Who is “they”?

Who is “they?”

This video doesn’t cover everything and only briefly mentions the US funding of Syrian rebels which in part became ISIS. Nonetheless, its a good primer for how complicated this whole situation is.

Next time you ask yourself “why do “they” hate us?”…step back and consider who “they” really is.

It’s not just Islamic jihadists. Those folks are just the delivery mechanism for “they.” It’s a multi headed monster that includes several governments, US interests in the middle east, US sponsored training of specific groups who eventually become ISIS, an ancient tribal war that can be barely understood, the spread of Wahhabism through Saudi Arabia (a US ally) and the sheer ignorance and intolerance of Western nations toward Islam as a whole. All of these things when put into the blender come out to form the “they” we speak of.

There are probably a lot of elements to add to the list that I left out because I can barely understand it myself.

If you think a “war” with ISIS is the answer consider that if that were to happen the members of ISIS would simply slip back into the general population without a trace. Our course correction on this is going to require such a radical turn around in policy, ending our rabid hunger for war, energy independence and most of all an increase of tolerance and compassion towards our fellow man.

We are all Earthlings. There is no “they”. There is only us.

Beyond Paris

My prayers are with the victims in Paris, om shanti. But I think this world is already in a state of full on crisis. What happened in Paris didn’t change my view of that one bit.

It’s somewhat alarming to me that we collectively seem to value a life in Paris more than we do a life in Beirut (43 dead, same night, same kind of ISIS bombings) or when 147 were lost in a Kenya last April at the hands of Al-Shabaab. I don’t see people changing their FB profile pictures to that of a Lebanese flag? Somehow we value a life more when it’s taken in a beautiful Western city where we take our vacations, go to museums or where U2 has to cancel a concert (as they are doing today.) Part of the problem is that we’ve become so segregated as a global community and far too nationalistic. We are all Earthlings. All of this talk about borders and nations and the incessant focus about where these things are happening needs to stop. These things happen all the time, constantly. They are happening, period. Everywhere.

Let’s stop the madness in every corner, in every country and in every village.

“LOVE EVERYONE” author Parvati Markus!

The guru system conjures up a lot of different ideas, some good and some bad, for different people. However, I encourage anyone reading this post to forget anything you think you know and dive into the love portal that is Neem Karoli Baba. Check out this podcast but also get the book “Love Everyone” and go beyond dogma and straight into a map of consciousness that may pry you wide open.

The podcast can be found here

Get the book here

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Recent Podcast Appearances!

I’ve been on some fun podcasts lately. If you listen to “It’s All Happening” and aren’t sick of hearing me talk yet, check these out. Hanging out with these brilliant minds is really such a pleasure.

You Made it Weird with Pete Holmes:

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Duncan Trussel Family Hour:

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Walking Home with Michael Donavan:

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Synchronicity with Noah Lampert:

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Mind Left Body with Michael Morey:

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Future Primitive with Joanaa Harcourt Smith:

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Quote of the Day

“…feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we’re holding back. They teach us to perk up and lean in when we feel we’d rather collapse and back away. They’re like messengers that show us, with terrifying clarity, exactly where we’re stuck. This very moment is the perfect teacher, and, lucky for us, it’s with us wherever we are.” – Pema Chodron