How Do We Stack Up

If one can imagine a population of 6 billion people on the globe; distributed on continents, which are mostly geographic, and then within cultures, which are somewhat geographic on those continents, and then try to establish one’s position, rank, or place in that population, one would have to admit that there isn’t anything very special about any one individual. And yet, when we think of our family, when we regard people we know, we think of some as important and constantly compare ourselves to a wide range of others.

There are some notable characters alive today in our presence to which we pay a sort of homage. These are people in the news, in positions that affect our lives for good or ill, and people that behave in such a manner as to call attention to them. There is a curiosity about what all of these are doing and that curiosity is slaked by public media including Internet sites, TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, and books. A significant portion of our economy is engaged in attempting to satisfy our curiosity about these others.

Then there are those which we know personally, with whom we interact, and these too are the object of our curiosity. We note what happens in their lives and make comparisons and judgments about them, with some we would like to have closer relationships because they represent or have something that we like or lack. We watch in awe, amusement, general interest, envy, pity, and regret; and the view changes from time to time as we observe their ever changing behavior. As we observe, we are being observed and so it goes.

There are great divides among public, acquaintance, friendship, and family. The interest level changes along a continuum from occasional, i.e. whenever we see, hear or read something, to constant, when we make inquiries to keep current in the know. There is the constant feeling that we are missing out on something interesting or important.

While we are doing all of this, we are comparing what we are doing to what we see and hear. This comparison is often what causes dissatisfaction with our personal image, possessions, perceived status, and social group. This dissatisfaction springs from a lack of certainty that what we are doing, as a being, is not in the interest of developing into a totally spiritual being. Relieving this dissatisfaction causes us to take action.

In here there are many personae, if you’ve been following my thinking you’ll know what I mean, and each of these is seeking developmental experiences that would lead to permanence, i.e. becoming one with Master as a totally spiritual being. Comparing where he is to where he thinks he should be is what causes him to imagine ways to get there. When the feelings are strong enough or when enough personae feel the same way, then the being is caused to take action that will move him towards the desired end. Once setting off in that direction, other personae can see that it is not beneficial to them in achieving their more parochial ends and create what is known as cognitive dissonance, or internal second guessing.

It could be that Master knows what is to be done across many lifetimes to get there, and that personae think they know what has to be done in this lifetime to be part of that, so Master guides and personae strive. When these are synchronized, there is a sort of bliss. When personae are trying to satisfy something not along that line, then Master backs off and we see excesses in the form of narcissistic attempts at satisfaction, a sort of emotional gluttony. This could be the genesis of saying, “Thy will be done in heaven and on earth,” meaning we (personae) are willing to subordinate the satisfaction of our individual desires to that/those of Master.

Imagination is the friend and foe of development. On the one hand, being able to see, to imagine what one would be, is a good thing if it is consistent with what Master wants, on the other is can lead to excesses that satisfy one or another persona’s temporal desires to the detriment of the longer term goal of Master. Imagination is a tool of the brain-body to be used by the stronger influence. When certain personae get strong enough to work their will on the being, then imagination is the foe of development. When personae maintain their commitment to development of the being as a whole, then imagination can be a friend. So imagination is not a distraction unless it is inappropriately applied, just like any other tool. A hammer is fine when driving nails but not for brushing one’s teeth. The same can be said of decision-making, which is another of the brain-body tools. As with all of our tools, they are neutral until used, useful to development if used appropriately and detrimental if not.

Beings among us who are developing quietly are not necessarily noticed. This is one of the paradoxes of our temporal existence. It isn’t even important to look for them, their development in no way impacts ours. They may be an example but then our circumstances are different and our personae are not the same so there isn’t a direct correlation. Our development is our own task. The paradox is that those in the public eye are not usually those on a developmental course but more involved in the excessive satisfaction of appetites, the aforementioned emotional gluttony. These are held up to us as examples and curiosities. If we see them in their proper light, we see them as an example of what not to do.

It is a “cut and try” existence that we have. It is necessary that we always look for courses of action that are consistent with development. It is likewise necessary that we always be willing to give up some course of action when we find it not. I will persist until I succeed, I persevere.