Seven levels of lies, seven levels of truth, seven levels of facts and falsehoods. When you go there it is hot with lies. I go there to find out, to discover, to confirm my suspicions.
We are here, can’t you see, don’t be stupid, are you blind. My god it’s obvious, just look at the facts, it’s nose on your face, why do you persist in believing a fantasy, a fabric of lies, of deception. You are a dupe, a mark, a fall guy. Walk away, give yourself a break, see it from a distance, clear the air, don’t fall for it.
Beginning; open your eyes and walk forwards, towards the first level, level up or level down. On the level, same level. First floor, up the stairs, down the stairs, down in the basement amongst the film props and generators with plastic curtains flapping and ominous music. Or, in the first-floor corridors, empty except for doors and carpet, people passing in the distance or nearer. Neither up nor down. On the level, level one. A level, then, of belief, of security, of solidity, I am convinced, I’m sure. Because of the things that I am sure about. Like what.
I’m here, tick. I’m sleepy, tick. I look out of the window, the world appears, tick.
Next, are you there? I have to assume so, you have always been there for me, still here, still us. Let’s take you and me and the world. Level One. Base level. Can’t prove it but we are going with this one, otherwise it’s back to bed. OK then, really? Let’s go back to zero to check.
I’m not here. I’m here. The second statement wins.
The world is not there. The world is there. Again, the second statement wins again.
You, you are all there. Always.
What do we see sitting at our tables? The world through a window. Maybe a tree. I wouldn’t, shouldn’t be surprised.
Back – awake, back, aware, stay awake, stay sharp, feeling blunt.
Levels: To be or not to be, that’s Level One. Level Two: Fact or Fiction. Level Three: Believe me. Four: Are you kidding. Five: Look around you, what do you see? Six: I don’t know. Seven: Wow. OK then.
Back to Level One, a chair, a table, a rabbit, a tree. Me first then the tree – through the window – seems so simple but if I get it wrong, I could end up with sand in my eyes, again, I say it’s there, you say its there, the tree is there, through the window. Empathy, you and me and the tree. You, me, tree, you me, tree, you, tree, me. Close the eyes, no tree, only breath and heart and mind. Mind out you’ll disappear. Open your eyes, heart and breathing disappear, tree appears, mind remains, what shall we do with it.
Send it on a journey from Level One, (To be or not to be) to Level Two, (Fact or Fiction). We could go straight to Level 3,4,5,6 or 7, or remain at Level One seeing that I’m not feeling great this morning. Anyway, lets go to level Two for form’s sake, you know, 1,2,3,4 etc. So, me, you and the tree, off we go to Level 2. Things we can’t see are important, the tree around the corner, the person in the bakery, all the world out there not seen by my window.
You have gone out of the room! You have left me and joined the facts and fiction of level Two, Come back! Don’t be silly, that’s not it, not the point of the exercise.
So, Level Two (Fact and Fiction)
You tell me, they tell me, I’m led to believe, I hear. The facts combine, everybody agrees, its obviously true. Fiction: somebody made it up, to fool me, to hurt, to entertain, to string me along. This will be good for you. Take it, it’s OK I’m a doctor, a scientist, a politician. Aha! Now we are getting to it. People, people make lies not the world. We may misunderstand the world, its flat, it is the centre of the universe etc. but these are not lies, just honest mistakes, put them right, discover more facts, find the truth, clear it up. No, people tell lies to make you go left or right, up or down, to do or not, to go or not, to believe or not. Separate fact from fiction, is fiction lies? No fiction is a good book or a bad book. Create a fiction, Science Fiction, Fiction Fiction. Fact- to be trusted- a trusted source, an honest person, an honest man or woman who tells the truth, that’s it, isn’t it.
So, Level Three (Believe me)
How, why, when do I trust you and your kind, my kind, our kind, all the same, we all lie, don’t we? Shake hands, (bump fists), Hi five, you – me, we trust each other, if you say so. Did you see it with your own eyes? Who would have believed it, your word is as good as…a tree outside my window.
Fine then, in my experience, the things that you say are, by and large, barring a few mistakes, true. So, I will believe you, within limits. Have you seen my tree? Which one? There are so many. That one, the big oak down by the bridge. Nice tree. I can’t see all the world or inside your head, so I’ll believe you. Oh, so you believe her? Do you trust her? Does she tell the truth, who is she anyway? Look, this is going too far, that way lies madness. The tree will do, and you, or you. We need a baseline, need the same facts, truths, trees outside our window.
Level Four (Are you kidding)
I don’t know, are you? I believed you and now look what’s happened, the tree has disappeared, it fell on my foot, got caught in the curtains, again. Why do you talk such b…….? Because humanity is flawed… oops. Power, power makes us lie. To get it, to keep it, to influence and possess, to rule and govern, to control, to upset, to undermine. Stop it! I wish you wouldn’t. Maybe I do it? To maintain my tree and window, I think I do, Oh dear. It’s all my fault after all, I was hoping to blame everyone else, but no. I’m just as much to blame as everyone. So, what do we, I, do. Have a little think, face a truth, see it clear, for me, for you, – see it all, all the trees, all the windows and all the tables. Do my duty, try my best. All try harder, shall we? If we all try harder not to put one over, not to climb the ladder, not to, I don’t know, be so f….. stupid? Then things, suitcases, aftershave, foreign travel and farm shops would be better.! Better than they are? Are they so bad? In a bad way? Are suitcases failing to suitcase? are farm shops failing to deliver farm shopping? No, we all have some of the things that we want, only some (probably me and mine), have much more than some other people who don’t have so many suitcases or food or air or medicine or clean water or a roof over their heads. Now I am getting depressed. Maybe fewer lies would mean more people with a roof and some food. Some people don’t like cheese, then again it also a cultural thing. If you don’t grow up with cheese it could come as a bit of a shock.
If we set out to discover the real things (In context, it goes without saying), then we might skip it, what they say, skip to the beat, cover our ears, don’t be played, just say ‘Are you kidding’ Back to business.
Level Five (Look around you, what do you see?)
Give me clarity, please, not all this emotional blurry, cloudy madness. Give me a Vermeer, please.
Level Six (I don’t know)
Best response ever.
Level Seven (Wow, OK then)
Let’s get on with it.
The Guardians of the Cave 