To
me there is a huge difference between seeing myself as a part of my environment
and seeing me as a user of my environment. To understand I am an integral part
of the environment has been an absolute key to my spiritual growth. It
reinforces my understanding that I am not a body nor am I what I think. The
Truth is I am an already-loved eternal spirit temporarily living here. It is
critically important to me to understand my body and its needs has no more
rights in this universe than a deer, rabbit, or hummingbird. When I really
comprehend this, I am filled with gratitude and serenity. I am not focused on my
bodily needs. I am not concerned with lack, or want, or potential
disappointment, or fear.
This
comprehension comes and goes. Sadly, it mostly goes. I need constant reminders
and Mutant Message Down Under has
been a major one.
For
example: The author spoke (pp, 173-174) of how the tribe, soon after awakening
in the predawn, would gather in a circle and affirm their gratitude for the
universe providing for them. Day after day after day the universe did just
that. Birds would appear. Edible grasses would be ripe for making a kind of flour.
After encountering some crocodiles in a pool one day, “[w]e did not camp by the
pool but continued our journey that day. The second time we encountered a
crocodile it was much smaller and appeared in the manner I now recognized as
providing us with life, by volunteering to be dinner. The Real People don’t eat
much crocodile meat.…[Nevertheless, we] had baked crocodile eggs which tasted
horrible. However, when you request the universe to provide dinner, you don’t
second-guess what arrives. You just know in the big picture that all is in
order, so you go with the flow, swallow large gulps, and decline second
helpings.”
For
the Real People everyday begins with gratitude for what the day will bring – for what will be provided.
Every day begins with thanksgiving. It is of the utmost spiritual priority
that I keep in focus that I am an already-lived eternal spirit having a human
experience and my body and its needs is no more important than a grasshopper. Whenever I really stop and think about this, it fills
me with gratitude and serenity.
Old
time AA members define the difference between religion and spirituality like
this: “Religion is for those who desperately do not want to go to Hell.
Spirituality is for those, like us, who have been to Hell and don’t want to go
back.” For me the loss of gratitude and serenity is Hell. I’ve been there. It’s
not fun.
Thanks
for listening, and – as always – feel free to forward this message to your
friends, family, and those accompanying you on your spiritual journey in your
Outback.
Don
#4 August, 2012
Copyright,
2012
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