Gary Dean - Posts

Script: Defining Dharma

 – A Journey to the West

# Introduction *Visual opens with a montage of diverse cultures, ancient texts, and historical figures associated with the concept of dharma.* **Narrator (Gary Dean):** "Dharma—a word rich in history, yet often misunderstood, especially in the Western world where it remains a relative newcomer. Despite its profound significance across various Eastern philosophies and religions, its true essence often eludes clear definition in the West. "What is 'dharma'? What is 'a' dharma'? What is 'the' dharma'? What do we truly mean when we use this word? "These questions have driven my exploration for many years. As an anthropologist, I've delved into the depths of human evolutionary biology, evolutionary psychology, anthropology, and sociology to unravel the complexities of this concept. "My journey has been guided and enriched by the insights of numerous thinkers and schola

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Bizarre YouTube Censorship

 – wtf? SRSLY? :facepalm:

Some friends and I have a YouTube channel called ['a secular dharma?'](https://youtube.com/@aseculardharma). This channel has long -- often boring -- discussions about the nature and definition of dharma, and about life in general. In Sept 2024, YouTube removed a video entitled "Metaphysical Thinking - Father Xmas - Cargo Cults", _posted more than 4.5 years ago_, claiming that it violated their **"Violent extremist or criminal organisations policy"**. This is a transcript of the section deemed "problematic" by YouTube: --- And that is the basis of a collective vision of a collective belonging to something. And I mean, and the QAnon phenomenon is pretty much the same thing. It's a cargo cult in some ways. Absolutely, yeah. Yeah, it's relief from their suffering because I mean, obviously the people who believe this are the ones who are suffering in America. And

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Defining Dharma

 – ways, paths, cultures, outlooks

## The Etymology of 'Dharma' The word 'dharma' carries profound significance in various philosophical, religious, and cultural traditions. Understanding its etymology provides valuable insights into its multifaceted nature and enduring relevance in human thought and behavior. ### Origins in Sanskrit The term **'dharma'** originates from the ancient Sanskrit language, one of the oldest Indo-European languages. It is derived from the root **'dhṛ'** (धृ), which means "to hold," "to maintain," or "to support." From this root, the noun **'dharma'** (धर्म) emerged, translating to "that which upholds" or "that which sustains." At its core, the etymological meaning of dharma reflects its role as a sustaining force, whether in the cosmic sense or in social and ethical contexts. Dharma signifies the underlying principles or laws that uphold the universe, ensurin

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My Current Media Reading & Listening

 – media that I consider worthy of my time

This is a list of books I have read over the past years; most in audio form. The subject matter for all the media displayed I consider to be important in some manner, and cover areas including biology, ethics, group theory, evolutionary theory, among others. The titles appear in the order that I last read/heard them, not in the order than I first read/heard them. So the first book on the list is probably the one I am reading/hearing at this moment. I have given each book a crude rating: 5\* means highly recommended, 4\* recommended, 3\* worth reading, 2\* possibly problematic, 1\* save your time and money. If a book appears here at all, then it is generally a 3\* or higher. The 'blurbs' on each book are taken directly from the audible.com site; they are not my words. 3*

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2017: a return to kyoto

this is a video from a point-of-view perspective that i took while walking around the kyoto imperial palace grounds. it was during a solo visit to japan at the end of 2017. it was cold and snowing. i had visited japan in the [northern hemisphere] spring of 2013; during the cherry blossom season. though i was not solo at that time. my supposed purpose in going to kyoto in 2017 was to undertake the rakuyo 33 pilgrimage route. to this end, before i went, i roughed up a little web site to help guide me around the densely packed city of kyoto (rakuyo33.info if you are interested). i completed this pilgrimage, on foot, and often in snowy conditions, over a period of six days. however, my actual reason for going to kyoto was a bit different. i wanted -- or perhaps, needed -- to revisit the grounds of the kyoto imperial palace. in search of someone. i guess. thi

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Escape at 14

 – A nothing story

I was 14, a quiet boy living in an outer suburb of a small and isolated city called Perth1, in a large and remote state called Western Australia, in a large and isolated continent called Australia.

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Gary Dean

 – From the West, Northward to the East

I was born and raised in [Perth, Western Australia](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth), in the pre-[Sputnik](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_1) era, and brought up in a mono-cultural English/British suburban environment. I am a Gemini and a Rooster. My MBTI is INFJ, my blood type B-, and I’m an Aspie. Here’s a snapshot of my genome. My life has largely unfolded across South East Asia. I emigrated to Indonesia in 1996, and I am an Indonesian citizen. My role models include Robert Sapolsky, Gotama, Germaine Greer, and Pa Kettle, among many others, each shaping my perspe

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Meet Gary Dean

 – A Jakarta Expat interview with Gary Dean

Parts of this interview were published in Jakarta Expat, March 2013 Jakarta Expat: So Gary, where do you come from, where did you grow up? Gary Dean: I was born in Perth, Western Australia in the pre-Sputnik era. I grew up in the northern suburbs of Perth. JE: How long have you been living in Indonesia and what brought you here in the first place? GD: I've lived in Indonesia continuously since 1996. Why did I come to Indonesia? Firstly and principally, because it was not Australia. Psychologically, Australia was choking me; it is an orderly, over-regulated, self-satisfied country that is in love with its own image. I desperately needed some disorder in my life; and Indonesia delivers this in truckloads! In Indonesia, absolutely nothing can be taken for granted. JE: So how did you get from studying Animal Husbandry to becoming the director and senior consultant for Ok

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An Ungrateful Australian

On Tuesday, 17 December 2002, BM wrote: I think, on balance, that if I am to be ruled, I would much rather be ruled by complete fucking moron civilians than by clever army generals, or religious fanatics for that matter. A friend, who had been a lifelong Marxist until the collapse of the Soviet Union, in a moment of possibly alcohol-induced candour, said to me once that to him a slightly corrupt, partially inept ‘liberal democracy’ is far preferable to a ruthlessly efficient and thoroughly honest socialist dictatorship. Oh shit, I think I feel a polemic coming on… Or maybe it’s that dodgy rendang I ate for lunch… I quite agree, living under a liberal democracy is probably preferable to living under a socialist dictatorship. However, your statements are loaded with some highly contentious and suspect presumptions concerning the alleged relative superiority of lib

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dikotomi

 – digital music experiments from 2002

dikotomi is a collection of atmospheric midi music, best experienced whilst sailing through the open air in a solar-powered airship, at moderate altitude, under a clear, high sky, and with no particular destination. synthesized over a period of months a long, long time ago, these are essentially my experimentation with fully computerised and notated compositions. absolute uncertainty sky cruising

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Madu Tri

 – suatu kisah asmara

Alkisah beberapa masa yang lalu hiduplah seorang laki-laki dan seorang perempuan.  Nama dari si laki-laki itu adalah Ari. Pada waktu cerita ini mulai dia merupakan seorang pemimpin dari suatu perusahaan yang sangat berhasil di suatu kota di bagian selatan di suatu negara.  Namun demikian, Ari tidak begitu puas dengan pekerjaannya itu. Dan dibalik keberhasilan dan harta kekayaannya, dia tidaklah bahagia. Nama perempuan itu adalah Tri. Sesungguhnya, Tri membenci nama ini. Hal ini membuat dia merasa sebagai orang awam yang kurang gengsi. Dalam kenyataannya, setiap orang yang mengenal Tri memanggilnya Madu Tri. Dia juga sungguh-sungguh tidak menyukai nama ini, tetapi paling tidak nama ini bukanlah nama kebanyakan. Selama hidupnya, Madu Tri suka sekali minum madu. Tanpa madu, hidup tidaklah punya arti baginya. Madu adalah hakikat dari eksistensinya. Suatu hal yang tidak bisa d

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Airship Over Occussi

 – Songs from 1983

Songs recorded "live" on a cheap cassette recorder at various locations in Fremantle, Western Australia during 1983 (or was it 1984?).  The recording quality in all cases is extremely poor, but the spirit remains audible.  These recordings marked the end of my creative musical life; not long after I gave it away, deciding deliberately and consciously that I had nothing to say. Whilst all the compositions below are original creations, I feel that all creation is a synthesis of past and present experience.  For an individual to take credit for any creation is a silly notion, notwithstanding copyright notices!  Whilst my compositions may be unique, they nevertheless represent syntheses of my experiences and interactions with a particular set of people, circumstances and social environments at a particular time and place.  I have l

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