1.1 Thought seems to be the separating theme or ability between man and all other things but when did man recognize the “experience”, the awareness of the ability to think? Was it that universal moment when both the singular and collective question was asked: who am I? When you consider the idea that virtually every indigenous culture known across this entire planet has their “story” of creation, the answer to the question asked above seems to be housed in that very story.
1.2 From the Aborigines of Australia, to the island tribes of the Pacific, to each separate band of Native American Indians there is a uniting element. Each has their own separate story of how “they” were created. How? How did all these geographically isolated peoples come up with the binding universal theme that somehow they were created, came into being with the ability to think, to reason as no other life on earth seemingly has? Did “someone” from each experience that moment when the question was asked: who am I, and on to, who are we? Did the “story” of each individualized creation evolve out of this one thought?
Doesn’t this pattern of a universal creation story drive an underlying question: what drove the thought, the thought(s) that led to these stories? I am going to posit here the idea that the “experience” of each individual and collective part of every society was/is the ONE uniting element across all cultures.
1.3 How were these experiences linked into the story of creation? Let’s create a mind’s eye picture of an example of a “moment” that is representative of all others. One, is the picture of contentment that follows a great event followed by an honorary celebration forever embedded in the psychic of all in attendance. Story after story of each individual’s role in the, shall we say, first downing of a Great Mastodon. The collective energy of “the people” (“Dine”, from the Navajo Indian tribe) dancing, re-enacting the hunt, the drums beating a rhythm that seemingly becomes a part of the DNA. Get the picture? Feeling an urge to dance? Perhaps craving Mastodon meat? Hey, cavemen had to have had a sense humor too, right?
1.4 Can you imagine the thought rising out of that contentment, a state enhanced by a majestic view of the stars, and the stunning victory over perhaps the environment’s most fearful and intimidating presence: who am I that “sees” the greatness of our people? Who are “we” that can hold such power over such a great enemy and why did creation choose us above all others to be the master of our world? How many events and life defining moments comprise the “story” of Who am I and where did we come from?
1.1 “Who am I?” is a question that that covers a great deal of territory. Many if not most adults would give a description of their careers as part of their answer but likely would, at a minimum, include our status as a parent and where we live.
The core resource contributors to this site are “A Course In Miracles”, “A Course In Love”, The Way of Mastery, The Power of Now, and The Untethered Soul. All contain references to an image of a “self” created by our environment and the life-long experiences that contain both our personal story, and in the case of family and/or country, a collective self. Realizing each and everyone of us has an internal “image” of ourselves, a “self” that we actually have internal and private conversations with is the beginning of building a consciousness that can change how we look at and experience the world.
For those of you familiar with Michael Singer’s “The Untethered Soul” the “self” described earlier is experienced as an actual “voice” we hear in our minds and use as a tool, if you will, to take both sides of an internal conversation. The crazy making part is how this internal conversation very often drives nonproductive if not out right self-destructive actions/behaviors.
1.3 Perhaps the key idea from this paragraph is that we can CONSCIOUSLY begin our own personalized routine/process of creating our own “moments” where, out of STILLNESS, we connect with the natural flow of energy that is ALWAYS there in and around us. It is in the growing awareness and EXPERIENCE of a joining with Oneness and a sense of SHARING the joy of being/Being both a part of and, at the same time, the WHOLE Itself that a “felt” sense of a personal relationship with God develops. And, hear this well, This RELATIONSHIP develops and strengthens naturally and without effort just by recognizing and “swimming” in the experience of gratitude for It’s presence.