Connection
Spirit's Vision - a message of spiritual consciousness
Each moment is cast by the movement of the universe's energy - a
movement that is shaped by all parts of this and other
universes. An unimaginable field of many unknown energies is
fabricated within the web of interaction - a field so vast and
complex because it forms from subtle channels of energy between all
things. The
soul of the universe entertains a limitless imagination that plays
within this field. Through this field, the universe's imagination
explores ways to accomplish resonance with life forms everywhere. When
our exploration leads us to this resonance, and the explorations of
ourselves and of the Spirit come together within these fields of
creative consciousness, we may touch a moment of immense silence in
which we may glimpse the jewel in the
lotus.
Om Mani Padme Hum
Contemplation on this Spirit's Vision
Without the presence of the entire universe, even a single particle can not exist.
Every thing in this universe has innumerable threads of dependency on all other things. The fabric of the universe is a vast web of dependencies. All things exist because of interconnectedness.
Everything is connected, interdependent. Everything interacts with everything else.
There's nowhere near enough time and energy in this universe to figure
out how everything is connected. To fully know this dynamic web of
connectedness is impossible.
Even with no possibility of fully knowing our universe, a spiritual impulse compels us to explore. When we listen to the whisperings of this spirit of exploration, we can learn how to sense this web of connectedness.
The spirit of exploration is the force that nurtures intelligence and wisdom.
We have a sense that there is something bigger than ourselves. We all have it: a "sense of something bigger". Just as we become attached to something we love or like - we also become attached to ideas that provide comfort whenever we are faced with this "sense of something bigger".
Humans are attached to the idea of "God" because the idea provides comfort when we are faced with this sense of expansive connectedness. The idea is a substitute for sense.
Ideas about community are a substitute for a sense of a community.
Patriotism and nationalism are substitutes for a sense of
place within the earth. Ideology is a substitute for a sense of an
possibilities. Religion is a substitute for the sense of the spiritual.
We find our "sense of something bigger"
to be very frustrating - because it points to something that we feel is
of great value, yet is out of reach. This frustration drives us to seek
explanation, ideas, beliefs and so on, that offer some comfort against
this frustration. By itself, this is not too bad a thing, but then we
develop an attachment to these beliefs, we become defensive and
protective of them - we sacrifice our spirit of exploration for the
comfort of a belief.
Our readiness to sacrifice our spirit of exploration to an idea
is one of our fundamental weaknesses. In our ignorance, our spirit of
exploration is seen as a threat to the strength of our beliefs. Our
spirit of exploration is heavily subdued and tightly constrained. Our
sense of connection is sacrificed to the comforts we find in our belief
systems.
A system of beliefs is like a place. In our journeys, we explore these
places. When we stay in one place, our journey ends. But unlike
journeying in the physical world, when spiritual journeying ends, the
soul stagnates.
We live in a world where religion, politicians, tribal/racial pressures, commercialism and sexuality offer promises
of comforting and pleasurable substitutes for our diffuse sense of
interconnectedness. In return, they demand obedience, commitment to a
belief system, your dedication, and maybe even some of your income. If
you question the system, you had better frame your questions in a way
that is benign to the system, otherwise you will be made to suffer in
some way.
This has been the pattern of culture, politics, religion, and commerce since the beginning of time.
A revolution of the soul requires you to say "no" to the ideological
offerings of religious, political, racial, tribal, business leaders.
Does this mean you leave society and live in the mountains? No. It
means you need to find a way to revive your spirit of exploration, and
seek ways to root out your attachments to anything that confines your
spirit of exploration.
The most dangerous thing is to submit to a belief system, ideology, or
way of knowing, giving up criticism, personal exploration. When you
become convinced that one particular system is always totally
right, you have lost your soul, you have lost resonance with the
spirit. When you become dependent on a belief, your soul disintegrates.