Discord and Disorder

After visiting the sites in Amritsar and learning about their bloody history, my mind was racing incessantly with thoughts about violence caused by segregation, not only as a result of national borders but in regards to all divisions we create.

It looks pretty funny on paper, doesn't it?

We now live in a time where we uphold an extremely mechanistic view of the world and in which most individuals are aware of themselves as isolated egos existing 'inside' their bodies. A perfect example of the general populous' perception of the self is Descartes' famous sentence “Cogito ergo sum” — “I think, therefore I exist”.

For far too long humans have held on to the model that our minds and our bodies exist as separate entities, that somehow the sensation that is our inner dialogue can be fully understood in isolation from the sensations of sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch. Thus causing an apparent conflict between the conscious will and involuntary instincts.

Each individual has been split up into further compartments, according to his or her activities, talents, feelings, beliefs, ect., which are engaged in endless conflicts generating continuous metaphysical confusion and frustration.

The inner crossroads

This inner fragmentation mirrors our view of the world 'outside' which is seen as a multitude of separate objects and events. The natural environment is treated as if it consists of separate parts to be exploited by different interest groups. The fragmentation view is further extended to society which is split into different nations, races, religions and political groups. The belief that all these fragments — in ourselves, in our environment and in society — are really separate can be seen as the essential reason for the present series of social, ecological and cultural crisis. It has alienated us from nature and from our fellow human beings. It has brought a grossly unjust distribution of natural resources creating economic and political disorder; an ever increasing wave of violence, both spontaneous and institutionalized, and an ugly, polluted environment in which life has become physically and mentally unhealthy.

Breaking away from the fallacy: Returning to our roots

In spite of the current paradigm, it is certainly possible to overcome this fragmentation, leading us back to the idea of unity expressed in the early Eastern philosophies.

In contrast to the mechanistic Western view, the Eastern view of the world is 'organic'. For the eastern mystic, or more generally a realized human being of any background, all things and events perceived by the senses are interrelated, connected and are but different aspects or manifestations of the same Ultimate Reality. Our tendency to divide the perceived world into individual and separate things and to experience ourselves as isolated egos in this world is seen as an illusion which comes from our measuring and categorizing mentality.

For the externally-oriented Western person, it is hard to conceive how within could also include the without. However, it is possible to imagine humans as having their roots in a Source which is likewise the same for all.

Mandalas have often been used by the mystics to illustrate this situation where descending into one’s self is also a release into a greater reality. For example, in the Sri Yantra, the centre emanates forces which are manifest on the surface as physical reality, maya, or illusion; so that what we see are the diverse surface manifestations of one Source or one Ultimate Reality.

The Sri Yantra, sacred instrument, is a yantra formed by nine interlocking triangles that surround and radiate out from the central (bindu) point, the junction point between the physical universe and its unmanifest source

Yet it is not that the external reality does not exist, rather that it is filtered through the sheet of our ego. This false reality is transitory, not ultimate. We must realize that our relative reality is distorted by the individual ego.

This egoic perception of life is refered to as avidya, or ignorance, in Buddhist philosophy and is seen as the state of a disturbed mind which has to be overcome:

“When the mind is disturbed, the multiplicity of things is produced, but when the mind is quieted, the multiplicity of things disappears”.

As our state of consciousness changes, so too does our entire perception of the physical world. We perceive life as we are, not as it is — the world is a direct reflection of our inner state.

Over 5000 years ago, the ancient rishis of India realized that we are living in merely conceptual realities, which form our external world and are necessarily relative and idiosyncratic. Moreover, they dis-covered the reality within is Ultimate Reality and is the same for us all.

The Bhagavad-gita is a conversation between Arjuna, a famous warrior about to go into battle (a metaphor for our internal struggle), and Krishna, his charioteer. In the course of giving Arjuna all manner of spiritual and material advice, Krishna explains karma, the self, the Supreme Self, the purpose of yoga, the difference between our self and our material body, how our environment affects our consciousness, and how to attain the perfection of life.

In the Bhagavad Gita, one of India's most revered texts, the rishis teach us that we already have everything we are searching for in life. The teachings help us to realize the cosmos is within us and help us 'yeug', or unite, the individual self with the Absolute (also refered to as God, Atman, the Void, collective conscious, or the countless other terms we use to explain what cannot be named).

The idea that there is a goal…is misleading. We are the goal; we are always peace. To get rid of the idea that we are not peace is all that is required. Within the Gita, the wise charioteer Krishna shares this knowledge with the warrior Arjuna when he says:

“Kill therefore with the sword of wisdom the doubt born of ignorance that lies in thy heart. Be one in self-harmony, in Yoga, and arise, great warrior, arise”.

Harmonious living: Teamwork makes the dream work

I hope you do not misinterpret my words — I am by no means suggesting we ought to abandon everything we know and pursue ancient Eastern philosophy (although we have much to learn from these schools of thought).

I am, however, suggesting that we must wake up to the violence of segregation caused by fear and illusion. True freedom for all individuals within our global society will only come when the love of truth and trust in our spiritual nature far exceeds our fears.

We can unplug from unhealthy patterns, social groups and other external crutches to create extraordinary lives full of personal freedom and abundance. It requires educating ourselves and letting go of limiting belief systems. It requires a willingness to let go of false safety and security to discover that we are the authority in our lives. It’s time to break the loop that makes fear profitable. It’s time to embrace positive, passionate action.

Hungry for Change?

We are all here learning, growing, evolving together on our own unique path. When we walk together with our hearts open, resonating with unconditional love and compassion, we create a space where so much unlimited and pure love frequency can lift the density of the earth plane into higher gear. There is true power within love and sending it outwards from the heart will raise the vibration of earth and beyond. Love is always the key that can and will dissolve fear and illusion. Make the conscious choice to let go of all that old discord ‘stuff’ from your life and choose to consciously bring in the energies of love, light, peace, joy and compassion!

All that you see that is negative in the world, YOU really do have the power to shift when working consciously to make personal choices in your own life, letting go of fear and illusion and being the change you are seeking. We are one and we are love, this is our true essence and state of being. As we heal our own life, so do we heal the whole. We can help others more when we come from a place of self-empowerment and higher awareness of the bigger picture. Embody the essence of compassion. Focus on love, light and wisdom. Be mindful in thought, words and daily interactions. This will not only serve your own growth, but the growth of all of humanity. We are ONE. I LOVE you all infinitely.

Pay it Forward

As always, feel free share your thoughts and feelings 🙂

Peace In, Peace Out

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