From One Deluded Soul, to Another

It's fairly clear to anyone who takes the time to observe, how thoughts and emotions interplay to sustain and propel each other. An event happens, it's instantly interpreted within the context of one's personal world view, feelings arises and thoughts begin to justify those feelings. This empowers the emotions, motivating a need for further explanations, which serve to rationalize the feelings, both giving each other validity and “realness”. And these are just surface level thoughts and feelings. Upon continued reiteration they become integrated into the deeper layers of our subconscious structures and belief systems.

Choosing to deny full passage to these thoughts and feelings is kind of like taking a spoonful of a favorite desert and then spitting it out before savoring and swallowing it. It's almost as if they impose their own will to live upon us, although it's really just our deeply ingrained habits asserting themselves. We can easily be distracted from following them to their intended destinations by other errant thoughts and feelings, but we don't quite notice it happening, because we're then consumed by the vague promises of the interrupting thoughts and feelings.

But if we were to take the time to observe the process dispassionately, eventually getting to the source of these inner actions, we'd find that thoughts exists as fully developed notions, even before words are formed and lined up to solidify the notion into a form that can be assimilated by the cognitive mind. And digging a little deeper, these amorphous thought globules are sparked to life by amorphous feelings or compulsions to validate or justify the bigger picture of who we imagine we are, or are supposed to be, and how we imagine the world is, or is supposed to be.

So these subconscious beliefs, feelings and thoughts birth our surface level mental activities, which then provide the impetus for all of our outward deeds. And as the cycle works, perception filtered through preconception is slanted toward confirming said preconceptions, and actions are limited by expectations and presumed limitations, thereby reaffirming those notions. Repetition creates habits, which give the false impression of inherent permanence. This process builds upon itself throughout the course of our lives, growing ever more pervasive and compelling.

And what's astounding, is that, for the vast majority, the formation and evolution of this self supporting system happens completely arbitrarily. (Here, many will pause to consider how lucky they are to be one of the few in the minority – the delusion is powerful.)

Then division and conflict, even wars, arise from people defending their differing constructions, as though they were each the holders of the one true world view - when the only “right” view is the understanding that we're all wrong. Everyone's outlook is skewed - a partial picture, one perspective out of an infinite number, seen through a dirty and distorting window and influenced by the equally inaccurate views of those deemed important or wise.

I say this, not to be pessimistic or depressing, but in order to free us from doggedly clinging to our notions of certainty.

It makes perfect sense, in an abstract scenario, that knowingly acting in accordance with falsehoods or refusing to see the truth because it doesn't match existing beliefs or desires, is foolish, ineffectual and ill-conceived. Ergo, in our day to day activities and relations, living with an acceptance of uncertainty is far better than living a life constructed around a delusion of certainty.

Sages, mystics, clergymen and profits tell us that divine consciousness lives within us. And that we can access or merge with it, if we learn to surrender to it. That, in fact, we are it. We just lose that sense because the overwhelming din of the minds non-stop ranting drowns out the silence where peace, openness and acceptance reside. Seeing without the filter of preconception allows us to gain clearer perspective over our expectations and interpretations, as well as feel that magical connection with all of life's unfolding.

It's not that we wish to discard our memories, emotions or contemplative processes. We just need to recognize that these are not the end-all of who we are and how we can best understand our world and our relationship with it.

We naturally accept that children are just beginning to learn and understand, and still expect them to do the best they can, all the while, forgiving them their short comings. It would be best if we could accept that we are all children in a world far beyond our capacity to grasp, and be compassionate with our selves and others for being ignorant of ultimate knowledge and understanding, as we stumble through life, doing the best we can. “To err is human” - inside and out. Not to fret or judge this harshly, but to accept it as a condition of our being, and to move forward, comfortable with our shared state of uncertainty.

A Divine Prayer (Diety not required)

In the name of the daybreak
and the eyelids of morning
and the wayfaring moon
and the night when it departs,

I swear I will not dishonor
my soul with hatred,
but offer myself humbly
as a guardian of nature,
as a healer of misery,
as a messenger of wonder,
as an architect of peace.

In the name of the sun and its mirrors
and the day that embraces it
and the cloud veils drawn over it
and the uttermost night
and the male and the female
and the plants bursting with seed
and the crowning seasons
of the firefly and the apple,

I will honor all life
—wherever and in whatever form
it may dwell—on Earth my home,
and in the mansions of the stars.

Diane Ackerman

Summoning Serenity

Serenity might be described as a feeling of peace and contentment, coupled with an embracing of circumstances and relations. It's not dull at all, but very aware and engaging. For many, it may seem like a distant fantasy; something found only in fairy tales. But it's really a very ordinary occurrence.

The most common occasions when people stumble across a feeling of tranquility are during random encounters with the natural world. Different situations resonate more fully with different people. It may be sitting on a beach hearing the waves come and go, toes in the sand and sun bearing down, gulls flying overhead. Perhaps it's lingering by a babbling stream in some lush woods with spires of sun darting through the canopy, birds singing, leaves rustling and squirrels frolicking. Maybe pausing for a dazzling sunset, watching bees blossom hopping or even seeing nature via TV – a living reef in action, the saga of family along an arduous migration or a time-lapse view of a flower blooming or frond unfurling. Maybe all of the above.

The beauty of the earth, its flora and fauna and the serendipitous splendor of a finely balanced ecosystem are wondrous and awe inspiring. Most everyone has been stunned into inner silence by the majesty of this world we've been blessed to belong to.

This can serve as a handy pocket catalyst for transforming one's state of mind, on demand. We first need to recognize that we are in an undesirable state and that we have the capacity to change it. But those issues are in or for other articles.

Just like shifting gears in a car, going from reverse directly into drive may not be the best plan. It helps to slide into neutral and pause momentarily, first. There are many methods for releasing unwanted moods – more fodder for/in other pieces. Ideally, one learns to let it go quickly with just a few mindful breaths.

It's OK to use any visualization technique, if that's what works. There obviously aren't any real gears to strip, or an actual clutch to burn out. It's just my experience that it's much easier to clearly hone in on a chosen feeling when there's not the distraction of a pre-existing emotional state.

Neutral, itself, is a very soothing state to be in. But when the desire is for a more buoyant mood, eliciting a memory or imagining a time in a favored natural environment can elevate the vibrations and promote a feeling of connection with life and all relations. That feeling can then be fertilized and invited to prosper.

Serenity, tranquility, peacefulness, quietude, whatever label it wears, is just a state of mind – one that's always available, one we can choose to nurture, if we adopt a new relationship with our attitudes and develop the skills to intentionally manifest them. We already know it well. We just need to close our eyes, dip our toes back into that running stream and let it wash over us.

Mental Flossing

People learn to respect the need for basic maintenance from early childhood – brush your teeth, wash between your toes, clean your room, do the dishes, … So, how is it that so few are ever taught to do any basic maintenance on their minds?

The mind - its programming, flexibility and tidiness - dictates the feeling, context and quality of all of life. Happenings and things are nothing more than what they are, until some mind processes them. And, for the most part, that processing is completely arbitrary.

Children see the world as a magical place. Adults assume this is because they don't know any better; and so, attempt to enlighten them to the truth of life's mundane nature. In fact, adults are just jaded; therefore, no longer see the specialness in the ordinary.

What if we could clear out all of the preconceived ideas and expectations that we hold as factual, and let the world be wondrous? How would it be if a tree was not just a word in your head, but that living thing right in front of you, holding decades of history, surrounded by a family born of its fruits, offering itself as home to many, shading you from the hot sun, which, even in death, will nourish the earth, feeding the next generation, or become fuel for someone's warming winter fires? A spider is not just a bug to be squashed or thrown outside, but a magnificent example of life in motion and a mirror of the interwoven nature of all of life.

Other people aren't extraneous beings, obstacles, stepping stones or competitors. They're our family – all of them. They're us. The feelings that arise when we connect with another on a deeply intimate level are available through interactions with anyone. We need only be open to it.

Our creative and intuitive faculties are drowned out by the incessant rambling of our futile efforts to define and contain the world inside our minds. Once we construct an image of how the world is, we begin to interpret and filter our views to support our suppositions. If we can let go of our thoughts and open to newness, we become more.

So, back to flossing. If we want to experience the world as a brighter place and continue to evolve as beings, we need to take some time, on a regular basis, to forget who we think we are and experience who we feel we are, to let go of what we think life is and relish how it feels to be alive.

There are a number of activities that can move one in this direction, but the only one specifically tailored to the pursuit, is meditation. A regular diet of daily, perhaps twice or thrice daily, meditation clears the clutter, clarifies priorities and view points, provides an ever expanding perspective and opens inroads for new possibilities of understanding and capabilities.

In a perfect world, this would be taught to the young along with feeding the cat and cleaning the litter box. In the real world (at least the western world), most will have to learn this on their own. Can we get along without it? Sure. We can also live with wax filled ears and rotten teeth. You make the call.

A Tear for Jessie

I remember carrying my dog, Jessica, run down by some anonymous motorist, through the woods behind our house. I laid her on the ground, stood back and waited for tears to come. I don't know how long I stood there, but nary a drop ever came. I could see the reality of the situation so clearly - on many levels and within many time frames. I was open, even inviting an overwhelming sadness to engulf me. I stared at her stiffening body as the breeze pushed the leaves and the water stroked the rocks. It was a chilly late winters day, so the woods appeared just as lifeless as she did. I took the shovel, dug a shallow grave along side the small creek and laid her, now an it, into the earth. I paused again, feeling broken – not because my heart was shattered, but because it wasn't. I wasn't in denial, nor was I being brave or acting strong. I covered her corpse, sighed, toted the shovel back to my Corvair and drove the short distance back to our hippie shack, dry eyed.

I was 18 and already well steeped in philosophical thought. I didn't fantasize that I knew it all, but I felt like I had a better understanding of how things “really” were than most of humanity. In fact, it still seems like I had a pretty good grasp of things, intellectually. The few scraps of writing from that time, that survived through my vagabond days, still resonate with my current understanding and teachings. But the world doesn't exist in my mind – except for in my mind.

Now that I tear up at every little thing, I understand that my heart wasn't broken and that my mind was seeing quite correctly. There was no point in crying for my loss or for that of the planet. Death happens every second. If she, or any of us, had a soul, it was the smallest of bumps along a road of eternal evolution. But had I paused to consider the importance of that one short life, seen the joy and love and friendship that she wouldn't get to live, things may have felt different. I seem to live much of my life now, in other peoples shoes or paws or wings. The big picture is still there, but now it walks hand in hand with the personal pictures.

The Buddha said that “Life is suffering”. I found that such a harsh and cold judgment. How could one so enlightened hold such a gloomy view? Now I see. It's not an intellectual, philosophical statement, it's a factual one. Every living being experiences loss, setbacks and hardship. Certainly, we can learn to brush it off, to sit above the situation and see it as a wee thing in the grand scheme. I still give little credence to my own “suffering”, for the most part. But these days, I empathize deeply with the rest of creation, on a regular basis.

Today, I shed a tear for Jessie.