WHAT IS TIME?

Joplin is on the radio. The scream of her blues,the descent into rock and roll madness, point me to consider the art form. The screech of her voice captures her moment...and I think to myself...what is blues?. Holliday said the blues ain't nothing but a good man gone bad. One might say that of theatrical tragedy. For me the blues is a tWelve bar or an eight bar of urban poetry, words supported by a prevalent musical structure. One can tire of the sameness of the structure at timeS but when one breaks out one can see the rightness of it, a statement of personal angst, a wail of predicament...the blues ain't nothing but a good man gone bad. Perhaps by identifying with the message we can learn of our common humanity...

THE fourth Noble Truth is principally about how we can make our lives better,how we can develop ease and confidence in our approach to things. Its ultimate aim in providing a methodology is of course enlightment but I believe enlightenment follows when you just live as best you can with the advice offered in this truth without becoming too hooked on the concept of nirvana. That can be heavy and leave one living too much in hope or fear.

Evrything about the method is based on direct experience. Putting things to the test.

The fourth Noble Truth has three basic components,understanding,ethics and reflection.

Right view is the basis of our understanding. Chance is that if develop negative states of mind then our reality will reflect that.

Yet is it is not easy to replace skilful approach where there has been unskilful mindsets. Our conditioning predisposes each of us differently to things we have to face...thus reflection or meditation. How can we know what is there is if we are not prepared to look?

Ethics is basically a soUnd way of relating to the world so that we may develop a sounder way of relation. Thus right speech, right action are indicated. This can all sound very simplistic and in essence it is. It is our habitual mindset that would undo the simplicity of approach

TakE care everyone...I find the methodology hard myself because of the conditioning of my life pattern, my personal energy, my history. Yet it doesn't deny the truth of the approach though it may be that it becomes theoretical, rather than something we put in to action. I have to remind myself everyday to think on the aplication of these things...with Metta...that noble search for compassion to myself and others which can be so elusive...

we go on...Such a journey! What a journey!