April 13, 2013
Enlightened people seldom or never posses a sense of responsibility.
(George Orwell)
**************************
Hello Lora
**************************
I have been noting how often in my youth and even into adulthood I have given over to some authority my right to choose for myself. I remember back to advice given from people I should not have believed, standards of behavior which have since fallen victim to progressive thinking, moral standards that were proscriptive and based on irrational ideas, fantasies about life and my place in it.
The smarter I get, ok, the older I get, let's leave "smart" for now,
the less respectful I get for the ideas that have been dangling in front of me for decades. I could go into tales of the wrong school, the wrong mate, the wrong moves, the wrong professional choices and the wrong remarks to illustrate the troubled life I've had because of being influenced by someone or something I should have ignored.
A psychologist could probably describe to me a pattern of behavior that has caused me the troubles I've had. But if he did he would only be telling me something I have already learned. And it's the danger of repetition. If you are sure you are doing the right thing and you fail, and if you try it again and you fail again, don't try it again just because some standard of behavior is written on your mental wall. Patterns can be dangerous things. That's why most snakes wear them.
"Have a nice day" the checkout girl said as she handed me my bag of groceries. I did not want to insult her. I thanked her and said "But it's raining out there and it's cold." I only wanted to suggest a retreat from the automaton mind set she has been talked into.
Somewhere way back I learned to question things, almost everything. I questioned my motives, my actions, my responses, my attitudes, my beliefs and my ideas. I tried to rub everything against the touchstone of my own sense of honesty. There were many times in the past I might say something I didn't really mean. Now if someone says "How are you?" if I'm not feeling fine I don't answer. Because if they really want to know they will get a catalogue of what's wrong with me. I would rather say nothing and appear rude.
Cliched ideas and cliched words grow like dandelions in our heads. They steal away original thinking and fill up the spaces where enlightened deeds may grow. I try to flee from those cliches. I do not need to be responsible for thinking, saying or doing anything because that is the so-called normal way of it.
We all start off average, but there is no reason we have to stay that way.
**************************
Dana Bate
Vagabond Journeys
-------------------
Never give up.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
ABOVE AVERAGE
April 13, 2013
Enlightened people seldom or never posses a sense of responsibility.
(George Orwell)
**************************
Hello Lora
**************************
I have been noting how often in my youth and even into adulthood I have given over to some authority my right to choose for myself. I remember back to advice given from people I should not have believed, standards of behavior which have since fallen victim to progressive thinking, moral standards that were proscriptive and based on irrational ideas, fantasies about life and my place in it.
The smarter I get, ok, the older I get, let's leave "smart" for now,
the less respectful I get for the ideas that have been dangling in front of me for decades. I could go into tales of the wrong school, the wrong mate, the wrong moves, the wrong professional choices and the wrong remarks to illustrate the troubled life I've had because of being influenced by someone or something I should have ignored.
A psychologist could probably describe to me a pattern of behavior that has caused me the troubles I've had. But if he did he would only be telling me something I have already learned. And it's the danger of repetition. If you are sure you are doing the right thing and you fail, and if you try it again and you fail again, don't try it again just because some standard of behavior is written on your mental wall. Patterns can be dangerous things. That's why most snakes wear them.
"Have a nice day" the checkout girl said as she handed me my bag of groceries. I did not want to insult her. I thanked her and said "But it's raining out there and it's cold." I only wanted to suggest a retreat from the automaton mind set she has been talked into.
Somewhere way back I learned to question things, almost everything. I questioned my motives, my actions, my responses, my attitudes, my beliefs and my ideas. I tried to rub everything against the touchstone of my own sense of honesty. There were many times in the past I might say something I didn't really mean. Now if someone says "How are you?" if I'm not feeling fine I don't answer. Because if they really want to know they will get a catalogue of what's wrong with me. I would rather say nothing and appear rude.
Cliched ideas and cliched words grow like dandelions in our heads. They steal away original thinking and fill up the spaces where enlightened deeds may grow. I try to flee from those cliches. I do not need to be responsible for thinking, saying or doing anything because that is the so-called normal way of it.
We all start off average, but there is no reason we have to stay that way.
**************************
Dana Bate
Vagabond Journeys
-------------------
Never give up.
Enlightened people seldom or never posses a sense of responsibility.
(George Orwell)
**************************
Hello Lora
**************************
I have been noting how often in my youth and even into adulthood I have given over to some authority my right to choose for myself. I remember back to advice given from people I should not have believed, standards of behavior which have since fallen victim to progressive thinking, moral standards that were proscriptive and based on irrational ideas, fantasies about life and my place in it.
The smarter I get, ok, the older I get, let's leave "smart" for now,
the less respectful I get for the ideas that have been dangling in front of me for decades. I could go into tales of the wrong school, the wrong mate, the wrong moves, the wrong professional choices and the wrong remarks to illustrate the troubled life I've had because of being influenced by someone or something I should have ignored.
A psychologist could probably describe to me a pattern of behavior that has caused me the troubles I've had. But if he did he would only be telling me something I have already learned. And it's the danger of repetition. If you are sure you are doing the right thing and you fail, and if you try it again and you fail again, don't try it again just because some standard of behavior is written on your mental wall. Patterns can be dangerous things. That's why most snakes wear them.
"Have a nice day" the checkout girl said as she handed me my bag of groceries. I did not want to insult her. I thanked her and said "But it's raining out there and it's cold." I only wanted to suggest a retreat from the automaton mind set she has been talked into.
Somewhere way back I learned to question things, almost everything. I questioned my motives, my actions, my responses, my attitudes, my beliefs and my ideas. I tried to rub everything against the touchstone of my own sense of honesty. There were many times in the past I might say something I didn't really mean. Now if someone says "How are you?" if I'm not feeling fine I don't answer. Because if they really want to know they will get a catalogue of what's wrong with me. I would rather say nothing and appear rude.
Cliched ideas and cliched words grow like dandelions in our heads. They steal away original thinking and fill up the spaces where enlightened deeds may grow. I try to flee from those cliches. I do not need to be responsible for thinking, saying or doing anything because that is the so-called normal way of it.
We all start off average, but there is no reason we have to stay that way.
**************************
Dana Bate
Vagabond Journeys
-------------------
Never give up.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
ON BEING SPRING
April 11, 2013
and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it's
spring
(e e cummings)
*************************
Hello Rose
*******************
I can't believe that it actually crossed through my mind, briefly, that I might actually get married again. Feh! Impossible. Who would have me? I realize that such thoughts are the symptoms of the illusions, the madness, of that once a year phenomenon known as Spring.
Around here Nature is waking up, the trees are showing the blossoms they have been dreaming about all winter, birds are back in town from wherever they have been vacationing, while the tiny Winter birds, no bigger than my thumb, who somehow thrive in the ice, snow and freezing temperatures have headed back to their homes on the Canadian tundra, flowers and Frisbees are featured on the market shelves. Signs are all around. In spite of predictions of nasty weather in some places, temporary interruptions in the natural cosmic dance, it can't be denied.
Spring is a time for waking up. It's a time for nudging into reality the winter dreams. A time for weary fingers to push into the ground the seeds of Autumn's wishes. It's a time of returning, revivifying and creating new memories. It's a time for listening to the messages whispered by the breezes that come through the trees or down the streets. It's a time to enjoy quiet,harmless insanity. It's the time to find joy in a single blossom or a simple song. It's a time to admire the wondrous things Nature can do.
Spring.The sign of regeneration and of life living itself.
Invite it in.
*************************
DB - Vagabond Journeys
Never give up.
****************************
and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it's
spring
(e e cummings)
*************************
Hello Rose
*******************
I can't believe that it actually crossed through my mind, briefly, that I might actually get married again. Feh! Impossible. Who would have me? I realize that such thoughts are the symptoms of the illusions, the madness, of that once a year phenomenon known as Spring.
Around here Nature is waking up, the trees are showing the blossoms they have been dreaming about all winter, birds are back in town from wherever they have been vacationing, while the tiny Winter birds, no bigger than my thumb, who somehow thrive in the ice, snow and freezing temperatures have headed back to their homes on the Canadian tundra, flowers and Frisbees are featured on the market shelves. Signs are all around. In spite of predictions of nasty weather in some places, temporary interruptions in the natural cosmic dance, it can't be denied.
Spring is a time for waking up. It's a time for nudging into reality the winter dreams. A time for weary fingers to push into the ground the seeds of Autumn's wishes. It's a time of returning, revivifying and creating new memories. It's a time for listening to the messages whispered by the breezes that come through the trees or down the streets. It's a time to enjoy quiet,harmless insanity. It's the time to find joy in a single blossom or a simple song. It's a time to admire the wondrous things Nature can do.
Spring.The sign of regeneration and of life living itself.
Invite it in.
*************************
DB - Vagabond Journeys
Never give up.
****************************
Sunday, April 7, 2013
WHAT IS TRUTH?
April 7, 2013
I wish to be always at the point of discovering.
(Dana Bate)
**************
Hello Ken
****************
An honest philosopher will not tell you the truth, but he will tell you how he searches for it, and in the process he may uncover a lot of lies and tell you about those. The fact is we squeeze truth out of ourselves by the lives we live and by the yeses and nos we are wiling to admit into consciousness.
To apply for the job of philosopher takes two huge requirements. First of all one must be able the see, hear or read without interpreting, but with a clear understanding of what the event is, whether it's the recipe for meatloaf, the account of a baseball game, or a Psalm of David.
"God sent hurricane Sandy to punish us for our sins." To make a statement like that opens a door on a jungle of interpretations. What does the word God mean? What is sin? Who is this God that punishes, even what does sending mean? A philosopher would never make such a statement. It's much too complicated.
The other requirement is to question all authority. "Most of the authorities in the world aren't." it says in my Jottings Blog http://vagabondjottings.blogspot.com/ and look at how many so-called authorities stand up to proclaim the true facts of one matter or another. Even the authoritative theories of science get dumped out now and then in favor of a better one..By-passing all the authorities and finding his own road through the invisible universe of wisdom is the true philosophers job and joy.
I'm not a philosopher but I enthusiastically read them. I enjoy the ride.
*****************
Dana Bate
Vagabond Journeys
Never Give Up
********************
I wish to be always at the point of discovering.
(Dana Bate)
**************
Hello Ken
****************
An honest philosopher will not tell you the truth, but he will tell you how he searches for it, and in the process he may uncover a lot of lies and tell you about those. The fact is we squeeze truth out of ourselves by the lives we live and by the yeses and nos we are wiling to admit into consciousness.
To apply for the job of philosopher takes two huge requirements. First of all one must be able the see, hear or read without interpreting, but with a clear understanding of what the event is, whether it's the recipe for meatloaf, the account of a baseball game, or a Psalm of David.
"God sent hurricane Sandy to punish us for our sins." To make a statement like that opens a door on a jungle of interpretations. What does the word God mean? What is sin? Who is this God that punishes, even what does sending mean? A philosopher would never make such a statement. It's much too complicated.
The other requirement is to question all authority. "Most of the authorities in the world aren't." it says in my Jottings Blog http://vagabondjottings.blogspot.com/ and look at how many so-called authorities stand up to proclaim the true facts of one matter or another. Even the authoritative theories of science get dumped out now and then in favor of a better one..By-passing all the authorities and finding his own road through the invisible universe of wisdom is the true philosophers job and joy.
I'm not a philosopher but I enthusiastically read them. I enjoy the ride.
*****************
Dana Bate
Vagabond Journeys
Never Give Up
********************
Saturday, April 6, 2013
He's Old Now
April 6, 2013
You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old.
(George Burns)
***********************
Hello Val
**********************
About 35 years ago I was directing a production of "The Fantasticks" for a high school in New Hampshire. There is a line in the show which is spoken by the boy about his girl friend. "She makes me young again." The student playing the part kept on saying "She makes me feel young again." That was cute, but not as funny as the correct line, especially coming from the mouth of a high school boy. After several futile attempts to get him to remember to speak the line properly, I told the following true story.
While I lived in New Hampshire I very much enjoyed hiking in the White Mountains. One group is called the Moat Range, North, Middle and South Moat mountains. I was hiking up Middle Moat one day in early Autumn. I had my shirt off, tucked into my belt, and had my back pack on my shoulders. I was feeling good.
The timber line for the mountain is very near the base, so it's mainly hiking up rocky slopes. Up ahead I saws two people coming down. It's not unusual to see others on those mountains. As they approached I saw that they were two teenage girls. We nodded to each other as they passed. One was talking to the other about a boy she knew and I heard her say "Well, I still see him, but he's old now, he's almost twenty."
I resisted the temptation to turn around and give her a lecture on oldness.
After I had told the story I asked the actor his age. When he said he was 18 I said "Oh, my God, you're almost 20. You're old. You past your prime. You're all rusted out. It's all down hill from here. You're old." We all got a laugh over it and I then asked him "What does she do for you?" He replied "She makes med young again." He never messed up the line after that.
I was 4 years old when my father died. He was 52. I grew up thinking 52 was old until I crossed that line myself. Now, more than 20 years later, I'm what's known as a "Senior Citizen" which is a euphemistic term for an old man, aged, past my prime, rusted out, headed down hill. The only problem is I don't feel old. There are parts of me that don't work as well as I would like, but some of those parts weren't working so well anyway.
The hardest part of my senior citizenship is isolation, loneliness. I don't like where I live, hove no local friends I can visit, and I don't have things to do. I spent my working life as an actor. Theatre is collaborative art form. There were always interesting people around working with me. The atmosphere was vital, creative and shimmering with ideas. So how did I end up living next to a parking lot, in a town with no conveniences near me, no friends to visit, in a place where I can't have the life I used to have and want again? Don't ask.
I guess it's time to take off my shirt, put my back pack on my shoulders and start climbing. Who knows, I may meet a couple of chatty teenage girls along the way. That sure would liven up my senioristic self.
*******************
Dana Bate
Vagabond Journeys
---------------------
Never Give Up
*********************
You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old.
(George Burns)
***********************
Hello Val
**********************
About 35 years ago I was directing a production of "The Fantasticks" for a high school in New Hampshire. There is a line in the show which is spoken by the boy about his girl friend. "She makes me young again." The student playing the part kept on saying "She makes me feel young again." That was cute, but not as funny as the correct line, especially coming from the mouth of a high school boy. After several futile attempts to get him to remember to speak the line properly, I told the following true story.
While I lived in New Hampshire I very much enjoyed hiking in the White Mountains. One group is called the Moat Range, North, Middle and South Moat mountains. I was hiking up Middle Moat one day in early Autumn. I had my shirt off, tucked into my belt, and had my back pack on my shoulders. I was feeling good.
The timber line for the mountain is very near the base, so it's mainly hiking up rocky slopes. Up ahead I saws two people coming down. It's not unusual to see others on those mountains. As they approached I saw that they were two teenage girls. We nodded to each other as they passed. One was talking to the other about a boy she knew and I heard her say "Well, I still see him, but he's old now, he's almost twenty."
I resisted the temptation to turn around and give her a lecture on oldness.
After I had told the story I asked the actor his age. When he said he was 18 I said "Oh, my God, you're almost 20. You're old. You past your prime. You're all rusted out. It's all down hill from here. You're old." We all got a laugh over it and I then asked him "What does she do for you?" He replied "She makes med young again." He never messed up the line after that.
I was 4 years old when my father died. He was 52. I grew up thinking 52 was old until I crossed that line myself. Now, more than 20 years later, I'm what's known as a "Senior Citizen" which is a euphemistic term for an old man, aged, past my prime, rusted out, headed down hill. The only problem is I don't feel old. There are parts of me that don't work as well as I would like, but some of those parts weren't working so well anyway.
The hardest part of my senior citizenship is isolation, loneliness. I don't like where I live, hove no local friends I can visit, and I don't have things to do. I spent my working life as an actor. Theatre is collaborative art form. There were always interesting people around working with me. The atmosphere was vital, creative and shimmering with ideas. So how did I end up living next to a parking lot, in a town with no conveniences near me, no friends to visit, in a place where I can't have the life I used to have and want again? Don't ask.
I guess it's time to take off my shirt, put my back pack on my shoulders and start climbing. Who knows, I may meet a couple of chatty teenage girls along the way. That sure would liven up my senioristic self.
*******************
Dana Bate
Vagabond Journeys
---------------------
Never Give Up
*********************
Thursday, April 4, 2013
it's not easy
April 4, 2013
The simpler the truth the longer it takes to arrive at it.
(Constantine Stanislavski)
******************************
Hello Bruce
****************
When someone asked me about acting I would sometimes say "Acting is simple, but it's not easy." I suppose that's a remark that could be made about many human endeavors. In many cases what makes it simple is also what makes it difficult. Why is that?
Think about learning to drive a car or any such task. The automobile is a very complicated piece of machinery. The average driver knows little or nothing about the inner complications of the vehicle. But he must learn what the tools of the driver are and how to use them safely and successfully. After much trial and error the experienced driver can hop in, start the car, release the brake and pull out on to the road without much thought. It's simple, but how difficult it was to get to that simplicity.
After years of study, guessing, experimenting and calculating, a great,finally discovered scientific truth may be expressed in a very simple formula.
One wonders why, if it's so simple, it wasn't obvious to the viewer, why was it hidden from sight? It's the mental mountain top experience, I think. When you reach the summit the view is clear and you know where you are. It's simple, but it sure wasn't easy to get there.
The violin student struggles over fingering, bowing, scales, exercises and intonation, trying to make music. It may take years of dedicated study but one day the mysteries of the violin reveal themselves and from then on he can play anything he wants to,
The beginning actor has similar struggles with voice, movement, actions, dynamics, objectives, learning to keep himself under control and faithfully represent the authors work. Along the way he may hear a lot of nonsense from directors, critics nd even other beginning actors. But one day it comes clear, he's reached the mountain top and can go comfortably out on the stage being not only entertaining but believable. Then he will say "Acting is simple, but it's not easy."
***********************
Dana Bate
Vagabond Journeys
-------------------
Never Give Up
***************************
.
The simpler the truth the longer it takes to arrive at it.
(Constantine Stanislavski)
******************************
Hello Bruce
****************
When someone asked me about acting I would sometimes say "Acting is simple, but it's not easy." I suppose that's a remark that could be made about many human endeavors. In many cases what makes it simple is also what makes it difficult. Why is that?
Think about learning to drive a car or any such task. The automobile is a very complicated piece of machinery. The average driver knows little or nothing about the inner complications of the vehicle. But he must learn what the tools of the driver are and how to use them safely and successfully. After much trial and error the experienced driver can hop in, start the car, release the brake and pull out on to the road without much thought. It's simple, but how difficult it was to get to that simplicity.
After years of study, guessing, experimenting and calculating, a great,finally discovered scientific truth may be expressed in a very simple formula.
One wonders why, if it's so simple, it wasn't obvious to the viewer, why was it hidden from sight? It's the mental mountain top experience, I think. When you reach the summit the view is clear and you know where you are. It's simple, but it sure wasn't easy to get there.
The violin student struggles over fingering, bowing, scales, exercises and intonation, trying to make music. It may take years of dedicated study but one day the mysteries of the violin reveal themselves and from then on he can play anything he wants to,
The beginning actor has similar struggles with voice, movement, actions, dynamics, objectives, learning to keep himself under control and faithfully represent the authors work. Along the way he may hear a lot of nonsense from directors, critics nd even other beginning actors. But one day it comes clear, he's reached the mountain top and can go comfortably out on the stage being not only entertaining but believable. Then he will say "Acting is simple, but it's not easy."
***********************
Dana Bate
Vagabond Journeys
-------------------
Never Give Up
***************************
.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Say Yes
We may consider him who is hardened to all sorts of events as a happier man than the one who takes all the joy out of living by looking only on the bleak side of life.
(Immanuel Kant)
*************************
Hello Stuart
**************************
One of life's mysteries is why some people enjoy the good things of life who haven't really put much of themselves into it, while others who may have spent much of themselves living and helping others to live never have a full cup. Nature knows nothing about equal rights.
We have all been knocked about, pushed over, had the floor disappear from under us, been lied to, betrayed and beaten up, some of us more than others. But even the most successful and healthy men and women have something to complain about if they want to. There are many temptations lurking in the mental and emotional alleys to do harmful things to ourselves and others. If we are wise we resist them.
One of the worst temptations and one of the most dangerous because it's popular and seems so innocuous is the desire to think and speak negatively about life. Things are not 100% right. So what? Why dwell on them? Set them right, if you can. If you can't, forget it and get on with life.
Negativism is a form of theft. By thinking and acting on the dark side of human experience we rob ourselves and other of the spirit of life,the enthusiasm,the expectation of good. We look for the trash instead of the beauty. We live with the torn fabric, the leaky faucet, the lost opportunities, the regrets, because we think it's reality to do that. We rob others because we make sure to notice and comment on their flaws and faults. It helps us to ignore our own. And the big crime is that a negative thinker will probably not see an opportunity to do good things, to improve life, to set things right.
I recently read a story about an Army Chaplain whose duties were consoling the relatives of the men and women who were returning from Iraq dead or maimed. On a daily basis he faced extreme cases of grief, resentment, rage and horror stories from the physically and emotionally wounded. Because he refused to be tempted into darkness, he found the compassion and the words to help those people reach a place of peace and acceptance..And he was commended for it by his superiors.
The real heroes of the world are those who carry the cross of healing on their shoulders, who make room for joy, who plant seeds of renewal, who deem possible the dreams of others and who say "no" to the no and "yes" to the yes.
****************************
Dana Bate
Vagabond Journeys
Never Give Up
*****************************
(Immanuel Kant)
*************************
Hello Stuart
**************************
One of life's mysteries is why some people enjoy the good things of life who haven't really put much of themselves into it, while others who may have spent much of themselves living and helping others to live never have a full cup. Nature knows nothing about equal rights.
We have all been knocked about, pushed over, had the floor disappear from under us, been lied to, betrayed and beaten up, some of us more than others. But even the most successful and healthy men and women have something to complain about if they want to. There are many temptations lurking in the mental and emotional alleys to do harmful things to ourselves and others. If we are wise we resist them.
One of the worst temptations and one of the most dangerous because it's popular and seems so innocuous is the desire to think and speak negatively about life. Things are not 100% right. So what? Why dwell on them? Set them right, if you can. If you can't, forget it and get on with life.
Negativism is a form of theft. By thinking and acting on the dark side of human experience we rob ourselves and other of the spirit of life,the enthusiasm,the expectation of good. We look for the trash instead of the beauty. We live with the torn fabric, the leaky faucet, the lost opportunities, the regrets, because we think it's reality to do that. We rob others because we make sure to notice and comment on their flaws and faults. It helps us to ignore our own. And the big crime is that a negative thinker will probably not see an opportunity to do good things, to improve life, to set things right.
I recently read a story about an Army Chaplain whose duties were consoling the relatives of the men and women who were returning from Iraq dead or maimed. On a daily basis he faced extreme cases of grief, resentment, rage and horror stories from the physically and emotionally wounded. Because he refused to be tempted into darkness, he found the compassion and the words to help those people reach a place of peace and acceptance..And he was commended for it by his superiors.
The real heroes of the world are those who carry the cross of healing on their shoulders, who make room for joy, who plant seeds of renewal, who deem possible the dreams of others and who say "no" to the no and "yes" to the yes.
****************************
Dana Bate
Vagabond Journeys
Never Give Up
*****************************
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