Independent Thinking

A thought about being in the "Now"

If you have read my idea of the "Reality Pipe" I would like to expound on this thought. In talking to my adult son recently, I was able to put into words one of the important "corallary" to the graphic representation therein.

If you stand and look at the pipe nearest you, the items that are floating just behind you, the things that are coalescing, or slowing and sticking in place, these are of great importance. I would put it to you that these things hold our attention more than any other. They have the power to freeze you in your tracks. They can steal your very soul. I don't exagerate much, and this is why...

When you watch the news, what are you spending your time doing? You are spending your valuable NOW time IN THE PAST! You are watching what HAPPENED somewhere at some time before. Now, you may say, what is the harm? How else can I find out what is happening in the world? And, you would be right. There is no other way to find out about affairs in the world but to look to the past. 

But, lets examine other things in our world that hold us in rapt attention to things that are in the past. What about social sites? Facebook, twitter, Myspace and so on. Are they not holding us hostage, at least a bit? Let me explain please.

If I were living in the present, would I not be "doing" something? Is not the news made up of people who were "doing" things? When you tell someone, "communicating" in the broadest sense of the word, about something that "happened" you are spending your current time, talking about the past! Most entertainment fits into my catagory of being in the past. Television, movies and other passive things (passtimes) steal your life. Playing cards with friends is a better alternative. It may not accomplish much, but you are at least doing something in the here and now. Good times with friends is a great way to spend time and build memories. No one reminisces about sitting on the couch, five years ago, and watching a movie alone. But you can remember a nice walk in the park. 

So, I propose that, the only time you are truly in the "present" is when you are doing things that may be "news making" as opposed to spreading the news. 

How many hours, days, weeks and years do we spend, wasting our NOW time living in the past, and not even realizing it!? Get your nose out of time wasting devices, and DO something. Don't you have goals in life? A bucket list? If you are worried about the state of affairs in your country, then get involved in the politics. If you want to learn, take a class or read a book. Just please, don't get frozen in place always looking backward in time. Sorry if it sounds a bit harsh or chastizing.

Lesson Number One

The Reality Pipe.

What is "Reality"? Here is my "graphic impression" of what reality is.

Picture in your mind a clear, 4 inch diameter, plastic pipe running just above the ground. Now, if you look inside the pipe you can see a multitude of words and thoughts written on pieces of paper floating in a dense liquid. If you imagine standing where you would be straddling the pipe, the portion directly under you would represent "present time" with the portion stretching ahead of you as the future and the pipe behind you representing the past. Still with me? As you look down at the pipe, the things nearest you are moving slowly but as you look forward you  can see things are moving faster and faster. Way too fast to see them clearly. If you turn around and look at the pipe behind you it appears that nothing is moving and you can only read those things near the surface. Items further inside are hidden from full view. Okay? This is my representation of "Reality"

Why, you may ask, bother with this? Well, in future lessons I will refer to this "Pipe" in reference to reality and why things are the way they are.

I must give partial credit where I feel it is due. Do you remember the TV cartoon "The Tick"? It was a super hero in blue tights and a nerdish side kick The Moth all in white. At the end of the shows the Tick would impart wisdom in the form of a "Moral", loosly fitted to the story line. At the end of one show, forgive my paraphrasing, the Tick said... "You know Moth, sanity is a one-trick pony, kinda like walking a tight-rope. Once you cross over to insanity... the sky is the limit!" What a beautiful thought! I probably just destoyed what was actually said but, I like my version.

Well, reality, just like sanity, is like walking on a single thin tight-rope. There is only ONE reality. All the rest of things around us is what we make up to describe it, or what we guess it is, or we think it should be. In my imagery, this tight-rope is a pipe. You can walk on it, next to it, examine it, follow it, etc.

Rule Number Two: You can say "No"

If you were raised like me, you were taught manners. Be nice to people, don't be rude. Say "please" and "thank you" and so on and so forth. Well, that is fine in casual situations and with people you know, BUT... Not with strangers, and specially not with someone who wants something from you. 

The logic goes like this: 

If you say "yes" first... thats it - over - done with - you are morally trapped into going along with whatever comes next.

If on the other hand you say "no" first... then you have given yourself TIME!

Time to:

1. Think, "Why do they want it?"

2. Think, "What exactly do they want, and how much is this going to cost me?"

3. Think, "What the hell am I doing?"

and so on. If it turns out to be something you WANT to do/give, you can always say "yes" after a few more questions. But you are in control, not your upbringing forcing your hand.

Now, if it is important to them, they won't take "no" for an answer. If they keep insisting, then you have an extremely important clue here... [Something is up!] 

The Main Point: The more someone insists or pushes you, the more suspicious you should be as to the motives. Honest people don't use pressure and guilt to take things from you! Be sceptical. Say "NO" more often. It will open up your eyes.

Rule number One: You have value.

You may not realize all that you have of value to others. I'm not talking about belongings, but instead, "valuables". You make choices in life and they affect others as well as yourself. With each choice there are consequences, good and bad. What things of value do you have? Well, lets focus on those things that others want, since that is the subject at hand.

In no particular order, here are a few:

1. Your ability to talk or communicate with others.

2. Your vote.

3. Your effort or work.

4. Your obedience and support.

5. Your LACK of action.

6. Your freedom.

Main Point! Never doubt the value that these things have! Others want these things from you. In order for you to live and think independently, you must control and protect these "valuables" from misuse by others.