Krysan Blog - TRAILBLAZING (4) How Great Thou Art

Details: Written by Marian Moore

KRYSAN

THE WELLBEING CONSULTANCY

(Previous blogs are stored in the ARCHIVES)

PRAYER FOR PEACE

Lord, make a channel of Thy peace that, where there is hatred, I may bring love; that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness; that, where there is discord, I may bring harmony; that, where there is error, I may bring truth; that, where there is doubt, I may bring faith; that, where there is despair, I may bring hope; that, where there are shadows, I may bring light; that, where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted, to understand than to be understood; to love than to be loved; for it is by forgetting self that one finds self; it is in forgiving that one is forgiven; it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life. St. Francis
BLOG 4 - Sunday 30 May 2010
'HOW GREAT THOU ART'

Click and enjoy,

How Great Thou Art - Harry Secombe

Earlier today I wrote,
'In the years ahead, we believe that many more citizens will consider it natural to take the lead in the creation of solutions to social problems'.
Contrary to what some might think, I didn't just pluck this notion or idea out of thin air and I am not preaching revolution in the usual sense of the word. So, let's get that out of the way. Rather, I am advocating for a subtle change in the way we  view ourselves and the power we have to change things for the better. At this point, I could do as I first intended and write about 'what everyone needs to know about social entrepreneurship' - but, I'm not going to do that.
Instead, I'm turning to the writings of Deepak Chopra to consider 'Your Inner Health and Happiness'. What follows are his exact words on the subject of change and discovering the power to fulfill your dreams. This is for everybody, everywhere:
"When people find that their desires are beginning to come true, in defiance of how reality is supposed to behave, the sudden influx of power brings with it vaulting emotions - people feel jubilant and triumphant; they feel fused with the very heart of nature. Fear becomes meaningless, replaced with immense relief at the true simplicity of life.
"Simplicity is the key. The rishis lived by a code that depends upon magic rather than struggle. Maharishi expresses this code beautifully: Keep your desire turning back within and be patient. Allow the fulfilment to come to you, gently resisting the temptation to chase your dreams into the world. Pursue them in your heart until they disappear into the self, and leave them there. It may take a little self-discipline, but be simple, be kind. Attend to your inner health and happiness.
"Allow your love to nourish yourself as well as others. Do not strain after the needs of life - it is sufficient to be quietly alert and aware of them. In this way, life proceeds more naturally and effortlessly. Life is here to enjoy.
"Just by being ourselves, we are borne toward a destiny far beyond anything we can imagine. It is enough to know that the being I nourish inside me is the same as the Being that suffuses every atom of the cosmos. When the two see each other as equals, they will be equal, because then the same force that controls the galaxies will be upholding my individual existence. There is no separation.
"If a man claims to be enlightened, I only need to ask, "Do your desires effortlessly come true?" If he says yes, I can accept that his thinking has turned magical.
"But I would ask a second question, "On what scale do you have your desires?" If he says his desires are for himself, I will know that he has not broken free of local reality (ego identified existence). On the other hand, if he says that his desires are for the whole world, I will know that the entire universe works on his behalf. He has mastered non-local reality; he is identified with the Truth - the Oneness of the Whole - he is a citizen of the field." ^{DEEPAK CHOPRA}
I leave you late this Sunday evening with some wise words from another spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama
"I, for one, truly believe that individuals can make a difference in society. Since periods of great change such as the present one come so rarely in human history, it is up to each of us to make the best use of our time to help create a happier world." ^{DALAI LAMA}
Until we meet again, take care of yourself.
I remain,
Marian @ Krysan
Reference
Deepak Chropra. Adapted from Unconditional Life: Discovering the Power to Fulfill Your Dreams, by Deepak Chopra (A Bantam Book, 1991).
The Master's power is like this.
He lets all things come and go effortlessly, without desire.
He never expects results; thus he is never disappointed.
He is never disappointed; thus his spirit never grows old.

- The Tao Te Ching
Quotation
Peace is the Way
Ten Steps to Peace Consciousness
(taken from Peace is the Way, by Deepak Chopra)

1. Change doesn't start on the surface. It's generated from consciousness. This has been true throughout history. If both Buddhism and Christianity could begin with one person, let us not think in terms of numbers and odds. It may sound grandiose to compare ourselves to great spiritual guides, but we act collectively, as an alliance. Our strength comes from critical mass.

2. We aren't here to make the world evolve. We are here to evolve as individuals and then to spread that influence. In the wisdom tradition of Vedanta, the stream of evolution is known in Sanskrit as Dharma, from a root verb that means 'to uphold.' This gives us a clue how to live: the easiest way for us to grow is to align ourselves with Dharma. We don't have to struggle to grow--that would be unproductive, in fact. The Dharma has always favored non-violence. If we can bring ourselves to a state of non-violence, and connect with others who are doing the same thing, we have done a huge thing to reinforce Dharma.

3. Societies get into the grip of their own self-created story. It's helpful to realize that we can choose not to participate in that story. Realize that national and tribal stories are limited, self-serving, based on the past, reinforced by orthodoxy, and therefore opposed to real change. Stories are incredibly persuasive. Wars are fueled by victimization that runs deep, for example. So let us not try to change anyone's story. Let us only notice and observe ourselves when we buy into it and then let us back away from participating in it.

4. Let us not demand of ourselves that we alone must be the agent of change. In a fire brigade everyone passes along a bucket, but only the last person puts out the fire. None of us know where we stand in line. We may be here simply to pass a bucket; we may be called on to play a major role. In either case, all we can do is think, act, and say. Let us direct our thoughts, words, and actions to peace. That is all we can do. Let the results be what they will be.

5. Let us realize that engagement and detachment aren't opposite—the more engaged we become, the more detached we will have to be. Otherwise, we will lose ourselves in conflict, obsessiveness, anxiety over the future, and feelings of guilt and inadequacy. Keep in mind that we are pioneers into the unknown, and uncertainty is our ally. When our minds want closure, certainty, and finality, let us remind ourselves that these are fictions. Our joyous moments will come from riding the wave, not asking to get off at the next station.

6. Since most misery is born of failed expectations let us learn to minimize expectations so that we will feel far less guilt and disappointment.

7. We aren't here to be good or perfect. We are here as the antennas for signals from the future. We are here to be midwives to something that wants to be born. Good people have preceded us. They solved some problems and created others. As one wise teacher said, "You aren't here to be as good as possible. You are here to be as real as possible."

8. I know this sounds difficult, but let us try to be tolerant of intolerance. This is a hard one at times, but if you try the opposite—showing a hard heart against those with hard hearts of their own—all we've done is expand the problem. It's helpful (but often difficult) to remember that everyone is doing the best they can form their own level of consciousness. Trying to talk a terrorist out of his beliefs is like trying to persuade a lion to be a vegetarian. All we can realistically do is seek openings for higher awareness.

9. Let us resist the lure of dualities. These include us versus them, civilized versus barbarians, good versus evil. The good, civilized people of Europe managed to kill millions of themselves, along with millions of "them." In reality we are all in the same boat of human conflict and confusion. Sometimes it helps to admit that the doctor is not far from being a patient.

10. Let's create an atmosphere of peace around ourselves. Imagine that we are like a mother whose children come home crying about fights at school. Would it be her job to soothe their wounds or to arm them for fighting back tomorrow? Simplistic as it may sound, the male principle of aggression can only be healed by the feminine principle of nurturing and love.

Love,
Deepak


- ENDS -