"Ten feet, twenty feet, thirty feet south. Passage turns east and west. Which way do you go?"
"We go South."
Stupefied look and momentary pause. "Okay. Bump, bump, bump."
-E. Gary Gygax to adventurers in Greyhawk Castle, circa 1972
You have now entered the realm of the LORD OF THE GREEN DRAGONS -- a "Classic Gaming" blog.
This article is a great find. It compiles many of these ancient mysteries that I've also stumbled on and broaden my horizons. I am so pleased that the internet enables people to discover this information because otherwise we would all only have information from a limited Point Of View: the mainstream POV. However, the possibilities of the internet are a "catch 22" because they are only possibilities if people can open their minds to them. If people can't, then the internet just becomes a powerful tool to aid indoctrination of ONE POV. From all I have been reading and experiencing I believe that there are infinite POVs out there and that our reality is so very much more than the simple black and white, structured, neatly packaged illusion created by "the man" or "the establishment" or "society" or "mainstream media".... basically all those sources "out there" in our environments that form the ingredients that build the world we live in. However, "the world we live in"-- i.e., our reality -- is relative and this is a concept lost on many. I believe that people's minds "lock" onto certain "facts" and then the walls come slamming down on possibilities outside of those "facts." This is called "close minded" and in my current life, I experience this as getting worse and more frequent with people. I perceive the FALSE divisions between ideas and possibilities as becoming more solid and steadfast and limiting and sad. I believe these false divisions exist everywhere in society, whether it is politics, religion, science, education..... I think that people want to latch onto black and white ideas because it is comforting. Do not get me wrong, I apply this to everything: I think organized religion is JUST as limiting as science and excessive laws and all things close minded. But, alas, these things persist because people want solid, structured understanding of the world they live. The tempestuous sea of "shades of grey" is not safe and comforting. It is scary because it involves embracing the unknown instead of "knowing." However, it can be exciting and stimulating and beautiful if a person lets go and experiences the wondrous thrill of infinite possibilities.
Science is only one POV. In fact, I think science's greatest downfall came with the advent of the "The Scientific Method" because this is when the religion of Science STOPPED addressing questions about the Universe which are beyond the scope of the physical world. I believe "The Scientific Method" is when the walls came slamming down around ONE POV and limited that perspective to only a small fragment of reality. How sad. Sad. SAD. We must open our minds to the possibilities and this is something through out history that artists have consistently tried to communicate. This wiki article on Metaphysics explains how it could have been if not for "The Scientific Method", at a time when reality had no walls. Did you know the first people to see the "atom" were Buddhist monks and NOT scientists? Art: whether it be literature, fine art, architecture, even science and math could open the door to magnificent understanding of reality and humanity but only if those practitioners open their mind. Art opens our eyes to other Points of View and possibilities. Like the possibilities of magic such as described in Rob's fantasy and gaming oeuvre. According to "The Scientific Method," to be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. Yikes! Can a more solid, impenetrable box be built around ideas than that? What is observable to one person may not be to another. For instance, what may look one way to one person may look different to another and therefore "observable" is a sad limitation. In this article a man explains his "different" POV due to colorblindness. He explains, "There are certain colors I cannot perceive because I’m colorblind. When I look at what other people refer to as the color purple, all I see is dark blue. I can’t even imagine purple — how do I imagine a color I’ve never seen before?" So in his world Purple does not exist. His reality is different from mine because I see colors, colors and more colors everywhere I look. However, if he were the scientist in charge of writing the textbook that I read to learn about "reality" he would surmise that purple does not exist. I know he is wrong because I see it everywhere, but SADLY, in today's society, my POV would be met with disdain and laughs simply because the textbook did not establish my POV as FACT. After a time, as I grow up with other people shoving that textbook down my throat, I may start to lose the color purple in my vision and eventually forget it ever existed. Then purple ceases to exist.... and maybe as more time passes more colors are removed from the textbook... until finally, it is widdled down to one color that every one in the world can see. Purple is my favorite color. Without purple my world would seem very colorless and sad.... however, in today's absurd society this would NOT be sad because one color means we can ALL see it the same way (to hell with art and beauty and all colorful, enriching interpretations of life). "The year was 2081, and everyone was finally equal."
Above is a link to another great, RECENT (Feb 19, 2010) article about "new discoveries are finally beginning to reshape the slow-moving consensus of archeology. Göbekli Tepe is 'unbelievably big and amazing, at a ridiculously early date,' according to Ian Hodder, director of Stanford's archeology program. Enthusing over the 'huge great stones and fantastic, highly refined art' at Göbekli, Hodder—who has spent decades on rival Neolithic sites—says: 'Many people think that it changes everything…It overturns the whole apple cart. All our theories were wrong.'"
If you are interested in these sort of things. Project Camelot covers such topics as well. Talks to researchers on various events of earths past and secret agendas. Youtube has lots of videos put up by them. It is up to you to draw your own conclusion yet it's hard to decipher who's talking from their rear end. It is human arrogance to think that those who came before us were less intelligent than were are.
Bravo, Delve. I will look up Project Camelot. Thank you.
"It is human arrogance to think that those who came before us were less intelligent than were are."
That's what I'm talkin' about! We must respect ancient wisdom. The more life experience I have, the more I understand how archaic our contemporary culture is and how blind we are to that. We are so focused on our material advances that we have atrophied our ancestral wisdom. So sad. If only we could open our minds and use them both simultaneously-- imagine the possibilities!
The Scientific Method itself has been a matter of debate for centuries, with different parties arguing about the 'proper' approach and rational to be used in it.
Scientific methodology can be found as far bac as 1600 BC in Egyptian culture and sciences. So, I don't think it is so much the 'method' that makes it an 'iron box' of thinking as you elaborate.
Certainly, abit of wisdom would go along way with any scientific study. Over the centuries, I would propose, past knowledge has been victim to human corruption, i.e. fanaticism (political/religious, take your choice) and greed. Humankind lost this knowledge through its own selfish endeavours. With a bit of moral/racial superiority thrown in. Thus, we fell.
@Blair: Hmm {smiles]--no more ironic, i suppose, than being born with free speech and using it; or, perhaps, no more ironic than people using science to invent industry that is in turn destroying the very planet that birthed said resources to make it possible; nor, (tongue in cheek), no more ironic than using a hoe to till the land an enrich its output rather than splitting a neighbor's skull with it... ;)
Hiya folks, I know this is a bit late to add to this topic but oddly enough I just stumbled on this same topic today. So if you are interested in this topic you will find this immensly interesting. It is an interview on Youtube by Project Camelot with KLAUS DONA, who and travels all over the world studying ancient artifacts, arts and culture. The Items covered in the link you posted are talked about. Strange eh?
Here's the link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSmkcn1hJWI&NR=1
If that does not work, search for Klaus Dona on youtube
Delve, I am going to check out that video. Thank you for mentioning Project Camelot because since you informed me about it I've been watching their videos. It encompasses exactly what I've been noticing about modern society and uncovering suppressed wisdom.
Here is a link to one video I watched. The video is long, so the link is to one specific part that I find pertinent:
This article is a great find. It compiles many of these ancient mysteries that I've also stumbled on and broaden my horizons. I am so pleased that the internet enables people to discover this information because otherwise we would all only have information from a limited Point Of View: the mainstream POV. However, the possibilities of the internet are a "catch 22" because they are only possibilities if people can open their minds to them. If people can't, then the internet just becomes a powerful tool to aid indoctrination of ONE POV.
ReplyDeleteFrom all I have been reading and experiencing I believe that there are infinite POVs out there and that our reality is so very much more than the simple black and white, structured, neatly packaged illusion created by "the man" or "the establishment" or "society" or "mainstream media".... basically all those sources "out there" in our environments that form the ingredients that build the world we live in. However, "the world we live in"-- i.e., our reality -- is relative and this is a concept lost on many. I believe that people's minds "lock" onto certain "facts" and then the walls come slamming down on possibilities outside of those "facts." This is called "close minded" and in my current life, I experience this as getting worse and more frequent with people. I perceive the FALSE divisions between ideas and possibilities as becoming more solid and steadfast and limiting and sad. I believe these false divisions exist everywhere in society, whether it is politics, religion, science, education..... I think that people want to latch onto black and white ideas because it is comforting. Do not get me wrong, I apply this to everything: I think organized religion is JUST as limiting as science and excessive laws and all things close minded. But, alas, these things persist because people want solid, structured understanding of the world they live. The tempestuous sea of "shades of grey" is not safe and comforting. It is scary because it involves embracing the unknown instead of "knowing." However, it can be exciting and stimulating and beautiful if a person lets go and experiences the wondrous thrill of infinite possibilities.
Science is only one POV. In fact, I think science's greatest downfall came with the advent of the "The Scientific Method" because this is when the religion of Science STOPPED addressing questions about the Universe which are beyond the scope of the physical world. I believe "The Scientific Method" is when the walls came slamming down around ONE POV and limited that perspective to only a small fragment of reality. How sad. Sad. SAD. We must open our minds to the possibilities and this is something through out history that artists have consistently tried to communicate. This wiki article on Metaphysics explains how it could have been if not for "The Scientific Method", at a time when reality had no walls. Did you know the first people to see the "atom" were Buddhist monks and NOT scientists?
ReplyDeleteArt: whether it be literature, fine art, architecture, even science and math could open the door to magnificent understanding of reality and humanity but only if those practitioners open their mind. Art opens our eyes to other Points of View and possibilities. Like the possibilities of magic such as described in Rob's fantasy and gaming oeuvre.
According to "The Scientific Method," to be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. Yikes! Can a more solid, impenetrable box be built around ideas than that? What is observable to one person may not be to another. For instance, what may look one way to one person may look different to another and therefore "observable" is a sad limitation. In this article a man explains his "different" POV due to colorblindness. He explains, "There are certain colors I cannot perceive because I’m colorblind. When I look at what other people refer to as the color purple, all I see is dark blue. I can’t even imagine purple — how do I imagine a color I’ve never seen before?"
So in his world Purple does not exist. His reality is different from mine because I see colors, colors and more colors everywhere I look. However, if he were the scientist in charge of writing the textbook that I read to learn about "reality" he would surmise that purple does not exist. I know he is wrong because I see it everywhere, but SADLY, in today's society, my POV would be met with disdain and laughs simply because the textbook did not establish my POV as FACT. After a time, as I grow up with other people shoving that textbook down my throat, I may start to lose the color purple in my vision and eventually forget it ever existed. Then purple ceases to exist.... and maybe as more time passes more colors are removed from the textbook... until finally, it is widdled down to one color that every one in the world can see.
Purple is my favorite color. Without purple my world would seem very colorless and sad.... however, in today's absurd society this would NOT be sad because one color means we can ALL see it the same way (to hell with art and beauty and all colorful, enriching interpretations of life).
"The year was 2081, and everyone was finally equal."
History in the Remaking
ReplyDeleteAbove is a link to another great, RECENT (Feb 19, 2010) article about "new discoveries are finally beginning to reshape the slow-moving consensus of archeology. Göbekli Tepe is 'unbelievably big and amazing, at a ridiculously early date,' according to Ian Hodder, director of Stanford's archeology program. Enthusing over the 'huge great stones and fantastic, highly refined art' at Göbekli, Hodder—who has spent decades on rival Neolithic sites—says: 'Many people think that it changes everything…It overturns the whole apple cart. All our theories were wrong.'"
If you are interested in these sort of things. Project Camelot covers such topics as well. Talks to researchers on various events of earths past and secret agendas. Youtube has lots of videos put up by them. It is up to you to draw your own conclusion yet it's hard to decipher who's talking from their rear end. It is human arrogance to think that those who came before us were less intelligent than were are.
ReplyDeleteBravo, Delve.
ReplyDeleteI will look up Project Camelot. Thank you.
"It is human arrogance to think that those who came before us were less intelligent than were are."
That's what I'm talkin' about! We must respect ancient wisdom. The more life experience I have, the more I understand how archaic our contemporary culture is and how blind we are to that. We are so focused on our material advances that we have atrophied our ancestral wisdom. So sad. If only we could open our minds and use them both simultaneously-- imagine the possibilities!
The Scientific Method itself has been a matter of debate for centuries, with different parties arguing about the 'proper' approach and rational to be used in it.
ReplyDeleteScientific methodology can be found as far bac as 1600 BC in Egyptian culture and sciences. So, I don't think it is so much the 'method' that makes it an 'iron box' of thinking as you elaborate.
Certainly, abit of wisdom would go along way with any scientific study. Over the centuries, I would propose, past knowledge has been victim to human corruption, i.e. fanaticism (political/religious, take your choice) and greed. Humankind lost this knowledge through its own selfish endeavours. With a bit of moral/racial superiority thrown in. Thus, we fell.
With any luck, we'll get back up again.
Ciao!
Grendelwulf
It is deliciously ironic seeing a computer being used to denigrate "The Scientific Method"...
ReplyDeleteGreat Post. Great commentary.
ReplyDelete@Blair: Hmm {smiles]--no more ironic, i suppose, than being born with free speech and using it; or, perhaps, no more ironic than people using science to invent industry that is in turn destroying the very planet that birthed said resources to make it possible; nor, (tongue in cheek), no more ironic than using a hoe to till the land an enrich its output rather than splitting a neighbor's skull with it... ;)
Hiya folks, I know this is a bit late to add to this topic but oddly enough I just stumbled on this same topic today. So if you are interested in this topic you will find this immensly interesting. It is an interview on Youtube by Project Camelot with KLAUS DONA, who and travels all over the world studying ancient artifacts, arts and culture. The Items covered in the link you posted are talked about. Strange eh?
ReplyDeleteHere's the link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSmkcn1hJWI&NR=1
If that does not work, search for Klaus Dona on youtube
Delve,
ReplyDeleteI am going to check out that video. Thank you for mentioning Project Camelot because since you informed me about it I've been watching their videos. It encompasses exactly what I've been noticing about modern society and uncovering suppressed wisdom.
Here is a link to one video I watched. The video is long, so the link is to one specific part that I find pertinent:
Bill Ryan from Project Camelot interviewed by Freedom Central
Thanks, Delve.