Sorry; I haven't been myself lately.

My (Very) Belated Post-Application Post . . .Colonization Esoterica

This weekend we watched Young Frankenstein. I'd forgotten how many phrases still in popular-culture circulation come from this movie.

Sometimes I wonder if colonialization, in the invasive, sociological, rhetorical sense--not in the physical, move-onto-your-continent-and-take-your-resources-and-civilize-you sense--renders down to something in addition to desire to control. I wonder if it stems from the human-pack animal desire to connect with other people. If we lack commonalities, the stronger group tries forcing the weaker (directly or indirectly) to take on our traits. It's like relationships. So many people are attracted to potential partners who are different; then we try to make them over in our image.

It's like colonialism is a Pygmalion Project on a large scale, but not just to exploit, to connect. How twisted is that?

I miss Battlestar Galactica.

a land of enchantment

so my first topic here is a bit late, but i have a pretty damn good excuse...i have been in china for the last week, just arrived back home now, having been traveling for 18 hours. no internet in tibet.

i have a question for you all, something i was thinking about quite a bit during my time in tibet: is buddhism a selfish way of life - i realize that, basely - literally - it is, for the whole belief system revolves around the "self". however, do you feel it is selfish in the sense of the conventional negative connotation of the word "selfish"?

i ask because that is what my mother thinks, and i'm sure many westerners would agree: "buddhist practices seem like such a 'waste' of time," she claims, "they are wasting their lives by praying and meditating, walking the streets chanting and not working." i asked her why their lives are a waste, and she stated, in a matter-of-fact manner, that it was because those people do not do anything to "help others" and that their entire mindset is based in thinking inwardly, thus making them selfish.

what do you think of this?
  • Current Mood
    jet lagged