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Post by thundertail on May 20, 2011 17:17:39 GMT -5
A MESSAGE TO THE WORLD
By: Timothy E. Smith
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~NOW~
Dear beloved readers,
The following pages contain my love and devotion to you as a people, you who are one of many; and those all over the world, from every country and from every culture and from every walk of life. The following pages are my contribution to enrich your lives and make better the strife that has plagued mankind since its' very beginnings. However, I must warn you that, even though this manuscript may make you think so; it is neither a religious book nor a revelation book in the sense that is so prevalent today. It does have underpinnings in these things, however; but it should not be considered in any way related to them. I merely gleaned the wisdom of these tomes and converted them into a way that is most coherent in most of today's societies. I feel that the reason why there is so much unrest in the world is because nobody really takes what was written in the past to heart any more; and are jaded by the way other people treat each other to such an extent that nobody believes anything any more. The wisdom of past days is indeed relevant in today's societies if one would care to take a look. This I have done, and thus is why I have created the words in the pages you are reading now. All through the ages, there have been people whose wisdom and intelligences have molded the way things are done on the earth; but they are few while their words are great, propagating their names being known in infamy. They have come in humble guises, speaking their wisdom before moving on with humble quiet or fanfaring throngs; and yet all of them told tales and spoke of things that no one could yet comprehend, making everything they said a further mystery. Those that had chosen to pen their wisdom often times gradually had their wisdom lost in the annals of tall tales, religions or other tomes of mystical prattle that often went lost to time; but this phenomena was generally caused by the mindset of the persons receiving these words, for most of the things 'wise men' and so called 'profits' profess are often lost on the intelligences of the every day man of their time. People of this day and age consider themselves more intelligent and worldly than those of former eras, and yet the things said of wisdom over the millennia are still lost to them; for they are so deeply entrenched in either their own trivial lives, or they are so jaded by life itself that the wisdom of the ages falls on deaf ears.
My dear readers, it is not my intent to regale you with wise words of wisdom; nor is it to coddle the truths that are so prevalent in today's society, for those things have already been done with little constructive consequences. My intentions are to convey the pure and simple truths, ones that will benefit the world; and to do all I can to make this world a better place to live in. I, as an individual, have great hope in the human spirit; and wish to help remedy the things in the world that make life so pointless. The only things, it seems to me, that creates such strife in the world today is the self-centered mindsets that many of us humans seem to cherish. Many are greedy toward material possessions and wealth while others are the opportunistic ones; whose intentions only concern themselves at the expense of others. Some are out for their own pleasure at the injury of the ones around them, and some strike out at others for the sake of their differences. Many cheat and many steal, even more simply just do not care about anything or any one; and these traits are the cancer of the human spirit. It is our resilience that is the backbone for all that we hold true, and my goal is to strengthen these virtues by bolstering the good and wholesome aspects of the human spirit; however, the mainstay of the virtues all humans have lie in themselves, and every single one of you has the power inside you to tap into it!
We as a race have granted ourselves a self-made right to the resources of this planet, for we consider ourselves the best creatures on it; and yet it is of our own folly that may be the cause for its' physical turmoil, even as our constantly escalating population increasingly depletes these resources. We are the most populous creatures on earth at the present, for there are more people alive right now then has ever lived since civilizations first began; and it is for that reason that we have such a mighty impact on the planet. We are the only creatures on earth that have a direct impact on the earth, and we willingly see that; but the greatest fact is that we have the power to do something about it. Yet we go about with a self-involved glaze over our eyes, seeing nothing but our own immediate concerns, and worrying about our own immediate future, caring about nothing but our own thoughts and superficial ideals. This way of thinking must change if we wish to survive in the long term, and we can certainly do nothing but perish possessing our current way of thinking; for our many societies' ideals and policies and cultures have the potential preponderance of sending us all down the path of certain doom and destruction! However, this need not have to happen; for we do indeed have the power to change our destinies. Being the best creatures on the planet like we claim, how could we do anything less! All that seems necessary to me is to change the way we think about the way we choose to live, to change our lives and to change the way we think; for nothing less will ever change the path we seem to have found ourselves on, and more of the same old way of thinking will certainly accelerate the process of civilizational disintegration. I suppose the main thing we should all begin to realize is that we alone are responsible for everything that goes on in our lives, and it is nobody's fault but our own when something goes wrong; thusly it is equally to our credit when we take the responsibility and do something right. We're responsible for the mess the world is in (If not by direct interaction, then by taking on the challenge anyway.), and it is our responsibility to remedy the world of it’s' troubles. Unfortunately, we can do a poor job at best in this endeavor with the mindset we have grown to have, and must change that mode of thinking in order to be as successful as we need to be.
We can surely make the world a place that is well worth living in, but first we must make the people better persons to live with. The wisdom of the past can do wonders to make this desire a reality, provided we have courage of the heart and strength of the soul to see it through. We must take on the challenge of change, first in ourselves and then in our environment, in order to make things better for us all; and though I alone can not mitigate these changes, it will be all of YOU to change yourselves and your lot in life. It will take courage, it will take soul-searching, it will take fortitude and it will take everything you have inside to change what needs to be changed; but if the human animal is as resilient as they think, then the challenges this change would not seem so bad!
My beloved readers, I have every confidence I possess that says you can do this; and my faith in you is like no other, my brothers and sisters in kind! If you're willing and if you are tired of things being as they are; this desire to change will grow until it is so big, you would feel there is no choice but to change! Together we can bring hope back to the people of the world, for if one is willing and eager enough for change; it will happen no matter how much those that want things to stay the same resist! Grand changes are looming on the horizon, as professed by seer, scholar and saint; but it is truly up to us to create the situations that would make those changes for the good or for the bad. That is why we must make this world a place well worth living in; because if we do not do anything, there would be no point in living at all!
May hope, peace and happiness go before you every day of your life; and may you spread hope, peace and happiness in your wake...
With my very best wishes and hopes...
~Timothy E. Smith~
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Post by thundertail on May 20, 2011 20:53:03 GMT -5
~ 5/21/11 ~
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Today, some people believe, is the end of the world; the start of the Apocalypse, the beginning of the end. Some hear the approaching hoofbeats and see the four horsemen getting near, and they fear that today is the last day of the world; but this is an event that had been predicted many times throughout history, and in all those times these ones were wrong. As far back as 1,000 A.D. many thought the coming of the Lord was nigh; and they soon saw that this was not the case, just like the ones that believed the end would be in the year 2,000 as well as those that say it will happen in 2012. The truth is that no mortal person can predict when Armageddon will happen, in fact those in Heaven do not know; for only the Lord knows the day and hour he will start the process, and it is said He will come 'as a thief in the night'! So, since no one can predict when the end of the world is, there's no point in saying it will happen on one day tha the other; it serves to reason that the end of the world WILL NOT happen today, no matter how much those that believe it to be so say it will.
But perhaps it would be more prudent to make today a day of reflection of ones' life, to think of all the good one had done in life; and to gain wisdom from all that one has done that is wrong, to see what it is that can be done to make things better for all. It would do everyone good if they pause today and purse the assets and defecits of thier lives, and to choose the paths that best suit one and all; for only we can make the difference in our own lifes, and we can come uo the ways that would make our lives better! Look upon the things that went wrong, the things you could have changed if you made greater effort; and those that you didn't and failed, and to learn from that error to make things better in the future. Think upon the persons you've hurt, either on purpose or by some mis-action; and think upon the possibility if such a thing was done to you, and you would see the importance of doing the right thing to others. If one can learn one thing from these circumstances as well as a multitude of others, we would soon become better people; and there would be less turnoil in the world, and this would make everybody a whole lot happier...
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T.E.S.
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Post by thundertail on May 21, 2011 14:29:12 GMT -5
~Retribution~
Today I spent in retrospect, thinking about all the things I have done and all the things I should have done but didn't. It took a long time, but there was a few things I began thinking as I sorted out my thoughts; and though i did all the things I did in my life, there truely ways to make them better had i thought them out a little bit better. I reached the conclusion that I could not change what i did in the past, I definitely can change things that will happen in the future. I resolved to treat everybody better, and to be more considerate of thier needs; and to convey myself in a better manner, no matter what the reaction to my kindness might be. I have had a lot of bad habits over the years, but quit drinking over a decade ago; and the one thing I still do that may be unclean or unhealthy is smoking - but today is the last day for that!
I spent the rest of my day to try to make ammends to all the people I have done wrong, spending many hours on the phone calling every friend I knew thier current number to. I called many of my friends, from old girlfriends I broke up with to friends in grade school I had gotten into a fist-fight with, and many of those I have had a falling-out with. Unfortunately most would not come to grips with me no matter how much I apologized, but some managed to look past thier anger of me to at least aopreciate my efforts of apology - and a mere few would even consider getting together with me again! It only goes to show you that if you lay it all on the line and be honest with the ones you care about, any mistakes you made with them can be overcome in time...
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~ A lesson...~
(Below is a passage written long ago.):
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In this day and age, most people only care about themselves; for their little world is all that seems to matter to them, and anything outside that falls beyond what they consider what they seem to be able to handle. Anyone or anything that does not directly effect their personal worlds makes no difference to them, and they just plain do not care in the least. This indifference leads to ignorance to what is going on in the world, and if people aren’t aware of the things going on around them; it is more than likely that things will sneak up to a person unawares, and do things to them without the least bit of warning! There are too few out there that can see the big picture, to see the forest for the trees; and these people of greater vision are not heard by those mundane people that only care about themselves, who are the people these people should listen to the hardest. One reason why they don't see the big picture is because they are only concerned about their little sphere of influence, the area where they seem to have the most amount of control; and they do not realize that the bigger spheres have a greater effect on their lives than the little spheres that they seem to control the best, and the areas they do not care about they leave for the people or groups that have more control on their lives than they do...
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T.E.S.
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Post by thundertail on May 22, 2011 4:52:08 GMT -5
~ The danger is past. ~ It is the day after the time when people claimed to be the end of the world, and we're still here. Like i said, no one can predict when this will take place; and only the deranged can think they can, and only fools tend to follow them. To tell you the truth, I was hoping the person that predicted this was right; for the world is in a sorry state indeed, and it would be cruel justice to have things all end like that! I am also glad that it didn't happen, for it gives us all a chance to start things with a fresh perspective; a second chance to do things right this time. Our only grace is if we can see the mistakes we have made in the past, and make efforts to try and correct them; and hopefully after that make the world a better place to live in, and make for ourselves a life that is well worth living... _____ ~ Guidelines ~ We live our lives and we try to be the best we can. We follow the rules and try to make things work out for us. We grow up, raise a family and eke out a living doing the things we're paid to do. All these things are all well and good; but somewhere along the line we have lost control over where we are going in life. We live in a nest and try to keep it as best as we can, for we are good little birds and want to do our best. But the only thing we do not realize is that we live in a cage, and we can not get out! It doesn't matter how pretty the cage may be; for gilding is only pretty stuff, and the bars underneath are just as hard to break free from! Look at your life. Are you where you want to be in it? Can you realistically see a way to get the things you want and need? Does it seem like there is too many unnecessary obstacles in the way of what you want? This is because you're trapped in a cage set up by others to keep you contained in the place where you are so you don't go interfering with what they want the world to be. They don't want you to have what you want, so they set up situations where there is no escape for you. They give you a job where you make a living - or not, for they don't care if you do or not - and make it so you can not get away from it and move up in the world. They make laws that tell you what you can't do, and punish you if you slip out of line in the slightest. One thing you can't do is improve yourself because they want to be the ones to improve - at your expense. They set up taxes to drain you out of the money you put your blood, sweat and tears into to get; and they leave you with very little to live on. This also drains you of funds you might need to improve yourself; but they don't care so long as they have the funds and you don't! But you're a good little bird in your gilded cage, acting content with your lot in life. You don't want the others to see that you don't like your situation, so you follow their laws and try not to rock the boat - maybe they won't notice you! You don't dare make a sound against them lest they hear. Then they'll come and make your life miserable! You just sit there and be happy because you have no choice in any matter of your life - for you gave in and let them run it for you. Little did you expect that if you never did anything about this situation, it would never change, and you would be stuck in your gilded cage for the rest of your life! If you are a REALLY good little birdy, they come by and feed you and tell you what a good little birdy you are. These rewards are sporadic at best, and only meant to keep you in your cage all that much longer. It makes you feel good to get all that praise, and makes you want to stay in your cage and be all that much better for them. But in reality, you're just doing it for them, and not for you! When they leave, you sing their praises and tell others how good you were treated by them. This is just what they want! They want you to stay in your cage and tell others to stay in their cages too - they might get praised too for being a good little birdy! _____ ~ Verse ~ "Far away goes the past"
In the long corridor of life, you look to where you're going. Seeds of past memories, keeps all your thoughts growing. Higher and better it seems, but nay as things remain the same. When does 'what is', become what 'once was'? Where does time go - far away goes the past.
Ne'er was the day for whom you could linger For all time goes by like the nothingness that it is. One couldn't make a minute go by faster or slower. No matter how hard we try it keeps on slipping by and by - far away goes the past. _____ T.E.S.
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Post by thundertail on May 23, 2011 5:12:49 GMT -5
~Explanations ~
My friends, I know I might come off like a real religious fanatic to some of you; but I am really not anything like that, just a good person seeing terrible things happening and want to try to do something about it. The previous posts (As well as the posts to come.) is not there to compel you into going to your church or anything like that, but to allow you to see that we are not the kinds of people we claim we are; and I'm only here to point out a few things, as well as to propose certain possible solutions to a few things. We think much of ourselves, a thing that in truth is lying to ourselves; rather we are tiny creatures at that, and have flaws just like any other creature. I think the only thing we can do if we want to become the greatest creatures that ever lived is to start ACTING like it, not to allow ourselves to let our minds and shortcomings rule our lives; but to run our lives by our hearts and by our virtues, and only this will allow us to become the greatest ever known.
I think the trick to doing this is to train our minds to think of only doing good things, and to curb our desires to those of which would only be beneficial to everybody including ourselves; like changing our vices to virtues, and our selfishness to selflessness. I think mankind is a lot better than we reveal to ourselves and others, and it is high time we prove it; for if we do not do it for our own benefit, then how can we prove to anybody that we are truly the children of our various gods - or show that we are truly creatures of worth to any other unknown form of life? Through the years mankind had tried to bring order to other people, through the birth of civilization to laws one must obey to religion of every sort; but none of this makes any difference unless we as individuals curb our desires of being anti-social and uncivilized, for it is not the entities that claim control over our lives that will change us, the only thing that will change us and make us better people is US!...
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T.E.S.
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Post by thundertail on May 23, 2011 19:46:02 GMT -5
~ On greed ~
Everybody wants more. It is only natural to want more than you already have, and devise ways to get what you want by any means possible. It is common in business as well as other institutions, and nobody seems to be immune to it. The reason for this lies in a time long before we became civilized, where one had to look for things needed to survive; and when such things were attained, one would continue to look for more. In the beginning such behavior was needed so one did not have to try so hard in the future to obtain what they needed, and such a feeling was good; but eventually we became obsessed what that feeling, and wanted it more and more!As this went on, and civilization soon manifested itself; we soon began to take from our neighbors, all without reguard on how that neighbor felt. I can see that greed has infiltrated everything known to man, but it is a natural part of human nature; all because it is easier to take, and the hardest thing in the world to give... _____
~ The solution ~
"Sweet is the smell of the hand that gives the rose..." The opposite of greed is generosity. it is the ability to give something to someone without compensation, and it really shows you care. The above saying comes from Eastern wisdom, and can mean that when you give something to someone; the feeling you get from the act is the reward, and it feels so good that it was well worth the thing you gave. One can be generous in other ways other than giving something to someone, it can be an act of kindness likr helping an elderly lady across the street; or it can be donating things to charities that help other people, and even giving blood to unknown patients from all over the world. Acts of kindness are as diverse as they are helpful to others, and they are well worth doing for others; for you would certainly like to have kind things being done to you, and thusly it would be prudent if you did kind things to others.
(I give things to others every single day, and I don't think there is a greedy bone in my body; even though I work to obtain what I need to live every single day, I make sure I am generous and helpful to others. I love writing, and I love when others read what I write; and on these forums I never expect anything from those who read these things save they like what they read, but I do not expect a penny from them nor comment. This is but another area of my generosity, to let you dear reader see what I think; and to enjoy it as well as I enjoy writing it, so I thank you...)
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T.E.S.
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Post by thundertail on May 25, 2011 4:53:19 GMT -5
~ Against human nature ~
Mankind has it's own way of doing things, and that is any way it wants. Any time someone thinks up a way to make life better through words, it goes against human nature; and it either goes ignored or humans file it away as something not of the world they live in, all because thay can not handle the truth. They never even try to do what the wisdom suggests, and say it is a product of a higher power; so they contribute it to thier local or current diety and worship it, but never in a million years would they actually heed what that wisdom is trying to teach them. This shame has been going on since the beginning od so-called civilization, but if one wopuld just open up thier eyes and see this wisdom was meant to be DONE and not WORSHIPPED; then the world would be a much better place to live in, and mankind would be much better creatures to live with...
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~Wise examples ~
~Take what you need, but give all you can.~ In life, there are many things that a person needs to survive and have a happy life, as there are many things that people want. There are many ways that people procure food, clothing and shelter; and sometimes they produce more of these things than they need. Some people say that life is full of give and take, and this saying says to give more than you take. I guess this saying means that, if you have more than you need, give it; and if you are lacking in the things you need, take it.
~Make life easier on others as it will make it easier on you.~ Everyone seeks convenience, the shortest route or the path of least resistence; and they would often chose the easiest course of action over all others. It would be wise to make life easier on everyone by smoothing the way behind you; like cleaning up after yourself or holding a door for the next person. This will facilitate kind actions done to you, and in the end, things would be made easier on you as well.
~It is the strong-willed soul that can take responsability for thier own lives.~ In the world there are leaders and followers, those that take action and those that wait for others to take action. It would be better for a person to take action for ones' own accord than rely on other peoples' initiative to start something. The person you are relying on may not care about your initiative, and initiate something that you are not willing to follow. If your own life means so much to you, then it is up to you to make the changes in it yourself, instead of relying on someone else. You must take the courage and responsability for it to make your life work out right.
~Treat every day like it is your last, you may be right!~ A person is only allotted so many years on this earth; and no matter what they do to make themselves look or feel younger, they can not make themselves live one second longer than is thier due. It is best to live for today and stop worrying how long a life you have, for it may be cut short any time; and all your efforts would go to waste. It is best that you enjoy the time you have left, but do not worry about dying; for this is a matter that is totally out of our realm of control.
~Anger is self-destructive.~ The many faces of anger are as diverse as they are dangerous. There is anger in the form of alienation of race, religon, governmental differences and personal rifts; along with a myriad of other reasons. What ever the causes of this anger may be, the only real one who is hurt by these angers are the ones posessed by these angers. It is always wise to fully understand what makes you angry before reacting to it, for if you do not contain that anger, it could result in unsavory consequences. Similar sayings concerning this are many: 'Those who live by the sword die by the sword', among others.
~The human values of faith, hope, charity and trust; is lost to man these days, and needs to be rediscovered.~ I can not say this too many times, that the values mankind lives by these days are completely the opposite of what they should be. Today we live in an age of turmoil and strife. It is all because mankind lacks the faith in itself to do a good job in life, and has no hope in seeing things improve. Everyone is stingy and selfish, and lacks faith in others to do what needs to be done. If we trade these negative traits with the ones of good, then all mankind will be able to advance beyond what it is capable of today.
~The way to greatness is by performing humble deeds.~ Everyone thinks that what they do in life is more important than what other people do, from being the leader of a country to the garbage collector of that country. Each job ever made is important to the rest of society, no matter how big or small; and one should be proud of what you do no matter how big or small. Even the smallest bit of work or the most menial task gives benefit to all concerned, so it is not so demeaning that one could not find some pride in it. If one can grasp that wisdom as they perform thier task, then that is the beginnings of the greatest of wisdom.
~Things become clearer when you are calmer.~ Anger, excitement and agitation are very strong states of mind, and little can be done while one is in thier throes. One can not think of what they are doing as these things are going on, and one must calm down somewhat to see just what is happening. Once peace reigns the brain again, only then can things become clear.
~Treat others as you want them to treat you.~ This saying has been said many times, and in many ways; but it is a credo that can not be said too many times. We tend to do things to others without considering the impact that deed has on others, and yet we wonder why others do untoward things to us. What is good for one is good for another, and the opposite is doubly true; because if you do not want others to do bad things to you, do not do bad things to others. It is a simple rule that, if followed by every living person, nothing bad will happen to anybody at all.
~To gain what you need, you must first seek it.~ Good things do not often come to you, no matter how patient you happen to be; and things do not automatically drop in your lap just because you want it to. It is sometimes necesary to actually go out and find the thing that you want, to take that trip and go on that quest; a task that only you must do. We are forever looking for the things we need, and only a fool stays in one place and hope for what they need to arrive.
~Fear of the unknown is the fear of oneself.~ There is many things that can frighten us, some can literally posess us with fear; and this fear can prevent us from doing the things we know we must. Fear, like any other emotion, is of the mind; and the mind can be controlled, provided one is of the right spirit to try. Some fears spring from certain inadequacies that we perceive of ourselves, and is transmitted onto something tangable around us; but if one has strength of the spirit, they can see what it is that bothers them, and gradually the fears one has will subside.
~Seek simple joy in simple achievement.~ The simple things in life are not to be taken for granted, and neither should simple deeds; for both things have significance in the world, no matter how small they are. A child finds great joy in tying thier own shoes for the first time, and a bird takes great pride in thier first solo flight from the nest. Both these things, along with a multitude of other simple tasks, lead on to even greater achievements; and should be taken with as much pride as the grander tasks.
~The world is cold and impersonal, and does not owe any of us any favors.~ The world is just a thing, pure and simple. It does not bear a soul or a conciouseness; or have any attributes that mankind places upon it. It is merely a remnant from the creation of the solar system; and had the luck of manifesting life on its' surface. It does not have intellegence to care about us or any other living thing within it, for it merely exists; and about all we are, along with every other life form upon it, it cares not.
~Even bad people can do good things.~ Everyone tends to be beneficial to thier own kind, whether they be rich or poor, good or bad. Everyone that has a family would want to do good things for them, and even those people consider bad can be basically good at heart. Even people in prison has a family, and they would not want to do anything to harm them; thusly the loved ones of prisoners would want to visit them there. We should not judge others as bad, as they have thier own kind, and care about them very much.
~Learn from failure, and be humble in success.~ Life is just full of successes and failures, and one can gain wisdom from both with the right frame of mind. Do not dispair in failure, for it is only a mistake. Instead seek the wisdom that failure could reveal, and show the courage to try again. Do not gloat in success, for success is fleeting, and your fame will only last a little while. Instead accept the success meekly, and encourage others to be just as successful.
~It is best to know a little about everything than everything about one thing.~ It is beneficial to be professional in what you do, but it limits a person if you only know how to do one thing. It is so much better and useful if one knew a diverse amount of things. That way a person can do much more than just one thing.
~The pursuit of the gain in wealth is a futile endeavor; for once you have achieved it, that will be all you have.~ In today's society one finds it difficult to do anything without money. Some take the pursuit of it to the extreme, and would do anything for it's procurement. But the saying states that too much of anything is not necesarilly a good thing. Money is the middleman between what you earn and what you need, and not really worth anything in and of itself. But if one pursues money with tenacity and greed, spending all ones' fortitude on it; and finally has all they could possibly want, it will be all they have.
~It is wise to realise that we only live a short time on this world, and that we are only borrowing the things we use.~ Every living thing has only so much time alive, the span of life that each is destined to live. Life is too short to spend it in procurement of things we want. When a living thing dies, nothing they procure can be taken with them in death; and is still left on earth for the next one to have. The life force that we are is only borrowing the matter it uses, from the very atoms that make up the body to the air and food that is consumed; and once that life force is extinguished, that life force can not have it any more.
~Harmony appears when pure simplicity is achieved.~ The life of the newborn meets with the big, bright, miraculous world; thier minds are filled with wonder at the miracles they witness. It is wise to feel small compared to the greatness all around us. It makes one feel special and overwhelmed. One should look at life like they were a child, for the wonders one witnesses brings harmony to the soul.
~The thing that is better on the other side of the fence pales in comparason to what one can attain for himself.~ Everyone sees what the other person has, and sometimes they try to have it for themselves; either by procuring similar items, making deals for those items from their neighbor or coveting these things so much one is tempted to perform underhanded means to get the item. Having what someone else has is not as rewarding as going out and getting your own things, and to covet these things is where the true treasure of life resides.
~Respect others: thier thoughts, traditions, beliefs and theirselves.~ Everyone requests respect in one way or another, but people sometimes fail in respecting what others think on a broad range of subjects. Peoples' thoughts make up a majority of reasons why people do not like other people, as everyone criticises what everyone else thinks; and this can cause tremendous turmoil in the world. What causes even more strife is the way people treat the ways of others' beliefs, for religon and philosophy makes up the majority of the social structure that is the backbone of many societies. Everyone thinks that the way they believe is the only way, and anybody who does not believe EXACTLY they way they do are going to Hell or some similar place; and these people try to convert what the others believe into thier version of religon, never really respecting what thier neighbors believed in the first place - so how can they expect them to believe in what they say either? From all over the world, many cultures have brought forth countless ways of living, and many traditions and holidays that people observe in a myriad of ways. Those of different traditions see these goings on as strange and unusual, scandalous in any case; but if these people would see that thier own traditions would seem strange to others, then they would show a little more respect to people of other traditions. People do not respect other people as a rule, for they see every other person on the planet as different; and an abomination to thier senses and feelings in one way or another. What everyone fails to see is that it is the differences in every individual person that makes this planet and its' people unique in all of creation, and all these differences should be embraced, respected and encouraged.
~Take pride in achievements both large and small.~ Any deed done is one of achievement, and whether they be large or small, trivial or profound, they are all beneficial to you or to someone else. When a child learns how to take care of himself, it makes that child feel pretty good about himself; and when the general wins peace for his country, that is an achievement beneficial to all. Both deeds have merit, both for the one that did it and the ones that it would ultimately effect; and each deed is one of success, and should be given the accolades worthy of such a task. Things like this should be taken pride in.
~It is the weak-willed soul that can not take responsability for thier own lives.~ Some people need leadership, and do not have the courage of the heart to take on life's challenges by themselves. They seek advice and request others to take control of thier lives. These poor people have not sought out the fire that is in everyobnes' hearts that command action for them; and until they do, thier lives will always lack the thing that makes an indepentant human being a force to contend with. It would be better that they seek that fire, and will it to the surface so they can have the kind of life that everyone deserves.
~Think ahead to others' priorities and your priorities will be fulfilled.~ Everyone has things that they need to be done, priorities that are imperative for each individual. These are so important to the individual that the priorities of others seem to pale in significence, but sometimes ones' priorities are too large to handle on thier own. In other cases ones' priorities are small enough to be completed quickly, which runs the risk of having this individual have too much time on his or her hands. This person would be much better off helping the other to do thier task than sitting there being bored! Besides, the other persons' priority might end up being helpful to the helper.
~When all is in harmony, then the world will be at peace.~ It seems the most impossible task for everybody to get along in the world we have today, and that is because we can not stand each other's differences. I'm sure it would be easy to say that if we were all exactly the same, then no strife would ever occur; but that is an unfair acessment of the human condition, and a cop-out besides! Truth be known, we should all try to get along DESPITE our differences; to put aside our dislike of others and make this world one that peace and harmony would reign.
~To perservere for ones' own gain is an excercise in foolishness.~ The selfish acts of greed and deceit are acts that erode moral order and rob humans of thier humanity. Those that practice this are no more than animals, only out for themselves and not caring about the welfare of others. If they continue to do this, they will ruin everything for everyone else; and prove to many that this practice is an act of sheer foolishness. What these greedy and selfish people should do is cease this henous practice and be kinder and more generous.
~Encourage wisdom and instruct the ignorant.~ Wise people have all of what it takes to manage thier world and make life easier for others. Thier insight and astuteness in matters as diverse as thier intellegence can really help get things done in the world. These are the ones who need to instruct the ignorant in the world, and help them from making all the mistakes they are making; for the unwise decisions that most people make are destroying the world, and negating social order in the scheme of the world.
~There is no greater power than the power of forgiveness.~ Forgiveness is a divine gift dispatched by the few, and given out only sparingly these days. The laws we currently use forbid forgiveness in general, and deny us the right to forgive others because of the law's weight. People find it impossible to forgive others thier transgressions because people generally do not trust other people, but if we could only find it within ourselves to trust other people, we would also have the power to forgive them if they make a mistake. There also enters into the equation of the degree of mistake made, and the demeanor of the one doing the forgiving; but if the offended were noble about the affair and the offendee were earnest in thier apology, then an amicable agreement could be worked out. If all people were honorable and noble, then forgiveness would come easier, and the world would suffer less unease.
~Do not be afraid of trying something new, for new experiences breed new opportunities.~ Many people believe that what they do is good enough in life, and find it difficult or inconvenient to do anything out of the ordinary for them. They feel it unusual or uncalled for to do anything that is out of thier realm of habit, or they feel it not worth the effort to do anything that is out of the zones they feel comfortable in. These are the people who are afraid to change, to do anything that they think they can not do. The truth is that anybody can do anything, no matter if they have done it before or not! Think of the possibilities that life has to offer, for those possibilities give one the opportunity to expand ones' horizons; and make one feel that the sky is the limit in the scheme of life. The only thing holding one back in the scheme of things is yourself, so it is unwise to be afraid of trying something new.
~Wake today with the knowledge that life is full of wonders!~ Every day is full of new hope, new wonders and new experiences; and one should be glad to meet each day, humble in the knowledge that these things are just waiting for you to meet them as soon as you open your eyes each morning. Think of yourself as being born again each time you wake, new to the experiences you are about to face; and be excited at the challenges that await you as you go through your day, not really sure if you can meet them or not. We are creatures on a wonderful world, full of hope and challenge; and if one can see the day as meekly as a child can, then we see the true miracle of life.
~The unfettered thought is the wings of a free spirit.~ Nearly everyone has to think of things in order to organize thier lives, and sometimes these thoughts rage through ones' mind every moment of the day. There are worries that can not be ignored, plans that must see fruition, deadlines for things that must happen, concerns of family and friends that wander among the other thoughts and others stray thoughts that just get in the way of all the rest. The mind thinks of many thousands of things a day, and the turmoil in ones' mind this creates makes one usually think one is going insane. Life in this day and age creates worrys and stresses that wear on a person's mind like water against the earth; eroding thought like carving a canyon in the brain. It seems like the only time we have relief from all this stress is when we sleep, when the mind is feeed from the constraints it is under in the waking world. The wisest truth is that one can free oneself from thought bound by the constraints of the waking world while one is awake; even if it is only momentary, the fleetingest of moments can work wonders! One must clear ones' mind from time to time, all the things it is thinking at the time; and delve deep into ones' concious, where the center of your being lies. There you take breaths and pause, and soon you feel the calm waiting for you; and your whole perspective on things changes into one of well being and goodwill. Once this practice is done and perfected, the spirit is free to fly to where it may; and upon returning, the person is more ready to continue his own busy life.
~A healthy body is the image of a healthy spirit.~ To be healthy is the hallmark to a long, fruitful life; and to have a healthy body, one must also have a healthy mind. To use the healthy mind to help the body, it must employ healthy habits, and use that regemin to train the body in they ways of being healthy. To help the mind do this for the body, the spirit must also be healthy; full of vigor and showing no unhealthy tendancies, leading the mind to think healthy thoughts. Once all this is achieved and everything is going smoothly, then the whole being can live forever, and the spirit can soar to the highest levels.
~To mind ones' own affairs is the epitomy of wisdom.~ Everyone has things they do in private, things that they would preferr everyone not know about; and sometimes they have private business that they do out in public, which they wish no one take any mind to. There are those who think it is thier duty to watch others and see what they do, to tell thier findings to others which is really not thier business to tell. They tell it to either gain favor with others, to hurt those they have spied upon or just because they have nothing better to do. This practice is rude and pervasive as far as I am concerned, and it is done by people who think thier affairs are immune to criticism while those they spy upon are fair game for public scandal. It would be much wiser for these people to tend to thier own things and stop being so interested in others. That way they can perfect thier own affairs while leaving thier victims free to perfect thiers as well.
~A lie is like a strangling vine, growing wherever it may; and often showing up in the most unwanted places!~ A lie is such a little thing, a small untruth that can be easily said; but one that is said in the wrong place or at the wrong time can be a very dangerous thing indeed! When someone hears it and acts based on this misinformation, a whole slew of problems can arise; and if this lie spreads to the wrong people, angers flare and misunderstanding spreads out of control. If people find out who started the lie in the first place, it could come back around to the perpetrator of the lie; and that one would ultimately be held responsable for the consequences of the lie. It is for this reason that people should not lie in the first place; but as I've stated, lies are such little things, and humans find it easy to do this!
~Being among company and sharing thier comeraderie is the wellhead of social interaction.~ Human beings are naturally social creatures. They need to always be among others of thier own kind, and share thier experiences with others; sharing thier joys and woes with thier own kin. This behaviour binds all of humanity with itself, and builds social moral in every facet in the spectrum. The disappointing aspect of this behaviour is people tends to congregate with ones of thier own kind, and not with others who are very different. If one would socialise with others besides ones of related origin, then all mankind could live as one in peace and harmony.
~Honor of the heart allows us to reach for the farthest star.~ There is one thing lacking in most people, and that is the sense of moral integrity. If one had honor of the heart, one could do almost anything; for thier spirits would be endowed with riteouseness and the drive to do anything his spirit thought was best. It takes knowing oneself, respecting ones' integrity and honoring ones' own intentions; and even though one may already realise such things, it is up to the mind to rationalise such actions. Only then would a person be able to realise anything humanly possible.
~The conjuring of a unique idea is like unearthing a valuable artifact, for everyone benefits when they are brought to light.~ Everyone has thoughts that just pop into ones' heads, and most of the time they are of the frivolous kind. Things like which type of candy bar one wants or something even sillier, and they are all meant to keep the brain amused, I guess. The most profound thoughts bring about the most amazing ideas, and some of these ideas would be so ground breaking that one would have to tell someone else about it. Maybe it is an idea to improve an existing thing, or maybe it is an idea to create a whole new concept of doing something; but if this idea is good enough, people will marvel at it and wonder why it hadn't been thought of before. Just like when King Tut's tomb was discovered with all its' artifacts, which put the study of Egyptian history ahead many generations and allowed us to see just what it was like back then; a groundbreaking idea or profound thought can change the world's perspective of itself.
~Deeds of dastardly intent weigh more gravely on a mans' soul than ones of kindness.~ When you are good and kind, all think the best in the world of you; and your concious thinks nothing better of you. You go around thinking of others and do your best for them, and all is right within your soul. But those that are mean, nasty and selfish are thought bad of; and this should bother that person to no end! It is he that would have to pay for that demeanor in the end, for if he cared for nobody but himself, then nobody would care for him. His concious would be in turmoil, and his mind would wander the corridors of his lonliness and misery; and the guilt that this creates would make him one miserable man indeed!.
~Gossip, if said judiciously, spreads news and informs the masses; but mishandled gossip corrodes social order.~ Gossip is like news generally spread by mouth, and is similar to the news presented in all its' forms today; but gossip is a word usually ascociated with slanderous talk whispered between individuals meant to spread rumors about the person of subject. Some gossip can be a good thing, telling of how a person did this or that good thing; but gossip meant to belittle and discredit others is hurtful to others, and it discredits both the person in question as well as those who say it and those who hear it.
~It is an honorable person who relinquishes position to accomodate another.~ To have ones' place is what everyone strives for, and it is a right attainable to those who seek it. Ones who have found thier place should not feel superior to those who have not; moreover, they should assist the unfortunate one to gain thier place. It would be the highest honor if one would do the noble thing and relinquish his place to help out another. I think it means that we must help those of lesser status than us to attain the things we have already, and not take those things for granted; for we were once in thier position not so long ago.
~A kind word every now and then greases the wheels of achievement.~ Everyone has a job to do, one they do every day. It is good to hear a compliment every once in a while, for it makes one feel appreciated and our work actually means something to someone else. It also gives one incentive to try a little harder, so you would receive compliments again. I think it is wonderful that people give compliments to others every once in a while, and it is even better to get one every once in a while too!.
~Acts of kindness breeds like acts in turn.~ There are many tales of people acting kind to another person in need, and that person doing likewise to this person in turn when the chips were down. I think that if everyone does kind things to everyone else, then one would receive kind acts back. The world would be so full of people doing kind things to one another that all the strife that people go through at the hands of others would cease to exist. I always try to do at least one act of kindness to another every day. I know from the acts of kindness I get back means that this code of conduct actually works!
~Hope of the heart is the elixer of the soul.~ Who hasn't heard of the saying 'Where there's life, there's hope'? I can say that the opposite saying is true too; for if you do not have hope, you have no reason to go on living. Lack of hope erodes the spirit, and depresses the mind so one can not even think. Those who suffer chronic depression have lost all thier hope, and cling to the ways of thier past that has robbed them of it. Everyone must realise that things change, and the bad things that rob you of hope is just a temporary thing. There is a saying where I come from, saying 'If you don't like the weather, wait a minute.'; and the same thing can be said of the bad things that have stolen your hope, for bad times are only temporary. One should wish on the hope to come, and take joy in that; because certainly good things will come about - sooner or later!
~A closed mind betrays a soul that is in turmoil, like the world in the throes of winter.~ Everyone has thier right to privacy, speaking only when they want and expressing themselves in ways that they want. Sometimes people can tell how someone is feeling by the way the other is conducting themselves; but sometimes the person is so troubled that they do not express it, even though the feeling needs so desperately to come out. The person may feel so bad that they feel that no other can understand, and shuns any type of companionship. The desolate one remains so, however; and soon the person feels cold and jaded to others. I think it is imperative that this person tell another how they feel as soon as they can face the trouble, and upon telling the person would feel that much better...
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T.E.S.
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Post by thundertail on May 26, 2011 19:26:43 GMT -5
~ 10/21/11 ~
As strange as it may seem, the one who predicted the Rapture would be on May 21 has just predicted it to be on October 21 instead; saying that he made a mistake in his calculations (Did he forget to carry the one?...), and still persists to profess the end of the world! Like I said, no mortal man or anyone else can know the exact time the Lord will come; and no one is meant to figure it out; and it certainly can't be done by any kind of mathematical or other metod, no matter how much one believes it can be deciphered that way. Someone who does things like that, second-guessing the Lord, acts very confused; and such a thing is practically a sin, and he should stop. I mean, think of all his people who donated all that money to advertise this event; what would they think of thier spiritual leader now, practically swindling them of all thier money for an event that never happened? What would they think if thier leader predicted it again? Would they still believe him, or would they laugh at him and walk away, saying he was crazy? I for one wouldn't blame them a bit for doing and thinking that; for even though I give everyone the benefit of the doubt, I immediatelt have my second doubts about them as soon as they did me wrong! I am not saying that the Rapture will not come, in fact I know it will; but it won't happen when someone like us say it will, it will take us completely by suprise!
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~ It's for our own good ~
What mankind deserves the most is a way to live their lives they way they want to live, the way they have the right to live; a life that is well worth living. If one were to look at ones' own life, they would see what motivates them from day to day; and if they saw how it made them look to others, they would turn away in revulsion! No longer are we motivated by family or friends, which are the traditional center point of our lives. Instead we go about seeking money or political favoritism, or any combination of negative motivations that have tainted our lives and jaded us against living the real life. The thing is we are so used to doing these negative things, we are blind to the positive motivations of trust, honor, love and hope. Throughout history religions have tried to mold us into being good people through its' dogmas and guilt. I would say that is high time we started trying to be good for OUR OWN good!
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T.E.S.
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Post by thundertail on May 27, 2011 18:07:35 GMT -5
~ A better society ~
I guess the most important thing for making a brand new society is to have the people be of the right frame of mind. Our children and ourselves must be carefully taught the philosophy of living totally for the good of the whole, and have the highest commitment possible to make the community work. They must no longer think as they do in the society that is around today. Greed and selfishness must be a thing of the past, and they must forget their untoward thoughts and actions against one another. Minor disputes must be resolved between both parties, and wisdom and humility must be used to resolve these disputes. It would be better if the people were wise enough not to get into these disputes in the first place; and with this type of society, things like that would eventually never happen.
This society must remember that we are setting an example for the rest of the world, and we are going to show them that people of every walk of life can coexist in peace and harmony. We will show them that people can live without money, and do it in a way that is not detrimental to the environment or wasteful of our resources. We are going to show them that we can live independently of any outside influence, and do it in a way that they could do as well; provided that they wish to make the commitment and do it too.
The civilization I foresee will be a challenge at best, for one so difficult is most unused to for people of this day and age. It will entail society to go back to its' roots, and be subjugated to grueling labor to eke out a living from the land. The reason for this is because the energy demands today's society demands from our resources is depleting them at an alarming rate, and pretty soon those resources will not be with us any more. We must learn to adapt our ways, and return to a simpler form of existence; for if we do not, the way of life we so love will no longer work, and we will be as lost babies in the wilderness the world will soon become.
It will take not only great feats of ingenuity to overcome this dilemma, and infallible wisdom to seek our place in this new world; but the fact remains that we no longer have either in order for us to survive it at all! Wisdom can come in all shapes, sizes and can be about anything; from the way to think of life and living to where and when to plant a certain kind of crop. We must be carefully taught to be wise and smart in all endeavors, and to help others along that road of wisdom; for if we don't stop and think of what we are doing RIGHT NOW, then all hope for the survival of mankind is lost!
Since the human race is overpopulated as it is, I think that the rearing of our young should be seriously taken into consideration. Our proclivity and promiscuousness urges us to reproduce all the time; but it is that very same nature that is causing great strain on our resources, and a better way to handle such matters must be employed. One simple way would be abstinence, and careful instruction to the younger adults in such matters; but as humans will be humans, it will be the hardest thing of all to keep everyone in line!
Living in this new civilization will mean one has to give up all they knew about living in the modern world, and sacrifice all that they have been trying to achieve the other way. One would have to unlearn all they have learned about living in modern society, and be taught this new way, which is as old as when mankind first stepped down from the trees. We are now at a crossroads in civilization. One where we must decide whether or not to go on as we have been going, and run the risk of destroying the planet along with ourselves; or choose a different path, one that will lead to peace among ourselves and the other living things on the planet. Only we can make this decision, and only we must make an account for the consequences of this decision; for we consider ourselves intelligent and wise, and only creatures such as that have such an obligation.
It takes strength of the soul to live as we do, the quality deep within us that guides us and convinces us that we actually can make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. It takes faith in ourselves and in what we are doing to make our way in this new civilization; for after the governments that we have put into power fails, we are the only ones left. It takes moral fortitude and a keen sense of justice for all things on earth to be able to survive in these days, and more so when you divorce yourself from all that you had known. It takes sharing and caring, giving and not expecting back, minding all that goes on about you and minding those that you encounter. It takes loving and nurturing all people and all living things, and having a sense of the greater thing that you are a part of.
No more should the world be subject to greedy endeavors, or should people live and run their business solely for the good of themselves. For one to survive in this world, all must endeavor for the good of everyone on the planet or that individual will fail as well. No one person's say will be the norm, and all will be entitled to suggest; for there will be no such leadership like that which has ravaged the world in the past. One thing I know is this: we are going to do things different this time around, of this it is a certainty!
We have a job to do right now, and it is a job that should have been started generations ago; but our greed and sense of uncaring ruled our hearts with such an iron hand that it blinded us from our true path, and led us down the one that will lead to our destruction. I can see it in the distance ahead, the glow of an amber fire that will consume us if we don't turn away; and yet its' echoes beckon us ever closer to it's dooming light like a moth to a flame. Are we to continue on, or back away from this destruction? The choice is ultimately ours, but we must first make sure to make the right decision; and I feel that continuing as we have done is definitely the wrong one! It would be best that all humans forget the ways that has led us to this crossroads and begin life anew in the ways in which we were meant to have - the life that is well worth living...
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~ The decisions we make. ~
These are the things that determine how our lives will be. They determine whether we will have a good life or a bad one, and these decisions also have an effect on those around us; whether or not they will have a good life or a bad life, just as their decisions have the same effect on us. Before humans became civilized, we thought as the animals think; seeking out only what was good for oneself, or only thinking of what was good for their separate group. We think much the same way today, each and every one of us are only out for number one; and nearly everyone thinks the same way, without care for those around us. If one had a mind to see it, they would see what this mindset is doing to everyone; they would see that every uncaring thought we have against one another degrades the human spirit, and makes others think you are just no good! Are you good deep inside or are you not? Do you care about anybody else but yourself? Perhaps one should ask oneself this: do you want people to think you’re good inside, and do you want other people to care about YOU? That is the reason why we NEED to be good and helpful to others, for if we are not nobody else will be thusly to us. We need to make the decision to do good for the good of all, otherwise there will be no good in the entire world; and the saddest part of it is it is OUR decision, the one we should make but we do not. We should make the decision to start treating others like we would wish to be treated, and the decision to make the world the way we wished it was before mankind showed up and is ruining it. Though it is true that to make our lives better for ourselves by exploiting those around us and even the world itself, we are doing the world and those around us no favors by acting the way we do; but this is a decision we made, and we are now doomed to see it through to the end - which could quite probably be sooner than anyone thinks! But don’t be as worried as you should be, for we still have a decision in all this; for we CAN do the right thing and set things right, however we should make that decision soon before it is too late!
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T.E.S.
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Post by thundertail on May 28, 2011 18:41:32 GMT -5
~ Strength of the heart. ~ Even though this verse is not my own, one can draw a lot of inspiration from it. Lyrics like this can raise you up and make one think they can do anything. The impossible becomes possible and the inconceivable becomes clear. If everyone had such confidence that these words imply, then we all can change the world for the good. Remember my friends, if you have enough confidence within you; you can do anything you set your mind to, but please make sure that what you do is for the good!… _ It's been a long road Getting from there to here It's been a long time But my time is finally here And I will see my dreams come alive at night I will touch the sky And they're not going to hold me down no more No they're not going to change my mind 'Cause I've got faith of the heart I'm going where my heart will take me I've got faith to believe I can do anything I've got strength of the soul No one's going to bend nor break me I can reach any star, I've got faith I've got faith, faith of the heart ~ Theme from: ‘Star Trek: Enterprise’. ~ (Yes, I know this is the theme song for an offshoot for a well-used science/fiction television program; but the music was very uplifting, even though the show itself was not!) _____ ~ More of greed, and the need of more. ~ It is well known that people need things to live, for it is essential for our survival to have things we need to live. As we grow in the material things we have, there is always the want of more; whether it be in goods or the money to procure such goods. In this society we value money as a means to get what we need and want, and it is the pursuit of this commodity of money that is fueling our downfall. Some say that making money is the only game in town, but are we really sure that this course of action is a wise one? The making of money and big business is killing our society, whether we choose to come to grips with this problem or not. The pursuit of money is making us squander our rescourses at an alarming rate, and if we don’t take measures to slow and halt this process we will have nothing left! Big business surely doesn’t care, for all it cares about is making more and more money. Big business is killing us by making things so expensive we can nor even afford the things we need to live in the way we are accustomed to, but they don’t care so long as they are making a profit at our expense! Those in big business is not aware that if they keep on charging so much for things that it would make it impossible for any of us to live, for all they care about is money. They do not know that if they keep on doing what they are doing there will be nothing left at all; and this includes money as that would disappear too, and all they would have left is greed… _____ T.E.S
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Post by thundertail on May 29, 2011 16:43:23 GMT -5
~ The right to rule ourselves. ~
Like the first letter of every sentence, society tends to think it is more important than it really is; instead of taking its' role on the earth into perspective, which is just a way to govern our masses. Of course, it was supposed that this was necessary as mankind's population grew; for the procuring and dispersal of commodities to the people had to be a major concern; and someone had to govern that aspect of society. However, as far as this planet is concerned, we humans are just another life form, one that has somehow evolved into what it is, which is presumably the most intelligent creatures that ever evolved. Even so, we are no more important than a fern or fish to the Earth; it really doesn't care who we are or what we think we are. Yet it is us that had the audacity to think we have the power and responsibility to change the world with our industries and other doings. If the truth were known, if we as a race were to ever disappear from the earth; the other life forms would hardly miss us, and retake the earth in a short period of time.
It is not our right to go about like we own the place and nearly ruining the Earth with the products of our endeavors! The other plants and animals don't do this - what makes us think that we can? How can man think that they are greater than all the life on this planet when we have no real special physical abilities? Just because we claim to be smarter than all the rest doesn't mean that we are wiser that even the simplest life form! If we were so smart our society wouldn't be so vulnerable to our own folly. I think that we have become too big for the planet that supports us, the way we squander things and make the rest of the life forms on the planet suffer. I think that we should move away to another world that can handle this brash, insensitive race of 'fighting monkeys' - if such a planet exists that would have us! But even as I speak, I know that humans will not survive to fulfill this supposed goal. We are too set in our ways of squandering and skullduggery to focus on our own future survival! This type of thinking MUST end if humans are to survive as a species.
We call ourselves the greatest species to ever walk the earth; how great can it be when we possess the keys to our own self destruction? Do we also have the wisdom to possess the keys to our own salvation? Which of the two shall we choose to use? I know that we shall use the keys to whichever way we choose, but to choose the right way; well that's the big question, isn't it? I think it would be prudent if a superior being would step in and make us do the right thing, for we haven't the wisdom to choose the right way of survival for ourselves. We are too immature as a species to run our own destinies because we just don't have the brains for it! I think it would be wise if we swallowed our collective prides and see to wisdom that can lead to our own survival, instead of concentrating on how to be better than everybody else in one way or another.
In a way, higher beings have tried to help us, whether It be real or imagined by the ones perceiving them. Inspiration was sent to many men and women throughout recorded civilization, professing a better way to live and a more peaceful method of the spirit. They have said their revelations came from a higher being, yet these preaching’s depict better methods of living and wisdom to battle nearly every type of strife; and leaving miracles aside, these prophets eloquently dictate their way that other people should live their lives. If only the people would listen to these people, their words instead of their miracles; for the wisdom of living ones' lives prove far more important than the miraculous beings they got that wisdom from. It's much better to live a good life than to worship a deity; for it is more feasible to correct our mistakes than to please a God, at least our lives we can do something about!... _____
~ Good, bad or necessary? ~
Everyone on Earth seems to have a sense of right and wrong, and to know what is good for them; a gift, and yet a selfish gift. A child knows that a trip to the Ice Cream parlor is good while falling and skinning a knee is bad. An adult knows that getting a bill in the mail is bad while receiving a check on payday is good. Everyone knows what's good for them, but nobody can seem to perceive what is good for us as a whole. It is not necessarily a good thing to only get what is good for you, for what may be good for you is not necessarily good for others. There are other people to consider in every good and bad thing that comes your way; and if things don't go right for them too, then things will become very bad for all. This, I fear, is right around the corner for mankind, that humanity will spiral down the road to turmoil.
I think it is best if people not try to seek out the pleasures that this life has to offer, for pleasures have a habit of finding you when you least expect it anyway. They may be there, but only for a moment and then they're gone; for nothing good ever lasts forever, especially if they are the ones you are actually out seeking. If you are thirsty and procure some water, once you drink it there is no more; and the same goes with food when you're hungry. True, the reason why you needed the water and food is gone too; but all too soon that thirst and hunger returns. That should not be the way on this earth, but all too often it is; for there are those that have and those that have not, and the have's would rather not share with the have-not's. I think it is better if one strives for the passions of the heart, for those passions can last a lifetime! If one has a love and he or she loves you, then both are in bliss for the rest of their lives! However, even the passions of the heart only last a lifetime, then one or both dies; sending the one who survives into misery! I think it is ultimately best if one really strive for the virtues of the soul, or whatever you choose to call your inner essence; for only these things truly last forever!.
I hate to have you do this, but consider war, for example. Nobody really benefits from war, which ravages body, mind and soul; and lays waste to the things that was being fought for. Only the few in power that can manipulate armies to do their bidding so they can reap the good things from the countries they plunder, but often times these politicians are brought to shame by their warring policies. But these people never consider the plight of the masses they conquer as they are doing it, only when it's time to make an account of their actions afterwards should they see the folly of war, but never usually do. I would not think the people that are the victims of war would be willing to put up with such subjugation, and most likely cause an uprising when they discover their plight! Their leaders get the benefits of war, but the people are the ones to ultimately suffer for it. Their leaders should reconsider their positions and put themselves in their subjects' place; for if they don't want the people to revolt, they should do something good for the people instead of giving them bad things, and that would make sure they do not.
There are a lot of other, more simple examples of what is considered good for one and not for others; these are probably things everyone does every day. From some other driver taking your parking space to expecting to pay a certain price for something only to find it has had a recent price increase, from losing a purse or wallet and the finder not returning it to finding your parking meter has run out and the subsequent ticket; none of these everyday occurrences are good for you, but the situation for the person doing that to you was good for them. The parker got a good spot, the shop owner got extra profit the dishonest person got your money and the meter maid made her quota - but it was all at your expense!
Let us say your late for work driving your car and you speed up so you can make up time. You speed up so much you're right on the bumper of the person in front of you; and sure you may think you're saving time by going so fast, but you never realize that you're potentially causing a driving hazard. You never consider that the person might stop suddenly and leave you no time to react, causing you to crash into him. You'll then have not saved much time, as now you have to account for yourself at the hands of the emergency crew, police and other officials; and probably get slapped with a law suit to boot! In that case it is best to go the speed limit and be at a safe distance from the car in front of you. It doesn't matter if you're a little late for your appointment; for at least you made it there with no more extra trouble other than just being late! In this case it is always wise to follow the rules of the road, for they were set up for a purpose; and that purpose was to keep every driver on the road safe, and the traffic police are there to make sure you do as they are just trying to insure your safety.
Food is the basic staple of life - if you don't eat you'll die eventually. The same can be said for drink, but if you abuse either of them you'll find yourself in trouble. Go ahead, have a drink - enjoy yourself, but not too much or you'll end up being an alcoholic down the road. Too much to eat and you'll gain too much weight, causing all sorts of health problems as time goes by. As with anything you are able to imbibe in, too much of ANYTHING is not necessarily a good thing…
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T.E.S.
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Post by thundertail on May 30, 2011 5:58:06 GMT -5
~ Other wisdom, other ways. ~
There is great wisdom that one can learn from the words of the past, and many a culture has written their wisdom in many kinds of ways. One should not tout the wisdom because of where it came from, or from what cultural viewpoint it is taken from; for wisdom in all its' many forms can come from any culture, any point of time and any mindset. Such is the wisdom of the Eastern cultures, where the concept of philosophy and improving of the mind first seemed to come about; and the civilizations this area brought about was one of the most sophisticated and modern of its' day. I have gleaned such sayings from Chinese and Japanese writings, and books of wisdom including some of their religious texts; relaying my own interpretation of them so they are better understood to Western mindsets. Of course your interpretations may be different than mine, for each sees things different from others...
~A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives the rose.~ Gifts of the heart, as in gifts indeed, has benefit to both the giver and the receiver. The receiver gets instant joy in the gift received, and the giver gets lasting joy at the joy he has imparted.
~A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.~ Despite all the alternate media currently available today, a book has always been the best form of gaining information and entertainment. A book is portable, has movable parts, contains the equivalent of a full length movie or documentary if it contains information; and once you have it, it is yours for all time. In a book one can go to the furthest star, examine the slightest bit of matter, be involved in a grand romance, attend a battle or get to know any historical or fictional character ever devised. Truly a book is a grand invention, for only there can someone share their thoughts; whether they be still alive or generations dead.
~A child's life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark.~ Children are very impressionable, malleable to every input they encounter. They see and hear everything people say and do, and sometimes they mimic those who they have encountered; often resulting in doing or saying the wrong thing! That is why it is most important to convey yourselves as you would wish they would when you interact with them.
~A diamond with a flaw is worth more than a pebble without imperfections.~ Any great thing or person, even though they are imperfect, will always be more important then something or someone of lesser importance. Therefore it is better if something more valuable is procured, just like it is better that all people shine with their own true worth.
~A filthy mouth will not utter decent language.~ Those that say vulgarities and convey themselves with much uncouthness display their incivility to all who see, and seal their fates as the dregs of society. Therefore it is best that people keep a civil mouth, a civil mind and be a civil person; for then these people would truly be part of a civilized society. ~A fool judges people by the presents they give him.~ Bribery seems to go a long way in today's society, for more favors can be bought than given; and it is only those that have power that ever seem to take them. It is best that one earn any gratuity that is given than take something on promise for another favor down the road, for in that one can find self respect.
~A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a man perfected without trials.~ Life is a test, pure and simple. It is a mark of integrity that one goes through the turmoil of every day life and not be subjected to it's obvious and subtle pitfalls. If one can go through life without going crazy, then that is the mark of a truly resilient soul.
~A nation's treasure is in its scholars.~ Some countries show their might by the military they possess while others show it with the beaurocracy they wield; but the most successful government is one that shows their wisdom. Even though their leader is plagued with all sorts of political strife that constantly take up his or her attention, the benefit of wise council will help that government through any strife that would come their way.
~A rat who gnaws at a cat's tail invites destruction.~ When going about ones' daily business, one should not make oneself too conspicuous; lest you wish to invite the wrath of those in higher authority. More often it is wise to 'stay under the radar' of those in higher authority then to make yourself known and suffer their wrath.
~Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.~ Idle people get little done in their lives, but even people who progress at a slow pace progress never the less; and do it far better than idle people.
~Be the first to the field and the last to the couch.~ Productive people make the world a lot better for their perseverance; so it is better that a person begin their tasks early and end them late.
~Deep doubts, deep wisdom; small doubts, little wisdom.~ Persons of complicated minds think of all the possibilities in life, both the good and the bad; but people who think little of what goes on in life worry less, even though their lives are just as complicated.
~Dig the well before you are thirsty.~ It is best to think ahead for the tasks you need to do, to prepare for all of life's troubles; for if you do not strive for the things you are going to need, you won't have them when you need them.
~Do good, reap good; do evil, reap evil.~ Ones' works advertise the kind of person you are, for if you are bad and mischievous, people will think you are a rotten person; but if you are good and kind, their opinions will be more favorable to you.
~Do not employ handsome servants.~ This one could mean not to associate yourselves with persons that could become a higher stature than yourself, doing so may discredit you; giving the other person a higher status that yourself by his better achievements.
~Do not remove a fly from your friend's forehead with a hatchet.~ We all should wish to do good services to others, we should all mean well to those in need. Try not to do more harm than good in these acts of kindness, for sometimes the cure is far worse than the disease!
~Don't open a shop unless you like to smile.~ When going out into society and being sociable, one must learn to act cheerful and friendly no matter what they are feeling inside. The gestures of the outside should earmark the mood of the situation, and not one's possible inner turmoil.
~Each generation will reap what the former generation has sown.~ Every generation has a legacy they give to their descendants. It should always be one's generations' wish to leave only good after them when they pass on.
~Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.~ To give charity is good and rewarding; but to make the gift truly last, one should make it so the receiver can fend for himself.
~He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.~ One should never be afraid of asking a question, for it is no disgrace to you to inquire some information you are lacking; for if you do not ask, you will forever be ignorant of that subject.
~He who is drowned is not troubled by the rain.~ A dead person cares not about anything any more, for their essence has left this world, on possibly to the next. ~He who strikes the first blow admits he's lost the argument.~ Those that can not prove their argument by logic and reason, and need to prove a point by violence only proves that the person is uncivilized and brash. It proves that their argument was moot and meaningless.
~If heaven made him, earth can find some use for him.~ All alive on the earth today have their purpose, from the highest station to the lowest; and all they do are useful, beneficial to the world as a whole.
~If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.~ When arguments arise, it is best to take it in a calm manner; for only through this state one can reach a logical conclusion to the problem.
~If you bow at all, bow low.~ When showing respect to others, it is best to show as much respect as you can; for you never really know how much respect you should give a person, and it's best to show it all.
~If you don't want anyone to know, don't do it.~ No matter how secret a nefarious act is, someone sooner or later is bound to find out about it; and if it is bad enough, you will be made to make an account of it. It is best, therefore, to never do the deed at all; and try not to get away with anything, for in the end you will not.
~A fool takes his identity from other people.~ In most cases, shallow people get their notoriety from the company they keep. If one wants to be famous, for example, one would associate themselves with famous people; and the same goes for any other outward desire they wish to be themselves, but can't attain on their own.
~The wise man finds his identity in his Maker.~ People of great integrity who wish to be great find the will to do so within themselves, for theirs is a life of attainable greatness.
~True love is deeper than the ocean.~ To love a person, one grows to know the very essences of their companion, their hopes and desires and everything that makes up their persona; and it is the greatest achievement in the institution to know them as one would know themselves, and this is the deepest form of love known.
~In time, even a hamster wheel makes sense.~ One can figure out anything, no matter how unimportant, if one studies it long enough. Therefore there is nothing that can not be understood given the time to ponder it.
~Cynicism is a cowards escape from reality.~ Everybody has opinions, whether they be well educated or not. It is tough to argue with a headstrong person, whether they be right or not.
~A wise man can see past the thorns and into the beauty of a rose.~ It takes intelligence to see through the bad aspects of a situation and find the silver linings in the dark clouds.
~To marry a virtuous person is culmination of wisdom.~ There is great benefit to have a good and noble person as ones' soul mate, for their love for you is as reliable as it is everlasting.
~People are rarely thinking what you think they are thinking about you.~ Sometimes the impression you are trying to make on others is not the impression that you are actually imparting on others; for they can see in their own way who you really are, and what you are really trying to impart on them.
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T.E.S.
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Post by thundertail on May 31, 2011 18:48:33 GMT -5
~ Forgiveness is difficult. ~
Invariably in life, someone does something to a person that angers or upsets another, and if the person that offended that person is of the correct heart; he tries to make amends to the one he has offended, and it is more often the case that the offended person does not forgive the offender no matter how earnest he is at the attempt. It seems that forgiveness is the hardest thing a person can do when one offends another, and depending on the severity of the offense; this becomes harder and harder, and in extreme circumstances it seems all but impossible. Though it is true that a minor offense like having one’s foot stepped on or the grocery store running out of something you wanted is fairly easy to forgive, slightly greater offenses like one taking your parking space or someone cutting you off in traffic seems slightly more difficult to forgive; and even though offences like insulting one’s religion or ethnic or other insults to one’s background seems an even greater offense and more unforgivable, but these are merely words and feelings and not true (Tangible) offenses, just points of opinion whether they be right or wrong. One should not get upset about simple offenses, for things like this happen all the time; and if they be mere accidents or things said and done out of ignorance, they are small things and no true harm can come from any of it.
However, there are things that people do that are so atrocious that nothing one does can compel a person to forgive them; things like murder and arson and other crimes no matter how big or small, for these things actually do harm to others on a more physical scale. Only persons with superhuman resolve and superior moral chivalry can ever begin to forgive a person who has done something THIS bad to them, and even with these virtues that person would find forgiving that person an insurmountable task! When such perpetrated tragedies strike the family of the victim, often when the offender comes and tries to plead forgiveness; it can be met with explosive violence to the offender, and most people would not blame the offended their violence as it seemed just to them at the time. In a case like this forgiveness seems impossible, and to the one who has suffered at the hands of another would no doubt vow to NEVER forgive them; but if one would just think that the offender is human just like them, and apt to make mistakes (In this case, an inexcusable one.) just like the one who was offended; then both parties could meet on a more even field, and perhaps true forgiveness could be worked out over time. The old saying, ‘To err is human, but to forgive divine’ can be made moot if we try, for if we can see it in ourselves to forgive those who has offended us, then we would be one step closer to being divine!… _____
T.E.S.
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Post by thundertail on Jun 1, 2011 4:50:43 GMT -5
~ The way to greatness ~
The way to greatness can not be measured in anything to be gotten in the world, but by the very essence of a person’s spirit; and even though one may claim to have talent in one thing or many, they are often required to prove it to those around them. More often than not, the things that one claims to have inside them in reality do not exist, and when it finally comes to one proving their mettle; this person more often than not fails, letting others around him that he was not as great as he claimed. It is better that one be honest with oneself about the things one has deep inside, and discover what is really inside you; for the world requires of you everything your spirit can offer it, and will accept nothing less than the best you can offer. The only thing that can be done is to take a look deep inside and see if what you have is right or wrong for yourself and the world, for only then can you say you can actually do good or bad in the world; and thusly can you judge yourself as such, and ultimately the world can decide what you are made of.
There is a place deep within all of us that contains virtues and drives and passions, also desires for power and greatness and the desire for being loved or popular; and these are the things that create greatness inside a person, a greatness that when shown, can lead to the best life one can imagine. If one can find those great things and bring them to the surface, make them alive so all can benefit; it will show to everyone around you that you are a creature of great worth, and everything you desire in the world will be made available to you. All the things that are special that is deep down inside you, the things you keep secret and reveal only to yourself; those are the things that are going to make you great, and those are the things you are going to have to learn to show if you are ever going to make it in the world… _____
T.E.S.
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Post by thundertail on Jun 1, 2011 20:12:42 GMT -5
~ The nature of anger. ~
When something does not go your way or when someone does something that bothers you, all the other things both large and small; there is nothing that frustrates and outrages a person the most as these things, and often times it makes a person very angry. Anger causes a person to do or say something rash, usually without that person thinking about those actions before reacting; and if that person is of any worth, can feel remorse and shame about what he has done. Anger causes many violent things to happen, and spawns a myriad of unsavory thoughts. These are the things that plague the one who is angry, revenge to the ones who offended him makes him a cold and cruel man; eroding his moral fiber and degrades the essence of his soul, and makes that man wither into a shell of coldness. Those who fly into a rage over seemingly trivial things can inadvertently do harm to those around him, and cause many dire events to befall himself; for such unruly behavior no matter the circumstances is against the edicts of social behavior, and would cause the angry one to be set up in front of a tribunal court. There are things said about anger, for anger is self-destructive; one being “revenge is a dish best served cold.”, and another is “Those that live by the sword die by the sword”.
Anything can be the focus of anger, but one must first stand back and examine the thing that makes one so angry; but what ever the cause of this anger may be, the only ones that are really hurt by these angers is the ones being possessed by these angers. I think it is always wise to fully understand what makes you angry before reacting to it, for if you do not contain that anger, it could result in unsavory consequences. Murders can result, and so can wars; but the saddest thing that anger brings about is the impression on the ones around the one being angry. It does not matter the cause of anger, so long as one pauses to examine the reasons before anger takes hold; and once this is found out, better understanding can result - and one can at last come to grips over one’s anger…
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T.E.S.
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