Fire

I was standing in front of my woodstove early this morning absorbing heat, when it occurred to me that the fire is a manifestation of God - energy - producing heat. According to the theory, the fire must also have awareness. Well, it's a fetch trying to attribute awareness to a fire. In fact, fire doesn't appear to be at all like man, so how can it be God? After all, according to Biblical religions, man is supposedly made in God's image, so God must be like man. Man is separate, so God must be separate too, and so evolves the whole Biblical concept of a separate God.

The idea of a separate manlike god leads each Biblical religion to believe that its concept of this God must be the right one, and all others wrong, which leads to intolerance and many of the present day problems in the world. So how can one convince a Muslim that Islam is not the only true religion, that its just a reflection of truth? And similarly, a Christian that Christ was not the only son of God, that we are all sons/daughters of God? Or a Jew that they are not the only chosen people - that there are really no chosen people?

Any answers?

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A New Year

A New Year begins for the Northern Hemisphere. The days have begun to get longer. A new beginning, a new chance to understand. I wish you all a fulfilling New Year!

Does God exist?

Certainly Haiku God exists, by definition. And the Christian and Muslim gods also exist, as loci of electromagnetic energy/awareness. But as soon as "He" is said, they lose their universality. That's the problem with theistic religions.

The wonderful thing about Haiku God theory is that we can actually prove it, rather than just believe.

Salvation

To prove the theory, one must experience not-I (see April posts for methods). But to be truly "saved" or reborn (see August post), one must continually experience not-I; that is, one must live not-I.

This can only be done through the practice of virtue.

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Virtue

I recently came across this quote which I think is a great description of the state of living not-I (perfect virtue):

"To practice virtue is to selflessly offer assistance to others, giving without limitation one's time, abilities, and possessions in service, whenever and wherever needed, without prejudice concerning the identity of those in need."

From Saying #4 of the Hua Hu Ching as interpreted by Brian Walker.

Easy to say, hard to practice!
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Teachers Day

Flowers, thanks and smiles
The rewards on Teachers Day
My last in Vietnam

(maybe)

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Becoming not-I

The two most popular ways to achieve not-Iness are the Western way of giving yourself up to a higher power ("thy will, not mine"), leading to direct experience of not-I; and the Eastern way, which seeks direct experience of not-I directly. This is done by one-pointed concentration of the
mind, usually on one's breathing. This has the effect of emptying our mind (our I), leaving not-I. For monkey minds, it is sometimes useful to concentrate on a supposedly unanswerable question, such as the famous "what is the sound of one hand clapping." On the surface, no sound. Deeper, it is the sound of dark energy, not-I.

My question has been "who am I." Supposedly by looking inside at my I, I will find out that I am just an illusion caused by being a separate point of view. Break through the illusion and presto, not-I is there.

My biggest problem with all this is that I really don't want to become not-I. I like being I. I have a great life. I don't want it to change. So I half-heartedly ask myself the question, not really wanting to know the real answer.

But at the same time, there is a still desire to experience the truth. And sometimes, even a realization that I have an obligation to realize true Self; if not for me, than for others.

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Haiku God and the Economy

If we wanted to validate the theory of Haiku God, we would make an attempt to discover not-Iness. A necessary ingredient of becoming not-I is elimination of desire and serving others. Unfortunately, our economy is based on desire for things. If people get rid of desire, then consumption will tank, and with it the economy.

And what would most not-I's do? Probably return to the land, charity work and pursue basic survival. Of course food, clothing and shelter will still be necessary. But by themselves, they are not a recipe for a vibrant consumer economy.

But not to worry. If history is any indication, few people will achieve or even seek not-Iness. And so the desires of humans will continue unabated, and our economy will perk up again down the road.

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The Mandarin

Just another point of view of Haiku God

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More Yin and Yang

Following is a contribution from Hotdzit, quoting Dr. Wayne Dyer:

"Look at the ocean. It's the most powerful force on the planet because it stays lower than the streams, which are necessarily and inescapably drawn to it. As the rivers flow downward to become one with it, the sea is able to be the great reservoir of all under heaven. This is what Lao-tzu refers to throughout the Tao Te Ching as the "great Mother" or the "feminine of the world". That female energy, or yin, is the true receptor of all; by remaining quiet and still, it ultimately overcomes male (yang) efforts to subjugate and conquer.

You can apply the wisdom of this verse in the business world or with anyone you encounter by updating the notion that towering above others in the yang approach of masculine domination is the way to get ahead. Instead, see the value of living as if you can win trust and friendship through a yin approach of feminine receptivity and stillness."

Sounds like sage advice to me - perhaps our country is heading in that direction.

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Blue

The blog is now blue, as is America.

b

And the winner is...

YIN!!!

(Explanation? see - http://haikugod.blogspot.com/2008/10/politics-from-points-of-view-of-haiku.html - it's 2 posts down)

After 8 years of extreme Yang, it will be interesting to see if the pendulum swings to the other extreme, or will a balance be found? I think (and hope) the latter.

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All Saints Day

Saints. I haven't heard of any saints who had a big ego, a big I. In fact, all of them I know about were pretty much living in a state of not-I; serving others, sacrificing, living love. Sure doesn't sound like much fun.

I also find it interesting that all saints from all religions describe the same mystical moments which would indicate they are experiencing the same reality/truth (the unity of the Holy Spirit, Buddha nature, Tao, Haiku God... whatever you want to call it), this truth being ultimate love/compassion. After all, God is supposedly love - that's why it's sad to hear so much hate coming from some "Christians" during this campaign. And sad too the amount of divisiveness, the us versus them game, the arguments based on falsehoods and ignorance. But that's what America seems to be about.

To be a saint or not to be?

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Politics from the points of view of Haiku God

As a momentous decision is about to be made, I was thinking about how politics reflects Haiku God. And it seems that the best reflection can be found in the two major parties.

The Republicans are the reflection of the male side of HG, the E for energy/electromagnetic side, also known as Yang. They are more into religious conservatism, a one-sided belief in the male god - father/son. And being responsible for yourself. And they tend to admire warriors, such as John McCain. Even Pailin is manly - shooting wolves and skinning the kill.

The Democrats are the reflections of the female side, matter as opposed to E, also called Yin. Mother Earth as opposed to the sun. This is the side of compassion, helping those in need, and non-confrontation (unless messed with).

These two sides of Haiku God eternally alternate, like night and day. Seems the Republicans have had their day - time to welcome the female side for a while (and I'm a registered Rebublican).

And the third side of Haiku God? Nothing is reflective of it, everything is reflected in it - it is the ground in which yin and yang, negative and positive, female and male eternally interact.

Be sure to vote!!!

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Abortion

I was asked how Haiku God feels about abortion. I would imagine compassion, since HG is compassion. But it is misleading to attribute feeling to Haiku God, because that would humanize It. It is the mother, the father and the fetus.

A lot of people believe abortion is murder. Murder is deliberate killing. To be killed, one has to be alive. So what is the definition of life? Is it just awareness and bodily functions (as a fetus)? Or must it include breath? The "breath of life" (Genesis 2:7) which makes man a living soul? So if a fetus doesn't have the breath of life, is it a living soul?

Whatever, it's abhorrent to most people. Which brings up another question, why does Man consider life to be so special? Why is Man any more special than Rat, Bird, Fish or even Insect? Or Tree? Probably because we can think (Man's original sin), so we think and feel we are more special, and it makes us feel good - kind of superior. And of course we (some of us anyway) were chosen by a god and given a chance to go to heaven (if we can manage to get saved), an opportunity which shouldn't be taken from any person.

But if you look at it deeply, what exactly is being saved? If I am saved, I continue to exist; as an individual spirit/soul, I cannot be not-I, and since heaven is the state of not-I, I cannot be in heaven. True salvation is I reverting to not-I (heaven), just as all other life forms (individualized awareness) do at death. Since there would be no I remaining, then there is nothing to save.

I sometimes think that an aborted fetus, who reverts to the state of not-I fairly quickly, is much better off than a person who gets "saved" and doesn't return to the One, but stays separate. Of course we are all part of the One already. We are not separate, it only seems that way.

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Religious Intolerance

It seems that religious intolerance always emanates from Believers. Believers believe that a certain version of reality is Truth. Many, in fact, have had limited experiences of Truth (in Christianity it's called being reborn) which validates their beliefs in their particular version of reality. Since our identities (egos) are based on what we believe, our beliefs must be right (it would short circuit our minds if it were possible to believe something that we think is wrong). It follows that since one version of reality is right, for example Christianity, then other versions must be wrong, for example Islam. However, Islam's version of reality is that it is the culmination of the Judeo – Christian progression, so its version must be right, and all others wrong. The result is intolerance. When taken to extremes, we get terrorism and wars.

The Knowers in every religion know Truth – they experience Truth on a daily basis. They know that all religions are just different expressions of the one Truth (which is Haiku God, of course!). It's like looking at the same sun/moon through different windows, different traditions. Thus Knowers are not only tolerant, but can feel at home in any religion.

So how to end religious intolerance? Convince Believers to become Knowers. Unfortunately, given human nature, this is highly unlikely. But is there any other option?

Any ideas?

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Loss

I'm at a loss as to what to write.

Taos Sunflowers


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Back in Saigon

Visiting old friends
Academic challenges
It's good to be back

(Though I miss little Thatcher)

Tao

"There was something formless and perfect
before the universe was born.
It is serene. Empty.
Solitary. Unchanging.
Infinite. Eternally present.
It is the mother of the Universe.
For lack of a better name,
I call it Tao."

(Lao Tzu, translated by Stephan Mitchell)


We could also call it undifferentiated Awareness - not-I.
As well as Dark Energy.
They are the same.


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More on Salvation

Salvation is commonly meant to be saved from hell, which is separation from love (God). I, by definition, is separation. Therefore, we must lose our I, our individual self, to become love, reunite with God, and be “saved.” Resurrection (commonly considered salvation) implies a separate being (I) surviving after death, so cannot be the ultimate goal, no matter how heavenly a state the I is experiencing. Thus "salvation" (saving the I from hell) is not really salvation, for the I cannot be saved from being separate. Thus the paradox, which can only be resolved by becoming not-I. Then all will be clear, beyond words and concepts.

Good luck!

Paradox

In Haiku God theory, the goal of life (salvation) is to know the reality of Haiku God, which means becoming not-I. But who/what is being saved? For if I lose my Iness and become not-I, there is nothing (no I) left to be saved.

Now

Haiku God is Now
Living in past or future
Is wasting your life

How to live in Now?
Empty mind, never clinging
Wish it were easy!

Question of the Week

Good comment, Hotdzit. So, why try to explain the unexplainable?

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Welcome! And Good Luck to You.

Finally, a new manifestation of Haiku God has been born into the Leonard family. Named Thatcher Gray, he was merely one of gigillions of unique life-forms (points of awareness/energy) appearing on that day, but to us, understandably something special. Especially considering that 100 years ago he and quite possibly his mother would be dead now, as they would have lacked the aid of modern medicine; namely C sections. Lucky for us!

From his hand and body movements, we surmise that he is the reincarnation of an Oriental soul, perhaps a dancer. How does this work?

Haikugod theory holds that an individual life (I) rises up like a wave out of the ocean of undifferentiated awareness/energy (not-I, or dark energy), and when dead, sinks back into the ocean losing its individuality and becoming not-I again (the state of true heaven). However, when an I gets attached to itself, it becomes selfish rather than selfless, and cannot return to selflessness. In Haikugodspeak, we would say it remains an individuated locus of awareness/energy existing in the spiritual field.

Following the cyclical nature of Nature (Haikugod), this locus alternates in form between disembodied spirit and matter. When becoming matter, it is reincarnated (reborn). The amount of time between rebirths and the type of rebirth are determined by the frequency of the locus – the lower the frequency, the longer the spiritual interregnum (and the “better” the state of rebirth). (For detailed information about the post-death experiences of the I, consult the Tibetan Book of the Dead)

So imagine – you die. If you have been selfless during your life (not-I), you will be selfless after death, automatically giving up your I and merging with the pure white light of not-Iness (heaven/dark energy). But if you have been selfish (Iness), you cannot become not-I, so remain an individual soul, wandering through the realms of separateness.

Most Christians agree with this concept to a point. Supposedly there are three possible states after death: heaven, purgatory, and hell, depending on your karma. Heaven is usually considered a spiritual state, but purgatory and hell are definitely temporal states, as we see all around us every day. Most of us are reborn into states of purgatory, but we certainly see a lot of individuals living in hell.

Where Christianity falls short is that the concept of resurrection implies continued separateness, the continued existence of an “I” who experiences “heaven.” It doesn’t seem to acknowledge that I can disappear, leaving not-I (Christ), the state of selflessness and love which is true heaven, true home.

So what’s the point? Discover true heaven now (be selfless), so you don’t have to continue in the cycle. Unless you believe the cycle is where it’s at.

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End of Irrigating

My last evening on the ranch was spent in Tiger's Meadow (the Hay Side). How time flies when you're not aware of it.


















Am now in Denver, awaiting the birth of my first grandchild, three days overdue. Nice to have some free time to be with family.

Is any time really free?

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Dry Spots

Dry spots are starting to show up, the sure sign of a lax irrigator. Perhaps from meditating (concentrating) on something else.

There would seem to be two different kinds of meditation. Passive (stable) meditation would be for the times you want to be Not-I, beyond your individual self. How can we switch off I? First, the body should be stable, or the energy won’t flow. Then, your brain should be calm (the brain iswhere I is centered). Then logic would say that you must transcend your individual senses, so that you are no longer aware of outside stuff, but only inside (aware of awareness itself, or universal awareness: the other state of Awareness – Not-I). This is what mystics say is the oneness of awareness; true peace, clarity, light, love; what’s known as dark energy, that great mystery (also called God).

The second kind would be active meditation (normal life). In this kind of meditation, one just concentrates on whatever is happening in the present moment (normal life). Seems to me that the point of active meditation is the same as passive – to become Not-I, to actually live in the oneness of awareness. Wow, wouldn’t that be great?

My big problem is with the second kind. I get so sidetracked with thoughts and feelings, and have such a strong I, there is seemingly no way I can live normal life as Not-I, though there are times, such as when digging sods, that tastes of the Not-I state appear. So it is possible. Good luck to you!

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Moving Cattle

I’m pretty lucky to be able to do what I do, to be who I am. The question which lurks is why? Why am I who I am? Why are you who you are? Under haiku God theory, we are the same awareness in different individual bodies. The same basic awareness, whether as a person, cow, ant, bacteria, whatever. It’s not the awareness itself that is different, it’s what the awareness is aware of that is different. So why am I moving cattle and not being moved? How did I get locked up in this particular body?

Any ideas?

At the Ranch

It’s Sunday again! Seems when I am around water, time flows by quickly.

My job for this month is irrigating. I am responsible for spreading water over about 500 acres of mountain hay meadow and pasture so the grass will grow and the cattle will get fat. The water is distributed by ditches, some dating back 140 years. The trick is to adjust the cuts in the ditchbanks so the water is evenly spread over the land. A lot of shovel work, but the reward is lush grass and a healthy body.

I started irrigating 47 years ago on this same ranch. What is amazing to me is how so little has changed. Sure, trees have grown and died, I’m a lot older, but the land seems timeless. It makes me realize how transient and insignificant individual life is (except to the individual itself!). It also makes me realize the importance of realizing our true nature (Haiku God) before it is too late. It’s all around, and inside too – why so hard to realize?

Travis and Tag enjoying Haiku God

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A day late...

Oh my, a day behind already! Just too much going on. So this morning I am giving up my usual morning meditation to get a post done before the frenetic activities of this day commence. Today especially so – my son just got home from the sea, there is a charitable high tea to prepare for, and I must get ready to go to the mountains tomorrow for my annual month of irrigating.

I say giving up my meditation. That’s not exactly right. My understanding of meditation is that it should be a full time endeavor – 24 hours a day. Does this seem to be counterintuitive? After all, meditation is supposed to be one-pointed concentration – a looking inside to discover the root of our existence (Haiku God). So how can one be involved in everyday activities and be looking inside at the same time?

One way I have been trying is to ask myself what or who is doing whatever. Right now, who/what is it that is writing? What/who is reading this, is hearing, seeing…? Asking these questions is basically asking what it is that is aware of all these things, and the answer of course is Haiku God, the root of our individual awareness. Supposedly as the questioning continues, 24 hours a day, we get deeper into ourselves until we finally experience the answer, get to the root, see the light, and become enlightened. Easier said than done!!! The problem for me is the actual questioning – it’s so easy to forget to question and just do!

For more on this kind of questioning, I append the following comment taken from: http://www.zenguide.com/zenmedia/books/content.cfm?t=zazen_ meditation_guide&chapter=07

b. Koan " What Is It That Hears?" by Zen master Bassui Tokusho (Jap.):
from "Three Pillars of Zen" , translated by Philip Kapleau, 1989.

In zazen (meditation) neither despise nor cherish the thoughts that arise; only search your own mind, the very source of these sounds of the world about you.

You must become the question "What is this Mind?" or "What is it that hears these sounds?" When you realize this Mind you will know that it is the very source of all Buddhas and sentient beings (ed: Haiku God).

The Bodhisattva Kannon [Avalokiteshvara] is so called because he attained enlightenment by perceiving that:

At work, at rest, never stop trying to realize who is it that hears. Even though your questioning penetrates the unconscious, you won't find the one who hears, and all your efforts will come to naught.

Yet sounds can be heard, so question yourself to an even profounder level. At last every vestige of self-awareness will disappear and you will feel like a cloudless sky. Within yourself you will find no "I." Nor will you discover anyone who hears.

This Mind is like the void, yet it hasn't a single spot that can be called empty. Do not mistake this state for Self-realization, but continue to ask yourself even more intensely, "Now who is it that hears?" If you bore and bore into this question, oblivious to anything else, even this feeling of voidness will vanish and you won't be aware of anything - total darkness will prevail. Don't stop here, keep asking with all your strength, "What is it that hears?" Only when you have completely exhausted the questioning will the question burst; now you will feel like a man come back from the dead. This is true realization. You will see the Buddhas of all universes face to face and the patriarchs past and present.

Test yourself with this koan: " A monk asked Joshu: 'What is the meaning of Bodhidharma coming to China?' Joshu replied: 'The oak tree in the garden.'" Should this koan leave you a lightest doubt, you need to resume questioning "What is it that hears?"

If you don't come to realization in this present life, when will you? Once you have died you won't be able to avoid a long period of suffering in the Three Evil Paths. What is obstructing realization? Nothing but your own half-hearted desire for truth. Think of this and exert yourself to the utmost.

OK, I’m trying to exert!!!

Weekly Post

It is difficult to write posts here in New Mexico. Too much going on – finishing a house, building a garden – not much time to think about the essentially unthinkable. And what’s the point of trying to explain the unexplainable anyway? To try to put into words what is beyond words? (especially when you don’t understand it yourself!) So enough philosophizing, it’s time to concentrate on direct experience of Haiku God Itself. However, I did make a promise to write a post at least once a week, so here it is.

Two days ago I found out friends of ours lost their only grandchild to SIDS. What a shock! I wondered how I would feel if my only grandchild (who is still in the oven) were to die before living a year.

Well, I don’t think I would feel sorry for the child. For one thing, it would be too young to have built up any negative karma, so would revert to pure spirit, pure love, the pregnant void of dark energy. And it might even be a blessing, as it would not have to live through what probably will be a very dark future for mankind.

But personally, there would be a big hole – a part missing. Already I feel little Rous (rodent of unusual size, this being the year of the Rat), who hasn’t even been born, is a part of me.

And maybe it would bring home the fact of the transience of all life, even my own. Yes, I am sure to die someday – perhaps it would be a good idea to prepare? How does one prepare? Logically, by developing awareness and compassion, the hallmarks of Haiku God. Hmmm.

On that note, enjoy Memorial Day, but also reflect on the ultimate sacrifice so many have made to give us what we have. Was it worth it?

Deism, Theism...

In the Christian tradition, there is an unfortunate tendency to view God as an individual, personal “He.” Unfortunate for at least two reasons:

1. It limits God (as not-she and not-neuter). What good is a limited God? God must be an It to be truly unlimited.

2. It separates God from Man. One result of this is that Man isn’t considered to have divine nature. So he has no responsibility to discover it. Convenient: eat drink and be merry!

But man must have divine nature. The biblical god even said “I am who am.” Well, I surely am a who am, you are a who am, every aware being is a who am, so how can there be separateness?

One explanation for this tendency to personalize God as a separate masculine being can be found in Haiku God theory. One form of Haiku God is electromagnetic energy – defined as positive male energy, as opposed to attractive female energy (see March post “About Energy”). The greatest source of this loving, aware energy happens to be the sun. It provides the energy and awareness for life to exist on earth. It is our “creator.” “He,” as love, also provides compassion. But it is important to note that the sun, one of countless centers of positive energy, is only one of the three forms of God, the others being matter and dark energy (see March post “Dark Energy). It is dark energy, the ground of the other two, which is the transcendent form of God, the form which, as undifferentiated and unknowable, is beyond individuality and beyond any attempt by man to describe, categorize or conceptualize It.

It’s probably not harmful to view God as a person for a while, as long as it is just a stepping stone to viewing God as It is by actually experiencing It within. Then all views, concepts and beliefs vanish into the pregnant void of dark energy (which actually is light!). Try it.

Motherhood

A little haiku in honor (?) of mothers:

Mother is matter
When imbued with E (spirit)
Transforms into life

Not the most emotional way to look at motherhood, but Haiku God is that way, except when manifested as human.

Back in the USA

I apologize for the lack of posts, but I just moved from Saigon to Denver for summer vacation and I am trying to make the transition to life in America. People sure have a lot here! But strangely, they don’t seem to be any happier than the Saigonese. Anyway, it’s nice to be with my family again.

My wife is an anti-haiku god person. In fact, she is anti-anything named “God.” She strongly disbelieves that there is a separate supreme “He” who does all those things that “He” supposedly does; like plan, create, help, know, act, give, feel, whatever. She asks me why I don’t name reality “Energy” or something else besides “God,” which reminds her of the personal “God” most people seem to believe in. Well, I answer that “God” is the name usually given to Ultimate Reality, so if we’re talking about ultimate reality, we should use the word “God” so everyone will be on the same page. And then hopefully the people who believe that the separate, personal male/positive/He/E side of ultimate reality is actually God Itself, will correct their mistake, and pay more attention to the feminine side of God (as well as the transcendent form of God). Not recognizing matter/earth/Gaia as an equally important manifestation of true God would surely lead to a distorted view of the universe and self, which surely leads to our present global predicament.

Semantics, semantics! Words cannot express.

Science and Religion redux

Since the beginning of thought, there’s been a disconnect between science and religion. Science has always been about the observable, namely energy. Religion has been about the unobservable, namely spirit (awareness). It’s as if they were two different things.

It could be useful to look at them as different sides of the same thing. Einstein gave us the concept of E = m, the two sides of energy. E, electromagnetic energy, is the non-material (spiritual) aspect of energy. Mass is matter, the material aspect of energy. Both consist of exactly the same particles of energy. So what’s the difference? As Harry, an un-notable physicist once told me, “It’s the spin, baby; it’s all in the SPIN!” As it turned out, particles of E (the spiritual, non-material aspect of energy) have twice the spin of the particles making up matter. Otherwise, they’re the same.

If that’s true, then science and religion are talking about the same thing, just from two sides – two different points of view. At least eastern religions are - western religions only talk about one side, spirit, the positive/E side of the equation. They basically ignore one part of reality.

So is electromagnetic energy really God? Is the sun God? Is the Earth God? If they aren’t, then God is limited. And who would want to believe in a limited god!?

2070

Rouse, my first grandchild, is due in July. I was trying to imagine what kind of Earth Day he will have if he survives til 2070, when he would be about my age. The worst case scenario I could come up with was if there was runaway methane melting, such as described in: http://www.energybulletin.net/3647.html. Poor Rouse!

The best case I could think of would be if humans somehow learned or were forced to control their desires (especially for energy), and were living in a new economic paradigm in harmony with all existence. Then Earth Day would be a celebration rather than a wake.

Unfortunately, I am pessimistic about human nature. I think we will continue our profligate life-style, thus dooming the Earth to the first scenario. Good luck little Rouse!

Earth Day

Imagine, 1 billion people doing something on Earth Day! I can’t. But I thought I’d join the crowd. So I walked to school this morning (though I rode my motorbike in the afternoon – it was too hot (a poor excuse, but don’t come to Saigon in April!)). And then we discussed it in my class (I learned that by 2040, over half of the Mekong Delta will be unsuitable for agriculture because of the rising sea level!). And then I was talking with Mary Jane, and she suggested we write something about it, like how it relates to Haiku God. Well, basically, the Earth IS Haiku God, in the form of matter (contractive energy). “Mother” Earth as contractive energy is one side of the equation (E=mc2). The other side is E, electromagnetic energy (spirit). Unfortunately, most westerners only think about and worship this form of Haiku God, the “God” which appeared in the burning bush as electromagnetic energy. This is the masculine side of Haiku God, as opposed to “Mother” Earth, which is being raped and trashed.

Does this make Haiku God mad? By definition It is beyond emotion, only being unconditional love. However, Haiku God as man is starting to get pissed off, and it’s probably about time. The big question to me is: will enough people get concerned enough to get something done about it? Or is it too late?

Even more on becoming not-I

Thanks for the comment and advice, hotdzit. I believe everyone has experienced not-I. As someone said, it was our face before we were born. We just can't remember it because it wasn't an experience of our I. And maybe I'm not so lucky to have tasted it, because I don't believe that someone can be truly happy when one knows there is greater happiness to be had; when one knows there's something more which is attainable in this life.

I and not-I form a continuum ranging from complete separateness/self-centeredness (devil) to complete unity (love/goodness), Christ being the best known example of the latter in the West. As I/ego is lessened, selflessness (not-I) grows (and vice versa). This usually happens naturally over a lifetime or more, but some people often experience temporary limited states of not-I such as being in extreme danger (near death), a religious rebirth, revelations, usage of certain kinds of drugs, orgasm, satori, extreme acts of kindness... These experiences usually speed up the process of moving along the continuum towards not-Iness. However, they can also become a hindrance if they give the ego the illusion that it “knows,” which leads to the ego being strengthened. That’s probably why many have said that if you start on the quest for not-I, you should never stop, even though you think you’ve reached the goal – because there is no final goal: the process itself is the goal. Which comes back to your advice - be happy (with the process).

More on becoming not-I

In my last post, I ended by saying "good luck," because I have been trying for 30 odd years to live in the state of not-I, and haven't had much luck. I have glimpsed and tasted not-I, enough to know it exists and is far superior to the state of I, but I seem to like being I too much to give it up. Adding to that the necessity of practicing self-discipline to achieve a state of not-I, my chances of living in that state are much diminished. So again I say, good luck!

Becoming not-I

If the purpose of life is to become not-I, then how is it done? The I (ego) is made up of all mental functions, such as senses, feelings, thoughts and emotions, which lead to a perception of separateness as an individual self. To reach the state of not-I (union/selflessness), one must go beyond/transcend all the aspects of ego. All religions provide methods of becoming selfless, be it through practice of positive energy/love (service, charity and worship), practice of contractive energy (inward looking through meditation/prayer), or simply stepping back and practicing bare attention/awareness. Since every I is unique, every I will have its own particular method of transcending ego. Good luck!

Purpose of Life

I was asked, “so what’s this Haiku God thing mean?” Well, I thought, in reality there is no meaning, just isness. But man needs meaning and purpose. Well, the primary purpose of all life is staying alive. After that, some life seeks security; staying alive in the future. And some life, including man, adds a third purpose, pleasure. There are two kinds of pleasure, material and spiritual. Material pleasure is directed at I, spiritual pleasure comes from outward direction (giving/not-I). From all accounts, spiritual pleasure is far superior to material pleasure. So the obvious purpose of man’s life should be to attain spiritual pleasure, which means becoming not-I. The more not-I one becomes, the greater the spiritual pleasure (the more you love, the more you get). Of course "I" can never experience the ultimate pleasure of being completely not-I. Well, something experiences it, and it can only be awareness itself. So I disappear, undifferentiated awareness remains. That would be Heaven, Nirvana.

So I answered “awareness.”

More about energy

Certainly God as electromagnetic energy is well accepted, especially in the Judeo/Christian tradition. A burning bush is definitely electromagnetic energy, as is light (a common description of God). Life itself is electromagnetic energy.

What is not accepted is that the strong and nuclear forces, as well as gravity (all of which are "negative" energies), are God. This is probably due to the following reasons:

First, people's natural conception of God is usually as a person, and negative energy would not seem to have any personality, though we could say that the earth, the best example we have of negative energy, has a personality of sorts (as Mother Earth).

Further, God is personalized as being male. Under this limited view, electromagnetic energy can be accepted as God, because it is the positive (male) form of energy. But negative energy (the female/attractive form) is excluded. Of course any strictly male god is by definition limited, and thus cannot be true God. If we are to say that true God is unlimited, then It must include negative energy.

Resurrection

Resurrection is commonly defined as becoming alive again, the best example being Christ’s return from death. The promise is that death is not the end; that we can also survive death. This must be, as energy cannot be created nor destroyed, only change forms. Thus awareness/energy as spirit or soul changes form from incarnated as matter (life) to pure spirit. Resurrection implies that this individual spirit will take on a body and become “alive” again (reincarnated?). However, being resurrected as an individual means being separate from not-I. So if the goal is to become not-I (true heaven), then being resurrected as an "I" would miss the mark.

Reincarnation

Reincarnation is an individual spirit taking on a new physical body. The circumstances of birth are determined by karma (how good/bad you were in the last life). In Christian jargon, it is going to purgatory, where one works off the legacy (karma) of past sins in order to qualify for heaven.

(For an instructive guide to the after death state and reincarnation, read the “Tibetan Book of the Dead”)

The Trinity

God is all energy, but different forms of energy have different attributes (expansive, contractive and neutral). These attributes are hereinafter called Godness. Christians would see Godness as being expressed in the concept of the trinity: the father as light (radiation/spirit), the son as matter (incarnated) and the holy spirit as dark energy, the formless, transcendent ground of the other two.

Man has divine nature

God exists in every living being in the form of energy/awareness, which is life itself. “I” am simply one of countless individual points of view of God as awareness/energy. God is totality; every individual I is but a part, one frequency among countless. If divine nature is awareness/energy, I must have it. To say I don’t is to say that divine nature is limited (there is someplace where it isn’t) and to escape the obligation to discover and express it.

Light

Electromagnetic radiation (Einstein's E), including visible light, is the energy carrier for the radiant/positive energy produced by chemical reactions of matter. Light (radiating energy) consists of photons, a kind of boson, which is an elementary particle of energy identical to a fermion, but with double the spin. This double spin somehow allows photons to be indiscrete, so they can be in the same place at the same time. On the other hand, Fermions (the basis of matter) are discrete, thus cannot be in the same place at the same time. They are “solid.” The virtuality of photons, considered with their mass of 0, qualifies them as non-matter. However, it’s important to note that light, although non-matter, is still individuated (in the form of separate quanta/photons/waves).

Creation?

Since all is energy, and energy can neither be created nor destroyed, there logically can be no creation - something out of nothing. There is only change from one form of energy to another (E to m). However, creation is sometimes thought of as the appearance of something new. Matter creation, in which bosons (energy as non-matter) change into fermions (energy as matter), is a good example. It seems that something (matter) has appeared from nothing (non-matter), but it's just a transformation of energy. From this point of view, "creation" is continually occurring (as is annihilation, as when fermions change to bosons). Thus Haiku God is continually "creating" Itself.

Respect

Thanks to John for the first submitted Haiku!

Universe is God
Everything seen and unseen
Treat with respect!

Would seem to be a valid demand.

Energy as love

Energy as love? Who are we limited beings to say that the strong force – the incredibly energetic union (coupling) of the positive/negative (male/female) quarks (the basis of protons and neutrons), which are continually exchanging virtual gluons – is not a form of love? And consider the sun, continually giving earth light and awareness with no thought of reward. How can we know what love really is?

Man as love

The natural state of man must be love. But because man is seemingly separate, love usually becomes self directed. The strongest instinct of an individual is self preservation; love of self/I. On the other hand, the highest form of love is considered self-sacrifice (not-I).

Dark energy

Dark energy is a complete mystery. It is truly supernatural, beyond anything in nature. It is formless and omnipresent, permeating the universe, present in all space. One could think of it as being a different dimension, beyond space/time. But because it permeates space/time, it becomes the only known candidate for the medium through which electromagnetic particles/waves (including light) propagate. And it is also the only bet for the medium in which matter (negative energy) exists.

When considering God as energy, the two forms of God as E and matter proves God's immanence in the universe. When considering God in the form of dark energy, God is transcendent – a unity.

When considering God as awareness, God as individuated awareness (I) makes up all life in the universe (and by extension all "non-life"). God as transcendent awareness (not-I), is formless, undifferentiated and omni-present - the same as dark energy. Dark energy is then the transcendent state of God/Awareness. Though the names given by religions differ (Holy Spirit, Allah, Tao, Buddha Nature, Brahma, Void, Absolute Bliss…), the essence is the same. It is the state of heaven, unity, and non-separateness; our true home. It is the opposite of Iness, and unknowable by I.

Awareness = Energy

Awareness is energy. So energy is aware – more exact would be that energy is awareness itself – so what is it aware of? Light is simply aware of being light. The strong force is aware of itself. Not-I is aware of not-Iness (love). However, “I” is only aware of I-ness, of being a separate point of awareness. I only know what I am aware of. With a lot of empathy, I can imagine what other life forms are aware of, but can’t even guess what non-life forms such as protons are aware of. Can a human (“I”) possibly comprehend this? No. The only way to know not-I is to become not-I, in which case there is no I left to comprehend.

Personal experience tells me I am both energy (life force/breath) and awareness/consciousness. Both exit the body at death, which would indicate their identicality as spirit. The Christian spirit/soul is analogous to the Chinese chi and Zen mu.

Question: energy follows certain laws, such as conservation of energy; energy cannot be created or destroyed, only turned into a different form. “Alive,” e/a is electromagnetic energy manifested as matter. “Dead,” it can only be electromagnetic energy itself (spirit/soul). If it is true that ultimate heaven is not-I (dark energy), what is a soul to do? It can’t disappear into the void of dark e, for the individual e/a would be disappearing, which would be against the laws governing energy. Of course, awareness energy could be a separate form of energy; a fourth form which may not follow the laws of the other forms. That would account for anomalies (such as miracles), but it sure would complicate this theory!

Awareness

So what is it that is aware? When searching inside, all that can ultimately be found is awareness itself. An individual (“I”) is simply a unique, very limited point of view of awareness itself, expressed as both “I” and “not-I.”

Being awareness itself, God then must know all. Since God is spirit (by definition), spirit is awareness, both immanent (as I) and transcendent (as not-I).

About energy

So far, man has discovered 3 forms of energy which make up the universe, everything seen and unseen. One form is radiating, or positive energy, of which there are two general types: electromagnetic energy and the weak force (nuclear decay). The sun, carbon burning and the heat of our own bodies are the most familiar examples of radiant energy. Radiant energy is a result of chemical reactions of matter, and is carried by bosons, such as photons, which are elementary particles.

Matter is made of elementary charged particles of energy (Fermions) and their combinations held together by contractive (negative) energy, the known different levels being the strong force, nuclear force and gravity.

The interesting thing is that elementary bosons and fermions are exactly the same bits of energy. The only difference is their spin: bosons have 1, fermions ½ (either plus or minus). The double spin for bosons (photons) somehow allows them to be indiscreet, so they can be in the same place at the same time. On the other hand, fermions (the basis of matter) are discrete, thus cannot be in the same place at the same time. That's why matter seems to be “solid.” The virtual nature of photons, considered with their mass of 0, qualifies them as non-matter. However, it’s important to note that light, although non-matter, is still individuated (in the form of separate quanta/photons/waves).

The third form is dark energy. Also known as vacuum energy, it's a complete mystery. It is truly supernatural, beyond anything in nature. It is formless and omnipresent, permeating the universe, present in all space. It is undifferentiated and unobserved. The only evidence of its existence is its necessity in order to explain how the rest of the universe acts.