Personal Tao Musings

Trust and Living Freely in the Now

2010-01-06T23:55:00.000-08:00

I was talking with a friend. She commented:

But, I am trying very hard to trust that a way will be revealed and be open to what will happen.

I wanted to share this thought for everyone, as I know this is a more common concern : about trusting to fate...

It isn't all about trusting...

as much as being open to flow with potential as it unfolds...

If you only trust, you will miss potential... Also many potentials require patience and cultivation to attain. So many seemingly trust based results actually require both active and passive processes in the end. When done well it looks like just trusting to whim... but people rarely see or understand what type of work that can go into just living in the now.

It isn't that living in the now is no work, It is better to say you don't waste working towards goals you just don't need later. However, life itself always requires effort, otherwise we just decay back into the earth...

The trust is really accepting the truth of being capable of attaining greatness.. but that doesn't prevent the fact of still having to climb up to the edge, to the heights that allow a person to leap into greater potential. That we witness others glide from and who make it appear as if it were just whimsy of deciding to jump off some mountain top they happen to climb by...

It appears simple only becuase we are often seeing the end results... not what it took to climb the mountain, not the choices that led to climb the mountain, not the faith that it took to then leap off with freedom to the skies beyond. (also not to mention the flying lessons that you were smart enough to take when you happen to see the little shack next the mountain selling gliding lessons (and gliders) before you decided to jump off so as not to fall straight back into the earth. In other words avoiding the fast track to decaying back into the earth...)

The point being yes trust is important. But so is awareness and so is the work to grow in the journey so you can truly make it all happen in a manner we can call graceful.

Is this Taoist? It may not seem so on first blush. But actually it is, since we approach this in a whimsical Wu-Wei manner. We know what we need will present itself along our journey, that is the trust. However, we also know to listen to our awareness so as to take the moments to learn what is required to compliment the trust that took us forward also.

Namaste

Updated Web Site!

2010-01-05T18:45:00.000-08:00

We have just updated the Personal Tao Web site to a new server. Thanks Ian!!

I just fixed a few bad links, If anyone sees anything wrong let me know. The site should appear the same for now but you never know.

Pretty soon we will be adding a new Taoist Forum to the site and also Transfer this Blog over to word press to also be under the site. I have been patiently waiting to begin this process and it seems now is the time to begin expanding out a small virtual Taoist Community. We will see where it goes, one day at a time in connection.

Namaste

Hard and Easy Ponderings

2010-01-04T18:54:00.000-08:00

Living is not easy nor hard.. it is what we make it to be ... life.

I sit and ponder, I feel a disco ball explosion of emotions each day... from Happiness to Sadness, mixing about in wondering (wondering for many becomes worrying don't fall for that trap) and carefree abandon... but I am still too disciplined to have full abandon... working so incredibly hard and yet also not... It all mixes up each day. Strangely I have no need to ponder, since answers are all too easy to come by (be aware that finding the answers that fit... well that is really about acceptance more than the answers...)

Some answers are Blue and mournful for deep souls needing dark answers,

Some answers are Yellow and joyful for those ready to explore the skies

Some answers are Green and neutral for some only needing a smile

Pondering shouldn't be for answers, If you ponder for answers, it's a waste of time leaving no time to live your answers fully.

Today I talked to a couple of souls: lost in pondering answers, looking for answers to fit them perfectly... that they hope to jump into and discover a life they dreamed about...but instead of jumping they then only ponder more, oh so much they ponder... pondering breeds pondering, to then trap the person in bronze, as the thinking man unable to move out, unable to live a life... as the pondering itself becomes the form to set them into shape...

No if you are to ponder then let it be about release, about freedom, about emptiness and other such freeing topics...

Today in retrospect I decided to personally release my pondering habits all together... it's not where I want to spend my time. I will keep wonder but pondering will only be saved for those occasions I need to look like a statue sitting in repose.

Namaste

Taoist Question: How a Taoist Would View the Times Today

2010-01-03T13:39:00.000-08:00

Today's Question

My Taoist son, tells me that a Taoist would not get upset with current events and political paradigms. That we should be happy with what is naturally happening; that a Taoist finds joy in what is; that outer does not determine and drive the inner; that judgment does not have a place in the mental, spiritual, emotional landscape of a Taoist. Is he right?

The quick answer is yes, but a 70% - 80% yes. There is more to the answer than meets the eye. You can say the above answer would be the Yin half of a Taoist answer but there is still a Yang half of an answer too. I would also replace the word happy with acceptance and the word joy to be grace and then simplify his statement down to this:

A Taoist would not get upset with current events and political paradigms. A Taoist accepts what is naturally happening and then finds a graceful path to promote Kindness relative to the times. That the outer does not determine and drive the inner; that judgment does not have a place in the mental, spiritual, emotional landscape of a Taoist.

The answer is spot on in terms of judgment statement. A Taoist does not judge what is outside of their life since it limits how freely they can live to kindness.

The yang half of the Taoist response is the following

A Taoist is still very much alive, our actions do define life, while we flow with actions to increase our potential, we can still choose how to live our life and to always embrace it fully, no matter what is happening around us. The guiding light in how we act, is based in kindness, to be true to our essence and the essence of others around us.

If current events and political paradigms are unkind, if they actively diminish a person. If a person, in their nature decides that it's proper to resist or shift such changes: then its acceptable to actively work to make a difference and improve the situation in a way they find heart-ful. A Taoist would never be upset, (but we are human and accept when we get upset also, but do our best not to let that taint our actions without grace) rather they would take actions in life to counterbalance and improve the situation.

Granted the actions a Taoist might take might not seem to be very impressive at first, since by default Taoists do minimize actions to maximize flexibility which then leads to an easier path to counter react in a more positive manner. So Taoist actions would generally be considered more subtle. But it is a case by case situation. Also a Taoist would not directly fight negative energy unless no choice existed, as usually a head on approach is a waste of energy and typically reinforces the negative aspects of the events. Rather a Taoist would shift negative events towards positive outcomes to cause less harm.

Finally a Taoist tends to take very long term views on things, so our actions generally have started long before others have acted and continue subtly over time to shift the balance of events in a manner to help others.

The truth is that even in times of negative potential such as what many consider now to be, it's always possible to flip events and actions into positive outcomes. In fact negative times often make it easier for a person with less effort help more people. We shouldn't encourage bad times, but rather, when in bad times, it is possible to help things move along to be more kind and find better results for yourself and those who are connected to you.

In fact a Taoist wouldn't consider the times to be bad, nor good... but rather understands we are living in a times of great potential. Instead of being trapped to think only negative outcomes are possible, A Taoist would know many positive outcomes are available and would act and live in a manner to embrace potentials that best fit to promote kindness.

This circles back around to judgment. If a person judges these times to be negative, then on average a person also limits how they move within the potentials towards negative outcomes, to reinforce the larger "negative" trends. If a person understands the times to be of great potential... then it becomes easier to encourage Kind outcomes to help the essence of all move in a more graceful manner.

Namaste

A Movie Experience

2009-12-30T12:10:00.000-08:00

I saw avatar last night. It was a good movie to watch. Before the movie came on there were ads and previews of other movies...

One ad was a 5 minute ad for the national guard which was horrifying... I won't get into it, but people all around me were upset and shouting out their dismay. The ad reminded me of Rome and the military state of Roman power being projected forth to maintain an empire...

More importantly I watch reviews of movies of angels fighting the last wars, of movies all showing end of the world or other major disasters to be. I was shocked since it was all such a hammer blow series of messages. All geared to ...

It seems that Hollywood and others in the media are preparing people for a time of transformation or of rapture, of Armageddon, of change in world shattering proportions...
Or is this a reflection of people wanting the world to change...?

Either way: the message shows we are close to large scale social changes...

Don't let this force you to what other people think your change should be. If you let yourself be forced ... then you lose yourself to another person's idea of how transformation should unfold.

This is a time more than ever to know: be strong to heart, to center oneself and support your local connections and community. To stay connected to your friends around the world... To be aware of your own life so you don't lose your own centering.

I don't believe in the 2012 doom and gloom, I don't subscribe to rapture being around the corner... Those are projections to keep people off balanced. Yes rapture is a very real agenda for some people. Many people in power are actively pushing to encourage war, strife and fighting.

But as the media push intensifies to project what world transformation could look like. The simple truth is this: It won't look like any of the projections. True transformation is always of heart. This is why I stress paying attention to your life, making your life something you want to live... with connection rather than separation based on fear.

If transformation is around the corner like so many people are projecting.. Then that means it's time to wake up from projected nightmares of the mass media and to begin actively living your life's dreams now...

It's a simple choice

To experience conflict imposed by others trying to dictate your change

or

To live and transform in living life openly...

My choice is always life and heart...

Namaste

A Question

2009-12-29T12:37:00.000-08:00

I don't like posting general answers very much, since, I always have to specifically tailor help I give to each person's heart and general answers typically miss the point for those looking for details in their own life.

and

I don't like posting specific thoughts: since then people make it personal when it shouldn't be taken as such. And then people complain when they should not have taken it personal to begin with...

Yet I do like posting my thoughts, since it is a personal fun way to explore life.

So I tend to post more general thoughts only becuase I find them to be less problematic in the responses I get. In other words many places to debate exist on the Internet, I have always tried to make this blog a tranquil place to just ponder within.

But now I am curious which do you prefer to read... the more general / poetic ramblings or the more pointed and specific posts?

Namaste

Connection

2009-12-29T01:35:00.000-08:00

So many levels on how we connect with others

In Taoism we teach that it isn't for one person to truly save another. Since each person has the choice and opportunities both to live fully to their heart, each day, to their center. Never judge oneself for the actions of another person.

Taoism also teaches that we can be present for those near us. To carry the many eternal moments shared in life of those who pass beyond life... with honor.

This week has been a reminder on many levels for this to me.

With love to everyone towards a graceful new year.

Namaste

A Taoist's view on Christmas

2009-12-25T11:21:00.000-08:00

Today is Christmas

A day

Every day is a day to live fully.

Every day should embrace life with a thanks to life,

To honoring those who help us live to kindness and to return that kindness as we can to others.

I feel that the fact that holidays (most western holidays) have been subverted to be an expression of consumerism is very very empty. It's a shame companies put pressure on people to buy into the holiday. To take advantage of something that many consider holy and then subvert it to be based on money. But this also serves as a test to discover something greater also.

In the end as Taoist I cannot judge how others express a holiday. What is important is this: find joy within your actions and make it truly a wonderful day, then indeed it's becomes a holy day if you embrace it with wholeness and kindness.

Don't be pressured into making it a holy day, dont be pressured into taking sides, or screaming foul or screaming believe in this becuase everyone else is rushing about to buy into it as a gift based balanced karmic system, or feeling the hectic need to do anything at all.... slow down to be kind to yourself , give yourself a present to be good to yourself.

Every day can be holy... Every day we can find wholeness... Within kindness, live life and discover more in life in return.

But consider this:

I love it when people say "What would Jesus do?"

What do you think Jesus would do today if he saw how it was being celebrated?

Once you answer that question then, a Taoist would say this

Honor a Spiritual teacher (all spiritual teachers) and balance it out by being kind to yourself today also. Since as a Taoist I believe the holiday means two things

1) Honoring your spiritual teacher in thanks

2) Honoring yourself and those who touch your life to give thanks for acts of kindness

Namaste

Best of Holidays

2009-12-22T23:53:00.000-08:00

Just wishing everyone healthy and graceful of times this holiday season.

Sincerely and Namaste

To be a Taoist

2009-12-20T16:49:00.000-08:00

Things are never what they seem.

But Life is as you make it.

Embrace both statements, understand the difference between them, accept the nuances of what this might mean and then mix it up so you add your own graceful kind flair to the mix...

And you will have discovered the trick to being a Taoist.

Namaste

How we value our nature

2009-12-18T17:01:00.000-08:00

You can find all sorts of material about future shock, changing technology and complaints about falling behind, further and further everyday.

Lets add a few thoughts to this topic.

Most of the material is fear based: i.e. the idea a person cannot keep up with the changes in society, and hence the feeling of getting left behind.

I teach, this is bullshit.

Why? Because this is fear based thinking. If you fear something you will make it happen. This is a very easy fear to manifest, once you give this fear power it quickly becomes very easy to isolate oneself, just becuase of the feeling of being left behind as the technologies changes.

But know...

A person is not defined by society (or its tech)! Society (and how tech gets used) is defined by us,

If you live truly as yourself, you will always fit in, since you will always be yourself... The trap is trying to chase after other people's ideas on how to use technology. This is where many people trip and tumble into the dust trying to following others.

But here is the deeper issue
(to seemingly initially contradict myself, be patient)

The speed of change is actually increasing, in fact we are entering a time of seemingly exponential change... Here are two videos to chew upon on what this means "did you know" and the video called Trillons.

Ironically "the did you know" video is already outdated, due the very speed of change it speaks of...

The point is this

NO ONE CAN KEEP UP
IN A CULTURE BASED ON EXPONENTIAL CHANGE!

Sit down and ponder this: seriously no one, not even our children, are keeping up with the speed of change seen in society here and now! Society and information exchange is evolving massively in parallel with countless modes of development happening at once.

This fact leads to two very very important conclusions.

Conclusion one:

When a culture shifts so fast that no one can keep up, Everyone becomes equal in potential.

Think about this for a moment, opportunities have been leveled in a way never before seen in written human history. This isn't a time when there is less opportunity, less chance to make the most of what is happening: Its the exact opposite, it's a time when anyone can flip everything around. However, if you fear being left behind, if you are always chasing your tail and chasing other people's tails, who are all just chasing change which cannot be caught... then you will never catch up and always be in the dust (and very dizzy)!

In other words, don't chase right now. Instead embrace potential and new ideas will come forth to explore to make reality.

In fact in this we see many people "tuning" out... Where many people chase other people's dreams and those are the individuals mainly stuck watching pre-made entertainment built with the wondrous exponential tech changes... but this also means their potential flies by for others to capture and define...

Second Conclusion

If no one is able to keep up with change: then the people with most power are those that truly define themselves and their own life in their own terms.

The individuals who lead the trends, are the individuals who live their life: on their own terms.

The opportunity now exists for everyone to use information and connection present to truly live as themselves here and now.

The next time you feel outdated, wake up to discover... not only is everyone else outdated, but you have the chance to go beyond that and live fully instead.

The only way not to be outdated is to truly live Now!

Namaste

Business of Busy

2009-12-17T00:05:00.001-08:00

I have been thinking alot about busy, since I have been extra busy of late. It's a good busy, a busy that serves my nature and working towards a potential that not only is me, but helps others.

In other words I might be busy, but I am not missing my life since the busy is all about relationships that support my nature and those who I connect to.

All too often when people are busy, they become busy to avoid their life, to skip away from problems. If a person is busy for these reasons then the busy actually is a bad thing, dramatically speeding up the erosion of personal identity and relationships.

When being busy... ask yourself this very very simple question:

Are you being too busy....

to live your life?

If the answer is yes, then it's probably time to quit the business of being busy (or to rethink things at the very least) and to start re-living your life from a new angle.

Namaste

Fortune Cookies

2009-12-13T22:10:00.000-08:00

I am often asked for specific advice for questions I am given only relatively general information on. Of course that means I can only offer general advice back in return.

Instead of sharing the question, here is the general response that applies to many such questions:

Live fully as you can now. Opportunities always exist but not as you expect them . The tough part is learning to either redefine it so you yourself create the opportunity you need or you look outside the box society has trapped you in to find new angles of how to fit in. It isn't for another person or system to save you but for you to rediscover personal trust in your own core abilities that will take you to new endeavors.

This takes patience, kindness and awareness... I can say this in a few lines, but that is the process that takes each of us much time to release into.

We can see these types of messages over and over again, in many ways. In tougher times, it's needed more often to remind those stuck to patiently move ahead one step at a time to just keep the motion of our life moving.

I don't say such answers to be as a fortune cookie machine. Instead it's so a person knows they are not alone, that others do listen and take time to respond. I do this as I can. It makes a difference. This isn't about answering every question etc, but it is always possible to live kindly and help in simple ways.

Namaste

Still Present

2009-12-10T21:32:00.000-08:00

Went swimming and visited the water fall earlier today. It was a moment of peace.

Went swimming and visited the crashing waves of the ocean, thundering into the earth, pounding the coastal rock. It was a moment of pondering.

At the moment I feel stillness...

which is strange since it was a busy day, a very busy week.

But all I know is I am still gliding along the water surface, mirror smooth under the trees in between dappled sun , I am still sitting on an lava outcrop feeling the ocean humming as if it were in my blood...

I am still ... in stillness

Hilo 12/10/09

Namaste

Quoting the Past

2009-12-08T23:02:00.000-08:00

Those who know say nothing

:)

as once we know, we are already moving on

to something new
to explore and ponder or just to
sit still and enjoy ... pause

no sense lingering
no need to stir up
what has passed...

Namaste

A Monday Post

2009-12-07T10:51:00.000-08:00

In life as life as me

juggling away ...

It's Monday, retreats, clients, meetings, children, rushing to school, new customers, new students, old students, cooking breakfast, making sure everyone has what is required to make them smile, and more, it's Monday Morning! Everything clambering to just be tossed up into the air, stammering for a bit of attention: to be put right into orbit high as the sun to be seen by all..

Yet all I feel is my heart, my smile and it all works seamlessly

even if it is Monday chaos...

since

it's merely a matter of perspective. Yes Mondays can be made hard, you can push the limit as if to juggle 10,000 things:

for we each are the 10,000 things of everything

which is my point.

I only have one ball to juggle

it's me

And I am very very happily living my life simply as my life, and becuase that is why it all works seamlessly. If you are looking from the outside, as an outsider, it might seem as if I am juggling a thousand thousand things... but to me, I am not. I am just living my life

Today , Monday :)
another perfect sunny morning
mixed to rain Hilo Hawaiian day
to be :) in aloha spirit...

It is as it is and that works for me.

Namaste

More Teaching on Taoism

2009-12-04T12:51:00.000-08:00

Another video of me playing as I teach, as it should be, you can't always be serious and teach Taoism successfully.

Taoism is as much about being playful in your life as it is about being serious into your life.

(PS dont eat the worm unless it's a gummy worm or pickled properly in the tequila bottle...)

Namaste

Who a person is...

2009-11-30T15:55:00.000-08:00

As a poet I like to play in words. It's jumping into a pool of water that leads everywhere. So I play.

In teaching Taoism. I have already covered long ago the important key elements: Kindness, Grace, Pu, Potential, Wu Wei, Empty Space, Removing Judgment etc.

If you look at what people write , it really primarily rehashes how to apply these key elements in different manners to one's life.

When posts seem as preaching, well this is never meant as a pulpit, I play in words, not to slam them out as fact to build a better world... Kindness is the path for that. Kindness from action and not words. The world is always as the world is...

Every person has many faces, many angles to explore. These posts are inner moments I share, not to change the world, not to pretend to be smart, not to say I have all the answers...

But to say: here is how I poke about, how I play in my life

and it is my life

enjoyed as is.

To anyone who gets judgmentally critical of this, labels it as some sort of "cult" or personality or other such nonsense. Well: wotever... seriously don't take such things so freak-in seriously, as such judgmental feedback misses the point entirely. At times I just shake my head at the way people take things and make it what it isn't.

Take all sour apples elsewhere as I make mine into pie...

Pie! :) is good

Life is Pie, you can have it thrown in your face or you can make it tasty and have fun.

At times we do both, I have eaten enough pie off my face, it isn't a big deal...

Life is pie...

Namaste

Faith Part 2

2009-11-29T10:55:00.000-08:00

I have had several deep conversations about faith this week, so I am sharing the conversations. Sometimes, it's useful to repeat such talks from several angles.

Faith is of the heart and of life... Never found outside as a story or an ideal someone else may project out so perfectly...

Faith is beholden within having acceptance of oneself wholly...

With billion's of people projecting billions of expressions of faith to behold... It's so easy to get lost within so many variations when looking for faith as if it is to be had in some market place wholesale. And many people get lost in this manner listening to pulpits or buying into outside stories to fill gaps like fingers trying to plug up the broken dam...

So faith is a journey also, a journey on a bridge we build over the unknowns of the universe and that bridge is...

our life

Addendum:

Someone just emailed stating.. Don't make faith harder than it is... They say faith is simply "belief" . They were upset I was making faith too intellectual...

I just want to respond... I am saying in my own manner:

If you dont believe in yourself, you won't find faith as we teach it in Taoism.

Addendum 2:

Some people look for faith outside of themselves. It is a different path. Not the one we approach in Taoism. And a topic for a different conversation.

me

Namaste

Faith

2009-11-27T09:54:00.000-08:00

Faith is problematic for many people for a simple reason: by its very nature it's not absolutely definable.

Faith is a process of acceptance to resolve the unknown.

As faith is about resolving the unknown, the undefinable, its very nature in reflection leaves it with no absolutes in terms of facts. Every time a person nails it down... a little aspect of it slips off to the side and slips away.

Doubt destroys faith, doubt slips in the cracks to loosen a person's acceptance. Doubt shifts how you see the world... and before you know it... a little doubt can destroy entire faith systems under the right conditions... It's the primary reason many organized religions go out of their way to either convert or destroy doubters, to remove skeptics.

Organized religion has a single flaw, a weak point:

In the end, each person must have a true faith in themselves: in their own view and acceptance of the world. A one size fits all faith will always have some seed of doubt in it, some aspect that just doesn't quite fit right, just due to the variations we each possess in how we perceive the world in how we live and explore life.

Faith is important, I teach faith, how to help people discover their own personal faith to explore and behold life within. This is the practice I call A Personal Tao. A Personal Tao is not about some master vision, instead it's all about polishing up your own personal faith.

Without faith, the unknown consumes and drives people to do crazy things. Buts it's all towards resolving the unknown...

People use facts like light to explore the dark of unknown to push the boundaries of the unknown away.
People use faith systems, like maps to feel comfortable in thinking they know what lies ahead.
People get into conflict to prove "faith" since the fear of the unknown is so great so they try to force their faith to be true....
Yada, yada yada and so many more examples

In the end, faith can be made very simple. Faith doesn't require conflict, It doesn't require any complicated "truths" or fancy , or elegant answers from some wise teacher.

In the end faith just requires acceptance of who you are: living fully in your life. One step at a time. Poking about the unknown with a smile, becuase we ourselves are unknown until we live out our life. Once you have yourself, you can dispel all doubts of your nature, since you live it.

Once we have lived our life, we cannot help but behold our selves in fullness... and in our life, we have our faith since ... we lived it.

Peace

Namaste

Judgement

2009-11-26T11:57:00.000-08:00

Here is a video about Judgement.

I spend lots and lots of time teaching people how to release judgment and discover a freer more open life style.

Releasing Judgement is often the first step to personal freedom for many people.

Namaste

Helping the Partners of those in Crisis: Part 2

2009-11-25T12:42:00.000-08:00

Here is Part two: A follow up four step Video discussion on how to work with a person in your life that is working through Mid Life crisis.

Be Kind

Not only help your partner... but take care of yourself. If you lose yourself while helping another person... You have also failed.
Patience

This is process that takes time. To rush the process is to break your relationship, by not allowing time for a new relationship to evolve.
Do not force another person's change to be your change.

Don't force a person to fit your life better. Mid Life transformation is about discovering personal truth... Never impose your own personal truth over another person's heart. To do so is to force them away from you.
Release

It's hard to help another person in transformation when not releasing your own views on who you believe they are.

We use people like mirrors, to see ourselves. If you only hold onto old views of your partner that creates a problem since they are actively trying to run away from who they were. Chances are you will force them away with such reflections.

Namaste

Helping the Partners of those in Crisis

2009-11-24T10:58:00.000-08:00

When helping close friends or partners in crisis. It's important to know such a drastic change in someone loved can have drastic impacts to your own heart and how you live.

All too many people base their heart on another person. When that other person changes, it hurts and forces change in your own life and heart.

Many times, the best advice at this stage is to start a process of examining your own heart and values in life. Not to assume the best thing is to stick it out. In other words it's a time to re-examine your own life to be able to stand on your own and on your own terms. To do so ironically frees up your partner to begin finding themselves in a less constrained manner. Releasing yourself of your partner's ties ironically is often the the most efficient manner to re-create a new relationship later with a partner after they change.

But also know: just becuase a person was something wonderful in the past doesn't mean they will transform into a person you will want to be with either. Most surprising, in opening up your own heart, in rediscovering personal kindness to your own life, you may discover it is time to restart a new and better life yourself.

So it's critical you begin to discover how to stand on your own, to discover the best position is to be centered in your own life (not based on another person) so it is possible to move on no matter how your partner changes later.

Mid life crisis is a time of change, and that change ripples and touches everything around your partner, most especially you.

All of this means it's very important for partners of those in Mid Life crisis relearn and rediscover their own heart. To make choices that are centered and wholesome over being out of reach and based on a moving target.

Namaste

Stories Part 3: Honesty

2009-11-23T21:51:00.000-08:00

Part one : Teaching Stories

Part two : History of Stories

Everyone has stories... every person has stories that comprise and assesmble up as a collage to represent their life.

The collage like nature of pasting stories together can create a beautiful tapestry to behold... So much so, we value story tellers very highly. However, these tapestries often blind the beholder, trap people to think such a collage can represent an absolute truth.

(or at times the collage like nature of stories can have so many holes that the collective story cannot stand on it's own)

Due to this nature of how people assemble their life story, no two people can ever perfectly match up their stories... If emphasis is placed in the conflicts between stories, then this sets up the dynamics for interpersonal conflict. So then people seek some form of outside truth to resolve such differences...

People seek Honesty, Value honesty since people define honesty to represent truth. Just becuase many times we can use "facts" to stand in for "truth", people assume honesty represents the ability to stay to the facts. The deeper problem is often truth is subjective, facts shift to perception and create a huge problem for honesty.. Since in all too many cases no "exact perfect" truthful answer exists between conflicting stories...

Honestly, honesty cannot always represent truth... it also represents the ability to relate your story in manner that matches to other peoples stories in a harmonious manner.

In other words the deeper definition of honesty is this:

Honesty represents is the ability to reconcile stories...

So here is a truth,

When a person is unable to shed their story to fit "facts", and most people hold onto to stories as facts beyond question... that creates a vastly difficult problem to overcome when resolving interpersonal conflict of different stories.

When this is case, it's time to embrace the larger definition of honesty

Honesty represents is the ability to reconcile stories...

This requires acceptance, learning to understand stories from many angles, to bridge the gap of faith itself, in order to reconcile such story conflicts.

We are one, and as one, we have countless stories of how to express our oneness. Enjoy each story as is, and discover the honesty of each story for each person to relate to their world.

If you do this, chances are you can teach other people to open up and to also then discover more than one story to explore the full world. So a person won't have to defend one story to the exclusion of all else, but rather with honesty it becomes possible to bridge the gap between stories and discover new meanings and new ways to view the world.

Namaste

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