Violent Humanity.

  It's Sunday morning, and I am nursing myself through an attack of the epizutics (a Shenandoah Valley term which covers any undiagnosed illness) - it's probably the flu. Anyhow, having looked through the on-TV guide for something to feed my brain, I was impressed with the ubiquitous theme of violence. We are truly, by nature, a violent species. We dolt on it, we applaud it as much as we fear it, we condone it as much as we condemn it. Yet, when we look at all the true spiritual masters, it is our violent nature which needs to be controlled, our lust for it which needs to be tamed.
  Violence may be a part of our physical human nature, but it is not of our godly essence.  Violence is a product of our ego, which is a function of our material being. The ego plays out its role in the physical world. It is easy for it to take control, and cover over our spiritual nature. The role of faith and religion is to urge us to rediscover our true spiritual being and to allow its power and influence to shrink the ego and to allow the pure love of our godly essence to influence the material milieu we live in.
 We cannot just bury it within. It needs to be addressed and convinced that the bloodlust which taunts us is not a part of our godly nature, but of the nature of the ego, the material aspect of our humanity. True spiritual masters of history have taught that violence is not the way to happiness. It is love, compassion and sacrifice - aspects of our godly essence, which do not condone violence, but which allow the tangled pain of chaos to unravel and to regain balance and peace.
 
Readings:  "The New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle - a wonderful exposition of human nature - both physical and spiritual.

Happy New Year!

Here we are in the year 2011. I can hardly believe it. I always believe we each have a reason for being, and that we are where we should be, according to the fabric of life we have woven by our decisions (or undecisions). This year will prove to be a great test for many souls - not that EVERY year, every DAY is not an op for adjusting the design of your life's tapestry! But this year, this year will prove to be a challenge.
  Many feel we are in the End Times. I agree. But not the end of the world. Rather, we are in a time of transition. The civilization we have built over two millennia has passed its zenith and is in danger of disintegrating. Can it be saved? Yes. But getting EVERYone in the world on the same page is a daunting task, and I wonder if that could ever happen.
  What is important is to keep faith, to realize that this life is only one leg in our journey, that the body is not who I am, but that I am a spark of the living God who has given me life and purpose. With that I live in a shelter of safety, and it matters not what happens in this volatile, changing world - I am at the center observing the miraculous changes, while my soul is rooted in the Soul of the Universe, and I am saved.