...that reality is not smooth or homogenous; that this would be instantly apparent were you willing or able to factor yourself out of the equation and see the extent to which you cause and shape its emergence from the other state, which from our perspective is the infinite of pure consciousness, the zero equals one; that reality only appears to be regular and smooth because we are "me" (a part of it), as much as we are "I" (apart from it); that no amount of mental or yogic convolution can enable the "I" to see what "it" really is unless I be willing to... blah, blah, blah!
So what does the research show, Enki?
I thought you weren’t interested.
I’m not – just mildly curious, you
know.
Sudden anger: Well you
can take your “mild curiosity” Alf, and shove it where the sun don’t shine!
Alf splutters, discombobulated by Enki’s unexpected outburst.
I say, Enks, what’s come over you?
Why the sudden anger?
As if nothing happened: Only kidding Alf!
I’d be delighted to give you a detailed update on the research findings.
Still shaken. I had no idea you were so
passionate about this, bro.
Passionate?
Well I assume I must have
triggered you in some way.
Aw, don’t take it personally. I
was just defending a boundary.
You were?
Yes.
Er… what kind of boundary?
Ah, this is tricky. You’re
naturally going to assume it’s a personal boundary – my self-respect or dignity
– but that would be wholly incorrect.
Oh, then what – if you don’t mind
me asking?
There are non-personal boundaries,
Alf.
Yes? Can you give me anything more
specific?
Non-personal boundaries are
connected with the fabric of reality.
The fabric of reality? I wasn’t
aware that reality has a fabric as such.
No, why should you?
Why should I be aware?
Yes.
Well, you apparently are, so why
shouldn’t I be?
Ah, you assume that we’re
operating from the same baseline.
And we’re not?
Well, if you don’t feel the fabric
of reality then no, at present we’re operating from different baselines.
And what does that mean?
It means I might do something
which makes absolutely no sense to you – which might even be rather upsetting –
if you’re inclined to take offense – but which is necessary to ensure they
don’t use you to mess with my ship.
Your ship?
Ship, yes, or I could use the word mechanism.
Ok – ship or mechanism – but how
could it be messed up by an innocuous question – all I said was that I was
mildly curious, as opposed to being interested, in the findings.
Yes, I remember what you said,
Alf, and what I said too, and the look of shock on your face – but at that
precise moment it was the safest, cleanest way to stop things from sliding into
an unfortunate dependency.
I must be rather dim-witted today,
Enks – I can’t for the life of me see what you’re getting at.
No, that’s entirely understandable
Alf. We’re operating from different baselines, after all.
But don’t you think it was,
perhaps, unnecessary to make what seemed to be a rather unprovoked personal attack?
Yes, thinking the way one does
here in 3D it was entirely unnecessary, and to be regretted.
Then the matter is closed. None of
us are to blame.
But from where I was coming, it
was the safest, cleanest way to prevent a dependency.
Er… what’s a dependency?
It’s when entities wheedle their
way into a conversation in order to insert themselves and suck life-force energy, what you sometimes refer to as chi, from a person.
Oh!
Indeed.
And you really think that was
happening? That an entity was coming through me, or my seemingly innocuous
words, in order to harm you?
No. I don’t.
Then you’re beyond my
comprehension, Enki.
I don’t “think” this, Alf.
I experience it directly and make an immediate response to cut it off, causing
the minimum possible pain.
But how can you be so sure?
Forgive me for being thick-headed, Enki – but is it not possible that this is a
little delusional on your part?
Yes, of course it’s possible
Alfie.
Then…
Everything’s possible in a mathematical world of random chance, but the fact that it’s possible
doesn’t mean that I am actually delusional. The real issue is whether or not
there are alternate baselines – and if there are – whether it’s necessary or
possible to protect them.
Ok. Let’s assume then that
everything you’re saying is correct – was there anything in what I said that
was particularly offensive?
No, nothing at all.
Then how on earth do you justify
your sudden outburst?
I do not justify it, Alf, in the same way you do not justify warding off a blow when someone is about to hit you, deliberately or inadvertently.
Oh. But where or what was the
blow?
How well do you feel or see chi
energy, Alf?
I’m not sure I understand.
Let me repeat the question: how
well do you feel or see chi energy, Alf?
You mean the Chinese life-force energy?
Yes.
I’m not at all familiar with it.
I’ve heard of it. I wouldn’t be surprised if it exists in some shape or form,
though it doesn’t seem to be terribly important if we in the West get by more
or less without it.
There – this is precisely why it
was necessary to defend my baseline in the gentlest manner at my disposal.
Telling me to shove it where
the sun don’t shine – was not in my opinion “gentle”, Enki.
Yes, I understand. You’re highly sensitive and that’s great. It should enable you to make deep and rapid
progress when learning to work with chi.
Oh dear – I seem to be a little… sinks into a despondency.
Don’t worry, Alf. It was nothing
personal.
Enki makes a few rapid hand movements in Alf’s
direction and without actually touching him brings Alfie back to equilibrium.
People in your world used to be
more attuned to negative entities, Alf. They would call them demons, archons,
jinn – all kinds of names – these entities were not considered theoretical or
abstract – people felt them, saw them and understood they were a natural,
perhaps necessary part of reality, to be handled with extreme caution.
And you think that I was possessed
by one of the above?
Allow me to continue before
answering your question, dear Alf.
Granted.
Then reality changed – it became what we refer to as “modern” and, all of a sudden, the majority of individuals no longer sensed, saw or even believed in these entities which had hitherto been taken as a given, and thought that their forefathers had been naive or credulous idiots.
Isn’t that perhaps because we
became less superstitious, Enki, more rational?
Yes. That’s exactly what happened.
You became cubists.
?
Living in a modern reality which
was less an egg or oval shape, more a square or cube.
We did?
Yes.
And what of that, if indeed it be
true?
Well, a whole load of things that
were obvious as day to your pre-modern or medieval forebears to you became
off-limits, superstitious or absurd.
Isn’t that just like growing up –
the way children stop believing in fairies and Santa as they get older?
You’d think so, Alfie, wouldn’t
you, being rational, being modern, being what you are?
Yes, but the way you say that, you
make it sound like I’m blind and missing something real, something incredibly
obvious and terribly important.
As indeed you are, not because I
want to think this, but because the nature of reality requires it.
How do you mean?
Well, your modern world – your
modern way of thinking and seeing things filters out or cuts off parts of reality that exist
outside the cube, which people still see in certain parts of the world – people
who are less “modern” – who are living at the fringes of the modern world – in
the mountains, jungles, in poverty or spiritual retreats – or individuals who
are still very “rounded” as we say.
But if we can’t see demons and
angels – what’s the problem with that if we’ve learnt to think for ourselves –
to be logical and self-dependent?
That would be great if it were
actually true or possible.
Huh?
You see, the structure of your
reality is like a cube – where do you see cubes in nature?
Er…
There’s one in Mecca where the faithful
Muslims congregate to worship Allah and their most holy Prophet – if I’m not
mistaken, but that isn’t quite what we’re talking about Alf, is it?
No. Not exactly.
In nature, I think you’ll agree, there
are more circles and egglike ovals than there are cubes.
But this is so ridiculous. Who
said that our reality is actually a cube?
Well, I’m not saying it’s actually
a cube, but a cube is actually a fairly good representation of the structure or
form of modern reality – in which people are no longer able to see or feel
demons, angels, fairies and other spirits or creatures which were thought to
exist previously.
But it was just the fertile
childlike imagination of earlier men and women that caused them to see these
things. They couldn't just disappear if they'd actually been there!
Yes, that’s how the modern mind
works – rationalising away everything and anything that doesn’t fit your modern
vision – the mold you currently exist within.
But who’s to say that we’re just rationalising
away these things – if the modern rational mind is not, in fact, delusional
or blind, as you seem to imply it is? Isn’t it equally possible that you’re
delusional – that there’s some ancient anger or fear which causes you – people
operating from your baseline, as you put it – to feel the need to ward off evil
spirits when a little pranayama, a deeper understanding of psychology or simple
stress management techniques would have averted the need for your angry expostulation?
Yes, yes, and yes – all very good,
Alfie. The rational mind is perfect at defending and upholding its modern
vision – it’s extraordinary ability to see the world in straight lines, without
reference to the blurred edges.
Er… what blurred edges?
Which exist beyond the cube.
?
For that’s where things get
interesting, but also confusing Alfie.
It is?
Yes. It’s the event horizon, so to
speak – where day slips into night, where yin slips into yang – where certainty
is forced to confront and experience uncertainty, ambiguity, and forces or
phenomena which leave the rational mind utterly at a loss.
No idea what you’re talking about,
Enki. Sounds like mumbo jumbo to me.
Or hocus pocus, yes. But there’s
the rub, Alfie.
Suddenly livid: The rub! The rub! I’m sick of your bullshit Enk – sick of your childish nonsense. You seem to take pleasure in muddying the waters of mind and rationality – in confusing the issue with your esoteric Eastern claptrap – when it’s just a way of hiding your own inadequacies – your own lack of self-restraint – your lack of common decency.
Ah – most impressive Alf. Would
you like to say any more? perhaps spit in my face or give me a shiner? You’re
welcome to try.
No, damn
you Enk – you drove me to it with your unreasonable smugness!
I did indeed, and now you see what
happens when I defend the circle, the oval, the sphere against the imprecations
of the modern mind. Suddenly you find yourself powerless to hold back –
powerless to prevent the forces that formed and maintain the cube from
attacking me through you.
I…
Don’t for a minute think I blame
you, Alf. The cube was not a minor thing in its creation. It required huge
sacrifice – endless blood in order to set up and maintain its straight lines –
in order to exclude everything it sought and needed to exclude – witches burned
at the stake or drowned in rivers, wars fought against native Indians, not to
mention the Cathars in France and countless other tribes and peoples butchered.
Establishing the cube was, and is, a monumental achievement, Alf, but like all
monumental things – it was or became too grand for its own good – too
impersonal, too imperious, too little human in the olde worldy sense – in which humanity
was thought to be something natural – a precious gift of God, a mystery interwoven with Mother nature –
unique and original and which was, ultimately, irreducible.
Irreducible – in what sense?
In the direct sense. You couldn’t
simplify it without breaking it – without substituting the living child with a
castrated, cauterised homunculus, a disempowered modern man, a slave to
objective materialism where things matter more than life itself.
Well, I have to take my hat off to
you, Enki – you sure do know how to take a minor aggravation, a slight insult
and raise it exponentially beyond all rhyme or reason.
Yes, it was very foolish of me,
Alf, I must admit but fortunately you and I are old enough and wise enough to
know that there’s little point in allowing our psychological shortcomings, our personal inadequacies prevent an interesting discussion about the latest
research.
Latest research! I almost forgot.
Let’s set aside our petty differences and get back to the news.
Indeed. Now to answer your second
question first…
Whether you thought I was
possessed by an entity?
Correct.
I think you’ve already answered
that, Enki.
I have?
Yes. According to what you’ve been
saying – the structure of modern reality is such that we ourselves rely upon
those very entities or energies which we used to fear – that in some way we
have harnessed them in order to create what you consider to be an artificial
structure – an unnatural reality – presumably because in doing so we and the
entities both get what we want.
Oh, I say, Alf – most impressive!
And what do you get?
We get a rational world in which
things seem to be categorical, or which can be quantified and explained nearly satisfactorily
– a world in which things seem to be just things – what you see is what
you get.
WYSIWYG – yes that’s right. And
them – what do they get – the ones behind this modern age of mechanisms and matter?
Presumably they get the edges of
the oval or sphere – the energy we no longer need or want. Presumably they
substitute Reality with reality – Me with me – and they keep the difference –
which could be a lot, I guess.
Excellent work Alf – you go from
strength to strength.
I didn’t say I believe any of
this, Enki.
No, of course not – but your
powers of deduction and inference are a delight to behold. I’m most impressed!
And you’d prefer to go back to the
past, would you, Enki?
Back? to the past? How would that
be? In any case – why?
Well that, presumably, is what
you’re talking about: about rejecting the modern world – the deal with the
devil – the Faustian pact you seem to think we’ve made.
Oh no, Alf – I’m sure you never
really made a Faustian pact though there’s a shadow of truth in the tale.
Then what?
The fact that we’re able to have
this discussion…
Oh that!
Yes. Why don’t you tell them?
Our subscribers?
Yes. They might not understand.
I think you underestimate them,
Enki. I think they understand everything.
Ok, but it would still be a great
pleasure to hear your exposition.
Oh, so I’m your performing monkey
today, am I?
Touché!
The fact is, Enki, that there’s
obviously some truth in what you’re saying – that the modern era is already
long in the tooth and it’s time for another gothic revival, is it not? The fact
that we’ve reached the point where we can look back and discuss the above
indicates we’ve rounded the bend, we're halfway out of the trees.
Indeed.
And that the cube basically sucks
– without reference to the sacred structure at Mecca.
Of course.
The cube sucks, Enki, if we lost the egg,
the oval, the sphere in our all-or-nothing striving to create a world of exclusively rational
sense – in which we’re necessarily locked in the thinking mind, the so-called brain
– in which we’re unable to see or experience other realms, other frames of
reference, baselines other than our own.
So perhaps we can deal with the
first question?
Ah – I see what you were so upset
about. Yes. I needed a jolt – I was coming from a place of utter…
You were wearing the mask of a
modern man assuming that’s the totality of what you are.
Whereas now… hey Enki, what's happened to your face?! It looks... oh my God, you're... Alf recoils, a look of pure horror fills the screen.
Dies Irae blasting out full volume shaking the rafters of reality. Memo to special effects team: no holds barred!
eschatologically
