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Hi there PureJeevan readers! We wanted to let you know that Jim's new novel CHROO is available on Amazon. It's a crazy adventure involving a billionaire heiress, her Chihuahua BFF ("Chroo") and a host of human and animal characters. Find out more on Amazon! Here are some links:




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Jim here... Allow me to think out loud, philosophically, for a few moments, will you? I have a gut suspicion about something, but need to think it through a bit here. I'll start with a quote:

"There have also been a number of traditions around the world that describe a divine confusion of the one original language into several, albeit without any tower [referring to the well known story of the Tower of Babylon from the Christian Bible]. Aside from the Ancient Greek myth that Hermes confused the languages, causing Zeus to give his throne to Phoroneus, Frazer specifically mentions such accounts among the Wasania of Kenya, the Kacha Naga people of Assam, the inhabitants of Encounter Bay in Australia, the Maidu of California, the Tlingit of Alaska, and the K'iche' of Guatemala. ... The Estonian myth of "the Cooking of Languages" has also been compared."

~from the Wiki page on the Tower of Babylon

Interesting, isn't it ? -- that stories abound regarding confusion (of the "one original language ") among human beings, the most famous being the story of the tower of Babel. You know, I had a dream related to that not terribly long ago. It happened during one of the more profound eras of change and personal development I've yet experienced:

I went out for a jog and decided to explore a new route not far from my home. Within minutes, I was on a hill overlooking a never-before-seen (to me) river. I was absolutely stunned to learn of the existence of such a major river so close to my home of 10+ years. How could I have not known about this ! So, I kept jogging and exploring the new landscape. Eventually, I became utterly lost!

Soon, I came upon a dilapidated parking garage.I decided to enter it and climb to the roof, from which I might look out and hopefully glimpse some familiar landmark. No luck; from the top, nothing familiar could be seen. I had no clue where I was or how to return home. On the way back down the stairs of the building, I noticed an old sign hanging sideways. It said simply, "Babel."

This is around the time I'd made a serious commitment to raw foods, newly transitioned from high raw to 100% raw. While I had certain interpretations at the time, what if it all means that, in committing to raw, I had discovered a place that was always nearby, yet never really explored -- an older place that needed some attention, a place not of confusion, but representative of an original language that I'd never learned?

Who among us can truly understand the primeval human language, after all ? If food could be thought of as a primeval language (metaphorically, as in the way it "speaks" to, or communicates with, our bodies and souls), still understood in rare pockets of the world, would the average modern person even recognize it? Would we not look upon it, just exactly as all of our S.A.D. friends continually do, with absolute confusion?

You see, that's what raw is: It's the primeval culinary language! It's the primeval dietary existence. This is enormously exciting, when you really think about it. You and me and everyone we know: We're the Indiana Joneses and the Laura Crofts of the health and nutrition world! Actually, we're also very much like James Spader in Stargate, you see ! We've cracked the ancient code, and we're ready to travel the universe.

But, uh, let's stay in this world for a bit, as I have further earthly observations.

This morning, I stopped on my way to work to pick up some snacks for the employees, as I always do during tax season. Now, these people know little or nothing about raw foods. It's actually a nearly carnivorous place, when you get right down to it. (Oddly, there is one nearly 60-year old woman here whose body rivals that of almost anyone younger. What's her favorite snack? Fruits. No one has put two-and-two together, though -- which is ironic, as I work in an accounting office.) This year, I decided to be a bit more health conscious in my snack selection; in addition to the traditional fare (bagels and cream cheese), I bought an enormous amount of fresh fruit.

I summed up the first reaction I encountered in two Twitter posts:

Strange "Fruit = Politics" tale: I brought a fruit platter into work 2day for everyone. Was accused of "promoting my liberal agenda." WTF

They said that, if I'm buying fruit for everyone, I should also buy them meat. LOL!

I initially laughed it off as merely a typical, rather sad office story. But then Linda Salas replied with the most succint, spot-on burst of insight imaginable. She wrote:

wow! how far away from nature must one be to feel threatened by fruit! Wierdo upside down humanity!

That's really the root of the root here: "far from nature."? It's not just my office that has removed itself so far from nature that it demonstrates actual resistance to healthy foods; it's society as a whole. What did that quip mean, really? Why was it that offering fruit constituted my proselytizing a "liberal agenda"?

Did you read my interview with Earthbound Farms cofounder Myra Goodman last week? In it, she relates a hugely insightful metaphor of organic farming as, really, the releasing of a controlling, "macho" farming ideal of growing whatever you want, where ever you want, when ever you want (all using pesticides to accomplish this quite unnatural task), and then simply denying any consequences of that act (e.g., denying that pesticides cause disease in humans and pollute the soil). It's no different from any other political stance, really. Corporations assert their right to manufacture this or that, spewing whatever effuvial matter they like into the air or rivers, denying any consequences to human health.

These are all instances in which we're moving away from nature and denying the consequences. It's become the norm; it's become acceptable and even admirable. "I want meat," they demand, denying all of the nutritional literature available today, ignoring their own doctor's warnings about cholesterol, repressing any thoughts at all of slaughterhouses, etc. Without question, this isn't natural.

You see, I think that, in both a metaphoric and even literal sense, what raw does is return you in a holistic way to a kind of sacred, primeval state, and this affects your communicative facilities, just as in all of the stories. The twist is: It doesn't bring you confusion; it returns you from the confusion. And, since many people around you still exist in the Babylon of double speak, corporate speak, buzz words, passive aggression, culture of death, whatever you want to call it -- what you begin to experience is a great deal like the tower of Babel (though just the inverse, as you're the only one left speaking the primeval tongue). And so, in these situations, others who cannot speak in this mode usually fail to understand you.

So, what is the primeval language ? It's in fact all languages, only purer, uninflected by the subtle influences that creep into human language via our embracing the unnatural. Did you catch, in that initial quote atop this piece, that the linguistic confusion is referred to as the "cooking" of language? Very, very interesting, no ? (unnatural = cooking). So, I'm referring to the universal dialect of truth. After this long journey of self-exploration (and I'm not saying I'm there yet), I think that's what's at the bottom: pure truth. That's what the "now" is. It's just truth. I think maybe it's all that simple -- and your and my commitment to raw foods is leading us all there together. (Some of you are asking what the truth is, then, right ?Come on, you don't really need me to tell you that, do you!)

I find this primeval language beautiful. How about you? :-)

Original Comments

Below, we have included the original comments from this blog post. Additional comments may be made via Facebook, below.

On March 13, 2009, Brian Barker wrote:

I agree with the Tower of Babel comment.

In today's World. the language problem is still relevant and I believe that the World, now, needs a common, non-national, neutral language!

Why not teach such a language, in all countries, in all schools, worldwide

The contest between English and Esperanto seems to be a David & Goliath situation. But don't forget who won in the end

If you have time, please check http://uk.youtube.com/watch v=_YHALnLV9XU as well as the Esperanto website, http://www.lernu.net

On March 13, 2009, rawprodigy wrote:

Truly inspiring bit of insight. The image of the tower of Babel is symbolic in so many ways - society tries to rebuild that unified tower today by trying to mold us into a common image though conformity. I say jump off the bandwagon and search for the truth. Raw living inevitable leads to greater truth in spiritual matters as we return to our roots.
Kathleen

On March 14, 2009, desacad wrote:

WOW! Thanks.

On March 14, 2009, Jim Dee wrote:

Well said, Kathleen. I agree! -Jim

On March 14, 2009, Patty and Denny wrote:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This bible quote has been interpreted to mean that the "Word of God" is more than a literary collection; this "Word" is actually a primal manifestation of God and connection with it connects us with our true nature and we realize what we really are: divine. My and Patty's particular spiritual practice is to meditate on this "Sound Current" within (and all pervading "Word"). All of which is a natural extension of living the raw lifestyle - being of pure essence and primal.

On March 14, 2009, bookwormjs wrote:

The Tower of Babel and the Confusion of Tongues is one of the most misunderstood accounts in the Old Testament. This misunderstanding leads to claims that the account is purely mythical. But this is not true. It was a real event, but not the creation of new languages. An objective reading of the biblical text (and modern clinical experiments) explains what really happened. Check out

www.eloquentbooks.com/ManAndHisPlanet.html

On March 14, 2009, JoAnn wrote:

I love your Babylon article for more than one reason.. Excellent Son :)

On March 15, 2009, Jim Dee wrote:

Hi Denny- Sounds like you and Patty are not only simply reconnected with the primeval language (which is more or less the "level" of understanding I was merely hinting at above), but that you're both on the specific path toward fluency -- and that's remarkably fascinating. I kind of had a gut feeling that I was onto something in this thinking, but feared I didn't quite capture my thoughts well enough. Next time we bump into you both, perhaps we can chat about it a bit more. May the word, the sound, the primeval language resonate strongly through you both, and through us *all* more and more. -Jim

On March 15, 2009, Jim Dee wrote:

Not bad, eh? It only took me 40 years to realize that we're all living in Babylon.

On March 16, 2009, Ellen wrote:

Thanks so much for sharing. Personally, I am trying to eat more raw. Have pretty much eliminated meat/chicken. Working on eliminating dairy/fish. I am so glad I found this website. You are an inspiration to me. ;))

On March 16, 2009, Allison wrote:

Your comment about the coworkers threatened by a fruit platter reminded me of my last job where one man was a vegetarian. He made light of people's teasing, but even after he'd worked there for 10 years people would "forget" to make sure there were vegetarian food choices when the company sponsored office lunches. And this is a company of only 25 people. Vegetarianism is still seen as some quirky, liberal thing, elitist thing by many people. When I talked about raw foods I was seen as truly wacky!

On March 16, 2009, Jim Dee wrote:

Thanks, Ellen! I know you'll find TONS of ongoing inspiration here at Pure Jeevan. We post daily (or near daily, except weekends), and are fully committed to serving the raw community in so many inspirational ways. If you're new to our blog, scroll back to the beginning of the year to this post: http://purejeevan.com/blog/p=520 It'll tell you what our major plans are for the coming year! -Jim

On March 16, 2009, Jim Dee wrote:

Sadly, I don't doubt your tale one bit, Allison. I have some personal related theories about the political aspects of this whole tale. But, I kept them to myself for now. They'd be better expressed in a future book or something, as some of the ideas are highly complex and more suited to long-form writing. But, basically, yeah, we're viewed by many people as wacky. It's "wacky" to seek health, it's wacky to be disease-free, it's wacky for so many people to be beating cancer, it's wacky how long-term diabetics are off insulin for the first time in their lives, it's wacky how raw foodies are glowing with vibrancy, it's wacky to eat foods grown without pesticides, it's wacky raw foodies are emotionally healthy because we deal with things that surface instead of pushing them down with pizza and beer. Yep, we're a wacky bunch of liberal wackos... lol

On March 17, 2009, Andreas a Paris wrote:

It's a lovely article about raw food. I see your point. As for the Tower of Babel and the one original language, I found out after tears of research that the Tower as well the confusion of the languages are real historical events. I also believe that not even God (Yahweh be shoe up to be a human) should have the right to kill people or to allot new languages to people at random!