JOY AND HAPPINESS

SUFFERING, SORROW AND GRIEF #2

Neuroscience is now confirming what the sages - especially Patanjali - have said about 'Mind'. These principles can help us attain equanimity.

The mind must mind what the mind minds best. So which Mind do we or should we choose?

“Serenity is not a passive condition but an undisturbed peace of mind, active and aware which can be 

quiet joy, sometimes ecstatic joy, 

always deep within spirit and light of heart.” 

Father Toomy

There are two principles outlined here which I believe are key to attaining equanimity and balance.

1.

FMRI studies have localized the two minds in the brain that Patanjali described long ago. In modern terms; Monkey Mind or Big Mind. Monkey Mind resides in the primitive brain as indicated in the figure and is where both our primitive and toxic emotions arise. For most of us unless we have a dedicated spiritual practice we default to stress or even Flight or Fight in this area which connects us to our sympathetic survival response. Nothing creative happens here. The only way we get out of Monkey Mind is through some form of relaxation response imbedded in the parasympathetic nervous system, best induced by spiritual practice. We cannot think our way out of it.

On the other hand Big Mind in the prefrontal lobe connects us to either Love of Fear - our only two feelings. This is where our higher consciousness resides. FMRI studies have shown that advanced meditators appear to have more neuronal density in the prefrontal lobe and they default here. Even when there is severe stress they rapidly return to prefrontal lobe activity. This area connects us to the God head, the Field and our guides and is the space of creativity.

To attain equanimity and happiness we need to nurture Big Mind with spiritual knowledge and an effective spiritual practice. In this way we subordinate Monkey to Big Mind, Ego to the Higher Self and our Shadow to our Good Inclination.

Big Mind connects us to the parasympathetic nervous system and inner peace.

2.

Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel prize winner, in describing happiness, defines two Selves; the Experiencing Self and the Remembering Self. Joy has a different energy than happiness and is an exuberant, in the moment, feeling of the Experiencing Self.

He describes the Remembering Self being about our story and how we keep score. Since it is not an in the moment, blissful-like phenomenon like the Experiencing Self, he calls it Synthetic Happiness. He adds that this is part of our psychological 'immune' system. Its the Remembering Self that can make life seem more positive.

This system has a reset point. How the experience ends, will determine the lasting effect – happy or not. If not, he maintains that with redeeming or reframing a negative emotion into a positive one we can end up with a positive feeling - having a conversation with a close friend, a walk on the beach, enjoying a funny movie, etc. One bad aspect of an experience can ruin a satisfactory encounter because that is what is remembered rather than the good parts. The sooner it is redeemed the better. There is wisdom in the statements; never go to bed angry, or when you fall off your horse or bike get back on immediately.

If we imagine ourselves traveling down the river of life in our 'Destiny-Self Boat' we can think of the two banks of the river as representing happiness and joy on one side and suffering, grief and sorrow on the other. We need to stay in the midstream of balance and harmony and remain non-attached to either bank. Its not what happens to us but what we do with it that counts. Every negative experience present an opportunity for spiritual growth. There can be no growth without conflict.

When we bump into the bank of happiness we must be in the present moment with either the Remembering Self or the Experiencing Self but when it’s over, it’s over and we head back into the midstream again. Likewise, when we bump into the bank of suffering we should redeem or reframe the feeling and head back to equanimity's center as soon as possible. This is also the 'Middle Path' of the Buddha. We never set up camp or become attached to either bank. Non-attachment and surrender are key factors when considering our equanimity factor.

Harrison Owens' rule of non attachment can help us. 

Whoever are present are the right people. Whenever it begins is the right time. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened. Wherever it happens is the right place.

When it's over - it's over!

This is easier said than done due to the fact that we have memory which imprints our conscious and subconscious. Bad memories can result in P.T.S.D.

In spite of their own high level of consciousness animals do not get P.T.S.D. When a zebra escapes the predatory action of a lion s/he is not harmed psychologically by that thought of that imminent death. He continues being the zebra he always was. For us it's not that simple.

Shed and shie from what keeps the soul from joy. 

 

The tension between the two banks of happiness and sorrow is a template for spiritual perfection while we try to maintain a childlike innocence. In order to navigate our 'boat' skillfully, a dedicated spiritual practice is essential. We need to learn to coexist with but not assimilate the negative experiences. 

It’s a mind game ('a head trip') and the balance resides in how we are managing our spiritual practice.

"Pain is inevitable, suffering optional." Unknown

Ancient wisdom tells us to take our suffering and make something useful out of it. Every bad experience can be alchemized into an opportunity. The Phoenix can rise out of the ashes. Ongoing suffering is more a property of Monkey/Narrow mind and our primitive emotions. Spacious/Big Mind which connects to feelings - either love or fear - dictates that life is a test of our spiritual fortitude.

"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the butterfly calls the beginning." Zen saying

  

 

JOY AND HAPPINESS

vs.

SUFFERING, SORROW AND GRIEF

“A truly wise person is always joyful. The best way to live joyfully is to believe that life was given for joy. When joy disappears, look for your mistake.” Tolstoy

Its all about innocence, sorrow and joy.

“… In the sweat of your face will you eat bread, until you return to the ground; out of it you were taken: for dust you are, and to dust you will return.” Genesis 

The Buddha taught that desire and ignorance were the cause of suffering. Attachments to the same got us evicted from 'Eden' and they also prevent our reentry. Our desirous attachments connected to the self-cherishing ego result in Samsara, the continual cycle of death and rebirth. A spiritual life is the remedy but there are also specific factors that we can all invoke that can help us attain joy and happiness.

“S/he who sees life as a process of spiritual perfection

 does not fear external events.” Tolstoy

 

What we do with our experiences whether sacred or profane, light or dark, evil or good, positive or negative is a test of our spiritual fortitude. There cannot be light without dark, happiness without sorrow. We need tension for perfection - there can be no growth without conflict. Its not what happens to us that counts but what we do with it. Sacred and profane have been present since the beginning and the scriptures say of God;

I create the light and the dark. Choose light!

 

We are continually being tested not about how much we know or how well we perform but our trust, love and faith are always being tested at unexpected times and in often unrecognized guises.

It helps, when under adverse circumstances to try and think of oneself as part of a group of 'spiritual special forces'. That may help us rise to the occasion.

People are like tea bags. You only know how stong they are when you put them in hot water." Unknown

 

“What is the difference between your experience of existence and that of a saint? The saint knows that the spiritual path is a sublime chess game with God and that the Beloved has just made a fantastic move. That the saint is now continually tripping over joy and bursting out in laughter and saying “I surrender!” Whereas my dear I am afraid you still think that you have a thousand moves.” Hafiz

Karmically, we will be accountable to the extent we omitted joy or happiness in our lives. Happiness and gratitude for being in a sentient body is another karmic principle that needs to be fulfilled. We are here to enjoy life fully, but responsibly.

 

 “Joy is not incidental to your spiritual quest, it is vital.”

Rev. Nachman

 

“Everyone will be called to account for all the legitimate pleasures which he or she has failed to enjoy.” Talmud

 

“There is a Chassidic commitment to joy in the world. Joy is not earned, its given and does not require effort, only consent.”

 

Ancient wisdoms teach that we are looking for happiness in the wrong places and that spiritual tools are the route to true happiness. There are many words to describe happiness; 

equanimity, balance, harmony, serenity, security, inner peace, well-being … 

Ancient scriptures also confirm that having meaning in one’s life is key to happiness, as are relationships and giving back. Having meaning is a huge part of being happy.  Meaning is related to why we were put on earth;

"We are here to help others. What on earth others are here for I do not know." W.H. Auden

When we take our suffering and make something useful out of it that makes us happy. We need to take the crap and turn it into manure - grist for the mill.

The worship most pleasing to God is helping others.

Any who bring joy to another, bring joy to God.

This is best done according to Seligman, the father of positive psychology, by using one's core or signature strength to help others.

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” H. Thurman

 

Martin Seligman and Carol Ryff – emphasize how having meaning is crucial to well-being. They stress the power of experiencing positive emotions and a sense of flow when we engage with our core or signature strengths. Moreover, that we need to serve something bigger than ourselves in our relationships with others.

These are also the guiding principles of the incorporation phase of the hero’s journey after one integrates our core strength or our own unique archetype or destiny purpose into our work.

“When you find your place where you are, practice begins.” Roshi

 

“… do your work and step back the only way to serenity.”

Tao Te Ching

 

Our destiny archetype is the gift we have been given by the Creator to help heal the planet and correct injustice. The Hero/ines journey is a quest to find that “grail” or at least our 'core' or 'signature' strength so we can return to the tribe or the community and give back.

Unless we are in service to others, we will not endure happiness and the more we focus on ourselves the more miserable we become. This is not an ethical judgment, but a fact of life that is fixed as a default into the fabric of the soul. 

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”  Victor Frankl

 

Victor Frankl in his book Mans’ Quest for Meaning describes how he was able to overcome the catastrophic effects of being incarcerated in a Nazi death camp. Frankl also emphasizes how finding meaning in life is the primary, most powerful motivating force in humans. Nelson Mandela, Gandhi and many others remained committed to the profound meaning of their missions even under severe adverse circumstances, abuse and even torture. 

“Once what you are living and what you are doing has for you meaning, it is irrelevant whether you are happy or unhappy. You are content, you are not alone in your spirit, you belong.”
        L. Van der Post 

The safety needs of some of those in the death camps may have been severely threatened but they retained 'meaning' and purpose against all odds. The way a prisoner could imagine his/her future seemed to be the determining factor that counted most. Some imagined seeing a loved one again or being able to complete some mission such as writing a book. Others devoted themselves to helping the inmates. They tended not necessarily to be the physically strongest of those interned but they maintained an attitude of optimism rather than a head down, hopeless, helpless demeanor. They managed to temper anxiety, apathy, depression, detachment, desperation and dejection. 

 

”SHe who has a why to live for, can bear almost any how.”

 Friedrich Nietzsche

Life is short. We are here to enjoy the moment and give service, to help others to enjoy it too - karma yoga.

“Let your life dance lightly on the edges of time like dew on the top of a leaf.” Tagore

 

 

EGO’S TRIAD  #7

“By attributing worth to tangible objects humans becomes attracted to them; attraction brings desire for them; desire leads to competition and dispute. These create anger and the result is delusion. Delusion completely overcomes man’s sense of right and wrong.” Srimad Bhagavata

THE THREE DEADLIEST SINS OF EGO'S sELF-CHERISHING:

GREED, LUST, POWER

(GLP)

Given full power, greed becomes an enslaver of the greedy – fear becomes first a bully, then a torturer and then a killer.

Greed is the main motivating factor creating Lust and an obsession for Power. they, all three, are inseparable.

"Greed is not stilled with money any more than thirst with salt water."

"Not by the shower of gold coins does contentment arise."

"Desire is not quenched by indulgence, but grows like a fire fed with oil." The Buddha

Greed begets more greed which still wants more. It is never satisfied. Lust partners itself with Power for excessive desires for money, the material, sex, debauchery... We seem to now live in a world that has lost it moral compass and where greed is condoned and even admired. It has created autocracy and fascism which is spreading in cults and sometimes in the guise of religion and spirituality. The most famous of the latter is Osho, the fallen guru who manipulated his commune in demonic ways to his and the advantage of his core leaders.

…We must beware of anger and pride which are weapons of chaos, connecting us to our destructive instincts…

GLP can catalyze our most toxic emotions; malice, envy, anger, rage, hatred, and brutality when opposed. All of these can result in a desire for vengeance and retribution for even the most trivial of things.  Vengeance is antithetical to spirit.

"Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord."

“Holding on to anger (malice, hatred) is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” The Buddha

 These actions can have drastic karmic consequences. However, we would all prefer it if the punishments came around more quickly than with the reckoning when they cross the veil between the worlds. The perpetrators seem to get away with it almost entirely. We all suffer from their actions - not them.

GLP usually come together with the most malignant of self-Cherishing along with Desirous Attachment and Judgment with malice.

It seems the biggest tool that is used today is the power of the lie.

"Power corrupts and complete power corrupts completely." Lord Acton

Ego combined with the Evil Inclination or Shadow in these instances knows no boundaries. It seeks fame or infamy. Shadow overcomes any inclination to do good and is supported fully by an uncontrolled, primal Monkey Mind. The perpetrators are often supported by dark forces on the other side of the veil.

“Nearly all men can stand adversity but if you want to test a man’s character give him power.” A. Lincoln

Those with receptive shadows, may be captivated by these deadly attributes. Those that are powerless ride on the coat tails of toxic leaders and with their partners in crime and are endorsed by the dark side of the web. Their Soul Sickness can become Soul Loss leading to more heinous acts.

Those suffering from soul sickness arising out of isolation, loneliness, powerlessness, hopelessness and meaningless in life become vulnerable to radicalization. Isolation seeks company, even if it is dysfunctional.

“If we do not transform our pain, we will most assuredly transmit it.” Richard Rohr

During these times when pure evil is on the rise we need to know the power of GLP as well as the Evil Tongue, fake facts and distortions of history that flood the media and go uncontested. A.I. has the power to magnify the big lie. Hitler nearly conquered the world through his rallies and the radio. Think what he could have done today.

 

“…people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; 

and if you repeat it frequently enough 

people will sooner or later believe it.” Adolf Hitler

 

Hitler's main enemies were conscience and morality and his hatred of Jews made them the prototype and his arch enemy. However, his next target was going to be the Christians and others - much the same as the mantra of Islamic Jihad. Hitler admitted to being a barbarian. Hitler is the archetype that many dictators embrace today, knowingly or unknowingly because his methods work.

“It is true we are barbarians. It is an honorary title to us. I am coming to free humanity from the shackles of the soul, from the degrading suffering caused by this false vision called conscience and morality. ...” Adolf Hitler

 Many perpetrators appear to get away with their actions. Yes, the long arm of the law should bend towards justice but that may be agonizingly slow or seemingly not to bend at all. Moreover, there are brilliant, self-serving, legal minds with little conscience that have found ways around the laws.

“Malice sucks up the greater part of her own venom and poisons herself.” Montaigne

 

Ancient spiritual teaching are true but they seem to fall short of our in the moment feelings of frustration with what is going on currently. This conundrum remains a test of our karmic resilience. Everything is a test. Its not what is around us and happens to us that counts but what we do with it.

We can only hope...

“You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.” The Buddha

 

This lust for more and more power, seems to be escalating to the extent it can feel dystopian.

It is up to us on our search for Self to recognize this challenge outside of us and which is also within us. This can help us strengthen our resolve and our spiritual life when confronted with these apocalyptic events. We need to call a spade a spade otherwise we are in danger of being complicit which will affect the trajectory of our search for Self. We can at least appose in thought, if not in action.

Those who do not believe in true evil are sadly gnorant.

 

“No matter how you stir a pot of filth it is always a pot of filth. Better to let the pot be and string pearls for the sake of heaven.” Chassidic saying

These principles below were refined in the last century and are a terrifying template to what is going on now.

Herman Goering

“It was very easy, it has nothing to do with Nazism, it has something to do with human nature. You can do it in a Nazi, socialist, communist regime, in a monarchy and even in a democracy. The only thing that needs to be done to enslave people is to scare them. If you manage to find a way to scare people, you can make them do what you want.”

Joseph Goebbels

• A lie told once remains a lie but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth.
• This is the secret of propaganda: Those who are to be persuaded by it should be completely immersed in the ideas of the propaganda, without ever noticing that they are being immersed in it.
• If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even come to believe it yourself.
• Propaganda works best when those who are being manipulated are confident they are acting on their own free will.
•  The Führer is a man totally attuned to antiquity. He hates Christianity, because it has crippled all that is noble in humanity ... 
• [1928] We enter the Reichstag to arm ourselves with democracy's weapons. If democracy is foolish enough to give us free railway passes and salaries, that is its problem. It does not concern us. Any way of bringing about the revolution is fine by us.