~C4Chaos

What gift will you give the world today?

(This is in response to the Questions and Reflections for December 24, 2007)

I offer the world a gift of Trinity -- image, music, and poetry.

Image:

Music: My rendition of the classic tune, Sleepwalk, with a holiday twist.

Poetry:

Kings of Wishful Thinking

we say that God is Omniscient, but this would make Him cruel,
for what’s the point of testing us, when He knows the fate of fools,

we say that God is Omnipotent, but this would make us wonder,
for why does He need His angels, to battle demons from evil yonder,

we say that God is the Creator, but this would contradict our theory,
for if the Kosmos is really infinite, there’s no way to create Infinity,

we say that God has a Plan, but this belittles His intention,
for how can He envision a goal, when He’s basking in pure Perfection,

we say that God is Just, but this would make Him blind,
for Justice favors no one, nature, wild, or humankind,

we say that God is our Salvation, but this would make Him a bully,
for if He is Everything, then He is also our Enemy,

we say that God is Love, but this would limit His company,
for how can He be present, when wars engulf humanity,

we say that God is Omnipresent, but this would make Him Us,
for if He is Everywhere, He’d be also in our Hearts,

we say that God should be a He, we say that God should be a She,
we say that God is Neither, whatever Neither meant to be,

we say that God is this, we say that God is that,
but we actually know nothing,
we keep the paradox behind our heads,
and live as Kings of Wishful Thinking.

Pause for a moment, and write a haiku about what's around you.

(This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for May 09, 2007)

in a small corner
witnessing the bright lights of
this Zaadz noosphere

What's your relationship to the Earth?

(This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for April 22, 2007)

I am the Earth and the Earth is me,
We are the Earth and the Earth is us.

There's no separation,
We're made of the same stuff
along with other planets,
the Sun, the stars, the swirling galaxies,
the Cosmos, and the Kosmos.

Snap!

I am awed, humbled, and grateful
to witness this illusory separation
to admire the beauty of creation
and melt into thee, with reverie…

I am the Earth and the Earth is me,
We are the Earth and the Earth is us,
the Sun, the stars, the swirling galaxies,
the Cosmos, and the Kosmos.

Kronos: Momentary Adversary

Props to the Zero Boss for giving me an excuse to post my old cheesy poem(s)...

Momentary Adversary
19981020-0031

trapped in a prison
i can’t break free,
everywhere i go,
it goes with me,

whatever I do
i’m being watched,
wherever i turn,
it goes for the catch,

neither the rich
nor even the poor,
can ever escape,
beyond its door,

even denial
cannot do,
freedom’s an illusion
i wish was true,

is there a place
beyond its door,
or just empty hopes
from ancient lores?

no point to struggle,
just go with the flow…
Time is a friend,
and not my foe.

Tale of Anamnesis 
19980904-0009

‘How far have we gone since the creation of man?’
Asks the curious son to his beloved old man,
‘What an int’resting question,’ as he gathers his wits,
‘Let me tell you a tale and let’s see where it fits.’

‘Most of us know the story of Evolution,
How we started using tools for work and for protection,
From the basic unit that we call Family,
We learned the value of forming Society.’

‘But society will not be without Communication,
So we included Language as part of Education,
As we learn to speak and write our ideas,
Civilization blossomed across different eras.’

‘From the Glory of Greece to the Dynasties in Asia,
To the Grandeur that was Rome and the Wisdom of India,
Mankind battled for the splendor of Conquest,
Be it North, be it South, be it East, be it West.’

‘A time when Empires dominate the kingdom,
Brave new souls fought for Honor and for Freedom,
As mankind struggled for new territories,
They set up borders dividing the countries.’

‘As natural consequence of discord and separation,
The first World War sent masses to oblivion,
And when diff’rent governments fought for supremacy,
Majority of people adhered for Democracy.’

‘Our hearts were awakened and Slavery was abolished,
One of the greatest thing to be ever admonished,
Along came the outburst of Industrial Revolution,
At the forefront was Science, the Ultimate Foundation.’

‘With a blind belief on a quest for superiority,
World War II was a nightmare for the rest of humanity,
But in the midst of war Technology prevailed,
The power of The Bomb was finally unveiled.’

‘In time of the Cold War dreaded by nations,
Our search continues with Space Explorations,
“The Eagle has landed!” said the man on the moon,
Humanity was awed not a minute too soon.’

‘Gradually we mellowed in vigilant harmony,
Revolutions in Science overshadowed cacophony,
We shifted attention to our perennial goals,
To make life easier and to search for our souls.’

‘We learned to adapt much faster than before,
Everything was a blur, the past seemed no more,   
A Paradigm shift used to take generation,
But now in a lifetime there’s too much Information.’

‘And as we live in the age of the Atom Smashers,
Of Virtual Worlds and Networked-computers,
We continue to write the passage of history,
Portraying our roles in this majestic allegory.’

‘Truly we’ve accomplished such magnificent feat!’ 
Replies the inquiring lad as he rose to his feet,
‘We’ve gone so far from where we had started,
Do you have any idea to where we are headed?’

The old man pondered as he smiled to his son,
‘I wish I knew, but I can’t answer that one!,
All I can tell you is that we’re part of a Story,
And there’s no such need to end it in a hurry.’   

‘We can only imagine to where we are going,
As we learn to harness the potential of our being,
If we look with our eyes, we’re bound for Immortality,
Yet we’re not going anywhere… within the Tale of Eternity.’

2006: End of Year Reflections in 7 Haikus

blogging with passion
kosmic blogging injunctions
flow with compassion

coolmel is no more
ubiquitous nirvana
~C4Chaos lives

became a wizard
in a rabbit hole called Zaadz
spreading fluffy seeds

two hearts far apart
Ireland was never too far
Rosses Point surprise

a block from the lake
got a more permanent crib
vagabond no more

cribbing with my folks
like back in my college days
it's a culture thing

time is relative
waiting for ~myDakini
Love is absolute.

Dreaming in Kanji

(Targeted)Serendipity + RETICULUM REX = KICK @$$. Check out these out.

Japanese Translation in old-style Kanji of Buddhist++ Floetry (which is a remix of this). See?

buddhist++ floetry
Originally uploaded by coolmel.

Japanese Kanji for Chaos (disorder). Watch this blogger-body-mind make this into a household tattoo....

~C4Chaos Kanji (in red)
Originally uploaded by coolmel.

Thank you Ayako!

That is all (for now).

~C (for Culture Remix)

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Tagged @ Ma.gnolia with: kanji, ayako, serendipity, tattoo, japanese, xistential memoir, creative commons, reticulum rex, existential memoir, kick ass, free culture, ~c4chaos, ~c4無秩序, buddhist++ floetry, calligraphy, mogen, artworks, art

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Tagged @ Zaadz with: Kanji, Ayako, serendipity, tattoo, Japanese, Xistential Memoir, Creative Commons, RETICULUM REX, Existential Memoir, kick ass, Free Culture, ~C4Chaos, ~C4無秩序, Buddhist++ Floetry, Calligraphy, Mogen

Buddhist++ Floetry

Leave it to Blogmandu to rip, mix, and burn this crazy fool.

RETICULUM REX rules!

I have no grand illusions
                   of claiming that blogging
    can catapult anyone into
                                        awakening.
                        I have already stated my belief
                       when it comes to enlightenment!
                               My path is via SERENDIPITY
                                                  and NOT
             sitting
                         in LOTUS under a FREAKIN’ TREE!
       I respect your path,
              and I bow down to the Buddha-nature in you,
            but I tried it
                                   and it
          DOES NOT
  work for me.                                       Dig?

Nice. I wonder how this floetry would look like in Kanji. Hmmm, I think we'll need a bigger scroll... ~C4無秩序 and Asian babes rule!

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Tagged @ Zaadz with: illusions, poetry, blogging, kanji, poem, enlightenment, blogosphere, buddhist++, blogmandu, RETICULUM REX, ~C4Chaos, ~C4無秩序, Asian babes rule, asian babes, Buddhoblogosphere, floetry, Buddhist++ Floetry, rip-mix-burn

Last Night

last night i laid on my back
and for a brief moment...

there's...
no more global warming
no more terrorism
no more fighting
no more struggling
no more rich
no more poor
no more hunger
no more anger
no more disease
no more health
no more maps
no more territories
no more happiness
no more sadness
no more virtues
no more scriptures
no more hope
no more love
no more you
no more me

...then BUZZ!!!
my Y!M went off
and i smiled.

Lyrics: Dopamine Overload

It's still a week before St. V-Day, but Love is already in the air. I was minding my own business, daydreaming actually, when my friend smacked me in the head with the February issue of National Geographic. It has a good article exploring boring different scientific explanations of that crazy little thing called Love. Check it out. It's a good read. *yawn*

Anyway, after reading the article, it inspired me to write a blues song. It's still a work in progress but I think I've got the gist of it. I'll play a standard bluesy rock progression in the key of "E" and let the vocals do the damage. I'll post the audio and vocals once I summon enough guts to make a fool of myself. I think I'll perform this on open mics to bring the house down.

"Dopamine Overload"

when passion dies
no big surpise
just carry on
on, on, and on

fake it till you make it
fake it till you make it, baby
fake it till you make it
fake it till you make it, baby
fake it till you make it
fake it till you make that sweet release, ohh

you used to hold my hand
you said you need me
we fooled around till dawn
you stripped, you teased me

we made it in my car
cyber-shaggin' when we're far
hell that was not so long ago
but now you're letting go

dopamine, oxytocin,
vaseline,
down in between....

2005: End of Year Reflections in 7 Haikus

four years down the drain
in this city drenched in rain
an old chapter ends

slumbering passion
in corporate samsara
who is it that toils?

temporal abode
in a place i resonate
near the waterfront

met with old classmates
was it fifteen years ago
when highschool was fun?

fireworks from without
magic there miracle here
fireworks from within

love is lovelier
some say second time around
some people are right

the future's so bright
no need to wear hat or shades
just face the rainbow.

2004: End of Year Reflections in 7 Haikus

uneasy feeling
foreboding changes to come
impermanence sucks

livin' on a prayr
made in rocky mountain high
destiny's not there

synchronicity
in the emerald city
twist in this journey

when two become one
and one becomes two again
bittersweet freedom

Bush won Kerry lost
disappointing outcome or
blessing in disguise?

the earth moved under
rising water in search of
souls to remember

cold and wet winter
looking forward into spring
hope for clarity.

Mistaken Identity

Lying in darkness wandering in solitude,
Suddenly an urge to examine my attitude,
Whenever I admire the beauty of creation,
Who is there looking through my peripheral vision?
Whenever I enjoy being caressed by someone,
Who is there feeling the ecstasy of becoming one?
Whenever I take delight in the sound of the ocean,
Who is there hearing such melodic orchestration?
Whenever I gobble through different buffets,
Who is there savoring the labor of gourmets?
Whenever I relish the scent of a newborn’s feet,
Who is there basking in the fragrance so sweet?
And in a flash I found myself dumbfounded,
Engaging in queries which are foolishly grounded,
Then the ultimate scrutiny delivers the blow,
Why do I ask? and Who wants to know?

Wrong Side of the Sleeping Bag

ever felt like there's conspiracy
to take you up and down
to snuff the life and smile
and meaning from your crown?
frown you bastard frown
drown you bastard drown

ever felt like fate is there
to take your joys away
to make you miserable
instead of happy and gay?
cry you loser cry
die you loser die

ever felt like life is there
to steal your loved ones from you
to curse you in the darkness
and beat you black and blue?
scream you moron scream
dream you moron dream

you're not the only one
who feels this day by day
so take them as they come
there's just no easy way
frown you bastard frown
cry you loser cry
scream you moron scream
then wake up from your dream.

Binding Paradox

Dug up a poem I wrote years ago. Then I added some Flickr tags to make it less boring.

Big Bang set the Universe in motion,
Only to Crunch itself to death,
We spend our lives forever working,
So we can take a decent Rest,

The Ozone bed falls down as Rain,
So Rain can shape the Ozone,
We plunder Nature of its fortune,
While calling for Environment Protection,

‘Love thy Enemy,’
So adversaries can be tamed,
We make our weapons far more deadly,
So that our Peace could be maintained,

Life will always yield to Death,
So the Dead can go on Living,
We know this Precept as a fact,
While holding tight to stay up breathing,

Shiva dances to Create,
While carrying Its mass Destruction,
We scare ourselves with Hell’s damnation,
Then fabricate our own Salvation,

God Almighty created Beings,
So that Beings can make their God,
We live our lives in search for meaning,
So that meaning can be our blood,

The Past continues to shape the Future,
So the Future can shape the Past,
And we should wisely choose our Destiny,
So Destiny won’t choose us last.

Burnt Toast Poetry Jam

In response to the frequently-championed concept that "information is free", technology columnist Nicholas Petreley once wrote, "Those who want information to be free as a matter of principle should create some information and make it free." This statement concisely illustrates the conflict between the cultural desire to make original material readily and cheaply (or freely) available and the right of original-work creators to receive compensation for their work.

- A footnote in Wikipedia:Public Domain

I managed to calm my nerves and grow some balls tonight. I decided to just do it. So I signed up for my very first open mic at Burnt Toast Poetry Jam. Instead of reading hardcore poetry, I read one of my blogs, and performed a blues version of an old poem. I also made handouts (licensed under Creative Commons of course). Judging from the response from the audience, I think I did a decent job. Thanks to Knuckles and Mooseboots for the moral support. Props to my Final-Scratchin' homey, DJ Rekluse, for letting me borrow his acoustic axe. Damn, I'm gonna miss Boulder. (more pictures here.)

Spheres

sphere of concern: sustainability, world hunger, pollution, environmental degradation, weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, technology, cyberspace, blogosphere, freedom of speech, britney spears, free culture, education for the masses, developing countries, religious tolerance, same-sex marriage, zero-point energy, m-theory, integral theory, nanotechnology, neurotechnology, cloning, genetic engineering, global warming, tilting of the earth's axis, the government, the military, cia, nsa, national budget, holy wars, mission to mars, invaders from mars, five years from now, two years from now, a year from now, tomorrow, death....

sphere of influence: awakening in the absolute and the relative, getting a freakin' day job.

Reality Bites... in the ass

casting die, wasted lies in a realm
of the lord of the flies
reality bites in spite of noble intents
fate just looks you in the eye
wake up to the Divine
oh how sublime then you're left alone to
figure it out on your own
put up a smile or curse as you frown
acting like a stupid clown
getting ready to drown...
the water is cool, take a dip, take a sip,
and taste your own reflection.

7even Days: Kings of Wishful Thinking

we say that God is Omniscient, but this would make Him cruel, for what’s the point of testing us, when He knows the fate of fools, we say that God is Omnipotent, but this would make us wonder, for why does He need His angels, to battle demons from evil yonder, we say that God is the Creator, but this would contradict our theory, for if the Kosmos is really infinite, there’s no way to create Infinity, we say that God has a Plan, but this belittles His intention, for how can He envision a goal, when He’s basking in pure Perfection, we say that God is Just, but this would make Him blind, for Justice favors no one, nature, wild, or humankind, we say that God is our Salvation, but this would make Him a bully, for if He is Everything, then He is also our Enemy, we say that God is Love, but this would limit His company, for how can He be present, when wars engulf humanity, we say that God is Omnipresent, but this would make Him Us, for if He is Everywhere, He’d be also in our Hearts, we say that God should be a He, we say that God should be a She, we say that God is Neither, whatever Neither meant to be, we say that God is this, we say that God is that, but we actually know nothing, we keep the paradox behind our heads, and live as Kings of Wishful Thinking. [back to 7even Days]

Flurries

snow flurries prancing on the other side of my window,
just there, floating, going where the wind is blowing,
no direction, in all direction, just there, floating, prancing,
going where the wind is blowing.

mPoetry: Flower Dance

Cosmic Shuffle

cosmos swirling, space-time dances, galaxies spinning, black hole collapses, solar flares, rotating planets, cosmic rays, erratic comets, spinning rocks, waving oceans, living creatures, land formations, soaring highs, aquatic kingdoms, subterraneans, lands of freedom, survival instincts, hunting preys, thinking minds, evolving days, conscious awe, probe for answers, expanding minds, potential powers… …cosmos swirling, space-time dances, immortal beings, deathless process…

The Wisdom Cycle

Out of Belief comes forth Faith, Out of Faith comes forth Hope, Out of Hope comes forth Action, Out of Action comes forth Experience, Out of Experience comes forth Knowledge, Out of Knowledge comes forth Wisdom, And out of Wisdom comes forth Common Sense, Sooner or later even Common Sense has to be transcended, New Beliefs shall spring forth and the cycle continues, But in the midst of the cycle, who is the Doer?

Behind My Face

Behind my face a stranger lives, eats, looks out into the world, Watches over my every thought, sharing the feelings I undergo, It is here as soon as I wake up and before I go to sleep, In the privacy of my dreams its presence keeps me company, In my deepest slumber it rests with me, or is it me who rests in thee? It was just recently that I noticed this stranger, But I know it’s been here since the day I was born, I know that it will be with me ‘till my last breath, And continue on… looking, feeling, living…

Slumbering Buddha

with
a snap!
i’m back
once
more to
relive these
fleeting moments i once
endured, acting out a play
whose plot nor ending i can barely
recall, caught up anew in the realm of
amnesia veiled to my head, exploring,
choosing among extremes not settling for
anything between, blindly walking in the valley
of deceit ensnared by grief, with constant
yearning for the bliss i thought that i once had, insatiable thirst
for that elusive meaning which sages pride, down the road i ramble,
seeking truth to fill my hunger, to be free from it all means
giving up once more, a daunting recollection at the
end of every journey… behold I am awake!
there’s no one here but Me.

Overview

i sit atop a downtown structure, looking below what’s going on, rush hour traffic and hasty people, up here they’re ants and nothing more, criss-cross pathways, blinking lights, sound of horns and screeching tires, miniature boxes that they call home, up here they’re Legos on the floor, a brisk walk here, and running there, they look so stupid they do not care, filled with panic on shopping galore, up here they’re ants and nothing more, in and out from their houses of beauty, it seems so silly to disguise their thoughts, i can’t even tell their sexes apart, up here they’re blurred looking like dots, i keep on reading their erratic movements, don’t know if they’re fighting or maybe playing, looking like minuscule play on the floor, up here they’re ants and nothing more, i gazed in wonder at the vast plateau, can those people down could ever know, that they are focused on a single hole, behaving like ants and mindless drones… break-time’s over, i have to continue, my humble job of cleaning these windows, i sense a dread while sliding down the floors, down there i’d be an ant… and nothing more.

November 17, 2003 at 12:10 AM in Flo Poems | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Cross-sensory Perception

if i can taste the rays of light,
relish the flavors of the stars,
will it be sweet, will it be sour,
can it be savored from afar?

if i can see a classic tune,
watch the splendor of progressing scales,
will it be bright, can it be pictured,
can face of silence be ever captured?

if i can hear the taste of wine,
delight in melody of luscious meals,
will it be blues, will it be jazzy,
can music fill my hungry belly?

if i can touch the smell of flowers,
feel the fragrance of summer breeze,
will it be rough, will it be smooth,
can sweet aroma rub my foot?

if i can smell the sense of gladness,
sniff the pain and mild caress,
will it be foul, will it be scented,
can i inhale and be contented?

at times i couldn’t help but wonder,
how contrary the world could be,
to look reality in the eye,
perceive the things we cannot see.

November 4, 2003 at 12:55 PM in Flo Poems | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Invisible Drums

i close my eyes,
but i see faces,
i shut my ears,
but i hear voices,

i close my mouth,
my mind keeps talking,
i pace my breath,
but i keep gasping,

i sit in silence,
but noise keeps coming,
i still my body,
my feet keep itching,

i void my mind,
but thoughts go wild,
i can’t let go,
of fears inside,

as i drift slowly,
with each passing hums,
i dance to the beat,
of invisible drums.

November 2, 2003 at 12:26 PM in Flo Poems | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Life Bestowed

(dedicated to all those who have lost a dear one…)

Tunneling through darkness embracing the light,
Thunderous cry amidst tears of rapture,
A start of pilgrimage into the night,
Another journey in search of nature,

Days will pass and years will follow,
As life begets life and seeds are sown,
Joys and sorrows will be part of tomorrow,
Eventually life will unfold on its own,

But as the daylight succumbs to darkness,
And as the Stars exhaust their radiance,
Life bestowed returns to blankness,
The Law of Existence knows no defiance,

And when the time to return is near,
While sadness grips and anguish reigns,
It is but human to shed a tear,
The light of Love comforts the pains,

But though the daylight succumbs to darkness,
And though the Stars exhaust their radiance,
Life bestowed will always be boundless,
The Law of Existence knows no defiance.

October 28, 2003 at 07:21 AM in Flo Poems | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack