Tagged: humanity
Question: Will awareness free us from adapting to unnatural structures?
[….]And the human brain was, ultimately, what made the species survive by doing the most unnatural things, like creating societies revolving about agriculture, territory claiming, wars, patriotism, family, father-mother + children, monogamy, and all the things that required the structures that the ego must free itself from in order to feel existence as an awareness experience. So, the question is, how can humans be aware if being aware is precisely what frees them from adapting to the unnatural structures designed to survive when the habitat is not the original one? Please, the issue at hand is not a light one, but it is certainly, I believe, central to the whole matter at hand.
Thank you for your question.
Your question is: How can humans be aware, if being aware is what frees them from adapting to an unnatural structure which is designed for humans to survive, when they are not living in their original habitat?
Short answer: This is not about “humans.” This is about “you”, a human being. You will fully know the experiential answer when AWARENESS happens to you, otherwise; we could indulge in intellectual answers. I give you an answer, you make up another question, and the game goes on. You could accept the answer by believing in me, which is worthless; or you can reject my answer by adding more intellectual premises, which is worthless as well. Worthless for what? For inner change, which is the central matter to the whole blog.
Ahnanda is in the process of awareness and he has a “life” in the “office world” as well. What is the issue? None.
Being aware does not mean to reject an “unnatural structure.”
When we are not aware, we believe that the “unnatural structure” is Life itself, or we believe that an “unnatural structure” is “bad” and we must fight against it by promoting the opposite.
Being aware does not mean to be “for something or against it.” When we are not aware, we make judgments, choices based on our own conditioning, believing that our conditioning is the “right” thing.
For instance, I mentioned that Buddha wasn’t vegetarian. Some will believe that Ahnanda said that Buddha ate meat. That is not what it was said. Buddha ate what he ate, but he did not define who he was by giving himself a label (vegetarian.) That is awareness. When we lack awareness we believe that by eating what Buddha ate, we will be the same as him.
Awareness is not a choice. It is not a decision, thus; to say “how can humans be aware,” is not congruent with the nature of awareness. Awareness happens and when it happens, we may choose to ignore it and play the “pretending game.”
They key is to observe if there is rejection in what we used to perceive or on what others perceive, for we may believe that we now “have the truth.”
In the last article Ahnanda suggested to be more in tune with Nature. “Humanity” may not be interested in this, but few humans will, if that is their calling. In that contrast of living in Nature and society new awareness may emerge. We grow through Life experiences, not by just reading or listening to words of wisdom. That is why in some spiritual systems a disciple will live with his master/ guru to assimilate teachings through the disciples’ own experience. Nature is such a master.
If you are used to eating heavy amounts of sugar through different food items and a doctor tells you that “sugar is bad for you, don’t eat it” you may stop adding sugar in your tea, milk and lemonade out of fear or respect for the authority. If you are removed from that environment and only eat fruits and vegetables, and only drink natural spring water, there will be a process of adaptation; but through that, awareness about your previous diet will be obvious. If you are “naturally” used to the new diet perhaps you are aware of a change in your health, then you cannot go back to the former diet unless, you are only forcing yourself to eat “healthy food” (label), then your own repression towards “non-healthy” will take you back there. Most will feel “bad” about it; but they are not aware of the process. To eat healthy is an inner calling due to some personal experience. It is not something to be imposed from the outside. We discover what is healthy for us. That is genuine learning.
If you feel like drinking a soda you may; although if the change in you is real, you may not be able to finish drinking the soda bottle… too much sugar! You are AWARE by experience. This is no longer theory, intellectual knowledge.
For most individuals, awareness is about going to extremes. For instance, someone may feel upset because he feels that the environment and people are not allowing him to fully express who “he is,” he feels that he is living with a “filter.” Therefore, that awareness will take that person to the extreme. This person will act as being completely “unfiltered.” That person is not aware of a process, hasn’t experienced what is in between the extremes. However, going through both extremes will help him discover a balancing act. This cannot be taught by another. It is personal. It needs to be experienced while aware of the process, then we know. 🙂
Fear is the disease and the medicine.
Swimming naked in the Ocean was the cure, from the fear of being naked.
Fear is the demon. The saviors are not “out there” but inside that fear.
Is fear “bad”?
It is ironic how that which will help us to be free, is considered “bad” and because of that rejected.
There is no need to conquer fear. There is no “I” able to do that, for fear is not something that could be conquered.
We feel fear, we acknowledge it, we observe it, we become aware of it, fully, without hesitations and without beliefs of what it should be.
“It should be love.”
That rejection will not allow us to become aware of what is.
The same principle, which I’d like to call inner honesty, is very important to be at ease, for without acknowledging “what is” there is no way to be open to what “could be.”
In another consciousness, “spirituality” has nothing to do with spirits, nothing to do with the after life, nor with God and the Devil.
“Spirituality” is about living Life in joy, “now.”
Heaven is “now.” You are “now.”
No worship needed, no religious hierarchies, nor dogmas to believe in. It is the search for Oneness without striving for it, without doing things or practicing things to “accomplish“ that. It is a process, which already has its own destination, ready to be unfolded as the path narrows down into oblivion.
It is truly the encounter of that which we call “self” into its seldom-walked path, called “no-self.”
As we become closer to the reality of “lack of I-ness” there will be acceptance, openness, love and joy without someone, the “I,” trying to “make effort,” to “work on virtues” such as being loving, detached, tolerant, and all of those meaningless words; those ideals which are only existent in the mind of those who are filled with concepts, analysis and beliefs. A word is meaningful for them, but a definition is not the thing. It cannot be.
“Spirituality” is openness of feelings, the heart, consciousness…awareness.
It is at that point, when we could truly appreciate Nature, which is Life in its “natural” way.
As that appreciation increases, oneness with all there is, will no longer be a “concept,” but it will be truly felt, truly experienced and with that knowing, any sort of intellectual knowledge will be completely discarded as superfluous and even limiting.
The concert of Nature, the ever playing sounds of that orchestra, is an exquisite healing experience, irreplaceable, unique and beneficial for all beings.
The common good.
There is no church, temple or worship place capable of coming close to Nature’s beauty.
There is no meditation room able to bring completeness, fulfillment and peace without having a purpose in mind: The “I am meditating because I want this other thing to happen to me.”
There is no symphony of human instruments capable of bringing the spirit of “non-being” completely alive, as a gift to humanity. Nature is the perfect teacher without words.
Every bird, every element of Nature merely acts as it should, without looking into becoming the “star” of the show, or the creator of the melody. No one asks for credit.
There are no directors nor composers, no gurus or clergy to follow, no hierarchy. It is only Oneness without a name, without a title for that playing song of the “now.”
Those who are capable of observing the silent teachings of Nature, are able to follow its rhythms, pace, movements and understand that the intelligence behind it has no name; for every single species, every single being makes up everything there is.
Most humans are concerned with names, labels and limiting definitions; which do not allow an experience of what is, but just a description of what “should be” according to someone. In that world, to follow is a necessity.
When a human being learns to be in communion with “what is,” then there is no need to find anything outside himself…. Not because there is self-absorption, a “me” to feed; but because there is no-self.
Paradoxically, no-self means the capacity to be everything.
It is at that point when we could realize that there was no time when the “outside” was different than the “inside.”
We cannot be separated from Nature. That is our “nature,” the human nature. What comes after that experience cannot be manipulated. A human being needs to have the experience of a human being while being a human being.
As societies and religious groups are interested in changing man into something else, whether an angel, a saint or even a murderer and a corrupt being; the process of taking man away from mother Nature, is unavoidable.
When man loses his roots, man loses his sense of belonging. Then it is an “I” against another and the belief to be “right” will appear supported by the righteousness of Gods and Devils, which are residing in a fearful out of balance mind.
Fear will take us away from Nature. Going back to Nature is the medicine for the mind and the heart.
Serving God
In the child stage of Spirituality, the aim of living, the purpose of living becomes to “serve God.”
All religions have such an aim whether; they call the “ultimate” with the label of “God” or something else. Atheism is another religion in itself.
To believe is the same as not to believe. We are still caught up in more beliefs.
The idea of “serving God,” brings the best out of the child. The child is doing something not because of his own will, but because “God has said so.”
The child moves and acts because his knowledge of God through his beliefs acknowledges that this is the “right thing to do.”
The issue becomes interesting when many religions have different views, different beliefs of the same God; thus their idea of “serving God,” maybe different; however, the common factor between all religions “serving God” is to “spread the word of God” to all. 🙂
In other words, “my belief is the truth. Accept it if you want salvation.”
Thus, conflict arises between believers. They may talk about respecting each other’s beliefs but the fact is that even though someone may play “respectful,” in the back of their minds there is the believe of having the “truth,” of being “right.” 🙂 This is the game of believing…
Is it wrong then, to spread what I believe to be the word of God? No, it is not “wrong.” That is a sure way to strengthen your own beliefs, but keep in mind that you are not “serving God,” by doing so.
How is it?
God does not need for anyone to serve Him. God has been “un-served” from many centuries now… 🙂 What truly needs to be served is humanity. The common good.
Would you serve humanity by changing their beliefs through your own take of the “words of God”? Is that what truly means to “serve”? 🙂 Or is it just a way to “serve” our own ego of having found what we believe to be the “truth”?
Food for thought.
Serving humanity is not related with changing anyone’s beliefs.
A belief is a means of separation between human beings. We cannot serve anyone when we only have beliefs to give.
We need to give more than that to serve.
Avyakt7 was invited one time to a group interested in “showing God” to others. Avyakt7 did not join that group for Avyakt7 understands now that those Godly qualities in me when developed, when used for the common good, will show others those Godly qualities without changing their beliefs. All it matters if for “others” to see those qualities. A talk about who is God or other things “about him” is of no consequence if I care for someone else’s beliefs, if there is care for someone else’s beliefs…
It is in this self transformation how serving becomes offering the most precious thing any human being can give to another, that is your own time.
Organized religions are not needed for this, although serving humanity could happen through them as well. To serve is a game of variety according to needs. Everyone is needed.
If you are a father or a mother in a household, that change can start in your own relationship with others in your family. There is no need to convince anyone.
Just change yourself. That is convincing enough for those who know you already. Spread virtues to everyone. That is serve them.
That is to serve God beyond a childish understanding.
Humanity is “you” and at the same time, you are part of it. God is part of it as well. The only divisions are made inside our own heads through those worshiped beliefs.
That is why, the first step in self transformation is to serve your own mind by “cleaning it.” A religion may offer that “service,” at some time thus; nothing is “bad,” when we appreciate each moment of our journey.
Everything in Spirituality always points back to “I” to see then totality. Cleaning the window of the mind, will allow us to see with clarity what truly is outside… but we may just find a mirror there…:-)
The danger of beliefs
When there is a belief about something; that same belief will take us away from the fact of our own existence.
The above may not be important for most, for beliefs are needed in a society to keep the “ways” of living, but to understand the extent of a belief is of utmost importance to awaken by realizing the “self.”
In a few words, to look inwards is not possible when our being is occupied on outwardly things.
Let me be more precise.
The belief on reincarnation, the afterlife, destruction of the planet, the Golden age and even God, even though all of that may be “true,” all of that will be a handicap later on.
Why?
Because we will forget about “us” right now. “Our” consciousness.
Many have had experiences with God in one way or another. That was part of their lot of life experiences; to have known something “unusual,” however, that is not something which will help us understand the self as it is right now.
With our own pre-conditioning, fears, anguish, worries, loneliness, sorrow, etc. The belief that “someone will magically take all of that away from you,” well… is a belief.
Are those beliefs wrong then? NO at all. They have a function; their function is to move people into certain direction. To bring awareness up to a point. For example, if someone is used to smoking as a part of being “normal” in this society; a surgeon’s general advice such as “Smoking may be dangerous for your health” is not enough to deter that individual from smoking. In a “normal” society with conflicting values, money talks…you know.
On the other hand, if God has said that you must stop smoking or you will not reach Paradise; then that has a greater impact to change, especially if someone has had “divine” experiences. Obviously for others who do not have experiences, the fact that “God has said so,” will not mean a thing.
Please see the following logic: “Because God has said that I shouldn’t smoke, then smoking is bad.” Moreover, “You must not hang out with people who smoke because their influence will change you.”
The above is called a belief. We may not realize that the phrase “God has said this” is meant to keep us out of trouble BUT, keeping us out of trouble does not mean that there was a change to realize the self, our own eternity.
This is very important. We could live a life when we don’t smoke, drink, have sex, mingle with others who are “non-spiritual,” don’t argue with anyone, etc. We may have good health, we may have greater time for ourselves; but just to keep the above “don’ts” will not make that change of consciousness towards greater awareness.
Please do not misunderstand me. Avyakt7 is not saying that “we shouldn’t do what we believe in.” Avyakt7 is merely stating that change of consciousness will not happen by just following certain behavior patterns. There will be greater health, time and energy by following certain things; but that is the groundwork, the foundation to build the house of self realization. For someone who wants to self realize, the foundation is just the beginning.
That health, time and energy must be used to understand and realize our own self.
How is that change of consciousness possible?
There are many “good people” in the world, but there are very few who are not self-centered.
A belief will strengthen our own self-centerness.
The “I” syndrome. “I” want to be this or that in the “future.” If “I believe this, then God is with me and He will help me.”
Out of my own experience: Life, God, Divinity, etc. may provide the environment to “study” ourselves; but there is no God who will help only “you” and not “another” person to the next step. That is something that we have to “do” ourselves. We have to walk the path with our own two feet. 🙂 and then… paradoxically, help will come. 🙂
In my experience, acceptance of everything as it is; is the first and fundamental cornerstone for a change of consciousness.
That “acceptance” is not something like: “I need to accept everything from now on, because God has said so or some Guru, priest, etc. I must follow.”
That is a belief.
The acceptance that Avyakt7 is talking about comes from your core as the understanding that “I” is the greatest illusion, thus we become like an open door when there is no further judgment or noise in our minds about something that is happening. That acceptance of what is, comes when we are in that state of gratefulness and amazement of life itself; when we can perceive that there is no distinction for all beings are inter-related.
We cannot reject our own arms. We can realize that, but similarly is with anything/anyone in life.
That acceptance has different degrees, it is not the same for all. Variety.
When we are experiencing that acceptance, we don’t need the belief that: “I must not be close to Dan, for he is a smoker. God has said not to.”
In the consciousness of acceptance there is no rejection of Dan but at the same time, there is no rejection of our health, for “our” health means health for all.
Dan is not the same as “smoking.” There is something in Dan which is like “me” that is what we call humanity.
The movement of consciousness could go from “I” to humanity.
Exploring the Depth of Living 