“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” — Albert Einstein
In thinking reflectively concerning contemplative consciousness, it embraces thoughtful observation or study, meditation, mindfulness, attentive consideration, introspection, scrutiny and retrospection to name a select few. Recently at an event, I had an extraordinary experience that was completely refreshing and totally unexpected. The event enveloped a span of approximately four hours. Within that time frame, not one person used an electronic device. This means no one extricated themselves from the event to check or engage in voice-mail, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Tumblr, Flickr, Vine or Snapchat. Nor did I see anyone maneuvering through Wi-Fi, 3G/4G, Siri, smartphone, apps etc. Everyone engaged in the lively art of conscious conversation, incorporating authentic interest in what was said and being said, with great latitude for differing opinions, perspectives and perceptions. Respect, tolerance, compassion, understanding and acceptance were in abundance without any divisiveness, disagreement or distrust. Regretfully, this type of interaction is more the exception than the norm. Of course as with many things, the pace of accelerating change in our lives, can be frightening, chaotic and beyond frustrating. Once we become consciously aware and fully awake, the words of Joseph Campbell are resoundingly poignant . . . “We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned. so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”
That definition of entropy doesn’t have to apply to this life’s journey, everything need not return to a natural state of disorder. We see all around us that accelerated pace of change and intangibles (i.e., electronic gadgets/devices) corrupt what we once thought impenetrable, stable and substantive. We see an enormous shift in many facets of our lives, strong diverse opinions lead to judgment, disconnectedness and lack of communication. We have all experienced this in one way or another, leaving an indelible mark of bewilderment, mistrust and ambiguity. Science of Mind related this in another way . . . “While you were busy judging others you left your closet door open and your skeletons fell out. If only closed minds came with closed mouths.”
The priorities in our lives shift, as we travel from one decade to another. There exists no rhyme or reason why some of us are more mindful, meditative, aware, conscious, or present in the moment than others. It is becoming acutely imperative for those of us who are consciously alert, to navigate through this maze of the non-presence of our fellow man by carving out what is necessary for clarity, focus, importance, priority and fulfillment of purpose. It is important to let go of resentment, hostility, hurt, and judgment that we may have embraced. Once we are able to do this, we have given ourselves the gift of freedom, which opens many doors of enlightenment. Confucius stated this very well . . . “He who cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.”
Living with intention is a profound acknowledgement in consciousness. Those in attendance at this recent event I experienced, focused on not only the lively art of conversation, but made a conscious effort to invest themselves unselfishly in others, without judgment or fear. Our society in the moment, has sacrificed and abandoned the sacred gift of the intuitive mind, while honoring the servant . . . which is the rational mind. I will continue to experience these moments of clarity as they present themselves reflecting on these thoughts through Science of Mind, “Yesterday’s mistakes may be today’s regrets, but they’re tomorrow’s stepping stones to where we need to be. We must learn to forget what has hurt us without forgetting what it taught us. If you can learn from the worst times of your life, you will be ready to go for the best times.” JLR