The whole Universe is an extension of yourself

I enjoyed discovering the global oneness project website,
and watching the video interviews from people who are
experiencing oneness, unity and inter-connectivity in their
work at:

www.globalonenessproject.org

The interviewees were asked what oneness meant to them.

It reminded me of my first noticable glimpse and encounter
with oneness.

I was in my mid-thirties on a business trip to San Francisco.

I checked into my hotel room and was amazed at the view from
my window of the panorama of skyscrapers and buildings
reaching down to the bay.

Suddenly, I felt quite strange. And then it occurred to me.

All these buildings and all this activity is for me. All this is
for all of us. This is an extension of me!

Well that really felt weird. At first, I could not understand it
at all. Gradually, it started to make more sense.

The whole Universe is an extension of yourself!

In moments of meditation, when I can absorb myself into
anything, or when I walk in the countryside, and feel the
closeness of nature, I often feel:

We are All in the One and the whole One is in each of us All.

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My first encounter with violence and brutality

Again, it is a universal Truth that all of humanity goes through a first
experience of, what we perceive at the time to be, violence and brutality.

Of course, the circumstances and our reactions to them will vary
enormously, but the first impact is still there.

For me, as a child of around 7 years, I vividly remember watching the
television set at home and seeing a documentary of the Nazi
concentration/death camps from world war II.

I was simply horrified to the core to see lots of dead bodies being
thrown into large open trenches.

The experience has never left me. How could anybody do that.

Similarly, I have seen so many instances, from childhood to the
present day, where people have been executed.

I remember film from Vietnam of a soldier pointing a gun to the
head of a kneeled prisoner, and then executing him. And much more.

Even fictitious thrillers that involved people being hung at the gallows,
or going to the guillotine, or convicted murderers on death row, or
fighting with gladiators, or burnt at the stake, just horrify me beyond
words.

Even my school friends thought I was wacky to not like the violence
in films about cowboys and indians. Today, I still refuse to watch any
TV or film that is violent!

I have never been able to understand such violence between human beings!

I sort of understand violence and killing in the animal kingdom as
the law of nature, and necessary for survival, but I don’t even like to
watch this either.

I don’t even like arguments and confrontations, although I have to
say that I continue to argue and get caught in confrontations, even
to this day. I must keep working on this.

Yet, on a daily basis, following global news on TV and the newspapers,
we are bombarded with rape, knife killings, shootings and muggings.
Daily, we hear of bombings and shootings of soldiers and innocent
civilians in wars around the world!

Such suffering. Such violence and such brutality. And we are now
in the 21st century!

To me, all life is sacred. It is a supreme gift. Life is a miracle. We are
all each others family.

How can anybody contemplate harming another being, let alone
inflict violence, brutality and even killing?

I wonder how much this first encounter with violence and brutality
affected my desire to seek the Truth and to want to see the
development of spiritual values of unconditional love and compassion,
forgiveness, peace, wisdom, purity and happiness.

Do you remember your first encounter with violence and brutality?

Namaste! I salute the divinity in you.

Namaste! I salute the divinity in One and All


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My first encounter with the experience of separation

It’s a universal Truth. All human beings, at least, have a first
encounter with the experience of separation.

When exactly, I don’t know.

It may even be a subconscious feeling and experience when leaving
the mothers womb, or the first breath, or the cutting of the
umbilical cord.

But for me, although I cannot remember the early birth experience,
I clearly remember my first conscious experience, and trauma,
of separation.

I guess I was around three/four years old and living with my parents
in Dagenham Essex in the United Kingdom. We lived in a three
bedroomed corner council house, next to a large park.

My father was a steam train engine driver, and he was obviously
working his night shift. I was put to bed in the early evening. My
mother decided to simply go out to the next door neighbour,
Mrs Rawlings, probably just for a simple chat and a cup of tea.
I guess she would have done this many times to while the time
away from Dads night shift.

Unfortunately, for her that night, I was not fully asleep. She hadn’t
even got past the front gate when I rushed into her bedroom and
literally screamed the house down! I remember that I was quite
uncontrollable at the time. I screamed for my mother not to leave me.

My poor mother. She had to come back into the house and console me.
Eventually, I must have fallen asleep. Whether she stayed in, or
went back to Mrs Rawlings I don’t know.

This first conscious experience of separation was very traumatic
for me. A simple seemingly harmless act turned out to be something
that stuck within me all my life.

After a year with a psychoanalyst in 2003, fifty seven years later,
he concluded that this child trauma had a significant effect on my
worldview concerning security, relationships and intimacy.

Maybe the first conscious experience for others may not be
traumatic at all. I am not sure what is supposed to be the normal.
Presumably, there should be no trauma? I don’t know. Maybe we
all have a first traumatic experience of separation?

Certainly, we all have a first experience of separation!

I now wonder to what degree this traumatic act had on my
subsequent seeking for the Truth, and the eventual realisation that
we are not separate, but connected as One and All.

Let’s face it, this spiritual Truth of One and All is totally and
diametrically opposite to the physical act and illusion of being separate!

Even our scientists, today, will confirm that we do not end at the end
of our skin. There is no physical end or boundary to our skin.

Under a microscope / spectrometer we realise that we are really a
spectrum of energy that fades in intensity between people to give the
illusion to the human eye that we are separate. In reality we are all
connected in the same soup of energy, or I prefer the metaphor of the
same one Ocean of life.

At the sub-atomic level, in Truth, all beings are One being of energy
that is simply flowing and ‘becoming’ all the time.

I wonder if we all have to have this experience of ‘apparently being
separated’ to then be given the motivation and opportunity to then l
earn the Truth of no separation?

It has been said by many that life on planet earth is a spiritual school,
and we all need to have a set of experiences that are contrary to the
Truth, to then cause and enable us to seek and realise the Truth?

Can you remember the details of your first encounter with the
experience of separation?

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ONE is the solution to everything, lets start with the Millenium Development Goals

Imagine, just for a moment, that we are all One.
Imagine that reality and Truth is Oneness.
Imagine that we will all realise that one day

All beings, living and non-living, from gases, minerals,
plants, micro-organisms, insects, animals and human beings,
all flowing as parts of ONE Planetary organism. One large soup.
And that is just a perspective for Planet Earth!

If you are able to, you can extend this to include all in our solar system,
or even galaxy or Universe as ONE creative intelligent being.

Imagine, if we all knew this to be true, we would immediately realise that:

- harming any being is really harming ourselves - eventually there
could be no violence.

- allowing extreme poverty, hunger and suffering is really suffering
ourselves - eventually there could be no poverty, hunger and suffering.

- not achieving universal primary education, in any part, is really not
educating ourselves - eventually there could be, at least, universal
primary education

- not promoting gender equality and empowerment for women,
anywhere, is really not promoting equality and empowerment
for ourselves - eventually there could be no inequality or
disempowerment.

- not promoting the best and fastest way to combat HIV / AIDS
maleria and other diseases, is really keeping ourselves diseased
and - eventually there could be faster and more effective solutions
to disease.

- not ensuring environmental sustainability in any part of the world
is really not ensuring our own environmental sustainability
so - eventually there could be global environmental sustainability

- not developing an effective global partnership for development
is really not communicating with ourselves - eventually we could
be All communicating as One.

So, by simply realizing that we are truly One, would immediately
provide us with a new set of global ethics, a new perspective of
who we really are, a new Self .......

..... and the reality of One would be the solution to everything,
starting with some key Millenium Development Goals.

Can we achieve this realisation before 2015?

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My first encounter with the idea of death

I have often contemplated why it is that I have been continually
seeking the Truth throughout my life? Why I have always wanted
to know answers to the eternal questions of life:

Who am I?
Why am I here?
What's my meaning and purpose (if any)?
What's the meaning and purpose of the Universe (if any)?

I know that I have always been interested in philosophy, but this
incessant drive makes me believe there is more to it than simply
an intellectual interest.

I always return to what I now know to be a key turning point in life,
and that is when I first came across the idea of death, as a child.

I am not sure how old I was? But I guess sometime between 4 and 6
years old? Probably, at school, I was told for the very first time in my
life that one day we all die. There is death. This was my first encounter
with the idea of death.

It's interesting, because this has to be a universal encounter for all
humanity. All of us, at some early childhood stage must learn the idea
of death. It must affect us all. One minute we are in blissful
ignorance in life, and the next, we start thinking of the idea of death.

Of course, I appreciate that some people will have a different view
about beyond death, depending on their religious or non-religious
beliefs,

Before this, you might say, I was in blissful ignorance. And because
I had not heard of death, I naturally acted in a more blissful way.

In my case, I was brought up in a Christian family and I was told
about Heaven and Hell, and at death, I would be judged.

Also, for the first time, I had to think about the notion of infinity.
Because I asked myself 'How long are we dead?' and the answer
came back 'forever and forever and forever and forever and ....'.

When I first thought about death and infinity, I vividly recall
how I immediately sat up in bed and said 'There is no death,
this is wrong. I want to be like Jesus Christ and live forever!
Later, I modified this thinking to 'we will find a cure for death
in my lifetime and we will all live forever'.

Later, I learned that 'the fear of death' is one of the primary
root causes for much of our actions and behaviours, even though
it might appear as something quite different, at the time,
throughout our lives. I learned that many people start to become
more religious as they get older and think more about mortality
and death, probably based on an increasing fear of death.
For most of us, as children and young adults, death is
a long way away and not an immediate concern.

This idea of death, if it is wrong, has much to answer for.

So maybe my prime motivator to seek the key answers to the key
questions in life, comes from the first encounter with the idea of
death.

But because I had problems with the stories my Christian Church
wanted me to believe, about sinning and judgement and Heaven
and Hell, I looked elsewhere. Not realising, at the time, that
Mystical Christianity had some good teachings and answers
about life and death and that we can all have a direct experience
with God, as opposed to just through organised religions.

Now here comes the paradox!

At the age of around 30 years, I discovered Eastern Philosophies
and Religions that teach eternal life, and only death of the body.
Some talk about discarding the body, as an old coat, and putting
on a new one and reincarnation of the spirit. Some talk about
the soul continually coming back until it is fully realized and /or
enlightened, and does not need to come back to learn anymore.

What is fascinating is that the Christian based notion of death
tends to instill a fear of dying, and many of the Eastern based
notions of death tend to instill a fear of coming back with a new
life, and more suffering. So one can fear both dying and coming
back to life depending on your beliefs formed from childhood.

So we are all battling with the notion of death.

But my point of writing this piece is to say that it is my belief
that our biggest mistake is not how we interpret death for
the first time, as children, even though this may well even prove
to be one of the most traumatic experiences in our lives, but
the even bigger mistake is to believe that we are seperate
beings with seperate lives !!

If we accept that we are, in reality, in Truth, One humanity
that is all connected at a higher level, we can accept that
humanity is one large moving Ocean of life, and that the
'individual' is just a temporary material manifestation
from the Ocean of life that grows and subsides back into
that same living Ocean of ongoing life.

Then there is no death. The death of the individual is a
mistaken notion based on incomplete knowledge.

Here is the next paradox - it is not until there is death of the idea
of the seperate individual that we can truly see death for what
it is (not) !

So I don't think that I became a seeker of the Truth
through just a fear of death necessarily. I think my intuition,
or inner wisdom that we all have, told me that the idea
of death I was taught is fundamentally wrong.

I maintain that we all intuitively know the Truth when we hear it!

And, intuitively, I believe we all know that the idea of One Ocean
of Life that keeps manifesting 'life waves' and subsiding and
manifesting 'new life waves' is right.

At least, it feels natural and right to me!

I can resonate with the reality of no seperate self and
that we are All One and, whilst we appear to be seperate
waves that have the One in us All, we are really the
One, continually expressing itself in billions of different
beings and ways.

Ron Young

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Eggs, new life and new energy

What I like about Easter in Europe, at least, is the underlying message
from Pagan traditions, that the 'egg' represents new life coming,
from this Spring solstice.

Similarly, Christianity celebrates the Resurrection and new life.

I feel the sap and energy rising everywhere, in all species.

It's a good time in this part of the world :-)

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Loving Wisdom is wise loving

Loving wisdom is recognising that we all need to love and be loved,
regardless of the way we may appear to the world at times, and
regardless of the circumstances in our lives at the moment.

Loving wisdom is recognising this, and consciously trying to give
unconditional love in all we do, to everyone, until it becomes
a natural, spontaneous and unconditional act.

Wise loving!

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Unconditional Love is here and now

If you are thinking about being loving and compassionate
in the future, as good as that certainly is, it is still setting up a
future condition, so that cannot be unconditional.

Unconditional means without any condition. It means naturally
and spontaneously giving and extending, without even thinking
about it!

This can only happen, naturally and spontaneously, therefore,
in the here and now!

Cool !

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Unconditional Love - the most powerful stroke of all

Many years ago, I was taught the 'psychology of strokes'

A stroke is defined as an act, physical, emotional, or mental,
that implies the recognition of another

I learned that we can all receive and give:

positive strokes
negative strokes
neutral strokes

physical strokes
mental strokes etc

conditional strokes
unconditional strokes

... but the most powerful strokes of all, are the 'unconditional
positive strokes'. They are normally unexpected.

Unconditional Love is the greatest unconditional positive
stroke of all, with no thought at all of receiving anything
back in return, whereas conditional strokes are expecting
something back in return.

Think about it!

We live in a conditional materialistic world for much of the time,
how nice it is when we rise to the unconditional 'non-material'
world of Love

Ron Young


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Coming home and Inner Space

We often hear people tell us, when visiting a place, sometimes
for the first time, that they have 'come home'.

Perhaps it is a sort of spiritual resting place, or a place where we
are supposed to be.

Today, I walked from my son's home in Cambridge UK, into the
City centre. Down to the river, across Jesus common and across to
St Johns college and on the Kings college. It took just 28 minutes.

Several years ago, I had a dream that I would be walking from a
house directly to the Canbridge colleges. So it was today.

What's even more remarkable, is that I also had a vision,
several years ago, of my being in another house in Cambridge,
right opposite Kings college, meditating on the second floor,
overlooking the college.

Imagine the sense of synchronicity I felt when, right opposite
Kings college, literally, is a three story house. The ground floor
is the 'Inner Space' meditation centre shop. The first floor is
a meeting room and the top floor is a Meditation centre!

Today, I felt I had come home!

('Inner Space' is the Cambridge centre for the international spiritual
organisation, Brahma Kumaris.

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The Web of Life

Once again, for the third time, I am reading Fritjof Capra's
excellent book

'The Web of Life - a new synthesis of mind and matter'

He describes the evolution of our thinking to 'deep ecology'
and 'systems thinking' where the whole is greater than the
sum of the parts, and this is due, not just to a summation
of the parts, but the 'emergence of properties, relations and
interconnections' that occur in the organisms and communities
of organisms as they develop and evolve.

Not a heirarchical Universe, but 'networks within networks'.
And Quantum theory also teaches us that, at the sub-atomic
level, all become waves of energy.

That's why we will never fully understand living ecosystems
and living beings by just analysing the component parts.

Again, extraordinary thinkers of this modern age are saying
what the Ancient sages said in the East, several thousand years
ago!

Is it that the Ancient Sages intuited this, and through deep
meditation. And now the modern rational mind is catching up?

But the Indian Sages were very rational too ?

But, of course, the most important thing is not how this
extraordinary knowledge came about, and by whom,
but what it is actually teaching us about our interconnectedness.

Surely, when the Oneness of All is better understood, by many
more, there will be a major paradigm shift, and a whole new set
of global ethics will appear?

Ron Young

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Abundance or scarcity, love or fear

One of the problems I am having with evaluating the 40 day
spiritual journey from the book 'The Purpose Driven Life
- what on earth am I here for?' by Rick Warren,

is that I think he is in a different paradigm from me.

Let me say, straight away, that I like the underlying messages, and I
have always been more interested in the value of the messages handed
down to us, to learn and take forward, than the messenger.

So plenty of thanks for the messages in the book. We must become
'purpose driven - I agree with the 5 key purposes - there is no
other way

I am just not sure, with respect, about the paradigm, language and interpretation
of the Bible, for me.

So what paradigm am I in?

Well, amongst many sources that made me see things differently, I
recall John Randolph Price, in his 1981 New Age book 'The Super
beings' putting it well for me:

"Being overthrown is the authority which says there is an avenging and
withholding God"

He talks about the evolution of humanity to the next stage of development
in Consciousness, where the ancient metaphysical teachings from
spiritual masters, regardless of religion and messenger, are now being
better understood by millions of people.

And. to me, these messages are about finding out that we are all,
in reality, connected As One, not seperated, and we are not just our
bodies and brains, which live and die, but we are also parts of the
Universal Mind, which lives on, and that every one of us
has the potential within us to realise these truths, and express them
in our own ways. Only this understanding of our reality can lead to true
fulfillment - whatever religion or non-religion we may believe in.

So, I will keep on evaluating the 40 day spiritual journey, but focusing
more on the underlying messages than what I think is the paradigm
that is still partially rooted in that of an avengeful and witholding God?

I think this is why I resonate with the more peaceful Eastern religions
and philosophies, than the more confronting Western religions.

But the Truth is the Truth, that's for sure, from wherever it comes!

Lets see what happens.

Ron Young

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Day 10 Surrender

Day 10 of the 40 day spiritual journey from the book 'The Purpose
Driven Life- what on earth am I here for?' by Rick Warren

My insights from Day 10:

Keeping within his first of 5 Purposes,
Purpose 1 'You were planned for Gods pleasure'

Today Rick talks about surrender as the heart of worship
- not out of fear or duty, but to surrender in love.

It's interesting that, around the world, we use terms for surrender,
like consecration, making Jesus your Lord, taking up your cross,
dying to self, yeilding to the spirit

It's also frightening when Rick says that "we aren't God and never
will be. We are humans. It is when we try to be God that we end up
most like Satan, who desired the same thing"

Thats scary, and made me think!

You see I like the Buddhist notion of seeking Enlightenment, even
though Buddhists do not believe in a Creator God.

I like The Hindu notion of Yoga (yoke) or joining or Communion with
God (Krishna).

I like the notion of being a human that, in communion with the higher
Self, God, Creative Intelligence, in other words, being aligned to the
Higher Force, enables us to 'co-create', in partnership with the
higher Self.

Thats not being God, but wanting to 'be in God', or awakening to the
fact that that is what we really are, Knowing Thyself, being Enlightened.
Our only mistake is to believe we are seperated.

But another quote from Rick, that I first came across in 'A Course in
Miracles' is "love casts out all fear". That's very powerful to me.

Rick tells us that surrender is not passive resignation, or being lazy,
or dropping out, or accepting the status quo. But that it can also be
very tough to surrender.

I know that sometimes I feel I have to do what is right, as opposed to
what I want to do, and give me pleasure. I guess this could be the same.

We surrender to what we believe is right, regardless of the consequences,
- even Crucifixion!

History shows how humans will die for a principle, a flag, a belief.
The ultimate test is when life is at stake.

So, in day 10 he tells us that surrender is not an option in life,
but the only way to live.

Where am I with this?

I feel, and I am told, I am a man of principle - which I like.
I hope I do not have too much pride though. I prefer humility.

It's really tough being a family man, who has had great
responsibilities throughout life with a loving family.
It's difficule to just 'go with the flow' which I know is right,
with no regard to what that might mean.

Jesus said, follow me!

I guess I have surrendered, but get into difficulty whenever
it causes a conflict with worldly life.

I remember beight taught that in India, men would leave the
wife and family and possessions, at age 60, to become wandering
Sunyasins, to lead a completely spiritual life in the latter phase
of life. How courageous and how painful and how tough.

Rick says, you surrender in everything you think and do. In all
daily activities. All are an expression of working for God. Same task
and different attitude, thats all.

I buy that. The Zen Masters taught the same

Before Enlightenment - chopping wood, carrying water
After Enlightenment - chopping wood, carrying water.

So, yes, I surrender.







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Day 9 Smile

Day 9 of the 40 day spiritual journey from the book 'The Purpose Driven Life
- what on earth am I here for?' by Rick Warren

My insights from Day 9:

Keeping within his first of 5 Purposes, Purpose 1 'You were planned
for Gods pleasure'

Rick focuses on how we can make God smile, as the second of 7
sub- purposes within Purpose 1.

He may, or may not like this comparison, but to me he is like the
Buddha who logically categorises, and sub-categorises everything,
somewhat too uniformally, probably for the logical brain to understand?

Anyway, he talks about making God smile, as a key sub-purpose,
when we love him, when we totally trust him, when we obey him,
praise and thank him, and when we perform at our best for him
fully using our unique given and developed capabilities.

I don't have a problem with any of that, and it certainly does help
considerably to giving us a worthy purpose in life.

But it's also quite interesting to think about what Rick is saying as
God seeking, needing and getting pleasure from us?
Many spiritual traditions, especially Eastern, talk about God as complete,
whole and not needing anything at all!

Instead, they talk about infinite perfection.

That sort of seems right to me, but, having said that, if anyone smiles,
and consciously feels they are smiling for God, I guess the collective
good feeling will have increased on the material plane of collective
humanity, and maybe God has this material feel good factor too, but I
don't think it alters the immaterial, infinite plane of completeness,
or God, that is awaiting expression?

Rick quotes the Bible "The Lord looks down from heaven on all
mankind to see if there are any who are wise, who want to please God"

Hmm. I spontaneously want to say that Love is all there is
(God in expression if you like) and as Love is the positive uniting force of,
at least, humanity, if not the Universe, it will seek and attract all humans
that are conscious of their love to their creator and fellow beings.

And if 'God smiles when I trust him', I would say that when we are not
in an enlightened state, of natural communion with God, that we are not
aware of God smiling. But in a naturally enlightened state, we are then
conscious of God smiling as the eternal state.

For me, its like saying, about God smiling, that the upper sky is always
always blue, but we don't see it if we are under, or in, the clouds.

I can't relate to God not smiling, but I see /feel a sort of naturally loving
and smiling wisdom. This works for me.

I have to say, at this stage, that I am not sure if I will keep up the
40 day spiritual journey, as it is not feeling natural to me yet. Certainly
some very worthwhile stuff, and the book is certainly worthy of a good
read, and it really does help us become purpose driven at the highest level,
but I am having some difficulty with the language and terms and some
sort of cross paradigms, at the moment. Lets see what develops.

I will persevere, as the key messages are superb, and worthy of more study
and contemplation.

More at:
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Worship?

Day 8 of the 40 day spiritual journey from the book '
The Purpose Driven Life- what on earth am I here for?' by Rick Warren

My insights from Day 8:

I think we all suffer, some more than others, and at different times and
phases in our lives, in feeling insignificant, unworthy, unloved etc

Rick says we are so important and valuable to God, that once we fully
understand this, we will never feel insignificant again.

And he links our ability to have pleasure, through our senses, to
being made in Gods image, to enjoy!

I like the notion of enjoying the world and being thankful to your
understanding of God for it.

I also agree that a sense of worship should not be about 'how much
pleasure I got from the worship at a certain time', its not supposed
to be for our benefit, but it should be a natural, inbuilt, and
continuous part of our daily lifestyle.

Nonetheless, if you genuinely worship the right way, and if you also
enjoy the act of worshipping - that's great too!

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My mantra and the Five Purposes in Life

In the late 1990's, whilst walking in the countryside near my home,
approaching the village, I suddenly started to recite within, and then
without

Be in God
Be you Now
Go Be Do

I seemed strange at first, ever so 'wacky' and I didn't take it too
seriously. However, something seemed right and significant at that time.

Gradually, I started to recite this more often, in my mind and
vocally, especially whilst walking, contemplating and driving my car.

Eventually, at some stages, especially in meditations, I was positively
obsessed by it.

Later, over the years, it came and it went, and sometimes it flamed up,
and sometimes it died down. Gradually, it started to settle into
a sort of backdrop into whatever I was thinking and doing.

Like a sort of computer operating system!

Over the years, this mantra has explained to me so much. It seems to
lock in to, and then explain to me, key timeless principles.

When I thought about the Five Purpose in Life, as defined by Rick Warren
in his book 'The Purpose Driven Life' I intuited:

Purpose 1: Worship God
Purpose 2: Bring Gods glory by worshiping other believers

Both relate to my mantra for One and All 'Be in God'

Purpose 3: Bring Gods glory by becoming like Christ

Relates to my mantra 'Be You Now'

Purpose 4: Bring Gods glory by serving others with our gifts
Purpose 5: Bring God glory by telling others about him

Relates to my mantra 'Go Be Do'

Am I crazy for writing this? Probably

Do I worry what others may think of this? Not any more

Why am I doing this? I can't stop myself.


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Everything is God

Everything is God

Day 7 of the 40 day spiritual journey from the book 'The Purpose Driven
Life- what on earth am I here for?' by Rick Warren

My insights from Day 7:

Its refreshing to read a Christian pastor who talks about everything
around you, everything in nature, all beings, from tiny forms of life
to the universe, aa reflecting God in some way.

The notion of God is One and All and All is God, is monistic, and the
notion of God is a superbeing being out there, and we are down here
is dualistic.

I like the monistic view of God or Creative Intelligence, or whatever
term we use, being in everyone and everything, for all to see with
enlightened (Christ like) eyes.

I love the simple eastern gesture of 'Namaste', when monks and lay
people bring the palms of their hands together, in a prayer position,
at the heart level, and gently bow to all. It can mean

'I salute the Divinity in you'.

Such a great, respectful and humble gesture and loving words.
Worship the God within all.

As I learned one day, everyday I see God all around me, in everyone
and everything I see, hear, feel, touch, taste, smell, think and do.

Rick talks about Gods glory and quotes Jesus telling the Father

"I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told
me to do"

What do you live for? Your self? Others?
or yourself and others, all within Your Self?

Do we love to live or live to love?

Surely, I agree, whatever religious words we care to use, we can see
this glory all around us, especially when we are conscious of it, in all
our activities and experiences.

So I strongly agree with Gods five purposes in your life, as described
in the book.

The five purposes, in my words, which work best for me are:

Firstly, we can enjoy, even be in awe of, the loving creative intelligence
within and without, and in all creation.

Secondly, we can share this with others.

Thirdly, we can strive to become enlightened (or Christ like) ourselves

Fourthly, we can serve others by being at, and giving our best to others

Fifthly, we can teach others, and help them on their path to the same state.

This all reminds me of what I believe true healing to be.

To my mind these principles also describe a healer. A healer, and healers,
are people who temporarily have and see more (enlightened),

unconditionally and lovingly serving others by seeing it in others who
cannot see it in themselves,

and making others aware of this understanding.

I know I am being healed when others see in me what I have forgotten
or I have temporarily hidden from myself.

I hope I may heal others when I see the divinity within them, that
they may not yet see themselves.

So I bow my head to all

Namaste !









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Maybe I am an Alien on Planet Earth?

Day 6 of the 40 day spiritual journey from the book 'The Purpose Driven Life- what on earth am I here for?' by Rick Warren

My insights from Day 6:

Rick tells us that life on earth is just a temporary assignment, especially
when we compare it to eternity. And also, that we should consider planet
earth as a temporary home - our true home being elsewhere and beyond this life.

Maybe I am an alien on planet earth?

What I find interesting is the way the Christian Lords Prayer, that I was
taught at school, had the sacred feminine aspect removed from it,
apparently!

I was taught at school:

'Our Father which art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy name'

Apparently, the original Amaraic texts say:

'Our Father which art in Heaven,
Our Mother which art in Earth,
Hallowed be thy names

This connects more with Yin and Yang,
positive and negative forces in balance etc

Interesting!

So I am not completely sure that I accept that our home is
entirely beyond this life and this planet earth?

I think I would prefer to accept the notion of both heaven and
earth (right and left brain hemispheres again) as part of a cycle?

But I do agree with the notion that the things we can see, here and now,
on planet earth are 'conditioned' and impermanent, and the things
we cannot see, the invisible, the 'unconditioned' may last forever.

I learned from a Sage that 'there is no true and lasting fulfillment
to be found in the finite. Lasting fulfillment can only be found in
the infinite'.

The Buddhists say, until you realise this you will suffer from
'unsatisfactoriness'., or incompletion, if you wish.

Rick quotes the Bible to say the same "We fix our eyes not on what
is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but
what is unseen is eternal".

Perhaps the greatest and most powerful point for me, for this day, is
the statement and realisation that 'true abundance' is not the same thing,
at all, as just material abundance.

I prefer a world of 'spiritual billionaires'. I seem to meet more of these
people in countries, sometimes far less developed, with rich tradition,
culture, and a strong sense of community. Even though some of them
may be experiencing severe material poverty!

Unfortunately, in many of our richer material and economically developed
countries, we have 'spiritual poverty'.

Who really needs the help??

The great news for me, is to realise that life is far more than the short span
on earth - maybe everlasting - I don't know. Does anybody really know?

As a wise person said to me recently, I would rather spend this life
happily believing there is an afterlife, and discovering there is not
- than to spend this life unhappily believing there is no afterlife, and
discovering that there is !!

More at:
http://www.in-love-with-wisdom.com/

Life can be a great test for those who are entrusted

Life can be a great test

Day 5 of the 40 day spiritual journey from the book 'The Purpose Driven Life
- what on earth am I here for?' by Rick Warren

My insights from Day 5:

If I have a main life metaphor, unfortunately, it would probably be the person
who is trying to keep all the plates spinning on long poles. I seem to manage to
get most of the plates spinning quite well, but there always seems to be one
or two that are wobbling, and in real danger of falling off.

It's not always the same plates, but the money and work plates seem to
wobble to most!

If the way you see your life shapes it, then my metaphor is not too good.
I would prefer an ocean beach with gently rolling waves and a nice sandy
beach. Or a still lake at the foot of a snow-capped mountain.

I also see life on earth as a test. I seem to have test after test, and they get
more intense and more challenging as I get older.

It seems to me that as you progress with spiritual maturity, that your
capabilities to affect your actions (karma) become greater, and so you can
rise or fall higher and harder.

I was once told by a Sage that as spiritual warriors climb the mountain t
hey will encounter more dangerous crevices, with longer drops,
as they get higher, and so we have to be even more aware, concentrated and
careful with our thoughts and actions. It is tempting, sometimes, to wish to
be in blissful ignorance, and live an easier life.

I believe, also, that we are all stewards of earth and that we have a duty to 'plant,
care, and do best, for the present and future generations.

Rick sums it up by saying "the more God gives you, the more responsible he
expects you to be".

So I basically agree with Day 5, that life can be a great test and we must take
full responsibility for this, even count the tests as blessings, if we can, and
also take full responsibility for that which is entrusted in us.


More at:
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True Life is an endless ocean.

Day 4 of the 40 day spiritual journey from the book 'The Purpose Driven Life
- what on earth am I here for?' by Rick Warren

My insights from Day 4 are that, to me, True Life is an endless ocean.

Rick talks about this life as a dress rehearsal before the main act.

I like the analogy of waves in an ocean. From my earlier blog:

Enlightenment is becoming the ocean

I like the idea that the universe is a great ocean of life.

A great ocean is continuously producing new waves that then grow,
live for a while, and then merge back into the ocean again.
Its a non-stop process.

An ocean of life is continuously producing new 'beings' that then grow,
live for a while and then merge back into the ocean again.

The problem is that many of us believe that we are the finite waves,
with a seperate birth, life and death, instead of knowing that we are
all the vast infinite ocean itself that is continually creating and
manifesting beings in so many different ways.

One big wave, perceiving itself to be seperate and rushing towards
the see shore said to another big wave, 'we are going to crash and die'.
The other wave said, 'just relax, flow and be, and you will see how we
will all gently subside, pull back from the shore for a while, as part of
our natural cycle, and then recreate again, as new waves, later'.

This ocean metaphor comes from the Sages of the East.

I am not entirely comfortable with the Christian view that we can only
come to know and commune with God through his only son, Jesus.
And those that reject Jesus's love, forgiveness, and salvation, will
spend eternity apart from God altogether?

That implies that we have to 'convert' those that may choose to worship
God, the Creative Intelligence, the One and All, as Hindu's, Muslims,
Buddhists or whatever, for their salvation.

I prefer to simply strive to become more Christlike, Allahlike, Krishnalike,
Buddhalike, etc. God is God and we are all equally his sons and daughters.

It should be inclusive, not exclusive.
We should not convert anybody but share our truths with one another so that
individuals can develop and change their thoughts and beliefs themselves.

What I think we all really need is to identify these common underlying
spiritual, timeless, changeless principles, and all work together, in our
chosen religions, non-religions and other spiritual paths, to manifest them
for the good of all beings.

Surely, no one religion can be only absolutely right and all the others totally wrong?

True 're-ligion' is a personal experience that goes way beyond labels.

I do like it when Rick says "the closer you live to God, the smaller everything
else appears". I guess that ego and self start to vanish when we are faced
with Self.

On his discussion about eternity and here and now, I think of the two
hemisheres of the brain again.

The right brain can only deal with eternity and infinity. It is timeless.
The left brain can only deal with past, present and future.

The wholebrain works with both eternity and here and now.

I love the notion of continually pulling eternity into the here and now.

That's why stewardship has to be the best form of leadership. We all need
to become self stewards and self leaders of everything we see.

More at:
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What is that force that is driving our lives? Is it purpose?

Day 3 of the 40 day spiritual journey from the book 'The Purpose Driven Life - what on earth am I here for?' by Rick Warren

What is that force that is driving our lives? My insights from Day 3 are:

To me, a sense of purpose, especially a sense of shared purpose, is one of the key
drivers in life. I wish I could have been in the team at NASA when they first put man on the moon.

People tell me that if they have experienced being in a truly synergistic and high
performing team, that they spend the rest of their lives trying to find another one!
Perhaps this is a clue to our true identity that we are, in reality, One and all.

To me, a sense of Oneness with all, perhaps a connection at a higher level, gives us
a sense of ultimately shared purpose! And, most importantly, makes us naturally
want to serve each other. Just imagine, if everybody felt this Oneness, how could
there then be any killing, brutality or even crime!

A great quote from the book is "You weren't put on earth to be remembered.
You were put here to prepare for eternity"

What a paradigm shift that is! Instead of looking at our lives as the 'be all and end all'
we can consider our earthly lives as a much smaller part of, perhaps, everlasting life.

Again I am reminded that our greatest limitation is the limiting beliefs we impose on
ourselves.

If you change the beliefs - you immediately change the performance!


Finally, from day 3, I would say that I agree with Rick when he talks about
living on purpose leading to peace. I know that I am far more peaceful and
content when I feel connected to the whole and when I think and feel that
it is my purpose to help others who may not yet see their true reality.

I always enjoy lecturing young and enthusiastic MBA students, who like to
challenge some of our commonly held beliefs in life, especially when we all
get an 'aha' together.


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Who am I? - I am

Before I share my insights from Day 2 of the 40 day spiritual journey, I thought I would share my insights on answers to the key questions in life

Who am I?
Why am I here?
What's my meaning and purpose?
What's the meaning and purpose of the Universe?

These are questions asked by the logical mind (left hemisphere of the brain).
The left hemisphere will logically analyse and ask 'what, who, where, when, how, why'.

The right hemisphere of the brain cannot analyse and break things into parts, but it is diametrically opposed to the left hemisphere, and therefore synthesizes into 'wholes'.
It cannot deal with 'what, who, where, when, how, why'

As it is opposite, its good to see how it would deal with the same questions, in opposition, back to front, reversed, and eliminating the questioning words:

Who am I? becomes 'I am' (or Aum or OM or Amen)
Why am I here? becomes 'Here I am'
What's my meaning and purpose? become 'My purpose is to understand my meaning'
What's the meaning and purpose of the Universe? become 'The Universe is purpose and meaning)

Once we understand that the Universe is purpose and meaning, and that our purpose is to understand our purpose and meaning, we realise that, here we will understand what we are, and that is that we are part of the same Universal purpose and meaning.

It's no good just saying to you 'Does that make sense?', as that is a logical 'sensible' thing to say, and we need to add to it the, perhaps, illogical and senseless aspect too - to get to the Truth.

Are you with me?

If you are interested in more of this, you can now download my free e-book 'Christopher and the Knowledger' which talks about answers to the meaning of life at:

www.in-love-with-wisdom.com

Day 2 Spiritual Journey - The Purpose Driven Life

(This last part of the daily blog posting is to record and share my insights and experiences from conducting the 40 day spiritual journey, from the book 'The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, as I do it)

Day 2 of 40

Rick tells us that we are not an accident. I totally agree for the reasons above.

"Long before you were conceived by your parents, conceived in the mind of God"

I love this because it also reminds me of an ancient Zen Masters saying that I wrote about in one of my earlier blogs last year 'Enlightenment is seeing your face before your parents were born'

In Christopher and the Knowledger we also talk about how every human being is part of a perfect Universal plan, so I like the poem by Russell Kelfer, quoted in the book, that starts with:

"You are who you are for a reason
You're part of an intricate plan"

So the truth is the truth, however it manifest itself. We are so lucky to simply enjoy the magic of the truth, as it appears from everybody, all the time. It can manifest in a great spiritual book, poem, sutra, song or even a tv soap episode or a Google Adserve!

So, yes, I agree, we are naturally purpose driven, and we must find our purpose and express ourselves for the benefit of ourselves and all others. We cannot be accidents.

When we are in the flow - we will know.

More at:
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The Purpose Driven Life

(This blog is to record and share my insights and experiences from conducting the 40 day spiritual journey, from the book 'The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren)

Day 1 of 40
Rick asks us to think about our purpose and he highlights 'It's not about me'.

I agree. When I look around me, in the city or in the countryside, or up in the starry night sky, I see nothing but abundant life in action everywhere. Amazing! I, and humanity are a part of that. And that's just what I can see. So I simply cannot believe that there is not some sort of creative intelligence, call it what you will, behind all of this, and/or in all this.

I think it is vain, and somewhat ignorant to put humanity at the top, and just focus on ourselves.
It certainly is not about us. It cannot be about me.

When I think about my highest purpose, it has to be about being and doing what this creative intelligence has designed for me, and my duty is to find that out and then do it. It's about 'finding my dharma'. Then I am naturally purpose driven.

More at:
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Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

I was watching a series of great video podcasts of keynote speakers at www.ted.com
and I came across one by Rick Warren. He was talking about his book 'The Purpose Driven Life' which was selling at the rate of 1 million copies a month and is 'The bestselling nonfiction hardback book in history'. I bought the book from Amazon.com and it arrived this weekend.

I have had a first quick read. In essence, I believe he is saying, and reminding us, that we should be God driven with Gods plan and Gods specific purpose and 'it's not about me', which is the problem in todays society. Then we will be able to answer questions like 'What on earth am I here for?'

In the book, is a guide to a 40 day spiritual journey.

I decided to try this, and I shall blog my experiences and insights over the 40 day journey, starting tomorrow.

I would strongly recommend this book, and if you have it, I hope some of you may be interested in following this and, perhaps, even joining in with me, and sharing your insights and experiences As always, I would be very grateful for any feedback

Ron Young

More at:
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Only Love

Yesterday, I read again a fantastic book that I bought over 20 years ago.

'Only Love' by Sri Daya Mata who is President and Spiritual Head for the Self Realization Fellowship at www.yogananda-srf.org


'Only Love' was first published in 1976, and includes many quotes from the
Founder, Paramahansa Yogananda. Yet all of the words still resonate deeply
today.

For me, that is a true sign of timeless, changeless wisdom.

It reminds me again, of the richness of the spiritual heritage of India,
of the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita and how it's messages are now
successfully spread all over the world.

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Wisdom is 'God in action'

This morning, after further contemplation on wisdom, I realised:

If wisdom is complete Truth, and God is complete Truth, then
wisdom in action is God in action

Look for, and bless wisdom :-)


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Wisdom is timeless, unchangeable and simple

What's the simple difference between Knowledge and Wisdom?

Knowledge changes over time. Therefore it's an incomplete perception,
and can appear complex.

Wisdom is unchangeable. Therefore it is a complete truth,
and remains timeless, in its obvious simplicity!

Ron Young

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Rekindling our inner light

I came across this inspiring quote today in my email, and I really like it.

'Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light.'

-Albert Schweitzer

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Everything can be seen as a blessing

It's not what actually happens in the world, as much as our interpretation
of this.

If it rains - the holidaymaker may be dissapointed. The farmer may be delighted.

Same rain!

If you are chronically ill - you may feel deeply depressed. Or, perhaps, you may
see this as a 'reality check' and a golden opportunity to change some lifestyle
habits that, perhaps, may have contributed.

Same illness!

If you fail in a project or in personal finances - you may interpret this as
personal failure. Or you may see it as a blessing, one step nearer to success.

Same failure.

Everything can be seen as a blessing.

All events and circumstances can be seen as events and circumstances that
are good, or leading us to more good.

It's up to us. We have the choice. It's the same external physical state, but a
different internal state of mind. Which do you choose?

I prefer to take the choice to give thanks for the good in life, and to give thanks
for learning and experiencing how to take more personal responsibility to
change for the better.

This is so easy to say, and not always easy to do at all.

It means that we have to keep focused continually on the 'good in everything'
regardless of the current appearances and circumstances.

Sometimes that is so very hard.

But, having said that, I feel it's the right way!

Is this too harsh for those who are suffering?
Is this too ideal?

More at:
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Reality is equally in us all

It was comforting to read today that 'Intelligence will make things for you
and not take from others'

I love the notion that the Universe will harmonise with creative thoughts
and not with competitive thoughts.

This suggests that we all have the same, equal amounts of loving abundance
within, and that we are all connected, in Truth, equally, in the same Oneness.

It suggests that loving wisdom will co-operate with us to create new things
for us all, and not recognise scarcity and competitiveness as real?

I think we need to do something about the less enlightened side of business
ethics fast!

Ron Young

More at:
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Loving to make a difference

The ego wants you to be recognised and to make a big difference in the world

The Higher Self wants you to serve with love and compassion

So why not make a big difference in the world by serving others
unconditionally, locally and globally.

More at:
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The Universe is us!

I love the words of the chorus of the song 'Ben'

I used to say you and me
Now its us, now it's we

Unity :-)


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Oneness, Twoness, Nothingness ?

The monistic theory of the universe is 'All is One and One is All'.
That the sum and substance of All is far greater than the parts.
That the One is fully in all the parts.

Coincidentally, we are told that the right hemisphere of our brain
can only operate and process the world and the universe in a total,
holistic, unified way. The way of an all inclusive One!

The dualistic theory of the universe is that we are seperated

beings.

You and me. Subject and object. Opposites!

Coincidentally, we are told that the left hemisphere of our

brain can only operate and process the world and universe in

this partial, analytical, logical way. The way of the separate ego!

I think that the Buddhists say that beyond the Oneness there

is Nothingness, Suchness. Not even 'being' but 'continually becoming'.

So it really seems impossible to me to explain reality as it really is

- through the brain, which continually switches between left and

right hemispheres, albeit we are apparently and predominantly

using one hemisphere more than the other.

Perhaps, it is also impossible to communicate true reality to

anyone.

Perhaps, we can only be wise to know that we will never know,

or perhaps, that we already know One and All, and it is no big

deal - philosophically or otherwise?

Then we come back to nothingness!



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One cause for everything

Although I write three blogs, about spirituality, health and my work, I realise that whenever I get a message that applies equally in all three blogs, that it is probably more of a profound Truth!

This happened with 'One cause for everything'

1. In this spiritual blog I am reminded that the problem we have is the illusion of seperation.
Realise that we are , in Truth, One inter-connected reality, and other problems seem to fall away.

2. In my heath blog, I am reminded of the wisdom of Dr Tilden, in Toxemia explained, when he says that "all symproms of all so-called diseases have one origin. All diseases are one. Unity in all things is nature's plan".

3. In my work blog, as a management consultant, I am reminded of the wise old consultant that taught me' all problems in an organisation have the same primary cause - communications!"

I also think that the Buddha, and his teachings, is one good example of all three - a great spritual teacher, dharma expressed as as Indian doctor, and a wise consultant and teacher.

So, I realise the profundity of 'One cause for everything' even more :-)

Ron Young

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It's not about who you tell, but what you hear

What is more important:

- to try to tell others what you think we are? or

- to try to learn from others what they think we are?

If the collective knowledge and wisdom will always be far greater than
individual knowledge and wisdom, isn't it better to stop seeking,
searching, enquiring, contemplating and meditating even, and just
accepting what the world is telling us?

I cannot accept some of the stuff the world is telling me. It causes me
such pain. It would be so much easier if I could simply accept.

I guess we have to both learn and tell, challenge and accept, until we
simply know without doubt.

Ron Young

For more information:

www.in-love-with-wisdom.com

Even with nothing, there is always everything

Sometimes life appears to be cruel.

It may be that you experience ill health, physical, emotional and
mental suffering, and a sense of hopeless ageing.

It may be that you experience financial hardship, even extreme poverty.

It may be that you experience irreconcilable difficulties or broken loving relationships.

It may be that you experience unfairness, even brutality, and loss in many ways.

Imagine for a moment, that all these things happen at the same time :-(

You have nothing? You are nothing? Is that all we are? Our health, wealth and happiness?

My experience of all these things happening to me at the same time is not a sense of nothing left at all!

Despite all this, there is still a me inside that knows that I am really not just all these things!

Despite all this, I can meditate and go within, and gain a sense of peace, bliss, and unconditional love and forgiveness - to all people and to everything. Yes, everyone and everything.

Despite all this, I can enjoy the birds singing, the beauty of nature, and the sun shining.

There is much health and wholeness, abundance and joy to be found in the here and now :-)

How comforting to know that, in Truth, we are far far more than we will ever know, and than we will ever appear to be :-)

Sometimes we need pain to realise pleasure.

Sometimes we need to experience apparent nothingness to realise that there is always everything.

A smile can say it all :-)

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From Health, Wealth & Happiness to Happiness, Wealth and Health

The logical mind says:

1. Health is the most important, without it there is nothing
2. Wealth is next, without it there is suffering
3. Happiness is a product of health and wealth

The creative mind turns this order upside down and says:

1. Happiness is the most important, and is a state of mind that can be achieved here and now by connecting with the universal mind

2. The greatest Wealth we can have is Happiness

3. Health (physical, emotional, mental and spiritual), is a natural product of happiness and true Wealth

I much prefer the creative view

Ron Young


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Planetary Knowledge - enlightened knowledge working

I am really pleased with the title of my new book 'Planetary Knowledge - enlightened knowledge working'.

Although it is born out of my knowledge management consulting blogs and websites, and talks about the evolution of humanity to one global inter-connected complex of collaborative knowledge workers, it also heavily overlaps, and blends naturally, with my spiritual passion and interests around global oneness.

At last, the more focused logical, scientific, and technological dimension is fusing with the more complex and wholistic dimension, to produce a 'higher ethic - higher evolution' global species.

Let's make sure everyone gets on board with this new dimension. Let's not produce have's and have nots. Let's produce 'All in One and One in All'.

More at:
http://www.in-love-with-wisdom.com/

www.knowledge-management-online.com

http://km-consulting.blogspot.com

It's not finding 'my truth' but finding 'the Truth'

We are told how important it is to find our truth and live it !

Maybe, but what if our truth is wrong, mis-aligned, or even bad or dangerous for others?

We need to remind ourselves that we must first find 'the Truth', the Reality for all, and then let 'the Truth' manifest through us as our expression of 'the Truth', not the other way around.

More at:
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Enlightenment is just One blog

I write three daily blogs at the moment, around three key areas
of my life:

• Spiritual development, Love, Intimacy and Wisdom
• Mental development, Work and Professional development
• Physical development, Health and Well Being

Sometimes I get confused about which blog to write, as they increasingly become inter-related.

I also think that I keep them seperated, for fear of the 'whole' being incorrectly being understood?

It was the Danish philosopher, Soren Kirkergaard, who said 'If you label me you destroy me'.

What I am saying (to myself also, as I write this) is that I will know when I have arrived, when I simply write one blog, openly, happily and with no fear but pride of who I am.

Sad? But perhaps I am, at least, on the way :-)

More at:
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Lightning connections

As well as this blog, I keep a sort of daily diary blog to monitor my progress in changing my lifestyle. It contains, in the main, diet and exercise performance.

A day ago, I simply included that I was reading about the 'semantic web'.

The next day I got a visitor to the blog from Germany who was really
researching the semantic web! So quick and just two words only on this subject!

Lightning connections by total surprise from the most unexpected places. Enjoy and beware!

So, I suppose that 'semantic web' will be picked up again in this blog, even though it is about spiritual insights, as well as also being picked up in my health blog, and as well as being picked up in my blog about knowledge management and the semantic web!

I have learned that 'sem' is Tibetan for 'the Mind'. So maybe this is showing that the semantic web is a prototype to help us understand how the Global Mind may work?

Extraordinary!

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Enlightenment is tough

We are told that we must find our 'dharma', our meaning and our purpose.

Only then will we be 'in the flow'. Only then will the universe naturally support us.

Seek first the kingdom of heaven, and then all else will be added!

So why is it that when we think we have found our dharma, our meaning and our purpose, our kingdom of heaven, that after a few days of euphoria, we feel so 'out of the flow'.

Or is it just me?

More at:
http://www.in-love-with-wisdom.com/

You already are One and All

I simply love the thought that by relaxing, gently quietening the mind and attaining a state of meditative peace, that you can

'experience the underlying unity of creation'

Such peace comes from this simple mastering of the mind!

Realise that you do not have to strive to become One with your God,

'you already are One'

It's already there. It always was.

If you are in Peace - you are 'naturally' in an enlightened and fully realised state.

'You already are One and All'.

Just remove those limiting beliefs - they are only untrue thoughts - thats all.

More at:
http://www.in-love-with-wisdom.com/

Sharing insights makes me feel good

When I put stuff out on the web, whether it's rubbish or great,
I feel good. It's a new and strange feeling. It's a sort of 'complete' feeling.

Without analysing it too much, it feels like a step in the right direction
towards a global communion. It's certainly unblocking!

Wow. I read this back and it seems over the top! But I still feel good
writing about it.



More at:
http://www.in-love-with-wisdom.com/

A year of Enlightenment is enough....

During 2006, I started each blog post with the words 'Enlightenment is....'

The end result is an ebook on the website, which talks about different perspectives and insights on enlightenment. Cool...

This year, I intend to just write from the heart, without any structure, and see what emerges as I go.

Why? well I just want to spend a year speaking my Truth, spontaneously, and see where it takes me.

Happy new year and more peace to all :-)

More at:
http://www.in-love-with-wisdom.com/

Enlightenment is not just knowledge

Enlightenment is not just knowledge and acquiring wisdom,

but 'naturally and unconditionally' loving too

..... in the here and now, I think?

More at:

http://www.in-love-with-wisdom.com/

Enlightenment is 'sharing Peace'

I have talked a lot about sharing knowledge, and, of course, we all talk about sharing love......

but what about the Dalhai Lama’s words of 'trying to share your peace'.

Cool?

More at:
http://www.in-love-with-wisdom.com/

Enlightenment is having certain knowledge about the future?

It seems my logical brain gets so fearful about wanting to have some control and security for the future, yet all the major events in my life just happened without my control. So I guess I must learn more to ‘trust and go with the flow’ I have no real idea what the world/universe will bring.

But I can take the Buddhist view and continually sow virtuous thoughts and deeds, in the present moment, in the certain knowledge that this will create a future based on what we think and do today.

www.in-love-with-widom.com

Enlightenment is feeling a 'loving wisdom'

I like the feeling of a ‘loving wisdom’ present everywhere in everyone. It suggests that the best knowledge of what to do, combined with a love for ‘the best interests of the person’ is developing and looking after us all. It’s a sort of ‘whatever I do, this has to be absolutely right’. Its relaxing and it transcends just wisdom and just love

It reflects the protection and beauty of Oneness through the Allness.

www.in-love-with-wisdom.com

Enlightenment is feeling the whole Universe

Our brains are simply not capable of understanding the whole of the Universe. They are not designed to 'think'and be that way. Given the experience and the knowledge, they can certainly think 'globally'.

But our Minds can 'feel' the whole of the Universe through Love. Love is present here and now, and everywhere. Love is the uniting force
of the Universe - holding everything together!

Think globally - feel Universally.
Smile :-)

Enlightenment is waking up earlier!

The Ancient Sages tell us to wake up to 'reality as it truly is'.

For some, it may be spontaneous, for others gradual.

But once you are awake, you are no longer sleeping.

Imagine that when you are awake, from normal sleeping that is, that
this is really still only a higher level of sleeping, and that you still need to awaken from that!

Brightness, clarity, and an overriding and unconditional love and wisdom come to mind!

I am told, 'keep making the effort until it is effortless'.

Maybe I need to set the alarm clock even earlier?

Enlightenment is becoming

I have learned that every person 'naturally' wants to become all that they are capable of becoming - the 'desire to realise innate possibilities' is inherent in human nature'.

I am inspired by this and the desire for a richer, fuller and more abundant life!

I was also told that the very best thing you can do for the whole world is to make the
most of yourself - to then be able to help others even better.

To my mind, Enlightenment is realising the innate possibilities that we all have, to become
all that we really are.

This is really making the most of your self for Self - for One and All - I think?

Enlightenment is what it is for you

I have been told that Enlightenment is not a gradual process but 'Enlightenment simply is' all the time. We just need to wake up to it.

I resonate with this.

Yet the Buddha said 'don't take my word for it, or anybody else's, but experience for yourself'.

In my case, I gradually feel more enlightened on a daily basis. This is my experience. What's yours?

I have no idea if I am close to an instant experience, or barely on the path. All I know is that I don't want to stop.

www.in-love-with-wisdom.com

Enlightenment is perfect

Today I took the advice of the Ancient Sages and accepted that we are all enlightened - it's just that we 'think' we are not.

To my great delight, everyone and everything seemed so perfect!

There was beauty in everything I saw. I felt so humble to the great order that seems to underly everything in perfect humility and compassion.

I felt like an observer without being an 'I'. I spontaneously feel moved to say 'it's a conscious reflection of something we will never understand, only enjoy'. Does that make any sense?

www.in-love-with-wisdom.com

Enlightenment and thoughtlessness

There is a Tibetan saying that 'thoughts and concepts are delusions, awareness is wisdom'.

Wise thoughtlessness and totally experiencing the now?

Inherent Wisdom beyong learning?

I like the story of the father who noticed that his young son loved to sit in the garden and watch the birds. One day, his father decided to teach his young son everything about the birds that visited the garden. Their names, where they came from, what they would eat, when - the whole who, how, what, why, when of knowledge.

When the birds visited, the little boy no longer seemed to experience loving them in the same way, as he was too preoccupied with thinking and knowing.

www.in-love-with-wisdom.com

Enlightenment is knowing there is rebirth but no one is born

The Ancient Sages talked about rebirth in every moment. In every moment we choose again to create, to remain the same, or to destroy. In other words, we continually have positive, neutral or negative thoughts, which become positive, neutral or negative realities.

Each moment is unique. The secret is to stay totally aware in the moment. To maintain and develop existing and new positive thoughts, and to eliminate and destroy existing and new negative harmful thoughts.

It is easy to explain to a 5 year old, but can an 80 year old practice?

Enlightenment is knowing you forget

No matter how many times I realise a Truth and/or gain a deep spiritual insight, I find that after a relatively short while that I have forgotten this.

It seems that I have to have this realization/insight several times before it starts to become a part of me.

Not so long ago, I put down in writing into my PC a series of short inspirations that I have had. They were very powerful at the time of writing. Shortly afterwards, I transferred this onto my PDA/mobile phone also. Occassionaly, I read from my PC or PDA the inspirations.

The other day I sat in front of my PC and had my PDA beside it. It occured to me that both the PC and the PDA have perfect recall of these inspirations, yet I have to read again what I originally wrote - to remember!

Weird??? At least I can get inspired, with the help of technology to remember - I don't think the PC opr PDA can get inspired yet?

More at www.in-love-with-wisdom.com

Enlightenment is far from the end

The Ancient wisdom tells us that:

Enlightenment may be seen as an end in itself. All else may be seen to be secondary.

In Truth, Enlightenment must be seen as the start of a better way to be of better service to others.

Enlightenment for self is courageous, yet limiting. Enlightenment of self for the good of others, as part of Self, is a humble and limitless act.

This is what the world needs!

Enlightenment, Truth, Wisdom and the Mind

The Ancient Wisdom tells us that the 'Truth is the Truth, whatever we may call it'.

It reminds us that we all have the Truth within us wherever we are and, although we may not 'know it all, consciously and logically' we intuitively know when someone is telling us a timeless truth (wisdom). We all naturally resonate with the Truth. The Truth is universal for humanity.

Yet the Mind, which is based on our personal learnings, experiences, beliefs and values, has another perspective. This may be the Truth, partially aligned to the Truth, or even totally untrue. The Mind filters and projects. Its often called the gatekeeper of thoughts.

We must train the Mind to hear the timeless wisdom. We must train the Mind to be quiet and calm and then be more able to hear the higher thoughts, the inner Truth, more often. Together with natural intuition, this will guide us better.

That's why I believe that meditation is one of the best spiritual foods, and that it will certainly and naturally lead to greater wisdom. In turn, greater wisdom will certainly and naturally lead to greater unconditional loving and compassion. The virtuous circle becomes complete. The Truth manifests in the dance of Love and Wisdom. The ultimate act of Oneness.

How many of us are spiritually undernourished? How many of us are spiritually poor?

Perhaps a better purpose would be to eradicate ignorance and spiritual poverty in an increasingly wealthy materialistic world.

How many spiritual billionaires could there be? Potentially, around 6.5 billion billionaires?
What could be greater?

Enlightenment is being what you don't know you are

Why suffer from being who we think we are? Why suffer from being who we know we are? Thinking and knowing are, and always will be, incomplete. They can only provide us with a useful but partial perspective of the absolute truth of reality. A tiny touch.

We develop a sense of individual self, as we think and know it. Yet the truth of reality is beyond the possibilities of personal thinking and knowing. The truth is simply too much for the limitations of human learning and knowledge.

Wisdom is here, there, everywhere. Wisdom is experienced and fully active in the now. Learn to unlearn. Know that you don't know. Be what you really are ... and forget the rest?

Enlightenment is living to love

It occured to me that many of us, especially in the western world, often say we must 'fight another day'. I certainly did, and often, and that's because many of us are too conditioned to strive to succeed.

I woke up today not to fight but to 'love another day'.

Just one different word and a whole different world, and an entirely different attitude.

So, every day now, I continue to love to live so that I can live to love.

It works for me.

Enlightenment is our guiding nature

I am so fortunate to live next to a small medieval village, surrounded by vineyards, and next to the Pyrenees, in the south of france.

This week, although it's still late march/early april, the sun and the blue skies have been glorious and so hot.

After a long walk, and following my meditation, I was reminded again just how much nature teaches us about who we really are. In walking, we can feel nature so easily. In driving a car, we are more likely to just see nature. Yet I have learned that nature has a tangible force that permeates the entire universe.

In that force, we can commune. In that force, we can feel our total connectedness to all of life. In that force we clearly see the continuous cycles of growth and transformation and feel the underlying infinity of it all. It's so natural. It helps us realise that we are a part of a higher force that guides us. It helps us realise the power and the wisdom of nature's laws. In nature we can see, hear, feel, smell, touch and taste our reality and truth. I find my walks, in beautiful and natural surroundings anywhere in the world, fill me with spirit, gratitude and awe.

Yet we sometimes think we know more. How many of us are so busy with our own thoughts and busy lives that we don't recognise or forget the guiding truth that nature offers?

Enlightenment is flowing naturally and effortlessly

If we could simply 'be in the zone' then everything would seem to flow more naturally and effortlessly.

But because we have associated success with effort we have made ourselves feel guilty whenever we take a naturally relaxed approach to life. I think we have missed the point.

What we need to do is become 'totally aware' or mindful, which is another way of saying that we need to be fully in the here and now. We can only do this if we are in a 'naturally relaxed state'. Beyond thinking and even beyond feeling. The paradox is that it takes effort to become effortless.

More at www.in-love-with-wisdom.com

Enlightenment is being really really awake

I realised today that it can be very painful to realise and fully accept some of your beliefs and behaviours about yourself. I have always understood that masks were a psychological device for presenting to others the image you prefer to give to them, but I realised that I have been presenting a mask to myself for a long time. Today, I took it off.

Ancient Sages tell us that, in an enlightened state, we are blissful and happy, with a deep inner peace. Today I felt much more awake to the reality of who I am. By taking the mask off I felt really really awake. But the feelings I experienced were the opposite of bliss, happiness and inner peace! There was a kind of inner peace, but quite different to the peaceful moments I have often experienced.

Hopefully, I am travelling somewhere?

Enlightenment is just the beginning

Much of life is about finding ways to lift the limiting beliefs that we have chosen to accept earlier on in life, in our culture, education and experience, and which prevent us from achieving our full potential, or at worst, may even destroy us.

Young children, without such beliefs formed, are happily enlightened without knowing it. That's why we can learn so much from the wisdom of children.

Whatever path we take, whatever spiritual disciplines we practice, the key is to remove negative and limiting beliefs and replace them with positive and creative beliefs. It is these positive and creative beliefs that are our natural innate state.

Eventually, we become more positive and creative than negative and limiting and, eventually, these better beliefs will be understood to be more than beliefs, but will be understood to be the reality of who and what we are. Enlightenment.

But the most important and enlightened realisation is that we are all naturally connected, at a higher level, as one, and one enlightened part of the whole is really enlightenment of the whole.

I like the notion that if there are a sufficient and a critical mass of people on the planet who are living in a more enlighted state most of the time, that this will trigger a more enlightened state naturally for others. So we work to help others and ourselves as one humanity.

Enlightenment is becoming the ocean

I like the idea that the universe is a great ocean of life.
A great ocean is continuously producing new waves that then grow, live for a while, and then merge back into the ocean again. Its a non-stop process.

An ocean of life is continuously producing new 'beings' that then grow, live for a while and then merge back into the ocean again.

The problem is that many of us believe that we are the finite waves, with a seperate birth, life and death, instead of knowing that we are all the vast infinite ocean itself that is continually creating and manifesting beings in so many different ways.

One big wave, perceiving itself to be seperate and rushing towards the see shore said to another big wave, 'we are going to crash and die'. The other wave said, 'just relax, flow and be, and you will see how we will all gently subside, pull back from the shore for a while, as part of our natural cycle, and then recreate again, as new waves, later'.

Enlightenment is a joke

In moments of laughter we go way beyond the rational mind.

For an instant, we seem to lose control. We freewheel. Fear and judgement simply disappear. We glow. We become our natural selves.

It's great to laugh, but too much laughing seems to then cause pain.

Yet the only thing to do in pain and suffering is to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

What's extraordinary is that life seems to be a dance between opposites, until we laugh. And then we remember, momentarily?

Enlightenment transcends duality

The dualistic notions of:

- inside and outside of 'us'
- spiritual and material
- past and future
- heaven and hell
- life and death etc

are, according to the ancient sages and an increasing number of modern philosophers, all wrong notions, that may well help us at some lower level of partial understanding of our reality, but need to be recognised for their limitations, and ultimate unreality.

Reality, expressed as the oneness of everything, suggests we are beyond this duality, at a higher level. So, perhaps we need to expand our perceived individual consciousness to an ultimate universal consciousness, so 'we' disappear and there is no individual self. Therefore, no

- inside and outside us but simply 'all-ness'
- spiritual and material but simply 'everything in nothingness'
- past and future but simply 'everything that ever was, is, and will be'
- heaven and hell but simply ' whatever is'
- life and death but simply 'one eternal consciousness'

I can cope with personal oneness and even community and global oneness, but I find difficulty contemplating the experience of universal oneness? Perhaps that is the privilege of the astronauts?

Enlightenment and the Wizard of Oz

I was intrigued and amused to read in the book 'The Buddha, Geoff and Me' by Edward Canfor-Dumas, the comparison between the three Buddhist virtues of Compassion, Courage and Wisdom and, from the Wizard of Oz, the tin man who needed a heart (Compassion); the scarecrow who needed a brain (Wisdom); and the cowardly lion who needed (Courage).

Of course, the Wizard taught them that they had all these qualities inside of themselves. Buddhism teaches that they can be cultivated through meditation and other spiritual practices.

I like it when ancient eastern and modern western thoughts say the same thing with profundity.

The truth is the truth - whatever label we care to put on it?

Enlightenment is Blissful Wisdom

We are told that there are at least three key phases to a successful and fulfilled spiritual life:

1. Blissful Ignorance - 2. Painful Knowledge - 3. Blissful Wisdom

1. Blissful Ignorance - a new born baby seems to be the nearest to this first phase of perfection, and connection with One and All.

2. Painful Knowledge - when a child learns, for the first time, about life and death and develops an incorrect belief in a 'seperate' self. Then, as a result, we develop our egos and our sense of fear, scarcity and need for competitiveness.

3. Blissful Wisdom - when we realise who we truly are. When we realise that we are part of a highly interconnected One and All. We are not seperated at this higher level. We are not ego's. This Oneness of life, the essence of which is eternal, continues beyond the mere birth and death of the physical body. There is no death only continual life and transformation! This Oneness of life is abundant and full. There is no need to compete - only to openly communicate, collaborate, learn, share, serve, create, and, most importantly, enjoy! .

Enlightenment is discarding the raft

The Ancient Sages talk of many different paths, but that they all ultimately lead to the same one Truth. It's impossible to do otherwise. The Truth is the Truth.

Each path can be likened to a raft to help us cross a river to the other side.

Once we have crossed, we are then supposed to leave the raft and continue on our way. It has done its job.

The trouble is, we can become too attached to our raft and want to keep carrying it on our back, as a burden. Even worst is when we never start our crossing at all but build a beautiful dwelling on our raft to stay. Some even measure the raft and know exactly all its dimensions and like to spend all their time painting it pretty colours and going nowhere.

I like the other analogy of 'pointing a finger to the moon'. Here the problem is getting too distracted and fixed on the finger, and not even seeing the moon.

But it is not that easy, as it can be very comforting to have a good raft sometimes, and letting go can sometimes be scary?

Enlightenment is instant creativity

I have always been interested in the notion that our dominating thoughts create our reality.
It works for me - think a loving world - see a loving world - think an evil world - see an evil world. So we need a collective world dominated by positive thinkers, not the other way round.

I really like the idea that we can truly 'create' our own reality from the unlimited, invisible, formless abundance and so there is no need to 'compete' for what is already formed. Instead, create something new and add this to the world.

I have learned that humans create most new things from the already formed, which is good, but I am told that we should spend far more creative thinking time to bring about new forms from the formless. I agree.

But the world wide web is now enabling much more of formless creativity around the world, much faster than before. I think thoughts, create a blog, share it, and hope for feedback, to help me better shape my thoughts, to then create more :-)

Amazing!

Enlightenment is seeking not to seek?

The mystic seeks the experience of unity with a Higher Self.

The sage seeks understanding of the Higher Self

The saint seeks to work through the Higher Self for the good of others

The non-seeker probably seeks something else.

The Highers Self seeks mystics, sages, saints and non-seekers?

Why seek?