Intelligence

Spirituality

Mindfulness

Meditation

Curiosity

Wisdom

Meditation and Intelligence: Exploring the Interdependence

In a world that values intellectual prowess and cognitive abilities, it’s no wonder that individuals are constantly seeking ways to enhance their intelligence. Amidst this quest, a practice that has gained popularity is meditation. But does meditation truly impact intelligence, or is it just another trend in the wellness industry? As an advocate of meditation, I firmly believe that there is a profound interdependence between the two.

From personal experience, I have witnessed the transformative effects of meditation on my own intelligence. Through regular practice, I have noticed a significant improvement in my focus and attention span. Meditation allows me to quiet the noise of the outside world and redirect my attention to the present moment, sharpening my cognitive abilities.

Scientific research further supports the correlation between meditation and cognitive abilities. Numerous studies have shown that meditation positively impacts the brain’s structure and function, particularly in areas responsible for attention and memory. It has been found to increase grey matter volume and improve connectivity, leading to enhanced cognitive performance.

Additionally, anecdotes from successful individuals who incorporate meditation into their daily routines abound. From entrepreneurs to artists, many attribute their achievements to the clarity and creativity that meditation brings. By fostering mindfulness and cultivating a calm state of mind, meditation enhances problem-solving skills and unlocks hidden creative potentials.

Addressing common misconceptions, some skeptics argue that meditation is merely a relaxation technique with no direct impact on intelligence. However, scientific evidence proves otherwise. Meditation is not simply about relaxation; it is a practice that trains the mind to cultivate awareness, focus, and emotional intelligence. By developing these qualities, individuals are better equipped to navigate intellectual challenges and harness their intelligence to its fullest potential.

Beyond its impact on intelligence, meditation offers a multitude of benefits for personal growth and well-being. It reduces stress and anxiety, cultivates self-awareness, and promotes emotional resilience. By fostering a calm and centered state of mind, meditation creates an optimal environment for intellectual growth and cognitive enhancement.

The interdependence between meditation and intelligence is undeniable. Through personal experience, scientific research, and the anecdotes of successful individuals, meditation is showing that it enhances cognitive abilities and fosters a holistic approach to intelligence. Meditation as a tool for personal growth, cognitive enhancement, and overall well-being. To embrace the practice is to unlock the infinite potential of your mind.

The Impact of Spirituality on Intelligence: Exploring Perspectives

Spirituality, a deeply personal and transcendental experience, has long been a subject of fascination and debate. It has the power to touch our souls, ignite a sense of purpose, and provide solace in times of turmoil. But what impact does spirituality have on intelligence? As we delve into this intricate relationship, it’s essential to approach the topic with an open mind and explore perspectives from various angles.

On one hand, there seems to be a positive correlation between spirituality and intelligence. Many argue that spirituality enhances emotional intelligence, allowing individuals to develop empathy, compassion, and a deeper understanding of the human experience. Through spiritual practices such as meditation, introspection, and mindfulness, individuals may cultivate a heightened level of self-awareness and emotional resilience. These qualities can undoubtedly contribute to intellectual growth and enhance one’s capacity for critical thinking and problem-solving.

Furthermore, spirituality has the potential to enhance cognitive abilities. It encourages contemplation, curiosity, and a thirst for knowledge beyond the material world. As Albert Einstein famously said, “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” For some, spirituality provides a framework for exploring the profound mysteries of life, inspiring intellectual pursuits and a broader perspective on existence.

However, it is crucial to acknowledge the potential negative impacts of spirituality on intelligence. When spirituality becomes dogmatic or rigidly adhered to, it can hinder intellectual growth and limit one’s capacity for critical thinking. Blind faith and the rejection of scientific inquiry may impede the pursuit of knowledge and the ability to question established beliefs. In navigating the realm of spirituality, it is essential to maintain a balanced perspective, embracing both the empirical and the metaphysical, while remaining open to new ideas.

From a personal standpoint, I have had my own transformative spiritual experiences that have shaped my understanding of the world. These moments of profound connection and insight have undoubtedly influenced my intellectual and emotional growth. Moreover, through observation, I have witnessed the impact of spirituality on intelligence in others. The ability to integrate spiritual wisdom into their daily lives has empowered individuals to navigate challenges with grace, evolve intellectually, and foster deep connections with others.

Yet, I must also acknowledge an encounter that challenged my views on spirituality and intelligence. It reminded me of the importance of critical thinking and the potential pitfalls of unexamined beliefs. It highlighted the need to approach spirituality with discernment, avoiding dogmatism and embracing a healthy dose of skepticism.

In exploring the relationship between spirituality and intelligence, it is enlightening to consider the perspectives of notable figures who have contemplated this topic. The Dalai Lama, for instance, emphasizes the importance of compassionate action and the cultivation of wisdom. Carl Jung delved into the realms of the collective unconscious, exploring the profound interconnectedness of human experiences. Ram Dass encouraged the integration of spirituality into everyday life, emphasizing the transformative power of love and presence.

It is important to recognize the complexity of the relationship between spirituality and intelligence. The impact of spirituality on intellectual growth is multifaceted, influenced by individual experiences, beliefs, and philosophical frameworks. To embark on this journey of self-discovery, we must approach spirituality with an open mind, embracing the mystery while maintaining critical thinking and intellectual curiosity.

Ultimately, the relationship between spirituality and intelligence is deeply personal and subjective. It is our responsibility to navigate this intricate terrain, staying open to new ideas, challenging our beliefs, and maintaining a balanced perspective. By doing so, we can cultivate both intellectual acuity and spiritual depth, enabling us to embrace the vast possibilities that lie at the intersection of spirituality and intelligence.

1).  Creativity

The Role of Creative Intelligence and Spirituality in Healing Trauma

Trauma is an experience that can profoundly impact our lives, leaving lasting emotional and psychological wounds. It is a journey of healing that requires patience, compassion, and a holistic approach. In this opinion piece, we will explore the transformative power of creative intelligence and spirituality in the process of healing trauma.

Creative intelligence goes beyond conventional notions of intelligence. It is a dynamic force that taps into our innate ability to imagine, create, and problem-solve. When it comes to healing trauma, creative intelligence plays a vital role. By engaging our creative faculties, we can explore new perspectives, express suppressed emotions, and find innovative ways to navigate through the pain.

Spirituality, in its essence, is the search for deeper meaning and connection with something greater than ourselves. It can provide solace, guidance, and strength during times of immense distress. When integrated into trauma recovery, spirituality offers a supportive framework that fosters inner growth and resilience. It can provide a sense of purpose, transcendence, and a renewed understanding of our place in the world.

In my own journey of healing, I discovered the transformative power of creative intelligence and spirituality. I recall a time when engaging in creative activities such as painting helped me express and process deeply buried emotions. The act of creating became a cathartic release, allowing me to transform pain into something beautiful and meaningful.

I also witnessed the profound impact of spirituality in my healing process. Through meditation, prayer, and connecting with nature, I found solace and a sense of interconnectedness. Spiritual practices helped me cultivate self-compassion, forgiveness, and a renewed sense of hope. It was through this integration of creative intelligence and spirituality that I experienced profound healing and growth.

Incorporating creative intelligence and spirituality into trauma recovery offers numerous benefits. It can provide a safe space for self-expression, promote self-discovery, and offer a sense of empowerment. The process of engaging in creative activities and connecting with a higher power can instill a sense of purpose and hope, facilitating the journey of healing.

However, it is important to acknowledge the challenges and limitations of this approach. Each individual’s healing journey is unique, and not all techniques may resonate or be effective for everyone. It is crucial to seek professional guidance and support when addressing trauma. Additionally, cultural and religious beliefs must be honored, ensuring that the chosen methods align with personal values and comfort levels.

Healing from trauma requires acknowledgment, validation, and a commitment to self-care. By integrating creative intelligence and spirituality into the healing process, we can tap into profound inner resources that facilitate growth, resilience, and transformation. The journey may be long and challenging, but it is also an opportunity for personal growth and the exploration of our authentic selves.

In conclusion, I encourage those who have experienced trauma to consider the potential of creative intelligence and spirituality in their healing process. Seek out professional support, explore creative activities, connect with spiritual practices that resonate with your beliefs, and most importantly, be gentle with yourself. The path to healing is unique for each individual, and by embracing these modalities, we can unlock a sense of peace, purpose, and wholeness.

References and Sources:

• Book: “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk
• Research Study: “The Impact of Creative Arts Interventions on Psychological Trauma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” by Lani Gerity
• Personal Interviews and Experiences
• Article: “Spirituality and Trauma: An Integrative Approach to Healing” by Lisa M. Najavits

The Multifaceted Nature of Intelligence: Beyond Conventional Measures

Intelligence is a concept that has captured human fascination for time immemorial. Recently, it has been narrowly defined by standardized tests and academic achievements. However, true intelligence encompasses so much more. It is a symphony of emotions, intellect, knowledge, information processing capability, intuition, insight, mindfulness, whimsical thinking, and wisdom. The multifaceted nature of intelligence is humanity’s greatest asset, so challenging the conventional measures that often fail to capture its true essence is a most productive endeavor.

Creative intelligence goes beyond conventional notions of intelligence. It is a dynamic force that taps into our innate ability to imagine, create, and problem-solve. When it comes to healing trauma, creative intelligence plays a vital role. By engaging our creative faculties, we can explore new perspectives, express suppressed emotions, and find innovative ways to navigate through the pain

Creativity and intelligence—two words that often come to mind when we think about human capabilities. While they may appear distinct, the relationship between creativity and intelligence is complex. By exploring the profound impact creativity has on human intelligence, we can challenge many common misconceptions. 

One common misconception is that creativity is reserved for the artistically inclined individuals among us. However, creativity knows no bounds and can be expressed in various domains, including science, business, everyday problem-solving, religion, and spirituality.  Religion is not omitted even though it’s history proves its strict adherence to past understanding and dogma, and the fact that creative interpretations of scripture often result in ostracized members.  Yet new branches of the religions do arise ftom creative reinterpretations of scripture,, which was the genesis of Lutheranism, Protestantism, and even the Mormon church. 

It is a universal human trait that can be cultivated and nurtured by anyone, regardless of their background or profession.

By cultivating creativity, we may enhance our intelligence. Numerous studies have shown a positive correlation between creative thinking and intelligence. When we engage in creative activities, such as brainstorming sessions or artistic pursuits, we stimulate our minds, encouraging new neural connections and enhancing our cognitive abilities. Creative individuals often exhibit advanced problem-solving skills, adaptability, and the ability to think critically.

Another misconception is the assumption that high intelligence equates to high creativity. While intelligence certainly contributes to creative thinking, it is not the sole determinant. Some individuals with exceptional intelligence may struggle to think creatively due to factors such as rigid thinking patterns or fear of failure. On the other hand, individuals with average intelligence can demonstrate extraordinary creative abilities when given the opportunity and encouragement to explore their imaginations.

Intelligence is often associated with cognitive abilities such as logical reasoning, problem-solving, and knowledge acquisition. Creativity, on the other hand, encompasses the ability to think outside the box, generate original ideas, and approach problems from unconventional angles. While intelligence is commonly measured through IQ tests, creativity is a multifaceted concept that defies standardized assessments.

Remarkably, intelligence is not a prerequisite for creativity. Some of history’s most renowned innovators and artists showcase this disconnection. Take, for instance, the brilliant physicist Albert Einstein, who revolutionized our understanding of the universe. Despite his intellect, Einstein often emphasized the importance of imagination and creative thinking. His famous quote, “Imagination is more important than knowledge,” encapsulates the idea that creativity transcends mere intellect.

The societal implications of fostering creativity cannot be overlooked. In a world that increasingly demands innovation and adaptability, nurturing creativity is essential for progress. Cultures that place a high value on creativity often see significant advancements in various fields, from technology and design to education and social development. By embracing creativity, we unlock the potential for novel ideas and groundbreaking discoveries that shape our future.

In conclusion, the relationship between creativity and intelligence is intricate and multifaceted. Creativity enhances intelligence, stimulating cognitive abilities and fostering innovation. Intelligence, while valuable, is not a prerequisite for creativity. By dispelling misconceptions and recognizing the profound impact of creativity on problem-solving and societal progress, we can encourage a culture that values and nurtures both creativity and intelligence. Let us embrace our inherent creative potential, synergistically link it to our native intelligence and harness that energy to shape a brighter and more innovative world.

Emotional intelligence, the ability to understand and manage emotions, is instrumental in our interactions with others. While technical skills are essential in the workplace, emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in building effective relationships, resolving conflicts, and fostering teamwork and family harmony. By empathizing with my colleagues and family members and approaching all situations with understanding, we can find a resolution that benefits almost everyone involved.

Wisdom and mindfulness are forms of intelligence often overlooked in our society. Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge, experience, and insight to make sound judgments. Mindfulness, on the other hand, is the practice of being fully present and aware in the moment. These qualities enhance our decision-making processes, allowing us to consider long-term consequences, assess risks, and make choices aligned with our values. We find that by embracing wisdom and mindfulness as guides through challenging decisions,  outcomes that are in harmony with our true selves are much more likely.

Intuition, often dismissed as a mere gut feeling, is a valuable form of intelligence that deserves recognition. It is the ability to understand or know something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning. In the realm of creativity, intuition plays a vital role. It sparks ideas, guides artistic expression, and fuels innovation. I can attest to the power of intuition in my own creative endeavors. It has led me to breakthrough moments and inspired projects that have resonated deeply with others.

Whimsical thinking, characterized by unconventional and imaginative ideas, is an undervalued aspect of intelligence. It is through whimsy that we challenge the status quo, question assumptions, and explore new frontiers. Whimsical thinking fuels innovation by encouraging us to think outside the box and embrace the unexpected. Some of my most innovative projects have emerged from whimsical thinking, where I dared to dream beyond conventional boundaries and discovered new possibilities.

Insight, the sudden realization or understanding of a complex problem, is a primary tool for intelligence and awareness. It is through insight that we connect the dots, see patterns, and uncover solutions that were previously elusive. I recall a situation where I struggled to find a solution to a problem. It was only through a moment of insight, a flash of understanding, that the pieces fell into place and the problem was resolved. Insight is a testament to the power of intelligence and its ability to transcend traditional measures.

While emotions, intuition, and creativity are essential components of intelligence, factual knowledge holds its own significance. Knowledge derived from facts, independently verified and supported by evidence, provides a foundation upon which our understanding of the world is built. In critical situations, factual knowledge can be the difference between success and failure. I have personally experienced the importance of factual knowledge in a critical situation where accurate information was crucial in making informed decisions.

Intelligence is a tapestry woven with various threads, each contributing to the vibrant fabric of our human experience. It extends beyond conventional measures and embraces emotions, wisdom, intuition, insight, mindfulness, and creativity. To truly appreciate intelligence in all its forms, we must recognize and value the different facets it presents. Let us celebrate the multifaceted nature of intelligence and encourage the world to embrace the full spectrum of human potential. 

Techniques for Improving Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence, often referred to as EQ, is a vital skill that empowers individuals to navigate life’s challenges with grace, empathy, and self-awareness. It plays a crucial role in personal growth, relationships, and even professional success. In this blog post, we will explore various techniques for enhancing emotional intelligence and nurturing a deeper understanding of ourselves and others. Whether you’re a mental health professional, a student, or simply someone seeking personal growth, these techniques will empower you to cultivate emotional intelligence in your daily life.

Self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence. It involves understanding our own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and triggers. By developing insight into ourselves, we can better regulate our emotions and respond more effectively to others. Here are some techniques for improving self-awareness:

• Self-reflection: Set aside time regularly to reflect on your emotions, actions, and thoughts. Consider journaling or engaging in introspective exercises.
• Journaling: Write down your thoughts and feelings, exploring patterns and identifying areas for growth.

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment. It allows us to observe our thoughts and emotions without judgment, which in turn enhances our emotional intelligence. Here are some techniques for improving mindfulness:

• Mindfulness meditation: Set aside dedicated time each day to practice mindfulness meditation. Focus on your breath, sensations in your body, and the present moment.
• Deep breathing exercises: Take slow, deep breaths, focusing on the sensation of each inhale and exhale. This simple practice can help anchor you in the present moment.

Intuition is often described as the ability to understand or know something without conscious reasoning. It is an essential aspect of emotional intelligence, guiding us towards making sound decisions and understanding the emotions of others. Here are some techniques for improving intuition:

• Trusting gut instincts: Pay attention to your intuition and learn to trust it. Practice listening to your inner voice and honoring your instincts.
• Practicing mindfulness: By cultivating mindfulness, we become more attuned to our intuition and can better discern between fear-based reactions and genuine intuitive insights.

Curiosity is the fuel that drives our desire to learn, understand, and grow. It plays a pivotal role in emotional intelligence by encouraging open-mindedness, empathy, and a willingness to explore new perspectives. Here are some techniques for improving curiosity:

• Asking questions: Approach conversations with a genuine curiosity to understand others’ experiences and perspectives. Ask open-ended questions to foster deeper connections.
• Seeking new experiences: Step outside of your comfort zone and expose yourself to diverse cultures, ideas, and activities. Embrace a growth mindset and be open to new possibilities.

Real-life examples and case studies provide tangible evidence of how individuals and organizations have successfully applied emotional intelligence techniques. These examples serve as inspiration and demonstrate the practical benefits of nurturing emotional intelligence.

Cultivating emotional intelligence is a lifelong journey, but one that yields immense rewards. By practicing techniques to improve insight, mindfulness, intuition, and curiosity, we can enhance our emotional well-being, strengthen relationships, and thrive in various aspects of our lives. Remember, emotional intelligence is a skill that can be developed and refined with practice. So, embrace these techniques, commit to self-exploration, and embark on a transformative journey towards emotional intelligence. As you integrate these techniques into your daily life, you will unlock a deeper understanding of yourself and others, paving the way for greater empathy, resilience, and personal growth.

We have been formed out of the sacred elements of our Universe, and we have access to all of its immense energy and possibilities for existence. We are created with both a feeling nature supported by our biology, love and emotions, and a thinking nature supported mainly by our biology, history, education, intelligence, and intuition. Yet, many of us have been hypnotized out of our basic wisdom, while also developing an aversion to listening to our feelings for what they are telling us, and instead allowing our intellect to rule the inner kingdom.  Mainly by our need for social conformity, we have been fooled into ignoring our divine energy, intelligence and insight.  We either find our authentic self, and express its energy, or we will remain oppressed and demoralized and fail to realize our full spiritual potential.

The emotionally intelligent person knows that love is more than just a feeling, it is a developed skill. It will require understanding of the need for vulnerability, sexual propriety, honesty, openness to others’ points of view, willingness to both give and receive, a sense of humor, and learning when and how to truly let go of controls.  The emotionally intelligent person balances the need to care for themselves while also meeting their obligations in the world.  They recognize death and the  suffering of others as a constant companion on the journey through life.  They minimize behaviors that may bring suffering or harm to themselves or others, while remaining grateful for the gift of life, and whatever hope that may be mined from each moment of existence.  They understand that they will fall short of their ideals, while using those often painful results with humility to make amends to others impacted by all such temporary lapses.  They use their mistakes as feedback in their own process of continuous improvement, and as food for future growth,

So, just where does anger and love fit into this preliminary discussion? Some despair of the violence in society and within themselves. They seek to go beyond this distress, yet they perceive few available options. Not knowing that the answer lies deep within themselves, they seek elsewhere and find mentors, gurus, counselors, therapists, or methods of actually hiding from the self, such as excessive drinking, drugs, sex, or the obsessive pursuit of outward accomplishments in the world. Some go to India to sit at the feet of the latest Master of renown or follow the latest popular spiritual teachers, who appear to be popping up like weeds everywhere, including on television and Facebook. Unless the “Teacher” or “Master” loves the great outdoors, communes with nature and its glorious creatures, hikes, camps, bicycles, and generally love their own body, and its movement across this sacred planet Earth, they have nothing to offer to me but more spiritual “froth”. Our bodies are formed from the sacred soil of this sacred planet Earth, and those who do not honor or respect them as ONE can be no teacher for me. Finally, the teacher must appear within our hearts and minds, and it demands of us to be listened to or to be ignored at our peril.

Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.
—-Saint Augustine

Fear, anger, grief, and other oftentimes unpleasant feelings respond in healthy manners to our mindful attempts at understanding them. We must avoid becoming the oppressors of ourselves, we must avoid repressing feelings

My Monologue On Human Mastery

I believe that a bridge to peace and healing has been provided for me to offer to those still struggling with the human condition. It is not a time for absolutist philosophies and reasoning. It is the time to acknowledge our sacred humanity and to not judge parts of ourselves as less divine, or Godly, than other parts. This divide-and-conquer routine that mankind has offered to the seeker is a fragmented, unholy approach to spiritual well-being. It is reminiscent of the “mortification of the flesh” processes that even the Buddha finally renounced”.  I witnessed you almost destroy your own body through those disfiguring fasts that you performed in the late 1990s, thinking that by starving yourself, you would be closer to God.  I am not sure how close to God you got, but you sure got close to death!  The same principle applies when we try to starve ourselves of our own emotions. . . the fast fragments and eventually destroys the very fabric of our being and integrity.

Anger is one of our human emotions that is judged as unacceptable by those supposedly in the spiritual “know”. We are all beings sourced from the energy of infinity. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it certainly can be accessed, and modified to meet the needs of the moment. Anger is a name given to an aspect of human energy. Anger naturally arises in human consciousness, just as does love, sexual desire, and a desire for community, peace and personal safety. I have seen how anger itself is not either bad or good, it is a manifestation of the divine impulse within all of mankind.  It is a call to immediate action with complete self-awareness, and not a call to escape into other people’s ideas as to how to behave.

“I have to respectfully, but STRONGLY, disagree, with your interpretation of what the Dalai Lama has said, or even with him, if he holds strong to that idea. This is America, Jules, not Tibet, or India. None of us were born, raised or treated like we were the next Jesus Christ, or reincarnated Enlightened One of the Buddhist traditions, like the Dalai Lama. Had he been born into my family; he would probably be speaking to you today with my point of view. Had I been born into his reality, perhaps I would be the one that you are quoting from right now. You simply cannot take a teaching like the Dalai Lamas and apply it universally like some sort of magic salve. This is America, and we are a broken culture and civilization. Anger is appropriate and necessary in these times, as long as it is not institutionalized anger like racism, misogyny, xenophobia, white supremacy, genocide, or religious persecution. Anger born of the moment is infinitely different, and pure, whereas anger born of collective or personal memory is the source of hatred, revenge, lack of forgiveness, and what you now appear to fear.”.

“Oh Bruce, I can’t believe that you are saying this. You have changed, and I don’t recognize you anymore. Please read my book again, and, here, make sure to read some of the Dalai Lamas’ teachings. You have gone astray.”.

“Jules, no, I believe that I have found a middle path. If a stranger were to come over to our table right now, and urinate on our meals, or hit us, anger would spontaneously arise. What about the young man or woman about to be raped by a predator in a dark alley? It is that very energy of self-protection and defense, that anger, that we can channel for the good of the moment, to either inform the individual of their injustice against us or to defend ourselves from the threat to our safety and well-being. To just sit there and turn the other cheek is NOT the proper response. If you believe that your thoughts and prayers could transmute the situation without action of any kind, that is fantasy thinking, and thus keeps us victimized and oppressed. We must stand up for our rights!

You have not fully connected with nor understood the inner matrix of collective consciousness that underpins the entirety of the human race, where darkness, isolation, fear, and hubris reign supreme, and operate as a strong potential energy under the surface of many men’s thoughts and actions. The Common Knowledge Game that plays out in collective human consciousness is what we have to consciously deal with. The aggressor is playing out a story that has been told and retold since man first created stories, and first lifted a hand against his innocent, or guilty, brother or sister, and either felt self-justified in doing so or was oblivious to his intentions. Our prisons are filled with millions of human beings whom all of humanity’s best thoughts and prayers could not and did not help.

Right now, virtually all of the people who you associate with cultivate peaceful, loving attitudes, and that is just great. But many of us still have to make contact with the rest of humanity, where such intentions are not even considered. I made trips through toxic male-dominated workplaces, and even the underworld, where such “sacred” concepts would be regarded with suspicion, if not outright antagonism. There is a fight for survival, a fight to defend one’s tiny little plot of life, land, illusions of thought and sense of self. There is mental illness and an indifference to the feelings of all others who are unlike their limited understanding of themselves. If we do not rise up and let the indifferent know not only that we exist, but we have feelings, and that we will defend our right to continue to have feelings and existence, then those who ignorantly attempt to repress and dominate us will continue their abhorrent behavior.

Like a virus, those who oppress will be drawn to others who also have a desire to oppress, and the infection spreads through the collective mob mind. It is the feedback that we give back to them that eventually becomes part of the new knowledge for them, that others have feelings, and need to be respected if they want to maintain some of their freedoms. If we sit back and pray, as if the offenders already have the sensitivity to pick up on those finer vibrations, and that all they need to be reminded of is the underlying goodness of all is a self-defeating delusion, as our good intentions and prayers have little power for those people. The prayer that has the greatest power is the vocal one uttered through.

THE SPOKEN WORD

We must be loud, if necessary, to remind the offender that another human being is present, has rights, and will protect himself and reflect back to the offender his offensive energy, until the offender finds a way to present a more favorable side of himself to the rest of the world. We are part of the feedback loop for the rest of the world. We neglect our responsibilities as teachers and healers if we do not confront evil wherever evil arises. To not confront evil, or to mask it over with another name, and make it OK, as long as its influence does not directly impact us at this moment, is a dereliction of spiritual duty, and is one of the responsible parties for the continued proliferation of darkness and evil upon our planet…

Your vessel is shining on the outside, yet on the inside there appears to be an incompleteness of understanding, and of spirit. You attempt to suppress and repress part of your humanity, and thus, the humanity of others. You are a well-meaning, but unconscious part of the conspiracy of silence, where men are made wrong for speaking or acting from their strongest emotions, through which our true spirit may reign supreme.”.

“Bruce, where you are wrong is simple. Through meditation, peace and reconciliation, we can create all of the relationships that either prevent the anger and hatred from arising that you believe that you may have to defend yourself against or give you a more creative, loving way to deal with the assaults.”.

“Jules, how is that working for you, and for our world, so far?”

“History shows the cyclical nature of human civilizations, with the rise of collective order, culture and spirituality, mutual trust, intelligence, creativity and the arts, and infrastructural stability, and then their decline into chaos and disorder, and then resurrection in new ways. Our personal history parallels the same cyclical principle, except in a more compressed time frame. To be aware is to note that as far as we can see, we can only see ourselves, and our projections of what we think that we see, or might be. Note that to not see what is happening in the real world is to remain in a dream world, the world of illusion, no matter how much you want to make peace and love the picture of the world.  The world is in decline, no matter how much we might want to try to spin this one.  The world is overpopulated with people who would rather defend their lies against facts, and fight for fantasies and conspiracy theories over established truth and knowledge. You cannot reason with insanity, or pray it away.  It must be faced directly, honestly, courageously, and with access to all of our spiritual resources, which includes anger, as well as compassion and forgiveness.

The Far Side Wait, Wait, We don’t have to be just sheep

ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.

Do you think that just because you are giving love to the offender, his behavior is going to spontaneously change? You noted at the start of our lunch the predominance of anger and hatred arising in Portland right now. I do not see all of our prayers and meditations working right now, nor have they for thousands of years. All of the Dalai Lama’s prayers and meditations for Tibet were useless. He left his country and did not defend himself. He left the country in fear for his own life, and his country was to be overrun by the Chinese, to be defended only by those who could not escape with him. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, was left behind and spent many years philosophically fighting the Chinese incursion, and languished in jail as a result of his best efforts. He stood up and made his voice heard, in the only place and way a man of true spiritual integrity could. The Dalai Lama’s peaceful attitude did not change one Chinese invader’s mind. I don’t see any of our thoughts and prayers reaching this reality TV star parading as our 45th President, either. Three hundred and fifty million jabs back at his pudgy belly will help, though.”.

“Violence begets more violence, period. I think that our lunchtime has come to an end. Please reconsider your position, Bruce. You have so much to give to the world, yet giving anger to the world is no gift, it is a curse. I can help, perhaps come to more meetings at our church, where we can give you the support of our spirit of peace”.

“Thanks, Jules. I know that you say this with love. And I say this to you, this is also love if only you had the ears to hear. Right anger leads to the right action, as well. Protecting oneself against violent assaults from others is an act of love, as well. Loving oneself through defending oneself, while giving an offensive human being necessary feedback from which to learn is an act of love, too. Would you watch your child torture and torment a neighbor’s pet, and have no emotional reaction to it, and not confront him and teach him another way to behave? Love and righteous anger as a response to aggressive and offensive philosophies can live together in harmony, and they must, if America is to survive. Jules, I don’t have a church or a book for you to read, nor can I provide a forum for you to understand what I am talking about. Just know that my own “still small voice” is thundering from the silence in the center of my being, affirming the truth as I speak it, and live it. I am not a lamb before another person’s sincere, but wayward teachings, I am led from within, and I will go where the teachings lead me.

People-pleasing and ass-kissing behavior and unquestioning loyalty to people with power and influence is like renting a room in a burning building.  Once we get in touch with our feelings, heal ourselves of the oppression by our culture, and undo the bondage from the repression of our true nature, we can finally bring integrity back to the forefront of our consciousness, and find the long-ignored leader within ourselves.  Then we no longer rent a room in a burning building, but instead reside in the luxurious abode of “. . . the secret place of the Most High abiding under the shadow of the Almighty.”

In the timeless words of Bob Marley, come the words of a real spiritual warrior:

Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights:

And in the words of another great spiritual warrior:

“I come not to bring peace, but a sword!”
—-Jesus of Nazareth.

as he, too, tried to break down the patterns of social, economic, and religious injustice of the day.

Punch A Nazi Sign at June 2018 Portland, Oregon Rally for Immigrants and their families

A lifetime of oppression, of not being heard, having cries of pain and suffering ignored because of some sort of prevailing philosophy, thus ignoring major energy centers of who I AM, creates energy field corruption and damage. How can a young woman, or man, not respond with anger and fear while being sexually abused by yet another Toxic Man, and his distorted theories of how life should be? Extrapolate that to our entire country, where millions of our fellow Americans, or, more accurately, our fellow human beings, be they African American, Hispanic, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, or whatever label we want to foist on another child of God, continue to be persecuted and oppressed by the dark philosophies spawned by other Patriarchal ideologues…

For me, I layered myself with all manners of philosophies that suggested that I should ignore my human emotions, and all of the so-called dark energies that plague us, through the labeling, judging, and condemnation of all of these energies. Maya, or illusions, or cultural hypnosis, are terms coined by the “aware” that help us to understand that what appears to be in the “real world” may not be there, and to be aware of the potential of our minds to project out of our unenlightened ignorance our misunderstanding of life, and our actual relationship to it. Ignorance and darkness, and their love child, evil itself, do exist and are not an illusion. Rwanda, Syria, and any number of modern-day countries have witnessed the ravages of evil, and those residents who stayed seated in meditation and prayer are now dead, while those who are still alive escaped or had to defend themselves.

The key is to place these so-called dark energies in the service of understanding and love. Enlightened anger IS wisdom, and if we deny our anger about the oppression we have experienced, or that which is persecuting the innocents of the world, our access to vast sacred energy centers will continue to be blocked away from us, by those who inadvertently become part of the control mechanism that we are attempting to become liberated from..

Somebody has to act as a bridge between highbrow spiritual theories and/or realizations, and the damaged, hurt, misunderstood, persecuted, abused, sick and ill, and I AM THAT, along with countless millions of awakening abused people around the world. One size does NOT fit all, when it comes to how to spiritually respond to challenging situations. If we are sitting in an ivory tower or lofty spiritual “reality” then we will have one style of engagement with the world. If we are still in a relationship with all of humanity, we have to be ready for anything, and we will have to be ready to engage ALL of our resources to meet the safe and sane requirements for each unique relationship. This is how my awakening world now spins, around the reunification of all rejected energies of our Holy Spirit (the spirit of wholeness that still resides within all of us, even in the “least of these” people, who may still reside in hell).

There are those purporting to be “spiritual teachers” and advisors, who are admonishing their followers to abhor using human emotions with their dealings with the public. Specifically, I am frequently hearing that a “requirement for maintaining spiritual integrity” is to NOT EXPRESS ANGER, in any form, and instead to substitute “loving thoughts” and “forgiving actions”.

Really?

First things first!

Anger is a natural, normal response, in any particular new moment, to any assault on our being, on those that we love, or on our inner sensibilities. Anger, among all other emotions, and in balance with those aspects of our self, helps us to manage our response to the outer world, which is, at times, quite the aggressive, distressed, ugly, oppressive environment. Anger is not positive or negative energy, it is HUMAN ENERGY ITSELF, and like all aspects of our humanity, it needs to be understood in the context from which it arises, and when and how it expresses itself..

Anger can bring fear to the unaware among us, because of an incomplete or unhealed response to its expression in their past. We have all been persecuted, at one time or another (or many times), by the angry parent, boss, co-worker, or stranger driving next to us in a car. Or, how about the rapist, or child molester, who tries to attack us, or our children? According to classic psychology, humans engage in “fight or flight” behavior, when they experience fear and/or perceive that they are being attacked. Whether we choose one or the other depends on any number of circumstances, and ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL. When we are backed into a corner, and there is no way out, where is our energy to come from, when the attacker makes his final lunge at us?

We all feel a need to “be in control”, and to conform to social norms, especially those “norms” expressed in the common knowledge game that dominates the unaware human consciousness. Philosophies and theologies that stress the need to repress aspects of our human nature need to be examined in their fullness, and not accepted at face value. By their very nature, any umbrella philosophy and theology devalues the “intelligence of the moment”, and intentionally and/or unwittingly contribute to the suppression, and repression, of sacred human values and emotions. This unrepressed and unoppressed human energy, when balanced, keeps us as complete beings, capable of accessing and expressing the wholeness of our being, with emotionally intelligent actions appropriate to the activity of the moment.

There is a Wisdom deep inside us all, waiting to inform all of our thoughts and actions in this world. And this world requires Ultimate intelligence to navigate through it successfully, without bringing harm to ourselves and others needlessly. Anger and fear are not to be repressed by any healthy human being, but instead are to be witnessed, and studied, and utilized intelligently for wise action in this troubled world.

Stand up, stand up, stand up for your rights!

But, make sure that the anger is appropriate to the moment, and not some formulaic response that the “non-healed, unbalanced” nature within yourself offers up under many questionable circumstances. An “institutionalized expression of anger” becomes hatred in disguise, and that characterizes the oppressive nature of far too many male-originated, and dominated philosophies. When anger becomes an automatic response to all situations where the threat is perceived, then the intelligence of the moment is denied, and we are susceptible to bringing needless harm to our bodies, and to our minds, as well as to the “other”.

To respond successfully in anger, we need to measure how mindfully we can engage these threats, and successfully group our thoughts and actions, with others also engaged in the situation, to either fight the oppressors, or to speak our truth, and be heard. We do not engage in mass protests because we want to go for a walk with a bunch of strangers, we engage in protests because we want our voices heard. Channeled anger is an effective, time-tested method for standing up to those who would keep us silent in the face of their misdeeds.

One only needs to review history to see how well the silent sheep held back the Nazi oppressors. If you want to conform to the “spiritual philosophies” of those who did grow up in our country and did not share in our American Experience, good luck to you. I choose to wisely tend to my own “flock” of thoughts and feelings, and not to become just another follower in someone’s “herd”. I am now a shepherd of my thoughts and feelings, and not just someone’s lamb.

Anecdotally, we hear of those rare few who have successfully mitigated dark, evil circumstances, through some fortunate “intervention” through prayer, or luck, where those who are attacking us somehow are diverted, and move their aggression elsewhere. Stories of Gandhi’s non-violent protest against British occupancy of India’s lands get a lot of play in so-called “spiritually aware circles”. Remember, though, the many years of British occupation before that stand, and Britain’s diminishing will to keep their empire extended throughout the world. We only need to watch the news, or read the paper, to see that these anecdotal stories do not embrace the reality underlying most of the final acts, and resulting actions, of the aggressive ones. Murder, rape, child molesting, intimidation, oppression, misogyny, road rage, terrorism, and paternal violence in ALL OF ITS FORMS, keeps manifesting themselves and has throughout all of history. Those who are inspired to make peaceful approaches to these problems must continue, yet, so do those who aggressively confront the forces of oppression and darkness.

WE NEED BOTH ENERGIES FOR CHANGE

By the way, have you ever noticed how so many of the so-called spiritual savants, or gurus from foreign lands, do not have families? What is the real teaching here, do you think? It is so much easier to talk about love and light for all beings, especially when one does not have to deal directly with the most challenging of human relationships. From the middle of 1987 to early 1988, I spent over 6 hours a day in meditation and prayer, and I had very few problems with my relationships with people. I lived in perfect peace and harmony within myself. Also, I had no children, or nobody to call me on my isolation and (potential) loneliness. All in all, it was beautiful for me, yet totally disengaged from the challenges of integration into society, and family and friendship development. I value my time in the “real world”, where the beauty, and the pain, of human existence is my greatest teacher. Mysticism has a place in our world, yet I struggle to find how to best stay in alignment with its ecstasy, and enlightenment while maintaining a “normal human experience”. Perhaps I will drink again from its deep waters when I have finally wearied of this world.

If our minds are fed anything other than facts, ESPECIALLY WITHIN ESTABLISHED COMMUNITIES OF HUMAN BEINGS, we are involved in a process known as Maya or illusion creating, and our world(s) tend to end up in chaos. The result is individual, and cultural, hypnosis and schizophrenia, where we can end up losing personal power, and we can be too easily bullied by the wayward opinions and false insights of others. Too often those who claim to have real knowledge are as lost as everybody else, even though they may be claiming righteousness, religious or otherwise. When we try to fit into a situation or setting where our heart tells us we don’t belong, honor those feelings, and investigate where they are coming from. If we feel that we are already “swimming in the divine ocean”, then we can watch, and wait, and see who is swimming with us, and join with them as indicated (or reach out and help lift another up, as they request help). While in the marketplace of human thought and reason,

LET THE BUYER BEWARE!

It has taken me many years to speak my truth to our cultural, political, and theological power and knowledge brokers. My enhanced attention to my inner needs and the greater good of all finally took precedence over my feelings of inadequacy in confronting this collective American life experience about its alienating, crazy-making communications and relationships, and its collective consciousness, and collective unconsciousness. Our cultural spiritual dementia needed to be challenged, lest we all lapse into deeper degrees of anxiousness, powerlessness, and unreality. Confronting a difficult reality takes more energy than most of us care to bring to the table, yet, not doing so diminishes our standing in Truth, Life, and Love.

I had very poor training since birth in how to successfully navigate group energy, up to, and including, the whole of society that we all participate in. As a boy, when family discussions turned into arguments, many times I found myself either raising my voice against the angry voice of my father or retreating into submission and fear at the threat of being attacked for being contrary to the flow. And, I internalized that I was probably wrong anyway, and would be punished if I stepped out and asserted myself too much. I learned that I could undertake less obvious means of rebelling against authority, sometimes through indirect, or obvious, self, or other, destructive behavior.

Passive/aggressive tendencies have haunted me most of my entire life, and becoming “self-aware” has gone a long way to keep me from employing those unskilled coping mechanisms unconsciously, though I am still occasionally haunted by their presence. Having undertaken the inner work of insight, and maintained mindfulness, and identified sources of suffering within myself, does not instantaneously remove all of the darkness within. But it also does not remove from me the responsibility to call out those who are the external agents of oppression and repression, no matter how much I might love them or want to protect them, or even to protect myself from the ramifications of asserting what is right, true, or proper in any situation.

What is not expressed is de-pressed.  It seems the more we express, that is, bring out what is in, the more alive we are.  The more we give voice to our pain in living, the less build-up we have between our soul and our way in the world.  However, the more we repress, the more we push down and keep in, the smaller we become.  The more we stuff between our heart and our daily experience, the more we have to work through to feel life directly.–Mark Nepo

Alcoholism, depression, mental illness, murder, suicide, participating in the continued destruction of our sacred Mother Earth, and other manifestations of disempowered male energy can be the results of loss of integrity, and stifling one’s feelings and voice. And, this is NOT yet another spiritual theory, this is the ACTUALITY of American male life, and of my life. Sitting in meditation, and or quoting other “spiritually enlightened individuals” may have brought me a temporary measure of peace, but this whole process became yet another “opiate”, and it never brought the change required by my spirit for its emergence into its unique wholeness. Thoughts and prayers are great preparation for action, but, without action, thoughts and prayers are only mental masturbation.

Ignorance, and its most deadly spawn Evil continue to exist, despite Love’s presence, and I will not allow the “wise ones” and their dismissive theories on evil to discourage me from confronting that force, both within myself and within my American culture. It takes a force of will, or an energy FAR transcending those that the absolutist philosophies of unconditional love promote, to address this darkness. Jesus facing the devil in the desert has no value to me, if I do not also face my own “devil”, and our collective “devils”. If I lived in a spiritual “ivory tower”, where I never witnessed man’s inhumanity to man, then these philosophies might serve my needs. Why would any sane man create more Fake News, deny what they see, and gloss it over with Universal Love, whatever that means? I no longer need permission from “higher powers” to deal with all of our difficult emotions directly and honestly.

The Balance Between Emotional and Intellectual Aspects: Unlocking Human Potential

Embrace the harmony between heart and mind for a fulfilling, well-rounded life.

Introduction:

As humans, we are complex beings with intertwining emotional and intellectual aspects that shape our experiences and interactions. It is in the delicate balance between these two realms that our true potential lies. In this opinion piece, we will explore the significance of finding equilibrium between our emotions and intellect, the role of emotional intelligence in personal and professional contexts, and the fascinating interplay between emotional expression and higher cognitive abilities.

Importance of Balance:

Achieving balance between our emotional and intellectual aspects is essential for personal growth and healthy relationships. When emotions overpower reason, we may become impulsive or clouded in judgment. Conversely, an excessive focus on logic can lead to detachment and a lack of empathy. By nurturing both sides, we can navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and compassion.

Role of Emotional Intelligence:

Emotional intelligence, often referred to as EQ, is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions while empathizing with others. Developing emotional intelligence brings numerous benefits, including improved communication, conflict resolution, and better decision-making. It allows us to navigate the complexities of human relationships with grace and authenticity.

Interplay Between Emotional Expression and Higher Intelligence:

Contrary to the belief that emotions hinder intellectual pursuits, research suggests that emotional intelligence enhances higher cognitive abilities. Emotionally intelligent individuals often demonstrate exceptional problem-solving skills, creativity, and adaptability. This interplay between emotional expression and higher intelligence enables a more holistic approach to life, enriching our experiences and broadening our perspectives.

Personal Experiences and Anecdotes:

In my own journey, I have witnessed the transformative power of emotional intelligence. I recall a situation where my ability to empathize and regulate my emotions diffused a heated argument, leading to understanding and reconciliation. Additionally, I have experienced moments where a well-balanced emotional and intellectual response allowed me to make sound decisions even in challenging circumstances. These instances highlight the profound impact of emotional intelligence on our personal growth and relationships.

Call to Action:

As you reflect on this exploration of emotional and intellectual balance, take a moment to assess your own equilibrium. Are you nurturing both aspects in your life? Consider incorporating practices such as mindfulness, self-reflection, and active listening to develop your emotional intelligence. Embrace vulnerability and allow yourself to express and process your emotions in healthy ways. By doing so, you will unlock the full extent of your human potential.

Conclusion:

Embracing the delicate dance between emotional and intellectual aspects is the key to unlocking our true potential as human beings. It is through this harmonious integration that we can cultivate meaningful connections, make sound decisions, and lead fulfilling lives. Let us strive for a balanced existence, drawing upon the wisdom of our emotions and the clarity of our intellect. In this pursuit, we will discover a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us, fostering personal growth, meaningful relationships, and a brighter future for all.

The Power of Emotional Intelligence: Enhancing Rationality and Mental Health

Imagine a world where emotions are not seen as obstacles, but rather as allies in our pursuit of knowledge, understanding, and sanity. In a society that often prioritizes logic and reason over emotions, it’s time to recognize the true power of emotional intelligence. Beyond the realm of personal relationships and social dynamics, emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in enhancing our rationality and overall mental well-being.

The Role of Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions and the emotions of others. It goes beyond mere empathy; it involves perceiving, using, and managing emotions to guide our thoughts and actions. Emotions are not irrational distractions; they are valuable sources of information that can enhance our decision-making and problem-solving abilities.

Enhancing Rational Thinking: Emotions provide us with valuable insights and signals that can guide our reasoning. They bring attention to important aspects of a situation that may not be immediately apparent through purely logical analysis. By incorporating emotional intelligence into our thought process, we gain a more holistic and comprehensive understanding of the situations we encounter.

Building and Maintaining Strong Relationships: Emotional intelligence enables us to navigate complex social interactions effectively. It allows us to understand and respond empathetically to others’ emotions, fostering genuine connections and building trust. These strong relationships provide support systems that contribute to our overall well-being and success.

Managing Stress and Mental Health: Emotions are intricately intertwined with our mental health. By developing emotional intelligence, we become better equipped to handle stress, regulate our emotions, and maintain a positive outlook. Emotional intelligence fosters resilience, helping us bounce back from setbacks and cope with the challenges life throws our way.

Misconceptions about Emotional Intelligence

Despite its significance, emotional intelligence is often misunderstood and undervalued. Some perceive it as a sign of weakness or an indulgence in irrationality. However, this perception couldn’t be further from the truth. Emotional intelligence is not about disregarding logic; it’s about integrating emotions and reason to make more informed decisions.

Personal Anecdote

Allow me to share a personal experience that highlights the transformative power of emotional intelligence. A few years ago, I found myself constantly overwhelmed by stress and struggling to make sense of my emotions. It was during this time that I embarked on a journey of self-discovery and emotional growth. Through introspection and practicing emotional intelligence, I learned to identify and regulate my emotions effectively. This newfound awareness not only improved my well-being but also enhanced my ability to approach challenges with clarity and resilience.

The Connection between Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health

Emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in our mental health and overall well-being. By developing emotional regulation skills, we become better equipped to manage anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Understanding and expressing our emotions in a healthy and constructive manner can prevent the accumulation of negative emotions, leading to improved mental health outcomes.

Proposing Solutions

To harness the power of emotional intelligence, we must integrate it into various aspects of our lives. Here are some solutions that can propel us towards a more emotionally intelligent society:

Promoting Emotional Intelligence Education: Incorporate emotional intelligence training programs in educational institutions and workplaces to cultivate emotional awareness and regulation skills from an early age.

Incorporating Emotional Intelligence in School Curriculum: Integrate emotional intelligence into the curriculum, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, empathy, and relationship-building skills alongside academic knowledge.

Encouraging Mindfulness Practices: Promote mindfulness practices such as meditation and self-reflection to develop emotional intelligence and enhance overall well-being. These practices allow individuals to observe their emotions without judgment and respond in a more intentional and mindful manner.

Conclusion

Emotional intelligence is not a sign of weakness or irrationality; it is a powerful tool that can enhance our rationality and mental health. By recognizing the value of emotions and developing emotional intelligence, we unlock a world of possibilities for personal growth, healthy relationships, and improved decision-making.

Let us embrace emotional intelligence as an essential aspect of our lives. Together, we can create a society that values emotional well-being and integrates the transformative power of emotions into our pursuit of knowledge, understanding, and sanity.

The Interplay of Truth, Knowledge, Facts, and Spiritual Discernment

Note: The author’s stance and specific arguments will be presented in the final content.

Introduction

In a world filled with diverse perspectives and conflicting information, the search for truth, knowledge, and spiritual discernment becomes an ever more intricate labyrinth. The interplay between these concepts raises profound questions about our understanding of reality, the limits of human comprehension, and the role of spirituality in navigating the complexities of existence. Let us embark on a journey that delves into the depths of truth, knowledge, facts, and the enigmatic realm of spiritual discernment.

Understanding Truth, Knowledge, and Facts

Before we plunge into the depths of this discussion, it is vital to establish a shared understanding of the terms we will encounter. What is truth? How do we define knowledge? What role do facts play in our pursuit of understanding? By exploring the definitions and distinctions of these concepts, we lay the groundwork for deeper exploration.

Exploring Spiritual Discernment

At the heart of our quest lies the concept of spiritual discernment—a profound ability to perceive and understand truths beyond the realm of empirical evidence. It transcends the boundaries of logic and rationality, inviting us to explore the depths of our inner wisdom and intuition. By delving into the essence of spiritual discernment, we unlock new dimensions of insight and open ourselves to profound transformations.

Intersections with Philosophy and Spirituality

Throughout history, various philosophical and spiritual traditions have grappled with the interplay of truth, knowledge, facts, and discernment. From the contemplative depths of Buddhism and the profound teachings of Christianity to the stoic principles of Greek philosophy and the mystical insights of Sufism and Taoism, these traditions offer rich perspectives on the nature of truth and the paths to spiritual discernment.

Perspectives on Truth and Knowledge

The question of truth and knowledge has captivated the minds of philosophers, theologians, and seekers for centuries. Different philosophical and spiritual perspectives offer diverse viewpoints on the nature of truth and the means by which it can be known. From the relativistic philosophies questioning the existence of absolute truth to the belief in transcendent truths, exploring these perspectives sheds light on the complexities of our understanding.

The Role of Facts in Discernment

While spiritual discernment often transcends empirical facts, the interplay between facts and discernment cannot be overlooked. How do we reconcile the seemingly objective nature of facts with the inner knowing that arises from spiritual discernment? Can facts be a foundation for discernment, or do they only scratch the surface of a deeper truth? Exploring this relationship unveils intriguing dimensions of the human experience.

Challenges and Controversies

As with any profound inquiry, the exploration of truth, knowledge, facts, and spiritual discernment is not without its challenges and controversies. Debates arise regarding the compatibility of religious faith and empirical evidence, the limitations of human perception, and the potential biases that influence our understanding. By acknowledging these conflicts, we invite critical reflection and foster a deeper understanding of the complexities involved.

Conclusion

The quest to unravel the interplay of truth, knowledge, facts, and spiritual discernment is a deeply personal and transformative journey. It calls us to question our assumptions, challenge our beliefs, and embrace the inherent mysteries of existence. As we journey forth, let us be open to the wisdom of various philosophical and spiritual traditions, while cultivating an authentic, introspective exploration of our own truths. May this exploration inspire personal growth, deepen our understanding of the world, and invite us to live with greater clarity, compassion, and discernment.

Jasper–Chapter Nine: The Eight Pillars of Intelligence:  Knowledge, Information, Emotions, Intuition, Insight, The Whim, Truth, and Wisdom

• What is knowledge?
• What is a fact, or information?
• What is an intuition?
• What is emotional intelligence?
• What is truth?
• What is a lie?
• What is a whim?
• What is insight?
• What is illusion?
• What is wisdom?

I have been pointing to potential answers to these questions throughout the book, with this chapter serving only as a supplement to our understanding.  Forming questions and finding their best answers has challenged mankind for thousands of years, and there are tens of thousands of philosophical, scientific, and religious books already written on all of these topics. I am considered a layperson, with no extended training in philosophy, religion, psychology, history, or academia in general, yet I have the same curiosity and spirit of inquiry as the most devoted experts within these fields. I will attempt to provide the smallest framework possible for this exploration, so that we can share in an abbreviated, but sincere,  walk on new pathways together.

As we attempt to get at the root of our shared existence, we should ask two questions:

• Are we merely verbal creations, or do we also exist in other realms or dimensions?
• Where is our foundation and, if we can experience it, will our lives subsequently be lived more holistically and intelligently?

Those who keep asking the important questions of life may eventually find satisfying answers, though there are no guarantees for success.  Those who do not ask these orvimportant questions are guaranteed zero success, however.

Several decades ago, Saudi Oil Minister Sheikh Yamani gained recognition for his insight into global development:

“The Stone Age did not end for lack of stone, and the Oil Age will end long before the world runs out of oil.”

Today, we live in what many call the Information Age, and we are in absolutely no danger of running out of information, particularly in data form. There is a general perception that we are overwhelmed with data, making the ability to store, process, analyze, interpret, consume, and act upon that data a primary concern.  There are, potentially, infinite streams of information available, yet most information may have little or no use to our discerning, conscious minds..  There is so much more to reality than what just greets the eye, and appears on the screens of our cellphones and/or computer monitors, however.  Scientists, mathematicians, theologians, artists, philosophers, enlightened politicians, and Google algorithm writers, continue to struggle toward some unknown destination that our collective search for truth continues to guide us toward as a human race.  The exponential increase in available information does little to settle what the “truth” might be, let alone which direction its search may best be started from.

Information can help us to know why we are ill and which illnesses we have, exactly. But wisdom is to know how to heal them.

—Dr. Alberto Villoldo

     In our quest for understanding, we encounter numerous concepts that shape our perception of the world—knowledge, wisdom, and truth, to name a few. These terms hold immense significance, but do we truly grasp their essence?  There is an intricate interplay between knowledge, facts, wisdom, truth, insight, and whimsy, and the impact they have on our lives.

It has been said in certain contest guidelines:

“You must be present to win.”

     This is also true as far as knowledge goes. A witness to an actual event gains experiential knowledge while also giving whatever narrative creates credibility, at least up to the point that the storyteller is trusted and has been accurate and honest in the past. If experiential knowledge is not available to convey a teaching or a message, listening to the stories of other firsthand witnesses can be beneficial. A great example is that of the knowledge that fathers pass on to their sons around issues of family philosophy/religion, self-esteem, growing up into manhood, accepting personal responsibility, sexuality, learning to ride a bike or drive a car, and future community involvement. The less experiential the teaching, the less staying power of the message, so it is important to keep the listener engaged with all of their senses if possible.

In 2017 my wife Sharon and I attended a weekend workshop facilitated by Dr. Matthew Fox.  The famous speaker focused on his usual favorite subjects, which included Christ Consciousness, creativity, transformation, our connection with Mother Earth, indigenous wisdom, and his gratitude for being an Anglican priest, and no longer tethered to the Catholic Church, and its Popes.  I had a remarkable experiential learning experience, and I received a most powerful inner spiritual teaching during one of my dreams during the weekend.

     When I returned home from the weekend event, we scheduled a lunch with our dear friends, Marty and Eddy.  Over the lunch meeting, I attempted to be a channel for the weekend’s teachings to our friends.  Eddy grabbed her phone, punched something into Google, and then ran over my sharing with Google’s take on the Reverend’s message for transcendence.  My energy was stopped in its tracks by this rude intrusion, as it reaffirmed my suspicion that many people prefer sterile information over experiential knowledge.

     In a world driven by information overload and academic rigidity, it’s time to fully engage with the transformative power of learning of an experiential nature, intuition, and insight. As a firm believer in the importance of these elements, I have witnessed their profound impact on personal growth and development. Through my own experiences and reflections, I have come to appreciate the invaluable role they play in shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

     Traditional methods of education often emphasize rote memorization and theoretical knowledge, leaving little room for practical application. However, it is through experiential learning that true understanding and mastery are achieved. I recall the times in college Theology classes when religious textbooks and lectures failed to capture the essence of the Sacred, but the hands-on experience of establishing a real connection with a higher power was what brought the Sacred to life for me. The ability to touch, feel, and engage with a subject creates a lasting impression that surpasses the limitations of traditional methods, and this is especially true with any experiences outside of our world of knowns. Experiential learning not only fosters a deeper understanding but also nurtures critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity.  And, for those engaged in mystical states and perceptions arising from that awareness, it also informs us of the very limitations of the processes the mind uses for understanding the world and itself.,

     This book is an attempt to get at the root of our shared existence.  Are we merely verbal creations, the total of all of our knowledge and memories, or do we also exist in other realms or dimensions, and where might they be found and experienced?  Those who keep asking the important questions of life may eventually find satisfying answers, though there are no guarantees for success.  Those who do not ask those important questions are guaranteed zero success, however.

      As Tom Waits has said, we are buried under the weight of information, which is often confused with knowledge, with quantity being confused with abundance and wealth with happiness.  We are monkeys with money and guns.  Apart from Tom’s perspective, what is knowledge, and how do we know what we know?   Philosophers, scientists, religious thinkers, and beer drinkers throughout the ages have contemplated this most important question, for it has ramifications for our sense of self, its reality and formation, and our actual place in the Universe.

Rene Descartes was well known, not only for his volumes of scientific and mathematical writings and teachings but also for his famous one-liner:

I think, therefore I am.

     Starting with Descartes, the self was considered to be a thinking thing that is not extended, and the object of the self’s observation is an extended thing that does not think. Duality is affirmed here, as the thinker, who is a dynamic being, traps the observed in a thought, which is a static enclosure, or perception. Those five words, I think therefore I am, certainly can get confusing, especially when the object is another thinking human being, whether they are thoughtless, or not!   Things can get really, really interesting, and complicated when the object of observation is the actual self doing the observation!!!

     Many modern thinkers consider Rene’s dualism through his cause and effect statement as not fully embracing the nature of consciousness and our being, the wholeness of our being, and of our reality, and our relationship to its formation and experience.  Descartes may have put

“des-cartes before de-horse”.

     In a previous chapter, we considered the probability that the knowledge of self first begins with the insight that the word represents an object of sensorial awareness.  As many modern-day philosophers note:

Within a conscious mind, the subject and the object arise simultaneously.  The thinker and the thought arise as one.  Duality is merely an illusion of thought.

     Helen Keller first recognized herself as an independent being upon realizing that W A T E R represented the substance that she both drank and washed with.  So too it is that we can properly assume that our sense of self, and each subsequent iteration of it, or evolutionary progression of it, arises from each statement of “new knowing” that arises within our consciousness. Thus, it remains imperative that we understand this process of the creation of “knowledge” and the accumulation of “knowledge” through our training, education, and life experience, for this is the process by which we create ourselves, and build upon it.

     Remember, we began this journey several chapters back with the mythological story of the Garden of Eden, as well as Theseus, the Minotaur, and the labyrinth.  If we intend to return to the Garden of Eden, what is the state of consciousness that we aspire to return to?  If we wish to return to a pre-verbal state, we are sure to be disappointed, for many pre-verbal states are characterized by unresolved trauma, which means that the labyrinth, and the Minotaur, have yet to be dealt with.  Much of our knowledge serves to obfuscate and distract us from this most important issue, so we must continue our exploration of the mind, its knowledge, and the labyrinth of illusion that it creates which hides us from the blocks to our return to our original nature.

     We must have a sense of our being before knowledge, and the further pursuit of it makes any sense at all.  The first word that we learn, be it mama, dada, poopoo, oh FUCK, or whatever it is, becomes the internal ignition switch that gets turned on, and then the accumulation of knowledge of the “outer world” begins!

     What we, as a human race, presently accept as knowledge can be defined in many ways. Our capacity for embracing logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning from both personal experience and through the transfer of shared knowledge, emotional knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving all point to the manifestation of intelligence. Our knowledge is based upon familiarity, awareness, or understanding of someone or something, such as facts, information, descriptions, or skills acquired through experience or education. Knowledge can also refer to a theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. Intuition is a perceptual attribute that gives us the ability to know something directly without analytic reasoning, bridging the gap between the conscious and unconscious parts of our mind, and also between instinct and reason.

     The conscious being has an infinite capacity to witness life and then create knowledge around those interactions. It only takes one time getting bitten by a snake and suffering mightily under the influence of its poison to create and share the knowledge that it is vitally important to avoid physical contact with serpents while doing outdoor chores or walking in the desert. The unconscious being also has the same infinite witnessing capacity, yet their choices for how they see themselves and their lives can be so self-limiting as to make them prisoners in their own homes. In the snakebite situation, a more unconscious person would use the knowledge of the potential damage from snakebite to create fear-based stories that would keep the person behind closed doors, avoiding the outdoors altogether, or even obtaining and carrying a loaded firearm just in case they need to protect themselves. On the other hand, the curious and conscious ones might just walk around the snake, study it, and fearlessly learn the lessons that the snake has to offer.

     Yet each category of awareness, be it conscious or unconscious, must arise from the same pool of potentiality, where the mystery of collective consciousness and the entrainment of all its minds create and maintain the appearance of whatever order and reality that each individual both anticipates and experiences. Yet, finding the real truth behind each new situation that presents itself to awareness is challenging, though fulfilling if done successfully.

The Whim

     While knowledge is often associated with meticulous study and deliberate pursuit, let us not overlook the intriguing role of the whim. Sometimes, spontaneous decisions, fleeting interests, and unexpected detours lead us down uncharted paths, opening doors to insights and discoveries we never could have anticipated. Embracing the unpredictable nature of the whim can unlock unexpected realms of knowledge.  It can also open the doors to embarrassment and becoming disrespected, so we must realize its inherent risks, too.

     I first came into a conscious collision with the whim versus wisdom dynamic while I was in the fourth grade. The principal wanted a representative from each class, from both the third and the fourth grades, to attend a conference for parents in the auditorium on a weeknight. It was an honor to be selected, according to our teachers, and the students were advised to select from among themselves who would be the best representatives.

     As a community of grade schoolers, we had a difficult enough time establishing the process for how to select the representative, let alone who it should be. The teacher helped by instituting two male overseers, one from the fifth grade, who were to facilitate the determination process by asking for volunteers or nominations and discussing their qualifications. The boys expressed frustration with the process, and even though our teachers offered up two good candidates from each class, on a fourth-grade boy’s whim, a quiet, shy girl was selected for that class. She had been, in the past, teased and bullied by me and others, and I could immediately see that this process had the potential to victimize her. I was right; they continued to harass her, and I got another bad joke in at her expense. This selection process dramatically impacted me and has influenced my understanding of group dynamics ever since. Many of us, relying upon the opinions of others, have made many decisions against the wisdom and in favor of the opinions of others, who may have agendas, while engaging in whimsical or non-critical thinking of their own.

     Whimsical thinking is the spark that ignites our imagination, unlocking the realm of creativity within us. It encourages us to think beyond the boundaries of logic and embrace playful exploration. Whimsical thinking invites us to challenge norms, question assumptions, and seek unconventional solutions. It fuels innovation and problem-solving by encouraging us to approach challenges with fresh perspectives and unbridled curiosity.  Whimsical thinking is respected because of its lack of adherence to established patterns, which can be attractive to creative people, non-conformists, and insane individuals, so there is a spectrum of benefits to be gained, or lost through attacks on rationality, by accessing it. But whimsical thinking must be set aside when intelligent action is required. Be wise, watch out for whimsical thinking and suspend its influence when acting upon immediate facts is required, and make those difficult, challenging decisions that are beneficial for our lives and our world’s lives too.

     We must learn to trust ourselves and our ability to apply our experience and knowledge with a little bit of our developed insight. Typically, learned wisdom that does not conform to what our latest intuitive hit suggests must be scrutinized further, and an intelligent balance must be struck between those two poles. Intuition and wisdom are not mutually exclusive and complement each other.

     Wisdom is spawned from experience. It is best embraced and expressed through our storytelling and our intelligent actions in the world. Sound bites just do not carry enough of wisdom’s energy. We must be careful not to integrate memes and sound bites into a quilt of understanding because the stitching will unravel, and we will be left appearing and acting like less than the wise people we can be.

     Wisdom exists deep inside us all, waiting to inform all of our thoughts and actions in this world. This world requires ultimate intelligence to navigate through it successfully, without bringing harm to ourselves and others needlessly. Anger and fear are not to be repressed by any healthy human being, but instead are to be witnessed, studied, and utilized intelligently for wise action in this troubled world. The capacity for insight brings change, the actual seeing awakens the capacity for lasting internal change.

     Healing through a heightened awareness must be individually experienced, and then the fruits of the experience can be collectively shared with other interested parties, such as in spiritual healing circles, AA meetings or friendship encounters. Here we can create the strongest atmosphere for the healing of self and others. We don’t need an edifice for this, yet our own home can become the foundation for community healing. If we belong to an enlightened group of people who attend church, there is also an immense potential for mutual support. Our intention must start the process, though the healing intentions of others can bring us together into a healing formation. This is where the miracle of the collective/shared mind of love-inspired mankind can work its wonders. The right group of people, sharing love and healing together, creates palpable energy, and this can characterize some recovery groups, depending on the quality of recovery present and being expressed in those groups.

     Individuals who are toxic, addicted, or mentally ill and not yet ready to face their shame, guilt, fears, and insecurities consciously will not have immediate access to their innate potential for wisdom.  It will be a difficult time of it in recovery or the search for greater meaning in their lives. There are many healing and/or religious paths to take, methodologies for achieving and maintaining sobriety, and therapeutic modalities and medications available for mental illness. The technique chosen should be wisely considered based on personal needs and philosophies or lack of them.

Life in the Information Age

     The printing press opened civilization up to much more advanced opportunities for education and information transfer and sharing. The internet has opened humanity up to the potential for the real-time witnessing and sharing of other people’s adventures and learning experiences, almost without limits. Watching a multi-media presentation will carry more potential meaning and information to the higher intelligence centers of the brain than just a meme or soundbite, which arouses the more basic areas of the brain where fear is most prone to rule. There is never a shortage of information, but there is always a question about the accuracy of the information and how it is to be presented.

Several decades ago, Saudi Oil Minister Sheikh Yamani gained recognition for his insight into global development:

“The Stone Age did not end for lack of stone, and the Oil Age will end long before the world runs out of oil.”

     Today, we live in what many call the Information Age, and we are in absolutely no danger of running out of information, particularly in data form. There is a general perception that we are overwhelmed with data, making the ability to store, process, analyze, interpret, consume, and act upon that data a primary concern. There are potentially infinite streams of information available, yet most information may have little or no use to our discerning, conscious minds.  However, there is so much more to reality than what just greets the eye and appears on the screens of our cellphones and/or computer monitors. Scientists, mathematicians, theologians, artists, philosophers, enlightened politicians, and Google algorithm writers continue to struggle toward some unknown destination that our collective search for truth continues to guide us toward as a human race. The exponential increase in available information does little to settle what the truth might be, let alone where to start the search.

     Many types of knowledge breed division and separation between human beings. It is easy to tell the difference between ministers, politicians, teachers, teachings, and knowledge by feeling within our inner chambers of consciousness how their messages impact our hearts. Understanding what we now consider to be sources of knowledge is important as well.

All that is human may be an illusion.  Every human being, in their ignorance, looks out at the world, and sees a projection of their state of hypnosis—Marie Schmidt

Fake news can have real hypnotizing power over the unaware or marginally informed sectors of our population.  With the idea of fake news being so casually tossed about these days, it is important to keep in mind that fake news has always been with us. It can be traced all of the way back to the days when we first started naming objects and attaching emotional linkages to our observations. Everybody sees things somewhat differently, though similarities outweigh differences by super-substantial amounts. But the human mind tends to focus on the differences, and thus temporarily accentuates those divisions while examining the objects of its reality and reassembling the new information into its unique information matrix known as our personalities.

Our first thoughts aren’t always the best. All of those divisive philosophies that pit “me versus you” or “us versus them” will bring fewer positive results than the uniting philosophies that bring people together in the spirit of cooperation and caring. Yet it almost seems like the divisive ideas are for many, and for me, by instinct first in line for consideration. So it is important to not act out of impulse. Yes, being mindful is waiting out that first racing train of sometimes fearful, angry, or hurtful thoughts. Watch it as it passes through the screen of awareness and wait for another peaceful train of loving thoughts that may lie underneath all of the other noise.

The goal might be to make love the leading thought considered, but in my reality, it does not always automatically arise, nor should it, just because I think it is a good idea. It is important to note here that ideas that initially appear counter to our prevailing philosophy may have legitimate origins, and discovery and exploration of the mind and our individual experience of it should continue without fear and self-judgment as we attempt to discern the truths being communicated. If our prevailing philosophies are not subject to change, then we risk excess friction in all of our relationships, especially as we slip further and further away from the new, upgraded truth trying to be revealed.

My main coping mechanisms for dealing with America and my dark side are practicing spiritual healing principles and communicating with others who also share my interest in spirituality and recovery from the human condition. My path, and the paths of all others, take us to unique and valuable viewpoints, so it is of prime importance that we find our voice and share our knowledge. Through multitudes of these energy exchanges, we all may benefit from each others’ experiences and contribute to the formation of a more peaceful, healing collective consciousness in America.

It is important to understand the internal headlights that our minds use to search for knowledge and truth. The headlights tend to encourage self-fulfilling predictions/prophecies, so looking there will bring amazing insights and enhance the potential for healing experiences.  What information is or isn’t important? Which attitudes, insight, and knowledge lead to greater measures of wisdom, and, potentially, freedom from our inhibiting and restrictive knowns, especially in situations where our knowledge appears to conflict with the truth?

By staying in familiar painful ruts, the view at least does not change too much. And far too many people stuck in those ruts are not even aware that they are engaged in self-defeating attitudes and behaviors. Or, if they are aware, they have already given up hope that another life is available for them.

Mindfulness, insight, and meditation help to create a more stable foundation for thought, feeling, and action. Remaining socially connected through real-life interaction (versus predominantly through media devices) keeps the heart and mind refreshed and engaged holistically. Giving and receiving presence to each other has much more value than the mere information that might be exchanged. For us to continue to trust in technology solely for our heart connection is like only eating popcorn for our diet: satisfying in the short-term and deadly in the long run. We need to feed each other new ideas and words from the deep storehouses within each of our hearts. This is where intuition, empathy, compassion, and healing all arise. To continue to be fed only from the internet is to continue our connection with cultural hypnotism, which leads in its self-defeating directions.

Virtually all relationships and all interactions with others have a lesson built right into them. We confirm our present reality with the interactions, or we entertain new information that needs synthesizing within our present-day psychological sets to create a modified reality.  Teachers come in an almost infinite variety of forms. Spiritual healers and teachers are important to note here because they tend to attract the most vulnerable and receptive of all learners. I have met quite a few healers, ministers, teachers, and leaders for those on the spiritual path. Most have the best of intentions, and their hearts are in the right place and permeated with the desire to be of greater service to humanity and their spiritual evolution.

Speaking up and participating in human interactions are important.

• Why would I withhold myself, and my truth, from situations that should have demanded my participation?
• Why would I withhold my assessments of what is real and true and right in the face of this assault upon my sensibilities?
• Why would I devalue myself, and my truth, so much that I would carry the perception that I have nothing to say, or that nobody would ever listen to me?

It has taken me nearly sixty-eight years to become willing to speak my truth to the living human representatives of our collective consciousness.  I was never insightful enough to fully recognize that the world that I was adopting, and adapting to, as a child was an inaccurate representation of a more fundamental truth.  But like many other children, I rebelled at the fake news and pseudo-science that churned out of the religious mills and minds of Americans.  I took a very passive/aggressive approach to the spiritual lie that we as Americans are living.  The pain of the lies that I cultivated before any spiritual recovery necessitated that I medicate myself out of the pain of separation and loneliness.  I no longer punish myself by negating my self-worth, yet our culture continues to unconsciously spawn millions of suffering people who also question their value, which is the origin of insanity.  Our cultural spiritual dementia needed to be challenged, lest I lapse into deeper degrees of anxiousness, powerlessness, and unreality. Confronting a difficult reality takes more energy than most of us care to bring to the table, yet, not doing so diminishes our standing in Truth, Life, and Love, and that has been my experience

i had very poor training since birth in how to successfully navigate group energy, up to, and including, the whole of society that we all participate in. As a boy, when family discussions turned into arguments, many times I found myself either raising my voice against the angry voice of my father or retreating into submission and fear at the threat of being attacked for being contrary to the flow. And, I internalized that I was probably wrong anyway, and would be punished if I stepped out and asserted myself too much. I learned that I could undertake less obvious means of rebelling against authority, sometimes through indirect, or obvious, self, or other, destructive behavior.

Passive/aggressive tendencies have haunted me most of my entire life, and becoming “self-aware” has gone a long way to keep me from employing those unskilled coping mechanisms unconsciously, though I am still occasionally haunted by their presence. Having undertaken the inner work of insight, and maintaining mindfulness, and identifying those sources of suffering within myself, does not instantaneously remove all of the darkness within. But it also does not remove from me the responsibility to call out those who are the external agents of oppression and repression, no matter how much I might love them or want to protect them, or even to protect myself from the ramifications of asserting what is right, true, or proper in any situation.

Knowledge is power only if a man knows what facts not to bother with.

—Robert Staughton Lynd

We need better brains to manage the deluge of information we consume on the internet, on social media, and on our smartphones today — as well as the new technologies we’ll surely encounter tomorrow. We need to elevate the maturity of our collective consciousness to thrive in this new environment.

This calls for something big: a coordinated effort by major actors, from the White House and the National Institutes of Health to the United Nations and the power brokers at Davos. Indeed, addressing the cognition crisis should be positioned as a grand challenge, on par with other pressing global priorities, such as eradicating infectious diseases and disseminating clean water.

We have all been victimized by the cultural and familial conditioning of the information processing centers of the brain that cause certain streams of awareness to be represented by erroneous concepts, or attenuated or terminated prematurely by fear before any reasonable assessments can even be made. Our cultural “headlights” for looking into ourselves have had much of their light blocked by years of unacknowledged road debris accumulating on the lens. Yet, we first have to “see” that there is a blockage, as it will not be clear on its own. Our own internal “seeing” can ultimately liberate us from the erroneous views foisted upon our innocent hearts and souls by the well-meaning but oftentimes ignorant teachers of our pasts, and those who may not have yet cleared up their internal lenses of perception. But we each must look, acknowledge what appears to be there, share our perceptions with others, learn from each other, and thus create more accurate, updated knowledge.  Sometimes, just accepting the fact that we only truly know a little bit, compared to the whole of the knowledge available, will keep us humble enough to remain open to the vastness of the unknown.

The unknown is opening in our minds and hearts that God (or change to a higher power, or whatever represents love, beauty, and healing to you) speaks through so that we can find the truth and spirit of this new moment. Do not fear the unknown, as it can be so much more than we could ever anticipate or imagine.  Even after our most sincere and deepest prayers, there still must be an opening created within our minds where we can listen and watch, without fear or judgment, for the “answer”, which is always provided, and rarely understood. The unknown can be a long-neglected best friend even for the curious and the conscious.  An overactive mind runs over the quiet truth that is revealed in each moment, so take off those mental workout clothes, and take a breather!

We will never change “God’s mind”, or collective consciousness but we just might change our own, and, in that change, the real miracle of life can be revealed, and our lives healed and renewed.  The “One Mind Of God” and our collective human consciousness have little relationship to each other, though the conscious, healing traveler of new paths of consciousness can become a connecting link between the two.  Truth can only be experienced in each new moment, in the ever-unfolding unknown and unknowable moment that is now.   This unique new moment can only reveal itself to a mind no longer burdened by the past, and its version of knowledge..

Of course, once “new ideas” become integrated, they can be just as resistant to change as old, damaged, worn-out thoughts, and the new synthesis will require continuous further revision until some sort of all-encompassing uniting philosophy arises (or God-consciousness, for those who like to tie spirituality and religion together).

We have all been victimized by the cultural and familial conditioning of the information-processing centers of the brain. These cause certain streams of awareness to be represented by erroneous concepts or attenuated or terminated prematurely by fear before any reasonable assessments can even be made. Our cultural headlights for looking into ourselves have had much of their light blocked by years of unacknowledged road debris accumulating on the lens. Yet, we first have to see that there is a blockage, as it will not clear on its own. Our internal seeing can ultimately liberate us from the erroneous views foisted upon our innocent hearts and souls by the well-meaning but oftentimes ignorant teachers of our pasts, and those who may not have yet cleared up their internal lenses of perception. But we each must look, acknowledge what appears to be there, share our perceptions with others, learn from each other, and thus create more accurate, updated knowledge. Sometimes, just accepting the fact that we only truly know a little bit, compared to the whole of the knowledge available, will keep us humble enough to remain open to the vastness of the unknown.

The unknown is opening in our minds and hearts that the higher power speaks through so that we can find the truth and spirit of this new moment. Do not fear the unknown, as it can be so much more than we could ever anticipate or imagine. Even after our most sincere and deepest prayers, there still must be an opening created within our minds where we can listen and watch, without fear or judgment, for the answer. And the answer is always provided and rarely understood. The unknown can be a long-neglected best friend even for the curious and the conscious. An overactive mind runs over the quiet truth that is revealed in each moment, so take off those mental workout clothes, and take a breather!

Finding Truth

• Can truth and love be reduced to a series of binary decisions?
• Where does our reliance on technology connect with a “search for truth”?

Search engines now serve you up what they think you are looking for. They know who you are, and more importantly, what your online consumer preferences are. They know how you are looking for things, as well as how you search for news, companies, products, etc. Plus, they know the zip code and the local geography where each user is located. Search engines are getting better and smarter at knowing YOU, as well as what’s new, and old, in your micro-locale every day. A quick type into Google, and you are being fed more information, and the foundation for yet another illusion, with just another photograph of or written interpretation of a past that never was true.  Do you think for one moment that truth, or love, can be reduced to a string of “1’s” and “0’s” (machine code for programming of computer hardware) or ASCII characters?

The result of “I Love You” in hexadecimal notation based on ASCII code is

49204C6F766520596F75.

In binary notation, it is a string of 80 0’s and 1’s, or

0100100100100100110101101111011101100110010100100000010110010110111101110101

These characters give you a really warm, fuzzy feeling, don’t they?

Many types of knowledge breed division and separation between human beings. It is easy to tell the difference between the ministers, politicians, teachers, teachings, and knowledge just by feeling within our inner chambers of consciousness how their message impacts our hearts. Eventually, the presenters of knowledge and the highest learned “truths” of the day will be ignored, if they are not able to break through the psychic/spiritual barrier between the mind and the heart, while still presenting, or preaching, to others their message. Did they just bring more information, which we tend to daily saturate our awareness with anyway (Google it!), or did they bring the intellect coupled with the heart awareness, where we can experience the promised fruits of deeper connections with all of creation, and, perhaps, experience an increased measure of peace of mind and more love brought into our world?

The control of information is something the elite always does, particularly in a despotic form of government. Information, knowledge, are power. If you can control information, you can control people.

—Tom Clancy

Truth can only be experienced in each new moment, in the ever-unfolding unknown and unknowable moment that is now. This unique new moment can only reveal itself to a mind no longer burdened by the past and its version of knowledge. Where does our reliance on technology connect with a search for truth? Search engines now serve you what they think you are looking for. A quick type into Google, and you are being fed an illusion and/or probably just another Capitalist and/or Christian theory. If the truth that we find on Google brings pleasure to us, remember that it is somebody else’s truth and not necessarily our own.

So, just what is Truth, anyway? Truth is the antidote for all inaccurate, secondhand, toxic, and limiting theories. Truth is not just for the saints and sages. Yet, very few people have any interest in it because they believe they are already covered by their religion and that only their savior has the truth or is the truth. Some believe that they already understand it, or, for others, that there is no such thing as truth. Sadly there is also a category of human beings who are so absorbed with their material world existence that the search for truth never even begins. For these people, it does not sound very interesting or entertaining.

Truth is extremely difficult to conceptualize because the truth is elusive. It exists above and beyond all of the words used to chase it with descriptions. Truth is oftentimes best described through poetry and music, where more of the brain becomes engaged in the energy attempting to be shared. Our words still serve a valuable function. But they will forever remain only pointers or place-holders for the energy that must be personally experienced, or it will never become psychologically real to the witness.

There is only a God when there is no longer a “me” questioning what is, while still trying to justify my own opinions or ignorance. In that silence, infinity finds its expression, and the observer is consciously noted to be observed.

Pythagoras is credited with saying, “Know thyself, and thou will know God, and the Universe.” And Aristotle said, “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” These two quotes set the stage for the eternal tension between what is truth and what is falsehood, and the spiritual requirement not to create and worship idols, physical or verbal. They also point to the supporting conditions behind one’s potential for spiritual evolution and final ascendancy out of false knowledge and the suffering that results from entertaining such thoughts.

What if your life is fulfilling the prophecies of your religion and culture, rather than that of your true self? Find the self, and the life that has a great future, and then discard the one that will die with our rotting civilization. Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Whose prophecy are you now willing to fulfill?

In a world filled with endless information and constant decision-making, the power of facts, knowledge, intuition, whimsical thinking, and wisdom shines through as guiding forces in our lives. In this chapter, we have explored these pillars and how they shape our understanding, decision-making, and creative endeavors.

In an era where information is readily accessible, being well-informed is crucial. Knowledge based on facts empowers individuals, allowing us to navigate the complexities of life with clarity and confidence. It forms the foundation upon which we build our beliefs, opinions, and decisions.

Facts and knowledge serve as a compass, steering us away from ignorance and guiding us toward truth. It enables us to separate facts from fiction, fostering a deeper understanding of the world around us. By embracing knowledge, we empower ourselves to make well-informed decisions that impact our lives and society as a whole.

While knowledge provides a solid foundation, intuition plays a vital role in decision-making. Intuition is the silent whisper that nudges us towards a particular path, even when rationality may suggest otherwise. It draws upon our experiences, emotions, and unconscious wisdom, helping us make choices that align with our deepest desires while keeping us in alignment with personal integrity.

Final Thoughts

At first glance, knowledge and wisdom may appear synonymous, but their distinctions are profound. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts, information, and experiences, while wisdom is the application of knowledge in a thoughtful and discerning manner. We delve deeper into their nuances, unraveling the intricacies that set them apart.

Intuition, often dismissed or overlooked, holds a vital position in our pursuit of understanding. It acts as a guiding force, operating alongside knowledge and wisdom. We explore the significance of intuition in decision-making, its ability to complement our rational thinking, and the valuable insights it provides.

Facts form the building blocks of truth. They provide us with tangible evidence and support our understanding of the world. We delve into the relationship between facts and truth, highlighting how facts contribute to the formation of truth and the importance of critically evaluating the information we encounter.

Intelligence and whim, seemingly disparate concepts, play integral roles in our perception and actions. Intelligence allows us to analyze and comprehend, while whim adds an element of spontaneity and creative thinking. We explore how these facets of the human experience shape our understanding, decision-making, and approach to life.

As we navigate the intricate web of knowledge, wisdom, truth, intuition, intelligence, and whim, it’s crucial to reflect on our understanding. How do these concepts resonate with us? How can we cultivate a deeper appreciation for their nuances? By embracing the pursuit of knowledge, wisdom, and truth, we embark on a lifelong journey of growth and understanding.

In our ceaseless pursuit of understanding, we must recognize the intricate interplay between knowledge, wisdom, truth, intuition, intelligence, and whim. Each holds a distinct place in our lives, contributing to our perceptions and actions. As we reflect on these concepts, let us strive to expand our intellectual horizons, embracing the pursuit of knowledge, wisdom, and truth with open hearts and inquisitive minds. Together, we embark on a journey of discovery and enlightenment.

Pre-Melinda Copp edit material below)

Chapter 9:   Intelligence:  Knowledge, Facts, Insight, The Whim, and Wisdom

• What is knowledge?
• What is a fact?
• What is an illusion?
• What is truth?
• What is a lie?
• What is a whim?
• What is insight?
• What is intuition?
• What is wisdom?

I have been pointing to potential answers to these questions throughout the book, with this chapter serving only as a supplement to our understanding.  Forming questions and finding their best answers has challenged mankind for thousands of years, and there are tens of thousands of philosophical, scientific, and religious books already written on all of these topics. I am considered a lay person, with no extended training in philosophy, religion, psychology, history, or academia in general, yet I have the same curiosity and spirit of inquiry as the most devoted experts within these fields. I will attempt to provide the smallest framework possible for this exploration, so that the reader and myself can share in an abbreviated, but sincere,  walk on new pathways together.

This book is an attempt to get at the root of our shared existence.  Are we merely verbal creations, or do we exist in other realms or dimensions, and where might they be found and experienced?  Those that keep asking the important questions of life may eventually find satisfying answers, though there are no guarantees for success.  Those who do not ask those important questions are guaranteed zero success, however.

What is knowledge, and how do we know what we know?

Philosophers, scientists, religious thinkers, and beer drinkers throughout the ages have contemplated this most important question, for it has ramifications for our sense of self, its reality and formation, and our actual  place in the Universe.

Rene Descartes was well known, not only for his volumes of scientific and mathematical writings and teachings, but also for his famous one liner:

I think, therefore I am.

Starting with Descartes, the self was considered to be a thinking thing that is not extended, and the object of the self’s observation is an extended thing which does not think.   Duality is affirmed here, as the thinker, who is a dynamic being, traps the observed in a thought, which is a static enclosure, or perception. Those five words-I think therefore I am, certainly can get confusing, especially when the object is another thinking human being, whether they really are thoughtless, or not!   Things can get really, really interesting, and complicated, when the object of observation is the actual self doing the observation!!!

Many modern thinkers consider Rene’s dualism through his cause and effect statement as not fully embracing the nature of consciousness and our being, the wholeness of our being, and of our reality, and our relationship to its formation and experience.  Descartes may have have put

“de-cart before de-horse”.

In a previous chapter we considered the probability that the knowledge of self first begins with the insight that the word represents an object of sensorial awareness.  As many modern day philosophers note:

Within a conscious mind, the subject and the object arise simultaneously.  The thinker and the thought arise as one.  Duality is merely an illusion of thought.

Helen Keller first recognized herself as an independent being upon realizing that W A T E R represented the substance that she both drank and washed with.  So too it is that we can properly assume that our sense of self, and each subsequent iteration of it, or evolutionary progression of it, arises from each statement of “new knowing” that arises within our own consciousness.  Thus, it remains imperative that we understand this process of the creation of “knowledge” and the accumulation of “knowledge” through our training, education, and life experience, for this is the process by which we create our self, and build upon it.

Remember, we began this journey several chapters back with the mythological story of the Garden of Eden, as well as Theseus, the Minotaur, and the labyrinth.  If our intention is to return to the Garden of Eden, what is the state of consciousness that we aspire to return to?  If we wish to return to a pre-verbal state, we are sure to be disappointed, for many pre-verbal states are characterized by unresolved trauma, which means that the labyrinth, and the Minotaur, have yet to be dealt with.  Much of our knowledge serves to obfuscate and distract us from this most important issue, so we must continue our exploration of the mind, its knowledge, and the labyrinth of illusion that it creates which hides us from the blocks to our return to our original nature.

We must have a sense of our being before knowledge, and the further pursuit of it, makes any sense at all.  The first word that we learn, be it mama, dada, poopoo, oh FUCK, or whatever it is, becomes the internal ignition switch that gets turned on, and then the accumulation of knowledge of the “outer world” begins!  What we, as a human race, presently accept as knowledge  can be defined in many ways. It can be our capacity for embracing logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning from both personal experience and through the transfer of shared knowledge, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, insight, critical thinking, and problem solving all point to the manifestation of intelligence. Thus, when all aspects of our intelligence are successfully accessed, we can become wiser people.

We have many tools to access in our quest for knowledge and its successful application and the most reasonable ways to apply that knowledge for wise, constructive action in the world. Our knowledge is based upon familiarity, awareness, or understanding of someone or something, such as facts, information, descriptions, or skills, which is acquired through experience or education by perceiving, discovering, or learning knowledge. Knowledge can also refer to a theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.

Intuition is a category of perception that I include under the heading “uncommon knowledge”.  It is is a perceptual attribute that gives us the ability to know something directly without analytic reasoning, bridging the gap between the conscious and unconscious parts of our mind, and also between instinct and reason.

A whim is within the category of perception that I have included under the heading “unconscious knowledge.  It is an act of will drowning in capriciousness and/or eccentricity. It appears as a sudden idea or turn of the mind, and its action is mutually exclusive of the actions of wisdom, knowledge, and intuition..

I first came into a conscious collision with the “whim versus wisdom” dynamic while I was in the sixth grade. The principal of our grade school wanted a representative from each class, from both the fifth and the sixth grades, to attend a parent-teacher conference in the auditorium on a week night. It was to be considered an honor to be selected, according to our teachers, and the students were advised to select from among themselves who would be the best representative.

As a community of grade schoolers, we had a difficult time establishing the process for how to select the representative, let alone who it should be. The teacher helped by instituting two male “overseers”, one from the fifth and one from the sixth grade, who were to facilitate the determination process by asking for volunteers, or asking for specific students of their own choosing, and discussing their qualifications between the two selected leaders. The boys expressed frustration with the process, and even though our teachers offered up two good candidates from each class, ON A WHIM as promoted by one of the sixth grade boys, a quiet, shy girl was selected for the sixth grade class. She had been the recipient, in the past, of some teasing and bullying by me and others, and I could immediately see that this process had the potential to victimize her.

I offered my own protest with a form of passive/aggressive humor, but the decision had been made. The more others protested, the more the two loudest supporters of the girl became. The two boys dreamed up several good reasons after the fact for their “decision” to overrule the majority. I was to later learn that the primary reason that Jeff encouraged the selection of Janice was so that he could continue to harass her. What was to be an opportunity to honor and acknowledge our classes through selecting our most qualified representatives turned into another opportunity for infantile misogynistic persecution and teasing.

This selection process dramatically impacted me, and has influenced my understanding of group dynamics ever since.

Do we, as a collective, select candidates for political office on a whim, or do we use knowledge, intuition and wisdom?

You already know your own personal answer to this question.

Many of us, relying upon the opinions of others, have made many decisions to not be wise, but to instead follow the opinions of others, who may be engaging in whimsical or non-critical thinking of their own.

We must learn to trust ourselves and our ability to apply our experience and knowledge, and with a little bit of our developed insight. Our intuition must be developed as a complement to our own wisdom. Typically, our learned wisdom that does not conform to what our latest “intuitive hit” suggests must be scrutinized further, and an intelligent balance struck between those two poles. Intuition and wisdom are not mutually exclusive, and, in fact, complement each other.

We may be wrong about many issues, but at least we are accessing our intelligence, and learning from our errors. Following blind people into the ditch does not do our basic nature justice, so beware of the temptation to try to adapt to other’s expectations, at the expense of developing our own unique intelligence. Wisdom that is universal in nature is like the scent of a flower that we just cannot pull ourselves away from, nor should we.

Wisdom is spawned from experience, and is best embraced and expressed through our story telling, and our intelligent actions in the world. Sound bites just do not carry enough of wisdom’s energy. We must be careful not to integrate meme’s and sound bites into a quilt of understanding, because the stitching will come unraveled, and we will be left appearing and acting like less than the wise people that we can be.

Whimsical thinking is respected because of its lack of adherence to established patterns, which can be attractive to creative people, non-conformists, and insane individuals, so there is a spectrum of benefit to be gained by accessing it. But whimsical thinking must be set aside for those times when intelligent action is required. Be wise, watch out for whimsical thinking, and make those difficult, challenging decisions that are beneficial for our life, and for our world’s life, too..

Knowledge

“One is never afraid of the unknown; one is afraid of the known coming to an end.”
― Krishnamurti

Our present day national consciousness continues to be heavily influenced by old history and skewed knowledge, racism, white male supremacy, Christian fundamentalist inspired judgements, hatreds and ideologies, patriarchy, misogyny, and xenophobia. I was born and raised under these cultural conditions, and I have been strongly impacted by the human energy that is spawned from these lower levels of understanding.  I also come from the class of white male Americans who are now considered to be the most susceptible to anxiety, despair, loneliness, suicide, alcoholism and/or drug dependency, and depression, though the race and sex that I belong to, and the country that I consider to be my home, do not have the monopoly on all such spiritual disease.

My main coping mechanisms for dealing with America’s and my own dark side are practicing spiritual healing principles, and writing about and verbally communicating with others who also share my interest in spirituality and recovery from the human condition.   My path,  and the paths of all others, have taken all of us to unique and valuable viewpoints, so it is of prime importance that we find our voice and share our knowledge with each other.  Through multitudes of these energy exchanges, we all may benefit from each others’ experiences, and contribute to the formation of a more peaceful, healing collective consciousness in America. There is a huge spiritually awakening element that has already risen out of their own ignorance, and continues to capture the imagination and attention of many oppressed and repressed Americans.

It is important to understand the internal headlights that our minds use to search for knowledge, and truth. The “headlights” tend to encourage self-fulfilling predictions/prophecies, so for us to look at that which “looks” will bring amazing insights and enhance the potential for healing experiences.  What information really is, or isn’t important?  Which attitudes, insight, and knowledge leads to greater measures of wisdom, and, potentially, freedom from our inhibiting and restrictive knowns, especially in the situations where our knowledge appears to be in conflict with the truth?   As a long-term practitioner of mindfulness, mysticism, and personal inventory, as well as an unintentional expert in recovery, toxic masculinity, toxic religion, and toxic capitalism, I have a lot of insight into why the world spins the awkward way it now does.  All of my present writings tend to revolve around my knowledge about those subjects. Yet, my personal knowledge has little value or relevance to others, especially if I die before I share it.

Most of the male peer groups from my childhood and early adulthood were populated by individuals who were both coarse in interpretation and superficial in presentation of their lives, and they could have cared less about what I am now writing about or saying.   Many of my peers, and friends from those days have already died relatively young, or continue to practice unhealthy attitudes and dependencies into their later years, as a direct result of their unwillingness or inability to delve deeper into the painful issues, concerns, and mysteries of their lives.  Their own personal knowledge of the world can not actualize their healing potentials and bring a deeper sense of purpose and meaning to their lives, yet there is the fear of the unknown, which inhibits the revelation of truth in one’s life.  By staying in familiar painful ruts, the view at least does not change too much.  And far too many people stuck in those ruts are not even aware that they are engaged in self-defeating attitudes and behaviors, or, if they are aware, have already given up hope that there is another life available for them.  Yet, staying in the familiar hell remains the unconscious choice that most suffering people make, all the way up to their deaths, imprisonment, or insanity..

The conscious being has infinite capacity to witness life and then create knowledge, where necessary, around those interactions.  It only takes one time getting bitten by a snake and suffering mightily under the influence of its poison to create and share the knowledge that it is vitally important to avoid physical contact with serpents while doing outdoor chores or walking in the desert.  The unconscious being also has the same infinite witnessing capacity, yet their choices for how they see themselves and their lives can be so self-limiting as to make them prisoners in their own homes.  In the snakebite situation, a more unconscious person would use the knowledge of the potential damage from a snakebite to create fear-based stories that would keep the person behind closed doors, avoiding the outdoors altogether, or even obtaining and carrying a loaded firearm, just in case they need to protect themselves.  On the other hand, the curious and conscious ones might just walk around the snake, and study it, and learn the lessons, without fear, that the snake has to offer..

Yet each category of awareness, be it conscious or unconscious, must arise from the same pool of potentiality, where the mystery of collective consciousness and the entrainment of all individual minds to that group mind, creates and maintains the appearance of whatever order and reality that each individual both anticipates and actually experiences.  However, even the relatively more conscious ones of the world will still be challenged to find what the real truth is behind each new situation that presents itself to awareness.

It has been said in certain contest guidelines:

“You must be present to win”.

This is also true as far as knowledge goes.  Being a witness to an actual event gives whatever story one creates and shares credibility, at least up to the point that the story teller can be trusted, and has been accurate and honest in the past.  If a personal memory is not available to convey a teaching or a message, listening to the stories of other first-hand witnesses can be beneficial.  A great example is that of the knowledge that fathers pass on to their sons around issues of family philosophy/religion, self-esteem, growing up into manhood and accepting personal responsibility, sexuality, learning to ride a bike or drive a car, and future community involvement. The less experiential the teaching, the less the staying power of the message, so it is important to keep the listener engaged with all of their senses, if possible.

The printing press opened civilization up to much more advanced opportunities for education and information transfer and sharing.  The internet has opened humanity up to potential for the real time witnessing and sharing of other people’s adventures and learning experiences, almost without limits.  Watching a multi-media presentation will carry more potential meaning and  information to the higher intelligence centers of the brain than just a meme or soundbite, which arouses the more basic areas of the brain where fear is most prone to rule.   There is never a shortage of information, but there is always a question about the accuracy of the information, and how it is to be presented.

Several decades ago, Saudi Oil Minister Sheikh Yamani gained recognition for his insight into global development:

“The Stone Age did not end for lack of stone, and the Oil Age will end long before the world runs out of oil.”

Today, we live in what many call the Information Age, and we are in absolutely no danger of running out of information, particularly in data form. There is a general perception that we are overwhelmed with data, making the ability to store, process, analyze, interpret, consume, and act upon that data a primary concern.  There are, potentially, infinite streams of information available, yet most information may have little or no use to our discerning, conscious minds..  There is so much more to reality than what just greets the eye, and appears on the screens of our cellphones and/or computer monitors, however.  Scientists, mathematicians, theologians, artists, philosophers, enlightened politicians, and Google algorithm writers, continue to struggle towards some unknown destination that our collective search for truth continues to guide us towards as a human race.  The exponential increase in available information does little to settle what the “truth” might be, let alone which direction that its search may best be started from.

Information can help us to know why we are ill and which illnesses we have, exactly. But wisdom is to know how to heal them.

—Dr. Alberto Villoldo

We need only watch the evening news, or read any newspaper or magazine, to recognize that we are no closer now to a consensus reality than we were before, even with the advent of the internet.  Religious and philosophical divisiveness, ego aggrandizement, wealth accumulation, and personal and corporate power are still being celebrated and supported as ideals to pursue by our cultural power brokers, and these principles lead to further propagation of lies, misstatements, half-truths, and illusions, as well as accelerating the destruction of our sacred planet.  All people who follow these ignoble paths have no true knowledge of their fundamental selves, nor would they possess this knowledge about the other people in their worlds, thus they have limited access to the truth, and their styles of communication reveal that ignorance.

Can truth and love be reduced to a series of binary decisions?  Where does our reliance on technology connect with a “search for truth”?  Search engines now serve you up what they think you are looking for. They know who you are, and more importantly, what your online consumer preferences are. They know how you are looking for things, as well as how you search for news, companies, products, etc. Plus, they know the zip code and the local geography where each user is located. Search engines are getting better and smarter at knowing YOU, as well as what’s new, and old, in your micro-locale every day. A quick type into Google, and you are being fed more information, and the foundation for  yet another illusion, with just another photograph of or written interpretation of a past that never was true.  Do you think for one moment that truth, or love, can be reduced to a string of “1’s” and “0’s” (machine code for programming of computer hardware) or ascii characters.

The result of “I Love You” in hexadecimal notation based on ASCII code is

49204C6F766520596F75.

In binary notation, it is a string of 80 0’s and 1’s, or

0100100100100100110101101111011101100110010100100000010110010110111101110101

These characters give you a real warm, fuzzy feeling, don’t they?

Many types of knowledge actually breed division and separation between human beings. It is easy to tell the difference between the ministers, politicians, teachers, teachings, and knowledge just by feeling within our own inner chambers of consciousness how their message impacts our hearts. Eventually the presenters of knowledge and the highest learned “truths” of the day will be ignored, if they are not able to break through the psychic/spiritual barrier between the mind and the heart, while still presenting, or preaching, to others their message. Did they just bring more information, which we tend to daily saturate our awareness with anyway (Google it!), or did they bring the intellect coupled with the heart awareness, where we can experience the promised fruits of deeper connections with all of creation, and, perhaps, experience an increased measure of peace of mind and more love brought into our world?

The control of information is something the elite always does, particularly in a despotic form of government. Information, knowledge, is power. If you can control information, you can control people.

—Tom Clancy

Understanding what we now consider to be sources for knowledge is all important, as well. With the idea of FAKE NEWS being so casually tossed about these days, it is important to keep in mind that FAKE NEWS has always been with us. It can be traced all of the way back to the days when we first starting naming objects, and attaching emotional linkages to our observations. Everybody sees things somewhat differently, though similarities outweigh differences by super-substantial amounts. But the human mind tends to focus on the differences, and, thus, temporarily accentuate those divisions while examining the objects of its reality, reassembling the new information into its own unique information matrix known as our personalities.

To the more technically inclined, it takes more than cleaning cookies or turning off personalized searches in Google’s browser, Chrome, to get to the “truth.” Keep in mind that most of the search algorithms are Capitalist Oriented Male Biased (COMB) computer coding exercises that sort and order the “objects of reality” based on that slanted mind-set.  The locations that a person visits and lives in reveal a great deal about them, especially if it is linked to a GPS position calculated by using one’s own phone position.  By shaping the menus and the choices that we pick from, and by observing the collective internet purchases and behaviors of our geographic peers, technology then attempts to hijack the way we perceive our choices and replaces them with new ones that the ad purchasing merchants may be promoting. But the closer we pay attention to the options we’re given, the more we’ll notice when they don’t actually align with our true needs. Their surreptitious collection and use in ad targeting can pave way to ads that are harmful, target people when they are vulnerable, or enable harassment and discrimination.  The issue of privacy can become particularly acute when there’s the presumption or wish for confidentiality – say, during a therapist visit or at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

I see COMB-overs as having run their course, with the  need to be balanced with a more feminine, humane perspective.  If we all want that biased mindset, then we will continue to trust and rely upon Google, and most other search engines, for the ordering of our reality. It should be more than a little concerning to know that many of the same values that our former President Trump touts as his own are built right into these algorithmic formulas.

Within myself, it is quite enlightening to note that when I attempt to interpret situations solely in terms of a potentially divisive philosophy/understanding, I usually now rebel out of my newer/refreshed understanding of life, and continue on and listen more deeply for the real truth of the moment, (AND NOT THE POTENTIALLY WORN OUT TRUTH OF YESTERDAY). All of those divisive philosophies that pit “me versus you” or “us versus them” will bring fewer positive results than the uniting philosophies that bring people together in the spirit of cooperation and caring. Yet it almost seems like the divisive ideas are for many, and for me, by instinct, first in line for consideration, so it is important to not act out of impulse. Yes, it is being mindful to wait out that first racing train of sometimes fearful, angry or hurtful thought, and just watch it as it passes through the screen of awareness, and wait for another peaceful train of loving thought that may lie underneath all of the other noise.

The goal might be to make love the leading, or first, thought considered, but in my reality, it does not always automatically arise, nor should it, just because I think that it is a good idea. It is important to note here that ideas that initially appear to be counter to our prevailing philosophy may have legitimate origins, and discovery and exploration of the mind and our individual experience of it should continue without fear and self-judgement, as we attempt to discern the truths being communicated. If our prevailing philosophies are not subject to change, then we risk excess friction in all of our relationships, especially as we slip further and further away from the new, upgraded truth trying to be revealed.

Mindfulness, insight, and meditation help to create a more stable foundation for thought, feeling, and action. Remaining socially connected through real life interaction, vs predominantly through media devices, keeps the heart and mind refreshed and engaged holistically. Giving and receiving “presence” to each other has much more value than the mere information that might be exchanged. For us to continue to trust in technology solely for our heart connection is like only eating popcorn for our diet; Satisfying in the short-term, and deadly in the long run.  We need to feed each other new ideas and words from the deep storehouses within  each of our hearts, where intuition, empathy, compassion, and healing all arise from.  To continue to be fed only from the internet, is to continue our connection with cultural hypnotism, which leads in its own self-defeating directions.

There is so much more to reality than what just greets the eye, and scientists, mathematicians, theologians, artists, philosophers, enlightened politicians, and Google algorithm writers, continue to struggle towards some unknown destination that our collective search for truth continues to guide us towards as a human race. We need only watch the evening news, or read any newspaper or magazine, to recognize that we are no closer now to a consensus reality than we were before, even with the advent of the internet, with religious and philosophical divisiveness, ego aggrandizement, wealth accumulation, and personal and corporate power still being celebrated and supported as ideals to pursue by the cultural power brokers.

Love’s Reunion (excerpt)

I stumbled over the frozen wilderness for oh, so long!

With a hole in my heart that life could just not fill

Until I stopped to rest, and heard a gentle voice singing a long forgotten song

That promised of my release from this winter world of painful chill

Her lyrics spoke of the return of Life to freedom

And the release of shivering minds from darkness’ frozen, fearful hands

She drew me closer without any further verbal tethers

And prepared me for the walk back to Love’s now awakening lands

Her warming presence melted the icy hardness that I used to know

Inspiring within me the courage, to myself and my world, to say

That, to all of my past memories’ barren trees of lifeless knowledge, I now refuse to go

I will now accept only the lessons learned along Love’s Infinite Way

 

Our answers to some of life’s greatest questions are never to be considered sacred, or unchangeable, in and of themselves.  What is sacred is the “don’t know” space that we all can enter into, if we can suspend our need to be always right.  We don’t need a lot of new answers, we need a lot more good questions, which can direct our inquiries in new directions, and, thus, create new paths of consciousness and awareness.

Virtually all relationships and all interactions with others have a teaching built right into them.  We confirm our present reality with the interactions, or we entertain new information that needs synthesizing within our present day psychological sets to create a modified reality.  Teachers come in an almost infinite variety of forms, but I will now  mention spiritual healers and teachers, for they tend to attract the most vulnerable and receptive of all learners.  I have met quite a few healers, ministers, teachers, and the leaders for those on “the spiritual path”.  Most have the best of intentions, and their heart is in the right place, and permeated with the desire to be of greater service to humanity, and to their own spiritual evolution.

Some are quite the planners, are amazingly studious, and read everything  available to support their knowledge, or need for knowledge, in areas revolving around the main concerns in life, or in their teaching arenas. Some develop quite the rigid understanding of the facts, and, in fact, the “facts” became almost idols, of which became trusted, almost at the exclusion of any other teaching, or learning, that those around might try to impart, either unintentionally, or through a need to help to see more clearly. Some show  little or no sense of humor, and are devoid of all capacity to embrace the “unknown” or the present moment, as it tries to present itself every moment of our existence.

I have met one or two information “control freaks”, and their quest for knowledge had the unconscious intention to keep them in control, and to establish themselves as a teacher, so as to keep their own fears of insufficiency and inadequacy at bay in group settings. They might tend to dominate group discussions with them taking the lead role, where they would unconsciously parade themselves, and all of their self-knowledge, in front of their adoring masses, or, at least they had hoped that they were adoring.  Some want so much to be like their mentors, who they may have patterned themselves after.

Their self-righteousness is continuously displayed, as they travel from one topic to another, always showing to the world how perfect their relationship was to any issue revolving around love, healing, medical issues, social responsibility, or ecological awareness. Perfectionism and unintentional self-worship were characteristics that define them, and are traits that are immediately recognizable by me and others, who were not also participating in the parade of self.

They can be the type of person, had the Christ been before them and teaching from the Truth, they would have grabbed their phone, and Googled information to prove that their own head knowledge trumped what was being presented in the moment by Truth itself. Some of our leaders have, in a term that I coined, “spiritual dementia”. They tend to think that every moment needed to be covered by their (mis)understanding of the facts.  They may not request or appreciate feedback, and many listeners, rather than confronting the teachers about their quirks, and  their need to always be right, go along.with the show, and acquiesce to the needs of the teachers.

I sat through literally, hundreds of groups, with many types of teachers and leaders over the years.  If the speaker, teacher, or leader does not capture the energy of the moment, the listeners will become fatigued, and lose interest.  There is also a temptation to just sit back, and offer up an occasional barbed remark (typical passive/aggressive communication style for me), without adding much to the flow of the group energy.   I did not come into this world just to “bow down before excellence”, in whatever form it might appear in, though that is the implied need expressed through many teachers’ outward behavior.  Without an interactive approach, the teacher or teaching will have a more difficult time keeping the listener engaged.

Why would I withhold myself, and my truth, from situations that should have demanded my participation in it? Why would I withhold my own assessments of what is real, and true, and right, in the face of this assault upon my own sensibilities? Why would I devalue myself, and my own truth, so much that I would carry the perception that “I have nothing to say”, or that “nobody would ever listen to me because I do not have a college degree, or I am not a therapist or respected spiritual advisor”? Why do I sometimes unconsciously believe that nobody would ever listen to what I have to say, anyway?

It has taken me nearly sixty years to become willing to speak my truth to the living human representatives of our collective consciousness.  I was never insightful enough to fully recognize that the world that I was adopting, and adapting to, as a child was an inaccurate representation of a more fundamental truth.  But like many other children, I rebelled at the fake news and pseudo-science that churned out of the religious mills and minds of Americans.  I took a very passive/aggressive approach to the spiritual lie that we as Americans are living.  The pain of the lies that I cultivated prior to any spiritual recovery necessitated that I medicate myself out of the pain of separation and loneliness.  I no longer punish myself by negating my own self worth, yet our culture continues to unconsciously spawn millions of suffering people who also question their own value, which is the origin of insanity.  Our cultural spiritual dementia needed to be challenged, lest I lapse into deeper degrees of anxiousness, powerlessness, and unreality. Confronting a difficult reality takes more energy than most of us care to bring to the table, yet, not doing so diminishes our own standing in Truth, Life, and Love, and that has been my experience

i had very poor training since birth in how to successfully navigate group energy, up to, and including, the whole of society that we all participate in. As a boy, when family discussions turned into arguments, many times I found myself either raising my voice against the angry voice of my father, or retreating into submission and fear at the threat of being attacked for being contrary to the flow. And, I internalized that I was probably wrong anyway, and would be punished if I stepped out and asserted myself too much. I learned that I could undertake less obvious means of rebelling against authority, sometimes through indirect, or obvious, self, or other, destructive behavior.

Passive/aggressive tendencies have haunted me most of my entire life, and becoming “self-aware” has gone a long way to keep me from employing those unskilled coping mechanisms unconsciously, though I am still occasionally haunted by their presence. Having undertaken the inner work of insight, and maintaining mindfulness, and identified those sources of suffering within myself, does not instantaneously remove all of the darkness within. But is also does not remove from me the responsibility to call out those who are the external agents of oppression and repression, no matter how much I might love them or want to protect them, or even to protect myself from the ramifications of asserting what is right, true, or proper in any situation.

Knowledge is power only if man knows what facts not to bother with.

—Robert Staughton Lynd

We need better brains to manage the deluge of information we consume on the internet, on social media, on our smartphones today — as well as the new technologies we’ll surely encounter tomorrow. We need to elevate the maturity of our collective consciousness in order to thrive in this new environment.

This calls for something big: coordinated effort by major actors, from the White House and the National Institutes of Health to the United Nations and the power brokers at Davos. Indeed, addressing the cognition crisis should be positioned as a grand challenge, on par with other pressing global priorities, such as eradicating infectious diseases and disseminating clean water.

We have all been victimized by the cultural and familial conditioning of the information processing centers of the brain that cause certain streams of awareness to be represented by erroneous concepts, or attenuated or terminated prematurely by fear before any reasonable assessments can even be made. Our cultural “headlights” for looking into ourselves have had much of their light blocked by years of unacknowledged road debris accumulating on the lens. Yet, we first have to “see” that there is a blockage, as it will not clear on its own. Our own internal “seeing” can ultimately liberate us from the erroneous views foisted upon our innocent hearts and souls by the well meaning but often times ignorant teachers of our pasts, and those who may not have yet cleared up their own internal lenses of perception. But we each must look, acknowledge what appears to be there, share our perceptions with others, learn from each other, and thus create more accurate, updated knowledge.  Sometimes, just accepting the fact that we only truly know a little bit, compared to the whole of knowledge available, will keep us humble enough to remain open to the vastness of the unknown.

The unknown is the opening in our mind and heart that God (or change to higher power, or whatever represents love, beauty, and healing to you) speaks through, so that we can find the truth and spirit of this new moment. Do not fear the unknown, as it can be so much more than we could ever anticipate or imagine.  Even after our most sincere and deepest prayers, there still must be an opening created within our minds where we can listen and watch, without fear or judgement, for the “answer”, which is always provided, and rarely understood. The unknown can be a long neglected best friend even for the curious and the conscious.  An overactive mind runs over the quiet truth that is revealed in each moment, so take off those mental workout clothes, and take a breather!

We will never change “God’s mind”, or collective consciousness but we just might change our own, and, in that change, the real miracle of life can be revealed, and our lives healed and renewed.  The “One Mind Of God” and our collective human consciousness have little relationship to each other, though the conscious, healing traveler of new paths of consciousness can become a connecting link between the two.  Truth can only be experienced in each new moment, in the ever-unfolding unknown and unknowable moment that is now.   This unique new moment can only reveal itself to a mind no longer burdened by the past, and its version of knowledge..

Of course, once “new ideas” become integrated, they can be just as resistant to change as old, damaged, worn out thoughts, and the new synthesis will require continuous further revision until some sort of all-encompassing uniting philosophy arises (or God-consciousness, for those who like to tie spirituality and religion together).

Truth?

Where does our reliance on technology connect with a search for truth? Like I previously mentioned, search engines now serve you up what they think you are looking for.  A quick type into Google, and you are being fed an illusion, and/or probably just another Capitalist and/or Christian theory.. If the truth that we find on Google brings pleasure to us, remember, it is somebody else’s truth, and not necessarily our own.

Is truth to be relegated to our history, or to some distant past?  Is truth somehow trapped in ancient scriptures, or in the ghosts of long deceased prophets? When Jesus supposedly stated “I am the way, the truth, and the life”, was his message misconstrued? In truth, is what we share with Jesus, or any other sentient being,  the “I am”, that I am, and not all of the volumes of  historical nonsense?  When Moses stated “I am that I am”, was he making the same statement that each of us could be or should be making?

What if I were to tell you that everything that you think you know about yourself is only a theory, and potentially an unproven one, at that? What if I were to tell you that everything that you think you know about your significant other, your children, your parents, and even your best friends are only theories, and potentially unproven ones at that? What if I were to tell you that everything that you think you know about your planet, including the plants, animals, insects, oceans, rivers, and the rocks and dirt, are only theories, and potentially unproven ones, at that? What if I were to tell you that everything that you think you know, or believe, about God, the Bible, Christianity, or other religions are only theories, and potentially unproven ones at that?

Truth is the antidote for all inaccurate, second-hand, toxic and limiting theories.  Truth is not just for the saints and sages. Yet, very few people have any interest in it, because of the belief that they are already covered by their “religion”, or that only their “savior” has the truth, or is the truth.  There are others who believe that they already understand it, or, for others, that there is no such thing as “truth.  Sadly there is also a category of human beings who are so absorbed with their material world existence that the search for “truth” never even begins, because it does not sound very interesting or entertaining.

One cannot possibly find the sacred, using only the searchlights provided for by the profane.—Elisha Scott

So, just what is “Truth”, anyway?

A fact might be that there is only one mind, to be experienced in the unknown, yet to the uninitiated, that statement would sound vague and esoteric.  Another fact might be that it is up to us to determine what is real, and what is not, yet that might sound threatening to those who cling the strongest to their culturally and religiously inculcated theories and dogmas.

Truth is extremely difficult to conceptualize, because truth is elusive, and exists above and beyond all of the words used to chase it with descriptions.  Truth is often times best described through poetry and music, where more of the brain becomes engaged to the energy attempting to be shared.  But our words still serve a valuable function, yet forever remaining only pointers, or place-holders, for the energy that must be personally experienced, or it will never become psychologically real to the witness.

So, again, what is Truth?

There is only a “God” when there is no longer a “me” questioning “what is” while still trying to justify one’s own opinions or ignorance. In that silence, Infinity finds its expression, and the observer is the observed. And there is no longer a need, or a desire, to find God, for God has found us. Yet, there is no longer the “us”, only the witnessing of infinity, by one no longer limited by a verbally intoxicated mind. It is in this silence that love flourishes, and moral and ethical action becomes spontaneous and natural.  All that we will ever see, unto whatever eternity that we can perceive, is our Self.

How will we see our Self today?

“Know thyself, and thou will know God, and the Universe” ——Attributed to Pythagoras, and the Oracle at Delphi

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it”——–Aristotle

The final two quotes sets the stage behind the eternal tension between what is truth and what is falsehood, and the spiritual requirement not to create and worship idols, physical or verbal. They also point to the supporting conditions behind one’s potential for enhanced intelligence, spiritual evolution and final ascendancy out of false knowledge and the suffering that results from entertaining such thoughts..

Life is always a self-fulfilling prophecy, yet whose self are we fulfilling?

What if your life is fulfilling the prophecies of your religion and culture, rather than that of your true self?

While unenlightened forces dominate human consciousness, oppression and repression are born, and nurtured.

This creates more damaged human beings, who continue to remain unconscious, and thus overpopulate this planet with more unconsciousness.

The fate of these damaged people is to continue to damage themselves, each other, and the very planet that supports and sustains them, until they find their self and its truth.

Find the self, and the life that has a great future, and discard the one that will die with our rotting civilization.

Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Whose prophesy are you now willing to fulfill?

The Interplay of Experiential Learning, Intuition, and Insight

Experiential learning, intuition, and insight are not isolated entities but rather interconnected threads that weave a tapestry of enriched understanding. Through experiential learning, we gain firsthand knowledge and forge a deep connection with the subject matter. Intuition acts as a compass, guiding us toward the experiences that align with our authentic selves. And through reflection, the gems of insight emerge, empowering us to make informed decisions and navigate life’s complexities.

In a world where information is readily available at our fingertips, it is crucial to embrace experiential learning, honor our intuition, and engage in deep reflection. By integrating these elements into our lives, we unlock a holistic learning experience that transcends the boundaries of traditional education. It is through this integration that we cultivate wisdom, nurture personal growth, and develop a profound understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

So let us embrace the power of experiential learning, listen to the whispers of intuition, and embark on the journey of self-reflection. By doing so, we open ourselves to a world of limitless possibilities and unlock the true potential within us.

Conclusion

In a society that often prioritizes intellect and external achievements, let us not forget the transformative power of experiential learning, intuition, and insight. These invaluable elements offer a unique perspective, guiding us toward a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world we inhabit. Embrace experiential learning, trust your intuition, and engage in reflection. Allow these elements to shape your journey, fostering personal growth, and unlocking the profound insights that lie within you. Embrace the transformative power of experiential learning, intuition, and insight, and let them be your guiding lights on the path to self-discovery and fulfillment.