Soularize (TLIO thoughts)

i returned from the week-long soularize experience in the bahamas, and wanted to share a few thoughts. it will take a while to truly unpack it all. in many respects, what occurred during the week was a affirmation and confirmation of various things that have been stewing or unfolding and evolving inside of me. this was helpful as i at times tend to be a self-doubting sort of person. brennan manning's main message was that people suffer because they are divided people, lost from the truth of their real identity as the beloved. when those of us who know who we are allow Love to flow through us to others, even in the simplest ways, we are helping stimulate the awakening in others. as i listened to brennan, the "turn love inside out" mentality grew in significance, and i am more convinced than ever of the power of love.

father richard rohr presented a talk on "stages of consciousness," which i greatly appreciated. i hope to track it down somewhere and link it so others can see it. in the six levels, number 5 is "wisdom" and reads...

"Your mind is now your servant. All previous stages are included, honored, and used effectively, but you transcend them to non dual thinking as such. You no longer know reality merely by comparison, competition, analysis, judgment, or critique. You no longer divide the field. No need to hate, exclude, deny, expel, or eliminate things, or overly attach to passing things. You are now patient with paradox and mystery, and can live with contradictions in yourself and others. The contemplative mind. Can care rightly because you have learned how not to care also."

one interesting thing also is that even though all these "stages of consciousness" were presented and explained, i had never been exposed to them in such fashion. and yet, i discovered my journey has involved passing through many of them. in other words, having the information itself is not necessary for one to grow through these stages. it doesn't have to be laid out in any sort of theological/intellectual format in order for people to get it. a farmer, truck driver, or waffle house waitress could just has easily grown into "level six" without such information. richard rohr pointed out more than once that suffering is often catalyst for growth.

that's all for now.

(photo by dan gilliam)