by Ethan Johnson
April 25, 2006

I just finished watching the re-imagined TV series Battlestar Galactica. All I can say is, wow.

This is not an article about that show. What I will say about it, as a springboard into other matters, is that in the case of either version of the series (late 1970's or present), the Galactica cast is desperately trying to find Earth, and in hot pursuit is an enemy far more powerful and far less forgiving than any other that we would have have seen in our Earthly history. I couldn't help but ask inwardly as I watched the show, what were they thinking?

On the subject of colonizing other planets (such as Mars) or scanning the heavens seeking some sign of intelligent life, I wonder why we entertain these thoughts. If we colonize other planets, what is the purpose? Life on Mars on a good day can't be much better than the worst day anywhere here on Earth. We can't live on the surface. There is not enough (let alone any) air to breathe. The temperatures will either fry us or freeze us to death depending on which side of the planet we're on and whether it faces the sun. All in all, if you'd like to imagine life on Mars, head to the nearest fallout shelter and stay down there for 24 months. Assuming that windows are possible on Mars, just stick a piece of black construction paper on the wall for the scenic view. Or a photo of a dust storm.

And if we scan the heavens and find intelligent life, what shall we say? That 1+1=2? That we've got our act together and we're ready to either receive their collective wisdom or impart our own? That we'll be right over in 78 million light-years?

Let us assume that the universe is for practical intents and purposes, infinite. Let us also assume that since Earth is a life-bearing planet, so too must there be others in an infinite universe. The distance between such planets is considerable enough that it is practical to assume that we are "alone" as we presently do not possess the capability to travel to those places.

Whoever decided that we should be effectively quarantined from each other on the planetary scale was onto something. We can't run away from our problems. We can't "just" cut over to another planet when we've exhausted and destroyed this one. This is true universally, assuming that other life-bearing planets are as far apart from each other as we are from what we suspect may be life-bearing. We must get our own house in order long before we can interest ourselves in any other.

And after all of that preamble, here's my point. Many times, we reach out for knowledge and attempt to have experiences that we are not ready for. We believe that we will benefit in some way when in fact we eschew fundamentals for flash, hard-earned experience and wisdom for instant gratification.

What interests me, fundamentally, is the truth. Many people claim to know the truth about many things. Some say that the only truth that matters is the acceptance of [religious figure here] and the reading of [religious text here]. Some say that whoever dies with the most toys wins. Some subvert what may in fact be the truth for their own short-sighted, selfish ends.

As a case in point on a religious/spiritual level, I recently saw two web sites that illustrated this perfectly. One was about how to become a "Christian Millionaire". The idea was to get really rich and then donate the money (I presume tax deductibly) to help aid the poor. These purported Christians do not know their Christ. Jesus insisted that we can help the poor now, and not wait until we're filthy rich or on direct orders from God. If we have the ability to help someone, anyone in some small way, we should. I do not identify as a Christian and yet I see the wisdom in that advice. It's not always easy for me to follow through on this ideal, but I do what I can.

The other site talked about wanting to incorporate the Tao into "marketing". Indeed. These Taoists do not know the Tao. The Tao is too great to be neatly confined to a subject such as Marketing. The Tao transcends words. Those who know do not speak, those who speak do not know. I do not identify as a Taoist, but I see the wisdom in it. I know better than to attempt to make a ham-handed effort to convince the elect that I have harnessed the Tao, now in pill form.

As I will mention several times this year alone, I am on a journey of unbecoming. I recognize that I have surrounded myself with the wrong things. I have expended energy in the pursuit of the wrong things. I have concerned myself with matters that are not of my concern. I have eaten the wrong foods. I have made unwise decisions.

It is time for me to unbecome the man that these actions have made me. It is time for me to not only model the change that I would like to see in the world, but to embrace it. To own it. To become one with it, and make it one with me. This change will not be sudden. This change will not present itself with fanfare, or with oaths, or with rituals. I will simply be, as the rocks are, as the trees are, as the sky is, as the rain falls. I will not be what I was. I will be something else. I will be my True Self.

This transformation requires that I know my True Self. I do not know presently how I will come to know it. I sit in quiet reflection and I am greeted with noise and static. I am haunted my memories of my Present Self. Somewhere beyond all of the noise is a small, still voice.

That voice speaks the truth.

I will prepare myself to receive that truth.

I will prepare myself to live it.

The readiness is all. <EM>