Merle,
Not all US citizens are 'greedy capitalists', but I agree that the
majority do have that tendency. I've worked and lived all over the
world and haven't really found anywhere that is much different in that
respect.
I do have a lot of thoughts on the upcoming election in the USA.
Politically I am liberal and am very concerned with what's become the
ultra-right positions of the Tea Party-controlled Republican Party in
all areas: social, governmental, constitutional and fiscal. The
campaign has become primarily negative on both sides and there is very
little real discussions on just what either camp would do if
victorious in the elections. The biggest problem is there just
doesn't seem to be any room for compromise. Both sides see the other
as EVIL and of course you can't compromise with EVIL. EVIL must be
completely and decisively wiped out. Estimates are that there are
only about 10% of the electorate who haven't already made up their
mind, but that 10% can swing the election. Right now the polling
shows Obama leading by a very slim margin - about 47% to 44% of likely
voters, but a lot can happen between now and November and there is a
lot of money being spent on both sides to secure a victory.
I do live in Thailand. You can visit my personal website at
www.billsmart.com <http://www.billsmart.com> .
...Bill!
--- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> Â bill
> Â thank you for the clarification...with america being the
capitalist mecca i assumed you's were all into the loot making
> what are your thoughts on the american elections?
> Â and do you live in thailand?
> Â
> .... thank you for your sincerity
>
> Â take care
> ... merle
>
>
> Merle,
>
> What things indeed?
>
> My previous comments on this thread starting with suggesting we get
some kind of commission based on traffic and ending up with 'Big Shiny
Things' was my attempt at irony. I apologize if you thought they were
legitimate.
>
> By the way, many of my posts contain irony (or at least attempts) so
don't take everything I say too seriously.
>
> ...Bill!
>
> --- In [email protected], Merle Lester merlewiitpom@ wrote:
> >
> > bill.
> > .what things?..
> > ..so you want things.?
> > ..however how much do you actually need?.
> > ... will you" pass through the eye of needle"?
> >
> > and bill you can't take it with you.
> > ..greed is bottomless and boundless...be alert... be mindful...
> > Ã, it is a trap
> > Ã, have you fallen from grace?
> > merle
> > riddle:
> > is zen: a hen in a pen or is a pen with a hen: zen?
> > Ã,Â
> > Ã,Â
> > Merle,
> >
> > It's not just the money that counts. It's what the money
represents: Things! Big Things. Shiny Things. Lots of Things!
> >
> > ...Bill!
> >
> > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote:
> > >
> > > jesus..not more glint of gold?..a commission...?..is that all i
am worth?..please clarify!..merle with a thousand eyes
> > >
> > > ÃfâEURs(Ã,Â
> > > Speaking for Al, the forum owner, and both the moderators, Edgar
and me, we all hope you stay. We get a commission on each post and
your membership here has already moved up the date of my retirement by
several weeks...
> > >
> > > ...Bill!
> > >
> > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@>
wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ÃfÆ'ââ,¬Å¡ÃfâEURs(Ã, right..edgar..maybe this zen is not for
me...why are you saying crazy new age fantasy?
> > > >
> > > > ...there are plenty of practises of a human kind that believe
in nature and nature's spirits...communicating with nature. e.g
australian aborigines
> > > > .it is not new fangled dangled...
> > > > ÃfÆ'ââ,¬Å¡ÃfâEURs(Ã, merle.
> > > > .worshipping and communicating with the sun this morning at 6:30am
> > > >
> > > > ÃfÆ'ââ,¬Å¡ÃfâEURs(Ã,Â
> > > > Merle,
> > > >
> > > > Reread paragraph 4 Merle. I said nothing of the sort... I was
talking about incorrect facts, not the spiritual awe of reality.
> > > >
> > > > Do you understand the difference? You don't have to think the
flower understands what you say to it to appreciate the flower. Zen is
realizing and appreciating the TRUE nature of the flower, not some
crazy New Age fantasy facts you project onto it.
> > > >
> > > > Edgar
> > > >
> > > > On Aug 28, 2012, at 8:47 AM, Merle Lester wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > thank you for your clarification edgar
> > > > >
> > > > > ..remind me never to see the poetry in the dancing daffodil
or listen to the music that the leaves on the trees sing.
> > > > > ..remind me i must be ever vigilant unless i fall from grace
and am reduced to praise and awe and wonder at the beauty of mother
nature especially her most glorious of all...her sexual delights in
the form of flowers never again to listen to their glorious voices
> > > > >
> > > > > ..remind me that i must always remain ever scientific ever
logical and alert to childish silly fantasy games and illusions..
> > > > > never again must i listen to the wind and the grasses when
they speak.
> > > > > ..goodness me and oh jesus christ ..what would the red skin
indian say to your theories edgar?
> > > > >
> > > > > ...edgar save me from such silly ways
> > > > > ..for life is not a bowl of cherries
> > > > > it is hard real world made from solid rock..solid knowledge
based on facts and figures
> > > > > ..and if one dare to fall and fall to such fancies as
projecting a human quality to a plant life and me daring to speak
plant language..strike me dumb
> > > > > so i may never speak again of such unheard things..
> > > > >
> > > > > ... merle..the wolf carrying a bright yellow daffodil as a
peace offering to those who know what sitting bull would have replied
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Joe,
> > > > >
> > > > > Flowers do have 'senses' in the sense that they have
receptors for and respond to light, touch, chemical signals and
possibly sound. They have fairly complex internal electrical and
chemical signaling systems....
> > > > >
> > > > > What I doubt is Merle's contention that her plants listen to
her and respond to what she says.... There is no evolutionary reason
they should do so and no scientific evidence that they do....
> > > > >
> > > > > I'd say Merle is projecting here which is a dangerous form
of illusion and the antithesis of Zen....
> > > > >
> > > > > There is a subtle Zen point here. It's fine to have personal
myths like this so long as one realizes they are just fun fantasy,
games and illusion and NOT reality. Illusion recognized as illusion is
reality, illusion seen as reality is illusion....
> > > > >
> > > > > One of the most dangerous illusions to Zen is the various
'New Age' wishful thinking that falsely projects goody goody saccharin
fake sweetness on reality. It's like astrology, numerology,
anti-scientific religious delusions and the various forms of
'spiritualism' that all attempt to project the delusions of mind onto
reality.
> > > > >
> > > > > There is no realization so long as one is mired in these
illusions...
> > > > >
> > > > > Edgar
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On Aug 28, 2012, at 12:31 AM, Joe wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >> Glenn,
> > > > >>
> > > > >> With respect, I *doubt* these "instrumental revelations".
> > > > >>
> > > > >> I am a professional and an expert in Scientific
Instrumentation, and I have nothing but doubts about these botanical
"experiments" that are so often cited. I believe they are BS; and, if
you have a while, I can show you exactly why. Well, it may not be easy
to get together.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> But, keep a skeptical -- and an open -- mind, I suggest!
> > > > >>
> > > > >> And don't be gullible.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> As much as I love flowers, too.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> --Joe
> > > > >>
> > > > >>> "Glenn Rogers" <rgthiessen@> wrote:
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> I saw a National Geographic program in which scientists
hooked up ECG monitors to plant flowers. [snip]
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
