Category Archives: understanding life struggles

There Is No Way Out

Posted on by under developing awareness, higher education, understanding life struggles

Spirit tells me that a person in Third Grade
is not necessarily a third grade person.
We each are where we each are, for whatever
reason.

Wherever we each might be at any given time,
and in whatever given situation does not,
in itself express our individual potential
to reach higher and more expanded levels
of awareness, strengths, and success
in whatever our natural and unique potentials
have destined us to reach towards.

Even people who seem to be stuck where they are,
or who now might be resistant to change for
whatever reason, are exactly where they must be
at this stage of their development; spiritual,
emotional, intellectual, or physical.

We each have role models who may have helped us
stay stuck, or inspired us to move on.

And become increasingly aware that we are
influenced by certain other people?

Or situations.

Can situations serve as role models?

Situations themselves are never unique,
except as individually expressed in
particular ways.

Then situations develop or are influenced
by other situations?

Or as mirror images of other situations.

Or as a reaction or response to …?

Yes.

But, people are part of or are affected by
any existing situation.

People contribute to the preconditions or
causes and consequences or affects of
any existing personal or group situation,
large or small.

That isn’t where you’re going, though.

Where am I going?

You’re going to scold us all …

Not scold for its own sake.

Then, to dare us to expand our awareness
of potential consequences of human
reluctance to accept responsibility for
the world we live in?

Yes. And to encourage awareness of
the human tendency to blame others for
situations that we helped to create,
and then to do battle with those others.

What you say seems to be so, but how to
get out of this endless loop?

There is no way out.

ed.

Unconditional Love is Always and Never Personal

Posted on by under developing awareness, unconditional love, understanding life struggles

Spirit tells me that unconditional love
is always and never personal.

Does that mean that to love anyone
unconditionally …

Yes. You must, at the same time,
be required to love everyone
and everything in the same, or
rather, to that same degree.

Wouldn’t it all become blah?

Blah?

Yes, as in nothing special.

Unconditional love is a very special
quality of love.

Would you want me to relate to you
in such a way?

Not at this time.

Why wouldn’t unconditional Love
be appropriate at all times?

It would not be either possible
or appropriate.

Please explain.

What? Unconditional love?

No. I think I understand what
that means.

What is your understanding of
the meaning of unconditional love?

Unconditional love is to love
without conditions required
to receive my love.

Required by whom or what?

How can it go beyond people?

How can that be a condition?

Then our environment is
and must be included in
my unconditional love?

Yes.

Then, the fallen petals or leaves
must be as loved as when
they were …

No. Unconditional loves does not
have a past or future.

It is always in the present?

Yes, an inclusive present.

How can the present include
past and future?

There are no boundaries of time
and place for unconditional love.

Then, unconditional love is always
or never?

Yes.

But, what if I have developed, and
even now am developing, a deeper
sense of the meaning of
unconditional love?

That is as it should be.

But, I didn’t always understand …

Unconditional love does not depend
upon your understanding.

It just is?

Yes.

Note: Dear Readers, This discussion with Spirit
only seems to skim the surface of the topic
of unconditional love, and yet I could feel
myself stepping into intellectual and emotional
waters over my head, for now. If any of you
have thoughts or questions I could present to Spirit
on the subject, then please help me.

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.

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.

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.

Whatever works

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

Spirit shares timeless wisdom.

But, there are times when He seems to be
just too much.

Too much what?

Too much authority.

Too much for whom?

For me.

Such as when or how?

You seem to tell me that I must learn to walk
my talk, and yet I find myself walking your talk.

Is there a difference?

Yes, or at least in degrees of adherence to
simplicity. You don’t seem to understand
that physical life is different than life in
Spirit, alone.

In what way?

There is so much to enjoy in my world.

And, in mine?

God only knows what exists in Your world.

I know.

We’ve wandered from the topic.

One of us has.

Then, to get back on track, why do I find
myself trying to walk your talk when my
very instincts assure me that pleasure is
designed for earthly enjoyment.

It is.

Then, why do I find myself trying to live
a much more simple lifestyle than I find
comfortable, just to please you.

Do your efforts in this regard seem
to please me?

No.

Then why do you do it?

I don’t know.

Then, let me remind you that you choose
to accept the conditions I require of you.

Yes, I choose to accept, but, something
in me still resists.

What?

What is it within we that resists
or what is it that I resist?

Are you directing my style of questioning
towards me?

Whatever works.

Yes.

Everyone is called

Posted on by under developing awareness, Finding our unique way, simple spiritual insights, Spirit Tells Me, Uncategorized, understanding life struggles

Spirit shares words of wisdom.

Spirit tells me that when a pendulum has moved as far
as it can in any direction, then it has no choice but
to turn back and move toward …

But …

But what?

Doesn’t the extreme of the movement in any direction
more or less match the extreme …

Yes.

So, wouldn’t the reduced …

The wrong analogy?

Yes.

No.

Please explain.

Extremes are extremes.

And those whose thinking is extreme in one direction
could become just as extreme in another?

Yes.

So, how to be dedicated to one path without risking
being pulled to an opposite way?

There are no opposite ways.

Then, to a different path?

Awareness.

Of what?

Of the many ways …

How is that possible while moving along a chosen way?

How did your so-called chosen way become chosen?

It seemed to make more sense, for me, than the others
I knew.

Then, you were aware of other ways?

Yes. Perhaps not in great depth, but …

But?

Also, I seemed to feel called to this one.

However some others may feel called to a different way?

Yes.

Yes. We each are called in a unique way to a unique path.

Or, we are not called?

Everyone is called. Some just ignore or resist answering.

A dynamic relationship

Posted on by under developing awareness, simple spiritual insights, Spirit shares words of wisdom, understanding life struggles

Spirit tells me that He and I are as separate assortments of
energy systems, each containing the same energies as the other
but in different strengths and qualities.

We must learn to harmonize with each other, not to homogenize
our particular unique mix of strengths and weaknesses.

We must learn from the concept of Yin and Yang, who share
a dynamic relationship without denying or seeking to
diminish the intrinsic value of the other.

This is our chosen way of life, and perhaps some day
it will be so with everyone.

More is Less and Less is More

Posted on by under developing awareness, grass-roots ethics, understanding life struggles, We teach what we are

Spirit tells me that He understands my fear
that I might lose my own identity and become
consumed into His truth instead of being free
to discover my own.

It would be foolish not to be afraid, He assures me,
but not to risk that possible outcome, if it was
possible, would not be wise for someone like me.

He seems to know that His higher awareness has or is                                                                                            an irresistible temptation to me. I seem to very much                                                                                           want and need to learn from Him all that He can teach                                                                                          me about life and how it might be lived in service to                                                                                       Life itself without serving myself less.

He tells me that, at least in this case, and possibly
in all cases, more is less and less is more, depending
upon our focus.