Indonesia remains, for me, the most dynamic force in SE Asia...350 million people, mostly muslim, with the government sponsoring more and more conversion and more and more muslims into powerful positions in government: the outcome....a much more moderate, democratic, and a far more secular state. Remarkable intelligence at work. The other democratic SE Asian states like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand remain basically single family businesses more than actual nations, and far more intrinsically repressive in terms of class structures.
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Saturday 5 February 2011
China Spring Festival 2011
Tomorrow we enter China in the New Year Spring Festival time when 100s of millions of migrant workers are returning home within the 2 week period bringing with them their wages & food & gifts, criss-crossing the giant nation. It is the world's largest annual mass migration of human souls. The tens of millions of workers building dams and Apple iPads and Chevrolets only see their parents/wife/husband/friends/children once each year in this very busy, crowded & fully joyous time of reunion.
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roll on reality/wisdom of the water snake
when you expect a great pharmaceutical or spiritual brearkthrough in mental health you expect coal to become diamonds by staring at coal or by calling coal scientology. what we can do is make the present as meaningful as we can whilst all the best therapists and alchemists and spiritual leaders go their mortal way with or without our money.
we should make the most of this life because we're not coming back. if someone tells you you're coming back or going on to some heaven, then they're about to tell you you have to give them money, to be sure, to be sure.
We have no meaning at all outside the time we live. we can leave some words and some pictures and some memories, but we're gone for good.
when it comes to perfect enlightenment, no one ever promised that you're going to like it or that it lasts very long at all.
this is the human condition. it has always been like this. it was written up well and truly in 1580 and it hasn't changed one bit since. it cant change. its the truth. its reality. every person bears the full stamp of the human condition.
you go into a bookshop and you see a thousand books on spirituality, on new age stuff, on buddhism, on personal freedom, on ways and means, on catholicism on islam on pure zen etc and its then you realise the human condition...
that we dont like it.
we dont like it so much we'll give someone money to make it different...but it doesnt change a thing, because the human condition does not change.
be happy with who you are, Genghis Smith, and do what you can of what you prefer...no one else now has the chance to be you and no one else in the future will ever have the chance to know you.
make a noise if you want to.
we should make the most of this life because we're not coming back. if someone tells you you're coming back or going on to some heaven, then they're about to tell you you have to give them money, to be sure, to be sure.
We have no meaning at all outside the time we live. we can leave some words and some pictures and some memories, but we're gone for good.
when it comes to perfect enlightenment, no one ever promised that you're going to like it or that it lasts very long at all.
this is the human condition. it has always been like this. it was written up well and truly in 1580 and it hasn't changed one bit since. it cant change. its the truth. its reality. every person bears the full stamp of the human condition.
you go into a bookshop and you see a thousand books on spirituality, on new age stuff, on buddhism, on personal freedom, on ways and means, on catholicism on islam on pure zen etc and its then you realise the human condition...
that we dont like it.
we dont like it so much we'll give someone money to make it different...but it doesnt change a thing, because the human condition does not change.
be happy with who you are, Genghis Smith, and do what you can of what you prefer...no one else now has the chance to be you and no one else in the future will ever have the chance to know you.
make a noise if you want to.
i really like this symbol of the libra-snake. i dont know who drew it, but i like it a lot.
Bangkok Chinatown New Years Day 3rd Feb 2011 (2554). the Rabbit Year begins
wonderful to be in krung thep chinatown for new years day. oh so many people. everything so red. we saw the Crown Princess Sirindhorn in yarowat road. such a beautiful impression of the Chakri Dynasty. so loved.
off to cheng du china on sunday.
off to cheng du china on sunday.
Thursday 3 February 2011
Sunday 23 January 2011
Advice to Young Artist
I think a life in Art is excellent and it is good to have 2 foci:
.the expression of art in pure form
.the expression of skill in a way that dovetails with society/occupation and good reward
This does not mean that one becomes a can of Coke.
These two foci are not oppositional especially if approached with open mind and at bright fresh age.
The world is always changing.
The book 'Artist of the Floating World' by Kazuo Ishiguro is well worth reading.
I will send you a copy when you are in Brisbane and I have an address for you. Kazuo is the best living writer of the English Language and the simplicity is remarkable.
His other books are very hard.
"Artist..." is how the world is always changing and with it changes values and meanings etc.
The artist is the 'awareness' of the changes.
.the expression of art in pure form
.the expression of skill in a way that dovetails with society/occupation and good reward
This does not mean that one becomes a can of Coke.
These two foci are not oppositional especially if approached with open mind and at bright fresh age.
The world is always changing.
The book 'Artist of the Floating World' by Kazuo Ishiguro is well worth reading.
I will send you a copy when you are in Brisbane and I have an address for you. Kazuo is the best living writer of the English Language and the simplicity is remarkable.
His other books are very hard.
"Artist..." is how the world is always changing and with it changes values and meanings etc.
The artist is the 'awareness' of the changes.
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