Category Archives: developing awareness

All Paths are One Path

Posted on by under developing awareness, Finding our unique way, understanding life struggles

Spirit tells me that if we believe in ourselves
then half of the struggle is over.

As in, well begun is half done?

Yes.

But, how can I know if I believe in myself
or whether I’m only pretending?

We can never know.

But, we do know if we have begun
to do whatever?

Yes.

But, if we seem to be working alone …

Alone is the only way we can work.

It can feel very lonely.

Then, your mind has wandered from the work
you set out to do.

Then, fight the good fight?

Yes, and trust that there are others,
many more others than you could possibly
be aware of, who are also fighting
your fight, on your side.

I wish I knew what it was all about.

Enlightenment, and clearing the path
that others might follow.

What if they prefer to clear their own path?

All paths are one path.

Creative Passion as a Dance of Yang and Yin

Posted on by under creative passion, developing awareness, simple spiritual insights, understanding life struggles

Spirit tells me that creative passion is a dance,
as much as a joint venture, between intellect
and emotion, each directing the other to music
they are co-creating as they respond to each other,
in a continuous blend of unrehearsed movement.

Wow! That sounds seductive.

It is, intentionally so.

Then, to bring it all back to reality …

It never left.

How does such a …

Way of life?

Wouldn’t it be exhausting?

In what way?

In relation to spiritual development.

It is the only way.

Even for a Bodhisattva?

Especially for her, or him.

Then, in serving others more
while serving ourselves no less …

More or less of what?

Personal and community care.

And environmental?

Yes.

Intellect provides us with means
to learn to understand what needs
to be done and what we can do
to satisfy that need.

And emotion?

Knowing what and how to contribute
is totally unproductive without
desire to inspire us to act on
the awareness intellect provides.

Yang and Yin?

Yes.

Unconditional Love is Intelligent Love

Posted on by under developing awareness, simple spiritual insights, unconditional love

Spirit tells me that unconditional love
is intelligent love.

But, isn’t love an emotion?

Yes.

And, doesn’t intelligence require
intellect?

Yes.

Then, is unconditional love a blend
of intellect and emotion?

No.

Please explain.

What?

How unconditional love …

Expresses intelligence?

Yes.

Do we love whom we do only when
their behaviour pleases us?

No.

Why?

We choose to overlook imperfections.

Yes.

What does that mean?

You answered your own question.

How?

Choice requires decision-making,
and that requires intellect.

So, unconditional love does not
negate or excuse unlovable
behaviour, but chooses to love
regardless.

Yes.

Transcendence as Sacred, or Is It?

Posted on by under developing awareness, self-transcendence, Spirit shares words of wisdom, understanding life struggles

Spirit tells me that when we intend
to learn more about life, or anything
else, as if there were anything
unrelated to life, then we intend
to transcend what we now know,
or think we know.

Or now believe?

No. Belief is an end point.

Until we doubt?

Yes.

Back to transcendence.

Transcendence doesn’t go back.

I thought the term transcendence
was spiritual.

It is, but not exclusively.

Isn’t there a danger in …

Using a word to express what it
was designed to express?

Then, to rise above could refer
to moving up a material ladder
from a lower to a higher level?

Yes, or to intentionally integrate
thoughts and emotions, and then
to transcend that integration
by physically or mentally
acting on the outcome.

Then, action, any action, is
an intentional expression of
a blend of thought and emotion?

Yes.

Regardless of the quality of the
blend or the resulting action?

Yes.

Then, where is the beauty and
magnificence that transcendence
suggests, more than suggests; it
seems to inspire awe and devotion.

A word can do that?

For me, yes. At least it did
until you …

Until I what?

You removed the shine and reflection
of a higher light.

Did I remove the light?

No.

Then, what?

I was using the word to replace
the light?

Yes.

Idol worship?

Yes.

Enlightenment is Different To Different People

Posted on by under developing awareness, Finding our unique way, Spirit shares words of wisdom

Spirit tells me that the way of enlightenment
is different things to different people,
if only in their different minds, and even
so-called different minds are not really
different at all.

Then, how can we agree on the way to go?

Where?

To enlightenment.

There is no way.

No way to enlightenment or no way to agree?

Yes.

Please explain.

We are each and always have been
in the process of becoming.

Becoming what?

Some call it becoming enlightened.

What do you call it?

What it is.

Then, what is it?

Then, now, and forever the same
process.

What process?

Not what process of becoming?

No.

Why?

It would be an intellectual trap.

Would be, or might be?

Would be.

Yes.

Please explain the process of
enlightenment.

Before I explain enlightenment?

Yes.

Why?

I need to bring it all together.

Yes.

We Each Know Everyone Else

Posted on by under developing awareness, Spirit shares words of wisdom

Spirit tells me that there have always been
dedicated teachers of wisdom in every culture
since time began, who have shared their
understanding and awareness of how life
can be lived for the benefit of all.

But, there are surely many more ways than
one to live a life that benefits all,
if it was possible to know how the life
we live could harm anyone.

Awareness would teach you.

How to become aware?

Experience.

Experience of what?

Being harmed as a result of how others
live their lives.

It isn’t possible to know how all others
live their lives.

Why?

I don’t know all others.

Do you know yourself?

Yes, I think so.

Then you know everyone else.

We Each Have a Reason For Being Whom We Are

Posted on by under developing awareness, Finding our unique way

Spirit tells me that the purpose of unconditional
love is …

Does unconditional love have a purpose?

Everything has a purpose.

And everyone?

And every one what?

Does everyone have a purpose?

As in a reason?

Yes, I guess.

Yes, you guess what?

I guess I mean to ask if everyone
has a reason, but …

But what?

I suspect you will then ask me
to complete my sentence.

Yes.

Do we each have a reason for being
whom we are?

Yes.

What reason do I have for being
whom I am?

What reason would you have for being
anyone else?

I lose?

Yes.

Simplicity is Where Thinking Begins

Posted on by under developing awareness, simple spiritual insights

Spirit tells me that Simplicity has its place
but it should not be as a quality of thought.

Is that a personal comment?

Yes.

Why do you not scold my simplicity of emotion?

What have your emotions to do with your thinking?

Is it possible to have deep thoughts and simple
emotions?

What have emotions to do with thinking?

You’re luring me into an intellectual trap.

Yes.

Then, pleas explain.

What?

The relationship between thought and emotion

They interact with each other.

As cause and effect?

Which would be cause?

Emotion.

No.

If thought does not act on emotion, then …

But, thought does act on emotion.

Then why do you say emotion does not
cause thought.

Because it isn’t necessarily so.

Then, interact in this case means …

Mutual influence.

How do they influence each other?

Some of us develop the capacity
to think rationally, while still
maintaining uncomplicated emotions.

Then you approve of simple emotions?

There are no other kind.

Awareness is not an End in Itself

Posted on by under developing awareness, Spirit shares words of wisdom

Spirit tells me, as if to console my aching heart,
that letting go was never easy
for anyone who ever felt they needed to be
connected to whatever or whomever, until
there didn’t seem to be an acceptable alternative.

The interconnecting energy relaxes on its own,
or will if we will let it.

It didn’t seem to need permission.

We need to learn to allow ourselves to feel
connected as long as it seems to make sense
to be so, and then, the bonds of relationship
relax, gently or otherwise, to facilitate
adaptation to newly developed awareness.

Close relationships will always be close,
unless …

Unless what?

Unless they seem …

To become more or less close?

Yes. Are you aware that you are aware of
a change in certain relationships?

Yes, and yet not as an observer of
outside events.

Yes. We can become increasing aware of
our inner feelings and rationalize
about them without denying them.

Yes, and self-awareness seems to be
non-judgmental.

Yes. It accepts that what is, is,
for whatever reason.

So, where do we go from here?

From where?

From accepting that we feel whatever
strength of whatever emotion about
whatever situation or relationship.

Then it’s time to think and rationalize
about where to go from here.

Feeling has served its purpose?

Yes. Now it’s time to choose
how to act on our awareness.

Then, awareness is not an end it itself?

Never. The price of awareness is responsibility
for whatever response we choose in whatever
situation.

It Serves us Well to Remember

Posted on by under developing awareness, simple spiritual insights, understanding life struggles

Spirit tells me that it serves us well
to remember the horror of tragic events
that might never have happened if …

If what?

If violence was not socially acceptable.

By whom?

By those who commit acts of violence.

How is that possible? Surely, for
whatever reason or reasons, surprise
attacks on thousands of unsuspecting
and unarmed people, as happened
on a day like today, not many years
ago, must have made sense to someone.

The attackers?

Perhaps they were persuaded by some
evil genius that what they were asked
to do was of value to a cause
that justified mass murder.

Yes.

Then, how can we create a world community
wherein such thinking is unthinkable?

We can only create such a community
with individuals who learn to care
for all other individuals.

Surely that is impossible.

Why?

We seem to need to come together
in small groups of people wherein
we each contribute our unique skills
for the benefit of the whole
community; our chosen community.

How would such a small community
be chosen?

Shared values.

And, how would you develop
shared values?

Education?

Yes, but education is never enough.

Then, what else?

This world, and every community,
large and small, within it, needs
individual role models, mentors,
teachers, care givers, and leaders
who understand why they were chosen
to lead.

Is it possible to create such
a world community?

Yes.