Deepak Chopra - June 27, 2008
Continuing the list of what we need in terms of awareness to prevail in difficult times:
3 A vision of the future.
When people are asleep, the future is a repetition of the past, because inertia can do little else. Conservation, the party of inertia, represents the impulse in each of us not to wake up --it says "Leave me alone. I like the way I am."
The growth of consciousness never happens until a person overcomes inertia first. All progress occurs first at the level of consciousness and then, as if by magic, a discovery appears in the outer world. A famous example is the discovery of penicillin. In the lab millions of petri dishes had been thrown out because common air-borne Penicillium mold had contaminated the bacteria that a researcher wanted to culture. The mold was a nuisance until Alexander Fleming saw instead that killing bacteria was a positive thing -- he was awake to a new possibility. The key was a change of perception.
New discoveries don't occur because Nature suddenly reveals more of its potential. All of Nature is available all the time. We are the discoverers of hidden dimensions in ourselves, and a tiny flicker of waking up stimulates new revelations. Ultimately, science is a way for mind to speak to itself -- it's an inner exploration that leads to external findings. But at the present moment, with reactionary forces so dominant, there is no viable vision of tomorrow. By definition reactionary forces want to freeze progress, usually by idealizing the past and grossly exaggerating the risk of moving forward.
4. The courage and will to carry out that vision.
The unknown is frightening to contemplate (a fear bolstered by anything that represents losing control over our surroundings -- e.g. oil prices, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, and a planet made unstable by global warming. But being uncertain is also necessary. Finding a new way means destroying and old way, and nobody can predict what happens when both forces hit each other head on.
It takes courage to discard what we know -- the tried and true, the comfortable and reassuring . It takes no courage to enforce "traditional values." Traditionalism rarely, if ever, advanced the world at large. However, that lesson must be relearned over and over, because fear is ever-present. It must be surmounted every day. Driving fear away doesn't solve anything; it only sets the stage for what really solves problems: quantum leaps in creativity, new discoveries, liberating insights.
Clearly we are at a point where traditionalism has shown far more negatives than positives. Religious intolerance taints the churches and mosques, homophobia and anti-immigration taint the desire for community. We live at a time when traditional values shouldn't be allowed to hold consciousness back. After all, it wasn't long ago that racism was a tradition -- the recent Democratic primaries in West Virginia and Kentucky show how enduring that tradition is. Courage is a dynamic quality. It must be seized eery day. Courage is the implementing force of vision, and both begin in consciousness.
5. A viable definition of personal happiness.
In the end, arriving at a new world comes down to what makes us happy. We use oil because driving our own cars and traveling at will makes us happier than being limited to railroads and mass transit. Reformers lament that more people don't give up their cars and resort to mass transit. When you think about why they don't, the answer isn't decades of cheap gas, ingrained American selfishness, or a crass indulgence in personal pleasure over the health of the planet. We don't change to a new way of life because we are following an old way of happiness. Duty and guilt tell us to save the planet. But another voice speaks louder, and it asks if we would be giving up our happiness. Global warming won't be solved by lecturing the human race about saving the polar bear.
Here we face the most difficult challenge of all. Our conception of happiness has to move away from materialism. Every wise teacher has declared that external comforts are unreliable and not to be trusted. Christ didn't say "The Kingdom of God is within a four-bedroom condo." He said it lies within us. In India, turning inward became a powerful social force because people agreed that the inner path was real and desirable. To back up this conviction, .most ancient people looked around and saw disease, poverty, and violence in all directions. The seductions of money and physical comfort weren't present. Our situation now teeters on the rink of peril, too. We have reached a crossroads that appears only once or twice a century. Two roads aren't diverging in a yellow wood, however the divide exists in consciousness. The world's wisdom traditions inform us which way to go. Only time will tell if waking up was the way we chose. If so, peril will turn into a creative opportunity. The other way surely leads into more inertia, reactionary values, dead habit, and worst of all, deeper and deeper sleep.
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Posted by Deepak Chopra at June 27, 2008 10:06 AM
hi Deepak,
do you still read the comments at IB?
love,
~ Kate
Hi Aurora!
:)
~ Kate
Dear Dr. Chopra,
I'd like to comment on what you said about what really solves problems is QUANTUM LEAPS IN CREATIVITY, NEW DISCOVERIES, LIBERATING INSIGHTS.
There is a Russian scientist by the name of Sergey Smelyakov who has made breakthrough discoveries in the understanding of the science of torsion fields (the science of consciousness). He has applied the law of the The Golden Ratio (Phi or 1.618), which is the sacred harmonic cut, to cycles of time. He has shown how this harmonic cut has been related to imploding cycles of time and how it has been instrumental in substantial changes of consciusness on the planet. He has studied the Mayan Calendar Cycle (5,200 years in length) and has divided it into Phi segments. Each wave front of these Phi segments has displayed important changes upon the planet.
I give reference to a short video on You Tube.com which presents a brief explanation of his work. You can find this video by searching: The 2012 Enigma by David Wilcock Pt.10. This video also admonishes us to realize that how we look at things does determine the outcome. If anyone wants to explore the subject further search: The Auric Time Scale and the Mayan Factor by Sergey Smelyakov.
As Aurora has said, "Let's imagine the collective mind waking up". According to the work of Sergey Smelyakov this is a reality within our view.
Best Wishes,
"Betsy" S.
Hi Kate, you're smiling :)
Dear Betsy, how we look at things does determine the outcome. But "how", I think very much means "from where". From what state of consciousness. If we look at people and things from a place of separation, that is "how" they will stay. If we go deep, to the place of unity, that is "how" they will be.
It is important to understand, I think, that it is not a matter of putting on pink glasses or wearing a smile on top of worry. We simply need to go deep enough into the truth which we all can access, and see that the separation we perceive, the contrasts - are all created by the mind. From that honest and clear perspective ... unity will manifest.
Dear Aurora,
Many people worldwide theorize that as Galactic Center becomes more energized, it catalyzes human evolution through frequency emissions in the form of higher-dimensional "torsion waves" transmitted to Earth via the Sun. The belief is that human evolution unfolds as a result of precisely calibrated master cycles of time. It is predicted that Earth and humanity are about to be birthed into a new reality based on Unity -predicated on a dramatic advance in consciousness.
I would like to mention a book that deals with the knowledge held by the ancient Egyptians and Mayans. It shows how they left a record of their knowledge in hidden symbols and numerical codes. The author also shows how changes in world history have been correlated with heightened Solar Activity. The book is "The Tutankhamun Prophecies" by Maurice Cotterell. I believe that you would really enjoy this book.
Best Wishes,
"Betsy" S.
Thank you (((Deepak)))
Love, Char
Dear Aurora,
Many people worldwide theorize that as Galactic Center becomes more energized, it catalyzes human evolution through frequency emissions in the form of higher-dimensional "torsion waves" transmitted to Earth via the Sun. The belief is that human evolution unfolds as a result of precisely calibrated master cycles of time. It is predicted that Earth and humanity are about to be birthed into a new reality based on Unity -predicated on a dramatic advance in consciousness.
I would like to mention a book that deals with the knowledge held by the ancient Egyptians and Mayans. It shows how they left a record of their knowledge in hidden symbols and numerical codes. The author also shows how changes in world history have been correlated with heightened Solar Activity. The book is "The Tutankhamun Prophecies" by Maurice Cotterell. I believe that you would really enjoy this book.
Best Wishes,
"Betsy" S.
Brilliant, Deepak! Sounds like "sacred activism" -- a new party platform!
Trish~~
Aurora and Betsy,
Thanks for your thought provoking comments offering something substantial to digest!
Betsy, the book sounds fascinating.
Trish~~
Hello Deepak and Everyone,
Was reading an aricle in the Washingtonpost.com about someone's father believing in and supporting Mugabe but now is suffering along with millions of his Countrymen.
and my comment to this person was this...
it is probably a bit harsh for folks at IB but I feel...it is right on the money...for everyone when it comes to handing out power and decision making responsibilites to the "politically ambitious" whoever they may be...
"You write, "And all we want is a better life for ourselves and our children -- and an aging father who once believed in Robert Mugabe.
The problem is that BELIEVING in any "man" or "woman," it is apparent from the "Mugabes" of the world that people need to realize that there is a "Mugabe" in every leader who is promising you and your fellow Countrymen anything and to place belief in any one who is running for a political office of any kind without the awareness that there is a "potential Mugabe" in us all, simply, because of the fact we are "human" in nature is to be just plain "stupid." We end up with "Mugabes" because we insist in believing in Santa Claus in the political arenas of our life...
Even here in America a "Mugabe" is possible, in Barak Obama, in Hillary Clinton, in President George Bush and his Vice President Dick Cheney..in all politically ambitious folk a potential "MUGABE" sleeps until awoken by the seduction of power and greed and just plain insanity...yes, we are only human, after all, and it is good to remember...that Santa Claus dies, for all of us at a very young age, as it should, and we will, certainly, never find it again in our or any political figure...beware of them all!!!!
happy saturday to each and all....ruth
Hi Ruth,
You say that we are "human" in nature. Could you also say that we are "divine" in nature? What identity does one choose? Nature is not limited to "human."
Are we not divine in human form? Just because divine behaviors are not reported in the various media formats, in the circumstances around us or in us doesn't mean they are not transpiring.
We are brainwashed and "hoodwinked" with negativity and limitation. However, we do have the consciousness to change the pattern here now -- to wipe off the lens and shift focus.
Enjoy this summer day.
Trish~
We can count ourselves blessed to be living at a time when the awareness of humanity seems to be at a tipping point. The potential for an increasingly larger positive change in personal consciousness as well as social and environmental responsibilities is a huge dynamic force.
We also need to be aware enough of the potential negative dynamics to avoid them. These are often expressed in the mildly negative of "jumping on the bandwagon," etc. to the major negatives of "mob and gang rule" or even "anarchy or revolution."
We need to be cautious in group dynamics that we do not act as lemmings, running toward oblivion over the cliff's edge, just because everyone else is headed that way as has happened so many other times throughout history. Ruth's example of Mugabe is a perfect example of this.
The Buddha said "Place no head above your own."
Have a great day everyone!
Bonnie
Dear Ruth,
BRAVO! Your insights in Posting No.11 is "right on the money". We cannot place our faith in any political figure because they are motivated by desires for power and greed. We have no one who exhibits any true concern for the real needs of the everyday citizen. Once in office these figures are "up for grabs" by all sorts of special interest consortiums and they are drawn into the game of "deal making" in order to maintain any semblance of control.
Our government in the once great U.S.A. has been gradually taken over by more liberal advocates of rights for anyone, above any concern for real justice and rulings in favor of true law and order. It is a crying shame to see how more and more the high court judges are making judgements in favor of criminals instead of victims.
Best Wishes,
"Betsy" S.
I agree with Trish's comments above. We have the choice to choose which way we want to go. Are you going to be scared by the example of one Mugabe? Or, are you going to stand up to yourself and your values?
It is true that it is unwise to give all our power to one person, and that is why Obama always say how can "we" do it together; NOT how can "I" lead you to the new America, but how can we go forward together?
It is up to each one of us...to reach in and put out what we can..."new world" or the same old way of thinking?
Wake up America!
Hello Everyone,
I didn't write about Mugabe for the fear effect I wrote about him because the Mugabes of the world are created by their believers, followers, supporters, nurturers...It took years for Mugabe to become the powerhouse of tryanny he has become but he did not do it alone he had much belief and support in his twisted trip to power.
And, frankly, if I were to worry, seriously, about any candidate in the US becoming a Mugabe it would be of course...the Bush/Cheney crowd, afterall, since they have been in Office they have done more to jackhammer liberty and justice than any other Administration in our history...they have been abominable, they make Richard Nixon's tricks look like harmless schoolboy pranks...their dealings in the Justice Department alone are deeply troubling, if it were up to them the Justice Department would be filled with their "people" and only their "people"....they were on their way to fulfillment of that goal when the firings of some became public knowledge....and they will continue in this regard........just read Betsy S....she writes,"Our government in the once great U.S.A.has been gradually taken over by more liberal advocates of rights for anyone, above any concern for real justice and rulings in favor of true law and order. It is a crying shame to see how more and more the high court judges are making judgements in favor of criminals instead of victims."................it is one thing to believe that statement....but this BUSH?CHENEY Administration's policy was to do something about it by "stacking" the Justice Dept with their very "UN-LIBERAL Party Believers...they care not a how UN AMERICAN that stacking is.....just as long as it is UN LIBERAL....Liberal to them is not just a difference of perspective...it is something to be HATED...it is DISDAINFUL...so be AWARE of....how someone uses the "L" word....is it just in passing reference to a different perspective or is there that familiar disgust that we have all come to know, only, too, well, in the last eight years....
and, as far as Obama goes, it is not, him, so much, as, his.....supporter's.......BLIND BELIEF and WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT for a Candidate that they really have no REAL experience of that concerns me...not the Candidate...it is his MOVEMENT that I find deeply troubling and suspect....Obama himself looks and sounds just like any other political candidate so far...he changes tunes with the poll numbers like all the rest...but his Movement, I have to admit...is another matter...afterall, I am voting for him but I am also keeping my eyes and ears open...watching, listening....
so, yes, after experiencing this Republican Administration and watching how the Democratic primary has gone down I feel the dial of our political awareness meter needs to be set at high.
anyway....my "divine" nature and my "human nature"...hold hands and "skip to mah lu mah darling"....each and every day.....and my divinity doesn't have the least bit of a problem with my negativity, afterall, it is DIVINE :)))))))
well enough of my talk-talk today...
have a wonderful day everyone, ruth
I honor and respect your divine and human nature...we are one. But since we are having fun here, I thought I would respond...
Perhaps you are barking up the wrong tree...by worrying about Obama supporters having blind faith and wholehearted support for him? Don't you think we know what we see? I see values in his character, speech and actions. I see him as intelligent, charming, honest and forthright. I know you see him differently perhaps, and that is your perception and you are entitled to your own perception as everyone does.
Perhaps we all need to clean our lens of perception...as some wise master would say...hahaha...
Love,
M:)
If the world is not what you would like it to be....ask yourself: Whom is this world appearing to?
Well, Deepak, to have a new world we are going to have to save the planet, break the old habits of self destruction, and pick up litter, throw it in the trash, stop throwing junk out into the streets, and slow down while driving, saving both gas and tread on the tires, and just get with it. Love the planet, save the planet. There is only one true direction always, and that is to make life better instead of worse! It all begins with teaching children at home to develop GOOD habits! We must teach our children to respect our earth and to keep it in good repair!
Dear Betsy, thank you for your book tip in #6. It sounds like interesting reading. There are many traditions describing the process you speak of. You might like to check out Calleman's work on the Mayan calender too. Thank you again and all the best!
Dear Aurora,
Thank you for the recommendation. As a matter of fact, I have read what Carl Johan Calleman has to say about the Mayan Calendar. He's great.
Dear Ruth,
Believe me, I'm not defending any Republicans. I feel that Bush misrepresented his true positions before he was elected, just as I believe the candidates on both sides are now currently doing. Their speeches are written by master propagandizers and the stories change depending on what segment of the public they are appealing to. I do not see anyone with solid, worthwhile principles in the race. I cannot in good conscience support either of the candidates. They are experts at telling people what they think they want to hear. Unfortunately, most of us hear what we want to hear and are unable to view the situation with real objectivity. Also, most of us are not privy to enough information about what is being said to the big campaign contributors behind the scenes. We base our judgments upon what the consortiums running the broadcast media and newspapers wish to let us know.
Best Wishes,
"Betsy" S.
Betsy, If John McCain cannot convince the electorate that his years of service in the Senate are not reason enough to continue to support him, then he is probably not the man for the job. If an almost totally inexperienced candidate can truly win more people to his cause than a man of seasoned and long experience, then something must be done to change the entire process of selecting candidates for such an important office.
I do not believe that either candidate will be so tied to his parties platform that he will not be able to make the right decisions when elected. I am just concerned that seniority is not given a higher priority in the electoral process.
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Betsy, If John McCain cannot convince the elec
Dear Aurora,
Thank you for the recommen
Dear Betsy, thank you for your book tip in #6.
Well, Deepak, to have a new world we are going
If the world is not what you would like it to b
A tiny flicker of waking up is all that it takes, both in the individual and collectively. Let's give that flicker in ourselves our full attention and energy. Let's give it our will, our intention. Imagine the collective mind waking up.