"Immaturity is the incapacity to use one's intelligence without the guidance of another. Through laziness and cowardice, a large part of mankind, even after nature has freed them from alien guidance, gladly remain immature..."

That's a quote from Immanuel Kant's document What is Enlightenment? I find this document very true and important for people to read. It turns out that the human race has not progressed since he wrote the document because we are still ignorant. We are ignorant to various things including culture, religion, the media, and the government.

I chose to highlight the quote above because it represented the fact that people do not use their own intelligence. People prefer to refer to stereotypes, religious leaders and the media without doing their proper research. I will not say that I haven't been the same way before because I have but there's a difference between those who realize and remain comfortable and those who realize and do something.

There have been times where I stood up for a belief or argument that I actually believed would benefit me or make my life feel complete. At the end of the day I still felt the same, or maybe even worse. I think the latter would be more true. I guess this was my own type of way of eliminating lies, I wouldn't say finding the truth because I haven't.

Sapere Aude! Dare to know, as Immanuel Kant puts it. Don't be afraid to know the truth. Yes, ignorance may be bliss, but it won't get you far. Okay it works for most people because they're playing it safe mentally.

During the time of Adam and Eve, it was considered a sin to know the truth of life. I believe the tree of wisdom or life exposed the good as well as the bad. God had only exposed Adam and Eve to the wonderful side of life not to the dirty. This is only my theory. Since the serpent is considered an "evil" animal, it can be assumed he wanted to expose those humans to that side of life. Thus our life today. I don't think it's a sin anymore to be without knowledge. Although many worship knowledge, using it to your advantage or help is not wrong because in this life, nothing is honest.

Just when I thought I had gotten bored to death with my itouch and technology in general, I discovered that listening to certain Podcasts was not only educational but I didn't hate it! I liked it as a matter of fact. I thought I would hate it since it's weird listening to someone speak to you and everyone looking at you on the train if you let out a laugh to yourself, they'll think you're crazy. Well at least that's what I think of people laughing to themselves until I see the device they're carrying. If you'd like to know, some of the podcasts I've subscribed to are: Waking Up from the American Dream by Kelly Carlin and Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips.

Well enough about technology talk. I decided to post for this blog today to address a feeling I've been having lately or shall I say I've always had. Ever since I was 13 years old, I had this admiration for older people and a crush on older men, for example: Anthony Kiedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers but that doesn't have much to do with this or does it? Yeah it actually does because this simple "crush" grew out of the unconscious admiration I felt for these people. It wasn't because they were older, it was because they were wise and they had been through it all.

Today as I was on the train listening to my new podcasts, I noticed this elderly man sitting in the corner looking sad or disappointed. It kind of disappointed me seeing him like this. Then I started to think about all of those people who mistreat the elderly as if they weren't human beings or as if they were less of value just because of their age. Then there are the people who give up their seat to an elder because they expect them to not be able to stand which can be defended as being respectful. But unfortunately some elders don't see it that way. It is kind of offensive to think that just because you're of age, you can't stand your own ground.

My opinion on the subject is that the elderly should be respected and loved, maybe even more than the average "young" person. There are many reasons why I believe this. First of all, the elderly are so much more wise. They should be loved and cared for regardless of their age. An elder's mentality is the closest form of thinking to that of a God's. It's kind of depressing and sucky to know that in order to get to that stage ourselves, we must all face death. It's no secret that our highest point of intelligence is the second before we die unless you get Alzheimer's and forget everything but even though the knowledge would still be there.

Since I hate typing on a touch screen phone, I waited around five hours to post this entry. Not only does it bother me to type on it but it makes me feel more blind than usual. Anyways...

I started yesterday rereading Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now for the second time. It must be a great book huh? It's not about the quality of the book but rather the content. Well content is quality I guess. But it's about what the book has to offer basically.

The first time I read this book was circa 2009. At the time I was being distracted by cultural norms and other insignificant things which didn't allow me to focus on the true meaning behind the philosophy that was being given. However, some of the content did stand out to me and affected me. For example, whenever I had a minor problem that I'd overanalyze and blame myself for, I would look back to the philosophy and overcome it. You may be asking, "So what is this amazing philosophy?"

Tolle explains that problems and negative emotions are illusions created by the mind. We must learn to see them for what they are and once we become conscious of them, they disappear. Although the mind is a wonderful tool, it can also be a very destructive tool. I've found this to be very true. Nevertheless, I am not writing this blog to explain how to achieve a stage of consciousness and worldly peace but rather to connect some of my findings.

In my prior blog entry about the Age of Aquarius, I mentioned the Hopi Indians and their prophecy of 2012. (Don't label me as another maniac screaming "it's the end of the world.") In case you haven't read about it, the prophecy was that the Age of Aquarius (2012) will bring global consciousness and peace. You may recognize one of the words from above and see where I'm going.

Tolle's goal in The Power of Now is to make people realize that we're living in an unconscious world which you can also call artificial form (materialistic). He stresses that when a person is conscious, he or she is able to achieve a higher state of being which brings peace in the end. This takes us back to the Hopi prophecy.

One outstanding statement Tolle makes is this: "Through you, consciousness is awakening out of its dream of identification with form and withdrawing from form. This foreshadows, but is already part of, an event that is probably still in the distant future as far as chronological time is concerned. The event is called- the end of the world." What he is saying here is that awakening consciousness is what people consider to be the end of the world. It's the end of the world as we know it materialistically. Society is so attached to the man made world that we know nothing else and are afraid of any change with the exception of a few people. Only when we come into consciousness with ourselves will we be able to come into peace.

Later on in the text, Tolle writes about the "second coming" of Christ which people also believe will occur in 2012. He explains that this second coming of Christ is the transformation of the mind coming into consciousness and realizing that all negative thoughts are mind made. In order to understand this more, you'd have to read the book for yourself. But you can see that this second coming of Christ relates to the perception of the man the bible is based on.

Jesus promoted peace and didn't value material goods because he knew the true meaning of life. The true meaning of life is not having a million bucks and feeling like crap at the end of the day. The true meaning of life is deep within and consciousness and peace has a lot to do with it. Jesus knew how to control the negative thoughts. This is why many people may question and consider impossible that one man would not have a single negative thought. Maybe it is a little over exaggerated but it is possible to get rid of negative thoughts. No I am not talking about four minutes without negative thoughts but as Jesus lived- without any negativity.

So these past few days I've been having encounters with a special creature that stops by my window pane to chirp. I believe it is a sparrow, I'm not so sure but it looks like one. Every time I hear her chirp to my window I give her the attention she deserves... well whenever I can. It's very unusual for a bird to stop by someone's window everyday unless someone called it.

It's been stopping by to chirp everyday as if it were calling someone or trying to tell something. I looked up what the symbol of a sparrow was and it said a sparrow symbolizes desire and fertility. Hmm interesting. It also said that a new love will enter someone's life. It's nice to know it's bringing good signs or messages. But I'm not quite sure that's the only message. I find it very strange that it keeps stopping by.

I watch her chirp and then she flies away to the nearby tree which is really beautiful to see. You start to wonder, where does this bird fly to whenever she's not at my window pane? It makes you want to be a bird  and fly wherever you want, whenever you want. That is true freedom. I know it may sound cliche but now I understand the people who would like to be reincarnated as a bird. I don't wish that but it would certainly be an option to look at.

This whole situation reminds me of my stepfather whenever he would call out to pigeons so they would come to the window and he would feed them. That was an amazing thing to witness because they actually would respond to his call. He would make a similar sound as the one pigeons make and they would answer.

It's an amazing thing to communicate with animals as they are very mystical and innocent of anything. They can be your companion or they can be your messenger. Whatever you see them as, they are wonderful. Especially the bird, in this case the sparrow. It's strange yet beautiful to know you've made contact with such a peaceful creature.

I was just watching the Zeitgeist for the umteenth time and have come up with many questions but one of them makes the most sense. If we are leaving the age of Pisces and entering the age of Aquarius, what religion will dominate the coming age, if any? 

As we all know, Christianity, Islam and Judaism have not always been practiced. In previous ages, some people were polytheistic or pagan believing in various gods and goddesses. Now we’re predominately monotheistic with the exception of Atheism. I thought I was the only one with the question or belief that religion will change in the new age. I thought of Islam but Islam lies on the same foundation as Christianity on most things. So I googled, yes I googled.

There was a reasonable number of pages to look at. Many people on Yahoo Answers think Atheism will take over. Wicca comes in 2nd place. Ehh, I don’t know about Wicca. Doesn’t Wicca enhance the belief in a God and a Goddess? I haven’t seen a rise in Wiccans lately. Besides, Wicca and witches were “banned” centuries ago, having their time of strife just like Islam and Christianity is having today. I don’t think man will go back in time to save the witches. 

I basically agree with this: Polytheism, Monotheism, Atheism. It must be in that order. First there were three, then there was one but in this case it’s none. I have seen a rise in people not believing in God. Hmm… Maybe Atheism is the next “hot” religion. But then why are there so many environment friendly advertisements? (Aside from technology advances.) This takes us back to Wicca and it’s adoration of mother earth but minus the God and Goddess. Maybe people will begin to appreciate the earth for what it is but enforce the belief that there is no God and earth was created as science describes. Yeah it must be that as we see science and technology are advancing. 

So we have a rise in Atheists, a rise in environment friendly publicity and a rise in technology… perfect. Puzzle solved… for now.

Robert Zoller, a medieval astrologer, believes the Age of Aquarius will ridicule religion and be based on science and the world will be controlled by secret elites. I believe this group of elites is the Illuminati or Freemasons or whatever other name they have. Zoller considers the Aquarian age to be a dark age.

If this prediction is true, then that must mean the Hopi Indians were wrong in that the Age of Aquarius is the age of peace and global consciousness. Unless it was specified for some people and not the whole world.