Guerrilla Nature

wordsmith

Sunny This Position 200323

a grass verge at a diagonal angle in the foreground with a hedge running parallel just beyond and the sun above the hedge among scattered clouds — The low winter sun over a hedge that lines a field in south Leicestershire

Monday 23^rd March 2020

Looking outside of ourselves has not helped us to ascertain a collectively concrete idea of what the divine really is. One could fairly postulate that even imagining that this could ever happen is completely unrealistic. Why would they think that? There’s only ever one way to find out.

It is the opinion of this author that we will never find out the truth if we all go around telling each other that one version of the truth is more valid than another. A combination of curiosity and fear has resulted in the development of a fragmented society. What if, as conscious beings, we all hold the answer? If we could all find our own answer from inside ourselves, we could rid ourselves of prejudices based on presuppositions programmed into us by social expectations, whether they are rooted in scriptural doctrine or anything else.

The polarity mentioned in yesterday’s entry is observable in the way that disunity relates to separation; the way they both relate to unity and togetherness. Humans could unite, were it not for the divisions we create for ourselves. We are capable of simultaneously reconciling and dismembering communities through disagreements about academic detail. This might seem like a contrary statement, but it is observable. Discussions based in ego result in division among members of groups, with those who separate often forming, or aligning themselves with, an alternative group.

Sometimes these separations are associated with conflict; another example of bi-directional causality pointing to the interconnectedness of all things. We can trace the roots of conflict back to fear. We are scared that we won’t have enough, or are in some way vulnerable, so we feel the need to defend ourselves from those who are usually causing offence out of the same fears. There is an expression that goes something like, “We’re all just trying to get home.” That sums it up nicely. Another relevant phrase is that attributed to the late Jo Cox, who has been quoted as saying that, “we have more in common than that which divides us.”

It is not in doubt here that when belief systems are used consciously (again, the meaning of this word will undoubtedly end up being part of this discourse) and compassionately, they can do an enormous amount of good. The difficulties arise not as a result of scripture itself, but rather as a result of human interpretation as governed by the ego and the decisions made as a result. Therefore, it seems that the first thing we need to do is to address the ego. Some might say that it would be ideal to dissolve the ego. Any approach requires diligence.

The ego is designed to defend, that’s its purpose. Dropping it just isn’t something most people will do immediately. Some would maintain that it can never be dissolved. Like the rest of us, they make it what it is for themselves.

However one goes about it, with whatever aim, awareness is the foundation. How do we build that?

This day’s featured creator: Mary Smith