Spirituality and Philosophy

Tears

I cannot easily find the words to express what I want to say.
What makes you cry? What inspires you to risk your life and well being for something other than yourself? Where do you experience your greatest joy? It is in these places that you may find your deepest self. Compassion is the ability to be open to the suffering and needs of others. If you experience anguish in attempting to answer these questions- then look at your anguish as a window into who you are.

Spirituality is not the province of organized religion, nor is the converse true. While there are religious people that are deeply spiritual, there are many that are not. Chris I believe understands that a large part of society's issues stem from a kind of spiritual death. Not a death that enobles , but one that degrades the essence of what it means to be human. So for him and me- the spiritual understanding is the animus for compassion and action. However imperfect we all are-past, present and future- this was as true for King, as Gandhi or the the disability rights activist I spoke to last night....

Hatred

Hatred only breeds more hatred and destroys the possibility for creative solutions.

One's views are often shaped by psychological factors that distort reality. Men of integrity can differ and those without integrity are often manipulated in ways that may or may not serve their short or long term interests. I believe that strength requires courage- the willingness to take risks-hard work, strategic thought and planning, instinct, integrity and compassion.

Compassionate communication is a conscious and courageous process- few are born with the understanding or skill to achieve genuine consensus. False coalitions based strictly on perceived self interest may no longer work in a world on the brink of destruction.

Dogma clouds thinking. Yet there is a need for adherence to principle. No intellectual construct can embody the flow of change. Fixed views are false, yet truth is not. The path to solutions is never clear, but it can become clearer if we embark on the path.

These are essentially ramblings, but they hint at a way of seeking truth that enlightens and may bring peace.

Transition

The basis of Gandhi's understanding is fundamentally spiritual in nature. Oddly enough, as we have evolved or devolved into societies that substitute an understanding of truth and our true nature with the empty pursuit of material things, we threaten the very existence of the system that embraces this false reality. The end of this system would not be tragic if it occurred as a series of natural transitions. Unfortunately, it's death promises to cause much unnecessary suffering. We are at an historic juncture in the world's history, where our very existence depends on spiritual transformation. In this sense, this is the most pivotal time in human history to be alive- If we embrace this understanding and learn how to practice genuine compassion for all beings, life. I do not believe their is one necessary belief system- one philosophy or teaching that magically will deliver us. Rather the answers are within us if we have the strength, courage and love to acknowledge it.

Non Violence

I think it is important to honor the practice of non-violence, while as individuals deeply searching our hearts and souls for whether we can fully accept it. If non-violence is to be an embodiment of love-then it must be seen less as a tactic then something that supersedes every cause-the thing in and of itself. These are not just words. They represent fundamental choices with consequences. When most people talk about this subject-it seems more like an intellectual exercise than a deeply held belief. The truth is , that by living in society as it exists today-by paying taxes, by going about our day to day lives, we assent to a system predicated on violence. Our very comfort-is a level of blindness that blots out he suffering caused by our collective actions. Choosing a path of non-violence is no easy thing. Gradual or partial acceptance of non-violence, is a luxury of the oppressor-not the oppressed.

One more thing on non-violence. At its essence, non-violence is rooted in a belief in the need for individual spiritual transformation. However, it does not stop at the notion that the world will be saved when everyone has evolved into their higher self. Rather, it seeks to bring the moral/spiritual force into the physical world by becoming a reminder- a source of discomfort perhaps- but most importantly a source of truth- in the belief that when men are obliged to face themselves and the implication of their own actions- they will endeavour to change. This belief, while some may feel is nothing more than a matter of faith- is rooted in an understanding of the essential nature of humanity and universal law. Perhaps it cannot be proven- and in a society deadened by materialism- it may seem useless.

I am not sure there is any moral principle- which if stretched to its limit holds completely true. In the personal examples you gave [defending an innocent child or animal], if I held to my principles- I would attempt to use non-violent means to stop the transgressions. If non-violence could not stop what was happening- then ideally I would use the minimum amount of force necessary to protect the innocent. There may be forms of individual self defense that are necessary and justified. There is also a component of educating the transgressor- not always practical in the moment- but still important.

Civil disobedience in my view applies more to mass social movements/change and raising consciousness.

If the goal is to end all forms of war- then any nation that uses military force perpetuates what they at least in most cases claim to want to end. The central question is the abolition of war. You are right- most nations predicate their foreign policy on the use of force and justify its use to serve their own ends.

Rather than asking whether North Korea is better off with nuclear weapons (which is absurd of course), one should ask how to create a world where North Korea no longer feels the need to protect itself with nuclear weapons.

I am somewhat familiar with Derek Jensen’s views on the use of violence. But I must say, that I would not, for example, wish to entrust Derek Jensen or Deep Green Resistance with decisions involving the use of violence. Also, Jensen does not espouse violence in all or most cases. He is understandably frustrated with the plethora of environmental groups that operate more as lobbying organizations than grassroots agents of change.

As far as opposing NDAA- I am far from alone on this. The provisions added to the bill were borne from fear- whether it is fear from international or domestic terrorists. Fear breeds more fear. In fact, the NDAA provisions violate the US Constitution and lay bare the fiction of an endless war against loosely specified forces. By weakening our liberties- these laws weaken our moral force and our democracy- as well as compromising our foreign policy. The sad thing is that my views- shared by more than a few- are hardly controversial- but have only become so in our poisoned political environment- predicated as it is on fear.

The Pearly Gates and The Candidates for President

One day all the men running for President will return to their maker. After they die their life will flash before them. They will have the chance to recollect and reflect on what they learned from their life time on Earth. When they are done, they will stand before God. Then they will be asked questions. It will begin like this:

On Earth, you had great power. Did you use it to feed the hungry? Were you a peacemaker? Did you start or end wars? What did you do to stop the eco-holocaust that has killed so much of what I love and that defines what it means to be human? When the world was on the brink of nuclear destruction, what did you do to bring peace? Did you stand up to the forces of oppression?

When children were hungry, did you lose sleep? What dominated your thoughts? What kept you awake at night?

Did you live your life with humility? Did you protect those who sacrificed to bring truth into the world? Were you loving to your family and community? Did you love all beings- or only those that were like you?

And when these men answer from the depths of their soul- lies and prevarication are no longer possible- they will need to answer No to all of these questions.

Some will then proclaim...but we are imperfect. The God will ask- yes- but did you know? Did you know that you persecuted the weak and exercised and sought power without conscience or remorse? They will answer- Yes- we knew. Then they will say- but we seek your forgiveness. God will then say- as you forgave, so will you he forgiven. They will then will ask- where will go? Will we go to heaven? And God will say- what do you think (God has a sense of humor)? Again they will ask- will we return to Earth? God will then say- you will return to where you can do the most good- neither heaven or Earth. Then where? Then God will say- you know where...you know.

In writing this I challenge the world's spiritual gurus that argue that salvation is for the individual, that life on Earth's value is a gristmill for human learning. I challenge the notion that we are not responsible for our acts. That God's grace saves those who repent and seek forgiveness. Hell maybe self created- but it is no less painful. Money, power, security have nothing to do with the purpose of human existence. These men are profound losers- having lost their souls to pursue the illusion of permanent power. The smallest blade of grass is more. Yet we all must all ask these questions- while we are here. Not just to prepare our souls for return, but because they define precisely why we are here.

Who Am I

"My question to you would be, do we need to know the answer to "who am I?" to begin doing good? Or is it just that we need to know that the fundamental question is "who am I?"... and by knowing this, our whole life seeks to answer this question.. and thus we can finally do good, knowing what the question is. The first step towards seeking truth, maybe, is seeking a question."

There are many ways of approaching this question. All human beings are capable of acts of goodness and compassion that can relieve suffering. Yet it is also true- that without a knowledge of the true self- a knowledge not borne of words, but from the heart- without this understanding- great compassion and true, enduring goodness is not possible. Yet the deepening of this knowledge is the pursuit of a lifetime- and the integration of this understanding into our words and actions is part of why we are on this plane.

There is no self. There is only oneness. Oneness is the fundamental spiritual experience. Once the self dissolves there are no boundaries between the a mountain, a tree, a river, another being- nothing. There is no birth and death. There is no time and space. With this understanding comes the great power to transform- but one that can only be used wisely- since its source is the enduring wisdom and truth of creation. It is embedded in the connectedness.

One should not underestimate the cultural aspects of this understanding or lack there of. With enormous sadness and untold pain- we live in a global society whose culture and institutions have almost completely forgotten the spiritual- the oneness. Yet the only sustainable culture is one that is rooted in this understanding. Respect, honor, sacrifice, integrity- these can only arise in a culture that understands the true relationship between human beings and all creation.

We live in an age that is like a blind, consuming, inferno machine. Whatever it gives- it takes and takes and takes. Seeking to separate itself from the primordial cycles of creation and destruction- it offers a new kind of death- the only true death. Not stillness, non-existence and peace- but desolation. Of course nothing is separate- and even this is part of the universal essence- even this cannot disturb the fundamental balance. What it can do, is bring untold, unnecessary suffering and a redefinition of what it means to be human that is beyond forgetfulness and into the abyss. Where the only consolation is that it must destroy itself and that ultimately it cannot be separate.

Nowhere does this manifest with such urgency and clarity than in the eco-holocaust that envelopes the planet. Nowhere does the universal timeliness and wisdom clash more with the incessant and rapid onslaught that it does with this destruction- for want of a better word- unholy. If the Gods destroyed us to save us in the time of Noah- then clearly today, we have the power to destroy ourselves...Perhaps then the Gods will save us- or I should say the universal forces of love that permeates all.

Finally, I aware that the first two paragraphs of what I wrote seemed to clash with the last two. However, in this plane we dance with eternity on both the spiritual and physical levels. How we act- what we do- cannot be divorced from our spiritual understanding. Action is always messy. Karma is always brought into being. Greater awareness can increase the sensitivity to karmic forces and perhaps bring greater peace and balance. However, we learn from doing and being open. Spirituality without tears is impossible.

Seeking Love

When seeking love, we sometimes act as if we are searching for a reflection of ourselves- like Narcissus of Greek mythology- becoming then trapped- and not leaving ourselves- we die inside and alone. Not physical death- but a frigid isolation- a kind of purgatory.

Greatness- in human beings- is not because of our perfection-but rather our imperfection. It is from this that the Gods and fate weave our stories- and make us divine.

There is only one thing I fundamentally seek to develop in myself- the capacity to love- truly love. And I realize the need to develop this in myself- is the only thing that stands in the way of my receiving this from another....

Short Essays on Spiritual Matters