:D :D :D

There´s a real market for intelligent, respectful comedy out there. I just hope comedians/film makers realize that.

This is getting serious ;)

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Humans are disposable!
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Laugh at funerals
Bust out giggling, then kill
Time to die again

No, really. Imo, Mike Meyers is a lame comedian.

Same goes for Leslie Nielson, and other spoofs, with the exception

being Monty Python. They were very experienced when they took it ALL on.

There is a time and a place, yes. No offense, D.C.

''I wish religious people took the analogy seriously, because they are constantly rushing in to protect God, screaming in outrage when he /she is surely laughing. God may very well see the universe as a divine comedy.''

Dear Deepak, have you heard about Maharishi's answer to a child (featured in the classic ''Saint for a new Millennium''), when in the gathering of meditators a kid asked:

''If God has created man - who has created God ?''

Our beloved Master, usually always smily, got serious for a moment and lowered his eyes. Than Maharishi looked into the child's face and said:

''Man''

* * *

I thought to remind you this simple episode, incase you forgetting something. There is no Worshiped without the worshiper. There is no God without Man.

The Universe does not exist for a second without the Observer. Nor does the Observer has an existence of His Own.

There is no Man without God. There is no God without Man.

* * *

Otherwise I agree with what you are saying in the article. Yes, we should learn to laugh and play with God in any manner which promotes that relationship for the benefit of ''both'' which ultimately leads to One.

For the offending Hindus I would recall a story, when Telang Swami, the great saint of Varanasi, performed the ritual bathing of Kashi Vishveshvara ( the deity of Benares ) in his own urine and feces, in front of the outraged brahmins.

Now, for an uninitiated it may sound absolutely disgusting. Yet it is a fact that the saint's bodily fluids have been purified to such a degree that they become a scented substance and even have a medicinal quality to it, known under the name of ''liquid gold'', the feces of a God-realized are no longer a stench to be avoided. A bit like the feces of a milk-fed infant.

To give an idea of Telang Swami' importance would be to add that Ramakrishna of Bengal payed a visit of respect to the former and even become a one time student, which made Ramakrishna to become a tantric despite already being an accomplished sadhu.

Once again, what seems outrages on one level is an act of benevolence on another.

Jai Guru Dev

igor

How to approach religion? :

Let every one be, in his/her/its self-worth, faith and belief.

May be then laughing at each other becomes the laughing God.

Starry Starry night

paint your pallets blue and grey

look out on a summers day

with eyes that watch the world and can't forget

etc.

They did not listen they are not listening still,

Perhaps they never will?

Starry starry night............

Mieke

Reality being indestructible is indifferent to destruction
Appearances being destructible are creatures of fear
Reality being complete is indifferent to desires
Appearances being needy are always wanting and lacking
Reality being perfect sees nothing but perfection
Appearances being imperfect see imperfections and criticize
Reality being unlimited is indifferent to the limited
Appearances being limited see limitations and create a separate God
Reality is changeless neither laughing or crying but indifferent
Appearances always change they laugh and cry but rarely indifferent
Reality being the truth is indifferent to the untrue
Appearances being untrue toil in the untrue
~Kurt~

Here a brilliant ode in word by Don McLean and paintings of Vincent van Gogh that to me say it all:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dipFMJckZOM

Mieke

"...let them remember Lila. She is a goddess whose play -- and playfulness -- runs the activity of the universe. The last time I looked, Lila was a Hindu goddess. That must have escaped the minds of true believers who condemn what they should be enjoying. In the end, comedy equals laughter and religion equals solemnity. You choose."

Yes! In our patriarchal world we could learn a lot from Goddess teachings.

Our sun is the "point of focus" in our solar system. Offer up gratitude to sun.

The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects ~ Midsummer

The festival of the summer solstice remained a major pagan holiday, despite efforts of the clergy to rededicate it as the birthday of John the Baptist. The only practical result was that Saint John's Day became associated with wil dances, horseplay, and general rowdiness. In pagan times, the solstices and equinoxes were important festivals keyed to the progress of the growing season. Midsummer was the vital, somewhat scary time when the sun reached its turning point and began its slow decline toward another winter. Therefore: Midsummer was always a festival of fire, when bonfires burned all night to encourage the solar deity to return again in due course.

Trish~~

............................
............................
Reality, being indestructible, is indifferent to destruction.
.... ....Appearances, being destructible, are creatures of fear.
............................
............................
Reality, being complete, is indifferent to desires.
.... ....Appearances, being needy, are always wanting and lacking.
............................
............................
Reality, being perfect, sees nothing but perfection.
.... ....Appearances, being imperfect, see imperfections and criticize.
............................
............................
Reality, being unlimited, is indifferent to the limited.
.... ....Appearances, being limited, see limitations and create a separate God.
............................
............................
Reality, being changeless, neither laughs nor cries but is indifferent.
.... ....Appearances, being changeable, laugh and cry and are rarely indifferent.
............................
............................
Reality, being the truth, is indifferent to the untrue.
.... ....Appearances, being untrue, toil in the untrue.
............................
............................

~Kurt~

Hi Igor,

You have predicted it.

We are already laughing all together :)

In so many varieties :)

Love,

Mieke

Hello Everyone,

Deepak you write, "For all these reasons, more comedies should cross the line between vulgar lampoon and reckless disrespect. Let's catch God with his pants down -- or more especially those who peddle faith in God so self-righteously."

love it, I wholeheartedly agree...:)))))

ruth

Thanks Jane, it looks and sounds better.

“We Urgently Need Your Help Now!!
by Barbara Forrest and Louisiana Coalition for Science
Please help stop the Discovery Institute from boldly introducing religion into public education.

SB 733, the LA Science Education Act, has passed both houses of the legislature, and the governor has indicated that he intends to sign it. But we don't have to be quiet about this. There is something that you and everyone else you know who wants to help can do:

The LA Coalition for Science has posted a press release and an open letter to Jindal asking him to veto the bill. http://lasciencecoalition.org. The contact information is at the LCFS website”.

Should we laugh or cry?

Mieke, yes we are, and there is more to come in the next couple of days.

That's the funny part about tomorrow, though it never comes, yet when it does it feels as if there is no tomorrow.

Anyway, today is an auspicious day, coinciding with the end of Mercury being retrograde in the presence of the full moon. Since the Moon representing the mind and Mercury the Intellect, in the macro-cosmos, while the Sun standing for the light of pure consciousness, the current planetary setup is an excellent opportunity to see things in a clearer perspective.

The last few days have been quiet demanding, I've even delayed our travel plans to England till this coming Saturday. So soon we'll enjoy the cooler weather, compared to the all too intense heat we've got over here. Soon will have yours and North's book, and looking forward to enjoy it.

With Love and Joy

igor

I'm definitely going to see "The Love Guru" - at the drive-in! It's gonna be great. I have zero doubt that parts of the movie I will dislike intensely (I don't care much for crude and vulgar). However, I also know that there will be those bits that crack me up and will keep me laughing long after the hoopla fades away. THAT is what I'm going for, those parts that 'fit' and bring me joy and pleasure. Those parts that I can still chuckle over when the going gets tough again.

My approach to spirit is much the same way. I don't care for a lot of the packaging of religion: I find it useless at best and often destructive at worst. BUT there are those pieces that 'fit' and continue to resonate and bring meaning out of the chaos. That is why I study different approaches, viewpoints, and attitudes, looking for the ones that I can adapt and use.

So I say, lay off the poor guy, he's just trying to help! I really don't get the controversy: if this movie is not your cup of tea, fine. Glean what you can be it from comedy or religion, use it as best suits your own life, and let everyone else do the same.

# 9 & 12, That's a good comparison, Kurt.

I hope you wouldn't mind me to muse over it just a bit.

Reality and Appearance are but One.
For there is no Reality without Appearance.
Just as there is no Appearance without Reality.

Reality appears to itself and contemplates itself as Appearance.
The dynamic of appearance is Reality in its ever-changing realm.
The dynamic of Reality rests in its never-changing silence.

It is Appearance because it appears to Reality itself.
It is Reality because it encompasses Appearance being one with it.

Hi Igor,

Would like to wish you and yours a safe trip.

Hope you will have a great time in England and that you do enjoy our little book :)

In England summer solstice is celebrated in lots of regions especially in the neighbourhood of stone circles and labyrinths :). It will be celebrated this weekend.

The labyrinth has also a deep connection with the full moon.

Seems everything is coming together today and during the next few days.

Blessings and love from

Mieke

Moreover Igor and everyone,

The moon has a connection with water. The labyrinth has a connection with water.

Could it be that the labyrinth has something to do with our (internal) water balance?

Could it be that the labyrinth might be used as a tool to provide water?

http://www.geomancy.org/e-zine/1997/summer/dowsing-labyrinths/index.html

Could it be that the old wisdom of the dowsing rod (also called divining rod) has something to do with this too?

Could it be that this old wisdom might be used again (or is already used) in a more modern way?

Could it be that all those ancient stone circles and labyrinths were used during the four seasons as rituals for providing good harvest, etc. The sun and the moon are the natural providers in this respect. Most of the old stone circles and labyrinths have been built near water, or with a water well below them. Most of the cathedrals in Europe have been built on special places with water underneath.

Ancient civilizations did not worship gods: they did worship the celestial bodies that provided them with what they needed.

In these days with water shortage, wouldn’t the above has to be seriously taken into account as one of the real possibilities to be investigated by science and not be woven away as a prejudice or witchcraft?

Or perhaps am I being silly and to be laughed at?

Mieke

From my experience with watching movies, if the message is more important than the moviemaking, generally the movie flops. Love Guru has been highly touted as a movie with a strong spiritual message. So far the critics have given this movie thumbs down re: RottenTomatoe.com.

I couldn't care less what the message is, if the movie (in this case a comedy) is really funny, then I will laugh and enjoy myself and I suppose I'm touching God's funny bone, but if it aint funny, nothing is going to convince me to laugh loudly in the aisles not matter how many times Deepak tells us to laugh. Can't be forced, so let's see what the box office says on Monday. I don't hope for a flop but word of mouth will tell the story.

"...let's see what the box office says on Monday."#22

***

EXCLUSIVE EARLY FRIDAY & 3-DAY ESTIMATES:

"No love for Myers' 'Guru' with $5M opening day & meager $14M 3-day!"

"...There was much less box office love for Mike Myers’ new comedy Love Guru (Paramount), which will likely finish #4 for the day and for the weekend. The film has limped out of the gate with a disappointing $5M, and, even with the help of recording superstar Justin Timberlake and Jessica Alba, the poorly reviewed comedy will manage only $14M on its opening weekend. After back-to-back-to-back $100M+, and most likely $200M+ grossing movies, this represents a setback for Paramount (although the Dreamworks comedy Tropic Thunder, set for August, has a chance to be the biggest hit of the late-Summer)."

http://news.fantasymoguls.com/originalcontent/2008/06/exclusive-ear-1.html

Just Wondering #16

"Please help stop the Discovery Institute from boldly introducing religion into public education."

"The LA Coalition for Science has posted a press release and an open letter to Jindal asking him to veto the bill. http://lasciencecoalition.org ”

Should we laugh or cry?

***

Fundamentalist zealotry and creationist ideology may have conspired to leave at least one and possibly more public school students with permanent physical and mental scars at the hands of what can only be described as a dangerous, rogue teacher::

"Ed Brayton -- A science teacher used a high voltage device to burn that cross into an 8th grader's arm, for crying out loud. Not only should he have been fired on the spot, the case should have been referred to the prosecutor's office. ... The complaint also alleges that Freshwater has "code words" that he uses to let his students know when he thinks something in the textbook is false and contrary to the Bible. It further alleges that he offered extra credit to students for homework related to intelligent design."

http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2008/06/the_freshwater_complaint.php

Ed has an update on the fate of the teacher and lots more along with a link to the complaint.

http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/

If even a portion of it is true, more heads should roll. Because as the teacher likely heads for the unemployment line, no doubt along with right-wing Martyrdom, it sure sounds to me like someone had to have covered for this lunatic for years.

"You might catch me at a screening. I'm the man in the aisle seat laughing loudly."

Laughing loudly ...alone

We didn't have to wait until Monday to get the dismal news, I predict in 3 weeks it's yanked out of the theatres and into video, I'll pay a couple of bucks just for the curiosity factor.

Oh the lost of art of making comedies, what a shame.

Again a misread of the culture.

Steve

Owen Gleiberman of the Entertainment Weekly writes:

"If you're in the mood for a delightful tweak of today's self-actualizing New Age gurus, look elsewhere."

"...He plays this flyweight charlatan with a Groucho-lite corrupt patter but without the requisite touch of innocence. The whole characterization is tacky and far too secondhand. Pitka, in essence, is the Maharishi dragged into the age of Deepak Chopra, and Myers doesn't bring much to him beyond a lispy one-note accent (singsong Indian dialect veddy funny, no? Actually...no), his usual beaming leer, and a penchant for lines like ''I'm so hungry I could eat a skunk's bottom!''"