Web 2.0, Social Networking and Enlightenment

You know, I'm starting to see the whole Web 2.0/Social Networking light.

Craigslist, Wikipedia, del.icio.us, Skype, MySpace, Facebook, Digg, StumbleUpon, Twitter and on and on.

At first glance, it all seemed so inundating to one's personal life so I easily avoided it - then I looked a little deeper.

There's a massive transition in the way we use the internet. Key word use.

A few years ago websites were mostly non-interactive. Your input was limited - very limited. The net used us. We didn't mind so much, for it was so novel. Remember?

Flashing banner ads, immediate re-direction to a website you didn't want, pop-under ads, pop-over ads - yes I'll admit I used a few of these same techniques for a brief period, when I really just should have written better content.

Back then as a surfer, first you dealt with actually finding what you sought. This was compromised by so called "black hat" search engine techniques. The search engine results were manipulated by spammers so often that the results were rarely relevant.

If you were lucky - you'd find (or stumble upon) a website with value and then you'd likely email your friends with the site's link - or mention it face to face.

It remained word of mouth. Person to person. Group to group. Still, the human element had difficulty prevailing against what at times seemed like a massive techno-foe. Is that a word? ;-)

I guess dissatisfaction spawned the change that began. Instant messaging gained in usage. People began using the net to communicate with each other directly on a massive scale. Forums and newsgroups couldn't compete with real time communication.

Try this experiment. Next time you're in cafe with a wireless connection and you notice someone on a laptop - take a peek at what's on their screen. Odds are they're on a social networking site. They're communicating. Telling others what they like - and don't. Both things online and offline.


They'll also direct others to blogs/websites they've learned from, been amazed and inspired by - and also found to be a serious waste of time.

Sites like Digg, Reddit and StumbleUpon allow you actual input. You share, discover and vote on stuff that's meaningful to you. In turn these Web 2.0 properties (and others) use your opinions/ratings to form collaborative opinions on website quality.

In growing numbers these sites are appearing in search results. They are having a huge impact. The search engines are noticing and a massive shift is happening online.

Individuals and communities are determining what shape the internet will take next - not corporations. Of course they'll be there too but following the trends and catering to them.

Bad news travels fast on the net, and companies/individuals that fail to heed the opinions of the online community with perish.


So what does this have to do with enlightenment? Good question; I'm still trying to figure that out - but I think it goes something like this:

If you choose to sit on a mountain top - without a laptop and a wireless connection that is - you'll do just fine!

However more likely, the internet will continue to be - but not exclusively - a powerful means by which you manage, learn, interact and communicate with your world.

Your discoveries and insights - both online and offline - will find an audience in like-minded individuals. They'll be easier to find with Web 2.0 properties - and more are being added daily.

The potential to genuinely touch lives, teach and be taught - beyond your immediate physical space - will be realized. The ability to be influenced and inspired by others is growing exponentially.

It's happening now!

Free blogging sites and other tools allow you to communicate instantly. By the way, if you've started blogging and want more people to hear what you have to say, check out the last one of the links that follow.

Now back to enlightenment...if there's a moment where you wake up, have a flash of insight or simply find something inside yourself that you'd never seen previously - you can share it instantly with someone in your own online community who may be on the verge of their own discovery.

That "someone" who you've already established shares the same interests and pursuits as you. And they'll share with others. Across the street or halfway around the world - just as instantly.

Imagine... then do.

Here are a few links. Explore and add me if you'd like.

StumbleUpon

Then locate me at StumbleUpon through VinnieQ or webmaster@optimumself.com

Digg

Twitter

And don't forget to click here if you already have a blog and need some visitors.

Our Greatest Teachers...

We all seemingly have an individual or individuals in our lives who can seemingly bring out the worst in us by his/her/their mere appearance. Understand that they are teachers in disguise!

Be grateful for these teachers, in that they give you a number of opportunities to both see your resentments clearly and therefore rid yourself of their destructive influences, as well assist you in developing your skills of observation and detachment.

See clearly that they do not drive you crazy, rather you drive yourself crazy, having been unable to detach from the ideas the very presence of these teachers stir up in your mind. Observe these disturbing thoughts and your subsequent habitual responses, and these thoughts (and these individuals) will begin to lose their negative influences over you.

These teachers and to what degree you are able to dispassionately observe your reactions to them, will profoundly influence your rate of growth. You may even discover some positive qualities they possess! Prior to your new awareness, you may have been far too involved in your own "going craziness" to notice!

Be here now. As you move about your world, treat others as though they are the most important person in the world. There are several fine reasons for this. The least of them being that your environment will begin to reflect that which you send out.

The golden rule is powerful indeed. There is a mirroring effect that takes place between you and your environment. You must give before receiving. You must create a little spark before a roaring fire can develop and provide you with great warmth.

Again, you will become what you think about all the days of your life. Have you treated others cruelly, without patience or compassion in the past? Does your life not reflect that prior treatment? Be honest enough to see previously hidden resentments as they bubble up to the surface, but remember not to judge yourself. Can you see how the judgment of others has kept you continually feeling judged? Eliminate your own judgments and notice the absolute freedom you will experience.

Again without effort, upon seeing these shortcomings, look at them dispassionately and return to the here and now. Just realize and let go. Be aware of the life force and again see in your mind's eye the desire you have by now established clearly and the fulfillment of that desire. Your life is and will continue to change! Be aware.

Develop simple triggers (like the hand trigger mentioned earlier) to constantly return to the meditative state. As you move through your daily world, you may fix a word or phrase ("I am here now" or simply "I am") in your mind and silently repeat it, all the while remaining aware. You may also recall and trigger a physical movement (as simple as a thumb softly touching a fore finger or a warmth or tingling feeling in your dominant hand), to again center yourself and return to a meditative state instantaneously.

The use of these triggers will allow you to become aware of the present moment despite the numerous distractions and trivialities that you will surely encounter. Your awareness will tend to be more heightened at these times.

As a result, you may notice irritations previously hidden and their dispassionate observation will nip negative emotional responses in the bud. Do not worry and strain. Remember to be as the river and its effortless flow. Bring yourself back to that zone, that flow, moment by moment, throughout your day!

Simplicity. The wisdom of the ages. The life force (or whatever you choose to call it) within, and the power to recreate your life is now yours for the taking. Today! Now it begins. Now after now after now. Step after step after step.

Do not become disheartened if your progress is not as quick as you had envisioned. Just continue earnestly to follow these simple steps. Remain patient with yourself at all times. Keep on the path. Awareness will come in increasing waves. Just be aware that you are aware. You will realize that you have all the time in the world. There is no need to rush. There is no need to worry.

You have come here, in this time and place, not by accident but for a purpose. Discover what that purpose is by using these tools. Freely take the wisdom that is presented here. Do you see that there is truly nowhere for you to go? You are here already. Realize that you are exactly where you should be.

The light within you waits ever patiently for you to recognize and bask in its warmth. You are it. Realize this. Practice these techniques regularly and diligently but free off any straining whatsoever. All you desire will arrive in due time. Just remember these simple steps.

You are presently the result of all your previous thoughts including the last one! You are swiftly developing the inborn ability to witness, separate and therefore choose your own thoughts. You do this in the here and now. You can begin fashioning your new life at this moment. Keep centering and drawing yourself away from distractions and back to the present moment.

You are dealing with an almost hypnotic, powerful pulling action towards fantasy, so you will have to be diligent to negate its effects. Remind yourself to always be patient in these efforts. You are dealing with a skillful adversary. Your ego is a worthy foe and has been around for a long time! Fortunately, as darkness can not exist in the light, so is your imagination rendered powerless when exposed by your inner guiding light.

This simplicity is powerful indeed. Constantly remember to remember. Begin your morning meditation shortly after rising. Use this technique to center yourself and then you can continue to draw upon it throughout your day.

Daily worries and concerns will seem less important and will even gradually melt away. Just let it happen.

Individual or dividual?

Individual or dividual?

You have a clear cut choice. Awaken to the total sense of who you are, or remain in slumber.

Be an individual or a dividual. Divided into your social self, your work self, your family self, your friend self, your lover self, etc. Playing a role depending on the environment. Your life energy channelled in different directions to support various predictable and socially acceptable responses.

Being careful to fit in and properly play your expected role, giving up genuineness in the process. Willfully choosing to give up the uniqueness that is your birthright.

The choice is yours. With continued meditation, you will become increasingly aware. Whenever you are pulled away from your true self in order to take on some expected social role, you will begin to observe the mechanics involved.

In that moment of truth, you can choose to simply be. Aided by that simplicity, the correct response to any situation will emerge. It will be the correct response in that it will be naturally flowing and intuitive.

The Tao refers to wu-wei (non-doing) as action that is effortless and natural. Appropriate responses to any situation when we just flow moment by moment without purpose. Relying on our inner voice and intuition to respond without purpose or motivation. Simply responding. Simply being response-able.

Refuse habitual role playing in favor of expressing yourself honestly from moment to moment, regardless of social pressures. Any reward for "playing the game" will pale in comparison to the freedom gained when one is not being somebody, but simply being.

If you dreamt the same dream night after night

If you dreamt the same dream night after night, returning to the same cast of characters, surroundings and situations AND you awoke to the same life day after day, returning to the same cast of characters, surrounding and situations...which would be the dream and which would be real?

And how would you distinguish the two?

And would you realize that both are but a dream, and THAT which witnesses both states and is itself changeless is the only reality?

Can you realize that now?

Can you BE THAT now?

Haiku - find you by being

find you by being

then find love by giving love

nothing else to do

Don't just say it - always be grateful.

Be grateful for the fact that you exist.

Be grateful for the health that you have.

Be grateful for the food that you eat.

Be grateful for the wonders of nature.

Be grateful for the senses that allow you to experience both pain and pleasure.

Be grateful for your innate ability to ultimately find creative solutions.

Be grateful for all the people in your life.

Be grateful for the kindness that some have shown you.

Be grateful for the ability to to forgive those who have not treated you well.

Be grateful to learn from both.

Be grateful that there are no insignificant moments.

Be grateful that you able to experience all of them.

Be grateful for your ability to learn from your mistakes.

Be grateful for your ability to focus on whatever you choose to focus on.

Be grateful that you have that choice every moment.

Be grateful for your ability to find inner peace.

Gratefulness is magical; in that the more you are grateful for today, the more that you will find you are grateful for tomorrow.

Get it now...Katha Upanishad and all...

Get it now...

Katha Upanishad (circa 1400 BC)

"To many it is not given to hear of the Self. Many, though they hear it, do not understand it. Wonderful is he who speaks of it. Intelligent is he who learns of it. Blessed is he, who taught by a good teacher is able to understand it"


Buddha (circa 530 BC)

"I have taught the truth which is excellent in the beginning, excellent in the middle, and excellent in the end; it is glorious in its spirit and glorious in its letter. But simple as it is, the people cannot understand it. I must speak to them in their own language. I must adapt my thoughts to their thoughts. They are like unto children, and love to hear tales. Therefore, I will tell them stories to explain the glory of the Dharma. If they cannot grasp the truth in the abstract arguments by which I have reached it, they may nevertheless come to understand it, if it is illustrated in parables."


Tao Te Ching (circa 440 BC)

The Tao that can be followed is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the origin of heaven and earth While naming is the origin of the myriad things. Therefore, always desireless, you see the mystery Ever desiring, you see the manifestations. These two are the same-- When they appear they are named differently.

This sameness is the mystery, Mystery within mystery;

The door to all marvels.


The Gospel According to St. Matthew - Chapter 13 (circa 70 AD)

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.


4-8 year olds when posed question "What is love?"(circa 2000 AD)

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." -- Rebecca, age 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth." -- Billy, age 4

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." -- Chrissy, age 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." -- Terri, age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." -- Danny, age 7

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." -- Nikka, age 6

"When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you're scared they won't love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do they still love you, they love you even more." -- Matthew, age 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." -- Tommy, age 6

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." -- Cindy, age 8

"Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken." -- Elaine, age 5

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." -- Mary Ann, age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." -- Karen, age 7