The difference was I thought I "should" allow myself to be under corporate control so that I could be successful, whereas Sophie (and Marley) had no sense of "should." Indeed, like Marley, Sophie "flunked" obedience school. Now those behaviorist doggie trainers who think dogs don't have self-determination, they would say these words of mine are nonsense. Yet, after several hours of promised treats and several scoldings, Sophie just lay down and did nothing. Thus she received the DSM IV diagnosis of passive-aggressive by the trainer and was sent home. Meanwhile, behind my wife's horrified look towards the dog, I gave her the thumbs up coupled with a pat to the head and a "good girl." I also showered her with treats that evening.
Just as Marley taught the man in the movie and book something about life, Sophie has taught me. While I have not been aggressively a rebellious type, I have never bought into the system. There have been times when I thought I should be a good boy, and, indeed, this belief is behind much of my neuroticism in trying to be something I never was. Yet, I, true to my Nature, like Sophie and Marley, have refused to succumb to corporate training. My neuroticism has been in thinking "I should" fall into line. Yet, ultimately, I have never embraced the dogma of any scientific, political or psychological theory and have never fallen in line in the corporate world. Nor did I ever fall prey to any theological preaching or theoretical bend. In so doing, I have embraced what has been taught through eons in the mystical traditions of the various religions and spiritual practices of the world. Yes, I have not been a devout Catholic; or mindful Protestant and refuse to put money, or in the beliefs that arise from my intuitive heart, into anyone's collection plate. Nor do I follow Buddhist doctrine, nor Muslim dogma nor Hindu stories of lover Gods and entry into the bliss of Nirvana. Yet, I hear the message behind the words and integrate them into the functioning whole. This whole includes science, whose "evidenced based" findings I find to be as full as bullshit as any corporate owned politician or television evangelist.
Thus it appears that like Marley and Sophie, in rejecting the control freaks and dogmatic zealots of the world, I have embraced the All. It is only when one rejects the dogmas of theologies, theoretical positions and philosophies of all sorts, including political, that one is able to embrace life in its totality. Is this the actual meaning of anarchy? Who is to say? I refuse all "ologies", "archies", and "osophies".
Thus, I ask myself, "is this an article or a diary" for OEN News? I laugh at this question which is posed in my artificially conditioned head. The cosmic law that I have discovered in my life, especially in relationship to my dogs, is that in the reflection of all specifics, one embraces all. Diary and article are one at least and egotistical illusions at best. And it is in knowing the power of this teaching that I pet Sophie's head and realize why it is that Dog spelt backwards is God. Dogs embrace all while believing in nothing (i.e., dogmas of theories, theologies and philosophies). Thus, Dogs are God manifest and live up to their name.
Yes, my dog-God does not sit on a throne judging anything. She just hops in your lap and licks the hell out of your face.
The official site for the book Marley and Me is at http://www.johngroganbooks.com/marley/index.html
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
