(WORK IN PROGRESS)
Manifesto of LIFE – Joe Kou
LIFE is the unbound and unlimited expression of unconditional living, within the consideration of Oneness and Equality for ALL. Within this, mankind has never known LIFE.
Man has never truly lived in this world. Man has never truly known LIFE here on earth, within and as the physical. Man has existed within self created delusions and mental constructs from which entire lives are lived without considering one very vital point of COMMON SENSE- which would be that man DOES NOT EXIST within his mind, but rather man exists HERE, within and as the physical.
The result of this is that man has used the physical in his attempt to realize (make REAL) the thoughts, ideas, beliefs, opinions, and faiths which he exists as within the mind, instead of realizing that the truth of his existence is in plain sight all around him.
In the pursuit of manifesting our faiths and ideologies, we have denied the inherent value of LIFE so clearly evident within all things in exchange for the arbitrary values we place through our self interested opinions.
In the pursuit of living out our private and self interested lives, we have accepted and allowed the abuse of earth’s resources, ecology, environment, and sustainability. We have accepted and allowed the suffering of untold millions so that a very privileged few may enjoy an inordinate amount of comfort at the expense of a disproportionately larger number of people. We have blindly accepted the indoctrinations of culture, religion, politics, and schooling without questioning their foundations. We have accepted and allowed the wholesale slaughter of entire groups and species so that our way of life continues.
We have poisoned our waters. We have destroyed the health of our natural agriculture. We have upset the balance of our ecologies. We have polluted the air we breathe. We have tainted the foods we ingest. We have caused catastrophic damage to our environment. We have broken the promise of a safe and nurturing world for our future generations. We have done all of this, for the sake of maintaining our personal interests, refusing to consider the actual and REAL consequences of our endeavors.
This can no longer be accepted as “life”. This can no longer be tolerated. The consequences of such blatant disregard for LIFE have rendered a cost far too high. How can we bequeath to our future generations so unfitting an inheritance?
ATTRIBUTION OF RESPONSIBILITY
The world is a direct reflection of who and what we are as a whole. It is a perfect mirror showing us what we have accepted and allowed within ourselves. It is therefore impractical to approach the problems of the world from the starting point of placing blame or assigning responsibility to guilty parties. The responsibility belongs equally to each and every one of us. In whatever capacity we have accepted separation or abuse within and as ourselves, is the capacity to which separation and abuse manifests within our world.
Within this realization, we must consider taking personal responsibility for our own lives instead of relying upon external motivators or hiding behind justifications for not taking appropriate corrective actions. We must stop hiding behind ideologies, philosophies, religions, gurus, masters, leaders, and gods who promise salvation yet have never made good on that promise. WE are the ones we’ve been waiting for, and the world has steadily declined during our remiss.
ONENESS AND EQUALITY
ALL LIFE must be considered within the starting point of our choices. Each and every form of expression must be treated with equal consideration. Only from this framework of consideration for ALL LIFE can we be certain that abuse and suffering in any form will not be accepted.
SPITEFULNESS AND SELF INTEREST
It is spitefulness which allows man to continue abusing one another, fully conscious of the fact that life is being compromised. And it is self interest which propels us to continue doing it over and over so long as we get to keep our quality of life intact at the expense of others. THIS MUST END. For if we do not consider ourselves ONE AND EQUAL to LIFE, we abdicate our right to truly living.
PRACTICAL SELF SUPPORT
We are the ones who have accepted and allowed the conditions that plague us. Therefore we are the ones who must sort ourselves out. To do this, tools and applications have been researched and are provided equally for all. These methods have been proven independently for effectiveness and have been documented to facilitate practical and REAL change on the individual level, which is the first crucial step towards change at the social and global levels.
It is suggested that we stop participating within our mental bubbles and belief constructs and start participating HERE at the level of the physical, where the REAL implications of living are made abundantly clear. We must see the REALITY we have created while we have been away within our minds. To do this we must support ourselves in stopping the mind and develop practical, effective, and responsible use of our mental capacity.
WRITING AS SELF FREEDOM- This is a supportive tool to assist in breaking free from the mind constructs by putting our thoughts, opinions, and mental reactions out on paper before us, so that it can be cleared and dealt with HERE in REALITY instead of allowing these mental fogs to continue cluttering our ability to see COMMON SENSE.
SELF HONESTY- This is a process by which we come to understand fully and intimately how and why we function, and to determine for ourselves a foundation of SELF TRUST so that we are able to remain honest with ourselves and each other. SELF HONESTY is required to fully investigate the truth of ourselves and to ensure that we are not participating from delusion or dishonesty. This is the method of viewing our own programming code and seeing what is going on within ourselves.
SELF FORGIVENESS- This is the application through which we are able to disengage ourselves from our mental constructs and release their influence. This is the tool by which to delete the programming within us so that we are able to actually stand up and take self directed action instead of simply following our programming.
SELF CORRECTIVE ACTION- This is the “test” through which we must come face to face with any points of separation we may have and see if we are in the clear. We will each have to face our own points of dishonesty and separation, and we must prove ourselves by actually moving through these points to ensure that we have indeed CHANGED in the physical.
DEDICATION TO ONENESS AND EQUALITY FOR ALL LIFE
This will be a process. It will require much effort and dedication if we are to actually bring ourselves HERE instead of existing within private bubbles of reality and self interest. This process will likely take your life as you have defined it. This process will require that you reconsider all and EVERYTHING within yourself and your world. Was any of it REAL? Were you the directive principle within your “life”? Have you been able to freely and unconditionally express all of who you are?
The time has come for LIFE to birth itself HERE in the physical, ONE and EQUAL for all.
My name is Joe Kou, and this is my Manifesto of LIFE.
I for one am stopping my participation within self interest.
I for one am stopping my participation within spitefulness.
I for one am stopping my participation within abuse of LIFE.
I for one am applying myself to see COMMON SENSE.
I for one am applying myself to be HERE.
I for one am applying myself to STAND.
Documenting My Self-Honesty and Self-Forgiveness Process
Thursday, June 25, 2009
About a tooth
About a week ago, I developed a very sharp pain in my lower right molar. I quickly discovered that I had an infected nerve due to bacterial infection and required a root canal surgery.
For years now, I've had a missing filling in that tooth. And for years I had simply ignored the issue of getting a new filling put in. I was well aware that my tooth would eventually need work done, and that the longer I waited, the more likely that a problematic condition could develop.
When the pain started, it was almost unbearable. I had never experienced such physical pain before. Even when I was not eating or drinking anything, the pain would be there... and I would feel the pain spread from the nerves under my molar tooth up to my ear, and then up to my temple region. It was both a sharp and throbbing pain that is difficult to describe.
At one point, I had to confine myself to my room, lay myself down on my bed, and cry as I found the pain so overwhelming. Over and over thoughts and emotions flooded my mind.
"Why is this happening to me right now?"
"How could it hurt this badly?"
"Why must I be in such pain?"
"What did I do wrong?"
It was in that very moment that my questioning opened up a perspective for me that I had not considered before.
The infection in my lower molar resulted from prolonged neglect. For years I simply reasoned that it was not worth my time or money to get the missing filling replaced. I kept procrastinating and coming up with justifications for my inaction. I had completely and utterly abdicated my responsibility to it... and simply did not care any longer, even though the gaping hole in my tooth was a constant reminder each and every day when I had to constantly clean out bits of food that would get lodged in the hole.
How did this occur? How did I talk myself into prolonging this condition for so long? Where have I been? How could it be that I had accepted and allowed myself to succumb to this?
Still reeling from the pain, my eyes scanned the contents of my bedroom and took stock of piles of books that are partially or completely unread, stacks of notebooks for projects unfinished, and soon realized that all around me were evidence of things I had always intended upon doing, but for one reason or another simply gave up.
This lead me to look within myself... and it was not long before I recalled the many projects I had started and never seen through to completion... all the promises I had made to myself that have yet to be made good... all the things I've been needing to take care of that are still unresolved... all of the things I had begun with earnest intention still patiently awaiting a manifestation that may never come.
This was not a simple toothache that resulted from lack of proper dental care. This was a clear and present depiction of who and what I have accepted and allowed myself to become. For years, the tooth had been missing it's proper filling. For years, I simply adapted to the condition as it continued to worsen. Instead of actually directing myself to support myself practically, I chose to ignore it in spite of myself. I accepted and allowed myself to be a victim of my circumstances... all my life I have been prone to do this. All my life I have accepted and allowed myself to be directed by events and the judgment of others.
This has been a heavy realization. This is something I have always understood deep within me... but only now have I considered it's ramifications here in the physical... here where my life actually takes place. I have never truly been alive. I have never made a "choice" that was real. I have never accepted or allowed myself to be stable or trust myself... to such a degree that I am willing to abdicate my health... and my very life... instead of standing up for myself.
The practical solution in the moment was to immediately take care of the tooth problem before it got worse. I got myself a dental discount plan, went to the nearest dental office and scheduled an emergency procedure, and had the operation done within the next 2 days.
Through all this, the fears came up... of me not being able to find a good dentist, not being able to finance the cost of the procedure, not being able to keep up my financial commitments, not being able to get proper care.. etc. Yet instead of allowing those fears to deter me, I moved. I moved myself through and practically did what needed doing. And then... well... it got done. And I did it all on my own... which was always something I had trouble with.
So many times I have looked at my life and seen that I had "fallen behind" everyone else who was my age. Everyone else seemed to have gotten further with their lives while I had remained stagnant. Yet it was not fate or circumstance that kept me back... it has always been myself. I have never trusted myself. I have never stood for myself. I have never accepted myself as being worthy.
The circumstances of my life do not determine who I am. Who I am determines the circumstances of my life.
So... no more will I abdicate myself. I stop. I walk. For myself, by myself.
For years now, I've had a missing filling in that tooth. And for years I had simply ignored the issue of getting a new filling put in. I was well aware that my tooth would eventually need work done, and that the longer I waited, the more likely that a problematic condition could develop.
When the pain started, it was almost unbearable. I had never experienced such physical pain before. Even when I was not eating or drinking anything, the pain would be there... and I would feel the pain spread from the nerves under my molar tooth up to my ear, and then up to my temple region. It was both a sharp and throbbing pain that is difficult to describe.
At one point, I had to confine myself to my room, lay myself down on my bed, and cry as I found the pain so overwhelming. Over and over thoughts and emotions flooded my mind.
"Why is this happening to me right now?"
"How could it hurt this badly?"
"Why must I be in such pain?"
"What did I do wrong?"
It was in that very moment that my questioning opened up a perspective for me that I had not considered before.
The infection in my lower molar resulted from prolonged neglect. For years I simply reasoned that it was not worth my time or money to get the missing filling replaced. I kept procrastinating and coming up with justifications for my inaction. I had completely and utterly abdicated my responsibility to it... and simply did not care any longer, even though the gaping hole in my tooth was a constant reminder each and every day when I had to constantly clean out bits of food that would get lodged in the hole.
How did this occur? How did I talk myself into prolonging this condition for so long? Where have I been? How could it be that I had accepted and allowed myself to succumb to this?
Still reeling from the pain, my eyes scanned the contents of my bedroom and took stock of piles of books that are partially or completely unread, stacks of notebooks for projects unfinished, and soon realized that all around me were evidence of things I had always intended upon doing, but for one reason or another simply gave up.
This lead me to look within myself... and it was not long before I recalled the many projects I had started and never seen through to completion... all the promises I had made to myself that have yet to be made good... all the things I've been needing to take care of that are still unresolved... all of the things I had begun with earnest intention still patiently awaiting a manifestation that may never come.
This was not a simple toothache that resulted from lack of proper dental care. This was a clear and present depiction of who and what I have accepted and allowed myself to become. For years, the tooth had been missing it's proper filling. For years, I simply adapted to the condition as it continued to worsen. Instead of actually directing myself to support myself practically, I chose to ignore it in spite of myself. I accepted and allowed myself to be a victim of my circumstances... all my life I have been prone to do this. All my life I have accepted and allowed myself to be directed by events and the judgment of others.
This has been a heavy realization. This is something I have always understood deep within me... but only now have I considered it's ramifications here in the physical... here where my life actually takes place. I have never truly been alive. I have never made a "choice" that was real. I have never accepted or allowed myself to be stable or trust myself... to such a degree that I am willing to abdicate my health... and my very life... instead of standing up for myself.
The practical solution in the moment was to immediately take care of the tooth problem before it got worse. I got myself a dental discount plan, went to the nearest dental office and scheduled an emergency procedure, and had the operation done within the next 2 days.
Through all this, the fears came up... of me not being able to find a good dentist, not being able to finance the cost of the procedure, not being able to keep up my financial commitments, not being able to get proper care.. etc. Yet instead of allowing those fears to deter me, I moved. I moved myself through and practically did what needed doing. And then... well... it got done. And I did it all on my own... which was always something I had trouble with.
So many times I have looked at my life and seen that I had "fallen behind" everyone else who was my age. Everyone else seemed to have gotten further with their lives while I had remained stagnant. Yet it was not fate or circumstance that kept me back... it has always been myself. I have never trusted myself. I have never stood for myself. I have never accepted myself as being worthy.
The circumstances of my life do not determine who I am. Who I am determines the circumstances of my life.
So... no more will I abdicate myself. I stop. I walk. For myself, by myself.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
I have no life
Has there ever been such a thing as "my life"?
What exactly does "my life" encompass?
I have defined "my life" as my knowledge... all of the information and data that i have acquired through experience within living out my existence thus far within this lifetime. Yet knowledge and information is not alive. It is not real. They are bits of data within my mind, which rest dormant until called into application. Knowledge, information, and experience in and of themselves hold no merit unless they are practically USED.
I have defined "my life" as my possessions... all of the things that I have come to own. Yet when I entered this world, I entered it naked, wholly vulnerable, possessing nothing but my own self. And when I leave this world, I leave all of my possessions behind as well. All of the material things I have come to own never really belonged to me... they were more of a "rental" during my stay here on earth.
I have defined "my life" as my accomplishments... all of the things that I have done. Yet how many of those accomplishments were truly self directed expressions of who and what I am as opposed to accomplishments made to satisfy my ego, my persona, the pressure placed upon me by my family, my education, my friends, and my society? How many of those "accomplishments" were truly of my own self directed effort as an expression of myself... unfettered by the need to please others, gain favor or praise, or to "fit in"? Have I ever accomplished anything other than to maintain a falsely projected "self" which I had no real interest in being to begin with?
"I" have no life. "I" have no purpose. The "life" I have always considered to be mine, as something which I owned and was special... is actually not life, was never truly something I owned, and certainly was not "special".
And it is from this realization of having no life that I am able to comprehend what REAL life would imply.
LIFE is not something I can "have". I am either ALIVE (A LIFE) or I am not.
What exactly does "my life" encompass?
I have defined "my life" as my knowledge... all of the information and data that i have acquired through experience within living out my existence thus far within this lifetime. Yet knowledge and information is not alive. It is not real. They are bits of data within my mind, which rest dormant until called into application. Knowledge, information, and experience in and of themselves hold no merit unless they are practically USED.
I have defined "my life" as my possessions... all of the things that I have come to own. Yet when I entered this world, I entered it naked, wholly vulnerable, possessing nothing but my own self. And when I leave this world, I leave all of my possessions behind as well. All of the material things I have come to own never really belonged to me... they were more of a "rental" during my stay here on earth.
I have defined "my life" as my accomplishments... all of the things that I have done. Yet how many of those accomplishments were truly self directed expressions of who and what I am as opposed to accomplishments made to satisfy my ego, my persona, the pressure placed upon me by my family, my education, my friends, and my society? How many of those "accomplishments" were truly of my own self directed effort as an expression of myself... unfettered by the need to please others, gain favor or praise, or to "fit in"? Have I ever accomplished anything other than to maintain a falsely projected "self" which I had no real interest in being to begin with?
"I" have no life. "I" have no purpose. The "life" I have always considered to be mine, as something which I owned and was special... is actually not life, was never truly something I owned, and certainly was not "special".
And it is from this realization of having no life that I am able to comprehend what REAL life would imply.
LIFE is not something I can "have". I am either ALIVE (A LIFE) or I am not.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
In spite of myself
For so long I have existed within the confines of programming. I have lived my "life" within the familiar comfort of simply going on about my business, safe in the blissful ignorance into which we are all seemingly indoctrinated into during our formative years.
I have for so long existed as a system, functioning perfectly as my programming flawlessly carried out it's routines in the background as I experienced what I believed to be "life".
And yet now, having seen the extent of this programming, having glimpsed the true implications of what this entails, having understood the sheer impact of this single realization, still I am unwilling to truly challenge my preprogrammed nature. Even now, I am reluctant to let go of the life I thought was real even knowing full well the delusion.
In my life I have fully assimilated myself into my persona and my intellect. All that I have known was my systematic programming. And it is so very disheartening to witness the extent of this in not only myself, but the entire world.
How long have we been blind? How long have we accepted this to be called "life"?
We have to stop this. I have to stop this. It has gone too far and the consequences will be so very hard to bear. Yet we did it to ourselves... blind though we were, there is no one else who can undo what we have done in our prolonged ignorance and spitefulness.
I have for so long existed as a system, functioning perfectly as my programming flawlessly carried out it's routines in the background as I experienced what I believed to be "life".
And yet now, having seen the extent of this programming, having glimpsed the true implications of what this entails, having understood the sheer impact of this single realization, still I am unwilling to truly challenge my preprogrammed nature. Even now, I am reluctant to let go of the life I thought was real even knowing full well the delusion.
In my life I have fully assimilated myself into my persona and my intellect. All that I have known was my systematic programming. And it is so very disheartening to witness the extent of this in not only myself, but the entire world.
How long have we been blind? How long have we accepted this to be called "life"?
We have to stop this. I have to stop this. It has gone too far and the consequences will be so very hard to bear. Yet we did it to ourselves... blind though we were, there is no one else who can undo what we have done in our prolonged ignorance and spitefulness.
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