The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

--Rumi; translation by Coleman Banks

 

Most people perceive enlightenment as an end goal, i.e.  "I'll be finished with my spiritual development once I acheive enlightenment."  I believe that enlightenment is simply another step in our learning and growth.  It is a higher perspective, another lens through which we look at life while we continue to learn and grow.

To me, "enlightenment" is recognizing that there is an illusion of separation and seeking to peer beyond the illusion for the truth.  i.e. "Enlightenment" is a change of perspective from an ego-centric perspective to a cosmic or infinite perspective. See my blog, Higher Perspectives for more on this.

Andrew Cohen's (founder of WIE magazine) teaching makes a lot of sense here:  This teaching says that the reason we need to transcend the postmodern psychological disease of extreme narcissism is so that we can be that One.

Indeed, we see examples of this "extreme narcissism" rampant throughout religion. 

Isn't the basis of most religion the seeking of salvation - the saving of "self"?  "What is the condition of my soul?" is a common question.  Buddhism seeks nirvana which is a mode of being that is free from mind-contaminants (Kilesa) such as lust, anger or craving. It is thus a state of great inner peace and contentment - the end of suffering, or Dukkha, according to Wikipedia.  But isn't this yet another form of ego-centric focus, or narcissism?  Isn't ego the focus of most "self-help" groups?

Let me clarify what I mean when I say "ego-centric" or "narcissism":  All concern is on "my" state of being; how "I" feel; what "I" want or don't want; "my" relationship with "God"; how external events influence "me"...etc.

Living in ego is living in the illusion of separation.  "Enlightenment" is recognizing that the perspective produced by ego is an illusory perspective.

Try to think of it this way:  The most common idea of "God" is as an omnipotent, omnipresent being from which all creation originated.  So, if we consider the thought that "God" is The Source of All Creation, a natural question that arises is "what did S/He create everything from?"  In other words, what was the basic building material from which everything was created, if nothing else existed besides "God?"  The logical answer would be "God created everything from Her/His/Its self."

Or, look at it from a scientific point of view.  The Big Bang theory tells us that the entire universe emerged from a "singularity."  All energy/matter emerged from a single, condensed origination point at a specific point in space/time, and has evolved into denser states of matter and higher forms of consciousness, producing the universe as we know it today.

If the universe, including us, has been created out of "God," does that make any one part of it "less than God"?  If all energy/matter has been evolving towards higher forms of consciousness since the creation of the universe, and we humans have the highest known form of consciousness (homo sapiens sapiens, to paraphrase, = man that is conscious he is conscious), what does that say about us?  What does that say about evolution and "enlightenment"?

I don't think it has anything to do with managing stress or personal salvation.

I think the highest expression of "Enlightenment" must be compassion towards every being, and all of creation, knowing that we are all part of the Whole, that we are all Divine.  "Enlightenment" must produce higher states of consciousness, grander perspectives. 

My argument has always been that enlightenment is not some lofty, unattainable end goal, but something real and attainable.  Moreover, enlightened thought does not produce a dissolution of the physical self and immediate reunion with the divine, but rather it produces enlightened action.  Any enlightened action will lead to the possibility of attainment of enlightenment for others.  In helping ourselves, we help others, which helps us, which helps others, which helps....the collective Whole!  In my opinion, there cannot be enlightenment without fruit. "Enlightenment" must seek to continue our existence, in order to allow this grand experiment to unfold to its full potential.  It must be concerned with preservation of our planet.  It must devote itself to the well-being of all creatures.

True "Enlightenment" does not encourage the debate.  True "Enlightenment" knows that, at this present moment, action is required in order to continue our existence.

It is a higher perspective.  It is unconditional love and compassion. As for compassion, maybe "unconditional love" would be a better term to use since the word compassion has been so tainted with dogma.  "The unconditional love of God" or more precisely "God's unconditional love?"  To love others as if they are you.  To love the planet as if it were your mother/child/self.

The only thing I am certain of is that I know nothing for certain.  But I do know that if I try to base my thoughts and my actions from this higher perspective, I am happier, and the lives of those I touch are better than they were before.  I think that's as enlightened as anyone can hope for.

Namaste

 

Have you done anything today that has made a positive impact? 


This question could be applied to so many things -- I think it's a great question.  It could be inquiring whether or not you have had a positive impact on the environment, on your neighborhood, on your relationships, on the person who rang up your morning cup of coffee or who cut you off in traffic, on your health, or on your own spirituality. 

For Christmas last year I purchased a small, handmade journal for each member of my family, then painstakingly wrote in calligraphy this title, "Good, Small Things," and this quote from Mother Theresa:  "In this life we cannot do great things.  We can only do small things with great love."     I wrapped each journal in handmade paper and presented the gifts to them with the following story:

A few years ago, I worked with a woman who had a little boy named Kendall.  He was about three years old, and every time I saw him, he would climb up on my lap and give me a great big hug.  As it got closer to Christmas, Karen confided in me that her family was really struggling financially and she was afraid that she and her husband wouldn't have enough money to get Kendall anything for Christmas.  That evening I stopped at a toy store on my way home from work and bought the biggest yellow dump truck they had on the shelf and the biggest red bow I could find, and labeled it:  "To Kendall from Santa."  Just before midnight on Christmas Eve I drove to Karen's apartment, slipped quietly up the stairs, set the gift down outside her door, rang the bell and ran back to the stairwell, where I peeked back around the corner to make sure they answered the door.  I saw Karen's husband open the door, look around in puzzlement, then look down at the toy on the doormat.  I slipped away down the stairs, with joy in my heart because I knew I had just made one very deserving little boy happy, and I also knew that his parents had just had a little of their faith in humankind restored.

The journals I gave my family are journals in which they write down anything they do that makes a positive impact.  They can open their journals whenever they need a reminder of who they are -- good people, worthy of love and worthy of the kindness of others.

Hooray!  This is a major victory for our future!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EPA finds greenhouse gases pose a danger to health

By H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases are a danger to public health and welfare. It is the first step to regulating pollution linked to climate change.

Congressional sources told The Associated Press that EPA will announce its proposed finding Friday and begin a comment period before issuing a final ruling. The EPA also will say tailpipe emissions from motor vehicles contribute to climate change. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the finding hasn't been announced.

The action was prompted by a Supreme Court ruling two years that said greenhouse gases are pollutants under the Clean Air Act and must be regulated if found to be a human health danger.

 

I sit in this body, a body of light energy and a body of dark matter.  I think, but not with thoughts.  I feel, but not with my hands.  These hands lie in my lap, one hand open and empty the other with fingers in a circle.  I watch clouds crossing the sky.  Some are thin and wispy, almost insubstantial; others are heavy and dark, threatening to spill at any given moment.  The sun does not reach out and grasp them, trying to hold them up to cover its face.  It merely observes and allows each one its space for the moment, letting them come and go as the winds move them.

I, however, am not the sun.  I grasp and wrestle with my thoughts.  I reside in a place without silence.  There is nothing but a cacophony of sound and action.  There is no empty space for my own thoughts.  I struggle to find that place where the sky is blue and winds are calm.  At times I curse the winds and rant at the injustice of the weather.  I miss that blue sky free of interloping clouds.

I miss that place where white and yellow daisies spring up from green grass and brown earth.  That place where ripe orange globes of citrus hang from green lollipop-shaped citrus trees.  That place where the perfume of honeysuckle hangs on the air and bathes passersby in languid scents of happiness and peace.  That place of poetry and compassion.

Over the past year and more, I have listened to constant voices with supposed wisdom telling me to do this or that.  I have taken their advice and found that the results are worse than what I would have achieved if I had only listened to myself.   I have put my life on hold, waiting for something to "happen."  And happen, things have!  And I have grasped and clung to the things I thought I wanted.  And I have suffered for it.  Blow upon blow. 

Suddenly my attention comes back to my hands.  I open them both.  The circle is gone and my hands lay open and empty.  Not empty because they are lacking, but because they are letting go of the things they have clung to.   

I am ready.

The following is a letter to President-Elect Obama from the team at WorldChanging.com.  Please join with me and add your voice to this letter calling Obama's administration to action on climate change.
Namaste,
Annisa

~~~~~~~~ 

Inaugurate Change
WorldChanging Team
November 6, 2008 1:15 PM

Please visit Worldchanging's Inaugurate Change campaign to add your name to this letter that will urge Obama's administration to deliver a vital message about climate change in his very first speech as President.
~~~~~~~~~
Dear President-Elect Obama,

On January 20th, 2009, you will have the opportunity in your inaugural address to speak to the whole world at a moment of grave crisis. Your words at the podium that day will set the tone for how we as a nation rise to meet that crisis, and how our allies abroad respond.

We, the undersigned, believe you must call on all Americans to prepare for a national transformation. Scientists warn that what may be the highest safe level of climate emissions -- 350 parts per million of CO2 in the air -- is already behind us. That means we must slow down (and then begin to reverse) the flow of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere in the next 20 years if we wish to avoid catastrophe.

This is a monumental challenge, but it is an even better opportunity. We also encourage you to drive home the point that the things we must do to fight climate change are also the things we need to do to generate a strong economic recovery. Livable cities, clean energy, green jobs, new technologies, improved product design, better transportation, healthy forests and thriving family farms are all foundations of a strong new economy. American ingenuity can and will start a global recovery based on those foundations.

We encourage you to call for a national crusade to turn America into a climate-neutral nation by 2030, while building the bright green economy of the future. We also encourage you to promise policies which will drive rapid progress towards that goal, such as:

• Set a national greenhouse gas cap, fortified by an aggressive auction-and-dividend approach, so that the proceeds of the auction of carbon permits are returned to the people of the U.S. to offset any rising energy expenditures.

• Launch a national smart growth campaign, ordering all federal agencies to examine their policies' effects on the built environment and funding only infrastructure projects which stop sprawl and promote compact community and transportation choices. Preferentially support location-efficient mortgages and urban development bonds. [Smart Growth America]

• Set national building standards that will require all buildings to be carbon neutral by 2030. [Architecture 2030] Promote national policies reducing water waste and expanding green infrastructure. Greatly expand weatherization and retrofit support, helping to spur a green jobs boom among urban youth. [Green For All]

• Redirect all funding and support for fossil fuels into clean energy capacity. Underwrite investment into the infrastructure of the future, promoting smart grids and pushing the deployment of plug-in electric cars. Commit to meeting former Vice President Gore's challenge to provide all electricity in the U.S. from clean sources by 2020. [We Campaign]

• Rewrite the Farm Bill, to support smaller-scale family farms, local food, organic and heritage farming and the rapid reduction of the use of fossil fuels and irrigation water, as well as the rapid improvement of food quality in schools and low-income food programs. [The Food Declaration]

• Manage public lands and waters with carbon sequestration and biodiversity as primary goals, while supporting companies and workers transitioning to sustainable forestry, fishing and ranching. Direct agencies to work with states to promote large migration corridors linking biodiversity hotspots, and to anticipate the effects of climate change.

• Restore a respected role for science in the national debate. Appoint a science adviser on day one; invest in our national research institutions, including universities, and launch a major national environmental and climate science initiative. [AAAS and alies]

• Promote a national campaign for innovation and public outreach, funding the study of bright green innovation in universities, community colleges and schools. Support prizes for new designs and technologies and create block grants for NGOs and local governments working to spread innovation in communities and small businesses.

• Vigorously apply current and future environmental enforcement. Investigate past allegations of corruption and influence-peddling. Enforce the strictest standards of transparency and accountability in government watchdog and enforcement agencies. Raise EPA to cabinet-level status.

• Take a leadership position in international climate, trade and development talks, starting by attending this year's climate talks in Poznan, Poland as president-elect [] and then pushing hard for a treaty that sets developed world climate neutrality by 2030, and global climate-neutrality by 2050, as its targets.


We ask that you show the leadership needed to redefine our national challenge for the American people, and signal our good intentions to the rest of the world, and we pledge to do everything in our power to support the coming transformation.

With great hope,

The Undersigned

Sign this letter at inauguratechange.com.

I just re-read what I wrote last night and my only thought is: Wow, am I beating a dead horse?

Take a deep breath...

Mmmmm...

Ok, so let's analyze the situation. 

Einstein said something to the effect of "No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it."

So...what's really happening here - today, right now, not only in our country but in the entire world - is a SEA-CHANGE in thinking - in Consciousness.  We have known this for a while.  There is a massive shift in consciousness going on, and all the old ways of thinking and the people who are stuck in the old paradigm are resisting the change.  We see this evidenced in the current financial crisis.  This is a problem created by the old paradigm, and can ONLY be solved from the standpoint of the new paradigm. 

This paradigm shift is not just a shift in Consciousness, but in the underlying energies upon which our framework of reality is built.  We can no longer utilize the old "software" but must interface with the new release.   We're moving into a whole new operating system, Baby!  This creates the need to learn new ways of doing things.  That's why a ‘bailout' won't work.  It's like teaching a child to ride a bike.  If you run to bail him or her out every time he or she begins to fall, the child will never learn the skills to balance and ride on her own.

But, hey, when you really think about it would a collapse of a completely broken, outdated, dying economic system really be so bad, after all?  Wouldn't it get it out of the way so that something completely new could be established?  Something in alignment with the new paradigm?  A "bailout" only serves to hold up the old energies that need to be purged. Why not let it go?  It's the old energy and it's not in alignment with what's coming in. 

How exciting is this time!  It's a time of opportunity.  We can help create a positive future for ourselves and our children.  We can build something that works and is completely sustainable.  Let's look at this as an opportunity to come together and each give according to our skill sets.  Let's come together in unity and love and a spirit of trust that our needs will be provided for.

I guess that's really what my activism is all about.  I'm saying "Let go of the old junk!  Find new ways that are in alignment with the new energy!  You are the children of the light - SHINE!"

Wow!  Here's some of what the Senate put into the financial system rescue bill:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

TITLE VI-OTHER PROVISIONS

6 SEC. 601. SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SELF7

DETERMINATION PROGRAM.

8 (a) REAUTHORIZATION OF THE SECURE RURAL

9 SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SELF-DETERMINATION ACT

10 OF 2000.-The Secure Rural Schools and Community

11 Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 500 note; Pub12

lic Law 106-393) is amended by striking sections 1

13 through 403 and inserting the following:

14 ‘‘SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

15 ‘‘This Act may be cited as the ‘Secure Rural Schools

16 and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000'.

17 ‘‘SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

18 ‘‘The purposes of this Act are-

19 ‘‘(1) to stabilize and transition payments to

20 counties to provide funding for schools and roads

21 that supplements other available funds;

22 ‘‘(2) to make additional investments in, and

23 create additional employment opportunities through,

24 projects that-

345

O:\AYO\AYO08C32.xml S.L.C.

1 ‘‘(A)(i) improve the maintenance of exist2

ing infrastructure;

3 ‘‘(ii) implement stewardship objectives that

4 enhance forest ecosystems; and

5 ‘‘(iii) restore and improve land health and

6 water quality;

7 ‘‘(B) enjoy broad-based support; and

8 ‘‘(C) have objectives that may include-

9 ‘‘(i) road, trail, and infrastructure

10 maintenance or obliteration;

11 ‘‘(ii) soil productivity improvement;

12 ‘‘(iii) improvements in forest eco13

system health;

14 ‘‘(iv) watershed restoration and main15

tenance;

16 ‘‘(v) the restoration, maintenance, and

17 improvement of wildlife and fish habitat;

18 ‘‘(vi) the control of noxious and exotic

19 weeds; and

20 ‘‘(vii) the reestablishment of native

21 species; and

22 ‘‘(3) to improve cooperative relationships

23 among-

24 ‘‘(A) the people that use and care for Fed25

eral land; and

346

O:\AYO\AYO08C32.xml S.L.C.

1 ‘‘(B) the agencies that manage the Federal

2 land.

...

‘‘(11) FULL FUNDING AMOUNT.-The term ‘full

17 funding amount' means-

18 ‘‘(A) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;

19 and

20 ‘‘(B) for fiscal year 2009 and each fiscal

21 year thereafter, the amount that is equal to 90

22 percent of the full funding amount for the pre
23ceding fiscal year.

(This is funding for the Secure Rural Schools, NOT for the banking bailout!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't get me wrong -- there's nothing wrong with supporting rural schools, but why is this in the banking rescue bill? 

Can you say ******OINK******?!?!

Here's a link to the full 451-page text.

Please read the comments for more information on the contents of this bill and how to contact your representatives...

Hi Friends!

I know it's been a really long time since I've made any kind of activism posting, but today I am back!  This time, instead of a plea for your help with environmental issues, I am asking for your help in reaching out to Congress for a solution to the current economical crisis.  Let's create a positive future for ourselves.  Let's be a part of the solution!

Please read Donan's blog "Economic Recovery Solutions" and either print it out (on 100% recycled paper, of course) and fax it, take it or email a link to it to your state representative and senator, urging them to take action. 

I believe Donan has come up with a solution that will work for all of us typical American taxpayers and homeowners.

Thanks for your help!

Annisa