Xxdr's wrote a story the other day: The Holy Man at the Grocery Checkout & the 100th Monkeyprovided a way to share some life lessons learned, but lacked the courage to do so prior. Lessons that can help us through these tough times.
The 100th Monkey, Universal Consciousness*, and Transcendence**: Pathways to Our Power or How to Win The War of Intent. Perhaps, How To Survive Dystopia.
And good timing! Just in time for the Giving Season. So, with courage I lay the gift of my heart and soul beneath this Universal Tree for all the world to see.
That's how Universal Consciousness works, by the way.
Who will be the 100th Monkey, the 100th Power in 2011? We could probably use a million or so.
I have wanted to share this for a long time, but haven't quite dared.
It is offered for those who are seeking some answers. It's how I found mine, gathered in tidbits over the past few decades. I share, hoping that, by doing so, a short cut might be provided for another. With desire, we are capable of quantum growing spurts without the intense suffering usually required.
It's worth a try, or, at the very least, to try to incorporate these Principles into our daily lives. It's helpful to humanity in general, quite frankly.
If, upon waking everyday,
we would ask "Who can we help in some way",
the shroud of greed or need
dimming our light,
could melt away,
perhaps overnight
.
Principles can't be eradicated, which is what this diary is about. Transcendence is one principal.
I read the 100th Monkey (a 1970s behavioral science study) in the 1970s which now seems like 100 years ago.
This is the only honest summation I found on the internet. I highly recommend reading this article.
It was written in 1999! Just before BushCo dealt the world, our country, democracy, and the rule of law a near fatal blow. The author must have been psychic.
Special interests will always exist while addressing global concerns, but should have no power to abuse guarantees that ensure life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness ...
To operate in such a framework requires a global intent based on common awareness.
It requires the phenomena of the 100th monkey to take hold.
When, on remote islands, one island of monkeys was taught by human beings to use a stick for opening coconuts, the ease of obtaining food increased. Squabbling and social disruption decreased. More amazingly, at a certain number of more knowledgeable monkeys, say the 100th, monkeys on the surrounding islands developed the technique spontaneously.
(Keep in mind, the monkeys observed using the new technique on other remote islands had no way of contact with the monkeys on the island that were trained by humans. The collective knowledge of the island of trained monkeys was transferred globally. I call it, as do others, Universal Consciousness, my insertion here.)
We have not reached that mark on world cooperation. Too many of us are still swinging through trees paying attention only to the exhilaration(1). Too many are desperate for enough food (2). Others (3) are still intent on having all of the nuts.
(1) Mindless Dystopic Victims, (2) impoverished masses, and the (3) few who are greedy enough to do justify any means taken to provide them with their riches and power, at the expense of the mindless dystopic victims and impoverished masses.
The following is shared because these decisions, quantum leaps of faith, permanently altered my outlook on life in many good ways, albeit socially challenging ways.
Full Disclosure: I spent over a decade as a member of an Ashram, the world having lost it's glitter for me at the ripe age of 26 (long story).
The behavior of Corporate America, for which I served in a Management capacity, was partially to blame, as well as an incredibly mind/heart altering, life changing, and completely randomly offered "Spiritual Experience".
I refer to the experience as "God tapped me on the shoulder and said 'Pretend you are 80 and looking back, what would you change'. I guess you would have to have been there. It was a mind boggingly shocking experience that got my attention.
Long story short, I quit Corporate America, spent a year as galley cook on a 55' Trimaran in the Bahamas, came back to the city, gave away my earthly possessions, and became an Ashram monkette (they never saw the humor in my feminizing the term 'monk').
I learned that there are Universal Laws/Principles.
Many nights were spent floating on the ink black sea, wrapped in a million star blanket, while 100 miles away I could see America/Florida glowing in the dark. The contrast was striking. The contemplation starkly riveting.
Less intense, but greater intent attended time well spent at the Ashram. Group living, like a rock tossed on the shore, can help wear down our rough edges and overcome our insecurities. I found greater tolerance and love for others, as well as compassion for their struggles to overcome their rough edges.
Somewhere in the process, I learned that Universal Laws simply are. Up precedes down. There is no way of avoiding life's ups and downs. It's delusional to think otherwise.
And, I have no doubt that We Are All in the Same Boat.....and we need to tame the sharks among us.
I learned transcendence which has been very helpful especially when the waves of life are too choppy. It's easier to prevail by riding above them.
I learned to accept that we live in a world of tumultuous duality.
Our life will end.
It is highly possible that we will have the chance to look back and ask:
What would I have changed, if I could do it over again?
That said, and the book 100th Monkey proved, there are Principles that were learned by those 1970 behavioral scientists that couldn't be measured by them. Therefore, many discounted their findings. I did not, nor should we.
Principles are Truths that don't change over time regardless of tribal differences. They are universal and immutable.
This Principle explains why, in all religions, there is some Truth we can resonate with, even if we can't resonate with the religion itself.
Truth is One, Men Call It By Many Names (Vedanta).
Whether or not we believe, Truth is undeterred. Rather than argue, I am hopeful we can put aside our individual need to "be right" AND work together. A giant spiritual experiment in an effort to change the direction this planet is going in, one in which the majority are at risk of suffering from the Fate Greed has in store, if we don't get together SOON.
*1. There is a Universal Consciousness. It can be 'tapped into'. We call it inspiration. When we use it to ask for something, it provides. When this happens, some call it a miracle. I call it Principle. When we ask, we can receive. Worthiness isn't part of the equation, but feelings of lack of worthiness are a huge impediment for too many people. I say "We are, therefore we are worthy." Ask!
And it can be transmitted and/or shared with others, if there are either enough people working together to do so (the 100th Monkey) or enough energy/concentration by a truly dedicated person or group with the intent to do so. Some call this 'Prayer'. Others call it Power.
Can we come together to ASK? Together. If so, how?
Whatever the word used to describe this Principle, it can be and is used for both good and evil.
The Universal Consciousness is a totally indulgent provider, there for the asking for those who learn to overcome themselves sufficiently to Ask.
I picture it as a stratosphere. It's there for us to use, but we have to put in some effort to either receive from it, or to affect it. It's malleable, to a point, and for lack of a better word.
Here's one of my rhymes to demonstrate:
UNIVERSE
We are each uni-notes of the Universe
We are here, on earth, to rehearse.
What will be our collective uni-verse?
This would be a good song for us all to sing, in our hearts, day and night. Perhaps out loud with our neighbors and/or friends. I think it draws a very positive gift from the Universal Consciousness:
If it is not obvious yet, there are many who are using this Power/Prayer in ways that are not helping the majority of people on this planet. I think of Sharlett's book, The Family.
Sharlet’s book describes The Family as a kind of shadow multi-national government, operating in secret through small prayer groups called “cells”...
Multiple mainstream media outlets have reported on the groups role as in effect, a lobby in all but name, led by a man who is on video and audio record citing the leadership lessons of Hitler, Stalin, and Mao.
Doug Coe, the leader of the group, frequently refers to the leadership lessons of Hitler and the example of the mafia as a model for how the group operates.
Can we put aside all the dissonance caused by the the despicable purveyors of their faux religious crap and claim the Power that is ours, that we can use for the Good of All, not just for self-serving, disturbingly off-balanced people seeking to live off the labors of others that Coe and his minions hope will win this War of Intent?
We are in a War of Intent. Yes, most of us are already wounded, but we are NOT dead. We won't be dead unless we either Play Dead, or actually die.
Let's not Play Dead. Let's organize and ASK/Pray.
Let's show some modicum of humility and accept that we have the inner power to seek help from Our Greater Power, the Universal Consciousness, or what ever you prefer to call it. Let's put aside the tags. We are all one, if we are one in purpose, regardless of whatever tags and terms we choose to use to define ourselves.
**2. Transcendence: In short, meaning to 'rise above'.
In theory, if we muster up enough grit, we don't have to wallow in the pain, suffering, and insanity of the world within and around us. It is helpful to achieve a modicum of this transcendence ability. If we ask, the Universal Consciousness will help us. Regardless of our self-imposed judgement of 'worthiness'. Asking is the fastest method of attainment.
Ask: When a ball is thrown up in the air by either the holy man or the murderer, what is the outcome?
Desire impacts the interaction with the Universal Consciousness (you can ponder this for quite a while, btw). The old addage, "be careful for what you ask" comes to mind.
We can ASK for the ability to transcend our individual challenges sufficiently in order to join in a group ASKING exercise. We can keep it simple.
However, if one dedicates all focus and energy to this goal of Transcendence, it can become a bane instead of a boon because it can become too 'self-focused' and/or selfish, imo.
The yogis who bury themselves in ant hills in order to transcend the flesh comes to mind. Siddhartha tried them all.
In the end, the second Siddhartha let go of his selfish desire to achieve nirvana and tossed himself into the Ganges, he achieved his goal.
Remember, Siddhartha (later to be knows as the Buddha) was a wealthy pampered Prince of status that, when confronted w/the suffering of those outside his protective Palace, was heartbroken. Their pain became his pain. He was overcome by empathy and a desire to help others. He wanted to overcome suffering and help others to do the same.
The phrase "Let Go and Let God" comes to mind. Or, for those who choose to not believe in a God, Let Go and connect with the Universal Consciousness of Love and Selflessness.
Either way, the ultimate goal is to become the kinetic conduit of Universal Love/Consciousness: This is nirvana or higher consciousness.
Our "I" has to 'step aside' for nirvana to happen and here lies the challenge.
And here I will insert one of my first daft rhymes, written while living as the Ashram monkette:
Goodbye My "I" by Sonja
A friend of mine, let's call her "I"
Once laid down and proceeded to die.
Too weak to rise, no strength of her own.
All peace, all solace, no need for a home.
She will be missed, these tears say to me.
She tried to be fair, while working to be free.
"Freedom, she said, is not of this earth
A fact you've known since the moment of birth
And forgotten."
Many of us have or are about to leave "the Palace" to encounter suffering we have never known. Most of us now, more than ever, are aware of the suffering there is all around us.
Perhaps we can Make Lemonade out of the Lemons raining down before it gets worse for millions more.
Sadly, acknowledging there is a Power than can help us, whether it is called Universal Consciousness or God, that is outside of us and requires us to ASK for something/some help, is just too much of an ego abasing stretch of imagination for so many.
Some call it "Faith". Some call it "Luck". Many call it Superstitious. I call it 'The Courage of a Healthy Ego" to be able to acknowledge and ask for outside help.
Especially if the desired goal serves goodness and others.
My Guru, Gayetri Devi (since passed), taught this:
Picture a large table, spread with a white table cloth. Picture what happens to the whole cloth, when someone pinches it in the middle and lifts up. Slowing, by the simple act of one, the entire cloth is raised. I think this is what happens when one or more ASK/Pray for othe
rs.
If the desire is to enrich the self with power and gain, I call it a selfish and destructive shame. It's wasting energy that could be used for the greater good being hoarded.
Either way, the energy spent debating might be better spent uniting in purpose and asking, thereby creating the better world most of us seek.
We can win The War of Intent. There are more of us worldwide that are good hearted than there are those who are not, imo.
Wholesome transcendence is a delicate balance, much more easily attained especially if there is a goal towards an 'outer achievement and intent' to do good for others: reasonable selflessness.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: All good principles have their dark alternatives, as we can now see operating in our world. Sadly, those who seek power and attain it, do so, all too often by tapping into the Universal Consciousness' dark energy alternatives.
BURNING QUESTIONS:
- Can the roadblocks of belief in the above be overcome sufficiently as individuals first, so that the road to ASKing collectively can be opened?
May I share that there are two roadblocks for most of us that keep us from the great gifts that are ours to claim. They are:
Not feeling 'good enough'; and
Not feeling 'lovable'
Bollocks: Those are the two most destructive questions to our progress. And the negative impact on our peace and happiness too destructive to even entertain them.
You are good enough and you are lovable. Rinse, repeat.
We are set up from the moment of birth to have these two questions block our potential and fulfillment. We simply have to transcend them. Let them go. Get over feeling 'less than', not good enough, and/or unlovable.
If not, you are simply giving away your power, which is vested in your ability to transcend feeling 'less than/not good enough/not loveable'.
THINK: Aren't those using the Principles destructively, doing everything in their power to foster these negative feelings?
Oh, yes they are. And they keep succeeding because the true principles of power are hidden in divisive tactics like religion, beauty, and material wealth.
Well, I am here to tell you that
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, just as you are.
YOU ARE A MIRACULOUS UNI-NOTE, and are no less worthy than others.***
And the world needs you, just as you are. The world really needs you now.
However, it needs you to
First, know your greatness (no one is better or worse than you, just at different stages of learning. Is a senior in high school better than a kindergartner? No, just more learned);
Second: Dare to Ask. Believe and find your courage to ask; and
Third: Join others to create The Verse needed to save this planet and it's people from the present trajectory that is being led by those who know the principles, but, in the wisdom of the lady in front of the school in the movie Mr. Mom, are DOING IT WRONG.
If I haven't learned anything else, I have learned that the Universal Consciousness or God provides when we ASK AND do all we can do as we keep our hearts, minds, and eyes open.
A ball falls back to the ground, regardless of who tosses it into the air.
DARE!!!
Can the 'cat herd' put aside all the contrariness, decide on a common goal, dare to believe, and ASK for help from the Universal Consciousness, and then once enough of that power is attained AND we become focused like a laser beam on an issue (perhaps proper health care for all worldwide), use our collective power to change the Universal Consciousness sufficiently to unseat the powers of those who are, quite frankly, doing so IN THE WRONG WAY? To overpower their harmful use of the collective Universal Consciousness?
Do we believe we can win The War of Intent?
***There are some less palatable principles that can help our success. Clean living is helpful. Clean mental, physical, and emotional living. These can be achieved by asking, as well. We all have things to overcome. It's human! But we don't have to be perfect to Ask and receive. I know this to be 100% true.
Some call living uncleanly SIN.
In closing, yet one more rhyme:
S.I.N. The Acronym
S incere
I integrity
N egated
Tomorrow, we will become the person we decide we are today. Today, we write the terms of tomorrows integrity. Today, we live yesterdays. Design your future, use your power to connect with The Power, call it what you may. Choose your design. Choose to live your design. Seek to satisfy your integrity. Be your word.
We will make mistakes everyday. Let yourself and others be a new person every morning. Think "Groundhog Day". Let go of blame, admit mistakes, brush it off and be new. It's Good Morning, not Good Mourning! Forgiveness is really a bath for the heart, that washes away the dross. Without it, the heart becomes toxic and diseased or dis-eased.
Namaste
Peace, the true goal of humanity, not happiness.
I am greatly thankful for spellcheck.
Now, let's create Policy Check, to keep them from drifting further away from good and Universal Principles.
Can we unite?
Sing a UniVerse?
And win The War of Intent?
If we will ASK for help, yes.
Otherwise, no.
_________________________
Thanks to cotterperson for the chart in the intro. It is copywrited by Rob Brezsny.
_________________________
There are some amazing works shared by others in the first version of this diary The comment stream was much better than the diary. I highly recommend going there to read the comment stream.