Let 'Er Rip

I grew up in Orange County, an area of Southern California. (Specifically Fullerton, just north of Anaheim, site of the original Disneyland) It was only 20-25 miles to Huntington or Newport Beach and I spent a lot of time at both beaches as a child and teenager. I became quite familiar with the phenomenon known then as a "riptide." (today "rip current" is more precise)

This happens when two sand bars (piers and jetties can also be locations) are located off-shore and the receding seawater is funneled between them. Speed can range anywhere between 0.5 to 2.5 meters per second (1 to 8 feet). Getting caught in a riptide can be the cause of absolute panic. Once the mind realizes it is being taken where it does not want to go, the "flight or fight" response kicks in. A lack of understanding (ignorance) about riptides can be fatal. A swimmer can exhaust himself trying to swim against the rip and drown. As most of you probably know, the technique to be employed is non-resistance. You allow the current to take you out to sea where it eventually dissipates (beyond the sandbars). You then swim sideways (out of the rip) and head to shore.

I shared all that with you to illustrate an analogy. Some of the problems Life brings you are going to feel like emotional or mental riptides. They are going to cause you to panic. At some level, they can even make you feel as though you are in a fight for your very life. If you "freak out" and exhaust yourself battling what Life has brought you, you can metaphorically drown. Better if you relax into the situation, allow it to take you where it will, then swim parallel or diagonally out of the danger.

There's just one problem though; it is completely counter-intuitive to surrender to a situation where it feels as though your life is on the line. And the ego is more than capable of manipulating events where it seems as though your life IS at stake. You must resist! You must lash out! You must strain against the injustice of it all! And I say, okay!! Just as soon as you are safely back on shore. Once your heartbeat has returned to normal. And after you've had a chance to process, calmly, what has taken place. Then, by all means, do what you think is best.

Realize I am not suggesting there is a "one size fits all" spiritual answer. However, there are tools in our "spiritual toolbox" more adaptable than others. This technique can be viewed as a Swiss Army knife, versatile in the extreme. It's employment might just be the answer next time your emotional or mental currents take you inexorably away from shore. (your comfort zone)

Review

Now that you've gotten a good night's sleep, lets tackle a big issue. Pain. Life seems to be an ongoing series of events where we are challenged, over and over, by physical, emotional, or psychological pain. And that your (our) ego magnifies and manipulates the event (pain) as justification to blame ______ (fill in the blank). Often times God is the number one scapegoat. Sometimes Life in general. (Life's not fair!) It could be your job, your boss, your spouse, your parents, a brother or sister, a stranger on the street. It doesn't even have to be a person; you get caught in a traffic jam of epic proportions and sit boiling with barely contained rage. There is a power outage and the football game between Barcelona and Real Madrid you've eagerly anticipated watching on TV is not available. Aarrrgggg! You are frustrated! Upset! Pissed off!

Depending on the degree of the pain involved (level of intensity) what are some typical reactions we as human beings employ? We sometimes self-medicate with alcohol, drugs or eating. We suppress by ignoring, overworking, shopping or frenetic activity. We often times lash out at whoever or whatever is close at hand. (even inanimate objects!) The question becomes, then, how well do you like your self-expression? Your course of action? Your behavior in general? My guess is, not all that much.

So, what's to be done? This web-site is an attempt to reconstruct the context of how we interpret our life experience. How the ego operates and what can be done to counteract it. That a reinterpretation of how to view events in our life will bring us a measure of patience, peace and self-actualization here-to-for unknown. That it is possible to view Life as a gift for which we could be grateful. Not some of the time. Not even most of the time. But all of the time.

Challenging? Without a doubt! Possible? Unavoidably so. Ultimately, eventually, you will come to terms with Life. The realization that more is going on than could be imagined. That you are a finely tuned instrument here to observe (not judge) and participate in the multidimensional, multifarious exploration of the unknown. That your WILLING interaction with whatever comes into your life and the level of trust you manifest is the alchemy by which "miracles" are wrought. I invite you all to investigate the truth of these contentions for yourself. I welcome your arguments, insights, and comments.

A Good Night's Rest

Take care of yourself. Strive to get the amount of sleep necessary to operate at peak proficiency.

               Everything's Alright

Try not to get worried, try not to turn on to
Problems that upset you, oh
Don't you know everything's alright
Yes, everything's fine
And we want you to sleep well tonight
Let the world turn without you tonight
If we try we'll get by so forget all about us tonight

~Lyrics Tim Rice (Music-Andrew Lloyd Webber)

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
~Desiderata

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b35SkJdDGV4

Reflection

This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
Some momentary awareness
Comes as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

The dark thought, the shame, the malice
Meet them at the door laughing,
And invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
Because each has been sent
As a guide from beyond.

~Rumi

Round Two

A further word or two on the ego may be in order. Having awoke to such a dramatic illustration of what I was addressing yesterday, (see Update link from yesterday's post) I am also aware that my language was imprecise. That isn't an ego out of control, it is a human being. The ego is VERY MUCH in control. Whoever that individual is, he is obviously in a bad way. He justifies parking in a handicap spot because he is driving a Ferrari. He is ready to engage in physical violence because his car is being disrespected (which in his mind he has identified with to such an extent it is he himself being disrespected). A revealing non-sequitur can be heard when he states; "...I can buy your whole family, mother****er."

Its easy to sit back and say this individual is an asshole. Doing so, though, judges him. That's the ego's game. Better to simply observe. However, and this is key, if you do find yourself judging him, don't beat yourself up for judging! It is said, what you resists, persists. If we wish to move past judging, we must allow for the realization that we ourselves judge. (It is impossible to fix a problem that we are unaware of.) So realizing we in fact do judge, and not judging ourselves harshly for it, is the first degree of separation necessary. It creates space for something else (other thoughts, emotions, reactions, observations) to cohabitate along side your judgment. It is a start.

And in that Corner...

It seems as though we have to battle the ego in all things. It seems as though the ego is a 19,347th degree black belt in cosmic jujitsu. Even a master the likes of Chogyam Trunpa (Tibetan Buddhist teacher) has used the description; "The problem is that ego can convert anything to its own use, even spirituality." The problem, as I see it, is calling it a problem. Better stated is; the DYNAMIC is that ego can convert anything to its own use, including spirituality.

Something as sophisticated, complex and fluid as the ego would seem to have a divine purpose. The level of intelligence and multifaceted interaction it engages in would point to a possibility this is true. If so, isn't it time to acknowledge its purpose? It's "perfect" resistance to a reality that there is a God? And if something is performing its function perfectly, acknowledging that perfection would seem to me a cessation of hostility towards it.

Understanding the ego and its function allows me to see a reflection of myself. If the reflection is one of self-indulgence, greed, insecurity, avarice...well, isn't that a good thing? But Pat, Pat...you don't understand! The ego contorts the picture so that we aren't seeing ourselves that way! Okay, fair enough. What comes next? Usually conflict in the form of Life (people, places and things) pushing back on the individuals projected image of themselves. And the individual "selling out" to maintain that projected self-image. (by "selling out" I mean the individual doing anything and everything to convince you of something they themselves don't truly believe) If an individual is in a constant state of conflict something is going to give. A mental breakdown, an addiction, bizarre behavior...humans can only manage so long before the inconsistencies of self take their toll.

So, ultimately, the ego did its job. The pain, suffering and/or humiliation incurred was simply the road needed to convince the individual that though they are a wonder, so too are those they interact with. Overcompensating because of low self-esteem is an idle pursuit. Seeking validation from the car you drive to the clothes you wear (and a hundred other things) is as pointless. It seems possible, without the ego, we might never come to such a conclusion. To me, that's no problem at all.

Update: Woke up this morning to see this on AOL's scroll. Went to youtube and sure enough, there it was. As classic a case of entitlement as one could ever witness. An ego out of control. Watch.

http://www.carsite.co.uk/gallery/videos/id/14126-ferrari-pee-prank

Emotions

Like oceanic tides, your emotions (feelings) are going to roll endlessly onto your mental shore. The insight, the wisdom lies in understanding that they will change. In fact, no matter how you exert your will, you are powerless to keep them static. Till now you have allowed people, places and things to steer your emotional equilibrium. It is time to review the benefits of such a course. Why do we allow others to dictate how we feel?

One of the reasons is we care about them. Our spouse or life-mate leaves us. Perhaps our closest friend or sibling lies about us. A co-worker sabotages us. A parent abandons us. The list is endless; and that is the point! Every situation is fraught with possibilities of betrayal, disappointment, despair. Every situation can also hold the epiphany of trust, joy, love. If you decide that you know how Life is going to unfold, I am here to tell you, you are wrong. And forgive me for being blunt but, in the case of suicides, dead wrong.

Give Life a chance. Its like watching the ocean. One day there isn't anything but 1 foot rollers. The sea is calm. Its boring. Every wave seems the same. The next day (or week) the waves are 6-8 feet high. They are creating beautiful troughs, foam spraying every which way as they crash down to bubble, dip, rip, gyrate and surge towards the shoreline. Life, like your emotional state, is going to change. I guarantee it. That being said, and knowing things WILL change...how much importance should we place on how we feel this very moment?

Honor yourself. Acknowledge the legitimacy of your feelings. Observe and allow for how you feel. Then go about your business. Set your emotion(s) aside knowing you can come back to it at your leisure. What, in this moment of time and space, do you need to realize you are whole and complete? Can you even view yourself in such a way? If so, do what needs to be done! If you can't, to plagiarize a line from the movie Casablanca, this looks to be the start of a beautiful friendship.

Let it go! Whatever you are going through, let it go. A new moment awaits, beckons. Let your being be saturated with it, in it. Anything and everything you need to do or be will reveal itself. Your responsibility is creating space for it. If you are fixated or obsessed it will pass you by. Will it come back round again? Yes, but why wait? Aren't you ready for a new life, a new beginning? Isn't that exactly what you have been praying for? Then by all means, lets begin...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eI6-L38EPo