Belief Systems and their Validity

The cause behind the current economic crisis, the longest one in seventy years, was the steadfast reliance by the financial institutions on an economic model called value-at-risk (VAR). The VAR model deals with the probabilities of possible default by lenders, loans being banks' primary assets.  Economists place blame for the crisis upon the VAR model, stating it to be inherently faulty; so very faulty in fact, that reliance on it inevitably led to the crisis. But all models of economic activity are faulty whenever they are believed. The belief in the model, and the consequent reliance on the belief, is what makes the model invalid; no matter what the model might be. It is the belief that causes the invalidity. No matter what future model is developed, however clever, once that model is believed, it becomes invalid; as it's "belief" itself that is the real problem...not the model. Bankers need to rely upon multiple factors when making decisions and not upon acceptance of any single model. This reasoning applies to every area of human endeavor. As a Druid, I often get the question: What do Druids believe? The short answer is: "No-Belief." Obviously a belief in no-belief is still belief, but what it means is that; in order to have power of any sort, in particular psychic power, a belief system, any belief system, restricts brain function while having the belief in no-belief enhances brain function. Restriction is dangerous to creativity. Behavior is the result of belief. To free behavior one needs to be free of belief.  Druids think of man as being innately good, but capable of bad behavior. Bad behavior derives from bad belief.  The problem is this: every ethnic and linguistic group believes other groups' beliefs are inferior and absurd, if not outright evil. Free yourself from belief. When one doesn't care what others may believe and/or practice, one gains the power to accomplish anything.  Since we are all about what we believe, when we believe in no-belief; we shall become more than what we were. By the way, this is why it is so important to ascertain what others believe as what they believe compels them in their daily actions. We may not care for what they think but what they think might prove harmful to us and to others, as any student of history knows. In our brains, facts and beliefs are both treated the same way and what we might think as being a fact is simply a belief. What you believe is what you are. Really. The candles of knowledge were never lit by models but by men. This Druid technique of "no-belief" is not the same as the technique of no-mind practiced in the East. Druids are not interested in the annihilation of the Self---the death of the Ego---just the opposite.  The Mind becomes trapped by belief.  The Torah, the Koran and the Bible are catalogs of cruelty and recite what's worst about humanity because they rely on sacrifice and submission.  The rationale behind the no-belief technique is to find the true Self, the real Self. That can be done by liberating the Mind from all those belief systems that custom and culture have employed to imprison it. Only then can the Self be set free to be transformed. Transformation is the goal and sole objective of the soul. The Druid isn't interested in living in the NOW, as that's taken for granted.  He or she is interested in creating the NOW in which to live, by a conjoining of dimensions so they'll become congruent; thereby creating a condition for continuity of consciousness, a place for all existence.  It's what gives the NOW consistency, a secret causality.  It illustrates why OicheShamhna (Halloween) became a popular celebration in the World; as now you have just glimpsed into a wicked little conundrum, it's this:  Any faith system becomes invalid once it's believed, including this statement and the faith in "no-belief."  When you're able to solve that small puzzle, you shall be Druid too!  The rest is poetry.

Science and Religion

In the silence of the Self comes a revelation: The purpose of religion is to cause real change in the time-space of an adherent; in other words, change in reality, in the here and now, in the present, and never in that after-life that some faiths preach. The change that's desired in the adherent is very different for different religions, and it is very specific. Note that the change produced is not necessarily one that is in any way beneficial to the adherent (although it might well be so); but the desired destined change is definitely beneficial to the survival of the religion, and therefore also to the survival of whichever specific ethnic-linguistic sub-group had originally invented the religion. Religion is a methodology for myth-making to produce change. Religion serves the same purpose as does art: To create change through psychic transcendental transformation. However, there is a subtle distinction as to the difference between religion and art. In art, the artist is active in his or her creation. Religion is art-full in the sense that religion, like art, is always designed; but the design in religion is not created by the adherent, but instead by the culture of the adherent. All human cultures are religious, though their religions differ radically as do their cultures. Art is individualistic while religion demands collectivity, a group, a gang. And exactly like in art, it's an invention. Humanity invented religion, just as it had invented the wheel, and probably at around the very same time by the convergence of mental evolution, since the universal wheel symbol or a derivative of it (signifying cyclic time-space) is contained within almost all religions. Religions strive to give meaning to the patterns inherent in cyclic events, particularly to the birth-death cycle. The reason religions have adherents is because they do actually work to produce changes in real time; for if religions didn't work, they would be lacking any actual survival value for the sub-groups that invented them and would be quickly abandoned. Of course, for another sub-group, no benefit is derived. No religion could be universal, though some claim to be so. Religion is a selfish invention. Evolution is pragmatic even though it is indifferent and lacks a specific design or any specific designer (men make the gods; gods don't make men). The problem with religion is that every adherent to every religion wishes far different changes to occur; so there exists a conflict of wants between adherents of different faiths, sometimes leading to wars. This is intentional. Religion causes war, not because adherents of various faiths misunderstand the precepts of their respective faiths, but precisely because they do understand those precepts well. Religion is a biological mechanism designed (since all religions are created by men, all religions are designed) to assist and to ensure the relative evolutionary survival of particular ethnic-linguistic sub-groups by the demise and suppression of all others. One of the best proofs for the validity of the theory of evolution is the existence of competing religions and of the competing sects that tend to exist within every religion. These sects are evolutionary mechanisms, similar to a breed evolving into a sub-species. All religions evolve so that they'll come to represent more that one ethnic-linguistic group (that's why every major religion has so many schisms between its sects---those sects represent different groups). The way religions compete is by taking on contrasting views of the universe, and in particular views of the time-space of the universe, the time-space being the dimensional reality in which humans reside. All religions will advocate that their view of reality is true and real, and that any rational objections to their view can't be answered because reality is fundamentally ineffable and unable to be understood by the paucity of human reason and logic. By the action of demeaning human knowledge, religions deliberately cause and promote a unique elite cadre to be formed of clerics, priests and monks, the pundits, who then serve as official interpreters of the religion for the uneducated and unsophisticated: that's us. Of course, politics and science can themselves become religions, as they too shall have their special cadres of elites who claim that their views of reality are also accordingly both the true and real. They know...so we don't. Religion simply hides itself under other names. How one views reality will determine one's behavior. People who fear the divine, for instance as in those religions that make the divine to be the ultimate reality, shall also fear life and therefore can be easily manipulated. Any faith fearing the divine, or any faith fearing those authorities representing the divine, whether that faith be one that is secular (the divine could be a state too or could be a state's constitution---plenty of people, many millions, have died for and have killed for the spurious gods of patriotism) or the faith be one that is sacred (as those in where the will of the divine is considered to be inscribed onto some holy scroll---millions have died and are still dying for such dried deeds), is: pure evil. Pure evil! A strong statement, though an accurate one, as any belief system, any faith in creed or flag, sacred or secular, that demands subservience, servitude and servility, demeans and diminishes humanity. Though we live in an age where there are more people of genius alive today than ever before, we also live in an age where there are more people alive who could be accurately classified as mentally retarded and intellectually deficient. It's precisely these people, the intellectually deficient, who are constantly and continuously attempting to sell and advertise their erroneous visions of reality to others. Those of genius need never sell to each other, but they do and should argue with each other. It is their arguments that must be studied to ascertain whether some have validity. Why take the trouble to study them? How one views reality does have a direct affect on how one acts, so one's reality view ought to be as complete and as correct as possible. Study genius and disregard the viewpoints of the retarded. Their views don't matter. Very few people actually understand the matter on which they pontificate, so why waste one's time on frivolous speech? If you strive to study of and with the best, eventually you should become the best. One shall always be dealing with differing interpretations of reality, and in having to adapt one's own behavior to those realities that society sees, none of which will be true; so the greater effort that could be expended in the studying and scrutinizing of what is actually known, and in acquiring whatever knowledge is available out there, gives one real advantages in arriving at the truth. Once the truth is finally known, whether the truth be about the nature of the universe or about anything else, only then can one even begin to act upon it. Because of this vast reserve of accumulated knowledge, humanity has crossed an evolutionary line into another human species, as advances in genome science now allow humanity to design itself through genetic engineering. Though there are many legal restrictions on the usage of genetic manipulation in the modification of humans, such modification is already taking place. Because of such modification, new religions, to service the needs of these new humans, will be born. New religions for new men. New religions are being created all the time, but as religion implies collectivist community, there has to be a minimum level of adherents for the religion to survive (just as in biology, there needs to be a minimum level of fertile members for a species to thrive). The prevalence of so many apocalyptic religions at the present time means most people are obsessed with the fact of their own personal death and not ready to accept their fated mortality; an attitude that is sad and rather silly. Stupid too. Stay away from all such childish religions. Of the thousands of religions that already exist, seek those aimed at adults. Religion ought to meet one's personal need for meaning, purpose and point to a destiny...much the same as does art. The Time-Space we live in is an echo and a reflection of reality. It's a sham, a simulacrum, a hapless forgery---but a faded shadow of a shadow; not The Real Thing. The conflicts that one sees in the world stem from antique obsolete ideologies based upon false conceptions of reality. Seeking a correct conception of what is real can resolve the conflicts; as even though a full realization of what is real might never occur, the act of seeking is in itself sufficient to achieve a resolution as it exposes the underlying lie of the ideologies that give rise to conflict. What is false is found to be without a foundation by careful contemplation. Seek, find, compare; then decide what's real...what's the truth.

Existence and Being

The experience of existing, the consciousness of it, the awareness of it, the feeling of it, the belief in it, is an entirely different thing than actually existing; its experience is unrelated to the fact of existence. Its experience might occur even without existence itself. One could believe one exists, and it is the first belief we experience (I'm me), even when one doesn't exist because one has ceased to be. Yes, even if one no longer exists! We have no proof that we are, that we exist, except by doubting that we are. That which doubts must be. One could doubt both one's own existence and the fact of there being any such state as existence, and it is in this twin doubt that our existence is born. Without doubt, no truly human existence is ever possible. Let's explain: Let's say that I'm looking at a mirror and also let's say that I'm able to project myself into my own reflection, so that I'm now looking at me looking at me in the mirror image of myself. Which "me" then exists? Well, instinctively one would say that I exist; whatever is identified as I; but, which I is it that exists? What is the identity of this I? Is it the "I" looking at my reflection? Is it that "I" in the reflection looking at the "I" looking into my reflection; or is it both? Well, yes, it's both; but it's also something else that is empowering me to do both. What's that? It's the mirror. The mirror is then the ground for my "I" existence. Only it isn't a mirror as such; it's more of an organic holograph that generates existence. So let's say this mirror, that serves as a ground for existence, is actually alive and somehow is conscious. Built into existence is the potentiality for our consciousness, which consists of a recognition of three aspects of the universe: an awareness of existence; an awareness that awareness exists; and an awareness our existence is intimately related to an awareness that awareness exists. As I tried to illustrate in my two works available for purchase on the Amazon's KINDLE: HEART-HEALING The Chariot Way and The Chariot Way The Dream of Crom, the main prime difference between Western tradition and the traditions of the Near East (Levant) and the Far East (India-China) is the total absence of a need for redemption of the Self and of the annihilation of the Self. Western tradition lacks both redemption and annihilation. One never needs to be redeemed, as there is no conception of sin as such, and one never needs dissolution of the Self, as the Self is inherently good and ought to be preserved; as with the correct proper training, the Self could neither ever be absorbed nor could it ever be diminished: The Soul grows. Grow the Soul. Eastern traditions derive from a far different perception and interpretation (it's a perception that's essentially both cyclic and static; it's an agrarian crop rotation perspective) as to what constitutes the true nature of the universe. The Western tradition (it's a perception that is essentially one of growth and of evolution; it's a livestock breeder's perspective) emphasizes directed transformation: One creates one's own Self through arduous perseverance in the performance of certain actions (and by avoiding in-action), constantly and continuously. The emphasis is on endurance in adversity. Change is the Key and Self-Reliance the Lock. Which view of Nature is correct? The Eastern or the Western? Probably neither one is. The universe is something different entirely, something very strange. This makes it all the more interesting; and even more fun, especially as a question: What's the Nature of the Universe, leads to yet another, and this is: Can we ever know the nature of the universe? Why is this a question? Because we, ourselves, are a part of the universe. So, the very act of attempting to understand the universe changes us. To know the universe is to know each and every part of it. As we're a part of it, we're changing too with our greater understanding. An attempt at trying to understand the universe is causing us to evolve, along with the universe: It's co-evolution.

Book-Based Religions

"Learned-Helplessness" habituation is the basis for the Ibrahim book-based religions. If a person feels that he or she is unable to act without a direct intervention from an outside force, because that person is un-worthy (he or she lacks righteousness), and needs direction from a script and the official interpreters of the script in order to act; that person is unable to do anything, except to follow the given script. The god in your heart is the true god; not that god in the book. Book-based gods are false gods and book-based religions are false religions. One of the many proofs for the invalidity of all "sacred" book-related religions is the poor quality of the books themselves---that they're written so badly. Their gods can't write! If there were a deity (there isn't of course), that deity, if it were to choose some poets to inscribe and relate the deity's admonitions (and why would any deity have admonitions to begin with), it would certainly pick the world's greatest poets, the very best; and not some crazed schizophrenics who had been out in the desert sun for a bit too long. Deities have no need to write books; but men certainly do; so to control the actions of other men. Now, why does this matter? Well, let's say one of your goals in life is spirituality---a worthy goal to be sure---it can't come from the study of so-called sacred texts. That's simply a waste and an actual impediment in achieving your original worthy spiritual goal. Sacred mission achievement can come only through endurance; that's by the perseverance in the sublime task of changing and transforming your own thoughts and your own actions: first by the editing and analysis of them; and then finally, by the re-writing of the sacred text of Self.

Gnostic Pan-Psychism

Since we are speaking of energy generation, we also should be discussing the "why" and the "how" of energy. This is going to get a little deep. The Druid outlook on the universe, or the nature of reality, does not distinguish between the physical and the psychic. From the Druid's viewpoint (obviously I'm giving my own interpretation here---there are only about a hundred of us left), the psychic and the physical are simply different aspects (or "faces" which is the proper term) of the same consciousness. Reality is seen as conscious, but this consciousness is not the same as human consciousness---think more of a child in the womb---this consciousness is more the potential of consciousness---the universe is in the state of becoming conscious: the World is potent with Thought. It is this potency that is tapped when we're exploring psychic endeavors.