Fear and negativity are the King and Queen of America at present. There are numerous reasons for this, both real and imagined.
There are so many fears, in fact, that it is pointless to deal with them individually. One must deal with fear itself. One must gain a perspective which raises one above fear. Otherwise one will use all of his energy and time dealing with fears one at a time.
Have you ever wondered why “ghosts” almost never speak?
It is one thing to gather together enough subtle substance to materialize; it is quite another–and more difficult–task to reproduce human speech.
It can be done, but anyone who has actually heard a being from this more subtle world speak, will never forget the sound. One can gain an idea of the frightful comicality of ghostspeak, by trying to make animal sounds.
Of course, among themselves, these subtle beings use mental telepathy, which requires neither speech nor a particular language.
There is usually great urgency or significance when a materialized being makes the supreme and awkward effort to speak, and to use a language that you can understand. It is downright silly to think that a ghost is malevolent, just because he is a ghost. Or that a ghost has specifically come to haunt, or to communicate with, you. Usually we have wandered into an area, which is rich in stratified sediments–residues of human activity, thought and speech–and which are being used to construct a temporary form.
One is wise to say nothing and keep on moving.
– Raphael O’Suna
Five men sat around a camp fire in Mendocino County long ago. Each expressed his fear, anxiety and resentment regarding the laws, principles and forces of the universe. One man railed against the extent of the necessary. Another feared chance. A third was in the grip of compulsions. A fourth felt victimized by karma. I most feared, resented and found incomprehensible the strain of irony in the universe.
Necessity, chance and compulsion did not seem to require supermundane intervention. Physical laws, statistical probabilities and patterns of behavior seemed to explain the workings of these three.
Karma, however, and irony seemed to extend to and from the visible and immaterial realms. These two seemed to require response, continuation and completion, partially shaped by forces far subtler than physical. Karma might require psychic consent, but who consciously consents to irony? Irony seemed almost infernal or impish. Almost a kind of black humor. Why would a benevolent power provide for so much irony? Justice often is unobservable in the torture of irony.
The next morning we realized that our philosophical and metaphysical discussions had so engrossed us, that we had left unprotected our supplies. A bear had not missed the opportunity. Thus began again our discussion of the night before.
– Raphael O’Suna, Haiku
Every military man, except John McCain, understands that it is a prisoner of war’s duty to free him- or herself from captivity.
The hero not only frees himself, but returns to free others. To refuse release as John McCain did, because others were not to be released, was not heroic, but arrogantly stupid. He himself must have realized the stupidity of his refusal, because on two occasions, he had to be prevented from committing suicide. So much for heroism, responsibility and the sanctity of life.
Later in life — right up to this very moment, he has hypocritically surrounded himself with corrupt and corrupting lobbyists and businessmen. Just last week, he removed from his staff lobbyists for the military dictatorship of Myanmar.
McCain, even at this stage in his life, appears to need to prove himself and to prove things to himself.
When I was a kid, no one liked a punk with a chip on his shoulders. Who was to know that those qualities would elect one president, and maybe one to succeed him?
–Raphael O’Suna, Haiku
Every family in the State of Hawaii should have one member of it research the nature and effects of sulfur dioxide and toxic metals. People among themselves should stop calling these things vog. We should call these plumes of poison “Aeroperil,” or by some other name which will defy attempts to minimize the danger.Our health and our lives are threatened. Because sulfur dioxide is a gas, and because it also contains metallic particles, only a cumbersome gas mask would provide full protection. HEPA masks will only provide protection against particulate matter.
Throughout Maui, the “mine canaries” have fallen ill. The fact that the sensitive among us have already been adversely affected should not be ignored.
Although there is no safety or security in life, an educated, united and prepared community is to be preferred to one content with illusions.
Regarding the State as a whole, a court someday may find it criminally negligent for not, at the very least, warning tourists about the conditions on the Big Island.
– Raphael O’Suna, Haiku
Who’s kidding whom about this vog?
Perhaps it’s the same people who tell us that cane smoke is not harmful. Is life worth living? Ask the liver. Is air worth breathing? Ask the lungs.Not all people will be affected equally, but sneezing, coughing. stuffy nose, headache and throat and eye irritations are and will be common. We may have to change the names of these isles to the Mucus Isles.
An ethical and moral government and tourist bureau would urge tourists to stay away for health reasons. But don’t hold your breath. Wait a minute, we are already holding our breath.
Sulfur dioxide, cadmium, mercury, silica and whatever else comprises that toxic shroud cannot but be threatening to people, tourism and real estate values.
We may have to individually warn Mainlanders. I’m afraid our governor lacks the moral courage to do it.
– Raphael O’Suna, Haiku
Republicans are saddened. Everything attempted by their leader turned into a reflection of his immature and chaotic mind. Both domestically and internationally, President Bush proved inadequate. And now, they have a nominee who cannot win.
But Democrats, realizing the pickle the country is in cannot be too happy either. All of the corruption, mess and ill-will that will be left behind will have to be cleaned up by a new Administration. We need Rooseveltian daring and solutions. Not the kind of change which could be inspired by McCain or Clinton.
If things had not gotten so bad under Bush, we would not need such a radical change. But we do need it. We need a new way of thinking and relating. We need new response-attitudes. We need intelligence.
Obama must remember the old fairy tale about the giant who was made fun of, because of his size and differences. Finally, he answered: “I can always bend down to see and help, but you must be lifted up to get your head above the clouds and to breathe the finer air of inspiration, intuition, courage and imagination.”
– Raphael O’Suna, Haiku
If the people can be preoccupied with inessentials, the essentials can be controlled by the few. If the people can be preoccupied with the inessential differences among them, they will be further removed from their collective power.
Those in power have mastered the arts of diversion, division and the diffusion of the people’s awareness. They quickly define, defame, diminish, denounce and demean all those who threaten their power and position. Hamper-rummagers control right-wing radio.
To these spiritually challenged buffoons the appearance and personality of the messenger is all-important. They are incapable of seeing the soul or the quality of the message. Focussed on the chip of the lip of the cup, they cannot appreciate the beverage within. The true destiny of America is nowhere to be seen or heard in Republican politics.
Mischief and minutiae are constantly spewed out like a noxious gas, both engaging and fogging the critical mind of the electorate.
It is an unfortunate condition of this universe that black holes devour light.
– Raphael O’Suna, Haiku
Race-baiting is a soul-suspending instigation of hatred, evil, violence, destruction. It is all over the right-wing airwaves.
Some of it is clever, manipulative and deceptive. Some of it is white-hooded and blatant.
It is darkly ironic that those standing behind a cloth flag are sometimes the greatest enemies of its symbolized values. Anyone who traveled through or who lived in the South forty or more years ago, knows what I am talking about.
One must be profoundly unhappy with oneself or one’s station in life, or simply be evil or ignorant, to stir up trouble for personal or political gain. The karma of the hate-monger can be as severe as a brain tumor. There is no slyness which goes undetected by one’s heart.
When one’s soul turns away from one, one has, indeed, reached the outer edges of humanity. Beyond that point, huddle the dwarfs of the spirit. Oblivion lies beyond the withered heart.
– Raphael O’Suna, Haiku
Mother-love is not necessary for a soul to fulfill its destiny. But mother-love can carry a child toward its destiny, as on the back of a great white, furry tiger. A teacher once told me that one had five things to be thankful for: the heat of the earth (not the sun), the love of the mother, the sting of the scorpion (the positive effects of enemies and obstacles), the ability to think and beauty.
Unfortunately, life has its disturbing aspects, as well. There is death of loved ones and ourselves, illness, aging, incapacity, illusion, the ill-regulated, unrestrained and negative emotions of ourselves and others, and the mystery of sexuality. At present, many people also suffer from the injustices, inequalities and iniquities of an economic system created by thieves.
And yet, nothing on earth can prevent a soul from fulfilling its destiny, as long as the person expands and expresses the affections of the heart and obeys its calling.
The call to many people is simply this: Regardless of what you do, work more toward perfection than completion.
– Raphael O’Suna Haiku
