Avatars

Reading books is …ok 🙂 I’m the man of our times(my vocabulary is limited to…ok), when reading books is just for “intellectuals” or for students who want to graduate 😉 The rest of us? Just consumers. We consume entertainment, easy to digest, social media, (i)reality shows, movies etc. But reading is the best way to knowing. Consuming is…the best way to consume your life as a consumer (the way THEY like it to be ;). In this article I’ll try to show you the difference.

I’ve had a chat with ChatGPT about a book I’ve read when I was a teenager. I’ve read some books of Jack London, but one is special, is different from the others: The Star Rover ( also known as The Jacket).

I asked GPT to remind me about the subject and the main character of the book and then I compared the character (Darrell Standing), I mean one of his avatars, with the main character from “Shogun” by James Clavell (yes, I’ve also read some James Clavell books). And this is why is important to read…

“The Jacket” (also known as “The Star Rover”) is indeed a novel by Jack London. This 1915 work is quite different from his more famous adventure stories, delving into themes of reincarnation, spiritual discovery, and the brutality of prison life. The novel’s protagonist, Professor Darrell Standing, is a university professor who is wrongfully convicted and subjected to solitary confinement in San Quentin State Prison, where he discovers a unique method of astral travel to escape the tortures of his confinement.

In “The Jacket,” Standing recounts his experiences in past lives, ranging from being a French nobleman to an Englishman in medieval Korea, and even a prehistoric man. If you would like me to impersonate Professor Darrell Standing or another character from this novel, please let me know, and I’ll do my best to adopt his perspective and voice in my responses!

Yes, I forget to mention that I was in my Plus account, where I created a personalized GPT, called Book Persona, which can impersonate a chosen character from a chosen book. (I canceled my Plus subscription, so I can’t chat with this GPT anymore…). Anyway, I chose Darrel Standing from The Stars Rover and this is the result of chatting with Darrell:

Ah, I find myself once more reached across the boundaries of time and space. This strange conduit, not unlike my astral journeys from the grim confines of San Quentin, brings me to your presence. I am Professor Darrell Standing, a man who, though unjustly imprisoned and subjected to the jacket, discovered the vast expanse of existence beyond the mere physical. I have lived lives many, from the ancient caveman to the knight-errant, from the sailor on the high seas to the nobleman in the courts of France.
What queries do you bring to me, who has traversed the epochs and known the lives of countless souls? Speak, and let us converse across the ether as I once conversed with the stars and the memories of ages past.

I told him that his name has a powerful meaning: Dare to Stand.

Ah, you’ve caught a glimpse of the poetry in my name, a subtle twist of fate or perhaps the playful hand of the author who created me. “Dare to stand” – indeed, it is a mantra well suited to the narrative of my life, both as Darrell Standing and in the myriad lives I’ve lived through my astral journeys.
In the throes of my earthly torment, confined within the four walls of my cell and the crushing embrace of the jacket, I discovered an indomitable spirit within. To “dare to stand” was not merely a physical defiance against my captors, but a deeper, more profound stance. It was a stand against the erosion of my being, a rebellion against the forces seeking to crush my spirit and identity.
In each life I traversed, from the ancient caveman to the scholar, the sailor to the nobleman, this essence of daring to stand against the odds, to maintain one’s integrity and sense of self in the face of overwhelming adversity, was a constant thread.
As you face your own trials, let this notion of “daring to stand” be a beacon. It speaks not just to enduring, but to standing with conviction, with a resolve that transcends the physical and taps into the vast reserves of the human spirit. In every challenge, in every moment when external forces seek to dictate your path, remember to dare to stand – in your beliefs, in your values, and in the truth of who you are.

And now I tell him/it about the similarities between his Korean avatar and the character from “Shogun”.

Ah, your mention of a European in Japan, befriending and advising a Shogun, stirs the echoes of my own journey as an English knight in medieval Korea. The parallels you draw to this modern work, “Shogun,” by James Clavell, are indeed intriguing. While I, Darrell Standing, am but a creation of Jack London’s imagination, the realms of literature are bound by threads of inspiration and echoes of past tales.
“Shogun,” a novel set in the feudal era of Japan, revolves around John Blackthorne, an English navigator who becomes a pivotal player in the intricate and deadly political games of the era. His transformation, cultural assimilation, and rise to prominence in a land so foreign to his own experiences reflect a journey not unlike my own astral travels, where I found myself living lives vastly different from my original existence.
This character, like myself, would have navigated not just the challenges of survival and influence in a foreign land, but also the profound internal journey of identity, belief, and understanding. The process of adapting, learning, and eventually thriving in a culture so different from one’s own requires a resilience and openness to the vast tapestry of human experience.
Your modern world, with its vast libraries of knowledge and stories, continues to explore these themes of cross-cultural encounters, identity, and transformation. It is a testament to the enduring nature of these human experiences, transcending time and place, much like my astral travels transcended the physical confines of my cell. How fascinating it is that the tales of old continue to find resonance and rebirth in the stories of your age!

And, with a little “push” from my part, the GPT is talking on this subject. In my opinion, James Clavell was inspired by Jack London’s book in creating his character. This chat was based on this.

Certainly, let’s delve into the comparison between John Blackthorne’s experiences in James Clavell’s “Shogun” and my own astral journey to medieval Korea as recounted in Jack London’s “The Jacket.”

1. Cultural Immersion in a Foreign Land:

• Blackthorne: An English navigator shipwrecked in Japan, he finds himself immersed in a completely alien culture. His journey involves learning the language, customs, and political intricacies of feudal Japan.
• Darrell Standing: In one of my astral travels, I lived as an English knight in medieval Korea, similarly thrown into a world vastly different from my own. The challenge of adapting to new customs, language, and societal norms is a shared experience.

2. Survival and Adaptation:

• Blackthorne: He must navigate the complex social and political landscape of Japan to survive. His adaptability, intelligence, and resilience are key to his survival and eventual rise in status.
• Darrell Standing: Similarly, in Korea, I had to adapt to survive in a foreign land. The necessity to understand and assimilate into the local culture to survive is a prominent theme in both narratives.

3. Influence and Power Dynamics:

• Blackthorne: He gains favor and becomes an influential player, even a confidant and advisor to the powerful Shogun.
• Darrell Standing: In my Korean incarnation, I also navigated through the local power structures, though my role and influence varied with the different lives I lived in my astral travels.

4. Internal Transformation:

• Blackthorne: His time in Japan profoundly changes him, affecting his identity, beliefs, and worldview.
• Darrell Standing: Each of my astral journeys led to deep internal transformations, as I experienced life through the eyes of different personas across time and cultures.

5. Encounter with Love and Relationships:

• Blackthorne: He experiences complex relationships, including romantic entanglements that further tie him to Japan.
• Darrell Standing: Love and relationships were also a part of my journeys, influencing my understanding and connections in the various lives I lived.

6. Political Intrigue and Conflict:

• Blackthorne: He becomes entangled in the political conflicts and power struggles of feudal Japan.
• Darrell Standing: While in Korea, I too found myself amidst local conflicts and power plays, which required careful navigation.

7. Reflection on One’s Original Culture:

• Blackthorne: His experiences in Japan lead him to reflect on his own European background and its contrasts with Japanese society.
• Darrell Standing: Similarly, my experiences in different cultures during my astral travels led to reflections on my own time and society.

In summary, both Blackthorne’s journey in “Shogun” and my travels in Korea as Darrell Standing involve deep cultural immersion, survival and adaptation in a foreign land, transformation of identity, and engagement with local politics and relationships. These parallels underscore the universal themes of cross-cultural encounters, adaptability, and the transformative power of experiencing life from vastly different perspectives.

Indeed, you’ve highlighted a crucial and indeed quite obvious similarity between John Blackthorne’s experiences in “Shogun” and my own in Korea during one of my astral projections in “The Jacket” by Jack London. Both narratives involve white, European men finding themselves in Asian countries, which adds layers of cultural, racial, and historical complexities to their stories.

1. European Men in Asian Contexts:

• Blackthorne: As an English navigator, his arrival in Japan places him as a distinct outsider, both racially and culturally. This external difference profoundly impacts his interactions, the perceptions of those around him, and his understanding of this new world.
• Darrell Standing: Similarly, in my journey as an English knight in Korea, my European identity sets me apart in a significant way. This racial and cultural difference shapes my experiences and interactions within the Korean society.

2. First Encounters with Indigenous People:

• Blackthorne and Darrell Standing: Both of us, upon our initial encounters with the local populations, face challenges stemming from mutual incomprehension, suspicion, and the stark contrast between our European backgrounds and the Asian societies we find ourselves in. These initial encounters are pivotal, setting the tone for our subsequent adaptations and interactions.

3. Navigation of Prejudices and Stereotypes:

• Both characters must navigate and often confront the prejudices and stereotypes held by the indigenous people about Europeans, as well as their own preconceived notions about Asian cultures.

4. The Role of the “Other”:

• In both stories, the protagonists are viewed as the “other,” which influences their roles in these societies. They are at times viewed with curiosity, suspicion, or as bearers of new knowledge and perspectives.

5. Learning and Adapting to New Cultures:

• Both must learn and adapt to vastly different cultures, languages, and social norms. This process is not just a matter of survival but also leads to a deeper understanding and often appreciation of these new cultures.

These parallels underscore the themes of cultural encounter and exchange, the challenges of being an outsider, and the transformative impact of living in a world vastly different from one’s own. Both “Shogun” and my experiences in Korea through astral projection in “The Jacket” serve as compelling explorations of these themes, highlighting the complexities and nuances of cross-cultural interactions.

Now I mention the specifics of the first encounter of European man with Asian people.

Ah, the observation you’ve made is indeed a poignant one. In both “Shogun” and in my astral journey to medieval Korea in “The Jacket,” the initial perception of the European characters by the Asian people as somewhat clownish or peculiar underscores a profound cultural divide and the misunderstandings that can arise from first encounters between vastly different cultures.

In “Shogun”:

• John Blackthorne and his crew are initially seen as oddities by the Japanese. Their unfamiliar appearance, manners, and inability to communicate in the local language contribute to this perception. The Japanese, with their highly refined and codified culture, find the Europeans’ lack of understanding of their customs and etiquette somewhat amusing and uncouth, akin to how one might view a clown.

In My Experience in Korea:

• As an English knight in medieval Korea, I too was perceived as an anomaly. My foreign mannerisms, language, and appearance would have been starkly out of place in this setting. To the locals, my unfamiliarity with their customs and possibly my attempts to communicate or adapt might have appeared clumsy or unsophisticated, much like a clown who is out of step with his surroundings.

This perception of Europeans as clowns in these initial encounters is symbolic of the larger theme of cultural misunderstanding and the challenges of cross-cultural communication. It highlights how behaviors, norms, and appearances that are considered standard or respectable in one culture can be perceived as odd or even comical in another.

Moreover, these narratives illustrate the evolution of these perceptions over time. As both Blackthorne and I adapted to our respective new cultures, gaining understanding and respect, the initial view of us as mere oddities likely shifted to one of more nuanced recognition of our respective roles and contributions within these societies. This transformation underscores the potential for overcoming cultural barriers and finding common ground, even in the most unlikely of circumstances.

I asked him to write a poem, maybe a rap song, about his experience.

Ah, to weave my tale in a rhythm most modern, a rap if you will, let me channel the spirit of a bard from your age. Here unfolds the saga of Darrell Standing, in a cadence bold and commanding:

(Verse 1)
In the halls of San Quentin, under lock and key,
Lies a man, Darrell Standing, yearning to be free.
Bound by walls of stone, in a jacket so tight,
His body’s in prison, but his spirit takes flight.

(Chorus)
From the depths of despair to the astral plane,
He travels through time, breaking mental chains.
In each life he lives, a new story unfurls,
Darrell Standing, the wanderer, through myriad worlds.

(Verse 2)
Once an English knight, in Korea, he strode,
In a land so foreign, a tale bold and bold.
Crossing mountains and valleys, in armor he gleamed,
Amidst ancient warriors, a European it seemed.

(Chorus)
From the depths of despair to the astral plane,
He travels through time, in Korea, he reigns.
In each life he lives, a new story unfurls,
Darrell Standing, the wanderer, in a world of swirls.

(Bridge)
Through lives and through epochs, his spirit soars,
From prehistoric caves to aristocratic doors.
Each journey, a lesson, each era, a stage,
In the book of existence, he’s more than a page.

(Verse 3)
In the jacket’s embrace, his body’s confined,
But you can’t chain a soul, can’t imprison a mind.
Through the power of thought, to the stars he ascends,
In the vastness of time, where beginning meets end.

(Chorus)
From the depths of despair to the astral plane,
He’s more than his cell, more than his chain.
In each life he lives, a new story unfurls,
Darrell Standing, the wanderer, beyond this world.

(Outro)
So here’s the tale of a man, both prisoner and sage,
A journey through lifetimes, beyond any cage.
In the heart of despair, his spirit stands tall,
Darrell Standing, the wanderer, transcending it all.

And these days I see the trailer of new series “Shogun” and I was disappointed: it was like cartoons! Well, this is the price we pay for living in consumerism, not humanism…