by Michael Mamas | Tuesday, November 24, 2015 | Spirituality |
Question:
Is “the backdrop” the same as the unmanifest?
My Response:
I was wondering if anyone would have that question. It is a beautiful question. The simple answer is ‘yes’.
Or we could say it is that deep, finest feeling level within. The delineation is so fine, like the distinction between Atman and Buddhi. Yet in those sweet tender moments when first fully awoken to, what the ‘backdrop’ is cannot be described so analytically.
The feelings it invokes are so exquisite… awe, wonder, fascination, adoration. The backdrop is pure consciousness, only to be described as God’s consciousness… the eternal omnipresent witness of all that is. No opinion, no comment, yet full and all knowing.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Sunday, November 22, 2015 | Spirituality |
It is said that Knowledge is contained in the gap. Knowledge in a book is not contained in the letters. The knowledge is held on the page, the backdrop of the letters. Knowledge of the world is contained in the backdrop, only perceptible to those who can see it. The secret doctrines remain secret to those who read them, less they can see the backdrop.
As Bruce Lee said,
“A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.”
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Friday, November 20, 2015 | Personal Growth |
Yes, please believe me, I do understand. They said/did something that hurt you. It made you angry so you just had to hurt them back. Once that pendulum swings, the conflict begins. They hurt you so you hurt them back. Think, The Godfather.
You have two choices. Either work out your differences (much easier said than done), allow the relationship to be damaged in perpetuity by going your own way, or allow it to inflame even more. Incredibly, that is the stuff that create global wars.
So how do you stop that pendulum from swinging? First thing is to allow yourself some time to come back into balance. That might entail biting your lip a bit. Just don’t let time drag on too long, which could perpetuate resentment.
Then, once you are back into relative balance, what comes next next? You need to say something. It may just be just a few words, but let them know that the door is open to healing the relationship, to taking the next step. Be ready for the possibility of rejection in case they are not yet ready to take that next step. If so, just give them more time. Know that the peace offering will not be forgotten. Know that no one wants war. It is just that some people have a hard time taking that next step. You can always try again with another peace offering. Note that a peace offering is not assuming a fetal position. It is not ‘giving in’ or accepting defeat. It is a mature and adult stance, not a weak one. It may be challenging for you to make the offering, and they may not respond exactly how you would like them to respond. It is a process. Your goal is to steadfastly be a respectful, mature adult. Just keep in mind that the pendulum swings and it requires some skill to get out of its way.
When the time comes that both of you are willing to talk, know that neither of you will do that perfectly. Little jabs will be thrown. An ‘honest sharing’ of feelings may be more of a cloaked blaming than an honest airing. Just remember that and handle it as wisely as possible. The possible directions a conversation like this may go are too numerous to mention. However, the concept underlying all those possibilities is the same: stay out of the way of the swinging pendulum. Do not feed that swing. You may have to tolerate a hurtful jab here and there. If it starts to feel to abusive, you can respectfully excuse yourself from the conversation, saying you need to resume it later. More than likely they will know why and will reflect upon how they behaved.
This is an art. It requires patience and practice. A great deal of it is a function of your own personal style. There is no cookbook. Giving yourself the time to cultivate this art is much of what being an adult is all about.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Thursday, November 19, 2015 | Personal Growth |
I love the way NK bottom lined the previous blog about Hurt. “There is a fine line between venting and sharing.” It is indeed a fine line. However, if you can stay with the feeling of hurt without slipping into anger (be it overt, passive/aggressive, or whatever), the line then remains clearly delineated and even becomes more like a huge gap. And yes, this is indeed an art.
Perhaps the biggest challenge of the art is feeling vulnerable to the possibility of attack, rejection, or retaliation if you do express your hurt.
The key here lies in not selling the other person short. We often think we aren’t heard nearly as much as we actually are. In the moment, it may seem your words are not being honored. Know that people do hear you in such moments far more than they may be able to acknowledge.
Also know that just one sentence or phrase can be enough to prompt them to (later, in their quite moments) reflect upon what you have shared. Usually, the problem is not that the person didn’t hear you, rather that you think they did not hear you. If you keep pushing your point, your words may be rejected because they feel invasive or overdone. Oftentimes more can be said in a sentence than in a book.
If they do retaliate, respectful and humble silence may be your most powerful response.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | Personal Growth |
It can, at times, be good to say the following:
“I know better than this and would not actually act on it, but do want you to know how I am feeling inside.”
Then say what it is you are feeling, while fully acknowledging that it is just coming from a hurt place within that needs to be voiced, vented, let out.
It is not to be said as an attack but as a humble, vulnerable, and respectful sharing of the hurt that is going on within you.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Sunday, November 15, 2015 | World View |
It’s easy to play the blame game. We invaded Iraq, made a bunch of people mad, and now they are retaliating. Government regulators were asleep at the wheel while the big banks abused the system, and now we have a financial mess. Decades ago, Monsanto dumped DDT all over the place and now we have way fewer butterflies and flocks of birds. The list of examples goes on and on.
Attempting to resolve all of these problems on a case by case basis may seem like an impossibility, and in fact, it is. We can and should do what is possible, but we also need to know that the real solution lies deeper. That solution is so incredible and yet so simple.
There is a root of health to all of life and all of nature. We have the ability, the technology, to enliven that root and free our planet from all of its woes. The root of life is called the Transcendent, the source of infinite harmony and coherence that birthed and sustains the entire universe. It’s just that simple. The question is, who will listen?
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Friday, November 13, 2015 | Mount Soma |
Over the past years, I have noticed that my appreciation of animals has deepened. It’s not that I have learned anything new, per say, about animals. It’s just that my feeling for their role, their place, in nature has grown stronger.
I’ve always known that every animal species has its role in nature, completely congruent with its seed form place within the unified field, the Veda. This is difficult to put into words because it’s not a thought, it’s a feeling. I sense it, feel it, and see it ever more clearly.
We have two concrete lions at Mount Soma. Even their presence touches me and others deeply. Of course, here at Mount Soma, we have bobcats, turkeys, various snakes, turtles, deer, and an occasional bear. It is as if they are all part of a unified whole, a divine concert that all seamlessly merges into one full and exquisite song of life.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Wednesday, November 11, 2015 | Announcements, Mount Soma |
Another one of my articles was just published on Elephant Journal. This one takes a look at the student loan debt crisis and discusses how to move past the limited thinking that got us into this predicament.
Your help in sharing this article is very much appreciated!
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Sunday, November 8, 2015 | Announcements, Social Media |
In case you missed them, there have been many articles, etc. posted on social media recently. You are encouraged to share, like and comment.
New SlideShare Slideshow
View my latest slideshow, “Navigating Life“, on SlideShare.
New Articles
LinkedIn
• “How to Improve Efficiency and Your Position in Business“
• “Workplace Communication: Beyond Words"
Medium.com
• “Astral Echoes & the Depth of Your Being“
• “Painting the Leaves Green“
ElephantJournal.com
• “4 Steps to Healthier Healthcare“
New Vedic Knowledge Blog
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© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
by Michael Mamas | Saturday, November 7, 2015 | World View |
The planets move through the constellations (signs) at various rates. Moon goes through all twelve signs (constellations) every month. In other words, it goes all the way around, returning to its starting point every month. Saturn spends about 2 1/2 years in each sign. Jupiter… about six months per sign. All the other planets about one month per sign.
About a month ago, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and the Moon were all close together visible in the early eastern morning sky. Venus was above Jupiter, Moon, and Mars. Over the past month, Venus and Mars (because they move through the signs faster than Jupiter) caught up and passed Jupiter. Moon has gone all the way around through all constellations and has now caught back up with, and passed, Jupiter and is close to Mars and Venus.
So now, in the early morning eastern sky, you can see all four planets close together but with Jupiter above Venus, Mars, and the Moon. Because Moon moves so quickly, in several days it will have gone way past the other three planets so if you want to see all four together, you need to do so in the next day or so.
© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.
