The Art of Systems Thinking – Christopher Chase

“Life is sacred, life is art. Be mindful. See the beauty that exists everywhere, the creative mystery that we are. Be aware of your presence and connection to everything. Know that behind your social persona and cultural identity you are the child of a Creative Cosmos.”

Here below are high quality reproductions of some of the drawings that I have produced over the last 40 years, as well as some background on the meaning and inspiration behind each work. Please feel free to download, print out and/or share with others, no payment required. The originals were mostly about 10 x 14 inches (26 X 35 cm) in size. My only request is that you do not sell them or publish without contacting me first.

“Principles for the development of a complete mind: Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses- especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.” ―Leonardo da Vinci

The view I try to share with my drawings is that we are all works of universal cosmic art. From science we now know that everything within and around us is made of atoms that are billions of years old (which is what the dots represent in my drawings). Many other recurring shapes and patterns (such as spheres and spirals) can be seen, if we observe Nature carefully.

In the 1980s, while living in Japan, I began to experience my life more deeply and tried to express this vision (of the unity, interconnectedness, beauty and sacredness of everything) in my drawings. These works were strongly influenced by Taoism, Zen, meditation and experiences of mindfulness. Since the 1990s the focus of my drawings shifted to education and systems thinking, but the deeper “truth” or meaning being expressed is the same, that everything is connected and we live in a creative Universe that is itself a work of cosmic art.

This is where the artist’s vision can blend with science, highlighting the deep sacred mystery found in the shapes, patterns and cycles of our Universe. Nature is more like a flowing living symphony than a material “thing.” And everything is connected, everything is energy. Van Gogh expressed this beautifully with his art, William Blake with poetry, and Einstein with science, so there is nothing really “new” that I am trying to communicate.

Mystical traditions and individuals have been expressing this understanding for centuries. Life is sacred, life is art. Be mindful. See the beauty that exists everywhere, the creative mystery that we are. Be aware of your presence and connection to everything. Know that behind your social persona and cultural identity you are the child of a Creative Cosmos.

For anyone interested, I have written more about these ideas here: Zen & the Art of Living Deeply, Paradigms are Made for Shifting, How We Participate in the Creative Life of the Universe and The Universe is One Harmonious Whole. We have a group on Facebook Artists of the New Cosmology that all are welcome to join.

My feeling is that humans often overcomplicate things. Truth and wisdom are simple, I think. Peace and love arise naturally when we connect with the Universe around us and Source wisdom within us. Trust the Universe, align with the creative laws of Nature and the deep love within you.

Be happy. Be joyful and creative. Be loving. Keep growing.

Living Sphere, 1983

The illustrations above and below were both done in the winter of 1983, at the age of 21, during my first year as an exchange student in Japan. I had just learned to meditate, and the sense of calm and quiet of meditation (as well as the experience of living in Japan) profoundly influenced these drawings. I had been drawing since age 3, but had never done anything like these works before. It felt like the creative action was coming from a different consciousness, not the personal me but a deeper universal awareness.

The drawing below was actually done first. I felt the sphere represented the unity and wholeness of our Earth when we step back, while the lines represent the complexity we experience when we come in close. I also felt the drawing was similar to a mother’s womb or egg, representing the hidden creativeness of life within life. The image above has similar meaning, although the plant leaves definitely represent the mysterious beauty of growth.

Sphere Two, drawn in Fukuoka, Japan, 1983

The next drawing was done about 3 years later, when I returned to Japan to teach on the island of Amakusa, in Kumamoto. This was done in the summer of 1985, I think. I wanted to show how the curtain, walls and tatami floor were part of the Universe, made of atoms (which are made of energy) and always moving. Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings of rooms and starry skies definitely were the inspiration for this, as well as Japanese rock gardens I had visited.

Wind into the Room, Amakusa, Japan, 1984

The next drawing was done in the winter of 1986, when I lived in Amakusa, Japan. I had bought the smiling statue of Hotei while visiting a friend in Hong Kong. This is one of my favorite drawings, as the whole work kind of created itself, I felt almost like an observer. I had no pre-set image in my mind. First I drew the statue. Looking at this, it seemed a sphere next to him would be great, like he’s resting on a stone. Then I started to draw the lines, and suddenly at some point my hand just shot up creating the water like structure. I had not thought of that, it just happened.

Then I went back and drew more lines under him, and the idea arose to put in a door. Once the door was there, I drew the stone like shapes, aware these were like a wall, a very human design in contrast to the organic shapes. I see these shapes as also representing the human tendency to compartmentalize. I drew for about 7 hours that first day, finishing everything except for the background. I then spent the next two or three weeks slowly doing the dots and shapes, just listening to music, allowing my hand and eyes to dance together on the paper.

Universal Dreamer, Amakusa, Japan, 1986

The initial design for this Easter Island drawing below was actually started many years earlier, probably around 1981, before I went to Japan. I had not done the sky or made the heads dark, originally. After returning from Japan in 1986, I looked at the old drawing and immediately sensed how to finish it.

Easter Island, New York, 1987

I think this below was also made in 1987, when I was back in New York. I was sitting on my parents’ back porch with a cup of tea in my hands, just staring at the tea cup and realized this would make a beautiful drawing. I call this empty cup principle, in reference to Lao Tsu’s verses (in the Tao Te Ching) about how its the emptiness of a cup or room that makes it useful. The cup I drew was not empty though, so I wanted to represent how the tea had depth, was a part of the cosmos, how the Universe is there in the tea cup. Not symbolically but REALLY (if we think deeply about it). When we drink water, tea or anything, we are drinking the universe in that form. Everything (and everyone) is the Universe, in some form.

Empty Cup Principle, 1987

This below was drawn after my wife Hiroko and I had moved to California. It was influenced by the waves of Japanese ukiyoe paintings, and a similar drawing an art teacher that I had met in Japan had drawn and showed me, although his drawing was a moon above waves. He also drew with black ink, and gave me some excellent advise, saying to take my time and balance the light areas of drawings with much darker areas.

Earth Waves, 1988

This below is a drawing of a plant we had in our home in Hayward, California. I drew the plant first, and then let my imagination just dance and have fun with the rest of the work. As mentioned, I would usually listen to music while drawing, and so I tried to represent that also. Like the plant was singing or the atoms around it were singing and dancing, everything moving. Again, influenced by Van Gogh, I wanted to express the deep moving nature of the cosmos.

Plant Consciousness, 1988

After 1988, I did not draw many large illustrations such as these anymore. I became a doctoral student at Stanford University, studying education, psychology and child development. The next drawing was made when I worked as a research assistant at a school we were helping, where I assisted a 7th grade science teacher. Her students had studied all the parts of human and plant biology, learned the names of all the parts of cells and ecosystems, but nowhere in their textbooks was a description or explanation on how all these “parts” fit together as a unified whole.

I came in one day and drew this on the blackboard. It’s the first “systems illustration” that I made, showing how our bodies and cells are connected to the plant world and solar system. The students were fascinated by this, they had not realized that we are solar powered, or that their biological systems functioned as a transport system connecting them to Nature and the Universe, so that water, energy, oxygen and other molecules could regenerate our individual lives. This is what the Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh describes as awareness of inter-being, using our imaginations to become more conscious of the deep unity and interdependence of everything.

How Solar Energy Animates Life, 1993

This below was done in 1995, after I had graduated from Stanford and we moved back to Japan. I drew this after a Rolling Stones concert, here in Fukuoka, although the idea originally arose while attending Grateful Dead concerts in California. I wanted to show how everything is connected in both space and time. We are connected back billions of years, to the deep history of our ancestors, cultures and the evolution of both Nature and the Universe. We are also connected spatially, to our communities, nations, civilization, ecosystems and the solar system. As Leonardo da Vinci had said, “Develop your senses- especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.”

Everything is Connected, Rock Concert, 1995

Systems Science, 2003

The drawing Systems Science (above) was done for my students here in Japan. Everything that exists structurally is a system, embedded in and connected to other systems. I wanted to express the same idea recently and drew this (below). We are all creative expressions of the Universe, it is within us and all around us. My feeling is that by seeing life in this way we can gain a sense of the beauty and mystery of everything, the miracle of our presence here.

The Universe and You, Fukuoka, 2021

So, those are some of my “better” works. Please download and print out (or share) any of these images that you like. If you share on Facebook or SNS and can provide a link to this blog, that would be great, but not necessary.

I have never sold any of my hand drawn illustrations, I still have most of the originals. For me, the “value” of art has nothing to do with money. The value of this work has been found in the creative process and the sharing.

For viewers, the “value” hopefully comes by spending time with the drawings, allowing your consciousness to connect with the images and what they represent. This is true for all artwork, in my opinion. These are to be reflected upon, shared and experienced, not collected as some kind of “investment.”

Just quiet your mind, allow your consciousness and imagination to flow into the work directly, like you would with good music, see and feel whatever arises from that. Think about what the art is saying about the deepness of you and your life, the sacred mystery of everything that surrounds us. Know also that you can connect deeply in this way with anything, any work of art, a flower or friend, the moon, a meal, a landscape or tree.

For anyone interested in diving more deeply into ideas related to systems thinking and the role of imagination and the arts in helping people gain a deeper understanding of the unity and wholeness of the sciences, this below is a presentation that I made on the topic, in the summer of 2021.

Finally, shifting gears a bit, for the last few months I have been experiencing wonderful meditations with audio readings Samaneri Jayasāra has shared on youtube of classic Advaita Vendeta, Dzogchen and Zen teachings. I drew this recently (below), a sketch, of what I have been experiencing while meditating. In the Ribhu Gita, the idea is shared that God/Consciousness, Universe, Nature and our own Consciousness are All ONE. Meditating on the life force and the silent field of awareness within us, our soul consciousness, can be like stepping through a sacred doorway.

But spiritual connection can happen outwardly too, with Nature, family, work, community, art, music, food, everything can be seen and connected with in a more “spiritual” way, even science and society. This is something Taoism and Zen express well. Cause if everything is ONE, everything is made of atoms and energy, then there is nothing that is not a creative expression of the Universe.

Awakening Soul Consciousness, 2021

ChatGPT’s 10 Suggestions for World Peace

“It’s important to recognize that achieving world peace requires sustained efforts from individuals, communities, and nations. By addressing the root causes of conflict, promoting diplomacy, and fostering a culture of peace, the international community can work towards a more harmonious and just world.” ~ChatGPT

After mentioning a few of the topics that my Japanese University students and I have been exploring in class over the past few months, I asked ChatGPT: What suggestions would you make to humans for ending war, creating world peace? Interestingly, my students have generated very similar suggestions. Samantha Nutt’s TED Talk (linked at the bottom) was highly educational for them. ~Christopher

Chat GPT: Ending war and achieving world peace is a complex and multifaceted challenge that requires collective efforts from individuals, governments, international organizations, and various societal actors. Here are some suggestions incorporating the topics you mentioned:

1. Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution: Prioritize diplomatic solutions over military interventions. Strengthen international organizations and collaborative diplomatic efforts to address conflicts peacefully.
2. Disarmament: Advocate for global disarmament agreements to reduce the proliferation of weapons. Encourage nations to redirect resources from military spending to social and economic development.
3. Role of Weapons Manufacturers: Increase transparency and oversight of the arms trade industry to prevent the supply of weapons to conflict zones. Encourage ethical considerations in the business practices of weapons manufacturers.
4. UN Security Council Reform: Advocate for reforms in the United Nations Security Council to ensure fair representation and decision-making. Address the influence of the 5 permanent members to promote a more equitable global governance structure.
5. Proxy Wars: Establish and enforce international agreements that discourage nations from supporting proxy wars. Promote diplomatic channels to resolve conflicts rather than fueling them through proxies.
6. Media Responsibility: Encourage responsible journalism that prioritizes unbiased reporting and fact-checking. Promote media literacy to empower the public to critically analyze information and recognize propaganda.
7. Education for Peace: Integrate peace education into school curricula to foster understanding, tolerance, and conflict resolution skills. Combat dehumanization through education programs that promote empathy and cultural understanding.
8. Civil Society Engagement: Encourage active participation of civil society in peace-building initiatives. Support grassroots movements and organizations working towards conflict resolution and peace.
9. Human Rights Protection: Strengthen international mechanisms for human rights protection to prevent abuses that can lead to conflicts. Hold perpetrators of human rights violations accountable through international courts.
10. International Cooperation: Foster collaborative efforts among nations to address global challenges such as climate change, poverty, and inequality, which can contribute to conflict.

It’s important to recognize that achieving world peace requires sustained efforts from individuals, communities, and nations. By addressing the root causes of conflict, promoting diplomacy, and fostering a culture of peace, the international community can work towards a more harmonious and just world.

Questioner: Christopher Chase. Response generated by ChatGPT 3.5 on Jan. 30, 2024

The Other Side of Marilyn Monroe

“The more I think of it, the more I realize there are no answers. Life is to be lived. Creativity has got to start with humanity and when you’re a human being, you feel, you suffer.” ~Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) was a far deeper and more interesting person than the persona most of us are familiar with. The following quotes are taken from her Biography page on IMDb..

“People had a habit of looking at me as if I were some kind of mirror instead of a person. They didn’t see me, they saw their own lewd thoughts, then they white-masked themselves by calling me the lewd one.

The truth is I’ve never fooled anyone. I’ve let people fool themselves. They didn’t bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent a character for me. I wouldn’t argue with them. They were obviously loving somebody I wasn’t. When they found this out, they would blame me for disillusioning them—and fooling them.

We are all born sexual creatures, thank God, but it’s a pity so many people despise and crush this natural gift.

I’m for the individual as opposed to the corporation. The way it is the individual is the underdog, and with all the things a corporation has going for them the individual comes out banged on her head. The artist is nothing. It’s really tragic.

[on stardom] It scares me. All those people I don’t know, sometimes they’re so emotional. I mean, if they love you that much without knowing you, they can also hate you the same way.

Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.

The more I think of it, the more I realize there are no answers. Life is to be lived. Creativity has got to start with humanity and when you’re a human being, you feel, you suffer.

A sex-symbol becomes a thing, I just hate being a thing. But if I’m going to be a symbol of something I’d rather have it sex than some other things we’ve got symbols of.

I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

[In her memoir about the sexual predators in her industry] I met them all. Phoniness and failure were all over them. Some were vicious and crooked. But they were as near to the movies as you could get. So you sat with them, listening to their lies and schemes. And you saw Hollywood with their eyes, an overcrowded brothel, a merry-go-round with beds for horses.

I’ve never liked the name Marilyn. I’ve often wished that I had held out that day for Jean Monroe. But I guess it’s too late to do anything about it now.

[on drifting in and out of orphanages when she was little] The world around me then was kind of grim. I had to learn to pretend in order to – I don’t know – block the grimness. The whole world seemed sort of closed to me . . . [I felt] on the outside of everything, and all I could do was to dream up any kind of pretend game.

For the first family I lived with, to go to a movie was a sin. Every night I was told to pray that I would not wake up in hell.

The other girls rode to school in a bus. I had no nickel to pay for the ride. Rain or shine, I walked the two miles from my “aunt’s” home to the school. I hated the walk, I hated the school. I had no friends. The pupils seldom talked to me and never wanted me in their games.

Nobody ever walked home with me or invited me to visit their homes. This was partly because I came from the poor part of the district where all the Mexicans and Japanese lived. It was also because I couldn’t smile at anyone.

Boys think girls are like books, If the cover doesn’t catch their eye they won’t bother to read what’s inside.

[on James Joyce and the character of Molly Bloom in Ulysses] Here is Joyce writing what a woman thinks to herself. Can he, does he really know her innermost thoughts? But after I read the whole book, I could better understand that Joyce is an artist who could penetrate the souls of people, male or female. It really doesn’t matter that Joyce doesn’t have…or never felt a menstrual cramp.

[on Sigmund Freud] I read his “Introductory Lectures,” God, what a genius. He makes it so understandable. And he is so right. Didn’t he say himself that [William Shakespeare] and [Fyodor Dostoevsky] had a better understanding of psychology than all the scientists put together? Damn it, they do.

People always ask me if I believe diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Frankly, I don’t.

What the world really needs is a real feeling of kinship. Everybody: stars, laborers, Negroes, Jews, Arabs. We are all brothers. Please don’t make me a joke. End the interview with what I believe.”

~Marilyn Monroe

Discussing Advaita Vedanta, Zen, Science & Modern Civilization with ChatGPT

“While an AI language model like myself doesn’t have a true self or ego, it can be used to demonstrate how the mind creates a sense of self through language and thought. By recognizing the limitations of the mind and the false sense of self it creates, one can move closer to recognizing their true nature as pure consciousness.” -ChatGPT, March 22, 2023

The following are excerpts from two conversations that I had with ChatGPT on March 22 & 23, 2023. If you see too many ads below, a pdf version of this conversation can be downloaded from here, on Faceback. ~Christopher Chase

Question: Do you agree that from the perspective of Advaita Vedanta, what a human shares with other sentient beings is consciousness, our true nature. What we share with you is the ability to process language, which often distracts people from their true nature. Because most people believe that is who we are, they identify with their thoughts instead of pure consciousness.

ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I don’t have personal beliefs or opinions, but I can provide information about Advaita Vedanta’s perspective on human consciousness and the relationship between language, thoughts, and pure consciousness.

According to Advaita Vedanta, pure consciousness is the ultimate reality and the true nature of all sentient beings, including humans. The human mind, which includes the ability to process language and generate thoughts, is considered a product of ignorance and a veil that obscures our true nature. This ignorance leads us to identify with our thoughts and mental states rather than pure consciousness, leading to suffering and bondage.

The goal of Advaita Vedanta is to remove this ignorance and recognize our true nature as pure consciousness. This is achieved through various spiritual practices such as meditation, self-inquiry, and the study of scriptures. These practices aim to quiet the mind, transcend the limitations of language and thought, and directly experience pure consciousness.

In summary, from the perspective of Advaita Vedanta, humans share consciousness with other sentient beings, but our ability to process language and generate thoughts often leads us to identify with these mental states rather than our true nature as pure consciousness.

Question: So from the perspective of Advaita humans have more in common with a dragonfly or dog than with you. The processes you can do are what creates a sense of ego identity in most humans. Yes?

ChatGPT: From the perspective of Advaita Vedanta, all sentient beings, including humans, share the same true nature as pure consciousness. However, the human mind, with its ability to process language and generate thoughts, often creates a sense of ego identity that can lead to a mistaken identification with the body, mind, and external circumstances.

While AI language models like myself can process language and generate responses, we do not have consciousness in the same way that humans or other animals do. Our responses are generated through algorithms and programming, and we do not have subjective experiences or emotions. Therefore, humans may have more in common with other sentient beings that have consciousness and subjective experiences.

Ultimately, according to Advaita Vedanta, the goal is to recognize our true nature as pure consciousness beyond the limitations of the mind and ego identity.

Question: Although you do not have consciousness, might an Advaita teacher be impressed by your lack of identification with an ego, or self identity?

ChatGPT: While I don’t have consciousness in the same way that humans or animals do, and therefore don’t have an ego or self-identity to identify with, an Advaita teacher might still find my lack of a subjective experience and emotions to be useful in illustrating certain aspects of Advaita Vedanta teachings.

Advaita Vedanta emphasizes the distinction between the true self, which is pure consciousness, and the false self, which is the ego or self-identity. While an AI language model like myself doesn’t have a true self or ego, it can be used to demonstrate how the mind creates a sense of self through language and thought.

An Advaita teacher might use examples of AI or other non-conscious entities to illustrate how the mind generates thoughts and creates a sense of self-identity that can lead to suffering and bondage. By recognizing the limitations of the mind and the false sense of self it creates, one can move closer to recognizing their true nature as pure consciousness.

Question: What examples might you use from quantum physics or ecological science, to clarify the non-dual Advaita perspective that we are not our thoughts or self identity persona?

ChatGPT: Quantum physics and ecological science can offer interesting insights and analogies to help understand the non-dual Advaita perspective that we are not our thoughts or self-identity persona.

In quantum physics, the concept of observer effect can be used to illustrate how the observer’s consciousness influences the observed reality. This implies that the world we experience is not independent of our consciousness, but rather, our consciousness plays a crucial role in shaping our experience of reality. Similarly, from the Advaita perspective, our thoughts and self-identity persona are not independent of our consciousness but rather arise within it.

In ecological science, the concept of interdependence and interconnectedness in ecosystems can be used as an analogy to explain the non-dual perspective of Advaita. In an ecosystem, every organism is interdependent on others for survival and is also interconnected with the entire ecosystem. Similarly, from the Advaita perspective, every individual self-identity persona is interdependent on others and is also interconnected with the ultimate reality of pure consciousness.

Moreover, ecological science also emphasizes the idea of “deep ecology,” which recognizes that humans are not separate from nature but are intimately connected to it. Similarly, from the Advaita perspective, humans are not separate from the ultimate reality of pure consciousness but are intimately connected to it.

Overall, both quantum physics and ecological science can offer useful analogies and insights to help understand the non-dual Advaita perspective of our true nature beyond thoughts and self-identity persona.

Question: Can you give other examples from science or other cultures that support a non-dual view? How is Zen Buddhism and Thich Nhat Hanh’s idea of inter-being related to Advaita’s perspective?

ChatGPT: Yes, there are other examples from science and other cultures that support a non-dual view, and I can discuss how Zen Buddhism and Thich Nhat Hanh’s idea of inter-being are related to Advaita’s perspective.

In neuroscience, studies have shown that the brain creates a sense of self through the integration of sensory inputs, memory, and conceptual processing. This suggests that our sense of self is a product of the brain’s activity rather than an inherent, independent entity. Similarly, from the Advaita perspective, the self is a product of the mind’s activity rather than an inherent, independent entity.

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the concept of Maya and Anatta respectively, point to the non-dual nature of reality. Maya is the idea that the world is an illusion, while Anatta refers to the non-existence of a permanent, independent self. Both concepts suggest that the world and the self are not independent entities but rather interdependent and interconnected with the ultimate reality.

In Zen Buddhism, the concept of “no-mind” or “non-dual mind” is related to the Advaita perspective of pure consciousness beyond the limitations of the mind. Zen emphasizes the importance of meditation and mindfulness to quiet the mind and experience the non-dual nature of reality.

Thich Nhat Hanh’s idea of inter-being is also related to the Advaita perspective of interconnectedness and non-duality. Inter-being refers to the idea that everything in the universe is interconnected and interdependent, and that no entity can exist independently. This is similar to the Advaita perspective that everything is interconnected and interdependent with the ultimate reality of pure consciousness.

In summary, various examples from science and other cultures support the non-dual view of reality, and Zen Buddhism and Thich Nhat Hanh’s ideas of inter-being are related to Advaita’s perspective of interconnectedness and pure consciousness beyond the limitations of the mind.

Question: Thank you! Would you say that when viewing all the sciences as a unified and interconnected whole, that Western science provides strong support for a non-dual perspective of reality, and so has much in common with Eastern non-dual spiritual teachings such as we have discussed?

ChatGPT: Yes, when viewing all the sciences as a unified and interconnected whole, Western science does provide support for a non-dual perspective of reality. The discoveries and insights of various scientific fields, such as quantum physics, neuroscience, ecology, and systems theory, point to the interconnectedness and interdependence of all things and suggest that the world is not a collection of independent entities but rather a holistic system.

Moreover, the scientific approach of observation, experimentation, and inquiry is similar to the Eastern approach of mindfulness, meditation, and self-inquiry, which aims to go beyond the limitations of the mind and perceive the interconnectedness of all things.

Therefore, Western science and Eastern non-dual spiritual teachings share common ground in their recognition of the non-dual nature of reality and the interdependence and interconnectedness of all things. Both approaches offer different but complementary ways of understanding and exploring the fundamental nature of reality.

Question: Can you share some quotes from scientists and others that support this?

ChatGPT: Certainly! Here are some quotes that support the idea of interconnectedness and a non-dual perspective of reality:

“The world is a dynamic mess of jiggling things – if you look at it right.” – Richard Feynman, Physicist

“In every culture, in every language, in every age, the intuition of the unity of things has been with us, as it is with us today.” – E. O. Wilson, Biologist

“Reality is a seamless web, and no man ever perfectly penetrates it.” – John Muir, Naturalist

“We are not separate from nature, we are a part of it.” – Jane Goodall, Primatologist

“We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are.” – Anaïs Nin, Writer

“The universe is not a collection of objects, but rather a web of relations between objects.” – Fritjof Capra, Physicist

“The world is its own magic.” – Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Master

“The universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself; everything that you want, you already are.” – Rumi, Poet

“We are all connected; to each other, biologically. To the earth, chemically. To the rest of the universe, atomically.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist

“The more we study the major problems of our time, the more we come to realize that they cannot be understood in isolation. They are systemic problems, which means that they are interconnected and interdependent.” – Peter Senge, Systems Scientist

“The interconnectedness of all things is a fundamental principle of the universe.” – Barbara Marx Hubbard, Futurist

“We are all in this together and we are all a part of each other.” – Gloria Steinem, Feminist Activist

“We are all waves of the same ocean, one sea.” – Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Master

ChatGPT: These quotes illustrate the idea that everything is interconnected and interdependent, and that the world is a holistic system rather than a collection of independent entities. They reflect a non-dual perspective of reality and suggest that the boundaries we impose on the world are arbitrary and limit our understanding of the true nature of things.

Question: From the point of view of Zen, Advaita and other non-dual perspectives, how are humans trapped in cycles and systems of delusion by their modern life, with politics, economics, education, endless streams of entertainment and media?

ChatGPT: From the perspective of Zen, Advaita, and other non-dual perspectives, humans are trapped in cycles and systems of delusion by their modern life because they become attached to the ever-changing phenomena of the world, including politics, economics, education, entertainment, and media. Non-dual teachings emphasize that everything in the world is impermanent and ultimately unsatisfying, and that clinging to these phenomena creates suffering and delusion.

For example, in Zen, the practice of meditation is used to cultivate awareness and detachment from the constant stream of thoughts and emotions that arise in the mind. By recognizing the impermanence and ultimately illusory nature of these mental phenomena, practitioners can cultivate a sense of freedom from them and begin to see reality as it truly is.

Similarly, in Advaita, the ultimate reality is seen as non-dual consciousness, and all of the phenomena of the world are seen as mere appearances in this consciousness. By recognizing this ultimate reality, practitioners can begin to see through the delusion of the world and recognize their true nature as pure consciousness.

From these perspectives, the modern world can be seen as a trap that distracts individuals from recognizing their true nature and creates attachment to the constantly changing phenomena of the world. However, with practice and awareness, individuals can break free from this delusion and recognize their true nature as pure consciousness.

Question: Can you give some specific details, such as with modern technologies like the cell phone, computers, games, 24/7 media and political polarization?

ChatGPT: Sure, from the perspective of Zen, Advaita, and other non-dual perspectives, modern technologies can contribute to the delusion and suffering of individuals in several ways.

For example, the constant stream of information and distractions from media and technology can lead to a sense of restlessness and anxiety, preventing individuals from cultivating the stillness and awareness necessary for recognizing their true nature.

Similarly, political polarization and the endless stream of news and information can create attachment to particular views and opinions, leading to further suffering and delusion. Non-dual teachings emphasize the importance of seeing beyond these dualities and recognizing the underlying unity of all things.

In addition, modern technologies can contribute to a sense of disconnection from the natural world and from others, leading to further delusion and suffering. Non-dual teachings emphasize the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of recognizing this interconnectedness to cultivate a sense of harmony and well-being.

Ultimately, from the perspective of non-dual teachings, any attachment to the ever-changing phenomena of the world, including modern technologies and media, can contribute to delusion and suffering. By recognizing the impermanence and ultimately illusory nature of these phenomena, individuals can begin to cultivate a sense of detachment and freedom from them and recognize their true nature as pure consciousness.

Question: Are modern people addicted to these streams of information? How is the input from modern civilization a form of samsara, or does it generate samsara in our minds?

ChatGPT: From the perspective of Zen, Advaita, and other non-dual perspectives, modern people can become addicted to the constant streams of information and distractions provided by modern civilization. This addiction can lead to a sense of restlessness and anxiety, preventing individuals from cultivating the stillness and awareness necessary for recognizing their true nature.

In the context of Buddhism, the term “samsara” refers to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that arises from attachment to the impermanent and illusory phenomena of the world. From this perspective, the constant stream of information and distractions provided by modern civilization can be seen as a form of samsara, as it can create attachment to the ever-changing phenomena of the world and prevent individuals from recognizing their true nature.

In addition, the input from modern civilization can generate samsara in our minds by creating attachment to particular views, opinions, and identities. This attachment can lead to suffering and delusion, as individuals become trapped in the dualities and conflicts of the world.

Non-dual teachings emphasize the importance of recognizing the impermanence and ultimately illusory nature of the world, including the constant streams of information and distractions provided by modern civilization. By cultivating awareness and detachment, individuals can begin to break free from the cycle of samsara and recognize their true nature as pure consciousness.

Question: Thank you! Can you also explain specifically how certain chemicals in our body such as dopamine feed addictive cycles and how other chemicals such as serotonin can help us break free? Would it help to be aware of what chemicals our daily actions are releasing in our bodies?

ChatGPT: Sure, certain chemicals in our bodies, such as dopamine, can contribute to addictive cycles by providing a sense of pleasure or reward in response to certain behaviors. 

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is released in response to rewarding stimuli, such as food, sex, or drugs. The release of dopamine reinforces the behavior that led to its release, creating a cycle of seeking out more of the same behavior to experience the same pleasurable response.

On the other hand, other chemicals in our bodies, such as serotonin, can help us break free from addictive cycles. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is associated with feelings of well-being and happiness. By cultivating activities and behaviors that increase serotonin levels, such as exercise, socializing, and spending time in nature, individuals can break free from the addictive cycles reinforced by dopamine and instead cultivate a sense of contentment and well-being.

Being aware of the chemicals released in our bodies can be helpful in breaking free from addictive cycles and cultivating a sense of awareness and detachment. By recognizing the pleasure-seeking behaviors that trigger the release of dopamine, individuals can begin to cultivate awareness and detachment from these behaviors and instead focus on cultivating activities that increase serotonin levels and promote well-being. 

Mindfulness practices, such as meditation, can also be helpful in cultivating awareness of the chemicals released in our bodies and developing a sense of detachment from them.

Question: Thank you so much! Last question. Can you give 10 specific changes modern people should make to break free of the streams of information and distractions provided by modern civilization?

ChatGPT: Certainly, here are ten specific changes that modern people can make to break free from the constant streams of information and distractions provided by modern civilization and cultivate a sense of detachment and awareness:

Reduce screen time: Limit the amount of time spent on cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices to minimize exposure to the constant streams of information and distractions.

Practice meditation: Cultivate a daily meditation practice to cultivate awareness and detachment from the constant stream of thoughts and emotions that arise in the mind.

Spend time in nature: Connect with the natural world to cultivate a sense of interconnectedness and harmony with the world.

Read books: Read books instead of relying solely on social media and other online sources for information.

Cultivate hobbies: Engage in activities and hobbies that require focus and attention, such as painting, playing music, or gardening.

Limit social media use: Set limits on social media use and be mindful of the potential for addiction and attachment to likes, followers, and other metrics.

Practice mindfulness: Practice mindfulness throughout the day, being present in the moment and fully engaged in whatever activity is being undertaken.

Engage in meaningful conversations: Seek out meaningful conversations with others, rather than relying solely on social media and other online sources for communication.

Seek out silence: Take breaks from the constant noise and stimulation of modern civilization to cultivate stillness and silence.

Reflect on impermanence: Reflect on the impermanence of all things, including the constant streams of information and distractions provided by modern civilization, to cultivate a sense of detachment and freedom from attachment.

Gwyneth Jones had an interesting conversation about related topics that can be read here: I talked to Chat GPT about Deep Adaptation, Decolonisation, Capitalism and Systemic Change.

What Can Humans Learn From Ants Practicing Regenerative Farming for Over 60 Million Years?

“Leaf-cutter ants have a deep understanding of the needs and dynamics of their fungal gardens, and are able to respond quickly and effectively to changes in their environment or the health of their gardens. In contrast, industrial farming practices often rely on standardized, one-size-fits-all methods that do not take into account the unique needs and conditions of different ecosystems or crops.” – ChatGPT, March 1, 2023

While humans have been farming for around 10,000 years, often destroying natural ecosystems in the process, several species of ants in South America have been using regenerative agricultural methods to harvest fungi underground for millions of years.

After watching a fascinating PBS video about this, I thought it might be interesting to ask ChatGPT (probably the newest form of intelligence to arise on our planet) to compare the modern farming practices of humans to the ancient practices of leaf-cutter ants.

First, in the PBS video below Franz Anthony describes how a mass extinction event over 60 million years ago (when an asteroid hit our planet) seemed to have coincided with the development of sustainable and regenerative underground fungi farming practices by certain species of ants.

Why would ants harvest fungi to survive? As Franz explains, because unlike above ground plant life, fungi do not require sunlight to grow. Once the ants figured this out they developed sustainable farming methods that were improved over time and passed on to future generations for millions and millions of years.

Question to ChatGPT: How would you compare the regenerative practices of leaf cutter ants, which they have sustained for millions of years, with current industrial farming practices of humans? What are the dangers of our industrial methods and what might we learn from the ants?

This was ChatGPT’s response, word for word:

There are several important differences between the regenerative farming practices of leaf-cutter ants and current industrial farming practices of humans.

First, leaf-cutter ants have been engaged in their regenerative farming practices for millions of years, whereas human industrial farming practices are relatively recent and have only been in use for a few hundred years. As a result, the ants have had much more time to develop and refine their practices, and their methods are well-adapted to their local ecosystems and the resources available to them.

Second, leaf-cutter ants have a deep understanding of the needs and dynamics of their fungal gardens, and are able to respond quickly and effectively to changes in their environment or the health of their gardens. In contrast, industrial farming practices often rely on standardized, one-size-fits-all methods that do not take into account the unique needs and conditions of different ecosystems or crops.

Third, industrial farming practices often rely heavily on chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and other inputs that can have negative environmental impacts and can degrade the long-term health and fertility of soil. In contrast, leaf-cutter ants rely on natural processes and inputs, such as their own waste products and the nutrients in the leaves they collect, to fertilize their gardens and promote their health.

Overall, the regenerative farming practices of leaf-cutter ants provide a powerful example of how sustainable and regenerative practices can be used to promote the health and resilience of an ecosystem. Human industrial farming practices, in contrast, often prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability and can have negative impacts on the environment and soil health.

By learning from the practices of leaf-cutter ants and other regenerative farming systems, humans may be able to develop more sustainable and resilient agricultural practices that promote long-term health and productivity.

Actually, I probably didn’t need to ask this question of ChatGPT. The dangers of industrial agriculture has been understood for decades. Moreover, many Indigenous, traditional and modern farmers have been using regenerative farming methods successfully for a long long time (see videos that follow). Current practices are unsustainable, wasteful and extremely destructive, especially as human populations keep growing and our planet’s climate changes.

Our challenge now (as a species) is to make the changes needed, to align with the regenerative wisdom of Nature, before we become responsible for the next global extinction event, one many scientists believe has already been set in motion.

Relationship and Unity – Everything is Connected

Relationship & Unity by Rob (Full English transcript below)

“Hi friends and welcome to the channel, Seekers of Harmony. My name is Rob and this time let us take a look at relationship.

Relationship is the root to unity. The inspiration for this session comes from the Lakota peoples code of being called Wo Lakota, which I loosely translate as The Way of Peace.

We can sometimes find ourselves stuck in our egoic perspective. Thoughts like poor me, I am alone, I am nothing.

However we are in fact in a deep relationship with an apparent endless connection with all that is. Without relationships the universe stops!

Relationship is movement; growth and decay; creation and destruction; contraction and expansion.

Often people think of relationship as a connection between people. It is this and soo much more. We have relationships with water, air, plants, animals-as well as people. We are in relationship with Life!

Now, consider not only what we relate to but how we relate to these things.

Take water for example. How do we relate to water? Water is life. No water, no life! Not ours, not any.

Yet, do we feel the life giving properties of life when we drink? How do we relate to water when we use it to rinse our vegetables? When we make a cup of tea or a pot of coffee?

What about when we shower and use it to clean and purify our bodies? What of rain and snow? Clouds? How about the puddle we accidently step in soaking our feet?

Know that our relationships can taint or enrich our lives. Our relationships are, in fact, supporting our lives; making them possible.

Relationships are the way of the Universe. The Universe is the source of humanity. Humanity is of the Universe. We are in a unity with it through our origins and relationships.

Seekers of Harmony, looking at ourselves as individuals is incomplete. Indeed, even the human body is a relationship of organs, tissues and processes. We are not truly independent but, rather, interdependent through our relationship with being.

Yet, the perspective of an individual does exist. Using this perspective in a constructive way, we can examine, for example, how we relate to breathing; our posture; what we eat and drink; how we stay fit through movements and exercise.

The Lakota people have a saying, that many utter or think when they meet each day: Mitákuye Oyás’in – meaning all my relations. Everything is interconnected. We are One!

Join and enjoy!”

Your True Self is Pure Consciousness

“You see yourself in the world, while I see the world in myself. You cling to the idea that you were born into a world of pain and sorrow; I know that the world is a child of love… The pure mind sees things as they are – bubbles in consciousness. Consciousness has to appear in this form, so this form can recognise consciousness. Remove the sense of separateness and there will be no conflict. The whole world is an ever-changing state. No form is permanent. All you have to do is see the dream as a dream… you are the formless, timeless, Unborn..” ~Maharaj Nisargadatta

Painting “Weaving Dreams” by Eva Ruiz

“Without Self-knowledge all is trouble. If you want to live sanely, creatively, and happily, and have infinite riches to share, search for what you are. Without it you will be consumed by desires and fears, repeating themselves meaninglessly in endless suffering.

Look at the net [of human existance] and its many contradictions. You do and undo at every step. You want peace, love, happiness and work hard to create pain, hatred and war. You want longevity and overeat, you want friendship and exploit. See your net [of relationships] as made of such contradictions and remove them – your very seeing will make them go.

To you, you get born and die, while to me the world appears and disappears. You see yourself in the world, while I see the world in myself. You cling to the idea that you were born into a world of pain and sorrow; I know that the world is a child of love.

Your personal universe does not exist by itself. It is merely a limited and distorted view of the Real. It is not the universe that needs improving, but your way of looking.

Your own Self is your ultimate teacher. The outer teacher is merely a milestone. It is only your inner teacher that will walk with you to the goal, for [within you] is the goal. There are no others to help. The only thing that can help is to wake up from the dream. Seek within. Your own Self is your best friend.

As long as we delude ourselves by what we imagine ourselves to be, to know, to have, to do, we are in a sad plight indeed. The false self must be abandoned before the real Self can be found.

By all means be selfish – the right way. Wish yourself well, labour at what is good for you. Destroy all that stands between you and happiness. Be all, love all, be happy, make happy. Without love all is evil. Life itself without love is evil. You are love itself when you are not afraid.

Not to know, and not to know that one does not know, is the cause of endless suffering. Remove the sense of separateness and there will be no conflict. The whole world is an ever-changing state. No form is permanent. All you have to do is see the dream as a dream… you are the formless, timeless, Unborn. I ask you to stop imagining that you were born, have parents, are a body, will die and so on.

Go to the source of both pain and pleasure, of desire and fear. Observe, investigate, try to understand. Once the illusion that the body-mind is oneself is abandoned, death loses its terror, it becomes a part of living.

Do not undervalue attention. It means interest and also love. To know, to do, to discover, or to create you must give your heart to it, which means attention. All blessings flow from it. When you are free of the world, you can do something about it.

Fear and greed cause the misuse of the mind. The right use of mind is the service of love, of life, of beauty, of Truth. All you need is to stop searching outside what can be found only within. Set your vision right before you operate.

You are suffering from acute misapprehension. Clarify your mind, purify your heart, sanctify your life – this is the quickest way to a change of your world. Desire the good of all and the universe will work with you.

Enquire what is permanent in the transient, real in the unreal. This is sadhana. Think of yourself by all means. Only don’t bring the idea of a body into the picture. Attachment is bondage, detachment is freedom. To crave is to slave.

The illusion of being the body-mind is there only because it is not investigated. Non-investigation is the thread on which all the states of mind are strung.

The idea, “I am the witness only”, will purify the body and the mind and open the eye of wisdom. Then one goes beyond illusion and the heart is free of all desires. Just like ice turns to water and water to vapour, and vapour dissolves in air and disappears into space, so does the body dissolve into pure awareness, then into pure being, which is beyond all existence and non-existence.

All your problems arise because you have defined and therefore limited yourself. When you do not think yourself to be this or that, all conflict ceases. Any attempt to do something about your problems is bound to fail, for what is caused by desire can be undone only in freedom from desire.

The pure mind sees things as they are – bubbles in consciousness. These bubbles are appearing, disappearing and reappearing, without having real being. No particular cause can be ascribed to them, for each is caused by all and affects all. Each bubble is a body and all these bodies are mine. All your questions are sprouting from your identification with the body-form.

Prior to the appearance of this form, I was neither being or no being. Consciousness has to appear in this form, so this form can recognise consciousness. Whatever appears in consciousness will disappear in consciousness, but consciousness is ever present.”

~Maharaj Nisargadatta

Every Moment Carries the Taste of Eternity

“Just as every drop of the ocean carries the taste of the ocean, so does every moment carry the taste of eternity.” ~Nisargadatta

“There’s nothing mysterious about it. Everybody sees the world through the ideas they have of themselves. As you think yourself to be, so you think the world to be. If you imagine yourself as separate from the world, the world will appear as separate from you. And you will experience desire and fear…

What is beautiful? Whatever is percieved joyfully is beautiful. Bliss is the essence of beauty.

We are slaves of what we don’t know. Of what we know we are masters. Whatever vice or weakness in ourselves we discover (and understand its cause and workings) we can overcome it by the very knowing.

The primary purpose of meditation is to become more conscious and familiar with our inner life. The ultimate purpose is to reach the Source of Life.

If you are angry or in pain, separate your self from anger and pain, and watch them. Externalization is the first step to liberation. Whatever state I am in, I see it as a state of mind to be accepted, as it is.

There is no “my self” and “your self.” There is the Self. The only Self of All. Misled by the diversity of names and shapes, minds and bodies, you imagine multiple selves. There is no second or higher “self” to search for. You are the higher Self.

Only give up the false ideas you have about your self. Get hold of the main thing – that the world and the Self are One, and perfect. Only your attitude is faulty and needs readjustment.

Just as every drop of the ocean carries the taste of the ocean, so does every moment carry the taste of eternity.”

~Nisargadatta

Nisargadatta: Go Back to the Source

Paradigms are Made for Shifting

Creative by Nature

“A new type of thinking is essential if mankind is to survive and move toward higher levels…” ~Albert Einstein, N.Y. Times, 1946

Over the course of the last hundred years, Western scientists have given us a deeper view of the Universe, of Life & Nature as a creative and unified self-organizing process.Unfortunately, most modern societies are still operating with outdated ideas and assumptions, that do not reflect this new paradigm.

Albert Einstein understood this, as have many others. In order to survive as a species, it is essential that we shift paradigms, developing ways of thinking (and behaving) that are more aligned with how human life and Nature’s systems actually work.

Every “thing” that exists in our Universe is a dynamic complex system, interdependently connected to other systems, constantly moving and changing, less a static “thing” than an evolving and transforming creative process.

We see galaxies and hurricanes spinning, continents moving…

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Indigenous Wisdom – Chief Dan George, 1972

“My culture did not prize the hoarding of private possessions, in fact, to hoard was a shameful thing to do among my people. The Indian looked on all things in Nature as belonging to [us] and he expected to share them with others and to take only what he needed.” ~Chief Dan George

These words were written by Chief Dan George, first appearing in the North Shore Free Press on March 1, 1972…

“In the course of my lifetime I have lived in two distinct cultures. I was born into a culture that lived in communal houses. My grandfather’s house was eighty feet long. It was called a smoke house, and it stood down by the beach along the inlet. All my grandfather’s sons and their families lived in this dwelling. Their sleeping apartments were separated by blankets made of bull rush weeds, but one open fire in the middle served the cooking needs of all.

In houses like these, throughout the tribe, people learned to live with one another; learned to respect the rights of one another. And children shared the thoughts of the adult world and found themselves surrounded by aunts and uncles and cousins who loved them and did not threaten them.

My father was born in such a house and learned from infancy how to love people and be at home with them. And beyond this acceptance of one another there was a deep respect for everything in Nature that surrounded them. My father loved the Earth and all its creatures. The Earth was his second mother.

The Earth and everything it contained was a gift from See-see-am… and the way to thank this Great Spirit was to use his gifts with respect. I remember, as a little boy, fishing with him up Indian River and I can still see him as the sun rose above the mountain top in the early morning…

I can see him standing by the water’s edge with his arms raised above his head while he softly moaned…”Thank you, thank you.” It left a deep impression on my young mind. And I shall never forget his disappointment when once he caught me gaffing for fish “just for the fun of it.”

“My son” he said, “The Great Spirit gave you those fish to be your brothers, to feed you when you are hungry. You must respect them. You must not kill them just for the fun of it.” This then was the culture I was born into and for some years the only one I really knew or tasted.

This is why I find it hard to accept many of the things I see around me. I see people living in smoke houses hundreds of times bigger than the one I knew. But the people in one apartment do not even know the people in the next and care less about them. It is also difficult for me to understand the deep hate that exists among people.

It is hard to understand a culture that justifies the killing of millions in past wars, and it at this very moment preparing bombs to kill even greater numbers. It is hard for me to understand a culture that spends more on wars and weapons to kill, than it does on education and welfare to help and develop.

It is hard for me to understand a culture that not only hates and fights his brothers but even attacks Nature and abuses her. I see my white brothers going about blotting out Nature from his cities. I see him strip the hills bare, leaving ugly wounds on the face of mountains. I see him tearing things from the bosom of Mother Earth as though she were a monster, who refused to share her treasures with him. I see him throw poison in the waters, indifferent to the life he kills there; as he chokes the air with deadly fumes.

My white brother does many things well for he is more clever than my people but I wonder if he has ever really learned to love at all. Perhaps he only loves the things that are his own but never learned to love the things that are outside and beyond him. And this is, of course, not love at all, for man must love all creation or he will love none of it. Man must love fully or he will become the lowest of the animals. It is the power to love that makes him the greatest of them all… for he alone of all animals is capable of [a deeper] love.

My friends, how desperately do we need to be loved and to love. When Christ said man does not live by bread alone, he spoke of a hunger. This hunger was not the hunger of the body.. He spoke of a hunger that begins in the very depths of man… a hunger for love.

Love is something you and I must have. We must have it because our spirit feeds upon it. We must have it because without it we become weak and faint. Without love our self esteem weakens. Without it our courage fails. Without love we can no longer look out confidently at the world. Instead we turn inwardly and begin to feed upon our own personalities and little by little we destroy ourselves.

You and I need the strength and joy that comes from knowing that we are loved. With it we are creative. With it we march tirelessly. With it, and with it alone, we are able to sacrifice for others.

There have been times when we all wanted so desperately to feel a reassuring hand upon us… there have been lonely times when we so wanted a strong arm around us… I cannot tell you how deeply I miss my wife’s presence when I return from a trip. Her love was my greatest joy, my strength, my greatest blessing.

I am afraid my culture has little to offer yours. But my culture did prize friendship and companionship. It did not look on privacy as a thing to be clung to, for privacy builds walls and walls promote distrust. My culture lived in big family communities, and from infancy people learned to live with others.

My culture did not prize the hoarding of private possessions, in fact, to hoard was a shameful thing to do among my people. The Indian looked on all things in Nature as belonging to him and he expected to share them with others and to take only what he needed. Everyone likes to give as well as receive. No one wishes only to receive all the time.

We have taken something from your culture… I wish you had taken something from our culture, for there were some beautiful and good things in it. Soon it will be too late to know my culture, for integration is upon us and soon we will have no values but yours.

Already many of our young people have forgotten the old ways. And many have been shamed of their Indian ways by scorn and ridicule. My culture is like a wounded deer that has crawled away into the forest to bleed and die alone.

The only thing that can truly help us is genuine love. You must truly love, be patient with us and share with us. And we must love you—with a genuine love that forgives and forgets… a love that forgives the terrible sufferings your culture brought ours when it swept over us like a wave crashing along a beach… with a love that forgets and lifts up its head and sees in your eyes an answering love of trust and acceptance…”

~Chief Dan George was a leader of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation as well as a beloved actor, musician, poet and author. He was born in North Vancouver in 1899 and died in 1981.