This poem was written on August 20, 2011.
Truth runs deep … how deep? … Will we ever know?
It seems so firm, yet it’s elusive … If your honest not in denial
It’s pursuit is a pleasure although sometimes it feels like it’s a trial
Try your hand at finding it … it is our life divine …
When you believe you have found it … you will block it’s further shine.
Truth is not the destination a place at which to stay
rather it’s the process revealed along the way
Please join in on this life process … it is a genuine life mission
if you think you have “The Truth” your life will be imprisoned
So be open … be honest … accepting all as Him
if we reject anyone or anything our vision will be dimmed
Please keep the course … pursue the faith … accept the advice above
The depth of truth we should all pursue is the path of light and love
Originally published on the poetry pieces blog under the introduction piece.
Faith and Beliefs Are They The Same Thing?
I have faith that a car approaching me in the opposite lane of a divided highway will stay on their side of the road. This despite the factual belief that it can cross onto my lane and crash head on into me.
One can rediscover faith by removing it from religion and superstition … adopting it as as the best way to live in all areas of life.
Faith and beliefs are not synonymous, many different beliefs are held by people with faith. Belief is an opinion derived by experience. Whereas faith is a conviction that requires no experience. Beliefs are derived from critical thinking through evaluating information and evidences to which one is exposed. Faith is above and separate from our minds and from critical thinking. Faith sees beliefs for what they are, limiting and limited.
As conscious Beings with awareness we can recognize the varied beliefs derived and subscribed to through human intellect. Beliefs surrounding god, nature, politics, religion, theology, money, government, race, etc. etc. All these belief systems require one to engage intellectually with personal experience or shared knowledge.
Faith requires no such conditioning. Genuine faith cannot be shaken by any belief system. Faith allows for and encourages a willingness to explore ALL beliefs. Faith allows one to quickly see beyond the limitations of any belief. Faith allows one to recognize that beliefs are prejudiced from one’s own point of view.
Faith is fair-minded treating all viewpoints equally without regard for one’s own feelings or vested interests. Faith delivers a person from the prison of beliefs and delivers an awareness that all beliefs are limiting and actually work against faith. Faith is open to all beliefs understanding that beliefs are the framework that builds societies and are adopted for harmonious living.
Faith moves one through the contradictions and complexity of human beliefs allowing the willingness to explore and confirm all beliefs in an open-minded manner knowing they are limited to those who hold to them.
By being open to all beliefs and conditioned thought patterns we encourage unity and oneness. By holding to one belief as true over another denies faith which is open oneness and completeness. Resist limiting beliefs embrace the abundance of faith.
Spirituality and The Path of Ascension
What goes on in our heads is a network of ideas and beliefs that have been formulated by our own experiences, our community, our society and our dna. What control do we exercise over our development? In Kabbalah we say we have no freedom, we are products of our environment. The only control we exercise in our own development is in the environment we put ourselves.
Chances are the person most open-minded is the person who has held many beliefs but is always questioning those beliefs. The process of asking the question is the only way to get the answer. The truth is in the question not in the answer. Any answer by definition is limited to the perspective of the individual making the conclusion.
Once we believe we have “the truth” we are done growing. Until we question our own conclusions we will stay stuck in “our truth”. Truth is in everything and in everyone; and until we can accept everyone and everything we will not obtain “the truth”. Words and arguments are so limiting and weighty, while openness and love is so empowering and rich with blessings. The minute we feel the need to defend our position we are stuck in a limited belief.
We don’t stop a belief or drop an understanding we expand our understanding to encompass more. Most of us know what it’s like to be a small child believing in Santa Claus; we still believe just in larger more encompassing way. Learn how to open your heart and mind to what others have to say, especially those who disagree with your conclusions.
This is a fabulous way to fast-track your own understanding and spiritual development, we don’t need to defend our positions because there is nothing to defend. The truth is not a belief it’s a process. A process of accepting and understanding everything and everyone with love.
Stay open and stay loving with those with whom you disagree and you’ll see the wealth of wisdom that resides inside your own consciousness. No need to fix anyone else or prove your wisdom that’s the ego talking. Your path is a process of accepting … we call it ascension or elevation where you begin to see things from a much higher point of view, a view above reason.
Using Ego as a Tool For Spiritual Growth
EGO … we are quick to assign it as a negative characteristic, yet it’s a part of who we are and it is a tool that moves us toward greater enlightenment. Our drive as humans to progress is an internal disruption, a sensation that requires resolution as our egos must know what true reality is.
How does the ego come to know the true reality? It all begins with information accumulation. As we acquire information we define it and categorize it and it becomes “our truth”, which indeed it is, but is it “the truth”?
Once it was a true reality that the earth was flat …it was truth based on all human observation and community understanding of the time. Yet today would we say that was truth? Truth is a perspective relative to our own conclusions. How do we break the hold our ego’s have on “our truth”?
The first indication of a “break-through moment” is when you ask a question within yourself that challenges your current belief. The very fact that you ask the question is evidence that you’re ready to expand your truth. “Ask and you shall receive” was the promise; the action of the request demands that the ego gets the answer.
When someone else asks you a question that challenges your current belief that’s a different situation all together. The ego now takes over all reasoning and it is set-up to defend itself at all costs. The question itself does not lead to growth … it’s whose asking it.
Are you trying to grow, ascend and become enlightened? Do you want to see and experience true peace within yourself and within the world? Sadly most people are stuck in an ego belief system that keeps them held back from such growth.
What makes us identify ourselves as a Christian or a Muslim, a Democrat or Republican, a Conservative or Liberal, the 99% vs. the 1%? These are all egocentric identifications that have deeply planted roots within our psyche defining who we are. Can you uproot these limiting conclusions without compromising your identity?
Do we really need to defend our egocentric identification with some truth? We can choose to leverage our ego; to use it as the driving factor behind uniting and connecting with those with whom we disagree. When we consciously seek to find areas of connection with those with whom we disagree we can make rapid spiritual progress toward enlightenment. We quickly start seeing things differently, more clearly, creating a loving unifying internal sensation.
When you reach a point of leveraging your ego to always being open minded you’ll discover a vast resource of reasoning that will provide you with limitless powers of comprehension and insight. You will discover a love and a connection with those with whom you disagree.
When you stop fighting to support “your idea” you see that any idea is always irrelevant to the Truth of love. We can individually ascend to this ultimate love awareness by choosing to do so. Can we as a community and as a species move to the ultimate reality of … “love thy enemy as we do ourselves”? This is “The Truth” that will set you free!
Spirituality Grows With Change … Accelerate Your Growth
What is it you and your society consider “right” and “wrong” today? Perhaps what you considered “wrong” in the not-too-distant past, you might consider it okay or “right” today. How do we know what is “right”? Do we sit in judgment of another who fails to accept our own ideas about what is “right” and “wrong”? Genuine spiritual growth requires that we evolve and change our definitions of “right” and “wrong” to include others with whom we sometimes disagree.
Changing your ideas of what is “right” and “wrong” is the path of growth. You have to be open to changing your ideas, or you will limit your own spiritual growth. Change is the process of life and growth. We have to change as our world does. Our values must change too … just think of what morality was 50 years ago with respects to child rearing and modest attire.
The problem we face individually in meeting the change requirements of life is that we insist on believing that the values we have are the “right ones”. You should of course hold onto the beliefs that serve you well, as your ideas about “right” and “wrong” are the definitions for Who You Are. But do not stay “stuck” in your present beliefs if they are not serving you. A non wed pregnant teen may not meet your ideal “right” and “wrong” scenario, always be open to changing your mental constructs about “right” and “wrong”.
NEVER require another person to define themselves according to your terms of “right” and “wrong” … NEVER allow another to define that for you either. Believing that you can or should manage the growth and expansion of others, even our own children or a spouse, is a path filled with pain for you and them. You can influence others but not actually restrict them even if you wanted to; each life goes on progressing at its own pace.
Remaining the same … or seeking to, moves against the laws of life. This is foolish, because in this struggle, life will always win out. Nothing stays the same, everything is changing. Learn to influence where you can but remain open to change your truth!
Be open to change the notions of your truth, be willing to expand your internal structures of thought. Allow the deepest truths of who you are to be altered. A new broader description and idea of Who You Are is where the growth is. When you challenge your beliefs you accelerate your own growth and experience in life. Your new ideas mean your story begins anew. A better more fulfilling you and that process and your story will never end as long as you keep living via the process of expansion by change.
Please don’t close yourself off from the possibility of new truth because you have been comfortable with an old one. Your life expands at the end of “your” comfort zone. Your being open to new “truths” is where the excitement lives, that’s where you and your relationship with life becomes more fully realized; more fulfilling, more challenging, more expansive, more joyful, more happy, more complex, more enlightened, better balanced, etc.
So if it’s music preferences … religious preferences … body piercings and tattoos … sexual orientation … sexual encounters … pregnancies and offspring … divorce and cheating … parenting and teaching … political views and associations … remember there is room in this world for every person regardless of how we define “right” and “wrong”. By our showing love in all of these malformed or right formed conclusions we expand who we are and become more like our Heavenly Father who IS LOVE …
Avoid standing in judgment of another person’s “right” and “wrong” that contradicts your own. Another person’s mistakes are their own living and growth experiences. Another person’s choices and decisions are just as important to their life experience. Allow others to grow too.
No matter how “good” you think things have been, they can be better. No matter how wonderful you think your truth is, it will be even more wonderful if you stay open to change. Expand change and grow it’s the process of living a satisfied spiritually rich life.
The Path For Spiritual Growth
Watch a small child begin to explore it’s world. It grabs and touches everything in sight. The child will explore and examine visually with the eyes, everything it touches goes in the mouth to explore further. The child is so engrossed in this learning process that when it comes time to sleep the child will cry and fight to stay engaged because they are so excited with all they are learning.
At some point the physical learning phase is satisfied and they begin seeing others in their world. They learn to react and interact with their parents and peers. At this point society is quick to instill the wholesome constructs of civility, instructing social skills and respectful behaviors to keep a healthy community.
Society continues the pressure to keep learning; learn to read and learn the fundamentals of mathematics and science, history, economics, etc. etc. Then one day we reach the magical point of adulthood. When we graduate from societal pressures to grow we are left on our own. Where do we go from here?
Sadly most people barley mature beyond this basic growth phase. The resulting consequence of a lack of growth is the beginning of death. If we are not growing, expanding, creating, maturing we are working against our own nature. The resulting consequence of this lack of growth initially is laziness, bordem, escapism, etc. If this lack of growth continues it leads to depression, anxiety, stress, fear, etc.
The real growth that everyone can embrace is growing spiritually. Spiritual growth is growing within oneself. Just as the small baby begins to touch and experience everything in the physical world the spiritual path begins in the same the way. Experiencing every internal sensation to explore it.
Those who have experienced serious trauma are usually most likely to be open to the spiritual dimension of life and living. The trauma events continue to resurface which tends to force an individual to begin exploring their internal spiritual sensations triggered by those life events.
Those who refuse to explore these spiritual sensations, who try to suppress them, are tortured by these feelings. If left unexplored the individual suffers more and more as the negatives metastasize and show up as physical illnesses.
If one can learn to embrace the internal spiritual components of life, and grow by means of exploration of these internal revelations, a joy for life will return. Like that of a small child and there is no limit on the growth one can achieve spiritually. Spirituality is the nature of who we are. It resides inside our heads with thoughts and thinking, in our mind as visions and dreams, in our heart and soul as feelings and sensations.
As we grow to attain this spiritual awareness and awaken from within we manifest a sense of deep joy, peace and happiness with life. Embrace your spirituality and join us on the spiritual quest.
Judgment – Judgmental – Judging
Judgment … judgmental … judging … all these are terms that float around, they’re typically what one perceives as wrong. Well then what is wrong, or what is right … with anything? “Wrong” is a relative term, related to a previous judgment we’ve made on what we’ve decided is “right.”
Okay so now, let’s stay positive, what is “right”? Can you be objective in determining what’s right? “Right”, and wrong for that matter, are simply descriptions overlaid on events and circumstances experienced by you; and then your conclusions are added to your accumulated experiences. Your experiences are one of a kind; therefore your conclusions are based on a limited amount of data, only your experiences.
Next we seek acceptance from our own peers and community. So we’re quick to adopt our society’s truth on what’s right and wrong. Very few of our daily decisions about what is “right” and “wrong” are being made by us dealing with the facts of the moment, they are based on this accumulated intellectual structure we’ve built in our mind. Our own understanding of right and wrong.
Okay so one day you’re in a conversation with another person who has a different conclusion than you do on a certain matter. How do you respond, how do they respond when the conflict is realized? Usually we seek to straighten out the other persons view by exposing them to our conclusions.
Imagine if they were engaged in your conclusions, listening with intensity and probing with inquisitive questions, seeking to understand you. They are intrigued, asking themselves, “how could another person who’s lived and experienced life gotten it so wrong?” As they listen and probe what are they experiencing? They are growing in enlightenment, they are expanding their perceptions enlarging their spiritual comprehension.
I ask that you be the open one … you be the one to seek and understand those with whom you disagree. You be the bigger, wiser and more mature one. Your listening carefully and understanding another puts you head and shoulders above those who remain stuck in ruts of limited experiences. Those who hold rigid judgmental views are usually the ones who yell the loudest, speak the most, and are quick to condemn or belittle others.
The fastest way to enlightenment is to embrace those we condemn or whom condemn us. Embrace those with whom we disagree and the issues we fear most. The exposure to these concepts and ideas will broaden your perspective in the fastest way possible. It’s the way to reveal the light, bring your light to the darkness you perceive around you. Don’t try and fight it or hide from it … embrace it and you’ll be amazed at how fast you’ll reach a high spiritual enlightened perspective.
“There is no right or wrong there only IS” … “IS” we define it from a perspective … so expand it at every opportunity. There are a lot of opportunities in life for you to move forward at lightening speed, if you adopt a Spiritually Open Minded spirit with others. Why not start right now by examining your own history on interactions with others? Find the friend or foe who can help you expand and grow !
A Declaration of INTER-Dependence
Isn’t it time that we as individuals acknowledge that our future and that of the human race requires the cooperation of ALL of its members? America offered a Declaration of Independence to bring about a new world of change … and it indeed led to the betterment of many individuals who risked all. Many sacrificed, leaving family, friends and love ones behind as they sought a better life in the New World. Today many are feeling the current world shake-up and seek even greater change.
So here is a manifesto of change … a Declaration of INTER-Dependence.
As Individuals we need to accept that our role in this world must move beyond mere self-sufficiency. As Individuals, with self-interest in mind, we must recognize our INTER-Dependence; that together our power increases dramatically. Are we willing to pledge our Individual capacity giving of our time, energy, thoughts and love to help fix our current system?
Our self-interest must take into account reciprocity, not only personal gain. We’re quick to focus energies on the Elite, Wealthy and Powerful system structures, and see the need for change, but now as Individuals we must focus energies on Ourselves. We are all part of the ROOT CAUSE of world problems … as Individuals we need to see the same selfish “for me” tendencies within our own desires. To fight for the redistribution of wealth or to tear down others will not yield any positive results, but will only perpetuate the current broken self-centered system.
Our future can no longer be defined by rich, or poor … our natures will not allow it. As Individuals we will be rewarded for our investment in INTER-connectedness with others. Rewarded with respect, recognition, and the joy of being accepted into the next level of human consciousness; our interconnected harmonious existence.
As Individuals, with self-interest in mind, our every desire, act, and thought needs to include the benefit of ALL. There cannot be a “THEM”, no matter how evil or bad we perceive THEM to be. THEM is ME … When I change ME the THEM also will change with me. “Be the change you want to see in the world.” ~Gandhi
Let’s seek to lead the way in building a new UNIFIED society, founded on the principle of MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY that will:
1. Work to educate the young and the willing – to help raise their consciousness.
2. Create a Just and sustainable economy by Individual hard work for the betterment of ALL.
3. Work with new media – to help influence the public mindset from “Me & Mine” and “Us against Them” … to “We’re all in this together”.
Our collective consciousness is moving onto a new, higher degree. A state of Mutual Responsibility where we Individually can accept the role of living and caring for OTHERS … The reality of our true happiness lies in the fulfillment of our Individual roles while acknowledging and supporting our inter-connectedness with all others.
The greatest effect will be realized when we Individually begin accepting and acknowledging those whom we feel most strongly against, knowing they too are a part of Us. So with this manifesto let’s offer this Declaration of Inter-dependence and invite ALL Individuals to this calling of unification!
Wall Street Occupier Confronts Tea Party Radical
The United States is in the midst of a “real-crisis” … our lives and future are getting bleaker and bleaker by the moment. The collapsing economy is igniting domestic political unrest stirred by the two political parties. … what is happening with America? How can we avoid taking sides and rise above the conflict? Do we see the need for civility?
Are we “one-nation” or have we developed a hatred for one side against the other? We find those who “think like us” and start inciting social movements that flame our differences. We are in fact one nation and we all affect one another. Those of us “Occupying Wall Street” have the exact same feelings as the “Tea Party” people. Both sides feeling frustration and dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs.
Here are some questions perhaps we should be asking …?
Is it unreasonable to expect that we American’s help one another? Yet, in a world where millions are starving and homeless, with no flush toilets, heating or even clean drinking water; is it right to see any American rightfully claiming injustice? Would not most of the world view America as the ruling 0ne percent? Is demanding a share of other peoples money and possessions a genuine solution? If that seems reasonable, then why not focus on the real poor and suffering in the rest of the world? Could we not unite most Americans around such a worthy cause?
MORE QUESTIONS
Could there be a few people who really hate Capitalism and their impression of America as a “George Bush world”? Could they be fanning the flames of frustration into a revolution against the “American – Capitalistic” system? Is that a good thing?
Could there be a few selfish greedy people who really hate what’s happening now and blame it on the current state of affairs labeling it “Obama’s world”? Could they be fanning the flames of frustration into a nationalistic uprising in defense of “American – Capitalism”? Is that a good thing?
A Painful History We Must Not Forget. Our world history is rich with examples of how peoples frustrations can be harnessed and focused in the wrong direction.
Rather then extending energy by feeding peoples anger would a rational approach of a dialog asking the right questions be in order? I hope the mainstream media … the alternative media and every other concerned American could start a dialog of uniting America, stop taking sides.
My hope and wish would be that both the Tea Party people and the Wall Street Occupiers, and their supporters on both sides, would put their energy into fixing our problems not flaming our divide. Would answering the questions posed here be a good first step in the right direction? Perhaps I’m missing something? Please share you thoughts and observations on this sensitive but important subject.
Spirituality Your Secret Place
Your thoughts …. you can never really shut them off they run 24 – 7. Thoughts run on autopilot just like our blood circulates and our digestion system functions. Our thoughts are not reality … they’re just descriptions of our reality and our thoughts are running endlessly day and night. While we often see our thoughts as who we are … they‘re not. We are the entity behind our thoughts.
In the last post we explored how words and thoughts are not real things, they are just descriptions. From this perspective we can now better explore Spirituality. Spirituality is an internal thing and it’s deep inside of you and it’s beyond your thinking or even your praying, which are just more words. If you can go deep inside and watch yourself think and watch how your thoughts effect how you feel. Watch how your thoughts try and describe others as you interact with them. Watch how you are quick to judge others who disagree with you.
When you can get into that space inside your mind and heart, where you watch yourself thinking. You go behind or above your thoughts, that is the real spiritual space and that’s where clarity resides. From that spiritual space inside of you … you now can exercise full control of the moment. And only the moment you’re in is your reality. You now have a deeper control from a spiritual point of view of the moment (Now). Some call this space inside Christ consciousness, some call it being centered, some call it God’s perspective or the spiritual space, etc. The words used to describe this place are irrelevant. This is your own secret place, and discovering that space within you is where real truth resides.
That spiritual space, your secret place, can only be felt and experienced internally (spirituality) it can never be fully explained in words, thoughts or stories of any kind. It can only be experienced by getting beyond your thoughts and connecting to that internal energy flow that is one with you. Only Love and Peace reside at that deep level behind or above your thoughts. From that spiritual level you will always act perfectly with genuine love.
The minute you start focusing on your thinking again you start adding interpretations to the moment, at that point you step out of the spiritual space of clarity. Now your background, upbringing, life experiences, instincts, prejudices, beliefs, fears, etc. take control of you and you‘re no longer in the moment. You’re now in the future by planning a response, or in the past drudging up an interpretation as to what the moment means. When our thinking is running our lives we are in a place of darkness. Thinking has it’s place but clarity is when you’re watching yourself think.
The hectic world around us can pull us out of our spiritually centered state. Your being mindful of this depth of awareness within yourself puts you in a descriptive category of an enlightened spiritual person. So close your eyes often and watch your thinking and thoughts from that secret place inside of you. There lies the real truth of love and peace and you’ll feel it for everyone else too. Yes, included in that Love will be every man, woman and child on this planet regardless of their beliefs or religious heritage, friend and foe alike. Working this out within ourselves is how we change the world. Let’s all try and find this place inside ourselves where the clarity of love resides and do our part in awakening. When we do we have real power to affect change in our world.