Tuesday, December 25, 2012

"Seeing" The Matrix

 In an email I got from DrinksandGames:
But also, another video request! I think it would be great to hear you talk more about why the world/our culture is the "actual crazy" lol, and what you think the source of the vapid consumerism/money and "stuff obsession" is. 
I wanna keep learning from you about "the matrix" haha.. I feel it strongly, but you seem so much better at putting it into words and stuff.
Scene From The Matrix




Morpheus: I imagine that right now you're feeling a bit like Alice. Tumbling down the rabbit hole?

Neo: You could say that.

Morpheus: I can see it in your eyes. You have the look of a man who accepts what he sees because he's expecting to wake up. Ironically, this is not far from the truth. Do you believe in fate, Neo?

Neo: No.

Morpheus: Why not?

Neo: 'Cause
I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life.

Morpheus: I know exactly what you mean. Let me tell you why you're here. You're here because you know something. What you know, you can't explain. But you feel it. You felt it your entire life. That there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but it's there. Like a splinter in your mind -- driving you mad. It is this feeling that has brought you to me. Do you know what I'm talking about?

Neo: The Matrix?

Morpheus: Do you want to know what it is?

(Neo nods his head.)

Morpheus: The Matrix is everywhere, it is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window, or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, or when go to church or when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.

Neo: What truth?

Morpheus: That you are a slave, Neo. Like everyone else, you were born into bondage, born inside a prison that you cannot smell, taste, or touch. A prison for your mind. (long pause, sighs) Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.

You Can Be Told What The Matrix Is

You'll still have to "see" (understand) it for yourself. Without getting overly complicated and bringing up conspiracy theories and the New World Order, I'm going to give it to you hard and fast.
The Matrix is the culture, legal systems and currency/math you've (we've) been programmed to accept as "truth." Culture keeps you chasing dragons (drugs, stuff, money, security, status, etc.) Legal systems are like an invisible fence to keep the sheep in the pasture. Currency/math allows the elite to produce "wealth" at will, instantly hypnotize people and keep everyone in a state of confusion.
I was at the mental health hospital a couple weeks ago and "Lets Make A Deal" was on the lounge TV. I certainly felt like I was in the Matrix...


There I was, getting checked up for my "craziness" and I'm watching a show where people dress up in silly costumes to get a chance to get some money. It was interesting watching people get sad when they "lost." What was it that they lost? They didn't have anything when they got there. The trick is to understand that they're just as silly for getting happy when they "win." Why?

Because it more deeply programs them with the coding of the matrix than if they lost. Transcending the matrix means transcending profit and loss. It means you don't go to on TV dressed like a watermelon to maybe when some "currency" (which isn't real). And that's the rub. What makes Culture, legal systems and currency "real" is the collective conscious telling you, themselves and everyone they can how real it is, as often as they can.

Obviously people aren't calling you up all the time and "telling" you, but they tell you with how they dress, how they react to things, what decisions they make and... actually telling you... go to school, get a job, no not that job, get ready for retirement, etc.

There is no pill to take to "see" this (and to TRULY see it takes years of dedication, reflection, etc. I hope I'm giving you a glimpse). What's troubling is the more you see it and the more you express what you're seeing, depending on who you're surrounded with, they'll try to bring you back to "reality," the collectively unconscious. Don't worry, they're not doing it to hurt you (hopefully), people just don't like their reality getting messed with. That's why it's best to go through the process quietly on your own, or among friends (you're among friends here. :) )

The Matrix Propagates A Matrix

The Matrix is probably one of the best (or most popular anyway) movies for our generation that "wakes us up" to the idea of "the matrix." The problem with it is... it pushes another matrix that... might not be much better than the one you were in before seeing the movie (if you decided to start digging). Allow me to explain.

First, we're all Neo and Morpheus (and Trinity for you ladies). I have few Morpheus's who are helping me see further through the matrix. In that sense I'm Neo. But here I am trying to help you walk your own path to freedom. If I'm successful I'd be more akin to Morpheus. If you're a chick you just kick ass and take names (or you should be ;) ), in that sense you're Trinity.

Seriously though I think you see what I'm getting at. The movie kind of sells that savoir/Jesus thing. The Jesus/savoir is in you. I don't want to get all religious or anything, but getting your spirit game tight is a part of pwning life regardless of what spiritual path you decide to take.

Second, we don't need to go to war with the 1% (who would be the machines in our Matrix analogy). I suppose things were a little different in the Matrix in that people were physically attended to machines. The only machine we're physically attached to is our body. Whether you believe in a soul or not is irrelevant to the fact that one must gain mastery over the self (desires, emotions, etc.) That doesn't mean you turn into some kind of robot, it just means you don't let those things control what you do.

Back to the 1%, if you feel like you need to "go to war" with them (or anyone) you're not there yet. Keep working on your self. Remember, even the 1% is trapped in a matrix. It's not the same one you or I are, but it's a matrix none the less. Trying to awaken by force, whether the 99% or the 1%, just creates disturbances in the force. People at the "top" and "bottom" (distinctions that don't exist outside of the matrix) need to come together to form the 100%. The 100% has nothing to do with wealth distribution, universal health care or gun control. You don't need to go to college for it, buy it or wait for someone to give you permission to have it.

Morpheus: You have to see (understand) it for yourself.

Taking Back Your Mind

That would have been a slick way to end this post huh? "You have to see it for yourself." :) Anyhow, I can't believe I wrote all of that while I had something else on my mind the whole time. I wanted to share something that's relevant to the Pwning Life system. It's probably the most important part of this, or any, system. It's the process of reclaiming your mind. See... you're reading this and you're thinking to yourself "What's this guy talking about, I'm in control of my mind." No my friend, (chances are) you are not.

Whether using the system I/we create or another, you're going to have you set goals somehow. You have to be careful with setting goals. You have to make sure they're the goals you actually want to set. This all ties back to the matrix because your goals are probably based on the cultural, legal and monetary restrictions that have been invisibly placed on you. You'll want to constantly dig deep about what you truly "want." I've even started to stop using the word want and instead use something like... find your "coded mission." Depending on whether you're spiritual, atheist or agnostic, you might look at it differently, but I basically believe there's something that transcends wants/desires and even passions. There's something you're like "coded" to do. It's in your genes/spirit. You'll want to find that.

And you won't find it over night. To start, you're actually going to have to work within the framework of the matrix and slowly move away from it to your wants/desires, then to your passions and then perhaps your "code." And to be honest, I don't think there's anything wrong with hanging out any level for however long. Some might be content to live in the "matrix" their whole lives. That's awesome! That might even be how they're coded.

Anyhow... Getting your mind back. It brings me to a talk I had with my cousin this past Sunday. It started out in the open where family could hear us.

Me: So... what do you want?

Cuz: I don't know.

Me: Come on. If you could have anything, what would it be?

Cuz: A million dollars.

Me: You can get that. There are kids your age that have made a million dollars.

Cuz: No there aren't! (Boom! Programming,)

Me: Yeah there are, I could get you some books. You could start a business.

Cuz: Yeah? Maybe I'll start a business...

His grandpa: How are you going to do that if you can't get your grades up? (Boom! Reinforcing the programming.)

His eyes were just starting to light up a little. I could see him starting to imagine the "impossible." Then BAM! Oh no you don't try to leave this here matrix! I decided to take the conversation to a private location.

So my cousin is 14 (actually, he's my cousin's kid). In private I told him how stupid school was and that he needed to find something that he was truly interested in and study that. I also told him that he essentially has 4 years to figure out "life" (well, the basic stuff ;) ) and that I'd do everything I could to help him. Then I had him give me a list of everything he wants to have or do and this is what I got:

Here it is if it's hard to read:
  1. Minecraft MC (which is weird because he as it already, I asked him to explain and... he couldn't)
  2. Car
  3. Go to Bristol (MC related)
  4. Visit Yogtowers (MC related)
  5. Visit Limenand? Lewis? and play Minecraft with them (MC related)
  6. Visit Minecon (MC related)
  7. Visit MLG
  8. Be in MLG
  9. Start YouTube account with a friend (he actually already had one and showed it to me, guess he wants to do more with it)
  10. Get K/D up to 2.00 (for you nongamers that's Kill/Death ratio)
  11. Get Job (I liked seeing how high a priority this is! lol)
  12. Start a clan/team
  13. Get Roptio? game capture card
  14. Get Fraps
  15. Debit card/visa (so he can spend all that money he doesn't have)
Of the 15 things he lisedt 12 are DIRECTLY related to video games. I'm a gamer, I'm not going to hate, but I don't think he's behind the drivers seat of his mind. Minecraft and CoD Black Ops 2 are. The title of this blog is pwning games to pwning life for a reason. It's trying to get you out of one matrix and into another. The thing about "mastering" the life matrix is that it can give you the time and resources for the gaming matrix (if you decide to allocate them there). Unfortunately gaming does NOT have the same effect on life. You could theoretically become a professional gamer, and I don't want to crap on dreams, but I will offer basic math and statistics.

There are a limited number of professional gaming opportunities. Lets say over 9,000. There are probably like... 900 million gamers. That would be a 1 in 100,000 "chance" (for the sake of simplicity). Everyone can "win" at life (everyone with the means to read this blog post anyway). Cut back expenses, increase income BOOM! more time and resources for playing games (also increases the likeliness of you being a professional gamer).

Back to my cousin. His mind is DOMINATED by the programming of... programmers (literally!) Video games are programmed to be like crack. They're essentially a more socially acceptable form of crack (I'm focusing on the negatives right now, I know there are a ton of positives. ;) ) I won't focus on the path he needs to take, but instead on the fact the there are definitely some other desires/passions that live beneath the surface of those first set of wants (for example, I know he loves fishing).

Start Journaling

Without telling you how I got about it, I'll just say you need to start. Without regular journaling you won't know what you really want to have, do or be. Instead, like my cousin, you'll be consumed with what the programmers of the matrix want you to be thinking about. Better yet, disconnect yourself from their (programmers of the matrix) updates along with the journaling. Take two weeks, go on a media diet (no/limited news, video games, TV, etc.) and spend time journaling and reading.

This post kind of went all over the place, but I hope you had as much fun reading it as I did writing it. :)

6 comments:

  1. "consumed with what the programmers of the matrix want you to be thinking about"

    Thanks! Never thought about this. I am a classical/jazz trombonist just breaking into the professional scene in my junior year of undergrad music school. One huge thing I constantly have to be aware of is balancing my life. My success with music is going to be largely determined by the amount and the quality of practice I do. Finding balance between this large time commitment and a love for my girlfriend and for other hobbies in my life like video games is difficult.

    I usually do really well when I'm at school because the atmosphere is so music centric, but I'm at home for Christmas break and all my brain wants is video games and sleep. Maybe it's good to allow a break, but it's just funny because I just feel so much self imposed guilt when I don't practice consistently.

    Anyway, your matrix analogy is awesome. The key to working in that system is definitely to have multiple matrices and that's much easier when you surround yourself with great people.

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  2. Thanks! Glad you liked it. If you feel like crashing and playing video games for the break... DO IT! No worries. :) Maybe just get an hour (or more, depends on you) of practice in a day no matter what, and get it done in the morning if you can so you can enjoy the rest of the day "guilt free." Also remember that... all you need to do in life is "enjoy" it. I'm not saying be irresponsible or anything, just don't stress yourself out about things ever if it's possible. :)

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  3. Another positive in all this, is that this kind of "divergent thinking" REALLY gets the creative juices flowing. Even for someone whose goal isn't to totally break out of the faux reality fed to us by our culture, training the mind to see outside it can help one be more productive and creative.

    But I guess once would have to be careful, as too much of the purple pill(red + blue) can end up splitting one in two. Not a good experience I'd imagine lol.

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    1. The "purple pill" is exactly what you want, but don't look at it like a splitting. Look at it like a merging. Although you're correct in wanting to be cautious about "phasing" back and forth between the styles of thinking. Doing it "wrong" could get you in trouble. That's why it's all about slow and steady winning the race. :)

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  4. Joe reporting in! :D

    For the record, I would be terribly depressed if I didn't go with curtain #1 with the suit of armor. Would have loved me some D&D in that. ;)

    But your talk after that video reminds me of Bill Hicks. He spoke words just like that in the 1990's. He's been dead for almost 20 years now, but his words are still relevant. No seriously, listening to his comedy acts during the Bush Junior years was almost frightening. We are still trying to delude ourselves it's more than just a ride.

    And I can personally attest to the changes one can go through when they disconnect with the consumption of entertainment media. My productivity went up, and I had more time to think to myself and work on the world around me. I've sense lapsed back into the realm, though not as enthralled as I was. To know that I can cut myself off when necessary is a treasure unto itself, and it will happen soon enough. Having little free time requires it of me. ;)

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    1. I know how it is bro. I went on a 10 month binge of media consumption and all I had was free time. It's hard when you're balancing work and whatnot. No rush buddy. We'll be here when you're ready. ;)

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