Last week a news story caught my eye, which is a rare occurrence since my life style doesn't allow me much web surfing, tv or keeping up with current events. (When the earthquake occurred in Japan last year I was in the studio, totally unaware of the goings on until my phone rang and a friend told me to turn on the TV. It stayed on all of 15 minutes before I went back to work.) Anyway, last week's story was about 21people who were hospitalized after a firewalk during one of Tony Robins' seminars. (Assuming here that most of you know the idea that with enough faith, it has been proven that humans can walk across hot coals and not be burned, and that this has been a tradition in many cultures for hundreds of years.) At any rate, during this ceremony several people were hospitalized with second and third degree burns on their feet.It was a short article, just a couple of paragraphs, and next to it was a tiny picture of Tony Robbins which looked more like a mug shot and reminded me of a New York pimp I had known briefly many years ago before he was executed by the mob in Miami. I'm not a fan of Tony Robbins, and truthfully am not familiar with all of the details of his philosophy, but I have read a few of his quotations and although the price of his service does seem to be a bit staggering to someone of my means, he has porportedly done some good work for a lot of people. I'm more attracted to the work of Wayne Dyer and have found some of his earlier books to be extremely helpful and life-changing.At any rate what I found interesting was the comments that followed the article. Comment after comment was laced with cynicism and they were remarkable similar."hahahha!""Idiots" (a popular comment)"Canditates for the Darwin Award!" (another popular comment!)"Snake oil! Back in the day he would have got an asswhipping!""I can't believe that people of this day can be so stupid!!"
Okay, hold on a minute! When did it become stupid or idiotic for someone to try to strengthen their faith or improve themselves or test the power of their mind over matter?? And why such a overwhelming majority of feelings of relief at the failure of some to pass the test? And why didn't the article even mention if anyone happened to walk over the hot coals without being burned?? Apparently that wasn't as important as the fact that some people had been badly burned.
One commenter mentioned that in these ceremonies, usually a layer of ash is allowed to accumulate over the hot coals, which makes the walk easier, and maybe Robbins has too many assistants, some of whom are new and not familiar with the process. That was one of the few comments that wasn't grossly negative and cynical.
We seem to live in an age of contrived cynicism. I say "contrived" because the media plays us into it. Everything has been redefined to fit into the new personality that is supposedly so hip. So spirituality is now "woo woo," or "spooky." Mention of God is politically incorrect, and a whole list of other topics and opinions, but I won't even go down the "politically incorrect" rathole because it all so reminds me of Nazi Germany and Big Brother. Another facet of this new attitude is hopelessness and selfishness. Now that it has become common knowledge that the world is ruled by an elite group of "banksters," what is the common reaction?Just get what you can for yourself and your children?Anybody who tries to extend their compassion too far beyond that is labeled as a "bleeding heart do-gooder."The inbred natural human emotion of empathy for others, the reason why when one newborn baby in a nursury cries, other babies in the same nursery cry, that emotion is slowly systematically being de-programmed. Divide and conquer is a well known strategy, and still the most effective tool of the elite.
Anybody who has used an iPad or who keeps up with the rapid advances in medicine, robotics and the study of what it means to be human would have a hard time denying that we live in a new age.. Yet the phrase "New Age" is associated with weirdness. And still we have people who pride themselves on being conservative, even in an obviously broken system where even being white is no longer a free pass to any measure of success. What are they trying to conserve? The only think worth being conservative about IMO is the earth. Conserve that! And family values, yeah, that's cool too.
But other than that, sitting on your asses and sniping at people who want to make a change makes you like crabs in a barrel.
So, you cynics, in the words of John Lennon:
Well, you think you're so cleverand classless and free But you're all fucking peasants As far as I can see
And to all of you who want to improve yourselves, be it a diet or health regimen, any program of spiritual advancement, writing, painting, music, film, dance, education of every kind, overcoming addictions, tighter abdominals, starting a new business, or any act of political, moral or ethical courage, including the decision to change some unworthy thought pattern or conduct in yourselves...I wish you god speed and all the blessings and help from the angels!