It is 34.9 degrees F, snowing lightly, all and all, a peaceful day here on Laughing Water Farm. I just finished a huge breakfast, my beautiful wife decided to do the dishes; how could life be more perfect? After that big breakfast, I could use a nap; I might just fall asleep with my fingers poised over the keyboard.
There appears to be great changes taking place in all realms of our society. Long held secrets are coming out; some important, many superficial or silly. For instance, there is a book out that states Nixon was gay and there is a rumor on the internet that states Reagan was gay, also. Who cares about such twaddle? Although, it is amusing to think how it might affect some hypocrites. Whether they are true or not, they do prepare our minds for surprises that are sure to come. Most people suspect that the Governments version of the 9-11 scenario is a fiction; but, I think the truth is still going to be shocking for many. You can get all the information you would want on the internet and many, many people have accessed it. Too much truth at once will be threatening to those that chose to keep a blind eye. I understand wanting to keep your head in the sand. Who wants to have their peace disturbed! Yet we need to understand the extent of the corruption that has been going on right beneath our noses. The truth about 9-11 is not the only big shocker that will be revealed in the next few months.
Don't feel stupid if you were not aware of these goings on. You were being manipulated by masters, that had much practice controlling populations for their own benefit. Perpetual war seems to have been their most recent goal and if it wasn't for the rise in consciousness of the human population, they may have pulled it off.
Revelations will increase, now, until there is a torrent of new information. There is nothing fearful about this information; in fact, it marks the end of rule by fear, so don't be disturbed. Always seek peace. Know that human beings are inherently loving. Those who have mislead us, will create the situation that helps them learn. Avoid being angry with them. Have compassion for what they are going to experience in order to turn to the light. Don't wish them suffering. Forgive them.
The immediate future will be exciting for the glimpses we receive, of the way of life, that is emerging.
Keep your mind in the present. Love everything and everybody around you. We will be just fine.
Love and Peace, Gregg
Friday, January 27, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
IT IS A STRUGGLE
More new snow last night. The Sun is finally out, after two days of gloom. It is beautiful on the new snow. We had a quiet but rich celebration last night for my birthday; good food, good wine, great music and a little brandy. It is great to be 77.
Sometimes, I think I sound too glib when I talk about; emptying the mind, ridding yourself of fear thoughts, knowing that your love, accepting oneness etc.
The problem is that they are simple concepts but they are not easy to achieve. It is simple to say "eliminate fear thoughts"; it is indeed a simple concept. Achieving it, however, can be extremely difficult. The path for each person is different. Some people do have an easier time. Most of us struggle. I am a struggler.
We all have an ego, which is dedicated to separation. Our ego uses every opportunity to attract fear thoughts to our mind. The ego confuses itself with our identity and can't imagine "oneness". It feels
that it must maintain control if it is to survive. It, the ego, can only know itself by comparison with others; hence judgement. The ego, therefore, welcomes judgement because it delineates what it thinks is self. Our real self is not ego. Our real self is grand but not grandiose. Our real self derives its being from the whole. It doesn't know separation.
We get a sense of this "oneness" when we create. When we are completely lost in our being/doing; that is when we are so absorbed in our doing that there is no thought and our doing merges with being. The artist, writers, musicians, gardeners etc. among you will recognize what I am saying. The merging with being is "oneness" This has been one of the goals of meditation, but, this state can occur when you are scrubbing a floor or doing dishes.
In the process of clearing our minds of negativity, we come very alert to any thought, state etc. that will lead to negative thinking. We eventually learn to nip it in the bud. One can suffer only so long with the result of this process. People do get better and better with practice. You will be rewarded with longer and longer periods of peace. With peace comes love and joy.
We will bring a New World of Love.
And now I have to do the dishes.
Love and Peace, Gregg
Sometimes, I think I sound too glib when I talk about; emptying the mind, ridding yourself of fear thoughts, knowing that your love, accepting oneness etc.
The problem is that they are simple concepts but they are not easy to achieve. It is simple to say "eliminate fear thoughts"; it is indeed a simple concept. Achieving it, however, can be extremely difficult. The path for each person is different. Some people do have an easier time. Most of us struggle. I am a struggler.
We all have an ego, which is dedicated to separation. Our ego uses every opportunity to attract fear thoughts to our mind. The ego confuses itself with our identity and can't imagine "oneness". It feels
that it must maintain control if it is to survive. It, the ego, can only know itself by comparison with others; hence judgement. The ego, therefore, welcomes judgement because it delineates what it thinks is self. Our real self is not ego. Our real self is grand but not grandiose. Our real self derives its being from the whole. It doesn't know separation.
We get a sense of this "oneness" when we create. When we are completely lost in our being/doing; that is when we are so absorbed in our doing that there is no thought and our doing merges with being. The artist, writers, musicians, gardeners etc. among you will recognize what I am saying. The merging with being is "oneness" This has been one of the goals of meditation, but, this state can occur when you are scrubbing a floor or doing dishes.
In the process of clearing our minds of negativity, we come very alert to any thought, state etc. that will lead to negative thinking. We eventually learn to nip it in the bud. One can suffer only so long with the result of this process. People do get better and better with practice. You will be rewarded with longer and longer periods of peace. With peace comes love and joy.
We will bring a New World of Love.
And now I have to do the dishes.
Love and Peace, Gregg
Monday, January 23, 2012
FINALLY SNOW
We woke up to a couple inches of fresh snow. It is beautiful and welcome Even though it hasn't been terribly cold, the frost must have penetrated quite deep already. We need some snow to protect the less hardy plants from the cold. It is about midpoint in the Winter and we have only had three nights below zero. The coldest was -17F a couple days ago.
Have you ever heard of 3d printing? It will blow your mind if you haven't heard of it. It did for me. What a revolution this implies. Click on the link below.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lisa_harouni_a_primer_on_3d_printing.html
It is my 77th birthday tomorrow. Should be my lucky year. I have always been fond of the number 7. No big celebration planned, I will wait for my 80th to have a party. Of course, there will be some good food and libations for us folks on Laughing Water Farm.
Are you skeptical about our ability to create paradise? When I was a psychotherapist, I marveled at the difference in peoples lives, depending on how they chose to think. At the point a person would accept the fact, that their life was their creation, was the time things began to get better; no matter how bad they were. My major goal was always to get people to see that they were the authors of their life experience; like it or not. Sure everybody around contributes; especially your parents and caretakers because they taught you how to think in the first place. However, once you accept that you are in charge of how you think, your life begins to evolve differently. We do create with our thoughts and feelings.
As, individuals and collectively, we have been taught duality. We believed if there is love there must be fear with all of its offspring: hate; envy; greed; anger; covetousness; etc. Whether we thought much about it or not we accepted the reality of duality. I am here to tell you duality is our creation. It is not real. We created it out of our experiments with separation; which is, also, not real. We are creators!
What we think "is". We have the world we want now. We just don't know it. We haven't realized that we have been creating all the negativity in the world with our fear thoughts. We have had a lot of help from the people in power who want to keep us afraid and in control. We don't need to do it any more.
We can put this old way of thinking behind us and look to our own minds for how we are contributing to the creation of a new world, free from duality. We have a lot of help in this, as the power of love is much greater than the power of fear. As your loving thoughts outweigh your fear thoughts your own life will rapidly improve and you will shine your light onto those around you, aiding them to attenuate their own fear thoughts. Thus, love spreads from one to another until love dominates the collective and the New World can emerge. Know that we are One.
Shine your light on the world.
Love and Peace, Gregg
Have you ever heard of 3d printing? It will blow your mind if you haven't heard of it. It did for me. What a revolution this implies. Click on the link below.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lisa_harouni_a_primer_on_3d_printing.html
It is my 77th birthday tomorrow. Should be my lucky year. I have always been fond of the number 7. No big celebration planned, I will wait for my 80th to have a party. Of course, there will be some good food and libations for us folks on Laughing Water Farm.
Are you skeptical about our ability to create paradise? When I was a psychotherapist, I marveled at the difference in peoples lives, depending on how they chose to think. At the point a person would accept the fact, that their life was their creation, was the time things began to get better; no matter how bad they were. My major goal was always to get people to see that they were the authors of their life experience; like it or not. Sure everybody around contributes; especially your parents and caretakers because they taught you how to think in the first place. However, once you accept that you are in charge of how you think, your life begins to evolve differently. We do create with our thoughts and feelings.
As, individuals and collectively, we have been taught duality. We believed if there is love there must be fear with all of its offspring: hate; envy; greed; anger; covetousness; etc. Whether we thought much about it or not we accepted the reality of duality. I am here to tell you duality is our creation. It is not real. We created it out of our experiments with separation; which is, also, not real. We are creators!
What we think "is". We have the world we want now. We just don't know it. We haven't realized that we have been creating all the negativity in the world with our fear thoughts. We have had a lot of help from the people in power who want to keep us afraid and in control. We don't need to do it any more.
We can put this old way of thinking behind us and look to our own minds for how we are contributing to the creation of a new world, free from duality. We have a lot of help in this, as the power of love is much greater than the power of fear. As your loving thoughts outweigh your fear thoughts your own life will rapidly improve and you will shine your light onto those around you, aiding them to attenuate their own fear thoughts. Thus, love spreads from one to another until love dominates the collective and the New World can emerge. Know that we are One.
Shine your light on the world.
Love and Peace, Gregg
Friday, January 20, 2012
FRIDAY
Time is speeding up again. It has been speeding along for quite awhile. I thought about a month ago it was slowing back to normal {whatever that would be}. These last couple weeks, the days have gone by so fast, I feel I just have time to do my usual things. It is hard to sort it out, from the usual speeding up of time, that comes with age. I think most people recognize the sense of time speeding up in middle age and it apparently goes faster as you get older. Since I have not experienced aging before {that I can remember} I am not completely sure, that what I am experiencing isn't normal. However, I do hear people, much younger than me, complain about it. Time is an interesting illusion.
The weather continues to be strange. The forecast for this area was 7 F it is already 19 F. It got down to 17 below zero last night.
If you look at the surface of things, the world seems to be humming along as usual. If you look under the surface things are exploding. Indonesia is sinking, there are strange noises of geologic nature being heard in several locations. The political scene is so strange to be bizarre. The Republican candidates are funnier than some comedy teams. Everyday there are amusing revelations. Of course that political stuff is on the surface for all to see. The media portrays the economy as jerking along but heading for recovery. A superficial search of the internet describes an economy that is on the verge of collapse. I can't find any credible economist who thinks there is a way out of the European crises; at least by any means considered. There are trillions of dollars in bad debts on both sides of the Atlantic. They cannot be satisfied. The only way out is debt forgiveness; a solution that is not acceptable to the creditor banks. Collapse will happen.
A collapse is not a bad thing. It will be disorienting. There will be confusion. In the end it will be the best thing that could happen. It will mark the end of money as a means of controlling the population. I don't know how much our institutions will become ineffective and I don't know if it matters; we need to build a new civilization from the ground up. The expression, "from the ground up" is appropriate as most of us need to have a hand in food production. Groups will spring up in every neighborhood to show people how to garden and raise small animals, chickens etc. Love thy neighbor will be the guiding principle. Those who cannot care for themselves will be taken care of.
Imagine a society based on love. Imagine the freedom to express yourself in the most creative way you could. Imagine everyone using their talents for the benefit of everyone else. If you can imagine it-it will happen.
Love and Peace, Gregg
The weather continues to be strange. The forecast for this area was 7 F it is already 19 F. It got down to 17 below zero last night.
If you look at the surface of things, the world seems to be humming along as usual. If you look under the surface things are exploding. Indonesia is sinking, there are strange noises of geologic nature being heard in several locations. The political scene is so strange to be bizarre. The Republican candidates are funnier than some comedy teams. Everyday there are amusing revelations. Of course that political stuff is on the surface for all to see. The media portrays the economy as jerking along but heading for recovery. A superficial search of the internet describes an economy that is on the verge of collapse. I can't find any credible economist who thinks there is a way out of the European crises; at least by any means considered. There are trillions of dollars in bad debts on both sides of the Atlantic. They cannot be satisfied. The only way out is debt forgiveness; a solution that is not acceptable to the creditor banks. Collapse will happen.
A collapse is not a bad thing. It will be disorienting. There will be confusion. In the end it will be the best thing that could happen. It will mark the end of money as a means of controlling the population. I don't know how much our institutions will become ineffective and I don't know if it matters; we need to build a new civilization from the ground up. The expression, "from the ground up" is appropriate as most of us need to have a hand in food production. Groups will spring up in every neighborhood to show people how to garden and raise small animals, chickens etc. Love thy neighbor will be the guiding principle. Those who cannot care for themselves will be taken care of.
Imagine a society based on love. Imagine the freedom to express yourself in the most creative way you could. Imagine everyone using their talents for the benefit of everyone else. If you can imagine it-it will happen.
Love and Peace, Gregg
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
STRANGE WEATHER
This the mildest Winter I remember. It hasn't been below zero yet in the Twin Cities and has only been a couple degrees below here; until last night, it got down to -8 F. For awhile now we have had these weather systems where it would blow vigorously from the South, gradually switch to the West and then from the North. In 48 hours the temperature would drop 40 plus degrees. It seems that this phenomenon is occurring more often, perhaps weekly. I often thought I should keep a journal so I could track these natural events. Currently the wind is blowing from the South but seems to be gusting from other directions, like it is trying to make up its mind. It is 21 degrees F, a rise of 29 degrees from early this morning. The forecast is for -12F tonight and a high of only zero tomorrow. It will be chilly doing the chores tomorrow Morning.
Like the weather, the events in our world seem erratic. It appears that the dark forces are trying everything to hang on to power. If their grasp wasn't slipping we would have had WW111 by now. They are constantly stirring up trouble in every corner of the globe. However, people are waking up and they no longer give the power people carte blanche to wage war. It is difficult to see this change of events by paying attention only to the popular media. The powers that be are still in control of the media and they are attempting to get control of the internet. I don't think they will succeed. If they do, it will be only temporarily.
It is clear that people are waking up. They will no longer accept being ruled by power mad, war mongers that have only their self interest to concern them. The attempts of these elites [I hate to use that word] to maintain power by false flag operations and other phony security concerns is becoming more and more transparent.
But then, as I have implied before, we needn't waste our time worrying about what those dark folks are up to. Believe it or not; their grasp on power is over. We individually and collectively must bring light into our own lives and shine it on the world. How do we do this? Keep your mind focused on all that is love. If your feeling down; love yourself for it. Focus on loving yourself until your mood lifts. Imagine everything being beautiful in your life; believe it will be true. Of course, the pathway to loving yourself is through giving to others. The warmer the glow you have for others, the more you will accept yourself. These are not big things; even a smile you give someone, in the grocery store, could be life changing for them. You can't know how powerful your expressions of love are. Focus on love and let it radiate from you wherever you go.
Well, I got to get into the love of doing the dishes.
Love and Peace, Gregg
Like the weather, the events in our world seem erratic. It appears that the dark forces are trying everything to hang on to power. If their grasp wasn't slipping we would have had WW111 by now. They are constantly stirring up trouble in every corner of the globe. However, people are waking up and they no longer give the power people carte blanche to wage war. It is difficult to see this change of events by paying attention only to the popular media. The powers that be are still in control of the media and they are attempting to get control of the internet. I don't think they will succeed. If they do, it will be only temporarily.
It is clear that people are waking up. They will no longer accept being ruled by power mad, war mongers that have only their self interest to concern them. The attempts of these elites [I hate to use that word] to maintain power by false flag operations and other phony security concerns is becoming more and more transparent.
But then, as I have implied before, we needn't waste our time worrying about what those dark folks are up to. Believe it or not; their grasp on power is over. We individually and collectively must bring light into our own lives and shine it on the world. How do we do this? Keep your mind focused on all that is love. If your feeling down; love yourself for it. Focus on loving yourself until your mood lifts. Imagine everything being beautiful in your life; believe it will be true. Of course, the pathway to loving yourself is through giving to others. The warmer the glow you have for others, the more you will accept yourself. These are not big things; even a smile you give someone, in the grocery store, could be life changing for them. You can't know how powerful your expressions of love are. Focus on love and let it radiate from you wherever you go.
Well, I got to get into the love of doing the dishes.
Love and Peace, Gregg
Saturday, January 14, 2012
THE OLD MAN AND A GOAT
Dorothy is dead. She was a goat. A wonderfully sweet, affectionate creature. She was old. She first came to our farm in 2000 or 2001 and we don't know how old she was then; probably two or three. She was a Toggenburg and an excellent milker. In her prime she milked a gallon a day. A very easy milker; she had good sized equipment and you could milk her with your whole hand like a cow. She wasn't one of these two or three finger milkers.
A sad event, but expected. Dorothy didn't look good going into the Winter. There was nothing obvious wrong, but she lacked the vim and vigor she usually displayed. Wednesday, she acted like she didn't want to or couldn't get up. One could discern that she was laying in one spot for quite awhile. I helped her up and she drank a great quantity of water. She seemed okay. Thursday, she was again laying down. I helped her up and she began munching hay. Again she seemed okay. Yesterday, I tried to help her up and she complained. She couldn't get to feet. I attempted to get her outside to the water bucket. She laid down outside but wouldn't budge. Later on, I noticed, she moved back into the barn. She was laying in a comfortable position and appeared peaceful.
This morning she was dead. I gave her a toboggan ride out to the far reaches of the pasture and laid her
out against the fence. I took her collar and bell off, thanked her, and said my goodbyes.
I have been a participant in this cycle of life many times. I don't know how many old sheep, goats or chickens I have said goodbye to. The experience keeps your feet to the ground in a way that I can't quite describe. I know there is wisdom here.
Some of you might have read Carlos Castaneda's books. The first is titled: THE TEACHINGS OF DON JUAN: A YAQUI WAY OF KNOWLEDGE. In one of his books, Don Juan instructs one of his pupils, to live life knowing it is an illusion, but at the same time, live in the moment and take it absolutely seriously. One must recognize that life is our collective and individual creation; that it is how we form energy into matter through perception. However, it is not to be discounted because it is an illusion, every moment must be lived with purpose.
Our purpose is love.
Love and Peace, Gregg
A sad event, but expected. Dorothy didn't look good going into the Winter. There was nothing obvious wrong, but she lacked the vim and vigor she usually displayed. Wednesday, she acted like she didn't want to or couldn't get up. One could discern that she was laying in one spot for quite awhile. I helped her up and she drank a great quantity of water. She seemed okay. Thursday, she was again laying down. I helped her up and she began munching hay. Again she seemed okay. Yesterday, I tried to help her up and she complained. She couldn't get to feet. I attempted to get her outside to the water bucket. She laid down outside but wouldn't budge. Later on, I noticed, she moved back into the barn. She was laying in a comfortable position and appeared peaceful.
This morning she was dead. I gave her a toboggan ride out to the far reaches of the pasture and laid her
out against the fence. I took her collar and bell off, thanked her, and said my goodbyes.
I have been a participant in this cycle of life many times. I don't know how many old sheep, goats or chickens I have said goodbye to. The experience keeps your feet to the ground in a way that I can't quite describe. I know there is wisdom here.
Some of you might have read Carlos Castaneda's books. The first is titled: THE TEACHINGS OF DON JUAN: A YAQUI WAY OF KNOWLEDGE. In one of his books, Don Juan instructs one of his pupils, to live life knowing it is an illusion, but at the same time, live in the moment and take it absolutely seriously. One must recognize that life is our collective and individual creation; that it is how we form energy into matter through perception. However, it is not to be discounted because it is an illusion, every moment must be lived with purpose.
Our purpose is love.
Love and Peace, Gregg
Thursday, January 12, 2012
MANIPULATION
Quite a change in weather the last two days. Tuesday, we watched flying insects cavort in the Sunbeams. This is the second time this Winter we saw this. I have seen a couple different varieties of snow fleas during the Winter; but I have never seen a cloud of flying insects. It is not real cold yet; 12 degrees now, but it supposed to get down to zero tonight. I appreciate a mild Winter, but I would like to see some snow.
Part of the reason I haven't blogged is because I didn't know how to fulfill the promise I made at the end of my last blog. I don't think it would be helpful to discuss all the ways we have been manipulated in the last several thousand years. A discussion of the manipulation would fill several volumes and it would not leave you more hopeful.
You could say, without error, that we have been completely bamboozled about almost everything. From the time we are born, we are taught group think. We develop a powerful allegiance to our tribe. Whether the tribe be Republicans, Democrats, Socialists, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Americans, Italians, Germans, Middle Class, Working Class, Upper class, Rich, Poor; I don't think I need to go on. No matter how you define yourself; that groups' values and ideas has a powerful conscious and unconscious sway over how you think.
As far as we can go back in our history, there have been people who have used this phenomena to their advantage. Money and power has, generally, been the goal of these groups. They have successfully used the groupthink, of the rest of us, to divide us and keep us in conflict. They have amassed huge fortunes as the results of the wars they have engineered and they continue to do so. How much do our large banks owe their fortunes to war? Where do countries get the money to wage war? Who gains from war? Who gains from any conflict?
In the coming months we will uncover information about how we have been controlled that will make most conspiracy theories a seem as child's play. We will be amazed at how we have been fooled. Every segment of our society has been corrupted by those who seek power and money.
But that is the characteristic of the old world. My hesitancy in getting into this area, is that some people get absorbed in it and that is not helpful. We must accept the fact that reality is not the bill of goods that we have been presented with; but then we must move on. The world needs people to open their eyes and see the love that underpins the illusion. You may not understand that sentence, but you will.
In the end we need to forgive those who have been our jail keepers. The new world is based on unconditional love; we will forgive those who have misused us. Everybody is evolving to a state of unconditional love and those miscreants will create situations where they will learn.
Today we need to shine our light on the world. Imagine yourself to be a many faceted crystal that reflects the love of the universe in the hearts and minds of all people.
Love and Peace, Gregg
Part of the reason I haven't blogged is because I didn't know how to fulfill the promise I made at the end of my last blog. I don't think it would be helpful to discuss all the ways we have been manipulated in the last several thousand years. A discussion of the manipulation would fill several volumes and it would not leave you more hopeful.
You could say, without error, that we have been completely bamboozled about almost everything. From the time we are born, we are taught group think. We develop a powerful allegiance to our tribe. Whether the tribe be Republicans, Democrats, Socialists, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Americans, Italians, Germans, Middle Class, Working Class, Upper class, Rich, Poor; I don't think I need to go on. No matter how you define yourself; that groups' values and ideas has a powerful conscious and unconscious sway over how you think.
As far as we can go back in our history, there have been people who have used this phenomena to their advantage. Money and power has, generally, been the goal of these groups. They have successfully used the groupthink, of the rest of us, to divide us and keep us in conflict. They have amassed huge fortunes as the results of the wars they have engineered and they continue to do so. How much do our large banks owe their fortunes to war? Where do countries get the money to wage war? Who gains from war? Who gains from any conflict?
In the coming months we will uncover information about how we have been controlled that will make most conspiracy theories a seem as child's play. We will be amazed at how we have been fooled. Every segment of our society has been corrupted by those who seek power and money.
But that is the characteristic of the old world. My hesitancy in getting into this area, is that some people get absorbed in it and that is not helpful. We must accept the fact that reality is not the bill of goods that we have been presented with; but then we must move on. The world needs people to open their eyes and see the love that underpins the illusion. You may not understand that sentence, but you will.
In the end we need to forgive those who have been our jail keepers. The new world is based on unconditional love; we will forgive those who have misused us. Everybody is evolving to a state of unconditional love and those miscreants will create situations where they will learn.
Today we need to shine our light on the world. Imagine yourself to be a many faceted crystal that reflects the love of the universe in the hearts and minds of all people.
Love and Peace, Gregg
Sunday, January 8, 2012
EMERGING ll
It occurred to me that some folks might find my last blog discouraging. I detailed my attempts at learning and then said they didn't help. Let me clarify. Trying doesn't accomplish what you want it to; because it is focused on doing and always invites the ego's participation. Almost all of us need to go through that phase, however. Trying, sharpens and focuses intent. Intent is crucial to progress. We need intent without the attachment the ego creates.
We are trying to achieve UNLEARNING. From the time we are born, we are being programmed. Our perception is shaped by our caregivers. We "see" according to our programming. For thousands of generations we have learned to see what our forebears have seen. Our seeing is greatly influenced by the tribe that holds our allegiance. Occasionally, a person escapes total programming and if he/she is intelligent they are labeled a genius; if not their gift of seeing is lost to all except a few. Most people participate in the illusion, we create, until the day we die.
Spiritual awareness {awareness of who we are} comes as we unlearn. Unlearning is not doing. It is giving up all you think you know. In the great spiritual traditions, the student was constantly put into paradoxical situations that forced his mind, i.e. ego, to give up. He was forced to just "be". Zen offers the clearest example of this.
Most of us can't travel to Japan or India to spend time in an ashram or temple and learn to see. We need to unlearn as we participate in the lives we have. This is where intent is important. You need to have some idea, perhaps not clear yet, of what you want to happen.
We can begin with any concept. Let us assume oneness. If we are one, then only oneness can define us. If you postulate that love is the only thing there is, then oneness is love. Unlearning then is letting go of everything but love. That is what you discover in meditation when you are able to empty your mind and find that deep peace which is love.
Once you have intent; you begin to unlearn. Every moment is yours to choose love over everything else. In every moment is peace. In every moment is joy. When you are in the now; you defeat the programming. The now has no past; hence, no programming. You can go to an ashram to learn to be in the "now" or you can be here now and choose love.
As you practice being in the moment and choosing love, you will gradually increase your ability to "see" as the programming loses its grip.
In a future blog I will discuss how our programming has made us vulnerable to the forces that will to control us.
Practice "seeing".
Love and Peace, Gregg
We are trying to achieve UNLEARNING. From the time we are born, we are being programmed. Our perception is shaped by our caregivers. We "see" according to our programming. For thousands of generations we have learned to see what our forebears have seen. Our seeing is greatly influenced by the tribe that holds our allegiance. Occasionally, a person escapes total programming and if he/she is intelligent they are labeled a genius; if not their gift of seeing is lost to all except a few. Most people participate in the illusion, we create, until the day we die.
Spiritual awareness {awareness of who we are} comes as we unlearn. Unlearning is not doing. It is giving up all you think you know. In the great spiritual traditions, the student was constantly put into paradoxical situations that forced his mind, i.e. ego, to give up. He was forced to just "be". Zen offers the clearest example of this.
Most of us can't travel to Japan or India to spend time in an ashram or temple and learn to see. We need to unlearn as we participate in the lives we have. This is where intent is important. You need to have some idea, perhaps not clear yet, of what you want to happen.
We can begin with any concept. Let us assume oneness. If we are one, then only oneness can define us. If you postulate that love is the only thing there is, then oneness is love. Unlearning then is letting go of everything but love. That is what you discover in meditation when you are able to empty your mind and find that deep peace which is love.
Once you have intent; you begin to unlearn. Every moment is yours to choose love over everything else. In every moment is peace. In every moment is joy. When you are in the now; you defeat the programming. The now has no past; hence, no programming. You can go to an ashram to learn to be in the "now" or you can be here now and choose love.
As you practice being in the moment and choosing love, you will gradually increase your ability to "see" as the programming loses its grip.
In a future blog I will discuss how our programming has made us vulnerable to the forces that will to control us.
Practice "seeing".
Love and Peace, Gregg
Friday, January 6, 2012
TRYING TO EMERGE
It is 39 degrees and it is not yet Noon. It is a little unusual for January. We do have our January thaws but this is the mildest Winter I remember. It is a beautiful sunny day and I expect the little snow we have will soon be gone.
I don't know where to begin in discussing the title of this blog. I can only use myself as an example. Should I focus on the war with the ego? The conflict between experiential and intellectual learning?
I suppose my first introduction to Spirituality was through philosophy. I loved reading philosophy. When I was in my early twenties I ran across the Eastern philosophies. I loved reading about the different branches of Buddhism, especially, Zen. I studied them as philosophy, not as practice. I was interested in the practice, but without a mentor, I couldn't get very deeply into it. Despite that limitation, it shaped how I experienced the world around me and still does.
While still an agnostic I read the bible twice {two different versions} and I have read it at least twice since. My approach was intellectual and I could observe what spirituality might be but could not experience it. I had a deep appreciation of spiritual awareness long before I had any glimmer of awareness myself.
I have devoured knowledge of the world. My input has been intellectual. Sure there was learning at deeper levels, but my emotional and spiritual self lagged far behind. About forty years ago, I threw myself into finding out what was behind this intellectual knowledge. I wanted to experience Oneness, for example, or hear that small voice inside. I meditated, learned mantras, learned how to control my thoughts {sort of}. I attempted to empty my mind.
Of course I failed to find what I was looking for. Yes, I had some amazing spiritual experiences. Yes, I found more peace in my life. Did I get to the point where I had no more gloomy periods? Did I get over having stupid arguments with my wife? Did I quit judging people? Did I stop drinking too much on occasion? Did I quit being a jerk on a regular basis? You know the answer to these questions.
I did learn something important. You can't try to grow spiritually. You can't try to grow emotionally. You can't try to be a better person. The ego loves such attempts. Oh how it loves it! The ego loves the contradiction. Oh what fun! Let's get our ego into being spiritual! Let's be proud of our progress! Does it make you want to retch?
It is unlearning. It is removing the blocks to love. It is discovering who you are and who you have always been. There is no where to go. You have never left the source. There is no more struggle in our growing than there is in a caterpillar's eventual pupation to a butterfly.
All we need is the willingness to grow, to unlearn. When we err, we just need to be willing to look at the process, to forgive everything. Emulate the seed that is planted. It is nourished by Earth; it sprouts; it forms its first leaves; it reaches into the soil for what it needs; it flourishes in the air. Where is the timetable? Where is the effort? That is how we will emerge.
Love and Peace, Gregg
I don't know where to begin in discussing the title of this blog. I can only use myself as an example. Should I focus on the war with the ego? The conflict between experiential and intellectual learning?
I suppose my first introduction to Spirituality was through philosophy. I loved reading philosophy. When I was in my early twenties I ran across the Eastern philosophies. I loved reading about the different branches of Buddhism, especially, Zen. I studied them as philosophy, not as practice. I was interested in the practice, but without a mentor, I couldn't get very deeply into it. Despite that limitation, it shaped how I experienced the world around me and still does.
While still an agnostic I read the bible twice {two different versions} and I have read it at least twice since. My approach was intellectual and I could observe what spirituality might be but could not experience it. I had a deep appreciation of spiritual awareness long before I had any glimmer of awareness myself.
I have devoured knowledge of the world. My input has been intellectual. Sure there was learning at deeper levels, but my emotional and spiritual self lagged far behind. About forty years ago, I threw myself into finding out what was behind this intellectual knowledge. I wanted to experience Oneness, for example, or hear that small voice inside. I meditated, learned mantras, learned how to control my thoughts {sort of}. I attempted to empty my mind.
Of course I failed to find what I was looking for. Yes, I had some amazing spiritual experiences. Yes, I found more peace in my life. Did I get to the point where I had no more gloomy periods? Did I get over having stupid arguments with my wife? Did I quit judging people? Did I stop drinking too much on occasion? Did I quit being a jerk on a regular basis? You know the answer to these questions.
I did learn something important. You can't try to grow spiritually. You can't try to grow emotionally. You can't try to be a better person. The ego loves such attempts. Oh how it loves it! The ego loves the contradiction. Oh what fun! Let's get our ego into being spiritual! Let's be proud of our progress! Does it make you want to retch?
It is unlearning. It is removing the blocks to love. It is discovering who you are and who you have always been. There is no where to go. You have never left the source. There is no more struggle in our growing than there is in a caterpillar's eventual pupation to a butterfly.
All we need is the willingness to grow, to unlearn. When we err, we just need to be willing to look at the process, to forgive everything. Emulate the seed that is planted. It is nourished by Earth; it sprouts; it forms its first leaves; it reaches into the soil for what it needs; it flourishes in the air. Where is the timetable? Where is the effort? That is how we will emerge.
Love and Peace, Gregg
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
I KNOW NOTHING
I wonder how I can say things with such certainty. I don't know anything. There are two different types of knowing. The first is intellectual. That is, you collect enough data that the correct conclusion seems incontrovertible. I can't claim that, at least about the information I generally impart here. There is another kind of knowing, to which I aspire. That is "seeing" truth. I have yet to do that. I have intuition, which is the beginning of seeing the truth, but only the beginning.
I will be 77 years old next month and I have been reading and studying the subjects, I address, most of my adult life. I do what we all do. I sift what I learn through a healthy bovine excrement detector and trust my intuition and experience to seek what may be true. One must beware of certainty. Keep in mind the old adage; that the truth in any proposition is inversely related to the energy expended in the argument.
We all want to know what is going to happen. Many of us have been waiting for many years for this old world to end and a new world to emerge. Many are tired of old reassurances that everything is okay. They would like to see some evidence. They don't see it in the news. They don't see it in the behavior of the people around them. Yet, they struggle to be optimistic; their yearning for change can be painful.
I would like to help those people be more hopeful. I don't even know why I am. Nothing I write is original. Everything I state has been said by many other people; often much better than I can. What I write are the thoughts that I have gleaned these many years. Predictions? As I say I know nothing; but, don't most of us feel that some big things are happening? Wouldn't we like to be prepared?
Even if we can't trust our predictions, we do want a better world. No matter what we are doing; no matter what we are thinking; we can elevate ourselves and the world around us by having more loving thoughts. If you are not yet convinced about the power of love; you need to experiment. Pay attention to how your thinking when your mood is less than sanguine. Use your will to think differently. Experience how your feelings follow your thoughts.
A new world will emerge as we, collectively, will it to. Love yourself. Love your neighbor. Love the world around you. Love everything because Love is everything.
While you are waiting for the whole world to change; change the world around you. Everybody can create their own paradise by changing how they see. Start by truly loving yourself and treating yourself with respect and dignity. Then, see everybody else as a reflection of yourself; we are one.
Love and Peace, Gregg
I will be 77 years old next month and I have been reading and studying the subjects, I address, most of my adult life. I do what we all do. I sift what I learn through a healthy bovine excrement detector and trust my intuition and experience to seek what may be true. One must beware of certainty. Keep in mind the old adage; that the truth in any proposition is inversely related to the energy expended in the argument.
We all want to know what is going to happen. Many of us have been waiting for many years for this old world to end and a new world to emerge. Many are tired of old reassurances that everything is okay. They would like to see some evidence. They don't see it in the news. They don't see it in the behavior of the people around them. Yet, they struggle to be optimistic; their yearning for change can be painful.
I would like to help those people be more hopeful. I don't even know why I am. Nothing I write is original. Everything I state has been said by many other people; often much better than I can. What I write are the thoughts that I have gleaned these many years. Predictions? As I say I know nothing; but, don't most of us feel that some big things are happening? Wouldn't we like to be prepared?
Even if we can't trust our predictions, we do want a better world. No matter what we are doing; no matter what we are thinking; we can elevate ourselves and the world around us by having more loving thoughts. If you are not yet convinced about the power of love; you need to experiment. Pay attention to how your thinking when your mood is less than sanguine. Use your will to think differently. Experience how your feelings follow your thoughts.
A new world will emerge as we, collectively, will it to. Love yourself. Love your neighbor. Love the world around you. Love everything because Love is everything.
While you are waiting for the whole world to change; change the world around you. Everybody can create their own paradise by changing how they see. Start by truly loving yourself and treating yourself with respect and dignity. Then, see everybody else as a reflection of yourself; we are one.
Love and Peace, Gregg
Sunday, January 1, 2012
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Now the times are going to get interesting. There will be rapid changes throughout this year. I saw a retrospective of 2011 on CBS this morning. I was amazed at the number of natural disasters and other changes that took place; way more than I would have thought. This year things will really speed up.
It is time to think about arranging our lives in communities, to protect us from the changes, financial and otherwise, that are on the way. This is not my expertise. I was part of the back-to-the-land movement of the Seventies; but that was then, this is now. There are communities forming now; I would like to hear about them. I say communities, not communes. Most people need their own space. Communes are great, but not for everyone.
If you have read anything; or have any suggestions about community formation. Please comment. As I discover information, I will share it.
We have read and greatly enjoyed the Anastasia series of books by Vladimir Megre'. They are translated from the Russian by John Woodsworth. There are eight books currently out in English. Start with Anastasia. They can be acquired from Amazon. The books are a fascinating read just for the narrative; but they, also, show you a philosophy of living as part of the Earth. They have inspired the creation of communities and schools in Russia.
Please share what you have learned about creating communities.
Happy New Year!
Love and Peace, Gregg
It is time to think about arranging our lives in communities, to protect us from the changes, financial and otherwise, that are on the way. This is not my expertise. I was part of the back-to-the-land movement of the Seventies; but that was then, this is now. There are communities forming now; I would like to hear about them. I say communities, not communes. Most people need their own space. Communes are great, but not for everyone.
If you have read anything; or have any suggestions about community formation. Please comment. As I discover information, I will share it.
We have read and greatly enjoyed the Anastasia series of books by Vladimir Megre'. They are translated from the Russian by John Woodsworth. There are eight books currently out in English. Start with Anastasia. They can be acquired from Amazon. The books are a fascinating read just for the narrative; but they, also, show you a philosophy of living as part of the Earth. They have inspired the creation of communities and schools in Russia.
Please share what you have learned about creating communities.
Happy New Year!
Love and Peace, Gregg
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