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Good, Better, Best Never Let It Rest - Until Your Good Is Better And Your Better Is Best.
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Stories are clearly a double-edged sword. You see, at best, stories can encourage, inspire, and inform; they can also be healing and cathartic for both the teller and the listener alike. At worst, stories can be harmful in several different ways: they can express falsehoods, half-truths, attitudes and dispositions that can lead people feeling and behaving differently than they would otherwise. This, in turn, can have much greater consequences and impact than most realize, even long-lasting, civilization-wide consequences. You see, unfortunately, often times, we adopt our stories as truth, and because we believe in them, stories become our reality — they create the world we perceive and inhabit. This leads to the creation of an agreed-upon concepts of reality — more specifically, a social construct called “consensus reality.” It refers to an agreed-upon concepts of reality which people in the world, or a culture or group believe are real (or treat as real), usually based upon their common experiences as they believe them to be.
~ ∞ ~ Metaphysical Paradigm Shift 1/3 - Awaken the Living Awareness Within ~ ∞ ~
The purpose of this chapter is to crystallize some of the more important themes which are woven through previous chapters. As such, it serves as a perfect segue to the next section where these aspects are magnified and explored further. Metaphysical paradigm shift, as it is referred to here, is an ensemble term used to describe everything that prevents us from seeing “beyond the box” and needs an “upgrade,” so to speak. It includes everything that is considered having an impact in our lives, such as prevailing ideas, concepts, theories, narratives, assumptions, beliefs, perspectives, and values; it also includes worldviews, philosophies, theologies, ideologies, and even consensus reality – which, in and of itself, is the product of all the aforementioned – see?
We begin this chapter by defining metaphysics and paradigm shift, which will lay the foundation for more in-depth discussion of specific aspects of metaphysics in the context of paradigm shift. Metaphysics, according to its most common modern definition, has to do with a transcendent realm “beyond” what is perceptible to the senses; the term is related to “mysticism,” which is based on the word “mystery,” implying something hidden. A paradigm is the collection of ideas and assumptions that pass from one generation to the next and which seem to be immutable. The paradigm shift, then, is when the paradigm shifts. In this process, everything that no longer serves its purpose – begins to fade away, to be replaced with something else; and with it goes all the old, outdated and outmoded structures that are limiting us – both as individuals and as a species. This in turn gives way to a new understanding, a new way of seeing, a new way of living and being, doing and acting. And so you see, paradigm shifts are necessary for growth and transformation, are they not?
Given the current situation we find ourselves in, witnessing the deteriorating conditions of the Earth, growing instability of the social, political, and economic world structures, one can easily conclude that it has never been a better time to experience a shift in perspective, to experience a shift of paradigms and strive ahead with new ideas and approaches. You see, we are an inseparable part of a Living Universe, and therefore we can no longer leave ourselves out of the equation. As such, we should grow in our understanding beyond what is currently known and strive to improve ourselves in every way possible; we should strive to be united as a species; focus our attention and energy for the betterment of humanity as a whole; use our intelligence and ingenuity to further improve the quality of human life, to grow and develop our skills and talents. And so you see, it is necessary for our evolvement that we go through a metaphysical paradigm shift, is it not?
The shift of paradigms requires not only the expansion of our perceptions and the ways of thinking, but also of our values – from consumption to conservation, from competition to cooperation, from quantity to quality, and from domination to partnership. Hence, it goes without saying that we should mature and grow spiritually – it is an essential part of transformation, progress and growth. In this context, it may be immensely helpful to “flip the script” for a moment and consider a different kind of approach than what we are accustomed to. If we can see evolution as a spiritual path, we must then see that consciousness is the most spiritual thing there is, and therefore we must be willing to surrender to the spiritual process – the process of fulfilling the telos of human existence, if we are to evolve further, you see? To achieve this, we need a new paradigm – one that will help us adjust our lifestyle in a way that would allow us to bring health, harmony and balance back into our everyday life. To achieve such a state of dynamic balance – a radically different social and economic structure is needed, as well.
The creation of a new paradigm includes:
– a new understanding of God or Spirit.
– a new understanding of reality.
– a new understanding of nature.
– a new understanding of ourselves.
In this transition, we move:
– from a view of the universe as dead and mechanical to alive and dynamic.
– from separate parts to interconnected wholes.
– from objective to subjective.
– from control, prediction, and certainty to influence, probability, and uncertainty.
– from unaware to mindful.
– from events and outcomes to process and patterns.
– from either/or to both/and.
Now that we have covered the basics, we can take a closer look at the details. What essentially defines this shift of paradigms is the following: what was once considered “outside the box” thinking or thinking “without” the box becomes the new normal. It is through this change in perspective that we stride by leaps and bounds into the future. Metaphysical paradigm shift has largely to do with the notion of a Living Universe, which is consistent with the now widely accepted Gaia theory, which wonderfully demonstrates that the Earth itself is a Living System. All life exists in an interconnected web, which means that what happens to the Earth affects everyone, and everyone’s behavior affects the Earth – together they form a symbiotic relationship, you see? Therefore, it is essential to be aware of, and to appreciate the Interconnected Web of All Life.
Human beings are an intrinsic part of this Interconnected Web of Life, and since humans are not isolated beings, we need to know how we work as a sub-system within the whole. When we relate to other human beings, to the living nature around us, to human organizations, and to the economy – we are always dealing with living systems. Thus, we as human beings are always part of different systems, and we can act intelligently from within those systems, e.g., every day humans live immersed in social systems – dynamic groups of interconnected people functioning together as a whole. Whether we are able to act intelligently within these systems – is up to our level of awareness, and thus if we want to have a complete picture, we need to know the basics of what constitutes a human being. And so you see, in order to have a complete picture, we need to start from the beginning and ask ourselves: What is consciousness, and further: What is awareness?
Now, let us remind ourselves of one important truth: Life is simpler than we think, and yet, at the same time, it is more complex than we can imagine. This goes on to say that simplicity makes sense in a Living Universe. Indeed, simplicity is the true form of perfection, and therefore it is only natural that simplicity is at the core of every Living System. It is unfortunate that we fail to recognize this single most important truth. Therefore, it is not unsurprising that we can see the results in our everyday lives. You see, the current mechanistic worldview permeates through every facet of our lives, making it difficult to see “beyond the box.” But if we shift our thinking in such a way that we begin to think in terms of energy, frequency, vibration, consciousness, and awareness – a whole new world begins to open up for us.
This metaphysical paradigm shift will make it clear that consciousness is the next great frontier, for science, for philosophy, for our personal and collective well-being. That is to say, without knowing the Innerverse, we would know nothing at all, and everything we think we know – would have no deeper meaning. Therefore, we should ask ourselves: How could we possibly know anything at all, if we don’t know the Innerverse – consciousness and awareness? It goes without saying that asking the same kinds of questions and doing the same kinds of things over and over while expecting different results is the epitome of foolishness, isn’t it? Against this backdrop, we can see that we would need to ask different kinds of questions to get new kinds of answers; we would need to explore different kinds of approaches and perspectives to see beyond what seems possible; we would need to push the boundaries beyond the accepted norms and conventions.
Now, let me ask you this: Wouldn’t it be great if we would strive to liberate our minds from what we are familiar with, so that we could reach toward something new and exciting, striving to push the boundaries of what is possible, gradually venturing into the unknown – to discover what lies beyond the limits of the known? When you really think about it, doesn’t it seem as though this unexplored world of consciousness – Innerverse, is both the great mystery we are afraid to explore, and dogma that we are too afraid and reluctant to burst open? It certainly would help if the bubble of scientific dogma would burst open first and scientism that blinds us from seeing beyond self-imposed limits and illusion would be dismantled altogether, wouldn’t it?
Apart from the aforementioned, it would help tremendously if the politicization of science would be dismantled altogether as well. You see, the relationship between science and politics has been well established, becoming increasingly apparent in recent years, having extended into nearly every scientific field. It follows, then, that these influences in combination with ignorance and hubris are having a major impact on our lives in so many different ways on so many different levels. Our view of the world profoundly impacts how we live and interact with the world and with each other – it is essential, then, that the scientific knowledge that shapes and limits the contours of our social reality should be expanded to include non-measurable phenomena – such as values, meaning, purposes, and feelings – in other words, subjective inner experiences of the individuals, or short – consciousness and awareness – see?
That said, it should be noted that science is a wonderful tool for showing us the ways of interpreting the physical world; as a tool and system of inquiry, science excels in this role of exploring the physical reality exceptionally well. However, scientific paradigms can become a form of dogma, resisting the scientific revolutions of thinking and discovery that always, eventually, make these old paradigms obsolete. This goes on to say that we cannot solve old paradigm problems by dealing in old paradigm solutions – this is especially true with everything consciousness related, and hence metaphysical paradigm shift is more than welcomed. Someday soon, once we reach a new way of thinking that will liberate our minds not only from dogma and bias, but also from ignorance and hubris, can we approach this from another perspective, and truly proclaim to do proper science – see? Because of these reasons, it is necessary to unravel some of the layers in the following few paragraphs.
Extra Material:Video: You're It - Alan Watts. Video description: "An inspiring and profound speech from the late Alan Watts. Speech extract from 'Zen Bones and Tales' by Alan Watts"
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The Longest Journey Of Any Person Is The Journey Inward.
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What is certain, though, is that in whatever kind of way the universe and life as we know it came into being, is sustained, and continues to express itself — is due to information and intelligence. The concept of information has different meanings in different contexts, but generally, across the board, information signifies intelligence; other than that, information is considered to be a form of entropy, which in turn signifies chaos, randomness, and disorder. However, entropy is also the process of arrangement. You see, the interesting part is that all life arises out of chaos with ordered set of information (something being informed, and thus in form), which goes on to say that life, in and of itself, is one gigantic process of passing down information. Does it not, then, qualify as intelligence? Here we should remember one important truth: information itself is not intelligence, which means that information by itself is useless and meaningless, unless it is acted upon. And so you see, to use it, a system/entity/person needs enough knowledge to know what it means, and enough know-how to do something with it.
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If You Want To Be Successful, You Have To Be Willing To Disappear For A While.
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Considering all the aforementioned, one should be inclined to ask the following question: Could it be possible that there may have been many advanced civilizations before us? This leads to follow-up questions: How many civilizations came before the current one? Is it possible that these advanced civilizations have been destroyed by some great worldwide catastrophe, the likes of which are described in various religious scriptures and different mythologies around the world? If that’s the case, then it’s only natural that for each civilization that has died out, another has taken its place with a selected few holding on to the memories and sacred knowledge of the past civilization. In light of that, we can easily draw the conclusion that in our hubris, we often think that we have discovered some of the great truths of science and technology, but the honest truth is that we are only just beginning to rediscover the profound wisdom of past civilizations. And so you see, in many ways, we are like an awakening species with amnesia, yearning to reclaim our forgotten past.
~ ∞ ~ Awaken the Living Awareness Within: Samadhi ~ ∞ ~
Awaken the Living Awareness Within Glossary
Samādhi (Sanskrit: समाधि), also called samāpatti, in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools refers to a state of meditative consciousness; it is a meditative absorption or trance, attained by the practice of dhyāna. In samādhi the mind becomes still – it is a state of being totally aware of the present moment; a one-pointedness of mind. In Buddhism, it is the last of the eight elements of the Noble Eightfold Path. In the Ashtanga Yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. See also closely related terms Satori, and Nirvana.
~ ∞ ~ The Living Earth (Gaia) - Awaken the Living Awareness Within ~ ∞ ~
As an extension of the previous chapter, concerning the ancient wisdom and its resurgence, it goes without saying that in a book like this, it is appropriate to pay a homage to the idea of the Living Earth (Gaia). For however small this chapter ends up being, doesn’t matter as much as showing respect to this important area. You see, it should have become clear by now, at this point in the book, that Earth is, indeed, one single living system, which regulates the chemistry and conditions of Earth’s surface in an “automatic” manner – as all living systems do. This goes on to say that whatever happens in one part of the world is connected to what happens in another, sometimes imperceptibly, but nonetheless related to the whole. So when a butterfly takes off in the depths of the Amazon, its influence on the wind patterns of the world may be minute, almost beyond imagination, but it is making a contribution to homeostasis; the same is true of humans, of course, and our impact on the environment can be much more noticeable.
Sadly, in our hubris, we have forgotten that the Earth is our home, and even our mother – as most tribal cultures consider Earth to be. As such, we should show our mother (Gaia) gratitude, respect, and honor for her gift of life. Gaia is a very old name for Mother Earth, or Mother Nature. The mythical Gaia was the primal Greek goddess personifying the Earth, the Greek version of “Mother Nature,” or the Earth Mother. In Greek mythology, she birthed many of the major gods who ruled over different sections of the Earth. Gaia is known as the nurturer, sustainer and giver of love to all who come to the goddess for support. She is known as the spirit of the Earth, plants, rocks and water. In the 1970’s James Lovelock reintroduced the Earth-mother concept through the medium of Ecology. He proposed that all living things are interrelated within the self-regulating systems of the Earth, which provides the optimal conditions to support life itself.
The modern approach to the idea that the Earth is a Living Being is called the Gaia theory. It explains that the Earth is a living system; that the Earth functions as a self-regulating system; that living and non-living parts of the Earth form a complex interacting system that can be thought of as a single organism. It proposes that organisms interact with their inorganic surroundings on Earth – to form a synergistic self-regulating complex system that helps to maintain and perpetuate the conditions for life on Earth. The idea of the Earth as an integrated whole – a Living Being, has a long tradition. Gaia hypothesis is the first comprehensive scientific expression of this profoundly ancient belief, which has been widely accepted by many scientists since the 1970’s – most notably, the acceptance comes from those who have the understanding that comes from another closely related area known as systems thinking. The most exciting part of systems thinking is applying the current achievements of system theory to Gaia theory (the living Earth theory).
Formulated by British atmospheric scientist James Lovelock, and American microbiologist Lynn Margulis – Gaia hypothesis states that the Earth’s climate and surface environment are controlled by the plants, animals, and micro-organisms that inhabit it. That taken as a whole, the Earth behaves not as an inanimate sphere of rock and soil, sustained by the automatic and accidental processes of geology, as traditional earth science has long maintained, but more as a biological superorganism – a planetary body that adjusts and regulates itself. Fundamentally, the Gaia hypothesis finds the Earth to be more like a life form than an inanimate object adjusting to internal and external changes much as an organism might react to threats and opportunities in the environment. Lovelock likes to compare the Earth to a tree. Lynn Marguilis, on the other hand, believes that micro-organisms and their constituent parts are as fundamental to life as atoms and subatomic particles are to matter and energy; meaning that bacteria – single-celled organisms without nucleus (the earliest life forms from which all other earthly organisms have evolved) are the building blocks of life.
Another closely connected area is something called Deep Ecology, which can be seen as a network of phenomena that are fundamentally interconnected and interdependent. Deep ecology is a philosophical school of thought – founded by the Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess in the early seventies. Deep ecology does not separate humans, or anything else from the natural environment – it does see the world not as a collection of isolated objects, but as a network of phenomena that are fundamentally interconnected and interdependent. Deep ecology recognizes the intrinsic value of all living beings, and views humans as just one particular strand in the larger web of life. Deep ecological awareness recognizes the fundamental interdependence of all phenomena, and that we are all embedded in the cyclical processes of nature; ultimately, deep ecological awareness is spiritual awareness, which goes on to say that when the concept of the Human Spirit is understood as the mode of consciousness, in which the individual feels a sense of belonging, of connectedness to the Cosmos as a whole – it becomes clear that ecological awareness is spiritual in its deepest essence, you see?
Extra Material:Video: You're It - Alan Watts. Video description: "An inspiring and profound speech from the late Alan Watts. Speech extract from 'Zen Bones and Tales' by Alan Watts"