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Letter to J.
2/2/2000 Dear J., I appreciate your recognition of the sad state of the human race and of the many apparently failed attempts by teachers and teachings to make things better, or at least less violent and violently separate. It has been my consistent observation that, soon after the second birth, one tends to realize either the sad state of one’s own tangled existence, or the sad state of the world, or both. And if this realization opens your eyes to the truth, how could it be otherwise? We are helplessly dropped into seeing what IS, at least, from our own perspective. I don’t agree, however, that the previous experiments in spiritual evolution have had no impact. The way I feel it is that the problems of the world are really big – 6 billion-sized. And efforts to untangle the web of lies and illusion requires a lot more than a relatively small handful of well-meaning attempts. When I was 20, it became clear to me that the only solution to our global mess was first and foremost for many (like, millions) to awaken, so that at least we could begin to approach a collectively clear view of the problem. Only then would we have a shot at real and lasting collective solutions. I saw that without mass awakening, it’s all for naught. And I still see it that way. Not that our problems are merely solved automatically upon awakening. Nor that awakening is the only process that is helping us toward global harmony. But that awakening and rotting into mutuality are fundamentally key pieces that will permit us as a global community to at least sink into a group awareness of the truth of who we are and what’s going on here. It is clear to me that the body of humanity as a whole is slowing engaging in the event of awakening and healing into self-recognition and mutual love-trust. The time frame, however, is not what any of us individually would like. When I cut my finger, I’d like it to heal in a split second. But my body has its own organic timing which I have no choice but to honor. The second-hand on the global healing clock moves slowly by the standards of individual lives. But I see it clearly moving. It is true that after thousands of years of spiritual and secular struggling toward unity, love and harmony, we are still living mostly in division, disagreement, and fear. But I see a stream of evolution that, just as it has clearly led us individually toward a phase transition in consciousness, is preparing humanity for a massive phase transition in global awareness. To me, the fact that there is now a group of us in a basic identification with the unity of all things, and that our condition is highly contagious, necessarily presages a massive change on a larger scale. We are at an infant stage of this – very immature and still somewhat clueless. Our eyes are just now beginning to open to the extent of the fear and defense that we are (and have been) living in. But to me, the trajectory of rapid growth and healing is clear and unstoppable. A lot of what I read in your letter speaks to me of the decay of ideas about what “enlightenment” is all about. I say it’s way beyond time for us all to investigate the old advertising and to examine what we really can recognize about who we are. Maybe a lot of what we have always considered to be bad is not so bad after all. Or, at least, is needing to be claimed as part of ourselves. Maybe there is a place for separation that, once fully embraced, can live and breathe in the larger context of our unity. Perhaps our humanity can really be lived as the Divine, for real, even if it doesn’t look like our past ideas of “enlightenment.” Toward the end of your letter, you call either for the sharing of whatever answers we have found, or the dropping of all hopes and ideas to see what emerges next. I suggest both. I feel we must be willing to speak as honestly as possible, while standing in the heat of possible (and actual) rejection, disagreement, and crucifixion. We must also be willing to listen, especially when what is being said is scary, or is being delivered with anger. And, we must constantly be willing to drop it all and see what IS. Anyway, these are my thoughts in response to your quite wonderful contemplation. I’d love to hear your thoughts and feelings about this. Sincerely, Ted |
