'Brighter than a full moon': The biggest star of 2013

'Brighter than a full moon': The biggest star of 2013... could be Ison - the comet of the century

A comet discovered by two Russian astronomers will be visible from Earth next year. Get ready for a  once-in-a lifetime light show, says David Whitehouse

Comments on the above article in the Independent soon took on a science vs Religion flavour. My comment might offer a unifying basis for both views.

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It is easy to see that a naked wonder of being is lost to interpretations backed by personal investments. The experience of awe is not due unto any interpretations nor the mind that can make such interpretations - but is entirely due unto the Fact of Being Itself - which is absolutely beyond any capacity of any mind to map or define or effect or control.

The mind accords orders of significance and magnitude to elements of its experience and 'creates' structures of 'meaning' for itself amidst what is essentially timeless and infinite.

Scientists tend to map and measure, define and control the world considered to be outside the self or outside the realm of a direct capacity to control. This activity is a specialized version of what the separating mind attempts upon its experience - which it takes for reality.

What is significant about our experience apart from what the rules of our own mind establish? Significance is unalloyed in any experience of true existence -That you Are, or That anything Is. This is thoughtless and direct experience - not of things outside us - but of a wholeness of which we are one with - and not apart from.

The appearance of a new light in the night sky cannot but pause the mind of its routines, and this allows in alternate possibilities that the routine mind blocks by definition.

Wonder opens a different source than anything our thinking can create. One can make religion out of this, but be careful it doesn't cover our eyes instead of opening them!

Frozen Planet: David Attenborough stumbles on the melting ice

Clearly the most astounding accomplishments of the human mind is its capacity to disregard beholding the awesome wonder of Be-ing, by focussing on its own self commentary, within which is everything defined in our own image. (The vanity of our 'understanding why' distorts the appreciation of the wonder 'that'). I find it uses natural beauty to support  a mix of meds and propaganda though I doubt any of it is consciously intended as such.

Armchair entertainment that remains shallow and divorced from the wonder of the experience. I could wish to have alternative commentary options - perhaps simply including footage of those who were there.
Images so beautiful, yet somehow missing the relational sense of wonder and blessing of being in the wild on its terms - at least in some moment or degree!

Technology is allowing presentation to usurp content. But not without huge outlay of investment.

Still, all very interesting as a snapshot of the mind and times circa 2011. And I have watched it despite being irked by the commentary.
There is such beauty unimagined - just a step outside the mind that defines everything. Somehow the TV can use the most inspiring to help keep us cosily insulated from our Life.

But only if that is in fact our active willingness.


In Peace

Brian