> life is so fragile, and as far as we know, a one shot deal. > I don't know whetehr or not it is one shot. i don't think it matters that much. I am sure as i can be tho that our life does not end with the death of our body. and if i am wrong about that, it won't matter.
>But I also embrace the Native American notion that it is wise >to consider the next seven generations when considering the >outcome of your (or our) actions. One day we will not be here, >but our actions as individuals, as well as nations will still be felt. > too right. i think everything we do and think has an effect on everything else. now and in the future. People can get very hung up on their 'thoughts' when trying to become 'more spiritual', for want of a better phrase. They start to feel guilty for the thoughts come into their minds. I defy anyone to think a spiritual thought when they stub their toe. the fleeting thoughts are not what is important, it is the constant thoughts, our beliefs about ourselves and others and our world that fashion our lives and those of others. The thought that those who are different from us are worth less than us is a very common thought and look where that leads-to the lnyching of black people in the USA,to the execution of Matthew Shepherd, the destruction of millions of people in WW2-jews, homosexuals,handicapped, gypsies, the slaughter of one tribe by another in Africa, the current situations worldwide. (this thought is not confined to one religion or race or nationality) The belief that only our ideas are good and that other ideas are evil. The idea that only our idea of God is correct and all other ideas of God are evil. All these thoughts have repercussions-not just for the thinker but for all of us. Equally our thoughts of love and inclusion have repercussions for the thinker and for all of us. Everything will change as we change our thoughts. It really is that simple. Simple does not mean eays though. Changing thoughts, our beliefs, can be agony. It will require us to question the ideas we were given by our families, the ideas given to us at school, the ideas given to us by society. It may cause us to feel, and be treated, like an outsider. To be part of a group, one's thoughts have to be in harmony. If one questions those thoughts and comes to a different set of ideas, then one will be ousted-maybe totally but certainly to some degree. It can be very lonely. Being one's own thinker, being responsible for one's own thoughts is often painful and brings with it stuff we don't want. we all want to be liked, to be loved and to be respected and often to achieve this we are not true to ourselves and thus hate and disrespect ourselves. the price we pay to 'belong' is often far too high. Even on the personal level, in love affairs, people can lose sight of themselves like in these lines form an old Carly song: I'll be a queen, a foul mouthed marine, your mary magdalen, to please you'. But not just in romance but in friendships, in work, in creativity, people lose themselves in their eagerness to please others, to have the approval of others,which even when they have it, does not fill them up because they don't approve of themselves. Over the thousands of years of our history we have not just passed on our genes to the next generation, but also our thoughts, our beliefs, our love, our hate, our pain and our fear. The more we work on ditching our pain and fear and beliefs that don't work, the more we work on replacing these things with positivity, with joy, with love, the more the next generations will benefit. And it isn;t just those who breed who do this. It is all of us. We all inform the next generation regardless of whether or not we also gave them our DNA. The tragedy for the human race lies in our belief that we are not worthy, not good enough, and thus we believe our self is at risk of annihilation. So, spurned on by this fear, we develop thought processes that are painful, that harm-not just ourselves but others. We grasp for power, for fortune, for we believe these things will makes us whole when all the grasping does is fragment us even more. We deny ourselves compassion, acceptance, love - the very things we want and need to feel whole. Even those of us who think we eschew power and fortune, who seek this wholeness thru giving to others, by being caretakers, are just as lost and empty if we do these things not thru real caring but to fill the gaping hole within. 'maybe if i do good things, i will feel good'. Self knoweldge is the key-a real undersatanding of what we think and believe and do-and WHY. True, a painful journey, but also a glorious one. Probably not a journey that will end. i believe that no matter our errors, it will all work out, we will get to heaven, nirvana, to peace. eventually. As i believe we are eternal beings, time really is on our side. And even if your(generic your ) world view does not encompass a continuation of identity after physical death, that is not an excuse for staying put. >RR >"short sighted businessman >nothing lasts for long" > >colin wrote: > > > >>with discussion of war, not knowing how far that will go,it becomes more >>and more important that we each live in the now and really make the most >>of what we have. >>None of us know how long we have. Someone of my aquaintance has a 30 >>year old daughter who is terminally, she has two very young children. >>John's sister is terminally ill. If we are lucky, we are getting older >>and one day will not be here. >> >>Don't wait for that new job, to lose that weight, for that special >>someone, for that baby, for that dream home, for that contract, for that >>money, for that guru, for that answer....BE HAPPY NOW.
