As you probably know by now I’m investigating concepts such as dis-identification, equanimity, connectedness and letting go. Basically trying to align with what is without having the ego interfere. Something I haven’t figured out yet is to be completely sure that when moving in a certain direction I’m not still guided by some (well hidden) aversion or craving. Can I trust what seems obvious and to serve life at that moment?
My travel companion
Trying to put words to where I think I’m at this moment:
1. Integrating rhythm: As I have come to realise that a daily mix of certain components (preferably in a certain order) helps me to stay connected (quiet time, movement, little food, mind time / work, food, social, work, quiet time). If one of those components is missing I tend to stay idle or move back. Now past the awareness stage on this and slowly but gradually integrating to this more beneficial rhythm.
By Marshall Rosenberg in ‘Living Non-Violent Communication’
For a more practicle description of the path to acceptance you can read ‘The Surrender Experiment’ by Michael Singer (vs the more technical description of this process by David Hawkins). His practice is to go with whatever remains after you let go completely of personal likes or dislikes about the matter at hand.
I like the concept of the birth of the Ego in parallel with the development, as human beings, of our capacity to think. We gradually became our thoughts at the expense of our direct connection with what is. Before thinking there was no Ego.
Hopefully the nascent movement towards detachment of these thinking patterns and into awareness without attachment (to our thinking or form) will grow in strength over time. With a more peaceful world as consequence. See amongst others, A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.
Our society seems to have migrated deep into its ‘conservation’ phase. Our response to the increasing scale and complexity of the structures we have created is more standardisation, more rules and procedures, more regulations etc. Thereby gradually reducing the flexibility and resilience necessary survive as a system. As a consequence our potential is increasingly limited. What can we do to reverse this ‘downward’ trend?
Nice ‘travel story’ by Baba Dam Rass (formerly Dr. Richard Alpert, Ph. D ;o)
and his ‘Hanuman Foundation’ with a compassionate eye for specific ‘western’ challenges
along the road (including a nice list of books to ‘hang out with’).
Thanks to John Milton and his ‘Way of Nature‘ for introducing me to him.
Susan offers great help in understanding and accepting the part of my behaviour that is influenced by the introvert side of myself. And in explaining these characteristics to extroverts. Should be part of early curriculum… Available in audio form as well! ;o)
With thanks to Susan Cain. For short version listen to her Ted Talk
David Fleming is not so positive about our collective future as a species but focusses anyhow on the life style you an I should migrate to in order to create communities that are truly sustainable on the long run. Worthwhile even if you think it is too ‘late’ as David does.
In ‘Surviving the Future’ he digs much deeper than becoming ‘circular’ etc and offers a comprehensive set of key ingredients necessary to achieve such an alternative. With, and that appeals to me, a more human scale as starting point.
The future will take care of itself.
Ramana Maharshi
Bob Chapman shows us how to integrate the often missing human
component (ourselves & the people we care about) through Purpose
into valuable contemporary business concepts such as lean and self-organisation.
Thereby making both much more interesting, valuable an effective!
I am of course aware that my words have an effect on others around me. That is one of the reasons why I’m so interested ‘non violent communications‘. Until recently I have however never fully realised how large and direct the contagious effects of my emotions, thoughts and intentions (both positive and negative) on others are. I believe this to be true not only when ‘expressed’ but also when ‘hidden’.
The ripple effect on their interaction with others also makes me more responsible for our collective behaviour than I thought. The good news is however that if my mood is enriching for my environment, the same ripple effect applies. That means that the ‘impact’ of paying attention to positive radiation from moment to moment is already quite material. And more consequential than many of the other things I do.
Vibration
Its 2018 and I am almost 58. Life expectancy has increased significantly over the past decades. I have been given the potentiality of 20 extra years. Not at the end of my life, but now, between 50 and 70, before I get really ‘old’ ;o).
I feel, as Marie Catherine Bateson puts it, that I have been given 20 years to finally do things right. With all the knowledge, experience and wisdom that I have (hopefully) acquired up to now and without the short term pressure that has also driven my life before 50. These 20 years did not exist before! It’s new territory, a new adventure and an opportunity to finally focus on all that contributes to a better future for all and everything. I hope I will use them well…
On August 6, 2017, I wrote that I thought that I had reached the bottom of my next U again. That still seems to be true in terms of the underlying theme and intent (connectedness). I have since however experienced that the ‘how’ side was still very much off and not very helpfull.
Now, almost one year later.., I realise that I although I was aiming to ‘trust the process’, ‘let go’ and ‘surrender’ that I was still trying to secure the future by ‘planning ahead’. Only after bumping my nose a couple more times I think I now have reached a certain level of integration of ‘acceptance’ (again with many thanks to ao David Hawkins).
