CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

TRUTH: FOR BEGINNERS



With seeds of possibilities germinating on the fertile soil of imaginings––expedited by a new and healthy dose of planning––a point in time fast approached when the majority of the population were ready to take the next leap forward on their path, engaging in what a few––whose incarnate history had predisposed them to assume roles and positions requiring forethought––had already been moved to accept. That is to say, for the first time in many cases, thinking ahead offered unlimited possibilities in the way of personal growth, because when availed upon to think beyond our immediate daily needs, situations naturally arose in which relationships of every variety could be considered more than just brief, chance encounters. In turn, the way we conducted ourselves illustrated this new projected mind-set in as much as; we viewed those people we encountered each day with the same degree of thoughtfulness––or at least as close a proximity as our emerging interacting attitude could muster––as we would expect in return. With that in mind, it became increasingly clear, as individuals, having once separated ourselves spiritually and physically from the group identity (when ego became aware of “self”) Divine Will was gradually reintroducing us into settings that promoted social interaction. So essentially we had “traded up” from being a part to the complement of a mere group, to being an individual partaking in the compliments of a peer group.

To that end, planning further insured the continuation of settlements and our active participation in socialization. Although there have always been examples of individuals who choose to avoid contact with others, for what ever reason (and there are many), most will gravitate toward interaction when the opportunity presents itself (again, for many reasons, not the least of which may be disingenuous). In all cases however, Divine Guidance was luring people, who were now free thinking, free willed, ego-driven beings, back into situations where their personal differences would serve to create both friction and faction. Only by experiencing relationships of our choosing, which just as often includes being the object of non-mutual or someone else's choosing, can we begin to gain some fashion of insight into an understanding of what it means and takes, to get along. This by no measure assures our understanding of why people do what they do, only that we have some say so or choice in how we act and react––our “role” if you like––during social interaction. That revelation, as obvious as it may be to those in whom it abides, is one of the most illusive because; even once we’ve “found ‘real’ happiness”, despite all the foibles our initial enthusiasm either couldn’t possibly have been aware of at its onset, or somehow justified as temporary, hanging on to it depends on our accepting people––and things we can’t change––as they are, instead of expecting them to change into what would accommodate and assure our continued happiness. Yes, everything changes, including our hopes and dreams, our aspirations and lifestyles, our belief systems and social practices; that’s the point of growing spiritually toward an accepting, inclusive mind-set. These are changes we are responsible for making through free will choices to induce our own advancement, these are not changes we have any right to expect of others, just to suit our will or expectations. The changes everyone else incorporates into their life can not be of our choosing any more than our changes can be of their choosing, because they also have an indwelling free will. As over-simplistic as that sounds to all who live in faith, its Truth and logic continue to elude many whose personal agendas demonstrate some degree of controlling behavior. In spite of them however and otherwise civilized people who can’t or won’t accept responsibility (blaming others for the circumstances in their lives manifested by poor judgment and bad choices) or don’t know how to approach a relationship without unrealistic expectations (strings attached), their demographic is fast approaching minority status while Truth seekers are ever increasing in numbers.

With that in mind, it would be negligent to ignore this opportunity to point out that there is a wide spectrum of society, in what has been generously called “modern times”, whose various paths honor attitudes of inclusiveness––accepting others as they are––as simply fair and equal behavior, even if seemingly outside the influence of any faith oriented doctrine. Though recognizing the rights of others as inalienable isn’t exclusively denominational, it is none the less, Divinely Guided. Combined with those who have chosen to follow a specific theology and the examples of its way-shower, it is toward this end of unconditional inclusiveness that all paths wind, some much more meand-ering––bordering on vacillating––than others, but always into relationships that offer choices whose decisions measure our spiritual advancement. Every challenge set before us in the physical is a calculated, but risk free learning process that serves only to enlighten our thinking with regards to how we conduct ourselves during interactions under every possible circumstance. Considering the infinite variables capable of imbuing the simplest of acts or tasks, it can’t be seen or imagined with any degree of credulity how long it might take to partake of the fruits offered by all the experiences one soul must encount-er––and overcome––to move from the birth of awareness, through the discarding of all that individuality represents, before rejoining the oneness from which it originated.

The acquirement involved with this course of experiences, under the subject head; “socialization”, assigns a full complement of accomplishments through which we are deftly guided, while occupying the appropriate role (with relation to other participants), by dipping into the well of knowledge filled with all our prerequisite experiences, which in turn, persists in growing with the addition of each ongoing event, so that every experience that follows is equally benefited by those that preceded it. In spite of that, we spend millennia in the physical accruing the effects of our experiences in what outwardly appear to be trail and error episodes of awkward confrontations, in the name of and for the cause of spirituality. Most of the time, in the “now”, there is no clear evidence of achievement or coherence as far as long term relationships are concerned.

Ego’s awareness predisposes us to see “self” as separate and, dare I say, unique. We could not enter into the lessons that enable our spiritual growth, (i.e., sociability), while a part of the group. All members of a “group spirit” act predictably the same. In order to advance further on our eternal path, it was necessary to start behaving as individuals. As we’ve seen, that shift in perception inundated us with feelings and information we had no experience with. Overwhelmed and confused, we withdrew to the appropriate defensive position, self. Looking out for number one. By that Design, each of us has been groomed to love our self first, so that in turn we may have some inkling of what it is to be loved and then, to love another. We could not be expected to come to know, on any level, a complete stranger without first knowing the one we are most intimate with. How is it possible, we might ask ourselves, for a relationship to develop with someone so totally different from us, unless we first understood the relationship we were already inseparable from? No one we will ever encounter has any possibility of being more familiar to us, than us!! If we are unable to love the one and only person we know absolutely everything about, little hope is held out for our loving of others, about which we know comparatively nothing.

In the physical, our chronologic maturing both provides the time and takes into account, our necessity to become intimately familiar with all aspects of our own psyche. Myriad opportunities present themselves for us to glean some insight into why we feel or act in the ways we do. When Divinely called upon to do so and approached with a mentally healthy, brutally honest, soul searching inquiry such as meditation or prayer, we will gain an invaluable deeply personal knowledge about our self that will serve us well on our path to interpersonal socialization. Of course, the patience and honesty required to derive any benefit from soul-revealing meditation comes only after the revelation that those things needing changed are to be found inside, not outside. Obviously, many aren’t prepared to cross that threshold until their considerable spiritual advancement merits it; ergo, “when Divinely called upon”, or guided. Even so, certainly in most cases anyhow, those who do engage in that sort of reflective musing, don’t until their current carnal experiences recognize it as an option to begin with, and much to our chagrin, as well as a reminder of who’s really in charge, that doesn’t usually present itself until one is well beyond ones most confusing years (i.e., puberty)––when such rumination could have proved most beneficial and been put to its best use.