the Big Mattress - Freeform Interactive Radio on the Net

Hmm.. Ari had to remind you parenthetically that he's your son. One would've hoped THAT neural pathway would be well paved by now. Or perhaps when one ages, certain information (such as where'd I put the car keys, which one of you guys is my kid) falls by the wayside or into a great gaping pothole.

Congrats to Ari. Condolences to Charles.

Choolie (your friend)

Well, Chas, congratulations on having a son whose intelligence is rivaled only by the importance of the problems he has chosen to address. Despite our efforts to develop alternate neural pathways, which so far has been limited to addressing physiological issues like paralysis, when it comes to altering brain patterns, it's gets more complicated. I'm not discounting the possibility that new neurological research can prove revolutionary but we are evolving organisms. Nature vs. nurture has been a standard dialectic for years. There is no question that cultural factors and one's immediate environment can influence brain development in way that's difficult to override. I want world peace as much as the next guy. I also want us to be tolerant, loving, good parents, non addicted etc. but people so conflicted on those issues often are unable to make those decisions voluntarily which is a tough one to get around despite what breakthroughs the horizon holds.

This is cool Charles. Ari is into some great stuff. LOL, I am unfortunately a wage slave here in Norwood, MA and though I find this vital and interesting cannot afford to attend or donate. Likewise I believe a thorough deprogramming and reprogramming to be a key to growth and change, spiritually, psychologically, and socially. LOL, even the radical jumping off with the old Tim Leary method of overloading and scrambling information and overcoming that interface between our physical being and our consciousness to allow reprogramming was a helpful start if looked at in perspective. I have looked deeply into many areas too. Lots of study, meditation, personal change, etc......anyway bottom line is that I am open , on a daily basis, to this process
of "enlightenment" and growth and change. I find our social programming and personal thought habits to run deep and tenacious in all areas of our lives and require an open minded constant check and that curiously the imagination is far more powerful and important in our consciousness and in creation than I had ever realized. Anyway, this is all well and good on a personal basis, but so difficult to bring into play and apply in society. Some folks can get together and agree and grow but you cannot (unless your a republican government,LOL) force others to do so. Ari has my support in spirit and I hope to hear more of what they get into and about the outcome of this event. Thanks Charles!!!
Mike

A couple of responses:
1) To Zircon John: This is the idea I present at the end about the intent of inner practice. By seeking to go inside oneself and learn about our habitual ways of thinking, acting, reacting, we regain that freedom to choose.
2) To Mike: It is our purpose to share this with society as a whole. The principle is fascinating- once people start to "get together and grow", there is a contagious effect. That's a central point of this conference: the notion that peace at the societal level begins with individuals who create peace in themselves and then seek to share that with others.

Wow, do the brains come from the mothers side?

Thanks for getting back Ari, but my point is that those of us who agree and are concerned with devising new ways to resolve conflict etc. must still deal with those who aren't in the choir. We all have the inner power to make choices. It's not God's will but our own. It has taken many of us a long time to assume responsibility for our own lives and actions. And to realize we have the power to create that which we want. Most will not. We can use our insight to reason peace but some conflicts are steeped in cultural and behavioral influences that are hard wired and with people so vested in those beliefs it becomes an unlikely prospect. All we can do is generate the kind of energy that will positively effect those around us. We can alter their behavior by altering our own, we can make our lives more peaceful and by example influence others but some will be impervious. There have only been something like 50 years out of the last 2,000 that have been free of war, it's a tall order.

I agree Ari-Jon, but also agree with Zircon John that it is a tall order. Sigh, it can be brutal, but screw negativity, best to remain hopeful. The thing is that some of us have been on this path for a long time, stumbling and taking beatings and experiencing joys as well. There's nothing wrong with a healthy cynicism if it promotes dialog and thought and possibly positive change or clarity. This is nothing new, we've had many teachers and influences who have passed on their wisdom and examples. It has been frustrating at times wanting to see "the whole world" become more sane and peaceful and loving. Especially hard to witness world politics, economics, and old class and cultural insanity. Never mind just plain ingorance, greed, hatred and predjudice...it's a huge ball of wax but I too continue to hope that by changing oneself and bringing that into relationships with others and the world/environment then it will start to get better and spread out more. So thanks, it's cool to see this brought up here by you because this is the "crux of the biscuit" as far as I am concerned, LOL, and usually I only hear this type of discussion among my closest friends or seek it in books and media. I hope the convention creates more , ummm, "neuronaughts"(?) who in turn send ripples outward in the pond to the next mind that's ready for the lights to go on.

Actually Ari-Jon, would the methods you are employing be more than awareness and self exploration and such? I mean what's involved here in opening up these neural paths...LOL, sorry if I am missing the point, but drugs, surgery, nanotech?...the mention of science, doctors, technology, and mapping, etc made me stop and it suddenly dawned on me that maybe I am misunderstanding what this is about, LOL, I hope not but have to ask. Personally I think we all have the capacity to discover the ways and means within ourselves naturally if we are willing to do so and put in the time with discovery and trial and error and contemplation and study. I would hate to see the consciousness mapped and some idiots misuse technology and we all end up "in the matrix", and as Charles mentioned the other day the prospect of immortality looms also...pardon my weirdness here but some have too much to lose by people being free and peaceful and loving and much to gain by controlling their consciousness and beliefs.

Mike & John: Thanks for your thoughts and feedback. John, I agree that it may seem like a daunting task, but at this juncture, what choice have we? I think signs are clearly pointing to a critical mass being attained in the very near future. Thus I feel we have no choice but to contribute to peace, or, by our silence and inaction, detract from it. Our last election was a good example of what happens when people don't take responsibility and choose for what they want to see happen in the world. And Mike, please rest assured that this is entirely based in inner practice/individual well-being. The scientific/technological facet merely serves as a means to an end- providing scientific validity to the method and making the principles of inner peace/outer peace more commonsensical. In the West, people understand and trust more easily when something appeals to them in a more practical and intellectually grounded manner. So, the scientific explanation gives a little more comfort to people who would otherwise be skeptical of the concrete and measureable benefits of inner techniques such as meditation, yoga, breathing, etc. Hope this helps.

Very good Ari-Jon, that's what I thought it was about at first and I was hoping to hear but figured I should double check. Thanks.