--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "do.rflex" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Alex Stanley" > <j_alexander_stanley@> wrote: > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "abutilon108" <abutilon108@> > > wrote: > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Alex Stanley" > > > <j_alexander_stanley@> wrote: > > > > > > > > Does anything ever happen that *isn't* an expression of Divine > > > > Will? > > > > > > If some things happen that aren't an expression of Divine Will, > > > what will would be causing them? > > > > I believe that everything in the relative is an expression of > > Divine Will and is exactly as it should be. > > > You make no distinction between dharma and adharma, suffering and > happiness, for yourself?
That's an interesting question, do.rflex. I can't answer for Alex, but I can for me. I honestly don't ever think in terms of 'adharma.' I don't believe in the concept. One does the best that one's current state of attention allows one to do. If that state of attention is clear, one might have a clue as to whether the actions we perform are 'dharmic' or not (meaning, to me, the types of actions that produce a minimum of negative impact on those around us and a maximum of positive impact). At the same time, I don't beat myself up when one of my actions turns out differently than I might have thought it would. I just try to learn from it and move on. Similarly, I really don't believe that it's entirely in my control whether the world around me experiences suffering or happiness. I can try to do what I can to further the happiness part, but (and you'll prob- ably agree with this) I can remember instances when I was at my most clear and performed some action that I was convinced was as 'dharmic' as they come, and someone reacted negatively to it, as if they were 'suffering.' Go figure. I figure that the only thing I can do is try to perform as many positive actions as I can, and let what happens happen. The 'reality' in my opinion is WHAT HAPPENS, *not* what I'd like to happen. If I believed in God, or that that God *has* a will (and I believe in neither), that's *also* the bottom line. WHAT HAPPENS reflects that "will," without a whole lot of regard to what I'd like it to be. I can try my best to influence WHAT HAPPENS, but I never control it.
