Halloween, the Happiest Time of Year!

Wisdom Quarterly (Editors)

China's Gao Temple caverns were converted into a peculiar kind of Chinese hell, where devils are depicted torturing beings reborn in perdition. Do Buddhists go to heaven? (Deanspic/Flickr)

Halloween is America's greatest holiday. It is one of the few times we formally acknowledge that it is not all about us. Our ancestors are still with us in one form or another. In the Petavatthu, the Buddha explained that it was not possible for someone not to have relatives dwelling in the unfortunate abodes -- the realm of ghosts and subhuman existences collectively. This is because "relatives" is defined as going back seven generations (just as it extends for the Native Americans). What leads to rebirth on those unfortunate planes? The anti-precepts lead there: not abstaining or discouraging killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, deceiving, or drug taking. To abandon these and encourage others to abandon them is the way to the human world and higher worlds. But here now -- where we are shamed for any "deviant," "sinful," or "wrong" impulse -- Halloween is the only appropriate holiday for acting out in all the ways that are forbidden. It is no wonder Halloween has become more popular with US adults than children.

Halloween (Samhain) witch, angel, she-devil

For just one day I'll pretend I'm a s----y devil. My parents say it's crazy and they won't have it under their roof! But every other day of the year it's hypocrisy. How can pretending (and deceiving others) be preferable to play acting? Halloween is not when we are like this; Halloween is when we express how we think of being. Strangling the expression of everything unpleasant does not make it go away. It feeds it and keeps it alive with guilt, shame, and turning a blind eye. Let it see the light of day. Maybe it's not as much to be afraid of as we fear. It would be less worse to die than to live always fearing death. Whosoever would purposely turn from the truth, whatever the truth may be, is no truthseeker.

(Barbara Virgo Hobbs/Flickr.com)

Family Guy: Sugar is the cause of fast aging, rotting, and mental instability as Stewie Duck and Pink Brian find (tv.ign.com).

Foreclosure firm mocks evicted at Halloween party
Lindsay Lohan spends Halloween at county morgue
The famous [Hindu] "Trinity" concept not in Bible
Haunted Magic Castle burns on Halloween
Fire officials are trying assess the damage after a greater-alarm fire ripped through the famed Magic Castle in the Hollywood Hills on Monday. Fire crews said the blaze was contained largely to the attic and walls of the historic venue but that there might be significant water damage. There is no immediate cause for the blaze...

Perseus Cluster Screaming Skull space jack 'o lantern is actually a Chandra image of galaxies in X-rays (A. Fabian, et al./IoA Cambridge/NASA/Space.com).

Happy Birthday, Columbus (video)

For the World to Live "Columbus" Must Die
Russell Means, Program #MEAR003, recorded in Denver, CO on April 27, 1992
LISTEN TO AUDIO. For too many of us, for too long, the indigenous peoples of this continent have been curiosities that existed somewhere over the horizon between fantasy and reality. The popularly crafted images were of medicine men [mostly women], squaws, peace pipes, teepees, tom toms, tomahawks, war bonnets, war paint, war whoops, and war parties. The only Indians we knew were named Tonto, Geronimo, and Crazy Horse. In recent years a lot of these cliches have disappeared. The American Indian Movement has done much to break down the conventional stereotypes. AIM articulates a program of self awareness and pride. It promotes treaty and land rights and religious freedom for Native Americans.

• Columbus Day stock market rally, "Occupy Wall Street" and "Occupy D.C." continue as wealthy suburb’s rush to the food bank
• Columbus Day Blues
  

Russell Means, an Oglala Dakota and a prominent voice in the continuing struggle for indigenous rights, is a founding member of AIM and one of its leading spokespersons. He is Chief Executive Officer of the American Indian Anti-Defamation Council, an organization which monitors anti-Indian racism in the media and politics, and has organized and lectured throughout the world.

"Where Next Columbus?"
Crass
Another's hope, another's game
Another's loss, another's gain
Another's lies, another's truth
Another's doubt, another's proof
Another's left, another's right
Another's peace, another's fight
Another's name, another's aim
Another's fall, another's fame
Another's pride, another's shame
Another's love, another's pain
Another's hope, another's game
Another's loss, another's gain
Another's lies, another's truth...

Marx had an idea from the confusion of his head
Then there were a thousand more waiting to be led
The books are sold, the quotes are bought
You learn them well and then you're caught

Another's left, another's right
Another's peace, another's fight
Mussolini had ideas from the confusion of his heart
Then there were a thousand more waiting to play their part
The stage was set, the costumes worn
And another empire of destruction born
Another's name, another's aim
Another's fall, another's fame
Jung had an idea from the confusion of his dream
Then there were a thousand more waiting to be seen
You're not yourself, the theory says
But I can help, your complex pays

Another's hope, another's game
Another's loss, another's gain

Satre had an idea from the confusion of his brain
Then there were a thousand more indulging in his pain
Revelling in isolation and existential choice
Can you truly be alone when you use another's voice?

Another's lies, another's truth
Another's doubt, another's proof
The idea born in someone's mind
Is nurtured by a thousand blind
Anonymous beings, vacuous souls
Do you fear the confusion, your lack of control?
You lift your arm to write a name
So caught up in the identity game

Who do you see? Who do you watch?
Who's your leader? Which is your flock?
Who do you watch? Who do you watch?
Who's your leader? Which is your flock?
Einstein had an idea from the confusion of his knowledge
Then there were a thousand more turning to advantage
They realised that their god was dead
So they reclaimed power through the bomb instead
Anothers code, another's brain
They'll shower us all in deadly rain
Jesus had an idea from the confusion of his soul
Then there were a thousand more waiting to take control
The guilt is sold, forgiveness bought
The cross is there as your reward

Anothers love, another's pain
Anothers pride, another's shame
Do you watch at a distance from the side you have chosen?
Whose answers serve you best? Who'll save you from confusion?
Who will leave you an exit and a comfortable cover
Who will take you oh so near the edge, but never drop you over?
Who do you watch?

Ramadan, War, and the Mythology of Saturn

Wisdom Quarterly

If people love each other, why can't leaders get along? (avsastesi.com)

Muslims in America and Ramadan 2011

(TWS, August 3, 2011)

Misunderstanding Islam continues. For Muslims in America, Ramadan 2011 brings an opportunity to reach out to fellow Americans. Muslims across the world started the holy month of Ramadan on August 1 with fasting. American Muslims are no different. But Keith Ellison, a member of the House of Representatives from Minnesota, claims that Islam is still much misunderstood in the country. More

On a much deeper level, what are Mecca and the Black Cube at its center really about?

Mecca is the center of the Islamic world. But the treatment of the central edifice is an ancient Vedic ritual, more characteristic of Hinduism, honoring Saturn a planet or an anthropomorphic representation of that heavenly body (or, more likely, a visitor therefrom). Who is the god of this world? Judging by our behavior for millenia.

The powers that be (Pentagon, CIA, banking elites, and similar movers and shakers) want a Holy War. The sides? The "good" Judeo-Christian US wages endless war against "evil" Islam (Persian post-Zoroastrian asura-worship). It may be mythology and a fundamentalist interpretation of the Christian Bible, but it is motivating very serious decisions to destroy people on the basis of religion. The military-industrial complex operates as if it is true, growing rich while impoverishing everyone else.

How and Why the World worships Saturn

Theforceiswithinyou.com

[We may] not know it, but the entire world has been worshiping Saturn for thousands of years. The cult has never stopped, and its rites are still present to this day. Saturn, dubbed the “Lord of the Rings,” is the reason why we exchange rings at weddings or put halos on the heads of godly people.

Semitic civilizations referred to the god Saturn as “El.” The supreme deity was represented by a black cube. We can find instances of the cube across the world.

The gods of ELohim are angELs, the messengers of god.

When witches cast a speEL, they put the “Hex” (6) on someone, and when chefs deep fry something, they “Deep 6” it. It is the ELites who run the world today. Elite comes from the “IsraElites” which came from the Egyptian worship of the Moon (Isis), the Sun, (Ra), and Saturn (Elohim), hence IsRaEl.

Jews and Muslims alike worship a huge black cube/box called Kabba at Mecca. Their god YHWH is known as the “Tetragramaton” meaning their 4 letter (4 sided?) God. The “Kabballah” of Jewish mysticism/Masonry comes from KabbaAllah or “CubeGod” around which people gather and ceremonially walk in circles. More (see cube photos and video)

Connection older than Hinduism and Judaism

Walking in circles, called circumambulation, is an appeasing mark of respect. It is explicitly called for in Hindu and pre-Hindu ceremonies. ("Hinduism" only began when Adi Shankara systematized disparate views and schools of thought prevalent in India around 800 CE). Interestingly, as part of the Hajj, or annual pilgrimage to Mecca, pilgrims throw stones at the Devil as if to keep bad luck away.

Shani Deva/Saturn: The fearful Hindu god of bad luck

Hindus are under fear of evil and ill-effect from his planet Saturn. In Vedic astrology, the planetary position at the time of birth determines the future of a person. So Hindus accord immense importance to the planets, and Saturn or "Shani" is one such planet.

Why is Saturn the most feared deity?

The "return of Saturn" as Gwen Stefani sang about might be something to fear more than to celebrate. Of course, making the best of it is always best. There's no bad that cannot lead to some good as well.

• Shani is Saturn (en.wikipedia.org)

What does worldwide Mythology teach us?

The Nine Realms of Nordic mythology -- as one learns in the movie "Thor" or from deep study of Viking lore -- are space worlds corresponding to the nine planets of our solar system. (There is or was a tenth "planet," Nirbiru, but that's another matter). The "gods" (devas) hailing from these worlds came to Earth to help or conquer, pillage or lift up. This left Earthlings with very different feeling about various deities, their days, and their "stars" (planets).

• Scientists say comet Elenin has massive UFO fleet following in formation in its tail

Thor (Sakka, Indra) got Thursday, Saturn Saturday, and so on. This is the collective spiritual inheritance of the world, but it only remains in mythological form. We are pressed to believe it is only fantastic or symbolic. It was once very literal, and as ELenin approaches (see video below) and the "gods" (powerful extraterrestrials revered like gods) return, all will be revealed. Meanwhile, the harmful titans (called asuras in Buddhism) and reptilians (nagas) have been here a long time preparing to resist. [It's not clear where an ape-like race of forest dwellers stand.] Humans are caught in the middle, with many taking the wrong side.

Why is it called ELenin?