Open Thread WE 31 JAN 24 ~ karma

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 01/31/2024 - 5:00am

It is getting time to pay the piper.

“Before you act, you have freedom, but after you act, the effect of that action will follow you whether you want it to or not. That is the law of karma.”
—Paramahansa Yogananda

Perhaps this is in the philosophical realm. But it can be tied into the efforts of present day
power brokers, warmongers and their ilk. What mojo has crept into their brains to think
that by lying, stealing and cheating they are immune to repercussions?

Personally, I try to 'pay forward' in an atmosphere of improving our world. Doesn't
always have immediate consequence, but there is a reciprocal arrangement at play.
What do you think, you get it for free? What goes around, comes back around. The
sensitives among us paying attention can see an almost immediate reflexive response.

The consequences of our thoughts and actions do have an energy
which can smooth the road ahead. Can we try making this a better
experience by being better and sharing it with others? Worth a try.

“Aquatic Flash” by Kelly O’Dell
https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2024/01/kelly-odell-ammonites/
https://www.kellyodellglass.com

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Submitted by QMS on Wed, 01/31/2024 - 5:55am

Hey, g'day

-
Hell is Freezing Over Day

If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, it's the dead of winter, so it seems more likely that hell would freeze over now than at any other time. This is not necessarily a fun holiday, as on it you are supposed to do all the things you said you wouldn't do until hell freezes over.

"Not until hell freezes over" is an idiom of improbability from the early twentieth century, which stemmed from the belief that hell is a very hot place, and thus will never freeze over. There are many variations on the phrase, such as "It will be a cold day in hell when…" and "There's not a snowball's chance in hell…" Well, the unlikely occurred, hell has frozen over. Get bundled up and ready to celebrate.

Happy humpday!

Submitted by Tall Bald and Ugly on Wed, 01/31/2024 - 8:26am

Not here

but if hell is on fire the
next day or three out
here will go a long way to
cooling it down with heavy
rain dumping Inches

snow above 5k 2200 here
maybe no shoveling this
year? lips to ears

karma will bite me
for mentioning most likely
stay tuned
in harmony

thinking about another dawg
two is too easy. . .

bring wood in early and often
too cold to be dicking around

—

Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

Submitted by earthling1 on Wed, 01/31/2024 - 11:17am

Atmospheric river

@Tall Bald and Ugly
They used to call it the Pineapple Express.
They keep changing the names of everything.
Stay dry, bro.

—

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 01/31/2024 - 2:45pm

stocking up

@Tall Bald and Ugly
-
-
early and often sounds like good advice
have enough on-hand inside to burn for
several days, but alas, the cold snap is due
to end its icy grips for awhile soon?

cheers

Submitted by soryang on Wed, 01/31/2024 - 10:11am

The principle of karma

...you cited is a great one QMS. The great Eastern traditions are worthy of study and consideration.

I just learned of another expression of a similar principle in Taoism as explained by Dr. Gao in a brief video that I thought had great implications as well for consideration in governance. In Chinese thought, as I'm looking at it as a student or neophyte, I see this principle in action or non-action. That is, the tendency to act with restraint or not at all (無爲 wu wei) to reserve or retain one's potential to act freely. Obviously this didn't always apply to Chinese history, as there have been times of great turmoil and chaos as well. According to the doctor this is a principle originating in Tai Chi 太極 and finding its home in Taoism and then absorbed into the later Chinese traditions. The principle has been learned from an ancient history that includes those experiences of protracted periods of chaos and war. I had a very talented American friend who adopted Hinduism, who once a long time ago, said to me, "sometimes it is better to do nothing at all."

I'm probably reading too much into it, perhaps imposing my western imprint on what I think I understand. Perhaps it is better to have just an impressionistic understanding rather than force ideas into some formal structure with which or against which one is always at war. In the west, are not our actions as a polity always at war with our alleged principles? One should act in accordance with the way, naturally or effortlessly, rather than trying to strike to control what thereafter cannot be controlled.

Anyway, this is the principle which I believe is related, 物極必反, (in Chinese Wùjíbìfǎn; in Korean sa geuk pil ban) as a matter goes to an extreme, by necessity it becomes or goes to its opposite. In other words freedom of action is lost, as one acts out. Dr. Gao explains it-

I wasn't going to post this. Dr. Gao's accent in English sometimes makes her English somewhat difficult to understand. I've found it worthwhile to bear with it, to understand. I tried to explain above just in case, as I've done some background study on her other videos, and frankly have to refer often to my various dictionaries, and the wikipedia to make an effort to understand. I thought the political application of such hard learned principles, especially in these troubled times which can get worse, was obvious.

Thanks for opening the door QMS!

—

語必忠信行必正直

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 01/31/2024 - 10:21am

Your understanding sounds complete

@soryang
-
to these ears. Good points on the application to politics, allowing for inaction and
following the flow of natural order. Unfortunately, the western warriors do not study
asian concepts.
Thanks for the video link. Will listen to it and try to understand.

...you cited is a great one QMS. The great Eastern traditions are worthy of study and consideration. I just learned of another expression of a similar principle in Taoism as explained by Dr. Gao in a brief video that I thought had great implications as well for consideration in governance. In Chinese thought, as I'm looking at it as a student or neophyte, I see this principle in action or non-action. That is, the tendency to act with restraint or not at all (無爲 wu wei) to reserve or retain one's potential to act freely. Obviously this didn't always apply to Chinese history, as there have been times of great turmoil and chaos as well. According to the doctor this is a principle originating in Tai Chi 太極 and finding its home in Taoism and then absorbed into the later Chinese traditions. The principle has been learned from an ancient history that includes those experiences of protracted periods of chaos and war. I had a very talented American friend who adopted Hinduism, who once a long time ago, said to me, "sometimes it is better to do nothing at all." I'm probably reading too much into it, perhaps imposing my western imprint on what I think I understand. Perhaps it is better to have just an impressionistic understanding rather than force ideas into some formal structure with which or against which one is always at war. In the west, are not our actions as a polity always at war with our alleged principles? One should act in accordance with the way, naturally or effortlessly, rather than trying to strike to control what thereafter cannot be controlled. Anyway, this is the principle which I believe is related, 物極必反, (in Chinese Wùjíbìfǎn; in Korean sa geuk pil ban) as a matter goes to an extreme, by necessity it becomes or goes to its opposite. In other words freedom of action is lost, as one acts out. Dr. Gao explains it- I wasn't going to post this. Dr. Gao's accent in English sometimes makes her English somewhat difficult to understand. I've found it worthwhile to bear with it, to understand. I tried to explain above just in case, as I've done some background study on her other videos, and frankly have to refer often to my various dictionaries, and the wikipedia to make an effort to understand. I thought the political application of such hard learned principles, especially in these troubled times which can get worse, was obvious. Thanks for opening the door QMS!

Submitted by studentofearth on Wed, 01/31/2024 - 12:06pm

Closed caption was fairly accurate

@soryang after listening and reading was able to follow the flow of her words. She does have a high pitched voice at times and hearing loss of the higher frequencies would increase difficulty of understanding words.

Enjoyed the video

...you cited is a great one QMS. The great Eastern traditions are worthy of study and consideration. I just learned of another expression of a similar principle in Taoism as explained by Dr. Gao in a brief video that I thought had great implications as well for consideration in governance. In Chinese thought, as I'm looking at it as a student or neophyte, I see this principle in action or non-action. That is, the tendency to act with restraint or not at all (無爲 wu wei) to reserve or retain one's potential to act freely. Obviously this didn't always apply to Chinese history, as there have been times of great turmoil and chaos as well. According to the doctor this is a principle originating in Tai Chi 太極 and finding its home in Taoism and then absorbed into the later Chinese traditions. The principle has been learned from an ancient history that includes those experiences of protracted periods of chaos and war. I had a very talented American friend who adopted Hinduism, who once a long time ago, said to me, "sometimes it is better to do nothing at all." I'm probably reading too much into it, perhaps imposing my western imprint on what I think I understand. Perhaps it is better to have just an impressionistic understanding rather than force ideas into some formal structure with which or against which one is always at war. In the west, are not our actions as a polity always at war with our alleged principles? One should act in accordance with the way, naturally or effortlessly, rather than trying to strike to control what thereafter cannot be controlled. Anyway, this is the principle which I believe is related, 物極必反, (in Chinese Wùjíbìfǎn; in Korean sa geuk pil ban) as a matter goes to an extreme, by necessity it becomes or goes to its opposite. In other words freedom of action is lost, as one acts out. Dr. Gao explains it- I wasn't going to post this. Dr. Gao's accent in English sometimes makes her English somewhat difficult to understand. I've found it worthwhile to bear with it, to understand. I tried to explain above just in case, as I've done some background study on her other videos, and frankly have to refer often to my various dictionaries, and the wikipedia to make an effort to understand. I thought the political application of such hard learned principles, especially in these troubled times which can get worse, was obvious. Thanks for opening the door QMS!

—

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Submitted by soryang on Wed, 01/31/2024 - 2:43pm

Yes

@studentofearth @studentofearth I have an HF hearing impairment that makes it difficult to understand her pronunciation especially of the Chinese characters when she mentions or reads them. I have the same problem with Korean but primarily with consonants. So, I always use the subtitles on the videos. I'd prefer if Dr. Gao put pinyin in with her Hanzi like the HSK teachers do. Not that I expect to be able to have any aural comprehension of Chinese.

Glad you liked the video SOE.

—

語必忠信行必正直

Submitted by Lookout on Wed, 01/31/2024 - 10:17am

Good morning...

It has moderated here, already pushing 50F. I'm going to do some mowing today. Deer season is now officially over, so I'll clean up the bottom where I let the deer hide.

My advice is: Don't let your Dogma chase your Karma.
We have a life path. I truly believe if we spread kindness and goodness along our way, we will find the same in our future. I once had a terrible self serving school superintendent who fought every effort to empower students, teachers and parents. I warned him his karma would catch up to him...and sure enough he was fired, ended up in GA as an Asst Principal (quite a step down from superintendent), and then got caught having an affair with one of the lunchroom ladies and lost that job as well. He deserved that, but I feel sorry for his wife and kids.

Well, on to the chores. Stay warm and thanks for the OT!

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by on the cusp on Wed, 01/31/2024 - 11:58am

I try to keep it simple.

"What goes around comes around."
I also developed a personal philosophy due to my inability to bear children, which was determined by the time I was 15 years old.
If you did nothing else in life, your legacy, that monument to your having been alive, is your children. Take that possibility away, what is left is what you did with your life that will be remembered years later.
That has been my reason for approaching my career with the constant goal of changing my clients' lives for the better.
I do not want to be remembered for ever letting them down.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 01/31/2024 - 1:49pm

A wise philosophy otc

@on the cusp
-

We are known by our actions.
and
The tree is known by its fruit.

(biblical paraphrases).

Cheers!