Hardeman
Nov 8, 2009, 1:49:08 p.m.
to Ishmailites
Thank you for your compassionate response. Please feel assured that I
have confidence in "The Way" although we may use different terms. I
have no problem with the concept of "God" although I prefer to use the
term "reality." There is nothing more omniscient than reality. It has
been my experience that joy results from adjusting one's perceived
reality to harmonize with absolute reality. I trust that you can
perceive that it comes down to "how" we harmonize with reality/God.
For all of us it is a never ending process of discovery with lots of
hints .
You recommend "Choose life" and indeed that was my choice years ago.
I identify with the life force or the "clear spirit " of light be it
in whales, trees or people. Since long ago Spinoza convinced me that
there is one substance, this spirit is not something separate from
material existence. It is a manifestation of the way, call it a soul
if you will, that animates a body and mind. As Melville described it,
an inner self identity looking through a autobiographical self, in a
masquerade. For those who identify with their persona and thus are
attached to it they may hope for its "after life." Those who do not
identify with their ego mask are free to choose life as identity. I
look at my mind and body as I do my cars and sailing vessels. I love
them and take care of them but they all wear out. So I choose to
identify with the life force that is immortal and takes away the
fear of death. All the rest is vanity. Who would want to save their
vanities and be judged for them ?
After some consideration of your posting I am unable to even
hypothesize what you mean by my "challeng[ing] the White Whale and
his control." Ahab's monomania towards Moby Dick is an illness that
does not allow him to accept reality or God as you might say. I see
the whole point of Melville's effort as an illustration how someone is
enslaved by his inner conflict and therefor blind to all "intimations
from life" that would aid him in adapting to reality. So the white
whale's response is but one of many hints from reality to Ahab that he
is out of synchronicity with his real living self. The white whale
controls nothing he just responds. Moby Dick defends his life force in
an combative manner to be sure but he is in the flow of reality. It is
that awareness which Ishmael also later discovered whereas Ahab did
not.
Ahab rules by fear and believes he is his intellect. Reread his
ideal man that he would construct. I advocate confidence, confidence
in thyself behind the masquerades where, God knows, you can't hide
from reality.
I do appreciate your care but there are millions of others in greater
need. I am already in paradise as I live in rural France.
This too will pass,
Hardeman
