We had already covered half of the Dhammapada. That left us with the final four,Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. At this point, the Right Livelihood is kind of simple, we are not about to become arms merchants, bank robbers or assassins. Although as farmers there may be a struggle with the idea of killing animals for food.
We talked about Right Effort, and that seems pretty clear also, simply put we do the right thing, move forward, be kind, helpful, not wasteful or malicious. Clear cut, but not necessarily easy.
Right Mindfulness on the surface sounds kind of easy; just keep your head out of your butt. It almost sounds the same as Right Intent but reallyRight Mindfulness asks us to be aware of the moment, and of our actions at that moment. By being aware, we are able to see how old patterns and habits control us. In this awareness, we may see how fears of possible futures limit our present actions. This one could be a challenge.
Then finally there is Right Concentration, which implies that we select worthy directions for the concentration of the mind, meditation, perspective, seeing.
It is in these last two folds that real peace come, and it may be beyond many of us to follow these parts of the path. But then this is just a starting point to who knows what we will find. Tomorrow, we tackle the next part of the puzzle; I think that the Native American tribes will be interesting. In many ways we are probably most similar to them environmentally now.
(Margo) Kind of a boring day, did the usual, run, clank swords, eat. What was the old thing, SSDD…Same shit, different day. But the weather is getting better and we will have to start the farm stuff and food gathering for next winter.
I wonder how things are out in space, ha, you can tell I am really bored. I think of Tom and Asuna regularly but I am writing about thinking about Tom and Asuna, slow news day I guess.
That one message that he sent back said it was really hot on the ship, and after freezing my butt off over the winter, I am thinking it sounded kind of good. But he never really told us what it was like in the ship. I re-read it every so often when I get kind of down, and remember.
On one hand, I envy them, what they must be seeing, has to be just awesome, zipping along seeing stars and planets and just things that humans have not had the chance to see. But at the same time, I wonder what it is like in the spaceship, it has to be pretty much like living in a rat maze. I wonder if they have windows or places where they have gardens, or holodecks like in some space movies.
Anyway, they will be back in December, I miss him.
April 26th
(Lance) I talked with Major Barkley and it looks like we will be staying here at Camp Romanica, and that is good. We have a good base, and things are working. Maybe now it is time to start thinking about what we can do to improve the place. We figure that we have some of the basics covered, a sort of basic infrastructure. But we will need to expand on parts of it. The biggest issue for us over the long term is going to be power. We still have access to propane, so we can heat water and use the gas stoves and ovens. And we have some solar power modules so we are able to generate electricity. We also have a small wind turbine that helps with the electricity. But as time goes on we need to add to those generating capabilities.
We talked about the fossil fuels, it will be harder and harder to find or it will have degraded. We are pretty much at the end of our supply for the airplanes. The diesel and kerosene are fine for now, but we will need to keep that in mind. One or two big flights by Stephen will pretty much put us out of business in that category, and in doing so put a big crimp on the use of the diesel powered vehicles.
I, oh wow, I am doing it, becoming the anal retentive guy. I am worrying about future stuff, thinking about ways to expand our facilities, and supplies. And I guess it is worse than that, I am running, I am learning to play with swords, and kill Zoms. I am …..starting to fit in…..
(Matt) Well, Stack Three has a lot of information on the early Native Americans, some has to do with the historical part of it, the persecution and land grabs, and although interesting unto itself the part we are looking for is the reverence, the connection with the Earth.
I think that this is in part that there was so much of the Native Spirituality was based in oral tradition. That is what we are looking for and much of what we have read is based in transcribed stories. What they believed and how it led them to live.
In the end, it is really pretty clear, and simple. The Earth gives you food, and warmth and abundance. It is sacred and should be persevered and honored, waste nothing, and be thankful to the Earth, the Sun, the rain and all those natural elements that have given you life.
There are variations on the theme, similar spirits with different names, but it is mostly about the Father Sky, and the Mother Earth. The bringers of knowledge, or gifts are often called by different names, usually related to a legendary creature such as the White Buffalo Woman, or the Spider Woman, or anyone of so many others named, but it always comes back to Mother Earth, and Father Sky.
Tanya and I talked late into the evening about this. In so many ways the path of the past has much to offer. There were ceremonies, which was a big part of the learning and lore, much of it came from within the person. It is about being a good person, and working with and connecting to others.
It is in ways similar to the teachings of the Buddha, who also pointed to what was inside the person, not in the tapestries of the religion or the laws of the book.
(Margo) Been watching the calendar, it is getting to be near that time again. I think Code must count too, he is kind of funny, walking gentle the last day or so. She has not arrived yet, but I know her footsteps.
There was a big announcement at dinner tonight. Charlene told us that we had been watching radiation levels and that they had been a little higher than we thought was safe, but it is not as bad as we thought and we plan to stay at Romanica for a while, like forever. I think that it is a good idea. We are going to need to start farming soon. It will be tough this year, with Henry gone. Matt can do some of it, but he is not here.
I wonder how that pilgrimage thing is working out for them.
April 27
(Matt) We started in the Stack Three again this morning and tried to spend time working on the philosophy and religion of Zoroastrianism. As we read, it was in many ways like forms of Judaism, Christianity and although I have never read much about it, Islam. These religions are often thought of as the Big Three and they have many shades of variety from the cults, sects and divisions. It was why we went with Zoro, it was considered the foundation.
There are many similarities, and in reading them it basically said the same things as the Bible, Torah and the Koran. Be good, help your fellow man, if you were good God/Yahway/Allah was happy and gives you blessing and good fortune, but if you were not good then you would suffer and be turned away from Heaven.
About 10 am Helen came up to check on us and brought tea with her.
“Well, how is it going? Find the answer to all the life’s great questions?” she asked.
At first I was a little annoyed in the way that she phrased it; it was kind of flippant of her I felt.
“We have found some good stuff, and are getting there, but there is something missing, there is an element, a piece that we can’t find”, answered Tanya.
“Oh, well, what exactly are you looking for?”
As we sipped our tea, we explained the idea of the pilgrimage, and that on the way we had found insights about people, about suffering, about how to live, but still, we needed something else.
“You were both Christian in your upbringing weren’t you?” She asked thoughtfully.
“Yes, and in our travels we have questioned not the idea of God, but the idea of religion, the good and evils that have been done in the name of religion and what else might be a way, or a path for us.”
“I see Matt, well, you have bitten into a big apple and there is a lot to consider, I mean Stack Three is, as you can see very formid
able, and there is lots of interpretation of the dogma and various ways.”
I grunted in agreement.
“Have you ever considered going back, way back and just winging it, create your own theory, your own religion that works for you, devoid of the commandments, the prayers, the rite? I mean, all of this literature is good, and it has a place, or does it. It had a place, but we are blessed with the opportunity to start over from the most basic level.”
Tanya looked at her for a moment, then slowly said, “Perhaps you are right here, I mean we have so much tradition ingrained in us, from our past, but this is a new era”
“Consider your study of the Native Americans; it has been the Earth or the Sky that have been their main god. Consider that in Africa it was also the Earth or the Sky which are the main deity. In these early times, the very planet itself was the god. There are still those today who consider it such, calling the planet Gaia. And to them, Gaia is a living, breathing thing that meets our needs by supplying our food, water, and home.”
“Yes, but, rules, behaviors, laws….” I started.
“Are all creations of man, to cope with and live in harmony with the Earth, Gaia. Think about it, so many of the rules you talk about are based in survival, not for the afterlife, but to get you from one day to the next. Don’t murder, don’t really piss off your neighbor or he may kill you, show respect, it is all about survival.”
“Helen, I, I don’t know, I mean really, I, it makes sense the way you present it, on the surface.”
“But you have thirty something years of Christianity beaten into you and God and the afterlife have always been a part of you.”
I was quiet for a few minutes and finally I mumbled, “I have to think about this. I….”
“Take some time, it is not easy. But listen to the spirits here in Stack Three, let them talk to you, and give you both wisdom and answers. I will see you both at dinner tonight; I have something special planned for dinner.”
After she left Tanya and I just stared at each other, maybe we were wrong in what we had been searching for. Maybe the pilgrimage was not about how to praise God as much as it was to find Him/Her/It. Perhaps it was about enlightenment, and how to deal with the present, and the future.
(Margo) Auntie showed up right on schedule. I do not want to be around anyone today, we are having Deer Stew, I hate deer stew, I hate feeling like this, and I wish I was born a boy.
Code is hiding, I don’t blame him. Even Lucy was a little skittish at first, but she is snuggled up next to me now, I want to cry.
Ah, I have a new best buddy for a couple or three days, Code is going to stay in the boy’s dorm, I am glad that Del does not go ‘tilt’ as bad as Margo.
(Lance) I am thinking that what I am going to do is to head out for a few scouting parties to see what I can find for solar panels. I know I saw some in the outskirts of Hinsdale and Pittsfield. If we can double the number that we have now that would be great. It would insure that we would not have to sweat about the generators anymore. Between the panels and the windmill, I wonder if I could find another small windmill, but then taking that down or apart would be pretty difficult. I will put it on my wish list.
Stephen came to me today and was wondering if there were any little radios or anything that he and Heather could use as a baby monitor. They are setting up their cabin with a nursery. They are still about 3 months early to have to really worry about it, but in the world we are in now, it is not like we can just drive down to Infants R Us. I guess we could, but it is a different place. I have some things that they can use.
I talked to Fred and Ron about the scouting, and LJ said that he wanted to help too. We will start checking stuff out in the next day or so. I told Del about it and to my surprise she said it would be good for me to go with them.
“You mean you don’t want to go?” I asked.
“If you want me to I will, but it might be good for you to get some experience under your belt without me there to watch over you. Ron and LJ are solid, they will keep your skinny ass safe.” She smiled.
I was actually pleased about it, she trusts me.
Nick taught me how to walk today, with balance, keeping my center of gravity over my rock, a solid stance.
April 28th
(Lance) Ron, Code and I took a ride out this morning, we used Ron’s truck to see what we could find for solar or wind power resources that might be in the area and recoverable. Stephen, Fred and LJ took a ride into Hinsdale to see what they could find for baby stuff and also to scout for power resources.
Our group was able to find a couple of houses with solar arrays that I think we can scavenge and get some good parts to add to our existing array. There was also what looks like a little windmill turbine on the top of a silo on one of the farms close by. I am not sure we can get it down, but maybe.
In the course of the trip we ran into a couple of Zoms. Ron made me take the lead in the attack on them. I think that Del would have been proud of me, I did good, but man was I scared, her training helped, I just did what I was taught. It worked out.
(Margo) Inside day, and even I don’t want to be near me. I am puffy, pissy and in general no fun, God forbid a Zom shows up at camp today.
The boys all headed out this morning for a scouting mission, something about electricity or something. Code poked his head in quick, and told me.
Rick and Tay brought in a load of dried corn stalks from last year for the sheep to eat; we have someone make that run every couple of days. The deer have been in the field too, which make for easy hunting. I wonder why we don’t see any cows or horses. Of course, they would be really hard to keep penned up over the winter; we couldn’t really do well at feeding them.
(Matt) Tanya and I are both a little groggy this morning, and slept a little later than usual. It had to do with last night. Helen had a surprise for us and it was a biggie. It seems that not only was she the librarian, but also a member of the Native American Church. Sounded innocent enough, but the kicker was that they are into peyote ceremonies. She had one with us. I cannot detail all of the intricacies of the ceremony because it wasn’t the complete ceremony. She cut it down because we were not members of the church, or the tribes. What she did however, was to act as a guide to our experience. I will try to recount the events the best I can, and am sure that over time forgotten parts for vision quest as she called it will come back to us.
It began as we sat around a small hibachi grill, with a fire. We have no electricity so it was for light, and a little warmth. As we talked she explained that we would be trying or using peyote to open our minds and to remove some of those filters that have been put into place over our years and years of conditioning. The Native Americans have used this method for many centuries.
We settled in and she prepared a milky paste from the little mushroom buttons that she had. She said that there were many ways that it could be prepared, or used. We could smoke it, make a tea from it, just chew it, or as she was preparing it, to make a paste that was a mix with some water.
It tasted awful but we were able to get it down. I think we both wanted to puke.
At first there was nothing, we just watched the fire and listened to Helen as she told us about the Sky Father and how he made the Earth; and how in doing so made the Earth Mother so that humans and animals could live and survive.
“In the old days Man and Animals often spoke and worked together. In the beginning, there were certain animals that were special, the tricksters. In some places the trickster was a raccoon, in others, a coyote. It was somewhat dependent on the geographic area in which the tribe lived.”
As we listened, her voice seemed to move away from me. She was talking about the Raccoon, and how it gave man fire. I, I was suddenly alone; it was cold, and dark, with just the fire in front of me. The fire shared its warmth.
“You like the fire?” a voice asked, it was one I did not recognize.
“Yes, it is warm, and the smoke smells so good.”
“It is sage and cedar, one of my favorite smokes.” The voice added.
As I stared at the fire, I saw a movement behind the fire, two glowing eyes. As I stared longer, the eyes were surrounded by a face, a black feathered face. As it saw me make eye contact, it smiled, I guess it smiled, and laughed.
“Well human, it has been a long time since I talked with one of you. It is not often I am summoned”
“I, I, ah.”
“It is okay, you have many years and many walls between you and me and you find me hard to fathom.”
“I, yes, this is very strange and very different to me.”
“It is fine, we are here for you.”
As I stared at the Raven, I saw that there were other creatures that were standing behind it, all in the little circle of the firelight. There were birds, hawks, eagles, and bears and moose and mice, and …..
“We are all here for you, and here to help you understand. Each of us has a lesson for you, and each of us has a story. But we will not tell them all tonight, some you will discover as time passes. Watch Brother Squirrel and his story of how to prepare for winter will come. Listen to Brother Hawk on the wind, he will give you messages. Each of us, even what you often consider lowly, like the skunk has a lesson for you, it is his white stripe that is his reputation and protects him for others.”
As I stared at the animals, I saw one standing at the back. It was Tanya, but it wasn’t Tanya. I mean it looked like her, but she was different, she was green, and wearing a mantle of moss and leaves.
“I am Earth Mother, I am from which all of the animals, all the humans, all things come. I offer myself to you.”
Next to her was a smaller human, old, wizen, a crone, I think is the term. I recognized the face though the body was gnarled and shriveled. It was Helen, or at least her face was.
The crone spoke, “I am the bringer of knowledge; I am she who, with the animals, teaches about Earth Mother, and Father Sky. Listen, look inside yourself and you will find the answers. Look to the plants, the animals and the sky and you will know the answers.”
The Event Trilogy (Book 2): The Gospel According to Matthew, Margo & Lance Page 15
