chop wood, carry water
January 22, 2010
When a man sells his own labor as a commodity, his own activity becomes something objective and independent of him. In consequence, not only do capitalists see their workforce as an impersonal object, a machine for the generation of profit, but the workers themselves see their own activity as something alien. However, if the worker becomes conscious that his labor is not something alien, and that he is the subject and object of his own consciousness, this effects an objective change in the object of knowledge, and with it the potential realization that all the so-called facts of existence are merely the reified aspects of total process in which thought and existence are dialectically unified.
– Malcolm Bull, from “Seeing Things Hidden”
good times
January 20, 2010
When we get sick, our suffering can put us in touch with the pain of others. When things go well, however, our mind easily accepts this. Like oil absorbing into our skin, attachment to favorable circumstances blends smoothly and invisibly into our thoughts and feelings. Without realizing what’s happening, we can become infatuated with our achievements, fame, and wealth. It’s difficult to extricate ourselves from positive obstacles. If we could have everything we wish for —wealth, a comfortable house, nice clothing — we should view this good fortune as illusory, like a beautiful dream, and not let it seduce us into complacency.
– Pema Chödrön, from “Cutting Ties: The Fruits of Solitude”
You Are IT 