I think this is an individual choice for each one of us and it depends on our soul maturity. For those who have learned lessons over many lifetimes, it becomes easier to make wise choices.
For young souls, which comprise the majority of Americans, they are focused on gaining material wealth and power -- by any means -- whether they succeed or not. Baby souls are focused on religion, their views of what is traditional, and they seek an authoritarian leader. Mature souls seek dramatic emotional experiences from which to learn. It is the old souls, of which you appear to be one, that seek contemplation and have been around the block many times learning the lessons that their souls needed to learn. They are the ones most capable of making wise decisions at this time on earth. They are also hugely outnumbered.
That reality requires deep internal peace, nonattachment to outcomes, prayer and meditation for the Highest Good of All.
Even a mosquito can be persistent enough to wake up a human. Unfortunately most people will wait until they personally feel uncomfortable to realise they need to change something within their control.
We are trying to hold back the tide with a broom. We are in an existential race against time to save Mother Earth and ourselves. Only when enough people experience the threat will we change our behaviors. How many people are ready to bicycle to work?
Another great thought provoker. Unfortunately I find myself saying No to all the questions you pose when the answer should be YES. Can't understand why learning from the past and building on the past are so hard to do.
i'm delighted to see you mention Thomas Merton. I learned of his work in th early 80s while studying at McGill University. I was steeped in social justice activism at that time, participating in many struggles though the anti-apartheid struggle was my most significant commitment. It was when I read Merton's Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander (in particular Chapter Two: Truth and Violence: An Interesting Era that I stopped to reflect on my own activism and learned in that moment of encountering his work how to adjust myself to the long haul. And I'm still at it today. But having mentioned Merton's work, i want to re-read it and will it pluck it from my shelf this evening. It strikes me that it speaks as powerfully - if not moreso - to today's world as it ever did. I'm curious to see how it will connect with me now. So thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for your kind comments and for sharing your thoughts, David. As long as there's life there's hope— if we change our ways. We are what we eat— and read, listen to, and watch...
First, Manuel, I love your posts. 🧡
I think this is an individual choice for each one of us and it depends on our soul maturity. For those who have learned lessons over many lifetimes, it becomes easier to make wise choices.
For young souls, which comprise the majority of Americans, they are focused on gaining material wealth and power -- by any means -- whether they succeed or not. Baby souls are focused on religion, their views of what is traditional, and they seek an authoritarian leader. Mature souls seek dramatic emotional experiences from which to learn. It is the old souls, of which you appear to be one, that seek contemplation and have been around the block many times learning the lessons that their souls needed to learn. They are the ones most capable of making wise decisions at this time on earth. They are also hugely outnumbered.
That reality requires deep internal peace, nonattachment to outcomes, prayer and meditation for the Highest Good of All.
Thank you for your kind remarks, Ashley. You over estimate my soul. Peace to you. What is the source of your categorization of souls?
So sad Manuel. GREETINGS FROM DFW airport!
What happened?
Even a mosquito can be persistent enough to wake up a human. Unfortunately most people will wait until they personally feel uncomfortable to realise they need to change something within their control.
We are trying to hold back the tide with a broom. We are in an existential race against time to save Mother Earth and ourselves. Only when enough people experience the threat will we change our behaviors. How many people are ready to bicycle to work?
Thanks for your words of wisdom, Charlene. I agree with you except that Mother Earth will go on without us.
She will but we’re taking down so much of nature before we’re through.
Yes...
Another great thought provoker. Unfortunately I find myself saying No to all the questions you pose when the answer should be YES. Can't understand why learning from the past and building on the past are so hard to do.
Thanks for your comment, Scott. Maybe if we wean from TikTok, fantasy, and reality shows we will find time to contemplate...
i'm delighted to see you mention Thomas Merton. I learned of his work in th early 80s while studying at McGill University. I was steeped in social justice activism at that time, participating in many struggles though the anti-apartheid struggle was my most significant commitment. It was when I read Merton's Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander (in particular Chapter Two: Truth and Violence: An Interesting Era that I stopped to reflect on my own activism and learned in that moment of encountering his work how to adjust myself to the long haul. And I'm still at it today. But having mentioned Merton's work, i want to re-read it and will it pluck it from my shelf this evening. It strikes me that it speaks as powerfully - if not moreso - to today's world as it ever did. I'm curious to see how it will connect with me now. So thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for your kind comments and for sharing your thoughts, David. As long as there's life there's hope— if we change our ways. We are what we eat— and read, listen to, and watch...