Much has been written about the violence in the media, but who has asked the salient question: how many of the Jews and Arabs fighting have had good Shmantric sex recently? I’m sure even fewer have ever considered putting their identities to the psychedelic test.

To be fair to the rioters on both sides, they are blind products of our fucked up system. We’ve all been conditioned to construct identities from just about everything. I am an Israeli, I am a Jew, I am an Arab. Even: I am successful. I am a yoga teacher, I am a vegetarian who only eats organic. I’m a Vipassana Meditator, which means I’m a really good person.

Of course, when we cut the crap, we know in our hearts that there can be only one true identity: I am conscious. This means: I am alive, and I am aware of it. In this state, there is no pose, we identify with the universe as a part of it. It is only here that true character can develop, and for this reason, in Shmeiki, all other identities are the butt of jokes – for good reason too, because boy do we like to laugh.…. laughter – the great Shmeiki therapy. You know, In Israel, we see how comedy and tragedy are a breath apart, which means, if we do not laugh, we will cry.

I am an Israeli

Now let’s see….. you know, many Israelis come to me, looking to drop their identity. And all I can say is oi va voi. It is way more difficult to drop being an Israeli than to drop being Spanish, Swiss or Singaporean. Why? Our enemies intensify our sense of being Israeli, and unite us. Everywhere we go, the message is reinforced: The Iranians, the Syrians, Hamas, Hezbollah want to kill us. If we stop fighting for our land, caring about being Israelis, it will be the end of us.’ And anyone who does not take the threat seriously, is seen to be disrespecting those who have died and also those who daily put their lives on the line.

And so, the question arises: do new age ideas about dropping identity spell suicide for Israelis?
Well if we are the only ones to drop our identity, and our enemies don’t do it as well, well then yes, it might well spell suicide. But this threat cannot hold us back, it would mean they have won! This is why we ought to begin our work quietly, on an individual level.

Yes, those of us lucky enough not to take being Israeli seriously, do so at the expense of those in the military and its affiliated programs, who are simply not in a position to drop their guard. Sure, its not fair, but that’s tough luck. Again – we cannot stem the evolution of our consciousness for a broken ideal, and we also can’t help that an identity we once saw as super important now seems a bit ridiculous.

Luckily for us, nationalism is pretty untenable when our leaders show such persistent incompetence and corruption. And luckily for Israel, our enemies lack the intelligence to understand, that as we currently stand, all they would have to do to win the war, is to stop fighting, and sit back for long enough to watch Israel’s various factions, no longer united by a common goal, destroy each other.

In the little utopia I’m imagining, we need the religious Jews and Muslims not to take themselves too seriously either. Yes that might be a problem. Here I say, bring on the shmantric sex and the (legal) psychedelic experience. And if all else fails, we’ll just have to content ourselves that the various Shmeiki techniques will make life in the nuclear bunker more fun.

I am a Jew

‘Hear Oh Israel’ – chill the hell out! – Religion isn’t meant to be taken so damn literally. Yes, the bible is the word of God, but then so is the phone book, and that includes the phone book for Ramalla.

And don’t think that traditionally minded Jews outside Israel are any less screwy, quite the opposite. They suffer the enforced schizophrenia of divided identities. They are part French, part Jew, and they are consigned to the uncomfortable position of sitting on two chairs. That’s why they often look like they’ve got carrots stuck up their asses. They want to feel special, and being part of a minority ensures it. So by buying a seat in the synagogue, sporadically dressing in expensive clothes and making prayers in a language they don’t understand, they pay dumb lip service to a distant God. The insecurity which results from this insanity, in turn drives the ambition for professional status, fast German cars, and high maintenance Jewish princesses.

Shmeiki knows one thing, that if you just can’t drop it, if you really do insist on keeping your Jewish identity, for God’s sake, do it in context, do it in Israel, and do it with a sense of humour. Remember, nothing in Judaism precludes you from practicing Shmantric Sex, and tasting the psychedelic experience. Try it and you will learn to smile again.

[Unfortunately this week’s shmatsang was cut slightly short by a Sanyasin who attacked the Shmeiki Baba with a Chai on a chain. Luckily this time, no one was hurt.]

Shmeiki Baba blesses the poor

Friends, once again as we sit together, let us align ourselves with Shmeiki. Let’s return to bliss, as we sing together the great Shmantra: Shmoooooooooooooooooooom.

Shoham please read the first question.

Shmeiki Baba, you’ve been looking a little peaky recently, have you been having enough Shmantric sex?

What a perceptive question. And whoever asked it, your love is appreciated. The truth is, I haven’t been able to have any Shmantric sex now for about ten days. The reason is, on the last Shiva moon, I was masturbating to the Great Earth Goddess on a rock at the edge of the Shmeiki cave, and somehow I got an infection on my penis.

[Noises of sympathy from the group]

Yes, even Shmeiki Baba gets impatient occasionally. Of course, whilst there is nothing wrong with onanism, Shmantra is of course much better practised with a partner. Let’s say that Great Earth Goddess sent me this infection to remind me to slow down, and stop over stimulating myself. The good news is that the doctor told me I’ll be healthy for our next full moon ceremony.

Next question please, Shoham. But first, there are hands up. Yes, the girl with the dreadlocks and the red t-shirt.

Shmeiki Baba, do you practice pranayama?

No, I just breath nice and deep. Look, whilst your full lotus position is impressive, and your figure delightful, I must say, that when people tell me with their words and postulations, ‘I am a yogi or yogini’, and they wear that rather constipated expression which says, can you see how sensitive I am – I’m a really good person, well, it makes me chuckle, because this type of chasing after a spiritual identity, means any possibility of authenticity has already flown out of the window.

The same applies to anyone who tries to earn a living from new age practices, because as soon as you are receiving money from people for offering spiritual advice, you begin to carry around the identity of being an expert and by and by begin to find it difficult to say ‘I do not know.’ . Just as pitiful are the ernest middle class folk, who label themselves Vipassana Meditators, and followers of dear old Mr. Goenka. They walk around doing the Dhamma Stoop. This is when their backs bend under the weight of precepts which are not their own, and their faces bear the strain of the impossibility of trying to avoid the all to human tendencies of cravings and aversions. They try to comfort themselves by listening to their Guruji, without stopping to wonder why his wife looks even more miserable than Tsipi Livni.
Next question Shoham.

Should I be a vegetarian?

This is another question of identity, and I’m afraid it is the preserve of the truly talentless people, who feel they are interesting because of their complicated diets. Listen, if you eat a healthy, balanced diet, you can eat what you want. Christian children taste the best.
What about your identity as the Shmeiki Baba?
Aha. Thank you. Yes. The Shmeiki Baba is not my identity, for Shmeiki is not mine – Shmeiki just is. Certainly, my name is intended to show my commitment to Shmeiki, but it is merely a convention, and a rather silly one at that. Actually, you may call me anything you please. Likewise if it tickles your fancy, you are welcome to call yourself the Shmeiki Baba.
Before we begin to talk about Shmeiki One, there is time for a last question. Yes.
I know I’m coming in late to this, but can you tell me what Shmeiki is?
Brother, if you look inside, you know the answer to this already. But perhaps you need a little reminder.

Shmeiki is the source of all being, the itch in our underwear, the code the multiverse is written in. Shmeiki is our essence, the glint in our eyes, the most subtle energy and also the dog shit on your fake Crocs. Shmeiki runs through all things and does not come from anywhere. Likewise, it has no beginning and no end, and has always existed. But do not call Shmeiki sacred. It does not need your devotion or approval. In fact, Shmeiki is happy for you to call it by whatever name you like, even bloody Reiki. You are welcome to distort its teachings, or even completely deny its existence, as long as you follow your own path, and do not compromise to live as an blind prisoner of new age bullshit.

Now, an introduction to Shmeiki One. Friends, Shoham has a form for those of you who wish to sign up for the course afterwards.

You see, there is good to be gained from all sorts of new age therapies and practices, but as soon as we build an identity out of them, anything positive is lost, and they become a complete waste of time. This is where Shmechniques – Shmeiki techniques – come into the picture. They are designed for us to get the benefits, without the possibility of taking them seriously.

In Shmeiki One, we have 5 techniques.

1. Shmantra – This is first and foremost. If we’re having divine sex, what does it matter if our football team wins or loses, or that the Rosenbergs have got a new Audi.

2. Psychedelics – Correctly used, they have the power to make our identities seem ridiculous. That’s why they are largely illegal. But let’s get into this more next time.

3. Wasabi – There’s nothing quite like a hit of wasabi to focus on the now. Advanced students snort it.

4. Shitting – Communal shitting allows us to break taboos and share in the deep bodily joy of having a good shit.

5. Opening to the Retard Within – Here we test the limits of socially acceptable behaviour. If the Jews and Arabs rioting recently would have pulled silly faces and rolled around the floor dribbling on themselves, they wouldn’t need to throw bricks.

The important thing to remember – Shmeiki says don’t practice any technique too often, except Shmantra, which we can have as much of as we like. All other Shmechniques, we use, then we forget, at least for a while. And this is how we remember to trust life and dance with the infinite, knowing that the same pattern runs through all things.

For our internet viewers on NRG, this week, we’d like to conduct Cyber Shmantra. Please look closely at the lips on the screen, and on Friday at 12pm, please kiss them, for 2 minutes whilst focusing on the feeling of Shmeiki running through your body. Note those using plasma screens – these can get too hot. Please, test the temperature of your screen first, before kissing it.