Saturday, November 24, 2007
The Circle of Mentorship
The mentor has three primary objectives. The first is to answer the questions of his student when s/he truly has no clue as to what the answer may be and lacks insight into the nature of the problem In these situations, the student often approaches with a sense of being lost and confused. He may perceive that he is outside the ring of his abilities or "in over his head." He may carry a sense of heaviness, desperation or frustration and is looking for the mentor to be a light in his/her darkness.
The second is to confirm answers to the questions of the student. These are the questions asked by the student when he has some level of insight into the nature of the problem and an inkling as to what the answer probably is, but needs confirmation from someone with more experience and knowledge. He may phrase the question in the form of an answer that begs a comment. There may be a sense of opening or flowering about him. He may project a feeling of satisfaction that he has "figured" it out. He simply wants the mentor to affirm his light.
The third is to encourage the student into more insight. This is a highly individualized matter. Sometimes it is better to let the student bask for a while in the personal satisfaction that comes with the achievement of enlightenment or understanding rather than to immediately point him toward a new lesson.
Regardless of which objective is pursued, however, the purpose of the mentor is to always draw out the spiritual intelligence and awareness of the student. It is to help him recognize that the answers lie within. The mentor has no answers that lie outside the eventual grasp of the student. It is just that the mentor has walked a path sufficient to cause the natural unfolding of his understanding. He is just further up the path. When the student approaches that level of perception, he becomes less and less dependent on the mentor.
The role of the mentor, therefore, is a paradox. He works toward his own obsolescence with a student. But he also realizes that, among the larger scope of humanity, he will always be needed.
There will always be those ahead of you and those behind you on the path. The mentor helps students who are behind him on the path 1) because he has been helped, 2) because he knows the path up to his current position and 3) because he hopes that they will, in turn, help others. In this way, the circle of mentorship remains unbroken.
The second is to confirm answers to the questions of the student. These are the questions asked by the student when he has some level of insight into the nature of the problem and an inkling as to what the answer probably is, but needs confirmation from someone with more experience and knowledge. He may phrase the question in the form of an answer that begs a comment. There may be a sense of opening or flowering about him. He may project a feeling of satisfaction that he has "figured" it out. He simply wants the mentor to affirm his light.
The third is to encourage the student into more insight. This is a highly individualized matter. Sometimes it is better to let the student bask for a while in the personal satisfaction that comes with the achievement of enlightenment or understanding rather than to immediately point him toward a new lesson.
Regardless of which objective is pursued, however, the purpose of the mentor is to always draw out the spiritual intelligence and awareness of the student. It is to help him recognize that the answers lie within. The mentor has no answers that lie outside the eventual grasp of the student. It is just that the mentor has walked a path sufficient to cause the natural unfolding of his understanding. He is just further up the path. When the student approaches that level of perception, he becomes less and less dependent on the mentor.
The role of the mentor, therefore, is a paradox. He works toward his own obsolescence with a student. But he also realizes that, among the larger scope of humanity, he will always be needed.
There will always be those ahead of you and those behind you on the path. The mentor helps students who are behind him on the path 1) because he has been helped, 2) because he knows the path up to his current position and 3) because he hopes that they will, in turn, help others. In this way, the circle of mentorship remains unbroken.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Listening
See without looking, hear without listening, breathe without asking.
W.H.Auden
There is a lot in our lives that clamors for our attention. The morning news, the evening newspaper, the important issues of our time that scream to our hearts. We have bills to pay, relationships to nurture, children to raise, elders to care for. There are lawns to mow, home repairs to make, problems at work to solve, and financial planning to do.
These kinds of demands make it important for us to be able to do things quickly. Our society values speed. As a result, we place a great deal of emphasis on our destination as opposed to our journey. We have become, to a large degree, problem solvers instead of planners.
All this makes it difficult for us to listen. The need for quick resolution often overpowers the need for quiet reflection and contemplation. Many of us do not take the time to listen, let alone move to deeper levels which involve hearing without listening.
It’s possible for someone to live their entire life without really knowing who they are. This can happen when a person doesn’t quiet their mind and spend time in reflection, listening to the voice of their soul.
The result can be a failure to connect with their archetype. This means that the person doesn’t reach their potential and, in a sense, becomes someone other than who they should have or could have been.
Many mentors, driven by the problem solving orientation of our society, feel that they must be the saviors of their students. If you are spending more time talking to rather than listening to people, you may be one of those. If you find yourself framing your answers while the other person is still talking, you may be one of those.
Practice listening fully to the other person until they are finished talking before you think about your response. Practice talking only 25 percent of the time during a conversation. Center on the fact that the person you are with and your interaction with them is the most important part of your environment at the moment.
It is curiously easy to forget that we live in an interconnected universe when we try to communicate with God. Some of us may feel that God, for whatever reason, will not respond. It is important to remember that it is easier to hear responses when we quiet our own mind. It is almost impossible to conduct two conversations at one time.
We may also need to examine our approach. It is one thing to say, “Listen to me God, because I am speaking.” It is quite another to say, “Speak to me God, because I am listening.” We may think we are doing the latter when we are really doing the former.
W.H.Auden
There is a lot in our lives that clamors for our attention. The morning news, the evening newspaper, the important issues of our time that scream to our hearts. We have bills to pay, relationships to nurture, children to raise, elders to care for. There are lawns to mow, home repairs to make, problems at work to solve, and financial planning to do.
These kinds of demands make it important for us to be able to do things quickly. Our society values speed. As a result, we place a great deal of emphasis on our destination as opposed to our journey. We have become, to a large degree, problem solvers instead of planners.
All this makes it difficult for us to listen. The need for quick resolution often overpowers the need for quiet reflection and contemplation. Many of us do not take the time to listen, let alone move to deeper levels which involve hearing without listening.
It’s possible for someone to live their entire life without really knowing who they are. This can happen when a person doesn’t quiet their mind and spend time in reflection, listening to the voice of their soul.
The result can be a failure to connect with their archetype. This means that the person doesn’t reach their potential and, in a sense, becomes someone other than who they should have or could have been.
Many mentors, driven by the problem solving orientation of our society, feel that they must be the saviors of their students. If you are spending more time talking to rather than listening to people, you may be one of those. If you find yourself framing your answers while the other person is still talking, you may be one of those.
Practice listening fully to the other person until they are finished talking before you think about your response. Practice talking only 25 percent of the time during a conversation. Center on the fact that the person you are with and your interaction with them is the most important part of your environment at the moment.
It is curiously easy to forget that we live in an interconnected universe when we try to communicate with God. Some of us may feel that God, for whatever reason, will not respond. It is important to remember that it is easier to hear responses when we quiet our own mind. It is almost impossible to conduct two conversations at one time.
We may also need to examine our approach. It is one thing to say, “Listen to me God, because I am speaking.” It is quite another to say, “Speak to me God, because I am listening.” We may think we are doing the latter when we are really doing the former.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Could it be ... ?
Many religions portray God as vindictive, punitive, judgmental and even savage. Some stories in the Old Testament, for example, teach that God commanded the Hebrew people to go into towns and kill every living thing … men, women, children, babies and livestock. Many Christian churches teach that if a person does not accept Jesus Christ as their “personal saviour” they will “burn” in hell forever. A lot of churches infer that God keeps track of everything you do for the purpose of holding it against you at “the last day.” Most teach that God is outside you … that heaven is in the sky … that we are separate from God.
It’s very conflicting to believe that the God that “commanded” the Hebrews to wipe out every living creature in a town is the same God who Jesus painted as a loving father who searches earnestly for a single, lost sheep. It is difficult to believe that God is outside of you and looking down at you from heaven if you also believe Jesus when he said that the kingdom is within you. It is a schizoid belief system that purports that God loves you but, on the other hand, has no hesitation about throwing you into eternal punishment if you don’t tow the line on a particular doctrine. It’s a bit like trying to reconcile that an abusive spouse who beats his partner and then claims he loves her is telling the truth.
Could it be … that parts of scripture are inaccurate in their portrayals? Could it be, for example, that God didn’t command the Hebrews to destroy every living creature in those towns … that they simply did it and claimed that God told them to do it?
Could it be that God doesn’t throw souls into an eternal punishment just because they don’t profess a belief in Jesus as their personal saviour? Is it possible that early church fathers interjected that belief into scriptural texts in an effort to control their flocks?
Could it be that God isn’t outside of us, looking down sternly from Heaven and shaking his head at every wrong thing we do? Could it be that Jesus was right … that God is inside all of us … that there is nothing separate from God?
Could it be that we have the wrong picture of God … or at least a very, very limited and vastly inaccurate view? Probably so. I say “probably” because the apostle Paul was right … “we see through a glass darkly.” I can’t say with much authority that I am right and others who believe as I described above are wrong. All I can say with some level of certainty is that the views I’ve described above conflict with themselves and it is unlikely that the picture they paint of God is how S/he really is (God is Spirit by the way … there is no gender involved).
The Universe is so incredibly large and complex that we, as humans, can’t hope to comprehend even a fraction of it. So we frame both it and God in terms of what we can understand. We create God in our own image. We frame Him/Her from the perspectives of our own view … much as our worldview is simply framed by the way in which we view the world.
So … what do I believe? That it makes more sense to work toward embracing a view of God that hangs together. We shouldn’t condemn those who believe differently … but if an opportunity arises, there’s nothing wrong with presenting them with a more cohesive and healing viewpoint.
It’s very conflicting to believe that the God that “commanded” the Hebrews to wipe out every living creature in a town is the same God who Jesus painted as a loving father who searches earnestly for a single, lost sheep. It is difficult to believe that God is outside of you and looking down at you from heaven if you also believe Jesus when he said that the kingdom is within you. It is a schizoid belief system that purports that God loves you but, on the other hand, has no hesitation about throwing you into eternal punishment if you don’t tow the line on a particular doctrine. It’s a bit like trying to reconcile that an abusive spouse who beats his partner and then claims he loves her is telling the truth.
Could it be … that parts of scripture are inaccurate in their portrayals? Could it be, for example, that God didn’t command the Hebrews to destroy every living creature in those towns … that they simply did it and claimed that God told them to do it?
Could it be that God doesn’t throw souls into an eternal punishment just because they don’t profess a belief in Jesus as their personal saviour? Is it possible that early church fathers interjected that belief into scriptural texts in an effort to control their flocks?
Could it be that God isn’t outside of us, looking down sternly from Heaven and shaking his head at every wrong thing we do? Could it be that Jesus was right … that God is inside all of us … that there is nothing separate from God?
Could it be that we have the wrong picture of God … or at least a very, very limited and vastly inaccurate view? Probably so. I say “probably” because the apostle Paul was right … “we see through a glass darkly.” I can’t say with much authority that I am right and others who believe as I described above are wrong. All I can say with some level of certainty is that the views I’ve described above conflict with themselves and it is unlikely that the picture they paint of God is how S/he really is (God is Spirit by the way … there is no gender involved).
The Universe is so incredibly large and complex that we, as humans, can’t hope to comprehend even a fraction of it. So we frame both it and God in terms of what we can understand. We create God in our own image. We frame Him/Her from the perspectives of our own view … much as our worldview is simply framed by the way in which we view the world.
So … what do I believe? That it makes more sense to work toward embracing a view of God that hangs together. We shouldn’t condemn those who believe differently … but if an opportunity arises, there’s nothing wrong with presenting them with a more cohesive and healing viewpoint.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The Ripples of a Pond
The fundamental delusion of humanity is to suppose that I am here and you are out there.
Yasutani Roshi
When I was a small boy there was a little spring fed creek that emptied into a large pond in the woods across the street from our house. I spent endless hours at that pond catching snakes, fish and polliwogs, skating across its icy surface in the winter and generally getting wet and muddy.
Behind the pond there was an abandoned vineyard that still produced some of the best tasting grapes around. We'd often slip through the woods into the vineyard, grab a bunch of grapes and take them back to the pond to eat. Sitting on the bank, we'd spit the seeds into the water with all the force our boyish lungs could muster, watching the ripples extend outward n the water from the point of impact. Sometimes they would reach from shore to shore.
My world has grown since those carefree days. Sadly, the pond no longer exists. It was filled in so that a house could be built on the property. But I carry in my heart many lessons learned on its banks.
Our world is much like a pond. Everything is connected in an intricate ecosystem that weaves together what we sometimes label and compartmentalize as temporal,spiritual or biological. The instructor of my college biology course once told me that it is impossible for an action at one level of a pond not to affect the quality of life at another level of the pond.
So it is with our world. The ripples of our actions generally extend much farther than we sometimes wish to believe.
I once watched a tape on quantum physics in which the creator of "The Butterfly Effect" proposed that the interconnectedness of the universe was so profound that the flight of a butterfly in one part of the world could impacted developing weather patterns in a completely different part of the world.
Although it staggers the imagination, at an intuitive level, I believe there is some truth to what the man said. We seldom know how much our intents, decisions and actions impact the flow of life around and beyond us.
This is beautifully illustrated in the Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life." In this film, Jimmy Stewart plays a man who was gifted, through angelic help, with the ability to see what life would have been like in his town had he not been born. He saw how, without his influence, his mother had become a bitter old woman and his wife a shy and reclusive person. He saw how a pharmacist had accidentally killed a little boy with the wrong prescription because he had not been there to catch the mistake. The town, in general, was absent of any morals or ethics and was in a state of decay. All because he had not been there to ripple his influence through his environment.
And it is not the major efforts that count so much in our ability to create change. The author of "Saved By The Light", in writing about his two near death experiences and what he learned in his encounters with the beings of Light, said that it was more often the small things that people do for one another that have the greatest impact. Highlights of his life review included the times that he visited nursing homes and combed a residents hair or changed a diaper. He remembers being able to feel the gratitude they felt for him when he performed those simple acts. And he was able to comprehend how very important they were.
When we come to realize that we, as individuals are not "here" while others are "out there" and can couple that with the understanding of the true scope and power of our actions as they ripple outward into our environment, we will be well on our way to being able to work miracles in our world.
"If you give a cup of cold water to a child, it will not be forgotten." Jesus of Nazareth
Yasutani Roshi
When I was a small boy there was a little spring fed creek that emptied into a large pond in the woods across the street from our house. I spent endless hours at that pond catching snakes, fish and polliwogs, skating across its icy surface in the winter and generally getting wet and muddy.
Behind the pond there was an abandoned vineyard that still produced some of the best tasting grapes around. We'd often slip through the woods into the vineyard, grab a bunch of grapes and take them back to the pond to eat. Sitting on the bank, we'd spit the seeds into the water with all the force our boyish lungs could muster, watching the ripples extend outward n the water from the point of impact. Sometimes they would reach from shore to shore.
My world has grown since those carefree days. Sadly, the pond no longer exists. It was filled in so that a house could be built on the property. But I carry in my heart many lessons learned on its banks.
Our world is much like a pond. Everything is connected in an intricate ecosystem that weaves together what we sometimes label and compartmentalize as temporal,spiritual or biological. The instructor of my college biology course once told me that it is impossible for an action at one level of a pond not to affect the quality of life at another level of the pond.
So it is with our world. The ripples of our actions generally extend much farther than we sometimes wish to believe.
I once watched a tape on quantum physics in which the creator of "The Butterfly Effect" proposed that the interconnectedness of the universe was so profound that the flight of a butterfly in one part of the world could impacted developing weather patterns in a completely different part of the world.
Although it staggers the imagination, at an intuitive level, I believe there is some truth to what the man said. We seldom know how much our intents, decisions and actions impact the flow of life around and beyond us.
This is beautifully illustrated in the Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life." In this film, Jimmy Stewart plays a man who was gifted, through angelic help, with the ability to see what life would have been like in his town had he not been born. He saw how, without his influence, his mother had become a bitter old woman and his wife a shy and reclusive person. He saw how a pharmacist had accidentally killed a little boy with the wrong prescription because he had not been there to catch the mistake. The town, in general, was absent of any morals or ethics and was in a state of decay. All because he had not been there to ripple his influence through his environment.
And it is not the major efforts that count so much in our ability to create change. The author of "Saved By The Light", in writing about his two near death experiences and what he learned in his encounters with the beings of Light, said that it was more often the small things that people do for one another that have the greatest impact. Highlights of his life review included the times that he visited nursing homes and combed a residents hair or changed a diaper. He remembers being able to feel the gratitude they felt for him when he performed those simple acts. And he was able to comprehend how very important they were.
When we come to realize that we, as individuals are not "here" while others are "out there" and can couple that with the understanding of the true scope and power of our actions as they ripple outward into our environment, we will be well on our way to being able to work miracles in our world.
"If you give a cup of cold water to a child, it will not be forgotten." Jesus of Nazareth
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Peripheral Vision
As a boy, I learned the value of paying attention to my peripheral vision. When my father was teaching me how to hunt deer, we would walk far into the quiet hardwood forests and pick a spot to sit down high on the side of a hill. He taught me how to sit quietly, slowly scanning the area that was in front of me, but paying special attention to any movement that I would catch out of the corner of my eye. Often the deer would approach you from behind and the first notice you would get of their presence was the brief movement of a head or the flick of an ear that you would see off to one side in your peripheral vision.
Over the years, I have come to realize that peripheral vision can often be of more help than forward focused vision. This is particularly true when you are wrestling with spiritual issues or issues of the heart.
I can look back over my life and count on one hand the times when I have faced difficult situations, have longed for a direct answer and have actually received one. Very, very seldom have I been whacked on the side of the head by anyone (even of a higher source) to get my attention so they could plop THE answer into the lap. Most of the time I found the answers in a much more indirect fashions. I have glimpsed part of the answer in my spiritual peripheral vision and worked from there to get a better understanding.
Concentrating your vision in one spot as you seek an answer, even if it is forward oriented, can restrict you from finding answers in the periphery. Although angels appear to us more often than we may think, they are more frequently than not disguised. In the same respect, I suspect few of us have seen burning bushes.
The universe more often provides glimpses of answers, pieces of the puzzle, a shove in the right direction. I suppose part of the reason is that the search helps us develop. If we had an immediate answer to every question we asked we would quickly become a heap of jelly. We would be unable to make our own decisions, to develop analytical and intuitive skills, to hone our judgment. From that perspective, life is in the journey, not the destination.
When facing a difficult situation, you are probably better off looking for answers in the periphery rather than hoping for an angelic visitation or an audible voice from heaven. Look for the stranger or friend that unexpectedly crosses your path and talks about life. Pay attention to your dreams. Watch for the book that calls out to you from the bookstore shelf. Listen to your intuition. Watch for that flick of a deers ear off to your side.
Over the years, I have come to realize that peripheral vision can often be of more help than forward focused vision. This is particularly true when you are wrestling with spiritual issues or issues of the heart.
I can look back over my life and count on one hand the times when I have faced difficult situations, have longed for a direct answer and have actually received one. Very, very seldom have I been whacked on the side of the head by anyone (even of a higher source) to get my attention so they could plop THE answer into the lap. Most of the time I found the answers in a much more indirect fashions. I have glimpsed part of the answer in my spiritual peripheral vision and worked from there to get a better understanding.
Concentrating your vision in one spot as you seek an answer, even if it is forward oriented, can restrict you from finding answers in the periphery. Although angels appear to us more often than we may think, they are more frequently than not disguised. In the same respect, I suspect few of us have seen burning bushes.
The universe more often provides glimpses of answers, pieces of the puzzle, a shove in the right direction. I suppose part of the reason is that the search helps us develop. If we had an immediate answer to every question we asked we would quickly become a heap of jelly. We would be unable to make our own decisions, to develop analytical and intuitive skills, to hone our judgment. From that perspective, life is in the journey, not the destination.
When facing a difficult situation, you are probably better off looking for answers in the periphery rather than hoping for an angelic visitation or an audible voice from heaven. Look for the stranger or friend that unexpectedly crosses your path and talks about life. Pay attention to your dreams. Watch for the book that calls out to you from the bookstore shelf. Listen to your intuition. Watch for that flick of a deers ear off to your side.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Changing the Future
When my daughter was little I took her to see The Lion King. Yes, I'm a sucker for those sentimental Disney animations and this was no exception. There is a problem with these films, though, and that is finding a way to discretely wipe the tears off a grown mans cheek in a crowded theater. But that's another story.
The Lion King is a wonderful tale about a lion cub whose strong, kind and wise father is the ruler over all of their territory. The cub is destined to eventually succeed his father as king were it not for the king's evil and jealous younger brother who has his eye on the throne. The younger brother, allied with a pack of hyenas, succeeds in his attempt to kill the king and then drives the cub from the territory, telling the other lions that he was also killed. This leaves him as the only legal successor to the throne.
During his long exile the cub grieves his fathers death and bemoans the loss of his family and destiny, feeling powerless to change his present or future. But a shaman, in the form of a monkey, discovers by chance that the cub is still alive and journeys off to find him.
When they meet, the shaman encourages the now grown cub to return to the territory to take his rightful place as king. But he refuses, not thinking himself worthy of the throne, feeling that he couldn't break free of the past and believing that he was powerless to change the future. With resignation, he sighs, "What's past is past. I can't change it and it doesn't matter now anyway."
With that, the shaman whacks him soundly on the head with his staff. The lion is shocked, roaring out, "HEY, what did you do THAT for ... that HURT!" With a giggle, the shaman replied, "Doesn't matter ... it's in the past!"
What a wonderful analogy to explain the relationship between the past, present and future. How often does our bewailing of the past paralyze us in the present, affecting our future?
With a swift swing of his staff and a hard thump on the head, the shaman reminds us of the links between past, present and future. You cannot change the future unless you change the present. Changing the present immediately changes the future.
Angels will tell you that prophecy is always conditional. Consider the story of Jonah.
Potentials are inexorably linked to choice and are always forward moving. All points in the past were once points in the present. Decisions made in those points created our present reality. Whenever you made a choice in the present, you instantaneously impacted the future.
Can we change the future? Absolutely. Will we change the future? That is entirely up to us. But mentors must be in the forefront of those trying.
The Lion King is a wonderful tale about a lion cub whose strong, kind and wise father is the ruler over all of their territory. The cub is destined to eventually succeed his father as king were it not for the king's evil and jealous younger brother who has his eye on the throne. The younger brother, allied with a pack of hyenas, succeeds in his attempt to kill the king and then drives the cub from the territory, telling the other lions that he was also killed. This leaves him as the only legal successor to the throne.
During his long exile the cub grieves his fathers death and bemoans the loss of his family and destiny, feeling powerless to change his present or future. But a shaman, in the form of a monkey, discovers by chance that the cub is still alive and journeys off to find him.
When they meet, the shaman encourages the now grown cub to return to the territory to take his rightful place as king. But he refuses, not thinking himself worthy of the throne, feeling that he couldn't break free of the past and believing that he was powerless to change the future. With resignation, he sighs, "What's past is past. I can't change it and it doesn't matter now anyway."
With that, the shaman whacks him soundly on the head with his staff. The lion is shocked, roaring out, "HEY, what did you do THAT for ... that HURT!" With a giggle, the shaman replied, "Doesn't matter ... it's in the past!"
What a wonderful analogy to explain the relationship between the past, present and future. How often does our bewailing of the past paralyze us in the present, affecting our future?
With a swift swing of his staff and a hard thump on the head, the shaman reminds us of the links between past, present and future. You cannot change the future unless you change the present. Changing the present immediately changes the future.
Angels will tell you that prophecy is always conditional. Consider the story of Jonah.
Potentials are inexorably linked to choice and are always forward moving. All points in the past were once points in the present. Decisions made in those points created our present reality. Whenever you made a choice in the present, you instantaneously impacted the future.
Can we change the future? Absolutely. Will we change the future? That is entirely up to us. But mentors must be in the forefront of those trying.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Pursuing Truth
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews?'" They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" The Bible
Regardless of your religious or spiritual background, you may find yourself having some empathy for Pilate in this situation. I know that I have symbolically walked in his shoes many times over the course of my life when facing difficult situations to which I could find no easy solutions.
According to various records, Pilate was the Roman governor to whom the Jews brought Jesus after his capture. He appeared to be tolerant of Jewish ways but, despite his questioning of Jesus and the intense feelings of the crowd, could find Him guilty of no offense. During their conversational exchange, Pilate finally asked Jesus in exasperation, "What is truth?"
After struggling with many thorny issues over the years I have come to two conclusions. First, there is a higher truth that seems to overlay all of our lives and, second, there are truths that are pertinent only to each of our individual lives. Both are paradoxes.
The higher truth may be more easily or readily visible at first glance, but more difficult to comprehend because it is so broad and covers so much "area." It applies to the realms of biology, astronomy, physics, psychology, medicine, and everything between and outside of these. It is the glue of our universe.
It sometimes seems impersonal to us because it seems outside of us. And yet, because everything is interrelated and we are all part of the whole, it is very personal in nature. This truth applies equally to everyone.
Individual truths apply to our personal lives. What is my path? What career should I pursue? Who should I marry? Why did this happen to me? Can I change my present and future? How many of us have agonized over these issues?
There are always different perspectives on the same incident. A man who is having a difficult time in law school asks one of his friends for advice. That person tells him that he may not be cut out to be a lawyer. If it was "right" he wouldn't have to struggle so hard ... it \would come easier. He would have a natural predisposition toward those studies. It would be a challenge, yes, but not such a struggle. "If I were you," he says, "I would change my career path."
Confused, the man approaches a second friend for advice. This person tells him that nothing of any value comes easily. He should be patient and study hard. With a little elbow grease and some dedication he can make it happen. "After all," he says, "if people gave up every time things got a little tough, nobody would ever amount to anything. Hang in there."
In another part of town, a man has just been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. His physician recommends bypass surgery as the only appropriate solution. Afraid of the surgery, but afraid not to have it, he seeks a second opinion. This person tells the man that chelation therapy is very effective in treating coronary artery disease, is much less invasive, costs a fraction of what bypass surgery costs and he can receive the treatment without seriously interrupting his life. "Do yourself a favor," he says, "opt for CT."
A third person, overhearing the conversation, says that neither surgery or chelation therapy is necessary. Faith in God is all that is necessary to heal any affliction. After all, the scriptures say that "according to your faith it will be done unto you." "If you're not being healed," he says, "it's because you're not exercising enough faith."
Where is the truth in these scenarios? It is everywhere and nowhere. A person's truth is their own. Another person can offer their perceptions on a given set of circumstances. But, unless they are unequivocally acting under the inspiration of Source, you can be assured that they are only opinions. On this point, the mentor walks a fine line in providing guidance. The truth is that finding personal truth can be a rigorous and sometimes lonely journey.
Regardless of your religious or spiritual background, you may find yourself having some empathy for Pilate in this situation. I know that I have symbolically walked in his shoes many times over the course of my life when facing difficult situations to which I could find no easy solutions.
According to various records, Pilate was the Roman governor to whom the Jews brought Jesus after his capture. He appeared to be tolerant of Jewish ways but, despite his questioning of Jesus and the intense feelings of the crowd, could find Him guilty of no offense. During their conversational exchange, Pilate finally asked Jesus in exasperation, "What is truth?"
After struggling with many thorny issues over the years I have come to two conclusions. First, there is a higher truth that seems to overlay all of our lives and, second, there are truths that are pertinent only to each of our individual lives. Both are paradoxes.
The higher truth may be more easily or readily visible at first glance, but more difficult to comprehend because it is so broad and covers so much "area." It applies to the realms of biology, astronomy, physics, psychology, medicine, and everything between and outside of these. It is the glue of our universe.
It sometimes seems impersonal to us because it seems outside of us. And yet, because everything is interrelated and we are all part of the whole, it is very personal in nature. This truth applies equally to everyone.
Individual truths apply to our personal lives. What is my path? What career should I pursue? Who should I marry? Why did this happen to me? Can I change my present and future? How many of us have agonized over these issues?
There are always different perspectives on the same incident. A man who is having a difficult time in law school asks one of his friends for advice. That person tells him that he may not be cut out to be a lawyer. If it was "right" he wouldn't have to struggle so hard ... it \would come easier. He would have a natural predisposition toward those studies. It would be a challenge, yes, but not such a struggle. "If I were you," he says, "I would change my career path."
Confused, the man approaches a second friend for advice. This person tells him that nothing of any value comes easily. He should be patient and study hard. With a little elbow grease and some dedication he can make it happen. "After all," he says, "if people gave up every time things got a little tough, nobody would ever amount to anything. Hang in there."
In another part of town, a man has just been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. His physician recommends bypass surgery as the only appropriate solution. Afraid of the surgery, but afraid not to have it, he seeks a second opinion. This person tells the man that chelation therapy is very effective in treating coronary artery disease, is much less invasive, costs a fraction of what bypass surgery costs and he can receive the treatment without seriously interrupting his life. "Do yourself a favor," he says, "opt for CT."
A third person, overhearing the conversation, says that neither surgery or chelation therapy is necessary. Faith in God is all that is necessary to heal any affliction. After all, the scriptures say that "according to your faith it will be done unto you." "If you're not being healed," he says, "it's because you're not exercising enough faith."
Where is the truth in these scenarios? It is everywhere and nowhere. A person's truth is their own. Another person can offer their perceptions on a given set of circumstances. But, unless they are unequivocally acting under the inspiration of Source, you can be assured that they are only opinions. On this point, the mentor walks a fine line in providing guidance. The truth is that finding personal truth can be a rigorous and sometimes lonely journey.
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