The not so Original Thoughts of Tim

Is truth absolute? Is it black and white, can it be or is it grey sometimes? Can it even be something we never considered like purple? Can one person have one truth and another person have a different truth about the very same thing? Let’s take something simple, how about the color of a dollar bill. Would you say it is green, if asked? Most people would, however, in reality it is several colors including some gold on new bills. There was a time when the earth was flat or so that truth went until it was shown to be no longer true.

Wars have been fought over truth: I am right, therefore you are wrong. And where has this led us? It is still going on. Who decides what the truth is: is it a group, individual consensus or both, and does morality play a role in truth?

Like the dollar bill, how much of our lives do we live saying the color of our life is green when actually it is many different colors? In addition, how many people believe what they are saying is true in order to perpetuate a story that they have created for their own lives, and we believed it to be true or at least wanted too. Like the example of weapons of mass destruction: how many people believed this to be true, while another whole group did not believe it? At the time when it first happened, which group was right and how many people fought over their truth because they were right?

As many of you know, I was a practicing alcoholic for many years. I can recall thinking that everyone drank like me. Of course, everyone I hung out with did, so at some point I believed the whole world drank like me. That was my truth, and in some crazy way it helped me continue my drinking. It was not until I could see it from a different perspective that I saw a different truth. That not everyone drank like me and that I did not have to either. Therefore I can understand how people can get themselves into a situation where they believe that what they are doing is for the greater good. Then they will say or do what they have to, to keep their truth alive, and morality will often be left behind.

I have noticed that the older I get, the more conscious I become. What I may have believed to be true before is no longer true. In addition, what I see in the world as far as how we live and operate also changes. Let me give you an example of what I am talking about from a TV show. Now I realize it is not a real world example but I do believe that this type of thing occurs all the time in the real world. Color me sometimes disappointed.

The show is a legal drama, and during this particular episode the plaintiff was suing a drug company. The plaintiff attorneys had reason to believe that the defense may have bribed one of the jurors. They went to the judge but did not have enough proof so he allowed the trial to continue and said it could be handled in appeals if the proof was found later. Well when the verdict was read the plaintiff won. The bribery was not proved and in fact was shown later to have never happened on the defendant’s side; however, one of the attorneys on the plaintiff’s side found out their client had actually been the one to bribe the juror. When she went to the lead attorney on the case and told her, her response was that the judge found no legal grounds during the trial and so they had no obligations to share this new information. Then she said, “Sometimes it’s right and sometimes it’s wrong but we always follow the law.”

Isn’t it funny how we can find a way to justify our actions when it fits our desires or needs — in this case to use what is legal instead of what is morally right. How many times have we done this in our own lives or seen someone else justify their actions instead of making the moral choice. When the truth is twisted to fit the need of the person rather than the moral obligations to others then of course we are all headed down a slippery slope.

When we can begin to reach beyond our conditioned self and beliefs, we can begin to create the world we want. It starts by each one of us questioning what we believe to be true in our own lives and what is taking place in the world around us. It requires effort on our part to continue to heal, to let go of our past conditioning and to become more aware each day. This is not an easy journey but one that offers many blessings. Each change we make in our own lives has an effect on everyone else– if not directly then on an energetic level. And if everything is energy as the current truth goes then we are changing the world by changing ourselves.  Let us continue our journey together.
Edited by Elaine Baskin

In part 1 of Finding Authentic Hanppiness, we discussed the definition of authentic happiness and some of the misconceptions about happiness in general. This month I want to talk in practical terms about how we can create authentic happiness in our lives.

To find authentic happiness, it is essential to be willing to get to know yourself on a deep and intimate level. All things on your path will help you, like prayer, meditation, yoga, bodywork, reading spiritual texts, workshops and of course relationships.  But nothing outside of yourself will give you authentic happiness. They can help you along the journey but it is only through exploring your inner being that you can evolve into experiencing authentic happiness on a regular basis. This journey is not about getting to a destination, such as enlightenment. I believe the only purpose of our human existence is this journey of self-inquiry.  Therefore, as long as we are on the planet, the journey must be taken if we are to find authentic happiness as well as fulfilling our purpose here.

“Consider a three story building. The first floor is where we usually live. The second floor is the level of kensho, or enlightenment. The third floor is the domain to which Dogen summons us, and to reach it, obviously, you have to go by way of the second. But some people quit at the second floor, mistakenly believing they’ve arrived at the roof. And let me remind you that above the roof lie boundless skies. Thus, the reality of our practice is that we must clarify ourselves endlessly.” –Ko’un Yamada

I recorded one of Oprah Winfrey’s shows last month. Her guest was Gary Zukav, author of Seat of the Soul and a favorite of mine. He talked about relationships and what he called spiritual partnership. A spiritual partnership involves a partnership of equals for the purpose of spiritual growth.

This struck a chord with me because I knew what he was talking about and it was something I now look for in my own relationships. He described a spiritual partnership as a new dynamic.  It is different from a traditional marriage, and is not limited to a marriage or couple.  It can be your biological family, a group of co-workers, or any group that is together for the purpose of spiritual growth.

Let’s define spiritual growth: It is a self directed and personal inner journey. It is the search to know our true self. Getting to know what we are thinking, feeling, what we are intending, what our fears are, what our loves are.  Religious affiliation is not a requirement for being spiritual — it is only another tool to help you on the journey.

Gary said, “If you erupt in anger, if you are jealous, if you are resentful you are a spiritual person if you have set the intention to heal those parts of yourself that are creating destructively in this world and your life.”

We all participate in the creation of our life and the world we live in by the choices we make each day. It is up to each individual to take responsibility for their actions and realize that the choices they make as an individual affect the whole. I have said before: if you want to change the world, begin by changing yourself first. If you are seeking authentic happiness then you must adopt a spiritual life, one that takes you on a journey into the deepest reaches of your own being. This kind of self-exploration will not only lead you to authentic happiness but will bring you gifts beyond your wildest dreams. Begin to look for spiritual partnerships in your own life. Seek them out and offer yourself up to explore this kind of relationship. Set an intention to be the change you want to see in the world and find your authentic happiness.

Tim’s Tip

“SELF-NOTICING

“Just as the wings of birds have no meaning to a rabbit, unseen facts have no reality to a man. So the great question is, how do you get him to see what he cannot see?

“Teach him the art of self-noticing.

“Impress upon yourself the necessity and the wisdom of constant self-noticing. This watchfulness is not the same as worriedly thinking about yourself. Esoteric self-noticing consists of standing aside as a passive observer of whatever you do and feel.

“Just alertly notice whatever is there. For instance, you might notice the failure of your efforts to find real and lasting satisfaction. Or you notice how a thrill is always followed by a depression. That is excellent self-action. It loosens the chains which bind an individual to dissatisfaction and depression. Facts are attracting freedom.”

Esoteric Encyclopedia of Eternal Knowledge, p. 192

Long lasting happiness had been illusive in my own life for many years. Oh yes, I had moments of happiness — we all do. But does it last and is it meaningful?

I think the main reason for my lack of happiness was my lack of understanding of what authentic happiness was and how to experience it. The following will not give you all the answers but I hope will raise questions that will start you on the journey to finding authentic happiness in your own life.

We all have those moments like when we drive a new car or how we feel in a new relationship. However, is this authentic happiness or is it an emotional illusion of happiness? On the other hand, maybe it is another form of happiness, which is temporary. Well, I used to think it was the real thing and then I would pursue this temporary feeling of happiness through things outside of myself, through other people and, of course in my case: through alcohol.

Let’s define our terms here. What is authentic happiness? For me it is the feeling of contentment in my life, wherever I am and whatever is going on. This is true happiness.  It is the knowing that I will always be taken care of and I will never be given more than I can handle, which for me is the experience of genuine security.

I am not quite sure when I began to notice that authentic happiness comes from within, that it does not require you to purchase, eat or drink anything. More importantly, expecting to get your inner happiness from someone else will only lead to disappointment. Most of us have experienced this, too. Of course, this is not to say that we cannot experience a form of happiness through these experiences, but the type of happiness I am talking about brings about a sense of pleasure and joy that cannot be shaken when the car is wrecked or the relationship goes away. We have all experienced this temporary kind of feeling and it is far from being pleasurable, joyful or as content as you can get.

The following paragraph was reprinted from museconsulting.com

In his groundbreaking work on ‘authentic happiness’, Dr Martin Seligman describes how we can build happiness by deliberately creating more pleasure, engagement and meaning in our daily lives. The Pleasant Life consists of thinking and feeling positively about our past, present and future until we are experiencing life at the top of our ‘set range’. The Engaged Life grows when we know our highest strengths and recraft our lives to use them as often as possible. We experience fullness and flow; we lose track of time and feel a deep sense of satisfaction. The Meaningful Life is possible when we use our strengths and talents to serve something greater than ourselves. There is no limit to meaning – it is completely adjustable and plastic.

Having a pleasant, meaningful and engaged life will allow us to live in authentic happiness. Most of us have gotten sucked in by social conditioning that life is about the job, the relationship, money, appearances, and acquiring things. This gives us a false vision of what brings happiness and we end up losing sight of the actual truth about life and what brings us real happiness, peace and a truer understanding of who we are so we can live a more authentic life. Too often we get comfortable where we are or allow fear to keep our spirits from revealing themselves completely. We forget our real purpose here: to live, love, share, be of service, HAVE FUN, enjoy life and seek out what life has to teach us. Be mindful of what is taking place around and in you, and then start doing what brings you AUTHENTIC HAPPINESS.

Edited By Elaine Baskin