Also a simple way to maintain the status quo .IE poor people are poor because of sins they have committed in past lives. As well as the symbolism, some Hindus believe the sacred cows are reincarnated human beings. Very similar to the Calvinist attitude to the poor. Blaming the victim remains a noticeable feature of our society.
))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Over the years I’ve used hatha yoga and self hypnosis to relax. However it has taken a cocktail of drugs to stabilise my moods and keep me more-or-less calm. My attitude is whatever works without harming me. I have a violent reaction to marijuana,*** and probably just as well. I have an addictive personality and mild OCD and can addict to just about anything
***Vomit, hallucinate, off my face for around 12 hours from one [huge] shared spliff. The hallucinations were fascinating, but I was frightened because of my lack of control…
All this woo woo crap does the same thing… it gets people to chase their own tails. It convinces them that they are deficient in some way and that if only they follow this or that path they can become better. GUESS WHAT FOLKS: Unless you are a fucking idiot, you are going to become better anyway. The FUCKING belief systems; Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, etc… have STOLEN basic facts of life from human nature and convinced you that they are mystical. NOTHING MYSTICAL HERE. From OBE, to Meditation, to Lucid Dreaming, or any other state of elation, enlightenment or “spirituality,” THEY ARE ALL NATURAL HUMAN BRAIN STATES. THEY ARE IN EVERY CULTURE IN THE WORLD. NOTHING SPECIAL HERE!!
Becoming a Christian cost me some great relationships. At the time I assumed it was because I was being persecuted for the gospel’s sake, now I see it was because they couldn’t stand the fact that I was forever trying to save them from a loving god. As an atheist I now experience what they once did - Christian friends trying to save me from the vindictive jealousy of a loving god, it is painful (and embarrassing).
It has taken me a long time to see how one-sided democracy is. If you’re not on the right side of the righteous right, you are trampled underfoot. Democracy gave birth to Donald Trump and his cult members, need I say more?
It can be argued that democracy allowed Donald Trump to be elected. It can also be argued that it was a working democracy which got rid of Donald Trump without [much]violence
It can also be argued that “democracy is a one word oxymoron” (Tarquin S Shagnasty)
That democracy does not now and has never existed in the sense of majority rule. Athenian democracy was rule by referendum .IE Every eligible voter voted on every important issue as it arose. That meant that less than 1/3 of the adult population could vote because women and slaves could not vote.
Neither American Republican Democracy nor Parliamentary Democracy are democratic . In each a case voters tend to have two apparent choices. Those in turn have been chosen by their political party, not the voters. In theory elected representatives are elected to make decisions in the best interest of their electorate and of the country. That seldom happens ,as has been most vividly demonstrated by the last four years in US politics.
Plato argued against democracy in ‘The Republic’. Imo much of his argument makes perfect sense.
If only there were such a creature as the flawless man or woman
“The most powerful argument against democracy; spend ten minutes speaking with the average voter” (Winston Churchill)
“Our system of government is the worst in the world. Except for all the others” (Winston Churchill) This most accurately reflects my base opinion.—You don’t like democracy? No probs. Just let me know with what you want to replace it which actually works.
I had to ask Wikipedia to give me a hand to discover what a benign monarchy is (and we all know how the truth and lies can be juggled on that platform). I like my first impressions of it. A system that is not built on ego or personal game seems a long way off. But, perhaps, we can see a glint of it on the horizon?
Ah be careful what you wish for, democracy is a flawed system, but once you start to think it’s not working when it returns a government or leader you don’t like, it’s a step towards totalitarianism.
Unlike Trump, and many of his followers, you must accept that sometimes elections don’t return the result you want.
I lived through Margaret Thatcher’s tenure, and the world survived Nazism and Stalinism with many democracies thriving throughout the world.
Injustice should be fought, but never lose sight of what democracy is.
I use my memory to recall all of the shit I have endured and survived, and give thanks that I am just alive. I use my senses to perceive and appreciate all the little positive things in my life. While some may just perceive it is just a weight, when my dog jumps up on my lap I gaze at her, and marvel at this wonderful bundle of joy and love. I have learned to appreciate all the little things in my life.
I use humor and I avoid negative movies and television series. I seek out the things that interest and entertain me. And I try to limit my expose to the news on TV to less than thirty minutes a day. IMO that is guaranteed depression.
As they say in AA “yesterday’s history, tomorrow’s a mystery” We can only do something about the Now.
I must say though that I still hate conflict and do my utmost to avoid it. (A mantra from my childhood “Don’t upset your father”, and by extension, anyone else.)
Haven’t seen the Black Dog at all for about 3 years, and even then he only stayed a day.
IN films and TV’s, I tend to avoid American comedies as I find most or 'em unfunny and embarrassing.
I like cartoon-like violence as in say Judge Dredd and John Wick,1,2,and 3.
Sometimes like to watch life affirming stuff, such as “The Intouchables”. and “Eat, Drink, Man, Woman” (the original Chinese version)
Almost US comedies are as boring and predictable as a stretch of Autobahn. Or else they use bullshit catchy ( the level of offense in Married With Children) crap to attract viewers.
