Fringe Wisdom

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Assessing The Problem

In order to solve a problem, you must first realize one exists and recognize its source. Patching symptoms does not work, never has, and never will.

The problem is our own desires, and viewpoints. Specifically the way we view our world and our own personal needs (food, clothing, housing, etc.). Then, once those are satisfied, we want more, to improve our own personal situation (sometimes immediate family is included, but not always). So let us start with the desires already mentioned, the desire for monetary or material wealth, the desire for positions of power and the desire to control others.

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What type of desires are the personal desires for monetary, or material wealth, positions of power and the control of others? Would you say that these were selfish desires, specific to the people who have them? Do you think these desires come from what we really are? Perhaps with some people it would seem that way. Then what about the acts that some people are known to do, that are completely selfless. This would suggest that we are something much more than these selfish desires. If we are much more than selfish desires, what is it that seems to have seized control of, not only us, but our world, making this other part of us so rare. This is something we must identify, know, and understand completely. It has a name with which we are all familiar. It is called the ego. The ego is not, as some believe, that part of us that identifies the self. Ego is just that part of us which most people most of the time identify with. The ego is also sometimes referred to as the false self, just as a battery has a positive and a negative so do we, ego being the negative. All of the detrimental traits such as the idea of the need to conquer and control others which comes from the ego, that some attribute to the survival of the human species (survival of the fittest), really had nothing to do with it. Our survival as a species is due mostly to what little we were able to glean from ego's opposite, the empowering attributes of our positive side such as wisdom.

This ego identity manifests itself in our character in many ways in the form of traits, the strength of these traits are determined by the personality of the individual being influenced by ego. This negative side of us knows no bounds in it's ability to deceive, but it can always be detected (usually by other people). Some call it the "I" syndrome (I want this, I want that, I can do better than they can, I can handle it, I know what I'm doing, etc). The ego has made us our own worst enemy. If it is a group saying the same things, usually it is still the "I" syndrome with the focus on the leader, or the most dominant ego. Have you ever heard the phrase, "We have met the enemy and it is us."?

Let's cover some of the attributes that will give us a better understanding of what the ego represents. It is the only part of us that can be hurt emotionally or insulted. It is also the only part of us that would hurt others. It is not the only part of us with a survival instinct or place from which the leadership within comes from. The ego represents all of the worst in us, arrogance, greed, envy, hatred, deceit, selfishness, fear, lust, obsession, anger, vanity, etc. It always wants more, it is never satisfied. Some might say, in some ways, this could be a good thing. It is not, at least not in the way the ego demands.

If you do not believe ego is a big problem, think about the things listed above that ego represents (fear, lust, greed, arrogance, contempt, etc.). Then think about war, pollution, poverty, crime, etc.. Remember that it is those traits of ego in the people who are running these faceless companies, corporations, governments and each of us as an individual that are doing these things, or letting these things be done (war, pollution, crime, etc.).

Now think about the social structure and how it is based on commerce. Money and the accumulation of wealth (greed) has become the life blood and driving force of our societies. It is why practically everything happens, or is allowed to happen. So, in essence, it is these traits of ego that our societies are structured around. Therefore it is almost impossible to escape the trap that ego has placed us in, at least if the societal structure remains this way.

We have even gotten arrogant enough to interfere with the genetic makeup of plants and animals. We have no concept of the damage that can be done this way. Why would anyone do this? The bottom line seems to be the ability to patent the organism, therefore giving whomever holds the patent economic control of the organism. The damage being done now by companies and corporations borders on, or could actually be considered insane. An example of just one of these organisms is BT corn. It is a variety of genetically engineered corn that resists pests because it contains a toxin in every cell of the plant, including the part you would eat. With pesticides, at least you can wash some of the toxins off, but not if it is in every cell of the plant. Then you have to consider the way nature would remove the dead insects the toxin kills. Usually it involves scavengers, and when the toxin that killed the pest, kills the scavengers and so on down, what have we done to the ecological system?

The marker gene they use for such things as genetically engineered organisms, is that of an antibiotic resistant bacteria or virus. Is this something you want floating around free that could combine with another virus or bacteria and mutate into something else, perhaps something far worse than any flu or bacteria we now know of? Is this what you would call "sound science"? It is not even in the most vague way responsible science. This is science driven by, and for reasons of, economical enhancement of the companies or corporations who designed these organisms, and without, it would seem, the least consideration for life on this planet.

Other problems with these GE (genetically engineered) organisms, as was well publicized, is the contamination of other non-GE crops. Their scientists cannot control what happens, what effects GE organisms will have. They do not know all of the permutations that the introduction of these unnatural organisms will have on the ecosystem of our world.

A good rule of thumb, as they say, is if you cannot create a viable living organism from scratch, using just what you think are all of its constituent parts, without the use of its DNA, seed, or egg, you do not know enough to mess with it, but some people in their arrogance believe they do.

Think of it in these terms, it is said that the human body is made of less than $10.00 worth of chemicals. Well let us see them obtain those chemicals, and with just those chemicals (no genetic material), build a living, breathing, thinking, human being.

If the argument is that a fish or a plant is not as complex as a human being, the challenge is still the same. Get the chemicals they believe make up the organism and with just those chemicals make one from scratch. Without DNA, seed, or egg, let them create a living viable organism, identical in every way to one found in nature.

The reasons they say that they are genetically engineering these organisms is to increase crop yields, and to increase nutrition levels in the food we eat. This is not a valid reason, if you know anything about nature. If we supplied the plants with the natural organic substances they require, insuring they get all they need, they will naturally become healthier and more resistant to pests and disease. The crop yields from these plants would also increase, with a corresponding increase in the nutrition levels. GE Examples

The desire for wealth, power, and control, allied with arrogance, is a very dangerous combination. Large companies and corporations are probably among the worst offenders, as their need for money, materials, and control of their market share are far greater.

We humans have a propensity for only fixing the symptoms of a problem rather than the cause. It is as if we cannot see what is causing the symptom, only the symptom itself. We therefore believe the symptom is the problem and if we fix that, we'll be fine. Case in point, degenerative diseases. When symptoms of what we call a degenerative disease (heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc.) become evident enough for us to notice, we go to a doctor, if we can. Sometimes that is not possible, because usually the first sign of what we call heart disease is a fatal heart attack or stroke. Now the doctor will give you medications, you may even be in for surgery, depending on the kind of problem you are having and extent of the damage to your body systems. Let's start looking first at medications.

If you look in a P. D. R. (Physicians Desk Reference) you will find pictures and descriptions of medications. They are listed by the company that makes them and a few other ways (generic names, etc.). These medications (pharmaceuticals) are, if you look them up, to relieve symptoms. They are toxins that fool the body into believing things are okay, so the warning signs such as pain, swelling, etc., will no longer bother you. It is analogous to a person driving their car when a red light on the dashboard comes on. They decide to take their car in to see a mechanic, as they do not know what the red light is for. The mechanic looks at the light on the dashboard and reaches up behind the dashboard, pulling the wires loose causing the light to go out by creating a short in the system. The light is out and most people are satisfied with that, but is the problem (the cause of the red light) fixed? What happens when the next red light or red lights come on?

There are other things to consider about medications, Medications (depending upon which ones your talking about) are not something you can suddenly quit taking without serious consequences.

Question, if all of us were to become completely well, healthy, what would happen to the income of the medical and pharmaceutical industries? Think about that one for a while. Think about these industries as the businesses they are. Would you, if you were them, get rid of your customers and source of income, or would you ensure they come back?

Now think about the traits of the ego, arrogance, greed, deceit, lust, vanity, etc.. These traits on both the patient side and the medical side give us a good illustration of our problems with ego. The patient wants the problem (pain, swelling, growth, lump) to go away quickly without inconvenience in lifestyle or diet, by just taking a pill or having an operation. The medical and pharmaceutical industry wants to maintain a paying customer. The patient has the symptom removed, but the illness (problem) continues. This is just one example of how our ego centeredness creates the problems in our society and perpetuates the Trap. Medical Examples

These same kinds of problems can be found in every area of our societies, if we examine them honestly. These are the truths about us that have enslaved us, turned us into cowards, liars, beasts and killers. Here is the trap as stated earlier, all the worst traits we possess bundled together and called ego.

The traits of ego, or "ego" for short, is a kind of madness that has ensnared humanity. Ego also has both its strengths and weaknesses like anything else. One of its strengths is that it is a circular trap created by one's viewpoint. Like an addiction, the more ego is fed, the stronger it becomes. The stronger ego becomes, the greater a hold it has on you. From inside the viewpoint that ego gives you, it is hard to see beyond the confines of the trap (societal structure). Ego's traits can also lead to physical/mental addictions and so on, which are much harder to overcome, but not impossible. Ego is hardest on humanity when groups of people whose motivations are purely ego-driven, gather in positions of power and influence. Ego's weakness, oddly enough, is the same as its strength, the only hold it has on you is your viewpoint. Ego's greatest enemy is large groups of people NOT under its influence.

The desire for money, or rather the desire for what we believe money can get us, has driven humanity to do things that are so repugnant it boggles the mind. For every war that has ever been fought, you can trace back and find at its center or root cause, money or material gain of some kind. It influences people's decision making, usually with the disastrous results already mentioned (pollution, depletion of natural resources, crimes of all sorts, disregard for public health and safety, or the allowing of these things to continue) Examples. People who have a lot of money are treated better than ones who do not. It has become like a god to a lot of people, and people who have a lot of the monetary god are worshipped. Institutions lend money so people can get what they believe they need, taking on a form of servitude in the process. People sell their bodies for it, lie for it, look the other way for it, kill for it. Question: Who is more guilty, the one(s) who does a crime or the one(s) who allows it to happen? Answer: They are equally guilty.

It is amazing to watch the mental gymnastics people perform in order to justify some of the things they do. Some people actually believe they are of more value than others. It is probable they get this idea of being of more value because they receive special treatment. They may receive special treatment because of their position, their wealth, or their accomplishments, and this sometimes sets up barriers between themselves and the people around them. There are other barriers to be sure (social, religious, racial, sexual (gender or preference), ethnic, age, etc.), but the ones of position, wealth, or accomplishment, are usually applied to individuals.

These barriers could be partially taken down if we really talked to one another. We rarely, if ever, have real conversations. Most people only have what are termed "elevator" or "kiddy pool" conversations. Elevator or kiddy pool conversations are generally only on subjects that can fit within the duration of an elevator ride, or the conversation is like a kiddy pool, you can stay in it for a while, but it never gets too deep. They extend usually to the weather, sports, or some triviality which is of no real consequence. Perhaps this eases the conscience, when something happens to someone, if we really do not know them. Some people seem almost afraid to have a real conversation. To them real conversations take too long, and you would actually start to get to know the other person. They naturally would start to get to know you. Some people do not want you to get to know them. They seem ashamed of the things they believe. If you are ashamed of the things you believe, don't you think it is time to change your beliefs, viewpoint?

This takes us back to what we have been told by figures of the past, but ego either will not let us understand, or makes us just too blind to see, for whatever reason. It is amazing how blind people can be when the desires of the ego are involved.

There is another way to structure our societies, but a lot of the problems ego has set up must be dealt with, and again we must see things from a different point of view.

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