Archive for January 2010

Evolutionary Afflatus

January 27, 2010 Consciousness, Evolution, Uncategorized No comments

Afflatus means, roughly, divine inspiration. Evolution is the divine purpose of the universe. And humans are the best the universe has done so far in terms of being conscious of itself—at least the most conscious that living things on this planet are ever likely to become aware of.

In a talk this weekend (01/24/10), Andrew Cohen, spiritual teacher and founder of the outstanding magazine EnlightenNext, explained his belief that whatever divinity decided to suddenly create something out of an eternity of nothing 14 billion years ago when the big bang occurred is the still the conscious driving force of the cosmos.

What the hell am I talking about? Well, think about it. In the vast expanse of time since the known universe was created, humans beings are the most conscious forms of life that exist. We are aware of ourselves and the universe we live in. We are aware of being aware.

Even if the whole shebang is the result of random interactions of organic chemicals taking their own course, and consciousness arises out of the complexity of the human brain, we still possess the highest form of consciousness that has yet emerged. It’s as if the point of the entire 14 billion years of development was to produce human beings.

How can I conclude this? It is simply true that we are more aware than any other living beings on the planet, (assuming that all of the other creatures aren’t in some sort of telepathic communication ala Avatar).

So, given that humans are the only creatures that can be said to have a drive to create something new, to add to the collective conscious and deliberately create progress, it makes perfect sense that that drive is an evolutionary impulse that started at the big bang. And the more that we awaken to the fact that our purpose on this planet, in addition to procreating, is to create something new that contributes to the cosmic awareness, the more authentic and fulfilled our lives will become.

I find it downright inspiring to think that the creative flame I feel is the afflatus of evolution. It’s those who are most tuned in to this afflatus that drive progress, that advance mankind, that raise human consciousness to ever greater heights.

A sixties saying, if I remember correctly, used to be “Turn on, tune in, drop out.” An-o-tens saying should be “Tune in, turn on, blast off.”

Values that Bind Humans Together

January 17, 2010 Values No comments

HumansTogether is about finding the values that can move us to a planetary “species consciousness.” Haiti is a good example, both of the things that bind us together as humans and of the lack of global coordination that is required to face these large disasters.

We don’t ask what religion these people are or what their political party is before we bring aid. The whole world unites to bring aid.

But soon the politics will begin. Those who are expending resources will begin arguing over control. The right wing in this country will start to object to the amount of money being “wasted.” Such is human nature.

We will face such disasters again. Will we learn how to coordinate relief globally? Or more importantly, will we be able to rise above what divides us and help all people on the planet live together, instead of competing for resources?

HumansTogether believes that if we are to cope with the changes that are coming in climate, water and population we need a common set of beliefs and values.

To us, most religions suffer from anti-rational magical thinking and a dogmatic, closed-mindedness to other belief systems. Yet at the root of most religions is a philosophy that encourages compassion and caring for your fellow man. It’s those common values that are important.

The values that we need most are a recognition of our common humanity and an open mindedness. In other words, a respect for others and a recognition that we don’t know everything. It would also be helpful if humans were more interested in being helpful and supportive than in being right. More on values as we go along.

America the Dysfuntional

January 12, 2010 Politics No comments

I found this article in the Nation to be particularly on target. It rings true, but brings no joy.  http://www.thenation.com/article/melting-america

Obama at One

January 11, 2010 Politics No comments

President Obama, or just Obama, has been the most powerful man on the planet for about a year now and it seems like he’s not really as powerful or as visionary as I might have hoped. I am disappointed by just how pragmatic and centrist he seems to be. But I am truly appalled by the both the Republicans and the media that allows them to get away with saying whatever bullshit they want.

Cheney, who I think should be in jail as a war profiteer, continues to spout off with statements about Obama that are simply untrue. The non-fact based world of Republicans has gotten even more non-fact based, more divorced from reality, meaner, stupider, and uglier.

Don’t people remember how systematically they ran this country into the ground and how incompetently and corruptly they governed? Apparently not. Apparently most people think the fact that Obama could not snap his fingers and make it all better within a year makes it OK to vote for Republicans who will go back to the aggressively stupid policies that caused the debacle in the first place.

Look, I like a thoughtful, intellectual president. I recognize that there are some sincere Republicans and that some conservative values do promote the greater good. But good lord, isn’t there anybody but Rachel Maddow and Keith Obermann who can muster the proper sense of anger and disbelief at the Republican strategy of simply vilifying virtual anything Obama says that isn’t about more military spending? Sheesh.