Tagged: labeling
Life, Religion and Spirituality
As humans continue to mentally divide things and conceptualize things, then complications arise in our perception of Life.
Religion and Spirituality are concepts created by human minds. Those concepts do not exist, just as when we say: “He is German.”
Humans have made up those concepts. Yes, they have utility. Yes, they are necessary to live in our current society; however, those labels are merely a conduit for separation: German vs. Non-German.
We could continue that separation which will bring antagonism at one point in time. Humans are unable to live life without conceptualizing things, separating things when there is no separation.
“So… What is the problem with that?”
Evidently we BELIEVE that there is a separation, which is supported by those labels. The extreme of that belief is to kill someone just to defend a label.
Want to take your life away just to defend “your” flag from getting in the hands of your “enemies”?
If you do that, as a reward you will be called a “hero,” your picture will be posted in different places and perhaps remembered by your peeps for one day in a year.
But you will be dead. What a deal!
Some call that to be “immortal.”
That is the power of labels.
Do we see that?
Is the solution to stop labeling? 🙂 Are labels “bad”?
If you say yes; you are still in the “black or white” mentality.
By all means label, use words; BUT watch out for the feelings behind them. What do you feel when you use a particular label?
That is it. We are on the same page now.
The same holds true for the concepts “Religion,” and “Spirituality.”
We could write anything we want about those concepts. Even perhaps go for “Spirituality” as being “better than” Religion.
There is no point in that. Both are just labels.
Do you want to be labeled as Democrat? Or Republican? Do we want to write a dissertation about which concept is “better”? or more convenient? Or holier than thou?
That is a nonsensical game. Once we BELIEVE that game to be true, then our consciousness will act based on that belief.
To be awakened, aware means to realize that those labels are only material for separation when there is none.
There is just Life.
To be able to look at Life with wholesomeness, we need to integrate all the different pieces together, the different “isms” which believe to be “better than”, or the “truth.”
To go beyond the label is the first step to perceive something different.
Religions, spirituality, dogmas, beliefs, worship, top down hierarchy, rewards, afterlife, punishment, guilt, fear, shame, self righteousness, commandments, morality, codes, rigidity, power, etc.
All of those words go together in the same bag of goodies. Some call that bag as “religion,” others “spirituality,” yet others “government” and even society.
Life. That is all. That is the “Now.” Your experience in this moment without labeling it. Your continuous balancing act to glide in Life, as a Pelican glides in the sky. Aware of your feelings at every moment.
If a Pelican had beliefs, perhaps a pelican wouldn’t be able to dive into the Ocean to eat; for Pelicans are only “supposed to fly.”
That is how some experience Life.
The paradoxical “I.”
We could understand about “black or white” belief systems. It will be more difficult to understand that “rationality” is as “black or white” as those beliefs.
It is either A or B. It cannot be both.
Observe how our labeling will give us something to choose from.
It is in that “choice” where the “I” thrives.
When there is a consciousness of a “real I” making decisions and shaping the world, automatically the realization that the “I” is not capable of some things arise.
Which are those things?
To create itself. To be immortal. To have control of the world.
“God” came as a solution for those problems, which only exist in that “I” consciousness.
The paradox is that this “I” exists in certain consciousness but at the same time that “I” does not exist in another type of consciousness.
When the “I” does not exist, neither God needs to exist. When the “I” does not exist there is nothing, which may need to be accomplished, attained as a “life or death” mission.
It is the “I” wanting to become “better, enlightened, beautiful, famous, immortal, controlling.”
Those “wants” are never ending. There is always something new to accomplish.
Nothing wrong with that, BUT if all of those “goals” of the “I” are not accomplished then “failure” is the label to live by.
That “failure” is mundane as well as “spiritual.” It is the same exact thing.
Want to “make money” so you could retire early?
Sure, why not. That is a good objective for the “I” to accomplish. Nevertheless, if the journey is not being enjoyed for the sake of reaching the objective, if working 60 hrs + per week are accompanied with high doses of stress, that retirement may never happen. If it happens and the “I” is attached to its work for a sense of worth, then the days of retirement will not be enjoyed.
Here is another paradox. Enjoyment of Life is not a function of the “I.” To enjoy Life, there is a need for the no “I” to arrive.
A function of the “I” is to “want” and to “accomplish.”
No “I” could fully enjoy and appreciate Life as it “is.”
Is anything that the “I” can do to become “no I”?
To ask that question means that there is no understanding yet on the above.
There is nothing that the “I” can do to learn to enjoy Life.
It happens when the “I-ness” has reached its full growth.
It is in that “full-growth” when disappointment and suffering is experienced and then, when a new consciousness appears.
Some may experience being fed up with themselves. Some may experience frustration, a meaningless life. Some may experience no “reason” to keep living.
That is all part of the process. The “I” will start dying.
Enjoyment of Life does not mean to be complaisant, to be apathetic or to have simple “fun.”
Enjoyment of Life primarily is to be at peace with oneself, to enjoy our own company and because of that, to be at ease around others and different circumstances.
When the above is lacking, “wanting” to acquire, to become something, is the main pursue. There is no enjoyment until the goal has been obtained, but paradoxically; once something is obtained, it is the time to look for something else to pursue.
The “I” is like a glutton. The “I” could keep feeding itself with a belief that there is something else which needs to be attained.
When we are in Nature, enjoyment comes when there is nothing that we want out of it.
That enjoyment is gone when, our vision is to “use” things for our own mission, objective, goal. As the “I” has no limits, that “use” becomes quickly “abuse.”
Is the “I” bad? Do we need to get rid of it? Do we need to conquer it? 🙂
That is exactly what a person full of “I” will say or think. It is the same “Black or White” mentality at work.
The “end” does not justify the “means.”
There is no “end” other than what we believe to be.
There are no “means” other than a journey.
There is no “justification” but a belief in a rationalization.
Enjoy the scenes without further labeling. Allow yourself the freedom from your own “self.”
Reader remark: End of year summary experience
“First of all thank Avyakt7 for this wonderful experience in my journey….I just wanted to share some of my own understanding from a year-end summary perspective.
° Oneness- When I wrote about the Dandiya Nite experience- the subtle suggestion “that next time around observe your internal chatter of the mind”- I did that and it was a beautiful experience to observe how easily we can become like puppies who have that biscuit- going deeper I found that was only scratch of the surface.
° Knowing God- God Knowing you is great… but how much do I know myself- mantra- Observe- Observe and Observe yourself.
° Don’t Label- even putting it on Karma is an easy escape- I used to think that was acceptance lol-
Oh yeah another gem- How do I know that I am now becoming a young adult in spirituality- When I stop needing the Father’s hand in this journey- He is there has given me enough tools- thank you father- its time to test those tools for myself and observe how it works for me-
Happy Holidays to all- Enjoy all the Tolis whichever you can lay your hands on.
Wish everyone a blissful and great end of the year.”
Dear reader,
Thank you for sharing your new understanding.
Happy to know that there are some “points” to remember and to consider… That is the task of a “good intellect…”
The task of a “good heart,” is to feel those things continually without remembering what is in the mind. That means that those points are part of you when truly assimilated, and they will change, evolve and fit your own life experience.
The mind will show us only our individuality. The things that we can understand to share with language. The heart and feelings, will express our oneness, our unity in the “movie” of life.
Nevertheless, when the mind and the heart are united, in harmony, then we can appreciate life from the perspective of that unity. That is, we could appreciate the different shades of colors in life. Today is this, tomorrow is that. He is like this; She is like that. All is great as part of the movie. When we separate a particular movie shot and make a still picture, and remember that picture over everything and lose the perspective of a continuous movie, then suffering sets in along with the sense of separation. The mind keeps the picture and our feelings (which when healthy allow us to feel unity with all,) become trapped in our own experience, that is called self absorption.
AS LONG AS WE ARE SELF ABSORBED, THE “POINTS” UNDERSTOOD BY THE MIND CANNOT BECOME PRACTICAL IN OUR LIVES.
No matter what we do. No matter what we believe in. No matter who we know.
My deepest appreciation to all readers and supporters of this blog. Wish everyone of you, depth and beauty in your life. Depth of understanding and beauty in your heart.
Depth is beautiful…but beauty touches deeply…
Til next year…
My next goal: “I” want to go to Heaven…
From the last article on Oneness, we can really see interdependence, that everything relies on everything else to co-exist. This is the higher consciousness needed to realize that “we are not alone.” It is the “You” and “Me” deal that separates.
Granted; when Joe Average keeps telling Joanne about all his great accomplishments in life so she feels proud of him; in that consciousness there is a need to understand their language of separation which brings “having” and “possessing” one another as the “normal” thing to do.
We need to understand that we may need to “speak” the language of separation with them; but keeping a state of consciousness far beyond that moment. If Joe Average felt oneness with Joanne, he wouldn’t need to try to impress her. Who is he trying to impress whom?
“Me” wants to impress “You.”
Is there anything wrong with seeing things in the separation of “you” and “me”?
No. It is just a state of consciousness.
It is in that state of consciousness of separation where most religious beliefs have been created.
There is “heaven” which is the ultimate prize. The “six figure job” in the afterlife. 🙂
Of course, “I” want to go there. That becomes my new “motivation in life.”
What are the requisites? That is the “job qualifications.”
You have to be “good.” You have to follow the commandments. You have to love God. If you don’t follow the above, then you will not get there. You will fail. You will not get the job…
You will miss heaven for eternity… 😦 and that is a long time… 🙂
Then, going to heaven becomes an exclusivity for not everyone could make it; it becomes another competition, which truly reflects the ways of our society.
Just another reinforcement for an ego driven personality. Not everyone can go there. But “I” have to go. “I” have to “make effort” to go there.
As we can see, in the above belief there is that reinforcement of “I” as something completely individual and separated from everything else.
Why do you want to “be good” and “do good”? Please ask this seemingly naïve question to yourself.
Because… “I” want to go to heaven. Because “I” want to be an angel. Because “I” don’t want God to punish me. Because “I” don’t want to burn in hell for ever…
What a bunch of ego builder answers!
When we truly see interdependence, that “I” am everything; then “I” cannot go to heaven unless everyone else does, that is when heaven is important for the sake of the world. That is beyond the “I” want, “I” need game.
Humanity is greater than my “petty” self and all its fears.
That is how, heaven is no longer another belief after “I” die.
“Would you like to liberate yourself from the lower realms of life? Would you like to save the world from the degradation and destruction it seems destined for? Then step away from shallow mass movements and quietly go to work on your own self-awareness. If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself. If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself…”
Hua Hu Ching Ch 75
If “I” do good. I am not good. I just “look” good.
If I am “good” then thanks to “me” there is someone who is “bad.”
It is when “I” go beyond that duality, beyond good and evil, when “I” die alive “now,” then everything can exist without separation. A different “reality.” Awareness. Consciousness.
“To the ordinary person, the body of humanity seems vast. In truth, it is neither bigger nor smaller than anything else. To the ordinary person, there are others whose awareness needs raising. In truth, there is no self, and no other. To the ordinary person, the temple is sacred and the field is not. This, too, is a dualism which runs counter to the truth. Those who are highly evolved maintain an undiscriminating perception. Seeing everything, labeling nothing, they maintain their awareness of the Great Oneness. Thus they are supported by it.”
Hua Hu Ching Ch 19.
Are you a dog or a cat? :-)
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ljWFe0BiY]
From one of my favorite cartoons of all time, “Top Cat.”
This is exactly what a belief is. You may think that you are a “dog” until someone else tells you that you are a “cat” and then you believe in that as “the truth.” That “truth” may come out of an interpreted experience, an intellectual reason, an opinion from someone up in the hierarchy, etc.
The amazing part is that we usually thrive in telling ourselves stories to believe about ourselves. Usually those stories have a negative connotation: “I am not good,” “I can’t do it,” etc. However, even if those stories have a “good” message to subliminally believe in; the fact is that those are beliefs.
Avyakt7 is not saying that those beliefs are “bad or good;” but just is pointing out the need to realize that those ideas are beliefs.
To be a cat means to close the opportunity of being a dog. Someone who is not caught up with labels and mental duality, will be a dog when there is a need to be one. The same one, will be a cat, when time and circumstances require that, just as “Top Cat” showed us in the cartoon.
When we go beyond that labeling, which many times is needed to deal with the world and the “normal” people accustomed to label each other, then there is a chance to know who we are without labels.
In that knowing there is no need to believe but just to be.
“To the ordinary person, the body of humanity seems vast. In truth, it is neither bigger nor smaller than anything else. To the ordinary person, there are others whose awareness needs raising. In truth, there is no self, and no other. To the ordinary person, the temple is sacred and the field is not. This, too, is a dualism which runs counter to the truth. Those who are highly evolved maintain an undiscriminating perception. Seeing everything, labeling nothing, they maintain their awareness of the Great Oneness. Thus they are supported by it.”
Hua Hu Ching, Ch 19.
Exploring the Depth of Living 