How do recent scientific discoveries affect our lives?

If this is your first foray into the virtual pages of Meniscus Magazine, welcome! However, if you’ve kept up with the last seven issues, you know we’re very much into the here and now—and making it better! As we round the corner from summer into fall, I’d like to invite you to explore new ideas that are shaping the future.

In terms of science, I have always been into the idea that the human body is much like a robot: a container that facilitates the actions of your soul in the physical world between birth and death. In essence, robot = soul-vessel.

Exploring that idea, consider the fundamental truth that as humans, we are limited to one first-person experience. In order to experiment and see what life has to offer—beyond the shallow facade of television and materialism—we can use our robot like a puppet to see where boundaries exist and where they can be pushed forward. Somewhere between the soul and physical existence, a skin separates the two. Think of it like the surface tension on liquid that separates the fluid from the air above. In the case of water in a test tube, this skin appears as a crescent-shaped meniscus.

So in the experiment that is the human experience, how do we tell where the soul stops and the world begins? Through interaction of the five senses, we collect readings from the surface of life. You can do anything you want with your robot, just remember you only have one test subject and no control group. And the information you collect is cast out like radio waves into the pool of collective entelechy.

How do you interact with your robot? Do you take care of your robot by exercising and eating well? Do you control your body, or do you let it control you? Many become slaves to indulgences such as eating, smoking and drinking which can inhibit people from living up to their full potential—because complacency breeds laziness.

Eventually all soul-vessels are burnt up in the harsh environment. Many become host to cancer-ridden cells, a result of chemicals and genetics. Some go faster than others. Every so often there are a few who burn hot and quickly but leave a tremendous wake in their paths. This is the case with Jimi Hendrix, Martin Luther King, Jr., Nichiren Daishonin and Jesus Christ. So a long healthy life isn’t necessarily the goal for everyone, it depends on what your soul’s purpose is. The one thing your robot does afford you, is the ability to create reality.

In 1803 Thomas Young proved, in his famous double-slit experiment, that subatomic particles respond to our expectations. Now quantum physicists continue to peel back the subatomic skin between physical reality and what lies beyond. At the turn of the century, Einstein provided evidence of the interchangeability between matter and light—a concept that would shake modern physics to its core. The cause-and-effect nature of the Newtonian universe is now in question.

It seems the ancient Buddhists have been right this whole time: We are all One and thoughts manifest into existence.

So now (breathe...), how much of this do I control by allowing the Robot to get a little out of control? Are fear and laziness the only things holding us back from transcending to the next level of connection with the Universe and our own world? Do you seek mastery of the Robot or earthly comforts? How much do we dive in?
I can’t say all these questions are answered in this issue, but the scientific mind is an amazing thing at play. “Give me just one drink from your loving cup, just one sip and I fall down drunk!”

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As this issue of Meniscus was being assembled, the United States experienced the worst natural disaster in its short history. While our hearts go out to the city of New Orleans and surrounding areas that were pummeled by Katrina, that natural disaster was unavoidable. (We’ll save the discussion of government spending, racial inequity and the effects of global warming for another time.)

What we’d like to focus on is the man made disaster occurring every day in Iraq. The man’s name is George W. Bush and despite the rationale leading up to the war, nothing has panned out besides massive death and destruction as well as a huge burden on the American budget. We’d like to encourage you to join with the thousands of people, like Cindy Sheehan, that actively protest this disaster.

If you live in the Boston area, please join us on October 8th for Assembling Peace II: The Resistance Strikes Back, a party for peace and justice where you can show your support for troop withdrawal and learn how to make a difference—and have fun! This event is in support of the October 29th Coalition and the march on October 29th on Boston Common. Let’s get together and make peace a reality!

Jon Heinrich

Assembling Peace II

...will be held at the Spontaneous Celebrations community center in Jamaica Plain on Saturday,October 8 from 7:00pm-1:00am. This is not only a party, but a fundraiser for the October 29th Coalition, organizers of the Anti-War March and Rally in Boston Common (http://www.oct29.org/) .

Bands/Musicians:
Ujamaa
The New Souls (http://www.thenewsouls.com/)
Guitar Circle New England (http://www.guitarcirclenewengland.com/)
Andrew Alexander (http://andrewalexander.com/)
Eddy Dyer and The Walking Shoe Orchestra (http://www.eddydyer.org/)
Thea Hopkins (http://www.theahopkins.com/)
Brian O'Connell
Natebox & Amatul of Aquari‚i Arts
Sean Frenette

Speakers:
Klare Allen
Jeff Herman
Carlos ElHuezo
Sarah Pearlstien (poet)

Participating Groups and Individuals:
Grassroots International (http://www.grassrootsonline.org/)
Salvadorian Initiative for Education and Culture
Socialist Alternative (http://www.socialistalternative.org/)
Equal Exchange (http://www.equalexchange.com/)
International Action Center (http://www.iacboston.org/)
Socialist Workers Party (http://www.pathfinderpress.com/)
Meniscus Magazine (http://www,meiscusmagazine.com)
Buddhist Peace Fellowship (http://www.bpf.org/html/home.html)
Billionaires for Bush (http://billionairesforbush.com/index.php)
Jamaica Plain Green-Rainbow Party (http://www.green-rainbow.org/)
International Socialist Organization (http://www.internationalsocialist.org/)
Code Pink (http://www.codepink4peace.org/)
Aquari‚i Arts Network
Safety Net

DETAILS:
Boston, Saturday, October 6, 7pm-1am, $10, cash bar
at Spontaneous Celebrations community center http://www.spontaneouscelebrations.org/
45 Danforth St., Jamaica Plain, MA
A block from Stony Brook T stop http://www.mbta.com/