The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, by Eckhart Tolle

The Power of Now translates the Buddhist philosophical approach to happiness into plain English. It comes across as pop psychology, and is a similar concept to mindfulness, which has had a bit of a run in clinical psychology lately. Tolle tries to incorporate some spirituality and references to most religions (though not mindfulness), but there is a very practical underlying message, especially in the first half of the book. This could be reduced to "stop and smell the roses", except that he explains how to actually do this and what people typically do wrong. I suspect this is the wisdom that some people acquire with age, though they don't necessarily know it, or know how to communicate it. The book is short, because the message is simple. Tolle seems to struggle with language a bit, as if English does not contain the words he needs. The book is written as a series of questions and answers, which gives you the impression Tolle works as some kind of guru. Most of what he says rings true with me, and I could see how some people would get a lot of benefit from it.

The basic message is:

People are unhappy or dissatisfied because they define themselves by their mind - their thoughts and emotions. Their true identity is the (uncritical) observer of these thoughts and emotions, rather than the thoughts and emotions themselves. People struggle to let go of this narrow identity because they have so much invested in it emotionally, and their false identity (their mind) will react with hostility to a challenge to its existence. The mind is focussed on the past and future, rather than simply being in the present - hence the title. This creates a barrier to happiness. For example, dwelling on past wrongs or insults becomes an excuse for self imposed misery. Goals or desires become barriers to happiness. We convince ourselves that we cannot be fulfilled until we have gained or achieved a particular goal, but it is either elusive, or unsatisfying when attained, or simply replaced with a grander goal. Alternatively, the uncertainty about the future can create fear that pre-occupies the mind and hence our identity.

---

Some previous book reviews:

Sapiens
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1534554530

Why the West Rules ~ For Now
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1404336014

Why Nations Fail
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1394832229

Guns, Germs and Steel
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1198305859

networks vs hierarchies in global power struggles
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1516488950

It's the truth, FD. Become aware, and you become happy.

This is the only message worth repeating or discussing: the power of now. Forget the Muselman, sustainable fishing policies and the tinted races, if you're not mindful, you're confused.

Eckhardt Tolle has only found a succinct way of saying this. Prophets have said the same for Millenia.

If anyone's interested, let's discuss ways to increase our awareness. I'd like to hear your techniques.

Tolle himself describes a very useful one: ask yourself what your next thought is. Be curious. Wait and see.

Know thyself. You?

We'll let master Light comment when he returns.

I read it but it didn't make me feel any better.

Bobby. wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2018 at 10:42pm:

We'll let master Light comment when he returns. I read it but it didn't make me feel any better.

Arise, Master Bobby, the truth is within thee.

Does this fact comfort you?

Either way, be at peace.

And so it is.

Namaste.

Sounds like more Enlightenment rubbish. Gross generalisations about what is wrong with humanity, and yet more claims that there are levels of perception. There is no proof that Buddhists are happier than anyone else.

Karnal wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2018 at 10:52pm:

Bobby. wrote on Aug 22nd, 2018 at 10:42pm: We'll let master Light comment when he returns. I read it but it didn't make me feel any better. Arise, Master Bobby, the truth is within thee. Does this fact comfort you? Either way, be at peace. And so it is. Namaste.

many blessings brother Karnal

and so it is

namaste

Well for the true concept and example of 'Spirituality',
the word 'FASHION' comes to mind.
Have a look at all the 'spiritual' people and they express it mostly via their 'Fashion' and feeling 'cool', etc.
This is where Spirituality mostly exists and can be 'believed'.

Joseph Campbell though, once said "Follow your Bliss"
which basically says "Do what you most enjoy doing (and own it)."

I push this further by saying "Follow your strength, don't chase your weakness."
Basically: A 'physically' handicapped person would be better attaining a few honours degrees rather than try to enter the para-Olympics.  ;)
...like a Blind person takes up Music/Singing (Audio)
...like a Deaf person takes up Art (visual)

Religion & Spirituality (Fashion) are akin.

Alas, the Gays seem to have corrupted Fashion to be considered a 'Gay' thing during Mardi-Gras.
Many 'Work-wear' places and other uniformal, fashion business's must be cringing at the Mardi-Gras ;D

There's no fashion, JaSin. I've visited monasteries that have been going for over 500 years. And they're based on texts that go back 2500 years.

Tolle refers to an age-old universal truth - the truth contained in all major spiritual teachings, including - FD might get a bit cranky - Islam.

Karnal wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2018 at 11:49pm:

There's no fashion, JaSin. I've visited monasteries that have been going for over 500 years. And they're based on texts that go back 2500 years. Tolle refers to an age-old universal truth - the truth contained in all major spiritual teachings, including - FD might get a bit cranky - Islam.

Like I said: Religion & Fashion (Spirituality) are akin.
They go hand in hand - like a 'couple'.
Much like Cooking and Medicine both use 'a blade/knife/scalpel/etc'.  ;)

Writing and Fashion are two 'visual' things. You look to 'read' and same with Fashion.
Hence why in one 'holy' book - a couple (of Jews) were naked in the garden ...and then 'clothed'.  ;)

I've hung out in 'monasteries' up there in the Himalayas.
Yep - they have books and they have 'ceremonial' dress codes to go with it.
Sorry to bring it back down to earth ...but that's really what 'spirituality' is.

Take a look at Australia's 'alternative' people who consider themselves 'spiritually' superior to others ...its all based on how they look (fashion). Nothing more.

The Fashion (Spirituality) of...

Politics/Aquatic (Navy, oceanography, etc) is WHITE
Military/Conservation (protection of animals) is GREEN
Maths (Economics/Money)/the Land is BLACK
Science/Entertainment (Music) is GREY
Medicine/Cooking is BLUE
Art/Aerial (Astronomy, Flight) is RED
Religion/Fashion is BROWN
Sport/Cities is YELLOW

Karnal wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2018 at 11:49pm:

There's no fashion, JaSin. I've visited monasteries that have been going for over 500 years. And they're based on texts that go back 2500 years.

did they ask for ID?

rhino wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 12:43am:

Karnal wrote on Aug 22nd, 2018 at 11:49pm: There's no fashion, JaSin. I've visited monasteries that have been going for over 500 years. And they're based on texts that go back 2500 years.   did they ask for ID?

No. But they did show me how they've been scamming foreigners for decades with their little 'Yeti' skull of yak-hide (and seek ;))  ;D

Quote:

This is the only message worth repeating or discussing

Karnal why have you not been repeating or discussing it?


Bobby. wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2018 at 10:42pm:

I read it but it didn't make me feel any better.

Why? Were you already 'mindful'?

Do you think he is correct?


Quote:

and yet more claims that there are levels of perception

Not really, unless you think the ability to pay attention to your own thoughts and emotions is somehow special.


Quote:

There is no proof that Buddhists are happier than anyone else.

I am pretty sure the book does not claim there is. In fact I think Tolle puts more effort into linking it with Christianity, but this might be more about his target audience. He claims that many Buddhist sects have effectively abandoned this wisdom.

ekhardt is one side of the ying yang.

from memory, the guy sat on a park bench for 2 years coming up with his theories.
i think he watched ducks fighting and then immediately forgetting the fight and just getting on with it and thought that nature lived in the NOW so we should too.
its a fair point.

he's a bit too weak sauce to base your whole "direction in life" on.

a lot of spiritual people use the spiritual ideology as an excuse not to get out there and grind it out, up the "narrow road to success".

i would say, combine both.

be that guy who grinds it out, perseveres, loves the harshness of the journey, busts thru barriers and seeks to lead a charged existence but also , learn from ekhardt to spend 20 minutes a day, in peace and gratitude for where you are on that journey.

the good thing about meditation is that, no matter what is going on, for that 20 minutes every day, everything is the same.

this is the contraction phase that fuels the next expansion.

ynig yang and the dao....i think ekhardt just stole these ideas and sold them to Oprah  ;)

The duck example is in the book somewhere. I'd like to know how he knows the ducks have forgotten about the fight, or that they are no longer stressed.

This is the path, not the direction, and Tolle does not give any advice on direction. He does devote significant time to explaining how his philosophy does not lead to fatalism and preclude motivation to change. He even argues that his philosophy will make you more likely to achieve the change you want. He makes a sound argument, but history does not necessarily support his claims.

Yuval Harari (who presents Tolle's ideas almost word for word, but attributes them to Buddhism) argues that all the"advances" in human history actually left people worse off than their ancestors, until very recently at least. This is both in terms of happiness as well as more objective measures such as health and workload.

freediver wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 8:30am:

The duck example is in the book somewhere. I'd like to know how he knows the ducks have forgotten about the fight, or that they are no longer stressed. This is the path, not the direction, and Tolle does not give any advice on direction. He does devote significant time to explaining how his philosophy does not lead to fatalism and preclude motivation to change. He even argues that his philosophy will make you more likely to achieve the change you want. He makes a sound argument, but history does not necessarily support his claims. Yuval Harari (who presents Tolle's ideas almost word for word, but attributes them to Buddhism) argues that all the"advances" in human history actually left people worse off than their ancestors, until very recently at least. This is both in terms of happiness as well as more objective measures such as health and workload.

i didnt mind the Power of Now.
his book A New Earth was quite biblical.

i think you have to be very wary when going down the 'spirituality " route that you arent using it as an excuse to put your feet up.

the world is harsh as f**ck.
the world is as unfair as f**ck.

to stay motivated and passionate is damm near impossible.

the advertisers sell this BS about the "golden years of retirement".
the welfare addicts see the DSP as the "big prize".
its tragic.

if you arent very careful, you can use spirituality as an excuse to sit on your arse and not get out there and enjoy the harsh reality of the game.
thats what i see when i see some pot smoking spiritual guy who thinks he is superior to a Wall Street stockbroker because he doesnt need all that cash.
i see a guy who is using spirituality to justify the fact that he was too gutless and too lazy to get in the ring and compete .
i cant see 'the call to adventure" in the ekhardts books.
yet, the bible constantly tells useless individuals to get off their ass and move out...moses, abraham,jonah, isaac...all were told to go on adventure , not sit on their ass and navel gaze  ;)

aquascoot wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 10:00am:

freediver wrote on Aug 23rd, 2018 at 8:30am: The duck example is in the book somewhere. I'd like to know how he knows the ducks have forgotten about the fight, or that they are no longer stressed. This is the path, not the direction, and Tolle does not give any advice on direction. He does devote significant time to explaining how his philosophy does not lead to fatalism and preclude motivation to change. He even argues that his philosophy will make you more likely to achieve the change you want. He makes a sound argument, but history does not necessarily support his claims. Yuval Harari (who presents Tolle's ideas almost word for word, but attributes them to Buddhism) argues that all the"advances" in human history actually left people worse off than their ancestors, until very recently at least. This is both in terms of happiness as well as more objective measures such as health and workload. i didnt mind the Power of Now. his book A New Earth was quite biblical. i think you have to be very wary when going down the 'spirituality " route that you arent using it as an excuse to put your feet up. the world is harsh as f**ck. the world is as unfair as f**ck. to stay motivated and passionate is damm near impossible. the advertisers sell this BS about the "golden years of retirement". the welfare addicts see the DSP as the "big prize". its tragic. if you arent very careful, you can use spirituality as an excuse to sit on your arse and not get out there and enjoy the harsh reality of the game. thats what i see when i see some pot smoking spiritual guy who thinks he is superior to a Wall Street stockbroker because he doesnt need all that cash. i see a guy who is using spirituality to justify the fact that he was too gutless and too lazy to get in the ring and compete . i cant see 'the call to adventure" in the ekhardts books. yet, the bible constantly tells useless individuals to get off their ass and move out...moses, abraham,jonah, isaac...all were told to go on adventure , not sit on their ass and navel gaze  ;)

Yes. You are absolutely right there Aquascoot.
But thankfully, the 'Ferals' here in Australia who live a more 'southern' lifestyle than those northern 'Hippies' tend to base their 'fashionable' spirituality of wearing dreadlocks  upon getting a uni degree or trade and enjoying the occasional beer rather than smoking a joint and wearing arty-farty fashions to think themselves 'Spiritually' superior because the pot subdues them like Ritalin does to a fatherless ADHD kid.

Most of the great philosophical works of the 'near' past are deeply flawed, especially when the writers themselves were flawed examples of existence. But hey, since the advent of the USA, the World seems to have 'fallen' back into the past and until Australia is 'officialised', the 'equilibrium' will continue to be flawed.

btw - shouldn't this Thread be flushed to Philosophy? :-?

The enlightenment trip in the West is tangled up in Orientalism. It has to be more spiritual, if comes from a different culture. Here is an interesting article Zen Buddhist enlightened ones and their Nazi sympathies. Suzuki and Haku'un.

https://apjjf.org/2014/12/3/Brian-Victoria/4063/article.html

To be honest. I'm a Buddhist.

BUT

I'm a 'Southern Hemisphere' Buddhist of Australia (region: Sahul) and so my (our) ways are different to the cliché Northern Hemisphere ways of the Buddhists there.

For one thing. We are not 'Pacificists' and we have long flowing 'Fabio-like' gorgeous hair. In fact, us 'Southern Buddhists' are completely 'opposite' to the 'Northern Buddhists'.

It's a basic rule of thumb. You live in Australia (the Now) as Australian (Buddhist), not as an Asian (Buddhist) ...the 'past'.

We go by the knowledge that the Northern Hemisphere may be 'up there' in the Penthouse. But we 'down under' here are actually 'First in Line' (the Future).
So Heaven might be Heaven, but its back there in the Past.
Hell might be down here in Hell, but it is the Future.
Because the Glory days of Old where life was mentally 'simpler' for want of physically harder,
is now the days of Tomorrow are being faced for being Mentally 'complex' for want of machines making life in the future physically easier.
...hence why 'Mental' disorders and discord and people on welfare because of Mental Health etc are increasing here in Australia.

In the Old Days, being 'mentally' superior was what was needed to rise above the mass 'primitive' societies. Mental Knowledge was Power.
But now, in the New Days (and New Worlds) - such information overload is for the weak and the unempowered. It's those that attain 'Physical Health' and empowerment that are rising above the mass.

So, here in the NOW of Australia ...its best not to 'think' like a Northern Hemisphere cliché Buddhist and Zen, etc.

;)

Here in Australia ...its better to 'reign' in Hell, rather than 'serve' (down under) in Heaven.  ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

Jasin wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 12:39pm:

To be honest. I'm a Buddhist. BUT I'm a 'Southern Hemisphere' Buddhist of Australia (region: Sahul) and so my (our) ways are different to the cliché Northern Hemisphere ways of the Buddhists there. For one thing. We are not 'Pacificists' and we have long flowing 'Fabio-like' gorgeous hair. In fact, us 'Southern Buddhists' are completely 'opposite' to the 'Northern Buddhists'. It's a basic rule of thumb. You live in Australia (the Now) as Australian (Buddhist), not as an Asian (Buddhist) ...the 'past'. We go by the knowledge that the Northern Hemisphere may be 'up there' in the Penthouse. But we 'down under' here are actually 'First in Line' (the Future). So Heaven might be Heaven, but its back there in the Past. Hell might be down here in Hell, but it is the Future. Because the Glory days of Old where life was mentally 'simpler' for want of physically harder, is now the days of Tomorrow are being faced for being Mentally 'complex' for want of machines making life in the future physically easier. ...hence why 'Mental' disorders and discord and people on welfare because of Mental Health etc are increasing here in Australia. In the Old Days, being 'mentally' superior was what was needed to rise above the mass 'primitive' societies. Mental Knowledge was Power. But now, in the New Days (and New Worlds) - such information overload is for the weak and the unempowered. It's those that attain 'Physical Health' and empowerment that are rising above the mass. So, here in the NOW of Australia ...its best not to 'think' like a Northern Hemisphere cliché Buddhist and Zen, etc. ;) Here in Australia ...its better to 'reign' in Hell, rather than 'serve' (down under) in Heaven.  ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

Buddhist huh? Why not invent your own philosophy? That's what Buddha did.

freediver wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 8:01am:

Quote: This is the only message worth repeating or discussing Karnal why have you not been repeating or discussing it? Bobby. wrote on Aug 22nd, 2018 at 10:42pm: I read it but it didn't make me feel any better. Why? Were you already 'mindful'? Do you think he is correct? [quote]and yet more claims that there are levels of perception

Not really, unless you think the ability to pay attention to your own thoughts and emotions is somehow special.


Quote:

There is no proof that Buddhists are happier than anyone else.

I am pretty sure the book does not claim there is. In fact I think Tolle puts more effort into linking it with Christianity, but this might be more about his target audience. He claims that many Buddhist sects have effectively abandoned this wisdom.[/quote]

This is a site about race and sustainability, FD. Islamic criticism versus spineless apologism.

Meditation is homework. One doesn't disclose one's insights, show off or preach. When the student is ready, the teacher appears.

Jasin wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 12:39pm:

To be honest. I'm a Buddhist. BUT I'm a 'Southern Hemisphere' Buddhist of Australia (region: Sahul) and so my (our) ways are different to the cliché Northern Hemisphere ways of the Buddhists there. For one thing. We are not 'Pacificists' and we have long flowing 'Fabio-like' gorgeous hair. In fact, us 'Southern Buddhists' are completely 'opposite' to the 'Northern Buddhists'. It's a basic rule of thumb. You live in Australia (the Now) as Australian (Buddhist), not as an Asian (Buddhist) ...the 'past'. We go by the knowledge that the Northern Hemisphere may be 'up there' in the Penthouse. But we 'down under' here are actually 'First in Line' (the Future). So Heaven might be Heaven, but its back there in the Past. Hell might be down here in Hell, but it is the Future. Because the Glory days of Old where life was mentally 'simpler' for want of physically harder, is now the days of Tomorrow are being faced for being Mentally 'complex' for want of machines making life in the future physically easier. ...hence why 'Mental' disorders and discord and people on welfare because of Mental Health etc are increasing here in Australia. In the Old Days, being 'mentally' superior was what was needed to rise above the mass 'primitive' societies. Mental Knowledge was Power. But now, in the New Days (and New Worlds) - such information overload is for the weak and the unempowered. It's those that attain 'Physical Health' and empowerment that are rising above the mass. So, here in the NOW of Australia ...its best not to 'think' like a Northern Hemisphere cliché Buddhist and Zen, etc. ;) Here in Australia ...its better to 'reign' in Hell, rather than 'serve' (down under) in Heaven.  ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

Very true, JaSin.

Religion/Fashionable Spirituality


...of the Northern Hemisphere is for the Poor, the Breeders, the dysfunctional, the mass-production of quantity.

...of the Southern Hemisphere is for the Rich, the Powerful, the functional, the quality of the few.  ;)


Australia has 2/3rds more 'paperwork' than any other nation. That's a 'serious' non-fictional Religion in itself  :P

So with that said.

Buddha of Asia was a flawed individual. He got it wrong.
He failed. He was no more than a homeless beggar of 'nothingness' on the street. The concept of 'doing nothing' besides being inside one's own head is a commonplace experience of those who achieve nothing, do nothing and are nothing. Easy to have a mind at peace with NIL RESPONSIBILITIES.  ::)

Jasin wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 1:35pm:

Religion/Fashionable Spirituality ...of the Northern Hemisphere is for the Poor, the Breeders, the dysfunctional, the mass-production of quantity. ...of the Southern Hemisphere is for the Rich, the Powerful, the functional, the quality of the few.  ;) Australia has 2/3rds more 'paperwork' than any other nation. That's a 'serious' non-fictional Religion in itself  :P

Where did you get that figure?

I'm curious.

Jasin wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 1:37pm:

So with that said. Buddha of Asia was a flawed individual. He got it wrong. He failed. He was no more than a homeless beggar of 'nothingness' on the street. The concept of 'doing nothing' besides being inside one's own head is a commonplace experience of those who achieve nothing, do nothing and are nothing. Easy to have a mind at peace with NIL RESPONSIBILITIES.  ::)

Oh yeah? Monks aren't allowed any money. They have to beg for their food.

Nil responsibilities, sure, but think of what that means. Over 190 rules for Theravada monks. Double for nuns. And if you think sitting around chanting, meditating and fasting is easy, think again.

A lasting calmness came over me when I discovered the Feast and Famine Variable back in the late 1970s. Before that, I wasn't sure what to think about society and religion

The Variable is the beginning mechanism of our minds. It's much like alternating current, constantly switching from feast (+) to famine (-)  Life is not possible if it was only one or the other

At the same time I discovered the Cyclical Moods and Emotions cycle in our subconscious minds


Knowledge of these are what settled me down and made me realize that many problems, arguments and accidents could be averted if we accept the fact that famine is necessary in order to go into feast, and when we are in feast, inevitably famine will came around again

The important thing to remember is that in the Feast and Famine Variable, feast and famine are in constant flow and are linked together, they can not be separated, just as the + and - in alternating current can't be separated

So how do I make this work in my life, to be of benefit? Well, it's a matter of balancing out the feast and famine ... because the feast and famine is balanced in the Variable, I reject "lust" for anything. I reject "excess", I reject expediency and extremist attitudes. I reject any view that we can always be in feast, we can't and we might as well accept that right now. I except that I must make reasonable sacrifices now and then

In the pursuit of happiness, I'm reluctant to copy what others do. I access what famine I'm in first and if that famine is more than what it should be, I then make an effort to fill some of that famine with feast, returning back to balance. My mind is peaceful when I maintain that balance

Bias_2012 wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 4:35pm:

A lasting calmness came over me when I discovered the Feast and Famine Variable back in the late 1970s. Before that, I wasn't sure what to think about society and religion The Variable is the beginning mechanism of our minds. It's much like alternating current, constantly switching from feast (+) to famine (-)  Life is not possible if it was only one or the other At the same time I discovered the Cyclical Moods and Emotions cycle in our subconscious minds Knowledge of these are what settled me down and made me realize that many problems, arguments and accidents could be averted if we accept the fact that famine is necessary in order to go into feast, and when we are in feast, inevitably famine will came around again The important thing to remember is that in the Feast and Famine Variable, feast and famine are in constant flow and are linked together, they can not be separated, just as the + and - in alternating current can't be separated So how do I make this work in my life, to be of benefit? Well, it's a matter of balancing out the feast and famine ... because the feast and famine is balanced in the Variable, I reject "lust" for anything. I reject "excess", I reject expediency and extremist attitudes. I reject any view that we can always be in feast, we can't and we might as well accept that right now. I except that I must make reasonable sacrifices now and then In the pursuit of happiness, I'm reluctant to copy what others do. I access what famine I'm in first and if that famine is more than what it should be, I then make an effort to fill some of that famine with feast, returning back to balance. My mind is peaceful when I maintain that balance

I think you have discovered the reason why rich white people who have everything are constantly bleating about how tough it is.

freediver wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 8:01am:

Bobby. wrote on Aug 22nd, 2018 at 10:42pm: I read it but it didn't make me feel any better. Why? Were you already 'mindful'? Do you think he is correct?

I don't believe that words alone can make people feel better -
wellness comes from within.

For instance if someone has lost a leg you can tell them
that they're lucky as many people have lost both legs.
Will that make them feel better?

freediver wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 6:56pm:

Bias_2012 wrote on Aug 23rd, 2018 at 4:35pm: A lasting calmness came over me when I discovered the Feast and Famine Variable back in the late 1970s. Before that, I wasn't sure what to think about society and religion The Variable is the beginning mechanism of our minds. It's much like alternating current, constantly switching from feast (+) to famine (-)  Life is not possible if it was only one or the other At the same time I discovered the Cyclical Moods and Emotions cycle in our subconscious minds Knowledge of these are what settled me down and made me realize that many problems, arguments and accidents could be averted if we accept the fact that famine is necessary in order to go into feast, and when we are in feast, inevitably famine will came around again The important thing to remember is that in the Feast and Famine Variable, feast and famine are in constant flow and are linked together, they can not be separated, just as the + and - in alternating current can't be separated So how do I make this work in my life, to be of benefit? Well, it's a matter of balancing out the feast and famine ... because the feast and famine is balanced in the Variable, I reject "lust" for anything. I reject "excess", I reject expediency and extremist attitudes. I reject any view that we can always be in feast, we can't and we might as well accept that right now. I except that I must make reasonable sacrifices now and then In the pursuit of happiness, I'm reluctant to copy what others do. I access what famine I'm in first and if that famine is more than what it should be, I then make an effort to fill some of that famine with feast, returning back to balance. My mind is peaceful when I maintain that balance I think you have discovered the reason why rich white people who have everything are constantly bleating about how tough it is.

Do you mean those who blame Islam?

Why or why not?

Yes well, us southern 'Australian' Buddhists enjoy wealth, prosperity, high achievement, hetero-sex and nice long 'Fabio' hair.

Think of us much like what a 'Vulcan' would be like, except long hair instead of long ears  ;)


[edit]
You see, we Buddhists here worked out the flaw of the original Buddhism.
For one thing, its easy to 'be at peace' when one isolates oneself from all the trials, tribulations and modern influences of today and just hangs out in a monastery up in the Himalayas.
No. We 'Aust' Buddhists venture out into the modern and hectic world of today (now) and not reside back in some 'ancient Buddhist past'. The irony of the original post is all about 'NOW', but Northern Buddhism is still locked in the past, still adhering to the old originalism ...it lacks change into the modern world. Even the Dalai Lama needs much help to transcend through the Veils (quote "Veils of Azlaroc") by way of more 'modernised' people around him. But he too is much of a 'relic' in his ways and beliefs.
Buddhism as 'you' all know it, is NOT in the NOW. It's still stuck in the past and even stuck in a part of the world, not the 'whole' of the world.

Even us southern Buddhists might change so much away from the past version, to become something more better and different to be 'ourself' as something new.

Easy to be at peace, when shut away from life's worries, up in some hidden mountain retreat.  ;)

freediver wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 6:56pm:

Bias_2012 wrote on Aug 23rd, 2018 at 4:35pm: A lasting calmness came over me when I discovered the Feast and Famine Variable back in the late 1970s. Before that, I wasn't sure what to think about society and religion The Variable is the beginning mechanism of our minds. It's much like alternating current, constantly switching from feast (+) to famine (-)  Life is not possible if it was only one or the other At the same time I discovered the Cyclical Moods and Emotions cycle in our subconscious minds Knowledge of these are what settled me down and made me realize that many problems, arguments and accidents could be averted if we accept the fact that famine is necessary in order to go into feast, and when we are in feast, inevitably famine will came around again The important thing to remember is that in the Feast and Famine Variable, feast and famine are in constant flow and are linked together, they can not be separated, just as the + and - in alternating current can't be separated So how do I make this work in my life, to be of benefit? Well, it's a matter of balancing out the feast and famine ... because the feast and famine is balanced in the Variable, I reject "lust" for anything. I reject "excess", I reject expediency and extremist attitudes. I reject any view that we can always be in feast, we can't and we might as well accept that right now. I except that I must make reasonable sacrifices now and then In the pursuit of happiness, I'm reluctant to copy what others do. I access what famine I'm in first and if that famine is more than what it should be, I then make an effort to fill some of that famine with feast, returning back to balance. My mind is peaceful when I maintain that balance I think you have discovered the reason why rich white people who have everything are constantly bleating about how tough it is.

That's correct FD, but not just rich white people. Any rich person, or any poorer person, are those we should be talking about, in fact any person at all. All of us are capable of complaining how tough life is at times

Famine is a scary word, but it needn't be, it's just one side of the equation, and it should be treated equally and just as importantly as feast. Just as much thought needs to be expended identifying and thinking about the famine in your life, as the thought that goes into how you can get into feast. The type of excess famine you're in will determine the type of feast you need to balance things out again. So, just going out and buying the latest iPhone may not suppress the famine in your mind, when what you really need urgently is a new pair of shoes - identify famine, make a list, and prioritize the famine

In essence understanding this revelation can lead to a peaceful and balanced mind, even if it's not strictly practiced, just the knowledge of it can instill calmness and clearer thinking

I'm starting to sound like a guru but that's not my intention. My point is that I still live a life not much different to anyone else but with a greater understanding of the mind brought about by the discovery of the Variable. I found it by working backwards through the mind, starting by assessing the feast and famine bias in written conversations and impartial articles, then charting those biases on paper and after months of doing this, both feast and famine appeared in very nearly equal amounts. I did this numerous times over the years and the charts were always the same, equal amounts of feast and famine. I had no other option but to conclude that that deep part of the mind works like this and that our words and actions are predominately influenced by it

Is this a book you read, or something you came up with yourself?

It reminds me of the penultimate chapter of the Harari book I just read. He points out that there is no biological benefit to being happy all the time. The hormones or whatever that control our emotional state naturally return to neutral even if the external influence that caused happiness is still present. I don't think he went so far as to say it must be balanced by unhappiness, but that might be splitting hairs.

Tolle prefers to use terms like "at peace" than happiness as the benefit of his philosophy.

No Religion or 'Fashion' (Spirituality) ...or even 'Science' can accomplish constant 'happiness', enlightenment, etc.

We are ruled by the natural world and all have our 'Tides', high and low. We are bound to this world in ways Science or Religion can never know.

Personally, getting 'narked' below 40m deep in the sea kinda gives me more of a 'rapture' than any of the above mentioned can.  :D

I read the OP.....

The description of ideas in 'The Power of Now'      sound similar to what was in a book that i read a few decades ago.


Sounds similar to Handbook to Higher Consciousness            by Ken Keyes, JR


the two principle ideas that stuck with me from reading that book.....
1/ Live in the here and now.   [....don't focus on past mistakes/regrets, and try not to focus on what may happen tomorrow]
and....
2/ If there is some circumstance which we see as a problem [in our life], our best path forward is....
....to seek to change what we can change,  and to accept what we are unable to change.

I found it to be an interesting and helpful book.


I am not familiar with the content of.....  The Power of Now

Jasin wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 10:14pm:

No Religion or 'Fashion' (Spirituality) ...or even 'Science' can accomplish constant 'happiness', enlightenment, etc. We are ruled by the natural world and all have our 'Tides', high and low. We are bound to this world in ways Science or Religion can never know. Personally, getting 'narked' below 40m deep in the sea kinda gives me more of a 'rapture' than any of the above mentioned can.  :D

I don't think science is trying to give you the feeling of nitrogen narcosis, that's religions job. Just remember, one day you may never return to reality(or the land of the living) from your "trip". Perhaps that explains the 100 monkeys dancing on your keyboard...

Do things right.

Do, what is right.

Then change will happen.


Self respect.




an inspiring YT......

The One Thing Only 1% of People Do | TRY IT FOR 21 DAYS and Success Will Come!
7 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6sTlukHLiA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6sTlukHLiA




.




Yadda said....
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1402138274/17#17

Quote:

The two most important characteristics which define the personality of a person [imo]; 1/ are we honest ? 2/ are we reliable ?                    ....[e.g. if we give someone an undertaking to do something, or to behave in a certain way, will we keep to the [verbal] agreement that we have made ?] More than that, is superfluous, imo.

freediver wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 10:08pm:

Is this a book you read, or something you came up with yourself? It reminds me of the penultimate chapter of the Harari book I just read. He points out that there is no biological benefit to being happy all the time. The hormones or whatever that control our emotional state naturally return to neutral even if the external influence that caused happiness is still present. I don't think he went so far as to say it must be balanced by unhappiness, but that might be splitting hairs. Tolle prefers to use terms like "at peace" than happiness as the benefit of his philosophy.

That's basically what I found. In the charts I did, which were plot lines, there was "halfway" points as the plot line went through the cycles. On one side was Feast and the other side was Famine, but the plot line in every cycle would reach no-mans land, neither feast nor famine, and that's only natural because any type of sine wave always has a center line indicating the mid way point. I agree with that guy whoever he is. I tracked my emotional states while I was plotting the cycles and there were parts of the cycle where I naturally felt mild depression and other parts where I felt like I wanted to get right out of my chair and enthusiastically get some work done. Those feelings were consistent in every cycle and in the same parts of the cycles

It wasn't something I just came up with, I've explained already that it was a discovery I made. I was researching left and right thinking, why is there left and right? It turns out that left and right originates from the Feast and Famine Variable. Biologically some people are right and some people are left. You can see in our parliaments, a balance between left and right is fought over every day they sit. Whoever wins on any given day will be happy, the losers will be unhappy. One is in feast, one is in famine, and that's the very formula I used to find the Variable

What the left and right politicians are really doing is replicating the Variable albeit in a crude manner. They just don't know they're doing that. If they knew how the Feast and Famine Variable in their minds really worked, they wouldn't be shouting at each other. I don't shout at myself or anyone else if I'm in famine, I think rationally and calmly to find a way out of it, and I always find a way if it's important enough

That said, an Opposition knows sooner or later they will gain government, and the government at the time knows it will sit in opposition sometimes. Well, this also originates from the Feast and Famine Variable deep in the human mind. However, and this is important, the Variable can change slightly, it's a variable and we'd all be dead if it didn't change, so any attempt to keep the Variable static by not willingly allowing for change can have catastrophic consequences

I contend that the willingness to change is paramount because our natural cycles will leave us behind if we don't ... and then we must go through hell and turmoil to catch up. Who wants hell and turmoil?

Bias_2012 wrote on Aug 24^th, 2018 at 1:06am:

freediver wrote on Aug 23rd, 2018 at 10:08pm: Is this a book you read, or something you came up with yourself? It reminds me of the penultimate chapter of the Harari book I just read. He points out that there is no biological benefit to being happy all the time. The hormones or whatever that control our emotional state naturally return to neutral even if the external influence that caused happiness is still present. I don't think he went so far as to say it must be balanced by unhappiness, but that might be splitting hairs. Tolle prefers to use terms like "at peace" than happiness as the benefit of his philosophy. That's basically what I found. In the charts I did, which were plot lines, there was "halfway" points as the plot line went through the cycles. On one side was Feast and the other side was Famine, but the plot line in every cycle would reach no-mans land, neither feast nor famine, and that's only natural because any type of sine wave always has a center line indicating the mid way point. I agree with that guy whoever he is. I tracked my emotional states while I was plotting the cycles and there were parts of the cycle where I naturally felt mild depression and other parts where I felt like I wanted to get right out of my chair and enthusiastically get some work done. Those feelings were consistent in every cycle and in the same parts of the cycles It wasn't something I just came up with, I've explained already that it was a discovery I made. I was researching left and right thinking, why is there left and right? It turns out that left and right originates from the Feast and Famine Variable. Biologically some people are right and some people are left. You can see in our parliaments, a balance between left and right is fought over every day they sit. Whoever wins on any given day will be happy, the losers will be unhappy. One is in feast, one is in famine, and that's the very formula I used to find the Variable What the left and right politicians are really doing is replicating the Variable albeit in a crude manner. They just don't know they're doing that. If they knew how the Feast and Famine Variable in their minds really worked, they wouldn't be shouting at each other. I don't shout at myself or anyone else if I'm in famine, I think rationally and calmly to find a way out of it, and I always find a way if it's important enough That said, an Opposition knows sooner or later they will gain government, and the government at the time knows it will sit in opposition sometimes. Well, this also originates from the Feast and Famine Variable deep in the human mind. However, and this is important, the Variable can change slightly, it's a variable and we'd all be dead if it didn't change, so any attempt to keep the Variable static by not willingly allowing for change can have catastrophic consequences I contend that the willingness to change is paramount because our natural cycles will leave us behind if we don't ... and then we must go through hell and turmoil to catch up. Who wants hell and turmoil?

quite interesting.

similar to the order and chaos symbolism of the Dow  (the ying yang).

happiness is often sought through "stimulation" but that has a "diminishing return".
its probably better to be "engaged" then "stimulated".

Carl Jung said that certain activities will be "meaningful" to certain people and when you find an intimation of meaning you should pursue that , because thats where personal growth will come from.

so you are naturally drawn to pursue things which will expand you.
indeed, doing new things , has been proven to turn on new genes and encode new proteins.

this may be the reason for the mythological idea of going on a pilgrimage.
because it expands you. it literally does make you more then you were before.

But if we look at someone going on an exciting adventure, maybe take Cook on the Endeavour as an example. then would we really want Cook to be just happy all the time.
would we be expecting him to be happy when he hit the reef.

obviously not.

what we would expect is that he would be making "order from the chaos" and this seems to be where maximum engagement comes from.

it would make me very bored to just ride a safe horse every day.
but riding a chaotic horse and making it into a safe horse is making order from chaos.
and i find that meaningful. (and engaging), happiness doesnt really come into it

Bias, so basically you plotted your self-evaluated emotional state over time?

Was there one or more typical frequencies/rates at which it went back and forth?

The way you use the term "Feast and Famine Variable" makes it sound like a book or established (by more than one person) principle. I thought you meant literal famines at first. Have you published it anywhere? You should plot your results and explain your interpretation - I think you'd get a lot of interest.

freediver wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2018 at 10:08pm:

Is this a book you read, or something you came up with yourself? It reminds me of the penultimate chapter of the Harari book I just read. He points out that there is no biological benefit to being happy all the time. The hormones or whatever that control our emotional state naturally return to neutral even if the external influence that caused happiness is still present. I don't think he went so far as to say it must be balanced by unhappiness, but that might be splitting hairs. Tolle prefers to use terms like "at peace" than happiness as the benefit of his philosophy.

Indeed. As does the Muselman.

aquascoot wrote on Aug 24^th, 2018 at 6:13am:

But if we look at someone going on an exciting adventure, maybe take Cook on the Endeavour as an example. then would we really want Cook to be just happy all the time. would we be expecting him to be happy when he hit the reef.

Would Cook have contemplated or dwelt on whether he was unhappy or not, he had no time - but he certainly would have known he was in a sort of famine when he hit the reef. He needed to get back into feast again and he did that by using the canvas sheet to temporarily block the hole to prevent any more water getting in

Did he panic, did he flog the crew, put them on half rations? no, he remained cool, had the ship repaired and sailed on. An understanding and compassionate alpha male who inadvertently and unknowingly was complying with the feast and famine variable - get it back into balance as soon as possible, with the crew helping him out

With happiness, there must be unhappiness to gauge how happy we really are. That's why we'd rather watch a movie about Captain Bligh than one about Captain Cook

Karnal wrote on Aug 24^th, 2018 at 11:18am:

freediver wrote on Aug 23rd, 2018 at 10:08pm: Is this a book you read, or something you came up with yourself? It reminds me of the penultimate chapter of the Harari book I just read. He points out that there is no biological benefit to being happy all the time. The hormones or whatever that control our emotional state naturally return to neutral even if the external influence that caused happiness is still present. I don't think he went so far as to say it must be balanced by unhappiness, but that might be splitting hairs. Tolle prefers to use terms like "at peace" than happiness as the benefit of his philosophy. Indeed. As does the Muselman.

When they use the term they mean they have run out of infidels to slaughter.

freediver wrote on Aug 24^th, 2018 at 8:35am:

Bias, so basically you plotted your self-evaluated emotional state over time? Was there one or more typical frequencies/rates at which it went back and forth? The way you use the term "Feast and Famine Variable" makes it sound like a book or established (by more than one person) principle. I thought you meant literal famines at first. Have you published it anywhere? You should plot your results and explain your interpretation - I think you'd get a lot of interest.

The plotting of my emotional states was incidental to the plotting of the Variable, and yes I did notice over time that the emotional states were the same on certain parts of the Variables plot line in every cycle. It took some time though before I noticed what was happening. The Variable doubles as the "weather" of the human mind as well

There are natural forces in the mind that are inevitable and hidden from view, but I've cracked the code and they're not hidden anymore. The only thing I'm struggling to work out is how the Variable applies itself to the "thinking" mind, but it's obviously connected to and influences the thinking mind because I found the Variable by working back through the thinking mind, and eventually arriving at the mind's basic driver, the Variable

The Variable is only one frequency, and it's not like a semi circular sine wave, it plotted as straight lines, it went down for a while then crossed over to the other side, then went down, crossed back again and so on

I'll publish it when I learn how to set up a web site, I've never done that before, but when I do, I'll fully explain it all. It's a very useful tool once it's plotted

What is the "Variable" a measure of?

America is the Dreamer

And soon (once Politics folds here), Australia will be the Dream.

;)

freediver wrote on Aug 24^th, 2018 at 5:05pm:

What is the "Variable" a measure of?

It's a simple electrical signal that has two phases, 1) plus +(feast) ... and 2) minus - (famine)

That's the best way I can describe it. It's one of those miracles of biology, and it has equal amounts of feast and famine. All of our thoughts, spoken words and actions are based in that biology

So it's not a measure of anything as such, it's an in-built vital function at the beginning of the mind process with a job to do, to keep the mind balanced between feast and famine

What did you actually measure? What is the link from your concept back to reality?

freediver wrote on Aug 24^th, 2018 at 10:12pm:

What did you actually measure? What is the link from your concept back to reality?

An assessment was made of how much feast or famine there is in articles and conversations. I devised a method to estimate the amount of each in the written dialogue. The method was to watch for words that have a feast bias, and watch for words that have famine bias

An example of a feast word is: "winning" - that's a feast biased word

An example of a famine word is: "lose" - that's a famine biased word

They are just two words that you should easily understand. But in fact, every word has a feast or famine bias, however it's not necessary to assess every word

A dialogue with more famine words than feast words, will be "famine" biased

A dialogue with more feast words than famine words, will be "feast" biased

That's the basic principle of the assessment method, but there were other considerations as well that could alter the degree of feast or famine. Many articles balanced out, they were the hardest to assess

There was a second part of the method that finalised the assessment of a dialogue, and that was to breeze back over the article or conversation and make absolutely sure I was getting it right

After that, I put pen to paper and started a plot line on a daily basis, assessing daily dialogues and the plot line consisted of angled lines or slightly angled lines depending on the degree of famine or feast for the day. A famine line went in a left direction, and the feast lines went in a right direction, going down the page. The angled lines were joined end to end, forming one continuous wavy line after months of plotting it

From one day to another, I had no idea how the wave would form, but after months of plotting it, it formed a pretty uniform sine wave type thing except it wasn't a semi circular wave, as I explained earlier it formed straight lines going down then crossing over to the other side then down again, crossing back over again and so on and so on

The link from your concept the Variable back to reality, is the plot line, the Variable became visible when I plotted it and it can be used. It's useful for checking what will actually tend to happen in the next cycle. Using the last Variable plot line I did, I picked up a terrorist attack in Russia a month before it happened, I knew within two days in a cycle when it would happen ... and it did. I used it for short term trends on the stock exchange. It was right about that too

Once the Variable is out in the open, it doesn't just belong to those articles and conversations any more, it's universal, it's the Feast and Famine Variable in everyones head, part of everyones mind

Quote:

An assessment was made of how much feast or famine there is in articles and conversations.

Your own conversations? TV shows?

Could you automate this process today?

freediver wrote on Aug 25^th, 2018 at 2:12pm:

Quote: An assessment was made of how much feast or famine there is in articles and conversations. Your own conversations? TV shows? Could you automate this process today?

I used printed stuff. That was easier than trying to remember face to face conversations, or TV shows

Yes it could be automated. With today's high technology it could be done, but each day's result may still need some intervention by a human to give it the human touch, certain relevant feelings and/or emotions may result in a slight change of direction of the day's plot line

For example: If the famine in a day's plot line is because of a bank collapse, that famine might be counteracted by a general feeling in the community that the sky won't fall in with just one bank collapse, this would be a positive sign of optimism, which is feast. Only a human can assess this, so that slight amount of feast assessed by the human would draw the famine back a bit, make the plot line just a little bit straighter for that day's assessment

Quote:

a general feeling in the community

How do you measure that? It sounds to me like you were projecting your own mood swings.

freediver wrote on Aug 25^th, 2018 at 9:47pm:

Quote: a general feeling in the community How do you measure that? It sounds to me like you were projecting your own mood swings.

The first rule is to be completely impartial throughout the whole process, and evidence was necessary, and from that evidence a determination was made as to whether it was "strong", "moderate" or "weak". Then the plot line for the day was adjusted accordingly, tweaked, to use the correct term

One thing though that I discovered about plotting this Variable, was that consistency is far more important than accuracy, I strove for accuracy but neglecting to be consistent in applying the rules only results in a false variable no matter how accurate the daily assessments seemed to be.

My own moods were kept out of it. The rule is you assess what's before you and not change the assessment to suit yourself. It's like reading the fuel gauge in a new car - telling it that it's wrong is not going to work for you, is it?

Using the fuel gauge analogy, if the gauge shows full, it's feast. If the gauge shows empty, it's famine. If it shows half full, it's a balance of feast and famine (the plot line in the Variable would lean neither to the left nor right)

Now if the gauge shows 3/4 full, that will be a little more feast than there is famine. If it shows 1/4 full, that will be a little more famine than there is feast

The second rule of plotting the Variable is to keep things simple, because in the end, the Variable itself is simple, as it turned out. Every time I brought complication into assessing it, nothing really worked, complication and complexity were totally unnecessary, only simplicity worked

Another interesting fact about this variable is that it can be plotted retrospectively. Assessing the feast and famine biases in written works from the past could take it back hundreds of years, possible thousands. It's not a job I'd do all by myself, it would require a dedicated team compiling copies of past preserved works to read and assess but the retrospective Variable would give up a lot of secrets once it was done - when the next Depression will come about, when the next "Hitler" will emerge, etc etc. These things will happen, just in different forms than they did last time they happened

Please stop giving me analogies for what you were doing. I get the idea. I am  asking you what you were actually doing.

What is the "general feeling in the community"? Is this something you measured separately? Why apply it as a "correction" to the face value content of an article rather than as a separate variable?

freediver wrote on Aug 26^th, 2018 at 5:07pm:

Please stop giving me analogies for what you were doing. I get the idea. I am  asking you what you were actually doing. What is the "general feeling in the community"? Is this something you measured separately? Why apply it as a "correction" to the face value content of an article rather than as a separate variable?

Because it's one of the considerations taken into account in the overall process. It's done separately only as all the other aspects of the assessments are done, then they are melded together resulting in a final degree of angle for the day's plot line.

What are you actually measuring as the "general feeling in the community"?

freediver wrote on Aug 26^th, 2018 at 6:33pm:

What are you actually measuring as the "general feeling in the community"?

The famine or feast bias in the feeling. If the feeling came across as being strong, it's bias would be significant. If the feeling was only mild, it's bias would be less significant and wouldn't count so much in the final assessment

With the Govt spill we've all being observing, the general feeling of the community was one of concern, but that concern wasn't necessarily an extreme concern (did you see the interviews in the street?, most of those citizens kept their cool)

The bias in those interviews was famine, tempered by feast because of their coolness. But because of their concern, the bias was still famine, just not as much as it might have been had they been displaying real despair and/or hopelessness

Quote:

If the feeling came across as

This sounds more like your own feelings than those of other people. You went to great trouble to get on objective measure, then deliberately biased it with your interpretation.

freediver wrote on Aug 26^th, 2018 at 10:25pm:

Quote: If the feeling came across as This sounds more like your own feelings than those of other people. You went to great trouble to get on objective measure, then deliberately biased it with your interpretation.

And you turned an interesting thread into one of your personal stalkathons.

Sala'am Aleikum, no?

freediver wrote on Aug 26^th, 2018 at 10:25pm:

Quote: If the feeling came across as This sounds more like your own feelings than those of other people. You went to great trouble to get on objective measure, then deliberately biased it with your interpretation.

I was talking in the past tense FD

They're not my own feelings, they are my interpretations based on what my eyes see and what my ears hear

If a community feeling was a happy and optimistic one, the bias would be feast. That happened a lot during the 2000 Olympics. On the other hand there were feelings of despair during the GFC, ensuring the bias was famine a lot of that time

Why go to the trouble of getting an objective measure if you are then going to "correct" it for your own interpretation?

freediver wrote on Aug 27^th, 2018 at 1:15pm:

Why go to the trouble of getting an objective measure if you are then going to "correct" it for your own interpretation?

Don't forget that the interpretation is to convert the community feeling to a degree of feast or famine bias. That interpretation is not a rambling on of my opinions on anything, it's just simply an interpretation of how much the angle of the plot line must be tweaked

The discovery and knowledge of the Variable is my power of now, it brought my out of the wilderness of wondering why the left and right are at each others throats most of the time. I found the answer to that, it's because some people are more in psychological famine, and some are more in psychological feast. Each is not really aware of the other side of their personal psychological Variable, so they need each other to balance out the feast and famine in their heads. One can't do without the other in other words

Rightwing people and Leftwing people are really only "half" people. It's not until they interact together, do they become a "whole" people, as far as the Feast and Famine Variable is concerned

If these two groups were separated, never allowed to argue with to each other, they would probably die off like Neanderthals, leaving only the people in the population who had "balance" Variables, equal amounts of feast and famine, to carry on their peaceful lives 

Why not simply separate them into the objective variable and your correction based on your interpretation of public mood? You are destroying information by combining them, making your result less useful. If I saw a plot of your variable, I would have no idea whether I am really looking at a plot of your interpretation with a slight bias towards objectivity, or a plot of your objective measure with a slight bias towards your interpretation. The difference between then two might also be of interest.

freediver wrote on Aug 27^th, 2018 at 6:57pm:

Why not simply separate them into the objective variable and your correction based on your interpretation of public mood? You are destroying information by combining them, making your result less useful. If I saw a plot of your variable, I would have no idea whether I am really looking at a plot of your interpretation with a slight bias towards objectivity, or a plot of your objective measure with a slight bias towards your interpretation. The difference between then two might also be of interest.

Yes you'd have to see it to properly understand it FD, but the procedure is not much different to gathering information to write out a report or to draw up a graph. I gathered information then assessed the feast and/or famine in it, then that was represented as either a straight line or an angled line. Each day, the line was joined to the end of the previous day's line. I had no idea where the plot line would go in the beginning, but it never went off the page, it kept going down forming a cyclical pattern. It's this cyclical pattern that told me I was doing something right - being impartial while assessing the information

If you could remain impartial for 30mins each day, you could plot the Variable too. You only need to think in terms of "feast" and "famine", check how much you reckon is in a few articles, then start a plot line. The Variable is always there, all you would be doing is tapping into it and making it visible for however long you plotted it for

Sing the song of the moment in careless carols, in the transient light of the day;
Sing of the fleeting smiles that vanish and never look back;
Sing of the flowers that bloom and fade without regret.
Weave not in memory’s thread the days that would glide into nights.
To the guests that must go bid God-speed, and wipe away all traces of their steps.
Let the moments end in moments with their cargo of fugitive songs.

With both hands snap the fetters you made with your own heart chords;
Take to your breast with a smile what is easy and simple and near.
Today is the festival of phantoms that know not when they die.
Let your laughter flush in meaningless mirth like twinkles of light on the ripples;
Let your life lightly dance on the verge of Time like a dew on the tip of a leaf.
Strike in the chords of your harp the fitful murmurs of moments.

Tagore.