Lovely! But I would qualify the "consciousness of the intellect". Most people only function at the level of their gonads - eating, sleeping, excreting, engaging in intercourse. And if that goes smoothly, with as little effort as possible, then 'life is good'. A few have some consciousness of the emotions beyond this consciousness of the body, primarily with relationships, but, again, if it smooth and requires no effort and causes no physico-emotional upset, 'life is good'. There are a few who actually grasp something greater with a consciousness of the intellect, but they stop far, far short of getting anywhere remotely significant enough to provide anything more beyond the comforts already cited. And there are a very, very rare few who relentlessly pursue the consciousness of the intellect to its natural end (or beginning, depending on how you perceive it), which is the same as that end of what you term the consciousness of the heart, i.e. revelatory awareness/understanding/experience of the source of all being, and of all heart and mind, and within that, of the inescapable interconnectedness of all that is ( ... and is not, and neither is or is not, if you're into Zen). I think, therefore, that to downplay the consciousness of the intellect is a mistake.
Most people who are smart just aren't smart enough, or they are slothful and refuse to follow through, without ego getting in the way and mucking it all up. That's akin to downplaying the capacity of the body by only looking at the average Joe - mildly overweight, with borderline high blood pressure, weak muscles and so-so coordination - and thinking that is all that can be, rather than looking at superb athletes or dancers at the peak of their lives doing the most AMAZING things that, sometimes, seem to defy physical laws. Similarly, a razor sharp intellect, uncompromisingly honed by great effort, can defy limitations, as can a heart that is bursting with the highest of virtues known to our kind.
Good points. I am referencing R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz' use of the terms, he may have even invented them. He wrote quite a bit about ancient Egypt and the ancient Egyptian's spirituality which was deeply rooted in the "consciousness of the heart."
de Lubicz believed that the contemporary "materialist" worldview essentially put the entirety of value on "consciousness of the mind" or "consciousness of the intellect". Of course he saw both perspectives of consciousness to be essential in navigating through this material life, but felt that we, as humanity, had pretty much relegated the consciousness of the heart to the backwaters of human awareness.
You of course can expand on all this, as you have, and even interpret it differently. But again, I was using Schwaller's descriptions in the article.
Also, Jordan Peterson responded to a question as to why so many young men come to see him speak.
Freedom and liberties don’t necessarily bring happiness without meaning, and society doesn’t encourage anything beyond shallow pleasures. In life, storms always come along and if you are shallow you will be wrecked. He also talks about man needs religion, the Greeks knew this, and goes on to say if you think you don’t need God, good luck with that Bucko.
IMO the left is fostering and promoting the sensitivity to destroy our society. Remember, since Trump, the left claims words are violence and can be answered with actual physical violence. The alphabet people (LGBTQ-BIPOC) and specifically the transgender community have extreme hatred towards others and are often violent while projecting their anger hatred and violence on the rest of society
Hi Todd, a good part of the problem is so many people feel no connection to God or a higher power. They believe that they create all the good in their life and when that good doesn't happen (or at least, easily), they become a victim - it is someone else's fault whether because of their sex, race, income, etc. It all gets nauseating. Let's face it sometimes shitty things happen to us (rarely does anyone go unscathed); however, having faith to get through it holds a big part to the key of surviving it.
Understandable to be sad after such events. My condolences. What has confused so many is that we have been told by "culture" that suffering is not natural, just take a pill or go on vacation or buy the latest thing. Suffering is part of living, and we can embrace it and make it fruitful, or we can despair and fall prey to the dark powers, the manipulators, among us.
I have always had an inclination towards depression and growing up under bullying circumstances exacerbated my feelings of powerlessness. Returning and delving into my faith sharpened my mind. Parenthood also has a way of taking one out of oneself, and with four offspring I have had lots of opportunities for sacrificial love/living.
As human beings we are meant to mature and develop and not stay in the childhood moment where we are victims and others have power over us. It is just that many never want to move on from the helplessness cycle as it is somehow empowering to them as well as just habitual.
Arguably this is the first time in history that the world has lost touch with the sacred on such a scale... and it is the Divine and Nature that nurture our very being. Perhaps, the concrete jungle of urbanisation is also a contributing factor to weakening our psyche + all the 'retail therapy' (what a bastardization of the word, therapy) and comfort-seeking in the world cannot compare to the pure joy and spirit nourishment that is evoked by a sunrise or sunset, especially reflected over water or peeping through the trees; or the ghostly spectre of an early morning mist hanging over a field like delicately woven lace...
Materialism certainly has taken over the human psyche as the only reality in the human experience more so than ever in human history. As such, you are probably right about humans "losing touch with the sacred" being the largest number ever. There are also many people in the world, more so than in the past, who are beginning to understand the true nature of spirituality without all the dogma attached as it has been in the past.
Yes, the jungle of urbanization is a culprit, but largely so because it is in the cities where materiality is the most seductive and appealing to the senses (which is how we are seduced, through the flesh...the senses). But anywhere that the senses are seduced through materiality you will have the same problem. (Keep in mind that many things that APPEAR to go "through the senses" are ALSO going through the heart...nature being the most obvious, art another, etc.)
I haven't read "The Course in Miracles" but--my understanding is that it's person-centered--the person is manifesting reality. I kinda think the opposite is true.
I agree in your premise though--we are not at peace, we are not well.
How could we be? We are addicted to comfort.
The remedy for that, weirdly, seems to be embracing discomfort: allowing ourselves to be cold (shower), hungry(fasting), being hot(sauna). All things our ancestors dealt with. We are too thermal neutral, too bloated, too stuck indoors. Too soft.
And too stuck in our own heads.
I think of that line from Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" ---"You made me forget myself"
I am not sure if that is what ACIM is saying..."person" implying the human body? ACIM basically does say the opposite. The human body, as we know and identify it as flesh and blood, does not create manifest reality. It is in fact part of the reality that is created by consciousness. According to the course, that consciousness is seduced by the very flesh it created, believing it to be the creator.
According to the course, God doesn't even create the manifest reality we are seduced by...it is ALL an illusion. Only God is real, which is not material. ACIM is a bit out there for me, but probably because I don't fully understand it. Any ACIM folks out there that can shed light on this? Tiny Shrew???
I wish I was smart enough to give an accurate, concise description of ACIM. It is certainly not person centered. The basic tenets are that every moment one chooses either Love or fear…every moment. When you choose Love you are aligned with everything true. You are aligned with God and the sacredness of the present moment. ACIM teaches one how to think differently about the world. It is incredibly fascinating…and by the way the text is written by Jesus. Yep.
I really like Carol Howe. Do you ever visit Pathways to Light? I think that is the name. Also the The Circle of Atonement offers beautiful insight to ACIM.
It used to be that a problem or challenge was an opportunity to work something thru maybe seek professional help , learn and “grow “ …… problems now seem to be a badge of honour!
By coincidence I was listening to Mere Christianity on audiobook this morning. The chapter was about how morality is about more than just trying not to offend or hurt others.
CS Lewis says that if we want to be fulfilled, to truly flourish as human beings, we need to cultivate moral virtues such as courage, compassion, humility, and love. And we should strive to limit such traits as greed, cowardice, egoistic pride, and callousness as much as we can.
He said that when we think about our inner morality, we end up doing more than just avoiding harm to others. We end up contributing to their good and seeing our good as intrinsically connected with theirs. Which makes us happier within ourselves.
Such advice felt like it was from a completely different age.
The human psyche has indeed been weakened, as you correctly point out. Opinions, real conversations, disagreements, debates, soul connection, and robust sanity have left the building, like Elvis.
Claire Fox wrote an excellent little book entitled 'I Find That Offensive'. I have highlights on almost every page.
Many thanks for bringing "I Find that Offensive" to my attention... I hadn't realised that the madness had started as far back as 2016 ( there is an updated 2018 version "I still find that offensive")
I think there are many who have become more spiritual in this mess and far less concerned about the material comforts. Focusing on the Course’s message of what is “real”. I think focusing on the material comforts is a comfort for most as it gives feedback that “I’m ok and safe”….or not. And it gets mixed up with being spiritual. I think most are living from the ego vs the spiritual and I keep having to check in with that too. I think “they” have got us if all we do is focus on stuff and feelings
The paradox is, in my opinion, that the material and the spiritual are actually one and the same. We tend to like the idea that we are a "spiritual essence having a human experience" but, although closer to the truth than the other way around, I don't think that explanation quite cuts it. We are essentially spirit EXPERIENCING...we require the flesh form in order to narrow down our experience into "discernable images" but our material selves are just as spiritual as our spiritual selves...although I do believe the spirit can "exist" without the body, the body cannot exist without the spirit. It certainly can forget its essence, but forgetting does not mean it isn't there.
Powerful truth! Wow! I can't love this enough!
Thanks. No I haven’t, but will check them out. I’m at lesson 300 in the ACIM workbook my understanding deepens with every reading
Loved this article and the beautiful comments.
Lovely! But I would qualify the "consciousness of the intellect". Most people only function at the level of their gonads - eating, sleeping, excreting, engaging in intercourse. And if that goes smoothly, with as little effort as possible, then 'life is good'. A few have some consciousness of the emotions beyond this consciousness of the body, primarily with relationships, but, again, if it smooth and requires no effort and causes no physico-emotional upset, 'life is good'. There are a few who actually grasp something greater with a consciousness of the intellect, but they stop far, far short of getting anywhere remotely significant enough to provide anything more beyond the comforts already cited. And there are a very, very rare few who relentlessly pursue the consciousness of the intellect to its natural end (or beginning, depending on how you perceive it), which is the same as that end of what you term the consciousness of the heart, i.e. revelatory awareness/understanding/experience of the source of all being, and of all heart and mind, and within that, of the inescapable interconnectedness of all that is ( ... and is not, and neither is or is not, if you're into Zen). I think, therefore, that to downplay the consciousness of the intellect is a mistake.
Most people who are smart just aren't smart enough, or they are slothful and refuse to follow through, without ego getting in the way and mucking it all up. That's akin to downplaying the capacity of the body by only looking at the average Joe - mildly overweight, with borderline high blood pressure, weak muscles and so-so coordination - and thinking that is all that can be, rather than looking at superb athletes or dancers at the peak of their lives doing the most AMAZING things that, sometimes, seem to defy physical laws. Similarly, a razor sharp intellect, uncompromisingly honed by great effort, can defy limitations, as can a heart that is bursting with the highest of virtues known to our kind.
Good points. I am referencing R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz' use of the terms, he may have even invented them. He wrote quite a bit about ancient Egypt and the ancient Egyptian's spirituality which was deeply rooted in the "consciousness of the heart."
de Lubicz believed that the contemporary "materialist" worldview essentially put the entirety of value on "consciousness of the mind" or "consciousness of the intellect". Of course he saw both perspectives of consciousness to be essential in navigating through this material life, but felt that we, as humanity, had pretty much relegated the consciousness of the heart to the backwaters of human awareness.
You of course can expand on all this, as you have, and even interpret it differently. But again, I was using Schwaller's descriptions in the article.
Also, Jordan Peterson responded to a question as to why so many young men come to see him speak.
Freedom and liberties don’t necessarily bring happiness without meaning, and society doesn’t encourage anything beyond shallow pleasures. In life, storms always come along and if you are shallow you will be wrecked. He also talks about man needs religion, the Greeks knew this, and goes on to say if you think you don’t need God, good luck with that Bucko.
This is so right on, thank you!
IMO the left is fostering and promoting the sensitivity to destroy our society. Remember, since Trump, the left claims words are violence and can be answered with actual physical violence. The alphabet people (LGBTQ-BIPOC) and specifically the transgender community have extreme hatred towards others and are often violent while projecting their anger hatred and violence on the rest of society
Hi Todd, a good part of the problem is so many people feel no connection to God or a higher power. They believe that they create all the good in their life and when that good doesn't happen (or at least, easily), they become a victim - it is someone else's fault whether because of their sex, race, income, etc. It all gets nauseating. Let's face it sometimes shitty things happen to us (rarely does anyone go unscathed); however, having faith to get through it holds a big part to the key of surviving it.
Yep, you said it.
When we are feeling down, we should go find someone who needs our help.
Dante, in his Divine Comedy, presents the devil as frozen in an ocean of ice staring at his belly.
Very good!! For me, being a therapist saved my soul after my world was destroyed with my first wife's passing.
Understandable to be sad after such events. My condolences. What has confused so many is that we have been told by "culture" that suffering is not natural, just take a pill or go on vacation or buy the latest thing. Suffering is part of living, and we can embrace it and make it fruitful, or we can despair and fall prey to the dark powers, the manipulators, among us.
I have always had an inclination towards depression and growing up under bullying circumstances exacerbated my feelings of powerlessness. Returning and delving into my faith sharpened my mind. Parenthood also has a way of taking one out of oneself, and with four offspring I have had lots of opportunities for sacrificial love/living.
As human beings we are meant to mature and develop and not stay in the childhood moment where we are victims and others have power over us. It is just that many never want to move on from the helplessness cycle as it is somehow empowering to them as well as just habitual.
I very much identify with what you say... unfortunately, nowadays being a victim seems to be a badge of honour!
Yes, it is the corner stone of woke mentality. Hand over your power, we the government will be happy to take it from you and keep you "safe."
Arguably this is the first time in history that the world has lost touch with the sacred on such a scale... and it is the Divine and Nature that nurture our very being. Perhaps, the concrete jungle of urbanisation is also a contributing factor to weakening our psyche + all the 'retail therapy' (what a bastardization of the word, therapy) and comfort-seeking in the world cannot compare to the pure joy and spirit nourishment that is evoked by a sunrise or sunset, especially reflected over water or peeping through the trees; or the ghostly spectre of an early morning mist hanging over a field like delicately woven lace...
Materialism certainly has taken over the human psyche as the only reality in the human experience more so than ever in human history. As such, you are probably right about humans "losing touch with the sacred" being the largest number ever. There are also many people in the world, more so than in the past, who are beginning to understand the true nature of spirituality without all the dogma attached as it has been in the past.
Yes, the jungle of urbanization is a culprit, but largely so because it is in the cities where materiality is the most seductive and appealing to the senses (which is how we are seduced, through the flesh...the senses). But anywhere that the senses are seduced through materiality you will have the same problem. (Keep in mind that many things that APPEAR to go "through the senses" are ALSO going through the heart...nature being the most obvious, art another, etc.)
Your last sentence is beautiful...right on...
I haven't read "The Course in Miracles" but--my understanding is that it's person-centered--the person is manifesting reality. I kinda think the opposite is true.
I agree in your premise though--we are not at peace, we are not well.
How could we be? We are addicted to comfort.
The remedy for that, weirdly, seems to be embracing discomfort: allowing ourselves to be cold (shower), hungry(fasting), being hot(sauna). All things our ancestors dealt with. We are too thermal neutral, too bloated, too stuck indoors. Too soft.
And too stuck in our own heads.
I think of that line from Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" ---"You made me forget myself"
What do they call that now? Flow state?
I am not sure if that is what ACIM is saying..."person" implying the human body? ACIM basically does say the opposite. The human body, as we know and identify it as flesh and blood, does not create manifest reality. It is in fact part of the reality that is created by consciousness. According to the course, that consciousness is seduced by the very flesh it created, believing it to be the creator.
According to the course, God doesn't even create the manifest reality we are seduced by...it is ALL an illusion. Only God is real, which is not material. ACIM is a bit out there for me, but probably because I don't fully understand it. Any ACIM folks out there that can shed light on this? Tiny Shrew???
Oh darn. I forgot to mention the most important teaching of the Course…Forgiveness.
I wish I was smart enough to give an accurate, concise description of ACIM. It is certainly not person centered. The basic tenets are that every moment one chooses either Love or fear…every moment. When you choose Love you are aligned with everything true. You are aligned with God and the sacredness of the present moment. ACIM teaches one how to think differently about the world. It is incredibly fascinating…and by the way the text is written by Jesus. Yep.
I’ve been reading the ACIM workbook with the help of Carol Howe on YouTube. I find that I am absorbing, rather than understanding it.
I really like Carol Howe. Do you ever visit Pathways to Light? I think that is the name. Also the The Circle of Atonement offers beautiful insight to ACIM.
now I'm more confused
Maybe I'm wrong about this but ACIM sounds like Gnosticism rebranded
It used to be that a problem or challenge was an opportunity to work something thru maybe seek professional help , learn and “grow “ …… problems now seem to be a badge of honour!
With a lot of people that definitely is true.
By coincidence I was listening to Mere Christianity on audiobook this morning. The chapter was about how morality is about more than just trying not to offend or hurt others.
CS Lewis says that if we want to be fulfilled, to truly flourish as human beings, we need to cultivate moral virtues such as courage, compassion, humility, and love. And we should strive to limit such traits as greed, cowardice, egoistic pride, and callousness as much as we can.
He said that when we think about our inner morality, we end up doing more than just avoiding harm to others. We end up contributing to their good and seeing our good as intrinsically connected with theirs. Which makes us happier within ourselves.
Such advice felt like it was from a completely different age.
Excellent, excellent. Lewis was so brilliant.
Check out the book "Evolutionary Love" by Adam Crabtree...some of the same sort of stuff...
https://www.amazon.com/Evolutionary-Love-Ravages-Greed-Crabtree/dp/1525509683/ref=monarch_sidesheet
The human psyche has indeed been weakened, as you correctly point out. Opinions, real conversations, disagreements, debates, soul connection, and robust sanity have left the building, like Elvis.
Claire Fox wrote an excellent little book entitled 'I Find That Offensive'. I have highlights on almost every page.
Will check out the book.
Many thanks for bringing "I Find that Offensive" to my attention... I hadn't realised that the madness had started as far back as 2016 ( there is an updated 2018 version "I still find that offensive")
I think there are many who have become more spiritual in this mess and far less concerned about the material comforts. Focusing on the Course’s message of what is “real”. I think focusing on the material comforts is a comfort for most as it gives feedback that “I’m ok and safe”….or not. And it gets mixed up with being spiritual. I think most are living from the ego vs the spiritual and I keep having to check in with that too. I think “they” have got us if all we do is focus on stuff and feelings
The paradox is, in my opinion, that the material and the spiritual are actually one and the same. We tend to like the idea that we are a "spiritual essence having a human experience" but, although closer to the truth than the other way around, I don't think that explanation quite cuts it. We are essentially spirit EXPERIENCING...we require the flesh form in order to narrow down our experience into "discernable images" but our material selves are just as spiritual as our spiritual selves...although I do believe the spirit can "exist" without the body, the body cannot exist without the spirit. It certainly can forget its essence, but forgetting does not mean it isn't there.