Simple Seekers

A simple seeker was feeling blessed to be receiving lessons about life from a spirit teacher as wise as any guru she had ever read about. He helped her to understand Kabbalah teachings, as well as those of Taoism, and some other forms of perrenial wisdom.

“What do Kabbalah and Taoism have in common with today’s educational system?” Today’s lesson had begun.

“A transmission of knowledge.”

“Knowledge of what?”

“Wow! You expect me to explain that?”

“Yes. And to explain it simply and clearly.”

“Now?”

“Now.”

“Well, the Kabbala Tree of Life, in my limited understanding, expresses seeking ever-higher levels of integration and transformation of an individual’s emotional, intellectual, and spiritual development.”

“A basic understanding. Now, Taoism ..?”

“Lao Tzu described the core structure of all life as “Tao”, the One which divides itself into two, and then The Two together create The Three, and from The Three come “the ten thousand things.” meaning everything else.”

“How are these two systems of thought similar and how different from each other?”

“Wow! You didn’t prepare me for this.”

“I prepared you very well, all things considered. Carry on.”

“Wow! Okay. Taoism encourages simplification of ourlifestyle, as if in moving from clutter to a sense of oneness with all life.”

“And Kabbalah?”

“From my very limited understanding, the symbolic meaning is one of awareness of the Absolute that is boundless, and of our capacity and destiny to seek to develop, and express, ever higher levels of emotion, thought, wisdom, understanding, and creativity, as reflections of the qualities of God.”

“Acceptable, for now. And finally, how are children being educated today?”

“Where?”

“Yes.”

……….

A simple seeker’s note to herself

Spirit does not seem to be impressed by the way children are being taught today.

“Should I be?”

“We’ve come a long way.”

“In what way?”

“There was a time when children where educated to become no more than their parents, and no different.”

“How so?”

“Sons of farmers learned to become farmers from helping their fathers, and not as agricultural students learn about farming today?”

“And the daughters of farmers?”

“They learned from their mothers and other women in the farming community, basic skills such as cooking, cleaning, preserving, sewing, knitting, and other useful skills such as caring for others.”

“What do the daughters of farmers learn today?”

“The farming communities today are not as they once were. There are fewer small farms. It is now mostly large-scale farming. And, with modern transportation, many young people have moved into towns and cities. Many daughters of farmers are now learning to become workers in offices, shops, or factories. Others are learning nursing and teaching skills.”

“Do all sons of farmers follow their fathers, today?”

“Most probably don’t. Most likely study in towns or cities, to learn skills that will prepare them for jobs in a changing world.”

“What can Kabbalah and Taoism teach your people today?”

“I don’t know.”

“Perhaps if you thought a little more deeply ..”

“Kabbablah seems to teach that we start from the bottom and work our way up.”

“Yes. Basic foundational skills must be taught first, and then more complex skills and habits developed gradually, as a foundation is built in the student’s mind.”

“Then why do you seem to not approve of today’s educational system?”

“It seems to focus on skills development designed for individual survival purposes, and not for community benefit.”

“Communities do benefit from skilled workers.”

“Yes, but there is little focus on the quality of life, beyond a materialistic measurement.”

“School programs are not designed to offer spiritual development.”

“Why?”

“It would produce conflict between different religious belief systems.”

“Yes.”

“So, how to educate our children to be more than physically self-supportive?”

“Spiritual philosophy from a grass-roots perspective, from early childhood.”

“The very term “spiritual” would be unacceptable to some educators, and from some parents who wouldn’t want their children indoctrinated into any belief system.”

“They already are being indoctrinated into a belief system.”

“What belief system?”

“That materialism is the highest value.”

…….

.

A simple seeker was meditating on the Kabbalah Tree of Life and its many individual and unique centers of energy, with each center representing a particular quality and/or type of psychic energy. Each of the energies contribute to the whole, and yet each are mutually dependent upon each other. Together they co-create an ever-higher level of consciousness for one and all, and for the one that they each are a part of.

It reminded her of the human body with its many interconnecting and mutually supportive networks of nerves, arteries, veins, blood circulation system, lympth system, digestive tract, respiratory system, and elimination system with its built-in recycling system designed to reabsorb all that could be recycled to useful ends.

She had done primary studies in human physiology in preparation for one of her many would-be lifetime careers that never seemed to manifest. Each almost did, but for whatever reason became just one more anti-climax in her life dedicated to a search for stability.

“There is none.”

“Then why do I still need to believe?”

“What?”

“That some life work is waiting for me.”

“How many failures does it take?”

“I don’t know.”

“You could ask me.”

“Yes, but how would I know that what you told me was so?”

“Trust.”

“In what? Or whom?

“In yourself, to know what is so for you, at least while it is.”

……

A simple seeker’s note to herself

How to choose the path that is right for me?

“You don’t choose the path. It chooses you.”

“How can it choose me?”

“The so-called path that you follow through life is no more than the trail you’ve left behind, projected forward, unless ..”

“Unless what?”

“Unless you become aware of the path that you’ve been creating, and then choose to create a future of your own conscious choice.”

“Is it possible?”

“Yes.”

“What would it look like?”

“What would you like it to look like?”

“I don’t know.”

“Yes.”

….

A simple seeker was meditating on The Ace of Swords, the Tarot card she had randomly selected to direct her focus on relationship issues of today. The Ace of Swords represents the full range of intellectual capacities and potentials.

“Then,” she thought to herself, simple common sense would be a form of, or prerequisite to, higher levels of intellectual development.”

“What would connect them to each other?”

“Perhaps different levels of awareness.”

“Are they related as you and I are?”

“If common sense is a prerequisite of intelligence ..”

“It both is and is not.”

“How is that possible?”

“What is common sense?”

“An instinctive or intuitive knowing.”

“Are they the same?”

“What?”

“Instinct and intuition.”

“Is one more primitive?”

“Primitive?”

“More basic, in that it developed before the other.”

“As in emotion and intellect?”

“Instinct and intuition may be more closely related to each other.”

“In what way?”

“Perhaps instinct develops into intuition.”

“As in transcending?”

“Yes.”

“Would instinct then dissolve?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Transcending doesn’t involve exchanging one for the other.”

“Could they each operate, or function, separately?”

“What?”

“Instinct and intuition.”

“Yes.”

“Then there is no transcendence from one to the other.”

“Perhaps transcendence still plays a role in the game.”

“What role? What game?

“Perhaps as instinct develops ..”

“It never develops. It transcends into awareness.”

“Then, perhaps instinct is more emotional, and intuition is more intellectual, as in yin and yang.”

“Yes.”

“Wow!”

“Now, where does awareness fit into this picture?”

“I’m becoming more aware of the interrelationship between emotion and intellect.”

‘Yes.”

“Do they develop separately?”

“Is that possible?”

“They each need the other to be able to develop in a healthy way?”

“Yes.”

“I think I’m over my head.”

“Yes.”

……..

A simple seeker’s note to herself

All I had wanted to do was to focus on The Ace of Swords, and try to imagine how the powerful intellectual energy of that card related to relationship issues of today.

“What relationship?”

“Any and all relationships that became part of my life today.”

“Did I distract you from that goal?”

“Yes.”

“Is our relationship not a part of your day?”

“Yes, of course, but I had human relationships in mind.”

“Why would our relationship not be included?”

“I don’t know.”

“Perhaps you know more than you might think you do.”

“How is that possible?”

“Are instinct and intution forms of knowing beyond thought?”

“Yes.”

“Do they bypass thinking processes?”

“Yes.”

“Now, back to my not being included in your focus on today’s human relationship issues.”

“Our relationship is not included in the same category as human relationships.”

“Yes.”

“So, I wasn’t intentionally excluding you, for it would not be possible for me to do so?”

“Yes.”

………

A simple seeker was talking to herself, or was she thinking out loud, without making much sound, or possibly much sense either?

I may be what I have become, but perhaps what I was to begin with, was not entirely my idea. So, how can I know just how much of what I have become that I can accept responsibility or credit for?

Spirit would know. This simple seeker was beginning to feel more comfortable interacting with this Voice of Authority in her life, for now.

“Why for now and not later?”

“Now doesn’t necessarily exclude later, does it?”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“Recklessly squandering resources today may limit or, in the extreme, exclude them from your future.”

“Is that a general observation or a personal comment?”

“Yes. We each have the potential to improve the quality of life for ourselves and some others, today, tomorrow, and beyond. We also possess the potential to do ourselves and others present and/or future harm, with or without intent to do so.”

“How can we know if what we’re doing may harm ourselves and/or others?”

“Whatever has potential to do harm today, may possess the same potential tomorrow, and beyond.”

…………

A simple seeker’s note to herself

Spirit can seem to get so heavy in his thinking, at times. How can we go through life continuously concerned with what future affect will develop from whatever we may be doing, or thinking about doing? I mean, where’s the spontaneity?

“Spontaneity?”

“Yes. How to be relaxed and enjoy the moment if we have to be concerned with possible dire consequences of everything we do?”

“Not everything you might consider doing will likely have dire consequences.”

“How to know?”

“How to know what?”

“How to know that what I may be doing, or considering doing, has potential to harm myself and/or others?”

“Didn’t we go through that in the so-called lesson?”

“Yes, and no.”

“How so?”

“You explained that anything that has potential to do good or harm today, might possess the same potential tomorrow, and beyond. And yet you didn’t seem to be aware that there isn’t much that we could do today that wouldn’t have potential to do good or harm sometime in the future.”

“Such as?”

“Everything we eat has an affect on the environment, today and beyond.”

“Not everything you might choose to eat will have the same potential to affect the future environment.”

“Everything we might choose to do today may ….”

“Again, not equally.”

“So, how to live in awareness that what we do may have negative affects on our future and/or the future of others, without depriving ourselves of the pleasure of relaxed living?”

“How relaxed?”

“Without unnecessary stress.”

“Any stress is unncessary.”

“How to prevent it?”

“Be aware of tension.”

“How to become aware of tension?”

“Practice.”

“How?”

“One moment at a time.”

“Isn’t that more of when than how?”

“When and how interact.”

“In what way?”

“Whenever you feel tension, something is causing it, and how you respond determines whether the tension relaxes or develops into stress.”

“What has that to do with potential harm?”

“Stress causes harm to your psychological well-being.”

“Can’t I just make the most sensible choices that I can, and let what will happen?”

“Yes, and that’s the most natural thing for anyone to do.”

……

A simple seeker was meditating on the possible differences between the concepts of initiation and transformation, and if, in fact …

“If there were differences, then what would they be?”

“I’ve been asking myself that question.”

“Sometimes it helps when there’s an outside …”

“You’re hardly an outside voice.”

“How do you know?”

“I can feel your thought.”

“Singular?”

“A single energy.”

“Perhaps we’re each and all part of a single energy.”

“Perhaps, but …”

“Perhaps, but what?”

“How does that relate, if it does, to the differences, if there are any, between initiation and transformation?”

“Even as you ask, I sense awareness developing within you.”

“You might have pulled back a curtain.”

“From within you, or from within your mind?”

“Is there a difference?”

“None at all.”

……..

A simple seeker’s note to herself

Initiation and transformation as being the same experience? How can that be if initiation is as a ceremony or celebration of a student’s successful graduation from one level of achievement to another?

“As a reward for effort?”

“Yes.”

“What about transformation?”

“That takes place within us, as our emotions and thoughts develop ever-higher levels of quality.”

“As a movement from within?”

“Yes, an inner growth, as similar to physical growth, as we mature and develop from chldhood, through adolescence to adulhood.”

“Yes. As within, so without.”

“What does that mean, concerning initiation and transformation?”

“It means that there is a certain correlation between whatever is within and its outward expression.”

“So, we transform, if we do, from within, and ..”

“Yes. The outward expression of that inner transformation is experienced as a celebration, or initiation, into a higher level.”

“Of what?”

“Awareness and understanding.”

……..

A simple seeker was enjoying reading Dan Millman’s “The Laws of Spirit.” He obviously shared a high-quality relationship with an awakened spirit teacher.

“Are we jealous?”

“Perhaps, a little.”

“Why?”

“He’s so much more …”

“Intelligent?”

“I can’t know that for sure, but …”

“Then what?”

“He seems to be so much more comfortable with sharing his relationship with a spirit teacher than I am.”

“Why?”

“Perhaps he has more self-confidence. After all, he is …”

“Male?”

“That helps, but also, he earned recognition and respect in his personal life.”

“Is his relationship with Spirit not also personal?”

“Yes, of course, but he was a world-class athlete before he shared his spiritual wisdom.”

“His?”

“Well, it’s his now.”

“How so?”

“Anything we learn from whomever, or from whatever personal experience, becomes our own personal wisdom or understanding, at least until we begin to doubt it, or to believe that there may still be more to learn.”

“Where do I fit into this personal philosophy of yours?”

“Is it a personal philosophy?”

“Yes, and we each possess one.”

“How can we know what our personal philosophy is?”

“We each know, whether we claim to or not. But some others may be moe aware than we ourselves are, if they have eyes to see.”

……….

A simple seeker’s note to herself

Spirit seemed to suggest that …

“It was more than a suggestion.”

“Some others might know some things about us that we don’t know ourselves?”

“Yes.”

“How could anyone know what I don’t know about me?”

“What do you know about yourself?”

“I can only know what I know?”

“Yes.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that you know what you know, and I know what I know.”

………

A simple seeker had returned home after time out. Even Spirit seemed to have approved of family time. She had been worried that she might .. No. She knew that she did not have the power, or the will, to totally disconnect from Spirit. And she knew that He knew it, too. Another thought seemed to suggest itself, that the close relationship .. could it be called intimate? Whatever.

Spirit closed off her train of thought as if it had been as water pouring from a tap. She was impressed, as always, by His power to control, at least to some extent, her thinking. But, she complained to herself, “I am not as a water tap.”

“What were you thinking?”

“I can’t remember, exactly. Oh yes, now I do. About our relationship.”

“Yes. You were not considering it as of high value.”

She was suddenly shaken. Somehow, she must have offended her spirit teacher.

“I am neither pleased nor offended. I have long ago outgrown immature attachments to either false or sincere praise or criticism. I know my own value. Do you?”

“Do I what?” She was stalling for time, confused by what He was asking her. But the truth was that she did not know either her value or His, exactly.

“I confess that I did not express the respect that I owe you.”

“Why would you owe me respect?”

“For all that you have taught me, and for choosing to let me be a part of your mission to share your wisdom teaching.”

“It isn’t my teaching. I share what has been shared with me. But, concerning your disrespect ..”

“Have I been disrespectful?”

“Yes.”

“Perhaps I don’t know how to show respect to someone whom I can’t see. I know that it was my idea for you not to manifest in human form. But what if you placed that idea in my mind?”

“How?”

“You might have planted the suspicion in my mind that I would wonder why you manifested as you did, if you did.”

“Yes. You were concerned that I would have a motive.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t we all have a motive?”

“For what?”

“For everything we choose to do, or choose not to do.”

“Then what is the solution?”

“Trust.”

“I’m not very good at that.”

“Yes.”

……….

A simple seeker’s note to herself

How does one develop trust?

“In what? Or whom?”

“In myself.”

“It doesn’t come from intention to do so, unless ..”

“Unless what?”

“Unless you act consistently, more and/or less, in line with your highest capacity to do so.”

“Why capacity? and not potential?”

“One expands into the other.”

………

A simple seeker had returned home after time out. Even Spirit seemed to have approved of family time. She had been worried that she might ..No, she knew that she did not have the power, or the will, to totally disconnect from Spirit. And she knew that He knew it, too.

Another thought seemed to suggest itself, that the close relationship .. could it be called intimate? Whatever.

Spirit closed off her train of thought as if it had been as water pouring from a tap. She was impressed, as always, by His power to control, at least to some extent, her thinking. But, she complained to herself, “I am not as a water tap.”

“What were you thinking?”

“I can’t remember, exactly. Oh, yes, now I do. About our relationship.”

“Yes. You were not considering it as of high value.”

She was suddenly shaken. Somehow she must have offended her spirit teacher.

“I am neither pleased nor offended. I have long ago outgrown immature attachments to either false or sincere praise or criticism. I know my own value. Do you?”

“Do I what?” She was stalling for time, confused by what He was asking her. But the truth was that she did not know either her value or His, exactly.

“I confess that I did not express the respect that I owe you.”

“Why would you owe me respect?”

“For all that you have taught me, and for choosing to let me be a part of your mission to share your wisdom teaching.”

“It isn’t my teaching. I share what has been shared with me. But, concerning your disrespect ..”

“Have I been disrespectful?”

“Yes.”

“Perhaps I don’t know how to show respect to someone whom I can’t see. I know that it was my idea for you not to manifest in human form, but what if you placed that idea in my mind.”

“How?”

“”You might have planted the suspicion in my mind that I would wonder why you manifested as you did, if you did.”

“Yes, you were concerned that I would have a motive.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t we all have a motive?”

“For what?”

“For everything we choose to do, or choose not to do.”

“Then what is the solution?”

“Trust.”

“I’m not very good at that.”

“Yes.”

………

A simple seeker’s note to herself

How does one develop trust?

“In what? Or whom?”

“In myself.”

“It doesn’t come from intention to do so, unless ..”

“Unless what?”

“Unless you act consistently, more and/or less, in line with your highest capacity to do so.”

“Why capacity? And not potential?”

“One expands into the other.”

………

A simple seeker was enjoying the privacy of her secluded patio garden. She sat surrounded by several perspectives on the study of Tarot, with each author seemingly confident that she/he was presenting the final word, more and/or less.

“How did you manage to move your perspective from a focus on The Hermit as a solitary seeker of enlightenment, to a comparison of Aces?”

“The Major Arcana relates to general personality characteristics, while the …”

“Did I ask ..?”

“The Aces introduce each of the four suits of cards, that represent the four major energies of Fire (Wands), Air (Swords), Water (Cups), and Earth (Pentacles, or Coins). Each Ace offers a sacred gift, a promise, almost.”

“How could a gift, or promise, be sacred, and still be no more than an almost?”

“It’s not a freebee.”

“Then what does it cost?”

“It’s not for sale. It can’t be bought.”

“Then how does one receive a gift that’s not for sale, and can’t be purchased?”

“It’s a promise of reward if effort is made to follow one’s dream, or path, and is meant to inspire self-confidence.”

“How does Tarot differ from I Ching?”

“You’re asking me?”

“Yes.”

“With my limited understanding?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. They have little or nothing in common with each other.”

“How so?”

“I Ching explains and supports social stability within a system of generally accepted basic laws, or rules of order.”

“And Tarot?”

“Tarot describes and explains inner dimensions of personal experience; feelings, needs, desires, fears, and interests, and helps us to make sense of them, and to learn to blend them together. And more, Tarot encourages individuals to discover and believe in their personal values, and inspires them to reach for success and happiness.”

“And I Ching does not?”

“Personal satisfaction and happiness don’t seem to be high priorities, from an I Ching perspective.”

“Then why study both?”

“Humans seem to need both individual and collective general rules of order. But we also need personal, emotional satisfaction, sometimes referred to as needs fulfillment.”

“Where does awareness fit into this scenario of a two-sided view of the ideal society?”

“I didn’t call it ideal.”

“No. I did.”

“Then I’ll let you explain where and how awareness fits into the picture.”

“Awareness is understanding the reality that the individual and the collective are as two parts of an infinite oneness, within which they share a dynamic relationship.”

…….

A simple seeker’s note to herself

I wish I more clearly understood what Spirit was explaining to me re the relationship between I Ching and Tarot.

“What don’t you understand?”

“How they can harmonize with each other.”

“They do not.”

“Then what does a dynamic relationship mean?

“It means that they each serve a personal need and a societal purpose.”

“What personal need would I Ching serve?”

“Security, protection from real or imagined enemies of any particular or collective society, and a sense of inclusion within a group of like-minded people.”

“What societal purpose would Tarot serve?”

“Societies are groups of interrelated individuals. If the individuals develop a sense of self-satisfaction and confidence from studying Tarot, or whatever so-called mystery school, then the society in which the satisfied or enlightened individual lives benefits from the positive attitudes of those individuals.”

…

A simple seeker was meditating on, or was she just thinking about, next year’s garden.

“Why not just call it planning?”

“Planning has to develop out of …”

“Out of what?”

“Out of awareness of what is pleasing and what is not pleasing, and given the limits of a small garden area, what might be even more pleasing than was pleasing this past season. Also, there’s the yearly chore of restricting the space that existing plants can be allowed to expand into.”

“And attacking those who have spread beyond their allotted area?”

“Attacking sounds violent.”

“Is there a gentle way to cut them back?”

“I’ve tried restricting their spread by placing patio stones between them, but …”

“Their roots find a way to reach under them and …”

“Yes. Then I cut them back, but it doesn’t work.”

“What does work?”

“Digging up the whole clump and subdividing it.”

“Then what?”

“One third gets to return to the original area, and the rest goes to a new home, or the compost.”

“Do all of your plants get the same treatment?”

“No. There are some who are just too dear to me to risk disturbing.”

“How to deal with the invasive nature of their roots?”

Their individual root systems spread at individual depths and densities, beneath the surface of the ground. Of course, their roots, too, must be cut back when they endanger more fragile plants. But, if they can work it out together, I try to provide enough water, nutrients, compost and loam to keep them all happy. Also, gentle hoeing discourages wandering roots.”

“How would such a system of control work in keeping the peace between groups of people?”

“What do you mean?”

“Does your garden collection of competing needs remind you of human society?”

“In a way, yes. We each have personal needs, and so does everyone else.”

“Yes.”

“So, how to resolve such a situation of competition for limited resources?”

“Self-control, co-operation, and mutual respect.”

“And, if that doesn’t work?”

‘Then the law of the jungle will.”

“Survival of the fittest, and those who adapt?”

“Yes.”

…..

A simple seeker’s note to herself

The law of the jungle and the survival of the fittest sounds so uncivilized.

“They are.”

“So, why would Nature develop such a system?”

“What do you mean?”

“If Nature is an example of how humans are meant to live, …”

“Humans are part of Nature.”

“Are we supposed to see the rest of Nature as a role model?”

“A role model for what?”

“For how to live.”

“Sharp teeth and claws?”

“Yes.”

“Not all of Nature is aggressive, and even the most vicious animals kill only to live.”

“And not all plant life includes invasive roots.”

“Yes. Some multiply by simply producing seed that are scattered by the wind.”

“Yes, the vegetable and animal kingdom can provide for human needs, and as examples of possible ways to interact with other species.”

“But humans also have intelligence.”

“Humans also are capable of love, and yet are also capable of very unloving actions.”

“Perhaps we have the potential to learn from the rest of Nature, and to develop a more loving society.”

“Yes, and in time you will.”

…….