“Zersetzung”: Translates to “Decomposition” in German. It was the name given to a set of psychological warfare techniques employed by the STASI (Ministry for State Security) in East Germany during the Cold War. The purpose was to covertly suppress political dissidents or people who were suspected of being dissidents using methods of gaslighting, psychological manipulation, and other methods of abusive control.
There are a number of tactical field manuals floating around the internet, it’s not too hard to find legit english translations. Zersetzung is pretty well documented and acknowledged to have happened now.
Other governments throughout the world have employed similar sets of tactics to achieve similar ends, a good example is COINTELPRO (Counter-Intelligence Program) used by the FBI during the 60’s and continuing to the present day
“Bodhisattva”: The definition of Bodhisattva varies quite a bit between the different schools of Buddhism. With that said, I’m going to go with my own personal interpretation.
The Bodhisattva is one who is on the path to attaining buddha-hood and enlightenment but has made a vow to forgo their own personal enlightenment and remain in compassionate, loving attachment to the material world until all living beings can attain buddha-hood and enlightenment together. Their path is one of selflessness, to give all of oneself completely for the benefit of all living beings.
In my interpretation, the Bodhisattva exists as an archetype as well as something that a living person can aspire to become. But for a person to claim enlightenment or call themselves a Bodhisattva would be antithetical. I believe that when one expresses the aspiration to become a bodhisattva, to follow that path, it should be done with the utmost humility, embarrassment, and with sincere love for all living beings who have come before and those who will come after.
In my interpretation, the layperson is venerated and to remain in the world. Monastic life is a luxury not afforded to most; it is one path within Buddhism, but what I’m describing is another.
In this interpretation, Zazen sitting meditation is to be learned as a matter of understanding technique, learning the discipline, the posture, and proper breathing. It’s something that can initially be very important, but eventually can be set aside as meditation can be incorporated into one’s daily life -Breathing is Meditation. Cooking is meditation.Eating is Meditation. Physical Labor is meditation. Walking is meditation. Learning is Meditation. Teaching is Meditation. Conversation is Meditation. Creative Expression is Meditation. All Activities are Meditation when a person is Mindful.
The Noble Eightfold Path (Right Understanding, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness,and Right Concentration) is of the most value when it is being lived out in the world, full of its distractions, pleasures, hardships, catch-22’s, and everything else. The Bodhisattva finds their compassion and love for all living beings and identifies their aspiration out in the world. I do not know how or where it could be found in any other place.
Putting it together...
The Psychological Warfare Techniques employed through Zersetzung are strikingly similar to those applied in our time, in the United States and all over the world. The technology available makes unfathomable surveillance of the physical world and the digital realm comprehensive. Both the techniques of Psychological Warfare and Surveillance are not just available to Law Enforcement and Governments, they are freely employed in the corporate world. There is so much overlap with government subcontracting it’s former duties to the private sector, there is no longer a line where one ends and the other begins; and to describe the level of corruption in a single phrase: “It’s how we’re living these days.”
There is a lot of reason for powerful people to wage a covert war on the homeless to keep them alienated from the true nature of their experience while at the same time isolated within it, where they must accept what they are being told and choose from a narrow range of options how they can proceed, which usually involves signing up with programs or assistance which are hard to qualify for, easy to lose, which are implicitly restrictive of their options and freedom. This isn’t “help” and the conditions of homelessness have been manufactured; these are things that are actively being done to people. Help isn’t needed (not the way people think of it). People are being made homeless, most don’t do it to themselves. People are being purposely kept homeless. Among groups of homeless, outside agitators and informants sew division, push drugs, cause drama, and prevent meaningful organization and mobilization....now, to be clear, this is done among the entire working class and poor population. But among homeless people, the volume is turned way the fuck up.
Why is that?
Because if they didn’t do it, there’s a ready-made, revolutionary army encamped at the front lines ready to do the bulk of the fighting and dying for an egalitarian overthrow and mopping up of the entire bloated, sick, and rotting fucking power structure that wants to extract as much wealth for themselves and their friends before the whole thing gets ripped apart.
There are other reasons, mainly sadism.
The Bodhisattva need not call themselves one (they wouldn’t). But that spirit and heart is anyone that sees and knows the truth of this world but finds a great love and compassion and is compelled to bravery and self-sacrifice for the good of all. The suffering doesn’t end for any of us until it ends for all of us.
And that’s why I called it “Zersetzung Bodhisattva.”
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