You are the creator of meaning in your life. When you learn to do this nothing disturbs you.
From the global to the personal
This is the first time in history that all human beings in the world are facing the same challenge: that of global warming. How do we respond to such a global challenge? Is there something that we can each personally do that will make a difference? In order to be able to respond to this challenge in a meaningful way we need to first of all understand why it has happened, otherwise how will we be able to see clearly enough what is needed to put things right?
What is behind global warming?
The world is a closed ecosystem and what we are witnessing is the Law of Entropy at work. This law states that all energy moves from being in an ordered state into a chaotic one. In order for this energy to be returned to its’ ordered state there needs to be an input of energy into the system from outside of itself.
Say we are sitting in a large room and someone sets a chair on fire. Setting light to a piece of wood releases its’ energy from its’ original solid state into a chaotic form (heat). If we then keep adding more chairs, tables and combustibles to this fire the room of course keeps getting hotter and hotter and hotter until… This scenario can be extrapolated to the globe and what we are seeing today. We have released so much energy from its’ ordered into its’ chaotic state that the closed ‘room’ of the globe is just getting hotter and hotter and hotter until…
…Up until recently the sun has been doing the job as the ‘outside energy source’ re-ordering the ecosystem and keeping it from getting too hot. Our demand for more and more progress on the material level –requiring the release of more and more energy in the ecosystem- is happening at a faster rate than ever and at a speed faster than the sun can work at! So we are seeing the phenomenon of global warming.
Where is the ‘meaning’ in this?
“As without so is within.” Meaning that the world we ‘occupy’ is a reflection of our inner human consciousness and that the way we use energy ‘out there’ is according to our consciousness within. So the ‘message’ in the warming of the globe and the chaos we see in the world is that our consciousnesses have become heated and chaotic. The ‘meaning’ then that we need to each sort out the chaos within to resolve the chaos without.
Consciousness and entropy?
“Seek to understand without judgement.” Consciousness is a closed system and the signs that there is chaos within are the emotions. The more emotional we are the more chaotic our consciousness is.
Consider, when you are emotional who is in control? You or the emotion? Are you not just reacting and behaving in accordance with whatever emotion it is that you are feeling? The two main manifestations of emotion are desire and anger. Desires can be recognised by the words: I want. Then when we don’t get or we don’t get fast enough we become angry. Wanting and the ensuing anger leave us ‘hot under the collar’ i.e. raise the heat of our consciousnesses.
If we listen to the world today we hear an ever increasing crescendo of ‘I wants’ and see the resultant increase in the amount of anger in the world. We want more and more and more, and we want it now! It is our demands for more and more that are behind our demolishing the planet and the cause of all sorts of conflicts. All of this is just heat in our consciousness!
Emotions rule?
“We have lost our self-mastery and our emotions are running the show. ” I resolve, for example, not to eat chocolate today and what happens? This is a sign that my desires are in charge, not me! How often does it happen that our resolutions end up being overruled?
Cooling down?
So what is the real antidote to global warming? To cool down our desires and angers (animosities, irritations, jealousies and frustrations)? If we do the planet will automatically cool down.
Cooling down our consciousness
This is the the path to self-mastery.
Step 1: self awareness – this is also the hardest step. What am I thinking and feeling? What is my attitude to this and why? Why do I feel angry out of the blue?
Step 2: self-understanding. The questioning of step 1 leads me into understanding. I see the links between thoughts-feelings-actions.
Now we have a choice to let go of trying to fix everything out there and accept responsibility for ourselves or to continue to ‘get hot under the collar’ and blame. The belief that it isn’t us but them has lead us to believe that we need to fix everything ‘out there’ in order to resolve our pain. Consider’ isn’t the reason we want x, y and z because we believe that having them equals attaining peace and happiness? When we do first get the object/ achievement we desire there is that moment of Ahh…’ The strategy is get more be happier. Is it working? Is it true? If we look honestly and go deeply into our consciousness can we say that having has truly satisfied us?
Step 3: self-knowledge. How would it be if I dropped wanting them to be/ do as I want them to be/ do? How would I feel if I dropped all that? Chilled?
The moment we find ourselves desire free is a moment of profound peace and of knowing that ‘I have found what I have been looking for’ and happiness bubbles up from inside. I am already happy.
Step 4: Self-responsibility. I see clearly how I am responsible for my own thoughts, perceptions, attitudes and beliefs; and that I am the source of my own peace, love and joy. Now no longer moved by my emotions I move myself. No longer dependent on anything to experience peace, love and joy I can empower my own life and witness it flowering. No longer needing to control others I can empower them to know themselves and influence them positively. At this moment the energy of the world rushes to us and want to be with us. The moment I go back though to trying to possess something I block my energy. That object occupies my thoughts, and fear is created concerning its loss or damage.
Step 5: Self-mastery. As a master I can share the coolness of peace with the world slowing down the process of entropy. This is a real contribution that I can make to the world on a personal level. If I don’t fix ‘in here’ I will just continue to add to the heat even whilst working for the globe.
