THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF 

 NAVIGATING THE APOCALYPSE #2

Spiritual laws are operative whether or not we understand them or can explain them or whether or not we even know about them or believe in them.

The more we understand ancient spiritual truths and practice them the more equanimity we will have during these crazy times. The Buddhists teach that they are the true hedonists because they teach principles that make us happy. Many of us are looking for happiness in the wrong places. 

We need to keep reviewing and remembering these key truths below.    Repetition is important because so quickly we forget. We need to be constantly reminded about spiritual tenets or for that matter anything important. The mind gets bored with something already heard even if it has not been fully encompassed and embraced. 

Being aware of the lesson is different from learning it. Knowing the path is different from following it.

This blog series is a bird's eye view of our seminal spiritual landscape. We need to keep looking at the map ahead so we do not get lost. "If you don't know where you are going any road will take you there."

After this series we will drill down on them in greater detail.

Each of the following stand alone and together they are a gestalt for the soul's Becoming. There are so many variables out there these days, both light and dark. The only ones we can control are those inside of us.

I will use the same introduction each time so you know where we have been and where we are going. The journey is never finished and is a constant remembering and practicing. 

Spiritual laws are operative whether or not we understand them or can explain them or whether or not we even know about them or believe in them. 

The topics are listed below. The ones colored brown will be where we have gone, the purple where we are going.  

ABSOLUTE  SPIRITUAL TRUTHS

THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF

SELF-REALIZATION or  (“BECOMING”)

FREE WILL

IMPERMANENCE AND NON-ATTACHMENT

KARMA’S FIVE PRECEPTS 

SOUL ARCHITECTURE

THE THREE DEADLY SINS OF KARMA 

 THE THREE DEADLIEST SINS OF KARMA

THE HERO/INE vs. THE WARRIOR ARCHETYPE
THE HEALING OF MEANING
"FIELD," CREATOR,  SPIRIT GUIDES,  GRATITUDE

AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICE 
LOVE - FORGIVENESS 

ENERGY SYSTEMS

KARMA'S FIVE PRECEPTS

Consequences are neither reward nor punishment, they simply are consequences - natural cause and effect, often not immediate but always inescapable.

Free will determines what we do in terms of our intentions, choices and actions. 

Everyone can ultimately achieve the spiritual perfection for which we are created. This may take many life times because of free will. Free will is always neutral, motivated and catalyzed by one’s desire.

KARMA'S FIVE REQUIREMENTS

Destiny

“… Each soul makes two agreements upon entering the world. The first binds the individual to a distinct destiny that becomes the soul’s great project in life. 

The second entangles each person in the limitations of fate and responsibilities for family and community. While all second agreements can be renegotiated, the first is non-negotiable.” Michael Meade

Each of us has a unique talent to help the planet that no-one else has. Our work is to actualize it.

The hunt for our destiny is the hunt of our lives; stick to the scent, stay on the spoor.

God most delights when you are most you, when you are being most yourself. 

“Everyone has in him/her something Divine, something his own, a chance of perfection and strength, however small, a sphere which God offers him to take or refuse. The task is to find, develop and use it.” Sri Aurobindo

Our core strength which can enable our destiny is also linked to the Hero/ine's journey and the Healing of Meaning.

"To thine own Self be true." W. Shakespeare

"Be true to your myth." Joseph Campbell

Subordinating Ego

“The Light of lights looks always on the motive, not the deed… the shadow of shadows, on the deed alone.” W. B. Yeats

All must be done for its own sake, not for reason of outcome. All is a journey and not a destination and is a continual arriving.

The three deadly sins of karma are self-cherishing the persona (the small self,) desirous attachment and judgment which are also all part of the ego. These as well as the three most deadly sins of karma, greed power and fame/infamy will follow later.

Good deeds bound to an ego motive have karmic consequences.

Emperor Wu asked, “I’ve built temples and ordained monastics; what merit is there in this?”
Bodhidharma replied, “No merit.”

Our contributions to society are valuable but karmically neutral or even negative unless done for their own sake. Wu's contributions should have been anonymous for the sake of his karma.

Doing no harm (Ahimsa)

“See yourself in others then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do?”  Dammapada

“The fundamental delusion of humanity is to suppose that I am here and you are out there.” Roshi

Doing no harm to any of the Four Beings of nature - not just we Talking Beings is seminal to our karma.

"We all inter-are." Thich Nhat Hanh

The breath that is in all beings emanates from the Sacred Wellspring making us one - not the same.

Love

“Love is the most universal, formidable and mysterious of all the cosmic forces.”de Chardin

Love your neighbor as yourself is not a sentiment or an emotion but a commitment to seeing the divine essence in every human no matter how difficult that is. It does not mean we have to like them or have anything to do with them except maybe offering a helping hand in the moment if needed.

"We are all in the same boat in a stormy sea and we owe each other a terrible loyalty." G. K. Chesterton

If the law does not serve love do not serve the law.

Joy

"Everyone will be called to account for all the legitimate pleasures they failed to enjoy." The Talmud

Savor the moments, good or bad - the bad - for the lessons they can teach us.

“Indifference to the sublime wonder of living is the root of sin“ Joshua Heschel

"Joy is not incidental to your spiritual practice, it is vital." 

Rev Nachman

“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” de Chardin

Joy is an in the moment, exuberant, sensory experience that is difficult for many of us to attain except in rare instances. Rather it is usually about happiness, harmony, equanimity, balance, serenity, well being, all of which can and should be associated with gratitude. 

According to Daniel Kahanaman joy is part of the Experiencing Self.

Happiness on the other hand is often more of an evaluation of past, present and potentially predictable future events and how they feel. He calls this Synthetic Happiness which is part of the Remembering Self as well as our Psychological immune system. 

Synthetic Happiness also has a Reset point.  One bad event can spoil the happiness factor resident in the Remembering Self. He also claims that the last thing that happens to us is what will be recalled and hence it is essential to reset, reframe, reverse and replace this memory with a happy one - walking on the beach, chatting to a good friend, watching a funny movie etc. This information is critical to the times we find ourselves in now. Moreover, if we have watched toxic news or violent movies we may want to "cleanse" ourselves of them afterwards.

Using the senses (responsibly) for this is helpful. This is why the Ancestors are in favor of an embodied sensory practice; dancing, playing a musical instrument, yoga, singing, chanting bhajans or kirtans etc.

The route to God is through the senses. From my flesh will I behold the Divine.