The water flowed over the nearby weir with a soft high pitched gurgling. Far downstream on the island, flocks of wild ducks were clamoring; at that distance their quaking and screaming also had a soft, monotonous sound and merged with the flowing of the water over the weir to produce that magical murmur of eternity into which one can sink, lulled and blanketed as by the sound of rain on a summer night or by softly falling snow. I stood and looked, stood and listened, and for the first time that day I had a brief taste of the sweet eternity in which one knows nothing of time.
From the French window I walked out under a kind of pergola covered in part by a climbing rose tree, in part by laths, one inch wide with half an inch of space between them. The sun was shining and the shadows of the laths made a zebra-like pattern on the ground and across the seat and back of a garden chair, which was standing at this end of the pergola. That chair -shall I ever forget it? Where the shadows fell on the canvas upholstery, stripes of a deep but glowing indigo alternated with stripes of an incandescence so intensely bright that it was hard to believe that they could be made of anything but blue fire. For what seemed an immensely long time I gazed without knowing, even without wishing to know, what it was that confronted me. At any other time I would have seen a chair barred with alternate light and shade. Today the percept had swallowed up the concept. I was so completely absorbed in looking, so thunderstruck by what I actually saw, that I could not be aware of anything else. Garden furniture, laths, sunlight, shadow - these were no more than names and notions, mere verbalizations, for utilitarian or scientific purposes, after the event. The event was this succession of azure furnace doors separated by gulfs of unfathomable gentian. It was inexpressibly wonderful, wonderful to the point, almost, of being terrifying. And suddenly I had an inkling of what it must feel like to be mad.
Recently I have been recieving mail from factions of the New Age movement who claim to have clairvoyant knowledge that Barrack Obama is a powerful ‘lightworker’, here to usher humanity into a fifth dimensional reality, an age of peace and enlightenment, a coalition of the spiritually willing that awaits the righteous beyond 2012. The spiritual channel 'Magenta Pixie' stakes the veracity of her political insights on her psychic power, ‘vibing’ photographs of Barrack Obama and gazing into his aura, and from mystical communication with a group of higher dimensional beings she calls ‘The Nine’, Magenta Pixie claims that her spiritual and psychic abilities afford her a privileged insight into Obama's true political agenda, and that the day shall soon come to pass when the unenlightened amongst us will awaken, embracing his policies as the messianic orchestrations of a modern day Jesus Christ.
Sadly the more sombre and weighty views of those analysts who shy away from the pastel end of the political spectrum have been hindering Obama's coming as they continue to dabble in the dark machinations of political negativity. Noam Chomsky notes that In a pre election speech to AIPAC regarding the Israel/Palestine conflict Barrack Obama "broke records in obsequiousness" (Chomsky, 2009), and that "nobody in history had ever gone so far in flouting international law and Security Council resolutions. In fact Obama’s speech was so extreme that his campaign had to publicly retract his statements" (Ibid).
John Pilger notes "in the first 100 days of office, Obama has excused torture, opposed habeas corpus and demanded more secret government. He has kept Bush’s gulag intact and at least 17,000 prisoners beyond the reach of justice. On April the 24th his lawyers won an appeal that ruled Gauntanamo prisoners were not “persons”, and therefore had no right not to be tortured. All over the world, America’s violent assault on innocent people, directly or by agents, has been stepped up." During the recent massacre in Gaza, reports Seymour Hersh, “the Obama team let it be known that it would not object to the planned resupply of ‘smart bombs’ and other high tech ordnance that was already flowing to Isreal”, and being used to slaughter mostly woman and children (Pilger, 2009).
Magenta Pixie, keeping in step with her favourite "saviour of earth" Barack Obama, says she expected negative reactions to her visionary insights because “there are a lot of different levels of people’s consciousness, of where they are and what they see, and everybody is seeing what they are supposed to be seeing” (Pixie, 2009). She proclaims that Obama’s higher self has given permission to those of the 'correct frequency' to see that these imperfections are merely a flickering in his messianic light (Ibid). The logical inference being that those who do not enjoy the good fortune of a 'correct spiritual vibration' or worse still, exhibit un-American political attitudes, can hope for ascension through a machine gun hail of U.S. benevolence.
John Pilger reports, "in Afghanistan, the US "strategy" of killing Pashtun tribespeople (the "Taliban") has been extended by Obama to give the Pentagon time to build a series of permanent bases right across the devastated country where, says Secretary Gates, the US military will remain indefinitely. Obama's policy, one unchanged since the Cold War, is to intimidate Russia and China, now an imperial rival. He is proceeding with Bush's provocation of placing missiles on Russia's western border, justifying it as a counter to Iran, which he accuses, absurdly, of posing "a real threat" to Europe and the US" (Pilger, 2009).
One can only wonder if Obama and his administration share Magenta Pixie's reticence for those spiritually retarded souls, vibrating at the incorrect frequency, who neglect to rejoice at the slaughter of their loved ones, or stubbornly persist in the habit of being exploded to smithereens by American drones. Despite her profound spiritual insights, Magenta Pixie stresses that she does not regard herself as being better than others. She is confident that eventually people will see the truth of Obama's saintliness, not by looking with their eyes, or enquiring with their brain, “but by opening your heart and looking with your energy" (Pixie, 2009). Magenta Pixie asserts that she has a right to see what she sees without being ridiculed, teased or attacked. I can only conclude that there are indeed a lot of different levels of people’s consciousness, of where they are, and what they see, but if it weren’t for the fact that Magenta Pixie’s excruciatingly ignorant and vacuous opinions are shared by so many in one form or another, they wouldn’t have the power to be such a killing joke.
Reference List Chomsky, Noam. (2009), Chomsky on Obama's Foreign Policy Available:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVVDNIeQ77I&feature=related Pilger, John. (2009), Obama's 100 Days -- The Mad Men Did Well Available:http://www.zmag.org/zspace/commentaries/3848 Pixie, Magenta. (2009), Saviours of Earth interview Brad Johnson & Magenta Pixie discuss Barack Obama Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etn0AVf0sr4
Correspondence with Magenta Pixie:
Nick Hi Magenta Pixie. I'm confused about your proclamations in the interview by Brad Johnston. You claim to have clairvoyant knowledge that Obama is a powerful lightworker here to usher humanity into an age of enlightenment. I dont share your confidence and I wondered, is it possible that The Nine occasionally make mistakes? I find it hard to share your reticence for those spiritually retarded souls, vibrating at the incorrect frequency, who fail to see Obamas saintliness, who neglect to rejoice at the slaughter of their loved ones, and persist in the habit of being exploded to smithereens by American drones. Please help me understand how those who are dying as a direct result of Obama's policies can adopt a 'correct spiritual vibration' and overcome their un-American political attitudes so that they to can share in your profound visionary insights.
Magenta Pixie Hi Nick - No I made no claim to have clairvoyant knowledge regarding Obama, I simply spoke about what i see. Is it possible the Nine may make mistakes? I would not call anything they speak of as a mistake but from our perspective you could see that possibility if you wish, that would be regarding timelines and future outcomes although they show me the infinite possibilities and their are no "mistakes" in that grand design, however from the perspective you mean all I can say is that it is possible although i have not come across anything that could be regarded as a 'mistake' yet.
Also I do not see any "spiritually retarded souls" on this planet - we are all equal and no one is above or below anyone else although it is correct to say we grow at different spiritual rates. Regarding Obama the person who I have come across who speaks the most truth regarding him is David Wilcock of devine cosmos website, I sugest researching his perspective so you may widen yours peace
Nick Magenta Pixie, if you were simply voicing your opinion that would be an honest and benign position, and in such circumstances your vacuity could be easily excused. However, you claim to channel an omniscient spiritual authority which you say affords you a privilaged insight into Obama's true political agenda. Consequently your spiritual proclaimations demand of you the highest level of accountability. Let us not forget that Obama's policies are resulting in death and destruction. Given the hyperbolic nature of your predictions for Obama's presidency, it would be wise to subject them to a modicum of scrutiny.
Jeremy Scahill notes that "What we see with Obama's policies in Iraq, Afghanistan and the broader Arab and Muslim world, as well as his global economic policies, are a continuation of the most devastating and violent policies of the Bush administration--while placing a face on it that makes it easier to expand the iron fist of U.S. militarism and the hidden hand of the free market."
Anthony Arnove continues, "it's clear that Barack Obama was able to get elected by signaling, even if only rhetorically, a shift in U.S. foreign policy. But as Jeremy points out, the continuity is really disturbing on a number of fronts. There are striking similarities to the policies of the Bush administration. Take, for example, habeas corpus rights. The Obama administration made a lot of noise about closing down Guantánamo. Yet in a series of briefs, the Justice Department has said that prisoners held in any base other than Guantánamo don't have habeas corpus rights--for example, prisoners being held in Bagram, Afghanistan.
In Iraq, although Barack Obama promised he would have all troops out by 2012, the ground is being laid for troops to stay in Iraq for years and years to come. The army chief of staff, Gen. George Casey, said that the Pentagon was making preparations to keep troops in Iraq until the year 2019." (Arnove Scahill 2009)
You claim that Obama is here to usher humanity into a fifth dimensional reality, an age of peace and enlightenment and that eventually people will see the truth of Obama's saintliness, not by looking with their eyes, or enquiring with their brain, “but by opening your heart and looking with your energy." These are incredibly bombastic proclaimations! If any of this were true it would characterise Obama as a modern day Jesus Christ!
You say that you do not see any spiritually retarded souls on this planet, "we are all equal and no one is above or below anyone else although it is correct to say we grow at different spiritual rates." Given that you are measuring a persons degree of spiritual development (vibration) based on whether or not they share your ridiculous political views, and the ease with which you brush aside Obama's militarism and the resulting death and destruction, it is difficult not to construe your spirituality as irresponsible visionary posturing characterised by a lack of genuine care and compassion. I agree that most of what you say seems to bypass your brain, and yet I detect a disquietingly Orwellian cleverness in your doublespeak, something like, "All animals are equal but some are more equal than others."
I think heart and energy are a great start when engaging with the world but can I suggest you use all of your senses, why limit yourself? After switching your brain back on maybe you could reactivate some common sense?
In the words of Robert F. Thurman; "... voidness does not mean nothingness, but rather that all things lack intrinsic reality, intrinsic objectivity, intrinsic identity or intrinsic referentiality. Lacking such static essence or substance does not make them not exist - it makes them thoroughly relative."
I was asked a question about my art, but at the time I lacked the necessary presence of mind to apprehend the attitude which was its origin. I answered as best I could. However, the question remained with me, lodging in my subconscious, resonating with an uncomfortable disharmony that called for resolution. Initially it had seemed trivial enough and I mightn't have given it more attention, but for the marked fervor with which it was asked, remaining like a residue, an enigma, a sign post I had rushed by all to quickly, missing something of significance. “Are your photographs real or are they computer enhanced?” The authenticity of the work seemed to hang on this question. There was a moments silence and I could feel the air charged with anticipatory tension. The work had obviously affected X on some emotional level but her experience was incomplete, tempered by reservations symptomatic of the criteria against which she alone measured the work. The quality and authenticity of the images, and therefore the validity of X’s experience of them, was dependent on the answer to this question. I explained that the vibrancy and wash of colours was achieved by a long exposure which contributed to the saturation of light, creating the ethereal quality that I wished to convey. There hadn’t been any computer enhancement. ‘I took these photos after sunset. The camera is on a tripod. I leave the shutter open for about 30 seconds.” As I imparted this information a strange visual flashback seemed to rush in through X’s widening eyes. The suspension of her belief was released in an impassioned expletive. She was now prepared to believe that her experience of the work, whatever that had been, was indeed REAL! X’s extended process of engagement beyond her initial exposure aroused my curiosity with regards to the multiple and variant layers of thought that inform our visual perception and shape our understanding of the world. Contemplating the curious impression this exchange had made upon me it later occurred that all my photographs are manipulations of reality, whatever reality is, and that ones experience of reality is always filtered through ones “reducing valve,” as Aldous Huxley called it. The philosophical bases of Huxley’s assertions are given voice in his essay “The Doors of Perception,” and derive from the eastern philosophical notion of Emptiness, that there is no objective reality, only constructed representations that we experience depending on our cultural and individual conditioning. Whether the photos were the result of manipulation by computer or camera is only relevant as far as an investigation of mechanics is concerned. Regardless of the process, the images remain no more or less real than anything we may choose to focus our gaze upon. Illusions! By this I mean that one person may experience the same photograph, as they may experience any given phenomena, in an infinitely varying number of subtle and profound ways depending on their previous experience, cultural heritage, and individual idiosyncrasies. X’s experience of the work (a fascinating example of this philosophical premise) had been unique to her, and characterized by her own value judgments.
Emptiness Emptiness is a key concept in Buddhist philosophy, or more precisely, in the ontology of Mahayana Buddhism. The phrase "form is emptiness; emptiness is form" is perhaps the most celebrated paradox associated with Buddhist philosophy. It is the supreme mantra.
Sunyata Widely misconceived as a doctrine of nihilism, the teaching on the emptiness of persons and phenomena is unique to Buddhism, constituting an important metaphysical critique of theism with profound implications for epistemology and phenomenology.
Śūnyatā signifies that everything one encounters in life is empty of absolute identity, permanence, or an in-dwelling 'self'. This is because everything is inter-related and mutually dependent - never wholly self-sufficient or independent. All things are in a state of constant flux where energy and information are forever flowing throughout the natural world giving rise to and themselves undergoing major transformations with the passage of time.
This teaching never connotes nihilism - nihilism is, in fact, a belief or point of view that the Buddha explicitly taught was incorrect - a delusion, just as the view of materialism is a delusion (see below). In the English language the word emptiness suggests the absence of spiritual meaning or a personal feeling of alienation, but in Buddhism the realization of the emptiness of phenomena enables liberation from the limitations of form in the cycle of uncontrolled rebirth.
Rawson states that: "[o]ne potent metaphor for the Void, often used in Tibetan art, is the sky. As the sky is the emptiness that offers clouds to our perception, so the Void is the 'space' in which objects appear to us in response to our attachments and longings."[4] The Japanese use of the Chinese character signifying Shunyata is also used to connote sky or air.
Emptiness in Physics Ernest Rutherford invalidated the billiard ball theory by conducting an experiment, which suggested that atoms have an internal structure. He established that atoms have a nucleus containing most of its mass and that electrons orbit the nucleus. Moreover, he established that the nucleus of an atom is only about one ten-thousandth of the diameter of the atom itself, which means that 99.99% of the atom's volume consists of empty space. This is the first manifestation of emptiness at the subtle level of matter.
Not long after Rutherford's discovery, physicists found out that the nucleus of an atom likewise has an internal structure and that the protons and neutrons making up the nucleus are composed of even smaller particles, which they named quarks after a poem of James Joyce. Interestingly, quarks are hypothesised as geometrical points in space, which implies that atoms are essentially empty. This is the second manifestation of emptiness at the subtle level of matter.
The terms "quarks" and "points in space" still suggest something solid, since they can be imagined as irreducible mass particles. Yet, quantum field theory does away even with this finer concept of solidity by explaining particles in the terms of field properties. Quantum electrodynamics (QED) has produced an amazingly successful theory of matter by combining quantum theory, classical field theory, and relativity. No discrepancies between the predictions of QED and experimental observation have ever been found. According to QED, subatomic particles are indistinguishable from fields, whereas fields are basically properties of space. In this view, a particle is a temporary local densification of a field, which is conditioned by the properties of the surrounding space. Ergo, matter is not different from space. This is the third manifestation of emptiness at the subtle level of matter.
A manifest particle, such as an electron, cannot be described in terms of classical mechanics. It exists as a multitude of superposed "scenarios", of which one or another manifests only when it is observed, i.e. upon measurement. Therefore, matter does not inherently exist. It exists only as interrelations of "empty" phenomena whose properties are determined by observation. This is the fourth manifestation of emptiness at the subtle level of matter.
Emptiness of emptiness. In The Art of Living (2001) the 14th Dalai Lama says, "As your insight into the ultimate nature of reality is deepened and enhanced, you will develop a perception of reality from which you will perceive phenomena and events as sort of illusory, illusion-like, and this mode of perceiving reality will permeate all your interactions with reality.
