Life Is Short --- Learn To Fly

Life is much too short to worry about proper etiquette, appearances, manners, rules or customs set up for us by media, schools, religions, politics, and other social controlling institutions. When things get tough there is no need to visit doctors, go to counseling, or to take drugs. All you have to do is Learn To Fly. We don't have wings.......but we have imagination. A person's imagination is the greatest wings a human can experience. In terms of metaphysics I have learned to dis-associate myself from the constraints of modern socially accepted structures and learned to rely on my own imagination. If you are going to worry about what others think of you, or spend your time trying in vain to please them, you will be forever carrying "boulders on your shoulders". Only when you can laugh and tell them you won't be sitting at their table for dinner will your wings be able to spread. Life is short *** Learn to fly *** You'll love the journey.

Read the lyrics to this beautiful song written by the recording rebel artist Tom Petty.

Well I started out down a dirty road
Started out all alone
And the sun went down as I crossed the hill
The town lit up the world got still

Im learning to fly but I aint got wings
Comin down is the hardest thing
Well the good old days may not return
And the rocks might melt, and the sea may burn

Im learning to fly but I aint got wings
Comin down is the hardest thing
Well some say life will beat you down
Break your heart, steal your crown

So I started out for God knows where
But I guess Ill know when I get there
Im learning to fly around the clouds
But what goes up must come down

Im learning to fly but I aint got wings
Comin down is the hardest thing
Im learning to fly around the clouds
But what goes up must come down

Im learning to fly
Im learning to fly

A Christmas Poem

This poem was written and given to me 20 years ago by a very good friend of mine.

Mr. Gable.......wherever you may be, I hope the cards are falling your way, the dogs are running box to wire, and the horses are treating you well.

*******************
Outside the wind is blowing
and the trees are full of snow,
the weatherman informs us
that it's 32 below.
But the kids are out there playing
and with frozen toes they grin,
when this you see
you must agree
It's Christmas time again.

***
The shopping malls are buzzing,
cash registers on tilt,
there are people blowing money
and spending without guilt.
I don't recall seeing such a sight
since I can't remember when,
"yes you do dear...same time last year"
It's Christmas time again.

***
And the red clothed dude with whiskers
has cloned himself ten-fold,
and been scattered 'cross the planet
wherever Santa can be sold.
And some they don't seem old enough
and some seem a bit too thin,
But there are no flaws in Santa Claus
It's Christmas time again.
***

The trees are shining brightly
and the carollers they sing,
and the families come together
with the presents that they bring.
And everywhere you hear these words,
"peace on earth........good will to men"
De ja vu, the jokes on you,
It's Christmas time again.

***
And for one day all is peaceful
and for one day all is bright,
and for one day the world is loving
from the morn all through the night.
But tomorrow won't be as wonderful
nor seem as free of sin,
And that's the way it's sure to stay,
till it's Christmas time again.

Thank You Lord

Now I lay me down to sleep
hopin' I don't hear a peep
If I get clipped before I wake
bury me with carrot cake (sugar-free please).

Thank you Lord for giving me another night to pray to you. Thank you Lord for letting me call you Tao instead of God. Thank you Lord for being with me through my studies. Thank you Lord for blessing me with a wonderful family and many wonderful friends.......please give me the chance to live long enough to show them how much I truly appreciate them. Thank you Lord for giving me a healthy existence. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be as ignorant and silly as I want to be. Thank you Lord for not judging me too harsh after I became an adult. Thank you Lord for giving me the knowledge to understand that you don't give a shit what people do. Thank you Lord for letting me have faith in knowing that you will eventually put the metaphysical charlatans exactly where they belong. Thank you Lord for putting me in jail only once in my life...well, physical jail not the imprisonment society impinges on us. Thank you Lord for not making me over-ambitious.......alright, alright, thank you for making me lazy. Thank you Lord for so many other things too numerous to mention.

and while we're at it...let me mention a few other things ........

Lord, what in the world we're you thinkin when you created all this new age bullshit. Lord, what's with all the drugs and drug addicts you're creating. Lord, how many more killings must there be before you get off your ass and put an end to it. Lord, how much did the politicians put in your pocket to allow them get away with all they do. And how about the Medical profession and Petroleum companies Lord, how much did you sell out to them for. And by the way Lord, what's the deal with gas at well over $3 a gallon...how much higher must gas prices rise before your enormous greed is satisfied. Lord, may I ask if you are ever going to make food fit for human consumption...without all the poisons and chemicals...or is your sadistic little game gonna continue indefinitely. Lord, there are many more questions I have that are also too numerous to mention.........even more numerous than the things to be thankful for. Lord, you have created a true mess, but I am just as grateful for your many blunders as I am for your beauties. I just hope to heaven that no one judges you the way the religious freaks say you judge everyone else. If they do.......you're in a whole heap'o trouble dude.

Good Night Lord.

Last Words Of A Wise Man

These words were spoken to me several years ago by one of the wisest men I have ever known.

My path to destruction

has been paved by me, my friend, and my foe ;

And who's done the most damage

I guess only Heaven would know.

Saints And Sinners

.......and they say there's a heaven for those who will wait

some say it's better but I say it ain't

I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints,

the sinners are much more fun...

- Recording artist Billy Joel

If I don't go to hell, who will? If going to hell can save the innocent or wake them up to open their eyes, I'm willing to go there, join my friends and play majong.

- Master Peter Leung

If you're going to be a bad person, be the worst you can be,

because when the cycle turns and balances

you'll be that much more the better.

- Michio Kushi

To hell with the saints

To hell with the sinners

Pass the wine bottle please.

- The drunken Poet

I've seen and heard and read of saints and sinners

and I've even spoken with a few

and in conclusion I must admit

there ain't much difference between the two.

- Andy Nicola

I'm gonna tell a little secret

if you promise not to tell

If you wanna get to heaven

you gotta raise a little hell.

- Popular 70's song lyrics

If you see the face of a saint, tell him to turn around

and you'll be starring at the face of a sinner.

Never trust them two-faced bastards.

- Unknown Poet

Saints and Sinners...what is the difference ?

It is nothing more than walking a tight-rope ...

nothing more than a balancing act.

- Anonymous

A good man is a bad man's teacher.

- Lao Tzu

And the list goes on and on and on. There are some who have not fallen for the deceptive mirage that various institutions have painted. They understand the energetic dichotomies of good-bad, heaven-hell, saints-sinners. Some understand it and know it as two sides of the same coin. If you would like to read a tremendous amount of material on the absurdity of saints and sinners look at some of Osho's writings. If you are a Jesus freak however, you may want to stray from Osho. He doesn't have a whole lot of nice things to say about Jesus.......and he's not all that fond of Mother Teresa either. If you have your own slogan or saying you would like to add...feel free to send it.

Advertising And Promotion

Today people advertise and promote themselves to the utmost

but ultimately accomplish and deliver little or nothing.

When it comes to words

they are indestructible giants

When it comes to deeds

they are faltering midgets.

A Song for Sammy

Years ago when I used to jog every day, I ran into an old bum who used to get his meals from a garbage dump. I felt really sorry for him. For several months we did not acknowledge each other...I would just run my route and he would search for his treasures in the garbage hoppers. Then one day I stopped at the Italian deli that was next to his stomping grounds that he rummaged about and I bought him the biggest Italian submarine sandwich they had, along with a salad and a quart bottle of natural spring water. When I took it to him he starred at me blankly and wondered what I was up to. I told him the food was for him. He was stunned for a moment and then wiped a tear from his eye. He asked me if I would split the sandwich with him and I told him I wasn't hungry, and so while he ate I sat down on the grassy hill and watched the old man devour his sandwich. When he was finished we talked for an hour and a half. He said that he always saw me running everyday and he always wanted to say something but he was too embarrassed and thought that I would shun and avoid him for the way he lived. From that point, on the days that I would see him we would always wave to each other and he would yell, "How many today", meaning how many miles I was running, and I would say 8. or 10, or 12, or however many miles I was running. Then he would pause and he'd yell, "run an extra one for me". Every now and then before I left the house I would put a five or ten dollar bill in my sock and when I would reach the point where I would see him, I'd run by and throw a five or ten at him and keep running before he would become embarrassed. His name was Sam but I called him Sammy (he liked that) and I had many conversations with him and I enjoyed his company. He had a serene-ness to him that was quite nice.

As the seasons turned into autumn that year I noticed that about a month and a half had passed without seeing Sammy one time. I stopped in at the Italian deli and asked the people who worked there if they'd seen Sammy lately. Then the old woman who ran the place said, "No, that old man is gone. He passed away and we don't have to watch him digging through the trash anymore". She said it almost as if she was relieved. As I walked out the deli I was very distraught and the atmosphere seemed eerie...I was truly saddened by the news. On that day I took the long way home.

When I got home I took out a piece of paper and a pen and wrote the following poem for my friend Sammy.

*************************

A SONG FOR SAMMY

He wears a torn up shirt and pants
and he smells like gasoline
he hangs around the garbage dumps
when times are really lean.

All the businessmen and lawyers
all the people in the crowd
they would all laugh at Sammy
and they all would laugh out loud

Hey there people,
won't you give old Sam a break
he really ain't a bad guy
he just made a few mistakes.

One day I stopped and talked with Sam
as he was starrin' at the sky
his crackled voice began to speak
as he wiped a tear-drop from his eye.

I'm a withered, worn-out, tired man
and I've surly paid my dues
and once I was a wealthy lad
but today don't own a pair of shoes

There's nothing much for me to give
and little I can mend
so I walk the streets and count my steps
and wonder where my day might end.

Be prepared for all your lessons boy
for in this life there's quite a few
and if there's only one thing I could say
this is what I'd say to you :

When you reach for fame and fortune
be prepared to take a fall
and you're sure to lose your precious pride
when they force your back against a wall

Everyone is rushing
everybody's on the run
and they're working hard for ulcers
when they could be lying in the sun

So take a look at me my friend
while you're still young and wild and free
and don't dare let the world do to you
all the things they've done to me.

And to this day I ponder
on the words he spoke to me
and the best that I can hope for
is that he found peace and har-mo-ny.

Response To A Post

A few posts ago I wrote I Wonder. Someone named Stupid Guy responded , and since he went to the trouble of commenting on every single statement I would like to also respond. My comments are in red.


I wonder if the New Age revolution can harm Chinese Metaphysics

-Not harm but reveal what's inside

I doubt it...most New Ager's can't even reveal what is inside THEMSELVES.
***
I wonder if people will ever stop paying thousands of dollars for a Feng Shui audit

-Yes when chinese disappears same like casinos

I don't think so...if casino's disappear gambling will still be around. You can BET on it.
***
I wonder if Eva Wong will ever come clean

-As and when you are

I don't think anyone will ever confuse me with Eva Wong. If they ever do I will leave this field.
***
I wonder if people will ever find the strength and confidence to rely on themselves

-As and when you are not overindependent

I think you made a typo.
***
I wonder what the Chinese metaphysical field will be like in 20 years

-As like how it evlove from 20 years back

Another typo I think.
***
I wonder if Lao Tzu (Zi) really existed

-As like any other historic figures

You think so huh.
***
I wonder why people say Qi Men Dun Jia is more powerful than other I Ching methods

-I wonder why people say method A is more powerful than other B method

Tell them that.
***
I wonder if people really believe Feng Shui can work the way it is presented today

-I wonder if people really believe God can work the way it is presented today

I agree with you on this one.
***
I wonder if the so-called masters will ever stop lying

-The real says the fake is lying the fake say the real is lying. So who is who?

Is there such a thing as a Real Fake.
***
I wonder if there is any difference between a saint and a sinner

-It is difference by a thin thread

How Thin ???
***
I wonder if the New Age charlatans really believe in karma

-Why should they when they have not seen it yet like god

Too many gods makes karma confusing.
***
I wonder how many true masters there really are in the world

-A billion dollar finding

You can look but I doubt you'll find anything.
***
I wonder if Yap Chang Hai will live to be 100 years old

-He is not Ceng Zhi Nam with multiple LIFE GRAVE

Of course he's not Ceng Zhi Nam........he's Yap Cheng Hai.
***
I wonder if anyone will ever translate Shao Yung's entire work in English

-Anyone can do a direct translate without the true essence

Then why haven't they done it. I only want the translation. An interpretation would ruin it. Commentaries are what ruins the true essense.
***
I wonder if there is even a single sage alive today

-It is call true phyilosopher if exists

Hmmm, I hope this is another typo. Philosophies are poison to sages. Ask Osho.
***
I wonder if astrologers/diviners will ever concentrate on studies rather than advertising or promotion

-Yes if they are funded of course

You must be one who believes that you have to pay money to get knowledge.
***
I wonder if Sylvia Browne believes half the stuff she says

-Like any masters or conmen they are convince of themself

Are you putting masters and con-men in the same category. Now you're talkin'.
***
I wonder if people will ever recognize the importance of the solstices

-Then all will be enlighten

Depends how deep they go.
***
I wonder if the public will ever wake up to the antics of Lillian Too and Joseph Yu

-They will when you wake up from your antics

Their antics and mine are diametrically opposed. My antics are to reveal their antics. So I hope that people wake up to my antics...the quicker the better.
***
I wonder if there will ever be another Osho

-More to come

How do you know. Have you been hangin' out with Sylvia Browne lately.
***
I wonder if the computer will take over Chinese metaphysics too

-Will take over not only that

I think you're right.
***
I wonder if Joey Yap's luck will keep continuing

-Have you seen a forever celebrity

Nope...well, except for Elvis maybe.
***
I wonder if the I Ching will ever gain its due respect and recognition

-Not until everyone gets it's true essence

Then I guess it will NEVER get its due respect
***
I wonder why people think metaphysicians are spiritual

-I wonder why people think spiritual is methapysics

So you must be saying that spirituality is physics...hmmmm.
***
I wonder if Alfred Huang is 100 years old yet

-Are you worried as he is not

No, not worried at all.......just curious.
***
I wonder why Carl Jung got so much credit for understanding the I Ching

-So is other celebrity masters

You mean like Joseph, Lillian, Eva, and the rest of the crew.
***
I wonder when the masses will wake upI wonder if the masses will ever wake up

-No one will when they do not think they are not awake

So I guess humanity is doomed.......Right ???
***
I wonder where the eagle flies, when the path it roams eludes my eye

-To see all eagles can do but beyond is not

Hmmm, your comment is very muddled. I hope it's a typo. This statement had more to do with one's thought process than with physical eagles.......but you were not able to read between the lines.
***
I wonder if anyone will understand this post

-As much as you think you understand.

Or as much as you think you know.

Buying An Education

Beautiful women and cars that go fast

Don't waste your time or your money

on things that don't last

I've seen the world and it's hypocritical lies

but I now see the world

through crystal clear eyes

********************

If a young chap should come knocking on your door trying to sell you the services of his Feng Shui "grand-master" for $6,000 you may want to tell him to turn around and hit the road. Don't be dazzled by the promises of lineage, oral secrets, and indoor studentship. No one can make you a master for $6,000 ........or $6,000,000 for that matter. Masters are created through passion not through pricing. Anyways, if this culprit happens to be lurking around your neighborhood, quickly close and lock your doors and call the Feng Shui police. Not that the police will be able to do anything about it, but at least the neighborhood will be prepared. Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware) !

I Wonder

I wonder if the New Age revolution can harm Chinese Metaphysics

I wonder if people will ever stop paying thousands of dollars for a Feng Shui audit

I wonder if Eva Wong will ever come clean

I wonder if people will ever find the strength and confidence to rely on themselves

I wonder what the Chinese metaphysical field will be like in 20 years

I wonder if Lao Tzu (Zi) really existed

I wonder why people say Qi Men Dun Jia is more powerful than other I Ching methods

I wonder if people really believe Feng Shui can work the way it is presented today

I wonder if the so-called masters will ever stop lying

I wonder if there is any difference between a saint and a sinner

I wonder if the New Age charlatans really believe in karma

I wonder how many true masters there really are in the world

I wonder if Yap Chang Hai will live to be 100 years old

I wonder if anyone will ever translate Shao Yung's entire work in English

I wonder if there is even a single sage alive today

I wonder if astrologers/diviners will ever concentrate on studies rather than advertising or promotion

I wonder if Sylvia Browne believes half the stuff she says

I wonder if people will ever recognize the importance of the solstices

I wonder if the public will ever wake up to the antics of Lillian Too and Joseph Yu

I wonder if there will ever be another Osho

I wonder if the computer will take over Chinese metaphysics too

I wonder if Joey Yap's luck will keep continuing

I wonder if the I Ching will ever gain its due respect and recognition

I wonder why people think metaphysicians are spiritual

I wonder if Alfred Huang is 100 years old yet

I wonder why Carl Jung got so much credit for understanding the I Ching

I wonder when the masses will wake up

I wonder if the masses will ever wake up

I wonder where the eagle flies, when the path it roams eludes my eye

I wonder if anyone will understand this post

Dust In The Wind

The following is a recording from an old song titled Dust In The Wind. It is a beautiful song, especially if it is listened to in a very relaxed state. The words need no explanation or interpretation as they speak for themselves quite nicely. It is an elegant song for putting the conscious ego in check. It tells us that we are but a speck of dust in this vast universe. In the line... "All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see" , we may get a Taoist feel or perspective about the idea of Wu Wei. Well to be honest, the whole song seems to have a Taoist flavor when I listen to it. When things are not going well for you, it is a perfect time to listen to it. You begin to realize that in the overall scheme nothing is really important, so why take the trouble and effort to stress yourself out. I hope you can listen to it while lying down relaxed and with the lights out. I hope it does for you what it has done for me. I have included the lyrics.



I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone
All my dreams, pass before my eyes... a curiosity
Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind

Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind, All we are is dust in the wind

Now...don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away, all your money won't another minute buy
Dust in the wind, All we are is dust in the wind

A Tale Of Li Chun

Note : This article was originally written Feb.3.2004

One cold early February morning in the Midwestern part of the United
States back in the year of 2004, I sat in anticipation of a
monumental event that was about to occur. The Chinese call it Li
Ch'un...in the west it is simply translated as "Spring Begins". The date was
February 4 and everyone was talking about a feeling in the gut, a
twinkling in their head, special vibrations in the heart, and a
million other things that happen to them when the cosmic energy
shifts. Since at this time a 20 year energy shift was about to take
place in addition to the yearly shift of energy, the atmosphere all
over the globe was at a high level. People were even talking about
ascending to heavenly realms at this time. Wow! I could hardly
wait to experience all this. I fasted 5 days for this event so that
my earthly body would be as receptive as possible. I calculated the
event down to the second using latitude, longitude, equation of time
and every other time trick I learned throughout my decades of
study. Oh yes, I was gonna join in the fun this time, I was ready.
I couldn't wait to see what kind of cosmic experience I was about to
have. Well, the time came and passed and guess what happened.
NOTHING. No twinges or twinkles, no special vibrations, no luvy
duvy feelings...nothing. I knew the Tao did not make a mistake
because the Tao is perfect. So I guess it must have been me. So I
waited an extra 5 minutes to take miscalculations into account, then
an extra hour, then an extra day even.....Nothing! Everyone else
was talking about the Cosmic Orgasm they experienced at the exact
moment of Li Ch'un...and here I was with nothing. I missed the
party again this year. I decided to go see the Ancient Wise Master.


I went up into the mountains to see the Ancient Wise Master (AWM)
who has been residing there for the past 50 years. He knew the
answers to everything. I asked him why everyone got to experience
Li Ch'un except for me. I told him I ate better than anyone I know,
studied harder than anyone I know, meditated longer than anyone I
know, and lived my life as close to nature as possible. The AWM
said " People are knowledgeable of both fact and fiction and so it
comes down to a mathematical solution". Could you explain the
solution I asked, in which he replied "A little fact plus a little
fiction equals a lot of bull". Hmmm, he always had a way with
parables. He also said " A person who experiences nothing when
there are energy shifts may be MORE receptive and aligned with
cosmic processes and nature than the ones who hear and feel cosmic
bells and whistles". He went on, "this is because a smooth
transition is taking place between the cosmos and the individual,
there are no interruptions. Twinges could indicate an uneven flow of
energy.....be like the seasons and transform without any
expectation. When the seasons shift between spring and summer it is
done in an instant...in less than a second, there is no noticeable
change in temperature, atmospheric conditions, humidity, etc. Make
your transition as smooth as this. If the seasons don't concern
themselves with twinges and whistles, why should you". I told him
that most people who are unhealthy and have little intelligence or
wisdom do not experience Li Ch'un twinges. Does this mean they are
aligned with the cosmos. He was getting annoyed with my lack of
understanding as he continued, " There is quite a difference
between a healthy, wise person transforming with the cosmos and an
unhealthy ignorant fool transforming with it.....now go away you
ignorant fool" So I bowed my head and walked back down the
mountain.


As I was walking back home in shame and embarrassment I happened to
see a young man carrying a McDonald's bag and eating a greasy cheese
burger and sipping on a coke, I also noticed he had a large fries
and apple pie in the bag. He was listening to Pearl Jam on his
Walkman radio and he was chatting away on his cell phone. He also
had a very unhealthy look and after getting a whiff of his odor I was
happy that we were traveling in opposite directions. He offered me
a bite of his sandwich, which I declined. Then he said, "Hey Dude,
yesterday was Li Ch'un.....Oh man, I heard bells, whistles, my body
went though a cosmic cleansing.....it was awesome dude. I'm gonna go
share my experiences with the Ancient Wise Master". As he walked
away I felt a great sense of relief. If the AWM called me an
ignorant fool, heaven only knows what this young Pearl Jammin guy
was in for. I couldn't help myself, I decided to sit right there
for a little while. I pulled out my binoculars and I could see that
the kid made it up the mountain to the AWM. What I saw next was
beyond anything I could imagine. The AWM was sharing the cheese
burger with the kid and eating the greasy french fries like they
were going out of style. They were laughing and dancing and having
a good ole time. Then the AWM put on the headphones and started
listening to Pearl Jam. I was speechless. I was confused. I
looked up at the sky and yelled " CAN WE FEEL LI CH'UN OR NOT" Then
came the reply "THE ANCIENT WISE MASTER IS NO DIFFERENT THAN RONALD
MC DONALD" At this instant....... in less than the one second the
Master said it takes for the spring to transform to summer..... I
became enlightened.

Happy Li Ch'un

Two Poems

RASPBERRY RAGS AND THE COSMIC JOURNEY

I've decided I'm running away
with Raspberry Rags in a cosmic display
Ten paces from heaven, and turn to the right
then just keep on walkin' till you run into the light

And on my journey I run into Sweet Silver Cup
He pauses a moment and says "Hey there what's up"
I shrug my shoulders and lifted my head
and said "I haven't a clue, I just rolled out of bed"

And the waves of the river was waving goodbye
and the bright moon was hangin' its head in the sky

Then Lollipop Louie shows up on the scene
and he's jokin' around with the king and the queen
then later that day, I swear I heard someone say
"Get the heck out of Dodge if you know what I mean".


THE RECLUSE

I once knew a master, wise beyond words

who has fallen from grace and is now seen as absurd
Like a clown in a circus who bends all the rules
then falls flat on his ass, and looks just like a fool

And the recluse abandons fortune and fame
with no tangible sources and shuns even his name
trading houses and mansions, for mountains and caves
and not a single condition nor reason he gave

Yang chases Yin
and Yin catches Yang
in a strange cosmic process
that folks can't understand

And so peace will find danger
and danger finds peace
in a self-contained cycle
that never will cease

So chase your dreams if you must
for whatever it's worth
knowing that some day
it is sure to reverse

Then the masters will yell
"Hey, I can alter your plan"
but they know little of heaven
No, they don't understand

So while everyone's running
and catching their breath
the recluse just smiles
and lays down to rest.


c. Andy Nicola