Saturday night I watched a movie entitled
Push. A young girl (played by
Dakota Fanning) was called a “watcher”
because she could see the future.
I did not write down her exact quote but she
stated that the future was always changing.
She said something like this:
“The future can change greatly, because of
a small change now.”
I have been thinking about how true this has
been in my life. I suppose it is one of the
reasons I have never put a lot of stock in
fortune tellers. What I do today affects my
world tomorrow. There is very little, about
my future which is locked in stone. Of
course, some of what I have done in the past
may still have future consequences, living in
linear form sort of requires that each action
has a reaction, but everything can change
with just a slightly different thought
and/or action.
This morning I was cleaning out old email and
I found a Secret to Peace I wrote four years
ago entitled “Shift Happens.” I am going to
finish today’s offering by reprinting that
writing.
I recently read a quote by Sharon Salzberg,
who is one of the co-founders of the Insight
Meditation Society, which said, “Life is
like an ever shifting kaleidoscope – a slight
change, and all patterns alter.”
This has been my experience.
I have noticed, over the past twenty plus
years that in conjunction with each shift in
consciousness, my whole world changes, often
dramatically.
My life shifts, with each new awareness, as
if it were some type of three dimensional
kaleidoscope.
All of the sudden, people once important to
me, no longer fit in my life; activities I
once held dear, are no longer attractive.
I have even seen changes in my physical body,
changes in my career options, and changes in
all types of relationships as a result of
even a minor shift in my consciousness.
I have attracted people and opportunities
beyond my grandest dreams.
What an incredible adventure this life is.
I have always been thrilled by kaleidoscopes.
So, what is the secret to peace in this message?
Simply that your whole world shifts when you
do. If you are not seeing peace in your
world, make the shift within. The world, you
see, has no choice but to respond in kind.
Have you ever experienced seeing or hearing
something come out of your mouth that you did
not intend to say. For example, you are in a
circle and you have been asked to make an
intention for some upcoming period. In your
heart you know what you want, but when it
comes your time to speak your brain overrides
what you were going to say and states
something safe. Or maybe even it says
something you had reminded yourself, dozens
of times, you did not want to mention.
This has happened to me. I lost a friendship
over it once. A friend, with whom I shared a
certain illegal partying, had a brother or
cousin coming to town. This friend told me
dozens of times not to mention this chosen
activity we shared.
I would have been better off if I had not
gone over while this relative was visiting.
Despite reminding myself, repeatedly, not to
bring up our shared indulgence, my brain’s
short term memory cells were not functioning,
and I asked the guy, in front of his company,
if he wanted to party, despite all the
warnings. My friend never forgave me. He was
convinced that I did it on purpose instead of
accepting the fact that I was incapable of
using my brain appropriately.
I have noticed other times, when my brain
function was not impaired by external
chemicals, when I was prepared to give some
authentic or maybe some vulnerable response,
in a group setting, and opted at the last
moment to say something else.
These moments turned out to be epiphanies for
me because I noticed that there appeared to
be at least two of me. There was the me,
willing to risk cynicism or ostracism to
speak my truth, and there was the me who was
afraid to do so. The latter seemed to be the
boss, making the final decision about how I
would show up; how much I would risk.
Today, I realize that the true me, is the
unidentifiable place from which both sets of
ideas originate. Who I Am is the Self from
which the ideas which define Elliott emerge.
Oh, when in thought, I still have the
conflict, particularly with knowing when I
should speak and when I should remain quiet.
It is a tough balancing act, being in both
experiences. Today, however, I seldom, if
ever, say anything from behind any type of
mask. I seldom consider what you will think
of me, as a result of what I feel is mine to
share.
The mind wants to run the show, no matter who
you are. It was created for just that purpose.
When the mind is in conflict with the heart,
and it often is, I recommend following the
heart, always. The heart does not say
inauthentic things out of fear for other’s
reactions. The heart is fearless, and has no
need of hiding.
Centering prayer, virtually a Christian form
of meditation is a wonderful tool, because it
allows the participant to realize that they
exist beyond the thoughts. It encourages one
to become the witness of the thoughts,
instead of a slave to the thoughts.
To obtain our freedom from a mind which is
not interested in giving up control, we must
first recognize the truth that we are not
what we think.
Asking myself who is the voice inside my head
and to whom is the voice directing its
chatter, was a good place to begin an inquiry
into my search for truth.
Sometimes our true identity has been so
disguised in conditioned reactions that we
have literally lost touch, entirely, with who
we are.
Noticing a voice, which expresses anything
other than your hearts Truth, can lead to a
great awakening.
It is very hard to spend much time in peace
if there is a war waging inside myself.
Who I Am longs to express itself. It is
totally wiling to take risks, because It
would rather show up, in Truth, or not show
up at all.
Yesterday, when I mailed out the Secret with
the quote from Henri F. Amiel, I was being
rather myopic. Focusing on how the wording
“turned me off” I, quite possibly, missed
Amiel’s meaning.
When Henri died he left, as his legacy over
17,000 pages of journal writing behind. This
work was translated into English, by Mary
Ward, between Amiel’s death in 1881 and
Ward’s death in 1920. I could not ascertain
an exact date. The tenth edition of the
translation is available as a free 301 page
download at Project Gutenberg. I will read it
when I feel moved to do so.
In skimming this writing and examining some
of the other quotes attributed to Amiel, I
think that I mis-read his quote. It is quite
possible that I focused on the wrong part of
the message, entirely.
Evidence seems to indicate that what Amiel
was attempting to verbalize was not that
nature could fail, but that our mission here
is to become the greatest expression of
Nature we are capable of becoming. When we do
so, I suppose it is obvious that Nature has
succeeded in us.
For me, the word “succeed” implies, by its
very nature, the possibility of not
succeeding, which I still maintain nature can
never do. I think of a flower. Most flowers
have a short life. They spring forth with
some type of greenery, rush towards an
explosion of color, and then wilt, either
finished or in preparation for another
season, another cycle. When my rose bush has
buds which do not open, do not complete their
demonstration, as roses, I have never once
considered the possibility that nature
has failed. When people, go through their entire
lives and never consider that they are
something more than the flesh and bones of
their body, I do not think of nature as failing.
What I really did not consider, however, is
that in such cases, Nature is not supported.
It is a resource which has not been utilized,
in the unexamined life.
Nature, of course, can not fail. It does not
fail when a rose bud does not become an open
expression of the Rose. It does not fail when
a human stays stuck in a concept of self
which does not expand beyond some
hydro-carbon based idea. But, perhaps
succeeding, in these examples, is a word
without opposite. Perhaps, succeeding is when
Nature has full expression, or at least
greater expression, since we may not have a
clue what full expression looks like.
I am saying all of this to point out that
even a person (me) who prides themselves in
being open minded can sometimes fixate on one
small idea and miss the bigger picture. I am
also writing to thank, those of you, who
called me on my near-sightedness. When I did
more research on this 19th Century
philosopher he had some pretty profound
things to say. For example:
"The man who has no refuge in himself, who
lives, so to speak, in his front rooms, in
the outer whirlwind of things and opinions,
is not properly a personality at all. He
floats with the current, who does not guide
himself according to higher principles, who
has no ideal, no convictions--such a man is a
mere article of furniture--a thing moved,
instead of a living and moving being--an
echo, not a voice. The man who has no inner
life is the slave of his surroundings, as the
barometer is the obedient servant of the air
at rest, and the weathercock the humble
servant of the air in motion."
I received several thoughtful responses
yesterday, which opened my eyes to the
possibility that I was taking this man’s
writing out of context. Of all the research,
I did yesterday, on Amiel, I think this above
quote best clarifies what he meant by the
quote I referenced. Nature succeeds when we
connect with the divine within us; when we
become co-creators and are not just blown
through life like a fallen leaf.
Thank you, each, especially those who
participate in these writings, both publicly
and privately, for making this great fun and
more importantly for turning a monologue into
a dialogue and opening the door for greater
understanding.
I appreciate each of you and value your
perspective, even when, maybe especially
when, it differs from my own.
Recently, I have encountered quotes from a
man named Henri-Frédéric Amiel, which have
intrigued me. Henri is listed as being a
Swiss philosopher living in the middle 1800’s.
One quote which I find particularly
intriguing is this:
“Great men are the true men, in whom nature
has succeeded. They are not extraordinary –
they are in the true order. It is the other
species of men who are not what they ought to
be.”
How does that quote strike you, upon your
initial reading?
My first thought was “Can nature fail? Is it
possible that Creation messes up from time to
time? Who is it that has the power to
determine when Creation has not succeeded?”
It is my suspicion that Mr. Amiel lived a
life of quiet desperation, always comparing
himself to the “true men” and finding himself
woefully lacking; or he considered himself to
be one of these men “in whom nature had
succeeded” and thought himself superior to
all those unlike him.
Sad, lonely, angry people always do this.
They are always judging others and themselves
to see where they “fit” in their imaginary
human pecking order. Some focus great energy
on the disparity between the haves and
have-nots. Some see themselves as morally
superior because of their breeding or their
position in life. Some even know, from their
religious teachings, why tragedies happen to
people, who are somehow less than they
themselves.
All judgment, all comparison leads to separation.
All separation is a departure from Truth.
Departing from Truth inevitably leads to
suffering, loneliness, hostility, and fear.
Henri-Frédéric Amiel may have had a brilliant
mind, I have not read enough about him to
have an opinion, but I do think he displayed
a lack of understanding in the quote cited
here. It is my experience that seeing myself
separate and superior or inferior, to
another, in any way, only creates discontent,
inevitably obscuring my ability to dwell in
peace.
I do not think nature ever fails to succeed.
Nature Is. When we fail to discover our
relationship to all of nature, including
humanity and our planet, we perhaps fall
short of our potential. Even then it would be
rather myopic to term such a life
“unsuccessful.” We, at least while in this
human form, do not have a grand enough
perspective to know the Big Picture. So,
judging another never comes from wisdom, it
is just our small little ego wanting to feel
better about its-self.
As I reread this writing I get the distinct
impression I am judging Mr. Amiel. It is not
my intention to judge him. One of his
concerns, in his life, was whether or not he
was making a contribution which would outlive
his physical experience. Clearly, his
writings have made a lasting impression or I
would not even know about him.
I am not judging him. Even if I wanted to, I
do not have enough information to even make a
semi-informed opinion. Many of his quotes, I
have recorded and have found to be very
thoughtful and thought provoking.
I just thought this one would be fun to
explore out-loud today.
I am interested in hearing your thoughts;
particularly on whether or not nature can fail?
The wise person overcomes his/her past,
instead of being governed by that which has
happened and is no longer present. We, in our
minds, carry our past with us. We can never
re-do or undo that which has occurred, yet we
carry it around like a sack of trash, we
refuse to put at the curb.
I once heard a speaker say, “It is never too
late to have a happy childhood,” because, as
the speaker noted, our childhood memories are
completely under our control. As I was
searching for the source of that quote, I
noticed, on Amazon, a book with that title
written by Claudia Black.
The point is this: most of what we carry
around, much of what defines us, is old
garbage and we have the power to throw
useless memories out, just like we dump our
household waste.
I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I
secretly chuckle every time I hear someone in
their forties or fifties (or even later)
lamenting that the problems they have now,
are due to the treatment they received as a
child.
When I was teaching at Leavenworth USP I
encountered more victims than I ever
anticipated; hardened bank robbers and gang
killers who blamed their choices on poor
conditions while growing up.
Did they have painful pasts?
No doubt; some of these adults came from
situations which made simply staying alive, a
miracle.
Blaming our past for our current situation
avoids the healing we need. It prevents us
from taking responsibility for our own
choices, here and now. It allows the past, in
which we may have had no power, to override
the present, where we do have control over
and responsibility for our choices.
I recently heard a man whining about how his
parents never taught him to be financially
responsible. “They (his parents) never taught
me to save money. They never taught me how to
budget.” And the list went on and on.
I could not resist pointing out, to the
friend, that he was fifty years old and that
he had left home at eighteen. How long are
you going to blame your choices on your
parent’s example, I asked.
He did not like this response, and if typical
to previous discussions of this type, he will
probably not speak to me for some time.
Here is the bottom line: Our past, I don’t
care who you are, is filled with events which
helped shape our self-identity. Some of them
are tragic. Some of them are joyous. ALL of
them now reside ONLY in our memories.
Memories are under our power. Memories are
controlled by us. They are not some monster
which sleeps under the bed, forcing us to
leave the night light on, unless we give them
that power.
We overcome the past by placing all of our
energies on the present. We erase the past by
simply not going there, by not empowering the
memories, by transferring our allegiance from
the creation to the Creator.
The more we realize our Unity with Spirit,
the less we tend to give the past free reign
over our present.
This is the Secret.
When the past has created a huge part of my
present self-identity, I can not replace its
power over my life, easily (well I could but,
in most cases I won’t.) So, I make a
resolution to live this day, one moment at a
time. I notice when thoughts and feelings
from the past arise, I forgive what I can,
and I remind myself of my commitment. Upon
catching myself being owned by my story, I
immediately return full attention to this
present moment.
I repeat these steps, on a minute to minute
basis, until there is no past left to
forgive; until I am free to be fully present
with no chains dragging behind me.
It is all a matter of shifting my focus to
this moment NOW instead of letting the
default ghosts of the past dominate my
consciousness.
There is no agony now. It is all born from an
ancient dream.
Isn’t it glorious that I have the power to
choose which dream I will live?
There is probably nothing more destructive to
my peace than resentment.
I have often heard it said that it is good to
forgive but one should never forget. I have
always taken exception to that idea. I am not
even sure that it is possible to forgive
without forgetting. At the very least, such
an attempt is a surface, shallow form of
forgiveness; which would never stand up to
future trials.
I like what Elbert Hubbard is quoted as
saying, “A retentive memory may be a good
thing, but the ability to forget is the true
token of greatness.”
I would never suggest staying in a place
where one was being abused. Honoring oneself
requires removal from such a situation, but
then we have to let go of the past.
When I have spoken about this before, I have
heard the objection, “But if we do not learn
from history, we are bound to repeat it.”
I can not deny the truth of that statement. I
think it is important to learn, each and
every day, and to use what I learn to avoid
repeating that which does not work and to
expand my energies in the areas where life is
flourishing. That does not mean that it
benefits me to hold grudges, or to cling to
memories of hurt.
I like what Confucius said on this subject:
“Forget injuries, never forget
kindnesses.”
I have quoted Azim Khamisa on several
occasions because I think his definition of
forgiveness is one of the most profound I
have ever heard. When asked by inmates at
Leavenworth USP, “How can you tell when you
have forgiven?” Khamisa replied, “When
that person has safe passage through my mind,
I have forgiven him/her.”
I do not think it is possible for a person to
have safe passage through my mind, if I am
still clinging, still remembering the hurt I
have assigned to the offending individual.
There must also be some forgetting, even if
it is only releasing the hurt which appears
when the person shows up in my thoughts.
Living in peace is so much easier than we think it is.
Part of the reason we find it so difficult is because most of us have been raised in environments where struggle was normal and peace was reserved for special occasions. I have met many who absolutely insist that struggle is necessary so that we may enjoy the moments when struggle is absent.
That is really just a conditioned belief.
Struggle occurs because my thoughts are always about me. They are always about what pleases me and what displeases me.
I seldom experience struggle if my thoughts are truly on sharing my gifts and talents with another. Consider these words from George Bernard Shaw:
“I am convinced that my life belongs to the whole community; and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before turning it over to future generations.”
I have not read Shaw’s biography, but I bet his struggling (provided he experienced much) ended when he adopted this mission for his life.
Struggling is always about impatience. It is always born in a belief that I deserve things to be different than they are.
We are always creating the world we see.
The world that is reflected to me is a precise mirror of the thoughts which create the filters through which I perceive.
Struggling occurs when the world is not supplying that which I long for. It magically disappears when I dedicate my life to sharing my gifts with no expectancy of return.
To love life for its own sake, is an excellent Secret to living in peace.
Yesterday evening I watched a short video of
Jim Carrey talking about his spiritual
awakening. I liked this four minute
monologue, so I posted it on my blog.
What I found so real about Carrey's talk was
this idea that Oneness or Awareness is not
something one can grasp and hold in his/her
hand. Carrey talks briefly about his
awakening experience; then he related how
much he wants it back. He said something
like, "It comes and it goes." We can
all relate to this.
We may have some moment of absolute clarity
in which we know, beyond any doubt, who we
are and how we fit into the big picture. We
know that the self we imagined ourselves to
be is only a mind trick, an illusion
necessary, probably, for survival up to this
point.
Then life happens. Wham! We are back in the
dualistic mind, taking care of business. When
we try to re-experience the oneness, we
discover that it eludes us. Try as we might,
we can not make it happen.
Awakening is something that occurs through
allowing, it is not something we can "do." It
comes through grace not through discipline.
Consider Richard Rohr's description of Jim
Carrey's dilemma (from The Naked
Now): "The divine indwelling is
never earned by any behavior whatsoever or
any ritual, but only recognized and realized
and fallen in love with. When you are ready,
you will be both underwhelmed and overwhelmed
at the boundless mystery of your own
humanity."
Being ready is about shedding the illusion
and allowing grace to enter your awareness.
Dropping the concept of me as a being,
somehow separate from its source, is the
toughest part of this equation. Consider
these words from Scott Kiloby found in
Love's Quiet Revolution:
"You are not a thought, feeling, experience,
reaction, identity, role, ego, or process.
You are the radiant mystery within which
those things arise. This mystery has been
obscured by a self-centered story and the
illusion of separateness. I invite you to
wake up to this moment, allow this dream self
to dissolve, and discover the Oneness, the
unconditional love that is who you truly
are."
Carrey after having this experience gave voice
to the desire we all feel following such an
awakening; once realizing the Truth of our
nature, we only long to dwell in the constant
remembrance of that Truth.
I can relate to Jim Carrey. Having my first
epiphany over twenty five years ago, I have
spent my life since trying to find a way
of perpetually dwelling in the awareness of
my Oneness. The frequency of these encounters
with the Truth of my being has increased, and
on some occasions the duration has lasted as
long as three days, but always the demands of
form draw me back into my dualistic life.
Oh, I no longer forget who I truly Am.
Once stretched, having remembered the Truth,
even if only briefly,
we never fully fit,
back into the shell of dualism. Having had
this awakening experience we develop current
memories altering our perception of reality.
We are left with an idea or at least some partial
understanding for that which had previously
only existed as some unidentifiable longing.
Remembering who we are changes everything.
It forever alters who we know ourselves to
be, even when
forced back into ego-mind.
Watch the video if you get a chance. I am
willing to bet, most people on this list can
relate to Jim Carrey's experience and his
desire to dwell in the Truth.
Just saw this and thought it was beautiful. I can barely wait to see what Eckhart Tolle TV is about and investigate the Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment.
I love inspirational, true stories. I can sit for hours and digest story after story about individuals, who overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to reach their goals or to realize their dreams.
I just started reading one such book, entitled Unstoppable by Cynthia Kersey. Not only does Ms. Kersey offer up forty five examples of people, who were unstoppable, but she isolates seven characteristics, which she observed, repeatedly, in her research of these dedicated individuals.
As I read these seven traits, I realized that these can be used by anyone regardless of whether the goal is to accumulate financial wealth or to live a live dedicated to inner peace. So, I thought I would share her tips with you:
Unstoppable people: 1) Devote themselves to their true purpose
2) Follow their heart’s passion
3) Believe in themselves and their ideas
4) Prepare for challenges
5) Ask for help and build a support team
6) Seek creative solutions
7) Persevere, no matter what the challenges
These all seem so straight forward, don’t they?
Yet, for some reason, when we apply these from a spiritual perspective I often hear, “But Elliott, I do not know what my true purpose is. I do not know what I have a passion for.” We get ideas, but because we do not always have the most positive self-image, we do not always really believe we can make our ideas happen.
Each of these steps builds on the previous one. When I am not really clear about what I want and am not totally convinced that I can do it or that the idea is not that great, it is easy to be blown off course by the winds of change. Instead of seeing the inevitable challenges as an opportunity to reinforce my resolve and to strengthen my position, I can easily lose interest in a weak idea, at the first challenge.
I remember the first few years I tried meditation. I kept sitting because of the promise that I would find some connection to God through the process. I was not completely convinced that the process would work; and at first, my commitment was hit or miss. I always had to have conditions just optimal for my experience. The slightest departure from this idyllic setting would be cause for me to abandon the exercise.
Later, as I gained more confidence in myself and in the actual value of meditating, a disturbance became an opportunity to take the experience deeper, instead of being a distraction.
Today, meditation, getting quiet, is easy because I sought out help and persevered until I began realizing rewards from my efforts.
I like the Seven Characteristics of Unstoppable People and appreciate Cynthia Kersey for sharing them with us. I think they are useful reminders regardless of the endeavor we are pursuing.
