June 1, 2007
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By “no moral compass” I meant the tendency to see things for what they are and not how they are supposed to be. My mother-in-law, I mean ex-, recently corrected me by saying it wasn’t wrong or right it was just different from what I thought. On the plane back, the five-hour ride from hell with a broken seat and no pillow, I met a guy reading a very large book. Like each page had two columns. It was called the Book of Secrets and was written by a guru in India who was popular back in the 70s. He’s since died but the young man was devoting himself to the teachings. I mean the thing weighed a ton and for him to be carting it around on the plane says something. His wife told him he had to be more in the present and less in his head; that he worked too much. They went to the bookstore together and that was the book he found. He absolutely came alive when he talked about it and the lessons he was learning. I told him I was trying to learn how to experience people and events in a more transparent way, letting emotions move through me but not getting caught up or hanginging onto things which were maybe no more than learning experiences. He said that was one of the premises of the book. He said the book teaches that we do ourselves a disservice by focusing on good and bad so much and that we should take life as it comes — I’m paraphrasing his paraphrase — and be less judgmental.
Seeing as how we were attempting to drop down through lightening and a windstorm, and I had this crazy idea I wasn’t going to make it home, I started thinking of the if-it-feels-good-do-it- mentality I grew up with in the 60s. But then we landed and I remembered how much sense I thought the Bible made; that the ten commandments were mostly set up in order that people live a sane and happy life.
Comments (16)
I think the Bible says the same thing – it says judgment is for the divine to do, not for humans.
i have read the bible cover to cover and was simply amazed at how it pertained to everyday living in the here and now. and the no judging thing is a life long lesson, i think. at least for me.
Buddhism teaches the same thing, do not judge people. I agree if we can accept life and people the way they are we can live more happily.
Not getting wrapped up in the emotions of the Moment is a very healthy route to take. I subscribe to “Abraham” quotes sent via email daily that reinforces these ideals.. http://www.abraham-hicks.com/ Here’s the website. Abraham is a collective of spirits that speak from the other side. Very uplifting and focused to improve the Now…marilyn
I feel comfortable judging sometimes. This is fairly new for me. It is a freedom from guilt I have not experienced much in my life. Really though to enjoy or not is to make a judgment. After reading a bit of the rules parts of the old and new testaments I have come to realize that just like laws these were made for the people who do not know how to treat themselves or others safely or with good faith.
Oh if every Christian were to live by St. Matthew’s sermon there would be waaaay more pirate looking dudes with hands missing. Even then, it must have been easy for a certain group to see that he had to come down so harsh on some because they could not be trusted on their own. (Which makes me remember that I question the wisdom of democracy.)
I like moderation. The old Greek Humanist laws of experience and tolerance seem to be great for getting at the world but as far as spirituality, the namaste is cool. I can agree with ^ too. When the motions settle I feel better about my choices.
I wonder if his secret is like The Secret. I have to look into both more. Any details ab ou that book would be appreciated. Philosophy like that is a treat!
I find non-judgmentalism to be much easier than judging others. I am a prosecutor, which ordinarily requires a lot of judgment, but luckily for me, I prosecute traffic tickets. No one (and I mean almost NO ONE) cares what I do with the traffic tickets. I find it hard to get all judgmental and self-righteous about other people’s failure to keep insurance, failure to get their cars inspected, failure to obey the speed limits, failure to show up in court on the right days…I find their stories and their personalities infinitely interesting, however, which makes the job a lot of fun.
ryc: i don’t read or keep up with all of them…they subscribe for their own reasons i guess, but i only keep up with a handful of you guys.
how do you stop people from subscribing to you?!
Well I know I’m just an outsider, but I stumbled across your site and decided to read it. Forgive me if I’m intruding. And if my opinion is not wanted, well that’s where the ability to delete it comes in so handy. Personally, I was raised a Methodist Christian, and I know that God exists, but that doesn’t mean that just because your positive that he’s there that you want to always follow him. You feel guilt because of what you’ve been taught to be bad. But not everything that is thought to be bad actually is. I’m not saying I read the Bible like I should, but it is in a sence a manuscript for our lives. If you need/want help knowing that right thing to do look there, but you have a choice. The only one who is to judge you is God, so don’t worry about the judgements of other people, and don’t judge yourself. Do what you believe is right, and you can’t go wrong. Hope this has helped to enlighten you to a perception from a fellow confused person..
~n1uno
You’re explicating some of my feelings right now. Synchronicity is all over the place today (or else it’s just the caffeine). I’ve started meditating before bed – “Here. Now. Be here now” and such things. We’re working on being Present in my summer class. Even my husband told me yesterday how he’s been telling himself that he’s going to get “intense” sleep before he goes to bed, and he wakes up (more) refreshed. It’s a beautiful thing. The “if it feels good do it” thing, for me, sounds like it goes a bit too far in the direction, but strict adherence to “rules” goes too far the other day. For me, anyway, it’s about finding that balance, that peace. One of these days I’ll write down what I’ve been trying to work out for years – the “evil” of binary thinking – the on-off, 1-0 thing as opposed to just the One. It’s hard to explain, but I have a feeling you’re grokking it with me anyway. Keep on growing and being You, Prudy. Much much love!
Why Thank You, I must adittedly say I don’t hear that very often. I hope you can fin d a way out of the confusion… I know if one can make it we all can, we’ve just got to decided who’s able to get out of it first, that way we can help them out and then follow suit..
Ooh girl! Us and our men….but we are never dull or boring lol, Thank you for your comments, The blue woman, Twanari, I made last summer as a study for a larger piece that I will be working on next for the show…she will be around 4 foot tall. All of the smaller figures are studies for larger ones…though I sold everyone of the so called studies. Hmm perhaps I shouldn’t be calling them studies after all. Thank you and blessings. And I wish us both well with our Men. lots of love to you this day!
Ashes
Ok, to explain things, I lived with my grandparents for a year and they used that line from the bible which is also a song to wake me up each morning. I can’t explain why I use an extensive vocabulary, I guess being in an honors class your expected to have exemplary vocabulary, and it just rubs off into daily life. And lastly, Doug Herre is a police officer that is part of a program called Shield-A-Badge. It’s a program where the local churches have people sign up and for each person that signs up get’s assigned to pray daily for a local police officer, to try and help keep them safe through prayer….. I truely am 16, I will be 17 on friday, and umm well I dont know how else to clearify things for you, hope this is enough…
n1uno
…there is a comfort and security, a feeling of more predictability and control, when the people around us play by the same rulebook, or share the same moral compass…then again, it’s a special skill to be able to cope with diversity…
I really, really miss communicating with you. I’ve been so far away of late, then I come here and read just a little of what’s going on and miss really being in touch with it, well as in touch as keyboards allow. GF has just switched our internet carrier and she’ll probably be computerized even more now! Here I am hanging out at work just to check on old friends. I feel cheated that I didn’t even know Sam existed until now. Okay, they’re kicking me out now.
a difficult balancing act… but while there is a place and a time for judgemental thinking, it’s rarely as often as it tends to occur… glad the plane landed safely!