Who Is, or Are, Our Own Kind?

Spirit tells me that everyone resonates with everyone else
in a very personal style. Our individual energy systems
are magnetically attracted to other energy systems,
or they are not. But, no two relationships are or can be
identical.

We each are as a different person to every other person,
animal, or whatever we relate to in any way. Even within
families, each member relates in his or her unique way
to each other family member, pet, visitor, or friend,
as well as to strangers.

We may develop, and we cannot easily avoid doing so,
socially conditioned relationships to the world
we live in. However, this is an unnatural form of
a shared thought system. It does not change
our individual energy vibrations, except, perhaps,
to suppress them, at least to some degree.

Social conditioning does not, and cannot,
totally suppress our natural curiosity to the
world we live in, or our natural tendencies to be
individually attracted to, or repulsed by other
ways of life than those of our own culture.

But, surely, social conditioning is necessary
to ensure the survival of any culture, and
to teach its members to respect, learn, and express
the knowledge and values that have been developed
over many generations. Each culture surely has
its own way of life, its own myths and beliefs.

Problems arise for the elders and leaders of
individual societies, who are dedicated to the
preservation of traditions, as well as for those
who fear losing a position of control over
younger members who might be naturally attracted
to and curious about new, to them, ideas and ways
of life in other communities.

Then, social conditioning has to develop a sense
of exclusion to discourage members from being
tempted to learn more about other ways of life?

Exactly.

Would the elders and leaders within different
societies necessarily know themselves that
individuals possess …

Not possess; are unique energy systems. And,
the result would be the same. Leaders would still
develop taboos to discourage close association
outside of their own society.

Wouldn’t most people in most societies feel
more comfortable and at home within their own
society without needing to be conditioned
to live close to their own kind?

Who is, or are, our own kind?

I don’t know.

Yes.

The Price of Expanded Awareness

Spirit tells me that whenever the sudden
sense of awareness of an expanded
so-called reality seems to have blown
our mind, it is helpful to ask ourselves
just where has it blown our mind?

We are now beyond where we had been,
or, more truthfully, we are now beyond
being able to ever again be where we
previously had been.

It is not a matter of choosing to be
less directly engaged with other
characters and situations in the play,
or game of Life, than we once were,
and can honestly be no more.

How to recover from sudden removal
from the close-up action, even though
we may now see it all from a certain
distance as more-or-less meaningless
activity?

That would be an easy-out.

Then, how to respond?

To what?

To the awareness of not being
in the action.

Are you physically removed from it?

Not completely.

Then, what?

I seem to have been recast,
as a member of the audience, but
an audience that influences
the activity on the stage.

Yes. We are never totally disconnected
from either the play or the players.

That’s it.

What is it?

My character is still there, at least
in form. But I now know that I
acted as that character. So, am I
an actor?

Yes and no.

I want to be real.

What would real look like?

I’m not sure. I can see what is
happening, from a distance, as well as
from close-up.

Are you now more or less engaged
in the play?

I seem to be more aware of
the potential for expansion in
the value of the play.

Yes, and that expanded awareness comes
with a price you must pay.

Expanded responsibility?

Yes.

Note: Dear Reader, Spirit suggests that we each spend
a few minutes at the beginning and again at the ending
of each day, reflecting on the seemingly nonsensical
world we live in, and then to smile with awareness
of the incredible potential, locked within all that
seems to make no sense, waiting to be activated.
Jean

Transcendence as Sacred, or Is It?

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.

We Each Know Everyone Else

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.

Perhaps We Have Reasons of Our Own

Spirit tells me that once we begin to move
uphill in spiritual awareness, we are unlike
a ball rolling downhill. It would take
an inner force to slow or stop us.

What inner force or forces would slow
or stall our progress?

Resistance to oneness.

Please explain.

We are never alone on our journey of life.
We share our experience of physical life
and its multitude of situations, events,
and challenges with a cast of seemingly
unknowable numbers of people, and other
life forms, interacting with each other,
or pretending not to.

But, in addition to all the the physical
senses are aware of, there are also
untold numbers of non-physical beings who
send their energies as loving arms,
to assist and protect us.

What good can they do for me and others
if we are unaware of their existence?

We can imagine they are with us.

Make believe?

Not exactly.

Then, what?

We each have an inner sense – call it
intuition, or conscience – of how
to respect and care for each other.

We also each possess a unique gift
or calling, some more than others,
for reasons beyond the scope of
our discussion.

We each seem to need to develop in
unique ways that emotional desire
directs us toward.

So, we need to listen to our own
inner voice?

Exactly.

As a first step to visualizing
spirit teachers, guides, and friends?

Yes.

Does that describe my relationship
with you?

No.

Yes. I thought not. Then, where
do you come in?

Not where, but why.

Then, why?

Why what?

Why would you spend precious time
and energy with a slow learner,
not to mention an aging one,
such as myself.

It’s never too late to learn. and …

And what?

Perhaps we have reasons of our own.

Awareness as a thermometer; not a thermostat, until …

Spirit tells me that personal awareness is as a thermometer,
not a thermostat until …

Until what?

Until it is programmed.

How does one program awareness?

How does one program a thermostat?

It contains a built-in thermometer and when the measured
heat level reaches or drops to a preset temperature, then
the thermostat kicks in, or turns on, to maintain
the chosen level of heat.

Why is a particular level of heat chosen?

For personal comfort.

Exactly.

How does that relate to awareness?

Everyone is aware, at a chosen comfort level.

Then, how can we raise our awareness?

Adjust your personal comfort level.

Of what?

Truth.

You’re getting personal.

Yes.

But, it hurts.

Of course it hurts, until you let go.

Of my illusions?

Yes.

But, how?

With love.

How can love help?

Not just love, unconditional love.

How does it work?

We love some stories that we know are fiction.

And, unconditional love is like that?

Yes, more or less.

More or less?

Yes.

Dear Reader, Spirit challenges me to think deeply about life as I live it,
moment by moment,even during simple activities of daily living.
If you enjoy witnessing my struggle to grow in understanding, then you are
welcome to join us on our other blogs:
Grass-Roots Spiritual Philosophy 101 @ jeanw5dotcom.wordpress.com
I Ching as a Way to Enlightenment @ spiritsharesgemsofwisdom.wordpress.com

The only way.

Spirit tells me that our dreams are worlds of parallel reality
to our so-called awake world, designed to teach us of the
potential for illusion in our so-called everyday experiences.

While dreaming, the dream world seems real, even thought it
may not be in many, or any ways similar to our world upon
awakening.

How can it seem real, if it is not?

One thing we are aware of during our dream is our own
existence, even if it is experienced no more than as an
observer. We relate to the drama. It seems to make sense
to us, at the time. We never stop to question its
authenticity.

So, the dream could be telling me something totally unrelated
to the scenario in the dream itself?

Yes.

Then, how do I make sense of it?

When?

After I wake up.

Do you wake up?

What do you mean?

To wake up is to become aware that human existence itself
is an illusion.

But, I am living a human existence.

Yes.

Why?

To develop awareness of the power of relationship.

Singular?

Yes.

In that any and all express a way of Life?

Yes, the only Way.

The non-dual nature of reality

Spirit shares gems of wisdom.

Spirit tells me that serving life is not an option and that
we each and every one do serve; some more, some less.

Whether we know it or not?

At some level of awareness, we know it. But, we may be
too grounded in physical and material illusion
to consciously consider, or very much care about,
our degree of impact on those with whom we share
our environment, or, possibly, the environment itself.

Many of us fail to see that we may be part of
the environment, from the perspective of some others,
if they are even aware enough to notice us at all.

What about personal relationships?

What about them?

Are they no more or less than a part of our awareness?

Outside of oneself?

Yes.

No.

I hesitate to ask about what seems to be suggested.

The non-dual nature of reality?

Yes.

Why hesitate?

I’m not ready to deal with it.

Yes.

There is no lasting structure

Spirit shares gems of wisdom.

Spirit tells me that everything I say or do should be for a reason
that I understand and can accept responsibility for.

He encourages me to live life here and now, day by day, and to create
a living and lived philosophy of life, and to become what I know I can
become; more and more what I really am, by living with purpose and
meaning.

That sounds beautiful but how do I set attainable goals.

These are attainable goals.

But, the horizon is too distant and unattainable for me. I need
structure.

Yes, and there is none, none that is lasting.

A controlling interest

Spirit Shares Gems of Wisdom

Spirit asks me, what is our relationship? That puzzles me, as I believe it is as a student and teacher – a one-to-one, as a private tutor, as people with money might purchase.

I am not for sale, He tells me, which is just as well, since I have no money. Perhaps I could never have as much as it might take to offer what He is worth, to me.

But, student and teacher is only part of what our relationship is all about and so I must answer, I don’t know, yet.

Can we pretend, He then asks, to be what we know we are and can we relate to each other as we do, or seem to?

Then Spirit responds to my confused thoughts and emotions with, “Yes, I seem to have a controlling interest in your life and I do, for now.”