Get active..

I love Quinn's books…and have met and had discussions with him and his wife, Rennie. But he's adamant that he doesn't want a following…he wants people to find creative ways to confront the reality of the 'crash' we're heading for.

LIke the industrial revolution…which was a million acts of different kinds that one day 'merged' into what appeared to be an obvious 'whole shift', the current transformational revolution that we're experiencing will happen this way as well.  There's no one right thing to do…there's bunches and bunches.

Two areas that will be critical for change…and two books I'd also recommend
1.Divine Right of Capital by Marjorie Sullivan
2. The End of Faith by Sam  Harris

Both confront 'old myths' that are so entrenched in all our lives that unless we recognize them for being nothing more than myth…and stop acting like they're 'real' there's no way to shift the world. (For instance..tonight you'll hear the Dow was up or down and we all nod our heads…as if it actually meant something–it means absolutely nothing!)

Anyway….gotta run for now!

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That is wonderful that you've met them and been able to get to the heart of it all!  I was so inspired by Ishmael, but also a little saddened.

So, through talking to them what changes were most prominent to them that needed to take place?

Regarding the Industrial revolution, there may be a new revolution going of a more environmental kind.There are those who would argue that the current trend of 'greening' the US is just a fad and that those in the top 1% would rather it just go away…..

Any thoughts on this?

Namaste
Thea

PS - thanks for being the first one to jump into the pool… ;-)

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Truly, Thea….they have no agenda…nothing that they think is 'most important'.  For Quinn, writing his books and sharing his philosophy is his piece….and he leaves it for everyone else to create theirs.  He doesn't think it is going to be one 'big thing' but a million little ones.

To that I would then say….there are truly a million efforts one could choose from that help 'turn this plane around'.

For example: eat local–join a CSA (community supported agriculture)..this is where you 'pre-buy' your shares of produce from the small farmer.  He/she get the money at the start of the season–and then everyone takes the risk that it will be a good season and they'll receive goods at harvest.  Now imagine–if everyone belonged to a local CSA–why would we need/want massive industrial farms? (as it is right now….the 'risk' of farming is so difficult to small farmers– if they have a bad season, they go out of business.  Not so the industrial farm–they can absorb the losses within the massive structure they have).

Print local currency…this is legal in this country!  And essentially it is a way for local folks to purchase amongst their local businesses, home grown businesses and keep the money circulating at home.  (google Ithaca Hours and you'll get info)

I could go on…but enough for now…

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Hi Ann !

I would agree that there will be many “little things” to mark the next change but perhaps what will be a challenge are those very “little things”.

Quinn prompted us with Ishmael to think differently although most felt at the end that it was a ‘tease” as they were looking for his “plan” or solution like you referenced in this thread. I find it amusing to review ishmael.org and still find readers asking Quinn that same question regarding his agenda or “plan”. It is a very natural next step as we are all so embraced by “Mother Culture” and truly looking for a way out. Quinn puts that task back on us–as it only can be.

Still, the challenge remains to discover those “little things” and enough of them so they can make a difference in our life. If my life is changed by these things and your life is changed by these things then one by one that will “turn the plane around”.

There needs to be enough of us DOING these small things to create the momentum though…otherwise it will end up being yet another groupthink effort or temporary movement in the culture.Like the 60’s…

I think that is why so many readers of Quinns material DO end up looking to him for an answer–SOME answer. Because there isn’t currently a compelling answer that seems to satisfy people. A BIG idea would satisfy..a small idea doesn’t seem revolutionary enough. I wonder sometimes if Quinn doesn’t know either…;) His analogy of the industrial revolution or other events of significant change in our world is true to a point–they began with hundreds of small changes–BUT, and this is where I empathize with his readers– those small changes were EXTREMELY compelling. Yes, there wasn’t a huge GM plant that suddenly was thought up and created to develop thousands of motor vehicles overnight but even the smallest little clothing manufactering shop at the dawn of the industrial movement was a marvel to watch in action and satisfied a need at that time for jobs with little to no skills. Sure, these many small companies and their changes birthed the industrial revolution without any “plan” but the very small companies themselves were revolutionary and compelling.

Nobody had a plan for the internet either–it grew from millions of small ideas but again the small ideas themselves were so revolutionary ( e-mail, Amazon, AOL) and compelling that “the movement” grew incredibly and changed the world–as all real revolutions do.

We need nothing less than that to turn things around. I do belong to a CSA and I also run my own business so that I can hunt/gather ;) with as much freedom as possible but that still isn’t IT for me. My other post suggests a co-op business model for the world that might create the momentum but THAT doesn’t quite feel like it is IT.

There needs to be something that draws people to the tribe for tribes sake–something compelling…on the smaller level . THEN when all these smaller revloutionary ideas emerge the Cultural Revolution will begin…IMHO….:)

PS How wonderful to meet the Quinns, Ann !

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Perhaps you're both correct. There can't possibly be one THING to do.  In that respect, we can agree that every small decision is tantamount to saving the world. 

My best approach is just living intentionally…. With every ounce of compassion I can muster on  a day to day basis, I try to make conscious decisions regarding what can make the world better to live in.  I don't always succeed.  That's the 'one thing', I think - being intentionally aware of what is happening, at every moment being awake enough to understand the ramifications of our actions.

Namaste
Thea

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Thea,

Oh, I fully agree….I wasn’t attempting to disagree with Ann at all. I was just to trying to wrap my mind around exactly WHAT small things could be true global catalysts for change. I guess I am just impatient for change–SOME change. I have been trying to live intentionally myself for many years now and although I recognize that “my change” will certainly help I do feel a compelling need to help co-create something revolutionary. That is what draws me to Zaadz–Passion and an authentic desire to make a tangible difference.

I am willing to do my part but I just need to find the vision to do something beyond–or in addition to personal changes.After you have felt that you are doing “your thing” personally it seems the next step is to somehow spread the word–as Ishmael did with his ad looking for students. I am attracted to Zaadz as I recognize within myself the desire to do this from the model of conscious capitalism.It just feels like the next step to use that medium to build bridges….but again, HOW? Quinn leave sthat for us to figure out for ourselves–which is what I assume this pod also attempts to nurture.

Ishmael imploring us that ” you are inventive peoples, so invent!”

What can we invent?

I hope more actively join/post to this pod as I really appreciate the “Ishmael approach” to the state of affairs we find ourselves.

Namaste and thanks for creating this pod Thea. Deep Bow…

Sean

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I have been very fortunate in that I was introduced to ishmael when I was in high school and very impressionable, since then I have been actively attempting to effect personal change in my life while always trying to keep in mind the question:

“With man gone can gorrila survive” and the inverse.

I think today the biggest question regarding the lessons of Ishmael (and Quinn's other work) is what would the story for civilized leavers be? What are the elements of that story and thus what would the metaphors pretain to? I don't know that it would be possible for civilized leavers to live in the hands of the gods…I think instead of relying on the ancient leaver myth of an earthly garden, we must turn to look at a myth concerning an earthly heaven. Mythical  stories such as The Kingdom of Shambala and Utopia must be looked at through the lense of leavers and these stories become the activators for a new culture. A true revolution something akin to the Enlightenment, subtle and prevasive with multiple lines and levels of developmening fields of thought.

Namaste

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Your post made me think of a topic I was just discussing today regarding 'consentual reality' .  As you said, we're all making small personal changes, but sometimes it just doesn't seem like enough. 

Willing the world to change is a tough process requiring consentual thought as to how things should be, to 'turn the plane around'.  The problem is, everyone's head is buried in the sand.  They've given up their social responsibility to their government agencies, industry and corporate interests.

It's amazing to watch how people isolate themselves from reality.  They see a news clip, or watch a movie and say “oh well, that's just the way things are”.  That's why I love the concept of 'mother culture' as an explanation for this phenomenon.  Just as we were taught while growing up to accept what our parents taught us as right or wrong, culture teaches it's members to think on the terms decided for that culture, without much question, even if it's not beneficial to the populous.  What does that leave us with?  Apathy and an increase in social disharmony.  Even the way we communicate, through email, cell phones and memos, has its own form of disembedding structure.  It disconnects us from what is real by making every encounter with other humans a quick 'sound bite'.  People don't change it because they can't SEE the need to.  They're too busy being told what is right.

Just last week, I was involved in a discussion where it was pointed out that revolution in this country is near impossible because we have been taught from a very young age that we already HAD a revolution 200 years ago.  Americans are 'revolutionaries', pilgrims, explorers, etc, by our inherited past.  Therefore, no matter how unhappy people are, there is little likelyhood that there will be revolutionary action, at least in our lifetimes.  Isn't it strange to think about that?  No matter the corruption of politics, the morality of science or the necessity of change, people will move along, sheep like and docile, secure in their knowledge that they are patriots in this new world. 

Therefore, it's up to people who actually want change to send out the word to others.  That's why I love this site so much.  Every new member means one more person has become conscious of what it's going to take to effect change in the world.  Very exciting to be a part of.

Namaste
Thea

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As for 'reality'….you're right…most of the 6.2 billion of us have heads buried….

One area that is going to have to address is the 'religion myth', which is where so many, filled with fear, keep themselves buried.

that's why I mentioned in the earlier post End of Faith by Sam Harris…it is truly frightening to recognize how 80% of the world population is acting out a life based on a ridiculous myth–not only acting on it, but ready to kill or die for it. 

Here's my question…HOW are we going to break the walls of that myth and bring them into an awareness without scaring them/losing them?

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Hey Ann,

Thanks for being here.

I understand what you mean about the “religion myth” as the Taker’s have certainly rallied around that and as Quinn explains, it is this deep seated (“seeded” too!) belief structure that is ultimately what needs to be abondened if we truly expect real change to occur.

My personal struggle is that although I agree that this “religion myth” is the underlying source of ‘Mother Culture” I also recognize another story under these “myths” that I feel does deserve some merit ( the evolution of consciousness). I am not sure throwing the baby ( the world religions) out with the bath water ( consciousness) is the way to go–And I am not suggesting that you mean to do that either- I think that Quinn exposed a piece of the problem but there are other levels of human development to consider.

I don’t have much use for the old testament or much of what the other authors report in the new testament but I do think that jesus himself taught a revolution that is in alignment with what we are discussing here in this pod. Perhaps that is part of an answer to your question–rather than breaking the walls of that tradition instead we use the words of their master to help ease some into an awareness of the change we all need to embrace.

Often I feel a bit like “Fr. Jared” in the Story of B where I am facing the reality of the truth of our history but also see another evolution in human consciousness that must also be part of our growth. I can’t seem to accept an atheistic/agnostic approach that Quinn tempts me into consider…Our story isn’t just an anthropological/biology story is it? What about our gift of consciousness? Is that not that gift a hologram of the universe and therefore in perfect alignment with the universal story?

One of the aspects of Quinn’s stories that I am conflicted with is that on the one hand he details the authentic and true development of all other species on this earth but doesn’t seem to recognize ( to me) that our taker/leaver paths have also “evolved” from the same impulse that all other life evolved from.Are we then fundamentality flawed as homo sapiens and that all other species are in alignment with the world as it was designed? We posses an awesome gift of “the story” that was gifted to us no differently than the other species received their gifts. Is it then our fault we ended up like this? Is this evolution tainted then? And if so, why just us? Is this homo sapien evolutionary development of being conscious and recognizing history via a story a gift or a curse?

The answer I tell myself is that it is not the gift itself but how we use it. However, from a deeper level I try to understand how it is that ANY development–including the taker development could have even evolved so disfunctionally. I don’t know of any other species that developed with an inherant flaw like this–which always brings me back to the conclusion that things are today the way that they are supposed to be–for right Now–at this point in our development. We aren’t done yet–I hope. Of course we are never “done” from an evolutionary point of view but to label us as “gone bad” is hard for me to reconcile with the concept of evolution in general. Do any of us know of another species “gone bad”. Does nature ever “go bad”? Are we not part of nature–even now in this present dysfunctional state ?

I tend to not reflect on this as I generally focus on what to do and what to believe that will bring about positive change but still the thought lingers–especially as as I re-read Quinn’s material.

Digging deep here and revealing some personal soul searching to initiate a dialogue on Truth and all of this–

Very interested on your thoughts as well as the others on this…

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Sean,

In your comment about 'myth' having some merit…evolution of consciousness–I guess i would say that the 'salvation' based religions are an affront to consciousness–represented today by the fact that millions of people are stunted in their own personal growth because of religion which train/force them to 'believe' what someone else says is 'the one right way'. Ugh.

You comment  “i can't seem to accept an athiestic/agnostic approach that Quinn tempts me to consider….You've missed something very important in Quinn's work…he is neither suggesting athieism or agnostic….he is talking about Animism.  Animism is the oldest spiritual tradition on this planet…and when you point to evolution of consciousness–Animism supports a belief that all of life (animal, plant, earth, human) is 'conscious' and in a state of evolution.  One thing that Quinn said in Ishmael (or maybe My Ishmael) is that if man truly blows it because of his Taker mindset…essentially he destroys also the potential evolution of all species….for example, we know 'dolphins and whales' are quite smart…but if we destroy the oceans…and they go extinct…their 'evolution' will be stopped too.

A key concept in Quinn's work is this animistic theme…and showing how humans have broken from the 'community of life's' rules….which he outlines again and again.  As Takers we see ourselves as different and not having to pay attention to those rules–but as we're on the brink of self-destruction–the sooner we wake up and realize we are not different/special, we are interconnected witth the cycle of life, the better.  Those rules have worked for millions of years…and man, in his current state used those rules from say 40,000 years ago up til about 10,000 years ago…  About 10,000 years ago, the shift began with agriculture/Taker mindset…and with that animism became overwhelmed by salvationism/(when we locked up the food remember–we started deciding who would get it and who would not…religion/salvation story was created here.  When we left animism (abundance for all, scarcity for all) and shifted to civilization/salvationism–we developed the mindset of 'abundance for some, scarcity for most'…and we have been living with that now for a solid 3000 years.  It has to end…


If jesus was doing anything–I think he was trying to bring back an awakening to the animist mind–but of course, all we have left of his work is the morphed/contorted books of the old testament/new testament…and these are political, not spiritual.  If you read Elaine Pagels work, The gospels of thomas, you will realize that what got included in the new testament was really a 'battle at the publishing house'…whereby Thomas felt 'god was within' all (animist) and John felt 'god was outside/other than us and we could only reconnect if we were 'saved'.  As is obvious, the salvation story made the printing….animism, did not.  Imagine how differently our world would have evolved if every child was taught he was a member of the community of life and should respect all life.  Instead, children are told they are sinned beings, that they can hope to be 'saved' and thus, not burn in hell.  Hmmmm, two very different worlds don't you think?

As for how we could be this dysfunctional…go back to the rise of population…there are simply too many of us–in any other species, population/food supply controls this…population goes up, exceeds food supply, it 'naturally curtails itself'..and the cycle starts again,–an ebb and flow.  Humans…not so, we just keep expanding the population and forcing mother earth to provide–but to do that we're pooping in our own back yard, fight the 'others' who want our food (who also happen to be human of course) and that will take us out…..

we aren't done yet….as he talks in Beyond Civilization–we can't go back but we can go forward.  My thoughts about why the 'salvation' story has to end is that it continues to support a mindset that says, 'we'll get ours on the 'other' side–and we then abuse what we have right here…and personally, I believe what we have here is/can be all we need if we would live within the harmony of the community of life.

be well
ann

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Ann,

In re-reading my post I guess I did give the impression of defending the “taker religion” but that was certainly not my intent. At the risk of rambling too much on this one thread let me try again to formulate my position for any further clarification/wisdom you (or the others) might provide to help me work out this thorny issue of mine.

Although I agree that Quinn is not suggesting he is an athiest/agnotic–he is very clear he is an Animist–but I think his personal definition of Animism lacks a recognition or acceptance of the current evolution of consciousness.He seems to imply an almost purely spiritual-anthropological approach to life–surely in recognition of our web of life, but in Quinn’s world it seems nothing is needed except for this “spiritual” approach to all of life. Well no, that’s not quite right either…it isn’t that he doesn’t believe that consciousness evolves but more that the specific current teachings of the”flowering of human consciousness” is not recognized for it’s merits. Take for instance the following quote from Quinn from his website:

” I’m afraid that terms like “universal consciousness” and “soul of the universe” merely make me shrug.”

I can’t just shrug like Daniel–and I wonder why?–I am compelled to look deeper into it and explore what new understandings will help to expand my journey back to the Source. I suppose this is the entire point for me–and evidently many others from the amount of questions relevant to this on his website.Perhaps it is Quinn’s lack of alignment with any of the new consciousness teachings that makes some of us wonder how he fits these teachings into his worldview. There is an implication by his lack of recognition that they are not relevant or necessary.

I totally believe that the salvationist approach that all of the world religions espouse is harmful and are antagonistic to a whole, fully embraced life of communion with all species that we need today. To return to a “leaver lifestyle” is truly what we need to do–and is our natural place in alignment with our species. That is what spoke so deep to me in Quinn’s work. What I am trying to work out–and I am undoubtedly still struggling to break loose from Mother Culture’s arms–is how Quinn reconciles his teachings with Wilbur or Tolle’s teachings.Or why he does not.

I personally can find reconciliation between the Animist mind and the modern teachings of enlightenment- Both are indeed the same but it seems that Alan Watts or Eckart Tolle are speaking to a deeper, currently evolved development–the “flowering of human consciousness” as some reference it. I am sure I could find today a true leaver human in some remote area of our world and although I would expect to experience a more evolved ‘spiritual being” and a connection to all of life with this individual, I would also guess that this individual might ( but it is not guaranteed) have not grown to a higher conscious development pointed to by Tolle, Watts, Wilbur etc… Some early Native American tribes were surely “leavers” but they also embraced a ‘spirituality” that although fully embraced all of life also appear to not be where some of the more “enlightened minds” are today.Admittedly they were far more “evolved” than all of the world religions today but the deep “present moment awareness/enlightenment” that some of our enlightened teachers share doesn’t seem to have expressed itself with them–as a culture.

That comment runs the risk of critique as many would argue they indeed possessed this level of “enlightenment”. But I am speaking more to the current mass consciousness changes and flowering that it points to. The understanding of manifesting our future (ala the “What the Bleep” movie) or the Era 3 mind/body studies that have pushed our current understanding of metaphysics.It is this philosophical/scientific development that I am trying to find a place for within Quinn’s world. I can reconcile it–but why Quinn is conspicuously silent and adamently opposes any alignment with it-pro or con–is what I am currently attempting to understand. It is out of my respect for his work that causes me some pause in my own understanding regarding these matters. Perhaps the real question isn’t all the above but WHY he does not reference these other developments as viable evolved expressions in conjunction with his Animist world.

I hope that this helps clarify my questioning…I suppose I am still like Jared or Ishmael’s student–recognizing the Truth but trying to understand it fully within my world.

Thanks for the time…and patience helping this learner.

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Interesting writing….
I guess I'm more like Quinn…your quote of his…”I'm afraid that terms like “universal consciousness” and “soul of the universe” merely make me shrug…..um, Sean, they make me shrug too.  What in the world do those terms mean?  To me they're as made up as 'salvation'….phrases human create to to signifify something…but are they really signifying anything just because we wrote them?
You say you are 'compelled to look deeper….explore what new understandings will help expand my journey back to the source.  But to me, there is no journey back to the Source…because you are the Source…and that's what Quinn is saying…when you live in an animist mind…..you know you are the Source….

And why does Quinn need to reconcile his teachings with Wilbur or Tolle?  And what by the way,  are the modern teachings of enlightenment?  You'll excuse me this…but when I hear that word enlightenment…I always wonder what people are talking about….Enlightenment to me is jsut a modern term for 'salvation'…ie, we will 'achieve oneness with the 'source'…..which translates to me of 'You'll get yours on the other side'….  See, to me, hear and now is all I need to be present too…living love for SELF and others as best I can today….that's it, simple.  We make things so difficult!

If you recall…Quinn talks in I think it was Providence…of his experience in the forest when the boundaries of separation lifted and he became 'one with' the source and recognized the beauty and joy in every species surrounding him.  That ephiphany moment is great to have…but it too is a moment of knowing (as the meditator discovers as well)…and after that happens…you still ilve in the here and now…but with an appreciation of the depth of beautfy.  And I think it is sufficient….

Not sure I'm answering all your points…just some thoughts.
ann

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Okay Ann, I must apologize for so poorly trying to explain the essence of my question here. I am an artist and find myself better suited to conceptual communication rather than the written word–sorry about the “interesting writing”–I am struggling a bit here to express myself articulately…I hope you see this as being personally revealing and honest rather than rambling.

At the risk of beating this thread to death, I am going to give it a final attempt to explain my question better….Perhaps I am just not listening–I will try that some more. I WANT to get this as I deeply respect the thinking of Quinn and your obvious experience in his work.

We can agree that there are advances of evolution on the physical level… Not better or worse–just degrees of evolving. Animals, trees and all so called “nature” live in harmony with the whole–and certainly could be defined as “successful animists”. Our human species has also evolved.

Shirin explains in “The Story of B” to Jared that our ancestors developed the ability to construct “The Story”–the knowledge of the past with a presumption of the future- I WAS, I AM , I WILL BE– i.e. consciousness. This type of thinking has perhaps not arrived/evolved for other species…yet. Not good or bad–no level of perfection here- and NOT salvationistic. Perhaps algae is more “evolved” on a deeper, animist level. No matter, we humans are evolved to where we are with conscious, thinking minds.

Evolved science/spiritual teachings provide us with another mirror into recognizing a new ( “evolved?”) understanding of what it is to be “one with the source”. Surely we should already know this for what else are we really? Animists certainly get this. But it seems to me that our evolved human ability of consciousness is more and more revealed to us and offers us additional means to connect.

The tools Tolle provides us ( ways of living in conscious presence) or that Era 3 medicine provides us ( manifesting health or deliberate creation of our own future) or the lessons of chi and the energy centers of the body etc– all examples of an expanded consciousness– seem to be beneficial and “evolved” human tools that are appropriate for human animists to employ.

The “shrug” of Quinn to these evolved tools is what perplexes me. It seems to me to be an easy reconciliation to promote animism as the foundational approach with an equal acceptance of utilizing these new tools of consciousness to the betterment of our species and the entire ecological environment of which we share.

So after all this verbiage I have two questions:

1. Is Quinn saying that Animism is enough and that these new “tools” are unnecessary? That would certainly simplify matters for those of us like myself that are drawn to digging as deep as I can to live a fully integral life by reading/living/practicing these other tools.

2. If I find myself very ill should I use the evolved consciousness tools of energy bodywork, chi or the “What the Bleep” “reality manifestation” understandings to regain my health? Will animism provide the same healing? Aren’t these new “tools” simply another aspect to an animist approach? Not a salvationistic approach of lack or the need for something. Simply a new skill no different than an upright human with the new ability to climb an apple tree to get more food where the prior ancesters lacked this additional food producing approach after the apples on the ground were gone ( apologies to anthropologists everywhere)–Bad analogy but I think you get my point…;)

An additional helpful tool rather than a merely a “shrug”.

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Sean,
I copied some of what you wrote above so I could answer/respond more directly….(mines in bold/italic/underline



We can agree that there are advances of evolution on the physical level… Not better or worse–just degrees of evolving. Animals, trees and all so called “nature” live in harmony with the whole–and certainly could be defined as “successful animists”. Our human species has also evolved.  Yes…

Shirin explains in “The Story of B” to Jared that our ancestors developed the ability to construct “The Story”–the knowledge of the past with a presumption of the future- I WAS, I AM , I WILL BE– i.e. consciousness. This type of thinking has perhaps not arrived/evolved for other species…yet. Not good or bad–no level of perfection here- and NOT salvationistic. Perhaps algae is more “evolved” on a deeper, animist level. No matter, we humans are evolved to where we are with conscious, thinking minds.  Yes…



Evolved science/spiritual teachings provide us with another mirror into recognizing a new ( “evolved?”) understanding of what it is to be “one with the source”. Okay…, tell me what evolved science/spiritual teachings tell us..this might be where i'm losing you…Surely we should already know this for what else are we really? Animists certainly get this. But it seems to me that our evolved human ability of consciousness is more and more revealed to us and offers us additional means to connect.

The tools Tolle provides us ( ways of living in conscious presence) Give me more specifics please….when you say he gives us a tool…what tool? or that Era 3 medicine provides us ( manifesting health or deliberate creation of our own future) or the lessons of chi and the energy centers of the body etc– all examples of an expanded consciousness– seem to be beneficial and “evolved” human tools that are appropriate for human animists to employ.  You know, as I read this, I had a flash thought of a cartoon I saw years ago–two cats are sitting on a ledge looking down into a yoga class where the instructor is teaching the humans to do 'upward dog now downward dog'….and the one cat looks at the other and says  “And to think, they have to be taught this!”.   It made me laugh, but also gave me a perspective of 'our perception' of our evolution–could it possibly even be that we are the 'lowest' of the learned and cats, who can sleep 23 hours aday are more advanced. 
The “shrug” of Quinn to these evolved tools is what perplexes me. It seems to me to be an easy reconciliation to promote animism as the foundational approach with an equal acceptance of utilizing these new tools of consciousness to the betterment of our species and the entire ecological environment of which we share. Again, I”m going to come back to 'utlizing these tools of consciousness'….do you mean meditating, tai chi, etc?  All these force us to 'recognize the energy field'….good thing…but I still think we are making this all so much more complicated than it has to be.  The energy field/force of love is always present–these tools help us remember what we've forgotten over the last 10,000 years.
These tools are a piece of the Great Remembering…..a slow return to a deep consciousness that may have been present so long ago

So after all this verbiage I have two questions:

1. Is Quinn saying that Animism is enough and that these new “tools” are unnecessary? That would certainly simplify matters for those of us like myself that are drawn to digging as deep as I can to live a fully integral life by reading/living/practicing these other tools.No, I don't think he's saying animism is everything–just that as you really connect to it, the need for the tools becomes less and less because animism connects you to the community of life…which is a knowing of love and all our parts in the great dance.  We aren't there yet…Quinn is…but we may not be and thus, we have to watch What the Bleep to say, “ooh, look at that'….

2. If I find myself very ill should I use the evolved consciousness tools of energy bodywork, chi or the “What the Bleep” “reality manifestation” understandings to regain my health? Will animism provide the same healing? Yes, certainly access any ways you can for healing–but I think animism gives you one more tool–in that, dying isn't a failure—-it is the fulfillment of the 'circle of life' energy field…someitmes it is our times to live, sometime our time to die, so we can return to living again–Animism recognizes them as all parts of the same whole.  Aren’t these new “tools” simply another aspect to an animist approach?Yes, and I”m sure Quinn, if he's got a headache would use what he could to remove it, as a cheetah would find a way to remove a thorn…we do what we need to do where we are and when we need to.  And we don't spent a lot of time sitting around waiting for the 'thorn to be removed' until/unless the thorn shows up.   In my personal opinion, I think too many folks are busy hunting for the thorn that MIGHT show up–and working to remove it before it arrives….and mistakenly label this a 'search fo r higher consciousness'. 

 Not a salvationistic approach of lack or the need for something. Simply a new skill no different than an upright human with the new ability to climb an apple tree to get more food where the prior ancesters lacked this additional food producing approach after the apples on the ground were gone ( apologies to anthropologists everywhere)–Bad analogy but I think you get my point…;) Certainly this is the journeyof ALL species…fnding new ways as new challenges present themselves

An additional helpful tool rather than a merely a “shrug”.  I don't think Quinn would reject any tool……maybe for him, since he has 'been one with the source', he's able to trust/know and that's why he shrugs–hoping perhaps (and really I don't know and don't want to put words in his mouth) in this shrug to leave an impression that it doesn't have to be so complex–keep it simple.

But I will ask you…when you wrote before 'soul of the universe'…WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY THAT….??? 

ann

Re: Get active..

Um, I think my other post was much easier to find an answer..;)
Okay, I will cut/paste your questions/comments below to drill down through this more:

ME: Evolved science/spiritual teachings provide us with another mirror into recognizing a new ( “evolved?”) understanding of what it is to be “one with the source”.

YOU: Okay…, tell me what evolved science/spiritual teachings tell us..this might be where i’m losing you…

Yeah, I see that…what I mean is that primal peoples did not know yet about chakras or the powers of the mind to manifest the future or yoga as a mindful discipline or chi/energy centers or Tolle’s tools to consciously to live in the Now–or substitute any of the more recent ( 5000 years) developments in any area of metaphysics. ( Now Ann don’t lose me with definitions here..I am truly not trying to make these “newer” evolutions of consciousness “better” –just as an opposable thumb on one level is no “better” than a claw–it just offers NEW opportunities and in the case of evolution more adaptable tools)

ME: The “shrug” of Quinn to these evolved tools is what perplexes me. It seems to me to be an easy reconciliation to promote animism as the foundational approach with an equal acceptance of utilizing these new tools of consciousness to the betterment of our species and the entire ecological environment of which we share.

YOU: Again, I”m going to come back to ‘utlizing these tools of consciousness’….do you mean meditating, tai chi, etc? All these force us to ‘recognize the energy field’….good thing…but I still think we are making this all so much more complicated than it has to be. The energy field/force of love is always present–these tools help us remember what we’ve forgotten over the last 10,000 years.These tools are a piece of the Great Remembering…..a slow return to a deep consciousness that may have been present so long ago

Ahhh, this is exactly where we are diverging….You see these new “tools” ( meditating, tai chi, Tolle stuff ) as a “remembering” to what we had where as I feel they are evolved developments of consciousness. This is the total crux of our discussion–and the entire point of my question and perplexment with Quinn’s lack of acceptance of this area of “evolution”. THIS is it so let me stop and spend time here on just this–

Tolle spends a considerable time discussing consciousness “below thought”–those in the animal, plant etc. kingdoms. He is very clear to explain that their development is perfect as it is for them at their level of evolution in their species–and actually far more “evolved” than those humans among us who blindly go through life with their salvationistic or non-animistic approach.

I can totally believe that an animist 12,000 years ago was fully aware of their energy body ( if you don’t believe in chakras just humor me for this simplified example) and to a certain extent used this knowledge. However, like all aspects that evolve today, we have become aware of further aspects to the energy body. The colors, the seven physically located areas, the unique strengths and weaknesses of these particular areas. This new–evolved–knowledge has the opportunity to provide more efficient targeted solutions to “an energy body issue” perhaps.

If we can agree and believe that our ability to communicate has evolved from simple methods of the first primal peoples to a wider, new style involving music and singing and poetry that expresses things that might have been difficult to express as primal people than why is it hard to believe that our “connection” to the entire bio species has also evolved through new consciousness awareness and those tools?

Rather than offer additional lengthy analogies or explanations let me try to bluntly hit it–
If the human physical body evolves does not human consciousness evolve? Are you saying that we had it all–perfect and complete– “spiritually perfect” 10,000 + years ago? That we simply need to remember?

I see consciousness as an aspect that evolves no differently than a wing evolved for the species “bird”. Let’s pretend that ALL spiritual teachings of all sorts today are mere remembering of the past—Does that still mean that this past connection is unable to evolve into further expressions?

Finally….

You: But I will ask you…when you wrote before ‘soul of the universe’…WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY THAT….???

Through our prior posts I believe we are talking about the same thing. My phrase, “Soul of the Universe” is just another way of describing the conscious connection to all there is– animate and inanimate. All are One. The “I” of the Universe.

Perhaps Quinn isn’t saying that these other “new” human aspects/tools are wrong to use–just not tools he chooses to use. That is fine–and I can understand that. It is his insinuation that they are not needed (for all) that has had me perplexed. I am attracted to simplicity as much as Quinn but if I were a hawk I would not prefer the vision of a perfectly functioning human eye to my evolved “hawk eye” if it could assist me in other ways while in this physical form.

Thanks for taking the time to explore all this with me Ann…:)

Sean

Re: Get active..

Again, I”m going to respond to your paragraphs…

Ahhh, this is exactly where we are diverging….You see these new “tools” ( meditating, tai chi, Tolle stuff ) as a “remembering” to what we had where as I feel they are evolved developments of consciousness. This is the total crux of our discussion-and the entire point of my question and perplexment with Quinn's lack of acceptance of this area of “evolution”. THIS is it so let me stop and spend time here on just this-
I guess I would say it this way…..about 10,000 years ago, (we don't know the exact number) I believe there was a high conscious peoples (not all of them, obviously there were low, below throught groups…who I think are the ones who started the chaotic ride from Leaver to Taker…but there were definitely some 'evolved' beings using meditation and energy knowledge…so, when you call the 'new tools', I see them as tools that help us reconnect to a knowing and THEN, keep moving forward.

Tolle spends a considerable time discussing consciousness “below thought”-those in the animal, plant etc. kingdoms. He is very clear to explain that their development is perfect as it is for them at their level of evolution in their species-and actually far more “evolved” than those humans among us who blindly go through life with their salvationistic or non-animistic approach.  Okay, and frankly, I'd say 90% of the humans on this planet aren't much evolved–my cats are far beyond them :)

I can totally believe that an animist 12,000 years ago was fully aware of their energy body ( if you don't believe in chakras just humor me for this simplified example and to a certain extent used this knowledge. However, like all aspects that evolve today, we have become aware of further aspects to the energy body. The colors, the seven physically located areas, the unique strengths and weaknesses of these particular areas. This new-evolved-knowledge has the opportunity to provide more efficient targeted solutions to “an energy body issue” perhaps. 
–I'm okay with chakras but remember, those are terms we created to use as a knowledge framework–they're only as 'real' as something else we call 'sacred'…again, a term whereby we denote 'status'….(because to me ALL is sacred…but since most don't see ALL as sacred, they have decided to 'label something as sacred', so like we fight over Jerusalem and call it the sacred space of Jews, Catholics, Muslims–but in reality it is not more sacred than Darfur….except that we deem is so).  So, yes, I understand and acknowledge chakras–but they're not a new tool…they are just a way for us to order our knowing so we can share it with others…..like salvation…we made them up….

If we can agree and believe that our ability to communicate has evolved from simple methods of the first primal peoples to a wider, new style involving music and singing and poetry that expresses things that might have been difficult to express as primal people than why is it hard to believe that our “connection” to the entire bio species has also evolved through new consciousness awareness and those tools?

Rather than offer additional lengthy analogies or explanations let me try to bluntly hit it-
If the human physical body evolves does not human consciousness evolve? Are you saying that we had it all-perfect and complete- “spiritually perfect” 10,000 + years ago? That we simply need to remember? No, I'm not saying that consciousness hasn't evolved–though again, not in 90% of humans….I think actually that we're about to split off a new limb on the tree of life…..Homo sapien, sapiens are a dying breed…but Homo Noeticus….that is in its infancy–a few people amongst the current groups are evolving and are going to be the 'next branch'….That's what we're all doing here at Zaadz….hoping we're part of this new branch–talking together, working together and letting those who want to focus on 'death/dying' ==check out! 

But to your point that Quinn 'shrugs' off the new tools….I think, becuase he is so evolved, he knows that we don't need to get massively caught up in putting the 'power' in the tool'….THose who will move on and return to their place in the Community of LIfe…it will just be…..

ann

Re: Get active..

Hi,
Sorry I haven't responded lately…somehow I got bumped off, but seems like I'm able to access again–so have just had a chance to read the last few days of postings…

And I can so relate to the thread of 'frustration' as we all want to see change and yet current systems are so entrenched that it seems impossible almost to climb around this mess.  But, I'm the ultimate optimist…so I keep plugging along.

The frustration is that so many people are just following along–I'm sure really if we looked at our own lives–somewhere along the way, we followed too. 

For myself…by 19 (i'm now 50), I was very clear of what I didn't want…basically mother culture'….but not sure what i did want–what would it be if I could create a SELF, a life, a community that provided the support and joy that I was sure was supposed to be a part of life.  That “I know what I don't want, but not what I do want' led to a an interesting process–for my own exploration–but then I turned that into a business of teaching others–because i discovered I was not the only one feeling the “I know what I don't want'….

I felt fortunate to have had the time to expand that picture of what it is to live a whole life–and then felt a responsibility to share it through my counselign practice.  It is a joy to teach others  to recognize 'mother culture', gasp with the realization of how they were living their lives–and yet, without shame say, 'of course you're living like that….its all you've ever seen–there's almost no chance you would've been living any other way than that–but now let me show you something else.  And people do want to learn something else….

What I've learned over this process is that most of us are so disconnected to our SELF, that we truly don't even realize there's a community of other people or as Quinn says, a Community of life (plant, animal, water, air etc.).  Help someone strengthen SELF…and all those other pieces they begin to realize are a vital part of them too. 

The only tough part is that i can only impact so few at a time ….but the joy is watching people wake up (and I should say….those I teach are not necessarily folks you'd find at Zaadz–who are reading Ishmael/ Wilber, Tolle etc…) My clients are those still reading crime novels. But guess what–they want to learn too….they do. 

so, that's one way…..