I believe yes. You can keep it simple or make it as complicated as you wish to paint it.....the result is the same.

Finding myself in murphy mode this morning ...
so a bit more from the lad ...

This is *mana*. The willingness of authentic people to hang out with you and be themselves, while letting you be yourself, without judgments ...

Whether they speak or not, the heart knows, and we meet our true brothers and sisters in the strangest places...
And the only entrance fee you need is ... your sincerity.

Why do people find it so hard to be sincere?
Why does the "guru" find it easy?
*Practice*.
If you tend to criticize people, look at their shoes, their hair, their clothes ... say 'Oh my god'... if you look at their bellies, smell their odors, and think uncharitable thoughts about how whey ought to be living their lives ...

In short, if you think about people in an indifferent, critical, superficial way, then it will take you a long time to just open up and say whatever is in your heart.

Because you don't want people to know that is the way you think of them. So if you want to be sincere ... if you want to invite people into your mind, you have to clean it up a little, start thinking well of people. Your *will* can be utterly transformed, totally, in a moment... and every moment from then on you will become more and more "authentic" and unburdened. And playful as well. And as your thoughts become more generous - erforce, as sharing ungenerous thoughts will bring down the usual karma on your head - you are able to be more sincere. With more sincerity you become more genuine... it is much easier to flow with the contours of the land than to attempt to make your river flow straight to what you think you want.

Blake said: "The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship."

Authenticity and playfulness ...
is how the "band of brothers"
recognizes their own...

terry

The answer is always an egg on, are you implying, Vivian?

In a word, yes. That sense is at the root of my desire to reconcile people when they're fighting, as I can see their commonality very clearly, and know if they could see it too, they wouldn't fight.

love, h

#2 "it is much easier to flow with the contours of the land than to attempt to make your river flow straight to what you think you want."

An isolated thinking could be the bugbear, then, Irv.

I enjoyed the depth of what you share above. I'm not sure about a preference for friends....you scratch my back, I yours. Companions along the way, yes, one feels it without any words, even if just a passing smile.

Aloha Ed and Everyone

I agree, not only root connections but the same root. I was listening to John Major Jenkins sharing about 2012. Imagine the Mayans knowing that a cycle 26000 years ago would be repeating itself 2012. Mahalo for the connecting observation Ed, that we are inner-subjective. As John Major Jenkins shares eternity is just depth in the now. love patty

Hello Ed

Great question, just in time for the Olympics when the world celebrates our similarities over our differences.

On a personal level, when we give others the freedom to have different opinions without reacting from ego, meaning taking it personally and projeting our own judgement, we claim that freedom for ourselves. We no longer have to twist ourselves into something we are not and can expand into becoming who we are at the base.

B

Hi Heath, Patty, Bonnie, thanks.
I suppose we do have to ask ourselves why Nature is red in tooth and claw, does confront angrily. Is that, by the same token, justified by the One being who seems desperate to evolve OneSelf here in the material? Is the root connection, (I hear you, Patty) the one of Eternal Life, not desperate at all, but failsafe unto the time its Children equate?
This thread question is making my eyes water! (layered)

Hi Edmund,
great question!
the common root is our humanity, and on the 'outside' we are diverse - in looks, beliefs, experiences, location, politics, family and cultural histories, even ... in what we like to eat
(I do like watermelon, Bonnie :)

I love to celebrate the differences and diversity of each one's uniqueness.

where we are alike and One at the core of being, is the I Am

We each are an I AM. ....
after filling in the sentence we go farther away from oneness into separateness.

It's o.k. cause we will all find our way back to I AM

Good morning! Nice to ground in with this I-Blog community and hear your voices. Thanks for this great question, Ed.

Views originate from different bases/identities such as surface ego or deep soul. We cut through differences in laser beam fashion. We perpetuate conflict in separateness of ego. So, what identity base do I/you/we choose?

If Light is our home base how did we get so lost in darkness and how do we find our way back home?

Light begets Light within oneself and with others. This basic law starts with a spark in conscious awareness and one fans that spark making sure one doesn't go back to sleep. In wakefulness one can identify with Light watching it grow exponentially.

Light has a lot of muck to work through and we can either assist or resist. As more of us do the inner work the beaming force picks up pace and soon....we are flying together!

And then the lesson is that highs beget lows and in wakefulness one doesn't get too attached to either. It's quite a dance of balance at our base core wouldn't you say?

Trish~~

Yes, but, I don't think that this common root should always overly influence our actions. Or, rather, this common root does not necessarily dictate a standard type of reaction to life.

"What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness.

It is the harder, because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it.

It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hi Travis,
nice quote from RWE

As one poster stated above, I think we have to first become and realize that we are creatures of love and that we are spiritual beings. So with that said, I think we must also become that love before we can fully move into our spiritual world or full enlightenment, as our thoughts must be pure. Just imagine all of us together and able to read each others thoughts right now ... thoughts could be dangerous in our current state. Once pure, there will only be love left. That's the ultimate oneness of the light.

Love, Char

The truth is the same, the fictions are different.

Hi Ed,

I would like to combine your question hereabove with Deepak’s: “Are we an accident”?

I love your reply to yogi-one there, #9:

"So that's it. We're an accident waiting to happen"

The moment I read this it made me laugh and it keeps making me laugh and laugh, each moment it slips into my mind :)

The above question is making yogi-ones remarks #8 there becoming more and more true here.

The two threads for me truly link and I thank you for making my day :)

Love, Mieke

I've been thinking about this question too, thanks Ed, for asking...

I believe the answer is "yes" - grounded in our connectivity, in our "oneness" and expressing our individuality. In the sense that we are a part of the whole, God, "oneness" and therefore each and everyone is real and interconnected with everything and everyone else... I also like everyone's responses here and they are all valid and part of God, this "oneness". Thank you for allowing me to express myself.

Blessings,
M:)

#15 Hi Meike, nice, relating the two threads!

I loved yogi-one's post.....freeplay music in itself..... and was going to say so, when that that phrase popped into my head, so that phrase it was. I'm allowed to laugh, too aren't I? I did!

I'm now relating it to DK's thread where some of us said there are no accidents!

Yes, so glad you noticed and brought it to our attention. The question itself was a 'no accident' waiting to happen. It's been two months in the wings. ONE in action!

Hugs you.
Ed.

Ed
Yes

sorry not proof reading
should read.......

Ed
Yes

derek

Hey Ed
Could there be another part to this question?

derek

#11 Hi Travis, the rich diversity of our expression leads me to believe all things are possible from the common root and that nothing has to hold sway. 'Tis pure potential. (like your website, btw)

Thus, for me, we are free to adapt to whatever we choose, free to change with the wind if needs. There is really no moral high ground other than co-operation and consensus rather than the dissipation and waste of constant battle with others and, in the doing, with ourself.

We really only need surrender and allow the music to play itself.

Hey there Ed,
which instrument is playing you?
;)
~ Kate

Hi Derek,
another part? Sure, what have you in mind?

I did think of reversing it someway ;)

reversal:
as we are many beings (not One)
most conflicting views
have no common connections
...
no root intended

Hugs, Kate! I replied 'harping on' to #22 and lost it to the ethers. God signed me out for some reason!
Now I have another view to digest ;)

Can we use those common connections as a base so we can respect our conflicting views?

Can our differences become opportunities for growth knowing that we as a whole and individuals come from the same humanness, the same desires?

Can we find compassion and truth in those we disagree with?

Knowing we're all connected and living on the only ball of rock around that can support us, can we mature as a society to get past conflicting views?

derek

Hi again Ed
Re#25

The distance between the 'two' would be arbitrary No?

Hugs
B

Ed this is something I believe. Thanks to the net, having interacted with so many people from all over the world, the one thing I have realised is that we are all alike in a myriad ways. No matter who or where, we all want the same things; family, serenity, happiness, peace and well being. Our core desires are the same.

There are no foreigners amongst us, there is always a connection. Differing opinions, if not ego driven, probably spring from these connections too.

Regards
Dara.

dear Dara,
I am so glad to see you again at IB. I miss you when you are gone for a while. You are no stranger here, you are warmly welcomed as a friend, love~~ Kate

Thanks all who commented, perhaps thus far.
Dara, how nice you come out of retirement for the question ! You know, and this is not smarm, if I were a much younger man, I can't think of anyone better than you for a Dad.
And where is old Uncle Tree with HIS roots? (corrected the typo, there, tommy) Surely, he hasn't been stumped.

From Patty:-
"As John Major Jenkins shares eternity is just depth in the now. love patty"

It seems to me there's a key in that, Patty. We can find more and more resolution the deeper we go. At the same time we only need go as deep as we are comfortable with and our context has a large bearing on that.

Bonnie; I'm sorry I couldn't summon an answer to #27 last night....it was gone midnight and the brain, you know... I'm still not sure what 'two' you are referring to. Perhaps I have answered without knowing. You're very bright!

Love y'all,
Edmund.

dear Edmund,
it is late and I must catch a few hours of sleep - but today has been a day I have stayed at IB for many hours, enjoying the comments, seeing the sites, adding a word here and there - and sharing freshbaked bread of ideas.

You make me smile - alot.
I do like that.
~ Katie

1:38AM! Speaks for itself, Dear Kate :))

Good day to you Dear Ed
#27 was just a thought popped into my head when you and Kate were reversing the ?

After going a bit deeper, it's like the alternating currents in electricity. There can be no distance between the two. Electricity is either on or it's not. Electricity cannot transmit off-ness.

Life is much the same. There really is no conflict, just alternating currents.

Love
b

Hello Dara

Nice to see you. Please come visit more often.
We miss you.

Love
b

Hi dear Kate,

If ever someone asked for proof of what I said about all people being connected, I would point to you. Your welcomes always touch me. I just get into a state of writer's cramps from time to time, sort of become a fly on the wall for a bit.

Your #28, had me thinking about my views and opinion on this question, but then you always manage to make so much sense that its a pleasure reading your thoughts and then pondering over them.

Love
Dara

Dear Bonnie,

The internet just has to be a happy place. Look at how we bond with people whom we would never otherwise been aware existed. Just reading your short message has truly made my day :)

Love
Dara

'Lo Ed,

You've got me grinning from ear to ear. I sometimes wear my heart on my sleeve.

Im sure if I got my son to read your comment he would want your email addy to wise you up :) But thanks its become a lovely day made so much more beautiful by three wonderful people here.

D for dad?!

To retire is to admit your tired, think have some way to go yet.

Given that at the base we are One being....we should always fight to reach 'there'. And in fact we fight to do just that. With fighting we remove the apparently separate/separating bodies/egos and reach One.

Lol Ed, Dara, my fathers name is acually Dara (Singh).

#37 Wise words, Harb and just enough, which is wise in itself. Thanks.

#38 oo er! We three are homing in! We'll soon be singhing like birds in the same tree ;) 'Deodara' - don't tell Uncle Tree?

UT, deodara and harbiscus. What a nice garden you tend. Are you located in a dale, Ed?

Have an old email, gone round a lot, but your question brought it to mind. Quoted from a book by Dale Carnegie.

"The "Boston Transcript" once printed this little poem:
* "Here lies the body of William Jay,*
* Who died maintaining his right of way!*
* He was right, dead right, as he sped along,*
* But he's just as dead as if he were wrong!"*
* You may be right, dead right, as you speed along in your argument,
but as far as changing someone else's mind; it will probably be just as
futile as if you were wrong! So which would you rather have?--An academic,
theoretical victory or a person's good will? You can seldom have both!*

A boy once asked his father, *"Dad, how do wars begin?"
"Well, take the First World War," said his father. "That got started when
Germany invaded Belgium."

Turning her back upon him in a huff, the wife stormed out the room and
slammed the door as hard as she could!
When the dishes stopped rattling in the cupboard an uneasy silence followed,
broken at length by the boy:
"Daddy, you don't have to tell me how wars begin; I KNOW now!"

"It is said that the only people who really LISTEN to an argument are the
neighbours!"

Dare I give my name? :)
Dara

If you truly ACCEPT that "at base, we are One being" we don't need to consciously "bear" anything "in mind" about the "common root connections." But then it always helps to keep reminding ourselves, given that we are not sages.

The thought and beleif that "we are all One" at least helps inspires us not to hurt and kill each other, or more practically makes us comfortable with our existence by shutting down the thought of the human-animal nature in us and the indifferent Nature.

#41 ".....the human-animal nature in us and the indifferent Nature."

Post #8, Irv, I'm always amazed, wherever I go, that others don't take this into the equation.

What a time for me2 be gone, unintentional as it was.

So sorry, Ed! I hope it didn't look bad, or bring on hasty judgments.

I'd say you and the rest of "us" had a good go with your exposed question.

.

My first thought upon finishing the reading here?

I'd like to have seen one or two real-life examples of conflict.

It is "in our best interest", as if the future of man is similar to "money in the bank."

.

Without getting into the britches of a masochistic monk...

this sacrificial lamb thingy can hardly backfire.

Or can it?

The preserves are only tasty when their in your mouth.

Isn't that the way It is? The best stuff is always a given.

For giving me grief...someone must pay.

.

And That's my load of malarkey for today!

Best wishes! Uncle Tree

Thank God, you are okay, Keith, first the car now the circuitree. Peter will probably pay Paul to keep you and I out on the last day, anyway!!

Example; yes, crossed my mind, too, either an immediate finding of very uncommon ground or a reasoned example, showing the links back to that primal scream. I decided life's too short.

Blessings, man.

Scream the primeval
Not CNN at Seven
Lead me--Intro

Drum roll for maestro
Not seein' bears high heaven
Bring me Chicago

Not been there either
My mind moves not amongst trees
Windy cities breeze

Iron knees at base
Kneel for the lights fantastic
Beijing civilized

Common underground
Just as the taker of deeds
Wisdom whispers dirt