written 25 August, 2024
published 1 September, 2024
The text of "Course In Miracles" speaks from the perspective that the root of all human dysfunction is the belief in separation, because it is in conflict with a world that is fundamentally unified and whole. Aldous Huxley found that every spiritual tradition on the planet has some form of the Golden Rule, consistent with unity reality. In addition, quantum mechanics supports unified material reality, and the resulting transformative technologies validates that.
Unity is a challenge because it presumes reality without limits, where everything is included, the definition of infinity. Unity transcends physical manifestation, in the same way national borders are experienced as irrelevant when Earth is viewed from the moon.
But like all concepts, living the experience of unity is the important part, where the real work lies. For thousands of years, our cultures and economies have focused on material differentiation, with attendant chronic suffering, overlooking the foundation that binds reality and gives it purpose. So, we have lifetimes of patterning to overcome.
It is important to differentiate between spirituality, which is any internal investigation of a transcendent reality, and religion, which is an organization, usually defining a specific structure for the transcendent. Throughout history, religions, which can be of help with spirituality, have repeatedly been co-opted, succumbing to the egos of men who strive for economic power and social domination for their organization. They insinuate themselves between the individual and unity, limiting and defining what a transcendent reality is, rather than helping expand each person's experience.
By drawing dogmatic lines, defining what is "acceptable" and "unacceptable". some parts of reality are excluded, and the whole idea of unity is denied, the root of all evil. The excised parts then become the objects of hate, or fear, furthering the nature of the divide, giving self-righteous justification for misogyny, racism, nationalism, and classism.
The worst offenders are those most caught up in orthodoxy and fundamentalism. They worship a little god. These are the people who hate deviation from their organizationally approved dogma, and will kill in the name of their deity to insure religious "purity".
However, every spiritual tradition has mystics, who understand all words are concepts, which can only be metaphors at best, and that any concept is incomplete. Mystics are open to learning from all traditions, and most especially from the living of life.
At the individual level, when the line is drawn at the self or the body, everyone and everything "outside" is something to fear as a "predator", or something to dominate as "prey". Internal self-worth is then determined by external forms like clothes, cultural beauty standards, and material possessions, leading to life-long acquisition of things. But things never really fulfill for long, because the yearning is for the internal experience of the connected unity, which nothing "external" can ever satisfy.
Embracing inclusive reality demands complete social and economic reconsideration. For example, every meal I eat, something has to die that I might live. In unity, we are connected, so I need to have gratitude for their contribution to my life, and assure that their lives have dignity and respect, as I expect that for myself. In a unity awareness, every person involved in growing, processing, preparing, and delivering the food must thrive if any of us thrive. Since all life depends on the health of the planet we share, respect for the entire planet is essential for the survival of any of us.
The root of suffering is being at war with a fact. The contrast between a unity awareness and our existing society is profound, which explains why suffering is endemic. Our economy has extreme wealth disparity, where a few people have billions, while millions lack essentials to survival, such as clean water, nutritious food, adequate shelter, and access to health care. Our society is extremely polarized, with each side convinced the other is an "existential threat" to our way of life, and some are willing to resort to violence to assert their perspective. Yet unity requires understanding that all these folks are connected, demanding a response different from fear or attack.
This election, we are faced with two clear alternatives. The GOP preaches fear, division, and retribution, the traditional consequences of the illusion of separation. The Democrats preach working together for the benefit of all. Without a doubt, there is plenty to complain about with the Democrats, but they are moving toward a unity reality.
