Monday, September 6, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The Universe is Vast
I remember when I was living in my apartment in VA I had a poster on the wall that I got from the Smithsonian store at National Airport. It was a poster entitled “The Known Universe.” This poster had an image of the solar system with the sun and the nine planets in orbit. This image had a box around it and then a line connected to the box that went to a dot in the Milky Way Galaxy. That dot was where our solar system was in relation to the rest of the star groups in the Milky Way Galaxy. In the vastness of the Milky Way our solar system is just a dot in the swirling mass of stars and gas. Then there was a box around the Milky Way and a line that brought this box into a dot inside an area known as a star system. This system had a box around it and a line that brought it into another dot in an area at the top of the poster that stretched the whole length of the poster underneath the title, “The Known Universe.” This was all that “we” know because these stars and galaxies are all that the Hubble Telescope can see and detect.
When I think about this poster I am supremely humbled. I remember thinking that how could we give so much importance to our problems and issues and even to ourselves when this universe is so vast. We are such a minute part of this gargantuan universe that whatever we do on this planet, in our country, in our community, in our home is in the grand scheme of things so insignificant. I am reminded of the Buddhist saying that 100 years from now everyone will be gone. Well it takes more than 70,000 years to get to the next star Proxima Centauri, let alone the next galaxy. How can we measure time when we are not even there to look at the watch?
When we realize our own minuteness we come to the understanding that it is our collective selves and our unity with the cosmos that gives us significance. Only when we align with The All, the source of all things, we can have an identity with the universe. It is our connection to the universal that gives us significance.
So let go, and let God, surrender your ego to the universal Spirit. Let the Cosmos think, feel, speak, act, love and breathe through you. Be at one with the divinity within you and you will have all the power of this vast universe behind everything you undertake.
When I think about this poster I am supremely humbled. I remember thinking that how could we give so much importance to our problems and issues and even to ourselves when this universe is so vast. We are such a minute part of this gargantuan universe that whatever we do on this planet, in our country, in our community, in our home is in the grand scheme of things so insignificant. I am reminded of the Buddhist saying that 100 years from now everyone will be gone. Well it takes more than 70,000 years to get to the next star Proxima Centauri, let alone the next galaxy. How can we measure time when we are not even there to look at the watch?
When we realize our own minuteness we come to the understanding that it is our collective selves and our unity with the cosmos that gives us significance. Only when we align with The All, the source of all things, we can have an identity with the universe. It is our connection to the universal that gives us significance.
So let go, and let God, surrender your ego to the universal Spirit. Let the Cosmos think, feel, speak, act, love and breathe through you. Be at one with the divinity within you and you will have all the power of this vast universe behind everything you undertake.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Summer Courses 2010
I will be teaching several online courses this summer in music industry and ethnomusicology at NCCU. You can apply online at:
http://web.nccu.edu/divisionofExtendedStudies/de/registration.htm
If you’re interested or know someone who is, don’t hesitate to register because classes may fill up. There are two summer sessions and the first session starts May 19th and goes until June 25th. Session II starts June 30th and goes until August 5th.
First Session
Music Industry:
MUSL 3860 Introduction to Music Technology – Acoustics – William Smith
MUSL 3870 Production I – William Smith
Ethnomusicology:
MUSL 3900 Music of Africa
MUSL 1000 Survey of Music
Second Session
Music Industry:
MUSL 3000 Commercial Music – William Smith
MUSL 4860 Production II – William Smith
Ethnomusicology:
MUSL 4850 African Influence on Music of the Americas
http://web.nccu.edu/divisionofExtendedStudies/de/registration.htm
If you’re interested or know someone who is, don’t hesitate to register because classes may fill up. There are two summer sessions and the first session starts May 19th and goes until June 25th. Session II starts June 30th and goes until August 5th.
First Session
Music Industry:
MUSL 3860 Introduction to Music Technology – Acoustics – William Smith
MUSL 3870 Production I – William Smith
Ethnomusicology:
MUSL 3900 Music of Africa
MUSL 1000 Survey of Music
Second Session
Music Industry:
MUSL 3000 Commercial Music – William Smith
MUSL 4860 Production II – William Smith
Ethnomusicology:
MUSL 4850 African Influence on Music of the Americas
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Overcoming Troubles
When trouble assails you move beyond the present and consider the past and the future as teachers. They will guide your action. The past is proof that you have made it through difficult circumstances before and that you exist today because The Creator brought you through those circumstances as He will bring you through your current circumstances. Then consider the future. All of the current circumstances will be just memories in the future; recollections of trials overcome.
The Zen axiom that in a hundred years everyone on this planet will be gone is solace in times of trial. It underscores the truth that nothing that you go through is of any real importance save to teach you that YOU are more important than the circumstance. Your spirit will live on beyond your trials and tribulations. Nothing is greater than The Self for it is eternal.
Do not give in to petty circumstances. When you do you are like a lion cringing from the bark of a dog. The lion knows its strength and will strut magnificently through the plain fearing no animal because it knows that it has dominance over the animal world. Walk with that wisdom and awareness and be strong in the knowledge of your royalty. You are The Absolute, The Unflinching, The Omnipotent Self who can surmount any obstacle and any circumstance just by existing. Smile at misfortune, laugh at troubles, welcome adversity because it will shrink when it gazes upon your steadfast assurance of your superiority. You will conquer any trial and tribulation because those trials are temporary while you are permanent. You have dominion over them and they are your subjects. They are here to serve you, not you to serve them. Realize this truth and stand firm.
The Zen axiom that in a hundred years everyone on this planet will be gone is solace in times of trial. It underscores the truth that nothing that you go through is of any real importance save to teach you that YOU are more important than the circumstance. Your spirit will live on beyond your trials and tribulations. Nothing is greater than The Self for it is eternal.
Do not give in to petty circumstances. When you do you are like a lion cringing from the bark of a dog. The lion knows its strength and will strut magnificently through the plain fearing no animal because it knows that it has dominance over the animal world. Walk with that wisdom and awareness and be strong in the knowledge of your royalty. You are The Absolute, The Unflinching, The Omnipotent Self who can surmount any obstacle and any circumstance just by existing. Smile at misfortune, laugh at troubles, welcome adversity because it will shrink when it gazes upon your steadfast assurance of your superiority. You will conquer any trial and tribulation because those trials are temporary while you are permanent. You have dominion over them and they are your subjects. They are here to serve you, not you to serve them. Realize this truth and stand firm.
Monday, March 23, 2009
"The age of nations is past it's time to build the earth"
"The age of nations is past it's time to build the earth"
My dad would always say this quote. To me it means we are supposed to be cultivating the brotherhood and sisterhood of man and woman and to move past our differences to work together to save our planet and ourselves. Let us not forget past wrongs to the point where we don't respect our ancestors memories or require justice where applicable. But let us not let past wrongs hinder future rights in order that our collective humanity may benefit from the sacrifice of our personal ego.
My dad would always say this quote. To me it means we are supposed to be cultivating the brotherhood and sisterhood of man and woman and to move past our differences to work together to save our planet and ourselves. Let us not forget past wrongs to the point where we don't respect our ancestors memories or require justice where applicable. But let us not let past wrongs hinder future rights in order that our collective humanity may benefit from the sacrifice of our personal ego.
Many Truths one Truth
I've noticed that in conversation you people may say things that you may disagree with. You can choose to respond to them and make it clear where you stand or sometimes you don't respond. Let people have their truth if its true for them. You in turn have your own truth and follow the path that's true for you. Discussion is not as important as implementation. Know what is true for you in the present and act on that knowledge. In the absence of knowledge...ask and be still.
Some may ask how can two opposing views be true? That's because it is true for those holding those views. It is in their individual time and space. In order to grasp how their individual views can be true you have to understand that We are all the same person experiencing ourselves at different time space coordinates. In the world of things, the material world of polarity, we see the existence of opposites. But in the world of spirit there are no opposites. Everything just IS.
Some may ask how can two opposing views be true? That's because it is true for those holding those views. It is in their individual time and space. In order to grasp how their individual views can be true you have to understand that We are all the same person experiencing ourselves at different time space coordinates. In the world of things, the material world of polarity, we see the existence of opposites. But in the world of spirit there are no opposites. Everything just IS.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Thoughts about government vs. business 3-7-09
In the present climate of our public discourse about regulation and government involvement or control of certain elements of the financial sector, it is important to have a broader perspective of the situation and be honest with our assumptions. Government and business are not at odds with each other as many of the Republican talking heads are postulating. In fact they have similar approaches and purposes. Their missions may ultimately differ but the way they achieve them are the same.
The same fear that many Republicans have of "big government" should also apply to "big business." The collapse of businesses like Enron and others have proven that corruption, red tape and bad customer service exists in large corporations as much if not more than in government. At least in government there is the operating assumption of the government's purpose to bring order, stability and peace to its citizens. Of course this purpose is rarely fulfilled in our current world climate but there are some examples of this aim being fulfilled in history. The main operating principle of business is profit. The "bottom line" is the important principle in business and the only thing you can count on is that a business is out to make money. Trust in the business to function ethically is questionable at best. You also don't necessarily receive good service, more choices, and quality products with big businesses. The larger they get the less accountability you have.
It seems that in any organization (which is what each entity is) you will always have the tug-of-war between personal gain and public service. What is ultimately important is that the leaders of any organization whether it is governmental, business or charitable, act with a commitment to ethics and also commit to carrying out faithfully the mission of the organization.
The same fear that many Republicans have of "big government" should also apply to "big business." The collapse of businesses like Enron and others have proven that corruption, red tape and bad customer service exists in large corporations as much if not more than in government. At least in government there is the operating assumption of the government's purpose to bring order, stability and peace to its citizens. Of course this purpose is rarely fulfilled in our current world climate but there are some examples of this aim being fulfilled in history. The main operating principle of business is profit. The "bottom line" is the important principle in business and the only thing you can count on is that a business is out to make money. Trust in the business to function ethically is questionable at best. You also don't necessarily receive good service, more choices, and quality products with big businesses. The larger they get the less accountability you have.
It seems that in any organization (which is what each entity is) you will always have the tug-of-war between personal gain and public service. What is ultimately important is that the leaders of any organization whether it is governmental, business or charitable, act with a commitment to ethics and also commit to carrying out faithfully the mission of the organization.
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