Ease and Grace- A Place of Perfect Balance—pt 3
We have been looking at the concept of living with Ease and Grace. How this feels on the macro level (Like being in the Kingdom of Heaven) and how it feels in the context of being in the Divine Flow (Not like we would expect it to feel). Now we look more deeply at Ease and Grace itself.
Ease and Grace is about the balance of energy. When that which Flows In matches up with our needs, it feels like abundance. When that which flows out is greater than what we perceive as flowing in, we experience that as loss. When that which flows in is not perceived as meeting our needs, then we experience that as scarcity. So, to fully comprehend Ease and Grace, we need to understand Balance.
On an energetic level, money is worthwhile only because other people are willing to trade their time and talent for it. Money has no intrinsic value in and of itself. Confederate Banknotes towards the end of the Civil War were worthless. German Deutschmarks were inflating so fast after the First World a War that people carried them in wheelbarrows so they could buy a loaf of bread. Thus, in order for us to operate with Ease and Grace, we must optimize our personal balance between money, time, talent and energy.
Ease and Grace involves an understanding that that I have gifts to share, and that in sharing them, the Law of Circulation provides that I will have the resources to meet my needs. This works provided my consciousness is not tipping the process out of balance. Thus if I invest my time and talent (creativity and skill and wisdom) in a way that is aligned with my overall value structure, then the Universe will successfully provide me with the opportunity to generate all that I need. What I do with the opportunity will determine how much stress I invite into my life or how much time I gratefully spend living in the Land of Milk and Honey.
If we are under earning for example, then we are trading our time and talent for less than full value. Living and working from this posture leaves us tired (if not exhausted), unfulfilled (if not depleted) and creatively stifled (if not suffocated). The reason we would choose this experience is deeply embedded in our consciousness. For me, it was tied to my sense of self worth, or more accurately my sense that I did not have any self worth. In this circumstance, no amount of material goods would compensate for the deep seeded issue underlying my under earning until the issue itself had been healed. To find a path of Ease and Grace, I thus had to be willing to do the hard work of examining my actions in any area when I did not feel fairly (or handsomely) compensated.
If we are now consciously expending our resources in a manner that is congruent with both our values and our desires, we are out of balance. This often shows up as being in debt. Energetically we are not living in Ease and Grace and the stress of meeting our current needs as well as paying off the debt (being out of balance) will wear on us. The remedy is to be fully aware of our choices around how we spend our money.
Penny Pinching is another symptom of not living from Ease and Grace. It involves over valuing money and undervaluing time and energy. This leads to exhaustion. One personal example is that I was recently shopping for paper plates for our hospitality on Sunday. The first place I went seemed to be too expensive and so I went to another store. They did not have the type I wanted and so I went to yet another store. The paper plates were the same price as the first place, which still seemed too high for me. (We are talking about something like $2.50 for 50 plates). In the end, I went to 5 stores to buy 50 paper plates for $1.99. Thus, I was willing to trade hours of my time for a 51 cents savings for the church. Trust me, this thinking will never lead to Ease and Grace.
One of the most common inhibitors from us living more fully in the Kingdom of Heaven is when we take on the work of rescuing others from the consequences of their decisions. In these situations, we are then not only expending our energy in doing that which is ours to do, we are also doing that which is truly someone else’s to do. Far from being rescuing them, this inevitably leads to exploitation or resentment for the other person not carrying their share of their own load.
Having someone take care of us in this fashion may feel like the Kingdom of Heave for a short while. But over time it dis-empowers us and we develop a dependency that quickly weakens us. We cannot find that level of profound contribution which is so satisfying when we are continually trying to get someone to do what in our hearts and souls we know is our to do.
In a similar fashion, Ease and Grace are never available when we continually try to take more than we give. In the very short run it may feel like we have gotten over on the Universe when we do not offer our fair share. However, the Law of Karma operates perfectly and in the end we are diminished when we try and take advantage of the generosity of others. Speaking from my own experience, we soon begin to feel shame surfacing and the temporary sense of smugness disappear.
Living in Ease and Grace is finding the balance on what is ours to do and what is ours to have done. There are often things that we are not easily capable of doing or that we do not enjoy doing. There are things that are confusing to us or outside the area of our expertise. In these situations it is invaluable for us to see Ease and Grace operate to find a balance between what is ours to do and what is not ours to do. It is the mark of a sage that knows the tradeoff in expending our time, talent and energy in creating that which is truly ours to do, (and being rewarded with money), while also knowing that some other soul is eager to trade their time, talent and energy to help us with those things that are not really ours to do. (while they too are being rewarded with money). Getting our car repaired might be a good mundane example. For those of us reading this that don’t see ourselves as mechanically inclined we could spend many frustrating hours trying to do simple car repairs that would leave us feeling anything but like we are living in the Kingdom of Heaven. For others, perhaps it is housework or doing taxes. Whatever the onerous job that we seek to avoid, someone in the Universe feels is their life calling (or furthers their life’s calling) and Ease and Grace allows us to have energy flow from us to them and back again to get both of our needs met perfectly and smoothly.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Ease and Grace- Being in Divine Flow- pt 2
Ease and Grace- Being in the Divine Flow--pt 2
In this post, I want to clear up some common misperceptions about how it feels to be in the Divine Flow. As we noted in an earlier post, the quantity of Ease and Grace we experience in our lives is directly related to our ability to live in the Divine Flow.
The Divine Flow is a current of energy that is organized by an intelligence that correlates your intentions with those of everyone around you while at the same time perfectly executing the Law of Karma (the Law of Circulation). Simultaneously it co creates a world that meets all of your deepest needs on time and abundantly and as well as fulfills your life purpose on a Soul level. This level of multitasking and sophistication confounds the human ego while it is also trying to predict and control and manage our lives. When these two forces are aligned it is the Kingdom of Heaven, when they are in total conflict, it feels and looks like Hell. Most of us live somewhere between and this feels like life like a life of quiet desperation. A contemporary bumper sticker reflects this struggle with the phrase “Life’s a Bitch and then you Die.”
People that are not aware of the nature of the Divine Flow often take actions that pull them out of the Divine Flow and put them into a stretch of life that looks like raging rapids or tumultuous water. Some people end up exhausted because they are actually rowing as hard as they can against their Divine Flow without evening knowing it. Others feel abandoned by God because they cannot find the flow, while they are paddling to stay in a side channel eddy or anchored in permanently in their Soul’s backwater.
The most important thing to remember about the Divine Flow is that it almost never looks or feels like you believe it is supposed to look and feel. It rarely feels the same way twice. The best practice for you then is to think like a river rafting guide in the spring. No matter how well you think you know the Divine Flow, check out the river after the stormy winter before taking your first run of the season. Talk with others that have run that stretch of water before. (Build a relationship with a minister/spiritual director). Take an exploratory trip with some senior guides skilled in whitewater rescue. (Have a spiritual community and support group). When you are in the slow season, read some guide books and keep in shape so that when you hit the Big Water, you are not overwhelmed. (Keep up with your daily spiritual practices).
At any given time, Divine Flow can feel like one of the following. By the way, keep in mind, sometimes one area of our life will feel one way and other areas will feel another way.
Circle or Dead Loop. If you are covering the same ground over and over again, obsessing about the same problems, holding onto the same hurt feelings, reacting to the same pattern of fears then you are in a dead loop. Best practice would be to change your thinking and the best way to do that is to choose a tough instructor and pray for a quick breakthrough.
Pulse. This is commonly stated as “two steps forward, one step back”. The Divine Flow feels like Divine Fits and Starts. Your good seems to come in small bits with long lulls of stagnation between surges of blessing. This is sometimes a signal of your own powerful resistance to your good, but conversely can also be 2nd force arising up to test the quality of your intentions for transformation. If the lulls are long, then it is most likely resistance, if the steps back feel sharp and intense then it is likely that you are experiencing second force.
Wave. Divine Flow can be experienced as a wave. This is characterized with a fair amount of up and down movement coupled with an increment of forward movement. This is a very normal process of allowing time to integrate changes and to prepare for the next surge. If the waves are large ups followed by large downs then the key skill to acquire is to relax and stay calm at both ends of the wave cycle. If the waves are very small and repetitious then you might look to see if you are deadening your experience.
Turbo Flow. This feels like an exponential curve where you look back and cannot believe the progress you have made. Your good keeps appearing in greater and greater measure as you keep saying yes without knowing how you are going to manage all of the abundance. One helpful key here is to remain humble, this too shall pass. If you want Turbo Flow to continue I suggest being grateful, give back to all those that have helped you generously and remain courageous.
Crash and Burn. This feels exactly what it sounds like. It signifies that you were committed to a wrong track and were ignoring signals (intuitions) to make changes and so in order for your good to arrive, you needed to let go completely of whatever you were overly attached to ( addicted to) that was less than your highest good. There is no “wrong track” spiritually, but if you set an intention and hold to it using tactics that are not aligned with the intention then sooner or later you will crash and burn. The good comes when you set an intention and then adopt tactics that will allow the intention to manifest.
Chaos. Chaos is experienced when nothing makes sense, nothing feels congruent, and too much is happening at once for you to easily manage but at the same time you do not quit on your good. When the Divine Flow feels chaotic it often means that you are in the midst of major greatness flowing your way while major good is still present. On the other hand, it can indicate that you are ambivalent about your good and keep canceling out your opportunities.
Brick Wall. This is what crash in burn will feel like a few cycles before the actual crash and burn. It is when you are still determined that your good must come to you in a certain fashion or though a certain channel when Spirit has other plans. This also could be, or course, what it feels like when 2nd force is melting and you are tempted to quit just before the miracle. A skilled veteran coach is essential here to help you determine how to move forward from this point.
Glacier. It feels much bigger than anything you can control or withstand. This is a force that will not quit. When Divine Flow is pushing like a glacier it is often painful, it continues to grind and propel all that is in front of it forward. It will methodically scour everything out of its way, but slowly and painfully. When Divine Flow is pulling from Glacier mode it is like a magnetic draw that keeps you headed for your good (a giant tractor beam from Star Trek that will not let go).
Dark Night of the Soul. This is when you wish that you had just merely crashed and burnt. This is being in the crucible. It feels dark, and alone and eternally separate from the flow of good. Mystics say this is a great place because Spirit never gives us more than we can truly handle. Suicide Prevention counselors wonder about that. You need help here and the willingness to ask for and receive help if very far away for most of us in our Dark Night of the Soul.
There are of course an infinite number of variations on how Divine Flow shows up. Each one of us must at some level navigate this dynamic energy field in our lives. Just remember that Divine Flow is dynamic, it is always changing. It is always present and it is rarely going to show up in the fashion we think it should.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Ease and Grace in times of turmoil- pt 1
Ease and Grace in Times of Turmoil
Wouldn’t you be pleased if there was more Ease and Grace in your life? If there were fewer struggles and less stress in your day to day experience wouldn’t then there be ample room for more bliss and tenderness? How would you like it if your life got easier? These are the questions many people seek answers to in times of turmoil.
Ease and Grace are usually the resultant experiences we have when we are in the Divine Flow. Jesus taught that the Kingdom of Heaven is available from within, and to my way of understanding the Kingdom of Heaven feels just like Ease and Grace. So, if we want Ease and Grace, if we seek the Kingdom of Heaven then we just need to find the Divine Flow.
The Divine Flow is an energetic field that is systematically and intelligently organized to bring us our good. In order to tap into the Divine Flow we first need to deeply understand the concept of “our good.” Our highest good always includes the highest good of all concerned. Whenever we operate from the fear that there is some sort of competition for our good or think that someone else’s gain is our loss, or that someone or something is against us, then we have utterly crimped our ability to experience life as Ease and Grace. Jealously, envy or trying to show up someone else are sure signs that we are in the struggle rather than in the Flow.
Another challenge is that some of us have been conditioned to think that the Universal Flow of our good always feels good. This is manifestly inaccurate and resisting this Truth often inhibits the flow of good into our lives. The Universe is always aiming at our highest and best long term good and when we want to settle for mediocre short term good we experience conflict, fear and discord. In the face of the Universe bringing to us our highest good we need to surrender deeply our judgment of how it should feel.
Flow means Flow, which means that we must let go to be in the flow of Divine Good. When we latch on to something that we think is our good, and want to hold on to it because we are sure it is our good, it is likely that we are inviting suffering into our lives. All things must pass, they come and go, and to the extent we get overly attached to things we create an environment that leads to suffering. This is the great teaching of the Buddha.
Thus, Ease and Grace requires a subtle surrender and detachment from all things that are not permanent. In our culture we tend to attach meaning to things that are not intrinsically valuable. Our jobs, our money and cars and homes and vacation time shares should be held very lightly if we want to live in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The other aspect about the Divine Flow feeling good is that our highest good is often about our Soul’s evolution. Our Ego self wants to be secure and safe, to be right and to look good. About the time that our Ego thinks we have it made, our Soul is looking out for a new experience and if we hold on to the present and resist our destiny (dharma is a better word for this) then we are signing up for pain and suffering. In order to remain in the Divine Flow then a good practice is to remain very humble and open to loving what is unfolding in our lives.
The Universe is organized to bring us our good. It is amazingly responsive to our yearnings. For example, just about everything that we have now did not exist 100 years ago. Think of all the women washing dishes by the sink who were yearning for a machine to automatically clean the dishes. That yearning led to the manifestation of the Divine Idea of a dishwasher, which is now commonplace in every new home and apartment built.
Unfortunately for those of us that want to live in Ease and Grace, Madison Avenue discovered this correlation between our yearnings and our sense of well-being and has been manipulating us ever since. For example, people wanted personal credit (which did not exist 50 years ago) so they could have things now and pay for them later. Consequently, credit cards were invented. The problem is however, that our personal consciousness does not always evolve at the same rate as our social technology and so we get into a jam when we want things and more things and then more things on top of that. This confusion about what is truly ours to have vs. the things that we stubbornly demand is born out of a materialist mind set promulgated by Madison Avenue marketers to sell their products. Expecting the Universe to meet our every demand on this basis is childish.
To enter the Kingdom of Heaven then we need enough spiritual maturity to discern the difference between a need and an obsession. What is something that serves life and allows us more freedom to do what we are called to this planet to accomplish then that which we are yearning for might show up as a need. (Needs in this context are not just bare survival needs). If the product or service that we are wanting is motivated by a desire to look good, to be right or to please another person, then it is more likely than not laced with materialistic values rather than life enhancing wonderment. When we are striving to acquire things that do not truly enhance our life we end up depleted or in debt.
Many spiritual traditions of both the East and the West renounce possessions to avoid this very trap. Unfortunately, possessions are not the barrier to a life of Ease and Grace. In New Thought we have no resistance to Truth Students seeking nice things, so long as they are aware of the risk of excessive attachment to them and the impact that attachment will have on our entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
Wouldn’t you be pleased if there was more Ease and Grace in your life? If there were fewer struggles and less stress in your day to day experience wouldn’t then there be ample room for more bliss and tenderness? How would you like it if your life got easier? These are the questions many people seek answers to in times of turmoil.
Ease and Grace are usually the resultant experiences we have when we are in the Divine Flow. Jesus taught that the Kingdom of Heaven is available from within, and to my way of understanding the Kingdom of Heaven feels just like Ease and Grace. So, if we want Ease and Grace, if we seek the Kingdom of Heaven then we just need to find the Divine Flow.
The Divine Flow is an energetic field that is systematically and intelligently organized to bring us our good. In order to tap into the Divine Flow we first need to deeply understand the concept of “our good.” Our highest good always includes the highest good of all concerned. Whenever we operate from the fear that there is some sort of competition for our good or think that someone else’s gain is our loss, or that someone or something is against us, then we have utterly crimped our ability to experience life as Ease and Grace. Jealously, envy or trying to show up someone else are sure signs that we are in the struggle rather than in the Flow.
Another challenge is that some of us have been conditioned to think that the Universal Flow of our good always feels good. This is manifestly inaccurate and resisting this Truth often inhibits the flow of good into our lives. The Universe is always aiming at our highest and best long term good and when we want to settle for mediocre short term good we experience conflict, fear and discord. In the face of the Universe bringing to us our highest good we need to surrender deeply our judgment of how it should feel.
Flow means Flow, which means that we must let go to be in the flow of Divine Good. When we latch on to something that we think is our good, and want to hold on to it because we are sure it is our good, it is likely that we are inviting suffering into our lives. All things must pass, they come and go, and to the extent we get overly attached to things we create an environment that leads to suffering. This is the great teaching of the Buddha.
Thus, Ease and Grace requires a subtle surrender and detachment from all things that are not permanent. In our culture we tend to attach meaning to things that are not intrinsically valuable. Our jobs, our money and cars and homes and vacation time shares should be held very lightly if we want to live in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The other aspect about the Divine Flow feeling good is that our highest good is often about our Soul’s evolution. Our Ego self wants to be secure and safe, to be right and to look good. About the time that our Ego thinks we have it made, our Soul is looking out for a new experience and if we hold on to the present and resist our destiny (dharma is a better word for this) then we are signing up for pain and suffering. In order to remain in the Divine Flow then a good practice is to remain very humble and open to loving what is unfolding in our lives.
The Universe is organized to bring us our good. It is amazingly responsive to our yearnings. For example, just about everything that we have now did not exist 100 years ago. Think of all the women washing dishes by the sink who were yearning for a machine to automatically clean the dishes. That yearning led to the manifestation of the Divine Idea of a dishwasher, which is now commonplace in every new home and apartment built.
Unfortunately for those of us that want to live in Ease and Grace, Madison Avenue discovered this correlation between our yearnings and our sense of well-being and has been manipulating us ever since. For example, people wanted personal credit (which did not exist 50 years ago) so they could have things now and pay for them later. Consequently, credit cards were invented. The problem is however, that our personal consciousness does not always evolve at the same rate as our social technology and so we get into a jam when we want things and more things and then more things on top of that. This confusion about what is truly ours to have vs. the things that we stubbornly demand is born out of a materialist mind set promulgated by Madison Avenue marketers to sell their products. Expecting the Universe to meet our every demand on this basis is childish.
To enter the Kingdom of Heaven then we need enough spiritual maturity to discern the difference between a need and an obsession. What is something that serves life and allows us more freedom to do what we are called to this planet to accomplish then that which we are yearning for might show up as a need. (Needs in this context are not just bare survival needs). If the product or service that we are wanting is motivated by a desire to look good, to be right or to please another person, then it is more likely than not laced with materialistic values rather than life enhancing wonderment. When we are striving to acquire things that do not truly enhance our life we end up depleted or in debt.
Many spiritual traditions of both the East and the West renounce possessions to avoid this very trap. Unfortunately, possessions are not the barrier to a life of Ease and Grace. In New Thought we have no resistance to Truth Students seeking nice things, so long as they are aware of the risk of excessive attachment to them and the impact that attachment will have on our entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Freedom from Economic Insecurity
Prosperity Thoughts March 2009
The question “Where can you reliably turn for economic security in times of financial turmoil?” is on the minds of a lot of people these days. I have some thoughts that might be helpful.
First, the ultimate point is that the source of freedom from economic insecurity is God.
Some people think that their job or their wages is their source of security. I read today that 1/10th of all workers in
Some people rely on their home for security. They thought that the equity in their home would always be there as a nest egg. Ha! Home values have dropped over 20 % in the past year. In some places they have dropped much more. In many markets the backlog of homes for sales is two years or more, so the only people that can even sell their homes are doing so at a deep discount. Real estate does not offer security any longer.
Stock Indexes and many investment accounts are down 20% in just the past month. Many once blue chip stocks have lost nearly all their value. GM is on the verge of bankruptcy, Citicorp shares are selling for under a dollar each. The great investment genius of our lifetime, Warren Buffett has lost multiple billions of dollars this past year. Hedge Funds and private equity funds have been hammered in the past year. Even money market type accounts, supposedly the safest of the safe have been wiped out. There have been two reported frauds in money market type investments where the outright losses appear to be in excess of $50 billion. Investments are inherently risky.
Given the massive deficit in the
Retirement programs are also insecure. Private Annuities and Pension programs have lost 33% and more in their value this past year as the stock markets have tanked. The entire Social Security program is terribly underfunded. The State and local PERS programs have lost billions in the stock crash and were underfunded to begin with so they now face a horrific shortfall. All those government workers that think they have a sure thing are likely to find out that the tax payers just cannot earn enough to cover the costs of those pensions. Voters are fickle.
In the face of all this upset, many people are turning to politics and government to bail them out. Governments however do not create wealth, they redistribute it. Those in favor today will be out of favor in a few years and anyone who relies on the promises of a politician for their security has never studied history. Politicians that can be replied on are few and far between. Honest people rarely run for political office- much less get elected in the climate of corruption that exists in political circles these days. Both parties have proven over and over again that they put their own interest over that of the citizens that vote for them.
On the macro scale Empires have risen and fallen. None offer any sort of permanence. In fact history shows over and over again that about the time the citizens begin to rely on their government to provide for their security, is about the time when an empire begins its steep decline.
Now, there is hope. I do mean to provide an uplifting message here, so let’s turn away from what does not work and look at where we can get results.
God is eternal. Spiritual Law is Universal and everlasting. If you are looking for economic predictability then we know there only one place where you can be assured of results. That is to invest in Spirit.
I can assure you that if you invest your security in Spirit, your security is promised. Anyone who has invested in the stock market has a strategy. Every one that got an education had a plan. Each person with a career followed some sort of path. The same is true for spiritual investment, you need an approach. Here is a proven and systematic approach that works and has always worked.
There are four straightforward steps to systematically transform your life approach away from the fantasy of material security.
First, become aware of all the lack thinking that you engage in. Notice when you think you do not have enough time to do that which is yours to do or enough money to enjoy the things that really matter to you. Become aware of when you feel harried and exhausted. Pay attention when you feel drained or depleted. It is essential to your connection to the inexhaustible source to eliminate the lack thinking that prevents you from finding the infinite flow of good in your life. If we focus on the world being a place of deprivation and impoverishment, for sure that is what we will experience. (I know I mentioned some of this above, this was to help folks see where they might be holding onto ideas that are not spiritually sound.)
In order to do this, it is very helpful to continually recall that we are children of the Divine. That which created us, created the entire universe. The universe is orderly and there are laws that govern its behavior. Likewise there are key Spiritual Truths that have been known to mystics and sages throughout recorded time. We know these Spiritual Principles as well. In times of transformation it is a good idea to be clear on what these laws are and which we believe and which we resist. So, take the time to organize what you actually think about prosperity and compare it to what you “know” about prosperity in terms of Truth Teachings. (We as a church are undergoing this process now as we get in touch with our core values surrounding prosperity.)
The third step is then to be open to new ideas. There are several components to this, and to change our thinking is to change our life. If we want transformation then we need to be willing to make some shifts in both our thinking and in our behavior. Sometimes we change a behavior to help our thinking get realigned with Truth. Other times we have to change our thinking and surrender our behavior, knowing that in the end our behavior will align with our most deeply held belief.
One of the essential keys here is to be open to Divine Ideas. These are the great Gifts that lead us to our good. There is an infinite supply of great ideas available to us. It is the purview of our ego to be right, look good and keep us safe. The ego likes to plan for our future and organize our life. On the other hand, our Higher Power is an infinitely better organizing intelligence which resides in us at all times. It can correlate things that our ego cannot even conceive of. Thus our path to prosperity is to be open to these Divine Ideas and not allow our egoic thinking- which is inherently short sighted – to run (or ruin) our life.
These Divine Ideas will run up against your thinking that says that you are not smart enough to successfully implement the Divine Idea. You will think that you do not have the experience, the resources, the intelligence, the time, and numerous other lack based excuses to manifest your Gift. Anytime that you make a decision to reject a Divine Idea based on the belief that you do not have enough money, then you are then investing in lack consciousness. Lack begets lack so please beware that you are investing in a fantasy when you operate from this perspective.
Here is another aspect of being open to new ideas. There is only one surefire and bankable way to know that you are opening yourself up to Divine Ideas and that is to tithe. When you tithe (which is to joyously give to those that spiritually nourish you with a sense of gratitude for the gifts you have been given) then you are demonstrating to your mind and to your ego that you do have enough. It is impossible to tithe from a place of sustained lack thinking. As you tithe, you will be reminding yourself each week to look for the Divine Ideas flowing your way. When they arrive you will be receptive because in your heart you know that tithing creates a flow. You give, but you cannot out give God. And thus, as you tithe, you must be willing to receive. The abundance that you receive tends to come in the form of Divine Ideas, authentic and supportive relationships and in opportunities to joyfully make difference in people’s lives. To the extent that you serve life, and joyously serve life, you will experience prosperity.
The fourth stage or step in this transformational dynamic is to courageously step out in those matters of finance which we feel called to undertake. It means we will spend our money consciously, in an organized fashion (rather than reactively or compulsively) to bring about a sense of good into our lives. It means that we will expand our horizons fearlessly as we find our right livelihood (that which brings us meaning while serving others). It means we will be supportive of the success of others knowing that their good does not take away from ours. A measure of discernment is helpful here, so this is where spiritual guidance or mentorship can leverage our good. Some so called Great Ideas are really a Brain Fart.
Thus, one new concept I had to learn early on my spiritual path was to tell the difference between a spiritual calling and ego driven behavior. Getting good guidance from those more fully attuned to the ways of Spirit was an extraordinary blessing to me in learning how to make this distinction.
So, here it is; the simple and straightforward path to freedom from economic insecurity. Simple is not always easy, and straightforward does not always mean that you can see the way, but I promise you that you will find a life of ease and grace as you master these principles.
Monday, February 9, 2009
The Tao of Divine Order
The Tao of Divine Order
Change is one of the few constants in our physical world. As the Tao reminds us “the ten thousand things rise and fall without cease”. At the same time it says however that “Heaven and Earth last forever.”
How can this be?
Looking first at the natural world, moment by moment the waves ebb and flow, the breeze shifts, streams run, clouds float. Day becomes night, seasons come and seasons go and life goes on.
The circumstances are always unique, none lasting longer than a moment. Yet, the pattern is always perfectly predictable. While the waves ebb and flow, the ocean itself is permanent. While the sun is always moving across the sky (actually relative to the earth the sun is fairly constant- it is the earth that is rotating), we can predict exactly when the sun will rise. Spring will always follow winter and in the Northern Hemisphere spring days will generally warm and buds on trees will come out and the bulbs will become flowers and so forth and so on.
The same is true with technology and our personal world. First there were drums, bugles and banners, then smoke signals, then the break through of the telegraph and then upgrade to the universal home telephone and now personal cell phones. The only constant is that our technical world is always evolving.
In our private world as well, we are all the time, amidst change. Circumstances and conditions come and go surrounding jobs, health, friendships and a myriad of ten thousand other details. The only constant here is that we are eternal souls on an infinite journey of exploration.
In thinking about our prosperity consciousness from this perspective, we can see how we make the decisions that shape the details of our lives.
There are really only two ultimate world view choices. One can choose to live from a world view that rejects a higher power as an organizing and responsive force for our good. This world view is enmeshed in the details because there is nothing larger involved. Making choices based on circumstances is typically exhausting because we cannot adequately predict how the circumstances will alter and so we end up micromanaging our lives. We are living then in an unpredictable and/or chaotic world and from this mind set are typically thinking of self centered survival issues most of the time. The best we can do from this consciousness is to maximize our experience of our own preferences.
The other perspective available is a spiritual perspective that holds that while we are having an entirely human experience, we are actually spiritual beings and our lives are governed by spiritual laws. As we study and come to integrate our understanding of these universal principles then we can improve the quality of our life in generally predictable way. We may not be able to control all the short term circumstances, (other people do have free will after all) but we know that we are trudging a spiritual path that promises inner peace and a life of abundance.
There are examples of this phenomenon in quantum physics that seem very pertinent but I am not really able to explain it clearly. Scientists have run multiple repetitions of certain experiments to determine to a very fine accuracy which outcome of several possibilities is going to happen. They are able to predict how likely it is that each variable will occur, but they cannot know ahead of any specific test run which outcome is actually going to happen until it actually does happen. What I am describing here is not a chaotic environment, but one which is not certain.
Here is a example of a non chaotic but uncertain system from the natural world that I think I can use to illustrate this principle. Debbie and I just got back from
The surfers know from common experience that ocean waves tend to come in sets, perhaps 3-8 waves in a series followed by a lull in the wave action and then the commencement of the next set. The surfers never know ahead of time if the next wave will be a dud or last wave of a set. They never know for sure until the wave begins to break if it will be a perfect wave. They are looking to pass on the duds, while seeking to catch a good wave before the onset of the next lull so they can surf and then paddle back out during the lull.
In spite of the appearance of a chaotic environment where no one can predict the quality of the next wave, many surfers will pass on wave after wave and then simultaneously a pair will jump up in unison to ride the next wave even though multiple riders on the same peak tends to diminish their own ride. How does this happen, that independent of each other several surfers will determine the next wave is the one to ride and not the one after that? They must develop some feel, some sixth sense that activates them to ride as the swell begins to form but before the wave actually breaks into a curl. They cannot know ahead of time so their environment is uncertain, but they know a good wave is going to come along sooner or later because every day there are literally hundreds of good waves.
This process of discerned thinking by surfers hopefully leads us to an understanding of the difference between a chaotic universe and one that is uncertain but predictable. As Einstein said, he believed that God did not play dice with the Universe. In other words, Einstein was convinced in his heart that the Universe was not random or chaotic, and he spent the entire balance of his life trying to find scientific proof of this conviction.
This perspective deeply impacts our prosperity thinking in how we deal with the changes in our life. If we assume the Universe is chaotic and random then we will have a gut reaction to each perceived threat. The gut reaction is activated in the lower chakras where the survival and power instincts are located. Gut reactions are often urgent and very strong adrenalin driven currents and tend to be, as their namesake indicates, reactive. They are noted for self centered and protective behavior. Protective behavior can be defensive or aggressive, is often focused on shifting blame and it is typically competitive or even hostile.
On the other hand, if our deepest belief is that the world is unfolding in response to our intentions in a rational but uncertain manner, then we can take the time to rely on our intuition to guide our decisions. Intuition arises within the higher chakras. These intuitive senses are integrated for the well-being of all concern. They tend to be gentle signals or subtle hints that take time to fully take shape and are most often expansive or generative in character.
Reactive energy and decisions made from a world view of chaos are less likely to lead to a sense of our goodness. It is focused on self centered survival- which is unlikely to help us thrive unless we are truly in a dire situation. On the other hand, a world view which encompasses a Higher Power and Divine Order lead to intuitive decision making and a calmer life. These decisions will be expansive rather than protective and will thus more likely to lead us towards prosperity and abundance. In the end, it is our choice of which world view to adopt, chaos or Divine Order.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Chaos Uncertinity and Divine Order
Chaos, Uncertainty and Divine Order
The science of economics indicates that people tend to be mostly rational about their choices around prosperity. In times of falling home prices, people wait to purchase a home to see if they can get a better deal, in times of raising gas prices, people tend to drive less. If Roma tomatoes are on sale this week, we might buy Roma tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes. Each month we make millions of economic decisions that are based on the data uppermost in our mind
Coupled with these basically rational choices are a number of unstated assumptions which may or may not be useful. I like a certain brand of Blue Cheese dressing and do not like other brands of Blue Cheese dressing. (In fact I do not like any other type of dressing on my salad either). When the brand I like is on sale, I will buy two or three jars even if I only need one jar now. When it is not on sale, I will just buy one jar. My basic assumption is that the dressing will not be on sale every week, but it will be on sale sometime soon. Moreover, my basic assumption is that the store will be open each week.
These basic assumptions are woven into our thinking at such a deep level that we are not often aware of them and rarely examine them. They exist surrounding every area of our lives and become ingrained into our thinking. For example, when I lived in California there were many sunny days and so oftentimes I would think of taking a walk but wait till later in the afternoon because I had a few others things to do. This basic assumption collided with reality when I moved to Oregon where there is an occasional glimmer of sun for a short while but rarely an entire day that is sunny. I had to re evaluate my basic assumption about walks to adapt to Oregon weather patterns and now take my walk the moment I see the sunshine.
Our unconscious basic assumptions impact our ability to relate to a Higher Power in a profound way and are often determinative of our ability to thrive and prosper. If we have unconsciously embedded ideas from our childhood world view then our otherwise rational decision making process is entirely skewed.
One area for potent inquiry is the relationship of Divine Order to our experience of chaos and uncertainty. If we had a chaotic childhood with lots of seemingly irrational events occurring all the time, then examining our thinking about the role of a Higher Power in our prosperity consciousness my lead to a sense of well-being that would otherwise be missing.
Each personal spiritual journey is unique and so reactions to similar conditions might lead to very different basic assumptions so it is unwise to generalize too much. Prolonged exposure to chaos as a youngster might lead one child to an overly developed desire to control their world as an adult. It may be just as likely though that a child growing up a chaotic environment might adopt a chaotic lifestyle. It is vital not to judge the prior assumptions as bad or unhealthy. This just brings about more shame. Instead, the initial transformational opportunity here to use our free will and discernment to determine in a compassionate way the embedded assumptions which define the core of our thinking and gently see if these concepts support us to thrive now.
As noted in a prior chapter, I believe that the world is ordered and responsive. That means that there is a rational and soothing process by which I can interact with this Higher Intelligence to co create a better life. This Higher Intelligence is a benefactor to me and all humanity. There are, of course, times in my life when I am faced with uncertainty. So long as I can be present to the uncertainty with this underlying theology of Divine Order, I am usually able to remain calmly open. I trust that my good is inherently operational in every situation. I know that no matter how it looks in the moment that my experience is not chaotic and unpredictable. Instead, my world is responding to my most profound prayers and unfolding for my ultimate good.
It seems to me that some people say they believe in a Higher Power as a nurturing organizing force for good but on a deeper unconscious level hold the idea that the world is chaotic and unpredictable. Since all our actions are typically influenced from our most deeply held belief, people with this mind set will react to a change in circumstances from a world view of chaos and unpredictability no matter what they may say they believe about God. This means they are less likely to remain in open surrender to the changes and instead will react from their habitual resistance to chaos or unpredictability. They may become protective, defensive or combative.
In terms of pure prosperity consciousness, folks with this way of thinking then unconsciously resist the unfolding of their own good by reacting irrationally when things begin to feel out of our control. Change is happening all the time, but when our consciousness remains fixed, then the details of our life shift but our basic state remains the same. We get evicted from one relationship and fall into an equally dysfunctional one. We loose one job and find another that is just as unsatisfying. We clear up one health challenge and find other symptoms right around the corner. Pretty soon we begin to feel there are no good romantic partners out there. We sense that we are jinxed in our career. Our friends call us hypochondriacs.
Transformation arises when we are able to remain calmly aware of our deepest mind set in the middle of massive change. When we hold as the core truth of our existence a world view that there is a benevolent presence within us guiding and supporting our good, then we experience the uncertainty as an opening to a new way of living rather than something to be feared or managed.
The science of economics indicates that people tend to be mostly rational about their choices around prosperity. In times of falling home prices, people wait to purchase a home to see if they can get a better deal, in times of raising gas prices, people tend to drive less. If Roma tomatoes are on sale this week, we might buy Roma tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes. Each month we make millions of economic decisions that are based on the data uppermost in our mind
Coupled with these basically rational choices are a number of unstated assumptions which may or may not be useful. I like a certain brand of Blue Cheese dressing and do not like other brands of Blue Cheese dressing. (In fact I do not like any other type of dressing on my salad either). When the brand I like is on sale, I will buy two or three jars even if I only need one jar now. When it is not on sale, I will just buy one jar. My basic assumption is that the dressing will not be on sale every week, but it will be on sale sometime soon. Moreover, my basic assumption is that the store will be open each week.
These basic assumptions are woven into our thinking at such a deep level that we are not often aware of them and rarely examine them. They exist surrounding every area of our lives and become ingrained into our thinking. For example, when I lived in California there were many sunny days and so oftentimes I would think of taking a walk but wait till later in the afternoon because I had a few others things to do. This basic assumption collided with reality when I moved to Oregon where there is an occasional glimmer of sun for a short while but rarely an entire day that is sunny. I had to re evaluate my basic assumption about walks to adapt to Oregon weather patterns and now take my walk the moment I see the sunshine.
Our unconscious basic assumptions impact our ability to relate to a Higher Power in a profound way and are often determinative of our ability to thrive and prosper. If we have unconsciously embedded ideas from our childhood world view then our otherwise rational decision making process is entirely skewed.
One area for potent inquiry is the relationship of Divine Order to our experience of chaos and uncertainty. If we had a chaotic childhood with lots of seemingly irrational events occurring all the time, then examining our thinking about the role of a Higher Power in our prosperity consciousness my lead to a sense of well-being that would otherwise be missing.
Each personal spiritual journey is unique and so reactions to similar conditions might lead to very different basic assumptions so it is unwise to generalize too much. Prolonged exposure to chaos as a youngster might lead one child to an overly developed desire to control their world as an adult. It may be just as likely though that a child growing up a chaotic environment might adopt a chaotic lifestyle. It is vital not to judge the prior assumptions as bad or unhealthy. This just brings about more shame. Instead, the initial transformational opportunity here to use our free will and discernment to determine in a compassionate way the embedded assumptions which define the core of our thinking and gently see if these concepts support us to thrive now.
As noted in a prior chapter, I believe that the world is ordered and responsive. That means that there is a rational and soothing process by which I can interact with this Higher Intelligence to co create a better life. This Higher Intelligence is a benefactor to me and all humanity. There are, of course, times in my life when I am faced with uncertainty. So long as I can be present to the uncertainty with this underlying theology of Divine Order, I am usually able to remain calmly open. I trust that my good is inherently operational in every situation. I know that no matter how it looks in the moment that my experience is not chaotic and unpredictable. Instead, my world is responding to my most profound prayers and unfolding for my ultimate good.
It seems to me that some people say they believe in a Higher Power as a nurturing organizing force for good but on a deeper unconscious level hold the idea that the world is chaotic and unpredictable. Since all our actions are typically influenced from our most deeply held belief, people with this mind set will react to a change in circumstances from a world view of chaos and unpredictability no matter what they may say they believe about God. This means they are less likely to remain in open surrender to the changes and instead will react from their habitual resistance to chaos or unpredictability. They may become protective, defensive or combative.
In terms of pure prosperity consciousness, folks with this way of thinking then unconsciously resist the unfolding of their own good by reacting irrationally when things begin to feel out of our control. Change is happening all the time, but when our consciousness remains fixed, then the details of our life shift but our basic state remains the same. We get evicted from one relationship and fall into an equally dysfunctional one. We loose one job and find another that is just as unsatisfying. We clear up one health challenge and find other symptoms right around the corner. Pretty soon we begin to feel there are no good romantic partners out there. We sense that we are jinxed in our career. Our friends call us hypochondriacs.
Transformation arises when we are able to remain calmly aware of our deepest mind set in the middle of massive change. When we hold as the core truth of our existence a world view that there is a benevolent presence within us guiding and supporting our good, then we experience the uncertainty as an opening to a new way of living rather than something to be feared or managed.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Divine Order
Prosperity Thoughts: Divine Order
One of the very fundamental assumptions that each of us make is about the orderliness of the Universe. We may not consciously resolve this, but our assumption underlies every decision we make. I offer some observations that might stimulate you to become aware of your ideas on the nature of the Universe. Looking at the question dispassionately there are only a few possibilities. Here are some of the more obvious ones.
The Universe is rational and predictable and controlled by some sort of outside Higher Power. (Ordered).
The Universe is irrational and unpredictable. (Chaos).
The level of order in the Universe is changing randomly all the time- sometimes it is ordered and at other times it is not. (Undeterminable).
The level of order in the Universe is continually being reduced by power beyond our control. (Devolving).
The level of order in Universe is continually being increased by a power beyond our control. (Evolving).
The level of order in the Universe is rational and predictable and measurably impacted by our individual and collective consciousness. (Spiritual).
To my way of seeing this, each person can unconsciously cycle through these various world views many times per day depending on the circumstances of the moment. It is important to notice this because I think our mood shifts depending on which world view we have adopted at any moment.
For example, anyone in an airplane is operating under the idea that there is a high level of order and predictability in the world. Their flight may be delayed by unforeseen factors (such as bad weather) but these are predictable and so experienced winter travelers allow extra time to make connections. Their underlying assumption is that the pilot is well trained, the aircraft well maintained, the laws of aerodynamic flight are well understood and so forth. If they thought otherwise, they would not be flying. I think that an aware situational assessment of which world view to apply to any given situation is perhaps an example of a highly developed consciousness.
On the other hand, I have noticed after our recent election that many peoples answer to the question about if the Universe is evolving or devolving depends on if their preferred candidate won the election or not. It seems purely subjective, especially when the newly elected candidate adopts many of the policy choices of the former administrations. This is, to my way of seeing it, is letting circumstance dictate our world view rather than seeing the world through a particular paradigm. I think this is a relatively undeveloped way of being in the world.
I am convinced that many of our very early childhood experiences influence our world view in dramatic and unconscious ways. I think many unconsciously then project their childhood perspective of their caregivers onto God in some fashion. I think the idea behind this concept is fairly well understood but the actual mechanism in each individual is much more subtle.
On a generational level, I think that many that were born during the hardest times of “Great Depression” adopted a deep seeded sense of uncertainty about financial matters. Their world view was one of scarcity. I know from stories I have heard that many children wondered if they would have food in the house. Many children relied on adults who were very fearful about loosing their jobs due to mass layoffs that were made by executives far outside their control for reasons outside of their perception. Growing up in this environment might lead to a world view that suggests that the Universe is devolving due to forces beyond their control.
In the same economic climate another child in an immigrant family might have experienced both their parents working hard, struggling to learn English and stressing the need to get a good education. This parent is modeling a worldview that says the world is organized and predictable, what are needed for success are hard work and an education.
Someone who grew up in a family laced with addition and dysfunction might have experienced a childhood with times of great uproar and conflict as well as times of tenderness and stability. Sometimes daddy would come home on time, sober and happy and other times he would not come home and there was worry and angst. Perhaps mom would be upbeat and cheerfully responsive much of the time and other times morose and unwilling to make dinner. A youngster with this home life might then unconsciously adopt a view of the Universe that held it was unpredictable and irrationally chaotic.
I think it is very worthwhile to take the time to reflect on our basic assumptions about how the Universe operates and to notice where we might have adopted our cultural or family perspective on this question without being aware of the impact.
We teach as a foundational truth that the Universe is highly organized and that it is predictably responsive to our own thinking. This foundational principle explains how the laws of science allow us great predictability in our physical world, which when coupled with the impact of our consciousness leads to a certain appearance of uncertainty in our daily life. I will talk about this impact in the next segment.
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