What
are the key principles that we see handed down through the
Wisdom traditions?
Natural
Laws
individual
Potential and Responsibility
Dynamic
Relationship
Natural
Laws
Quantum
theory now concurs that there is an indisputable link between
the observed and the observer and the natural communion
of all phenomena. We are, indeed, all 'connected', although
in a way that actually reveals the illusion of boundaries
and separation.
What we now know is that there is a deep order behind this
communion and that this order has been acknowledged by ancient
and indigenous peoples throughout the millenia. It is most
evident in the workings of nature and shows us that dynamic
growth is only achieved through a very specific interplay
of structure and flow. Despite all our technological skills
we still cannot replicate the extraordinary efficiency and
complexity of the natural world and these laws represent
profound truths about the nature of the universe.
Ancient and indigenous peoples understood that working with
these laws (i.e. in harmony with nature) improved efficiency
and growth, working against them created dissonace and destruction.
Individual
Potential and Responsibility
Each one of us is born with unique genetic patterning
that leads us to develop very particular interests and skills.
This is the result of the informational templates that we
have inherited from all the previous generations of our
family line. We are, indeed, walking our ancestors! Our
personal life experiences then add a further layer of information
that shapes our personal map of the world and what we expect
of it.
Within
a natural systems context each one of us has a unique part
to play that fits perfectly with the whole. Fulfilling our
potential therefore serves not only us, but the whole system.
The good news is that we are guided to our poential through
our intuition and the key indicators that we are doing what
we are supposed to do are (i) personal interest (ii) personal
challenge. When we match personal challenge with existing
skills we create a dynamic force known as FLOW. And it is
flow that is recognized through the characteristics of passion
and joyful learning.
We
therefore have a responsibility to ensure that we each fulfill
the gift of our potential. This can be challenging as so
many of the systems that we live within turn off the innate
guiding instincts that let us know what this is. When we
are living our gift we experience a deep contentment and
satisfaction that is not linked to external objects. We
can achieve extraordinary levels of activity without feeling
tired. When we are not living our gift we feel disconnected
and adrift, with work experienced as a burden and fatigue
a constant companion. We then seek solace in 'things'.
Dynamic
Relationship
Humans are social beings who know themselves only through
others. We are constantly interacting and sensing the energetic
qualities of those we meet. What ancient and indigenous
people understood, however, is that we exist in an ocean
of interacting energies and that every action and reaction
creates corresponding ripple effects. By being increasing
mindful that our personal worldviews and values are the
result of our very specific conditioning we become much
more open and respectful of others. By staying open, rather
than closed, we invite in the possibility of more dynamic
relationships and higher levels of understanding. We are
more likely to see that there are many ways of knowing.
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