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copyright 2000
jan cox

Saturday August 26,2000 Here I am back at the Shannanberry Lodge just outside Helsinki where things are expected to quieten down soon inthat hunting season for tango dancers opens September 1^st. Even though I am six thousands miles away from whence I reported to you yesterday, still in this part of the world there is news as always, pertinent to those people interested in getting to the bottom of things. "Tis never too hot nor too cold to wake up, and you’re never too far north or south to see for yourself what’s really going on in life. It’s certainly not necessary that you see; why you can be a world leader in religion, politics, finance, the arts, and not have the least suspicion as to what’s actually going on all around you all of the time. Hey, ragweed and roaches don’t either, and they’d done all right for themselves! But if you are one of those few who seemed to have popped into this world already hardwired with an interest in that certain matter I herein write about each day, then welcome aboard -- let’s go for another upper-story, nervous-system ride.

….(do you know why ordinary, intelligent people have such a hard time digesting the things I say? -- ‘cause they don’t find the flavor of anything self-serving in them. But -- all routine ideas from the mind are, (to the mind), inescapably "self-serving" -- which makes them, (to ordinary minds) -- acceptable……….but to alert minds -- useless. Neat, huh?!……keeps out the riff raff. Now if you could just keep the riff raff out of your own head! Ah HAH!!!!!!!!

Sunday August 27, 2000: Dateline: London. Even though it is the weekend, news of interest to those with that certain hunger has been breaking out all over Europe -- and here is some of it.

A man walked into a police station in Brussels this morning and announced: "If you’re annoyed -- you’re asleep, and with the few: if you’re asleep, you’re annoyed." (The desk sgt. later confided that although the logic of the comment escaped him it still some how made him feel uneasy.)

In Amsterdam a bartender found this message written on a napkin someone left by their glass: "A man will try to change only if he believes that change is possible -- and note: even if change is not possible, the attempt to change is itself a form of change."

A woman in downtown Budapest was overheard to say: "Being able to think makes man feel unique in life. Being able to think makes man feel supreme in life. Being able to think makes man feel apart from life. Who but a fish asleep and confused mistakes the water for anything other than himself."

A member of France’s Ministry of The Arts issued the following statement today: "In order to preserve your honor in certain affairs it is some times necessary to lie about your involvement therein.", to which I add: It is better to have never deceived yourself at all than to have ever tried to accurately describe anything you have ever done or thought.

In Milan’s fashion district a tag was found on a new line of skirts which says: "The condition some call, "Being asleep" is easily defined; it is -- Thinking about your past. And for those trying to awaken, the recalling of things already done is a special form of insanity." ….(as a matter of fact: Consciousness itself is a latent form of insanity just waiting to happen.)

A banner seen in Madrid over the weekend declared: "Finding fault with yourself supports the impression that you can change what you are."……….( and might I add: For a person who wants to see things clearly, "Finding fault with yourself" is like opening your eyes while remaining in a room with no light.)

A medical report released in Warsaw this morning contains the following statement: "The problem with some illnesses is that their very first symptom is -- sudden death!", and a man upon reading this was heard to mutter: "It’s a shame that encroaching "mental distraction" doesn’t have a similar, wake-up warning.’

In a faux asylum on the Sham Of Mann patients talk to themselves, some of them cursing their parents; some cursing their god, others cursing their government, some their luck, then there’s this one guy who can be heard cursing the conversations he has with himself. You might care to note that the damage of conversations your mind holds with itself in your head can be minimized if you will limited the subject strictly to things in the here-&-now.

Graffiti found on a wall in Leipzig: "There are two ways to be dazed and deluded: One is by believing that you can exercise control at times when you cannot, and the other is by not trying to exercise control when you should.", under which someone else had written: "Yeah, but the thing is that you have be already damn near awake to distinguish between the two."

Soldiers in Belgrade broke up a mob whose presence they said represented the following: "If you are not a passive host to ordinary human thought -- you are always here, but if however you are so involved, you’re mostly some where else." …(needless to say that they were run off in short order.)

A spokesman for the Swiss Railroad Authority at a working breakfast this morning passed around this memorandum: "To clear one area you must litter another; to make one place lighter you must make another heavier. Thus is all change but – rearrangement." -- Does anyone reading these words realize their pertinence to the, "Struggle to Awaken"?

Monday August 28, 2000 Dateline: Lagos, Nigeria, a passionate port city from which a report on today’s main story seems appropriate. Truth is, the news from all over the world this morning is hot and quick-blooded -- same as you should be if you’ll still insisting that you want to realize for yourself what’s really going on with life. So here’s what’s pertinent to those with that certain interest: Comin’ straight at cha without commercial interruption.

But neither the mentally-oriented, nor the physically-so trust emotions, but only the former say so in advance. It is they who publicly say that emotions must be kept out of our decision making, and the latter who in private agree -- AFTER having suffered an unprofitable appearance BY their emotions, (ask anyone in prison about this.)

So what is the practical relevance of this to a person wanting-to-get- to-the-bottom-of-things? -- primarily this: no matter the type of thoughts that automatically pass through your mind you should hold the constant awareness that they have originated at some site down in the needs and passions of your survival instincts, and that their presence in the conscious area of your brain has no relevance to "decision-making" than water has to a fish’s gills.

Those with that certain hunger tend to feel their sense-of-themselves as residing in their mind more than do ordinary men. Those historically referred to as, "Seeking Enlightenment" are doing so in their own mind -- EVEN THOUGH -- few, few, few ever come to realize it.

Everything a seeker-of-enlightenment  is searching for is in his own mind, but the, (shall we say, "problemo"), is that, (how shall I put this?!……… well), the problem is that there IS no such thing as the mind -- except when thoughts are in it -- and no thoughts are ever in it that were not put there by the emotions…………… and they have no knowledge-of, or interest-in this thing called, "Waking Up and Being Enlightened."

A man’s instinctive self is not asleep, nor un-enlightened -- only a certain thought that appears in a few mens’ minds hold such a notion. Only the mind has the thought: "I want to be Enlightened.", and only the mind has the thought: "I am NOT Enlightened." -- and on top of all this: the mind has no thoughts of its only -- only reflections, echoes and unanalyzed interpretations of passions.

So then -- what have we learned today?, (mainly this): You hear the idea that while man believes that he is awake and conscious, he is in fact living in a state of semi-sleep, and is not as conscious as he could be. If you are one of the few with the wired-in attraction to this notion, and find your mind in fevered-possession of same, take note: it is an idea that is in direct conflict with every other idea you have, and in fact at odds with all of the ideas other men commonly hold.

You are not right, and other men wrong -- you are simply running out your own string. (Hey, what’s life without a hobby?!). I am not in any way making light of this matter, for it is to me personally, the reason for existence. But it can only be of ultimate profit to a person if they gain a clear comprehension of what it is really is………and what it is NOT is something spooky, otherworldly, or metaphysical, but is in fact something quite, normal, simple and indeed, physical -- which is what all of life is any way -- regardless of how the mind can so persuasively dream otherwise.

There is obviously nothing to compare with the human mind in our known universe, but the mind is NOT what the thoughts in it say that it is. The mind does not make pristine, "mental decisions": every decision your mind expresses is based on some non-mental instinctive preference you were born with. Relatively speaking: Your liver IS awake; your colon IS enlightened, but your mind will NEVER be -- AND it will never understand why!

You live by emotions -- you speak by mind. You thrive through feelings -- you wither in the mind. All joy is passion -- all complaints, mental.

It is likewise only on this this field that a few men have presented to their mind a thought that says that all of the other thoughts they have are not inferior, unenlightened and acceptable. Cherishing this one thought is what gives the individual spice to the lives of that certain few men, but merely being content with your fascination with the idea, without investigating -- to the end -- the question of what is at the bottom of the notion is like being satisfied with a seed when you could have a whole clove grove.

Why should you give in to those feelings of wanting to know for yourself the answer to the simple question: "What’s with this – "Me-being-alive" thing? No, no -- don’t let your passion for wanting to become un-idiotcized overcome your rational, better judgement.

Well, it’s really starting to get hot here; my keyboard’s beginning to steam, and I wanna run by Fela’s grave before heading on for  Barbados.

 One lazy summer day as life was just laying around, not doing much of anything, it happened to look down at itself and suddenly exclaimed: "My God!, but I 'm putting on weight!" -- then almost as quickly thought: "What the hell am I talking about?! -- there 's no place for me to step away from myself so that I can look at myself and see whether I 'm putting on weight or not. Jeeze!, am I losing my mind?!"   And there you have it boys & girls; all that need be said concerning self-criticism -- straight from the big mouth of the big one who knows.

All attempts men have historically pursued in an effort to change the operations of that part of the brain known as consciousness, or the mind, have employed some form of, "self-study". (Even people with no interest in that certain matter dear to us here will express their support for the notion that it is "good" for a man to "know himself".), and there seems to be no other or better approach by which a man can initiate his journey into this curious activity of recreating his own inner world. In other words: Every person who undertakes the task to "achieve enlightenment and wake up" begins -- one way or another -- by attempting to "study their self" -- by trying to "observe their self" , or to,"remember their self", or be "forever mindful", which are all the same thing, just with diverse sobriquets.

Those who claim to seek, "The truth of Enlightenment" accept the premise that ordinarily man is, "Mentally-in-the-dark", but can be otherwise, and those who hold this view generally feel it with a singular passion. But beyond all the several thousand years worth of mystical, gobble-de-gook, and verbal flim-flam, there is a straightforward, physical reality to this matter, (and it is this): The mind does not comprehend itself. It is this fact alone that disturbs a few men sufficient to have created that activity known as: "The Search For Enlightenment", inter alia.

Regardless of claims by dilettantes, such people are not being "spiritually troubled by the gods", nor have they been selected by cosmic forces for some sort of "special mission" on behalf of mankind, (although the mind being the unbounded bounder that it IS, men can believe such things with no effort whatsoever, [but back to reality].) No, what drives such people is -- the mind's inability to comprehend itself. With ordinary men this fact never establishes itself in their consciousness sufficient to cause any trouble, but with the few towhom all of my words are addressed, this situation seems intolerable, (although it is seldom recognized for what it actually is). But overall, this explains their ready acceptance of the need to,"Study their self", (while never recognizing that there is no "self " to be studied -- only the mind which calls itself such.)

Men cannot "Remember themselves" for the simple reason that they have no "self" TO remember aside from the thing attempting to DO the remembering. A man cannot carry on a sustained "study" of himself since he has no "self" to BE studied apart from the one attempting the study.

No one's liver conceives of itself in duplicate; neither does the stomach, the pancreas, or any other decent, law abiding organ, but the BRAIN!, (oh my god -- don't get me STARTED!, [sorry, got a bit overheated there for a moment &this hot tropical sun, and all].), but the brain -- totally aware -- conceives of itself in duplicate. It conceives of itself as being both itself -- and you. Or the alternative view; You conceive of you in duplicate by conceiving of you "having" a mind whereas apart from your mind there is no "you" IN you.

Neither the ordinary nor the enlightened "know who they are", but the enlightened KNOW they don t know.

Well, the steel drum band is starting to set up, so the time has come for all true music lovers to get the hell outta here, ( By the way -- from yesterday: Fela said to tell you all hello). Until I report to you on the morrow you could try this; Look out at something; look out at it first while trying to just "see"it; then look at it while watching your thoughts look at it. Tricky, huh?! Can it even be done, huh?! And, watch it! -- if you're not super careful your mind will believe that it is doing things which it is not. Knowing this on a consistent basis IS the enlightenment.

Jan

It is Wednesday August 30, 2000, as I write to you from Caracas with another new item directed dead at the mental-heart of those people with a certain hunger that seems to them to transcend the areas of mere mundane feeling and thought, (but a sensation that they should keep open to further consideration). But then again, what could be more mundane AND exciting than just being alive?!, (which is easy to say since there is nothing experiential to which to compare existence.) But what the hey -- give "being alive" the benefit of the doubt for a few minutes while I attempt to slip something fresh to you regarding this inescapable subject, (least wise as applies to you readers out there of the quick variety.)

A current popular topic amongst so-called, social observers, and thus much of the sophisticated public is the assertion that men today are confused as to what a man’s role should be, (and likewise with women). This notion is a prime example of ordinary minds’ reading of man’s topography which, for a person trying to get-to-the-bottom-of-things must be labeled a, "mis-reading". Any contemporaneously literate and hip person understands readily what this comment regarding man’s confusion over his sexual role represents in its intended context, but the idea takes into account only one part of man’s total operating reality.

For purposes of today’s comments I present a model of man where by he consists of two distinct "selves"; his instinctive self, which is physical and non verbal, and his social self, which is mental and manifestly verbal. (As ‘tis always true, such a division does not actually exist in man; he is not divided into two of anything, but my picture of him thus today fits his behavior, and makes possible my presentation to you of non-standard interpretations of said behavior.)

Man’s instinctive self, (in my ephemeral, working-model), consists of all drives, hungers and interests necessary to sustain his physical existence, (which notably includes, sex). The particular manner in which these instinctive drives manifests themselves in a particular man are part of his genetic heritage, and regardless of mental dreams to the contrary, are not open to profitable attempts at alteration. By birth, you are temperamentally -- what you are -- which will include your upcoming sexual preferences; your taste in food and for its quantity, and also your predisposition for physical activity,or the absence thereof.

No one’s instinctive self is the least bit "confused" regarding sex, just as no one is confused about eating. No sane person has any doubt as to whether they should eat or not, and whether to confine their intake to the nourishing and non poisonous, and certainly no ordinary person is confused about whether they need sleep or not. But the idea that, "men today are confused as to what the proper role of a man should be" comes not from his instinctive self, but rather, his mental one -- which takes us into an entirely different realm. (Do remember that sex per se is not the actual subject here, I simply use it as an expedient example.)

A person who wants to realize for their self what’s really going on must be able to see that man lives in two different, but parallel worlds, (which I usually refer to as his, "primary" reality, which is instinctive and physical, and his "secondary" reality, which is mental and intangible, and that things that seem to naturally occur in his secondary world are not necessary natural to his primary one. Take this model of there being these two separate worlds of the, "physical-&-primary", and the, "mental-&-secondary" as simply as possible. The everyday lives and behavior of collective man manifest their reality right before your eyes constantly, although the mind is not organized to take and sustain such a view. Still, you can do it, and it offers quite real potential benefits for seeing through the commonly stirred-up smoke and distraction in which the un-awakened mind normally lives.)

This "secondary reality" is the entirely of man’s civilization. This secondary world contains every single thing you know of that man did NOT find laying-around-on, or growing-out-of the ground. Think of anything you like, and if it is something that would not exist without man’s presence, then it is of the secondary reality, and it exists only in the mind -- but to the mind -- this is real enough ! But our question here is: "real enough for WHAT?!"

If that operation in the brain generally referred to as the, "mind" says to a man: "We are confused as to what is now the proper role for a man to play.", and upon hearing itself say this, the man’s mind accepts this, then in his secondary reality, such has to that man become fact. In his mental self the man is now confused regarding the role he should sexually be playing in his secondary world, but his instinctive self is not confused (and to be as exact as possible in word, I should say that a person’s instinctive self would not be "NORMALLY" confused by activity taking place in his mental self, but under some circumstances, some mens’ instinctive self does seem vulnerable to contradictory information coming from the cortical areas of the brain, but men with such wiring anomalies are not part of the ordinary mainstream, and thus are not pertinent to our interests here; I simply mention this to keep your mental records as uselessly straight as posssible. Now back to the main road.)

When the talking part of consciousness says to itself that, "up is down", and the listening part of consciousness does not contest it, then to that particular consciousness, up is now down -- REALLY!………..for who is to tell it otherwise?!……..the only possibility is that some other person’s consciousness says to this consciousness that it is incorrect in its belief, but even this offers no certain assurance that the first consciousness will alter its now-held view of the matter.

One source that the mind will not "hear from" is his instinctive self, for while It knows up from down, (vestibular functions of the hindbrain); and knows wheat from chaff, and unhesitatingly knows its sexual role, it does not communicate with the mind in a language identifiable by the latter.

A person who hears the idea that, "Although man believes that he is awake and conscious, he in fact lives in a dream and is not as conscious as he should be.", and who adopts the notion as their own -- has adopted it where? -- in their instincts?, not hardly; in their mind?, most assuredly. There is nothing amiss in this -- it couldn’t be otherwise. But this simple, obvious fact is not at ALL simple and obvious to the mind. Even after all that I’ve said about it today , your mind will still insist, (for instance), that religion actually has an existence outside of man’s mind, (and same, as I previously noted, regarding every other single piece that makes up man’s civilized, social, and created world, his secondary reality).

The mind is not constructed-to, nor evidently intended-to see that the realm in which it lives is a world sorely of its own creation, and thus all rules governing the constitution of reality therein are rules of its own concoction. Again I note that there is nothing whatsoever "wrong" with the arrangement as I have described it, for were things not thus with the mind there would be no pc’s onwhich I would be sending you these daily dispatches; no books, no movies, no music, no hospitals, no universities……..life as you know it would cease to be. But, "the problem" for the few is in the kind of activity in which the mind is inclined to indulge itself in its spare time.

When not on "serious duty" assisting you in your survival, how does your mind occupy itself? -- by "day dreaming", (as ordinary men would term it). It is such a habitual part of mens’ lives that no particular notice is made thereof by most of the planet’s population. And why should any special notice be made of this most common of goings-on in the brain? -- after all, observably it causes no harm in the lives of our six billion neighbors? What is it that so annoys a few men that their some where, at some time, some of them came-up-with, (made up), the idea that "Man is asleep, but can awaken."?

Such people are inherently in possession of a mind that instinctively rebels against what it instinctively is!

Okay, here’s the simple, sad truth of the matter; If your mind says that you are a sorry excuse for a human being, then in your mind you are -- right?! -- no, not right, get reality straight. If your mind says that, it is saying that about itself – and saying it TO itself……I don’t know why you’re eavesdropping on its conversations with itself any way. (Nosey!)

Physically speaking, as per instinct, you are whatever you were born as, and no matter how weak, or unattractive you may be, your kidneys still aren’t "asleep"; nor your lungs, "un-enlightened", nor might I add , your endocrine system or genitalia confused!

I tell you again that there is a quite real "reality" to this idea of being more "awake and conscious", and for those with a genetic hunger for it, its actual taste is incomparable. So -- "What to do?", asks the few………okay,here’s what: Don’t listen to any human mind; not yours, not anyone else’s, and not the collective minds of humanity, ("conventional wisdom"). So why is it any different listening to my mind speak? -- BECAUSE, (in case it’s slipped your notice), the only thing I’m speaking about in all of this is the -- profitable cessation of listening to the mind.

The only thing that I am offering to do is assist you in -- controlled self-destruction.  (Of course you’ve got to know what you’re doing and which self to target.)

So -- here’s what I leave you with today; Don’t "listen" to your mind -- LOOK at it. Never take your eyes off of it! -- Oops!, but what will you use to look at it with?!?!…………….Hey-y-y-y, you’re startin’ to get too sharp for me!…….there’s no longer any "easy foolin’" you, huh?!

One man had a household appliance that he some times found quite useful ,and at other times, quite entertaining, but, he couldn’t turn it off, and the noise of its constant running annoyed him greatly. After considerable time spent in futilely trying to shut it off, and stop its noise, his per cockathree finally pointed out to the man that it was the appliance itself, and not him that was bothered by the racket. (My god! -- how embarrassing that must have been for the man!…….don’t you reckon?!)

 Also, S.O.P. is proving to be that I make additions to the original version of each day’s story up until dark, in case you want to check back in later to be sure of seeing the complete edition for that day.

J

August 31, 200, and for some reason I am tickled pink to be here in Bombay, (or else I could just be a bit sunburned from the flight over, [the plane was a convertible]). Nonetheless, I send to you today from the sub-continent, good, useful, fresh news concerning the certain matter in which we share an interest; that little matter of you wanting to discover for yourself if it is possible to understand more about what being alive is about than is contained in the several explanations offered by and accepted by routine humanity, (and for a few, I might note, the answer is, Si,). So here we go, off on today’s inner rocket ride.

That certain matter ofwhich I speak here daily has historically been thought of by outsiders and amateur insiders alike as being METAphysical, (in fact ‘tis often labeled, "Mysticism"), but the reality from which the matter arises is as purely physical as can be.

To -------- wake-up-and-achieve-enlightenment-regarding-the-mind requires a vigorous "look-see" into the thing you call your mind, but believe it or not, this is not as simple as it sounds – for ask yourself this: What will you use to study your mind?,(a minor problem perhaps, and one that we’ll let slid for the moment.)

You find that the immediate problem seems to be in keeping the mind still long enough TO take a good look at it, and here is where my "two approaches" for the day come into play. You can either focus your thoughts on things in your mind, or else keep them held on things physical and outside your mind. Now this is always going on any way -- it’s a matter of whether or not you are consciously participating therein.

At first you might think: "Well, to study my mind I should certainly be focusing on the thoughts and activity that is going on in my mind. Why should I turn my attention outward to physical matters if it is intangible, internal ones I am investigating?" -- good point -- go do it.

But you discover that it is not as simple as it sounds. For what tool will the mind employ withwhich to study itself?

Among people casually attracted to this kind of activity it is common to find that their thinking is already devoted primarily to their own thoughts, (and the few they do have about the world outside of them are generally hostile in nature, (such people are prime candidates for the monastic life)

You cannot truly think about your thoughts. You can certainly THINK that you can, which IS the fatal flaw. You think that you are studying your mind, but it is a mirror looking at its own reflection. (In mystical terms: It is a sleeper looking at himself sleeping and wondering if he is actually watching himself sleep, or if he is asleep and just dreaming that he is watching himself sleep.)

The one source of all confusion and "personal problems" is – flawed thinking. And I do not mean thinking whose content is inappropriate or incorrect and is thus "flawed" -- no, I mean thinking whose very operation is defective. It is thinking that takes itself to be self-generated, and to be something apart from the mind through which it exhibits itself. And it gets even worse; for your flawed thinking thinks that it is you -- and you accept the notion!

Every single personal problem you have of a non-physical nature is due to this flawed thinking I have just described. If men did not take their thinking to be them, no one would have any criticism of anyone else, for any non-physical reason. No one would have any complaint with life – period!, were it not for their defective thinking. (And again, in mystical terminology: " No one would "be asleep" did they not engage in faulty thinking. ["submit to faulty thinking"" is actually more accurate than, "engage in", but when sleepers want to be condemned they like to believe that it’s because of something they actively DID, rather than because of something that happened TO them. Ahh, those little sweet sleepers! -- they do so enjoy the torment of their slumber.)

It is based on the above that I say "Flawed thinking is the sole cause of all confusion and personal problems" -- and I further assert that: " There are no such things as, "problems"" -- only flawed thinking. ……..and even beyond all of that, I say: "There is no state of "sleep or confusion" besides the condition brought on by -- flawed thinking.

So what can be done practically? When your thoughts are thinking about things in the mind -- turn them out on to things of the world. And when your thoughts are on things outside of you -- turn them inwardly on to the things in your mind.

When the mind wants peaches -- give it pears;

When your thoughts think, "up" -- make ‘em think, "down".

Whatever your mind thinks naturally, is flawed, (insofar as helping you see-what’s-going-on is concerned, [matters of survival-enhancement excepted, as always].)

Put simply: All thoughts that come effortlessly to you are defective and unworthy of attention.

If you can’t see straight -- see in reverse.

How much clearer can it be, what you need to do?! -- Do the goddamned opposite!……………of what EVER it is.

If your thoughts are drawn to matters spiritual – think about your feet;

If your thoughts are on those you blame for your pain – think about the thoughts themselves that are saying that you’re in pain.

You can look out -- or you can look in -- but neither one will reveal anything new to you if you do it because your mind WANTS to do it

A boy asked his father: "Is there a place in this life for a man who has achieved Enlightenment?", towhich the elder replied; "Where else but -- in this life could he be?!"

A boy asked his father: "Is there a place in life for a man who is awake?", and his father replied: "Yes, in the same place as the sleeping."

There is no – getting away – there is only a waking-up-to what life is actually about……which is actually pretty simple…… Oh, I know that your mind doesn’t think that it is -- but just check with your feet….or stomach, or most any other part but your mind, and you’ll be surprised at what you can learn….(that your instinctive self already knew).

Ergo: Where is the profit in saying anything?!………………other than, Adios. Jan

September 1, 2000 finds me here in Wellington, New Zealand with non previously-owned news to report concerning that certain matter we take note of every day at this site. Spring is ready to burst out down here, same as I trust is true  regarding you and your routine mental confinement, (after all, what’s a day without an attempted jail break?!). So here comes this Friday’s story, the basis of which is ripped from the ordinary, public news, then put through my always-ready, private blender, then poured out into a tall, cool glass for your nourishment and enjoyment. So, here’s my brand of the news -- drink up.

From artists of all stripes, (writers, painters, musicians, etc), a certain cry is commonly heard; their plea to be -- "Taken seriously" .A dramatist will say: "I do not mind criticism of my work. All that I ask is that it be -- taken seriously!"

Wars have been fought over an insult leveled at a prince’s literary efforts, and empires have fallen due to one man’s idea of God not being taken seriously by his neighbors

The simple, easily observable fact is this: That which comes from their mind, men insist should be singularly, "taken seriously". Once you realize the reality of this you’ll wonder why you failed to see it before -- and you’ll be curious as to the basis of this unique human phenomenon.,

Fact: The less substantial be a thing, the more must its alleged significance be touted.

Only activities that originate in man’s mind and which make up the totality of his Secondary reality must be advertised and promoted

Fact: The more imaginary a thing be, the more passionately will its supporters insist on its importance. (E.g.: religious wars.)

What -- in all of a man’s experience -- is less substantial and more imaginary than his own thoughts?! And what -- out of all his life -- does a man most passionately insist is important and should be, "Taken seriously!" -- his thoughts! -- always his own (apparent) ideas. After all, an author’s book originated in his thoughts, (likewise with a painter, composer, philosopher, economist, social-critical, political-observer, religious prophet, etc.).

A warrior with his sword raised above your head is not concerned that you, "Take him seriously"; nor does a farmer care if you’d rather scoff at his corn than eat it. Man’s mind is touchy about its work in a way without known parallel. You can laugh at a man’s nose -- but not his ideas. You can dismiss his athletic skills -- but not his mental or creative ones.

Fact: A thing’s lack of meaning has nothing to do with its acceptance in the Secondary World.

and Fact: The more vacuous an idea be, the greater will its author’s plea be that it be, "Taken seriously"……..It’s all simple mathematics……it’s just the way things are in the Secondary reality, wherein man’s mind is creator, producer. critic and consumer of whatever it is that’s in there.

Now forget other people and their relationships vis a vis what I have supra noted. Just consider yourself as our working example, (which is the only way an alert man goes about it any way). What is more important, meaningful and significant to you than the thoughts you "have", (well, at least they’re in your head)?! And, Question: what is it about you -- above all other aspects --- that you believe should be, "Taken seriously" --- Answer: The things you think.?!

A man who is really and personally intent on getting-to-the-bottom-of-things must realize for himself that other than for the ideas the mind has that aid in his physical survival, the rest of the thoughts that pass through him deserve nothing but dismissal. They are not worthy of any consideration or contention. They are an exhibition by a routinely-talented painter whose work at best is nothing more than mental wallpaper….("Oh, get away from me with that palette, you silly boy you!")

Some men have heard-of, and adopted the notion that their mind/consciousness is "asleep" and can be awakened, (and of course it is concerning that concept that I herein write about daily) . But let’s expand your view of the matter, and consider thus: The idea of "awakening" originated in some human’s mind -- and has now been embraced by your mind, and I say that nothing that comes from man’s mind (with the exception regarding survival), deserves to be TAKEN -- "seriously". It is at best, entertaining distractions, as with music, books and painitings

In other words: It is nothing but the thoughts-in-you that insist that, "The thoughts in you" should BE, "taken seriously".