Robert and I pick mulberries from the ground among the 30 or so trees, which have been cultivated by the family for generations. We manage the irrigation system and sort the dry mulberries by quality. Latif also introduces us to the process of making 'Pekmez,' mulberry syrup. Dried mulberries are cooked for 3 hours in a massive cauldron. The berries are sieved out and the remaining syrup is left over the night in a 'settling container'. We drink cups of this syrup as it is still hot. It seems like an absolute elixir of energy. This syrup is then left in shallow platters in the sun for four days. What remains afterwards is viscous mass resembling sugar beet syrup in appearance and even somewhat in taste. It is a main constituent of our daily meals.
I talk with Robert about politics, social ideals, the globalized society, the sciences, religions and experiences of traveling and nature.
"Democracy does not promote equal rights for the people; 51% of the people dictate the conditions of life for the other 49%, which don't want anything to do with this state of things" says Robert.
"What is the alternative" I ask.
"People sit down at a table, discuss what they want to do among themselves and do it" is the answer.
"You mean families and smaller groups of people?"
"Yes."
"That implies the absence of nations, the absence of globalized trading systems, the absence of centralized systems of enforced law" I add, understanding that our ideals of society are not far apart.
I think of the society in which human conscience and intuition have reached a level at which bureaucracy and enforced law have long been transcended; it is the society in which every man and woman is incarnated law, goodness and productivity. The slightest negative and downcast vibration among any member of this society is immediately sensed by the highly developed inner senses of the people and the surrounding family and friends immediately come to this individual with uplifting and invigorating thoughts. Small villages and towns are mostly self-sufficient in terms of the basic commodities of life, and the books, musical instruments, scientific instruments, perfumes, artworks and high-technology is shared by all in the community at the central abode. Besides caring for its own physical survival and well-being, following its professional employments, the main occupation of this society is the sharing of deep and warm emotions and refined thoughts through meditation, concentration, dance, music, and the other arts; Words are often not even necessary.
Robert studied in Leipzig, Germany, in which so called 'house projects' are prevalent. Old multistorey buildings can be bought for cheap in the city and groups of friends convert these to flat-shares, art studios, spaces for workshops and meeting areas for political initiatives. His friends have for example started such a house project, initiating student flatshares and opening a 'Peoples Kitchen' on the ground floor. This is open once a week; food is cooked on a large scale and everybody who wishes to, can come and have their share of food for free; donations are welcome. Of course this is a hub at which people meet and socialize, but also where initiatives are planned and people meet for brainstorming and the exchange of ideas.
Robert and I climb the mountain slopes to gain the fantastic view over the valley of Kemaliye. What I thought to be a lake is actually the Euphrates River, flowing down from the mountains around Erzurum. Hydroelectric dams have transformed the landscape over the last 30 years. We camp out one night at the lake, lying on the grass until late in the evening, gazing at the myriad stars and milky way.
"And among all this we exist; tiny specks among an unfathomable universe" says Robert
"We clutter ourselves with envy, anger, confusion, jealousy, competition and pride
in our cramped circles of acquaintances in our small rooms. How seldom do we actually go out to have a look at the sky and to truly breath. We habitually overlook the most majestic and thrilling of enigmas" I say.
I add "You know, what occupies me for the last several years is the fact that we are actually conscious"
"Yeah, true. We could just be automatons sensing and thinking without being conscious of it."
I laugh "But see, there you hit the paradox, just try to imagine it; Its impossible."
You may talk of sensing and processing information arbitrarily, applying it to computers and artificial intelligence for instance. Can you talk of thought and emotion in such a way? Life cannot be separated from these. And what is the essence of Life but Consciousness . . . and what about Love?
I talk with Robert about politics, social ideals, the globalized society, the sciences, religions and experiences of traveling and nature.
"Democracy does not promote equal rights for the people; 51% of the people dictate the conditions of life for the other 49%, which don't want anything to do with this state of things" says Robert.
"What is the alternative" I ask.
"People sit down at a table, discuss what they want to do among themselves and do it" is the answer.
"You mean families and smaller groups of people?"
"Yes."
"That implies the absence of nations, the absence of globalized trading systems, the absence of centralized systems of enforced law" I add, understanding that our ideals of society are not far apart.
I think of the society in which human conscience and intuition have reached a level at which bureaucracy and enforced law have long been transcended; it is the society in which every man and woman is incarnated law, goodness and productivity. The slightest negative and downcast vibration among any member of this society is immediately sensed by the highly developed inner senses of the people and the surrounding family and friends immediately come to this individual with uplifting and invigorating thoughts. Small villages and towns are mostly self-sufficient in terms of the basic commodities of life, and the books, musical instruments, scientific instruments, perfumes, artworks and high-technology is shared by all in the community at the central abode. Besides caring for its own physical survival and well-being, following its professional employments, the main occupation of this society is the sharing of deep and warm emotions and refined thoughts through meditation, concentration, dance, music, and the other arts; Words are often not even necessary.
Robert studied in Leipzig, Germany, in which so called 'house projects' are prevalent. Old multistorey buildings can be bought for cheap in the city and groups of friends convert these to flat-shares, art studios, spaces for workshops and meeting areas for political initiatives. His friends have for example started such a house project, initiating student flatshares and opening a 'Peoples Kitchen' on the ground floor. This is open once a week; food is cooked on a large scale and everybody who wishes to, can come and have their share of food for free; donations are welcome. Of course this is a hub at which people meet and socialize, but also where initiatives are planned and people meet for brainstorming and the exchange of ideas.
Robert and I climb the mountain slopes to gain the fantastic view over the valley of Kemaliye. What I thought to be a lake is actually the Euphrates River, flowing down from the mountains around Erzurum. Hydroelectric dams have transformed the landscape over the last 30 years. We camp out one night at the lake, lying on the grass until late in the evening, gazing at the myriad stars and milky way.
"And among all this we exist; tiny specks among an unfathomable universe" says Robert
"We clutter ourselves with envy, anger, confusion, jealousy, competition and pride
in our cramped circles of acquaintances in our small rooms. How seldom do we actually go out to have a look at the sky and to truly breath. We habitually overlook the most majestic and thrilling of enigmas" I say.
I add "You know, what occupies me for the last several years is the fact that we are actually conscious"
"Yeah, true. We could just be automatons sensing and thinking without being conscious of it."
I laugh "But see, there you hit the paradox, just try to imagine it; Its impossible."
You may talk of sensing and processing information arbitrarily, applying it to computers and artificial intelligence for instance. Can you talk of thought and emotion in such a way? Life cannot be separated from these. And what is the essence of Life but Consciousness . . . and what about Love?
No comments:
Post a Comment