Dogs Hear More, Cats See More

There is so much more than we can comprehend. We are designed to be narrow, to function in a limited zone of comfort. But there is clearly much more. Dogs hear more than we do, cats see more. What understanding we have is gleaned through our physical and cultural experience, which is but a fraction of all that is.

 

Our scientists, religions and great teachers have barely touched the hem of Its garment. We will always, always have this longing to know God. Our teachings are helpful, but they are not the thing Itself. Learning is a pathway to illumination. But it is only when we become still and quiet, and let our everyday minds go, getting our bloated nothingness out of the way, that we know and can embody a greater portion of the Divine that dwells within us. Experiencing a personal communion with God, even in what we take to be difficult times such as these, is our purpose - what the Covenant is all about.

Being Right All the Time is Exhausting!

Having to be right about everything or most things is exhausting! Controlling the sun and the moon, the media, internet, world hunger, politics, justice, the people at work and in your family (get ready, Thanksgiving is coming!) is difficult.  Oh, you say you leave the sun and the moon to God? Is that because you’re doing such a good job with the other things, especially your family, friends and the people at work?

 

When we struggle to control the things and people in our lives and to be right who or what are we trying to please? The ego. What are we trying to prove? That my ego, my little ‘s’ self’s limited beliefs, attitudes and understanding of the world, are better than my big ‘S’ Self’s guidance. I’m settling for grandiosity instead of grandeur. I’m accepting a tiny tiny slice of reality instead of an appreciation of the wondrous magnificence of the mystery of life.  I’m limiting mySelf to myself.

 

Isn’t that sad?  Why settle for a little fenced-off part of Life dominated by fear, guilt and blame when we can experience the wonder, joy and creativity of the inner flow of unlimited unconditional Love?  “You have no idea of the tremendous release and deep peace that comes from meeting yourself and your brothers totally without judgment [and the need to control and be right]”—The Course in Miracles.

 

It’s OK to want to be right and control what you can, especially in your own life. In fact as long as we identify more with ourselves instead of ourSelves, we have an obligation to do so. But we can do so with the awareness that we’re limiting ourSelves, could have wonder, joy and peace instead, and whenever possible, let go of our self’s need to be right, control and judge and let ourSelves guide us to unimaginable wonder, joy and peace.

God as It

 

“God does not forgive because He has never condemned”—The Course in Miracles

 

And ‘He’ has never condemned because as I posted last time, ‘He’ is an ‘It,’ not a ‘He’—a neutral power like gravity or electricity, but greater and all encompassing. The gravity is not responsible when a building collapses. The gravity does not keep score, judge, punish, nor reward, it is just there, a force we can use or misuse.  When a building collapses it’s probably because we misused the gravity—bad design, construction, etc. So it is with God.

 

People dislike this view of ‘God’ because it makes them responsible for what happens in their lives. It’s very stark, very clear—there’s no one or no thing to blame, just ourselves. Much easier to be the innocent victims of a nasty, vengeanful God—I mean, after all, I’m just doing the best I can, right; shit happens! Aren’t there “Acts of God” in all our insurance policies?

 

Bull shit! There’s no one and no thing to blame but ourselves! But hey, why blame at all? Why not just finally learn how the world works and take responsibility for doing things differently, for using the power correctly? It’s a little difficult at first, growing up always is, but my, what a difference, what a positive difference being responsible and in-charge makes in our experience of living!

What I Mean by "God"

The word “God” that I use in these posts has many meanings. I want to clarify what I mean when I use the word.

 

To me, the word “God” is a symbol, as all words are symbols, that stands for the energy that creates, animates and guides all things; the source in and thru everyone and everything. It’s an energy that human beings have been seeking to understand and use since the beginning of time.

 

Science seeks to explain and use this energy as does religion. But the energy itself remains a mystery. Cutting edge science and spirituality have enabled us to understand some things about it, but not all. It’s encouraging to me that the findings of cutting edge science and spirituality reveal a congruence with many of the insights and core ideas of most of the world’s religions. Physics shows that the ancient idea of one God, one energy, is true. Contemporary spirituality shows that the ancient ideas of, “it is done unto you as you believe” and “seek ye the kingdom of heaven first,” work best.

 

This energy is what I mean by the word “God.” Ubiquitous and invisible in its purest form, it steps down into the particular in our human experience of it. We experience it first in its ubiquitous invisible form, what we label “spiritual”, then as a mental/intellectual experience, then emotionally and finally physically. All four kinds of experience: spiritual, mental, emotional and physical, are manifestations of the one energy, co-exist simultaneously and are the labels we use to describe our experience of It.

 

This is what I mean when I use the word, “God.” I do not mean an old white man with a beard, sitting on a throne in the sky who keeps score, judges, rewards and punishes. I mean a neutral force like gravity or electricity that we can partially understand and work with. When we use electricity correctly, it’s a blessing. When we use it incorrectly, it’s a fearsome horror. It is not the electricity that blesses or destroys, but our use of it. The electricity and gravity, like my understanding of the energy that I call “God,” is neutral.

Spirituality is our basic, fundamental connection with this energy, the thing Itself. Religions are the various brands, the stories we make up to help us understand the thing Itself.

Blancing Prayer and Action

So now Rick Scott wants to have a “conversation” with Washington (he’s dead, isn’t he?) about the affordable care act. You see how well giving it over to spirit works? But I didn’t just give it over, I also took action.  Once again both/and and balancing giving it over/praying and action worked. Both are needed. But the giving it over needs to come before the action. Action first usually arises in the amygdala of the brain, the fear center, bringing on the flight or fight response. Acting first is the impulse thinking I blogged about two weeks ago.

 

Balancing both giving it over/praying and action is a constant ongoing activity. When we’re aware, we do the one, then the other. But when we’re not aware, full of lust, hate and fear, we default to action and impulse thinking. Fine. No sweat. No error, no foul. Simply train your awareness without guilt, blame or judgment so that you’re more conscious and able to choose giving it over/praying first. Form a new habit, a new default. The more you do it, the more you do it.

Rick Scott and the Affordable Care Act

Governor Rick Scott is once again talking about turning down a Federal program, this time the Affordable Care Act.  This is unacceptable. Too many lives, too many people’s health are at stake.  There must be something we can do to help the Governor change his mind! I know the hospitals want Florida to participate in the Act.  Are there other potential allies out there that can help us help the Governor change his mind? Obama’s organization is still intact, let’s reach out to them. The League of Women Voters too, and the AFL/CIO.

 

Despite the Governor’s beliefs, this is a humanitarian community concern. The ideology of fiscal austerity and fiscal whatever, cannot be allowed to Trump (ha, ha, ha!) the concrete needs of flesh and blood human beings! Besides, this is Florida—all kinds of people from all kinds of places, places with inadequate sanitary facilities, can come here with latent communicable diseases. If they get sick and go uncared for, it’s only a matter of time before we all get sick.  Good health care is not only for the so-called ‘deserving’, or ‘legal’, or those who ‘earned’ it; it’s required for the good and welfare of the entire community.

 

Governor Rick Scott is once again talking about turning down a Federal program, this time the Affordable Care Act.  This is unacceptable. Too many lives are at stake.  There must be something we can do to help the Governor change his mind! Let’s get on it!

 

Bursts of Wisdom

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony –Gandhi

 

 

Your life is not a problem to be solved but a gift to be opened—Wayne Muller

 

 

We don’t see things as they are, but as we are—Anais Nin

 

 

Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions—Hafiz

 

 

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult—Seneca