Tagged: reasons
Choice, intuition and “bi-polar” thinking
Heckle and Jeckle were admitted to the same 2 universities to continue their studies in bird biology.
These “old chaps” had a discussion about their next “alma mater.”
Heckle made a list with 5 convincing reasons as to why going to “Mockingbird University” is the best choice for them.
1)Top notch faculty 2) Ranked #1 in the nation for biology 3) 90% of their graduates get a job within the first year 4) On-line classes 5) Financial aid available.
Jeckle selected “Quackula College” without hesitation. Even though Jeckle wasn’t able to give a “reason,” Jeckle had an insight, a hunch telling him “Go to Quackula College. Go to Quackula…” 🙂
In our society, we have been trained to use our thinking ability, that is to “make choices” as if that “rationality” was the way to secure something favorable for ourselves.
Perhaps in a group decision “rationality” could weigh some support for a decision in a man-made world such as business dealings, but that is not necessarily true when we are dealing with life itself, our lives.
The fact is that we usually do not know what to choose, but we can rationalize and “weigh the pros and cons” according to our thinking, to come up with an “educated” thought which we label as “answer.”
By “choosing” we do not allow our intuition, which is the connection with the Totality, to arise.
If we realize that life is like an eternal film and living “now” means in relation with that Drama of life; the ability to express something necessary for the film, then we could see that “choosing” is an extra layer of complication for the sake of giving a “reason.”
Heckle: “Tell me the reason why you want to go to Quackula College, Jeckle? You don’t want to be irrational. You need to be logical.”
That is how we unknowingly kill our ability to be perceptive and in tune with the Totality.
What is intuition, if not knowing? That knowing is not related with outcomes that are viewed by us as “convenient” but that knowing is related with the way the eternal film (life) is being “shot.”
If a religion or a self-help guru is giving us a “choice” such as you do “either this or that,” that choice is bi-polar, it is reducing our ability to move and to discover.
That “bi-polar” thinking is highly detrimental as our consciousness increases.
Heckle: “Are you a night person or a morning person?”
Jeckle: “I am an afternoon person.” 🙂
The following are examples of Heckle’s “bi-polar “ thinking:
“Do you think that dogs are intelligent or dumb?”
“Do you think that Taoism is true or false?”
“Do you think that celibacy is good or bad?”
“Do you believe that God is omnipresent or an individual?”
In those questions, someone is forced to take a “choice,” to take a stand and defend that.
What is intelligent? What is truth? What is good?
How do we know if a definition is accurate and not excluding something valuable from what is being defined?
Do we see the game?
It is called labeling. When we label we live in our heads, through thought. That is what we have learned through our “education” in society and that is what we need to unlearn to “see” something different.
Jeckle knew where to go. Heckle only thought he knew. Even though he had convincing “reasons.”
Nevertheless as far as the movie of life is concerned, whether Mockingbird University or Quackula College is selected; that selected place is the “right” place to be for both.
That is another paradox in life.
Fixing values in our society
It was another beautiful day in the park were Mathias, the wise tree lived. Flowers were blooming there; the wind was flowing in harmonious movement caressing the faces of the by passers.
You could see green everywhere in that park. It was a landscape to appreciate and admire without comparison.
Many times we could try to ask a “brainy” question such as: What is the cause of this problem in life and what is the solution?
Nevertheless, that question may need to be rephrased.
Why?
Because the way life “works” may be different from what we perceive due to our upbringing, learned traditions, our conditioning.
In other words, a logical, reasonable question; may not necessarily fit the “reality” of life.
Ananda: Hello Friend! I have a daunting question in my mind. It is about the significance of human values.
You see, everyone has a list of what they consider to be a value in life. Those lists could change according to cultural upbringing, life setting, beliefs, etc. Those are non consistent.
Is there something that we could consider a consistent value for everyone?
Mathias: Yes friend. To live life and to be happy are appreciated values across all living beings. Every living being values life and to be happy.
Ananda: But yet, some people argue that “our values” as a society are degrading….
Mathias: Lesser appreciation of life and the experience of unhappiness. That is all.
Ananda: That is bad! I think human beings need to shape up their behavior and become good-natured again! Spirituality is the path for that. I think our own ego is the cause of that suffering; and the solution of that degradation of values will be in conquering ego. Everyone has to make effort for that!
Mathias: (smiling) Friend, Have you seen a snowball?
Ananda: Yes, of course! How is that related with values?
Mathias: Is the snowball able to remain in that same form forever?
Ananda: Of course not! The seasons will change and that snowball will become water once the heat increases.
Mathias: Very good friend! Mathias is impressed with your knowledge!… And once it becomes cold again… What could happen?
Ananda: We will see snowballs again…
Mathias: Those snowballs are like “values.” They will diminish; degrade as time goes by, as heat increases in the environment.
Ananda: Wait a minute! What you are trying to tell me is that “degradation” of values as experienced now, indicates that those values will be “full” again at some point in time?
Mathias: Don’t you know that everything in life is cyclical? Just like the 4 seasons. There is no season that will remain the same for good. Seasons change by themselves. No “help” needed for that!
Ananda: Yes, but that doesn’t mean that someone who lacks values will change into a person full of values by himself without doing something, right?
Mathias: My friend, that depends in your role in life. You know that, don’t you? That is called the Drama of life. In that Drama, changes do not necessarily happen in one lifetime. Everyone has a different role, which will allow for changes in consciousness to gradually occur at the right time. There is a process, just as when wintertime becomes spring again! In this process, a flower dies and a tree loses its foliage little by little. For someone with a limited vision, that is “bad.” For someone who is able to see the whole “movie” every activity has an ordained purpose. Everything is “good”! 🙂
Ananda: But…then what I am supposed to do now… to wait around until the “values” in people become full again? I want a solution now!!
Mathias: Do all snowballs turn into water at the same time? Every one of them has its own timing. What you can do is to learn to appreciate the process. Life is a journey and not a destination. As you become aware of your own process, then your consciousness will open up; and with that opening, you will be able to enjoy life and become a living example for others; in a way, like giving others the courage to change as well. In that consciousness, there is no longer a need for beliefs.
Many fear that change, you know…. That melting of the snowball is necessary for springtime to occur.
Let me ask you a question:
What comes first the melting of the snowball or springtime?
Ananda: Both are interdependent.
Mathias: Great answer, my friend! Remember that interdependence, for everything that happens to you has a relationship with everything else, with the Totality; with the Drama of life!
Ananda: Ohl! then, I can see now how my change will affect everything else as well. Then, I can say, “I am” the solution of the problem of “degeneration of values”!!
Mathias: You could. But also you could say that there was no problem to begin with, for that called “degeneration of values” is merely a stage in life. Only a still frame in the “movie of life.”
Like everything else, that picture will change at the right time.
Ananda: Ha! That is why predestination is needed for things have their own exact timing…
Mathias: You could say that. But also you could say that because you have free will, you have chosen to change… 🙂 and to become the “solution” of the problem…
Ananda: Friend, then how I am supposed to change? What do I need to do?
Mathias: Nothing. You do not need to do anything. You only need to be happy and to enjoy life!
Ananda: Do nothing? I have to do something!! Otherwise, how change could happen in me?
Mathias: Your consciousness will open once you accept life as it is, for what it is. Once you learn to move along with the direction of the current in the river of life. Your life experiences will teach you if you are willing to learn. Those experiences are designed just for you! Then, a smile will appear in your face with no reason… Trust life!
Ananda: That is the time when I will know that I have learned?
Mathias: No my friend… That is the time when you will know that you have recuperated all your values! With that experience in your consciousness, then you could share that with others. That is how the chain reaction will happen at its own time.
Ananda: It seems that everything in life is about timing.
Mathias: …And patience my friend… lots of patience… You are the cause and the solution of any problem that you could think of in life. When you realize that, the search for a “culprit” is over and then you could look at you… get to know you.
You could enjoy life and be happy! In the meantime… 🙂
Exploring the Depth of Living 