Sunday 4 July 2010

'Tis Mad Idolatry To Make the Service Greater Than the God.

What if there is, truly, no right or wrong? What does that mean in the unfolding story? "No right or wrong" infers the absence of judgment and labelling. It is, in fact, the tip of the Universe-sized iceberg called "what is is to live life unimpeded by the will and its notions of the 'right' thing to do". The persona balks at this. What would it be to live without these rules, without the struggle to get through life, without the fear of getting it all wrong, without the fear of making a great big mess of it all, of missing the point entirely? Without, in fact, the fear?

There are many, many words and concepts available to give the confused persona some idea of what to do next. Having stumbled upon this blog, it's possible you're looking for some clue of how to best live life. Participating in the drama of existence, identified with your persona, you long to feel complete, whole, and reassured that life is not meaningless or chaotic; that it is a grand dance, ordered and synchronistic, harmonious and beautiful...if only you and everyone else had the right formula for what to think, what to feel, and what to do.

Caught up in the drama, taking the drama to be everything and the persona to be what you are, you may put a great stake in a certain interpretation. There are millions of Christians who insist that they have the only right script, and that everyone who doesn't follow it is doomed to suffer. Each religion struggles for the absolute truth. Each belief system projects concrete explanations onto what is before us. Some systems hint at a deeper truth, an absolute truth, before judgment, before the mind is involved in any way other than to assimilate the light and sound waves that coalesce to give us manifest reality; before that, even. We long for truth, and are told that truth is what we see, what we most fundamentally are, unveiled by what we may project upon it.

There are appeals to "let go" completely, accept fully, love absolutely everything, and the truth will be revealed. The truth, perhaps, is that the struggle to find sense and meaning and come up with pretty much nothing is what "it's all about". The journey, not the destination, that kind of thing. Humanity and its foibles are perhaps not to be resisted, but embraced. Perhaps you've been doing it right all along.


I've resisted putting this clip up, as it's on so many lists of "best film moments". However, it's a lovely possible explanation of what it is to be human. It's reassuring when faced with the question of right and wrong: Roy, in his extremity, knowing death was around the corner, chose to preserve life instead of continuing his Mr. Scary Superhuman Evil Replicant act. He regales us with the mystery of his singular experiences, how precious they were to him, and how they are lost in his death - every human's burden. Plus, the cinematography of Bladerunner is second to none; is there a better looking film? Enjoy.

29 comments:

Gorilla Bananas said...

What an extraordinary film that was. After that final scene, I too wanted to see c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. It sounds even better than the Aurora Borealis.

No One In Particular said...

Hey GB!!! Great to have you visit. Don't forget the attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. What a sight that must be!

Colleen Loehr said...

Love this post, and the rich texture of color and shapes in the artwork...gives a good feel for the inner landscape, pre-mind, reality before it's digested and distorted by the machinations of thought.

I didn't watch the clip because I've never seen the movie but want to watch it soon.

Your words to me point to the universal tendency to seek outward for objects to define us and fulfill us. Objects like beliefs, philosophies, ideas of meaning and purpose and right and wrong, every kind of mind-object and formula that can be found in the mind-jungle.

And this outward search (or searching in the mind) for objects to identify with isn't "bad"- it's a kind of polishing off of rough edges perhaps- and then the deeper thing hinted out that you point to is a kind of dropping off the map of form.

At least that's what your words wake up in me. After searching forever in the world of things (i.e. notions of right and wrong, interpretations of every flavor and shape, ideologies and explanations and opinions galore)...finally the immediacy of no-thing is everywhere apparent. And there is actually a kind of home-coming to this present no-thing-ness, free of every idea. Thank you for your post Suzanne, your words always "get me out of my head" and into life itself.

No One In Particular said...

Hi Colleen, thanks, that is WAY cool coming from a shrink! And I CAN'T BELIEVE you've never seen Bladerunner.

Colleen Loehr said...

Thanks Suzanne. It's kind of weird being a shrink. One of the many disguises of consciousness...

tom sullivan said...

I wish this clip started a bit earlier in the film. To me, what Roy does to himself just before this clip, "informs" what he does for Decker.

Gabriel said...

Another really astounding piece (if i may be so judgmental) - i will be sure to read it more than once or twice - and a fabulous film to go with it! one of the best, i might add (again... :) love

No One In Particular said...

Hey Tom - the whole rest of the film, indeed, informs that speech of Roy's...but I think the clip holds up well on its own.

No One In Particular said...

Hey Gabriel, thanks, judgement arises, ya don't have to believe it!

Gabriel said...

Out of interest where do you get the images to use for your art, Suzanne? Are they found or do you take them yourself? Either way they are very beautiful and evocative! Or 'boss', as they say. :)

No One In Particular said...

Hey Gabriel, I do them...take family shots (or ones the kids have taken) and Photoshop the living Bejesus out of them. So it's original art, original prose and a carefully selected clip each and every entry...because Oneness deserves the very best!

Gabriel said...

Fantastic. That's as i guessed! i've been using photoshop since i was about 7 myself (my dad does graphic art and let me in on the fun!). Can't compare to your stuff though (although i did an ace gradient-shaded scorpion when i was 9 heh :D ). Lovely stuff, la!

Wellness Education Institute said...

no right or wrong?
Absolutely.

duality?
relatively speaking, yes.

no one?
Oneness.

and if no-one is right, then someone's going to have to sue.
:)

Anonymous said...

Lovely post. You write beautifully I must say.

The search for fulfilment is just fine, it's all part of the game. Games only become shit when you forget they're games.

http://awareconsciousness.blogspot.com Let's link up...

No One In Particular said...

Hi Tom, thanks for the compliment and the link - I'll check it out. I definitely do NOT write this stuff!

Shanto said...

Truly a masterfully composed piece of pointing poetry, Suzanne! Smiled my way through it.

No One In Particular said...

Hi Lenny, no-one is ALWAYS right.

No One In Particular said...

Hi Svante, thanks. The more masterful it is, the less I've had to do with it!

Shanto said...

Yes. That's such a wonderful point of view to take on one's creative work and life in general. Could almost be called a true point of view.

No One In Particular said...

Hey Svant, funny thing is, whether one has "totally let go" or not only comes up when the ego is questioning it, for only the mind has questions. What a brainf*** that is!

Shanto said...

:) Exactly. It's ALL a weird bullshit brainf***! Or whatever we call it on a Friday...

Someone asked Ram Dass if he considered himself enlightened, and he answered: "No idea. But maybe I'm not, as I'm still thinking about enlightenment."

No One In Particular said...

Suzanne is definitely NOT enlightened.

Shanto said...

Good. Sounds like the end of brainf***. :)

Nirdosh said...

:)))))))))
I'm running to watch bladerunner now lol
Love you!!!!

No One In Particular said...

Hi Nirdosh, see it, it's a fantastic film. Reality without imagination = true seeing. Film + imagination = masterpieces like Bladerunner!

Guille said...

Beautiful post.

The Life is the gift that delivers to us the Love.

The Life is done to be experienced completely.

Everything in the Life is suitable.

Greetings.

Tapestry said...

LOL it's really only a movie, amazing, - not just a metaphor! Who would have thunk it?

No One In Particular said...

Hi Guillem, the Life is the Life that delivers to Life the Life.

No One In Particular said...

Hi Tapestry, long time no comment, thanks for stopping by. A film is a film...until it's not.