Good Morning

Good morning my friend.

Good morning my friends.

Have you ever awakened with thoughts of wonder, for example;

Did what I consider to be my awareness, vanish during sleep?

Was awareness truly gone?

If it was the experienced could be thought of as a little death, right? And awaking this morning was like being born again. Imagine how many times that cycle has occurred, does that thought begin to make you feel ancient?

Recently the woman I call mother wrote;

“To keep moving, you have to move!”

That is clear and simple logic right?

If one wants to experience stillness then one must remain still, if one wants to experience silence one must be silent. To know love one must express love. One can experience the essence of ones being as one expresses and thus enables the creation or manifestation of that experience.

When we understand this many things become clear.

The most essential understanding is that one is already everything one needs to be in order to experience this moment and express ones’ self in relation to it.

Every experience occurs within awareness. It is only by entertaining separation from wholeness that we experience contrast, light and dark, color, warmth and coolness, pleasure and pain, action and stillness, giving and withholding.

No matter what is entertained in awareness, one remains in relationship with everything. The relationships may not be consciously realized right now. There are an infinite number of relationships we have and to entertain them all as complete and whole in and of themselves would redefine our perception of reality.

It may be said that to know the essence of truth is to realize that one knows nothing!

The essence of truth always begins and ends within the innermost heart of one’s self and there can be only one.

Yes, I know how that sounds, I also recall the observation;

“A point in every direction is the same as no point at all” from “The Point”

The Point (1971)

Delightful animated fable about a land where all things and people have points, except for young Oblio (voiced by "The Brady Bunch's" Mike Lookinland). Because of his "pointlessness," he and his dog Arrow are banished to the Pointless Forest, but once there Oblio learns that things need not be pointed to have a "point." Narrated by Ringo Starr; the Harry Nilsson score includes "Me and My Arrow," "Poli High." 74 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; featurettes.

The truth is we are not as we assume ourselves to be, especially when what we believe came from another.

If we are sincere and take time to notice without judging our experience the moment we have it, the realization may arise that reveals wholeness, completion, self-sufficiency, contentment, love, compassion, and the ability and willingness to give. This begins the understanding of what it means to receive the well of living water that never runs dry. Only this deep intimacy of perception qualifies as “the pearl of great price.”

There is no greater treasure than awakening from the confusions of deception this world of thinking and logic tends to magnify as it increasingly makes the claim of I am separate from and better than you.

Such a claim is much like a mammal saying I can live without air! I am not air and air is not who I am!

Likewise one may say, I am not water and water is not me, I am not these words you see in print before you, and yet, there is expression here and that which some would identify as “me” contains water and air.

It can be wonderfully freeing to realize that I am only responsible for recognizing and appreciating the expression of truth to flow through and be shared in this expression of living I am experiencing. To be clear, the water of life occurs without my effort. What I perceive myself to be is only a perception and as such has limitation that life itself does not.  Only what has been defined as “GRACE” can enable one to know the heart and essence of the understanding, the realization, and the salvation if you will, of grasping this experience.

The issue here is that of confusion and misunderstanding as compared to clarity, knowing and vision.

Understanding the reality and essence of this experience makes the difference between abundant life and walking death. In other words letter of law compared to loving compassion and understanding.

Grasping this simplicity enables true recognition of lack and abundance, poverty, and wealth.

True wealth is not static. Wealth is not an accumulation of artifacts, property, or even people one may claim as friends, family or allies. True wealth is being able to express love and appreciation with the understanding of how interdependent and enjoyable it is to express the joy of being able to give effortless energy expressing helpfulness in every way, inspired as we experience life moment to moment. Lack and need are deceptions attacking the heart of life itself.

That is why it is said that mankind is sick, deceived, led astray, misguided, and fallen into a pit.

The truth is; Light has scattered all darkness and deception, life is whole and complete, the blind may open their eyes and see, it is really that simple, and that simplicity is as complex as ones resistance to recognizing it.

 

What does it mean to express integrity?

Today I ran a search on "Integrity."

Most results were unsatisfactory in my opinion.

The following was among the best I could find without spending all day searching for reasonable results!

http://community.humanityhealing.net/profiles/blogs/honesty-and-integrity

"Integrity means being true to ourselves and being honest, upright, and decent in our dealings with others. When we are guided by integrity, our thoughts and words are in line with each other; our actions align with our principles. Our conduct speaks for us, more eloquently than words ever could. It becomes the basis for both reputation and self-respect. Integrity demands courage but delivers untroubled sleep.

Developing integrity requires internal honesty, because we can’t be honest with others unless we are honest with ourselves. It requires self- awareness, since we cannot accurately communicate what we do not know.

People of integrity can be counted on to stand up for what is right, even if it is unpopular, and to behave with honor even when there is no one around to see. Integrity allows other people to trust us because they know that we value our commitments and seek to live by them. It is one of the cornerstones of loving relationships and shared endeavors.

Honesty is saying what we know or suspect to be real, even when we don’t like the consequences. It is also much more.

Because most deception is actually self-deception, true honesty requires that we recognize our natural human penchant for fooling ourselves. In particular, honesty requires that we guard against self-serving biases: our tendency to seek confirmation for what we already believe while ignoring contradictory evidence; our tendency to put blame on others and take credit for ourselves; our tendency to think that what is good for us is good for the world and even to make the gods themselves in our own image.

Honesty is a lifetime process of catching ourselves in falsehood and, however reluctantly, turning away from it.

Source: Wisdom Commons"

YES! :~}

It has been said that "if one is false to one’s self then one cannot be true to anyone." That may be a paraphrase but it is clearly based upon the fact that many seem to overlook.

One cannot live and express integrity while putting on an act, or imitating the behavior and expressions of someone thought to be respected, in order to gain another’s respect or approval.

Many may feel themselves less impressive or knowledgeable than others, while one may not be able to repeat facts and information as well as another, that does not mean one is ignorant, it does not mean one lacks knowledge, it does not mean one cannot express one’s self intelligently and keep ones integrity strong and alive.

The most important action any person can take is to remain true to him/herself. This is often not done, many sell themselves short because they want to fit in and be accepted by the crowd.

Unfortunately, the crowd may often be expressing some form of mass insanity.

I use the term insanity as the practice of expressing oneself falsely in order to fit in and feel acceptable. The mistake made by that practice is not realizing that 'one is not being accepted,' it is only the false pretense one is acting out that is accepted. What that means is that one is stabbing themself in the back and/or figuratively shooting themself in the foot in order to be falsely accepted.

If I am a dove and I pretend to be a snail so that others pretending to be snails will accept me, what does that say?  First it says that if there is acceptance it is not the acceptance of me the dove, instead it is the acceptance of the fake persona I put on, that being the imitation of a snail.

So it is important to notice in the above example that only the fake is accepted not the real, thus one enters into what has often been called the dream and/or the illusion of reality.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with admitting to ones’ self "I do not know what to do." Being true to ones’ self often begins with just such an admission to one’s self.

Alternately, one may have clear insight and know the right thing to do. When that is the case the difficult step to apply is to do what one knows is right for ones’ self.

As in most instances in living there are many considerations to remember such as;

Being offensive to another in order to protect ones’ self is always a sign of weakness that always fails to be helpful, and most often escalates a bad encounter into something worse.

One does not have to remain with insulting and/or mistreating people. Simply walk away and choose to not remain with people who fail see and or accept responsibility for the harmfulness of their actions.

Most hostilities in this world today begin with self-deception while choosing to insult another in order to defend or attempt to feel stronger as a result of that effort.

In actual fact, one becomes weaker when one becomes proud of getting the upper hand over another.

True strength lies within the realization; ‘I am real, whole and complete just as I am without any props, pretending, or effort.

This understanding at its deepest levels extends to all of humanity, even the entire universe both known and unknown.

Competition is emphasized in a credit based predatory civilization.

Cooperation is emphasized by people who choose to honor and strengthen each other in their ability to act with integrity, and truthfulness.

Those who choose to practice deception, lies, and manipulation, have contempt both of themselves and others!

It is important to remember that no matter how much one expresses their best effort to share their most sincere experience of truth in life, others may fail to recognize and/or comprehend what has been shared. In such instances responses may be unflattering and off-putting. That should be expected and not resisted, or snubbed. Every person is entitled to learn the deepest truth they can according to their own inclinations. You and I can never force or comprehend for another.

As the saying goes, one can lead a horse to water but one cannot make the horse drink. Likewise one can express what has become a living truth for ones’ self but one does not have the ability to create understanding within another.

Love is the greatest expression of integrity.

Love empowers every individual to express themselves according to their understanding and inclination in the moment.

Love is not a manipulator.

Love is not a competitor.

Love gives from abundance.

There is no lack in love.

Love does not seek fulfillment in another.

Love expresses itself abundantly within everything we know and experience.

Love does not make demands.

Love does not need approval.

Love does not need love in return.

Love is always true to its nature.

In this world of contrast it is differences that manifest experience.

It is love that is the substance of awareness enabling perception as it is experienced here and now.

Life is a complete experience that is never an isolated event. Everything is connected.

In conclusion I want to say as little as I can to clarify a viewpoint about plagiarism.

Plagiarism as I understand it is copying a persons words and/or expression and taking credit for that as ones own.

A primary reason for creating such a thing as plagiarism seems to be based upon competition and claiming financial compensation for what has been expressed.

Taken to a ridiculous extreme it would be against the law to speak or use numbers or communicate in any way with another because the symbols, words, letters and numbers being used were not created by the person using them.

That said it is respectful to honor what one knows to be the original author of any expression one values. Meanwhile it can be extremely limiting to attempt to check and compare everything ones expresses against everything ever written in an attempt to be certain one is expressing something no one ever expressed in the same way before!

I hope no one chooses to take offense to my expression of these perceptions.  If it is claimed that something I have expressed should be accredited to another, then as I am able and as it is proven and made clear to me, I shall do what I can to comply.

May the expression of life sustaining all things be recognized as the loving spirit of life sustaining and enabling you and I.

Mass shooting reported in Wisconsin: 7 hospitalized, suspect remains at large.

Mass shooting reported in Wisconsin: 7 hospitalized, suspect remains at large.

Is it an exercise of intelligence to quickly find a scape goat and place blame?  I think not.

Why do so few ever seem to wonder and ask what could be the motivating force behind such actions?

Even with that consideration in mind, how deeply will anyone look to try to understand what could possibly create such hostility in any individual that they would explode in anger, resentment, and violence?

Do you think someone who has a family and community that encourages them to live up to their best potential and assists them in learning what they need to know in order to be a useful respected individual who is valued and appreciated for what they have to offer to other in the community would be inclined to hostility and violence?

How many organizations, families, politicians, government agencies, or individuals can you name, including the educational system of America that actually encourage and reward independent thinking and cooperation when it comes to building self-confidence and increasing one’s ability to communicate with ones fellow students, instructors, family and friends?  And do not charge a fee that puts such support beyond the means of those who need it most, which in this case if almost every human being on this planet.

Please do not get me wrong, such violence is not acceptable or justifiable!

But there are those who will say that when such violence is done by a nation that it is acceptable!

Such reasoning is flawed.

Special circumstances do not make what may be considered an evil, a crime, or something harmful,

Turn into something good, just, honorable, helpful, or healing!

It is human beings that have the ability to be responsible and communicative in this life.

Animals would if they could teach us a greater way to love. Sadly it seems far too many people lack the ability to recognize this. Instead our history shows the practice of killing animals and those who greatly love honor and respect them.

Human beings often view the violence in nature that occurs as a natural survival requirement and condemn it in some way, even if it is only by virtue of thinking themselves better and more civilized. I think they fail at such times to remember their own participation in some form of hostility towards another, even to the point of going to war. Yes these are broad generalizations and they are true.

Our human experience will not change unless and until we, that is you and I, do.

More and more there are said to be laws being created that are designed to prevent people from expressing what they know to be true.

Reasons are given that say it is not fair to speak the truth when that truth may reveal that one expensive product is inferior to a less expensive product and may even be harmful! The justification for such laws I am told is said to be to promote a more level playing field of “Free Trade.”

People will not purchase a product as quickly when it is clear that it is an inferior and more expensive product.

Thus one may have a clear example of why “secrets” are valued and protected in this competitive market society.

But I have strayed far from the point now have I not?

 This is my response to "

Blue Bloods' Jennifer Esposito Departs Show, Slams CBS For Its 'Shameful Behavior'

Jennifer it appears has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease.

I would hope that the people of The United States of America realize that this is a common practice. Business owners in general seem more and more inclined to do everything in their power to increase their profits and cut off any employee who may be costing them, no matter what the reason.

This in my opinion is a clear example of greed and competition. It is important to realize that only cooperation between people, families, friends, lovers, etc creates harmony, good will and mutual benefits for all involved.

Lack of cooperation and increasing competition are elements that increase hostilities, promote violence and war, and increase isolation, depression, and insecurity in people.

Anyone saying they can improve the condition of America and the World who does not address this primary issue, undermines everything they claim any desire to improve.

It has often been said that people are asleep, blind, confused, lacking in vision, and plain and simply, just don't care! The reason this may be true for most people who fall into that classification is due to the failure of humanity, of individuals to wake up and say, enough!
I will not be a part of this destructive behavior any longer. I am a better person than this and from now on I shall do my best to be a cooperative realistic and self reasoning individual.

Only people who choose to take control of their expression in life and live according to values that strengthen relationships with the community of friends and neighbors in which they live and in whom they depend for mutual survival will improve this situation.

Beginnings

Spirals circle like the cycle of life, and everything seems to have a purpose which benefits the flow of expression we are immersed in. Each individual is valuable in some way. Little ways can become the greatest of all.

Ultimately each individual expresses in ways that unify and strengthen or separate and weaken them self and everyone around them who buys into their expression as Truth.

We are all connected and dependent upon one another, no matter how little this may seem true.

There are individuals who choose to enslave you in whatever way they can, while keeping that fact hidden and secret as carefully as possible, especially from your awareness of the condition in which you are now.

There are teachings that say mankind is merely a dumb animal that must be controlled and herded in order to maintain a decent civilization where people can live in peace and good health.

It is important to notice that most teachings fail to produce what is taught.

People are more divided and isolated now than ever before in history. It does not matter that millions may be shoulder to shoulder, just because they are in close proximity does not connect them in harmony and understanding or even mutual benefit to each other.

Competition is a game that promotes stealing, domination, and slavery. This statement may sound extreme and completely false at first glance, but like following a compass if the course followed is off by only one degree, when it is followed for hundreds and thousands of miles the original proposed destination will be missed completely.

A fire can put out a fire only when everything combustible has been burned.

Even with animals it is well known that using force and hostility will not produce a happy healthy well trained pet.

People are trained, and the training used produces isolation, confusion, intimidation, and insecurity in almost all cases.

Personally I see that as destructive and not constructive.

The opportunity to be cooperative and constructively work together with others to make life more enjoyable and rewarding to everyone in the communities in which they live is possible, but it requires a desire and willingness to live meaningfully in relationship with family, friends, associates, and all people in ways that encourage independent action and inspiration to express one’s self in the best most helpful and rewarding ways one can imagine.

For this to become a greater reality, people will begin to gather together to determine what they can do to make their relationships with others as helpful and honest as possible.

Of course this means that individuals will be encouraged to grow in their abilities to provide the best they can imagine, find, and be helped to do that increases the common good of everyone in the community.

People working together, having fun together in ways they enjoy and realize are necessary is good, sometimes there are tasks that are not completely enjoyable, but they are necessary for the health and wellbeing of everyone. In a reasonable community such tasks would not be the duty of only one or a few individuals; they would be spread among many over time.

Expressing in this way reminds me of “Utopian” ideals.  People often reject constructive change with the claims that a view is too idealistic to be practical.  To this I say, nothing good happens by imprisoning one’s self within a closed mind.

There is deeper awareness within each and every one than is commonly realized and expressed.

We are not alone, the needs of one are the needs of many and many can easily help and encourage one.

I like the phrase; “All for one and one for All” This is not to say that I am promoting power over many into the hands of one or a few, not at all! I believe in the empowerment of every individual.

Equally I do not condone violence. I do not appreciate any kind of violence, such as intimidation, and manipulation of another, which is abusive and enslaving. Physical violence is merely an extension and expansion of violence like harassment, and intimidation.

More later.