I started working on a post a few days ago, reacting on an article, with a title that caught my attention (in French):
Meditation in schools worries associations and unions
After writing a post that sounded a little bit too overheated, I decided to delete everything as it was missing the point. Then I "meditated" on it 😌, and tried to understand the ramifications of such a witch hunt, what it implies.
The article made me realize that there was an ongoing silent war against spirituality, under the false pretense of fighting cult-like behavior and communitarianism.
If you aren't familiar with the term "communitarianism", it has been thrown around a lot in recent years in France, it has been used as a way to denounce small groups, small pockets of citizen, minding their own business a little bit too much I guess 😁, and the Police state needs to control every single citizen.
You can pretty encompasses the gypsies, free spirits, certain religious groups, people out of society, homeless people (300 000 in France), and few other sub cultures as people living in within their own community and rules, and this is a big nono for the frenchies.
Again, it's hard not to be incendiary, the fact of the matter is that it would be pointless to criticize the need for a government to control all his subjects, and instead I thought it would be more interesting to have an open conversation on the subject of "Laïcité" and why it's at the core of the debate.
The English equivalent would be "secularism", though Laicité encompasses all form of spirituality as an enemy of free thinking & modern democracy, has been sold as a overruling ideology during the last century up until now, with a remarkably rapid adoption, as it took roughly 100 years for it to become a nation not under god, but under the square and the compass.
Actually, secularism is the very foundation of the Republic, and takes birth during the enlightenment period of the 18th century, heavily influenced by the masonic hidden hand, that always had a particular interest in freeing the minds from the shackles of religions, for your own good of course. 🙂
Truth is, The French republic needs its citizen to be devout to the republic only, and that's why the separation of the state and the church was so important. In other word, it was necessary for the state to "kill god", and become the father figure (or big brother if you're an Orwellian).
It's interesting, because I've lived in nations where spirituality was the cornerstone of the culture and beliefs, and I never felt that citizens had a diminished sense of patriotism, or were less interested in the embetterment of society.
It's hard to tell why France has embraced secularism in such a way, knowingly destroying hundred and hundred of years of heritage, in the name of democracy, but this is how kids are being raised in the country of Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité.
The term of "Fraternité" was never making reference to the way we say "my brother" in Africa, but more a reference to the brotherhood that shaped history.
Now while we're being told that "mindful meditation" can cause harm to children, can induce schizophrenia, can create isolation, we must just accept these claims without flinching and it makes me wonder what is the real agenda here.
The other main argument, is that meditation can prevent young minds to differentiate fiction from reality, which I find particularly ironic knowing how many fabricated lies are being taught in schools.
Now, today was an interesting day for France's "laicité". Christiane Taubira being now the main candidate for the socialist party, the election will be this year in June, and she made an interesting declaration after being elected as the primary candidate, as she wants a "secularism that does not crush but emancipates".
She of course is trying to rally the French Muslim community for the next election, and perhaps attempting to rally all "minorities" in a fragmented country, but the split, the fracture in within the nation might be too wide to heal, and the extremes (far right/far left) are now stronger and louder than ever.
It's certain that a division like never seen before will be at the epicenter of this election, with another candidate called Eric Zemmour, that will probably try to steal the show, using tactics very similar to Trump (by this I mean having an apolitical outsider captivating the news like in 2016). Only time will tell if he will be used as a proxy, a tool to funnel the vote for Macron, or will become a disruptor.
Of course, I can go on and on about this election, but it's probably a longer conversation for another time.
Of all thing, I would believe that spirituality is more needed than ever.
The right for people to love their religion, their god(s), to love their spirituality or pagans traditions, or to be free to believe in nothing or anything for that matter, could maybe be the only way to extinguish the ongoing fire, this is probably a scary thought for a lot of the world leaders, as they can't have sovereign people taking charge of their own destiny and spirituality.
sources of what I am talking about:
Le poids de l'histoire : le Grand Orient de France et la question de la laïcité (1848-1905)
French Article on bad psychological aspects of meditation
Mindful Meditation shouldn't be taught in school
Thank you for shedding some light on these cultural patterns from a different perspective. On the one hand the Globalists are pushing the same crap here as they are in Europe, but on the other hand, everything takes a much different shape in each unique nation.
Exactly! And it's hard to get some truth, unless you know someone that can give you a true account of what's going on, knowing that the news are always twisting it.
It's obvious that the same "directives" are being applied worldwide, US is of course leading the way as woke culture just emerged in EU, but on other subjects like the application of tyranny, with the passport it was a done deal here.
Really?! That's fascinating, I thought Europe was ahead of us with "woke culture," very interesting. Yeah you hit the nail on the head. So thanks again for sharing.
The claims that they are making against meditation are wild
Seems ridiculous to me. Something that I find interesting is that fundamentally, meditation has nothing to do with religion and spirituality. We tend to associate it with spirituality because different religions in the world use it as a tool to bring awareness and presence to the moment and possibly for other reasons. But when it really comes down to it, meditation is just a brain exercise. It's a way of focusing the mind. That's it.
How we interpret the practice is largely subjective. When we meditate are we engaging in a spiritual practice? Or a more scientific one? That just depends on the individuals perspective really.
I read a few peer reviewed scientific journals on research being done on meditation back in university and researchers have found that meditation actually grows neurons in the brain, mostly in the neocortext (a part of the brain that begins to degrade in mid to late adulthood). Meditation specifically grows grey matter in a few different places of the brain actually but possibly the most notable is the hippocampus - the area associated with learning and memory.
With that in mind, meditation is practically the perfect exercise for schools and children for that exact reason. It's essentially a learning tool. Maybe they just shouldn't call it Meditation since the word has such a strong association with religion. They should call it focusing practice. That's essentially all it is anyway - focusing on one's breath, focusing on the present moment...etc
Very true. I think that's why they're also shifting the term used to word like "sophrologie" instead of calling it meditation in France, probably because they understand the appeal of keeping a scientific perspective. Of course it can be just broken down into brain exercises, though I don't like the idea of it, just the same way I don't like the idea of love being just "chemical compatibility", I like to create stories around facts 😄.
I think I know which peer reviewed research you're talking about, one of the article was mentioning it.
Yeah I agree. "Brain exercises" doesn't have the same ring to it like "meditation" does lol. But in the case of school, I do think a word with such a strong religious/spiritual association could be problematic. Some people will only see it as a religious exercise and likely get all uptight about it, which sounds like is already happening. You know there will be devote Christians that are convinced that the school is trying to convert their children to a Buddhism haha
Using a different term could help that scenario
🤷♂️
Anything to create a nation of uneducated, obedient sheep: state education is heading there fast too. Instead of putting resources into teaching kids according to their needs and abilities, kids will pass school simply for attending, regardless of whether they have learned anything or not
It's pretty clear that they don't care at all about the next generation. Have you see a movie called "Idiocracy"? 😄
Meditation is one of the paths that can lead to discovery of what one truly is, although it is not the only path that will do that. The biggest threat to those that "rule" (?) is for human beings to attain that self-awareness, that self-knowledge that means stepping into one's true power.
Amen.
@nineclaws transforming into an ascended master 😃
Yes! You get it! I think that's the true "danger" to them, but nobody would admit it and prefer to hush it and shouting "New Age nonsense"...
Thanks for this awesome comment!
Complete work in process until the exit ;)
New Age is another trap, something to avoid.
Admitting means taking ownership and responsibility for oneself. It also means looking at all that junk in one's trunk and dealing with it. These are things that I find many run from, sadly, they have no awareness of how they are destroying themselves by choosing that route. It is however, always the individual's choice to make.
My pleasure, it was a treat reading your post.
Hahah that cracked me, joke aside I think that's the hardest part for most people, that's why they hide behind a dogma, call it principles; and somehow feels their guilt alleviated, but never went through the introspective journey, never "took responsibility" as u mentionned.
I lost my train of thought lol 😉 it will come back
LOL, I put it that way so it softens it for others. Seriously though, yes, it's the hardest part for most people. I know it was for myself. I'm just seasoned now, like a good tenderized meat bag.
LOL, I know that experience well. It will enter the station again.
Some more crazy news... Really weird times...
I couldn't agree more! I think the main purpose is for common sense to be lost, no clear thinking anymore, only fear and messy minds, conflicting useless information, limited useful information and general confusion that leads to apathy. Hopefully it will all lead to another result!
Isn't the belief in secularism just the same as a belief in any other form of secularism? Or, isn't secularism the new form of old religions of control? Same thing, different words. It is always about power and control and money and so on and so on...
Politicians will be politicians! Anything for them sweet votes.
For the sake of community. Even here in SA, the sense of community is being withered away (maybe it was lost a long time ago!). But people shout from the tops (not the Spar Tops 🤣) that we should embrace community while creating division as they go on. If I can get a little conspiratorial for a second, "individual religions/spirituality" was the biggest success of "divide and conquer" of all times. Anyways, good luck with the voting (for whenever it is!).
Hahaha you're spot on. You often hear the word "scientism", which opposes to true science, whereas it's important to keep total skepticism, as you noticed lately science has been more a dogma, or maybe it was always like that.
You're opening a new can of worms haha. I agree with you in the sense that we are being sold lies, whether it's the rainbow nation lie, or the secularist lie,
That's a convo of its own. On one side yes, I can take the example of the introduction of New Age doctrines in within the hippie movement in the 70s, that was a 100% CIA coopted, and yes, it divided an entire nation and changed the public opinion at the time.
At the same time, one could also argue that religions have always been used to control the masses, though one could also argue that man needs a moral compass, needs the carrot and the stick, needs god's fear to function, but that would deserve an entire post 😎
Analytic philosophers, or some of them, have this problem big time. If you analyze their language in articles and books, it looks like a spiritual book you are reading.
Damn politicians and damn people who buy into it! But alas, we can only try and stay calm haha.
Indeed! So many ideas for new posts haha. And then another post dedicated to the few who shouted contra status quo who has been locked up for it. We live in interesting times. I see in the news this morning about the state of education in US of A and how they are reverting back to religious teachings. Very interesting movements that I am keeping an eye on in the coming years.
Unfortunately, it's all about the politics, what is true for science is true about philosophy or even music for that matter, it's about who you know and who you vouch for.
You know I am waiting for the post lol
Would you share the article your saw this morning?
Everything is political from the start. We just have to deal with it.
I will attach the link and one of the "book burnings" (an image on Reddit).
The teaching article (how serious it is is up for debate but still interesting to read what politicians think up):
The recent book burnings (seems like some of the posts are either being deleted or something, weird or scary to think about it haha):
Thanks!!
Thank you for sharing about the situation in France, I didn't know much about it at all, to be honest.
Honestly, I don't really know what's going on in Sweden either but I haven't read any news like that title.
We have an upcoming election this year in Sweden as well, a bit later though, in September.
Thanks for passing by! I've heard today that the election is in 68 days, so even earlier than what I expected.
What you think of Sweden finally lifting all the restrictions? I know it's been hard for you too with your friends being one step away from reporting people like us for non compliance haha. 😁
It's good news, no doubt. But technically the restrictions aren't really lifted for unvaccinated people. But since the covid passes are dropped no one can check. I just think some people I know (I wouldn't call them friends anymore) still don't respect my decision not to get vaccinated and still think I should be more or less locked up inside.
But I feel hopeful and am preparing to leave Sweden, but it's probably at least 6 months away 🙂
Yeah I agree with you, I've been disappointed with so many people, I am not ready to forgive or forget.
Do you know where you wanna go?
I don't 🙂 That's part of the process to figure that out 😉 But maybe Portugal for some time if it's possible and I hope to go to Asia next winter.
Lol maybe we'll meet in Portugal, we're looking into it too!
That would be cool 🙂
As long as Capitalism rules there will never be true democracy it is as simple as that. 99% of politicians are corporate owned and for these corporations we are one of the following 3 things or a combination thereof - work force , consumer and/or disruptor. If we are not a good worker or a consumer we have no value, again pretty simple.
Now to meditation it is very surprising to me that they are reacting this way as several major scientific studies actually prove the opposite. Mediation not only is proven to positively influence people with Schizophrenia (which is technically a brain disorder not a mental disorder ) it also help improve mood , focus and symptom management of people with depression , bipolar disorder , BPD and OCD. So their campaign makes no sense unless the form of mediation they are after is linked to a cult. There are several nefarious sects out there including scientology that use mediation as front to get followers and it can get ugly.
To governments not wanting free people there are several sides to this some benign some nefarious and several in between. Humans are a selfish spices we want to do what we want to do regardless of consequence our dying planet is proof of this . We find justifications , excuses for our actions and some blatantly express how they don't care. We are reaping what we sow here sadly however it is innocents mostly children who will pay the price for their parents and grandparents greed and ignorance. The politician do little as the climate crises interferes with corporate interest, what they do do is mostly just show to placate those who care or means to exert control. But the population is wilfully ignorant and refuses to take things in their own hands because they rather blame the powers that be that do the things that would stop the climate crises in its tracks . It is scientific fact that if we drastically reduced out meat and dairy consumption or eliminated it we would reduce 72% of our carbon emissions - just like that - but nope people want what they want so nothing will change and most likely your children and my grand children will curse our names at our age is they are even alive at all.
Or take this pandemic while the government uses it to control people most anti vaxers and anti maskers refuse to be responsible and not kill everybody else. they want to do what they always do other people be damned - No, force vaccinating people is not the answer that is barbaric; but those who chose not to get it need to also understand that they don't get to hurt others with their choices. If you want to enter establishments or congregate with others who do not want to be around the unprotected it is their right you do not suddenly have more rights than others because you want something . The simple rule is your freedom ends at another's skin .
Freedom to be different used to end up in new communities forming and build settlements together that were successful to varying degrees. This is more complicated in today's world because of 5 things.
1 - there is almost no more unclaimed land to settle to it is all "owned " by countries who actually have brutal laws against people declaring an independent state in their "borders".
2- There is little space left because there are to many humans. If we changed the way we build and how we populate by using living architecture and incorporating it into nature we could actually support a population about double our current size. If we all went plant based (except for the tribes in the arctic who can't ) we could support triple the population food wise . But our reality is this most humans do not want to do what is needed and the way we build and live makes it almost impossible to make communities that do not intersect or influence life of others .
3- Globally we are to many people and many things we do influence people all over the world it no longer can be contained, example lets say we have a community of people that believes they can dump everything into their lake be it chemicals or poop the damage is no longer just where they live being so closely populated it will contaminate the living space of other communities as well - and that is a seed of war right there.
4- Most people refuse to do what it takes to create a different community . They want to do what they want but still indulge in the amenities of main stream society. While it can be very unfair (especially if main stream society is injuring people or threatening the over all survival of all ) the hard truth is that if you want different you have two choices . A- you endure the shit of your fellow humans in your community, you take on the grueling and in most cases fruitless task of trying to educate them and suffer the consequences of your non compliance with their rules. If you are one and they are many , even if you are right, you either have accept that your voice matters not in this community or stay away. They are in the majority and if we believe in democracy then majority rules no matter how insane , wrong or sad it is. This does not mean stay silent. This does not mean stop trying to show people better ways just be aware that you sadly do not have the say so here and you got to suck it up. B- you leave and create your own community. If you do this however you can't demand that your old community still give you the benefits and rights yet not live by their rules . It does not work that way . Freedom comes with a price, it is never safe or easy. It is often very lonely and a daily challenge but it can be extremely rewarding.
5- We humans often forget that we are not the only tribe on this planet. It is the habitat of all living things not ours alone. Yet humanity acts like it owns the place and all other tribes have little to no worth. This separation humans have to the things around us has many causes but it also has a root in many religions . While spirituality can be very rewarding, and even religion to some extent, religion also is the root of the most horrific atrocities in human history. It like our governments have always been a tool to control the masses and to date they still cause immense damage to many people. The 3 major monotheistic religions all teach we where given dominion over this planet and this toxic seed has made us a menace. I could go on and on about this but this is already too long as is. So I will end this with this Ed if true freedom is what you crave then you need to find a place where you can create or strive to create your perfect living experience. Non of us knows if there really is a god/gods or life after death as much as we long for this certainty. This life is all that we know to be securely ours do not waste yous on circumstances you hate or find intolerable, but also do not throw what you love away because of a few things that might not sit right with you but are tolerable in light of the things you love. Sit and reflect if this life you are living feels like it is muting you light and taking your joy then create a path that will give you joy it is as simple and as hard as that.
Thanks for sharing your opininion @tygertyger !! Take care!