tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49136457387263898152024-02-07T02:12:09.359-08:00We all are Tools Of The Universe...Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-77859828319802890022022-05-18T00:48:00.006-07:002022-05-18T16:07:15.801-07:00It is not supposed to be like this!<p> Last night, I woke up from a dream. I dreamed of a broken man in his mid 50s, talking:</p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">It was not supposed to be like this!</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">One day they came to his school. And they talked about "Only the few". About "Honor". And "Glory". About "Serving your country". He came home, with a fire in his chest, and a light in his eyes. Was he one of the few?</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">How can you tell him not to listen to this? It's your country! How could you tell him not to answer the call? He would not have listened to you anyhow! His mind was full of "Honor and Glory". He knew what he wanted to do. But it wasn't supposed to be like this!</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Only now you realize, you lost your son that very same day!</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Then one day he left to join the cause. Full of life! Full of energy. Of hopes and dreams. And ideals. They brought him back in a bag. What was left of his body. They unfolded a flag over his empty coffin. And folded it again. And handed it to you. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">It was not supposed to be like this!</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Then they left. And his friends left, too, and</i><i> went to college. And you are left with a flag. Watching from the outside. They graduate. Have a career. They have Sunday BarBQs. Camping trips. Girldfriends. They marry, and have kids of their own. While your son just disappeared. Life goes on, you're told. But it was not supposed to be like this! </i></span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">"Only the few" they say. Only the gullible, you say. "Serve your country" they say. How can you serve your country when you die a senseless death, you say. You serve your country when you live! When you have a job. And contribute to the common good. When you travel the world, and make friends wherever you go. When you work to make the world a better place for the next generation. When you bring up a child, to be part of that next generation. When you pay your taxes, do your work, vote for good people. That's when you serve your country, you say!</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">It was not supposed to be like this!</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">You walk down memory lane. Back to your house, where you lived with your family. Happily. Joyfully. Until he left. You had dumped it way below its value. You couldn't stand to live there any longer. Every room you enter, every piece of furniture, every view out the window into the yard held a memory of him. You thought, getting rid of the house, would get rid of your pain. It didn't. It doesn't...</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">When they broke your child, they also broke you. It was not supposed to be like this!</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">There are people with their grandchildren in the park. You are at home, with a flag. It was not supposed to be like this!</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">And for what? The situation there is now worse than before! Our country is now in more danger than before! We are now more despised and hated than before! What a disservice to our country they made him do! </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">It was not supposed to be like this!</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">When they talked to your son about "Honor and Glory", about "Serving your Country", they wasted his life. And they wasted yours that same day.</span></i></p><p>Then I woke up, all shaking and emotional!</p><p>Had to get up and write it down immediately, before the spirit of the dream left me. Before the message of that man in my dream was over-blasted by the little worries and oh so important tasks of my own life. Before I would go back to normal. The normal, where our kids are told stories about "Honor and Glory". The normal, where young impressionable almost adults are brainwashed into following the call of the piper. Where oh so many are sent into oh so terrible situations, from which oh so many return broken - dead or even worse living dead...</p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is not supposed to be like this!</span></p>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-49570311722787550022022-01-19T18:43:00.003-08:002022-01-19T18:43:58.342-08:00What do Vincent van Gogh, my friend Felix, Robin Williams, and so many more have in common?<p> What do Vincent van Gogh, my friend Felix, Robin Williams, and so many more have in common?</p><p>They broke living in this world, and took their own lives.</p><p>How is that possible? What happened?</p><p>Of course, I don't know the exact details either. But, I can still remember when my friend Felix lived with me for a short while, and we had many long, deep, intensive talks around the topic of "what's living all about".</p><p>At that time, I was already happily toiling in the "corporate hamster wheel", and viewed that as best way to live my life. I heard, what Felix was trying to explain to me, but I didn't understand him. I thought I did, but really, honestly, I didn't get it...</p><p>Today I know that Felix was lightyears ahead of us all!</p><p>Already in high-school he understood and talked about how we people are taking ourselves and us too seriously. Then I didn't understand him. Today, however, I can recognize that back then he already gave me the first hints and pointers, which eventually lead me to the "Tool of the Universe" world-view.</p><p>The world wasn't built for us! We were built for the world!</p><p>It isn't my soul who has to develop and grow, while the world can be used up and destroyed in the process. It is this creation that is developing, and I am allowed to participate in the continuation of its development - and if I am getting used up and worn out in the process, well, that's not such a big disaster - as long as something of relevance "moved" a little!</p><p>Success is not money, power, fame, status, family, titles and degrees, travels, relationships, nor any of all the other things that are portrayed as worthy, ideal goals!</p><p>These "fake goals" are the ones that broke my friend Felix!</p><p>If I'm following the traditional world-view, in which I am the work-piece, then success is defined as what happens "to me" and what I am able to "make out of myself".</p><p>However, if I'm following this new world-view, in which I am the tool, the instrument, then what happens to me is rather unimportant. What matters is what happens "through" me!</p><p>Success is defined as: how often and how well am I able to make the contribution that is needed in this moment and which I could and should make.</p><p>A potato-peeler is being taken out of the drawer whenever something needs to be peeled: a potato, a papaya, a cucumber - no matter what it is: there's always some peel that needs to be separated from the fruit or vegetable.</p><p>I am convinced, that it's exactly the same with me! In whatever situation I find myself: I am where I am because I hold the biggest potential for the contribution to be made, that is needed in this exact moment and in this exact location. Through me it is possible, that something that is supposed to change, that is in need of improvement, is actually changing or at least more likely to be able to change.</p><p>Success is not what I am talking away from a situation, what I am learning from it, whether I am richer, smarter, more comfortable afterwards.</p><p>Success is, when I was able - by accident or intentionally, being aware of my role or not - to do exactly "what the universe had hoped I would do when it lead me into this situation".</p><p>Yes, I know, that all sounds rather strange and worthy of "yes, but". Hey, if you're happy and contented with your life, and everything is flowing the way you like, I guess, you won't understand any of what I'm trying to point out. Maybe later in your life you get to a point where it may start making sense...</p><p>But, if you're in a similar boat as Vincent, Felix, and Robin, when you're close to the end of your strength and wisdom, when nothing fits together anymore, when your life doesn't seem to make any sense anymore: then this 180 degrees opposite world-view might allow you to find answers to your questions, create clarity for your doubts, and provide the strength and energy to continue.</p><p>To "continue" - not in the sense of "go on as before"! But, in the sense of "not giving up the ghost", finding new goals, defining new, better priorities, and fulfilling a new, better purpose!</p><p>If you feel you're at the end, postpone ending it for a little and contact me. Tell me about your life. And maybe I can help you to see the miracle that you are.</p><p>I am convinced, once you understand your true mission in this world, you will start to see the magic that is happening through you on a daily basis. You'll start to recognize how through you this world is becoming a better place, one little step after another little step. You'll see how important you are. You'll find an infinite source of energy and happiness inside of you. And you'll also notice that everything that you need is being brought to you. It simply shows up in your life, often out of the blue, from left-field...</p><p>If by then you still feel ending your life is the best solution, you can still do it then. However, before that, give yourself a chance! Give this world a chance!</p>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-48911804321205262572022-01-18T10:40:00.001-08:002022-01-18T10:40:26.747-08:00Was haben Vincent van Gogh, mein Freund Felix, Robin Williams, and so viele andere gemeinsam?<p> </p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">(English version to come soon...)</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><br /></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Was haben Vincent van Gogh, mein Freund Felix, Robin Williams, and so viele andere gemeinsam?</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Sie sind an dieser Welt zerbrochen, und haben sich selbst das Leben genommen.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Wie ist das möglich?Was ist da abgelaufen?</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Ich weiss es natürlich auch nicht genau. Aber, ich kann mich noch daran erinnern, als Felix kurze Zeit bei mir wohnte, und wir viele lange, tiefe, intensive Gespräche darüber hatten, was es ausmacht “zu leben”.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Ich war damals schon tief im “Corporate Hamster Wheel”, und sah das als besten Weg zu leben. Ich hörte was Felix mir erklärte, aber verstanden hatte ich es nicht. Ich glaubte zu verstehen, aber habe eigentlich nichts kapiert, damals.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Heute weiss ich, dass Felix uns allen Lichtjahre voraus war!</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Schon im Gymnasium hat er immer davon gesprochen, dass “wir Menschen uns selbst viel zu wichtig nehmen”. Damals verstand ich ihn nicht. Heute sehe ich, dass er mir damals schon die ersten Hinweise und Wegweiser gegeben hat, die mich letztendlich Jahrzehnte später zur “Tool of the Universe” Weltanschauung geführt haben.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Die Welt wurde nicht für uns gemacht! Wir wurden für die Welt gemacht!</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Es ist nicht meine Seele die sich entwickeln muss, und die Welt kann dabei aufgerieben und zerstört werden. Es ist diese Schöpfung die sich entwickelt, und ich kann dabei mitarbeiten, und wenn ich dabei aufgerieben werde ist das an sich nicht eine Tragödie - solange durch mich etwas wichtiges “bewegt” wurde!</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Erfolg ist nicht Geld, Macht, Berühmtheit, Status, Familie, Titel, Reisen, Beziehungen, und all die anderen Dinge, die uns immer als erstrebenswerte, ideale Ziele vor Augen gesetzt werden!</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Diese “fake goals” - falsche Ziele - sind es, die Felix am Leben zerbrechen liessen! </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Wenn man der traditionellen Weltanschauung folgt, dass ich das Werkstück bin, ja, dann ist Erfolg was ich “für mich” oder “aus mir” mache. </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Jedoch, wenn man dieser neuen Weltanschauung folgt, dass ich das Werkzeug bin, dann ist es ziemlich unwichtig was mit mir geschieht. Was zählt ist, was “durch” mich geschieht!</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Erfolg ist definiert als: wie oft und wie stark bin ich in der Lage den Beitrag zu leisten, der in diesem Moment durch mich geleistet werden könnte und sollte.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Ein Erdäpfelschäler wird immer dann aus der Schublade genommen, wenn es darum geht etwas zu schälen: einen Erdapfel, eine Papaya, eine Gurke - egal was, aber immer dann, wenn Schale von Frucht getrennt werden muss.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Wenn ich mich in einer Situation befinde, ist es genau so - davon bin ich überzeugt! Ich bin da, weil ich das größte Potenzial habe, den Beitrag einzubringen, der hier und jetzt gebraucht wird! Durch mich ist es möglich, dass etwas das sich verändern sollte, sich verändert oder zumindest jetzt ein wenig wahrscheinlicher wird sich verändern zu können.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Erfolg ist nicht was ich von einer Situation weg mitnehme, was ich lerne, ob ich danach reicher, schlauer, mehr komfortabel bin. </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Erfolg ist, wenn ich - zufällig oder bewusst, gewollt oder ungewollt - in der Situation das tun konnte, “dass sich das Universum erhofft hatte, dass ich tun würde”.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Ja, ich weiss, das klingt alles sehr fremdartig und “ja aber” würdig. Hey, wenn du glücklich bist mit deinem Leben, und zufrieden, und alles so läuft wie es dir gefällt, dann wirst du das vermutlich überhaupt nicht verstehen. Vielleicht kommt aber später einmal die Zeit wo es anfängt Sinn zu machen...</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Wenn es dir aber so wie Felix, Vincent und Robin geht, wenn du dich dem Ende deiner Kraft näherst, wenn alles zusammen nicht mehr zusammenpasst, wenn dein Leben keinen Sinn mehr ergibt: Dann glaube ich könnte dir die 180 Grad umgedrehte Weltanschauung Antworten auf deine Fragen, Klarheit für deine Zweifel, und Stärke und Energie weiterzumachen liefern.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Weiterzumachen - nicht im Sinne des “so wie bisher”! Sondern, im Sinne von “nicht den Geist aufgeben”, und neue, bessere Ziele finden, neue, bessere Prioritäten setzen, und neuen, besseren Zweck erfüllen!</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Wenn du dich am Ende siehst, verschiebe das Ende ein wenig und kontaktiere mich. Erzähle mir von deinem Leben, und vielleicht kann ich dir helfen das Wunder, das du bist, zu erkennen. </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Ich bin davon überzeugt, wenn du deine wahre Aufgabe auf dieser Welt verstehst, wirst du tag täglich sehen, wie durch dich kleine Wunder geschehen, die diese Welt langsam aber stetig verbessern! Du wirst sehen wie wichtig du bist. Du wirst eine unendliche Energie-Quelle in dir entdecken. Und du wirst auch immer wieder bemerken, dass alles das du brauchst an dich herangetragen wird!</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Wenn du dann immer noch glaubst, dein Leben zu beenden ist die beste Lösung, dann kannst du es ja dann immer noch beenden. Aber, davor, gib dir eine Chance! Gib dieser Welt eine Chance!</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-48972263358001682922016-08-21T17:22:00.002-07:002021-02-25T16:54:40.936-08:00Mission Accomplished!This belief helps me tremendously dealing with the passing of loved ones. And it also makes me look forward to "signing off", rather than being afraid of it...<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJHzhGVvxRMVp6bwaclbAsH_gVoB3KncMVBhG2-3rv-TpEuD22Ul7XtXWQnVQNl8axCrpLfyDH_rotHzK6AMLuYxRApt98fRk0B6r7V7ItQZuOGp_cR4H1wPiSO2anbgQe5gswwBip9zj/s983/missionAccomplished.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="791" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJHzhGVvxRMVp6bwaclbAsH_gVoB3KncMVBhG2-3rv-TpEuD22Ul7XtXWQnVQNl8axCrpLfyDH_rotHzK6AMLuYxRApt98fRk0B6r7V7ItQZuOGp_cR4H1wPiSO2anbgQe5gswwBip9zj/s320/missionAccomplished.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-27025993206430962042016-08-09T21:38:00.001-07:002016-08-09T21:41:17.198-07:00This world needs Jesus! Really?This world already has a Jesus. And what did the people of this world do to him? Then - as now - too many are blinded by ignorance and religious fanatism into hateful self-righteousness against anybody that thinks, looks, acts, feels, loves, behaves differently. We people killed Jesus then. We people are continuing to kill today.
<p />
We don't need another Jesus to tell us how to fix things. The one 2000 years ago already told us. We don't need somebody or something else to fix things for us. We need to fix things ourselves, by fixing our own selves!
<p />
What we need is more willingness to:
<p />
<ul>
<li>put aside traditions and customs and embrace new ideas and perspectives</li>
<li>turn off our auto-pilot more often and try something new</li>
<li>stop blindly repeating what others - especially religious people - are saying, and double-check if it is really making the world a better place</li>
<li>allow others to make their own choices without having to fear to be ostracized</li>
<li>try to find a "loving" way, rather than always simply following the instinctual animal response (which is usually "fighting", thus usually making things worse, rather than better)</li>
</ul>
<p />
Let me encourage you, to try to at least once a day think afresh about one "something" that you are used to do or believe.
<p />
Let me remind you to try to reserve half an hour a week for reflecting on the questions of:
<ul>
<li>What did the Universe have in mind when it created you and shaped you?</li>
<li>How is the Universe using you to create change and improvement in this world?</li>
</ul>
<p />
Let me invite you to try once a month to connect with a kind of person that you have never connected with before, and to try to learn as much as you can about how life is to and for that person, while also honestly sharing yourself with that person as well.
<p />
Magic is happening through you - whether you are aware of it or not; whether you want it or not; and whether you are actively trying to let it happen, or simply leaving it to chance.
<p />
My experience is, that when I make a contribution to the development of this creation, I receive happiness in return. A happiness that comes from deep within. A kind, that can not be bought or acquired in any other way.
<p />
I strongly believe, that if you follow the simple three requests above, you'll become less destructive (as we all are) to everybody and everything around you, and more capable as a tool for the Universe to cause improvement. You'll notice more opportunities to make a contribution, and are more able to do so. And with all of that, you'll become much happier and more fulfilled.
<p />
But, don't blindly believe what I say! Try it yourself, and observe.Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-66398868053765550352016-08-07T20:35:00.003-07:002016-08-07T20:40:23.766-07:00Letter to my Turkish friendDear Friend,
<p/> <p/>
The area you live in has been at the center of development of civilization for many, many centuries. Your people are capable of greatness!<p/>
Such development came in boosts. With times of stagnation in between those. However, during such rest-phases the seeds for the next boost germinated.<p/>
You may find yourself in such a phase of stagnation. If so, you may be the part of the seed-starter soil where the next boost is germinating.
<p/> <p/>
There are those who blame outside forces for their situation. Such blaming is futile. You can not change outside forces. The best you can do is accept them and move to suit. There are those who stop their work when it is raining. And there are those who accept the situation (i.e. it rains), move to suit (for example put on a rain-coat) and do the work that is possible within the limitations and due to the special circumstances of the outside situation (for example plant seeds).
<p/> <p/>
I find, there are many among your neighbors, among the people in your country, and the whole world, who are frozen in centuries old religions and traditions. Like a fish in a block of ice, they are incapable of moving, of growing, or changing. <p/>
Then there is another large group of folks, who are uneducated and misinformed. They don't understand what is going on in the world, how things are connected, what causes the effects they are experiencing negatively. Their ignorance causes them to fall victim to fear mongering demagogues. They are afraid of anything that looks, sounds, or acts differently then what they are used too. Sucked into their fear like into quicksand, they, too, are incapable of moving or changing.<p/>
But there are also a few like yourself. Your horizon is wide. Your experiences have opened your mind. Your ability to speak another language indicates you are a communicator. Your willingness to engage in conversations with people that are different than you indicates you are a bridge-builder.
<p/> <p/>
I am reminding you of all of this, because I saw the sparkle of idealism and energy in your eyes. Even though it was wrapped in a vail of sadness and frustration, which itself you were trying hard to hide behind a mask of sarcasm and fatalism.
<p/> <p/>
You are a descendent of great people. You are capable of greatness. Through you, the frozen have a chance for the ice to melt around them. Through you, the fearful have a chance to see the potential of the changes around them to cause improvement of the situation. You are the best chance the frozen and fearful who come into your life have.
<p/> <p/>
I wish for you, that you'll find ways and the energy to do your work. Little by little. One situation at a time. One friend after another. My hope for you is, that you'll be able to help people understand. That you may provide the seeds for thought people need to ask the questions that allow them to make the next step.
<p/> <p/>
Just remember, you are not responsible for the greater picture. Nor should you allow the appearance of the greater picture to get you despondent or lose hope. As long as you are doing your share - as little and insignificant as it may appear to you - this is all that is necessary; this is the only responsibility you have.
<p/> <p/>
Here's another analogy: In the older days, during the winter months farmers in the Alps would not sit around lamenting that it is cold, that they can neither plant nor harvest anything. They would work on their tools, so when the spring comes they are ready to plant.
<p/> <p/>
So, there's no sense in lamenting the situation. Brainstorm about what you can do, given the situation - and do it. Work "indoors". Educate. Inform. Connect with kindred spirits. Support each other.
<p/> <p/>
And lastly: stay away from violence. Force destroys. Stick with love! Love conquers all. Love is the only path to real success. Love is the only warmth that thaws the ice of religious and traditionalist fanaticism. Love is the only lotion that soothes and heals fear!
<p/> <p/>
In the end it will be all good. If it is not good yet, it just means it is not yet the end; and your contributions are still needed.
<p/>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-61484424832999493962016-08-07T20:35:00.000-07:002016-08-07T20:38:38.246-07:00Dear Lord...I know you must be cringing every time somebody refers to you as "Lord" or "King", since these where the aristocrats that waged war, ruled mostly cruel over their subjects, and got rich on their people's back. You, however, do not rule over us, but gave us free will to do whatever we feel like. You gave us the instinct of inquisitiveness that can help us search for what makes sense, and a brain that can help us in any situation identify many available options, and choose the one that makes the most sense.
<p /> <p />
I am sure, if you had a head, you would shake it in disbelief, every time people start talking about you performing supernatural miracles. You have sent and keep sending us instance over instance, opportunity over opportunity where we could realize that you are not using supernatural magic to improve situations; you are not sending lightning-bolts, not flicking your fingers even if you had fingers. You are working through us humans, you are using us as instruments, as tools to implement the divine intervention.
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I am convinced, if you had arms, you would through them up every time people are misled and taught useless, illogical religious traditions. Some claim you sent your son to give us the message in clear language, yet, they focus on all kinds of other texts - some in total contradiction of Jesus' simple message: love your neighbor and love your god. Some focus on the question whether Jesus was a real person, and on examples for how his message was implemented 2000 years ago, instead of pondering questions that are relevant today - for example:
<ul>
<li>What mode of transportation would Jesus use?</li>
<li>Would he use styrofoam?</li>
<li>Would he use his money to pay for cable, weaves, breast implants, or sports tickets?</li>
<li>Would he glorify the military?</li>
<li>Would he encourage youth to study science or football, language or soccer, math or basketball?</li>
<li>To what temperature would he set his thermostat in the summer, and what temperature in the winter?</li>
<li>Would he vote in the elections? And if so, for whom?</li>
<li>Would he run, or send his kids to a Martial Arts studio?</li>
<li>What kind of food would he buy, prepare, and eat?</li>
</ul>
<p /> <p />
So many questions that are highly relevant and important today! Yet so many focus on repeating over and over again, that Jesus died FOR us! Heck, he died THROUGH us! We killed him! And we would kill him all over again today, if he came back - we surely are making peoples' lives miserable if they don't believe, behave, look, act like us! I can not fathom how you have not yet given up on us!
<p /> <p />
I guess you must often wonder what might have gone wrong when you created us; why are we just not getting it? You provide for us situation over situation, where we could realize that when we are making a contribution to the development of this world, we are rewarded with happiness and fulfillment. Yet, we always look for "what is in it for me?" We try to achieve happiness through shopping, controlling other people, striving for personal comfort - and fail miserably. We seek fulfillment through money, power, status - and fail miserably. We choose to believe this world was created for us - and wonder why we destroy it!
<p /> <p />
Here I pray:
<ul>
<li>May we start teaching our children to ask in any situation: "What contribution could I make now?", so that the next generation has a chance to fix the problems we're apparently so incapable of resolving.</li>
<li>May we stop glorifying military and martial arts and guns and fighting, so that peace may come to our streets.</li>
<li>May we stop trying the same old approaches and wonder why we get the same old outcomes. May we instead change our core world-view, as doing this will automatically change our values, our priorities, our approaches, and our actions.</li>
<li>May we stop acting like animals, and instead learn to go beyond our animal instincts, so that we become the angels that we were meant to be when we came to this world.</li>
<li>May we each accept our function as highly sophisticated and specialized tool to work on specific issues in our world in whatever little way we can, may we each search for our specific purpose, and may we each accept our mission to make this world a better place! And may we see in everybody else the potential for being an angel - no matter what color, race, sexual orientation, origin of birth, language, age, background, or whatever..., so we can attempt to help them with their mission, rather than hinder and harass them.</li>
</ul>
<p /> <p />
I hope this my prayer would put a smile on your face, if you had a face - it is the best I was able to do. Well I guess, you might be curious now to see, how many people who read this prayer will act like the pharisees in self-righteous upset, and how many will be good soil where these seeds of thought can germinate and grow.
<p /> <p />
Amen
<p />Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-79927065906956250722016-01-10T08:33:00.000-08:002016-01-10T08:33:20.237-08:00Love Your Neighbor - Commandment or Gauge?"Love your neighbor" is the center of Christian teachings. The idea is obvious: If you love somebody, you do not use or abuse them, but treat them nicely, you are kind to them, and help and support them.
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If everybody would love their neighbor there would be no crime, no war, and we all could live in peace and freedom.
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However, love is an emotion - just like sadness, anger, fear, and hate. Emotions motivate you to act and behave in a certain way. The problem is, you can not fake an emotion. You can try to act as if you had the emotion; however, that becomes very exhausting and is sometimes quite impossible in the first place.
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There's a causal relationship between emotion and action. Obvioulsy, it's a one-way street - i.e. emotion triggers action, but action as if there was a particular emotion doesn't trigger that emotion.
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But, luckily, there's something that causes emotions. And that, we can impact!
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For example: It made me sad when my grandmother died. On first thought, one might think that the event triggered the emotion.
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<p />
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But that is not so: I was sad about my grandmother no longer being here many times after she died.
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So, is it the knowledge of her having passed? No, that isn't it either: I know she is gone form many years now, but I haven't been sad all the time for all these years.
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I become sad whenever somethign reminds me of her and I become aware of the fact again that she's gone.
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The event of her passing provided me with certain pieces of knowledge: She is gone, I won't be able to talk to her again. Of all the things that I know, when I focus on that aprticular piece of information, it triggers the emotion of sadness in me.
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<p />
So, the question then is, how can I trigger the emotion of love whenever I am interacting with another person - or with anything else in this world?
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I'd like to encourage you to find yourself answers to this question that work for you.
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<p />
So far, all I mentioned was pretty objective. No matter what spiritual ideas you choose to believe, the above is not impacted by it. It simply is what it is.
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<p />
Your ability to find an answer to the question and to develop a working strategy to implement it, I think, depends a lot on your spiritual believe system.
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<p />
If you choose ot believe that all of us came to this world on a mission to make it a better place, as a conduit for devine guidance to help improve the situation, as tools used by the Universe to continue the development of this creation, well, then it is relatively easy to see the potential for good in every person. You cannot help but love your fellow soul, and try to be of assistance to them so they can fulfill their mission better.
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Once you get away from the idea that it is all about you, and you understand that it is all about the unfolding of this magical creation, you automatically try to find a way to differentiate between a person and their actions - i.e. you may not like what a person does, but you still love them as a fellow soul.
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When you enounter a difficult to take person, instead of lamenting your bad luck, you might see it as the Universe hoping that through you that person will get a chance to improve.
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Instead of hating the person and feeling the urge to hurt them, you might try to help them find a way to have more of a positve impact on the world.
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<p />
You see, with this believe-system the notion of "Love your neighbor" turns from a never achievable commandment into a gauge. A measuring stick that informs you of your progress on the path towards enlightenment...
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Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-65600117198478847342016-01-10T08:30:00.001-08:002016-01-10T08:50:39.735-08:00Open letter to Judge Robert E. Lee Key Jr.I read in a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/12/opinion/sunday/nicholas-kristof-when-whites-just-dont-get-it-part-3.html?_r=0">NY Times Article</a>about a black business man in Alabama, named Walter McMillan. How judge Robert E Lee Key Jr and an overwhelmingly white jury sentenced him to die for the murder of an 18 year old white woman. And that, despite overwhelming evidence of McMillan's innocence. Another example of the broken system that is keeping America down...
In case he's still alive, here's an open letter to Judge Robert E Lee Key Jr (and all his colleagues across the whole country and all the way to the supreme court):
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<p />
<i>"Dear Robert,
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When you go to sleep in the evening, do you think about what your contribution is to this world? Do you believe, what you're doing is the best you can do? When God created you, do you think it was "this that you're doing", that was the hope to be accomplished through you?
<p />
I don't believe in "evil". We humans are animals, just like a cats, hyenas and snakes. When we act according to our animal instincts others experience us as evil. Only when we grow beyond our animal self the divine of us can unfold, and we can make a positive contribution to this beautiful creation.
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Sometimes, our ignorance prevents us from seeing how we think and act like animals. But, luckily and miraculously, we get plenty of messages from a many different directions that would help us become more enlightened.
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This letter is one such message for you.
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I hope, it helps you see the great potential that exists through you, for positive improvement of a severely malfunctioning system. I hope you'll find a way, that in the end your family a few generations down the line will be proud of being related to you, not embarrassed.
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It's not yet too late, Saul, to become Paul..."</i>
<p />
<p />
(<a href="http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/judgeRobertELeeKey.shtml">Originally written 18/November/2014</a> - forgot to copy it here; did it now...)
Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-27454737022428210862016-01-10T08:24:00.002-08:002016-08-07T20:53:02.202-07:00Return FavorHere's a thought: I looked around in my life and found that there are so many beautiful things happening with me and to me. I am allowed to meet great people, I am allowed to see much of the world - all kinds of beautiful places; I am able to work in a profession that is interesting and that provides for my material needs; and I am allowed to experience love, happiness, beautiful music, inspiring movies and so much more... <p />
<b>One day I realized: well, the Universe is doing sooooooo much for me. Maybe I could look a little bit at what I could do for the Universe?</b>
<p /><p />
(<a href="http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/returnFavor.shtml">Originally written 2/Aug/2012</a> - forgot to copy it to the blog at that time. Did it now...)Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-40045758686337683532012-06-16T06:58:00.002-07:002012-06-16T07:06:57.608-07:00What is my life's purpose?What are you supposed to do with your life? Simply surviving doesn't seem to be enough. Just being comfortable, "having" things, status, power isn't fulfilling either. There gotta be something beyond all of that.<br><br> Ha! You see? Here we have it already: something "beyond"! So, can we look at this question without getting too airy-fairy? Is it possible to deal with this topic without resorting to mystical magic?
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I say: Why not! <br>
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Take any kind of car you can think of. It's purpose, most likely is some kind of providing transportation. It is most likely not peeling potatoes, or cutting hair, or anything else. No matter what kind of car it is, it's particular purpose is some form of the thing that all cars do.<br> Maybe that is a good way to find your own purpose, too? First look into the purpose of our species... <br>
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<b>The purpose of the species</b><br><br>
Here's another analogy: What do cats do? They catch and eat other animals. The impact of their species' action is to keep a lid on the population of these other animals. We say, this is their purpose. What do trees do? They take CO2 out of the atmosphere and convert it into oxygen. The impact of their action is a counter-balance to the CO2 produced by animals, fires and so on.
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You can try this with any other type of thing in this world. We usually infer their purpose from what they do.
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So how about humans? What do we do as a species?
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(yes, here comes my favorite virus story from the chapter "<i>The two tasks humans can accomplish in this world</i>" of the book "<i><a href="http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/youAreTheChange-OrderRebel.shtml">YOU are the change</a></i>"!)
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<blockquote><i>Imagine that some incident wipes out all humans on this earth, but leaves everything else pretty much untouched. So all plants and animals, the rocks, the sea, the air—all of that stays as is, except there are no more humans here.
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Imagine how this world would look 200 years after that incident. Most likely all our structures would be inhabited by animals and overgrown by vines, trees, and bushes. Life on this Earth would have found a balance again, where everything lives and grows according to the laws of nature. The rate at which species of plants and animals went extinct would probably drop back to a more natural level. The level of greenhouse gases might have started to drop again. The pollution created by humans would be slowly "worked up" by nature. The seas might have recovered from over-fishing. Forests would have wolves and bears again. Domesticated animals might have reverted to a natural way of life or would have been replaced by life forms that could fend for themselves without our interference. The cycle of eating and being eaten would have brought balance back to this planet.
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Now imagine the Earth 10,000 years later and compare how it might look then, versus the view 200 years after the incident.
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I think we would find it essentially the same; not much would have changed. Our structures would have deteriorated even more, but the plants would still be there, the animals would still be there, everything would still be in balance. And if something happened that kicked the system out of balance, it would find its balance again after a little while. Each member of this world is contributing to the continuation and balance of the system.
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My conclusion from this mental exercise is that everything in this world is fulfilling the purpose of perpetuating the system and of keeping it in balance.
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So far there has been no incident that has wiped out humans. And if we look at the world as it must have been 1,000 years ago, and 100 years ago, even just fifty years ago, and compare it with today, we see the tremendous changes that have happened. And almost all of these changes were made, or at least caused, by humans. Also, it seems that the speed of change has accelerated as history approaches our current time. </i></blockquote>
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So to make the same conclusion from what we do, our purpose seems to be to cause change.
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<b>Your purpose</b><br><br>
Just because Harry Belafonte makes beautiful music, doesn't mean you have to do the same. Nor does it mean you have no purpose, just because you can't sing well. The lion in Africa is catching gazelles. I am sure you don't expect your cat Cleo to do the same - even though your apartment sometimes might look like she did. However, if you have some 4-legged tenants of the rodent species move in, I am sure, you'd appreciate Cleo to weigh in on their residency idea.
<br><br>
So, summarizing all the above observations and conclusions and adding to it, here's my advise to you, to send you off on your quest to find and fulfill your purpose:<br> <br>
<b>You are the change!</b><br>
You are to cause some sort of change, to make a difference in this world (not just other peoples lives, but in the creation as a whole!) <br><br>
<b>Your specs</b><br>
Look at what your talents are, your special skills and experiences. What makes you different from all other persons? A lion was built to catch large animals, a house cat to catch small ones. If you want to be successful, find what the Universe had in mind when it created you the way you are, and shaped you to who and what you are through all the experiences you went through and all the people you met in your life. <br><br>
<b>Your passion</b><br>
Observe yourself to find out what you are passionate about. Every person has a topic or two that "gets her/him moving". When it comes to this topic, there's an energy coming from inside, that enables you to keep going when otherwise you'd be too exhausted or too frustrated, that gives you the courage to tackle what otherwise you'd be too afraid to do.
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I once had an old cat, who could hardly move anymore from all the arthritis. Well, one day we both noticed a mouse. That old cat was flying through the room after that mouse, as if she never had arthritis in her life!
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Your passion can do that to you, too. Find it, and you find your purpose plus the energy to really enjoy your life! <br><br>
<b>Your situations</b><br>
Try to remember in what kind of situations you find yourself a lot.
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Well, if you find yourself in first grade of primary school again for the fifth year, maybe you ain't getting the reading and writing thing. There are things we need to learn, and as long as we are not getting it, we get to repeat the same lesson over and over again.
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However, if you know how to read and write, but find yourself in the first grade a lot, maybe you are the teacher. Maybe it is your task, your purpose to cause change in that classroom.
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Ok, so now you gotta figure out whether your being married to the fifth jerk is a lesson or your purpose. Well, thankfully, there is always something you can learn, even when you're the teacher. And somebody else is learning something through you, even though you are being taught.
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I find, though, being alert about what the lesson might be in any given situation, it helps me learn it faster and with fewer painful repetitions. In the same vein, by being more mindful about what kind of difference I could make in any given situation, I am a more effective change-agent.
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I find, keeping these four simple points in mind, I am able to find and finetune my life's purpose quite well. Also, it helps me live my life to the fullest, making the most of every day, every hour. It helps me to be in a perpatuate state of happiness and content. And when a crisis hit, it is easier for me to deal with it.
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There's one thing, though, I want to be very clear about: I believe <br><br>
<b>Your life's purpose is NOT to learn! You learn so you can better fulfill your life's purpose.</b><br><br>
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Happy pondering, searching, and practicing your individual, special, important purpose - remember, your efforts are royally rewarded with a sense of fulfillment and happiness from the inside... <br>
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Further readings around this topic:<br>
<a href="http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/happiness.shtml">How to achieve happiness</a> - <a href="http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/legacy.shtml">Two easy steps to leaving a legacy</a> - <a href="http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/throughMe.shtml">What happens TO me vs THROUGH me</a> - <a href="http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/bigChange.shtml">Ready for something different?</a>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-17984069138576869922012-06-09T17:37:00.000-07:002012-06-16T07:07:33.845-07:00Jasmine"Jazzmyn" says the nametag of the cashier at the Bagel place. Jazzmyn - a variation of Jasmine, I guess...
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Several years ago I lived in a fire red house with a lush, green hedge around the yard. At some time every spring, I'd notice a vine grow among the hedge. And for years I would cut that vine off, try to uproot it, get rid of it. And every year it came back, tried to grow.
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One year I went on a longer consulting gig. When I came back a few weeks later, the vine had started to bloom. Fine, delicate, white blossoms dotted the green hedge, like stars in the night sky! As I exited the car, I was engulfed in sweet, gentle fragrance...
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Years later, I learned that this vine most likely was Jasmine.
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Oh, if I could be more like my Jasmine: to continue to be nice, even when somebody cuts me back again and again; to be ready to bloom, even when I am misunderstood and not appreciated!
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What else am I realizing through this memory? That I am ignorant - no matter how much I seem to know! That if I would focus less on what I think is right, less on what "I" want, but instead allow the magic to happen that is unfolding with, through and around me, my life would be much more enjoyable and amazing...
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I hear you say: "Yes, but..." That's ok. These are the realizations and lessons I take away from this story. You can choose to learn from it what makes sense to you... Gone are the days of doctrine. Here is the time of sharing information, individual enlightenment and free will...
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Well, there is the aire of kindness about Jazzmyn - kindness, which radiates out and touches the lives of all around - just like the fragrance of my Jasmine. The gentle and caring vibe of Jazzmyn might put a smile on people's faces around her - just like the flowers of my Jasmine might have touched the hearts of people passing by. I hope, that she will not loose her positive ways, even when she's subjected to ignorance and misunderstanding. Just like my Jasmine did not give up and eventually was able to bless the world with its fragrance and beauty...Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-46470403364695832622012-06-09T17:21:00.000-07:002012-06-09T17:25:29.277-07:00Ready for something different?Are we the chisel or are we the sculpture? Was all created so we as individual soul can develop, or were we created to help the creation to develop?
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For 9000 years humans have believed that the goal was for the individual to reach Nirvana, to qualify for heaven. If you don't reach this goal in this life-time, you either reincarnate, or are going to be dead forever, or - in the worst of the suggested scenarios - are going to roast in hell for ever.
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The <b>Tool-of-the-Universe</b> teaching breaks with this old tradition. We choose to believe, that we humans are extremely sophisticated, highly specialized, custom tailored tools, through which this creation continues to develop.
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This change in perspective raises a whole lot of questions: so what's going to happen to me when I die? Wouldn't the world go crazy if there was no punishment for bad behavior during a person's lifetime? Is there something similar to the traditional notion of NIrvana or Heaven? And many more...
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When you read the articles on this site, and ponder such questions yourself, you'll find answers. And the answers to all your questions can be congruous - that means not contradicting each other, or leaving holes.
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And here's what to me is the best about this new perspective: It provides easy answers to otherwise hard to answer questions. For example: "Why was I born to alcoholic parents?" "How is it fair, that some are born into wealth and others into poverty, some are born into a loving nurturing environment, and others are being abused and have to fend for themselves at an early age?" "What is the purpose of my life?" "Why am I in this crisis?" And many more...
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A change always means letting go of something that we're familiar with, and replacing it with something we don't know yet. From our believes we draw strength, so we can live our lives, remain hopeful, and feel secure. To change the very cornerstone that our whole belief-system is built upon is quite a challenge. Not all of us are able to make this step, and some might immediately discard this idea.
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If you are strong - or desperate - enough to contemplate this idea, though, you're in for the ride of your life! The change won't happen over night. It can take months, even years, to completely make the switch. However, from the very beginning, you'll be rewarded with inner strength, happiness, fulfillment, hope or any other kind of positive feeling - as long as you allow yourself to recognize it. Most likely, you'll be going through <a href="http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/changePhases.shtml">5 phases to complete the change</a>.
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What took decades of searching, asking and listening, and trial and error, you can read about in a few days. So. Are you ready for a new life? Are you ready for purpose and fulfillment? Well, keep on reading and pondering, and you're on your way!Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-83564934245555131172012-06-09T17:17:00.000-07:002012-06-09T17:25:53.093-07:00What's going to happen to you?"When the student is ready, the teacher appears." Your being on this site is an indication that you've been searching, that you are open minded, and that you're looking for fulfillment and purpose for your life.
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The perspective you're going to find on these pages has changed my life completely. So there's a good chance it will change yours, too. In the following are the five phases of change you most likely will go through, which will put you on the path to live the life you were meant to live:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXhFpPk4GB5XHSh7WwV0lU_nLMvlVI2BoLlsMkfIxO6UcMwSOltDPpRoSCyLJ_KDCS77tAs2FIVX5tARdbGzoFoyl6bk0UUNxdQvEQqy_KUUIO8g-sZV42GBkjaPqpvHnMy2qz97qezkK/s1600/spiralOfChange.001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXhFpPk4GB5XHSh7WwV0lU_nLMvlVI2BoLlsMkfIxO6UcMwSOltDPpRoSCyLJ_KDCS77tAs2FIVX5tARdbGzoFoyl6bk0UUNxdQvEQqy_KUUIO8g-sZV42GBkjaPqpvHnMy2qz97qezkK/s320/spiralOfChange.001.jpg" /></a>
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Imagine yourself walking a path similar to the graphic above. The first circle of the spiral will take you the longest to complete. The closer you get to the center, the shorter the distance to complete the round. Once you reach the center, you're on the path towards being the YOU you were meant to be.
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The five circles that make up the spiral symbolize the five phases you'll go through before you're able to head straight towards your life's real goal.
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<b>1st Round: Learning and understanding</b><br>
Theoretically, this first phase would require only 1/2 hour. Unfortunately, however, most won't be able to take that shortcut, because what we have been told all our lives is preventing us from understanding the idea. We fight it intellectually, think there should be more to it. It can't be so simple, there has to be a catch.
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But, it is that simple. There is no catch. It is logical and obvious.
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The first phase is about you understanding what's explained about the system. You don't believe it yet, you just "get" what is meant.
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<b>2nd Round: Accepting the possibility</b><br>
Due to our life long conditioning it is difficult to accept that what is suggested is possible. You're still not believing it, you're getting to the point where you're not discarding the idea as impossible. Depending on how strongly vested you are in the traditional believe, this phase can take quite a while. Some might be able to take the shortcut and get through this phase in also just 1/2 an hour.
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<b>3rd Round: Investigation and verification</b><br>
You know you're in the third phase, when you catch yourself looking for proofs for this idea in your every day life's experiences and observations. During this phase, you look at what's going on with and around you, and when contemplate what it means, how it all fits together, what its purpose is, you try the Universe's perspective .
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<b>4th Round: Active trial</b><br>
After a while, you'll start trying it out yourself. Every now and then, you'll apply the new perspective while contemplating what to do. You'll act differently than you would have before. You'll actively apply what you learned and check whether the results are supporting what is explained here about how the system works.
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<b>5th Round: Subscribing</b><br>
The more you try, the more positive re-affirmations you'll experience. Soon, you'll be convinced that this idea is really how it works. Even though you're not yet able, willing and in the position to always implement it, you do "know" it makes sense, and you subscribe to it.
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This is when your life is really going to change! Your changed believe has helped you to completely adjust your values in a very positive way. Your values sort your priorities, which are now totally rearranged from how they were when you started the process. And, of course, your actions and goals are very different, too - as they are motivated and determined by the new set of priorities.
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Whoa! That sounds like brainwashing by a cult!
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Well, in a way it is a cleansing process. You wash away old, un-helpful believes, values and priorities. And you make room for something that works better.
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However, it is not a brainwashing, as it is not performed by anybody else, but by yourself. <b>You are in control! You choose whether you want to start, and how long you want to remain in each phase. Plus, you can choose to stop at any point.</b> I am sure you won't stop, though - as it just makes a lot of sense, and you'll see proofs everywhere you look... But, you could, if you wanted to...
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<b>Enjoy being a pioneer, exploring uncharted spiritual territory, leading towards a new humanity! </b>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-1300022281448400232012-06-09T17:11:00.000-07:002012-06-16T07:09:31.207-07:00Jehovah's Witnesses - or - The TruthI found a letter in my mailbox, addressed to a person I don't know, but at my address - "or current resident" it said. It was an invitation to a bible study at the local Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall...
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I often get asked why I started searching myself, why I don't belong to any of the christian churches, nor follow any other religion. The short answer is, that none of the teachings I learned about offer satisfactory answers.
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The flyer enclosed with the letter is entitled "Would you like to know the truth?"
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Among the questions listed are: Does God really care about us? Will war and suffering ever end? How can I find happiness in life?
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Hm. All very important questions.
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When trying to understand, to find out what to believe, I came to conclude, that nobody can "know" anything about what is beyond this physical world that we live in, that we can observe, measure and experience. No theory can be proven correct or incorrect. Some may appear a little more likely, others a little less. With all the searching and reasoning and pondering, all we can do is to choose to believe one idea or another.
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The flyer goes on to declare that the bible is god's word and true. Unfortunately, all the citations intended to provide the "true" answer to each of the questions, are interpreted and explained from a particular world-view's perspective. The only "proof" for the statements are more bible verses, interpreted in the same way.
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I was searching for a spirituality that helps me make better decisions on all the topics that come up in my daily life. But I never liked the notion of blind faith. Of course, what I don't know, I have to augment with a believe. And faith is nothing but a believe. So, I tried to apply all I do know and used logic to rule out unlikely scenarios. The result is the realization that we humans are not here for our own sake, but that we are here to support the development of this creation. This purpose of the world and everybody else around you is not so that you can grow, but you are motivated, guided, and allowed to grow so you can better support the development of this world. And following this completely changed basis there's a belief-system, which is described on this site.
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I can not prove that this is true, and that I do not claim it is. I do state, though, that it makes sense to me and that it provides answers for otherwise difficult to answer questions.
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And, interestingly, I found that much of what is described in the bible, when seen from this <a href="http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/bigChange.shtml">"we are the tools of the Universe"</a> perspective, actually does make sense. However, it is interpreted very differently.
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The bible quotations in the flyer mean something totally different than explained there, once the underlying framework is different. And the conclusions and resulting actions are very different, then, too.
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With that in mind, I encourage you again, not to simply believe anything I (or somebody else) says about these topics (or any other topic, for that matter), but instead to listen carefully and try to understand what is meant and what it would mean to you, then reflect and ponder with an open mind and curiosity, and find your own answer.
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This site is intended to help you with this task.
<br><br>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-33202993758114908882011-12-16T18:32:00.000-08:002011-12-16T18:34:47.116-08:00Conversation with the makerChristians believe that there is one God who created everything according to his plan. And he created the plan, too. And he designed everything for a reason and with a purpose. I think Jews and Moslems believe that, too, but I am not sure...<br /><br />Some people further believe that when they die, they'll meet the creator. I sometimes hear somebody say: "When I meet my maker, I'm gonna ask him..." this, that, or the other question.<br /><br />The other night I woke up with a thought.<br /><br />What, if the maker would wanna ask us a couple of questions, too? What might he ask us about?<br /><br />Here's a fictional conversation between God and a recently deceased person. Now, God did not appear to me in the middle of the night and speak to me, so that conversation is totally made up by me. But, if I was God, I would most likely ask these questions.<br /><br />God: <span style="font-style:italic;">"You know, when I designed the humans I put a lot of thought into it. There's one aspect I am particularly happy about. I wanted to create a feature that would allow you humans to express your love to each other in a very special way. I thought I give you a special gift. So when you are nice to each other you get the most awesome sensation. I hoped, this would provide enough incentive for you to love each other, and to express your love. Now, tell me, how did you like this feature?"</span><br /><br />As you know, some people would have to say something in the tune of: "Well, I struggled all my life to avoid making love to another person."<br /><br />I could imagine God asking with disappointment in his love: <span style="font-style:italic;">"I gave you this ability to make another person feel really, really good, to forget all trouble and worries for a moment, to have the most amazing sensation possible, and you didn't want to use this gift?"</span><br /><br />"I've been told that this was of the devil's. So, I thought you would be upset with me if I did it..."<br /><br />I can't help but thinking that God would throw arms into the air and sigh in utter disbelieve: <span style="font-style:italic;">"So you believed them when they claimed this out of this world experience was a trap? What kind of sadistic prick did you think I am?"</span>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-58887835307405614622011-12-03T16:51:00.000-08:002012-06-09T17:34:22.206-07:00Spiritual Movie Review: My Week With Marilyn<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqiBGkENQnXYTZ3ybw8YInWHweThHIF434Z6lH8k0zlJY0wnRE7w2x1noQOZtTfOJ6lJBoPvg_37hjzFAgid7d2VrTzxoHtMSdKu5o53o_Pmtk5i8p4Kh807Ywp_e6dZLJjYDO_bi2phl/s1600/marilyn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 84px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqiBGkENQnXYTZ3ybw8YInWHweThHIF434Z6lH8k0zlJY0wnRE7w2x1noQOZtTfOJ6lJBoPvg_37hjzFAgid7d2VrTzxoHtMSdKu5o53o_Pmtk5i8p4Kh807Ywp_e6dZLJjYDO_bi2phl/s320/marilyn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682070323657969250" /></a><br /><b>Synopsys</b><br />In the early summer of 1956, 23-year-old Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) came down from Oxford determined to make his way in the film business. He worked as a lowly assistant on the set of The Prince and the Showgirl, the film that famously united Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine), who was also on honeymoon with her new husband, the playwright Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott). Nearly 40 years on, his diary account The Prince, the Showgirl and Me was published, but one week was missing and this was published some years later as My Week with Marilyn. This is the story of that week. When Arthur Miller leaves England, the coast is clear for Colin to introduce Marilyn to some of the pleasures of British life—an idyllic week in which he escorted a Monroe desperate to get away from her retinue of Hollywood hangers-on and the pressures of work. Simon Curtis' directorial debu also stars Judi Dench, Julia Ormond and Dominic Cooper.<br />(Synopsys from <a href="http://www.landmarktheaters.com/Films/films_frameset.asp?id=108176" target="extern">Landmark Theaters</a>)<br /><br /><b>Our Thoughts</b><br />I went to the cinema to watch a different movie, however that was sold out. The only one left, that I hadn't seen, was "My Week With Marilyn". After watching it, I am glad the other one was sold out! This film is wonderfully entertaining, while still thought-provoking and insightful. Thematically, it allows the viewer to to experience what is going one behind the scenes when a movie is created. And it shows a Marilyn how she was in real life, not just how we are used to her from the characters she portrayed in the films.<br />Usually, when watching a film - just like when listening to and advising a friend - we tend to look at a situation from a person's perspective. How difficult life was for Marilyn. How hurt and out of balance Colin must have been. How disappointed Marilyn's third husband must have been. How stressful work was for Lawrence...<br /><br />You can do just that, and you will enjoy the movie. I am sure.<br /><br />However, you could also try to practice the "perspective of the Universe" approach, when watching it.<br /><br />What contribution is each of the characters making to this creation? What skills and talents were required for a particular character to fulfill his role?<br /><br />I think Marilyn clearly energized the world - both males and females. Both she and Lawrence, as well as the other actors, made a nice contribution to the creation by producing the film they were working on. It provided - and still provides - joy and fun for the viewers.<br /><br />The lead-actors alone are not enough to make the film, but supporting actors are need, in real life it is similar. No matter how great a person, how influential, or admired: without the right supporting people around them, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish what they set out to to.<br /><br />Behind all that glamour and smiles and sexiness, Marilyn apparently was a very troubled soul, in dire need of somebody kind enough to support her. Unfortunately, due to her exteriors and her fame, most people didn't see the real person but the idol - and consequently were not as efficient in helping her, as they might to have been needed to be.<br /><br />In a way, the whole movie is full of examples of folks not being able to help well, because of their focus on what they can get out of it, rather than what they could contribute.<br /><br />There are so many great lessons in this movie! Judy Dench's character - the positive example for how easy it could be to make a great contribution. Colin - following his dream. Marilyn's manager's advise to Lawrence. The attitude of Lawrence's wife to why her husband is working with Marilyn. And many, many more. One might think this film is not based on real people, but rather a condensed collection of "textbook examples" for various topics.<br /><br />I think, for anybody who's trying the "perspective of the Universe" approach, this movie is a wonderful opportunity to practice.<br /><br />If you watch it, maybe you'd like to share with us all what ideas and insights you took away from it? Please send a comment...<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br />Links<br />Landmark Theaters:<br /><a href="http://www.landmarktheaters.com/Films/films_frameset.asp?id=108176" class="text" target="extern">http://www.landmarktheaters.com/Films/films_frameset.asp?id=108176</a><br />Official Website:<br /><a href="http://myweekwithmarilynmovie.com/" class="text" target="other">http://myweekwithmarilynmovie.com/</a>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-67699043768251390502011-04-16T05:05:00.000-07:002012-06-16T07:12:12.169-07:00What would Jesus do?The site <a href="http://www.toolOfTheUniverse.org">www.toolOfTheUniverse.org</a> is not a religious site, and not affiliated with any religion.
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The latest article <a href="http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/sotWwjd.shtml">What would Jesus do?</a>, however, is specifically addressed to the Christian community. It is intended to encourage Christians to go beyond the words, and see how Jesus' teaching can be applied to everyday life in today's times.<br /><br />Still, the questions are important to ponder for people of all cultural backgrounds and all faiths (and atheism, by the way, is a faith too).
<br /><br />Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-56261976052756000152011-04-15T11:38:00.000-07:002011-04-15T11:39:53.524-07:00Super HeroImagine your favorite Super Hero really exists. Then imagine further, that everybody in the world has the same special super-natural powers as your Super Hero. Now, suddenly, these special powers are not so special anymore, are they? <br /><br /> What happened? Your Super Hero still can fly, bend steel, stop trains, use x-ray vision. Still, it's now normal, usual, nothing special anymore! So your Super Hero is not so special anymore, even though he/she continues to fly, to bend steel, stop trains and use x-ray vision. <br /><br /> <br /><br /> I think with us humans it is the same situation: we have super natural powers, but since everybody has them, we don't see them as such anymore. We take them for granted. We don't even see them as powers anymore. Some of us even see their special powers as nuisance! <br /><br /> Let's just take our mind: we can understand so much of our world, the laws of physics and chemistry, the weather patterns, or how our body works. We invented computers, built the space-shuttle, and found cures for many diseases. <br /><br /> Or, think about our body: if we scratch the skin, it heals all by itself. If we eat something spoiled, our body takes care of it - either we throw up, get diarrhea, or our liver and kidney filter the toxins out of our blood. We have the best time in our lives making love, and as a result a new human starts growing! I mean, how awesome is that! If that is not Super Powers, I don't know what would be! <br /><br /> We are just used to our powers, and since everybody has them, we don't recognize them as such anymore. And we invent Vampires, X-Men, Ghost Whisperers and more... <br /><br /> <br /><br /> There is another interesting aspect: most of us are not using our powers for the same purpose as most of our Super Heros. Think about it: Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Kick-Ass, Hulk, and so on - they all use their powers for the good of their city, society, humanity, even the world. We? We use it solely to promote our own personal vanity and comfort! We don't give a flying fig about the person next to us, not to talk about the next generation, or the people in a different country, and we definitely are not looking out for creation. <br /><br /> You think we care about this world? Give me a break! Listen to the news: when talking about a war or unrest, all we hear about are human casualties. Not a single word about the impact "our" mess has on animals or plants. In a natural disaster, again hardly a word about the fish, the birds, the trees - no everything is about humans. <br /><br /> We don't care that nuclear power-plants are polluting the environment for the next 100 million years (plus minus a few billion more) - we want to be able to use our remote to turn on and off the TV! The energy needed to power solely the remotely turned off entertainment appliances and chargers in the USA is larger than the output of the largest nuclear power-plant, larger than the largest water power-plant (the infamous Hoover dam). There are millions of other examples, where we - each one of us - is contributing to the slow demise of this world. <br /><br /> It doesn't make sense to ask for the elimination of electricity, or cars, to stop using machines and so on. Of course not! However, it would make a lot of sense to think about what we are doing, and what the long-term impact of it is - not just on humanity, but on creation as a whole. <br /><br /> <br /><br /> But, let me get back to my original point - Super-Heros... <br /><br /> So, we have special powers and we use them mostly with our own benefit in mind. That's pretty sad. <br /><br /> But, the really, really sad part is, that many of our super powers are being used way to little. How much do we use our brain? Spiritually we are still repeating the same stuff that was said 100s of years ago. Mostly, we're vegetating on auto-pilot. Go to work, come home and watch TV, go to sleep. In between, we get drunk or high to quiescent our feeling hopeless, useless and frustrated. We believe and repeat unreflected whatever we're being told in church, by TV Gossip (often dressed up as news), even by coworkers around the water-cooler, or by spam email. Man, it's depressing! Why did we get such a great brain, if we're not using it? Why did we get such a great body, if we're just abusing it? Why did we get such an inquisitive and capable mind, if we're shutting it down, closing it up, and loosing it? <br /><br /> <br /><br /> Final thought: back to imagining things: Imagine there is something like "your maker", and you'll meet her/him/it. What would you answer if you were asked "How did you use your special powers? What did you get done with them?"Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-51555168653120503432011-02-24T15:56:00.000-08:002011-02-24T15:58:40.223-08:00The Next Step To Non-ViolenceI just finished watching the movie "Budrus", which was screened at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. It is a documentary about a Palestinian village's success applying non-violent resistance. <br /><br />Israel decided to build a wall and fence between Israel and the West Bank, in an attempt to get a handle on the number of suicide bombings by Palestinian extremists. So far the fence seems to have worked quite well, as some suggest the number of bombings has dropped by more than 90%. <br /><br />Budrus is the story of the village with that name, where - for reasons nobody knows - it was decided to build the wall in a way, that it would totally encircle this plus several other villages. Also, significant damage to the villagers' olive trees was necessary, following the planned route. Now, these trees are not just some ornamental decorations, but the source of most of the income of the villagers. For them, it was a matter of survival. <br /><br />What ensued - and is beautifully documented in the movie - is the struggle of the villagers to safe their olive trees. <br /><br /> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lessons Learned</span><br /><br /> <br /><br />First of all, this is a text-book example for how much more effective and less costly non-violent measures are. Although there have been some injuries, there have not been any casualties. And, given the number of demonstrations and the duration of several months, not a single serious injury is quite an amazing accomplishment! <br /><br />The movie pointed out another aspect, that is worsening problems around the globe: While the demonstrations were non-violent, the Israeli TV news report painted a war-scene: deserted street, a car-wreck. Soldiers shooting their guns. Teargas drifting. Anybody watching the report must think that there is some serious fighting going on! Clearly an attempt to misinform the public. <br /><br />Tell me, how in the world should anybody really understand a situation - not to talk about finding a solution to it - when the media reports gossip instead of news? <br /><br />That, BTW, is the core issue here in the USA, too. Most AM talk-shows and tv-channels like Fox and others do not report facts, but try to paint any picture in the colors that they think their viewers want to see. And we, the viewers, then base our opinions and view-points on these slanted, distorted caricatures of "reality" (or better irreality, sometimes even surreality)! No wonder, we are the only country in the developed world, where the general population is still in denial about climate change, and the fact that is is caused by us humans... But, let me get off this soapbox, as this is not my topic today... :) <br /><br /> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Next Step After Non-Violence</span><br /><br /> <br /><br />Most interesting to me is, that there is an important insight that this documentary helps the viewer to realize. And I believe, it is the second step to the idea of non-violence! <br /><br />Everybody that was interviewed, explained the situation from their perspective. Nobody made any attempt to see it from the other's viewpoint. <br /><br />The Israeli captain said the lives of Israeli civilians is more important than an olive tree. Of course! But, is it more important to run the fence right here and not over there? Is the source of income (and with that survival) of a family more important than the exact route planned by some bureaucrat 100 km away? <br /><br />The Palestinians lamented, that they hadn't done anything, and are just trying to live peacefully, bringing up their children. How can the Israelis just go and uproot the family's source of income, which the grandfather has planted with his own hands, carrying the water on his head to water them? True, too! But, how could Israel not try to put an end to the suicide bombings executed by the villager's fellow-Palestinians?. <br /><br />They both have valid points. And they both fought thinking God was on their side. <br /><br />And, like to be expected, it looks like they will fight each other happily forever after... <br /><br /> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Only Path To Peace</span><br /><br /> <br /><br />The first step to stop the bleeding is the decision to not use violence anymore. This is usually a consequence of the realization, that violence always - A-L-W-A-y-S! - leads to more violence. In the short term it might look like something was achieved, but really it just hardens the problem, and delays the explosion. Violence never solves a problem, but increases it and creates another one! <br /><br />After deciding to not want violence anymore, the next step is to find a consensus. Not a compromise - consensus! A compromise is a middle ground, but could be felt unjust by either or even both parties. And another clash is just a matter of time. (Look at WW2 as textbook example of such a clash after the WWI peace treaty). A consensus is a situation, that both parties can live with. <br /><br />The only way for two parties to find a consensus is when they start looking at the situation through the other's eyes. <br /><br />Any person, who feels their family and friends are endangered to be blown to pieces, would try to find some way to prevent that from happening - no matter how. Once Palestinians allow themselves to see this easy to understandable fact, they'll know what to do and what not. <br /><br />Any person, who depends on an olive tree as source of income would never, ever think about uprooting a good tree - no matter what. Once Israelis allow themselves to understand that fact, they, too, will know what to do and what not. <br /><br />Once I see and understand a problem of the other person, I automatically start thinking about how could I help solving this problem. <br /><br />And it is quite plain to see, that the Israelis can not stop Hamas - no matter how much money and technology and humans they put into it. Only the Palestinians themselves can do that. But they can do that only, once they realize that Hamas is not the solution, but the cause of the problem. <br /><br />In the same vein, it is also plain to see, that Palestinian extremists can not make Israel go away - no matter how many of their young men they brainwash into becoming suicide bombers. <br /><br />If these two peoples want to live in peace, they can do so only if all of them have peace. Both need to accept that the other has a right to exist, and both have to allow each other to live and pursue their peaceful happiness. <br /><br /> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">No matter what happened in the past - an a minute ago is past - only what we do now matters, as it defines the future. Every minute we can decide anew whether we want to continue to fight, or whether we want to move towards peace.</span> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Real Message of This Post</span><br /><br /> <br /><br />Ok, now take this lesson and apply it to your own life! Look at your relationships - with your partner, your parents, siblings and children, your boss and coworkers, clients and suppliers. Ha! That's much harder, isn't it, than talking about something that's going on half a world away! Well, there's only little animosities that is separating you from the people in your life - not violent deaths of loved ones, threats to your existence, traumatic experiences with incarceration and torture. So, how much easier should it be for you and me to fix our wars, than for the Israeli and Palestinians to figure out theirs! <br /><br /> <br /><br />I find, that the same principles apply on the personal as on the national and global scale: violence, threats, manipulation, and force always - A-L-W-A-Y-S - backfire and never move you towards a solution. Love and compassion are the only way. And trying to see the world through the other person's eyes is the first step towards being able to understand the other, which is the basis for real compassion... <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Love is the answer! To any question!</span>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-13406506873476497762011-02-17T07:02:00.000-08:002011-02-17T07:11:28.349-08:00The "Free Tibet" Question - A New ApproachIn the previous article, I suggested that the Chinese atrocity inflicted upon the Tibetans over the last more than 50 years, is helping the development of the rest of the world. Due to the Tibetan diaspora the Dalai Lama is known everywhere, and invited to speak across the globe. Tibetan Buddhism, today, is no longer found only in the remote areas around the Himalayas, but in every country. And although Buddhism is not the final answer, some aspects of it appears to be one step further than the Abrahamic religions - especially, when looking at the behaviors that result from their core-messages. So it now being available to much of the world is clearly a better state than before. <br /><br />While the Christians still ask how God can allow these bad things happening to these good people, and while Buddhists just accept that it is happening, the <a href="http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/totu.shtml">Tool of the Universe</a> idea provides a simple, plausible explanation, an important purpose: it was an effective way of spreading the light! <br /><br /> <br /><br />In this article, I would like to look at the response to the Tibet crisis from these three core perspectives: <br /><br />The Christians don't find an answer to their question, and assume it was a mistake of God, which they now try to fix. Interestingly, they try to fix it by applying pressure to and fighting with China. That doesn't sound to be an expression of love - which Jesus always recommended. And - as quite common with forceful approaches - it hasn't work at all. <br /><br />The Buddhists just accept the situation and do nothing but continue their life. (Well, some of them follow the Christian approach, too - abandoning their own core recommendation). That seems a better approach than to fight, as it doesn't create additional pain and suffering. However, it doesn't alleviate the ongoing pain and suffering of the Tibetans still stuck in the situation either. <br /><br />When it rains it doesn't make sense to fight the fact that it is raining, nor is it necessary to just stand there. Walking to a shelter until it stops might work better. <br /><br />In alignment with that analogy, the <a href="http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/totu.shtml">Tool of the Universe</a> idea, does not encourage to fight, nor just to leave it as is. Instead, it asks to look for the purpose of the situation and for a shelter for those impacted. When there is a purpose for a situation, we can determine a direction for our course of action: Enlightenment is needed in the world, and was brought closer to everybody through the Tibetan diaspora. <br /><br />The <a href="http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/totu.shtml">Tool of the Universe</a> approach suggests to make the next step in this apparent direction: Let's make sure we maximize the positive benefits of the situation! <br /><br /> <br /><br />One action in alignment with this idea would be to work towards establishing Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in every country of the world. These monasteries could also function as cultural centers for both the population of the host country and the displaced Tibetans, who could resettle in the vicinities of these monasteries. That way, Tibetans are not left cutoff from their roots, and at the same time, it would be possible for them to live a fulfilled and dignified life. Also, it would take a lot of pressure off the Nepalese community, who is currently carrying the heaviest load, by hosting a disproportionately large number of refugees. <br /><br />So instead of trying to fight the Chinese to retreat from Tibet, it might make more sense to try to work with them to allow those Tibetans who want to leave, to leave in peace. At the same time, supporters of the Tibetan cause in every country around the world could work with their government and fellow citizens to find a way to enable a Tibetan community in their midst. <br /><br />The lessons that we all could learn from this are very, very important and relevant for today's political landscape: <br />* Cooperation works better than fighting. <br />* Foreign culture is not a threat to our own existence. <br />* While mono-culture causes stagnation, mixing cultures stirs up discussion, and facilitates new insights, development and growth. <br />* People from the other side of the world are the same as us: kind, loving, and with the same needs and wants: to survive, to be loved and appreciated, to live a fulfilled life. <br /><br /> <br /><br />Going by what every documentary about Tibet states, that area is quite inhospitable to human existence. So, hey, let the Chinese deal with it, trying to live there. Let the lucky Tibetans go to other places in the world, were surviving is much easier and where they are welcome and appreciated. <br /><br />And who knows, without all the pressure, maybe China will open up their firm grip a little over time, and Tibetan monasteries will be allowed again in Tibet sometime... <br /><br /> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Disclaimer and clarification: What the Chinese have done to the Tibetans - and continue to do - is disgusting and deplorable! However, we are not innocent either: If we were not so stuck in our spiritual development, such major crisis would not be necessary. Secondly, Buddhism is not the end of the spiritual journey, but just a first step.</span>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-24330968355081922702011-02-15T06:31:00.000-08:002011-02-17T07:08:43.900-08:00The "Free Tibet" Question - A New PerspectiveYesterday, I watched a documentary about the Tibetan people and their history of the last 50 years. <br /><br />What really struck me was one monk's statement. He referred to the ancient Hindu/Jain/Buddhist concept of Karma. Every action has a consequence, and ones present situation is a consequence of past actions of this and previous lives. The monk mused that he must have done some pretty bad stuff in his previous lives, and that today, I this current live, he's working it off. There is no point in lamenting about it, one just has to accept what is and try to make the best of it. <br /><br />The documentary also mentioned, that Buddhists believe, that the spirit of an animal will eventually incarnate as a human. As a consequence, Tibetans have a deep love and respect for animals. <br /><br />I would like to invite you compare this attitude to the one prevalent in the culture influenced by the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). There, the teachings suggest that the humans are "the crown of creation", and that "God gave humans dominion over the rest of creation". As a result, Jews, Christians and Muslims display an utter disrespect and thoughtlessness towards not just animals, but the whole creation - even most other human cultures and humans. Jews feel they are God's chosen people. Muslims kill those that don't believe their flavor of Islam. And Christians conveniently forget, misinterpret, or just simply ignore Jesus' commandment to "love your neighbor". <br /><br /> <br /><br />Let's look at the situation of the Tibetans from the "<a href="http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/totu.shtml">Tool of the Universe</a>" perspective, which suggests that the Universe is utilizing humans to continue the development of the creation: <br /><br />There is this group of people living in this remote, isolated area between the Himalayas and China. Among them developed a spiritual community and understanding that values the rest of the world. They accept what is, and try to make the best of it. Much of the rest of the world's population still lives in the spiritual Dark Ages, and behaves accordingly - destroying the planet and everything that's on and in it. If you were the Universe, what would you try to do to help the rest of the world? I would try to find a way to spread the understanding of the Tibetans across the globe. <br /><br />The Chinese invasion has accomplished exactly that! The Dalai Lama, of whom hardly anybody knew 50+ years ago in the western world (the part, that needs enlightenment the most!), today is a household name. Buddhism since has spread across the globe. <br /><br /> <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Disclaimer and clarification: What the Chinese have done to the Tibetans - and continue to do - is disgusting and deplorable! However, we are not innocent either: If we were not so stuck in our spiritual development, such major crisis would not be necessary. Secondly, Buddhism is not the end of the spiritual journey, but just a first step.</span>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-21764097104037696092010-10-11T17:41:00.002-07:002010-10-11T17:49:20.536-07:00Looking Back from the FutureI just listened to Terry Gross' interview with <span style="font-style:italic;">Eric Foner</span> about his new book <span style="font-style:italic;">The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery</span>. They were discussing the development of Abraham Lincoln's attitude towards slavery. It is nearly incomprehensible to me how people 150 years ago were thinking about their fellow human beings. It is as incomprehensible to me as the catholic church's inquisition in the dark ages, or the roman idea and Jewish support of crucifying Jesus, or the European idea of colonization, and so many other crazy action, attitudes and traditions people adhered to in times gone by.<br />Then it dawned on me. It is easy for me to understand better than the people at these times. I grew up being taught that these things were grave mistakes. I grew up in a culture that did not depend on these things to be in place.<br />So I made another step. What would somebody 150 years from today think about us? What would they see as incomprehensible atrocities?<br />Maybe the modern day slavery resulting from the US approach to immigration? Maybe the thoughtless, selfish waste of resources – inventing and supporting SUVs, building appliances without an off button so they continue to use energy even when they are asleep (to a degree, where the US' biggest water power plant – the Hoover dam – can't produce enough energy to satisfy only the sleeping TVs, chargers, DVD players, Computers...)? Maybe our judicial system – that is based on revenge and sensationalism, rather than teaching; where your financial situation determines the outcome more than your actual guilt or innocence? Maybe our school system, our approach to teaching our children? Maybe our careless, selfishly using atomic energy – for power-plants and weapons? I could go on for pages with topics I today can already see. Imagine how many topic the people 150 years from now will be able to see – and question our sanity, our ability to use our brain, to listen to our conscience, our soul!<br />Well, that raises the question whether it will even still be possible for people to live 150 years from now... But that is a whole other conversation...<br />Come what may, we have a chance today to change our priorities, to change our attitude, to learn and grow. THAT is the goal purpose and reason of existence of the Change Agent Movement. Some of us have a mind open enough to realize what needs to be improved, an energy inside of them to do something about it. Differently from previous “change” attempts, we are not so much looking at other people, other countries, other cultures and telling them how to change. We are looking at our own selves – at my own self. How can I change? How am I supporting questionable traditions and habits? And how can I facilitate improvements?<br />The first – and most important – step is to reevaluate my spiritual framework. My belief-system is the basis of my values, which arrange my priorities, which determine my actions.<br />The one insight, that lets the old belief-system come tumbling down, and recreates a fundamentally different system – like the Phoenix rises from the ashes – is the realization that “it is not about me,but I am about it!” I am not the crown of the creation to rule it – No! No! No! I am the crown, as I am the only part of the creation that can change it!<br />Armed with this new approach to my own existence, I can now stop focusing on what I want to get from this world, and start thinking about what I can contribute to this creation. This changed self-purpose automatically leads to my questioning the status quo, my trying to find aspects that I could help change. <br />Once enough of the folks that lived in the area that today is the US got tired of the Brits, they kicked them out - change happened.<br />Once enough of the people will change their attitude from being a leech to being a contributor – change will happen.<br />And 150 years from now, people might look back and rejoice: Thank God there were these people who understood and did something about it!<br />If you want to be part of something great – join the Change-Agent Movement...Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-73112017378500588242010-10-11T17:41:00.001-07:002011-02-15T06:36:45.333-08:00Separating the Wheat from the ChaffAt the Decatur Book Fair there was a booth of the "Muslims for Peace". Of course, I had to check them out! Well, a quite interesting conversation ensued. I learned some more about Islam. And, I hope, the man who talked with me, took away some seeds for thought as well. <br /><br />The most interesting bit of new information to me was that "Islam" means "Peace". He explained, that at the core the prophet's message is about Love. <br /><br />It seems to me, though, that there's a contradiction: How can a teaching of love demand a death sentence? How can a group that is treating women as second class humans expect to find peace? <br /><br />Now, throwing out everything, just because there is some nonsense among it, holds the risk of missing real wisdom and insights contained as well. <br /><br />Why do we tend to swing from one extreme to the other? <br /><br />Either we follow something to the letter - without reflection, consideration, logical and rational thinking - or we discard everything - without seeing what we can learn from it. <br /><br /> <br /><br />I find, we havee been created with a brain, that can think logically and rationally. I take it as our responsibility to use it. It is our choice, though. If we choose not to use it we find ourselves (even in the 21st century) in the dark-ages, where a lot of people are suffering and where, instead of peace and happiness, there is war and mayhem. <br /><br /> <br /><br />Here's another example: <br /><br />In the movie "Rabbithole" a couple, who had lost a child, was trying to cope with the loss by saying: "Maybe God needed another little angel. That's why he took our baby." "Why didn't he just make one?" the other woman blurted out. "He's God! Why couldn't he just make one?" <br /><br />Exactly! It just doesn't make sense! <br /><br />"My life's purpose is to praise the Lord!" Is another one of these illogical ideas. <br /><br />Would you create a device, whose sole purpose is to utter "You are the greatest!", and if it doesn't, destroy it in anger? Of course not! And you are just a fallible little human, and not the almighty, all-knowing God! <br /><br />It just doesn't make sense! <br /><br />To me these are typical examples of people just reciting what they've heard, without using their brain. <br /><br />Does that mean all of the teachings about God are to be discarded. I don't think so. That, again, would be to go from one extreme to the other. <br /><br /> <br /><br />I am suggesting to use our brain to think through our spiritual believes. To retain and build upon content that is congruent and fits reality as we can observe. To identify and discard content that makes no sense, and to try to replace it with something that - at least - is not impossible. And each one of us can and should do this her/himself. <br /><br />Again, you can choose. Do you want to get ahead, to grow, to find peace and happiness in your life? If you stay as and where you are, you stay as and where you are. It's that simple! <br /><br />I do not suggest you quit being a Muslim, a Christian, Jew, Atheist, or whatever spiritual direction you like to follow. I do recommend, though, to think things through, to question and double-check; and to dare to discard parts that do not jive. <br /><br />If we want to get ahead we have to continuously work on separating the wheat from the chaff! <br /><br /> <br /><br />This blog and the website www.toolOfTheUniverse.org are all about helping you in this process, and about providing seeds for different, new strains of thought. I hope it fulfills this purpose. Please, do drop me a line and let me know what you think... Thank you! And much success in your spiritual growth...Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4913645738726389815.post-80882212266994745772010-09-19T09:56:00.000-07:002010-09-19T09:57:02.019-07:00Time TravelYesterday a friend was musing about time-travel into the future. If you were to return to earth after traveling for some time at close to speed of light, you might have aged only a few months or years, on Earth however hundreds of years would have passed. In essence, you'd have traveled into the future. "How about that?" he asked... <br /><br />I was pondering this idea for a while and came to the conclusion, that even if it was possible, I wouldn't want to do it! <br /><br />I find this is an amazing time right now. There is a fundamental change about to happen and I want to be part of it. <br /><br /> <br /><br />Up until the 1200s the prevalent word-view was that the earth is flat and the sun revolves around the earth. Then a few people realized that this word-view does not meet their observations. It just didn't fit. They slowly realized, that it was the earth that is rotating around the sun. This change in perception caused the creation of the sciences. It was the first step towards the world of knowledge that we have available to us today, and that allows us to live as comfortably and secure as we do. <br /><br />Right now, there is a similar change in perception about to happen. I think, its consequences will be even greater than those of the one 800 years ago! I love to live in this time, and be part of this change, contribute to it! <br /><br /> <br /><br />Up until today our spiritual world-view revolves around the individual. We pray for God to do stuff for us, to make things happen for us. In the Judeo-Christian and Islamic world-view I try to do good so that "I" get to heaven. Hinduism teaches us, that "I" am reincarnating until "I" reach the point to enter nirvana. Everything is centered around the "I". The creation is there to support me in my quest to reach something or the other. "I" am the reason, the purpose, the center. Everything is revolving around the "I". <br /><br />However, this does not meet my observations. It seems more likely and more logical that "I" am there to support the creation on its quest to reach some state or another. It is not about me - I am about it! <br /><br /> <br /><br />This is the time now, where this awareness is starting to reach the consciousness of us humans. This is a most exciting time. I don't want to travel into the future, thereby ridding myself of the once in a millennium opportunity to contribute to such an important change. No Way! <br /><br /> <br /><br />We won in the jackpot! Of all the times available, we were born right now, right here - at the eve of a new era, at the beginning of the age of enlightenment! Hey, time traveling away from the now would be like throwing away the winning lottery ticket... You an go on that trip, if you like. I just hang around here, and be part of the greatest development in history!Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746536663519738985noreply@blogger.com0