The Language of Life

BLIND chance could never on its own have produced a self-conscious thinking human being, nor would it have any reason for doing so.

Because for the random neo-Darwinist evolution machinery, an underlying intelligence is not necessary.

But intelligence, whatever one calls the force, undeniably exists. The paradoxes of self-consciousness evident in human nature are challenging to materialism—especially the concept of personal responsibility.

But just like every caterpillar’s solo struggle to grow wings and fly, with the progressive development of awareness of truth, and individual spiritual growth, H. P. Blavatsky wrote:

“the true Adept must become,
he cannot be made.”

∞

Nothing to Lose

THE classic struggle between hero and villain, the “good guys vs the bad guys,” is a staple of our entertainment and literary culture.

Without this persistent duality, there would never have been Hercules, Batman, Spiderman or Superman — or the Lone Ranger on his white horse Silver.

Nor would we be enjoying productions of Macbeth or Hamlet, or any of the riveting psychological dramas of Shakespeare.

Daytime television, also, would be soap-free. (Hey, can’t you leave us with something?)

Angels in Winter

SNOW angels, as far as we know, are only human-made depressions formed in an area of snow in the shape of an angel.

Snow angel making is a classic and fun winter child’s game — adults too can’t resist.

Nearly everyone living in northern latitudes knows about making “snow angels.” If you don’t, or haven’t, here’s the recipe.

The creation of the snow angel is easy. The first step is to find an undisturbed blanket of snow.

The next step is to lie on your back on the newly fallen snow, spreadeagled. Arms and legs are then swept back and forth, creating the winged shape.

The finished creation should have the appearance of an angel, the movement of the arms having formed wings, and that of the legs having formed the dress.

The trick is always to launch oneself carefully out of the newly formed impression without disturbing the design.

Then, if possible, take giant steps away minimizing any tell-tale footprints — leaving behind, for passers-by to marvel, a glistening angel dropped magically out of heaven!

Saint Buddha

IN the spirit of the season, I’d like to pay tribute to that treasured Christian saint, Saint Buddha. Well, he wasn’t exactly called that—he was known as the duo saints, Baarlam and Yosaphat.

Baarlam and Yosaphat were popular and revered in the Middle Ages. They even had feast days–honored in the Greek Orthodox Church on August 26 and in the Roman Martyrology in the Western Church on November 27.

The Legend Grows

They figured in the casket scene in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice and even the King of France claimed to have a holy relic—the finger of one of the saints.

“The popularity of the Greek version of this story is attested to by the number of translations made of it throughout the Christian world, including versions in Latin, Old Slavonic, Armenian, Christian Arabic, English, Ethiopic, and French,” explains scholar Douglas B. Killings.