There are nine principles that are keys in the Journey, and I consider them to be the stepping stones upon which one walks.
Karma, Matter, Light, Knowledge, Love, Sphere, Silence, Curiosity, Freedom
- Karma -
I tend to think of Karma not as a law, or a rule, or a guideline for behavior, but rather as a metaphysical version of Newton's description of the equal and opposite reaction. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, whether positive or negative, physical, emotional, or spiritual. When you do anything, it is like firing a gun. There is a recoil of that outward force which comes back at you. If your action has a positive impact on the universe, the recoil to yourself is positive. If it has a negative impact on the universe, the recoil to yourself is negative. It is a simple matter of balance, which relates to the concept that energy can be neither created nor destroyed. The same is true of Karma. It flows from one place to another, from one person to another, and is one of the base structures of the network which connects each of us to everyone else.
- Matter -
This is an illusionary matrix woven of light energy, upon which points "spin" and form the building blocks of matter. Our physical senses interact with these spinning points, and our ethereal senses interact with the matrix and energy to which they align. It is this matrix which allows the four forces to exist, as the matrix IS the interlock between points of matter. (Protons, Electrons, Neutrons, Photons, and so forth) As matter groups together to form molecules, substances, organisms, planets, etc, the matter pulls on the grid. The more matter is pulled into a single spot, the more other matter on the grid will be "drug" towards that spot (gravity). Some matter (and electrical charging of that matter) causes a directional and specialized pull on the grid which only affects matter that has a directional reaction to that pull (magnetism). The grid itself accounts for the weak and strong nuclear forces, the stronger being stronger because of how the points pull on the grid.
- Light -
There is a living energy force in this universe, which is all things. This force caused the grid to form and points on the grid to begin to spin and form matter, by speaking (vibrating). Whether or not this force has a "personality" is impossible to say with any certainty, but it was the big bang and what was here before the big bang, and it is still mostly concentrated at the center of the universe. Because the grid is comprised of this force, so are we, so in such, we are God and God is within us.
- Knowledge -
There is no shortage of books about religion, spirituality, etc. Much of the same information can be had on the internet as well. Some days, you need read only one book to find the truth which you are seeking... the Bible. No matter which source your information comes from, remember that all literature is a work of man. Even the Bible, for though it is said to be the word of God, it has been written and re-written by man countless times. Do not take anything you read to be true, but allow yourself to consider the possibility that it is true and to consider the possibilities that arise from that notion.
- Love -
I have found on the Journey that my perspective on these three categories of relationships has changed dramatically. The Journey may dictate for you, as it does for me, that I look at relationships more fluidly. Every single one is temporary in one way or another. Whether by death or disenchantment, every relationship ends. If you begin a relationship knowing it is not permanent, you understand that you must cherish every moment of that relationship and never take it for granted. It will enable you to enjoy others more fully, and to be less posessive and demanding of them (if you are truely ready). You may even find yourself to have a polyamorous nature, loving everyone as equals and not limiting yourself to a single romantic relationship. You also may learn that the love you feel for anyone - friend, family, lover - is essentially the same. This is freeing in that you now know that every person you love is of equal importance, and that at any given time we all have numerous loves though usually only one is physical in nature. Cherish everyone you know while you have your time with them, and when that time has ended, allow them to pass without struggle. Love freely, love completely, love without regret or expectation.
- Sphere -
On the Journey, the way of life we know begins to change. Our interest in many things fades, we may find new interest and joy in other things. It could even go so far as to have a strong desire to cast of the yoke of society and return to a freer, more natural way of life. It is unfortunate that this may not be possible for most. In the meantime though, you can loosen the bonds and begin to find a more comfortable place to exist. You may desire (and it is reccomended) to return also to a more natural way of eating. Seasonal eating, raw eating, hunter-gatherer eating are all possibilities (and in the future I shall discuss a blend of these which I am currently developing for myself). These foods will not only fuel the body as it needs, but also the mind and soul.
- Silence -
Meditation in Buddhism is a fairly specific process. Meditation in practice, especially in the Western world, can be many things and still be beneficial. The primary focus is to clear the mind and have a sort of time out. You can do this in the bath, laying there feeling the water and thinking of nothing, watching rain, by staring into the flame of a candle or watching incense smoke, even watching a screen saver, fish swim, etc. I do reccommend that you also try traditional Eastern meditation as well - sitting on the floor (or a mat), using a mantra, touching thumb to middle finger to complete the energy paths, training yourself to think nothing whatsoever for as long as you are comfortable. The most important thing that any type of meditation does is connect the concious mind to the soul. This connection can benefit your Journey tremendously.
- Curiosity -
Let curiosity be your guide. If you see or hear something and want to know more about it then you definitely should research it. Jot it down so that you won't forget. Keep a notebook with you at all times (even a tiny one) so that you can make note of anything that strikes you. Leave no stone unturned, truth is everywhere and you will begin to make amazing connections between things you never would have dreamed could relate to each other.
- Release -
Forgiveness will set you free. The only thing that continuously ties us to the negative events of our lives is our inability to forgive others or ourselves for what has happened. Have you ever heard someone who was upset repeat the same thing over and over? This is what we do internally if we do not forgive. It traps us because we repeat only the same thing and are unable to see beyond it, but if we stop and let it go, our eyes open. If you truely understand Karma and our place in this world, you will understand that what happened to you was necessary, no matter who did it or why. Thusly we must forgive those people in our lives whom we draw to us to be the players in our own realities, for it is us who write their parts and they merely actors, helping us along our journey and us helping them along theirs. From every evil comes good, and from every good comes evil. When you refuse to forgive someone, you harm only yourself. When you forgive them, you set yourself free. The only way to be free to walk the path is to be forgiving.
The Journey is about letting go. Letting go of pain, of the physical, of material, of need and desire, of all the things which drags humanity down and keeps us bound to the physical plane. As you progress on your Journey, you will know it. You will see different things around you, the world will seem to change, but truely it is you who changes as your perception will no longer be the same.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
My Journey
It all began in a hotel somewhere in Maryland...
I'm just kidding.
The first time my eyes were opened to the imperfection of Religion was when I was about ten. I was being a good girl and going to church, which I believed to be a safe place. At that age I was teased in school, my peers could be utterly relentless and I often came home crying. One day at church, a kid I went to school with as well began to pick on me. There were adults around - Christian adults - who did nothing about it. I was very hurt, and I realized that even in the house of God I was not safe from this cruelty. It was my first taste of the hypocrisy of Christians as well.
Through the years, my dissent from the ideas of Christianity that I was raised with grew. I found more and more contradiction and hypocrasy, and more and more frequently I was hurt and offended and just plain shocked at the actions of people, Christian or otherwise. I recognized what Christ represented, and that none of these people were true Christians as they didn't in any way strive to be like him. I stopped calling myself Christian.
Then came years of confusion, of self doubt, and of fear. I read about other religions and learned what it was they believed and yet there were still vestiges of fear that if I walked away from what I had been taught I would go straight to hell. I retained my belief that Christ represented something extremely important to mankind, and continued my study of other religions. I asked for a sign that I wasn't crazy, or alone. Then one day I was speaking to a friend I hadn't known very long, and we got into a discussion about religion and found that our beliefs were very similar despite having very different backgrounds and upbringing. I felt that she was what I had been looking for, I knew that I was not alone and that I wasn't the only person disatissfied with the religions out there.
It was about that time that my foray into Wicca occured. I know that many who reject Christianity seem to end up as Pagan or Wiccan, but I was not one of them. While I again found virtues and very good ideas within both religions, they still had the thing that drove me away - they were still religions.
Then came the years of darkness. I stepped away from my beliefs completely, and essentially took a time out. I had become overcome with fear and at that same time I had found what I thought was my soulmate. (and in a way, I suppose he was) I shut everything off, I shut down the channels, closed myself off from my family, and lived an entirely different lifestyle than I ever had before. I went from working second shift for more than 10 years to working first shift, became far more responsible and began thinking about family things. I got on a more solid schedule than I had ever been on before and saved money. Near the end of this time period, things began to push their way open again. This was around the age of 28, at Saturn's Return, (who also happens to be the original ruling planet of my sign) and it really turned my world upside-down.
Things broke open, my intuition came back with a vengence, my spirituality flooded back, it was if I had been asleep and woke up again. All it took was the opening of a discussion with my friend, the one who later asked what I would call my religion if I were to start one. The person I had thought was my soulmate showed himself to be nothing that I thought he was, and I realized that we had already had the time we were meant to have, that the time had passed, and my destiny was pushing me on to something else.
Since that time I began this blog and have been vigorously researching every bit of spiritual, religious, historical, ancient, paranormal, scientific, and philosophical information I can get my hands on. My thirst for knowledge is unending, and my intuition continues to intensify by leaps and bounds. As I learn, I write. I notate both what I have learned that is relevant and I also write my own intuitions and ideas as well. I've filled many notebooks in just under a year, and the stack continues to grow.
I have discovered so many facinating things that I never knew, and I have also found that some of my theories are echoed in other peoples ideas and also in actual findings of science. Most importantly, the more I learn the more I realize how little I really know... If I really know anything at all.
That brings me here. I am on a path, a path I call the Journey, a path I have been driven to share with you. My writings are here for your perusal, and soon I shall be posting my journey related art as well. I also hope to someday organize all of the information within my notebooks and possibly even publish it in some format.
To those of you who are coming along for the ride, Welcome.
I'm just kidding.
The first time my eyes were opened to the imperfection of Religion was when I was about ten. I was being a good girl and going to church, which I believed to be a safe place. At that age I was teased in school, my peers could be utterly relentless and I often came home crying. One day at church, a kid I went to school with as well began to pick on me. There were adults around - Christian adults - who did nothing about it. I was very hurt, and I realized that even in the house of God I was not safe from this cruelty. It was my first taste of the hypocrisy of Christians as well.
Through the years, my dissent from the ideas of Christianity that I was raised with grew. I found more and more contradiction and hypocrasy, and more and more frequently I was hurt and offended and just plain shocked at the actions of people, Christian or otherwise. I recognized what Christ represented, and that none of these people were true Christians as they didn't in any way strive to be like him. I stopped calling myself Christian.
Then came years of confusion, of self doubt, and of fear. I read about other religions and learned what it was they believed and yet there were still vestiges of fear that if I walked away from what I had been taught I would go straight to hell. I retained my belief that Christ represented something extremely important to mankind, and continued my study of other religions. I asked for a sign that I wasn't crazy, or alone. Then one day I was speaking to a friend I hadn't known very long, and we got into a discussion about religion and found that our beliefs were very similar despite having very different backgrounds and upbringing. I felt that she was what I had been looking for, I knew that I was not alone and that I wasn't the only person disatissfied with the religions out there.
It was about that time that my foray into Wicca occured. I know that many who reject Christianity seem to end up as Pagan or Wiccan, but I was not one of them. While I again found virtues and very good ideas within both religions, they still had the thing that drove me away - they were still religions.
Then came the years of darkness. I stepped away from my beliefs completely, and essentially took a time out. I had become overcome with fear and at that same time I had found what I thought was my soulmate. (and in a way, I suppose he was) I shut everything off, I shut down the channels, closed myself off from my family, and lived an entirely different lifestyle than I ever had before. I went from working second shift for more than 10 years to working first shift, became far more responsible and began thinking about family things. I got on a more solid schedule than I had ever been on before and saved money. Near the end of this time period, things began to push their way open again. This was around the age of 28, at Saturn's Return, (who also happens to be the original ruling planet of my sign) and it really turned my world upside-down.
Things broke open, my intuition came back with a vengence, my spirituality flooded back, it was if I had been asleep and woke up again. All it took was the opening of a discussion with my friend, the one who later asked what I would call my religion if I were to start one. The person I had thought was my soulmate showed himself to be nothing that I thought he was, and I realized that we had already had the time we were meant to have, that the time had passed, and my destiny was pushing me on to something else.
Since that time I began this blog and have been vigorously researching every bit of spiritual, religious, historical, ancient, paranormal, scientific, and philosophical information I can get my hands on. My thirst for knowledge is unending, and my intuition continues to intensify by leaps and bounds. As I learn, I write. I notate both what I have learned that is relevant and I also write my own intuitions and ideas as well. I've filled many notebooks in just under a year, and the stack continues to grow.
I have discovered so many facinating things that I never knew, and I have also found that some of my theories are echoed in other peoples ideas and also in actual findings of science. Most importantly, the more I learn the more I realize how little I really know... If I really know anything at all.
That brings me here. I am on a path, a path I call the Journey, a path I have been driven to share with you. My writings are here for your perusal, and soon I shall be posting my journey related art as well. I also hope to someday organize all of the information within my notebooks and possibly even publish it in some format.
To those of you who are coming along for the ride, Welcome.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Fact or Fiction?
What is it that you know to be absolute, irrefutable fact? Do you know that the Earth is round and the stars in the sky are actually in the universe beyond? Do you know that water is wet and whether there is one true religion?
Many people will answer yes to every one of those questions. But do we really know any of those things? Is there such a thing as fact? I think that there is not. All knowledge that we are able to aquire comes from two sources: our senses - which are ruled by our brains, and other people, who are falliable.
Because our senses are interpereted by our brains, we are able to subconciously "set the dice" and creatively tell ourselves the story of what is going on around us. The brain does not recognize it's own malfunctions. A person could not know that they have a mental disorder if there is no one who is telling them that something is wrong or different about them. Colorblind people would not know that they are color blind if there were no comparison to "normal" color viewing people. Blue as I understand it could be Yellow to someone else, and neither of us may be aware of it. It is also impossible for a single human to experience an event in it's entirety. Our attention is limited to one fragment of what is happening, so even if we are at ground zero we cannot possibly know everything which happened.
As far as knowledge from other humans... I shouldn't HAVE to explain this one but I will. Human beings have a reputation for being incapable of relaying information without interjecting opinion, exaggerating, or omitting certain facts. We cannot re-tell a story without it changing. We also are generally unable to see the other side of things, or to see neither "side" and tell only the factual account of events as they happened. Our emotions are permanently entangled with our recollection and memory, so even if we have a pure desire to re-tell something exactly, we may not be able to do so.
Thusly, everything you have ever been told is most likely a lie, to one extent or another, intentional or not. If you think that you or anyone else knows something, anything, to be true, you are wrong. To comprehend and accept this is to take the first step on the Journey.
Many people will answer yes to every one of those questions. But do we really know any of those things? Is there such a thing as fact? I think that there is not. All knowledge that we are able to aquire comes from two sources: our senses - which are ruled by our brains, and other people, who are falliable.
Because our senses are interpereted by our brains, we are able to subconciously "set the dice" and creatively tell ourselves the story of what is going on around us. The brain does not recognize it's own malfunctions. A person could not know that they have a mental disorder if there is no one who is telling them that something is wrong or different about them. Colorblind people would not know that they are color blind if there were no comparison to "normal" color viewing people. Blue as I understand it could be Yellow to someone else, and neither of us may be aware of it. It is also impossible for a single human to experience an event in it's entirety. Our attention is limited to one fragment of what is happening, so even if we are at ground zero we cannot possibly know everything which happened.
As far as knowledge from other humans... I shouldn't HAVE to explain this one but I will. Human beings have a reputation for being incapable of relaying information without interjecting opinion, exaggerating, or omitting certain facts. We cannot re-tell a story without it changing. We also are generally unable to see the other side of things, or to see neither "side" and tell only the factual account of events as they happened. Our emotions are permanently entangled with our recollection and memory, so even if we have a pure desire to re-tell something exactly, we may not be able to do so.
Thusly, everything you have ever been told is most likely a lie, to one extent or another, intentional or not. If you think that you or anyone else knows something, anything, to be true, you are wrong. To comprehend and accept this is to take the first step on the Journey.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Journey
What is the Journey?
A while ago a friend and I were discussing religion, philosophy, and similar lines of thought, and she asked me what I would call my religion, if I organized my thoughts into one.
I told her that it could not possibly be a religion as I am against religion. It would be only the seeking of the truth, and the best name for it would be "the journey" because it is a path of learning and discovery that never ends. You do not find the answers because while you are human, that is not possible. You do not reach an ending place or a comfortable place or "home" because while you are human, that is not possible. Anyone who feels that they have found their place has not, they have found a place where they decided to rest and chose not to develop further. Perhaps someday they shall do so, or perhaps they are waiting for their next incarnation. The journey extends beyond this life, beyond this planet, possibly beyond this universe. The only way to follow the journey is to continually remind oneself that you know nothing. You have learned things that may or may not be true, you may write them down. You know that everything is theory and nothing is fact. The sky is not blue, the sky is colorless. And yet, to non-human eyes those elements may have a color we cannot even imagine. So to say we know anything for certain is silly, because it's all about vantage point and during the course of The Journey, that vantage point shall change.
Do I want anyone to follow me on The Journey? No. If anything, I am a guide, but I am hesitant to even call myself that. I am merely sharing my thoughts and what I have found in my search. Does that mean everything written in this blog is correct? Of course not. I'm sure that somewhere in all my writings I have good theories and I may even have hit on some sparks of truth, but I will never claim that I am right or that I know anything to be true. It's all good ideas that I'm sharing, and seeing how they work out. Are there rules to the Journey? No. This is not a religion. It is a path, and the differences are too numerous to describe here, except to say that the Journey is fluid like water and Religion is concrete like stone. If you are in stone you cannot move. If you are in water, you are lifted and lightened and you can travel with the water but also through it.
The Journey:
Is personal.
Is enlightening.
Has no set path.
Doesn't follow any religion but acknowledges they all contain some truth.
Can be physical, emotional, and/or spiritual at any given time.
Flourishes in an open mind.
Is an unending list of questions.
Shall only appear to those who are ready.
Has no rules.
Can bring you closer to and farther from people around you.
Can change everything you know to be true.
Will change your life.
May cause you to cast off material posessions and try to live only in the spirit.
Finds value in the Bible, Quran, Vedas, and any other text in existence.
Has ideas rather than beliefs.
Is fluid and changes frequently.
Will show you things you never thought were possible.
Will develop your intuition and other intangible feelings.
Is up to you.
-Ri
A while ago a friend and I were discussing religion, philosophy, and similar lines of thought, and she asked me what I would call my religion, if I organized my thoughts into one.
I told her that it could not possibly be a religion as I am against religion. It would be only the seeking of the truth, and the best name for it would be "the journey" because it is a path of learning and discovery that never ends. You do not find the answers because while you are human, that is not possible. You do not reach an ending place or a comfortable place or "home" because while you are human, that is not possible. Anyone who feels that they have found their place has not, they have found a place where they decided to rest and chose not to develop further. Perhaps someday they shall do so, or perhaps they are waiting for their next incarnation. The journey extends beyond this life, beyond this planet, possibly beyond this universe. The only way to follow the journey is to continually remind oneself that you know nothing. You have learned things that may or may not be true, you may write them down. You know that everything is theory and nothing is fact. The sky is not blue, the sky is colorless. And yet, to non-human eyes those elements may have a color we cannot even imagine. So to say we know anything for certain is silly, because it's all about vantage point and during the course of The Journey, that vantage point shall change.
Do I want anyone to follow me on The Journey? No. If anything, I am a guide, but I am hesitant to even call myself that. I am merely sharing my thoughts and what I have found in my search. Does that mean everything written in this blog is correct? Of course not. I'm sure that somewhere in all my writings I have good theories and I may even have hit on some sparks of truth, but I will never claim that I am right or that I know anything to be true. It's all good ideas that I'm sharing, and seeing how they work out. Are there rules to the Journey? No. This is not a religion. It is a path, and the differences are too numerous to describe here, except to say that the Journey is fluid like water and Religion is concrete like stone. If you are in stone you cannot move. If you are in water, you are lifted and lightened and you can travel with the water but also through it.
The Journey:
Is personal.
Is enlightening.
Has no set path.
Doesn't follow any religion but acknowledges they all contain some truth.
Can be physical, emotional, and/or spiritual at any given time.
Flourishes in an open mind.
Is an unending list of questions.
Shall only appear to those who are ready.
Has no rules.
Can bring you closer to and farther from people around you.
Can change everything you know to be true.
Will change your life.
May cause you to cast off material posessions and try to live only in the spirit.
Finds value in the Bible, Quran, Vedas, and any other text in existence.
Has ideas rather than beliefs.
Is fluid and changes frequently.
Will show you things you never thought were possible.
Will develop your intuition and other intangible feelings.
Is up to you.
I shall be writing numerous posts on the subject of the Journey, including discussion of how to begin and speaking about my personal journey thus far. If you are ready for this path, it will open up to you. You may already be on it but call it something else. Please understand that a million roads can lead to the same point, there is no one right way, no one teacher.
My writing is only a guide, as when you are on this path you will find that you guide yourself to your best conclusions far better than anyone else could. Best of luck, and I hope that my words are beneficial to you in some way.
Also, I will gladly assist you and answer questions if I am able, you may ask in comments or send me a direct message. With your permission I will post questions & answers to this site.
-Ri
Monday, July 19, 2010
40 Days and 40 Nights
The act of fasting is a deeply spiritual one. It is repeatedly mentioned in the Bible and other religious texts as being a method to come closer to God and to "prove" one's spirituality, or even to demonstrate one's willingness to cast off the cloak of flesh that we wear.
Christians honor the forty days and forty nights of Christ's fast and seclusion in the wilderness with Lent. It is a time when people give up some trivial thing such as candy or watching TV for forty days.
Fasting has been heralded as useful for anything from spiritual enlightenment to a miracle cure for the body. I have read that it can (supposedly) cure cancer and illness, aid meditation, and so on. What is more certain is that it can aid weight loss, detoxify the body, and relieve symptoms of food allergy and intolerance. It is among our natural defenses against illness (we lose our appetite when ill) and one of our natural responses to grief.
I find fasting to be especially important at this moment, because we are in the midst of an epidemic. The amount of food served in typical restaurant portions is enough fuel to sustain one for a day or two. And that's just one meal. The average American eats nearly 4000 calories per day. The average human being requires less than half of that per day, preferably in primarily natural/raw states.
We consume large quantities of refined carbs and processed foods, things which have been preserved and sterilized and injected. Nature's foods, perfect sustenance as they should be, are deep fried, salted, genetically altered, selectively bred, condensed into syrups or ground to powders, remixed, recombined, and extruded to achieve foods which are super-flavored to the point that natural foods seem to have no flavor (when they actually have it in abundance).
There are thousands of diets, with tons of new ones every year, that tout some way or another of eating "just this" or "just that" to miraculously lose weight and feel better. These diets each work for some people some of the time because they have a small piece of the right idea but then fluff it over in the guise of allowing gluttony or some other comfort. A good example is that with the Atkins diet, you cannot consume processed flours and sugars in any quantity, so it reduces these potentially toxic foods from the body. On the low fat diet, you are restricted from eating overly processed meats and cheeses and fried foods, which again reduces potentially toxic foods from the body. However both of these diets allow for the continuation of some toxic foods, which is why they can never completely succeed.
Returning to the way that humans had to eat prior to our agricultural days is an excellent method to returning to health. This natural way of eating included completely unprocessed foods, foods eaten only when they were fresh and usually ripe, natural fasting, and consumption of little sugar and lots of water. When animals were eaten, all of the animal was eaten. Organs, fat, light and dark meat, skin, even marrow and brain. Humans ate foods based on the season, because they didn't have the luxury of flying fruits in from warmer climates during the winter.
I propose that a return to such a way of eating, and including deliberate fasting is a method to improving whole body health - not just to lose weight. Beginning with a fast is probably the easiest way to start the diet - this time spent not eating will allow the body to break it's addictions to sugar, carbs, nicotine and caffeine. This way, when you begin to eat as nature intended, you have already broken the bonds to your previous way of eating. The added benefit is that the fast has changed the way you taste food. Anything you eat after a lengthy fast will taste amazing - even something so simple as a piece of cucumber. After a fast you will rediscover the way food is supposed to taste and just how much you enjoy simple, raw, natural foods. Most of us today grew up eating foods that were over seasoned, over mixed, and over processed. Even home cooking saw a lot of this, as our moms used canned tomato sauces, pre-made pastas, mayonnaise, salad dressings, processed cheeses, canned fruits and vegetables. You cannot understand how over saturated with flavor most store bought foods are until you spend time eating a diet which does not have this saturation. After some time spent on a natural diet you may even find prepared foods completely distasteful and they could cause stomach upset because they are things your body should reject but has developed a tolerance.
An ideal, very healing and cleansing fast is described as 30-40 days. This is the duration of Lent. The length of the fast is important, as we are more affected by lunar/solar cycles than we realize, and a fast lasting more than 30 days covers an entire lunar cycle and all the changes in our mood and bodies that comes with that cycle. Whether you hold any belief regarding the spiritual significance of the moon, you cannot deny that there are slight changes in the gravitational impact on earth during it's cycle as evidenced by the tides. This has biochemical effects on all life on earth, which is what lead to the perception that people act differently around the time of a full moon. The additional significance of Lent is that it is a recurring yearly event. To fast every year on Lent (water, juice or fruit fast) would be a habit that will keep you in a cycle of healthier eating. It will also help to break the bonds of "need" in your mind that keep you tied to the American idea of what is appropriate amounts of food to eat.
When you fast you will find (as most people do) that you actually have more energy and feel better as the fast goes on. It provides reset time for the body, it cleanses and allows your digestive tract to heal itself without distraction. The energy normally used for digestion (which is quite a lot), is put towards more important things like repairing your body. It has also been said (and this may be more theoretical) that when your body begins to consume some of it's own tissues, it takes the old, diseased, and dead tissues first.
A statement like that, if true, could uphold the idea that fasting can cure cancer. Cancer is damaged tissue that is replicating itself, when that replication should have been turned off because the tissue is damaged. If the body goes after damaged tissue first, then fasting should consume that cancerous tissue along with any other tissues in the body that are past their peak. Then when one returns to eating, the body will regenerate new tissue to replace those which were consumed. It seems it is universally accepted that when the body is starved and turns to consumption of it's own tissue, it's a terrible thing. Maybe we, in our overfed and fat society, are making assumptions based on less fact than they should be.
Medical science is beginning to accept the fact that fasting is actually good for the body, and perhaps someday we will learn that fasting is also necessary for the body to maintain it's own good health. After all, the Bible tells us so in it's own way, as it always does.
Christians honor the forty days and forty nights of Christ's fast and seclusion in the wilderness with Lent. It is a time when people give up some trivial thing such as candy or watching TV for forty days.
Fasting has been heralded as useful for anything from spiritual enlightenment to a miracle cure for the body. I have read that it can (supposedly) cure cancer and illness, aid meditation, and so on. What is more certain is that it can aid weight loss, detoxify the body, and relieve symptoms of food allergy and intolerance. It is among our natural defenses against illness (we lose our appetite when ill) and one of our natural responses to grief.
I find fasting to be especially important at this moment, because we are in the midst of an epidemic. The amount of food served in typical restaurant portions is enough fuel to sustain one for a day or two. And that's just one meal. The average American eats nearly 4000 calories per day. The average human being requires less than half of that per day, preferably in primarily natural/raw states.
We consume large quantities of refined carbs and processed foods, things which have been preserved and sterilized and injected. Nature's foods, perfect sustenance as they should be, are deep fried, salted, genetically altered, selectively bred, condensed into syrups or ground to powders, remixed, recombined, and extruded to achieve foods which are super-flavored to the point that natural foods seem to have no flavor (when they actually have it in abundance).
There are thousands of diets, with tons of new ones every year, that tout some way or another of eating "just this" or "just that" to miraculously lose weight and feel better. These diets each work for some people some of the time because they have a small piece of the right idea but then fluff it over in the guise of allowing gluttony or some other comfort. A good example is that with the Atkins diet, you cannot consume processed flours and sugars in any quantity, so it reduces these potentially toxic foods from the body. On the low fat diet, you are restricted from eating overly processed meats and cheeses and fried foods, which again reduces potentially toxic foods from the body. However both of these diets allow for the continuation of some toxic foods, which is why they can never completely succeed.
Returning to the way that humans had to eat prior to our agricultural days is an excellent method to returning to health. This natural way of eating included completely unprocessed foods, foods eaten only when they were fresh and usually ripe, natural fasting, and consumption of little sugar and lots of water. When animals were eaten, all of the animal was eaten. Organs, fat, light and dark meat, skin, even marrow and brain. Humans ate foods based on the season, because they didn't have the luxury of flying fruits in from warmer climates during the winter.
I propose that a return to such a way of eating, and including deliberate fasting is a method to improving whole body health - not just to lose weight. Beginning with a fast is probably the easiest way to start the diet - this time spent not eating will allow the body to break it's addictions to sugar, carbs, nicotine and caffeine. This way, when you begin to eat as nature intended, you have already broken the bonds to your previous way of eating. The added benefit is that the fast has changed the way you taste food. Anything you eat after a lengthy fast will taste amazing - even something so simple as a piece of cucumber. After a fast you will rediscover the way food is supposed to taste and just how much you enjoy simple, raw, natural foods. Most of us today grew up eating foods that were over seasoned, over mixed, and over processed. Even home cooking saw a lot of this, as our moms used canned tomato sauces, pre-made pastas, mayonnaise, salad dressings, processed cheeses, canned fruits and vegetables. You cannot understand how over saturated with flavor most store bought foods are until you spend time eating a diet which does not have this saturation. After some time spent on a natural diet you may even find prepared foods completely distasteful and they could cause stomach upset because they are things your body should reject but has developed a tolerance.
An ideal, very healing and cleansing fast is described as 30-40 days. This is the duration of Lent. The length of the fast is important, as we are more affected by lunar/solar cycles than we realize, and a fast lasting more than 30 days covers an entire lunar cycle and all the changes in our mood and bodies that comes with that cycle. Whether you hold any belief regarding the spiritual significance of the moon, you cannot deny that there are slight changes in the gravitational impact on earth during it's cycle as evidenced by the tides. This has biochemical effects on all life on earth, which is what lead to the perception that people act differently around the time of a full moon. The additional significance of Lent is that it is a recurring yearly event. To fast every year on Lent (water, juice or fruit fast) would be a habit that will keep you in a cycle of healthier eating. It will also help to break the bonds of "need" in your mind that keep you tied to the American idea of what is appropriate amounts of food to eat.
When you fast you will find (as most people do) that you actually have more energy and feel better as the fast goes on. It provides reset time for the body, it cleanses and allows your digestive tract to heal itself without distraction. The energy normally used for digestion (which is quite a lot), is put towards more important things like repairing your body. It has also been said (and this may be more theoretical) that when your body begins to consume some of it's own tissues, it takes the old, diseased, and dead tissues first.
A statement like that, if true, could uphold the idea that fasting can cure cancer. Cancer is damaged tissue that is replicating itself, when that replication should have been turned off because the tissue is damaged. If the body goes after damaged tissue first, then fasting should consume that cancerous tissue along with any other tissues in the body that are past their peak. Then when one returns to eating, the body will regenerate new tissue to replace those which were consumed. It seems it is universally accepted that when the body is starved and turns to consumption of it's own tissue, it's a terrible thing. Maybe we, in our overfed and fat society, are making assumptions based on less fact than they should be.
Medical science is beginning to accept the fact that fasting is actually good for the body, and perhaps someday we will learn that fasting is also necessary for the body to maintain it's own good health. After all, the Bible tells us so in it's own way, as it always does.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Armageddon Obsession
Stories based on apocalyptic writings have found their way into mainstream culture over and over througout history. Lately, it seems, our interest in this concept has reached a fever pitch. Perhaps it's the idea of 2012, or our growing morbidity in film and media.
When I was a child there was an "end of the world" scare. My strongest memory of this was that my friend was taken out of school by his mother that day. I do not remember how the world was supposed to end, but nonetheless the event stuck with me. Since then I have seen doomsday prophecies and dates on the covers of tabloids countless times, and have heard numerous persons saying how the end is near, the world is only getting worse, God is coming back for us.
Where does this really come from? People have a clear desire and need to think that everything is about to end. Regardless of the manner and timing, it is common for people to consciously or subconciously desire such an event. Particularly that it happen in their own lifetimes. This need drives us out to see every apocalyptic movie and makes us want to read or learn about it.
There are a few possibilities as to what causes this need within us.
1. We want something exciting or amazing to happen in our lifetimes, and to be apart of it / play a major role. Let's face it, most people want to be heros, or identify with heros in fiction. Many people claim to be reincarnated versions of great figures in history, or that they were apart of or in a certain major historic event. (sinking of titanic, Hindenburg explosion, Pearl Harbor, etc) This shows what we already know, that humans have a deep seated need to feel important, respected, remembered.
2. We have a desire to stave off the inevitable. We may want to see doomsday not for the reason of enduring it or being the hero of it, but rather to see the story play out in favor of mankind. Many apocalyptic movies and stories have happy endings in which the apocalypse has either been averted or we have found a way to survive it somehow. (Fifth Element, 2012, even Austin Powers) This shows a need of mankind to know that we shall survive and persevere - even in the most impossible of events.
3. We are unhappy. This is, I think, the most likely (or most prevalent) cause of our obsession. We live in society as it is, we do as we should, we seek out the ideal lifestyle as dictated by society. I.E.: The American Dream (for most of my readers). I've scoffed at the idea before, and I'm going to do it again. The American Dream is, unfortunately, not the bill of goods we expected. We are young and we think that if we just have a decent job, nice house and a beautiful family that we can spend the best years of our lives happy and looking forward to little more than retirement with a healthy pension and grandkids. We work towards these very goals, but the truth of the matter is that this elusive peace simply doesn't exist. You cannot live within the confines of society and be a happy and satisfied human being. It is the system of our own design which has become the prison, the walls from which we cannot escape. We aren't forced to stay here, we trap ourselves here. People cry and moan that the government is doing all these things to keep us in line, or that capitalism is the culprit, or even blame the police for doing their jobs. Citizens of a society simultaneously complain about the system and know that they can't survive without it. It is a double edged sword, in that society protects us from many things while taking others away.
The reason that this ties into our love of an apocalypse and facination with armageddon is that deep down most people are desperate to cast off the rules and regulations of society, the need to work a job and clean a house. This way of life isn't what we need, yet we tell ourselves that it is. It is destroying our bodies, our hearts and our minds, and yet we are more afraid of losing this life than anything else. We cannot escape it willingly. We neither know how or have the will (for most people anyway) and we feel like the only way that we can find a better way of life is to have everything forcibly destroyed.
Then, in the aftermath those who are left can return to the earth, to live in harmony with it. No jobs, no homes, no permanence. The freedom to wander and just be, with our only daily concern being that of hunting and gathering food, and finding fresh water.
But, then there is the unfortunate reality... If such a thing were really to happen, we'd end up with a situation more like that illustrated in The Book of Eli. Man would randomly and mercilessly kill man for supplies, even for food. Heavily populated areas would be extremely dangerous, as outbreaks of riots, thefts, and murder would be very high. Even light population areas could prove dangerous. We would not have access to cars for very long, as we would run out of fuel quickly. Mass produced food would be gone as would most farming. We would be forced to either rely on what few left over supplies we could find or we would have to step away from civilization and learn to live off the land again. It would be very difficult for many people. There are many who haven't a clue how to procure their own food from nature, who might not even be able to recognize carrots growing in a field, becuase they only ever see the orange root and pay no attention to the actual plant. Many people wouldn't know how to hunt without a gun or pre-made bow. There are even those who might not be able to fish without having a mass produced fishing rod (and those who couldn't even do it with the device). Then there is constructing or finding shelters, getting clean water, lack of healthcare.
I think that humans can and would survive such an event, even in small numbers wide spread across the globe. Natural selection would come into play hard and fast, with those who are not skilled enough to create the tools they need and those who aren't healthy enough to endure such a lifestyle being the first to die out. Those who live on will need to be resourceful and strong, but they also have the potential of being more content than any of us today can hope to be.
They certainly won't have time to sit around and worry if the world is going to end someday soon.
When I was a child there was an "end of the world" scare. My strongest memory of this was that my friend was taken out of school by his mother that day. I do not remember how the world was supposed to end, but nonetheless the event stuck with me. Since then I have seen doomsday prophecies and dates on the covers of tabloids countless times, and have heard numerous persons saying how the end is near, the world is only getting worse, God is coming back for us.
Where does this really come from? People have a clear desire and need to think that everything is about to end. Regardless of the manner and timing, it is common for people to consciously or subconciously desire such an event. Particularly that it happen in their own lifetimes. This need drives us out to see every apocalyptic movie and makes us want to read or learn about it.
There are a few possibilities as to what causes this need within us.
1. We want something exciting or amazing to happen in our lifetimes, and to be apart of it / play a major role. Let's face it, most people want to be heros, or identify with heros in fiction. Many people claim to be reincarnated versions of great figures in history, or that they were apart of or in a certain major historic event. (sinking of titanic, Hindenburg explosion, Pearl Harbor, etc) This shows what we already know, that humans have a deep seated need to feel important, respected, remembered.
2. We have a desire to stave off the inevitable. We may want to see doomsday not for the reason of enduring it or being the hero of it, but rather to see the story play out in favor of mankind. Many apocalyptic movies and stories have happy endings in which the apocalypse has either been averted or we have found a way to survive it somehow. (Fifth Element, 2012, even Austin Powers) This shows a need of mankind to know that we shall survive and persevere - even in the most impossible of events.
3. We are unhappy. This is, I think, the most likely (or most prevalent) cause of our obsession. We live in society as it is, we do as we should, we seek out the ideal lifestyle as dictated by society. I.E.: The American Dream (for most of my readers). I've scoffed at the idea before, and I'm going to do it again. The American Dream is, unfortunately, not the bill of goods we expected. We are young and we think that if we just have a decent job, nice house and a beautiful family that we can spend the best years of our lives happy and looking forward to little more than retirement with a healthy pension and grandkids. We work towards these very goals, but the truth of the matter is that this elusive peace simply doesn't exist. You cannot live within the confines of society and be a happy and satisfied human being. It is the system of our own design which has become the prison, the walls from which we cannot escape. We aren't forced to stay here, we trap ourselves here. People cry and moan that the government is doing all these things to keep us in line, or that capitalism is the culprit, or even blame the police for doing their jobs. Citizens of a society simultaneously complain about the system and know that they can't survive without it. It is a double edged sword, in that society protects us from many things while taking others away.
The reason that this ties into our love of an apocalypse and facination with armageddon is that deep down most people are desperate to cast off the rules and regulations of society, the need to work a job and clean a house. This way of life isn't what we need, yet we tell ourselves that it is. It is destroying our bodies, our hearts and our minds, and yet we are more afraid of losing this life than anything else. We cannot escape it willingly. We neither know how or have the will (for most people anyway) and we feel like the only way that we can find a better way of life is to have everything forcibly destroyed.
Then, in the aftermath those who are left can return to the earth, to live in harmony with it. No jobs, no homes, no permanence. The freedom to wander and just be, with our only daily concern being that of hunting and gathering food, and finding fresh water.
But, then there is the unfortunate reality... If such a thing were really to happen, we'd end up with a situation more like that illustrated in The Book of Eli. Man would randomly and mercilessly kill man for supplies, even for food. Heavily populated areas would be extremely dangerous, as outbreaks of riots, thefts, and murder would be very high. Even light population areas could prove dangerous. We would not have access to cars for very long, as we would run out of fuel quickly. Mass produced food would be gone as would most farming. We would be forced to either rely on what few left over supplies we could find or we would have to step away from civilization and learn to live off the land again. It would be very difficult for many people. There are many who haven't a clue how to procure their own food from nature, who might not even be able to recognize carrots growing in a field, becuase they only ever see the orange root and pay no attention to the actual plant. Many people wouldn't know how to hunt without a gun or pre-made bow. There are even those who might not be able to fish without having a mass produced fishing rod (and those who couldn't even do it with the device). Then there is constructing or finding shelters, getting clean water, lack of healthcare.
I think that humans can and would survive such an event, even in small numbers wide spread across the globe. Natural selection would come into play hard and fast, with those who are not skilled enough to create the tools they need and those who aren't healthy enough to endure such a lifestyle being the first to die out. Those who live on will need to be resourceful and strong, but they also have the potential of being more content than any of us today can hope to be.
They certainly won't have time to sit around and worry if the world is going to end someday soon.
Friday, July 2, 2010
7 Deadly Sins
The seven deadly sins have long been a subject both of religion and culture. They show up in art, movies, are carefully considered by the religious masses, and so on. People know what they are, and some people can even recite all seven, but do they really understand the implications of these sins?
Original vs New list
The list of seven sins has changed over the years (altered by the Catholic church, of course). The "purest" form could be considered that from the book of Proverbs - a list of six things which the Lord detests, and the seventh which he hates: (I have paraphrased for clarity)
Pride
Lying
Killing Innocents
Deliberate Wickedness
One quick to cause harm
Bearing False Witness
Causing dissent among family/friends
Latin list (14th century):
Superbia (Pride)
Avarita (Greed)
Luxuria (Extravagance)
Invidia (Envy)
Gula (Gluttony)
Ira (Wrath)
Acedia (Discouragement)
Modern (final) list:
Greed
Sloth
Envy
Lust
Rage
Pride
Gluttony
I will be discussing the modern list of seven sins, for the sake of relevance.
Greed: This sin is a fairly obvious one. The desire for collection / amassing / aquiring wealth, posessions, even power.
Sloth: Often viewed as laziness and a lack of hygene. However, this replaced Acedia, which could be considered more a discouragement or denying one's given talents, allowing them to fall to waste. I feel that both of these definitions should be considered, as not using God given talents could be seen as denying God himself.
Envy: The desire to have what someone else has, or wishing them harm for having something which you do not. Alternatively, I think this also encompasses the desire to have something better than someone else has, the "Jones'" syndrom, and being unhappy that someone else even has something equal to what you do (the feeling of not being unique because others share your posessions / designs / style)
Lust: Strictly speaking, this sin has generally referred to sexual desire or extreme sexual desire, however I feel a more narrowed definition is more appropriate - deviation in sexuality that is harmful. Rape, sexual desire that overruns life, and sexual habits which are emotionally and physically harmful to oneself and others.
Rage: Anger to the point that it causes harm to oneself or others.
Pride: Believing one or one's works are better than that of others, more deserving of praise, refusing to be flexible due to one's pride in oneself, feeling that one must behave a certain way out of pride even if doing so causes harm to oneself or others.
Gluttony: Consumption to extremes, taking more than one's fair share, alcoholism, drug use.
We know what the sins are, we know their general definition and application, but do we know why they are bad? For some, it's obvious. If you kill someone out of Rage, then Rage is bad. However, many of the other sins are less obvious, and even the straightforward definitions do not explain the true harm of these sins.
When you are envious, what harm does it cause? If not acted upon, then you harm no one else. Or do you? If you are envious of a friend having nicer shoes, but you say nothing and don't, for example, steal their shoes, then what harm has been caused? It's inside of you. Your envy, if unchecked, can grow to the point that it harms the friendship. You may be less kind to them, you could even be cruel or ultimately break the friendship off. It isn't likely over a single pair of shoes, but if you're envious that they have a better life than you then yes it is possible. Even if you never outwardly show your envy or act upon it, it still causes harm to you.
Everyone asks the purpose of life. Why are we here? What is the meaning, the point, why bother? The point is to ascend. To be come greater than we currently are, and ultimately to become like the Christ. He was an ascended being, as was the Buddha, and several other historical/religious figures. So long as your mind is mired in one or more of the "deadly" sins, you are held back from possibility of ascension. Here is a revised definition of the sins, to illustrate what I mean.
Greed: Desire to accumulate physical possessions or power causes you to pay attention only to that desire. Everything else fades in your view, and you focus only on your intent to aquire. If your intent is focused on aquisition of the physical, it is removed from any desire to aquire the spiritual.
Sloth: Denying one's body, the need for physical exertion leads to a deadening of the body which spirals downward and only gets worse. To not use and work the body causes the body to feel badly, it actually causes pain. The more pain you feel the less you want to do things, and eventually you do nothing at all. This prevents one from living, from breathing, from attuning with the earth and the heavens. Because the body feels dead, the soul also feels dead because it's only means of obtaining information and expressing itself is through the physical body so long as it is encased in the physical body. As to the second definition, that of denying one's talents, you are failing to exercise the soul in the same way that not doing physical exertion fails to exercise the body. Due to fear or other constraints we place on ourselves, not exercising the soul causes it to feel dead.
Envy: This is very similar to Greed and Gluttony. The desire to have something, or for others not to have something drives the focus of the mind towards that one goal, that one obsession. If you can think of nothing else, you can think of nothing beyond the physical world. Becoming consumed by envy is to see only one thing and blind yourself to all other things. This also prevents one from seeing the beauty in their own lives and appreciating what they already have. In other words, again denying that which God has given you.
Lust: I think of lust as very similar to Envy. It is an extreme desire for one thing, and the repeated seeking for that one thing, and repeated action within that range. Fetishes are a good example - now I'm not saying fetish is always a sin. What I am saying is that the person who cannot find sexual arousal or satisfaction without involvement of a fetish has succumbed to a level of lust that inhibits them from fully enjoying life. Because they need that one thing to find satisfaction, they think of little else. When they see it, they may be automatically distracted from whatever else is going on in their life. The man who wrecks his car over a woman crossing the road has succumbed to lust, because it has taken his focus away from his own safety and wellbeing. Lust is also dangerous in it's exhaultation of physical form. We are not physical beings, we are only assuming such form temporarily as a method to experience and learn. Becoming too engrossed in the physical blinds us to our true nature. Sex is fine, but as all things, moderation is best. If it overtakes or becomes your life, it has reached the point of Lust.
Rage: Everyone has heard the phrase "to see red." This is a very descriptive way of saying that a person has become so angered that they can think of nothing else. As in other sins, the common theme of blocking out the rest of life or even their spiritual nature is the real harm done here.
Pride: We are all spiritual beings in physical bodies. Each body has weaknesses, each mind has faults. Everyone is ultimately equal, and we are ultimately one spiritual body. Pride's greatest harm is in the illusion of seperation. "I wouldn't act/look/be like that, I am different from them" is the statement of pride, and it is a statement which sets one apart from others. Pride also has roots in the destruction of kindness, as if you hold your pride over someone else, you lose respect for them, and if you don't respect someone you are far less likely to be kind to them. Pride in oneself can also lead to avarice - it is pride that causes one to fear failing, and the fear of failing can cause one not to even try and thusly give up one's talents.
Gluttony: This sin is among the more difficult to define or draw a line where it begins and ends. The reason why is because consumption of various resources is necessary for life. We must eat, we must drink. I believe need becomes gluttony when one reaches the point where the need ends and the consumption continues. For example, if you have a bag of chips and you eat a few handfuls, you have likely satisfied your need. Finishing off the bag anyway would be gluttony. There is no hard/fast rule of where that line falls, but I think we all know deep down when we have crossed that line and are continuing to consume for the pleasure of it rather than the need. As far as alcohol and drugs, neither are necessary for life but we consume them anyway. Doing so in small quantities, primarily for the former and not the latter, is acceptable. Doing so on a regular basis and to the point where one is harmed by it (vomiting, poisoning, increasing addiction) stands as gluttony. Now, the harm in these actions is diverse. For one, gluttony is escapism and thusly one is denying one's feelings and memories in order to find oblivion and not face whatever it is they are escaping. The things that happen in our lives are lessons, good and bad, which benefit the development of our minds and souls. If we run from them, refuse to face the pain and try to drown ourselves, we deny the value of these lessons and ultimately deny our purpose on Earth.
The seven deadly sins are both specific and general, however the idea of moderation rules them all. In moderation, one can prevent any of the sins from overtaking themselves and work to keep themselves in check. The Buddha denied himself - he gave up a life of luxury for a life of near poverty, he refused food and other physical needs while he searched for deeper spiritual meaning. In his quest we find the true nature of the sins - these are thoughts and actions which bind us to the physical world, and they are chains which we ourselves can untangle in order to release our soul to find peace. The sins are "deadly" in the sense that every one of them blinds and deadens us to the reality beyond our reality, and prevents us from finding the things that would truely fill us with joy and comfort. Instead we try to fill ourselves with false comforts outlined in this list.
The thing about false comforts is that they are not satisfying. Many times, even as we are doing them, we think to ourselves "why am I doing this?" and afterwards we may think "that wasn't satisfying, that wasn't what I really wanted, what else can I try?" or even "I want more" and we try more things. We look to what others have and think that it may satisfy us so we seek it out. This does not satisfy us, so we look again to something else. It is a continuous chain of looking from one vice to the next, sure that this next thing will fix the gaping hole inside and make us feel better. In truth, none of these vices shall ever satiate us. The satisfaction we seek is in pursuit of the spiritual, the exaultation of the spirit body over the physical body.
In contrast to the seven deadly sins, there is a list of seven virtues as follows:
Chastity (refraining from Lust)
Temperance (refraining from Gluttony)
Charity (refraining from Greed)
Diligence (refraining from Sloth)
Patience (refraining from Wrath)
Kindness (refraining from Envy)
Humility (refraining from Pride)
If you are troubled by one or more of the seven deadly sins, there are actions to take to help you begin to satisfy what it is you truely desire. Here are some examples:
Pride - Look for things in others which you admire. Compliment them. Note similarities in yourself and others actively. Get to know more about people whom you may have felt were below you, and you will find that they too can be good people with good characteristics. Learning to appreciate others for their unique values is a good way to combat feelings of superiority. Pride is a way of clinging to what you think is good about yourself. Recognize the good in others and they will recognize the good in you, giving you a more positive affirmation that is not damaging.
Envy - The best way to combat a feeling of not having everything you desire is to place yourself around those who have less. Volunteer to help out the homeless and the needy. Work at a soup kitchen. You'll find out just how fortunate you are compared to those who have nothing, and by helping others you'll gain something more valuable than any amount of money.
Wrath - If you are quick to anger and your anger quickly becomes extreme, it may not be easy to counterbalance. When people do small things that anger you, think not about what they did but *why* they did it. Try to find a logical reason why their supposed harmful action happened. For example, if you get cut off by someone and it causes you road rage, think about why they pulled out when they did. Is it possible that you are on a very busy road and it is difficult to find a spot to pull out? Are you being excessive about the distance you want them to leave you when they do so? Is it possible they are having a really bad day and just aren't thinking clearly, and now feel guilty for having cut you off? When you start to sympathize with others and make an effort to understand their reasoning and what is going on in their life, it becomes harder to be angry with them and ultimately can help you control your anger at other moments as well. Sometimes we are quick to anger because deep down we believe if we get angrier and louder first, others will be more afraid of us and less likely to confront us, so really what we are battling is the guilt that comes from confrontation with others, and them pointing out our faults or errors. Rather if you learn to face your own faults and errors, you can no longer fear their impact on your life, but merely accept them as they are and work to improve yourself without hinderance.
Sloth(Avarice): Sometimes discouragement from performing daily/necessary activities is all in the mind. You think it's going to be harder, take longer, more effort than it really will. Set a schedule at which time things must be done and stick to it. Getting into the habit of doing something can make it far easier to do it and you less likely to put it off. Try new things, try to explore what you are good at. If you are afraid of failing, know that you will never conquer your fear unless you poke holes in it first. Don't go for the big banana, do small things that weaken your fear. If you are afraid of speaking in front of people but that is your calling, begin by doing smaller things like telling a story to a group of friends or family, making a small speech at a wedding or event, even hosting a party can make you more comfortable being in front of people. Work your way up to bigger things, and you'll find that each step along the way is not nearly as big as it looked from the ground.
Greed: Simply put, to conquer Greed you must let go. Start by giving away one item that you haven't used in months. In another month, give up two items that you haven't used in months. Work your way up until you are comfortable sorting out posessions you don't need (and don't REALLY want) anymore and giving them away to others or to charity. When you have change, drop it in a donation jar. Eventually, toss a whole dollar in occasionally. After a while, as you become more comfortable, you can donate $10, $20 or more to charities. Give your time, find the value in the charities by being there helping them do the work that they do, and you'll find that you become more driven towards the cause and more interested in helping in every way that you can. Realize that the universe provides, you do not need to stockpile money or posessions for yourself. When you need something, it will find its way to you.
Gluttony: Slow down. The easiest way to consume less is to take a longer time doing it. The uncomfortabe feeling of fullness comes about with less food if you give yourself more time between bites. You'll consume less alcohol if you sip at it rather than gulping it. Take a concious effort to pay attention to everything you take in, and it also helps to keep track of the quantities. If you look back over an evening and don't remember how much alcohol you drank, you're less likely to be concerned. If you realize you had 8 mixed drinks plus a few shots, you might be quicker to question it.
Lust: This one is tricky, as just like food we have a physical need for sex. If your difficulty is in sleeping around, then familiarize yourself with STD's, what they do, what they look like, and whether or not they are curable. Spend some time with friends who have kids, see what they do in a day, ask about childcare costs. Find out how much people have to pay out in child support. These things are the side effects of sex and can help make you more cautious in it, but again you should be tackling the root problem. Why is it that you are seeking sex out? Perhaps you are looking to connect with someone, or you are looking for affection, or looking for a conquest. Each of these reasons is because you feel that you are missing something inside and you are trying to provide it externally. Lust can also be related to shame - one might avoid relationships because they are too hard, which could in turn be because of a S.O. pointing out their faults and making them feel guilty or ashamed. One still wants companionship, so they seek out others but then avoid the relationship part of it in order to avoid the guilt. It can turn into a cycle where a person has as much sex as possible with as many people as possible because they are trying to fill the gap that not having a relationship has left in their lives.
Original vs New list
The list of seven sins has changed over the years (altered by the Catholic church, of course). The "purest" form could be considered that from the book of Proverbs - a list of six things which the Lord detests, and the seventh which he hates: (I have paraphrased for clarity)
Pride
Lying
Killing Innocents
Deliberate Wickedness
One quick to cause harm
Bearing False Witness
Causing dissent among family/friends
Latin list (14th century):
Superbia (Pride)
Avarita (Greed)
Luxuria (Extravagance)
Invidia (Envy)
Gula (Gluttony)
Ira (Wrath)
Acedia (Discouragement)
Modern (final) list:
Greed
Sloth
Envy
Lust
Rage
Pride
Gluttony
I will be discussing the modern list of seven sins, for the sake of relevance.
Greed: This sin is a fairly obvious one. The desire for collection / amassing / aquiring wealth, posessions, even power.
Sloth: Often viewed as laziness and a lack of hygene. However, this replaced Acedia, which could be considered more a discouragement or denying one's given talents, allowing them to fall to waste. I feel that both of these definitions should be considered, as not using God given talents could be seen as denying God himself.
Envy: The desire to have what someone else has, or wishing them harm for having something which you do not. Alternatively, I think this also encompasses the desire to have something better than someone else has, the "Jones'" syndrom, and being unhappy that someone else even has something equal to what you do (the feeling of not being unique because others share your posessions / designs / style)
Lust: Strictly speaking, this sin has generally referred to sexual desire or extreme sexual desire, however I feel a more narrowed definition is more appropriate - deviation in sexuality that is harmful. Rape, sexual desire that overruns life, and sexual habits which are emotionally and physically harmful to oneself and others.
Rage: Anger to the point that it causes harm to oneself or others.
Pride: Believing one or one's works are better than that of others, more deserving of praise, refusing to be flexible due to one's pride in oneself, feeling that one must behave a certain way out of pride even if doing so causes harm to oneself or others.
Gluttony: Consumption to extremes, taking more than one's fair share, alcoholism, drug use.
We know what the sins are, we know their general definition and application, but do we know why they are bad? For some, it's obvious. If you kill someone out of Rage, then Rage is bad. However, many of the other sins are less obvious, and even the straightforward definitions do not explain the true harm of these sins.
When you are envious, what harm does it cause? If not acted upon, then you harm no one else. Or do you? If you are envious of a friend having nicer shoes, but you say nothing and don't, for example, steal their shoes, then what harm has been caused? It's inside of you. Your envy, if unchecked, can grow to the point that it harms the friendship. You may be less kind to them, you could even be cruel or ultimately break the friendship off. It isn't likely over a single pair of shoes, but if you're envious that they have a better life than you then yes it is possible. Even if you never outwardly show your envy or act upon it, it still causes harm to you.
Everyone asks the purpose of life. Why are we here? What is the meaning, the point, why bother? The point is to ascend. To be come greater than we currently are, and ultimately to become like the Christ. He was an ascended being, as was the Buddha, and several other historical/religious figures. So long as your mind is mired in one or more of the "deadly" sins, you are held back from possibility of ascension. Here is a revised definition of the sins, to illustrate what I mean.
Greed: Desire to accumulate physical possessions or power causes you to pay attention only to that desire. Everything else fades in your view, and you focus only on your intent to aquire. If your intent is focused on aquisition of the physical, it is removed from any desire to aquire the spiritual.
Sloth: Denying one's body, the need for physical exertion leads to a deadening of the body which spirals downward and only gets worse. To not use and work the body causes the body to feel badly, it actually causes pain. The more pain you feel the less you want to do things, and eventually you do nothing at all. This prevents one from living, from breathing, from attuning with the earth and the heavens. Because the body feels dead, the soul also feels dead because it's only means of obtaining information and expressing itself is through the physical body so long as it is encased in the physical body. As to the second definition, that of denying one's talents, you are failing to exercise the soul in the same way that not doing physical exertion fails to exercise the body. Due to fear or other constraints we place on ourselves, not exercising the soul causes it to feel dead.
Envy: This is very similar to Greed and Gluttony. The desire to have something, or for others not to have something drives the focus of the mind towards that one goal, that one obsession. If you can think of nothing else, you can think of nothing beyond the physical world. Becoming consumed by envy is to see only one thing and blind yourself to all other things. This also prevents one from seeing the beauty in their own lives and appreciating what they already have. In other words, again denying that which God has given you.
Lust: I think of lust as very similar to Envy. It is an extreme desire for one thing, and the repeated seeking for that one thing, and repeated action within that range. Fetishes are a good example - now I'm not saying fetish is always a sin. What I am saying is that the person who cannot find sexual arousal or satisfaction without involvement of a fetish has succumbed to a level of lust that inhibits them from fully enjoying life. Because they need that one thing to find satisfaction, they think of little else. When they see it, they may be automatically distracted from whatever else is going on in their life. The man who wrecks his car over a woman crossing the road has succumbed to lust, because it has taken his focus away from his own safety and wellbeing. Lust is also dangerous in it's exhaultation of physical form. We are not physical beings, we are only assuming such form temporarily as a method to experience and learn. Becoming too engrossed in the physical blinds us to our true nature. Sex is fine, but as all things, moderation is best. If it overtakes or becomes your life, it has reached the point of Lust.
Rage: Everyone has heard the phrase "to see red." This is a very descriptive way of saying that a person has become so angered that they can think of nothing else. As in other sins, the common theme of blocking out the rest of life or even their spiritual nature is the real harm done here.
Pride: We are all spiritual beings in physical bodies. Each body has weaknesses, each mind has faults. Everyone is ultimately equal, and we are ultimately one spiritual body. Pride's greatest harm is in the illusion of seperation. "I wouldn't act/look/be like that, I am different from them" is the statement of pride, and it is a statement which sets one apart from others. Pride also has roots in the destruction of kindness, as if you hold your pride over someone else, you lose respect for them, and if you don't respect someone you are far less likely to be kind to them. Pride in oneself can also lead to avarice - it is pride that causes one to fear failing, and the fear of failing can cause one not to even try and thusly give up one's talents.
Gluttony: This sin is among the more difficult to define or draw a line where it begins and ends. The reason why is because consumption of various resources is necessary for life. We must eat, we must drink. I believe need becomes gluttony when one reaches the point where the need ends and the consumption continues. For example, if you have a bag of chips and you eat a few handfuls, you have likely satisfied your need. Finishing off the bag anyway would be gluttony. There is no hard/fast rule of where that line falls, but I think we all know deep down when we have crossed that line and are continuing to consume for the pleasure of it rather than the need. As far as alcohol and drugs, neither are necessary for life but we consume them anyway. Doing so in small quantities, primarily for the former and not the latter, is acceptable. Doing so on a regular basis and to the point where one is harmed by it (vomiting, poisoning, increasing addiction) stands as gluttony. Now, the harm in these actions is diverse. For one, gluttony is escapism and thusly one is denying one's feelings and memories in order to find oblivion and not face whatever it is they are escaping. The things that happen in our lives are lessons, good and bad, which benefit the development of our minds and souls. If we run from them, refuse to face the pain and try to drown ourselves, we deny the value of these lessons and ultimately deny our purpose on Earth.
The seven deadly sins are both specific and general, however the idea of moderation rules them all. In moderation, one can prevent any of the sins from overtaking themselves and work to keep themselves in check. The Buddha denied himself - he gave up a life of luxury for a life of near poverty, he refused food and other physical needs while he searched for deeper spiritual meaning. In his quest we find the true nature of the sins - these are thoughts and actions which bind us to the physical world, and they are chains which we ourselves can untangle in order to release our soul to find peace. The sins are "deadly" in the sense that every one of them blinds and deadens us to the reality beyond our reality, and prevents us from finding the things that would truely fill us with joy and comfort. Instead we try to fill ourselves with false comforts outlined in this list.
The thing about false comforts is that they are not satisfying. Many times, even as we are doing them, we think to ourselves "why am I doing this?" and afterwards we may think "that wasn't satisfying, that wasn't what I really wanted, what else can I try?" or even "I want more" and we try more things. We look to what others have and think that it may satisfy us so we seek it out. This does not satisfy us, so we look again to something else. It is a continuous chain of looking from one vice to the next, sure that this next thing will fix the gaping hole inside and make us feel better. In truth, none of these vices shall ever satiate us. The satisfaction we seek is in pursuit of the spiritual, the exaultation of the spirit body over the physical body.
In contrast to the seven deadly sins, there is a list of seven virtues as follows:
Chastity (refraining from Lust)
Temperance (refraining from Gluttony)
Charity (refraining from Greed)
Diligence (refraining from Sloth)
Patience (refraining from Wrath)
Kindness (refraining from Envy)
Humility (refraining from Pride)
If you are troubled by one or more of the seven deadly sins, there are actions to take to help you begin to satisfy what it is you truely desire. Here are some examples:
Pride - Look for things in others which you admire. Compliment them. Note similarities in yourself and others actively. Get to know more about people whom you may have felt were below you, and you will find that they too can be good people with good characteristics. Learning to appreciate others for their unique values is a good way to combat feelings of superiority. Pride is a way of clinging to what you think is good about yourself. Recognize the good in others and they will recognize the good in you, giving you a more positive affirmation that is not damaging.
Envy - The best way to combat a feeling of not having everything you desire is to place yourself around those who have less. Volunteer to help out the homeless and the needy. Work at a soup kitchen. You'll find out just how fortunate you are compared to those who have nothing, and by helping others you'll gain something more valuable than any amount of money.
Wrath - If you are quick to anger and your anger quickly becomes extreme, it may not be easy to counterbalance. When people do small things that anger you, think not about what they did but *why* they did it. Try to find a logical reason why their supposed harmful action happened. For example, if you get cut off by someone and it causes you road rage, think about why they pulled out when they did. Is it possible that you are on a very busy road and it is difficult to find a spot to pull out? Are you being excessive about the distance you want them to leave you when they do so? Is it possible they are having a really bad day and just aren't thinking clearly, and now feel guilty for having cut you off? When you start to sympathize with others and make an effort to understand their reasoning and what is going on in their life, it becomes harder to be angry with them and ultimately can help you control your anger at other moments as well. Sometimes we are quick to anger because deep down we believe if we get angrier and louder first, others will be more afraid of us and less likely to confront us, so really what we are battling is the guilt that comes from confrontation with others, and them pointing out our faults or errors. Rather if you learn to face your own faults and errors, you can no longer fear their impact on your life, but merely accept them as they are and work to improve yourself without hinderance.
Sloth(Avarice): Sometimes discouragement from performing daily/necessary activities is all in the mind. You think it's going to be harder, take longer, more effort than it really will. Set a schedule at which time things must be done and stick to it. Getting into the habit of doing something can make it far easier to do it and you less likely to put it off. Try new things, try to explore what you are good at. If you are afraid of failing, know that you will never conquer your fear unless you poke holes in it first. Don't go for the big banana, do small things that weaken your fear. If you are afraid of speaking in front of people but that is your calling, begin by doing smaller things like telling a story to a group of friends or family, making a small speech at a wedding or event, even hosting a party can make you more comfortable being in front of people. Work your way up to bigger things, and you'll find that each step along the way is not nearly as big as it looked from the ground.
Greed: Simply put, to conquer Greed you must let go. Start by giving away one item that you haven't used in months. In another month, give up two items that you haven't used in months. Work your way up until you are comfortable sorting out posessions you don't need (and don't REALLY want) anymore and giving them away to others or to charity. When you have change, drop it in a donation jar. Eventually, toss a whole dollar in occasionally. After a while, as you become more comfortable, you can donate $10, $20 or more to charities. Give your time, find the value in the charities by being there helping them do the work that they do, and you'll find that you become more driven towards the cause and more interested in helping in every way that you can. Realize that the universe provides, you do not need to stockpile money or posessions for yourself. When you need something, it will find its way to you.
Gluttony: Slow down. The easiest way to consume less is to take a longer time doing it. The uncomfortabe feeling of fullness comes about with less food if you give yourself more time between bites. You'll consume less alcohol if you sip at it rather than gulping it. Take a concious effort to pay attention to everything you take in, and it also helps to keep track of the quantities. If you look back over an evening and don't remember how much alcohol you drank, you're less likely to be concerned. If you realize you had 8 mixed drinks plus a few shots, you might be quicker to question it.
Lust: This one is tricky, as just like food we have a physical need for sex. If your difficulty is in sleeping around, then familiarize yourself with STD's, what they do, what they look like, and whether or not they are curable. Spend some time with friends who have kids, see what they do in a day, ask about childcare costs. Find out how much people have to pay out in child support. These things are the side effects of sex and can help make you more cautious in it, but again you should be tackling the root problem. Why is it that you are seeking sex out? Perhaps you are looking to connect with someone, or you are looking for affection, or looking for a conquest. Each of these reasons is because you feel that you are missing something inside and you are trying to provide it externally. Lust can also be related to shame - one might avoid relationships because they are too hard, which could in turn be because of a S.O. pointing out their faults and making them feel guilty or ashamed. One still wants companionship, so they seek out others but then avoid the relationship part of it in order to avoid the guilt. It can turn into a cycle where a person has as much sex as possible with as many people as possible because they are trying to fill the gap that not having a relationship has left in their lives.
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