Anamika asked, “Master, shall we buy and sell?”
The Master said, “The cult of commerce is the cult of duty. Dutifully serve others, and you will be dutifully served. Duty is the nemesis of genius.”
Anamika asked, “Master, shall we obey the law?”
The Master said, “The duty of obedience is the duty to accept ad hominem arguments. Law is the grammar of society. Crime is its poetry.”
Anamika asked, “Master, do I have a soul?”
The Master said, “The computer technician knows that software is distinct from hardware.”
Ahmed said, “Master, tell us about your system.”
The Master said, “Those eager for a system of thought are eager to be rid of thought.”
Ahmed asked, “Master, what things are worthy of my attention?”
The Master said, “Giving our full attention to little things makes them into big things.”
Ahmed asked, “Master, how shall I meditate?”
The Master said, “The gentleman stops speaking when others have stopped listening. He speaks only when appropriate. He adopts a polite, deferential tone when speaking. The gentleman trains his inner voice to stop speaking when he has ceased to listen to it. He trains his inner voice to speak only when appropriate. He trains his inner voice to adopt a polite, deferential tone when speaking.”
Atalaya asked, “Master, for whom shall I vote?”
The Master said, “It is your duty as a democratic citizen to do as you are told. At election time, it is your duty to tell everyone else what to do. The gentleman never gives orders.”
Ahmed asked, “Master, how shall I pray?”
The Master said, “Do not dwell in grievances. Dwell in gratitude.”
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Darwin and Descartes
Descartes relies upon the benevolence of God to assure himself that his senses could not be deceiving him. Today we rely upon the benevolence of the market to assure ourselves that the press could not be deceiving us. In both cases, the science of evolution would lead us a different conclusion. The senses tell us what is needed to preserve the species. The press tells us what is needed to preserve the market.
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