Tag Archives: two

Introduction: Three – Person in the middle

During our third stage on our Odyssey, you and I have encountered the Trito myth and the cattle-cycle. These myths – with rituals – are a first way of restoring confidence between the gods, priests, men and classes of people themselves. Livestock is a metaphor for mutual trust, a role that money has taken over in our society.

After the first all-encompassing division between earth and air, all is disintegrated in innumerable parts. Then an initial structure is arisen, after which a start is made with a creative process by giving a first meaning and deriving a first order from this initial structure.

You and I remain entirely separate from the complete oneness. It probably disappeared during the separation of earth and sky. Or is this oneness still present in the background? We do not know, but we will investigate this during our Odyssey.

In the Trito myth about the origin of the world, you and I have met the gods: Manu creates with the help of the gods the world from the parts of Twin. In this myth, the gods are necessary for Many to create the world. Who are these gods? You and I do not know. Are there more Gods or is there only one god? We do not know; each society has given different answers to this question. Is there a world without gods? We do not know. Are the gods an integral part of the complete oneness? We do not know. But you and I will investigate this later during our Odyssey. Let us provisionally accept that the gods exist. For now, they are necessary to create and maintain the world.

Following the creation of the world, the sky gods give cattle to Trito. After the storm gods help him during his adventures with the three-headed serpent, Trito sacrifices cattle to the air gods to restore and consolidate the mutual trust.

[1]

Within the cattle cycle, priests sacrifice animals to the gods in order to restore and maintain the confidence between gods, priests, people and categories of people.

According to these first myths, you and I have seen in the Proto-Indo-European world, the gods are needed to create and maintain the world. The trust and aid of the gods is vital for these people. How the people in this Proto-Indo-European world perceive the god in their daily life, we do not know. Though in this society, soon persons emerges who create and maintain the connections between the world of humans and the gods.

The forerunners of people who are not able to live without a connection between humans and gods, we already have encountered in both myths.

The priests [6] have a role to establish and maintain a connection between the sky gods, the world and the people by preforming smoke sacrifices and rituals. This connection is of paramount importance to maintain and continue the rhythm of life. This connection maintained by the priests in the pre-scientific age, also gives a first answer to the questions where mankind comes from, why they are on the earth and what future awaits them. In the Catholic Church the pope acquires a role of Pontifex Maximus – or the great builder of bridges – between heaven and earth. In this church the Pope is – as first among his peers – the “person in the middle” who maintains the connection between heaven and earth and/or between God and humanity.

[2]

The warriors – and over time their chiefs in the form of emperor, king or general – get the role to establish and perpetuate order in society by conquest and military operations (with its rituals and practices). Later – as a representative of the gods – they regulate the affairs of the society on earth. For earthly matters, they increasingly act as the representative of the gods on earth. In this form they become a “person in the middle” between on one hand the complete oneness and on the other hand society and humanity. According to this way of thinking, society ceases to exist without this “person in the middle”: Roman legionaries fall into despair – their entire existence on earth falls apart – as a general of a legion threatens to leave the legion to its own fate [3].

[4]

The arrangement between priests and warriors – or between church and state – is usual sensitive. The hierarchy between these two roles changes continuously. Sometimes balance occurs: the pope crowns the emperor so the profane role of the emperor receives recognition by a sacral ritual performed by the pontifex maximus, while the role of the Pope – as a bridge between heaven and earth – is recognised and perpetuated within the same ritual.

[5]

The next post is about “the object in the middle”.

[1] Source of image: POVRAY – Clouds JvL

[2] Pope Gregorius I

[3] See also: Goldsworthy, Adrian, In the Name of Rome (2003)

[4] Charles Magne

[5] Coronation of Charles Magne as Emperor by Pope Leo III

[6] In Sanskrit √pṛ means: “be able, to show”; Ish: “ruler, god”; and √tṛ: “to cross”

Introduction: Two – Twins and opposites

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“The previous post is on a first order arising after everything has fallen apart into an infinite number of particles. Your narrator has told the first steps towards a hierarchy and ethics. You have received a glimpse of heaven and hell. In this post we continue with twins and opposites.

Twins are very important to people. In ancient myths and stories twins are often at the beginning of important developments. But around these twins, there exists usually uncertainty and instability. A choice is foreseen. Unfortunately, in myths a violent decision is made. One of the twin children must leave or be killed.

You probably know the twins Romulus and Remus, who are raised by a wolf. Romulus killed Remus in a dispute over the sovereignty of the new city. After this assassination Romulus could continue the founding of Rome [1].

[2]

In Genesis – the first book of the Old Testament – Cain and Abel are the first two children of Adam and Eve. The description gives indications that they are twins. Cain was a farmer and Abel was a shepherd. Both brought offerings to God, but God accepted only the smoke from the cattle-sacrifice [3] [4] of Abel.

[6]

Because God does not accept the sacrifice of the harvest, Cain slew Abel – his brother [5].

People are very sensitive to opposites. In a desire for certainty, the opposition have to disappear as quickly as possible – often at the expense of a great loss. As a solution of this dilemma, one side of the opposites is then chosen. Your narrator showed you already the sad fate of Remus and Abel: the opposites within the twins have to be resolved by the disappearance of one child of the twins.

When opposites arise, people require clarification as quickly as possible. Much is put aside to get clarification between yes or no, right or wrong, true or false, belief or unbelief, right or wrong. Often this choice is made by an immediate sacrifice or destruction of one of the two opposites. This choice is so important for that people even commit fratricide; people are killed, war is made, people and dissidents are massacred.

Why should opposites immediately be solved? Why may they not survive? Has humanity a strong desire for oneness or is it necessary to settle unrest and discontent as quick as possible at the expense of great sacrifices? Or may be both? Is the lifting of the unrest and dissatisfaction worth committing major crimes? On their Odyssey, the main characters encounter many of these dilemmas.

Your narrator perceives in the distance the two main characters reappear. They are not twins and I hope that they will not solve their differences through violence and murder on their Odyssey. We’ll see.

Your narrator leaves the report now to the two main characters. In the next post, they will tell their story about a vigil at the beginning of spring in preparation for the next stage in their Odyssey.”

[2] Source image: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestand:Lupa_romana.jpeg

[3] See also: Mallory, J.P., In Search of the Indo-Europeans, p. 138

[4] See also: Introduction – Rituals 2 (27 maart 2011)

[5] See also: Genesis 4

[6] Source image: http://www.tstl.net/children/coloring/coloring.asp

Introduction: Two – First order arises

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“Your narrator takes you back to the days when earth and air are divided, everything is broken as crackle and then fell apart into small particles. After the complete collapse of “One” in an infinite number of particles, a beginning of order does arise. In the course of time more complex forms of life appear. Your narrator does not know the history of this organization because in his current form he was not present at these events. Also, the narrator does not know the complete manner of this order: the various manifestations of this absolute miracle can only be seen if the conditions allow us.

[0]

In today’s world we use hierarchies – according to the human dimension – to bring order in the infinite appearances. Some years ago, your narrator read in a book [1] a description of a hierarchy that is recognisable for people in Western society. This hierarchy does look something like this:

Non living organisms
Living organisms
People

Biology
Law and regulations
Science
Quality

Complex structures

Hardware
Software
Villages with their own dynamics
Cities with its own dynamics

The author of this book [1] uses an ethical principle stating that every appearance has an equal right to exist. But if a choice between two forms is unavoidable, a more complex appearance – in this case the form on a higher place in the hierarchy – is preferable.

A second hierarchy, your narrator read a few thousand years ago. Nowadays this ranking is for people in Western society less easy to follow. This hierarchy has a ranking of the 31 ‘residences’ [2]:

Hells
Titans
Hungry ghosts
Animals
People
Gods in 22 categories
Five spheres of infinite space, awareness and emptiness.

In both hierarchies, mankind has a central place. Overestimation of humanity itself? We do not know. On next stage of our Odyssey we will look closer at these two hierarchies.

The Western world also has a dichotomy in heaven and hell. Are heaven and hell nearby or far away, or only reserved for an afterlife? Your narrator does not know. A few decades ago, a priest in Valkenburg explained the difference between heaven and hell hear during sermon.

This priest said: “In hell, people have a minor handicap: they can not bend their arms. They are in a room with most abundant food and drink. But unfortunately they remain forever hungry and thirsty. They can look at the food and drink, because eating is prevented due to their minor handicap.

^[3]

In heaven, people have the same minor disability and they are in the same room with food and drink. But they have no hunger and thirst, because these people care for each other. One gives the other at arm’s length to drink and eat on needs and satisfaction.”

A nice explanation of one and the same – looked upon in two ways? Or two manifestations depending on different circumstances? Or two different worlds? Your narrator does not know.

The next post is about twins.

[0] Bron afbeelding: POVRAY – Indra’s net – JvL

[1] Pirsig, Robert M., Lila, an Inquiry in Morals. London: Bantam Press, 1991

[2] The Long Discourses of the Buddha. Massachusetts: Wisdom Publications, 1995 p. 38-39

[3] http://clubkoperwiek.blogspot.com/2010/12/club-weekend-club-koperwiek-kook-de.html

Introduction: Two – You and I separated; a narrator continues

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We have endured the separation of earth and sky and then we encountered innumerable splits and cracks. I look sideways to see you. I wonder how you have survived these events. But where I look, I do not see you. I call you: no answer. Are you and I separated during one of these innumerable divisions?

[1]

For the first time on our Odyssey, we are not together. Strange. But the divisions have not stopped: I too fall apart. My consciousness reduces, my eyes are cloudy and sounds disappear. Everything fades.

[2]

Your narrator continues: “In their quest to “Who are you” – after the separation of earth and sky – the two main characters have disappeared in the course of the countless divisions. Temporarily, they may not report their experiences. Your narrator continues the story of the Odyssey. My name – Narrator – I have received a long time ago. My name originates from the word “nara” [3] meaning “people”, and “tr” [4] meaning “cross or pass”. As a narrator I will tell you the events until the two main characters will be able to tell their story again.”

“After the primal separation and the following endless splits, everything is broken into infinite small particles. Of course there is still some order between these particles – or at least a start of order. But these connections are beyond our comprehension. And if we can apprehend it, we can not express it in words. According to our notion of time in Western society, it takes several billions of years from the separation of earth and sky until we again have a beginning of life. Or was this period much shorter? Several thousand years according to the Bible, or a flash of the eyes? Narrator does not know. Your narrator – in her/his contemporary appearance – was not present at the beginning of the universe and also not at the beginning of the Bible. However, your narrator is constantly amazed that after a flash of the eyes, the world still exists. The two main characters will recount their experiences with the perception of time on a next stage during their Odyssey. ”

“After the complete collapse of “One” in infinitely many pieces, order is recreated. Mankind [5] is still investigating how this order is established and how long it took before the subsequences organisations of life emerged. The stories of discovery and development of life can occupy the rest of my life. Your narrator will – like my designation implies – transfer you to the point that “You and I” reappear when conditions permit human life again.”

“The following post includes the outcome of the first organisation.”

[1] Source image: http://iwan.web-log.nl/iwan/2010/07/index.html

[2] Source image: http://beagle.vpro.nl/#/blog/item/3203/australische-stofmachine/

[3] In Sanskrit this word consists of “na” meaning “not”, and the root “ra” meaning “rejoice”; “nara” means ordinary man or woman. In the name “narrator” the plural for “men” is used: “narâ”.

[4] In Sanskrit the root “tṛ” means “to cross over” according to Egenes, Thomas, Introduction to Sanskrit – Part two. 2005 p. 387

[5] “Man” means “think, conscience” in Sanskrit. People try to become aware of our past and to get hold of former experiences. Vanity, vanity, everything is vanity? Your narrator does not know.

Introduction: Two – Separation of Earth and Air

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As a farewell to the stage “One” on our Odyssey, you and I have seen the documentary “Powers of Ten “[1] twice. The first time we have enjoyed the images, the second time we have carefully examined the various manifestations of “Indra’s Net” at various sizes. The observations of “Indra’s Net” are always the same and always different.

We are approaching our second stage on our Odyssey.

First everything is completely one. Earth and sky, light and dark are inseparable: one and all. Prior to words and thoughts, oneness remains ever present. Unfortunately for you and me, this complete oneness is not comprehensible in thought and words: the complete oneness precedes our comprehension.

At a certain point, earth and air are separated [2]. Did this first separation occur in a sigh and quickly, or slowly and whispering, or in a big bang followed by a flash? We do not know.

[3]

This separation of earth and sky is the most painful split to date. Genesis in the Old Testament speaks of a rupture of heaven and earth. This separation created an all-encompassing gap where all the other may pass through. The following separations are vague recollections of the first rupture of earth and sky. Not that these later separations may not be painful, but this initial crack is the immense separation from which all other divisions have emerged like crackle.

[4]

During the “Separation of Earth and Air” and the subsequent divisions, you and I have completely disparted from the complete oneness. It is also the end of our perfect being together. As separate beings we continue our way on this Odyssey. But the desire for the complete oneness remains:

“I tend my flowers for thee – Bright Absenty” [5]

We reach the second stage of our Odyssey.

[1] See: http://www.powersof10.com/film

[2] See Genesis 1:1, Old Testament

[3] Source image: http://world.mongabay.com/dutch/travel/files/p5530p.html

[4] Source image: http://www.zoetglas.nl/veiligheidsglas.php

[5] See: Dickinson, Emily, The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. London: Faber, 1977 – Poem 339

Introduction: One – “Powers of Ten”

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After you and me have gone through the wonderful world of “Indra’s Net [1]“, we are looking forward to the presentation of the 10-minute film “Powers of Ten” written and directed by Ray and Charles Eames in 1968 (and reissued in 1977 ).

Before we will look at the movie, an introduction is given.

Charles and Ray Eames [2] is an architect / designer couple who gave a significant contribution to the development of modern architecture and furniture design.

A first impression of the “Eames house [3]:

[4]

And a picture of a chair in the “Soft Pad series” designed in 1969:

[5]

The documentary “Powers of Ten” is an adventure in size and views on different scales. The film shows the known universe in “powers of ten ” [6]. The content and structure of the film is based on the book “Cosmic View – The Universe in 40 Jumps” [7] published in 1957, written and designed by the Dutch pedagogue Kees Boeke [8], who is founder of the “Werkplaats Kindergemeenschap” [9] – Children’s Community Workshop – in Bilthoven, the Netherlands.

The film begins with a picnic area near the lake in Chicago. Every 10 seconds we are transported ten times further in the universe until our solar system is just a speck in the sky. Then we return quickly to the picnic area. There we zoom in on the hand of the sleeper pick-nicker. Every ten seconds we zoom in 10 times on the hand until we move inside the carbon atom in a DNA molecule within a white blood cell.

Actually, you and I have to see the film twice in succession. The first time to enjoy the movie and the second time to enjoy the view on “Indra’s net” in different sizes.

Does the combination of “Powers of Ten”, “Indra’s Net” and the books by Brian Greene [10] give a first visual representation of the string theory? Are these images different manifestations of “One”? And is “One” displayed according to the ways of the world and not according to her not to express universality [11]? We do not know. See for yourself.

The next post is an introduction on “Two”, the new stage on our Odyssey.

After this introduction we may look at the film: please visit the following website:

http://www.powersof10.com/film

(Please, click on the hyperlink to visit the website to see the documentary)

[1] See also: Cook, Francis, Hua-Yen Buddhism: The Jewel Net of Indra

[4] Source image: http://www.housing.com/categories/homes/-architecture-case-study-houses-1945-1966/case-study-house-8-eames-house.html#1

[5] Source image: EA222 Soft Pad on website of Vitra

[7] Boeke, Kees, Cosmic View, The Universe in 40 Jumps. 1957

[10] See: Greene, Brian, The Elegant Universe. 2003; The Fabric of the Cosmos. 2004; The Hidden Reality. 2011

[11] Free rendering of a sentence from the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra; see also: Porter, Bill, Zen Baggage, Berkeley: Counterpoint, 2009 – page 15 and 16.