Conundrum

What is true? 

How does one know what is good and what is not?  Deceit is used to minimize what is true and bolster what is untrue.  The practice of deceit in the human experience is ancient, well studied, and constantly applied.  Simply because something is touted over and over as “true”, or “untrue” (which ever is to the benefit of the deceiver) does not make it so.  Yet if an unsuspecting person accepts the deception as true, it increases the weight of “evidence” that the lie is, in fact, the truth.   "Figures often beguile me," wrote Mark Twain, "particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: 'There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.'"

But what of people?  How can I know what is true about someone, anyone?  That’s a questions I suspect most people have mused at some point.  Over forty years ago I was confused about politics and government.  The Gnome conjured a verse that set me straight:

A man of peace

cannot bring harm

to another.

A man of liberty

cannot trample

the rights of others.

It is totally impossible

for such to happen.

The conundrum is hardly limited to our current times.  Awash in social media, countless internet sites, “traditional media”, 24/7 “news”, it is all too easy to merge into a groupthink rather than hone the mental skills to examine and evaluate.  Especially if the individual has little, or no experience in critical thinking.  Once a primary focus of education, critical thinking appears to have been replaced by “talking points” party line.  Rewards are for those who conform to the prevailing “truth.”  There is nothing to debate.  One either toes the line. or is considered enemy.  This was the case thousands of years ago, when many wondered whom they could trust.  How can one know if another is truthful or deceitful?  They received an answer:

^“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”  Matthew 7:16-20.

By their fruits - what they do and what are the results - reveal all.  Worked then, works now.

So what the hell is going on with the world now?

It appears to me that Mankind (that’s all of us homo-sapiens) and in an evolutionary process of raising consciousness.  I like to call it spiritual evolution – moving to a greater awareness, and hence utilization, of Consciousness.  That’s Consciousness with the big C.  Life is ever improving and advancing, it’s inescapable.  The one constant in the universe is motion.  Motion is relative and not everone/everything is moving in sync – although created from the same, each human being on Earth is an individual and no two people are alike.  Some people move quickly, some plod.  Some people are happy.  Some are unhappy.  They’re not the same and it’s foolish and self-defeating to attempt any one size fits all approach to anything.  (Can you say Covid-19?)

These times of spiritual evolution will produce a variety of reactions, since everyone is affected, an everyone is different.  Those who have some degree of awareness of this raising of consciousness will benefit for they will apply their greater vibration (which is the essence of this evolution, an increase in vibration) for a more satisfying life as they gain more control over their thoughts, deeds, and hence experience.  And, there are those who are clueless and have little or no awareness of spiritual evolution.  In fact, they may be barely conscious of their identity.  The movement will proceed regardless, but these people will be disturbed and have no idea why.  They are unhappy and don’t  know why.  A great deceit ensues placing their discomfort as your fault.  The more they believe this deception, the further they recede from the pursuit of happiness.

Fortunately, a rising tide lifts all boats.  The aphorism is appropriate for what Mankind is experiencing.  Some measure of heightened vibration of spirit will envelope everyone, even those unaware.  Their movement towards happiness may be much slower than others, but we live in an eternal universe so there is time.

How best to assist those wailing and gnashing their teeth?  Once again, there’s nothing new with this desire:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”   Matthew 5: 14-16.

This isn’t showing off, it’s letting the sometimes literal glow of consciousness flow.  You probably know or have met someone who seemed to “glow”.  Usually smiling.  You probably felt pretty good in their presence.  You might even have become curious about their ease and how you could obtain the presence of mind.

As is said, you can’ become sick enough to make someone else more healthy.  You can’t become poor enough to help someone gain wealth.  It is not a zero sum universe.  Whatever good you have is not good someone else is denied.  Granted, the grand deceit of ‘there’s only so much of anything’ demands that a central control be in place to ensure that everyone has ‘their fair share’.  Sounds nice but it’s a deception.  Observe the fruit of its practice.

The rising tide will float off victimhood as a belief system, liberating great numbers of unhappy people clinging to that old deceit.  They’ll make it.  Be yourself, and rise with this tide.  It’s the best thing anyone can do, for everyone.