From "The Meaning of Happiness: The Quest for Freedom of the Spirit in Modern Psychology and the Wisdom of the East."
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion that the world mirrors the soul and the soul mirrors the world? Can you share a personal story of a time you deeply felt that no aspect of human life was strange to you? What helps you develop the feeling 'There but for the Grace of God go I?'
This reminds me of how we don't choose our parents, our upbringing or our youth experiences. So when1 kid is killing things its not entirely their fault. We have to help and intervene, it may or maynot work but it is all of our responsibilty!
The reason so many people miss out on their blessing is because they decide to settle for a microwave dinner instead of waiting on the feast God has for them.
I've come to know that I am in the world and the world is in me, the forces that operate in the world are the same as the forces that operate in me, and I and the world are made of the same stuff. More than the world mirrors the soul and the soul mirrors the world, the soul and the world are one. At this point, I know always that each of us has in us every aspect of human life, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. I have it in me to be a saint and a sinner, a nurturer and a killer, a giver and a taker, a helper and an abuser, compassionate and hostile. What I am has to do with my choices, and my choices have to do with a multitude of factors most of which are beyond my comprehension. I've been fortunate -- I have enjoyed many positive circumstances. As for any and every option, "there but for the grace of God go I."
For many years now, I have experiemented with watching the mind. A few things stand out for me.
- It's a scary thing to do and to discover the "denizens of the deep". Which is perhaps why many of us (unconsciously) refuse to take on this adventure.
- You begin to see more and more of human folly in yourself. Allows you to be more emphatetic and understanding of what one sees in oneself and in the world "out there".
- Its a very fruitful and interesting endeavour. Just like a diver in the deep ocean discovers all sorts of beautiful things, a diver of the psyche gets insight into all sorts of psychological and spiritual phenomena. Feels like a very rich experience, though one can barely articulate it to someone not aquatinted with this kind of inquiry.
- I feel very grateful for having this opportunity in this lifetime.