Thanks to all who shared on "why Jesus was killed" -- great comments!
Those of us involved in spiritual practice (of whatever form) are seeking something: God, the truth, peace, enlightenment, or whatever. Could all this seeking be causing the problem we are trying to solve?
I did a little study about nine months ago on the idea of evil in the Christian Bible. It turns out that the term evil (or Devil, or Satan) is mentioned 563 times; 446 times in the Old Testament and 117 times in the New Testament. That's a lot!
I read each passage in context and concluded that in the Bible EVIL is THE IDEA OF MORE. It began in the garden with Adam and Eve being unsatisfied with paradise and wanting more. Check out your Bible and see if you agree with my conclusion.
So ... I'm suggesting that it is our endless seeking "something more" than is appearing right here right now that is causing our suffering. Said another way: it is our idea of how things ought to be conflicting with how things actually are in the present moment that causes all suffering. In silent meditation we can see this pattern clearly.
Can you see this pattern in yourself? How can it be that what's so right now is not enough? Are we tired of playing God yet?
bob
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Nice topic. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteNo question I can see this in my life. Also beginning to see more peace seep in when I let go and accept/trust. Almost a falling backwards into love. Stop seeking so that it can catch up to you and it will overtake you from behind like a fog bank as long as you don't run away from it. Man that is a challenge...
ReplyDelete"If you're running for God, I'm not voting."
ReplyDeleteI'll never forget those words you once said to me. I think of this question you pose every day. It's the ego's version of "Not that". I'm not love, I'm not peace, I'm not God, etc. Apparently I'm not tired of playing God yet because I still get upset. Upset that now isn't going my way, the way it should, the way it ought. I can find all sorts of sources and readings and even some direct experiences that sound profound and insightful as to how I don't seek, but humbly... I do.
And, yet, in this moment, when I let the Holy Spirit see for me, I rest in now. When I stop. And. Ask. "How can it be that what's so right now is enough?" the question becomes silly.
That's what meditation... or quietly nursing and falling asleep with my sweet girl these days... reveals to me.
In peace...
Here's a great quote from Jeff Foster's book, "An Extraordinary Absence". It sums it up well. bob
ReplyDeleteYou will never free yourself from the search. You are the search.
You are using seeking to get rid of seeking. Seeking the end of seeking is more seeking than ever. My goodness, it's like a dog chasing its own tail. No wonder this spiritual game can lead to so much confusion and frustration.
Consider the possibility that you are not reading these words.
Woof!
ReplyDeleteIn the Bible, Matthew 7:7-8 reads:
ReplyDelete"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
This passage would imply to me that seeking is good. Is this a case where too much of a good thing is bad?
...also, after I read all of the comments up to this point, for some reason I thought about Forrest Gump. He seemd to just be living and not ever really seeking anything. Is think kind of what is being suggested?
I know my post is very "seeky".
Could you post more topics like this one, he he he.
ReplyDeleteKarl,
ReplyDeleteI like the Forest Gump analogy, I think that fits perfect!
My take on the scripture you quoted is that we very rarely seek in order to find the Heaven that is here and now (as Jesus spoke of it). Instead, we seek for some unattainable future ideal which locks us into suffering. I’ve heard Bob call this endless search the “one pernicious thought” that is constantly saying that life should be something different than what it is. That really resonates with me.
It seems to me that Jesus was telling everyone to stop the endless seeking and find the truth. I heard a great quote in regards to this that says “Seek and you shall seek.” What if our goal was to actually find?
the way Bob put it to me a while back 'just notice - when you are unhappy, is it that you want something to be different than it is that is driving the dis-pleasure? When you are happy, are you wanting something else or are you contented in the moment?'
ReplyDeleteThere is no one to seek and nothing to find, seeking is an illusion, finding is an illusion. who you really are has never spent one second seeking. It already is.
ReplyDeletefor some reason this is a very difficult concept to remember and practice. why can't i consistently accept that which is here and now? regardless of whether i am sick of playing God, i do it again and again, albeit perhaps less and less.
ReplyDeletehowever, it seems somewhat necessary to seek. it is obviously not human nature to accept our circumstances with contentment regardless of the situation and so it is the very act of seeking something more which leads to a point of acceptance of the present. has anyone ever been born with full knowledge of truth? no, they have sought truth and have arrived at a conclusion that may or may not be accurate. isn't it really the discontentment that we've all had in life the very thing that has led us to explore these very questions?
i guess the point is that it seems as if seeking more is natural and healthy as long as that which is being sought is pure and healthy and consistent with the God's will. if i didn't want more joy, i would disregard the motivation to meditate and to let go of things. if i didn't want to be a better father, i would accept longer hours and less family time. in fact, if i didn't want to strive for truth, why participate in this blog? i am seeking a greater understanding of truth through a sharing of thoughts and ideals with all of you and i am very pleased to be doing so but i am motivated to do so.
perhaps the point is to accept what comes from seeking, regardless of the outcome. perhaps it is our failure to appreciate the journey which is the inherent flaw in man?
i'd love to get your take.
jd
Hi JD,
ReplyDeleteWhat Karl quoted: "seek and you shall find" is right ... we must, as you also suggest, do some seeking otherwise we would stay stuck in our discomfort. But what are we looking for when we seek? Most of us are seeking a better job, grandma's plantar wart to be healed, or some such. In general, we are seeking some future better state (according to what we think is better or what 'ought' to be so).
Could it be that what Jesus said is literally true ... when we seek the Divine always answers perfectly and immediately ... but we miss the answer because we are looking for some future outcome. What are we looking for when we seek? What gift is always presented?
bob
I'm posting this for Christine ... she was unable to sign in ... (by the way to sign in you need a google e-mail account). bob
ReplyDeleteI have only "found" answers in totally letting go (as opposed to actively seeking). At the point of letting go of my small self and its preoccupations and attachments, whether that be through meditation or some other spiritual practice, or simply by being awake and present in the moment, is the interface or conduit for channeling the Divine.
Christine