Our problems, both those we experience externally such as wars, crime and violence and those we experience internally as emotional and psychological suffering will not be solved until we address this underlying neglect of our inner dimension. That is why the great movements of the last hundred years and more--democracy, liberalism, socialism, and Communism--have all failed to deliver the universal benefits they were supposed to provide, despite many wonderful ideas. A revolution is called for, certainly, but not a political, an economic, or a technical revolution. We have had enough experience of these during the past century to know that a purely external approach will not suffice. What I propose is a spiritual revolution.
~ His Holiness the Dalai Lama
I love this quote from the Dalai Lama and agree that much of what we hope for is based on our perception that change of external circumstances will somehow make a difference. Our training for this "contingency" mentality starts young. "I'll be happy when I go to school...", "I'll be happy when I make it to Junior High", "I'll be happy when I get my drivers license, first love, prom date, diploma, etc., etc.." and the happiness keeps getting delayed.
I'm a great one for this - only my happiness tended for the longest time to revolve around stuff. (Cars for example...) And, I became a master manifestor of the things I wanted. I was able to visualize having whatever I wanted so clearly, that it was easy to create it.
But, then when I had it - somehow there was still an emptiness. Don't get me wrong, my SL600 was a ton of fun - but even the 12 cylinders didn't fill that emptiness. I agree that what I needed was a spiritual revolution. I wasn't sure what that would look like, but I began to get an idea after reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle" that my wealth didn't lie in things that might happen in the future, or even things that would happen in the future, as much as in a greater conscious awareness of all the rich dynamics of NOW."
That has become my own spiritual revolution. Touching base with the Power of Now. "How am I feeling NOW?" "What am I doing NOW?" - "What's really happening NOW? - and it has been my experience that in that heightened awareness of the NOW, will come a vastly expanded sense of appreciation and gratitude for the future, when it finally becomes NOW.
The Etymological Dictionary defines an iconoclast is a “breaker or destroyer of images” from the Late Greek word eikonoklastes. Later, an iconoclast was viewed as “one who attacks orthodox beliefs or institutions.” Today, iconoclasts like perceive things differently than other people - or maybe we just like to be annoying. Either way. This difference in perception plays out in our ideas, worldview and metaphysics - and in how we manage our fears and shadow self. It works well for me.
