Unsolved Mysteries

Have you ever caught yourself thinking that world is very small for even a single person to breathe properly... or it is too vast to explore even during multiple lifetimes? Have you ever wondered if such thing actually exists that is larger than our imagination?... It being so large that you could literally spend your entire life just to understand only a tiny its portion and yet you will be relieved if you're able to do so. However, in reality you will only put yourself in a more vulnerable situation if you actually try to seek that "knowledge". You'll feel as if you're trapped from everywhere and can't get out of its merciless clutch unless you know the entire truth.

Feeling that did you keep yourself busy fulfilling the tradition just like majority of the people do during their lifetime ignoring their existence. Maybe you've deliberately put them aside before even listening to what others have to say about them. If yes you can look at the situation in this way - without communication and looking back at history the wheel keeps being re-invented.

This time I've got a list of documentaries that you might find intriguing because of their mysticism. I'd recommend you to get some (all if possible) of the following documentaries from your local public library (or wherever available) and watch them in your leisure. Some of them are about the history of mankind. Others are about civilization, religion, culture, and the unique beliefs that are mysterious in several ways which couldn't be explained convincingly even by our modern science. You can analyze the viewpoints presented on these documentaries initiated by various school of thoughts. I personally feel that I always have the option and the freedom to believe in what I'd rather believe in especially when exposed to something that I'm not used to. But there's no harm in considering what others have to share either (especially if the message and intention is positive).

Udz ;-)


Buddhism

On karma, reincarnation and other beliefs

• The Tibetan Book of the Dead - A Way of Life - Liberation
• Wheel of Time (2003, Werner Herzog)

Ancient Civilizations

• Lost Civilizations, TimeLIFE - The Maya : The oldest civilization known to exist in Americas with evidence of existence
• Lost Civilizations, TimeLIFE - Egypt : is about the ancient history of ancient Egypt
• Mystery of the Sphinx : is about recent findings which contradict modern academic belief about origin of Sphinx

Prophecy

• The Other Nostradamus : is about Edgar Cayce (1877- 1945) known popularly as 'The Sleeping Prophet'
• The Prophecies of Isreal : is about Biblical Prophecies
• The Oracle : gives insight on how prophecy is practiced even now among Buddhist Tibetan Monks.

(Note: Sorry about the removal of links to the videos due to shutdown of the popular streaming video hosting site http://www.stage6.com/ on Feb 28, 2008)

Is The Time Right?

Everyone says that "the right time is NOW." But I’m still in turmoil about this mind-bending question. Partly because I have my doubts about trusting it and partly I doubt myself that I will be able to take it seriously. It’s true that living life isn’t simple - if you let it become difficult at first. The problem is you won’t exactly know which one of your moves will make it difficult. I mean you won’t exactly know when something is wrong unless it has been proven to be wrong. "Every grown man whom we think have everything is unhappy inside" - this is the assumed universal truth. All the rich people we see are poor from inside in one way or the other. Every King has got the issue of the size of his entire nation to take care of before he could rest in peace. But think about the person who doesn’t have anything. Doesn't he/she still have to take responsibility to get through with the present day in order to continue surviving till very next day? Believe me it’s as tough as a job of CEO trying to handle a trillion dollar corporation (besides CEO will get plenty of assistance). And children, whom we consider to be true to their heart and carefree most of the time are still unhappy because of apparently small problems in adult’s eyes being humongous for them to handle on their own.

So you might be wondering where in the world is happiness? Well, to be honest, I’m also not sure of its whereabouts. I can tell you one thing about it though. That it is some sort of instantaneous moment (something as quick as a spark) within ourselves that gives us motivation to strive for and work harder regardless of facing sorrows in our daily life. It’s the ideal state in which we all will temporarily forget how unhappy we really are and see this world in a completely different light. While we are there - the same annoying object we see everyday might become something worth appreciating. The same situation that might potentially bring us to emotional breakdown will be seen as a road leading to happiness. When we are happy we’d rather be thinking that it’s better that we didn’t have something we wanted dearly but couldn’t have, because of all the positive outcomes that are made possible by its absence.

Well isn’t happiness something to die for? The answer has to be true, but it isn’t for most of us. Why? Because it could only be achieved in long run and some of us might even label it as self fulfilling prophecy. This leaves it less desirable than its false alternative, "pleasure". It is basically short term phenomenon and people are able to get the taste of it quickly without having to incubate it within oneself. Another attribute of pleasure is that it is marketable. By exploiting this attribute we can see that others have created many fancy gears that basically stimulate this feeling by making people enjoying them pay only a little price (be it their money or part of their life). But the downside of it is nomatter how easily you might get instant gratification, it won’t be able to supply you with the aboundand energy which will keep you going during the time of adversity. Although I can’t question its importance particularly keeping those in mind that are enslaved by its divinity in his/her lifetime and have ended up believing that it is the perfect alternative to happiness, which it isn't. But addressing to those who still do believe in the power of happiness, I’d suggest them to gather as much experience in the lifetime as possible, not fussing about whether it will be applicable to them or not, because only experience will make you realize the truth. We can read all about almost anything and get knowledgeable but in the end only experience will make us wiser.

Saying all these I’d like to let one of my secrets out. When I’ve lived my life till the very end - I'd want to die happily. Maybe it's one of your secret desires too...

Question of Sanity in Cyber Era

To find the content that is offensive is very easy over the Internet (I'm sure you already have plenty of stuff relating to this in your mind). In fact, they usually take viral form and spread across very quickly after their release. You don't have to go and search for them - they will literally come and find you. What's missing in the translation of such content is the complete picture, which if you knew earlier you wouldn't have fallen for those to start with. Their nature would be to tap the viewers' emotion and provoke hate and anger towards certain topic it is referring to instead of positively uplifting it. By watching those our very sense will become defenseless and will begin to enjoy what others consider as a form of Entertainment and might even end up spreading them. My implication isn't that watching them is a wrongful deed and each and everyone who produce such content should be condemned. I'm fairly certain that they will continue to be there forever. The only thing I'm concerned about is the message those type of contents deliver to the people exposed to it, including minors who have as much accessibility as adults these days. All I'm trying to suggest is being a viewer you'll have use your best judgment and read between the lines. Mankind is referred to as the most intelligent being there ever lived and will ever be in this world because of the fact that we have a capacity to think. But if we don't think enough - the very reason that makes us superior will be proven as false. And worst outcome is possible if we actually begin to believe in all those messages promoting hate-culture. Till now we've only seen the political geographic boundary as the only thing coming between how people interact in general. But this new medium has got potential, if remain unchecked, not only to reinforce all the negativity that are already present, but also to create new ones which will be much tougher to beat once people start believing in it.

As a test simply visit any of the mass media content delivery sites such as Youtube and try to view the popular content (having at least 10,000 hits) which you personally think is false (I know that some of us will find more things on the Internet that contradict our belief and some will find less). After you've finished watching it try to go through the comment section. You'll be amazed at how many people support the message it is trying to deliver. I don't mean that there won't be anyone like you who doubt its authenticity, but you'll find plenty of people who will outnumber your type (including ones who just started believing in it after watching it). Of course there is a content rating system that lets you flag the inappropriate contents, but I honestly doubt its effectiveness especially if it appears to be friendly but is actually hostile underneath that has a power to disrupt even what seems like the unshakable foundation of our faith system.

So in this era marked by abundance of information, it's up to us to be an all rounded aware person who has got values and principles that genuinely support others' well being. We can view this opportunity of free flow of information as new found democracy which could be shaped into something significant by keeping a positive outlook. Or we can become arrogant and hard-headed who continues to support such disruptive behaviors that undermine others personally and interpersonally and blow away the opportunity we once had.

It is truly up to us to retain our sanity.

Food for thought: With great power comes great responsibility. (Spider Man)

A Must Hear Original Song by an Unsigned Artist

In one of my previous posts a song was featured from a classical music student turned alternative artist, Terra Naomi, who has a great talent. Things weren't ticking before her virtual tour on youtube. After her appearance in this phenomenal community driven mass media so called youtube, her fame skyrocketed in an unprecedented rate. Well she didn't exactly end up getting triple platinum hits or anything like that on the basis of records sold, but she sure became the queen in virtual world as her fan base from all over the world grew amazingly leding her to become #1 most subscribed artist in musician category last year. This definitely moved her ahead in her musical career.

Last night I came across a video from another unsigned artist from UK, zzzzzzzzap, who has about 21 videos on his inventory right now - mostly original (only 6 were cover version performed in his own style). I enjoyed listening to his music which primarily has a laid-back ballad sensation and acoustical in nature. I'm sure he has a very bright future ahead of him.

For now enjoy one of his songs that got hit on the front page (featured section) of youtube.



Here's the comment along with lyrics for this song (unedited) which the artist himself posted on youtube.

"I know I'd told myself I was having a YT break but this song has been slowly writing itself and willing me to post it up.
It's a tad throwaway but I sometimes like that in music - it's not good to take yourself too seriously. I may add to it at a later date..
This goes out to all those lovely people who subscribed to my channel and, in their comments, remarked that my vocals should be pushed up (*cough*, bobsaguitarist..) Hope I didn't disappoint

:|

_________________________
The Ballad of The Existentialist

There's a world outside that window
Would you step into the sun?
Chasing shadows can't be in you
When the battle has been won

Try so hard to verbalise it
Understand it for yourself
Just find your feet and stand beside me
Don't put yourself back on the shelf

Just know that I'll be by my side, you..
The world is sinking deep inside..

Paint a picture, tell a story
Leave a trace behind to see
In years to come you'll call me boring
In your reflection you'll see me

Just know that I'll be by your side, you..
The world is sinking deep inside..

__________________
Peace"