Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Rob Breszny's Newsletter

(Photo courtesy of the lovely air-ono)
22ND-CENTURY PRONOIA THERAPY Part One Experiments and exercises in becoming a bewilderingly enlightened, ecstatically grateful, unselfishly proud Master of Fiendishly Benevolent Tricks 1. Philosopher Robert Anton Wilson has proposed that the single greatest contribution to world peace would come from there being six billion different religions--a unique spiritual path for each person on the planet. The Beauty and Truth Laboratory urges you to get started on doing your part to make this happen. What will your religion be called? What rituals will you perform? Write down your three core tenets. 2. You'll also need a new name for the Creator. "God" and "Goddess" have been so overused and abused that most of us are numb to them. And given the spiritual opportunities that will open up for you as you explore pronoia, you can't afford to have an impaired sensitivity towards the Great Mystery. Here's an idea to stimulate your search: The Russian word for God is "Bog." The Basques call the Supreme Being "Jingo." To purge your psychic dockets of built-up fixations about deity, you might try singing improvisational prayers to "Jingo Bog." Here are a few other fresh names to inspire you: Blooming HaHa Wild Divine Whirl-Zap-Gush Sublime Cackler Chthonic Riddler 3. Since ancient times, China has hosted three religions: Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. The typical Chinese person has cobbled together a mélange of beliefs gathered from all three. This is different from the Western way, which is to be faithful to one religion or another, never mixing and matching. But that's changing in certain enclaves in North America, where growing numbers of seekers are adopting the Chinese approach. They borrow elements from a variety of spiritual traditions to create a personalized path. Religious historians call this syncretism. As you meditate on conjuring up your own unique mode of worship, think of the good parts you'd like to steal from other religions. 4. Most religions designate a special class of people--priests, rabbis, ayatollahs--to oversee official communications with the Source. This has led to a prevailing assumption, even among those who don't follow an established faith, that we can't initiate a divine conversation without the aid of a professional class of trained mediators. Among some sects of the ancient gnostics, in contrast, everyone was regarded as a potential prophet who could experience epiphanies worthy of becoming part of the ever-evolving doctrine. As you create your own spiritual path, experiment with this approach. What might you do to eliminate the middleman and commune directly with the Source? 5. The chorus of an old Depeche Mode song goes like this: "I don't want to start/ Any blasphemous rumors/ But I think that God's/ Got a sick sense of humor/ And when I die/ I expect to find him laughing." I have a grudging respect for these lyrics. In an age when God has been co-opted by intolerant fundamentalists and mirthless sentimentalists, I appreciate any artist who suggests there's more to the Infinite Spirit than the one-dimensional prig described in the Bible or Koran. On the other hand, Depeche Mode's notion of the Blooming HaHa is also disinformation. It's as much a hostage to pop culture's knee-jerk nihilism as the right-wing bigots' God is to their monumental hatreds. One thing I know for sure about the Supreme Being is that while she does have a complicated sense of humor, it's not cruel or vengeful. Your assignment: Pray to be granted a healing sample of her comedic genius--a funny, shocking miracle that will free you of any tendencies you have to believe the age-old lies about her. 6. Will there be prayer in your new religion? If so, we suggest that you avoid the body language traditionally used by Christians in their worship. The gesture of clasping one's hands together originated long ago as an imitation of being shackled; it was thought to be the proper way to express submission to divine power. The prayers you make, however, may be imbued as much with reverent exuberance or ecstatic gratitude as somber submissiveness. An example of a more apt gesture is to spread your arms as wide and high as they'll go, as if you're hugging the sky. Any other ideas? 7. What if the Creator is like Rainer Maria Rilke's God, "like a webbing made of a hundred roots, that drink in silence"? What if the Source of All Life inhabits both the dark and the light, heals with strange splendor as much as with sweet insight, is hermaphroditic and omnisexual? What if the Source loves to give you riddles that push you past the boundaries of your understanding, forcing you to deepen your perceptions and change the ways you think about everything? Close your eyes and imagine you can sense the presence of this tender, marvelous, difficult, entertaining intelligence. 8. At a candy store one Easter season, I heard a philosophical debate about Jesus-themed confections. "It's just not right to eat a symbol of God," one woman said as she gazed at a chocolate Christ on the cross. A man agreed: "It's sacrilegious. An abomination." An employee overheard and jumped in. "I'll ask my boss to take that stuff off the shelf," she clucked. I was tempted to say what I was thinking: "Actually, the holiest ritual of Christian worship involves eating Christ's body and blood." But I held my tongue; I wasn't in the mood for a brouhaha. Where do you stand on this issue? Do you or do you not want to eat a symbolic embodiment of your deity? If you do, what food will you choose? 9.At one point in James Michener's novel *Hawaii,* a native Hawaiian tells ignorant missionaries, "You cannot speak to the gods with your clothes on." Whereupon he strips and prepares for prayer. Test this theory. Find out if your communion with the Divine Wow improves when you're naked. 10. A few Christian sects now enjoy a new addition to their once-staid church services: holy laughter. Parishioners become so excited while worshiping that they erupt in uncontrollable glee. Some crack up so profoundly that they fall on the floor and flop around like breakdancers. Others repeatedly leap into the air as if on pogo sticks, or wobble and zigzag as if trying to dance while drunk. 11. In Judeo-Christian cultures, many people associate the sky with the masculine form of God. According to this bias, the Supreme Father rules us all from on high--up, away, far from here. But if you were an ancient Egyptian, the sky was the goddess Nuit, her body its very substance. She was a loving mother whose tender touch could be felt with each new breath. For one day, act as if you and the sky goddess are in constant contact. ++++++++++++++++++++++++ To read other news and features from Rob's book, go here: http://snipurl.com/l9o3 You can buy the book here: AMAZON http://snipurl.com/krjj BARNES & NOBLE http://snipurl.com/krjn

// posted by Alice @ Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Comments:
I especially agree with point number three.

That people are beginning to piece together a personal religion in their life.

It's why I explored Taoism in my writings. Since it's very free flowing. Within our culture which insists everything is defined. It seems to be a good fit and starter kit to help people open up.

So it's an interesting paradox for many people to resolve. On the unconscious level trying to freely assemble a system of belief that works for them, while consciously trying to make their "established religion" fit together all their needs in a single rigid religions framework.

In the end, it leaves many confused and ever shifting seekers, trying to get one religion to fit them wholly, when its just simpler to pick and choose and reassamble a personal level of faith in ones life.

:) Thanks for posting this newsletter. It was fun to read.

Peace.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 12:26 PM PST
 
My pleasure, casey. I really love rob's newsletters..they're all very interesting. I just bought his book called Pronoia. It's great so far..

I'll be checking out your blog now too...

Love & Anarchy
-WLBL
# posted by Blogger Alice : 6:44 AM PST
 
:) Thanks

I like the sign off: Love & Anarchy

so true

peace
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 11:29 AM PST
 
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