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Find Abundance in Problems
Adapted from Why is God Laughing? by Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 2008).
Modern society is oriented toward solving problems. There is no lack of go-getters who dedicate themselves to finding new ways to do things, and no shortage of belief that progress can’t be stopped. Much of this confidence, however, is a distraction. By focusing on the next technology, the next engineering marvel, the next medical breakthrough, we lose sight of deeper problems that offer no solution.
Buddha pointed to the problem of suffering, Jesus to the problem of sin and the lack of love, Gandhi to the absence of peace in a world of violence. What new technology will prevent me from attacking my enemy? What medical breakthrough will enable me to love my neighbor as myself?
You can look around and see how futile external solutions have proven. Crime, famine, war, epidemics, and poverty continue to baffle us, and yet society throws money at these problems over and over, as if a failed approach will succeed if only we persist. On the spiritual path you discover that all problems are rooted in consciousness, therefore the solution is always a shift in consciousness.
If you were to be happy from the soul level, totally in accord with God, what would that be like? In a word, it would be effortless. To be happy from the soul level, three things are required:
1. You act without effort.
2. You feel joy in what you do.
3. Your actions bring results.
All three requirements must work together if you want to experience the happiness God intended. It is already on display in the natural kingdom, where every creature acts spontaneously, and yet every action supports the entire ecological system. Human beings, however, primarily reside in a mental landscape. Our vision of ourselves rules what we do; the physical environment comes second (if at all), and it is expected to adapt to our demands.
In Nature, every challenge is met with a response. As dinosaurs die out, mammals thrive. As ferns give way to flowering plants, insects learn to feed on pollen. Creation and destruction move together, constantly in touch with each other. The same seamless interaction is also possible in a mental ecological system.
In higher states of consciousness, no gap appears between desire and fulfillment. Few of us experience this spontaneous state, however. The conventional condition of separation is all about gaps and discontinuity. Desires seem to lead to failure. The best-laid plans seem to go astray, and our experience of separation seems to grow.
You might think it would take heroic efforts to solve the problems that face us. Spiritually speaking, the reverse is true. The soul’s vision isn’t about struggle and lack of results. It isn’t about failure. You only need to measure your actions against the three simple conditions I mentioned above.
1. Am I acting easily, without struggle?
2. Do I enjoy what I’m doing?
3. Are results coming of their own accord?
Answering “yes” means that spiritually you are going in the right direction; answering “no” means that you aren’t.
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11 comments
add your comment »Wonderful
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why is this inappropriate?
"What new technology will prevent me from attacking my enemy? What medical breakthrough will enable me to love my neighbor as myself?"
It's technology that is going to create infrastructure that will one day feed the world.
It's technology that allows us to produce millions of products with very little human labor. We will eventually be able to create an abundance of all products for everyone, which will eliminate the need for anyone to give up anything in order for others to have enough.
When things are available in abundance, like air, we do not fight over it.
I think the ultimate love of a neighbor is the engineers and scientists working on technology to improve the quality of life for the rest of us.
So to answer the question, yes new technologies will help with your desire to want to attack your enemy, and yes, medical breakthroughs are the result of folks dedicating their lives to research that allows their neighbor to live longer.
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It is a daily chore...or different word a daily affirmation? I am learning to do this which is a shift in character or beliefs. I do hope to make a difference for my kids sake who after a 13 year seperation teach me that love can conquer...
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"the solution is always a shift in consciousness."
It sounds so easy...yet we tend to make it difficult with our own egos.
And I like Emerald's comment about knowing..."How do I know the answer is right? Because it carries a peace."
And without struggle...how would we recognize peace?
Love & Peace
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I am confused, when you refer to, "God", who and/or what are you referring to? Whose "God"? What "God"? Please help me understand. Thanks most sincerely.
Yours in Kindness & Gratitude,
Lin
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Thank you Deepak, once again!
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There is a lot to digest here and I appreciate it all.
I totally agree about crime and societal harmony...truly, it has to do with consciousness, not poverty or anything like that but what is inside you that determines these things. I wish we would understand that and the value of developing this aspect of ourselves, our world would be so much better. Nothing forced lasts...only those things freely chosen last.
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So how do you act easily without a struggle? It's one thing so say are you...it's another to say how you move to that place.
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Hello,I think that our problems teach us every day...When day starts we try to get huge rezult in our works.Only God knows when we right or not.Abundance is everywhere...
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Well, not only did Jesus speak into the problem of sin, a remedy was also given. It was King Solomon who wrote through the proverbs: Trust in the Lord (referring to Jesus) with all thine heart (KJV) and lean not unto thine own understanding (as though there is an understanding independant of the Lord) in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall diret thy paths. Personally, I have tried this technique, it works. Sometimes, answers come immediately, sometimes patience is required by waiting, but the answers are always timely. It has also been my experience to "screw things up" by not waiting for the answer. How do I know the answer is right? Because it carries a peace, and not a minipulation, and it is always verified and substantiated by an independent source. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express this point.
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