by Michael Mamas | Sunday, December 22, 2013 | Spirituality |
In the USA, the television show called ‘Duck Dynasty’ has become very popular. Though I have never watched the show, I understand that an interview of its main patriarch triggered a great deal of controversy when he talked about what he saw as sin and the path to salvation.
To fathom all this, we must first understand that there is an underlying essence to all of life and existence. Modern science calls it the Unified Field. Theologians call it God. Everything in essence, is that unified field. It is the source of all that is… the source of all the intelligence and harmony that birth all of existence. It is nature, Mother Nature. Your own true nature is one with Mother Nature. You are, in essence, the unified field, i.e. one with God.
So what is sin? You could say that it quite simply is not living in harmony with your own true nature. That is the same as not living in harmony with Nature, Mother Nature, God, the Unified Field, etc. Clearly then, there are varying degrees of sin. Though simplistic, it is good that humanity has been provided with certain rules or laws to help people live in harmony with Nature. But where do you draw the line? When do these guidelines cease to be supportive and become oppressive? And who says the rules are really all correct or correctly understood? And are there exceptions to them? For example, with regard to ‘thou shalt not kill’ is there ever an exception? These matters can and are debated ad nausea. Opinions abound. But in the final analysis, the answers cannot be derived intellectually. Even as times change, the laws of nature change. Techniques and rules that work in one age (such as holding your hands over your head indefinitely to gain powers) may not be right for another.
How then does one not sin? Well, starting with basic rules can be helpful, but they are only training wheels. Ultimately, to not sin is to spontaneously live in harmony with nature. And that is a physiological state. It is not a rulebook. Rules may assist in the process of attaining that state, but that state goes far beyond the reach of those rules. Furthermore, rules quickly deteriorate into a quagmire of dogma. What is the way out? Evolve. Grow toward enlightenment. Do not be simplistic in your understanding of what that means. Be discerning.
So what is salvation? Like everything in existence, there are many levels to it. Superficially, salvation is any sort of awakening or commitment to a deeper or wiser truth. For example, New Years resolutions are a sort of salvation or commitment to becoming a better you. Being ‘Born Again’ too is such a commitment or some level or degree of awakening. But there are an infinite number of awakenings. Some things that are viewed as awakenings may even be steps backward. Of course, the highest form of salvation is enlightenment… spontaneously living in harmony with Nature. But just get ready. When you see beyond the horizon, all who have their gaze fixed upon rules and laws will judge you in terms of what they are capable of seeing. It has been said that the enlightened, in this age of ignorance, are kicked around like a football. For now, no matter who you are, no matter how knowledgeable you may be in your studies of spirituality, know that you are in for new awakenings. Also know that when the great awakening comes, your understanding of everything, of all you think you know, will be turned over on its head… like a sock that was inside out being turned right side out. Discernment is the path to ultimate salvation. Wisdom is the path of discernment. Humility is the flip side of wisdom.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Friday, December 13, 2013 | Health |
The cycling of hormones in the body is an incredibly complex and intriguing science. I have read a fair amount from many difference sources on the subject. I recently found a book that offers an interesting perspective on the hormone cycles involved in nutrient metabolism very concisely and very well. It is called The Renegade Diet. If you are interested, a brief summary follows:
The nervous system has two aspects: the sympathetic (which involves outward action sometimes referred to as fight or flight) and the parasympathetic (which involves internal homeostasis or internal maintenance of the body). The sympathetic ‘takes over’ during the day while we are active. The parasympathetic takes over a night when we sleep and the body rebuilds.
Cortisol is a hormone that stimulates action, the sympathetic. It is naturally high in the morning. Insulin is a hormone that drives nutrients from carbohydrates into the cells of the body.
If you eat a lot of carbohydrates, you first get an insulin surge and a lot of energy, but that is followed by a hypoglycemic crash when you become sleepy (think post Thanksgiving dinner).
According to the book, there are three phases in healthy eating which conform to the eating habits that humans evolved through millions of years:
1) The evening feast of protein and healthy starchy carbohydrates like sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, white potatoes, etc.
This provides the nutrients for the body to rebuild over night. The carbohydrates spike insulin, which drives nutrients into the cells. Then the hypoglycemic crash occurs enabling one to get to sleep easily so the body can continue to regenerate all night. It is a natural time for Growth Hormone to be high, facilitating growth. This then is also the natural time for the nervous system’s parasympathetic phase. Minimal fats should be eaten at this time since fats and carbohydrates eaten together overwhelm the system and cause nutrients to be stored as fat instead of feeding the muscles and other cells of the body.
2) The 16-hour, overnight fast
This allows the food of the evening meal to be efficiently utilized. Growth hormone remains high throughout the fast, building the body. The fast also gives the digestive system time to rest and restore, rebuilding the enzyme stores, cells, etc.
3) The 8 hour daytime window to eat protein, veggies (for nutrients and fiber), and healthy fats like omega 3s, coconut oil, olive oil, etc.
This keeps the sympathetic nervous system ‘in charge,’ which prevents daytime hypoglycemic crash, thereby providing a full day of energy for an active, bright, clear, and dynamic life. Minimal glucose from carbohydrates in the system during this time has many health benefits:
• If carbohydrates are eaten often, then the cells become resistant to the spike of insulin post carbohydrate ingestion. This in time can lead to obesity and diabetes.
• The fatty acids in the blood are utilized as energy for the day. This ‘teaches’ to body to burn fat instead of storing it.
Too much stress causes too much cortisol to be released which creates abdominal fat and other health disadvantages. Coffee stimulates cortisol so a little in the morning, when cortisol is naturally high, is ok. However, coffee all day long and too much stress over stimulates cortisol, which is a problem.
Then comes the evening meal when the cycle starts again. There are many fine points involved but these are the basics. If you are interested there is plenty to read on the Internet. Many who follow this diet consider themselves to be on the 90% paleo diet.
One last hormone I would like to mention is Leptin. If you diet without a break, leptin forces the body to resist the process and you hit plateaus in your weight loss. Therefore, a couple of times a week, they recommend a fun meal of whatever you want… just not excessive. This actually speeds up weight loss and health.
So, there you have the basics. If you are interested you should certainly learn more about it before trying it out. Needless to say, consulting a doctor for any health issues before trying it out is wise.
Prior to eating along the lines of The Renegade Diet, I followed a more traditional six small meals a day. A takeoff on The Renegade Diet works better for me. The main way I deviate from The Renegade Diet is that I only eat one large carbohydrate meal in the evening, whereas some may eat carbs in the evening over a longer period of time. Also, for vegetarians, getting enough protein can be a challenge, but is certainly doable.
Personally, I find the whole arena of nutrition and physiology fascinating.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Saturday, December 7, 2013 | World View |
Magic is science that people do not understand yet. All science is a product of imagination. The only limit is that of the imagination. The Universe is a field… a unified field… of all possibilities.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Wednesday, December 4, 2013 | Personal Growth |
From time to time, I receive email questions from someone who seems upset. Instead of a sincere desire to learn, the motivation of the questions seems to be to find a flaw in me and/or my teachings. The intent seems to be to make me wrong. I usually try to find a way to help the person. Truth is, that rarely works because they have already committed themselves to their attitude. But at least they have then heard something from me that may (if not right away then in the future as they reflect back) help them.
I believe that such resentment is often rooted in some sort of competitiveness. Perhaps a husband resents the fact that his wife likes my teachings and would prefer that she look to him for spiritual knowledge. Perhaps the person wants to see himself as an authority and therefore feels threatened or offended by me. Perhaps they feel they need to maintain their dogmatic world-view, feeling threatened by anything that may challenge their current understanding.
I hope the following response might be useful to anyone who may find himself feeling at odds with another person:
I sense hostility in the emails you send. I would like to suggest that you take a look at your motivations. What feelings, what emotions, lie within you when you write these emails? What do you really want from me? What is going on with you? I am not asking you to give me those answers. However, I do feel it would help you if you could honestly answer them for yourself… what you are really feeling about me, my teachings, and why. Just please remember that self-honesty is a most difficult task in such situations. Of course you could always deny any negative feelings. Perhaps then you could once and for all make me wrong in your eyes, which may in fact be what you have been hoping for all along. If that is so, consider this my gift to you.
With utmost sincerity,
Michael Mamas
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Tuesday, December 3, 2013 | Favorites, Spirituality |
In my longing for Truth, I went inward.
I became full… and overflowing…
I then returned to the world…
… to offer what I had gained
… to teach
… to heal
But then there were too many to heal one by one…
So I began teaching others to heal…
But to heal is not to learn techniques
To heal is to be… to be established in your own being…
… in your own true nature
… which is to say, in your spiritual nature
… once that is attained, the ability to heal comes naturally, with every breath.
So I now focus on cultivating the spiritual growth of individuals… of groups of individuals… of the world
There is so much wanting in this world…
To answer every wanting on its own level is not possible…
There is no end to all those wantings on all those levels…
But to bring fulfillment to all wanting by introducing individuals to their True Nature
That is attainable
That must be the fixity of purpose
There is a natural inclination to answer every wanting…
But to remain focused on the highest purpose… is my purpose… is our purpose.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
