Tagged: traditions
Learning from the shoe box of experiences
In the “office world,” we learn through books, classes, second hand “authoritative” teachings… We believe that those “teachings” are true. We label them as “truth” and want for others to follow them to support our desire to be “right” in Life. We presume that we have the “right answer,” we make our “morality” on those assumptions. We may believe that “God is with us,” and that we are part of his “chosen people,” ready for Paradise and everlasting Life …
Those “teachings” for whatever holy they may be, cannot match the uncertainties and ever changing possibilities in Life. What is “real” cannot be relegated into a shoe box full of code of conduct, commandments and laws.
Have we observed that in Nature? Have we observed that in Life?
In Nature/Life, morality does not exist. In the “office world” it exists as a façade for an ulterior purpose: Whether that is to gain heaven, to support our belief to be “special” or “rightful” among the rest or some other “reason.”
In Nature/Life, questions do not exist. Humans prisoners of their own minds, have twisted good old curiosity into the frenzy of asking “why?” out of everything, as if an intellectual verbal answer is enough.
Curiosity does not ask “why.” Curiosity observes with appreciation the uniqueness of Life. It is through that acknowledgement how everything is answered without asking a single question; for every answer comes at the right time. It is the knowing of learning through our own experiences.
Humans have coined the phrase: “Learn from your own mistakes.” That is insane.
When we separate our experiences in Life between “mistakes” and what is “right,” we forsake the opportunity to live fully in Life in exchange of some comfortable fear, designed to live within the boundaries of the shoe box offered by our society through our conditioned mind.
That is how we come up with the popular “Do’s and Don’ts.” We preserve those by enforcing them into the younger generations, effectively narrowing down the shoe box for others. At the end, it is about preserving what we discovered to be “right or wrong,” that is how the “I” of many dead people from many centuries ago, still live among us. We call that “traditions.”
Learn from your experiences. That learning only applies to your own path. However, what is to share to all, is to BE the type of person that is ever curious to discover Life, beyond the shoe box.
That type of invaluable teaching cannot be put into words or a “master class.” That “teaching” spreads through the winds of warm human relationships.
Nothing to teach, nothing to say. Just BE.
Those winds of relationship, have the potential of turning into Hurricanes and positively affecting many, without a business plan, special funding or a proselytizing effort.
What is natural is “good.” What is “good” is what IS.
Doing the “right” thing
Most “spiritual” and “morally correct” individuals, are concerned about this: “Doing the right thing in Life.”
A veil of sainthood, righteousness is coveted by the “I.”
There are many “rewards” (Just like a credit card reward point system) associated with DOING a morally accepted script, allowed by society, religions, nations, fraternities, schools… all of those institutions which are regimenting/conditioning (also known as teaching/educating or preparing ) the individual.
As we are “right now,” there are many scripts in our minds deciding what “a right action” is.
A young person may want to “DO” the right thing in choosing a career. That same man, may want to “DO the right thing” as he fathered a child out of wedlock. Later, he may want to “Do the right thing” while deciding whether to put his ill father, permanently in a hospice.
The phrase to “Do the right thing” has many meanings according to time, circumstances, beliefs, traditions.
Definitely, to “Do the right thing” is merely a cover, for we cannot know the ramifications, the extent of our DOING.
Carl paid for his son to go to the “best University,” even though his son did not want to go. Carl thought that he was DOING “the right thing,” for the welfare of his son.
His son was killed in a car accident, on his way to a class.
Of course; guilt surrounded Carl, for the rest of his Life.
What is the “teaching” in that story?
In the Western society, everything has to have a “moral” teaching, something the mind can apprehend so “I don’t do it again and I can teach others.”
Fear creeps in.
In Life, there is no teaching but a mirror. That experience of “losing” a son, will be colored with Carl’s conditioning. It is that conditioning the one that will come out.
But Carl is too “busy” with his guilt to realize about his beliefs.
If we were just aware of all the conditioning going on in our minds!
We may try to figure out Life, to get ahead, to be clever in Life; but the “I” does not make Life by himself.
The spider web of associations and timely interactions are out of the reach of the clever “I” but yet; “I” believe that “I” can “control” my destiny, by DOING “the right things.” I can use the support of the “law of karma” to spread “righteousness” around me. (If I “do this right,” then through karma, something right will occur to me.)
The only issue is that “righteousness” hasn’t been defined.
What is to “be right”?
Life is not concerned about our trivial morality. Life is beyond moral standards.
Was Carl “right or wrong”?
We will not able to understand Life until we clean ourselves up from all those concepts, moral precepts, traditions and beliefs clouding our awareness.
It is not a matter of rejection.
If we have our hands dirty and wash them, it is not out of rejection of dirt.
But unless we “unlearn” with the same attitude as when we wash our hands, we will be rejecting society, religions, schools, etc. as radicals and unfit members.
The path of Awakening may take someone through that route, however; we may learn that it is not the destination, but only a side scene. 🙂
Acknowledging “what is,” rather than what “should be”
Rishie realized that when he was in his low 20’s he used to like certain type of girls. When Rishie became older, in his mid 40’s he wasn’t aware that his “preference” had changed. He no longer pursued girls in their low 20’s anymore for what he considered to be desirable at one point in his life, all of the sudden… wasn’t.
In a “normal” awareness, we call that “getting old,” but “getting old” should not change someone’s taste of what it is considered “desirable” or “beautiful.”
How is it possible for that change to take place without Rishie’s awareness?
Rishie may have realized that “his preference had changed” but he would never think about the possibility that “he” had changed as well. That “he” is actually, Rishie’s consciousness.
That is the “proof” of consciousness changing all by itself. It does not depend on Rishie’s willful desire to change.
To make things easy to grasp, here an easy example.
Rishie’s father was a black man and his mother a Spanish lady. Rishie had a natural preference for black girls. That is what “he liked.” Rishie’s parents divorced when Rishie was 18. Note that Rishie’s liking is already “built-in.”
Let us say that Rishie became indoctrinated by his mother who urged Rishie to find a brown eyed, brown haired Spanish woman; because that is “correct” and “right” in their social circles, their traditions.
Rishie had a special connection with his mother and wanted to please her. Rishie made “efforts” to change his “preference.” He fought with his “inner devils” and finally decided to have a relationship with someone who pleased his mother.
That was the story of Rishie, the “effort maker,” the one who does everything to please his mother, the one who would like to be labeled as a “good son,” as an “example” for others.
The price that Rishie paid to obtain those nice labels from his mother was pretty steep.
It is the same when we force our “change” into whatever belief system we believe in.
Beliefs are not “bad.” However, there is a time limit that every single belief is attached to. What is that time limit?
When consciousness changes, of course.
To go beyond that limit is what allows someone to open up to a different consciousness.
Perhaps Rishie could have ended up marrying a woman as her Mother’s likes… Perhaps.
Perhaps Rishie could have ended up with another woman from another race after he realized through his own experience that the paper wrapping of a candy bar is not the candy bar.
Perhaps.
There are many possibilities that life could bring when there is no active participation to change things according to someone else’s wishes.
Those possibilities are in itself the “Guru,” the “life teacher,” “the hand of God,” for those who can see that consciousness changes according to what it “has to be.”
But of course, Rishie’s mother was full of expectations and her beliefs are overwhelming to the point of being self-righteous about what she knew to be “right.”
Rishie’s mother wanted to be “happy” at the expense of her son. That will have a consequence. There is a lesson that Rishie’s mother will need to learn.
We could call the above scene of life, with different labels. “God has punished Rishie. That is why he was unhappy.” “God has punished Rishie’s mother, that is why she is suffering for the wrong she did to her son.”
Or…”That is Rishie’s karma,” or “If you don’t obey your mother, then there are serious consequences. That is the law.”
Labels are not important. What is important to perceive is that Life has a flowing thread. To go along with it, is to be in harmony with “what is.” That harmony has no way to be put into labels or codes or commandments. If consciousness is not allowed to change by itself, (that is through assimilation of life experiences) then we create an inner conflict.
The “I” against Life.
Who has the truth?
If someone could explain to you what is the truth about God, our existence on Earth, the “reason” as to why we are here, what happens after we die, where do we go and what we do, etc, etc…etc.
Would you believe that to be the truth? 🙂
Are you sure that you can understand the “truth”?
Certainly, you are a very intelligent human being. Up to date with all the information out there and the latest scientific discoveries… you have the brain of Mr. Spock, capable of reciting the latest accurate data out of logical and reasonable input… Einstein’s insight is equal to a middle school kid compared to yours… 🙂
Please see that our human ways, what we value in our society, what we have been taught to worship such as our intellectual capacity, understanding and reasoning may not be valid “tools” to understand the “truth.”
That is a healthy doubt, ladies and gentlemen.
“Human ways” does not mean that the Universe works under those premises.
In our society we tend to misname the “truth” as “facts.”
“Nothing but the facts, man..” has been interpreted as “truth.”
Spiritually speaking, it does not matter who is speaking the “facts,” unless those words have been experienced in “real” life; there is not a chance to know anything at all but just to hear words to repeat and believe…
“I believe.” 🙂
“After you die, you either go to heaven or hell.
Time does not exist. We are timeless.
Everything repeats identically. Eternal return.
You are not the body. You are a spirit, a soul.
You will be resurrected by God with your body and will live for ever in Paradise.
We know God. God is speaking to us.
We know God. We have in these scriptures, the “words” of God.”
In the plethora of “truths” which are somehow different, what do you believe and why? 🙂
Every religion has a set of beliefs. We believe in this and that.
Is that the truth? Are we concerned only in following beliefs and facts or are we truly concerned in “truth” ? 🙂
Words and mystical stories, well written scriptures can only attempt to give us ‘facts.’ In fact, 🙂 the beliefs of different religions are different because of their own beliefs about those ‘facts.’
Facts are great for a history book. Facts are great for a geography book. Facts are good in mathematics, logic, reasoning…. However, none of those facts from none of those branches of human knowledge can convey truth.
Truth can make a human being truthful. Facts cannot do that change.
When a human being lives his truth, all the “why’s” type of questions are over. They are meaningless.
Do you know “why?” 🙂
Because the search for facts does not feed our hunger for inner fulfillment.
All verbal answers will only bring another set of beliefs to believe in.
Verbal answers could bring facts, but never truth.
When a human being is free from his own baggage, his own hang ups, and when he is mentally and emotionally balanced; the question of certainty of a “tomorrow” in heaven or hell does not arise mentally and verbally; for words cannot answer questions which have not been experienced.
All we have left are just beliefs.
“We believe” will add number of believers, but never truth.
When a human being lives life to the fullest, that is in a balanced, harmonious relationship with all; then this experience is the answer to all questions.
There is no doubt about “tomorrow” when today is a full day. There is no need for beliefs, when our own harmony and balance has certainty of a bright day today and because of that, tomorrow.
The ‘facts’ of different belief systems are just meant to make us see the world and our lives under a particular perspective, so we could discover that which cannot be spoken of, that which cannot be transmitted to another human being; which is our own self realization.
To know ourselves.
Once the belief system, whatever may that be; has been able to produce a human being who is looking at/ understanding his own self, then that belief system has been useful to that person. Otherwise, it is just a source of dependency, a source of more beliefs, a source of ‘facts’ from a limited perspective, which is one sided, incomplete and then misunderstood.
If someone tells you that you will be going to heaven, would that make you “sure” of that?
Wouldn’t you have any doubts, even if “God” told you that? Wouldn’t you be trying to make sure that “your belief in God,” is truly “God,” “The God”? 🙂
How is it possible for that doubt to go away? 🙂
When you discover heaven now, in your own life. Now.
That is the beginning and the end of every belief system.
Nothingness for newness
A reader requested an article on “newness.” That is a great topic to get involved with. At the same time, the “thought” for today was “nothingness,” which unexpectedly brought an unusual realization.
There is newness as long as we are nothing. 🙂
The word “nothingness” is usually not well understood in a culture when being “something” is taught and believed.
A 3 year old baby is “nothing.” There is no conceptual idea of himself in him. There is no comparison going on; thus all experiences are “new.”
Serious, genuine spirituality is there to take away all those things which makes us believe that we are “something.”
Being “nothing,” is taught by spiritual teachers with different words.
For example when a spiritual teacher talks about “merging with God,” there is no way that “I” with all its content (something-ness) can merge with God. But, if “I” is nothing, in that there is already that “merging with God.”
That is why a “child is more elevated than a “mahatma”,” because a child is closer to God’s nature.
As we grow up, we forget to be “nothing.” Then ego (something-ness) appears out of that growth. Then, that “nothingness” creates a personality full with “something-ness.”
“I” am a doctor. “I” have 3 cars a house with a Jacuzzi in a very selective neighborhood, a beautiful wife a dog and 4 kittens ;” or the ego of having “nothing,” as in: ”I” only possess a set of clothes and my bowl to beg for food. “I” don’t have anything.
See how that pristine “nothingness” disappears by creating “something” to be, an individual.
The same happens when in relationship with “others.” If “I” am a movie star, then everyone around me will make me believe that “I” am “special.” If “I” am in a work setting when no one cares for my input, then “I” believe that “I” am not worthy.
As long as there is some sort of psychological content, in “me;” there could never be the experience of “newness.”
Why?
Because everything “I” perceive will be tinted from that perspective of being “something.” Everything will start from the vision of the “same old thing.” 🙂
That is how we believe to be of a particular “social status.” According to that belief, we will put an environment around us. That environment is not real, it does not exist but only in our minds.
We have created a society under those premises of being “something.” Being “something” allows for division to take place, segmentation based on a particular characteristic:
Skin color, accent, religious beliefs, handicaps, education, sexual orientation, age, etc.
Please see that the “ideal” of a young, wise, loving, saint millionaire who looks like a movie star; does not exist; however, our ideal drives our behavior and “efforts” to “be” that.
That is the insanity of being “something.”
Newness is always in being nothing. When “I” am nothing; then “I” could be merged with that changing world as a baby does; there is always “newness” for a baby. There is no baby who is “bored to death” of the same old thing.
Boredom appears when “something” (a personality) arises with their own expectations and desires.
Being “nothing” is sometimes referred to as being empty; that is “empty” of content, which brings usefulness to “everything,” the world.
“Thirty spokes share the wheel’s hub;
It is the center hole that makes it useful.
Shape clay into a vessel;
It is the space within that makes it useful.
Cut doors and windows for a room;
It is the holes which make it useful.
Therefore profit comes from what is there;
Usefulness from what is not there.”
Tao Te Ching CH 11
“The highest truth cannot be put into words. Therefore the greatest teacher has nothing to say. He simply gives himself in service, and never worries.”
“Knowing nothing, you will be aware of everything. Remember: because clarity and enlightenment are within your own nature, they are regained without moving an inch.”
“To manage your mind, know that there is nothing, and then relinquish all attachment to the nothingness.”
Hua Hu Ching verses.
Spirituality is not ritualistic. Newness is not in “doing” but in “being.”
Being Nothing. 🙂
Question on loneliness and childhood issues
“dear bro, am I glad or am I proud n happy dat u happened! such a help n relief finally wen all my doubts cleared and gud feelings enabled esp pertaining to gyan. I really want to voice my feelings with u though about my life in one aspect- relationships. I hav never had parental love nor sibling joy inspite of having them in person, my friends always turned against me without a cause, everybody took advantsge of me and today I hav a loving husband but no family, nt dat i’m blaming anyone but I sincerely lack people in my life and feel very lonely, I wonder if this is drama…dat deemed me to live like this?”
Answer:
Dear reader,
Thank you for your kind words of appreciation. Likewise, thanks to readers like yourself is that this blog is still existing.
Let me answer your question from the beginning… 🙂
Gyan or any type of knowledge, is a conceptual vision of life, a road map; to allow you to see your path and how you fit in this world at this time. However, concepts are just concepts. Those concepts will not do a thing to change you and make you feel less of a lonely person. No matter how deep your understanding may be.
Gyan is intellectual but it will not do anything when you have emotions arising, complexes, and cultural upbringing deep-rooted in you which may be burying you, if you are unable to see the “bigger picture.” That is why, God is usually seen as the one who could provide “relief” in your life, emotional support, etc. However, the role of God has been misinterpreted as the one who provides those things which are lacking in us. That in itself is a handicap in our spiritual development. God and Divine energies provide protection while we grow spiritually, but we must do the walk ourselves and learn to supply those things which are lacking in us. We cannot pretend that others will supply that.
It is great that you realize that you had a childhood with issues. Now, look at them in silence, take sometime for yourself, run the “movie” of your own life and see those episodes using your current knowledge, Gyan; and then overcome those emotional issues.
How? By nurturing yourself with love and by giving that which you felt you needed to those who did not provide it for you. If you do not do the inner work first, you will be vulnerable. Realize the complex, realize the issues which made you feel lonely and left out which is hunting you now… even while having the company of a husband.
Once you resolve this emotional issue in yourself, you will see how your life will change, for you will be ready for something new.
When you don’t feel lonely anymore, you will be ready to give companionship to others, thus you “get” what you want from the world by giving that same thing to the world. That is the law of karma, so that is the Drama.
Best wishes!
God is the truth
God is the truth, is a statement that we hear all the time from different sources.
Let us inquire into this.
We know as “truth” as “that which is in accordance with a fact or reality.”
Throughout these writings we have been able to observe that only perceptions are all we could ever obtain, because there are different roles performed by different actors in this Drama of life, which have different stages of consciousness.
Human beings do not perceive things in the same way.
As we progress in our knowledge of the world and the universe, what we call as “fact” is merely a perception. That is why to “know that we don’t know” is to be “real.” 🙂
When we approach God, we have religions and philosophies dealing with him in several ways as something “outside” us. That becomes a source of debate about “who has the truth. Who has God.”
It is important to note that we could only get perceptions of that experience which we may call God. Some may say, that God is this or that. Perceptions.
Every religion has its own procedures to deal with the perception by extending the experience of one individual as the “way” of knowing God. That becomes a belief. Something to have faith on.
That is why, some will extend the meaning of “knowing God” as knowing “the word of God,” that is someone knows God when that one hears “his words” and follows those words literally.
Those words accordingly are written in some sort of scripture, some sort of book or booklet, where we could “get the truth.”
Nevertheless, as shared many times in this blog; there is no way that words could reflect truth, specially spiritual truth.
Why?
Because any ordinary language can only express duality, and the depth of spirituality resides in understanding that duality exists, but also to go beyond it.
That “going beyond,” is not in the realm of words.
That is why to connect with feelings of the heart has been used by religions to connect with the “truth,” with God. Nevertheless, the outcome of that connection has to be shown in our own actions; otherwise those feelings become mere sentimental, emotional outlets, a source for devotional upliftment for the heart, but without the force to express itself in our own activity.
It has been said that: “The highest truth cannot be put into words. Therefore, the greatest teacher has nothing to say. He simply gives himself in service, and never worries.” (Hua Hu Ching )
Activity over words and language. Don’t talk, for, it could be misunderstood. Just do the walk and let everyone see.
For example, some scriptures could express that marriage is “bad.” Others that celibacy is “good,” etc.
Please note that this “all or nothing” approach is not reflecting truth but is reflecting a teaching according to time and to certain individuals according to traditions and levels of understanding.
If marriage was “bad,” then societies wouldn’t be able to survive. For a society depends on a couple as the building block to survive.
Likewise, celibacy is not for everyone. As we know, “actors” need to come on to this “stage” of the Drama of life and that happens through reproduction.
Similarly if we go to an extreme, like in killing, we could observe that life may offer “tests” when
killing may be necessary as a last resort as in self-defense or even when euthanasia is considered.
We also know that there is “no killing” in the unlimited, for, we are eternal beings, but there is “cause and effect,” thus, what we do will come back to us.
A commandment such as “you shall not murder” could be extended to murder of animals for some, while for others that is not the “true” meaning of that commandment.
Note that religious teachings have been given according to the consciousness of those being taught.
Note that “black or white” statements are meant to reform personalities, their ways of living. They are meant for a particular type of people at a particular time. That is why, the “word of God,” cannot be put into words as the “ultimate truth,” but rather as a reference for behavioral change.
Therefore, the only thing that I could truly attempt to know in its fullest extent is the self, for no one can know more about myself than myself.
Below some quotes to spark the need for self-knowledge:
* Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.
Proverbs 21:2
(Actions are in itself neutral. Our hearts, our intentions, our consciousness make those activities “good or bad.”)
* When asked what was the most difficult thing, Thales replied, “To know thyself.”
When asked what was easiest, he replied, “To give advice.”
* Katha Upanishad: The Self lies beyond the senses and can only be understood by him who knows It is.
* Ramayana: Enquiry into the truth of the Self is knowledge.
* Koran: And Do thou, Oh Muhammad, remember thy Lord within thyself.
* Tao Te Ching: Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering
others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.
A spiritual seeker, perhaps will start looking for the truth. He will start looking for anything outside him including the idea that he has about God. However, that search sooner or later will go back to the inner self, that is the only truth we could ever get close to in a world ruled by perceptions where our perception about ourselves is our own reality.
Spirituality then is meant to change that perception to the highest one of ourselves.
That truth cannot be put into words.
Exploring the Depth of Living 