Changes

Just as we can’t watch two channels on TV at once, most of us can’t tune in to both our conscious and subconscious minds at the same time. It can be done, just as one can juggle and watch a distant object instead of the balls, but it takes some effort at first. Usually we spend most, if not all, of our waking time in our conscious minds, entertaining ourselves with various fantasies, plans and ideas, or tormenting ourselves with worries and what-if’s, depending upon our moods. Often we don’t slip into our subconscious minds until we are asleep.

Just as we can’t watch two channels on TV at once, most of us can’t tune in to both our conscious and subconscious minds at the same time. It can be done, just as one can juggle and watch a distant object instead of the balls, but it takes some effort at first. Usually we spend most, if not all, of our waking time in our conscious minds, entertaining ourselves with various fantasies, plans and ideas, or tormenting ourselves with worries and what-if’s, depending upon our moods. Often we don’t slip into our subconscious minds until we are asleep.

Just where is this subconscious mind? Well, most of us can think of instances where we’ve been aware of two types of knowing—we may know something because we were told, or we read it in a book or saw it with our own eyes. Or we may say that we know something “by intuition.” There is a fine line dividing these two types of knowledge, but most of us have had experiences of this “sixth sense.” As evolution of human beings goes forward, more and more people are discovering heightened sensitivity. Many people consider it an upsurge of “spirituality”—not necessarily in the religious sense (though when some people are awakened they choose to define it as such). No matter what the name, it is clear that peoples’ minds are expanding at an increasing rate to include more and more dimensions. The universal mind also expands and increases with every moment. There are thousands of books and words to fill our minds; we try to sort

Just where is this subconscious mind? Well, most of us can think of instances where we’ve been aware of two types of knowing—we may know something because we were told, or we read it in a book or saw it with our own eyes. Or we may say that we know something “by intuition.” There is a fine line dividing these two types of knowledge, but most of us have had experiences of this “sixth sense.” As evolution of human beings goes forward, more and more people are discovering heightened sensitivity. Many people consider it an upsurge of “spirituality”—not necessarily in the religious sense (though when some people are awakened they choose to define it as such). No matter what the name, it is clear that peoples’ minds are expanding at an increasing rate to include more and more dimensions. The universal mind also expands and increases with every moment. There are thousands of books and words to fill our minds; we try to sort out the truth. Many things in the universe remain unexplained. We often hear of “paranormal” events or the ability to receive information from the universal mind. If we are tempted to be skeptical, we should wonder if people a thousand years ago would have laughed at someone who spoke of vehicles that could fly in the air. Before the invention of the microscope, no one would have imagined that there were thousands of tiny living creatures moving around in a piece of fingernail scrapings, but there are. People are notorious for believing “only what they can see,” but obviously a lot exists whether they see it or not. The mind has more potential than we can, at this point in our evolution, know.

 

out the truth. Many things in the universe remain unexplained. We often hear of “paranormal” events or the ability to receive information from the universal mind. If we are tempted to be skeptical, we should wonder if people a thousand years ago would have laughed at someone who spoke of vehicles that could fly in the air. Before the invention of the microscope, no one would have imagined that there were thousands of tiny living creatures moving around in a piece of fingernail scrapings, but there are. People are notorious for believing “only what they can see,” but obviously a lot exists whether they see it or not. The mind has more potential than we can, at this point in our evolution, know.

Some people receive messages or information from the universal mind when they are dreaming. I myself have dreamed dozens of times of people (some who’d been gone for months), and then seen them that day, enough times to finally realize that I was somehow knowing in my dream and subconscious mind that I would see them—I had no conscious clue that they’d be coming. Many people have these types of dreams. Some see a person in a dream and later find out they died; some have seen houses on fire or other events that later came to pass, or were happening at the time of, or before, the dream. The only explanation for such occurrences is that there is information accessible to people who can “tap into it,” by whatever means may best suit their consciousness, whether in a waking or a sleeping state. (For some people, whose minds are always busily centered in the conscious when awake, the sleeping state is the time in which they can best “submerge” into their subconscious minds, with no interference from the conscious stream of thoughts usually present.) Dreams also seem to be a type of “re-sorting” of information and events of the day, or the past, and some seem to reflect (or “work out”) our fears or anxieties, so we can’t just classify all dreams into one category. There are different stages of consciousness even in sleep, because there are varying depths of sleep; so not all dreams are the “precognitive” type mentioned. After awhile you’ll be able to differentiate between your different types of dreams and whether they have any further significance for you. We shouldn’t become unnecessarily preoccupied with our “average” dreams, any more than we would with any other part of our past. But we should learn to recognize any signals or any other information given to us if we feel intuitively that they are being given to us for a reason.

Some people receive messages or information from the universal mind when they are dreaming. I myself have dreamed dozens of times of people (some who’d been gone for months), and then seen them that day, enough times to finally realize that I was somehow knowing in my dream and subconscious mind that I would see them—I had no conscious clue that they’d be coming. Many people have these types of dreams. Some see a person in a dream and later find out they died; some have seen houses on fire or other events that later came to pass, or were happening at the time of, or before, the dream. The only explanation for such occurrences is that there is information accessible to people who can “tap into it,” by whatever means may best suit their consciousness, whether in a waking or a sleeping state. (For some people, whose minds are always busily centered in the conscious when awake, the sleeping state is the time in which they can best “submerge” into their subconscious minds, with no interference from the conscious stream of thoughts usually present.) Dreams also seem to be a type of “re-sorting” of information and events of the day, or the past, and some seem to reflect (or “work out”) our fears or anxieties, so we can’t just classify all dreams into one category. There are different stages of consciousness even in sleep, because there are varying depths of sleep; so not all dreams are the “precognitive” type mentioned. After awhile you’ll be able to differentiate between your different types of dreams and whether they have any further significance for you. We shouldn’t become unnecessarily preoccupied with our “average” dreams, any more than we would with any other part of our past. But we should learn to recognize any signals or any other information given to us if we feel intuitively that they are being given to us for a reason.

The following drugs and habits enervate the body with stimulation/depression cycles. At first the altered state seems “enjoyable”—once it becomes addictive, we crave its repetition more and more often.

The following drugs and habits enervate the body with stimulation/depression cycles. At first the altered state seems “enjoyable”—once it becomes addictive, we crave its repetition more and more often.

hard drugs: amphetamines, barbituates, morphine, heroin, etc.

'''Hard Drugs:''' amphetamines, barbituates, morphine, heroin, etc.

soft drugs: coffee, tea, tobacco, marijuana, caffeinated carbonated beverages, sugar, chocolate, non-caffeinated carbonated beverages (full of chemicals, etc.), strong spices, vinegar, salt stimulating food: animal food such as meat, poultry and fish, preserved foods, concentrated sweets and starches.

'''Soft Drugs:''' coffee, tea, tobacco, marijuana, caffeinated carbonated beverages, sugar, chocolate, non-caffeinated carbonated beverages (full of chemicals, etc.), strong spices, vinegar, salt stimulating food: animal food such as meat, poultry and fish, preserved foods, concentrated sweets and starches.

For example, meats stimulate the body; then a subsequent depression occurs that “requires” further stimulation. We must learn how to recognize and break bad patterns. Food addiction is every bit as overwhelming, potent and destructive of the human organism as a heroin addiction, when you look at its awesome shortand long-term effects.

For example, meats stimulate the body; then a subsequent depression occurs that “requires” further stimulation. We must learn how to recognize and break bad patterns. Food addiction is every bit as overwhelming, potent and destructive of the human organism as a heroin addiction, when you look at its awesome shortand long-term effects.

Sound familiar? Just as we palliate symptoms of detoxification through drugging, so too do we resort to food for palliation of symptoms such as inertia, boredom, restlessness, thus leaving the mental toxins inside instead of dealing with our true feelings. Some people have difficulty admitting their true feelings to themselves. They may not see that it’s love and contact they’re after, deep down, but the subconscious knows, even if they don’t see it in their conscious minds. The games people play with themselves far outnumber the games they play with others. They must first fool themselves before fooling others.

Sound familiar? Just as we palliate symptoms of detoxification through drugging, so too do we resort to food for palliation of symptoms such as inertia, boredom, restlessness, thus leaving the mental toxins inside instead of dealing with our true feelings. Some people have difficulty admitting their true feelings to themselves. They may not see that it’s love and contact they’re after, deep down, but the subconscious knows, even if they don’t see it in their conscious minds. The games people play with themselves far outnumber the games they play with others. They must first fool themselves before fooling others.

Some of us “cheat” when “no one’s looking” (including ourselves, presumably) and eat something we’ve been trying to avoid. Trying to fool ourselves! We try to convince ourselves each time that it “doesn’t matter” or that “next time it will be different.” As long as our intentions are good, we are off the hook temporarily. But truth is truth, whether we like it or not. We must see our selves as we really are, not as we should be. Again, our subconscious mind knows what is really going on. If we choose to let our conscious minds rule the subconscious, we will remain captives of our lower selves.

Some of us “cheat” when “no one’s looking” (including ourselves, presumably) and eat something we’ve been trying to avoid. Trying to fool ourselves! We try to convince ourselves each time that it “doesn’t matter” or that “next time it will be different.” As long as our intentions are good, we are off the hook temporarily. But truth is truth, whether we like it or not. We must see ourselves as we really are, not as we should be. Again, our subconscious mind knows what is really going on. If we choose to let our conscious minds rule the subconscious, we will remain captives of our lower selves.

'''“Stuck here trying to figure out the price of having to go through all these things twice...”'''

'''“Stuck here trying to figure out the price of having to go through all these things twice...”'''

Those who are undisciplined waste their vital life force and spread themselves too thin. They drain their energy, making life harder for themselves. Life can be easier and the choice is ours.

Those who are undisciplined waste their vital life force and spread themselves too thin. They drain their energy, making life harder for themselves. Life can be easier and the choice is ours.

“He who has a firm will molds the world to himself...” —Goethe

“He who has a firm will molds the world to himself...” '''—Goethe'''

“People do not lack strength, they lack will...” —Victor Hugo

“People do not lack strength, they lack will...” '''—Victor Hugo'''

Some say that 5% of the people in the world think for themselves and the other 95% don’t.

Some say that 5% of the people in the world think for themselves and the other 95% don’t.

When you get rid of a bad habit, feel glad. If you kick the drinking habit, don’t think “now I can’t drink anymore.” Think “now I don’t have to drink,” or “now I am a free person.” (Now I am saving money, now I am saving energy, etc.). True freedom is freedom from need. The less you need, the more free you are. You aren’t denying yourself anything. You are giving yourself the greatest gift of all: life and freedom. You have chosen enlightenment.

When you get rid of a bad habit, feel glad. If you kick the drinking habit, don’t think “now I can’t drink anymore.” Think “now I don’t have to drink,” or “now I am a free person.” (Now I am saving money, now I am saving energy, etc.). True freedom is freedom from need. The less you need, the more free you are. You aren’t denying yourself anything. You are giving yourself the greatest gift of all: life and freedom. You have chosen enlightenment.

“When you can control your tastes and appetites, you will be master of your self.” “You will be a soul in a body, not just a body with a soul.”

“When you can control your tastes and appetites, you will be master of yourself.” “You will be a soul in a body, not just a body with a soul.” '''—Stanley Bass'''

 

—Stanley Bass

Poets, philosophers and seers have written about this lofty state of being for centuries!

Poets, philosophers and seers have written about this lofty state of being for centuries!

Even when we feel the pinch financially, there’s always room to stretch, and there’s always someone with less.

Even when we feel the pinch financially, there’s always room to stretch, and there’s always someone with less.

Anyone living in excess of their basic needs is being self-indulgent if s/he doesn’t share. Just as the body with excess food becomes saturated or bloated or toxic, the spirit of a person becomes cloudy when s/he has more than s/he needs to get by. If one has health, happiness comes naturally. Beyond these, what will money buy? It can’t really even buy these, and this has been said in so many different ways by now that it seems we’d take it for granted. Yet we often lose sight of our perspective in the search for security.

Anyone living in excess of their basic needs is being self-indulgent if s/he doesn’t share. Just as the body with excess food becomes saturated or bloated or toxic, the spirit of a person becomes cloudy when they have more than they need to get by. If one has health, happiness comes naturally. Beyond these, what will money buy? It can’t really even buy these, and this has been said in so many different ways by now that it seems we’d take it for granted. Yet we often lose sight of our perspective in the search for security.

Some of the most generous people I met travelling in foreign countries were people who had almost nothing.

Some of the most generous people I met travelling in foreign countries were people who had almost nothing.

“You would measure time the measureless and the immeasurable.

“You would measure time the measureless and the immeasurable.

Yet the timeless in you is aware of life’s timeless-ness, and knows that yesterday is

Yet the timeless in you is aware of life’s timelessness, and knows that yesterday is

but today’s memory and tomorrow is today’s dream.

but today’s memory and tomorrow is today’s dream.

of that first moment which scattered the stars into space.”

of that first moment which scattered the stars into space.”

Quantum physics says that everything is one and time in not linear. Modern physics

Quantum physics says that everything is one and time in not linear. Modern physics sees space and time existing together at once, as if they were a block, without separation in the block. It is we as individuals who divide it arbitrarily into seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years, ad infinitum. While many people become more and more obsessed with and dominated by time, or bemoan their “lack” of it, it seems that children, primitive people, religious and mystical people all live in an eternal, continual present. When time ceases to flow in the fragments created by our words, we are enveloped by the stillness that all the great mystics have spoken about.

 

sees space and time existing together at once, as if they were a block, without separation in the block. It is we as individuals who divide it arbitrarily into seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years, ad infinitum. While many people become more and more obsessed with and dominated by time, or bemoan their “lack” of it, it seems that children, primitive people, religious and mystical people all live in an eternal, continual present. When time ceases to flow in the fragments created by our words, we are enveloped by the stillness that all the great mystics have spoken about.

When you aren’t living in the now, and you slip into the past or the future, you are alive in a time that is not the real time of the moment. Your focus changes, and you are no longer centered, on balance.

When you aren’t living in the now, and you slip into the past or the future, you are alive in a time that is not the real time of the moment. Your focus changes, and you are no longer centered, on balance.

John Lennon said,

John Lennon said,

“Life is what happens while we’re busy making other plans.

'''“Life is what happens while we’re busy making other plans.'''

== Using Psychology On Others ==

== Using Psychology On Others ==

== Questions & Answers ==

== Questions & Answers ==

There is so much suffering: having compassion, how can one be at peace?

'''There is so much suffering: having compassion, how can one be at peace?'''

Do you think you are different from the world? Are you not the world? The world that you have made with your ambition, with your greed, with your economic securities, with your wars—you made it. The torture of animals for your food, the wastage of money on war, the lack of right education—you have built this world, it is part of you. So you are the world and the world is you; there is no division between you and the world. You ask, “How can you have peace when the world suffers?” How can you have peace when you are suffering? This is the question, because you are the world. You can go all over the world, talk to human beings, whether they are clever, famous or illiterate, they are all going through a terrible time—like you. So the question is not, “How can you have peace when the world is suffering?” You are suffering and therefore the world suffers; therefore put an end to your suffering, if you know how to end it. Suffering with its self-pity comes to an end only when there is self-knowing. (J. Krishnamurti)

Do you think you are different from the world? Are you not the world? The world that you have made with your ambition, with your greed, with your economic securities, with your wars—you made it. The torture of animals for your food, the wastage of money on war, the lack of right education—you have built this world, it is part of you. So you are the world and the world is you; there is no division between you and the world. You ask, “How can you have peace when the world suffers?” How can you have peace when you are suffering? This is the question, because you are the world. You can go all over the world, talk to human beings, whether they are clever, famous or illiterate, they are all going through a terrible time—like you. So the question is not, “How can you have peace when the world is suffering?” You are suffering and therefore the world suffers; therefore put an end to your suffering, if you know how to end it. Suffering with its self-pity comes to an end only when there is self-knowing. (J. Krishnamurti)

== Article #1: Ahimsa Excerpts ==

== Article #1: Ahimsa Excerpts ==

Reverence for Life, and The Golden Rule

'''Reverence for Life, and The Golden Rule'''

 

 

The phrase was originated by Dr. Albert Schweitzer to describe his belief that life has value; that life is a rich and rewarding experience for all who partake of it; and there is no such thing as worthless life. Probably the greatest of all is the Golden Rule: that we should act toward others as we would wish them to act toward ourselves.

The phrase was originated by Dr. Albert Schweitzer to describe his belief that life has value; that life is a rich and rewarding experience for all who partake of it; and there is no such thing as worthless life. Probably the greatest of all is the Golden Rule: that we should act toward others as we would wish them to act toward ourselves.

The Golden Rule In Seven World Faiths

'''The Golden Rule In Seven World Faiths'''

Hinduism

Hinduism

The moral of this story is that it should teach us that: (a) there is more to food than just the chemistry of it (proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, etc.); (b) the feelings, emotions, thoughts and character of an individual are in some subtle manner closely associated to the quality of the food we eat. It makes one think about the character of the person who will be permitted to prepare the food of the household; and (c) it is important that the element of time be considered in the changeover of an individual from a lower to a higher quality of dietary. As the body changes, so will the quality of the feelings, emotions, thoughts and goals change. The process is subtle and takes time. With change of blood and tissue chemistry comes change of character. Herein is the true alchemy of the “philosopher’s stone,” the changing of base metal into gold, so eagerly sought by the medieval alchemists. It behooves us all to become modern alchemists by learning to transmute the best food of nature into the best character-material which is possible, which without fail will lead us to the highest happiness which is possible.

The moral of this story is that it should teach us that: (a) there is more to food than just the chemistry of it (proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, etc.); (b) the feelings, emotions, thoughts and character of an individual are in some subtle manner closely associated to the quality of the food we eat. It makes one think about the character of the person who will be permitted to prepare the food of the household; and (c) it is important that the element of time be considered in the changeover of an individual from a lower to a higher quality of dietary. As the body changes, so will the quality of the feelings, emotions, thoughts and goals change. The process is subtle and takes time. With change of blood and tissue chemistry comes change of character. Herein is the true alchemy of the “philosopher’s stone,” the changing of base metal into gold, so eagerly sought by the medieval alchemists. It behooves us all to become modern alchemists by learning to transmute the best food of nature into the best character-material which is possible, which without fail will lead us to the highest happiness which is possible.

Excerpted from Overcoming Compulsive Habits

'''Excerpted from Overcoming Compulsive Habits'''

== Article #4: The Green-Eyed Monster by Virginia Vetrano ==

== Article #4: The Green-Eyed Monster by Virginia Vetrano ==

“And at the root of it all...”

“And at the root of it all...”

Almost at the beginning of it all is the violence we do to ourselves, not the violence

Almost at the beginning of it all is the violence we do to ourselves, not the violence others do to us or that we do to other humans or other animals.

 

others do to us or that we do to other humans or other animals.

 

and see their fears, their panic, the alarms they set off and the defense systems they throw up, the strategies they formulate, the communications, the cooperation and support they muster for each other and for the total good in the face of what we impose on them as we indulge ourselves; if we could be locked arm-in-arm with all our stomach cell brethren as gross amounts of gross food gets piled in upon us, forcing us out and out as we strive desperately to hold on to each other just to keep from bursting; if we could be part of those scenes at that level, we might feel and behave differently, because these are violent acts we commit upon our physical selves. What is required of our bodies in the face of a coffee or alcoholic dousing should be as embarrassing to us as it must be frightening to our nervous systems and befuddling to our other parts of the body. Really, think about it and recognize that we make our internal and external bodies into garbage bins and cesspools! How violent!

If we could manage a microscopic existence, and join our own cells at their levels, and see their fears, their panic, the alarms they set off and the defense systems they throw up, the strategies they formulate, the communications, the cooperation and support they muster for each other and for the total good in the face of what we impose on them as we indulge ourselves; if we could be locked arm-in-arm with all our stomach cell brethren as gross amounts of gross food gets piled in upon us, forcing us out and out as we strive desperately to hold on to each other just to keep from bursting; if we could be part of those scenes at that level, we might feel and behave differently, because these are violent acts we commit upon our physical selves. What is required of our bodies in the face of a coffee or alcoholic dousing should be as embarrassing to us as it must be frightening to our nervous systems and befuddling to our other parts of the body. Really, think about it and recognize that we make our internal and external bodies into garbage bins and cesspools! How violent!

The very first form of violence, however, that no one ever considers (and it is the start of it all), is the violence we do to the food we eat before we take it into our bodies.

The very first form of violence, however, that no one ever considers (and it is the start of it all), is the violence we do to the food we eat before we take it into our bodies.