Cleanliness- our pursuit of open space, sharp angles, and organized areas.

Our living spaces are a direct reflection of ourselves. A cluttered mind is typically surrounded with cluttered spaces, and vice versa. But why do we insist on organization and effective use of space? Because we have been effectively removing ourselves from the chaos of the natural world for many generations. The rabble of plant life and detritus of the wild, ordered randomly to our eyes, is a reminder of the dark spheres of history from which we came.

Unorganized spaces are stressful to most, because they lack a sense of control. Items are scattered. Floors become minefields. Walls become support beams for belongings. Ground clearance is used to jam things beneath. Effectively dispersing, rather than accounting for possession. With the ineffable motions of the cosmos, and the constant friction of modern life, it can seem impossible to maintain order of ourselves, and in turn, our surroundings.

Cleanliness can be draining, for it is a constant struggle. Dust collects, clothes are changed, decisions are made in a hurry. Systems of organization, and a collective knowledge of placement can be helpful, but it comes down to the time and energy we decide to spend on the matter. How much disorganization and clutter can we cope with? How clean must we be before we border on a detrimental disorder?

We yearn for what we do not find in our previously uncivilized settings. We enjoy sharp lines, right angles, and orderly settings. They make us feel more evolved. These environments give us a sense of control through effective manipulation of the material world. Powerful beings with opposable thumbs. Capable of dragging and dropping as we see fit. Refraining from using our gifts, results in a disorder of our surroundings which will eventually hinder our ability to accomplish our goals.

Existential Trivia

What does it all mean? What is the purpose? Is life devoid of meaning and purpose? Are we the effects of incalculable universal causes? Utterly coincidental?

I like to think that we are here for a reason. The purpose being to help others. Part of me feels as if life on earth is indeed a purgatory. Not in the biblical sense, as if we are between two extremes, but more so that the cyclical nature of the universe is guiding us on “laps of life.” Each lifetime full of experiences, determines the starting line, and potentially the entire path of our next lap. Does that mean this lap is already predetermined? Potentially. The question of free choice vs. destiny is not a new predicament by any means. Are we just along for the ride? Or does every choice we make, resonate along an infinite loop?

If all matter is set to a slow vibration, are we just dancing to the tune of the piper in the distance as Einstein said? Or are we generating our own tunes, and playing our own musical set? Are our surroundings and interactions with our environment a reaction to our choices and mindset? Or are they mere consequence of a predetermined path that we must endure in order to further our understanding of ourselves and the universe? If string theory is indeed true, then every key I am pressing is leading me to an alternate course. But to what degree do actions determine the severity of recoil? And within what time frame?

What goes around, comes around. The more I think about the cyclical nature of our world, the more I tend to think that we too, are governed by mysterious causes. Are these notions wishful thinking for an eternal existence? Here today, and gone tomorrow. Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust. Is our life a singularity which is of the most precious, and irreplaceable essence? Huffing oxygen as our blood circulates in an intricate, yet imperfect organic makeup. Evolved enough to separate ourselves from our earthly cousins, but not yet evolved enough to side-step the laws of nature.

If this is indeed a karmic purgatory, a recurring and ceaseless simulation for us to bypass, I fear that I am very far from achieving rest and relief. Nor do I know in which direction to head in order to achieve reprieve. I have been conditioned to do “good.” Good and bad are both relative, and on the ends of the same spectrum. Perception and beliefs determine the validity of both concepts. Therefore, I am heading blindly in the direction that I believe will lead me to a better quality of existence. Maybe that is the whole point.

Maybe it is purely trial and error. A man from Nepal once told me that I have worked very hard to come to these conclusions. And he did not mean only in this life, but in all of my previous lives. He insisted my consciousness was an accumulation of all of my cosmic effects. Despite the sensations of blessings that he bestowed upon me, I couldn’t help but to believe them to be irrational. I am merely an animal, seeking meaning for my existence with the help of a cursed neocortex. Or am I?

Is life a trial by fire through which we must persist, only to be thrown back into the coals to begin anew? Like the phoenix, we rise from our ashes, unaware of our previous life, but given hints at critical junctures to alter both our present circumstances, and our eternal path? Maybe. Or maybe I’m just an ape-like creature blessed with higher thought, but only enough brainpower to remain ignorant of the true meaning of life. Maybe it is meant to be that way. The curtains are only pulled back far enough for us to see a glimpse of the truth.

Maybe in my next life, this pondering will assist me in my understanding of my purpose in life. Or maybe my time here shall come to an end abruptly, my conscious mind will be snuffed out, and I will be consumed by the organic coding that brought me into existence. Perhaps my coding will be consumed and reproduced in a plethora of lifeforms. If that is the case, I may have to wait an eternity for the pieces to come full circle through universal collisions and separations in order to come back as a conscious being. Maybe that is how I came to be today.

Matter can neither be created nor destroyed, and therefore here I am. Floating among the other pieces of the eternal puzzle, comprised of bits and pieces of those who have come before me. One can only hope that the deep sleep is more like a coma, and the potentially billions of years before conscious recollection takes place seems more like a short nap. I can only hope that the universe is more like an on and off switch. Turning my life back on in an  instant in order to experience life again. In the same order? I wouldn’t mind. A super computer simulation that continues to reboot.

The grasping for continued existence that is hardwired into my being is borderline insanity. Or complete insanity if life truly is meaningless. A planet full of crazy apes. So immersed in their social conditioning that they don’t even realize just how trapped they truly are. Maybe we are in a planetary exile, just as Australia was to England. Sent here by distant relatives for our inability to live peacefully. Our DNA doomed to the pain and suffering we cause each other. Imperfect criminals stuck on a wild planet in which we feel only a lingering connection.

Or I’m purely a link in the chain of predetermined evolutionary progression, and must dwell on the fact that I am nothing in the larger scheme of things. Maybe I should just stop thinking about all of these things, and enjoy the sensational life that is all around me. Enjoy sensual experiences, create wonderful relationships, help others as best as I can, and at least take my last breath with a sense of contentment and pride. Who am I? Why am I here? No answers, only questions.


Ode to “Loki”

Golden fur and sleek profile
Open mouth and cheery smile
Relaxation is his style
Every snooze worth the while

Red tongue and fuzzy body
One leg raised is his potty
Under shade is his spotty
Outdoor play mainstay hobby

Pet him once and pet him twice
Behind the ears, oh so nice
Belly rub? I'll pay the price
Golden puppy is my vice

Sensory Perception and Continuity

Our senses are our tools for navigating our universe. Are they capable of providing us with sufficiently necessary information? Or do they keep us veiled from the actuality of our surroundings? We see, feel, taste, smell, and hear the world around us, but aren’t these sensations essentially one and the same; our body’s way of providing us with experience? These sensations are limited in terms of the spectrum with which we interact with the fundamental materials of space and time, due to our biology.

Just as all other organisms on earth perceive their universe in relation to their physical biology, we humans can only perceive the universe through our sensory organs. The machines and tools with which we can relate to the imperceptible happenings of our existence help to fill in the blanks, but the added insight is still absorbed through our physical senses. Would the universe exist without sensory input? Would we exist without universal sensory output? Is it a duality in which one cannot exist without the other?

The vast array of information that goes unnoticed due to our relatively narrow sensory bandwidth plays a crucial role in our life; whether we like it or not. Or does it? Have we been biologically programmed to perceive the precise amount and type of information in order for us to survive, and the rest is merely extraneous? Are we a stepping stone for the formation of more adequate sensory perceptions in the coming generations of our species? Will the majority of our evolutionary progress come from a more highly developed neocortex? Have we reached our evolutionary plateau? Will our species die out due to our limited capabilities of solving the fundamental riddles of our existence?

We are the most capable species on the planet, but how far removed are we really from our organic cousins? Although we are the most capable, we are also the most destructive. Our ability to alter our surroundings at scale, has been the most detrimental process for our planet in it’s brief history of hosting life. “Intelligent life,” is slightly comical in regards to our self-proclaimed pedestal in the universe.

Our seat on the highest link of the planetary food chain, should by no means incur our creation of a universal class of organisms. How very narcissistic of us. Despite all of our innovation, and creative prowess, our gauge of intelligence is limited to ourselves and our lack of competition. We can only imagine beings of higher intelligence, and speculate on their culture, technology, etc. Yet we always frame their existence in terms of our world.

Our universal view can only be defined by our descriptive language. The rate at which groups of organisms organize and flourish, is unfathomable on a separate scope and scale. They may need none of which we have defined as the fundamental structures of human societies. Their evolution may have a fundamentally separate trajectory, yet they may still surpass our capabilities based on universal exploration and understanding.

We should be proud of how far we have come as a species, but we must understand we have a long journey ahead of us. I fear that sustainable peace with ourselves, our planet, and our universe is beyond our grasp. We are not biologically capable of making the quantum leaps to side-step the social constructs with which we are enamored, and regain a scientific rationality in regards to the progression of the species. Is there such a rationality? Or does the creative force of mother nature, always balance life to the degree that is necessary? No answers, only questions.

Daydreams on Modern Pace

Pace- The measure of sustained rapidity with which an action is carried out.

Today’s modern world is experiencing tremendous pace in all spheres of life. The rate of consumption in regards to not only organic materials, but also information, is unrivaled in this day and age. Unlimited data, streams directly to our fingertips. We are hard-wiring ourselves to consume boundless amounts of stimulation at a constant rate. The “internet of everything” continues to press us further into an exponentially mysterious future.

Machine learning, 3D-printing, automated cars: just a few examples of the technological revolution that has only just begun. The compound effect that these advances will have on our existence is immeasurable. We literally cannot fathom what the exponential growth rate of technology will bring about in the next few decades, let alone the coming centuries. The advancements are awe-inspiring, but how much more technology can we possibly need?

Will our human existence fuse with our technology? Has it already? How much faster can we possibly carry out our lives? Instantaneous connectivity puts us in control of our communication, travel, relationships, and exploration at the blink of an eye. Is our universe a simulation? Are we tools of the universe to explore itself in a game of collective self-realization?