Mahalia Feels Me, or Vice-Versa

Took a few days off blogging, essentially for two reasons: journal posting is a discipline, like any other, and I had to finish Budokon teacher training. The second helps with the first, meaning - the discipline necessary for any sort of writing is developed through clear intention and trained thought. Movie ideas are rolling, Axel, Mike and I will begin working on script next week. Until then, from yesterday's EarthRise mailer, as it is something, topically, I'd like to at least hint at in the film:

As I sit here listening to Mahalia Jackson, I'm reminded of something I came across in Joseph Campbell's work recently. He was discussing the fundamental differences between Eastern and Western (or, termed in his books, Oriental and Occidental) philosophies, and he kept coming across one constant fact. In the East the saviors of religions are victorious in their quest, while in the West they are put to death. Siddhartha achieved nirvana (or, philosophically speaking, did not achieve, for there is nothing to achieve) and then taught for 50 years; the Hindu deities proved more playful than later counterparts on Mt Olympus - and even though Arjuna died on his quest for immortality, his brother was successful; even Lao Tzu, the mythological character of the Tao Te Ching, lived a serene contemplative life without doing anything but noticing the sounds of streams and governments from a distance (a hint we should pursue). Confucius, in his socio-political idelogy, saved room for play, and the Shintos - well, everything was a dance to them, even when Amaterasu was being chased by that jealous sibling. The sun shone on.

I don't want to make this a treatise against anything. What I do want to bring up is the psychological difference of a culture raised praising gods that were considered human and vice-versa, successful in life. What a difference that must make in comparison to the Occident, whose humans were gods separate from us and never achieved anything but suffering. This point was well known in ancient times, only these thinkers devised plans to break the cycles of suffering while on this planet, not in an unknown afterlife. That is, they never wait for a thing. Even our prophets told us heaven was in the midst of us, not needing a death certificate to prove it. Yet the translations got fuzzy somewhere along the line. For one moment imagine a culture, in fact, imagine yourself fully endowed with the idea that whatever you chose to accomplish is not only possible, but reality. What a difference that could make.

To quote an old Gnostic text, the Corpus Hermeticum: "If then you do not make yourself equal to God, you cannot apprehend God; for like is known by like." This idea, you may recall, is the basis of homeopathy; later it states "If you shut up your soul in your body, and abase yourself, and say 'I know nothing, I can do nothing; I am afraid of earth and sea, I cannot mount to heaven; I know not what I was, nor what I shall be'; then, what have you to do with God? Your thought can grasp nothing beautiful and good." I suppose if I had the choice between this moment, this life and one that does not exist, I'd choose to be here sharing thoughts with you. Truth is, I do have that choice, as do you.

Damn Mahalia, your Jesus I can feel...that much I know...

GBF Blog Launch

In his four-volume Masks of God series, mythologist Joseph Campbell commented on one of the major fundamental differences between Oriental and Occidental philosophical traditions. "The inhabiting spirit of the mythology is wonder," he wrote, "not guiit." In Eastern thought, the prophets and major figures of each tradition succeed in their quest - the Buddha attains enlightenment, Siva and Shakti dance, even the figure of Lao Tzu accomplishes what is never to be accomplished. It is in the Western mind architecture that prophets fail, are outcast and burdened, destroyed and crucified. These are two different ways of experiencing reality - one, equipped with the ability to fulfill destiny, the other a constant, albeit fruitless, search for the abyss beyond these spheres.

Alan Watts once pointed out that what Western culture lacks in their religious figures is a sense of play. The Hindu tradition is filled with deities constnantly playing tricks on each other, for if all life is an illusion, then it is a game to be played, not avoided. The fatalist notion of an eternal ever after distracts the burdened mind, weighing it down with guilt and prayers of sometime that is removed from here. What Eastern thought has offered is a sense of the moment - that, even in a duality, liberation from opposites is possible. As James Hillman said, we have choices to make.

It was this choice that allowed me to write Global Beat Fusion, a book surveying the growing field of international electronic music and the new world mythology it is helping create. This blog will serve as a journal of the journey of making this documentary. Along the way I'm certain to encounter unique and important circumstances, given the scope and range of artists I'll be working with. I hope you enjoy the ride.