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Manly P. Hall’s Lessons of Self-Unfoldment (Part 1): Personal Growth

Jason Cooper — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:29:29 +0000

I wish to share with you selected passages from the book ‘Self-unfoldment by Disciplines of Realization’ written by Manly P. Hall.

This book contains many wise lessons and practical instructions on how we can penetrate deep within ourselves so to understand the Truth of who we are, and how we fit into this universal existence.

The ultimate aim is to attain the self-knowledge for us to grow effortlessly towards wisdom and a blessed life.

I am still in the process of reading this fascinating book, and will endeavor to post more enlightening and insightful passages as I go along.

From ‘Chapter 1 – Theory of Disciplines’:

I

Growth is natural to man. No one thinks of a flower trying to bloom, or of a tree trying to grow. The blossoming of the flower is a manifestation of universal law flowering through the plant; it is the will of the Infinite made manifest in the finite. Illumination is the blossoming of the soul in man; it is just as natural, simple, and inevitable as the flowing of the rose. The wise man does not try to be wise; wisdom is as natural to him as folly is common to ordinary mortals. Man does not have to try to be himself.

Effort is evidence of inconsistency in the individual. Most religious organizations impose strict rules and regulations upon their members. These rules and regulations consist principally of “thou shalt nots, ” the purpose being to force man into a state of grace by inhibiting and limiting him. Any individual who tries to crush out with brute force of will the vices within himself, achieves only inhibition and neurosis.

What can we learn from the previous passage:

You cannot force growth, or more-so, no person or religious organisation (or any other type of ideological organisation for that matter) can teach you how to grow through discipline – in fact, they will instead constrict or stunt your opportunity for growth in life.

You must be absolutely independent, free and rational to plant the seed of wisdom within so that you can then, for yourself, sprinkle the invigorating water of self-knowledge, which is most needed for the seed to burst forth.

How does one then break into blossom? To encourage continuous growth, you must try to learn from every encounter and every experience in life – good or bad. Also, I highly recommend you to heighten your awareness and attentiveness to everything around you as much as possible. The illuminating lessons that can be learnt from this exercise of gaining self-understanding and elevating consciousness will be most rewarding.

This all will ultimately help to strengthen the roots of your mind and spirit in preparation for whatever the unpredictable winds of change brings.

Use your personal growth in a positive way towards:

learning to understand yourself so that you have better insight and can become a little more wiser
developing maturity of mind
improving relationships and connecting with others and nature
being able to deal with trials and tribulations in a positive way
discovering total contentment and joy

History Lessons of Truth (Part1): Nat Turner – A True Revolutionary Slave

Jason Cooper — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:38:27 +0000

Nat Turner's mini uprising against his white masters is ended by his capture

Let me begin this post with a relevant quote:

“Everyone falsifies history even if it is only his own personal history. Sometimes the falsification is deliberate, sometimes unconscious; put always the past is altered to suit the needs of the present. The best we can say of any account is not that it is the real truth at last, but that this is how the story appears now.”

~ Joseph Freeman

What more can be said regarding the teaching of history to the masses – I have to agree with Joseph to some extent. Well, let me start this series with a dark period of humankind’s history: The Slave Trade.

Personally, I feel that this subject is not taught enough in Western schools (especially in the UK) when compared to the constant exposure, through the media and education, of the Jewish Holocaust (which in it’s own rights is perhaps as bad as African slavery – although slavery lasted over 200 years with many millions of blacks being tortured or killed in the process) during World War II. It’s plain to see, that the subject of black slavery has been all but forgotten in the minds and conscience of those who disseminate knowledge to the rest of us.

Making the children and adults alike become aware of this terrible past would help to make us better understand what lasting affects that slavery may have caused (no matter how little) the later generations of black people, especially in regards today’s disillusioned black youth, who seem to suffer, more than most, from self-destructive problems.

Another important benefit of the teaching of slavery is that it may help in regards race relations by stripping away the many ignorant or racist views that somebody, who is not black, may have against the black culture in general – this would hopefully eliminate that old saying from their psyche “we fear what we don’t understand”.

My only guess for the apparent concealment of this particular moment in history is that maybe the countries who profited from this most heinous of crimes are either embarrassed or, what should be more the case, ashamed of their past actions – or maybe there is another suspect reason.

In any case, there should be no excuse for this exploitative period of evil, which was carried out so systematically by Western powers, not to be included in the curriculum. These aforementioned powers, made up of white European and Anglo-American imperialists, invaded, plundered and pillaged the African continent, which was most profitable at the time.

It has to be said that these so-called great empires and their citizens would perhaps not be in the privileged position that they now find themselves if it wasn’t for the blood and sweat of captured slaves, and the many bountiful treasures and precious resources that were stolen from the lands of Africa.

A True Revolutionary Against Slavery

A lot has been said about British politician and philanthropist William Wilberforce who championed the magnificent cause towards the abolition of slavery, but little do most of us know that it was actually a black victim of this abomination who was the true revolutionary.

Nat Turner, a deeply religious slave and controversial figure, inspired the first of many rebellions against the white slave masters in 1831. All it took was for a simmering sense of injustice to boil over and a divine sign for Turner to then carry out his own version of retribution.

This is where the controversy lies with Turner’s choice of vengeance, where he and a few other black slaves that he could muster used any instrument they could find as a weapon of violence. What followed was a short but bloody episode in which every white man, woman and child that Nat and his small militia came across were not spared, as they were slaughtered mostly in their sleep.

Turner, however, was eventually captured and brutally executed, so to act as a severe deterrent against other would-be “Nats”.

I won’t go too much into the moral questions regarding Turner’s actions, but all I would ask is for you to first put yourself in his chains and mindset. You may then find that Turner’s violent reaction was most understandable given the desperate circumstances of being stolen from his homeland, and then treated with constant indignity whilst being chained up, worked and beaten like a wild animal.

Some would say Turner was nothing but a violent religious fanatic; and others would argue that he was an inspirational hero for justice and the emancipation of his people. But despite all that, nobody can deny that this proud, enslaved and religious man had some influence on the rest of the slave population and, eventually, the abolitionists themselves.

Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property

Watch the following video to learn about the forgotten but important story of Nat Turner:

The Wise and True Prophets of Comedy (Part 2): Bill Hicks

Jason Cooper — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:22:32 +0000

Hicks: The smoking "Truth-Seeker" of comedy

I now like to turn your attention to the late Bill Hicks, who was in the same mould as George Carlin, featured in the post ‘The Wise and True Prophets of Comedy (Part 1): George Carlin’.

In fact, the young Bill Hicks was very much inspired/influenced by the older George’s style and subject matter.

Fortunately for us lost deceived souls, Hicks decided to produce and to display his own brand of social commentating and irreverent comedy.

Here is an excerpt from the Bill Hicks Official Website of Hicks’ biography which describes him as being a down-to-earth guy, who was always frank and always seeking truth within the mystery of life – all this despite being struck down in his prime by a terminal illness:

Despite his illness, Bill was at peace. He spent time with his parents, playing them the music he loved and showing them documentaries about his interests. He called friends to say goodbye and re-read J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Fellowship Of The Ring.

On February 7th, 1994, Bill wrote his last words to the world:

I was born William Melvin Hicks on December 16, 1961 in Valdosta, Georgia. Ugh. Melvin Hicks from Georgia. Yee Har! I already had gotten off to life on the wrong foot. I was always “awake,” I guess you’d say. Some part of me clamoring for new insights and new ways to make the world a better place.

All of this came out years down the line, in my multitude of creative interests that are the tools I now bring to the Party. Writing, acting, music, comedy. A deep love of literature and books. Thank God for all the artists who’ve helped me. I’d read these words and off I went – dreaming my own imaginative dreams. Exercising them at will, eventually to form bands, comedy, more bands, movies,anything creative. This is the coin of the realm I use in my words – Vision.

On June 16, 1993 I was diagnosed with having “liver cancer that had spread from the pancreas.” One of life’s weirdest and worst jokes imaginable. I’d been making such progress recently in my attitude, my career and realizing my dreams that it just stood me on my head for a while. “Why me!?” I would cry out, and “Why now!?”

Well, I know now there may never be any answers to those particular questions, but maybe in telling a little about myself, we can find some other answers to other questions. That might help our way down our own particular paths, towards realizing my dream of New Hope and New Happiness. Amen.

I left in love, in laughter, and in truth and wherever truth, love and laughter abide, I am there in spirit.

On Saturday, February 26th, 1994, Bill died. He was 32.

Why not Change this Amusement Ride of a Life for the Better?

In the following video, Hicks offers up a metaphor of life as being an amusement park ride, as he tells us to ride with love and truth, rather than with fear and hatred…

Final Destination: Peace on Earth with us laughing all the way.

A Moving And Enlightening Tune About A Rainbow

Jason Cooper — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:06:44 +0000

I just wanted to share this delightful tune to brighten up your summer weekend.

Just one word: Beautiful.

Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwoʻole’s Platinum selling hit “Over the Rainbow” OFFICAL video

The Wise and True Prophets of Comedy (Part 1): George Carlin

Jason Cooper — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:42:18 +0000

Carlin: The "Socrates" of comedy

Wisdom and Truth can be garnered from the most unlikely of places – none more so than the spectacle of stand-up comedy. So I’d like to introduce you all to two such past comedic greats who can be considered true prophets of their craft.

The comedians in question were George Carlin and Bill Hicks, who both penetrated our conscience, and raised our consciousness with their pinpoint insights and observations into all the pretentious bullshit and hypocrisy that society propagated and continues to propagate – not to mention, provoking uncontrollable laughter at the same time.

Both Carlin’s and Hicks’ social and political views were considered controversial at the time – but controversy does not mean that they were wrong.

Here is an excerpt from the George Carlin Official Website detailing Carlin’s autobiography ‘Last Words’ which contains his comedic value, iconoclastic views and philosophy of life:

LAST WORDS also delves into Carlin’s work as a stand-up comedian, and his acting aspirations, in which he offers a frank account of his talent: “I was devastatingly inept! There were no Oscars in sight.” In the end, the book is a celebration about a boy from Harlem who knew how to make people laugh and forever changed the face of comedy in America and the world.

George… on politics: I had a left-wing, humanitarian, secular humanist, liberal inclination on the one hand, which implied positions on myriad issues. On the other I had prejudices and angers and hatreds towards various classes of people. None of which included skin color or ethnicity or religion. Well—religion, yes. I used to get angry at blue-collar right-wingers but that passed because I saw that in the end they were just a different sort of victim.

…on values: The worst thing about groups are their values. Traditional values, American values, family values, shared values, OUR values. Just code for white middle-class prejudices and discrimination, justification for greed and hatred. I believe in giving everyone, as I encounter them, one at a time the full value of their dignity and their honor in the world. Whether I’m seen as a celebrity on an elevator or I’m just George the stranger, I open myself to them and I take them in and I give them everything I would want myself in terms of treatment, feeling and consideration. I call that a value.

…on being an individual: It always seemed to me that the reasons groups came together were superficial. The group didn’t feed me and I had nothing to contribute to it. I had a deeper goal, this giant puzzle to work on, which was only going to happen if they left me alone… The aloneness of the stage makes groups irrelevant. Few things dramatize the face-off between loner and group more starkly than the artist before the audience. And there’s no irony here. If this loner can’t get the audience to act as a group—laugh together—he’s fucked.

The Truth or not the Truth – That is the Question

In the following video, Carlin offers us some good advice, as he tells us to question everything we think to be true…communicated in his own irreverent but humorous way of course.

Read part 2 of the series: ‘The Wise and True Prophets of Comedy (Part 2): Bill Hicks’.

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind: The Wisdom and Benefits Of A Vegan Diet

Jason Cooper — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:08:49 +0000

It is most wise to try to cure the mind during a lifetime, but it’s perhaps even wiser to try to cure the body through healthy eating, otherwise you may not have too much of a lifetime to live.

I personally try to eat healthy by consuming my daily fill of vegetables and fruit, but I also love to devour the odd morsel of meat whenever I get the opportunity.

However, recently I have tried to cut back on meat products, although I would not exactly qualify myself as being a Vegan, and don’t know if I ever will be due to my love affair with a certain bird (For the Missus: I’m talking about Chicken!).

For those of you who are more serious than me in regards about becoming a vegan (which is your choice and is something that you’re not obliged to do) please read the following informative posts by my friend S. Ali Myers from his blog Soulful Body and Mind where he discusses thoroughly the healthy benefits of eating a vegan diet and how it may help to cure certain diseases.

As Ali writes in the post Vegan Beginner’s Guide:

“In this guide, I will cover what it takes to transition to a vegan lifestyle and how to apply what you learn. Many will resonate towards my way and some will not. The key is to find what works best for you. There is no right or wrong path but if you do not map out a route, then you ARE wrong. Set It, Plan It & Do It …. No excuses!
Doing something that is out of the “norm” or unconventional can be difficult. We live in a fast-food nation. Are you ready to mentally turn off all the advertisements and reasons why you should eat like most Americans? Are you prepared to go to your family cookout and not consume animal flesh? What about the jokes and ridicule that you will be subjected to?

This lifestyle is more mental than it is physical, at first. The people that you call family & friends will be the ones to give you the most grief. In a small moment of weakness, you can fall victim to their endless reasons of why what you are doing is crazy. Even though they may have weight issues or worse, a “disease”, they just think they have all the answers…”

Read the rest of this fact-filled guide here.

As Ali again writes in the post Alkaline Foods List: How to Eat to Help Cure Most Diseases:

“There are two types of foods: acid-forming or alkaline-forming. The differences between the two are like night and day. Or, diseased and not diseased.

Your body is designed for your blood pH balance to be between 7.35-7.45. Too much acid in the blood causes imbalance and eventually, diseases. Whenever you eat something that is incomplete (not wholesome) and acidic, your body has to pull the nutrients out of your body’s minerals to try to neutralize the acidity.

For instance soda, which has one of the lowest pH levels, if consumed, your body will have to use its water to stabilize the acid. Your body is intelligent and will always try to work with whatever you give it. Unfortunately, it can only do this for so long…”

Read the rest of this fact-filled post here.

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