Limitations of Thoughts and Language on the Spiritual Path

Our thoughts and the language we use to articulate them have distinct limits. If I was going to explain the experience of what salt tastes like to someone I would not be able to share it through words. No matter how many things I could say none of them would replace just a moment of experience by that person tasting the salt for themselves. 

Building off of this for many years poetry frustrated me since I favor things that are black and white and poetry is anything but that. What I now see is that poetry is as close we can come to explain something as esoteric as an experience through the limitations of words. With all of that since everything we speak is a metaphor it will only create delusions and shadows of the truth. Whatever the truth may be it most certainly transcends our thoughts, sense of self and mind but yet all of those things are tools to achieve that understanding. 

Ironic...

Science and Spirituality: Conflict or Allies in the Search for Truth?

To me science without spirituality is hollow and spirituality without science is naive. Both are seeking to find the truth and have a great deal to teach each other but they will always be in conflict until all is known and there is no more mystery. 

Science has discovered some amazing things that have powerful spiritual implications but their dogma will never allow them to step beyond the information and journey into the mystery in the same way a spiritual person would do. 

In contrast a spiritual person who does not ground themselves into some scientific knowledge will spend their life chasing lightening bolts in the belief they are messages from god. 

Both have their limitations but together their understanding does bring us closer to truth.

Does understanding how a rose is built from the atoms, chemicals, genes and more take away its beauty or enhance it? As with all things that are related to beauty that is up to you to define but I for one believe the more I know the more I stand in awe of the magick of life and reality.

REIGNITING THE FLAME

There is truth in the saying that we are not humans having a spiritual experience but rather spiritual beings who are having a human experience.  With this in mind it is safe to say the last few years have offered me a huge sea of human challenges that have greatly distracted me from my spiritual writing and study.  While the flame has at times been smothered to an ember I've refused to let it die and believe now I can finally start to fan the flame and believe it will, once more, soon be a roaring flame.

One of the greatest and most important tasks that I have on my list of things to do is write a book, or series of books, and believe the time may well be now to manifest this without anymore excuses.  While I know what I want to share will fall upon mostly deaf ears I do feel that what I want to share has value.  In many ways my challenge has been that I want to put too much into one book and perhaps it would be more wise to spread things out so it will be more digestible.

Though life has offered its distractions at least I now have clarity on 'what' I want to write about and believe I also know what the title should be. "Breaking Free - Of the Myths that Bind Us"

So... now it is time to check this dream off of my bucket list and get to work!

HOW TO FREE YOUR MIND, LIMITATIONS & POTENTIAL

It is said that there are few things bigger than the universe save for the human ego.  While we've learned that the universe really does not circle the earth a long time ago with our collective belief of self-importance suggests that it might as well be.  We have been, by far, the most successful known creature on earth that has ever lived by our collective efforts over time.  However, there are limitations that we have as humans and understanding that we do is not accepting that we are 'less' in any way but rather gives us the ability to find ways to mitigate those limitations and truly maximize our true potential.

Certainly, a dog, cat, tree, etc all have limitations that we can plainly see but they may feel the same way about us.  As an example a dogs sense of smell is vastly beyond our abilities and any cat I've ever met certainly seems to feel we have anything over them.  They are perfectly adapted to their environments and so are we but if we have any one thing that gives us our true potential I would suggest it our ability for language that helps us articulate our thoughts and dreams.  We've developed over our evolutionary history a very fine tuned ability to share concepts with each other and together be far more than what we could ever be alone.  Our ability to ask questions seems to be the main source of our ability to expand our consciousness. However, language does have its limitations as proven by the fact that there are no amount of words that can really ever articulate an experience. 

A metaphor that I like to use is that of trying to explain the taste of salt to someone who has never tasted it before.  While we can come fairly close by using comparisons, examples and other like tools to help express this idea, even to the point that the person who has never tried it could then pass this information along as though they have experienced it, there really is not enough words you can use that would effectively replace just a simple moment of direct experience.  Experience is an internal and intimate event that language most certainly has a way of helping us digest the experience but this tends to greatly filter the experience into what we expect it to be via our ego, presumptions, assumptions, biases, culture, spiritual views and all of the other filters.  

Additionally, we can only experience reality through a narrow slit of perception. As we can only see a narrow band of light waves, sound waves and so on but with this narrow view we shape our world view.  One can only wonder how that world view would alter if we have a different range of perception such as the ability to smell like our old friend the dog or see like an eagle.  Certainly, there are things about reality and ourselves we could learn if were able to reach beyond the limitations of our senses.

These limitations are not much of a concern for most us no more than it is a concern for a dog or a cat with regards to their limitations. In many ways it is hard to know what you don't know unless you try to find a way to reach beyond and what differs us from the rest of the animal kingdom is our ability to wonder, to dream, to imagine things that are yet unborn.  It is our window into what can be instead of what simply is.  

Our paradigm of thought that we live in conditions us to accept reality as it is and many cultures even to suppress the pursuit of questions unless they exist within a well defined boundary.  This has served us well depending upon the questions are you comfortable asking. However, if you seek to transcend our limitations we may very well need to find ways to reach well beyond the fold. I'm not so sure that we can do that with the knowledge that we gain from traditional sources alone nor with the senses that have empowered us, yet restrains us from growing beyond. 

It may seem counter-intuitive but the ancient and perhaps profound saying of 'know thyself' may truly be the key.  A key that requires us to look within where there are no boundaries, no physical limitations and only the potentially boundless realm of our inner mind and imagination.  If only we can find ways to unlearn what we believe we know and shed our ego, expectations, assumptions, presumptions and what we expect to happen. What we discover could be far more amazing, bizarre and filled with wonder than what currently meets the eye.    

The danger, and risk, of this type of journey is that the ego knows us rather well.  To free our mind it would seem that we need to free ourselves from this and unlearn the conditioning that we have had since birth that can easily alter and distort our experience, realizations and it is wise to walk carefully.  Ever more wise to find some sort of a guide, a spiritual Sherpa if you will, that can help you navigate the pitfalls, traps, dead ends and egoic fantasies of self-indulgence that would certainly be abundant upon such a journey. There are plenty of souls that would be more than willing to assist you in any such journey but keep in mind that the person with all the answers may be the person with the greatest delusion.  No matter what path you take it is your journey and just like no one can be born for you, or die for you no one can walk this journey for you either.  

To highlight, I'm not suggesting that this is the answer nor that I would be such a guide but perhaps this may something to ponder.

Peace 

IS DREAM YOGA A PATH TO AWAKENING?

Lucid dreaming: Is becoming consciously 'aware' that you are dreaming while you are dreaming and a rather interesting and honestly cool experience.  Apparently, not everyone has had this type of experience with some people firmly believing it is not even possible or true.

When this realization comes over you a sense of unlimited power and being overwhelms you. This is a skill that can be learned and expanded much like a artist going to a school to become a better artist. However, in the end I wonder if it might also be that some people are born with more skills then others. I could spend my entire life learning to paint but never hold a candle to so many others who have a natural inclination to genius.

I have a theory that I intend on exploring in far more detail and would love to hear some other thoughts concerning it. Basically, to learn to wake up in lucid dreaming you must focus on, beforehand, on some object or key in the dream that your conscious mind can grab on to and be reminded to 'wake up'. Once you see that object it wakes you up within the dream but it takes a considerable amount of time and patience to make this work.

Based upon that concept I am really wondering about the same thing with our daily waking lives. If it is true that we are really asleep and awakening to the real nature of reality is the key then perhaps this might explain the stories of Zen monks hitting the students in some physical way to push them into enlightenment.

Ofcourse at the right time is key to this working but the same could be said during lucid dreaming. Might it be possible that the dream world may be a more direct path into the deeper sense of reality? Even more might it be possible to meditate upon a key that might 'wake you up' in this reality when discovered?

I need to learn a great deal more about this but I think the potential of this might be something profound.

Your thoughts are welcome

POKING BRICKS: A SEARCH FOR TRUTH!

~ THIS WAS WRITTEN A FEW YEARS AGO NOW ~

Many years ago I had a teacher that was a fundamental part of my journey into spirituality and just recently, after several years, I've had the opportunity to have a discussion with him again, in person. I certainly hope to repeat this far more often as I'm impressed that he still has the ability to make me think more then anyone that I know. Perhaps, and likely, since he was key in helping me fan the spark within me that has finally become a true fire has given him a deeper insight into who I am and what I need to learn.

There are many things that I have been pondering since, the conversation. Ironically, it was not so much about the topic we discussed in the conversation but rather a reflection upon the past and its contrast to the present that has given me an insight into myself and how my spiritual world has changed. I thought I would share a part of it here.

HERE IT IS

Many years ago, when I was first awakening from the delusion of Christianity, I began to search in all kinds of directions to find something that had a 'better' answer than what I was being exposed to from Christian thought I had been exposed to. My friends and I began to read everything we could find on various types of metaphysical, philosophical and spiritual thoughts. The details are moot but we read everything we could find, we shared what we learned, experimented and so much more. It really was one of the best times of my life because everything seem possible and the world had not yet infected my mind.

It came a point though that we could go no further this way and as the saying goes 'when the student is ready the teacher will appear'. While I had some mildly influential teachers one stands out that I met, who prefers to be referred to as, 'anon' ended up manifesting many things into my paradigm of thought that had previously been well beyond my grasp. The details of who he is not important but sets the foundation for the rest of my story.

So, back then we often discussed the foundation and 'bricks of belief'. If you imagine a wall surround you that shelters you from real reality and built of bricks molded in beliefs you will be able to understand the metaphor and imagery.  In other words beliefs are basically like a brick wall around you and he would always find a way to  poke one brick of belief and then that brick would vanish. What I now see happened, when this occurred, is that I was hungry and determined to refill that empty space with something...anything.  After all you can't have too many bricks taken out of your wall before it collapses completely which would seem terrifying for anyone.  

At the time I really didn't care what it was that refilled this void and since he took the brick I expected him to replace it, which he would do, but when it happened it always ended up putting many others in jeopardy. In other words he would answer one question for me which caused many more questions to appear and it would jeopardized the other bricks/beliefs around it and this cycle continued on and on.  That process is now a part of who I am and while I can now poke my own bricks I must say it has been an enlightening and insightful experience.  Honestly, I think he enjoyed messing with my head; actually I know he did thus is why we affectioning referred to him as 'dick head'... (If you don't find this at all amusing I guess you had to be there)

I've also learned that we all have our 'golden bricks' that was by far the biggest pain for him and myself. The golden bricks are the beliefs that we hold the most dear. The beliefs that if touched may effect the entire wall and not just its neighbors. Sometimes they are hard to find as they may not be on the surface as most are very deep within the foundation of the wall and well protected.  It is ironic that what we hold the most dear may also be what holds us back the most from our spiritual journey.  Take a moment and ponder your own golden bricks, the beliefs that are at the core of who you are that if removed or touched in any way would shatter your world view.  This blog is not meant to really explain the process as much as highlight there is a process to be understood and is easier said than done and even harder to actually explore.  It is humbling to learn that these golden bricks are built upon, and surrounded by, a foundation of bricks/beliefs that are all an illusion.

Over the years I've come along way and reflecting upon what my previous wall looked like I am amazed in how things have changed.  Before every brick seemed like gold but today, while a wall does remains, all the bricks are transparent and the golden bricks are having a far harder time to hide.  Perhaps I may be the only one who can really appreciate this realization of the difference from before until now but I really have changed. I now know the wall is an illusion and treat it as such while before I felt the wall is all there was.

I've learned that to exist within this reality we depend upon a tapestry of beliefs to function. As if we had no beliefs at all we, as an example, would not work because you wouldn't believe in the next day to come, you wouldn't eat because you wouldn't believe that not eating would kill you. Likely you wouldn't do anything at all and while I do have my beliefs I also know that they are simply place holders of knowing and truth.

One day I seek to experience reality without anything coloring my view.

HOW DO CRYSTALS HEAL / WORK?

Crystals are one of the most beautiful natural creations on earth and I for one love them very much for that natural beauty.  It seems rather clear that they have been very popular with humans throughout time and it is only natural that myths, legends and more would develop as people wondered what could have produced something of such beauty.  No doubt we've found some amazing uses for some crystals such as cutting with diamonds, radio wave communications with quartz crystals and many more such examples.  However, there is a vast difference between myth, legend that the truth when it comes to the uses that crystals can offer us.

I've never been one for believing in anything without asking questions and have learned that the questions that people don't like to ask, or have asked, tend to be the most revealing.  Crystals are most certainly one of these subjects since people have what appears to be an emotional relationship with their crystals even if it is the diamond ring on your finger.  (Which are actually not rare at all but strictly controlled to inflate the price.)

There has been thousands of books written about the powers that crystals are supposed to have and I have some questions about these powers.  It is commonly said that amethyst enhances psychic abilities, rose quartz has effects when it comes to love, many others effect healing and every crystal is said to have some sort of mystical influence upon us in some way.  I will suggest a few thoughts on how this could be true but have serious doubts and remain confused why so many people are so willing to believe in just about anything without questioning much of anything.  

Of the thousands of books written on the powers attributed to crystals obtain this information? Clearly, they likely come from previously written books, they they have read, but where did the previous authors get their information?  I suspect that people who believe in the powers would suggest that they have personal experimental proof that they have relied upon but I'm not so convinced that this would prove anything beyond the power of the placebo effect since there has been no known study I am aware of and the lack of any empirical evidence does most certainly matter.  The placebo effect, which is well understood, represents the power that belief has in something that increases its effectiveness and often factored in with any studies on pharmacological drugs as a key example.  

I was, at one time in my life, very interested in the mystical powers of crystals and how they might actually work and did some research on how a rock could have any effect upon a human.  The only connection I could find was that crystals and humans apparently have a similar basic elemental structure.  With that knowledge and knowing that everything in nature vibrates at different unique frequencies that perhaps there is some sort of transfer of energy via a vibration.  The vibrations I am speaking of are not the mystical kind noted within many new age texts that suggest that an endless higher vibration is better but testable actual vibrations that all objects of matter have within them.  Everything in nature exists within some degree of harmony and if a crystal was going to heal anything it would need to help restore the proper vibration.

Now we know that every physical thing does vibrate in a particular frequency.  Our universe has its own frequency, earth vibrates at I believe around 8 cycles per minute, each person vibrates at unique frequencies and so does a glass of water and so on.  Taken further each organ within your body vibrates at slightly different frequencies which all become a part of your overall frequency that in many ways would be as unique to you as a finger print.  So, it stands to reason that cancer cells would vibrate at a frequency of its own and if we could effect only that particular frequency we could alter it in a way that could possibly kill it or hopefully would not make it far worse.  

How can we effect something like this and even more importantly know that we are effecting it in a positive way?  It would seem far more likely that either doing nothing at all or making it worse would be more likely then making whatever ailment better.  How would anyone learn how to do this and while I'm sure there are people who would suggest they know how I question if they do why they are not the most famous people on earth.  If you could simply pass a crystal over someone, or use Reiki energy manipulation, to heal someone why would you not heal everyone or teach countless others how to do this?  This is not happening and if you can do this and not sharing it how selfish would that really be.  I don't think science is looking at this in any serious way but perhaps they should and even if they are or do wouldn't they realistically be even more effective then waving your hands over someone with or without a crystal in your hand?

If we imagine a crystal is like a musical tuning fork; a larger tuning fork will make the smaller one 'harmonize' with the larger, with a different but predictable frequency, that involve a level of physics that is over my head.  So in one way to look at it the frequency of the earth does have a direct effect upon us but we have very little effect upon it.  By earths size and dominance we are connected to it far more than it could be connected to us but there remains a fundamental connection.  As a side note I've often wondered if you could truly harmonize with something else, lets say the earth, would you in some way feel what it feels?  Might that be a key to telepathy if such a thing really does exist?

So, if a crystal was going to have any effect upon us it would either have to be much larger than us and at a very specific frequency which seems unlikely but in the realm of possibility.  Perhaps it magnifies our intentions in some way which seems esoteric but interesting to me.  What I mean by this is that I do not believe that any particular object in itself has any 'power' as nothing in our material world really seems to work this way it might be able, via its unique structure to magnify our thoughts and intentions.  No one really knows what a thought is exactly, or where a thought exists, but if a thought really is a 'thing' and anything could magnify that thought, even in a very small degree, it would magnify that intention/thought dramatically and perhaps have some sort of esoteric effect.  However, even if that theory has any merit there are so many variables and so little evidence that there has to be innate doubt with it but it seems like a possible way it could work.  

Even if crystals have some innate power, or if they can be used to magnify intention without precise knowledge of how to use it there would be no value.  It would be like handing a Ipod to a caveman and expecting them to do something with it.  The pop culture books related on the subject of crystals are so obviously meant to be simply marketed that I wonder if there really is any value at all.  The proof is in the fact there is no known super healer that would no doubt be amazingly famous.  If we cannot decode this system now how would anyone have ever done it in ancient times? I think it is a fair question and glossing over it with some rationalized answers doesn't really convince me of the validity of this but I do think these ideas have merit and would love to know your thoughts on the subject.

In the end I do feel that the only power that these crystals can have is the power that you give it.