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These most eloquent responses were submitted by some of our viewers in response to our July newsletters challenge entitled, "Believers vs Knowers". |
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From Debbie, Wow! such a quick turnaround! "Do you see anything to do with Money, Power and Control influencing some of these actions ???" ....Does the sun rise every morning in the East? Ah, yes. "the minute anything becomes "institutionalized it is dead" ...That's what I'm afraid" may be happening with many of these "New Age" realms. Of course, I also think that we humans feel most comfortable in the shoebox of our own making...!?! Put a name to it, create ceremonies around it, and then you can "call on it" whenever you feel like, without apprehension about whether you're calling on the same thing as before. It gives us a warm fuzzy, we like that [purrr]...but, tyranny rears its ugly head and suddenly it becomes us-vs-them. A group of well-meaning people create something beautiful and it becomes distorted by all the "followers" who try to force it into the "correct" cubbyhole that it got shoved into! Ugh. Most religions start out this way... great idea, common belief system, friendly atmosphere...and then, wham, the door of conventionality and conformity slams down on them. I don't think there's a real "answer" here, merely a commentary on the human condition. Until we can live "truly" outside-the-box, we will continue to "institutionalize" each new idea-system we create so we can make it fit in with the rest of our limited understanding of our mostly 3-dimensional universe. Even when what we started out to understand was clearly not in that universe at all...! "So full of themselves the ones they are supposed to be serving are completely oppressed" ...Any, and every, time we create a "shoebox" someone or some exclusive group of someones comes along and claims dominance over it. "We were here first", "We built it", "We are in the Right"...etc., ad infinitim... The key here is "WE" which implies that there is the "THEM" that is not included in this self-appointed group. The dictator and the dictated-to masses. It is unfortunate that this is a problem that will probably never be solved. "as soon as you get it fixed I'll be happy to link both mine" ...most definitely, as I have said...it needs a major overhaul...Thanks! Great "talking" with you, more soon, Peace and Harmony, Debbie Wow...such a quick turnaround! |
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From Angelica, Hi Jim..I'm having a little trouble with my thinking..I'm a little confused..all along I have been following what my book on spiritualism by Yogi Ramacharaka has been saying, but, I find that I am not really enjoying myself. I mean I would be better off being a non believer, all of my friends seem to enjoy everything more than me. I just keep worrying about whether this is right or wrong. I mean I went to a disco yesterday for the first time in my life and I felt like: wow, this is life", I mean I really enjoyed myself, dancing, I have never let go.. So, my questions are: which is right, shall I live my life doing nothing but worrying about whether what I am doing is right or wrong? or is it better to go out with friends and not feel stuck up? I'm a little confused here, as I said I don't know which is right or wrong! Is it right to worry and ask you or is right not to worry.... My first realization into the difference (BELIEF vs KNOWING) didn't really hit until I was nearly 20, after leaving an organization that stressed not belief, but experience. It was a great concept, but there was a flaw: don't believe anything we say, but don't really question it, either. Strange how even the most highly directed of organizations tend to herd themselves into Groupthink in order to maintain their structure. I feel that that this is where BELIEF comes from: the fear of questioning what you have been told due to a lack of faith. Most religions have also used Belief as a means to maintain control over their weak-minded followers. Knowing comes from experience. I test all theories to what I know from my life's lessons. If I have little or no experience, I bring the question inside to ask my heart. There is usually a clear answer. I remain open to experiencing the spiritual "truth" myself, as well. The main difference I can see between BELIEF and KNOWING is that of submission and faith. If you simply believe what a spiritual leader or book tells you, then you are accepting someone else's truth regardless of what your wisdom tells you. That is not surrender or holy. It is relinquishing your clarity out of fear. KNOWING is unquestionable in your heart. Doubt may cloud it for a time, but once you choose past that (the mustardseed of faith), the TRUTH in your heart stands clear and unshakable. There is no argument to true knowing. No one has to tell you what you know. My challenge has been to be still and confident in what I know, without faltering. This does not make me deaf to what the universe is telling me; rather, I am more willing to take it in because I have faith that my heart will not lead me astray. This is true knowing and it is an important element of True Power. Peace, Love, & Light, Angelica |
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A Commentary, Everything is what many have chosen to hang a name on their interpretation of what they think is and how it works. Ultimately there is only One Spirit, there is only One Energy, the One has many aspects. What we are talking about is Techniques and Methods. With all techniques and methods their Flaw is to get Stuck within them just as one would get stuck in a specific Religion believing it had All the Answers.... My comments as far as positive or negative are simply this, any thing that leads to more understanding and development is positive, anything that says "Only This Is So", can be worse than never experienced..... ......This is one of the most profound problems with all Teachings, it's the Paradoxes they create.... ......It is not your thinking that is the problem, it's attempting to Conform to other's ideas of what is Right...... .......Many Spiritual Teachers say it is Evil or Wrong to,,,Dance,,,,To Enjoy Yourself,,,,maybe they are the ones with a problem...... .......The Test for Anything is,,,is it causing Harm to Anyone ? .......The Test for Rightness or Wrongness is,,,,How it feels in your Heart..... .......One of the biggest Flaws in many belief systems is,,,You Must Do As We/I Say,,,,OR Else...Sounds like Control to me,,,through Fear, Shame, Guilt and intimidation...... .......There is Only One to whom you are responsible,,,,,That is You..... .......Another flaw in many teachings,,, as long as you put the responsibility for your actions on God, the Devil, your Parents, the System Etc., you are Never in control, you are never responsible, always the eternal Victim,,,truly Helpless, Worthless and Confused...... .......The day of Awakening and Liberation is the day you can stand tall and say,,,,I Am Fully Me,,,I claim my Right to be Fully Responsible for All I Am and Do..... ........All you have to use is your Heart,,,it is your True Guide in All Things...... ........This is the Liberation, Freedom, Empowerment, Completeness and the I Am..... |
