Preface


Preface



What is written here

Has been spoken, written, and lived

By many in many times and places in human history.

Ever disguised by innumerable masks, costumes, concepts, and technologies,

Its mysterious nature has timelessly confused and frightened

Those unable to discern beneath the surface.


This aphoristic vision is simply another attempt,

Using contemporary masks, costumes, concepts, and technologies,

To illustrate in thought something as old as old is,

That which has ever yet never been.


It is for those who desire nothing from this manifest dream

But that it be a journey into freedom.


Best wishes.



Greetings,


After an until-mid-30’s adulthood of wandering about in every way imaginable, words started coming to mind in 1989 while teaching fifth-sixth grade at Oak Grove School in Ojai, California. The Stillness Before Time is a random selection of aphorisms that a book agent in Chico during the early-90’s writing period suggested I put together from the first 300-ish pages that had been transcribed at that point in time. It could have been a whole different book. See Standouts from the Return to Wonder to get a sense of the different choices that might have been made, or added, if it had been made a longer work.

 

A PDF is available at:

 

The Stillness Before Time

Reflections From a Fellow Sojourner

https://thestillnessbeforetime.com/thestillnessbeforetime.pdf

 

Writing has been an enjoyable process ever since I first began toying with prose; scribbling poetry, keeping journals, corresponding with friends and acquaintances during the college daze. The philosophical/mystical/whatever-you-want-to-call-them thoughts, that have been popping into mind since 1989, have always been very out-of-the-blue spontaneous. Nothing planned or forced about them. They are being shared on the off chance that others may find them of interest, though, quite frankly, it really does not matter if no one else ever even reads them, for I am, first and foremost, my own audience. I got mine, so to speak. I played my little part. I had my share of fun. And it is, as it has ever been, up to each to discern their own, on their own. There are really no followers in this Don Quixote quest; only earnest seekers, who waylay their desires and fears and dreads, enough to discern that which is the end to doubt, the end to dueling with windmills. “Yay” if it is your fate to figure it out. “Oh well” if it is not. And “so it goes” either way, really. Ecclesiastes 1:2 is always a good reminder: “Vanity of vanities,” saith the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities. All is vanity.” Awareness can only, with great effort, regain control, regain sovereignty, from the usurper, imagination, creator of all that is time, creator of all that is space. Creator of all that is illusion, has never has been anything more than illusion, will never be anything more than illusion. Only as real as the given moment.

 

“The Stillness Before Time” is the original work that came together in 1992, including mostly aphorisms, an essay, a newspaper question-and-answer, ten reflections, and lists of both movies and books. Though an early self-published version, long since edited and expanded, can be purchased at major booksellers, a downloadable copy is available, no charge, at the link below. There are also links to a variety of blogs of other creations by me, along with links to many writings of a similar nature, by thinkers and seers from across all times, across all geographies.


"The Ponderings of Yaj Ekim" is the second published book, and is both blogged and available as a PDF download.

 

The “Breadcrumbs” titles, published annually since 2015, all include the core chapters: Leftovers, Soundbites, Breadcrumbs. In the Breadcrumbs chapters, I unleash thoughts of a more personal nature than in the other two. All just to show I was ensconced in a living, breathing, relativity mundane, oftentimes foolish, mortal mind-body. An actor playing the hand that was dealt; same as everyone else, vain as everyone else. No need to sculpt me into more than I was. No need for myths, nor legends, nor fables, nor miracles, nor cult followings, nor any other fictions, any other absurdities, over to which the human mind, and all its imaginary history, has so often given itself. The Breadcrumbs chapters prove me again and again to be yet another Shakespearian player, as full of the limited and arbitrary as anyone else born into this dream of space and time. So please be sure not to shape me, or these many random thoughts, into some dogmatic absurdity. Use them as a launchpad, not an orbit.

 

“The Return to Wonder” blog is a compendium of aphorisms not included in the three other works: The Stillness Before Time, The Ponderings of Yaj Ekim, and Breadcrumbs. It originally totaled 3,000 pages formatted in 300 ten-page chapters written since 1990-ish. A gradual editing that will likely never be completed, is changing that dynamic into something of a mishmash.

 

Please note that this sort of wordplay is very haphazard, way too much work to put into any order. Probably best read it in bits and pieces in the here and there. One of those open-to-any-page works. Especially well-suited for coffee shops, coffee tables, and porcelain thrones.

Also note that all writings are always subject to updates and editing, so if you are interested in the most current version – before this house of cards comes tumbling down, and the world grows large again – downloading PDF copies every once and a while might be a reasonable discipline. This applies especially to the current year of Breadcrumbs, which could well be an annual project until the last wheezing breath, though frankly, the temptation to stop writing entirely is not off the table. It is a pleasant way to pass some of the countdown remaining, but it is unlikely there is much ground that has not been wandered by this frame of reference far more than enough already. No matter how many times Sisyphus rolls the boulder up the mountain, it is more than a little doubtful that the blind men and their true-believer followers, will ever discern, ever realize, ever embrace, the elephant in the middle of the room, without fabricating some new form of absurdity. It is the way we roll, it is the way we have always rolled, it is the way we will, far more than probably, always roll. Every species has its limitations, and we have in this mind’s eye, far-exceeded ours.


That said, if you do find these many thoughts at all worth preserving, for whatever times are ahead for this world and all its life forms, please feel free to share them with others who might also appreciate them. Else they may well swiftly slip back into the timeless oblivion from whence they came.

 

So it goes, either way. I played my part, I said my piece, I had my fun.


All the best,

M

 

P.S. For best viewing online, using the largest screen you have available to explore my little theme park, is suggested. Scrolling down and down on a phone screen is just not going to give you the same entrée.


P.P.S. Regarding the name Yaj Ekim ... It is just a reverse spelling of the first and middle names ... Michael Jay Holshouser ... Mike Jay ... Yaj Ekim.

 

P.P.P.S. Coincidently, make of it whatever you will, or will not, Yaj is an Indian boy’s name meaning worshipper, sacrifice, another name for Shiva, a sage. And Ekim is a Turkish name for October meaning “sowing” (of seeds). All kinds of absurdity can be read into that by the many so-inclined – none of which was in mind when I came up with the idea to reverse the letters to my name. See P.P.S. for details.

 

P.P.P.P.S. Yes, I am Shiva. And so are You. No, I am not Shiva. And neither are you. Irony and paradox rule.




The Stillness Before Time

Reflections From a Fellow Sojourner


Michael J. Holshouser



Website

The Stillness Before Time
Reflections From a Fellow Sojourner
http://www.thestillnessbeforetime.com/


There is really only one Way.

It is without division or boundary.

It is without name or theology.

Awareness is its scripture.

Here now, its venue.

You, its witness.

Your life, the journey.


A PDF is available at:
http://www.thestillnessbeforetime.com/thestillnessbeforetime.pdf



One Through Thirty


One * 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 


18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 * Thirty



Essays


Of the Human Journey


Got God?


Ten Reflections



Other Resources


Books * Movies * Links * Blogs



Main Blogs & PDF's


(All blogs and PDF's subject to change, so stay tuned)


The Stillness Before Time

Reflections From a Fellow Sojourner

Blog * PDF


The Ponderings of Yaj Ekim

Blog * PDF


Breadcrumbs 2015

Bits and Pieces From a Dream of Time

Blog * PDF


Breadcrumbs 2018

Bits and Pieces From a Dream of Time

Blog * PDF


Breadcrumbs 2019

Bits and Pieces From a Dream of Time

Blog * PDF


Breadcrumbs 2020

Bits and Pieces From a Dream of Time

Blog * PDF


Breadcrumbs 2021

Bits and Pieces From a Dream of Time

Blog * PDF


Breadcrumbs 2022

Bits and Pieces From a Dream of Time

Blog * PDF


Breadcrumbs 2023 & Beyond
Bits and Pieces From a Dream of Time
Blog * PDF


The Return to Wonder

Field Notes From the Unknown

(Major edit underway -- Edited copy colored blue)

Blog * PDF



Breadcrumbs: The Unfolding Next Round


(Current year's reflections, regularly updated)


Blog * PDF



Blogs & PDF's of Other Works


Standouts from the Return to Wonder Edit
Selections from the First Sixteen Chapters
Blog * PDF

Mystery, Mystery & More Mystery
Blog * PDF

Doubt, Doubt & More Doubt
Blog * PDF

Science, Science & More Science
Blog * PDF

History, History & More History
Blog * PDF

Patterns, Patterns & More Patterns
Blog * PDF

Imagination, Imagination & More Imagination
Blog * PDF

Reincarnation, Reincarnation & More Reincarnation
Blog * PDF

Possible Last Words & Epitaphs
Blog * PDF

The Corollaries of Yaj Ekim
Blog * PDF

Titles, Titles & More Titles
Blog * PDF


Of the Human Journey
Along with Got God? And Ten Reflections
Blog * PDF

 

Michael's Rabbit Hole
A Selection of Breadcrumbs & Other Aphorisms
Blog * PDF

 

Imagination: The Great Usurper
Blog * PDF

 

Lost in Translation
The Human Paradigm’s Linguistic Muddle
Blog * PDF


The Call of the Eternal
A Conversation With My Self
Blog * PDF  


Even More
Blog * PDF

To Be or Not to Be
Blog * PDF

Who Was the First
Blog * PDF

The Real is Discovering
Blog * PDF

The Mystery of the Mystery
Blog * PDF

59 Moments to The Way It Is (And Is Not)
The Scribe's Guide to the Great Whatthe#$*!?
Blog * PDF

A Short List of Books for the Up and Coming
Some Written Works That May Help Get the Young up to Speed
Blog * PDF

The Standard Ripostes
The Scribe's Go-to Responses to This and That in the Day-To-Day
Blog * PDF

Conversations
A Variety of Letters, Emails, Texts, & Sundry Odd 'n Ends
Blog * PDF

Definitions
An Incomplete Selection 0f Contemplative Definitions
Blog * PDF

Sketches of the Once Upon a Time
A Few Epiphanies and Other Hallmark Moments
Blog * PDF

My (Not Quite) Haiku
Blog * PDF

Once Upon a Christmas
Blog * PDF

Ditties for the Bluegrass Pyre
Blog * PDF

Spam Responses (a.k.a., WTF Is This Shit!?)
Blog * PDF



Breadcrumbs: The Original Blog


Breadcrumbs: The Original Blog 


-----


Preface

Leftovers

Soundbites

Breadcrumbs

The Standard Ripostes

The Corollaries of Yaj Ekim

Possible Last Words & Epitaphs

Spam Responses (a.k.a., WTF Is This Shit!?)

A Short List of Books for the Up and Coming

59 Moments to The Way It Is (And Is Not)

Sketches of the Once Upon a Time

The Real is Discovering Series

Quotes Worth Pondering


Of the Human Journey

Ten Reflections

Got God?

Books

Movies

Links

Photo Gallery

Michael J. Holshouser: Life Resume



A Collection of Miscellaneous Blogs

Final Exit and Related Links

COVID-19 Information Links

The Four Agreements

The Blind Men and the Elephant

Of A Philosophical Nature

The Joyful Curmudgeon

Quotes, Quotes & More Quotes

Le Fichier Circulaire de Michael

50 Rules Kids Won't Learn in School

How to Work in Any Environment

12 Rules You Can Live By

Election 2016: The Rise (and Fall?) of Donald Trump


Michael's Little Warehouse of All Things Amusing, Absurd & Profound



Facebook


Michael Holshouser


Le Fichier Circulaire de Michael

(Michael's Circular File)


Yaj Ekim



Twitter


@YajEkim



Sivana East


Michael Holshouser



Eight Translations of the Ashtavakra Gita


The Heart of Awareness (Byrom)

http://theheartofawareness.blogspot.com/


Ashtavakra Gita (Marshall)

http://theashtavakra.blogspot.com/


Bitten by the Black Snake (Schoch)

http://bittenbytheblacksnake.blogspot.com/


A Duet of One (Balsekar)

http://aduetofone.blogspot.com/


Ashtavakra Gita (Richards)

http://anotherashtavakragita.blogspot.com/


Astavakra Samhita (Wood)

http://astavakrasamhita.blogspot.com/


Ashtavakra Gita (Vedic Scriptures)

http://ashtravakrageeta.blogspot.com/


Ashtavakra Gita (Shastri)

http://ashtravakrageeeta.blogspot.com/



PDF’s of Ashtavakra Gita: I Am Shiva


Ashtavakra Gita: I Am Shiva 
http://www.thestillnessbeforetime.com/ashtavakragitaiamshiva.pdf


I Am Shiva Comparison Chart 

http://www.thestillnessbeforetime.com/iamshivacomparisonchart.pdf



PDF’s of Eight Translations of the Ashtavakra Gita


The Heart of Awareness (Byrom)

http://www.thestillnessbeforetime.com/theheartofawarenessbyrom.pdf


Ashtavakra Gita (Marshall)

http://www.thestillnessbeforetime.com/ashtavakrafitamarshall.pdf


Bitten by the Black Snake (Schoch)

http://www.thestillnessbeforetime.com/bittenbytheblacksnakeschoch.pdf


Ashtavakra Gita (Richards)

http://www.thestillnessbeforetime.com/ashtavakragitarichards.pdf


A Duet of One (Balsekar)

http://www.thestillnessbeforetime.com/aduetofonebalsekar.pdf


Astavakra Samhita (Wood)

http://www.thestillnessbeforetime.com/astavakrasamhitawood.pdf


Ashtavakra Gita (Shastri)

http://www.thestillnessbeforetime.com/ashtavakragitashastri.pdf


Ashtavakra Gita (Vedic Scriptures) 

http://www.thestillnessbeforetime.com/ashtavakragitavedic.pdf



Translations of Other Ancient Writings


Ashtavakra Gita: I Am Shiva

http://ashtavakragitaiamshiva.blogspot.com/


Tao Te Ching: Verse One

http://taotechingverseone.blogspot.com/


Tao Te Ching (Marshall)

http://theperennialway-taoteching.blogspot.com/


Bhagavad Gita (Marshall)

https://bhagavadgitamarshall.blogspot.com/


Yoga Sutras (Marshall)

http://yogasutrasbypatanjali.blogspot.com/


Dhammapada (Marshall)

http://buddhasdhammapada.blogspot.com/


The Book of Ecclesiastes (Marshall)

https://21ecclesiastesmarshall.blogspot.com


Song of the Avadhut (Abhayananda)

http://songoftheavadhut.blogspot.com/


Avadhut Gita (Shastri)

http://avadhutgitabydattatreya.blogspot.com/


Atma Bodha (Chinmayananda)

http://theatmabodha.blogspot.com/


The Essence of the Ribhu Gita (Ramamoorthy & Nome)

http://theribhugita.blogspot.com/


Yoga Vasishta Sara (Ramasramam)

http://yogavasishtasara.blogspot.com/


Crest-Jewel of Discrimination (Madhavananda)

http://crest-jewelofdiscrimination.blogspot.com/


Mandukya Upanishad & Mandukya Karika of Gaudapada (Panoli)

https://mandukyaupanishadpanoli.blogspot.com


Gaudapada: Advaita Vedanta’s First Philosopher (Jones)

https://advaitavedantasfirstphilosopher.blogspot.com/2020/02/on-tradition.html



Writings by Bart Marshall


Verses Regarding True Nature
https://versesregardingtruenaturemarshall.blogspot.com


One Hundred Two Haiku

https://onehundredtwohaikumarshall.blogspot.com



Translations of Ancient Writings by Bart Marshall


Ashtavakra Gita

http://theashtavakra.blogspot.com/


Tao Te Ching

http://theperennialway-taoteching.blogspot.com/


Bhagavad Gita

https://bhagavadgitamarshall.blogspot.com/


Yoga Sutras

http://yogasutrasbypatanjali.blogspot.com/


Dhammapada

http://buddhasdhammapada.blogspot.com/


The Book of Ecclesiastes

https://21ecclesiastesmarshall.blogspot.com



* * * * * * * * * *


The Stillness Before Time 
Reflections from a Fellow Sojourner (Book) 
© Michael J. Holshouser 1992 
© Revised Edition 2001 
© Revised Edition 2008 
© Revised Edition 2017

© Revised Edition 2022
World Rights Reserved


Michael J. Holshouser

1112 Cedar Creek Drive, Unit 4

Modesto, California 95355-5213

The United States of America

mjholshouser@gmail.com


Pronunciation: Holtzhowzer


All have the express written encouragement

To distribute this creation freely to any and all

Who have the eyes to see and the ears to hear

The mystery in which each and every one

Equally participates in so many ways.