Travelling journal of self discovery

19th May
I have just taken a photo from my guest house room balcony. It shows a coconut palm tree, amongst a well kept garden complete with mango tree. In the background is Lake Toba, the waves are gently hitting the shore. Beyond the lake is a natural rain forest national park. Lake Toba is bordered with mountains. It is a glorious setting at dusk, watching the local ferry pass by.

The best part, is the guest house is empty. It is off season at this time of year through out Sumatra. I have the entire garden to myself.

I am pinching myself. This place hits the spot. The scenery is stunning. I am only here for less than a week, so I need to enjoy every moment. It does not get much better than this when travelling. I have just eaten, pineapple and olive pizza with a large Bittang. (Beer) The pizza was good. Life is good.

It is times like this, you wonder what life is all about. Who am I? At the moment, I have no idea. Maybe this is a good thing. It opens up your mind to other things.

20th May
I am currently reading a book set in early 18th century. It is about the life of an Irish convict in an Australian penal colony near Brisbane. The convict escapes from a hellish existence of back breaking manual labour and atrocious living conditions. The convict ends up marrying an aboriginal woman from one of the many aboriginal tribes living in area. This worked to his advantage. He needed to hide from the cruel British authorities - intent on his capture.
The convict lives with one of these Aboriginal tribes for 5 years before he was tracked, caught and summarily put in solidarity confinement. This severe punishment was to last for a period off 20 years.

The interesting part of the story. It turns out, Aboriginal tribes move around the place a lot, but often revisit good hunting places where water is available and there is a plentiful source of food. Once a year they all get together with other friendly tribes for a celebration and general catch up. There is much dancing, singing, playing of musical instruments, feasting and socialising.

The Aboriginal tribes sometimes have other tribes as enemies. If they cross paths, fighting and killing each other becomes inevitable. This is a life all about raw survival skills. You need to know how to hunt and be good at using spears and other tools to be able to kill you prey. You need to know how to kill your enemy.

This book has got me thinking about a lot of things. How much we are a product of our upbringing. And how quickly we adapt to other living conditions when survival is at stake. It is not like a person sometimes has a choice. It is either adapt or die. Hardship is a true test of a man. It tests a mans will power. How much hardship can a man tolerate before he succumbs and looses the will to live?

Fast forward to today, and the taking of ones life prematurely is endemic among the young of today. Why is this?


21st May
Night time. I am outside of my guesthouse room balcony. It is raining and there is flashes of light shining for brief moments, I can see the surrounding mountains on Toba Lake. It is an awesome sight. There are frequent cracks of loud thunder. I am barely able to hear. It is raining heavily now. I am now unable to hear Enigma on Spotify.
I am in a strange mood. Kind of melancholy but sombre. I am of an age where I am aware of my mortality and what I have remaining to look forward to. There is no point in pretending anymore. I am old. The downside is not worth thinking about. Any former vitality and excitement of youth is gone. It is becoming more difficult to get motivated by anything anymore. This can go on for long periods of time.

24th May
The upside is there are times when I clearly understand, the age of someone like me. This does not have anything to to with anything. In other words you are only as old as you think you are. At the moment, I am ageless.

I am lucky. At times I get to think I am ageless. Ageless at 58. And now I have all that additional experience that only comes with living. I am one lucky SOB to be able to appreciate this.

The revolution has started...be proud to be part of it!

The problem with using my blog is it kind of opens me up. It contains all my personal beliefs, some of which are undoubtedly controversial. At heart, I have known for a long time, I am something of a revolutionary and rebel. Not that anyone would necessary know these days. The name of the blog is no accident. I desperately want a revolution to happen and like most revolutions. I am suggesting a dramatic change to the status quo. I am no fan of the capitalist system. Sure there is no doubt, the modern world is only where it is today because of this dreaded system based on the greed and the pursuit of money. But the cost. OMG, the cost to the natural environment and previous cultures based on co-operation and looking out for your fellow man. This goes completely by the wayside. It is replaced with jealousy and the drive to have more and more money. If you are a business, it is all about the bottom line. How to increase profits and be even more successful. Competition becomes more and more ruthless. In extreme, it becomes downright nasty. Any sense of sharing or cooperation are replaced with distrust and a sense of faking being nice until you make it. Once you have made it. Then you can do whatever you like.

In a place like Indonesia, big business is all about destroying rain forests and converting them into a source of income. Palm oil plantations and increasing forest fires become the norm. You end up replacing the perfection of nature with all of its wonderful diversity of species with something much less appealing. That is if you not so much into making lots of money.

To be fair, what Indonesia is doing to its natural rain forests is the same thing that has already been done in more developed countries such as New Zealand. Land is converted to farming to secure an income and improve the countries GDP by exporting the products that come from farming and other business/industrial endeavours. Indonesia is only playing catch up and there is a lot of rain forest remaining to convert.

It is very easy for someone like be to be sad, disappointed and even angry with the level of destruction going on in rain forests like this right now. I feel it is not right and something needs to be done urgently. But am I prepared to petition my government to pay Indonesia ongoing royalties to preserve its rain forests for future generations. Actually I am, but I do nor believe for one second this petition would stand any degree of success. I would be in Gaga land. All governments in the OECD like New Zealand, Australia, UK, European Union and the US etc have their own issues to sort out first. All OECD governments are elected democratically. To get elected, you need to be able to prove you can keep to a balanced budget. Deficits are o.k., but a surplus is better. And a deficit needs to be paid back with ongoing interest. There is only one way for modern governments to survive the next election cycle. The must have a strong economy and this means strong GDP growth.

Keeping to a balanced budget these days in stagnant global GDP growth is becoming an impossible task due to the increasing costs in health, education and paying government pensions to increasing number of people who have retired and are living much longer. This is all thanks to relatively recent advances in modern medicine. Then there is paying for weather related disasters and in a country like New Zealand. Natural earthquakes in the major category. There is a bottom line and this bottom line is being fiscally responsible. With all these mounting costs and expenses...There is no spare government money to pay for preserving rain forests in developing countries such as Indonesia, parts of Africa and Brazil.

Instead, we will encourage these developing countries, with large rain forests to immediately stop any more rain forest destruction with a sense of moral responsibility. If you think about such arrogance from countries in the OECD. It is kind of rich considering the facts. We have destroyed our own rainforests to become wealthy nations. We now have a problem with other countries that are following in our destructive wake? It all smells like blatant hypocrisy to me.

There is only one logical way to over come such arrogance. This logical way involves using our  current way ward capitalist system - at its worst extreme of unfairness. Just like the US and other OECD countries like the US, UK, Japan and European Union (and China) can cheat and print money to exit out of a monetary crisis - so can the United Nations use QE, to cheat our way out of an environmental crisis.

The United Nations is an international body, well aware of what needs to be done to preserve rainforests and endangered species. You simply pay countries like Indonesia and  Brazil a generous royalty. With this royalty, there is an incentive to protect natural rain forests for future generations. After all, it is in the best interests of every countries economy and sense of ongoing natural well being.

The revolution I am talking about is breathtakingly simple. In essence there is no need to change from the status quo where central banks print money; to solve a financial crisis associated with the Great Recession.

The only slight tweak is to allow another central bank capable of QE. This central bank is managed by the United Nations. Unlike other central banks, this bank has only one mandate. To help protect and conserve the natural environment and natural ecosystems for the entire planet. This includes endangered species like the Sumatra tiger and rare birds like the hornbill.

You know what I am saying. We all agree it is in everyone best interests to have a global universal reserve currency. The brand new global reserve currency is required to pay for what does need to be done on the planet. And rather urgently. This new currency should be called the UN. The $UN will be managed under the auspices of a global international body that we already have. (Ie the United Nations)

All that is needed for this to occur is a tad of common sense. We all need to have faith in our more inspired leaders to do the right thing in this increasingly technological and modern world. We need to have faith our inspired  leaders of the UN will always have the best interests of this wonderful rare planet called Earth. A planet blessed with the full diversity of many different species and life forms.  A rare planet of breathtaking natural beauty that is truely awesome.

We owe it to future generations to get our act together to help protect this awesomeness. There is not a moment to waste for this modern revolution to start. Money is not the root of all evil. It is the love of money - over what is more important. It goes without saying. You only get one chance at changing governments priorities at this relative late stage - before the dark side of blatant stupidity of greed and selfishness takes over. The manifestation of such stupidity is becoming all too obvious for anyone with a decent heart. At the end of the day, we are all on this incredible journey together. We all need to work as a combined team to succeed. We need an enhanced sense of pride associated with what it really means to be a good human citizen in these fast changing times. Where almost anything is possible thanks to the wonders of human ingenuity associated with modern technology.

Perusha

परुषा:
Tantric Yoga

As the influence of The Buddha was felt gradually throughout India and Patanjali's Yoga Sutra (see Classical Yoga) became codified, a movement began to integrate Buddist and Hindu schools of Yoga. This Movement began in the Mahayana (Great Vehicle) school of Buddhism, which taught that it is not worthwhile to attempt to achieve enlightenment unless one is attempting enlightenment for all humanity. Since the central core of the Buddha's teaching is the essential oneness of all existence, the Mahayana Buddist school, which began between two and three hundred years after the Buddha's death, maintained that no one could enter Nirvana unless all conscious beings were ready to enter Nirvana together. This movement came to be an attempt to unify or integrate the Buddist and Hindu schools of Yoga. The emphasis came to be increaslingly on a personal practice, rather than a religious belief system.

The Tantric Movement that sprang up in the Buddhist side of Yoga, and soon after caught fire in the Hindu side, revolved around the concept that all of existence was a Tantra. At that time the word tantra meant "Tapestry" in Sanskrit. The object was to see existence as a tapestry - everything connected. If you pull on one part, another part moves. Kind of like a web.

Tantric yoga, as practiced by initiates and handed down in esoteric groups, became a kind of "yoga within yoga". The word tantric eventually came to mean, "secret teaching", and the Yoga Tantras juxtaposed the Yoga Sutras (which were more like sermons, or "public" teachings) in much the same relationship as the Kaballah was to the Torah in the tradition of Hebrew mysticism.

The core of these teachings came to center around the ancient concept of the "Kundalini" (go back to the Yoga Home Page and press the Kundalini button for more information on this aspect of yoga) and the concept of "Prakriti and Perusha". Prakriti is similar in some respects to Yin in the Chinese system of Taoism, and Perusha is similar to Yang. Prakriti has also been connected with Shakti energy in Yoga, and Perusha connected with the god Shiva.

Prakriti is connected with the elements of nature, the panorama of all of the "things" that enter and exit existence from the Great Void (Maha Shunya). Perusha is of ten translated into English as the word "Lord" and stands for the apparent sovergnity of the mind, similar in some ways to the "I think, therefore I am" concept in Western thought.

According to Tantra, Prakriti, which is essentially Female, and Perusha, which is Male, exist everywhere in nature. They are aspects of existence that permeate all of our experience. In order for one to live a fulfilled life, one must understand how to balance Prakriti with Perusha in perfect harmony. Implications of this philosophy can be found in all aspects of life: Food, clothing, work , relationships, nature, etc.

Tantric Yoga in Buddhism spread primarly in Tibet, and other Mahayana and Vajrayana schools. In Hinduism it is found in the North, in Kashmir Shaivism and in Seikism, a religion that started in India about 400 years ago, and began as an attempt to bridge the gap between Moslim and Hindu beliefs.

Latest on climate change:

All that can be said with any degree of certainty is that the debate about climate change is far from over. Indeed it could be said that the debate is intensifying. On one side is the camp that is convinced that the climate is likely to warm dramatically in the future. This camp is in little doubt about what is causing this unprecedented warming. Man is the cause and it is only Man that can bring about the solution. (ie reduce excessive greenhouse gas emissions)

On the other side are those who remain in denial and justify their outrageous claims to do nothing on outright red herrings. One day it is the cycle city of sunspot activity, the next day it is something else. (eg a carbon tax will cost too much, or ‘we’ simply can’t afford it)
For those who have the most to loose, it is normal to involve lobbyists to back up their claims. These lobbyists like to quote scientists or ‘reputable people’ to justify their biases. The latest idea is to utilise historical temperature records to suggest if anything, ‘the planet should be cooling’. These same historic records indicate that the planet has experienced average temperature fluctuations of greater than 4c in the past at regular intervals. In this context, whatever is likely to happen in the future could be seen as 100% normal and without any possible influence from Man.

http://planetearth8.webs.com/videostowatch.htm

Car of the future

Today is the day that I saw the most irresponsible false hope that I have seen for some time on Television news. BMW no less have a new prototype car of the future. This car has quick acceleration, power and is green to run. Bold statements are being made that fossil fuels will quickly become a relic in the future as this new prototype vision comes true sometime in 2012.

I certainly hope so; yet a mere hint of capitalist pragmatism should be thrown in. What incentives are going to be used to encourage people to ditch their current modes of transport: After all; Not everyone takes climate change or peak oil seriously. Why upgrade when you don’t really need to; or like what you already have?

Of course the major flaw in all this wishful thinking is simply this. What working class person has the spare cash to upgrade to such modern technology in today’s economic climate?
Only the rich, famous and maybe all those trendy politicians and businessmen; I fear.

The world is at a knife edge

Now is the time to write what I really think. I just don’t know anymore. The denial that the world has a problem that cannot be solved through economics is epidemic. There is little that I can do about that. It is not as though I have not tried to come up with some imperfect solutions. I am probably just ahead of my time. Instead I will just need to learn patience. A time will come when the solution becomes obvious…

Until then the inevitable will come to be. The global economy will move along from one crisis to another. Who knows; perhaps the worst is behind us and we can all live up to our combined potential?

And then again, maybe not. The world is at a knife edge. It could go either way from here. The problems in Greece are miniscule to the problems that an unprecedented rate of climate change will bring. We all need to wise up now before it is too late. After all; like it or not but we are all in this mess together. The way out of this mess is obvious. However there will need to be some changes politically. For example it may be time that we trusted what the UN stands for a bit more and maybe if we all voted more green minded. The status quo is simply not living up to my expectations.

Greece Crisis and how it impacts the OECD.

It is time that I come out of the closet. Yep, I am a barely disguised revolutionary not that I care much anymore. Events are taking place that are causing more than a few to ponder. Greece is not the only country that has been living beyond its means. What does this mean?

It means that when things go wrong and you blame your government; you should really be blaming yourself. It is election year here in New Zealand. Who are you going to vote for?

I know that I am biased, but maybe the Green party leaders had it right all along. There is more to life than just working. There is also spending time with your family and exploring the great outdoors…I could go on; but suffice is quite straightforward. Money is not real. Conservation and Sustainability is.