A number of years ago, when I was enrolled at Union Institute and University working on my Ph.D. in psychology, one of my classes took a weekend away for introspection or something like that. Part of the training involved walking a labyrinth.
A labyrinth is a maze-like walking path used to foster reflection or induce a spiritual experience. Used in religious settings in can take the place of a mini pilgrimage. I am not inclined to have faith in such practices, although I have had what are commonly called "spiritual experiences" a few times in my life. I had no expectations at all in beginning this exercise, and thought it would be a waste of time.
There were about 40 of us students and slowly one at a time we entered the labyrinth. I was about in the middle in entering. The labyrinth begins as a wide circle spiraling inwards. You walk in circles becoming smaller and smaller until you reach the center and then reverse direction and walk out.
I tried to clear my mind as I began, taking my steps consciously. Slowly something began to happen. I can only describe it as a feeling of warmth, love, kindness, and safety. I walked past other people and saw them as partners on my life journey. The whole walk took on the image of my life in symbol. In other words, the labyrinth became a symbol for my whole life.
I continued to walk closer and closer to the center. As I did, the feelings became stronger and stronger. I realized I was walking towards God, who was the center of my life. By the time I go there tears were streaming down my face. What caused all of this makes no sense what-so-ever from a rational scientific perspective. None of this should have been happening.
The center of the labyrinth held me for a moment and I experienced perfect joy, peace, happiness. Complete fullness and I realized I lack nothing. I turned and began the journey back out into the world. I remember stepping out of the maze and looking at the sky, seeing a small plane flying over. And experiencing complete freedom.
For me, that day was a gift and a message. Our lives are meant to be a spiritual walk to Grace. We are given joy, love, peace, in a surprise. And then we walk back out into the world, sharing what we have been given. There is nothing to share if we don't, by grace, experience God, or the Source (call it whatever you want to call it). But, each of us can...and must do this, if we want to heal the world, love our friends, be useful in some way, we must walk inward in whichever way we can.
Thank you to my sister Joyce, who in recently walking a labyrinth, reminded my of this one. And it reminds me I can do this walk everyday of my life. Love to you all.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Sunday, March 27, 2016
The Most Important Thing To Know
What is the most important thing to know? Some people think it is to know if there is a God or not. Some think that it is to know that science has the only answers that are important. Or that the physical world is all there is. What is the meaning or purpose of life? These are big truths that need answering. But I propose that there is a truth that you need to know before all of these. If you ignore this truth, all other truths (or beliefs) that you hold may be wrong or arrived at by mistake.
Here is the most important thing you need to know: we see the world not as it is but as we are.
Why is this the most important thing to know? Because we don't see reality, the world, the universe, simply as it is. We are biased. Let me say this again louder. We are biased. We cannot help it. We are made that way. All that we think and how we evaluate evidence to come to conclusions are the result of living our lives up to now. We don't hold our beliefs...there is a God, or the opposite, the physical world is all there is, on pure evidence that we have accumulated rationally.
Human beings are not rational creatures, even though we like to think that we are. That is another false belief most of us hold, but there is plenty of research showing this is true. My friends that are atheists have come to this belief, and it is a belief, through evidence that has been put together based on something else other than a rational system. And the same goes for my friends who are theists and believe in a God.
We can see the same things and come to different conclusions all the time. Look at the political landscape these days. Liberals think conservatives are crazy, or worse. Conservatives think liberals are crazy, or worse. And we live in the same country, exposed to basically the same things, but we filter out the evidence differently. So we see the world differently. We see the world not as it is, but as we are.
This is so important to know. First of all, if we realize this we can hold our beliefs not so tightly. We can be open to take in evidence better. Know that what you see is not simple truth, simple reality. We have an inner filtering devise. It's not important to try to get rid of it, just know it is there.
Secondly, knowing that our filter, our mind and emotions, changes what is real to something else, we have to know that what it is we are seeing is changed by who we are. We can't help it. It is in our nature. I've had incredibly loving parents. It's easy for me to believe in a loving God, a safe universe. If I had been brought up in a dysfunctional home, chaotic, maybe I would start my search for reality from a different place using a different filter for my evidence.
I am not arguing here for either realities. I am saying that unless you understand this, most likely what you believe in is distorted by your life experience. We need to know that we are wearing a filter, then, and only then, can we begin to look at the evidence around us and try to understand our world. To do it without knowing that we see the world not as it is leads us into error and probably a waste of precious time.
Here is the most important thing you need to know: we see the world not as it is but as we are.
Why is this the most important thing to know? Because we don't see reality, the world, the universe, simply as it is. We are biased. Let me say this again louder. We are biased. We cannot help it. We are made that way. All that we think and how we evaluate evidence to come to conclusions are the result of living our lives up to now. We don't hold our beliefs...there is a God, or the opposite, the physical world is all there is, on pure evidence that we have accumulated rationally.
Human beings are not rational creatures, even though we like to think that we are. That is another false belief most of us hold, but there is plenty of research showing this is true. My friends that are atheists have come to this belief, and it is a belief, through evidence that has been put together based on something else other than a rational system. And the same goes for my friends who are theists and believe in a God.
We can see the same things and come to different conclusions all the time. Look at the political landscape these days. Liberals think conservatives are crazy, or worse. Conservatives think liberals are crazy, or worse. And we live in the same country, exposed to basically the same things, but we filter out the evidence differently. So we see the world differently. We see the world not as it is, but as we are.
This is so important to know. First of all, if we realize this we can hold our beliefs not so tightly. We can be open to take in evidence better. Know that what you see is not simple truth, simple reality. We have an inner filtering devise. It's not important to try to get rid of it, just know it is there.
Secondly, knowing that our filter, our mind and emotions, changes what is real to something else, we have to know that what it is we are seeing is changed by who we are. We can't help it. It is in our nature. I've had incredibly loving parents. It's easy for me to believe in a loving God, a safe universe. If I had been brought up in a dysfunctional home, chaotic, maybe I would start my search for reality from a different place using a different filter for my evidence.
I am not arguing here for either realities. I am saying that unless you understand this, most likely what you believe in is distorted by your life experience. We need to know that we are wearing a filter, then, and only then, can we begin to look at the evidence around us and try to understand our world. To do it without knowing that we see the world not as it is leads us into error and probably a waste of precious time.
Friday, March 11, 2016
How Should I Live My Life?
As I have been getting on in years (not realizing this simply by counting the numbers, but through the loss of parents, changes in living situations, and my body not being as athletic as it was just a few years ago) I have been thinking more and more about the big questions.
Actually, there is only one question when you get to the heart of it. What is real?
By that I mean, is the universe made up of only material things that can be counted and measured? Or are there more, non-material "things" such as souls, spirits, love, justice, free-will?
I am an educated person and I real a lot and hopefully with degrees in philosophy, holistic counseling, and psychology I should be able to say something meaningful about "the big question." I read and listen to lectures regarding these topics and have come to a tentative conclusion worth sharing. Do not expect a proof or such, because that is unattainable. The best any of us can do is submit evidence and others can do what they will with it. Everyone comes with their own biased lenses in how they see the world. We can never take those lenses off, the best we can do is to be aware and try to compensate for them.
Starting with the Big Bang does nothing to support a materialist reductionistic position. If you believe that matter is all there is, then good luck on hanging your hat on this one. We are asked to believe that there was nothing (or a tiny particle) and then we have the universe. Ha ha. That makes the miracle stories in the Bible seem like childs play. The best that scientists can say is that there was a quantum fluxuation and a particle "wormed" its way into existence (out of nothing). Easier to believe that a guy turned water into wine than that one.
From there I went back to my graduate studies on quantum physics. The story gets worse. Particles that only materialize some place when they are observed, until then they are only waves existing...everywhere and nowhere. I am not going to discuss quantum physics here other than to say that our best scientists describe the universe at the quantum level as...spooky.
Where does that leave me and my quest for understanding the big question, what is real? Right where it seems I am supposed to be. My conclusion is that we are not supposed to know. But, we are supposed to wonder. We are supposed to consider these things. And in doing that I find that I do have an answer to what is real. And it is exciting and of practical daily use!
What is real? Don't fall off your chair. This is the last thing I thought I would ever say. This stuff never interests me. Here it is:
Technically speaking...its ethics. Rationally speaking...its living a moral life. Practically speaking... its being kind.
Briefly (I've already made this blog too long) here is a simple bit of evidence supporting my thoughts.
What is the most healthy diet and life style for human beings? Turns out the healthiest is also the kindest. If you don't eat animals, or consume their means of reproduction, you will live longer and healthier. (There are some of you who will disagree, but, there is so much evidence for this position that I consider it a fact and dare any one to a debate about it.) At the same time you are being kind to the planet as a whole.
Anyway, you get the point. The hard science and physical universe is a mystery beyond belief. But, that's okay, because that isn't what is most important to you. You and I want to be healthy and happy human beings. And now you know how to do it.
If I had been listening to the Dalai Lama, who said that his religion is kindness, I could have found this out a long time ago. Good luck, be kind.
Actually, there is only one question when you get to the heart of it. What is real?
By that I mean, is the universe made up of only material things that can be counted and measured? Or are there more, non-material "things" such as souls, spirits, love, justice, free-will?
I am an educated person and I real a lot and hopefully with degrees in philosophy, holistic counseling, and psychology I should be able to say something meaningful about "the big question." I read and listen to lectures regarding these topics and have come to a tentative conclusion worth sharing. Do not expect a proof or such, because that is unattainable. The best any of us can do is submit evidence and others can do what they will with it. Everyone comes with their own biased lenses in how they see the world. We can never take those lenses off, the best we can do is to be aware and try to compensate for them.
Starting with the Big Bang does nothing to support a materialist reductionistic position. If you believe that matter is all there is, then good luck on hanging your hat on this one. We are asked to believe that there was nothing (or a tiny particle) and then we have the universe. Ha ha. That makes the miracle stories in the Bible seem like childs play. The best that scientists can say is that there was a quantum fluxuation and a particle "wormed" its way into existence (out of nothing). Easier to believe that a guy turned water into wine than that one.
From there I went back to my graduate studies on quantum physics. The story gets worse. Particles that only materialize some place when they are observed, until then they are only waves existing...everywhere and nowhere. I am not going to discuss quantum physics here other than to say that our best scientists describe the universe at the quantum level as...spooky.
Where does that leave me and my quest for understanding the big question, what is real? Right where it seems I am supposed to be. My conclusion is that we are not supposed to know. But, we are supposed to wonder. We are supposed to consider these things. And in doing that I find that I do have an answer to what is real. And it is exciting and of practical daily use!
What is real? Don't fall off your chair. This is the last thing I thought I would ever say. This stuff never interests me. Here it is:
Technically speaking...its ethics. Rationally speaking...its living a moral life. Practically speaking... its being kind.
Briefly (I've already made this blog too long) here is a simple bit of evidence supporting my thoughts.
What is the most healthy diet and life style for human beings? Turns out the healthiest is also the kindest. If you don't eat animals, or consume their means of reproduction, you will live longer and healthier. (There are some of you who will disagree, but, there is so much evidence for this position that I consider it a fact and dare any one to a debate about it.) At the same time you are being kind to the planet as a whole.
Anyway, you get the point. The hard science and physical universe is a mystery beyond belief. But, that's okay, because that isn't what is most important to you. You and I want to be healthy and happy human beings. And now you know how to do it.
If I had been listening to the Dalai Lama, who said that his religion is kindness, I could have found this out a long time ago. Good luck, be kind.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Music, Life, and Forever Young
I don't know about anyone else but when I think about my life I always go back to my late teens and early 20's as being the most alive, or more accurately, most evolving and changing. Maybe that's the same thing. Changing/evolving equals alive.
It was at that time I began emerging like a chick from a shell. I became aware of the outer world. And what I saw I attached myself to in a way that imprinted itself on me for most of my life. Music of that time was one of the strongest influences on me. Why music?
In those days our lives rolled out to the soundtrack of rock and roll, blues, motown, jazz, and country. Looking back it seems like music was everywhere with everything we did. We became infected.
The first thing I ever bought on my own was the first Beatles album after seeing them on the Ed Sullivan Show. The Beatles and the Stones were my musical ushers. We knew the words to every song on every album by heart. We sang "I Saw Her Standing There" in the school yard at recess with air guitars. My cousin Joey and I sang "Please Mr. Postman" to the postman when he came with the mail.
Then the Red Sox won the pennant in '67 and the highlights played out to the music of "The Impossible Dream." To this day I cannot hear that song without getting goosebumps and recalling the joy of that summer.
Then came girls and parking and making out while Van Morrison and dozens of other singers sang love songs. We reflected on life with Bob Dylan. We got stoned listening to Santana and Steppenwolf. We protested war with Woodstock. Even learned to appreciate harmony with Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.
Back then we knew that Black Lives Mattered and loved Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone, Diana Ross, and a host of others.
Over the years and with age the role of music changed. Instead of informing and inspiring, it became a medicine to heal the wounds inflicted on us through living. Dancing became a bit more mechanical.
Now, as life slows down again, I find myself alive and dancing like the teenager again. Rediscovering the bands that midwifed me into who I became. Quite surprised, as in welcoming back my first best friend Joey Shea into my life again, finding that we have changed little and the smile and playful kids are nearly exactly as remembered. These days I go everywhere with my ipod and music playing in my ears to drown out the constant noise of living here in Vietnam. And there has been a huge qualitative change in my life as I find myself so much happier because instead of thinking and worrying, I'm singing along to my songs!
As I write this Bob Dylan is playing in my earphones singing, and this is my wish for you :
"May your hands always be busy, May your feet always be swift.
May you have a strong foundation when the winds of changing shift.
May your heart always be joyful. May your song always be sung.
May you stay forever young."
It was at that time I began emerging like a chick from a shell. I became aware of the outer world. And what I saw I attached myself to in a way that imprinted itself on me for most of my life. Music of that time was one of the strongest influences on me. Why music?
In those days our lives rolled out to the soundtrack of rock and roll, blues, motown, jazz, and country. Looking back it seems like music was everywhere with everything we did. We became infected.
The first thing I ever bought on my own was the first Beatles album after seeing them on the Ed Sullivan Show. The Beatles and the Stones were my musical ushers. We knew the words to every song on every album by heart. We sang "I Saw Her Standing There" in the school yard at recess with air guitars. My cousin Joey and I sang "Please Mr. Postman" to the postman when he came with the mail.
Then the Red Sox won the pennant in '67 and the highlights played out to the music of "The Impossible Dream." To this day I cannot hear that song without getting goosebumps and recalling the joy of that summer.
Then came girls and parking and making out while Van Morrison and dozens of other singers sang love songs. We reflected on life with Bob Dylan. We got stoned listening to Santana and Steppenwolf. We protested war with Woodstock. Even learned to appreciate harmony with Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.
Back then we knew that Black Lives Mattered and loved Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone, Diana Ross, and a host of others.
Over the years and with age the role of music changed. Instead of informing and inspiring, it became a medicine to heal the wounds inflicted on us through living. Dancing became a bit more mechanical.
Now, as life slows down again, I find myself alive and dancing like the teenager again. Rediscovering the bands that midwifed me into who I became. Quite surprised, as in welcoming back my first best friend Joey Shea into my life again, finding that we have changed little and the smile and playful kids are nearly exactly as remembered. These days I go everywhere with my ipod and music playing in my ears to drown out the constant noise of living here in Vietnam. And there has been a huge qualitative change in my life as I find myself so much happier because instead of thinking and worrying, I'm singing along to my songs!
As I write this Bob Dylan is playing in my earphones singing, and this is my wish for you :
"May your hands always be busy, May your feet always be swift.
May you have a strong foundation when the winds of changing shift.
May your heart always be joyful. May your song always be sung.
May you stay forever young."
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