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Getting there can be simple; hit balls, and more balls, find your inner peace, quiet your mind by repeating the simple motions of your swing, like Chinese Tai Chi... enjoy all that is good. Pura vida!!!

As I read today’s headlines I can’t help but reflect back to high school and my 12th grade literature class. It was there that I was first exposed to the teachings of Plato and his “Parable of the Cave” that would form a part of the basis of my life. With all the absurdities that are taking place today, I feel compelled to reiterate this parable for it is as true a reflection today as it was then:

Time 400 B.C “Parable of the Cave” by Socrates, ATHENS, Greece

“He said, let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened. Behold! Human beings living in an underground cave, which has a mouth open toward the light and reaching all along the den. Here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads. Above and behind them a fire is blazing at a distance, and between the fire and the prisoners there is a raised way. And you will see, if you look, a low wall built along the way, like the screen which marionette-players have in front of them, over which they show the puppets.

And you see, he said, men passing along the wall carrying all sorts of vessels, and statues and figures of animals made of wood and stone and various materials, which appear over the wall. Some of them are talking, others silent. Like ourselves, they see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another, which the fire throws on the opposite wall of the cave. And of the objects which are being carried in like manner they would only see the shadows. And if they were able to converse with one another, they would suppose that they were naming what was actually before them. And suppose further that the prison had an echo which came from the other side, would they not be sure to fancy when one of the passers-by spoke that the voice which they heard came from the passing shadow? To them, he said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images. That is certain.

And now look again, and see what will naturally follow if the prisoners are released and disabused of their error. At first, when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck round and walk and look toward the light, he will suffer sharp pains. The glare will distress him, and he will be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows. And then conceive someone saying to him, that what he saw before was an illusion, but that now, when he is approaching nearer to being and his eye is turned toward more real existence, he has a clearer vision--what will be his reply?

And you may further imagine that his instructor is pointing to the objects as they pass and requiring him to name them--will he not be perplexed? Will he not fancy that the shadows which he formerly saw are truer than the objects which are now shown to him? And if he is compelled to look straight at the light, he will have a pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to take refuge in the objects of vision which he can see, and which he will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things which are now being shown to him. And suppose once more, that he is reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent, and held fast until he is forced into the presence of the sun himself, is he not likely to be pained and irritated? When he approaches the light his eyes will be dazzled, and he will not be able to see anything at all of what are now called realities. He will require to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world.

And first he will see the shadows best, next the reflections of men and other objects in the water, and then the objects themselves; then he will gaze upon the light of the moon and the stars and the spangled heaven; and he will see the sky and the stars by night better than the sun or the light of the sun by day. Last of all he will be able to see the sun, and not mere reflections of him in the water, but he will see him in his own proper place, and not in another; and he will contemplate him as he is. He will then proceed to argue that this is he who gives the season and the years, and is the guardian of all that is in the visible world, and in a certain way the cause of all things which he and his fellows have been accustomed to behold.

And when he remembered his old habitation, and the wisdom of the den and his fellow-prisoners, do you not suppose that he would felicitate himself on the change, and pity him? And if they were in the habit of conferring honors among themselves on those who were quickest to observe the passing shadows and to remark which of them went before, and which followed after, and which were together; and who were therefore best able to draw conclusions as to the future, do you think that he would care for such honors and glories, or envy the possessors of them? Would he not say with Homer, "Better to be the poor servant of a poor master," and to endure anything, rather than think as they do and live after their manner? I think that he would rather suffer anything than entertain these false notions and live in this miserable manner…”

Plato wrote his Parable 400 years before Christ. Yet in our world today many are living the life of the slave in a cave, shackled to an existence by generations of misguided values. Going through life following the path most traveled, almost emotionless, never considering the consequences. Reading news-papers and discussing the day’s events, regurgitating the articles as if to be intelligent. Returning to seek solace in routines, living in the shadows, choosing to be numb to the truth, as those who would turn from the light.

I believe, in change, we need to seek the light on the path to enlightenment, and the light is the truth. We cannot ignore common sense as science unravels some of the physical mysteries of the universe. Whether you or I believe in God or Allah or whatever, does not change the fact that what is, is. “Perception is reality“ is a common saying, but it is only a perceived reality (as in the shadows of the cave), the truth is reality. There are people who strive for power with greed, would carry the figures and chain the slaves, purhaps some of the very people we look to for guidance; politicians, newspaper editors, etc all to acheive their personal goal which might be betterment for themselves, only. But not all share this greed and we need to elect those who are honest and caring and not the better showman (woman).

And the reality is burning fossil fuels creates global warming and is destroying our earth. Excessive consumption of any of the earth’s resources without replenishment is dangerous. Nuclear power is frightening. We need to develop alternate energy yet we spent billions to fight a war or bail out antiquated industries and the select few. War in the name of any religion is absurd. All religions fundamentally teach the same philosophy; God, Allah, or enlightenment is forgiving, caring, respectful. By worshipping the messengers of the “Lord’s” will in the various religions rather than the “LORD GOD“, we’ve created separation, almost a competition, where there should be unity. It is time for all Christians, Jews, Muslims, Born again, Hindu brothers and sisters to kneel together before GOD (whatever word you choose to use) and give thanks. Together we should be moving forward to save our precious earth that's been here for millions of years before us and ensure a respectable life for all, live in harmony with our surroundings almost Zen-like and rise above our local ignorances. There is no place for hatred. We can no longer exist blindly. And in our actions, whether big or small, global or local, no words or excuses can change, right is right and wrong is wrong.

Getting there can be simple; hit golf balls, and more balls, find your inner peace, quiet your mind by repeating the simple motions of your swing, like Chinese Tai Chi, and in that moment, reflect. Help us change the world, one shot at a time, one mat at a time. In other words, simply put, enjoy all that is good. Pura vida!!!