Conscious Evolution
The Dance of Intuition and IntellectBy Sheldon Stoff Barbara Smith StoffiUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2010 Sheldon Stoff and Barbara Smith Stoff
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4502-6390-0 Contents
Preface........................................................................................................xiIntroduction...................................................................................................xvPART ONE — LOOKING AROUND................................................................................12. We Engage the World: How We Do So Is Our Choice.............................................................13PART TWO — LOOKING BACKWARD..............................................................................233. The Lost Golden Age: Equality, Harmony and the Goddess......................................................254. Significant Contributions to the Rise of Patriarchy: How We Created Our Current Dilemma.....................35Alphabet Literacy—The Damaging Effects of Such Exclusive Focus...........................................36Judaism—The People's Religion Was Suppressed by a Patriarchal Elite......................................43Christianity—The Message of Jesus Was Hijacked by a Self-Centered Patriarchy.............................49Islam—Deeper Understanding through a Closer Look at its Origins..........................................79PART THREE — LOOKING FORWARD.............................................................................955. Building Blocks: Creative Partnering........................................................................97Matrix: Evolution within Consciousness.........................................................................100Meditation: Engineering the Building Blocks and Bringing Together the Inner and the Outer......................106Education: Process and Subject Matter for Benevolent Evolution.................................................113Vision: Community—The Core of Progress...................................................................119Relationship: The Final Frontier—Love and Compassion.....................................................127Unity: Drawing Together from the Within........................................................................131Sheldon's Afterword............................................................................................137Barbara's Afterword............................................................................................141Bibliography...................................................................................................143About the Authors..............................................................................................155Index..........................................................................................................157
Chapter One
Hope Creates the Future: Individual Responsibility Comes of Age
As in the legend of the appearance of the White Buffalo Woman to the Sioux, we seem to trust, historically, that when we are in need of a correction, a time period of harmony and peace, the benign feminine energy emerges once more into the forefront. Harmony and peace are our deepest longing today and the search for the feminine energy is the greatest hope of many. We long for transformation. When we are truly in need we understand the input of the feminine energy as the solution. It is our greatest force, the force of love. With the feminine permeating our mind and body, we have our spiritual power, the power of love, to bring our inner hope into our outer accomplishments. All limitations are shattered. There are no limitations to the power of love. Such love power, our fulfillment, cannot be abused if the "love power" is real. We long to see the self-centered ego become transformed into love through our growth process.
It may be interesting here to relate Hassrick's interpretation of the appearance of "The Beautiful One," the Buffalo Maiden, to the Native American Sioux. It offers illustration of how a society dealt with its inner conflict. According to their legend, she made her appearance more than ten generations ago and the people still follow her instructions for religious ceremonies. She told them many things but the heart of her message dealt with the position of women in the society. The women are consoled for their difficult life and told that, by these very difficulties and hardships, they help life find its way and give much comfort to others. The men are instructed to be "kind and loving to women and children." The Sioux male apparently lived with an inner conflict of greed and lust versus respect and temperance.
The Oedipean nature of The White Buffalo Maiden legend may owe part of its origin to the masculine character of the society ... That the Sioux chose for their tutelary deity a woman, rather than a man, indicates their concern to revere feminine qualities. The occurrence of such a divine figure among any people may be due in large part to a critical need for reform that the people themselves cannot effect. The code of behavior which the Buffalo Maiden brought suggests the social crisis which the Sioux at one time faced. Furthermore, the Sioux goddess brought her people a code of behavior, a set of commandments which included interpretative information which explained the commands. Interestingly, they appear to have been phrased in the positive "Be kind to women, for they are weak" rather than in the familiar "Thou shalt not"—without explanation. That such commands should have been forthcoming at all seems to indicate an internal moral problem among the Sioux at the time. (Royal B. Hassrick. The Sioux: Life and Customes of a Warrior Society. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1964, pp. 217-225)
We are in need of a correction now. Let us call for the emergence of a new archetype. Let us envision, rising from the mighty seas below our conscious creativity, the birth of Venus and Adonis with hands joined—standing together upon the Double Sunrise Shell. Let us imagine the guidance of this double archetype, like Baucis and Philemon guarding the temple, as we turn to our tasks of building the future.
Note: We are aware that some of the embodied representations of archetypal feminine energy, currently ascendant in the political scene in the U.S.A., may represent a less than benevolent view of what is possible for humankind. Discrimination is always in order.
We hope, in our present human condition, for the future, and, at a deep level, we understand that the individual who does not share love shrinks as a person and becomes as if dead. Such a person perishes though he or she still walks the earth. To find the way of spirit requires living in the "divine matrix" by giving and receiving the force of love. This love comes from the spark within and the cosmic force without. Consciousness, our most precious gift, also comes from the spark within and the cosmic force without. It is our proof that we are continually connected to the spiritual. This love is ours to pass along. It is constantly replenished. This is the great lesson of life. It is our great hope to fulfill our responsibility in the chain of hope and of love. To live in hope is to wish to experience the reality of love, and then to share that love.
Clearly, we are given the choice to destroy or to walk in love. We can destroy if we choose to. We can live in love for all of creation if we have the courage. Even with those opposing choices the issue is in doubt. Will we act upon our hopes and prayers or do nothing and allow the destruction to follow? Bruno Beitelheim said it in this way, "If we do not want to change and develop then we might as well remain in a deathlike sleep."
This need and hope for our future has a basis in the evolution of our consciousness. That evolution cannot take place within unless there is considerable change in each of us. We must be open to a life in love and compassion rather than in greed and aggression for this to happen. Our hopes for a massive transformation in our consciousness, and recognition of our evolving consciousness, are aided by the realization that the cosmic universe is always calling us, is always open to a dialogue with us. All that we have to do to connect with the call is to listen in silence, with no attachments to particular religious form, and to remain open to receive. Genuine dialogue demands genuine openness. If we are too strongly tied to a chosen path, tribe, nationality or specific religion, we are clearly not in a position of openness to the new. The universe contains untold riches if we are willing to risk and to seek. The beginning is always within. We begin with our own step forward with courage and our opening to the new.
His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, provided a lasting insight into this situation with the words:
If I could tell you one "secret" point, it is this: Let your mind simply remain calm, and in an atmosphere of altruism. This has a tremendous effect on our body ... It is quite clear: only by developing inner peace first is there any real hope or chance of keeping a lasting world peace ... So I call this feeling a 'genuine realization of the oneness of the whole of humanity.'
This understanding becomes obvious at all times, as we realize our inner connectedness. As we change ourselves, we change the world. Our inner change must precede our outer actions. When spiritual bonds of caring and love for all are sure, our transformation is clear; as we change, the world moves forward. No thoughts can ever be lost. Our evolving consciousness, little by little, is moving the world. The larger the number of people evolving their consciousness, the greater the effect, and the tipping point gets closer all the time. When we overcome the self-centered ego and make a commitment, even if it be to one peace loving nation only, we gain access to the light. Imagine what can happen if we make a commitment toward building the earth. As we focus on loving action we move in tandem with compassion. They are as bound together as the two in a loving marriage—the marriage of heaven and earth. The area of separation and distance has vanished and has been replaced by the "Sacred Union," the hieros gamos, and a love both pure and intimate.
For those who are awake the cosmos is one. [Heraclitus]
Oft times we are aware of a cosmic energy. If we are still in our self-centered ego we probably speak of it as our true self, an aspect of the godhead. But, if we are a seeker we would be aware that same energy is only a part of us, the spark within. To cling to that energy, to be aware of it within us as the soul, and to heed its calling, is an essential part of our evolution. Let no one come between us and our spiritual calling. It begins our intimate dialogue with the spiritual. We are all on a mission, a positive reason for being. Understanding our reason for being is vital to our existence. To be aware, to be silent and listen are crucial steps for our evolving consciousness. To become love, to stand in love, is a part of that reason for being for each of us. If we introduce the thought of a positive mission to our young, it enables them to avoid boredom and to bring significance into their lives.
In his book Images of Hope: Imagination as Healer of the Hopeless, Dr. William F. Lynch discusses at length what he called the "absolutizing instinct" and how it fosters grotesque distortions in the way we see ourselves. In direct contradiction to openness through silence is the desire to absolutize a thought, an insight, or religious teaching, allowing no room for ambivalence. This movement to codify and make into dogma prevents the very open-mindedness that is required for our consciousness to evolve. Absolutizing is basic to fundamentalism and the "true believer." It stifles growth and maturity. It is at the core of violence and the closed mind.
The vision of hope that is possible today is not based upon a unitary leader, but rather a call from a large group of seekers in convergence, not content to see humanness trashed in a sea of violence, greed and domination. This vision will not accept a society where many are manipulated by a few and where inequity is the order of the day. If we have the courage to look closely at events in our time, there will be the realization that humans can do better. An evolving consciousness assures us that we can indeed do better—that harmony and justice can emerge as the tenor of a new day.
At present there are dissident groups demanding to be heard and expecting to be victorious. There seems to be no compromise on the issues. Each side is "absolutizing," that is, pouring fantasy into their demands and the way in which they conceive the world. Resolution of these conflicts is no easy matter when each side assumes total "right." When arrogance is the mantle of each, a basis for trust no longer exists. When such conditions prevail we can do as we have done in the past and resort to killing each other, and eventually one side may emerge as the winner, that is, if there is still an Earth worth living upon, and if there are still living people. Or, as George Burns (as God) admonishes John Denver in the film Oh God, "Look, you have two choices. You can kill each other, or you can learn to love each other."
There is the path of dialogue. Dialogue must be allowed breathing room. Again, remember Buber's words—remember
"... the universal dynamism of dialogue ... There is no salvation save the renewal of the dialogical relation, and this means, above all, through the overcoming of existential mistrust."
Today, within this dangerously small window in time, we also have heretofore undreamed of tools for communication. The cobra-like monolithic eye of broadcast television calibrates to the individual eye of the internet. Let us use these tools well. Individuals must speak and individuals must be truly heard. Those coming together must be willing to acknowledge their opposites. It is a time of learning for all present, for the whole world. The first recognition ought to be an acknowledgement of relationship. We come together representing different sides but must admit our underlying connectedness within the fabric of universal consciousness. With that recognition, a reasoning and confirmation in dialogue becomes possible. Though we may begin with the I-It we will slowly come to see and move toward the I-Thou. It is the changing and maturing of the I in each of us that is essential. Even though we begin from opposing sides we will eventually realize a multifaceted splendor of the Oneness. The reality will emerge—I am my brother's keeper! I am my sister's keeper! We are all part of a universal family.
Barbara - A Personal Story: One day, in the middle of summer, I was driving alone on a winding two-lane road up a very steep mountain. My friends were getting married up there and I was on my way to their wedding. Alas, the radiator in my car began to overheat dangerously, but I pressed on ... until ... as I came around a deep curve, the car stopped altogether, steaming. I sat there for a few moments, realizing that my situation was indeed precarious, wondering what to do. After a few moments I said to myself, "Well, I just am a child of the universe, and I just am where I am." What happened next still seems like a phantom dream, but I assure you it was not. It really happened. Within minutes, to my left, off the road and next to the oncoming lane, a large forest service vehicle pulled up into a space which I had not noticed before ... as I had had quickly to pull off to the right as much as possible ... a very dangerous place to park. Two men got out of the truck and approached me as I sat behind the wheel, "What do you need?" "Well, I need some water." "Well, we have five hundred gallons!" They hosed down my steaming engine, and filled up my radiator. And then ... they got back into their truck, turned the truck around and went back down the hill. I spoke out loud my surprised thank you, started the engine and continued on my way. The wedding was lovely, and when I came back down the mountain the next day I took care of my radiator problem in a more ordinary way at the auto shop. Down through the years, whenever I've been in a jam ... I have remembered this happening ... with deep wonder and gratitude. (Summer, 1984)
As we all know, society is made up of individuals, one by one. If any really constructive work is to be done, then eventually each of us has to get down to specific cases and work with our individual problems. Only then can we hope to extend the benefits to the collective.
Work on yourself, have compassion for yourself, allow yourself to be beautiful, and all the rest will follow. Ram Dass
At this point in history we must also learn to engage in a worldwide dialogical movement to bring about peace, understanding and collaboration. This emergence must have unprecedented force incorporating enormous energy. The inner light within each individual must become truly incandescent on a scale never before attempted. In the end, successful dialogue requires "real" people to open to the "other." Time, in dialogue, is necessary for the flowers to bloom.
If not you, who? If not now, when? Hillel
Much of what we have advocated may seem like a fairy tale to some, but that is not so.
There is a mass of empirical research supporting what the heart is advocating. Drs. William Tiller, Walter Dibble and Michael Kohane recently authored a book based on solid research titled: Conscious Acts of Creation: The Emergence of A New Physics.
Our brief summary of that text is also a firm support for our recommendations here:
Human consciousness contributes to the creation and direction of the universe. A more mature world view is necessary in order to fully grasp emerging data of the connectedness of the each with the all. Most of us are only aware of the outer layers of existence. We must expand our consciousness and become aware of the complexities and connections with the universe. Sustained human intention toward a growth in consciousness is now validated!
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The following story comes to us from the journals of that keen observer and faithful chronicler of our long evolutionary journey, Loren Eiseley, as he wrote in his most poignant The Immense Journey about the songbirds' protest in the face of imminent danger. He called it "the judgement of the birds" ...
"... on the edge of a little glade with one long, crooked branch extending across it, I had sat down to rest with my back against a stump. The sun was warm there, and the murmurs of forest life blurred softly away into my sleep. When I awoke ... there on the extended branch sat an enormous raven with a red and squirming nestling in his beak. The sound that awoke me was the outraged cries of the nestling's parents, who flew helplessly in circles about the clearing. The sleek black monster was indifferent to them. He gulped, whetted his beak on the dead branch a moment and sat still. Up to that point the little tragedy had followed the usual pattern. But suddenly, out of all that area of woodland, a soft sound of complaint began to rise. Into the glade fluttered small birds of half a dozen varieties, drawn by the anguished outcries of the tiny parents ... The glade filled with their soft rustling and their cries ...
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Conscious Evolutionby Sheldon Stoff Barbara Smith Stoff Copyright © 2010 by Sheldon Stoff and Barbara Smith Stoff. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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