Wether we call it FAITH or religion or philosophy or existentialism, they are belief systems.  The only thing that all have in common is that EVERYBODY thinks they are CORRECT.  Nobody of any faith thinks “THEIR” belief system  is a WRONG one.  Catholics believe their religion is true but have problems with  Protestants.  Mormons think they are the true path. Jehovah witnesses etc. etc etc….blah,blah,blah   The different factions of Islam war with each other over wether or not Ali should be remembered in daily prayer.  Jews and Islam are probably the longest family feud in world history. They are all cousins ! That all goes back to Abraham and Sarah and Haggar and Isaac and Ishmael.  There is only one solution for that family feud but that will be in a following Blog.   One thing I know for sure is :

WE DO NOT MAKE FRIENDS BY TELLING BELIEVERS THAT THEIR BELIEFS ARE  WRONG  !!  IT IS A VERY FAST WAY TO MAKE ENEMIES !

NO BELIEF IS TOTALLY WRONG AND NO BELIEF IS TOTALLY CORRECT

IT ALWAYS GETS DOWN TO THE BATTLE OF GOOD AND EVIL

and… we are often incapable of  defining what is good and what is evil

BECAUSE.. Everything is in flux and at different times, different things are true.

EXAMPLE:  THE ATOM BOMB. There is only one country on the planet that has used an atom bomb in a war. Twice, it was the United States of America. Was it wrong to kill a couple hundred thousand Japanese civilians?  Yes ? No?   As the USA was nearing the Japanese homeland the ferocity of the Japanese increased. Japanese soldiers and Kamakazi pilots adopted a “dead to the last man” mentality. The continuation of the war by conventional methods would have cost the United States incomprehensible casualties and decimated the Japanese homeland population to near  genocidal proportions. The KAMAKAZI mentality (devine wind) was a decisive determining factor in dropping the bombs. Therefore…….. did the  KAMAKAZSI dedication and philosophy (DEVINE WIND) in fact save the Japanese Homeland and countless American lives by exhibiting their willingness to sacrafice their own lives?  The answer has to be YES.  We criticize others for blowing themselves up for a cause.  However, If an American Military  Person jumps on a handgrenade to save lives, we give them the Congressional Medal of Honor. AND WE SHOULD! Now the USA has a great friend and ally in Japan. We CHANGE.  There were countless lives saved by dropping the A-Bombs and avoiding the invasion  of Japan.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL IS NOT ALWAYS CLEAR. to  US.

THESE SITUATIONS REQUIRE FAITH.    DETERMINING IF SOMETHING IS GOOD OR EVIL REQUIRES US TO CONSIDER ALTERNATE PERSPECTIVES.  BLIND FAITH IS UNQUESTIONABLY… DANGEROUS .

So, on a lighter note,  go out for dinner tomorrow for some SUSHI ! We get a cable FIGHT channel down here and we get boxing, Judo (which by the way is what they use to make BAGELS).  Thai Kick Boxing, wrestling and my new FAVORITE is SUMO WRESTLING from Tokoyo.  I have come to appreciate the art and the athleticism of these wrestlers. Their unique blend of speed, balance, coordination, power and technique is incredible! Going to Tokoyo and atttending  a Sumo match is now on my bucket list.  The only other item on my bucket list is to go to the Western Wall in Jer USA lem  and say a prayer and head back to the airport and get the hell out of there before somebody can blow the place up !!

I started to study the teachings of Budda once upon a time,  but just when I thought I was beginning to understand,  I lost all my DESIRE to study………….. Zen I went out to get some Sushi !

OK,  So this guy goes up to a hot dog stand and there was a small statue of Budda behind the counter. The nice asian gentleman asked him, ” What would you like ?”  So the guy says, “Make me one with everything ! “.  The nice asian man says, ” Stop with the Buddhist jokes and just tell me what you want on your hot dog !!!

KEEP YOUR FAITH AND BE KIND TO EACH OTHER

I THINK THAT IS GOOD AND TRUE    HOWEVER….

MAYBE I’M ALL FLUXED UP !

sending you good thoughts !

MARC