Hey Atman,
Good to see yur reply. I have read it all and concur with most of
your observations. Thanks for them. :o)
I don't concur with one item, however, and I bring it up only in the
hope that you may find some truth in my hypothesis, and thus lighten
your burden.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You wrote "I don't believe that it is perfect,.. but not in the
relative sense of day to day experience."
My experience has been different of late. Let me give a very-recent
example. I have been working with a guy to setup an online store on
one of my Websites, and he was ready to start. Then when I told him
to move forward, he said he was too busy.
I was somewhat discouraged, as I had spent a lot of time establishing
a rapport with him and making sure that he was the right guy. Then,
last night, I was talking with another one of my Web development guys,
and he suggested a different method that is much simpler, so all
worked out perfectly.
I have had too many experiences like this for me to deny that all is
indeed perfect, and to some degree, things seem to flow better when my
intentions are pure and I release fear and worry. Some things do not
seem perfect, but there are enough good ones that I can see, often in
hindsight, that I attribute perfection to all.
++++++++++++++++++++++
You also wrote "There I see to much hate, pain, and suffering.
Intuitively, someone may say it's perfect, but that rarely follows in
our relative day to day experience."
Back in the 60's, I read a quote from Ram Dass. He spoke of "the
blood on the snow". The snow is the perfection of all things, and the
snow is the suffering that is sometimes experienced by people.
A few years back I mentored a very-bright young man. One day, he told
me that his live-in girlfriend had decided to leave him, and he was
heartbroken. I responded by saying that suffering is a gift, as it
shows us where we are attached, and thus gives us the opportunity to
release these attachments and thus be more free.
This also applies to anger in traffic, frustration on the phone, etc.
Where are we stuck? Where do we need to let go?
In "Grist for the Mill" Ram Dass also spoke of how between lives, we
decide what our circumstances will be in the next life. He said we
may choose to be born a blind beggar in Benares and be kicked to death
on the streets. In another circumstance, we might be born, live for
only a few years, and then die, having accomplished some task or had
some experience. In addiiton, we would also choose our parents,
perhaps to allow them to learn to love and let go.
In some cases, such as the Paris attacks, the benefit may be that many
people come together to solve a problem when they otherwise would not.
Even the murder of a child may cause a foundation to be setup to
support the parents of murdered children, thus bringing love into a
horrible place.
I have read stories about children with terminal cancer who are
remarkably clear and present, and an inspiration to all whom they
touch. (See Jerry Jampolsky's work)
Mey I propose an exercise for you: Just for today, just for one day,
you agree to believe that everything that happens is perfect. Release
all fear and worry, and just for one day believe that you are resting
in the perfection of all things, loved and supported. See how you
feel. If you like it, try it again the ext day. And so on...
With love,
Sum
On Sun, 07 Feb 2016 02:10:02 -0500, Atman <Be@Here.Now> wrote:
>On Mon, 01 Feb 2016 21:58:00 -0800, Sum Gai <sumgai@sumwhere.org>
>wrote:
>
>>Thanks so much for your response!
>>
>>It was very fascinating to learn something about the enigmatic Atman.
>>You certainly overcame a lot. You could have woound up a redneck in
>>Alabama! :o/
>>
>
>You have no idea how close to the truth this is.
>
>>I hear what you're saying about everything being inter-related and
>>inter-dependent. I have experienced this first-hand many times in my
>>life, more so lately, and truly know it is true.
>>
>>I also believe that everything that happens is perfect, and this is
>>also based on my experience, not somebody's teaching. Perhaps you
>>have experienced this too. Even horrible things are for a purpose and
>>contribute to the awakening of all beings.
>>
>
>I don't believe that it is perfect, but perhaps perfect in the
>absolute sense in that all things will lead to enlightenment
>eventually, or that we all are in the absolute "now", having the
>"dream of the living", but not in the relative sense of day to day
>experience. There I see to much hate, pain, and suffering. I just
>think that everything "is as it is" and try to reframe from too much
>judgment. I know that from my current perspective of being, relaying
>upon a brain and six scenes, that I only have a very limited
>perception, and do not have the ability to mentally form any real
>meaningful conclusion to such questions as the perfection of
>everything. Intuitively, someone may say it's perfect, but that
>rarely follows in our relative day to day experience.
>
>
>>I know what you mean by "a higher power being at work". For myself,
>>it's not like some movie drama where some deity controls me, but
>>things just seem to happen so naturally and effortlessly. I feel this
>>especially when I speak with someone and some truth comes out that I
>>almost feel "I" didn't speak, although it's within my ken.
>>
>
>This seems to happen a lot when we get in the "zone". When ego is
>momentarily forgotten and we flow in the Tao, in the persent now. I
>had it happen under many different circumstances. I really like how
>Emerson described it in the Oversoul,
>
> "I am constrained every moment to acknowledge a higher origin for
>events than the will I call mine.
>
>As with events, so is it with thoughts. When I watch that flowing
>river, which, out of regions I see not, pours for a season its streams
>into me, I see that I am a pensioner; not a cause, but a surprised
>spectator of this ethereal water; that I desire and look up, and put
>myself in the attitude of reception, but from some alien energy the
>visions come. "
>
>
>>It's too bad that you have had some opposition by small-minded people,
>>but please don't let it bother you. Today I saw the following quote
>>for the first time, and this post to you made me think of you and it:
>>There are hundreds of paths up the mountain,
>>all leading in the same direction,
>>The only one wasting time is the one
>>who runs around and around the mountain,
>>telling everyone that his or her path is wrong.
>>
>>I hope you will have many more years of sharing the truth, both due to
>>a long and healthy life, and also due to having a continuing method to
>>do so. Years ago I had some publications of similar bent, with more
>>than a half-million readers, so I know how it feels to contribute to
>>people's awakening.
>>
>
>Even very recently I've had further issues. There are now bots
>scanning the groups and if they hit upon anything the even sounds like
>a copyrighted item they auto-generate a complaint. This is why
>subject lines can not be very descriptive and may have intentional
>misspelling or odd punctuation. It really is to the point that I may
>switch to different areas or methods to share spiritual ideas rather
>then continuing with the Usenet.
>
>>I have a friend from another (unrelated) group who turned 100 a few
>>months ago. His mind is still very sharp, and so I wish you that
>>longevity. He did, coincidentally, stop posting in the group late
>>last year because he made so much effort and it was not appreciated
>>(although I did so). Since he stopped, the group is foundering, and
>>may just die. I hope you won't get discouraged.
>>
>
>I really think that the Usenet we knew 10 years ago is almost dead.
>Torrents have taken over, both public and member only sites. There
>are also many other file sharing servers, but I can not speak in much
>detail about them.
>
>>There's another (unrelated) group I frequent, and a couple of posters
>>put up a large number of posts every day, and rarely get acknowledged
>>for it. It's really sad, but I tell you this so that you won't feel
>>that you're the only one who is not acknowledged and appreciated for
>>your posts, as I am sure many do appreciate them.
>>
>
>I don't think that its really acknowledgement or any thanks that is
>desired by posters, but it's just good to know that there is someone
>else out there. When the group is complete silence it could be easily
>assumed that no one is there.
>
>>So please keep up your efforts, although in an effortless way.
>>
>
>Yes, I will, but the effort may have to change with the changing
>conditions. I'm also finding that I've already posted about every
>major spiritual work that is still available from the last few
>thousand years so finding new material is hard, and the need for new
>material has diminished.
>
> It's better to flow with the Tao rather than fight it. Floating with
>the Tao can seem effortless, even when much work is done.
>
>Thanks for the reply!
>
>Atman
>
>>Best, Sum
>>
>>
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