Bringing Happiness And Meaning Into Our Lives

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Bringing Happiness And Meaning Into Our Lives© Dick Rauscher - Issue #5

We achieve happiness and bring meaning and purpose into our lives only as we learn to embrace a higher purpose for our existence; when we learn to expand our worldview beyond our own wants and needs. Meditation teachers, yoga instructors, personal growth coaches, and virtually all mental health counselors echo this same message. The world of an unhappy, depressed, or mentally ill person is very small and restricted; very self-focused.

For some, a higher purpose may mean accepting God. For others it might mean having a driving passion in our life such as feeding the poor, playing golf, fixing up old cars, or getting involved in politics. For others it might mean volunteering at the local hospital or starting a hobby such as stamp collecting, ham radio or learning to play a musical instrument.

Finding a higher purpose and meaning may include some of the goals listed above, but most importantly, it means learning to see ourselves in the context of 14.5 billion years of evolution. Contrary to the belief of the primitive ego that dwells in each of us, we are "not" the final end-product of the evolutionary process in this universe. We must learn to see ourselves as systemically inter-connected with all of creation. We must learn to embrace radical diversity. We must learn that the creative evolutionary process requires deep levels of cooperation among "all" aspects of creation for evolutionary change to take place.

Meaning and purpose as well as happiness only comes when we learn to embrace an evolutionary spirituality; a spiritual intelligence that works "with" the Universal Intelligence that initiated the evolutionary process. When we fight against the evolutionary process we are fighting against the entire universe. It is no wonder we often find ourselves unhappy and depressed.

Human Evolution from Primitive Ego Point of View

Developing the deep self-awareness of a mature observing ego consciousness is the ultimate responsibility of our species. Our observing ego not only identifies with a significantly larger view of the world, it has a appreciably more complex understanding of the world and of reality. Only healthy, self-aware societies are capable of fostering the deep levels of cooperation between individuals required to create a compassionate global culture.

Cooperation is not possible when we function out of our collective, self-centered, egocentric primitive egos because our primitive ego is narcissistically unable to see anything but itself. The attention and focus of our primitive ego, the unconscious ego of our inner-child, is interested only in its own needs and desires.

Unfortunately, our primitive ego is what unconsciously controls virtually all adult humans alive today. We talk about altruistic concern for others, but we are not able to sustain this concern for others when it conflicts with our own needs and self-concerns. When we are challenged or threatened, our primitive ego quickly moves into an aggressive survival of the fittest mode of behavior. Our primitive ego does not like to be criticized or told that it is wrong.

Our mainline religions are a significant part of the problem. They are based on cultures and worldviews that reflect a primitive ego consciousness that is two to three thousand years old. The world is not flat. The earth does not revolve around the sun. God does not live in the sky above us. We are an evolving species, not a fallen species. And God is not an emotional being who destroys peoples and cultures just because "He" doesn't like them. These concepts make absolutely no sense to a 21st century consciousness.

Our mainline religions teach us to profess a faith that encourages a child like obedience to our specific religious beliefs. Our reward for that obedience is eternal life in heaven. Disobedience is punished by condemning us to an eternity of pain and suffering in hell. Talk about black and white primitive ego either-or splitting!

Blind obedience to a set of religious beliefs that are designed to get us into heaven are not going to be helpful if we are to successfully deal with the challenges that threaten our very existence as a species. We need to accept full adult responsibility for the problems that we have created. God is not going to somehow "fix" the problem for us.

For example, we are in the middle of the greatest species extinction crisis in the history of the planet and we are essentially unaware that it's even happening. Scientists are estimating that the current rate of species extinction is now over 50,000 species a year. Some say that figure is too low. We will never see these species again on this planet. Without human influences, it is estimated that the extinction rate would be about 1 species extinction every five years!

Another example of the narcissism of our primitive ego is that we live on a planet where more than ¾ of the planet's population lives on less than $2 per day. The imbalance between the have and have-not people of the world will continue to grow and become an ever larger source of instability, violence and conflict in the world. Our collective primitive egos may be narcissistically unaware and unconcerned about the imbalance in the distribution of wealth around the world, but it is a growing problem that can no longer be ignored.

We seem to be more concerned with building fences to keep "aliens" from sharing in our wealth than we are in helping them break out of their poverty. When we arrogantly claim that this is "our" country, that these are "our" jobs, and that this is "our" economy, we are implying that we must all somehow be "Native Americans". The truth is that we, or our ancestors, were all immigrants at one time in the recent past.

All people have a right to survive and prosper. Until every human alive has the hope of a better future for themselves and their children, we will continue to create the conditions for violence. If violence is seen as a way to achieve a better future, then violence is what impoverished people will use. A person who has no hope, is a person who has nothing to lose.

Listen to the words of Jonas Salk, developer of the polio vaccine: "…..human beings now play an active and critical role not only in the process of their own evolution but in the survival and evolution of all living beings. Awareness of this places upon human beings a responsibility for their participation in, and contribution to, the process of evolution. If humankind would accept and acknowledge this responsibility and become creatively engaged in the process of meta-biological evolution consciously, as well as unconsciously, a new reality would emerge, and a new age would be born."

We are living in a universe that is uniquely designed to support life and consciousness. We have evolved from the raw energy and primal particles of the big bang. As Michael Dowd says " through the process of evolution, we are stardust creating music and contemplating the stars".

The primary evolutionary process of the human species will no longer be only biological; it will take place in the evolution of our species consciousness. The narcissism of our species' collective primitive ego is not capable of creating a compassionate and peaceful global culture because virtually all of our primitive ego energy is directed toward getting our own needs and desires met---any way we can.

The intentional evolution of our species from our current level of primitive ego narcissism to a more enlightened consciousness is the evolutionary responsibility of every human on the planet.

Achieving an evolutionary spirituality simply means learning to live in harmony with others and with the 14.5 billion year old creative evolutionary process itself. The intentional evolution and growth of our species consciousness is no longer an option if we wish to survive. This is an authentic spiritual path of ultimate happiness, ultimate purpose, and deep meaning in life. Authentic spiritual growth is simply growth in self-awareness.

PERSONAL COMMENTS

We were camping this summer in the Stanislaus National Forest near the Yosemite National Park waiting for the Strawberry Music Festival to begin. We decided to take a hike through Yosemite's famous Red Wood and Sequoia groves. I expected to be impressed with the size and age of the giant sequoias, but I did not expect to experience the sense of awe and spiritual power present in the groves. To walk among trees that in some cases were growing a thousand years before the Roman Empire, weigh over 2.7 million pounds, are forty feet in diameter, and stand over 300 feet in height was a truly amazing spiritual experience.

Sequoia Grove near Yosemite National Forest

As we walked on the paths through the grove we came upon a sign that was a stark reminder of the importance of teaching about the danger of the narcissistic primitive ego consciousness that resides in each of us. The sign reminded visitors to the grove that in the late 1800's, greedy logging companies dreaming of great profits destroyed 34% of all living sequoias before they were stopped. They sold sequoia seeds and seedlings in England for as much as $50 per seedling.

Today, under Forest Service protection, the trees in these grove are surviving, but because of the narrow climate conditions required for these trees to survive, they are considered endangered. The environmental changes currently predicted to result from global warming could bring these magnificent trees to extinction.

The primitive ego narcissism of the logging company executives saw only financial profit. They were consciously unaware of the incredible gift that was standing before them. Today, the collective primitive egos of our species is just as consciously unaware of the looming crisis as those logging company executives were a hundred years ago.

The message that day was clear. We can no longer allow our collective unconscious primitive ego's control the narcissistic choices we are making. We must become more conscious and self-aware; both individually and as a species. We are rapidly destroying the earth that birthed us. We were not placed here "on" this earth as some religions would have us believe; we are a species birthed and now sustained "by" the earth.

Even primitive animals instinctively know better than to defecate in their own nest. It would appear that the animals are wiser than we are. It's time we began to work "with" the evolutionary process. Change does not come from the top down. Institutions do not embrace change. They continue to focus on their own survival. Change comes from the bottom up, one human consciousness at a time. Change comes when the old ways no longer make any sense to a sufficient number of people.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

Learn to take the time to really look at the world that surrounds you. Allow yourself to be awed by the beauty of a flower, or the grace of a butterfly. Pay attention to the insects, the clouds, the wind in the trees. Experience the incredible life that surrounds you…life, that like ourselves, was birthed and is sustained by the planet that we live on. Learn to ask yourself the question "Am I an individual working with the creative evolutionary process in the way I am living my life, or am I working against it?" Over time, simply asking yourself that question will eventually lead to growth in self-awareness. And all growth in self awareness is authentic spiritual growth.

Learning to pay attention in this way is a conscious choice that only our more adult and matured observing ego can make. Our unconscious primitive ego is too busy getting our own narcissistic needs met to bother taking the time for intentional growth in our self-awareness.

GOALS OF THE STONYHILL NEWSLETTER

We live in a world filled with conflict and violence. Almost everyone agrees that something has to change. There is an urgent need to develop a more compassionate global spirituality.

At Stonyhill, we believe it makes no sense to profess the values and morality of peace and compassion while continuing to manifest the primitive ego's paradigm of vertical power called survival of the fittest; a paradigm of power, control, and violence.

We must learn how the unconscious judgments of the primitive ego bring the seeds of conflict, and a sense of "otherness" into the world. If our personal goal is to do no harm to others or the world, then our thinking must consciously evolve and become more conscious or self-aware.

We will become what we think about and authentic spiritual growth is achieved only when we grow in self-awareness.

Traditional mainline religions are based on primitive pre-modern and violent tribal metaphors written during a time when our human consciousness was still very primitive. Until our mainline religions remove the violence contained in their scriptures and come to understand that most of the wisdom in their scriptures is metaphoric and should not be interpreted literally, they will be unable to offer the moral and ethical framework needed to create effective global solutions to the challenges facing us in the 21st century.

We will evolve as humans only as we become more self-aware and intentionally increase our ability to love unconditionally. A compassionate global spirituality is no longer just an interesting philosophic idea; the future of the human species may very well depend upon our ability to create it. The danger that we could destroy ourselves as a species has never been greater. The creation of a compassionate global community is the most important goal of human consciousness in the 21st century.

The Stonyhill Newsletter explores the insights and spiritual practices required to achieve the authentic spiritual growth that comes from deep self-awareness, understanding the primitive ego that resides in each of us, and the intentional evolution of our species consciousness.

The Stonyhill newsletter is written each month for counselors, therapists, clergy, and individuals interested in authentic spiritual growth, intentional growth in our human consciousness, and the formation of a compassionate, non-violent global community that openly embraces radical inclusiveness and diversity.

Namaste
Dick Rauscher

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Stonyhill Newsletter is written and published by Dick Rauscher, M.Div., Fellow AAPC. For past issues of the Stonyhill Newsletter and other in depth articles on authentic spiritual growth and the Primitive Ego Theory of Human Development written by Dick Rauscher go to www.stonyhill.com
All rights reserved.
Copyright 2007

There are many article on spiritual growth, the middlepath and the primitive ego on the Stonyhill web site at www.stonyhill.com. If you would like to read an in-depth article on The Primitive Ego Theory of Human Development and the relationship between authentic spiritual growth and the growth in self-awareness that comes as we better understand the primitive ego that dwells inside each of us, you can go to the Awakening article #26 on the web site or just click on this link: http://www.stonyhill.com/articles.htm - awakening

Visit the STONYHILL INSTITUTE website at http://www.stonyhill.com/articles.htm for additional articles on the integration of spirituality and psychotherapy.

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