As well as the concepts of good and evil, the concept of justice was also invented by us, I believe.
There is no God who demands justice of us. It is we who demand it.
As our intellects developed during those early ages, we forgot that we all are connected. We forgot that we are all one community. And for some reason we developed bitter rivalries with our neighbors as terrible as our fear and hatred of countries on the far side of the globe.
East Dillon High hates West Dillon High as much as they both hate Iran. Bomb them.
This separation evolved into terrible greed and terrible fear that there will not be enough for me. Today private citizens are worth more than most countries. They have more than they would need for a thousand lifetimes. And others of us go hungry.
We created a sophisticated justice system that imprisons criminals in privately owned prisons that need inmates to make profits. So the courts ensure that there are plenty of prisoners so the prisons don't go empty.
We misunderstand death and consider it a capital punishment. It is not. We live on. We struggle with mental illness and consider suicide an escape from it all. It is not. We live on.
We have developed mental illnesses unlike any time before because we have grown so separate. So alone. So fearful of our world.
We have built magnificent civilizations using slave labor. We have bought and sold our brothers and sisters.
When we are wronged, as victims we demand justice. We file lawsuits over property, boundaries, rights, wrongs, and the rest.
We have forgotten about forgiveness. We have forgotten about mercy. We have forgotten that we are all brothers and sisters. We are all one.
This terrible mess is all an illusion. Because in reality we are all one. We all will live forever.
I believe that during this century, the institutions, churches, governments who perpetuate this illusion of good and evil, of justice, of separation will fade.
And we will enter the Age of Love. The Age of Mercy and Forgiveness. The Age of Peace.
See you there.
-----Cosmic Grandpa
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Good and Evil - Age of Innocence
To begin, I believe that good and evil are illusions. Good and evil are concepts we invented ourselves for our own uses.
There is no God In Heaven who sends us to eternal reward or damnation because we are good or evil.
I believe that somewhere in early human evolution, as our intellects developed, we began making value judgements about our world based on how various experiences affected us.
At first, when we were innocent of this knowledge of good and evil, we felt at one with nature. We understood that the earth would feed us and provide for us.
When we were hungry, we hunted and gathered and ate.
We lived as all the other animals on the land. And I believe that we, like other animals, had a gut knowledge of how to survive and get our needs satisfied.
At one time we were at one with each other. We understood we were a community unit and we all belonged.
Later, as we evolved, we began to see ourselves as separate individuals. We began claiming property for ourselves. We claimed resources for ourselves. We build walls.
This growth from innocence is mirrored in the development of an infant as he grows into an independent personality.
This growth into separation was inevitable in our development but it also was a step away from the understanding that the earth would still provide for all that we need. And a step away from the understanding that we are all one family.
One.
----Cosmic Grandpa
There is no God In Heaven who sends us to eternal reward or damnation because we are good or evil.
I believe that somewhere in early human evolution, as our intellects developed, we began making value judgements about our world based on how various experiences affected us.
At first, when we were innocent of this knowledge of good and evil, we felt at one with nature. We understood that the earth would feed us and provide for us.
When we were hungry, we hunted and gathered and ate.
We lived as all the other animals on the land. And I believe that we, like other animals, had a gut knowledge of how to survive and get our needs satisfied.
At one time we were at one with each other. We understood we were a community unit and we all belonged.
Later, as we evolved, we began to see ourselves as separate individuals. We began claiming property for ourselves. We claimed resources for ourselves. We build walls.
This growth from innocence is mirrored in the development of an infant as he grows into an independent personality.
This growth into separation was inevitable in our development but it also was a step away from the understanding that the earth would still provide for all that we need. And a step away from the understanding that we are all one family.
One.
----Cosmic Grandpa
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The Care and Feeding of Energy
Everything is energy. At least everything in our world is. But I suspect that every every everything is.
Matter is energy. We are energy. Our bodies, minds, thoughts and ideas are energy. Emotions are energy. We are energy now while we're alive and our conscious minds remain energy after our bodies die.
It may seem odd to consider that thoughts and ideas have their own reality. Their own existence. But I believe they exist independently of the minds who think them.
Same with emotions. Fear, anger, joy, excitement, agony, ecstasy and all of their variations exist as independent realities. They flow though our experiences. And the ones we focus on stick around and strengthen. The ones we dismiss, weaken in our experience and do not become parts of our world.
Therefore it is a good strategy to mentally feed the thoughts and feelings we want in our experience and not feed those we do not want. I believe we should not categorize these thoughts and emotions as positive or negative. Simply recognize that they exist. And focus our attention and gratitude on the ones we want in our experience.
If we struggle with fear or anger, depression or illness, then we are mentally giving them energy. We need to practice the discipline of not struggling or opposing. We need to see these unwanted thoughts as separate from ourselves. And choose to see what we want to attract. And overlook what we do not want to attract.
Our lives are like our gardens. We choose which plants to water and feed and which to pull out.
Don't fertilize your weeds.
----Cosmic Grandpa
Matter is energy. We are energy. Our bodies, minds, thoughts and ideas are energy. Emotions are energy. We are energy now while we're alive and our conscious minds remain energy after our bodies die.
It may seem odd to consider that thoughts and ideas have their own reality. Their own existence. But I believe they exist independently of the minds who think them.
Same with emotions. Fear, anger, joy, excitement, agony, ecstasy and all of their variations exist as independent realities. They flow though our experiences. And the ones we focus on stick around and strengthen. The ones we dismiss, weaken in our experience and do not become parts of our world.
Therefore it is a good strategy to mentally feed the thoughts and feelings we want in our experience and not feed those we do not want. I believe we should not categorize these thoughts and emotions as positive or negative. Simply recognize that they exist. And focus our attention and gratitude on the ones we want in our experience.
If we struggle with fear or anger, depression or illness, then we are mentally giving them energy. We need to practice the discipline of not struggling or opposing. We need to see these unwanted thoughts as separate from ourselves. And choose to see what we want to attract. And overlook what we do not want to attract.
Our lives are like our gardens. We choose which plants to water and feed and which to pull out.
Don't fertilize your weeds.
----Cosmic Grandpa
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Grandpa’s Definition of “Love”
The word has hundreds, maybe thousands of meanings. Probably way more.
When we tell others we love them, we mean many different things. I almost believe that for every relationship that exists between two people, the love between them is unique.
But here I am writing about “unconditional love.” “Brotherly love.” “Sisterly love.” The “love thy neighbor” love.
This love is not a feeling. Nor an emotion. It is a choice. A state of mind.
If we practice this kind of love, we can apply it everywhere. To ourselves. To our friends. To people we don’t know. To people who annoy and irritate us. To people who have hurt us. To everyone. Everything.
This love is not earned. It is free. It is easy to understand. It is difficult to practice because it involves a suspension of judgement.
Each of us has a “shadow” side. It is the part of our personality or behavior that we prefer others not know about. We feel ashamed of it. It is our dark side. Our secret side. The part of us that we consider “unlovable.”
It is easy to be happy with our wonderful, charming, endearing side. It is hard to love our dark, secret side. But love, “unconditional love,” is directed at all parts. When we get to the point where we realize that we love ourselves entirely, then we discover that we are more compassionate and understanding of others as well.
A way to practice this love is to step outside of yourself. Imagine you are an unbiased, separate being looking back at yourself. Look at the lovable side. Look at the shadow side. Now shine a sunny light on the shadow side. Shine a light of acceptance and understanding. Withdraw your judgement that this “character flaw” or “bad behavior” is a negative aspect. Consider it a part of this complex, interesting person that is still underdeveloped. It is temporary. Give it time and it will mature.
Consider yourself a kind and nurturing parent or teacher of this person. Understand that this person has arrived at this place on their long journey to forever. Countless experiences lie ahead that will continue to refine and shape this person. Look at the person as they were a year ago. Ten years ago. See the changes between then and now. Forgive this person for the faults and failures that remain today and send them thoughts of help and strength as they move day by day into the person they are becoming.
Forgive them. Shine the sun on them. Soften your heart to them. They are perfect in the way a cloud is perfect. It is what it is. You are what you are. Many experiences have brought you to today. And many more will carry you into tomorrow.
----Cosmic Grandpa
When we tell others we love them, we mean many different things. I almost believe that for every relationship that exists between two people, the love between them is unique.
But here I am writing about “unconditional love.” “Brotherly love.” “Sisterly love.” The “love thy neighbor” love.
This love is not a feeling. Nor an emotion. It is a choice. A state of mind.
If we practice this kind of love, we can apply it everywhere. To ourselves. To our friends. To people we don’t know. To people who annoy and irritate us. To people who have hurt us. To everyone. Everything.
This love is not earned. It is free. It is easy to understand. It is difficult to practice because it involves a suspension of judgement.
Each of us has a “shadow” side. It is the part of our personality or behavior that we prefer others not know about. We feel ashamed of it. It is our dark side. Our secret side. The part of us that we consider “unlovable.”
It is easy to be happy with our wonderful, charming, endearing side. It is hard to love our dark, secret side. But love, “unconditional love,” is directed at all parts. When we get to the point where we realize that we love ourselves entirely, then we discover that we are more compassionate and understanding of others as well.
A way to practice this love is to step outside of yourself. Imagine you are an unbiased, separate being looking back at yourself. Look at the lovable side. Look at the shadow side. Now shine a sunny light on the shadow side. Shine a light of acceptance and understanding. Withdraw your judgement that this “character flaw” or “bad behavior” is a negative aspect. Consider it a part of this complex, interesting person that is still underdeveloped. It is temporary. Give it time and it will mature.
Consider yourself a kind and nurturing parent or teacher of this person. Understand that this person has arrived at this place on their long journey to forever. Countless experiences lie ahead that will continue to refine and shape this person. Look at the person as they were a year ago. Ten years ago. See the changes between then and now. Forgive this person for the faults and failures that remain today and send them thoughts of help and strength as they move day by day into the person they are becoming.
Forgive them. Shine the sun on them. Soften your heart to them. They are perfect in the way a cloud is perfect. It is what it is. You are what you are. Many experiences have brought you to today. And many more will carry you into tomorrow.
----Cosmic Grandpa
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