Recent Comments
{ Tamara, in the beginning when it was very new to me, I was scared. Once you start putting the pieces together and can see the... } – May 25, 4:07 AM
{ Waking up to NOW is always on time. Those not spiritually prepared are the most in peril. The physical will come, even if it means... } – May 24, 9:42 PM
Selfish Self Consciousness vs Consciousness of the Self
by Julian Rose
Contributor
Throughout the past three to four decades, putting ourselves in the foreground and just about everything else in the background has become ‘the new normal’ for millions of well-off Westerners and followers of Western fashions.
This has had three outstanding affects: firstly, it has contributed to a huge increase in narcissistic wealth hoarding and the largely mindless amassing of all sorts of luxury goods from fashionable clothes to fancy gismos, shiny cars, perfect homes, exotic holidays and more. Basically, all the things that propaganda based corporate advertising has on offer to tickle the vanities of a fast moving, materialistically seduced society.
Secondly, the overtly heavy material demand associated with this burgeoning consumerism has led to a massive and brutal exploitation of planetary resources and the consequential extensive rape of mother earth. And like all ‘rape’ it is done solely for short term ego bolstering gratification.
Thirdly, putting our own desires in the foreground and everything else in the background has turned people in on themselves in a way which largely excludes the expression of our natural social instincts to support each other and share our common wealth.
A narcissistic inclination to indulge in everything to do with ‘me’ impoverishes society at a deeper level as well. It achieves this by cutting short the ‘age of innocence’ through implanting unrealistic and unwelcome diversions into the human psyche just at the time when the search for more profound answer to life’s questions should be moving strongly into the foreground.
This great quest for deeper answers and truths inevitably leads into experiencing direct collisions with life’s hidden and not so hidden hurdles. Yet it is through a non-fearing determination not to step aside from these collisions that we gain the very best chance of building real and enduring strength in the fledgeling spirit of our deeper selves. In fact, the opposing urge to indulge ourselves has the capacity to derail the natural growing process to such a degree that many only ‘come back to themselves’ after a life long struggle of the soul to make itself heard above the fruitless din of empty chatter that fills the void of an otherwise often unbearably soulless existence.
But hold firm and square-off face to face with the tougher end of the spectrum, accepting the hard knocks which this inevitably brings, and some soulful pearl starts to be formed deep inside. A pearl which is polished into resilience through weathering all attempts to dull and dumb it down to societal conformity. That narcissistic ‘self’ satisfaction syndrome that sucks the life out of all who give-in to the comparative safety of uncritical conformity with a poisoned status quo.
Survive this poisoned chalice – and a steadily blossoming ‘consciousness of the self’ imperceptibly moves centre stage. Such an awakening is the antithesis of the narcissistic vanities whose corporate and ego fuelled tentacles flail so seductively around our unguarded psyches. ‘Consciousness of the self’ is the process in which we become aware of the Godly in us – and all that that brings with it.
What does ‘becoming aware of the Godly in us’ bring with it?
The first thing is that it illuminates the existence of another reality than that experienced in pursuit of the typical pseudo-demands of the centralised control system. And in so doing it gives us a choice: go with this beckoning and love filled pearl or retreat from it back into the darkness of unrealised self . Become emboldened to keep your hands on the tiller of Real Life, or let fear and foolishness steer your ship onto the rocks of spirit sapping conformity. The choice is ours.
I know how easy it is to dismiss the feasibility of climbing the rock strewn road to sustained enlightenment. But every dismissal is another death in the cosmic kingdom from which we all come. Think of it this way: are you prepared to shoulder responsibility for a refusal of consciousness? Are you willing to recognize complicity in undermining the very life-force with which you and I are endowed from birth? The thoughtless undermining of this greatest gift of all? Will it be spurned in favour of a few more years of phony self gratification?
Oh doubters, turn not away, for there’s a burning sensation in your groin . How fortunate!
How fortunate that it is that forceful a wake-up call. But all fires go out if they are not stoked – and this one is no exception. Stoke it – then walk into it. Yes, walk straight into the flames and be consumed. Totally consumed. So consumed that nothing survives except that beautiful pearl at the centre of your being.
Now turn inside out. So that the pearl becomes the you you really are and everything else – the useless and toxic blockages – dissolve away. Away to the sun at the centre of the earth, there to be burned to a crisp and transformed into pure light energy and made ready for a new spirit in waiting to descend to this planet. A spirit destined to become miraculously attached to a little body forming in the womb of earth woman. And then, one day, peeking out onto this world in deep unconscious awe and wonder.
That has been, and is, your journey and my journey dear friends. So here we are now reading these words and as we do so, experiencing some degree of consciousness of the self – our Godly Being. A state so precious that none of us can ever let it fall to the ground to be smashed into the sterile prisms of a society in denial of its Creator and in awe to the false messiah of self centred selfishness and hypnotic mass consumption.
JR
www.changingcourseforlife.info
+++
13 Responses
Add your comment
Related posts
How awesome! It always surprises me (very positively mind you) how some beautiful people are able to assemble some simple words together to create art. An art that makes me feel alive and happy, and without fail addresses my hearts questions; what a place this little corner really is! Thank you Julian and Zen for posting this eloquent and heart-felt wake-up call, truly. We all know it there is only one way, and that is to be consumed by the light. Julian I love the way you write, thanks.
Yes, Julian is an artist. Don’t forget he’s also the GMO activist I post news from periodically as well as many other things. Great example and beautiful man!
Yes, this is so true.- It was so liberating to understand that I need or want nothing – therefore I can’t be manipulated. I do want to help those who need basics of life…
Well written and heartfelt post. I have enjoyed your posts and I watched an interview of you on You Tube. How wonderful what you are doing. I liked what you said in your interview. Everyone asks what can “I” do. But a lot of “I’s” put together makes a huge difference. I have made some small changes that really have shifted things for thebetter in my family. As you make small changes, you meet others on those same paths. I would encourage Zen to post the interview of you that was done at your home, it really shows how incredible, the work you are doing it. I am reading the autobiography of Gandi and in it, he makes it clear that there is a science to having a pure heart. When the heart is pure and the intentions are for the betterment of humanity, this open up for you. If we all proceed with pure hearts, to help others, help will come to us too.
My selfishness is cause of YOU,
and will always be about ALL of you.
For every time I consciously care for you,
I most certainly feel anew.
My selfishness is a coup,
to make YOU see the spew,
of all the love I have for YOU.
“Thirdly, putting our own desires in the foreground and everything else in the background has turned people in on themselves in a way which largely excludes the expression of our natural social instincts to support each other and share our common wealth.”
1. “natural social instincts to support each other and share our common wealth.”
I wish this was true, just look at a Republican they never heard of the phrase “natural social instincts”
* Yes …a rare gift in describing the effervescence … emanating from the souls opalescence.
Such a pleasure to post with Zen. So many of us love this man. No other site I know of attracts such honest warm hearted and thoughtful individuals. These comments are just as fulfilling to me as my words are to you – maybe more so. So nourishing to the soul. Thank you good friends.. gives one great hope and renewed stamina to keep up the fight for the emancipation of mankind and our dear planet earth.
In search of the immaculate? Love is service done was what the great cosmic messiah used to say to the wannabes in Berkeley. Only a few truly internalized it because it was just too damn simple. It took me 40 odd years and it still fades in and out.
Hey Zen,
Since this is the first time I have commented, I want to first thank you for your site and the position you present to the world through it. It has helped and spoken to me many times before, as I am sure it has to others.
In regards to this post, I agree and support most of everything written above. My only input would be a reminder that even fight or struggle against the “control structure” is another cleverly hidde piece of the control structure itself.
I dont mean give in and surrender. We know all things work out in the end, and we need to ignore the “noise” in the world and focus on the light innate in everyone. There is an idea in buddihsm that discusses how even the desire for nirvana or “enlightenment” is another desire that is on the same level as any other desire. When you begin to understand that you, I, we, are “it” you begin to more easily understand that things are exaclty the way they are supposed to be, and that by accepting this one can find it more natural to be able to see the positive in any situation you encounter. It is in the worrying and fear when things seem to go wrong. Yet again, that is just your perspective at that moment, and you may at some point view that same “mistake” or “failure” from a more benificial and positive light and see how those “trials” actually helped shape you into who you are…. You are exactly who you are meant to be, most certainly not a mistake or product of chance!! Anyways, a mistake is just something where we dont understand the cause of. Just embrace this game called “life”, enjoy the ride, and don’t take things too serious.
I hope I made sense! I tend to ramble when I get onto this type of topic because it is neverending, as I am sure you understand
Yes…and thanks for jumping in. Love hearing what people think and see participation, so we can all learn from each other. It’s all part of “consciousness rising”…
I have been reading the writings of Gandi, John Ruskin, Tolstoy and listening to Martin Luther King speeches and interviews, so I am not sure from whom I am getting the following information, it gets all jumbled up. Plus, I am adding my take on it. Humans are in three categories.
1. Those that live for the self, pleasure, gratification, etc. I think some of these were not loved as children, their parents were detached so early on they lost trust in others. If your parent doesn’t love or nuture you, who will? They get stuck there and put a wall around themselves or numb themselves they become overly egotistic with their appearance, power, etc. Or numb themselves with drink, drugs, etc. Or they into crime. They are Crying for love (I’m sure we’ve all seen “Crime – Cry me”. I don’t know who I got that from.
2. Second stage: Those that live for family, tribe, clan, religious group. They give love freely to those in their circle. Others are not as accepted, unless they are of the same mind, if not, they are judged and not really let in. This is the Love with conditions group.
3. Third stage: Those that have passed through the first two stages and then, shift into looking at every elderly man as their father, every child as their child, every ill person as their relative who was ill. Compassion replaces judgement.
Love for all creatures permeates.
Wow, Clara. That’s poignant.