"Pele"
David Hecht
PELE
Like many people, I had thought for years that there was an
ancient Hawaiian legend that warned: If you take lava rocks away
from the volcanos, you will offend Pele, the fire goddess who
dwells in the volcano, and you will have bad luck until you
return it. So widespread is this story, that for years the post
offices on the big island of Hawaii have received packages of
rocks -- returned souvenirs from former tourists who claimed that
their luck had been bad ever since they had foolishly brought the
lava rocks home.
The truth of this "ancient legend" is far more prosaic. A
few decades ago, a tour bus driver noticed that the tourists on
his bus who brought lava rocks on board were constantly leaving
dust and debris that he had to clean out. So he MADE UP an
"ancient Hawaiian legend" about bad luck to stop them from making
more work for him. Apparently, ancient Hawaiians had no such
legend.
Not only do many people believe that this is an ancient
legend, but also many people apparently believe in the curse of
bad luck itself. I myself only learned today that this myth was
of such recent coinage, thanks to a program on volcanos on the
Learning Channel. I can think of no better example of the wide-
spread power and enthrallment of superstition.
People can readily believe virtually any bogus mystery, with
the same eagerness that more cautious people reserve for the
Ultimate Mystery. Moreover, people judge other people by their
readiness or reluctance to buy into the same myths. They regard
the exercise of skepticism and the critical faculty as a kind of
blindness. The notion that there may be other views of the truth
seems to them not to be mind-opening but rather offensive.
This is just my opinion, though it's informed by a lifetime
of studying human folly: people are naturally drawn toward
spiritual awakening, perhaps the greatest calling of the human
heart; but that awakening means dropping all one's preconceptions
and prejudices, and opening one's mind utterly to the truth.
This is both scary and a lot of work. So most people are content
to stop their search at superstition, or at the intermediate
point of religion, because these are comforting, enthralling, and
they do make people behave themselves. Even Pele reminds mortals
of their limitations.
Unlike religion, spirituality does not depend on collecting
correct beliefs, but on opening oneself up to spirit. Thus what
you believe is the most important thing to those who are religi-
ous, and the least important thing to those who are spiritual.
Spiritually-centered people discover the need to strip away their
beliefs and come to know God directly, by seeking Him within. The
notion of living close to God but without the shelter of an
elaborate system of beliefs is, for most people, terrifying.
I have no proof that the universe involves elaborate
systems of reward and punishment; that there is any powerful
personification of evil; that any of the systems of religious
cosmology have any more accurate grasp of reality than any other.
I have two proofs that there is a higher reality of some kind.
One is the sheer universality of human awareness of one; while no
superstitions are universal, the spiritual instinct is; every
human culture in all times seems to have a sense of another
transcendent reality. The second is my own intimate personal
experience with conscious contact. Some of it was merely "sixth
sense" stuff; but some was much profounder. I can't explain them
as mere imagination, hallucination or indigestion. The wisdom I
have heard within is not of me. These tell me that "something is
there."
But religious beliefs do not satisfy me. I could flesh out
my awareness into a system of beliefs, superstition and religion.
But this would just be a product of my imagination, preference,
prejudice and need to belong and be accepted. God's presence and
help are knowable; God's nature is purely conjecture. Something
that big is beyond my ken. But if I have God, what need do I
have of myths?
I have seen what blind belief does to people. Their minds
snap shut like a hermetically-sealed casket. (Interestingly,
those who are devout atheists seem just as devoted to their
belief system, and as offended by heresy, as are religionists.)
And people can adhere to political and social orthodoxies almost
as mindlessly as to theological ones.
It is harder, but I feel less dishonest, to say that there
is a cause for faith, without saying that I know (or CAN know)
how to believe. To me, the proof that someone long ago had
magical powers, (and that therefore you should believe everything
said about them,) is based upon as much evidence as the proof
that taking lava home brings bad luck: that is, that SOMEBODY
SAID SO.
The amazing thing to me is how people can take such insub-
stantial evidence as oft-repeated tales, become enthralled by
these tales, and construct elaborate systems of religious belief
out of them. But the realm of myth has always had more powers of
persuasion for most folks, than the still small voice of their
inmost soul. Most societies reward conformity, not self-disco-
very. In almost every culture, agreeing with what your parents
or elders believe has always brought more approval than striking
out on your own and seeking the presence of God in your own heart
of hearts. In fact, usually the latter gets you in trouble.
Just as people who live in wooden towns can be burned out
three times and still plan to rebuild with wood, so people whose
beliefs do nothing to improve or reward their lives can still
keep yanking the same chains, as well-conditioned as any Pavlov
dog. People eagerly blind themselves, because it makes life more
comfortable, predictable, comprehensible. The idea that life
must be experienced without preconceptions is, for most folks,
simply too scary. Yet it is from progressive disillusionment
that we gain wisdom and awaken the spirit. Those who would be
wise always must start out on a lonely path. They can't expect
to be so sure of themselves and their truth as religionists are.
The only signpost is the faint glow of light in the distance.
Jehovah or Allah or Brahman are merely more cosmic god-
concepts than Pele. But the Spiritual Life of the pan-galactic
universe is far bigger than people can describe or comprehend.
The Ultimate Source has to be far greater than the mere mind of
mortal man could grasp -- let alone the poor understanding of
ancient mythmakers.
Buying into a limited religion gives many people comfort;
but at best any religion can provide only a tiny fractional view
of the universe. What stands out more for me is the unique
experience of individuals. I am far more impressed by the report
of a person who has been struck by lightning, who hears an inner
voice telling her, "Don't worry, you're safe because you're with
me" than all the elaborations of scriptures and their many
interpreters. "Knowing all about God" is an immature motivation.
What I need to know is, how do I stay serene in a crisis?
Religious people heal faster from illness and disease than non-
believers. But it takes a spiritual awakening to become a
healer.
Nuclear physics and astrophysics can do as much to fill me
with awe as the witness to spirit. The miracle of the genetic
code, the effusive universal vigor of life, and the marvels of
biochemistry are like seeing God's fingerprint. But what counts
for me is my own willingness to stay open to spirit. The day I
am convinced that "I have it," I will almost certainly stop
growing spiritually. I am especially unwilling to pin my future
happiness on the powers of magical amulets and hunks of lava
rock. There is no amulet or stone more powerful than an open and
loving heart.
Love and Blessings, David H. in S. Fla.
Reese
On 5 Mar 1998 20:34:41 GMT, TKH...@prodigy.com (David Hecht) wrote:
Before we look at anything else, maybe we should look at where David H
got the info on which he's basing this little essay.
>I myself only learned today that this myth was
>of such recent coinage, thanks to a program on volcanos on the
>Learning Channel.
From a TV show.
> People can readily believe virtually any bogus mystery, with
>the same eagerness that more cautious people reserve for the
>Ultimate Mystery.
Yeah, and some people put a lot of stock in what they see on TV.
>Moreover, people judge other people by their
>readiness or reluctance to buy into the same myths. They regard
>the exercise of skepticism and the critical faculty as a kind of
>blindness. The notion that there may be other views of the truth
>seems to them not to be mind-opening but rather offensive.
At least from your posts in the past, we know they're offensive to
you, and we know that you've figured it all--that you have the answers
to questions religion, psychology and philosophy have sought in vain.
Only you write in a way too self-indulgent manner to spread the good
news.
> This is just my opinion, though it's informed by a lifetime
>of studying human folly:
And from studying the TV.
He explains the fault of religion:
> Unlike religion, spirituality does not depend on collecting
>correct beliefs, but on opening oneself up to spirit.
Maybe you should watch a little more TV about religion, dude. It's
about a little more than collecting correct beliefs. If you were so
cosmic, you would know this.
Here he goes doing something he's famous for: Putting his foot in his
mouth:
>Thus what
>you believe is the most important thing to those who are religi-
>ous, and the least important thing to those who are spiritual.
This whole essay has been about what David Hecht believes. But in
that he's describing how spiritually centered people discard a belief
system, apparently he fails to see that he describes how they pick up
another belief system:
>Spiritually-centered people discover the need to strip away their
>beliefs and come to know God directly, by seeking Him within. The
>notion of living close to God but without the shelter of an
>elaborate system of beliefs is, for most people, terrifying.
Dude, you've just described a belief system. And just like those you
call "religious", you believe what you have developed is superior.
One of David H's core beliefs:
>God's nature is purely conjecture.
Well, he's figured it out. He's figured it out that he don't know his
ass from a hole in the ground.
>To me, the proof that someone long ago had
>magical powers, (and that therefore you should believe everything
>said about them,) is based upon as much evidence as the proof
>that taking lava home brings bad luck: that is, that SOMEBODY
>SAID SO.
But you expect people to take your word because YOU SAID SO.
Reese
Turtledove
BLASPHEMY !! Just kidding. But isn't that what they say to one who has the
audacity to formulate his own beliefs? How dare you! :) frank
Betche2
>BLASPHEMY !! Just kidding. But isn't that what they say to one who has the
>audacity to formulate his own beliefs? How dare you! :) frank
>
>
>
I kind of like formulating my own beliefs....I guess I am just a blasphemous
type of person, myself!
Bette C.
"Life is much too important to be taken seriously."
--O. Wilde
fke
damian wrote:
>
chinaman who couldnt speak by:
> "Some dumb quote"
"she fell off the cliff" by eileen dover...
translation by irene dover...
fke
yoo fekn hairitick, bette...
:)
fke
Betche2
Yep, That's me a "Fekn Hairitick." You have such a way with words frke.
Bette C.
fke
damian wrote:
>
> And you posted like 16 of the 34 headers I just downloaded.
> Dude,break the little pills in half next time.ok?
>
> "Some dumb quote"
> from the collected works of some dumb guy
> take out thetrash to reply
well, dam...eye yam wei sawwy...
change your download parameters...i'll be less prevalent?
beats me.
an yoo hert mah feelinks 2.
fke
boo hoo, sniff, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa..........
Derek M.
>btw,anyone notice collie never flames derek?
>personally,I'd love to see derek call collie 'sweetie' like he does to
>me and reese.
I never see any of colon's posts unless someone quotes him.
But just to be fair....
Colin sweetie would you please bend over so I can shove this 2X4 with nails
imbedded in it up your...... oh sorry you meant be sweet with him? Sorry,
can't do that with a Tebster supporter.
Derek M.
http://members.xoom.com/Teknocat/index.htm
p.s. if this means that I am bitter, I hope that it never changes. There
are some things we don't have to accept no matter what anyone says.
Derek M.
damian wrote in message <3502c9fb...@news.newsguy.com>...
>On Sat, 7 Mar 1998 11:09:18 -0500, "Derek M." <der...@mindspring.com>
>wrote:
>
>>>btw,anyone notice collie never flames derek?
>>>personally,I'd love to see derek call collie 'sweetie' like he does to
>>>me and reese.
>>
>>
>>I never see any of colon's posts unless someone quotes him.
>>
>>But just to be fair....
>
>derek flirts with the bishop:
>
>>Colin sweetie would you please bend over so I can shove this 2X4 with
nails
>>imbedded in it up your...... oh sorry you meant be sweet with him? Sorry,
>>can't do that with a Tebster supporter.
>
>Then comes up with:
>
>>p.s. if this means that I am bitter, I hope that it never changes. There
>>are some things we don't have to accept no matter what anyone says.
>>
>
>No,it means you actually posted something good for a change.
>I mean,you're still bitter,but this doesn't make you bitter in and of
>itself.
>
damian, is there something wrong? You are starting to read like jazzman.
Derek M.
http://members.xoom.com/Teknocat/index.htm
Derek M.
damian wrote in message <3502fed...@news.newsguy.com>...
>On Sat, 7 Mar 1998 20:53:40 -0500, "Derek M." <der...@mindspring.com>
>wrote:
>
>>
>>damian wrote in message <3502c9fb...@news.newsguy.com>...
>>>On Sat, 7 Mar 1998 11:09:18 -0500, "Derek M." <der...@mindspring.com>
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>>>btw,anyone notice collie never flames derek?
>>>>>personally,I'd love to see derek call collie 'sweetie' like he does to
>>>>>me and reese.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I never see any of colon's posts unless someone quotes him.
>>>>
>>>>But just to be fair....
>>>
>>>derek flirts with the bishop:
>>>
>>>>Colin sweetie would you please bend over so I can shove this 2X4 with
>>nails
>>>>imbedded in it up your...... oh sorry you meant be sweet with him?
Sorry,
>>>>can't do that with a Tebster supporter.
>>>
>>>Then comes up with:
>>>
>>>>p.s. if this means that I am bitter, I hope that it never changes.
There
>>>>are some things we don't have to accept no matter what anyone says.
>>>>
>>>
>>>No,it means you actually posted something good for a change.
>>>I mean,you're still bitter,but this doesn't make you bitter in and of
>>>itself.
>>>
>>
>>damian, is there something wrong? You are starting to read like jazzman.
>
>See,it's comments like this that make us say you're bitter.
>Now do you get it?
>
>
No, you actually are starting to read like Jazz.
Derek M.
http://members.xoom.com/Teknocat/index.htm
Derek M.
>Derek,you were doing so good earlier,what happened?
>Did someone try to abuse you or something?
>
Now you are starting to sound like the damian we all know.
p.s. this arna not arf12, victims go to arf12.
Derek M.
http://members.xoom.com/Teknocat/index.htm
Derek M.
damian wrote in message <350889ee...@news.newsguy.com>...
> On Mon, 9 Mar 1998 15:06:39 -0500, "Derek M."
><der...@mindspring.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>>Derek,you were doing so good earlier,what happened?
>>>Did someone try to abuse you or something?
>>>
>>
>>
>>Now you are starting to sound like the damian we all know.
>>
>>p.s. this arna not arf12, victims go to arf12.
>>
>
>Then why are you still here on arna?
It's my turn to pick on jazzsmooze.
Derek M.
http://members.xoom.com/Teknocat/index.htm
Mikey
David Hecht wrote:
> PELE
> Like many people, I had thought for years that there was an
> ancient Hawaiian legend that warned:
Just got back from Burger King and logged back on and came upon this
post. I used so much air freshener after reading the last of David's
posts that I don't don't have enough to read this one, so i ain't going
to read it. It's someone else's turn......
Mikey
--
God, grant me the serenity of Droopy D.
jazzzman
On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 13:08:40 -0500, "Derek M." <der...@mindspring.com>
postulated:
>
>It's my turn to pick on jazzsmooze.
>
LOL- your resentments are showing again, but hey, go right ahead;
knock yourself out.
jazzzman
Attitude is the mind's paintbrush;
it can color any situation.
anonymous
Derek M.
jazzzman wrote in message <3505c185...@news.earthlink.net>...
>On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 13:08:40 -0500, "Derek M." <der...@mindspring.com>
>postulated:
>>
>>It's my turn to pick on jazzsmooze.
>>
>
>LOL- your resentments are showing again, but hey, go right ahead;
>knock yourself out.
>
>
>
>jazzzman
is that one of your therapy techniques? No thanks, I am not into self
mutilation.
Derek M.
http://members.xoom.com/Teknocat/index.htm
jazzzman
On Wed, 11 Mar 1998 00:43:30 -0500, "Derek M." <der...@mindspring.com>
postulated:
>is that one of your therapy techniques? No thanks, I am not into self
>mutilation.
LOL... Could have fooled me... you've been doing enough of it here on
ARNA lately.
jazzzman
To have a grievance is to have a purpose in life.
Eric Hoffer (1902-83), U.S. philosopher.
The Passionate State of Mind, aph. 166 (1955).
Derek M.
jazzzman wrote in message <3508ad3e...@news.earthlink.net>...
>On Wed, 11 Mar 1998 00:43:30 -0500, "Derek M." <der...@mindspring.com>
>postulated:
>
>
>>is that one of your therapy techniques? No thanks, I am not into self
>>mutilation.
>
>LOL... Could have fooled me... you've been doing enough of it here on
>ARNA lately.
>
>
>
>jazzzman
Jazzdocwannabe are you taking the meds you push?
Derek M.
http://members.xoom.com/Teknocat/index.htm
jazzzman
On Wed, 11 Mar 1998 11:05:16 -0500, "Derek M." <der...@mindspring.com>
postulated:
>Jazzdocwannabe are you taking the meds you push?
You ever see me pushing meds anywhere, Derek? If you can't have an
argument using the truth, why not just go home, little boy.
Derek M.
Glad to disappoint you jazzmoron, I am not a little boy. If you are looking
for little boys contact Tebster and Colon. And stay away from the diabetics
in recovery.
Derek M.
http://members.xoom.com/Teknocat/index.htm
jazzzman wrote in message <350c6b98...@news.earthlink.net>...
jazzzman
On Thu, 12 Mar 1998 00:30:13 -0500, "Derek M." <der...@mindspring.com>
postulated:
>Glad to disappoint you jazzmoron, I am not a little boy. If you are looking
>for little boys contact Tebster and Colon. And stay away from the diabetics
>in recovery.
>
If you're not a little boy, quit acting like one, Derek. False
accusations, innuendo and name calling won't score much points in any
debate.
As for staying away from diabetics? Derek, my father died from his
diabetes 12 years ago. I have a very close friend (who's also HIV+)
who recently lost half of his foot after stepping on a nail, due to
his diabetes. My office was used just last night, by a diabetic
client who wanted privacy to fire his insulin. I will not stay away
from diabetics. And I will not stand idly by if (on the rare
occasion) I see some suicidal diabetic using his blood sugar level to
change his state of consciousness.
Grow up Derek.
Derek M.
jazzzman wrote in message <3509451e....@news.earthlink.net>...
>On Thu, 12 Mar 1998 00:30:13 -0500, "Derek M." <der...@mindspring.com>
>postulated:
>
>>Glad to disappoint you jazzmoron, I am not a little boy. If you are
looking
>>for little boys contact Tebster and Colon. And stay away from the
diabetics
>>in recovery.
>>
>
>If you're not a little boy, quit acting like one, Derek. False
>accusations, innuendo and name calling won't score much points in any
>debate.
>
I wasn't debating anything. I think I have made my opinion of you quite
clear.
>As for staying away from diabetics? Derek, my father died from his
>diabetes 12 years ago.
Sorry to hear that. maybe you should have stayed away from him.
I have a very close friend (who's also HIV+)
>who recently lost half of his foot after stepping on a nail, due to
>his diabetes.
Not uncommon. I have neuropothy in my legs and have slowed the progress
considerably.
My office was used just last night, by a diabetic
>client who wanted privacy to fire his insulin.
Did you freak? Did you have euphoric recall? Hope he got the "privacy" and
you stayed away from him.
I will not stay away
>from diabetics. And I will not stand idly by if (on the rare
>occasion) I see some suicidal diabetic using his blood sugar level to
>change his state of consciousness.
This is where you go off in lala land Jazz. It doesn't happen the way you
are misleading people to believe it does. Stop lying. No debate here, just
stop lying.
>
>Grow up Derek.
>
>
>
>jazzzman
>
Stop lying and I will lay off.
Derek M.
http://members.xoom.com/Teknocat/index.htm