Gaia: What Is Enlightenment? - Articles, Links, and Resources - God's Playing a New Game

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://my-head.gaia.com — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 15:49:38 GMT

Lets get back to the margin first !

Surely the essence of pure motivation - lies at the heart of the authentic SELF - and is itself the driving force of evolution ... because that's the way it's meant to be - what IS IS and ain't no ISer - this might get you all into a New Game

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://TheYogi.gaia.com — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 01:00:20 GMT

Tamara....You think that what I am saying is at odds with what you are saying, however, what I mean to say is that we must play our role in this material world with our eyes fixed on God....To have compassion for all.....the killer and the killed....not to just abandon the needy, but to serve them as God would have you.... Yet through all of this we must remain unattached to the outcome of our efforts...We must realyze that things work according to a plan... Peace and Love -Yogi

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://createcommunity.gaia.com — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 22:17:35 GMT

Yogi,
In my way I was trying to point out that you do care, or else you wouldn't have entered into the drama here in this "shadow" world, this discussion forum.

Nirvana is none other than samsara.

We are God, and desire is God's nature, there is no impurity. Nothing ever did or ever will take us away from God...

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://createcommunity.gaia.com — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 21:53:18 GMT

Yogi, I was not agreeing with you, I was confronting your ascendecy oriented dualism. there is such a state that is equanamous and compassionate, the deep immanance of Being.

I do agree with your statement; " When you see God in all....Good and bad, beautiful and "ugly"...a painting and a rock...Then you will understand the true meaning of equinimity..."
This is equally a statement of deep love, an equal love for for All, and an identification with All.

I believe that a path that emphasizes detached uncaring attitudes is a misunderstanding of the true meaning of equanimity. It is escapism masquerading as enlightenment, an avoidance of pain, rather than transcendance of suffering. Only by deeply embracing the reality of suffering can we deepen through it, cracking the heart wide open as the sky, finding true equanimity in that spaciousness, while never negating the reality of that pain, for oneself or others. In this path we care enough to grow in wisdom in order to serve the relief of suffering out of our compassion.

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://andrewmarkmusic.gaia.com — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 18:21:19 GMT

Isn't this an issue of worldviews? Could't this apparent conflict be resolved by balancing the ascetic,austere ,ascending approach and the seemingly decadent, materialistic me first descending worldview? What would happen if the 'Descenders' created wealth with the sincere intention to share it for the common good of all (oh, oh, sounds like Socialism).That wealth had meaning and purpose beyond egoic self-centered desire gratification (not that i see this happening). But, what if?

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://TheYogi.gaia.com — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 17:33:46 GMT

Tamara...... You are right...we should not care so much about this "shadow" world....Equinimity is the goal of all yogis... However, we (like actors in a movie) must still play a role in this drama, and depending on how we play our roles we can either move towards God and realization of the true nature of reality, or we can become mired in desire producing sense attachments which take us away from God... So even though this is but a shadow world, how we conduct ourselves in this reality directly has an impact on our evolution... When you see God in all....Good and bad, beautiful and "ugly"...a painting and a rock...Then you will understand the true meaning of equinimity... Peace and Love -Yogi

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://createcommunity.gaia.com — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 22:25:21 GMT

Yogi

If "This material world is but a shadow of the true reality" then why give a shit about this shadowland?
Why are you even here at Zaadz then? Why "get caught up in the drama" of caring enough to change the world?
I believe that this view is only true to an extent, that there is the compassion side, that "relativity" or the world of duality and form is as "real" as the "emtiness" aspect. Don't get dualistic and be attracted to only one face of God.

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://my-head.gaia.com — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 13:38:54 GMT

Very well said Yogi - a simulation of the reality of the reality in fact

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://TheYogi.gaia.com — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 02:06:07 GMT

This material world is but a shadow of the true reality.....It is like watching a movie being projected on a screen...we can be caught up in the drama, or we can expand our consciousness and "look about the room" and see that the material world is but a projection, a mere shadow of reality....the one omnipresent, omniscient God field. -Yogi

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://oosta.gaia.com — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 02:26:40 GMT

The way in which you learn has a direct bearing on what you learn. Most learning arises from conflict. Conflict is a natural extension of energy. Energy moves, and we are physically composed of energy, so the manner in which we learn also is composed of movement.

Conflict may be just the desire to learn something; it may be (for whatever reason) to find out what someone else knows; you may need to learn in order to earn a better grade or to advance in your line of work; there may have been an epiphany or trajedy which has made you go in a direction with your learning you were not prepared for; you may have an affinity for a particular culture or belief system. Whatever the impulse to learn, you find actions and feelings which advance your learning and actions and feelings which impede your learning. The conflict is always a part of the learning process, and absorbes a part of the energy you expend in the learning process.

Inside consciousness, learning ceases. Realization occurs instead of learning. The more of consciousness you accept, the more there is available for you to realize. As example, imagine you are standing at the edge of a wood in the middle of the night. There is no moon. The darkness shrouds everything. As you wait, the sun starts to rise. Gradually the strengthening light makes the meadow you are standing in, the woods and the mountains in the distance visible to you. As you accept the light, you can accept what is in the light. If you do not accept the light, then everything remains in darkness.

Consciousness does not depend upon light or dark, or the physical machinations of the solar system. You "learn" what you can realize. You do not need a reason. You do not have to find romance or have a child to "learn" how to love. You do not need to either experience pain or observe others in pain to "learn" empathy and compassion. Just realize.

You cannot realize if you remain tied to conflict in order to learn. If you hang on to conflict, then all that you can find in consciousness will be based on energy, and energy is only a small part of consciousness. Relax and realize.

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://monk.gaia.com — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:39:00 GMT

I'm really appreciative to Ken and Andrew for helping me to understand these important ideas, particularly that of postmetaphysical spirituality in an evolutionary context. So many seekers must have gotten confused and off track with metaphysical thinking.

Re: God's Playing a New Game

Sat, 09 Sep 2006 17:40:08 GMT

and consider there are possibly more who read this thread; and while witnessing and meditating, we are participating , sharing, learning and evolving together & further ~

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://will.gaia.com — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 16:48:42 GMT

RE "The more aware you are of consciousness, and the more you allow yourself into it and it into you, the more simple communication becomes as all things and places exist within consciousness. But when you are learning towards that, the ability and opportunity to communicate with others enables you to learn what you need to learn." . . . I couldn't agree more! Isn't this fascinating . . . I also find that as we discuss these things the collective understanding increases . . . almost like the more eyes/minds on it the clearer it gets, my own feeling is that this itself is consciousness evolving. . . it is a very felt experience like a germinated seed pushing its way through the topsoil!

I'm also really enjoying the dialogue :) , thanks Michael for pointing that out.

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://oosta.gaia.com — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 15:37:32 GMT

...ah, ultra high speed film?

I must say, I agree with Michael; this whole thread has been has been a joy to participate in. I am learning so much, and hopefully not boring anyone with my clumbsy posts. I have been in other chats on spiritualism which sooner or later devolved into ego contests and/or slightly off color conversations. These are not to be unexpected in many venues; people are who they know who to be. But here, I really do feel like I have found a community of friends.

I do agree with Mr. Wilber in his assertion that communication is important to evolution. The more aware you are of consciousness, and the more you allow yourself into it and it into you, the more simple communication becomes as all things and places exist within consciousness. But when you are learning towards that, the ability and opportunity to communicate with others enables you to learn what you need to learn.

God seeks each of us out in a manner through which each of us can best understand God. If we can communicate those manners to each other, then each of our understandings of God can be that much more blessed. That is what I feel is going on here in this thread and on Zaadz as a whole. Thank you for what I am learning.

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://my-head.gaia.com — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:13:22 GMT

Wow to all of that since my last post to this thread - but maybe there is a new angle to God's Playing a New Game - how do you think the balls stick together ?

Re: God's Playing a New Game

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 12:23:16 GMT

I remember picking up Da Free John's "The God In Every Body Book" and he said...

essentially....that God isnt "real" until we make God real by real-izing God.

Helps me when I get all "why me o lord?" on myself :)

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://createcommunity.gaia.com — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 01:09:33 GMT

Yes, Dennis. You ride the wave, surrender to it, but you find that you are It! Consciousness isn't happening to you, you are awakening to it, that which you always already were. And you, I, all of us are evolving. Part of us is more conscious of that, and part of us is growing into alignment with that consciousness. The idea that we are pushing the boundaries is very egotistical. The flush of discovery of this innate evolving greater Self, that is One with All, this godlike Self, can be incredibly intoxicating. But its simply what is. And it is the same for each of us, the discovery is wonderful, but then, apply it. Don't thump your chest about it. (I'm not refering to you here, Dennis BTW.)

And Yogi, "the fruit of eternal, ever-expanding bliss and consciousness"IS none other than the "material world" the same as the "full true reality of a fully-realized ever existing and responsive God-field"!
Paradoxically even the pain and sufferring of this world are none other than that bliss, when you see through it. But this wisdom doesn't ever dull our compassionate drive to reduce that apparent suffering. We apply that compassionate wisdom, become the change, the wave of conscioussness/compassion that washes the shores of humanity.

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://oosta.gaia.com — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:12:10 GMT

The species we find ourselves in has been evolving since its creation. If this "Time" is any more serious or dangerous than any other "Time" in our evolutionary process, it is because we make it so. That is an energy habit we seem to have developed over "Time"; recognizing serious or dangerous periods which can only be rescued by extra credit energy activity.

There is a difference between forcing evolution into consciousness and evolving as you grow into consciousness. Consciousness contains us, we contain it. Consciousness allows us to know God, and to know each other; it is where kindness, compassion, empathy, love and soul friendship originate. The degree by which we are able to experience and learn these things is directly proportional to the degree by which we are able to let our energies rest and open to and accept that consciousness. We are to evolve and draw ourselves towards God, not grapple and grab and pull God towards us.

Purpose depends upon energy for its power and sustainability. Energy allows the concept of power. Power is very important to us. It is, in many ways, the definition of the highest use of energy. But power is a red herring. There is no power in consciousness. What need has God of power? If we let energy drive our evolution into consciousness, then we can only understand conscousness in the terms of energy.

Patience. Delight in the silence. Dance in the emptiness. Recognize God in the mystery of ordinariness.

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://TheYogi.gaia.com — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 22:31:09 GMT

Will......I agree with you totally! I would like to add that once you have tasted the fruit of eternal, ever-expanding bliss and consciousness, you will know in your heart, in your soul, that God (enlightenment) is the only goal worth having...This pale material world seems (and is) empty compared to the full true reality of a fully-realized ever existing and responsive God-field! Peace and Love Yogi

Re: God's Playing a New Game

http://will.gaia.com — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 17:47:06 GMT

Interesting question . . . I definitely have a different angle on this. Now this is a seriously subtle and delicate matter because I agree it sounds pretty arrogant and dangerous to say "I am pushing evolution forward". But if you and I are THE very edge of consciousness evolving . . . consciousness becoming conscious of itself, then there is an inherent obligation to BE that creative force. You could say align to it or be responsive to it (these are also totally correct) but when we realize that the higher aspects of ourselves as a conscious human being are themselves evolved consciousness, then we become responsible for driving the whole thing forward . . .

Jesus this is hard to articulate! . . . but a really non-dual perspective requires the individual to discriminate between higher (evolving) and lower (inert) motivations . . . This itself is a creative act literally pushing evolution along! . . . because to do this your own consciousness, intention and volition needs to be engaged with absolute seriosness!!! At this point in the creation of the universe evolution WON'T happen by itself . . . by the very fact that you and I are reading and writing on this blog . . . we could just be watching "the Real World" on MTV.

RE "how will I know for sure that I really needed to turn right instead of left; how can I be certain that in taking that hop, skip and jump, I did not leave behind something I will really need somewhere down the path?" . . . You don't! . . . but if we truly have the intention and a pure motivation to evolve for the sake of life itself . . . we'll have the humility to see our mistakes and re-align! . . . Evolution IS a messy business, for real! . . . But the thing is WE are starting as a species to wake up so now everything is different.