How are we supposed to feel? (Page 3 of 4)

Maybe this isn't the right place to go into this, but what the hey... this is where I saw your comment. From one soap box to another:

To "fight" something is to keep energy investment in it, thereby keeping it alive. To oppose it is to validate its raison d'etre. I mean even at the level of emotion or thought within, since all true causes for any effect exist at the unseen level and flow from there.

A great many people not focusing on what's wrong with the way things are right now or DOING something about it may not be the awful thing many fear it is.

Consider they are instead focusing elsewhere with awareness. And that this may very well be a "DOing" of a high order. I have seen so many writers talk of the "complacency" of the people at this point. Thinking that they're all "asleep" and these writers and activists are desperately trying to shake and wake them up.

Consider for a moment that it may be the wisdom of these people, not complacency, ignorance or the result of being asleep, that has them simply bearing witness, not actively participating. Consider the possibility that it has nothing to do with being asleep, but rather that they are far more awake and aware than you might have considered. Their hearts are strong and connected to all, and from that connection the wisdom to realize that all is as it should be flows. They are not in fear, though that was the hope of TPTB.

They instead focus on their heart's desire and the rest will take of itself. They trust in what they know, and so have no need to shout it, push it on others, coerce, manipulate or defend with or from it. They understand the process of nature and worked on "doing" that actually generates change (clearing fears within themselves and seeking their heart, not their mind, to guide them), and now they're simply watching. And half the world goes apoplectic, thinking they've "given up" or "given in". Perhaps, just perhaps... they've done neither.

We have a lengthy, bloody history that reveals that fighting anything never actually brings peace or change of the kind desired. Yes the mind does like to feel it's useful and encourages us to DO something, to feel better. To feel as if we've contributed in some meaningful and beneficial way to the cause of life here. I understand that. But perhaps now, with all we have gained in awareness, we can apply that knowledge properly by focusing on that which brings us joy in each moment, bonds us to another in love, and let the rest sort itself out.

Let the dinosaur die a natural death, don't taunt it while it's going down. It's more upset about it's state of affairs than you might think, having always believed it would be the biggest and baddest and in control for eternity. And don't forget too that it's huge... it may fell a city or two as it's falls and thrashes about in its death throes.

Mind you, that's one of two views I vascillate between, Sheesh. The other is much like you put forth. LOL! It's tough being human AND God at the same time, eh? Somewhere between those two views, perhaps, is an answer.

~Sowelu

Sheesh, this is just my personal opinion but, you ever hear that phrase "There's a time and a place" ??  Yes, well, there's a time and a place.  And what you did to the telemarketer was not the time, nor the place.  I would call it "Displaced Frustration."   You took your frustration and your goal to "talk to one person a day" out on the wrong person.   My tip?   My advise?   If you want to be succesful with your "talk to one person a day" thing, then make it so that your comments actually fit what's being said.  What you said to the telemarketer didn't "fit" the situation at all.  I'd hang up on you too if I encountered that while I'm just trying to do my job.  No offense.  And I actually support and agree with what you're saying.  But it ties back to There's a Time and Place.  You have to pick and choose your opportunities wisely.   Just spewing stuff out about Iraq...to a telemarketer?   Come on.  Not only will it not work, but you just come across as being wingnutty.  So the next time that person encounters somebody saying something about Iraq, it may actually have the OPPOSITE affect of what you intended....they may REALLY be turned off to it and not listen because now they've associated "anti-Iraq" stuff with wingnutty people who go off about it during mismatched situations.  They'll have the memory of somebody taking something out on them which has nothing to do with them.

Now, you hear somebody praising Bush....?   THAT'S the time and place to seize the opportunity to say something.  Somebody asks you a shallow stupid question about "Did you see such-and-such TV show last night?"   You smile, tell them no, and tell them you were instead reading about (insert some conspiratorial and / or meaningful subject).   "No, you know, I don't watch TV.  It's mindless.   But, I was reading a great article / book / website about the approaching Police State in America / the manufactured war for oil in Iraq / etc. etc."  A yacht broker at my former job in Florida asked me once if I was Republican or Democrat.  I smiled wryly and told him "Neither.  They're two sides of the same coin."   That was my opportunity to open dialogue about our illusory political parties and voting fraud.  A coworker at another job mentioned Iraq.  Ding ding ding.  There it is.  My opportunity.   Here in Virginia at the hotel job I had people were always staring glossy eyes at the TV and CNN.  I had endless opportunities to comment on what was on the TV....and I did so, abundantly!   But the key is....it fit the situation.   People were watching TV in my presense....commenting on it to everybody in the room....it was appropriate to say something.   

Yup....and do it wisely, whatever you do.  Make it fit, and be appropriate.   But don't fly off the handle at telemarketers about Iraq, demanding that they tell you "what the hell we're doing in Iraq and then I'll buy something from you."   In that instance you're taking something out on somebody who has nothing to do with the situation.   There are plenty of opportunities out there to get your message across in situations where it's actually fitting...and where you will actually accomplish what you're after.   

But, this is just my 2 cents.  Take it or leave it...

Heh heh... I didn't say it, but you did, Sheesh. Sure, there are also plenty of folk who are NOT aware, and I didn't mean to suggest there weren't. I was basically referring to those who have a sense of what's going on but have "done nothing about it" at the outer level. Except maybe find like-minded others.

I actually agree with the whining/complaining thing. I do my best not to do that myself nor encourage it in others, though I have my moments, too. But really, if that's what someone is doing, there's an "unseen level" energy investment that needs clearing, the way I see it. So a "doing worth doing" might be going within and seeking its source, learning about its value in the total energy field, and reducing or even eliminating it's negative influence through the knowledge gained.

Lyra,
Thank you for putting your advise to me so nicely dear.  I'm sure I'll take it to heart.

A few years back I was very much into exploring Buddhist philosophy, and I found (and continue to find) much of the doctrine concerning the emphasis on developing compassion, especially in the Mahayana tradition, extremely useful as a way of exploring my mind and extending my connections with other people. 

After sometime, however, I gave up on the time spent meditating and reading and decided I had to do something to put it in action.  I guess it was this same struggle between "being human" and "being god" (as someone here described) that I dealt with.  But isn't this dichotomy artificial?  Is it not possible to fuse these two things together?  Surely we as humans can conceive of ways to "lead by example," by not forcing our ideas on others but at the same time acting in such a way that empowers those around us to make a positive difference.

When you think of people like Gandhi or Mandela -- at heart, they were activists (Gandhi was trained as a lawyer in England! before he started doing his thing in his 40s in South Africa and then later in India).  Perhaps we can learn from people like that, who seemed to have a way of developing compassion while still doing something. 

As for telling the telemarketer what we're doing in Iraq, lol, that made me laugh out loud, because I think it's a damn good question.  If you believe in the duties of citizenship in this country, I think it's perfectly valid to ask a fellow citizen what we're doing in Iraq.  Politics in America is so ugly now that no one can have a normal political discussion -- I think we need *more* questions like that, not less.

My $.02

SSE

Thanks for your support SS Elephant.  I think everyone should be asking everyone - "what are we doing there?"  I wasn't be rude or disrespectful.  I simply asked a question.  If people are ringing MY phone, I feel that it's appropriate to ask any questions I want of that person.  I'm not telling anyone off, or handing out advise, or yelling at them.  I'm asking a simple question.

Maybe if we can get enough people thinking we can have some changes before the smoke is rolling up around us.  People have to think before they can feel and feel before they can heal.  From the reactions here you'd think I was advocating getting a gun and storming the White House.  Far from it!  I just want people to think and what better way than to ask them a question. Maybe that will spur them to investigate on their own.  That's what I'm "doing" besides whining.  Think about it!