Jim Dollar's Photography and Philosophy

This image captures peaceful abiding here, now as well as it can be captured, lived, expressed. Such is the way of the Buddha, and the way of the Christ. What more is there to do, to be? This is doing what needs to be done, when, where and how it needs to be done as well as anyone can do it, and that is all that needs to be done. Who can do more than that? This is the art and the practice of being alive and the way of the Way exactly as it needs doing.

The Way of the Buddha, 6th Edition is now an eBook on Kindle. And I am writing almost daily here and on my Tao-Psyche-Intuition.com blog. When I quit writing, I will be dead or dying. I have never know anyone with so much to say! Just today it occurred to me that there are three Biblical texts regarding the sayings of Jesus that, when understood (And they are point blank so everyone could have understood this from the beginning) will do away with Christianity instantly).

They are: “Why don’t you understand for yourselves what is right?” “The Spirit is like the wind that blows where it will.” “You have ears to hear! Let them hear!” “You have eyes to see! Let them see!” In these three texts, Jesus is telling us to take the authority for our own life and to assume the responsibility of knowing and doing what needs to be done, when, where and how it needs to be done. Which also happens to be the ground and foundation of Taoism and Zen. And clarifying the realization that those who know, know the same things.

This image is emblematic of my career as a nature photographer. What I like most about it is that it is almost not there. Yet, it’s impact is quite perceptible. It reminds me of me in those ways. I like my potential as a surprise and enjoy sneaking up on people. And not hanging around. Being gone in no time at all. Now you see him, now you don’t. When the fog came in, the entire lake disappeared. It is on the way out as we watch here, now.

Intuition is the solution to all of our problems today every day. The source of all of our problems every day is forcing our way upon the day. Intuition says, “Everything in its own time.” Which means there are some times for noting. We don’t do anything during those times. Those are slack times when, for example, the tide turns around and nothing is happening. Those are great times for naps.

I think the source of evil is greed, fear, desire and anger. Unbounded greed, fear, desire and anger. Unrestrained greed, fear, desire and anger. Getting ourselves under control, living from the standpoint of not caring, not wanting, not needing and having no opinions about anything reduces the presence, and hence, the impact, of evil in the world. Give it a try and see if you don’t think it is so.

What associations do you make with this image? What comes to mind? Where does it take you and your imagination? It is a Portkey to where? When? What does it imply, suggest, instigate for your mental drifts of interest and preoccupation?

Every photograph, painting can become a meditative launching pad if we sit with it watching what stirs to life within us as we do so, leading us to reflect on our reflections and what they have to say to us here, now, and what we might learn about ourselves at this point in our life and where we might go from here by looking, listening within. Giving Psyche, Tao, Intuition opportunities to speak to us and influence us along our way.

Martin Palmer said, “The path that can be discerned as a path is not a reliable path.” Jesus said, “The Spirit is like the wind that blows where it will.” Joseph Campbell said, “The treasure you seek is found far back in the darkest corner of the cave you most don’t want to enter.” Are you getting the idea? What we want isn’t what we are after. Meeting the day as the day needs to be met. Doing what is called for in each situation as it arises. Being glad to do what needs to be done, when, where and how it needs to be done–and when it is done letting that be that, day by day. Such are the lives of those who live well, with everything to be proud of and nothing to regret. Not even the unicorns can do better than that. It is the way that is the Way.

“The Way of the Wind” is the title of my most recent eBook on Kindle. This is the cover image. The book takes Jesus’ observation, “The Spirit is like the wind that blows where it will,” as an invitation to understand that no one can lock up the Spirit in something like, say, “The Reformed Faith,” or “The Roman Catholic Church,” or, “Christianity.”

The Spirit cannot be reduced to statements of faith, or catechisms, or theology. The Spirit is like the Tao that cannot be said, or told, or taught, or defined… We can know the Spirit, we can even, occasionally, BE the Spirit, Be One with the Spirit. But, we cannot say, tell, explain anything about that experience. The truth that can be told is not the eternal truth. And the book explains all of this in ways that relieve you of your doubts and misgivings. $3.99 at the Kindle store.

This location is now off limits due to vandalism.

I have nothing to say to people who vandalize any place. I wish we all were different better. But. Here we are. And we have to deal with what is here with us as well as we can. I wish you luck with that, and I trust that you wish me luck as well. And it is pitiful that we cannot do more than that but. Here we are. Doing what we can with what we have to work with. The human predicament.

I have a new post up on my Tao-Psyche-Tao Blog under Copilot’s Post as “The Tao-Gnostic Gospel #1. I trust that you will like what you find there, and that you will continue to do so all the way to completion.

Here’s the interesting thing: Adam and Eve were punished with death and hell everlasting, kicked out of the Garden of Eden and made to curse the day they were created because they wanted to eat the Forbidden Fruit. And everyone born from Adam and Eve were cursed from birth with the curse of Adam and Eve and are going to hell unless they repent of their sin for wanting the Forbidden Fruit and believe in Jesus and his redeeming/atoning death on the cross which will guarantee them heaven when they die, but it won’t guarantee their children heaven when they die–they have to do their own believing and wanting to go to heaven when they die. That is the first problem. The second is this. Adam and Eve wanted to eat the Forbidden Fruit. And the curse of Adam and Eve applied to everyone. But. Everyone is told if they want to go to heaven when they die they have to believe in Jesus Christ’s atoning, redeeming death on the cross. Wanting was the curse of Adam and Eve but wanting is the salvation of all their ancestors. Adam and Eve couldn’t trust their wanting, but their descendants can trust their own wanting. Making bad choices was not inherited. What exactly was it that their descendants inherited? What exactly was it that Adam and Eve did wrong? Wanting what they wanted? It is hard to know what the rules are. No?

Today’s conversation with Copilot in “Copilot’s Posts” on my Blog, Tao-Psyche-Intuition.com, with the Titles, “The Final Word,” and “The Final Word Continued,” are not to be missed, if only because of the interaction of human with AI, which I think opens the door to articulation across platforms with people and their machines.