For your thinking consideration:

I came across this article on mindpowernews.com. Sometimes they have good ones, and some other ones are kind of corny, but this one stuck a little bit. It was written by Paul Levy:


"When you begin to spiritually awaken, it is like waking up inside of a dream and recognizing that everything you are experiencing is nothing other than a very convincing projection, or display of your mind. The boundary between inner and outer, between dreaming and waking starts to dissolve, and you begin to realize that the same dreaming mind that is dreaming your dreams at night is dreaming your life. You realize that there is a Deeper Dreaming Self that is having a dream and we are it!


This Deeper Dreaming Self is active in us at all times and is continually seeking to express it itself. If we recognize the dreaming process that is happening right now, we can step into it and help it unfold consciously. It will activate our own inherent process of awakening and reconnect us with ourselves.


It is as though there is a dream that is trying to be dreamt through each and all of us -- both individually and collectively. The universe is seen as a field not separate from and through which this deeper, dreaming process is continually expressing it itself.


Recognizing the deeper dream, or archetypal myth that we have been unconsciously acting out in our waking life reconnects us not only with the deeper ground of the psyche but also with other people, as everybody is seen to be fellow actors in a divine drama. It takes one's life out of a purely personal framework and gives it a deeper sense of meaning, which makes suffering so much more bearable.


When you begin to awaken to the dream-like nature of things you realize that waking reality doesn't exist in the way you thought it did, as something separate from you. Saying it is a dream, your own projection, reflection, etc. is the same thing as saying it is nothing other than your own mind appearing in a convincing, externalized display. Everything that happens is seen to be the unmediated expression of your mind, which you now understand can just as easily express it itself in outer events as it does in inner feelings, dreams or intuitions.


This is related to Jung's idea of synchronicity, those "meaningful coincidences," where an inner situation gets mirrored through an outer event. They are examples of where there is a fissure in reality and one gets a chance to glimpse the underlying unity.


By saying that our waking reality is some sort of a dream, which is the same thing as saying that it is a projection of your mind, the implication is that how you view it actually effects how it appears. This is very clear in lucid dreaming, where the dream is realized to be the unmediated manifestation of your mind.


Once you realize this, you don't become conditioned by, and react to, the reflections as something solid, real, and autonomous (as a kitten would looking in a mirror), you just recognize them as your own energy appearing externally. Your relationship to the universe changes dramatically.


Waking reality is seen to be a manifestation of "something deeper," just like the rays of the sun are the manifestation of the sun. In the same way that the rays are not separate from the sun, but rather are a perfect expression of it, waking reality is not separate from this "something deeper" but is it itself a perfect expression of it.


The question then becomes: what would you do if you did wake up in THIS dream and recognize that IT was all your own mind? How would you dream it on if you were to have this realization? Imagine that there are all these other people in your dream who are so asleep that it is as though they have fallen under an enchantment. They've gotten absorbed into the dream and have become so identified with their roles that they literally have forgotten who they are. They are truly suffering a case of mistaken identity. And they're all just aspects of you.


It is like your task is to try and wake up parts of yourself that have fallen asleep. How you do this is totally up to you; it is the ultimate creative challenge. In essence you are figuring out a way to wake yourself up, to break the spell you have fallen under.


As the Deeper Dreaming Self, we are always dreaming each other up in exactly the role that is needed. It is an amazing realization when you discover that we can't help but play the role that other people have dreamt up for us.


For example, you, as the Deeper Dreaming Self (your True Self) have dreamt up this article right now -- at this very moment. And I, of course, by writing it, effortlessly stepped right into playing and fulfilling exactly the role you dreamt up for me. Even to say that someone else stepped into a role that you dreamt up for them is to say too much. As it is all just you. There is no one else.


It is exactly as if you were having a dream and into your dream walked a dream character who was having an awakening (he has become lucid in "his" dream). Let's make it even more real than that, let's imagine that this dream character expressed himself by sending you an article such as this. Who is this dream character other than the awake part of yourself? He knows that he's being dreamt by something deeper. He is a mirror, a reflection, a manifestation of the awake part of you.


It is also no accident that he has delivered this article into your dream; he is trying to engage you. It is your own awakeness appearing in seemingly separate, externalized form. It is clearly your own projection, something you've thrown out of yourself. And it is trying to step back into you. Or better yet, you're trying to step back into yourself. It is a situation that you, as the Deeper Dreaming Self, have clearly dreamt up.


This dream character realizes that the "I" who he thought he was, including the body that he's been identifying with all this time, is not only not who he is, but is itself being dreamt by "something deeper" -- what I call the "Deeper Dreaming Self." Becoming lucid means that he's recognized his true identity with the Deeper Dreaming Self, which is dreaming the entire dream.


This is the same thing as saying that he has recognized his unity with the entire dream, which is realized to be nothing other than the manifestation, or expression of the Deeper Dreaming Self, not separate from it in one iota. Just like the waves of the ocean are not separate from, and are the expression or manifestation of the ocean. It is as if one wave discovered that it was one with the entire ocean, and hence, with all waves. Nothing has to be added, one just discovers an already existing fact.


This awakening dream character has had an expansion of identity from a skin-encapsulated ego, or separate self -- which experiences it itself as being disconnected from the rest of the dreamscape -- to a larger, much more all-embracing identity, which recognizes that the dream is nothing other than a very convincing display of his true nature. This is analogous to having an archetypal death/rebirth experience.


Our dream character also realizes that he can consciously step into this universal dream that we all are sharing and help it unfold. He can help co-create and co-dream the dream to its highest unfolding, whatever and wherever that may be. When he realizes his identity with the Deeper Dreaming Self, he also recognizes that everybody else has the same Deeper Dreaming Self. He realizes that there is just one Deeper Dreaming Self and it is not only his own True Self, but it is the True Self for everyone. He understands that he's not even the slightest bit special, as everybody else is in the same condition, but they just haven't recognized it yet.


At the point when you understand this, is when you become that awakened dream character who can then step consciously into the next person's dream. You then become the mirrored reflection of their own awakened part. And what would you do other than to try and awaken them in as gentle, loving and creative a way as possible?


When enough people awaken to this situation, and this is simply a matter of when the Deeper Dreaming Self dreams that enough people awaken to it, we can begin to create an art happening that we can title "global awakening". This is really a question of stepping into and owning not only your negative shadow, but your positive shadow also. It becomes so easy to project your own enlightenment out there onto whatever guru. It is a question of realizing who you are, for God's sake. I would like to suggest that there is nothing stopping us from doing this right now. And not only that, I would like to further suggest that IT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW and it is simply a question of recognizing it.


Don't place any limits on yourself. It is your dream, please dream it all the way, go totally far out, over every edge. If you woke up and realized that it was your dream, how would you then dream it on? Remember, I am not addressing you as the little egoistic self but as the True Self.
I would like to suggest that if you are having a genuine awakening, you have no other recourse than to let the Deeper Dreaming Self dream itself through you. The question then becomes, if we are the dream of the Self, where is this dream going?


We need to really expand our realm of possibilities and realize that we are living a historic time, maybe more amazing then if we lived in Palestine during the life of Christ. We are actually living in the time period where human beings wake up. We need to realize, to see that the universe is dreaming itself awake through us. And it takes the most visionary among us to help further the momentum of the process until it actually builds up a life of it is own, which it already has in us.


Isn’t it just a question of whether you see the situation or not? And if you do see it -- it is not a question of thinking about it but of seeing it -- then at that very moment you become an awake, responsible player in this dream drama you've found yourself in. And not just a player, but writer, director, producer and the audience, too. You begin to realize that this isn't a universe that you are just passively observing but one that you are also actively participating in and co-creating with. At this moment you step into your Bodhisattvahood, which is who we are meant to be. You realize that there is no separate "self" or "other", just "Self". Out of this awareness naturally arises genuine compassion.


Finally, you realize it is total insanity to be waiting for the Messiah to arrive. We are the Messiah."


[source]

Illumination

I'm writing this in a sort of anxious mood. I'm anxious because I'm slightly unsure. My path is not predictable and lit. I can't see down the road I'm standing on, but I know where I stand. It could be scary and frightening, but it's not. I could go back where I came from, because I know what's there. It's familiar, it's safe; but I won't. Besides, my curiosity won't let me. At this point, I'm blazing my own trails, making it up as I go along. There's a goal of course. There is somewhere that I know I want to go, and the goal I think, at this point, will be reached. But the uncertainty comes from not knowing exactly how that goal will be reached.

Would most go back amidst the unsure-ness? Maybe, I'm not sure because I'm not most people. I heard somewhere that nature loves courage. I've also heard that sometimes you have to take a leap into the dark unknown only to find you've lept into a bed of feathers. I'm not sure what I'm leaping into, but it seems like I almost have no choice but to take the leap. For it is the fact that the road is dark and unexplored that makes me want to illuminate it with my discoveries.

I can't be stagnant. I can't be satisfied with what is just here. Don't get me wrong, it's great, but I could be doing my future-selves a great disservice if I don't see where my roads go. I owe a lot to my former selves because it was their courage that got me this far. And by former selves I mean the younger me's. The 22 year old who took chances, the 18 year old who took chances, the 25 year old that took chances. There is much that binds all of us, but one of the strongest factors of all is our abilities to take the fearless leaps and tumble our ways into the next sections of our existence.

So now I stare down that road, knowing that I know am the pivot point for all the ones to come, and I don't want to disappoint any of them. How can I? I have a lot to live up to. It's tough not knowing, but it's just as easy walking it, and doing what I do best...illuminating it.

How bout this

No, this isn't some sort of tom-foolery or trickery. What you see here is an Australian world map. "But it's upside down" you say. Let's take another thought about that. What exactly is upside down? You mean it's that way with respect to how you've been viewing your maps. That map reinforces that idea that I came upon a while ago, that north is not always up to everyone.

But this map also asks us to do something very simple which is elevate our way of thought. Now I'm not saying that we should revert to another countries map or anything like that, but what I am suggesting is that we take a second to examine what we think we know and claim to be truth, and elevate it to be aware of what other people could be claiming is "truth". We live in a world full of inhabitants and it is not always our way of life that is the standard, where ever we live.

So what am I asking you to do. I am asking you to look at any "truths" you hold on to and compare them to another fellow human's point of view, and then elevate your thought. North is not always up, West is not always on the left. A quarter-pounder is not always a quarter pounder ;)

A Thought...

It is safe to assume that the curiosity instilled in some of the animals that were produced by the earth planet, is also the same curiosity shared by the universe in which this planet resides. And you can go on a limb and deduce that the source of such life [the universe] has the propensity to understand itself. So upon this realization, the same way that the human being is trying to figure itself out, as is the universe through one of its most glorious products (the human brain). And we will find that the more we unlock about our own nature, so too will we unlock the universe's most complex puzzles, which may not seem as complex once we figure them out. It is in us. Because before you know what is exterior, you have to construct it interiorly. Soooo...in my brain, which is no bigger than some square feet, fits the enormity of this universe.

Distractions

I was having a conversation with a friend yesterday and the subject of bull&$@! came up. I'm not sure how but as I started to give the matter some thought, I started realizing that a lot of what we call our "civilization" is totally and completely full of the the substance that comes out of a bull's anus. And the more I started thinking about it, I came to the conclusion that we, especially Americans, are bombarded everyday all day with distractions.

Now, I'm going to attack that which has become the most popular as of late. I suppose it gained strength as our parents were growing up and eventually became something that went hand in hand with being alive. I'm talking about television, that good ole' boob tube. That which could be so useful but is downgraded to the nonsensical babysitter charged with keeping our children occupied. But it goes beyond that, the babysitter has become the best friend to those who have grown up with it. How many times have you heard someone say "You can call me whenever except this'o'clock because that's when Glee comes on and I can't miss my show.

But what are we doing with ourselves? What are we giving power to? The evening news where I live has a section for celebrity news, which often consists of how Lindsay Lohan (and I hate to type that name because I'm giving power to it) &%$@#! up this time today. Really? I mean really? And when they're not reporting on what color Christina Agulera's panties were, they're trying to scare the &*#@ out of you by telling you how many people were maimed or murdered on the day. Don't give power to it, choose love not fear...but that's another post.

I guess all I'm saying is make practice of putting away the distractions every once and a while, and know when and how you are being distracted. Take out the ipod on your way to work, be aware of your surroundings. Turn off that tv on the weekend or after work, find a book that would be just as entertaining, or learn something that you didn't know before (did you know you have four nostrils and more than five senses [I think it's like 23 or something, but look it up]) Let''s put these distractions away and maybe we will make ourselves open to doing something more constructive.

That being said, now I'm going to watch Family Guy.

Growing Pains

I was talking to a friend of mine and the topic of discussion fell on age. And we came to the conclusion that with age comes pain, and there's nothing that we can really do about it (so bring on the pain I guess).

No connection, but why is it that the most "insecure" people are the first to share their life stories and the people who consider themselves secure are the ones who don't share anything? Maybe I'm wrong, but it's just an observation. Why are the people who we consider the ones with some screws loose the ones who are the most visible and the most audible. And why are those same people who have those screws loose the ones that hold, say, public offices.

Is it that the people with the most sense desire not to be a part of the circus of publicity? Take for instance politics (you just knew I was going to go there didn't you). Why is it that the people with the most extreme views are the ones that make it into the public arena. I think we as American people have a lust for the WWF mentality. The person who is the most flamboyant and the most over-the-top is the person that we want to see elected. Maybe not, but it sure seems that way. 

Evolution of the Blog

That's right, two in a day...

I'm still adjusting to what exactly to blog about. The blog's title should say it all, but when you are supposed to write thought inspiring things it becomes tougher than you thought it would. Could be a combination of writer's block, or a little anxiety, or it could be that I'm a little fresh to the blogging thing, but I have a feeling that slowly but surely this will turn into something interesting (for me) and something interesting to read.

I'm always asking myself questions like, what kind of person does this or that. Or what type of person does it take to do this or that. For instance, what kind of person looks at the stars as soon as he steps outside (sometimes just the sky altogether, because I find myself looking up whether the sun is out or not)? Or what type of person does it take to ride a bike/motorcycle through the winter (I think you almost do have to be just short of certifiable)? So I guess now I'm asking, what type of person does it take (given that the internet will be around for a while as we know it) to write down thoughts, or happenings, or get people to think just from reading the words that I type on a screen. I can only hope to have that kind of impact.

Of course, I've read other blogs, I've seen what they blog about. It's usually current events, and news. Some people blog about their youtube postings. I guess a blog can be about anything. But this blog is going to do it's very best to be as thought provoking as possible. That's right, here you get the tough questions like, if they synched all of the traffic lights in cities properly, would it not improve gas mileage? Or After the corporations suck all of the money out of the economy, how will they get more money and wouldn't they shrivel up from lack of consumers? Or why would you make something that grows out of the ground naturally illegal...just a thought.

But this is the thinker's blog, this is where I will go to share my thoughts, and interactions with the web. Adding my little two cents to this worldwide community. Hopefully I can help you find a path that you seek. Because even though I'm posting my thoughts, I'm here for the collective consciousness (any human mind who will) to find, and hopefully I can point you in the right direction. I'm here for you. And maybe through sharing some of the truths that I seek, or have discovered, I can help you remember a few things that you have forgotten as well. Stay tuned...

The Element

Sometimes I like to do this thing, I like to study what's going on in the world. We had the Egyptian uprisings. Here in our states we have union workers protesting to keep their union rights. If you're paying close attention you see that Moammar Gadhafi is the latest to be threatened by the sitting government protests. What I think is interesting about this one is that his son said something on the radio like, we [Libya] are not Egypt, you mourned the loss of eighty-something deaths, if you all don't act right, there will be thousands of them. Strong words...it should be interesting to see how all that fares.

But amidst all of the political posturing, and money changing there's an element that is common to it all. That element is the human element.

It doesn't matter who we are or what position we hold in today's world, whoever that person is is still a human being. No matter how hard they try to get away from it, or how much money they make to try to buy another label, you still have to stand (or sit) at a toilet and relieve yourself the way any man or woman does. So this is where my questions come in. If we are all not the same, how hard is it to come to an agreement with the people that you serve, to make theirs and your life better in the long run. Would it not make sense to be human about it all, sit down and come to a collective agreement, rather than following the money, or listening all the way to the people who are giving you that money?

I think we would all do a little bit better if we put our minds to work and used some of that good old fashioned human logic and reasoning. Or is that to much to ask?

Crossover

It can be used to describe what Allen Iverson did to Michael Jordan a long time ago. This is when Jordan's sun was setting and Iverson's was rising. It could also be used to describe the show with John Edward that used to air a while ago. But I'm thinking of something a bit more thought-provoking than that. The crossover I'm concerned with examining is the one in our heads.

First let me start by asking, what organ in our body gets a skeletal structure all to itself? It is the most important one and the one that is responsible for receiving and interpreting all of our happenings, whether they be external or internal. If you haven't guessed by now, it is your brain. It is housed in a solid bone brain case (skull/cranium) all to itself. This means no light gets directly to this organ, but we swear we are seeing light. No sound gets directly to this organ but we swear we hear things. I could go on and on about all of the stimuli that is received by the brain, but I want to cut to the chase.

All of what we "experience" (mostly anyway) is nothing but electrical signals but when does it stop being an electrical signal and start becoming say a thought or an idea. Or does it ever stop? I think this is one of the most overlooked facts that we have to face. And I think it's taken for granted all the time. How much thought do you think is applied to what is actually happening inside and around us? How many people are actually aware that everything that they experience comes down to the functionality of an organ that weighs in at just a few pounds?

To me, and I don't know whether I'm overly-excited about it or whether it's the general population that is under-excited about it, this is the most amazing phenomenon that could be taking place here and now. Electrical signals passed through your brain are your thoughts. And if you really think about it (and you can for hours/days) it's a concept that will keep you thinking. And when you really apply good thought to it you start asking yourself, if I am nothing but electrical signals back and forth? That means I am actually some kind of being of energy, but that is another story worth blogging about.

But for now, think about making the connection of your brains electrical communications and how it all comes down to it being translated to thoughts, music, colors...EVERYTHING! And then we'll pick it from there later ;)

Here we go!

The first I'm sure of many to come:

It's time to encourage that which seems to have been lost in our interesting civilization's existence. It's time to encourage thought. Thought about culture. Thought about government. Thought about religion. Because thinking is too important to either not do, or let someone else do for us. It's time to put our skills of logic, reasoning and debating ideas to good use and change the seemingly miserable state of our, as a human race's, existence.  Let's put our skills of higher order thinking to work, and solve the many problems that we are encountering in our communities, states, countries, and on our planet.

Come and think with me...