humans are given the gifts of
intellect and reason. This is given to
us on our first birthday. Each one of
these gifts is a tool of human nature.
If we keep distracting ourselves from what has been given to us in a
gracious and responsible manner, then our natural environment’s energy may
change towards one which functions and fights against nature, as opposed to
living in harmony. If we continue into
the future with this behavior, we as humans may lose the gift of reason and
intellect. Thus one day returning to the nature of animals.
Holy Land or a Land Full of Holes?
If you feel your sacred place of
“home” is being invaded, it may be time to start asking yourself some
questions. We all search for a safe place to put our love (the sacred place).
When this place is occupied by energy other than love, we feel this sacred
territory is at stake.
I
can only think of the many Holy Lands we fight and die for in order to
protect. I feel many involved in the
violent desperation of occupying these territories know in their souls that
they are infiltrating an unpeaceful energy to these sacred places. As a result, and by doing so, they disrupt
the energy of this “Holy Land.” It is a
possibility these places will feel empty and full of holes. It is also a
possibility that all the love there will just fall through the cracks. Any energy left occupying the air will be
less than love.
With AMERICA - Home of the _____?
There seems to be an American epidemic
spreading further than this nation. I
speak of separation and loneliness. Sadly, I can see this in all three stages
of our lives. In childhood, parents separate themselves from being active parts
of their children’s youthful ages to adulthood where they are faced with
separating themselves from their own family and sometimes building fears of interacting
with other fellow humans. Lastly, I see
it in older ages where loneliness seems to be at its apex. Here, the elderly
are in great need because they have less strength to heal themselves, and often
their pride overpowers their need to receive help. Many live in the discomfort
of slowing down the fast pace of the younger ones they need help from.
So what is the antidote for this
epidemic? It starts first with a thoughtful approach toward unity. So much of
our society keeps expecting “quick fixes,” but the more we separate ourselves,
the longer it might take to bring us together. So to accept quick fixes, we
just end up with an abundance of short-term results. If we can swallow the antidote of unity, then
we shall see long-term results. Maybe we
will see cures to this epidemic in our jails, hospitals, schools, and most
importantly, in our homes. Sometimes, I
feel like this country has kidney failure, and we are not properly cleansing
the blood that runs through our nation. So many of our “leaders” are afraid to
speak the truth, as a result, we cannot get the proper help. I feel many leaders fear that if we were to
go on dialysis and possibly collapse, we will no longer have what we have
today.
Well, what do we have today? What are
we so scared to lose? Our obesity problem? The place where the most
anti-depressants are sold in the world?
Or do we fear losing the idea that we are brave and the strongest – the
bravest army, the strongest marketing powers, the strongest television
industry, the strongest sports industry, the strongest economy. What are we
truly the strongest and most brave at doing?
Perhaps the truth we avoid is that we are strong at creating often false
images that, over time, cause suffering and distract us from achieving honest
feelings of strength and honor, not just images.
So
where do we start? It’s just like
healing anything else; it starts with the patient. The patient (us) must admit that there is a
problem and that they need help. This is a tough pill to swallow in our ego,
image-driven nation. So in reference to the analogy of kidney failure, maybe we
have to go on “dialysis” three times a week, and maybe we will no longer look
as strong as we once did. But at least
this time we are being honest. Honesty
and love go hand in hand, and with love comes hope. With hope, maybe we can function
happily with other nations that are also trying to be honest. Maybe together we can be in a better place to
truly help others, whether it is just one person, a nation, or a whole
universe. Now that sounds to me like the
real home of the brave.
The Mind Industry
Sometimes, I feel we are in the middle
of an industrial revolution. The minds of the masses are being mass-produced. A
huge portion of our lives trickles into a grid of numbers rather than flowing
to a true respect and understanding of human nature. At the end of some days, I
feel like I’m not walking through a country “for the people” but rather a
“factory of the people.”
Last
week, I stepped in a factory on the train of education. I sat in the subway car and overheard three
teenagers excitedly explain their plans to text message each other with the
answers to their final exam. I thought to myself, “This is probably something I
would have come up when I was their age.” Then I thought about what happened to
me when I graduated (with a 7th grade reading level) and went to
college, and I also thought about what will happen to them. Just then, I looked above at an advertisement
selling a degree via the computer within eight months. Will the few minds who sit beside me with
ingenuity to create a cheating system via phone be subjected to pointing and
clicking into the future rather than having a human sharing wisdom and
knowledge on a live, interpersonal level?
Some
years ago, I sat in the waiting room of the health care factory. I sat with my mom, jotting down questions for
the doctor, fearfully knowing that she will only have a few minutes out of the
two months she has been waiting for an appointment. I ask myself, “Is this the amount of human
interaction honestly needed to help heal another?” Sometimes it seems like the interaction
between doctor and patient would be no different than if you text message a
doctor your symptoms, and the doctor emailed your prescriptions directly to the
drug store.
Every
once and a while, I speak to someone in the dating machine room. Many I have
spoken with seem to have a pre-qualifier or resume of requirements as they look
for the person who can fill in the blanks. During our conversation, many seem
so terrified and confused. I ask myself,
“Is this the way to fall in love – swimming in the pool of fear?” As for
myself, I sometimes feel I am an oddity when I explain how I met a wonderful
young lady in the park.
I
have also walked in to the break room of the music and entertainment
factory. I did not get a chance to talk
to anyone because everyone was so busy pointing and clicking and judging within
a matter of seconds whether they liked something or not, even though I tried to
tell them about this place in Harlem that plays live music all day for free.
But I don’t think any of the people heard me because they all had their
headphones in their ears. Often, I
believe we need some time for our eyes, ears, and, most importantly, our souls
to feel the likes and dislikes of our interests.
A
couple of years back; I entered and exited the many doors of the art
factory. I remember walking into one
gallery with my portfolio in hand. I was not even two steps in the door when
someone said, “No, thanks. We are good!” In this factory, often sole reputation
determines exposure rather than a freedom for an artist to expose his or her
feelings and ideas. As result, the viewer of art suffers because, instead of
being exposed to true feelings, he or she is imposed on by those who judge
success and freedom of expression by dollar signs.
There
was one day years ago, when I was in the classroom of the compassion factory,
where I witnessed and filmed a corporation that employed me to flaunt their
community efforts. This seemed to be
done to sell more of their mass-produced products and promote their name.
So what direction we should head in to
change the mass production of our minds?
Maybe if we can honestly relieve what is at stake we could get moving in
the right direction. Personally, this happened for me after I stepped out and
revealed what seemed wrong in my mind. I wonder how we have not totally
imploded thus far. My only answer is love. Why? Because love has rescued us
time and time again.
Let’s just take the physical health of
our nation as an example. I was on the bus recently and an extremely obese
woman got on at one of the stops. She painfully
struggled to get on the bus and fit into a seat. Still, I felt joy in her soul. But where did this joy come from? I looked a few feet way, and her friend was
there helping her with a loving energy. I thought to myself, “So many of our
people live unhealthy lifestyles, but what keeps many people moving forward is
finding the joy in their lives. It is love because, deep in their souls, they
know they are loved and know that they still have plenty of love to give. If this was not true, I feel most could not
even make it on the bus, let alone to the next day.
…
Love
is the ultimate antioxidant, antibiotic, antibacterial, immune builder, and so
on. But we should not take love for granted.
Love is the only resource our universe needs to grow in a healthy
manner. We need to embrace, cherish, and value this wonderful gift. We should allow love to help us find the
right balance of the scientific and spiritual sides of our humanity. If we can reach this natural balance, then we
shall have a clearer vision to see the imbalances within ourselves, as well as
of those who need our help.
Reaching Distance
I have been based in New York. I have
been based in Los Angeles. I have been based in London. I have visited many people in and around
these cities. Every city has its own
unique energy, an energy that only the ones who live there can understand.
Throughout this world, each city has its own needs. For example, in many cities,
space is in demand. But is it space that
is needed or, perhaps, more importantly, is it love that is in demand? Love has the power to make changes, and with
these changes, there can be steps upward and outward, creating spaces to grow.
So often in these cities, there are
some who feel there is not enough mental room to grow. To grow a plant or anything, well-fertilized
soil should be the foundation. For
starters, in our cities, the soil has to be full of positive energy, and the
crop should be one of hope and courage.
But who has the power and is in the closest
position to plant these seeds? There are
plenty of people who can help, but it is about the location and position of who
can help. On the cusp of all these
cities, there are environments and communities in reaching distance. Many call
them “suburbs.” Look at the word “suburb” for a brief moment. “Sub” means
beneath. “Urban” often refers to a city or a heavily populated location. In this breakdown, these places are
underneath the urban environment.
Sometimes, I feel like many of these places should be the foundation for
the fertile ground. These are places
that strive for positive outcomes, safety, and growth. They are often looked upon as good places
where kids can grow up safely and soundly. I feel in recent years, though, that
the balance of growth and abundance has been tilted heavily to one side.
Unfortunately, worry, anxiety, and fear have taken over these suburbs. The perception of the necessity for growth
has transformed itself into a preoccupation and a constant worry of not having
“enough,” and this idea can be looked at as a kind of eating disorder. As with any eating disorder, there is an
internal imbalance that presents itself with the disease. This imbalance can
often lead to the disorder and many other diseases. Many lose sight of their original intentions
to move into the suburbs. It began with
positive outcomes, safety, and growth.
But now, many are out of touch, and they have turned toward consumption
and competition and have lost sight of the family they love or loved so dearly
to make the sacrifices they made to get to the suburbs in the first place.
With THE MEDIA - Selling Psychology
I try to make
mental growth a priority. Often many
seem to be concerned with growth only on a visual level. As a result, this has caused an overall
impatience of our humanity. I speak to
people each day and often find that, if they are not “hit over the head” with a
one-dimensional visual, then disappointment is felt. Or, “it” does not get through
to them. The media is partly responsibility
for this, as well as our choices as to what, when, and how much media we
consume. Our sprit possesses a natural
feeling of wanting to be happy. Frequently, this feeling is used by the media. This is nothing new. The media for years have
been showing images based on the principle of money and whatsoever surrounds
money as bringing happiness. Ninety-nine
percent of our media are motivated by advertisers, and the advertisers’ motives
are to get us to buy at any cost to us or even our lives.
It seems that the media fools people
in layers. Many who become attached to
the media think they’re “onto” the media’s game. But, often, they are just onto
the first layer of that game. A majority
of these “media powers” try to put on display their intentions to only sell a
product or service, creating thoughts that we should go out and buy this
product within a certain period of time, whether it is a week, a month, or when
a particular holiday comes around. This is just the first layer. The next layer
is when many of these advertisers and companies try to get us to believe that
we are buying from an independent sales person for a particular item.
The truth of both these layers is that
the majority of these companies are funding these advertisements are all on the
same team, whether they want to admit it or not. Also, they are not too concerned with selling
“this or that” product on a short-term sale.
What they are truly selling is a “psychology.” They’re selling a “mind moment,” and not for
a week or until the next holiday, but for the long-term or perhaps a lifetime
and even generation. They are focused on selling a psychology to be passed down
to our youth. Many of us are buying it
and instilling it in the youth on a daily basis. So we have been infected with this
psychology. Soon, we are working for
them, selling their psychology, and have become so attached that now we face an
addiction. Why do I call this an
addiction? If we stop, we may feel pain
from feeling “left out” and withdrawal because everyone else is “doing it.”
On a subliminal level, we might
believe that money brings people together because this is often the perception
of how to access interactions. I cannot
tell you how many gatherings I have been to where I overheard people talking
about “what so and so just bought” or “what we have not bought yet” and what we
think we can control. Sometimes, I wish
more people would talk about what is free and what we cannot control. That is
love and humanity.
We have bought into this psychology from
the media so habitually that we are attached to it because we have invested so
much time and money in it. We want a return on what we have invested. We are so worried about what we want and what
we will receive in return. So what is
our “return?” Our return is our youth
and the next generation.
Programming Power
Large numbers
of companies and advertisers have the money and power to hire some of the most
talented, creative, motivated, and intelligent people. They hire these people when they are in their
prime. Many have an abundance of energy
to pour into these companies. However,
many of these people might be in the prime of their energy, but some are not
necessarily in the prime of wisdom. I am
talking about a wisdom that has a social conscious to make choices with the
power given.
I
feel the power given is the power to program.
They have the power to program the places where everyone seems to be
looking and focusing their attentions.
It is a natural reaction for our eyes to be drawn to what is
illuminated. In our media-driven culture, the places that are mainly
illuminated are TVs, computer screens, and phones, etc. The power “they” are given is to dictate the
programming on TV, computers, and even our minds.
With TELEVISION -A Bite of Growth
Okay, so we
choose to sit down, relax, and watch TV.
I feel this is no different than if we choose to sit down at a
particular restaurant to have some food.
TV is serving us a bit of programming, commercials, or whatever is cooked
up, just as a restaurant is serving whatever they cook up. When we choose to
watch TV we sometimes know what is on, take what they give us, or scroll down
the program guide. The same goes for a
restaurant, but we usually scroll down a menu instead. Along the way, a waiter tries to sell us a
little more to drink or maybe a dessert or something to complement our
meal. When we are done, we pay the
check. As for TV, “the check” is the
cable bill and or the electricity bill or anything else associated. Then, we get up and leave the restaurant or
the couch.
The most powerful ingredient in the
media kitchen I speak of is the human being and how he or she is
perceived. With just one bite, it can
start growth. What message went to the brain that started the growth process? Millions of messages go to the brain;
therefore, the messages we receive are the ones the chefs have decided to cook
up. Love could grow, fear could grow,
hate could grow, joy could grow, and the possibilities are endless because
every human’s taste buds are so different.
Let’s say one bit equals one second. One of first things I learned in
“cooking school/film school” is that, for every one second of TV, there are
29.9 frames (or pictures). So, in that
one spoonful, there are almost 30 images to use. And just one of those thirty
ingredients can change the taste of what is being cooked up.
Has
someone ever asked you what you had for dinner last night and you could not
remember? What you should realize is that, even though you may have forgotten,
your body remembers because you are still digesting. TV can work in the same manner, but instead
of our bodies, it sits in our minds and spirits and can take some time to
digest.
What Did my Daughter Have for Dinner Last Night?
Years
back, my daughter’s mother had to work late, so she asked me to relieve the
baby sitter, put our daughter to bed, and wait until she got home from
work. When I arrived, my 5-year-old
daughter had a sassy, sarcastic, yet lovable attitude. (I have noticed more of this personality
blossoming over the last few weeks.) I
started getting her ready for bed when she asked, “Dad, can I watch ‘Raven?’”
“Who?” I said. “That’s So Raven. Mommy let’s me watch it.” I thought to myself,
“In mom’s house, it is mom’s rules.” I asked “Are you sure Mom lets you?” She said, “Yeah, can I please?” “Okay,” I said. “But just for a little while
because you need to take a bath.” As we
watched the show, I could not help thinking about the cooks in the kitchen as
they came up with this dish to serve.
Let
me try to flashback to when this dish was cooked up. In this case, the chefs
decided they needed a new dish on the children’s menu. Now, if the chef or the writer is really
creative, he or she will share ideas about a “new” dish. But, usually, someone
in the meeting will dig up some old recipe.
The executive will think, “The old recipe worked on some level before,
especially on the financial level.” Then they will turn to the writer to add a
different spin or twist to the old recipe.
This is usually the point where the “likes” will start to chime into the
kitchen. “What about something like this?” “What about something like that?”
Maybe the main character could be like a teenage girl that is like sassy,
sarcastic, yet lovable. Soon, they will
settle and decide what the flavor of the main ingredient will be. The staff gets to work preparing, seasoning,
and cooking, while the director cooks it up. The editor arranges it on a plate
and makes it look appetizing. Eventually,
the owners will give it a taste and comment on what they think should be
changed. A few more spices are added, and then the dish goes on the menu. And before you know, your kid will be on a
regular diet of sass, sarcasm, and lovable attitudes. Your daughter will speak, and you might ask
yourself, “Is that my daughter acting so sassy, sarcastic, and lovable?” And the answer to your question is: “That is
not my daughter… That’s So Raven.”
…
So, anyway, I watched the rest of the
show with my daughter and could hear the dialogue both her and Raven shared
over the last few weeks. I then gave her
a bath, read to her, told her a few of my own stories, and put her to bed. As I waited for her mother to come home, I
thought to myself of a time when I saw the same kind of thing happen but to
adults. What I’m talking about is when
people sound like a TV show they watch regularly, whether it is in their
vocabulary, phrasing, delivery, mannerisms, or tone of voice. In mid to late
nineties, the show Seinfeld was very popular.
I cannot tell you how many times or how many people I talked with that
made me feel like I was talking to someone on that TV show. Years later, I would talk to women and could
see which character in Sex and the City they admired and related to most. They sounded just like if I had turned on the
TV. Sure, at times, it was entertaining,
but that was the intention of the show. We seem to be putting too much pressure
on ourselves to always be entertaining and full of drama. Sometimes, it was disappointing knowing we
are created so unique and different, but so many of us are sounding the same
and may not even realize our individual blessings.
…
Later
that evening, my daughter’s mother came home, and I asked her, “I’m told its
okay for her to watch That’s So Raven. Is this true?" “Yeah,” she said. “I started letting her
watch it a few weeks ago. You just have to parent it.” I did not care to venture and ask what the phrase
“parent it” meant, but it felt like I was talking to the TV again.
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