What is the Ultimate Reality?

I believe that there is no order or hierarchy to suffering. We have all suffered, and continue to suffer, in one way or another. Physical suffering is not distinct from emotional suffering as both are symbolic of separation and thus, the loneliness inherent to our individual identities. Seeking to heal suffering (whether through the magic of medicine or the magic of mind) through an extension of love must be good. How could it not be?

I would disagree that discussing our connection with infinite reality is not meaningful to those who have not experienced being one with the ultimate reality.

We are all intricately invested in the AWARENESS of that peace and Joy referred to as "infinite reality" (I think we all agree that it must be peaceful and joyful? Yet, how would we know that?) and sometimes we "touch" it, if only briefly, but still we wish to tell the world of what we have touched and in the telling, others seek to touch it too. I think this is good. How could it not be?

To say that, if you are not "one" with IT then your simply stating spiritual jargon, to my mind, seems to be the all or nothing thinking that the ego easily attaches to and seems to indicate that the parts of the whole are not as important as the whole. Could this keep us apart?

In doing so, do we not inadvertently deny the whole? My "theory" is that if you denigrate (deny) in any way the "fragments" of the whole (and that includes the "ego" and all its suffering) does this deny your experiencing the whole (or "infinite reality")?

I have no conclusive idea of what the "ultimate reality" is (plenty of theories though, all based on what I feel were times of "touching" it), but I will never stop listening or talking about it simply because to do so makes me HAPPY and that's good.

How could it not be?

Diving Into the Depths

You impress upon the world what you think and the world will give you just that. However, “the most powerful thought is the one that carries the greatest conviction” (Holmes, The Science of Mind, 1926). Thus, if your belief is hazy, weak and/or you come from a “wait and see” approach, you may lack conviction.

Source/God surrounds and permeates every molecule of our existence. We’re immersed in it and dripping with it. It gets us wet. Think of it like an ocean. As we move our arms and legs we set into motion currents. If we swing our arms back we move forward. If we make small circular motions with our arms we tread with it. We can’t see the currents, but we feel the movement and we know what will happen. We can float on top or dive down into it. We know what will happen because we have knowledge of the oceans attributes. Being in it means being completely surrounded and enveloped by molecules of water that we “know” will support us if we stick to the oceans laws and principles.

Universal intelligence/mind is similar in that it too surrounds and envelopes us. We could move with it and direct our motion if we had knowledge of its attributes. Usually, though, we stay on the beach since wee don’t have knowledge of universal laws and principles so we fear it may not support us. The beach has always been solid and supportive, this we know. We will choose the beach if we are not good swimmers (but we might allow a brief immersion at the waters edge or in the most shallow, but not too far out).

We have all experienced the universal power at one time or another. But, we chalk it up to some other force that science has shown to be real (gravity, cause and effect, light, sound, coincidence, etc). We have experienced joy and love and truth, but the episodes have been brief. It is too “difficult” to live with it always, since it just doesn’t “jive” with what our senses tell us, thus, we have come to expect that it can only be brief.

I believe that the universal mind is real; however, I don’t have the knowledge that makes it “real” for me. I have always tasted it briefly. We look to others who have attained that knowledge to guide us (Jesus, Buddha, etc.) and if we continue to apply their principles then we can come closer to “knowing” rather than just “believing” it is real. This is the course I am on and if you are reading this, maybe you too travel in the same direction.

The journey can be "difficult," but it is too late to turn back and quitting is not an option. This blog exists to attain feedback from like minds. Maybe we can help each other on the journey to experiencing all that the universe has to offer.

"If, day by day, we have a greater understanding and a clearer concept; if daily, we are realizing more of Truth and applying it in our actions, then we are on the right path, and eventually we will be made free." - Holmes

Is "Suffering" a choice?

I tend to believe that suffering is a state of mind that evolves from choice. But then, if a child lives with pain, does the child choose to suffer?

Children experience pain, but they are taught "suffering." This is equivalent to teaching children how to hate.

Suffering is different from pain. Pain is of the body, suffering is exclusive to mind. If I refuse to accept my pain then I must suffer.

However, I may choose to avoid suffering and live in acceptance of my pain. There are many who live in extreme physical deprivation and pain, yet still refuse to suffer. Viktor Frankl endured many years in concentration camps and made the choice to find and embrace meaning (and joy from that meaning) thereby greatly reducing his suffering.

I may choose to suffer for many reasons (there are many "degrees" to suffering), but I cannot escape the fact that I have made the choice (although I can deny my free-will and many do). This is liberating because it gives me the capacity to choose differently.

In addition, I find it interesting that people who are diagnosed terminally ill and told that they have little time left to live, often report experiencing intense joy. Once they choose to accept, the suffering ends and a deep peace is finally attained. In that acceptance, they finally come to understand that suffering was always a choice.

It's sad that for many it requires immanent death to finally choose the joy of life.

Thus, when you learn that suffering is a choice, why would you choose to suffer? This is a deeper question and relates to Buddha's teaching that "self is suffering." As long as we choose to identify with what we think we ARE, we will suffer.

But, as he teaches, that too is a choice.