"The Next Step"

     One must always be in the habit to ask themself "What is the next step?" or "What else remains to be conceptualized/acted out?" One who is used to being in the child mindset is often used to leaving a portion of something unfinished because they are used to "Mommy" taking care of that for them, whether "Mommy" was their true mother or some other person or situation that carried the individual through their problems.

      A child typically does not have to complete the entirety of a task set before them. An older person will generally help the younger through the problem. The picture below illustrates a hypothetical example of this:

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     As one grows older they are encouraged or flat out forced to be fully or partially responsible for themselves. Here is an example:

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      An individual who is supported so completely that they are not even aware of what life is like without this sort of support will likely be in trouble, handicapped in a sense, whenever they must work through a problem all on their own. So used to having the crutch, the support of another, they will find it difficult to conceptualize how something may be completed fully. They will often complete the act partially in being so used to someone completing the remainder for them.

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This can happen in areas of business, paying bills, getting a job, etc.; also this will effect their personal life, messes of all sorts left around the house, leaving food out after preparing a meal, dishes unwashed, chores failed to be completed, an overall neediness in daily life, leaving so much for the new "Mommy", a roommate or a partner, to pick up the slack.

When one is waited on by "Mommy" and never taught or forced to become independent, the individual will fail to become an adult. A child is typically given less responsibility in regard to their age. There is generally an uneven balance between how much an older person gives and serves a child compared to how much they give back. When one is not weaned out of this unbalanced relationship they will be a burden to a mate, to friends, and even to their self.

When one is weaned out of this child mindset they have the chance to reach maturity. This sort of individual will be more likely to think , on their own, of what particulars a situation entails and devise a solution to the best of their ability.

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      A dangerous element to one's completion of the weaning process is the overprotective or codependent "Mommy". This "Mommy" is usually the literal mother of the individual involved but it can be any force which spoils one and causes them to fail to complete the weaning process. A mother can damage her children by keeping them children past the age in which a certain level of maturation should be arrived at. It is the mother's instinct to nurture; this is why many cultures take boys away from their mother (often all of the women) so that he will have a chance to learn what it is to grow beyond the child stage without her interference. Beyond the instinct to nurture, mothers also wish to keep their children from maturing because they know this process will make the job of mothering more and more obsolete. This selfish act is quite the same as if a mother broke her child's leg in order to have something to nurse; she is creating problems for the child so that she will have a handicapped child she can nurture.

      It is often that when an offspring begins to have some ability to take care of their self, the mother and/or father will criticize their child in order to keep a dominant position. As in the model shown before, when one first learns to undertake more of a problem than before, including a portion that was typically completed by an older person, the individual often fails to complete the action properly. This is not surprising; it is to some degree expected in the learning process. But the parents who fail to parent properly mock their offspring in their failing to complete a task properly. Instead of teaching them, leading them through the solution step by step, so often the parent will, do to their own selfishness, mock their offspring out of ignorance, their fear of becoming unneeded, and a desire to remain in a supreme dominant position (completely unnatural). This injuring of one's offspring's psyche, instilling in them a low sense of self for superficial desires, is sadistic. The ideal is to wean the child into maturity with kindness, intelligence, patience, etc. Each lesson will lead the child into a state of competent independence. The child will be all the more thankful the more the adult helps them reach a state of balance.

Examining Cultures of Low Intellect

     Why are people of low intellect more likely to resort to violence to solve a problem than someone with a solid awareness of themselves and the world around them? When one encounters a situation that requires action in order to solve it, a person is limited by what skills they have. Through an average person's life they acquire insights into how the world works, ideas that can help one logically weigh the pros and cons of a situation or compare the attributes of two or more things.

      When one is brought up in a culture that does not highly value intellect, and/or holds false beliefs such as: to rush to anger or violence is a strength, the individual will likely have these traits hard-wired in their brain after years of this falseness being repeated. When one fails to acquire abilities to reason they are left with little in their arsenal to use when a situation requires a logical analyzation. By default, everyone has a mouth and two fists (save for a defect or injury). When a person of low intellect "reaches" into their "bag", the skills that they are capable of using, the contents are few. Some sort of ability to reason may be present but it is likely a deformed sort of thing, twisted due to growing up in a backwards culture.

      What does one such as this do when their logic fails, when others around them do not understand basic logic, when logic is thought to be effeminate, that using fists is believed to be a quality of personal strength, and to "beat someone's ass" is perhaps thought of as the highest good? One such as this is inclined to side with anger and/or violence. When a person lacks the skills to reason, all that is left to use is their mouth and the rest of their body. This is one reason why uneducated people often resort to violence; this is why they also bear more unwanted children that they cannot afford. They are, for the most part, limited to the physical, disconnected from a true, unique personality. This is because they are left with little more than the physical when they lack the skills to reason. They have an overwhelming influence from stupid family and friends in so many cases, and so they remain stupid themselves, praising stupid people's false-virtues. They become involved in chaos, a mirror of the disorder of their mind. They are more likely to go to prison, become involved in unnecessary struggles, surround themselves with low level people, and fail to raise their children properly due to ignorance and a lack of time for each- too many children to focus on and too little money to support them, thus creating a new generation of the same sort of idiots.

Intro to the Philosophy of Pure Self

     This philosophy is intended for those who seek to refine themselves. If you simply wish to live a life as your parents did this book will crush that dream. This book will crumble your ancient foundations. If you recoil from the idea of self-change you desperately need this book. Even if your belief structures are ten feet thick, the walls seemingly impenetrable, something will effect you- it will be the beginning of something big.

      Attempting to discover new avenues in life is treacherous. You will often find in searching you have gone in circles, have run into a wall, or even gone backwards. These are typical risks any adventurer takes when wandering into undiscovered territory. The amazing part about this is that these new worlds are within yourself.

      Living a simple life filled with hard-set certainties is not necessarily ignoble. It has been considered wise by philosophers that the simple life is preferable to that of the ascetic or the introvert who lives through books. There is a fine balance between each of these. If happiness is your ultimate goal, if satisfaction is something you desire to find hastily this book will be your worst nightmare. If that is your wish I recommend that you hold tight onto religion, race, gender, nation... false-beliefs such as these will serve you if that is your wish. Enlightenment is not necessarily for everyone; the well trodden path is a gift for those who wish to have their self composed of pieces designed by others. Self-discovery is making one's own path, form one's own self. Such ideas are found in this book.

      Searching for truth can be an agonizing experience. True, you will appreciate the clarity it brings, but you will lose the gift of ready-made answers, simple molds provided by society to pour oneself into. You will be lost oftentimes. You will seek for answers and find none which work as easy as those you left behind that calm your cares as easy as nursery rhymes. So venture on but be warned, there is no simple, fairy tale answer at the end of this book. There is no promise of heaven for all your hard work. What you get is YOU. A you more finely sculpted than before, the unhewn block of stone around you, each epiphany chiseling the false-self from your beautiful form. As after a strenuous workout training your muscles, heart, and lungs you will feel more alive in the changes you notice in yourself as you forgo the crutch of the child-mind.

      Whatever level you are at, as far as knowing yourself, as far as the amount of ancient habits that you rely on delaying your development into that better you, you will do well to view the many lessons and insights within this book in the focused, straight-to-the-point form that they are laid out.

      In order to do anything well in life practice is necessary and self-development is no exception. Here is the reason for the form this book takes: The subject matter is laid out relatively simply so that the information will not be lost in an avalanche of words within immense, wordy chapters. The subjects discussed in this book are titled in such a way to make obvious the subject being discussed to create an ease of reference and focus. I have made an attempt to keep redundancy to a minimum for the goal here is not to appear academic but to use language as a means to better ourselves. This book is a chance to express these insights which may be clear and obvious to some, but perhaps clouded and forgotten; to others, this critical analyzation of self will be undertaken for the first time. Such is life; we are often blind to our worst problems: The baggage form our childhood, our foul habits, our fears that keep us crippled, and our excuses that keep all of these pulsing with life... for when our eyes are opened the ugliness is so apparent to us. With an iron will one can rip these cancers out, crush them under foot, and for once live gloriously.

Abuse

     Many people speak statements of values to themselves such as "It is OK for my partner to (fill in abuse) if (fill in length of time in relationship or other petty excuse)." This one is so popular because people don't know what to do when they are in a committed relationship and someone treats them badly. People immediately fall into a state of denial and try to pretend that the wrong done unto them did not happen or is not as bad is it really is.

      First off, if someone does not respect you even for a second you should leave them immediately. The statement should go, "I have incredible pride and respect for myself. If my partner ever did anything to harm me mentally or physically in any way they would be kicked out of my life immediately." The problem is that people say, "No, you've got it all wrong. I don't think that abusive behavior is acceptable. I tell him/her so but they eventually do it again." Actions truly speak louder than words. One's action to stay after receiving any form of abuse has occurred, even the slightest insult is the same as saying, "The abuse you have acted out on me is acceptable. This is evident in that I remain here with you, the person who lacks respect for me and not one of the multitudes who have not harmed me."

      The fact is that anyone can find a partner that will treat them with the utmost respect. Anyone who chooses an abusive mate, a neglectful mate, any mate that brings harm into their life mentally or physically is a masochist. Sure, the abuser is to blame but you must also blame yourself if you stick around to receive the abuse again and again. A better mate lies right under your nose- there are good people everywhere. To remain with a less than exceptional mate is masochism. You are choosing abuse over real love, plain and simple. To say that you stay for monetary reasons, the children, or for any other excuse is a blatant sign that you lack respect for yourself.

      Protest may rise up after reading those last lines. If enough people hold the same self-destructive values, individuals will be likely to apply the same toxic standards to their own lives. People may say, "Have you ever heard of forgiveness?" To forgive or not forgive can be a difficult decision. Each instance must be weighed individually. Forgiveness is given too liberally in this Christian saturated culture. Forgiveness given infinitely breeds corruption. The animal mind in humans is finely tuned to share and care for others when punishment is an ominous threat for causing harm. With rules set up and enforced, peace and mutual altruism flourishes. Without rules, corruption and vice flourishes. For whatever reason a person allows another to abuse them, whether that be acts of physical harm, hurtful words, lying, cheating, stealing, etc. forgiveness only invites more abuse or mistreatment. The likelihood that someone will continue to abuse or mistreat another is highly linked to their belief that they will go unpunished for that act.

      If an individual makes it known that they do not believe that they can find anyone else that will want them outside of their abusive relationship, they invite abuse in that the abuser treats the other like a trapped rabbit waiting to be torn apart by a hungry wolf. If a friend acts like they will not be able to find another friend they invite mistreatment (though one should never lower themselves to be around someone who takes advantage of this). Forgiveness only works if, also in place, is a threat that forgiveness will cease if the mistreatment occurs again. The likelihood is that a person does not offer forgiveness out of pure good will but likely lacks the belief that they are good enough to find another friend or lover. Out of fear of being alone they forgive the one who caused the mistreatment or abuse, exaggerating the good qualities that the person has in order to cover up the truth. This person may forgive if the wrong was not too severe but should not allow another instance of the wrong to occur. If this does occur the friend or lover severely lacks respect for the individual and should be severed from their life. Statements praising overflowing forgiveness should be trashed in exchange for those that praise a balance of forgiveness. Speak aloud this following quote and let the words take grasp in your heart:

"I have a standard firm and unbreakable for the quality of my friends and lovers. This ensures that I have people that I trust and care for around me. I have no time for people who lack respect for me. To allow others to mistreat me is masochism. The world is full of wonderful people. I swear to myself that I will only allow people close to me if they have my best interests at heart."

Claims

     One must make sure to be in the habit of second questioning their own claims. It is so often that people, even top level scientists say things that are phrased so definitively without looking at obvious aspects of the problem that in reality are staring us in the face. I was watching a science show- the scientist said that technologically advanced alien life forms would not start sending messages through space till our technology was at the level to receive it and they would know that the signal that we would return would take nine hundred years to reach them at a minimum. He claims that they would not send a message till this far off time in the future. He is assuming that they are at a certain distance from Earth and not right at our front door, so to speak. He assumes that they and we will not find a quicker way to send messages through space. Being so definitive and playing so carefully to the paradigms of ones field, class, race, nation, etc. is so self-defeating. One must analyze each aspect of their argument carefully and meticulously. It is a lack of care and laziness that makes one blurt out a statement when the problem is not actually so simple.

      Even claims as simple as which fast food restaurant or which soda brand is better are so often blurted out as definitive facts rather than preferences which they generally are. Certain points may be valid when arguing why a certain burger is better than another but still something such as taste is not so easy to judge. Taste is so very based on what one is taught is good at an early age. If one brought up drinking Coca-Cola they may develop in their mind that that beverage is far superior to Pepsi. In reality, most people cannot tell the difference, and regardless the difference between the cola drinks are not such a difference for one to claim there is one. Regardless, people make claims that one brand is a 100 on a scale of quality and the other is 0. Beliefs such as this are usually immediately backed away from with much apologetics and blushing when they are questioned by another, but the practice of creating such phantom beliefs can lead one to become delusional and live in a world where this clutter of false beliefs suffocate them.

      Cleanse yourself of these beliefs by writing out the claim on a piece of paper then draw an arrow leading from the claim to the reasoning for it. Generally these false beliefs will lead to something such as "Because it is". That is a sure identifier of a false belief. Some people will write examples of why whatever it is that they like better is better. The aspects of the cola drink that one finds pleasurable should be listed, for instance, that being how refreshing it is, its sweetness, the "punch" of the carbonation, etc. The qualities of the drink that the individual finds less pleasurable should be rated as well. In reality the drink still will relieve someone of thirst, it is pleasurable to drink even to those that claim that it is far inferior to their favorite beverage. In rating these side by side it should be found that it is quite ridiculous to make wild claims that one drink is infinitely good and the other total garbage. Really there is a much closer relation of the two and the difference mostly is due to actual quality (many products are made of an inferior quality than others and are made by an inferior process which would warrant an inferior judgment compared to a superior product) and ones preference which is highly questionable.

      Speaking of preference, this is another emotion-based belief that is best linked to knowledge of what is involved, the better one knows about everything involved the finer ones taste will be. It so common for mediocre, common, run-of-the-mill people to have such a despicable taste in food, music, friends, etc. Most people really don't analyze anything. You can step into any house in a rich or poor neighborhood and see similar carbon copy personalities: The kitschy decor, bad rap or pop music blaring away, the two dimensional acquaintances spilling out canned line after canned line, etc. People tend to live according to the efficiency models of living and do just enough to get by. So much of an average person, for the sake of efficiency, is a prepackaged personality prepared for the masses so they don't have to discover life on their own. The average people are so lackluster, living as if in a famine, playing the role of a citizen to obediently while being such a rotten human being. These cockroaches are consumers extraordinaire; really they are not much more.

      Lay out the ideas, every small aspect of an argument. Seek and question if there are any other ways of thinking about the subject at hand. Is it as limited as you originally thought? Get used to laying out the various aspects of an argument in your head however they are related. Eventually you will be able to be able to do this unconsciously. It will be such a habit that rarely will things be overlooked.

Don't Give into Expectations

     So what if your parents want you to make lots of money? If you are not interested in becoming a doctor of lawyer don't. It's that simple. It's your life and you can lead it however you wish. If expectations are that you will follow in your father's or mother's footsteps the decision is up to you. If your dream is to be a painter, a writer, a musician, a cook... whatever compels you that is what you should devote your life to. It is your right to see your dreams through. Despite their concern for your economic security, it would be a spiritual death for you to pursue an occupation such as carpentry or accounting for monetary reasons alone.

     The world is full of people who have a severely limited awareness of real life because they are simply a product pumped out through the educational system. We see the efficiency model at work here once again. These people struggle so hard in competing the make it in their field that they sacrifice their humanity. Where is the time to experience life when grades must be kept high and then when one gets a job, well you've got to get to work, you've got to feed the kids... There is so little time for experiencing oneself when all of this must be attended to just to be an average worker.

      The truth is that one with an awareness of self is a high priority in every avenue of life. People like solid, well sculpted personalities. People such as this are capable of being good friends as well as being good at business. Those who live according to the efficiency model of living are as emaciated, third world statistics- spiritually at least. It is too easy to see the falseness in a person or the lack of personality. Let these products fall off of the assembly line of the university or trade school. Let them go about their routine, to their churches, let them congregate and babble on in that fake, unaware way, that death talk: What do you do, who are you married to, how many kids do you have? These sort of questions are fine in of themselves but it is the purpose behind the questions that is the problem. The purpose behind questions such as these is that there is an implication that you SHOULD be able to answer these or else you don't measure up to someones criteria. Did you achieve economic success in life is the question they are asking. Where do you belong on their ranking of achievement is what they are really trying to figure out.

      The fact is that people really suffer when they cheat themselves out of a developed personality. The sacrifice generally, if anything, gets them a few dollars more an hour, if they can achieve more in the business world than a well developed person that is. The truth is that a knowledge of self translates to a knowledge of that which is outside the self as well so there really is no reason to withhold the self its enrichment. What it really comes down to is that life should be lived well. Making money should be a way to fuel your life experiences. A person may know just who they are and have an interest in crunching numbers. Being an accountant is perfectly fine if the goal of earning the paycheck is to make one's life richer. Accounting is the job that is so often brought up as an example of this because people who don't know what direction they wish to go in life often pick a business related direction because they know it may lead to a chance to make money. It is a "safe" route that is not really safe at all. Really, these jobs that have you stuck in a cubicle are depression laden and unfulfilling to most. If one finds a job such as accounting exciting or fulfilling in some way then there is no real problem. If one does not end up sacrificing their true self for a cold life filled with stress then there is no problem. Find what makes you happy.

Statement: False-life/ Truth

     For too long false-life has been defended. Men stand on the front lines, defending the rites of simple falseness. Women cower behind it's conveniency. In each age myths are created. I speak not so much of the myths of the gods but those of culture, of mankind.

      It is the framework of conveniency that is built up that allows the masses, the common stalk of societies to function without forging through uncharted territory anew. Instead of displaying a grand life for the individual to live, a pathetic life full of inaccurate but easy to understand rituals are set forth as the diagram which citizens should follow. With this simple plan a high percentage of people may fulfill their roles, thus becoming a society. Though false, the mass of people together form a tribe or even a nation. It does not matter if they live false for their spears or whichever weapons they choose are just as deadly. The animal man lives on regardless of it's falsehoods.

      In modern life this will become harder as time continues. The falseness is being uncovered more and more. Truth will be the standard for all. Those who stand by those convenient falsehoods will stand out for their foolishness. The popularity of falsehoods will die away as truth becomes the trend. All things grow in number as they become the fad. Truth too will go that way as it already is.

Soul vs Organic Experience

     It is such a peculiar hanger-on from ancient times that people believe for whatever reason an act of love, for instance, is more meaningful if "fate" was behind it or if the beings involved had things called souls located somewhere in their bodies.

      Today one must be objective on the subject whether we are simply animals or animals with souls, whatever those are, because the study of biology has shown what we truly are body and mind. Soul is a theoretical idea; the old world assumed we were body and soul but we cannot truthfully speak about something if we don't know if it exists or not. There is no proof whatsoever for the soul. What is the difference if people share love, friendship, etc. if a deity waved its magic wand over them, bestowing on them an ability to love or if love is an adaptation gained through the process of evolution? Is something more real if it springs from a soul when no one really knows what a soul would really be anyway? People imagine it is a glowing thing, probably due to eons of astrological worship. Really, does the love between husband and wife or two friends need this mumbo-jumbo to be special? If nature can create this reality for us, if you can meet a person with genuine character whom with life is bliss, how less is that love you share just because you are two organisms composed of animal cells who are pushed on to love by an impulse to breed and herd? You can enjoy that love just as much. It is just as pure if you are true. Rather than fall into the trap, foolishly following the tradition of those who came before us who claimed that which was of the physical is lesser, be proud of your humanity.

      This society has forgotten true spirituality. The soul as it is so carelessly spoken of is really death. When the body is forgotten all follows in its weakness. Abstinence has its place in carving the will but when one is as a desert, when one fails to feed their body its needs the spirit withers. Kiss your lover, lay your lips on living skin, share gifts of pleasure and kind words. This sort of charity is cyclical and generative if both know to love true and relish in the others happiness. To love with a mind free of ulterior motives you are holy.

Suffering as a Character Builder

     It is so evident that suffering and strife has tempered my self to weather the storms of life when I see my fellows with weaker will power flailing and cowering under the slightest of troubles.

      The same weakness can be seen in those secluded from suffering such as many who are born rich. Upon losing their source of extravagance, the well from which the milk of indulgence drips forth, in the instance of the loss of career or other economic blow they are much more prone to feelings of futility and often suicide out of their unpreparedness for such circumstances.

      The poor will also feel the heartache and the gut wrenching fear in the experience of facing possible societal annihilation in severe economic troubles. They will choke on their tears and gasp in horror as they stare down the pit of extreme poverty. The difference with many of them is that if they have been tempered for this experience, if this suffering has been often seen in past experiences they may have gathered certain strengths to weather these storms. For these individuals their legs will stand considerably more firm as a weary sailor does, as his legs adapt and his psyche molds itself to sense the imbalance of the turbulent sea as it tosses his ship about in the chaotic ocean.

      Suffering is the way we feel compassion for others. The pain felt when touching a burning stove as a child is a way for one to understand the action is highly undesirable; the action should not be repeated lest the pain be felt again (leave these boo boos to random chance people. don't set this up yourself, freaks). The action of touching the hot object now understood to be undesirable, can develop in an individual a sense of compassion when seeing another's pain. Compassion is not a fully automatic response, and is dependent on a number of factors for it to emerge from a persons heart. Compassion now is possible when in it's original form (instinctual compassion) was not likely before the instance of pain.

      A person who has had their way paid through life will not respect what is given to them. They are like a man who has never missed a meal who does not understand the ecstasy the fellow next to him in the diner finds in the sandwich he devours after being without food for a day or more. The person who has not experienced significant hardship likewise will not feel much emotion for those experiencing economic troubles, health problems, etc.

Our Human Minds

     There is one reason that we have the minds that we do. This adaptation gave our ancestors the ability to adapt and survive across the globe in every environment from the coldest tundra to the hottest desert. The human mind enables a man or woman to analyze their environment and make use of very conceivable advantage that may add to their survival. 

     The human mind enables a person, say in coming across a deer, to construct a spear to kill it and the ability to utilize its hide for clothing, protection from the elements. With this ability comes a price, for in having the brainpower to analyze that which is outside ourselves we in turn are ever present with our inner selves which we are are always seeming to analyze. Depression easily sets in at this point. Just as Gilgamesh in his epic was struck with horror in realizing his inevitable doom, the fact that he was mortal just as any animal, that he must die one day, it is thoughts that cripple so many of us with the doom mindset.

      Not only must we die, but soon. Our lives are too short to accomplish much of anything important. Just as workers would, if they were asked to build a bridge the size of the Golden Gate in five days, we throw our metaphysical tools upon the ground in realizing the futility of it all. This mindset leads people to folly. They shout, "What's the point?" For many there is no difference in a life spent working on a cure for a disease than one spent primarily watching television. Chances are you won't find anything in your searching. What's the point in building anything up at all if by the time we die all that has been built is a foundation? Many people are not willing to aim big for this reason.

      We dream of heaven in our great minds, yet we know not how to build it. We are left trapped in these feeble bodies, unable to fulfill our great dreams we see within our minds, left scavenging for survival as any simple animal must. To ease our minds myths and religions are created. An architect of belief scribbles down simple explanations for natural phenomena and devises stories which, in many cultures, provides a vision of a better world, a hope when this world provides so little hope. Those stories create a diversion, fantasy worlds far, far away from the nightmare of reality within ones mind. Reality is painful in nature for one that desires more. These illusions are provided for those who seek relief.

      We make up rules for what is considered the #1 creature on Earth. We often decide that it is us because of our brains for the most part. Do we swim as well as a dolphin? Run as fast as a cheetah? Do we have the sense of smell that a shark does? Would not these animals consider their own qualities the most important? What does a man become once he is stranded in the ocean? We are so very inferior there, especially to the hungry beasts who call it their home.

      We suffer for our minds and still we must undergo the degradation of our bodies and die. We gather little more than a squirrel does, working for our paper bills rather than nuts. What do we have to show for all of this? Our art? Our science? We spread across the globe killing each other and so many other species. We are the killer ape, killing senselessly. There are avenues which even in the most selfish plan all may benefit, but the dumb apes that we are only know to destroy and perhaps survive. What a wretched, bizarre creature we are. If only more of us could rise above our animal selves as so many ancients recommended.

Statements of Your Values

     It is so odd to find a person's standards so different from your own. You may almost forget how different people lead their lives than you lead your own. Some people are better at saving money than you, for instance. They, by their actions may say, "Never spend more than $X on food, $X on entertainment..." By these rules they manage to secure an extra sum of money at the end of each month. With such statements of values, whether they are purely through your actions or words "spoken" in your head, you may lead a more productive life.

      Other such positive/beneficial statements of values include such statements as "I exercise at least three times a week; I have strict standards for the quality of company I keep; I do not let people take advantage of me in any way; I do not let anyone to degrade my self-esteem; I give my all to ensure that I give myself the best each day." At the very least make each of these statements the base from which you invent your own standards. Living up to such statements will keep you pure and strong. This is the path in which pride will be your companion.

      Circumstances in life cause people to lower their standards. The fact is, there is no reason to expect less. Before every person on Earth lies failure and fulfillment. It is up to each individual to get up and take whichever path they desire. It seems so bizarre being a bystander to another's life and seeing them deliberately choosing failure but it occurs the majority of the time. People follow each other like lemmings to destruction, to a life of misery.

      Many people speak statements of values to themselves such as "It is OK for my partner to (fill in abuse) if (fill in length of time in relationship or other petty excuse)." This one is so popular because people don't know what to do when they are in a committed relationship and someone treats them badly. First off, if someone does not respect you even for a second you should leave them immediately. The statement should go, "I have incredible pride and respect for myself. If my partner ever did anything to harm me mentally or physically in any way they would be kicked out of my life immediately." The problem is that people say, "No, you've got it all wrong. I don't think that abusive behavior is acceptable. I tell him/her so but they eventually do it again." Actions truly speak louder than words. Ones action to stay after receiving any form of abuse has occurred, even the slightest insult is the same as saying, "The abuse you have acted out on me is acceptable. This is evident in that I remain here with you, the person who lacks respect for me and not one of the multitudes who have not harmed me."

      The fact is that anyone can find a partner that will treat them with the utmost respect. To choose an abusive mate, a neglectful mate, any mate that rings harm into your life mentally or physically is a masochist. Sure, the abuser is to blame but you must also blame yourself if you stick around to receive the abuse again and again. A better mate lies right under your nose- there are good people everywhere. To remain with a less than expectational mate is masochism. You are choosing abuse over real love, plain and simple. To say that you stay for monetary reasons, the children, or for any other excuse is a blatant sign that you lack respect for yourself.

      Protest may rise up after reading those last lines. If enough people hold the same self-destructive values, individuals will be likely to apply the same toxic standards to their own lives. People may say, "Have you ever heard of forgiveness?" To forgive or not forgive can be a difficult decision. Each instance must be weighed individually. Forgiveness is given too liberally in this Christian-saturated culture. Forgiveness given infinitely breeds corruption. The animal mind in humans is finely tuned to share and care for others when punishment is an ominous threat for causing harm. With rules set up and enforced peace and mutual altruism flourishes. Without rules corruption and vice flourishes. For whatever reason a person allows another to abuse them, whether that be acts of physical harm, hurtful words, lying, cheating, stealing, etc. forgiveness only invites more abuse or mistreatment. The likelihood that someone will continue to abuse or mistreat another is highly linked to their belief that they will go unpunished for that act. If an individual makes it known that they do not believe that they can find anyone else that will want them outside of their abusive relationship, they invite abuse in that the abuser treats the other like a trapped rabbit waiting to be torn apart by a hungry wolf. If a friend acts like they will not be able to find another friend they invite mistreatment (though one should never lower themselves to be around someone who take advantage of this). Forgiveness only works if the threat that forgiveness will cease if the mistreatment occurs again. The likelihood is that a person does not offer forgiveness out of pure good will but likely lacks the belief that they are good enough to find another friend or lover. Out of fear of being alone they forgive the one who caused the mistreatment or abuse, exaggerating the good qualities that the person has in order to cover up the truth. This person may forgive if the wrong was not too severe but should not allow another instance of the wrong to occur. If this does occur the friend or lover severely lacks respect for the individual and should be severed from their life. Statements praising overflowing forgiveness should be trashed in exchange for those that praise a balance of forgiveness. Speak aloud this following quote and let the words take grasp in your heart:

"I have a standard firm and unbreakable for the quality of my friends and lovers. This ensures that I have people that I trust and care for around me. I have no time for people who lack respect for me. To allow others to mistreat me is masochism. The world is full of wonderful people. I swear to myself that I will only allow people close to me if they have my best interests at heart."

      Other statements that people declare concerning their values are "Addiction to (fill in food, drugs, etc.) is fine if (fill in excuse); it is OK to date a drug dealer if (fill in excuse); it is OK to date an addict if (fill in excuse); it is OK is I gain X pounds because (fill in excuse); it is OK if I give up my life dream because (fill in excuse); etc. It goes on and on. The statements above should go, "Addiction is lazy/self-destructive. I will never cause myself harm in that way; it is never OK to date a drug dealer. I will not allow myself into that world and open myself to that chaos and danger; it is never OK to date an addict of any type whether they be a drug addict, an alcoholic, a gambling addict, etc. They will only harm he and bring trouble to my life. I respect myself more than that; I will never allow myself to become overweight for whatever reason, be it depression, overeating do to boredom, or marriage related weight gain (you know who you are)."

Here is declarative statement that women should live by if they ever have a baby (obviously different women will have varying abilities to lose and keep off weight. The overall message is just to do your best.):

"If I gain weight from childbirth I will lose the weight in haste. I know excess weight will cause me to lose confidence and will harm my health. I deserve to be healthy and happy."

Here is a statement about fulfilling your dreams:

"I will live my life dream to completion and beyond. I will not sacrifice that for a spouse, a child, or any other family member. I will not neglect either my loved ones or my dreams. Money is no trade for fulfillment. If anyone does not offer support for my dream they do not respect me. If anyone does not respect the fact that I need time to practice and study to complete my dream they do not respect me."

This last subject is a tricky one. If someone is dedicated to fulfilling a dream then ideally they should be single in order to devote required amount of time to excel at the craft. If they are in a relationship they should not neglect their partner in devoting an inordinate time to their craft. Likewise if the person with the dream is not neglecting their partner they should be given ample time to focus on their craft in peace. If the person with the dream has children, the children should be well taken care of. If one creates children then they should take responsibility for them. The craft must come after them.

     

The Death Cult

     Whatever one dedicates the majority of their time to can be considered a religion of a sort for them. What is worship anyway? Worship is to focus deeply on something, to wholeheartedly dedicate ones self to a particular interest. Religious speakers bring up this idea all of the time to shake up a congregation whose members have been attracted to empty pursuits such as television or gossip. They say that if someone is a workaholic or spends all day watching television they are worshiping in these acts of intense dedication.

      Death then, is one of the primary cults worldwide. Just as the television cult, or a shopping cult, it is not acknowledged as such. The idea that we do not live long is always on people's minds. It is as if DOOM is written upon each forehead, each morbid individual meditating on blackness and emptiness as they go about their day. In this mindset people find no necessity to build anything of worth. All things are seen as sandcastles, short-lived achievements. What is the point in applying special attention to something if it will only be washed away by the waves of time?

      Nothing lasts long, especially us. What is the point in developing a strong self that will only meet the same end as kleptomaniacs, the morbidly obese, and serial murderers? The sentiment "Life is Fleeting" is expressed so often in so many ways. If one is married to someone they hate at least death is there to eventually take the pain away. It won't last forever. If you hate your role in life: your job, your class, the constant bills, your looks, all those backstabbing people... at least death is there to eventually relieve you. These pains of life will not last forever.

      Death is the essence of the religions of both the east and the west. The idea of reincarnation in the various Hindu belief systems as well as the idea of heaven in the Zoroastrian/Judeo-Christian belief systems are rooted in the cult of death. People who have a distaste for the suffering in this life can look forward to death with hope according to these cults. Death is the savior.

      There is a secondary ritual in the cult of death. It is rooted in the idea that each and every moment meets a death in a constant flow as time consumes all. This was an idea I realized early on as a child. It was apparent when I heard the empty talk of so many around me. There seemed no point in exerting emotion as a reaction to this nothing that was spoken. Time would swallow up this moment whether I smiled or not, whether I raised my eyebrows or not, etc. People take advantage of this fact all of the time. What is the difference if one is dull or interesting? What is the difference if one is honest or a blatant liar?

      Death of memories are relished by most everyone. If people forgive and forget one gets away wronging another. Time has a way of causing people to forget the wrongs that have been acted. If someone is not forgiven they say, "Oh, you are still mad about that?" The passing of time does not change the moral quality of the wrong acted. People have the right to forgive or not forgive. It is logical to weigh the actions of another person and judge intelligently because people so often take advantage of the forgetfulness that occurs in the passing of time and will sneak in all kinds of devious acts: Stealing, lying, miserliness, speaking gossip about you and others... it goes on and on. Family members are notorious for this. They say, "Can you really hold a grudge forever?" The offending family member may feel little or no remorse for the wrong committed but expects the act to be forgiven regardless.

      People do not only happen to benefit from others forgetting a wrong they committed or at least the severity of the wrong but they actually plan out the wrong ahead of time in knowing of this phenomena. They smirk defiantly, laughing to their self thinking the victim to be a fool. They feel great pleasure in the idea that they will commit a destructive act against another and be forgiven as time erodes the memory from the victims mind. It is asking for trouble to allow all to be forgiven for the selfish animal known as mankind will take full advantage of any freedom to act however they like under weak enforcement of personal law.