Chance/Karma
“Chance makes a plaything of a man’s life.”
– Seneca
We would call it Karma…
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
Life’s Two Fronts
The laws of nature are very different on the surface of life as opposed to the depth. For example, on the surface, you are you, and I am me. We are separate. Whereas in the depth, we are all one. For that reason, behavior oriented around the surface of life can look very different than behavior oriented around the depth. It’s as if there are two different fronts that we are negotiating simultaneously. Proper behavior is a matter of the integration of the two.
When a person is disproportionally oriented toward one front or the other, imbalanced behavior is the result. For example, people may favor spiritual reflection with a love for the transcendental depth of existence. However, when they go out into the world, they cease to be practical or effective in the material world. On the other hand, when the imbalance is excessively toward the material world, behavior can become petty, selfish, cynical, and polarizing. Oftentimes, individuals may enjoy reflecting upon the spiritual, but when it comes down to living their lives, they disproportionally become superficially oriented. It is easy to be spiritual on the weekends, but how much do we retain as we live the rest of our lives? How wisely do we integrate the surface with the depth?
Those overly entrenched in the superficial front tend to become overly materialistic and cynical. Those overly entrenched in the spiritual tend to become impractical and unrealistic. Those living a life that integrates the two are often not recognized by those living a less integrated state. That usually is a matter of projection. People tend to project their value system, based upon their level of integration, upon others, and judge them accordingly. For example, the cynical and materialistic scrutinize the behavior of others, assuming they too must be equally cynical, materialistic, and not to be trusted. They spontaneously assume ulterior and selfish motives are at the root of others’ behavior. This is what we face as a society these days. Those immaturely spiritually-oriented judge pragmatic behavior as being superficial and not deep.
However, a life integrating the two is subtle. Attempting to integrate the two in an unsophisticated way becomes a matter of cross-realm projection (i.e., trying to impose the laws of nature of one front onto the other front). For example, just because we are all one doesn’t mean you give away all your money and abandon all pragmatics.
Proper integration of the two is a sublime and exquisite dynamic. It is a state of physiology, a state of being. The majesty of an artful navigation of life integrating those two fronts of life is not easily recognized or appreciated by those living a less balanced state. An imbalanced relationship between those two fronts precludes wisdom, maturity, and artful living. Such imbalance is the source of negativity (e.g., suspicion, mistrust, misunderstanding, hatred, resentment, judgment, polarization, and conflict).
Through meditation, as well as reflecting upon the nature of life and the nature of our own personal psychodynamics, we can cultivate a healthy, wise, and mature relationship with life (i.e., the integration of the surface with the depth). When feeling challenged in life, reflect upon the subtle nature of life. Aspire to understand the sublime relationship and harmonization between the surface and the depth. Aspire to wisdom. Aspire to a pragmatic relationship with the material world integrated with an unending adherence to the Divine.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
Amazing Child Prodigy
Video #1 – About Alma Deutscher
Video #2 – Watch a Prodigy Create – from Four Notes in a Hat
I imagine that many people who watch these videos about Alma Deutscher will impulsively jump to the idea that she is the reincarnation of Mozart or some other great composer and musician. I have to admit that I’m in that camp. I think that some people may also go to a place where they feel bad about themselves for not having any such great talent. Of course, we all marvel over her great abilities.
In the past, I’ve spoken of how we share the one same humanity. Such uniquely talented individuals stand as a celebration of the grandeur of what it means to be human. They are shining representatives of the greatness of the humanity that we are all a part of. To say it another way, there is one great humanity and we all are that. Prodigies are an expression of the grandeur of our shared humanity.
Be they a musician, athlete, scientist, or genius in any other form, they inspire us to look forward to the future to see how they progress and what other flowers emerge in the garden of life, the garden of humanity that we are unified through. There is but one unified field, one Self.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
How Civilizations Rise & Fall According to Their Harmony with Nature
Some years ago, I was watching an interview of a spiritual leader’s son. He was describing how his parents lived in harmony with nature—they lived in a log cabin with no electricity, walked around barefoot, and grew their own food. I mean no disrespect, but that has nothing to do with living in harmony with nature…
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
Climbing the Mountain
When you climb a mountain, commitment and dedication are required. You need to stay one-pointedly focused on the goal, with a ‘steady hand on the rudder’. In fact, when people ask me what more they can do for their evolution, I almost always respond by saying, “‘Keep a steady hand on the rudder’ through time.”
The thing about climbing a mountain is that it’s easy to slip. Once you slip, momentum can take over until you slide, tumble, and fall all the way to the bottom. That’s called Karma. As I’ve always said, most of your Karma is between your ears and in your heart (i.e., your emotions). So, in a nutshell, to evolve, stay on the path. If you catch yourself slipping, regroup and continue the journey to the top.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
Vulnerability
Human beings are incredibly vulnerable creatures. The depth of our soul reaches all the way into the Transcendent, the most refined and delicate level of existence. We all feel things very deeply. In some way and to some degree, everything touches the depth of our soul.
Though we all feel deeply, as we evolve, we become more in balance, more capable of experiencing our feelings without tumbling. People tumble in response to all sorts of emotions, be they positive or negative. Hurt can tumble into rage. Joy can tumble into a state of hysteria, frenzy, or delirium.
Our vulnerability, then, must be grounded in the strength of our inner being so that we don’t tumble. It is important to note that as we evolve and the strength of our being grows, it’s not that we don’t feel deeply. If anything, we feel more deeply. In fact, we are able to go into the depth of our feelings without shrouding them with denial, diversion, defiance, or rationalization. In other words, we become capable of handling and holding our vulnerability.
When people’s vulnerability is not rooted in the depth of being, they simply can’t handle the intensity of the waves of emotion and feelings that come along with life. Their behavior becomes erratic and inappropriate. It’s most unfortunate that so many of life’s decisions are founded upon that imbalanced state.
But it’s important to understand that everyone tumbles from time to time. What matters is how quickly and responsibly people are capable of coming back into balance.
When rooted in the stability of our own soul, our vulnerability becomes a tremendous asset. We are able to openly and honestly experience those subtle feelings that reach into the depth of our soul. We are then able to act, feel, and think from a place of wisdom. We no longer tumble, but instead, embrace, hold, and act in harmony with the undenied Truth that lies deep within. For example, if someone hurts you, you don’t act through anger, resentment, or disparagement. Instead, you are capable of articulating and communing in a sincere and loving manner, free from blame or degradation.
We can all aspire to live that sort of life on a day-to-day basis. When you tumble, you can do your best to regain balance and to right any wrongs the tumbling elicited. This is called maturity. To never make a mistake is asking far too much of yourself. But to strive to come back into balance and on that level, to embrace your vulnerability and feel your feelings, is most noble.
What underlies anger and judgment is hurt. It is often easier to feel your anger and judgment than your hurt. In so doing, you live a life of denial: a life not in harmony with the Truth and vulnerability that lies at the depth of your soul.
To be able to come from that place of vulnerability (unencumbered by any tumbling) is to live a fulfilling life: a life where you can respect yourself and a life which will gain the respect of others. If that respect is not gained immediately, it will be gained as others overcome their tumbling, and behave in a manner in harmony with the depth of their own soul.
Too many people suppress their vulnerability for the simple reason that they can’t handle it. Living your vulnerability from a place of stability within your own being is to live a life of fulfillment, wisdom, integrity, and human decency. So, even though at times vulnerability may feel like a curse, it is indeed a great blessing.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
Fun Fact
As you look to the sky,
Mercury is always within 30 degrees from the Sun.
Venus is always within 60 degrees from the Sun.
All the other planets can be a full 180 degrees from the Sun. When you think about it, this just makes sense, because Mercury and Venus are the only two planets whose orbits are closer to the Sun than our Earth’s orbit is.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
Your Human Nature: Friend or Foe?
Years ago, while watching the movie African Queen with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, a line in the movie struck me like a lightning bolt. Bogart justified his behavior by saying it was his nature. Hepburn’s character responded: “Nature… is what we are put in this world to rise above.”
A fundamental understanding of the implications of that quote could transform society’s perspective on human behavior, psychotherapy, allopathic medicine, and spiritual development…
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
‘What I Find Funny’ Blogs
I may start a series of ‘What I find funny’ blogs: sayings or situations that make me chuckle, smile, or even laugh out loud.
Some of you may remember the time I took a wrong turn, and ended up outside New York City, in a pretty rough, spooky, and dangerous ghetto area. When I stopped at a gas station to ask how to get to my Manhattan destination, the attendant responded by saying, “You can’t get there from here.” I immediately burst out laughing.
Well, someone just sent a response to one of my emails that made me laugh with sort of a similar response, when it said, “I’ll let you know when I get here.”
“When I get here” is funny. Firstly, just on face value: If you’re ‘HERE’, you’re already ‘THERE.’ Right? But it is also funny in a profound sort of way. We are all already ‘HERE’ (or is it ‘THERE’?). We just don’t know it, which is why we are not already ‘HERE’ (nor ‘THERE’). But I guess ‘THAT’ is neither here nor there… or is it neither ‘HERE’ nor ‘THERE’?
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
Community: The Fabric of a Nation
The members of a healthy community share a similar identity. In times past, it would have been a similar ethnic background or religion. Today, by virtue of far-reaching communication through television, Internet, etc., many of those boundaries have melted away, leaving people with no sense of identity…
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
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