Saturday, December 27, 2008

Peace is the Way

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

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Accept Yourself just the way you are

Dear one, in order to love another without reservation or conditions, it is necessary that you learn to truly love and accept yourself just the way you are.

Forgive yourself for all past mistakes, and for all present and future failings. Accept yourself as the God-given personality you are; hardly perfect, but knowing perfection is the ultimate destiny in eternal life.

In this earth life you are waking up and becoming more aware of the true purpose of life; to be the best you can be under all circumstances.

Life teaches you lessons through which to learn mastery over self; be it over greed, jealousy, gluttony, or addictions of any kind—anything that holds you from the greatest good and attainment, and this is to be achieved without using any dishonest means, or using another person to attain your goals in life, unless such help is freely given.

You are learning to travel with Me, your Guide within. This is what Jesus mastered when He walked the earth as a Man among men.

Remember the most important lessons He taught, and lived, were to love God first, and to learn to love and accept yourself as God loves and accepts you, to love your neighbor as yourself, and to forgive each and everyone who wrongs you.

You all live in a love and mercy-oriented Universe, as your Ruler, Michael, so lovingly and eloquently displayed in His life here as Yoshua ben Joseph, Jesus of Nazareth.

His life was, and still is, a triumph that all humans can aspire to in their short but intense lives in the flesh as they are lived here on this planet.

Jesus, even as a young boy, often sought the Still Small Voice within when He chose to be away from others to better commune with His Father in Heaven.

So, too, can you follow His example and practice this as often as needed, for I am always with you.

© The 11:11 Progress Group.