Many people consider themselves open minded, even interested in the meaning of life, love and religion. Yet how wrong are we willing to be, to get the answers we seek?
Imagine what would happen if the messiah arrived on earth one day and said, “Everyone but the Hindus got it wrong.” How would the other world faiths react to this news? Of course you can switch Hindu for any other religion and the response would most likely be the same.
Even if this messiah had such awe inspiring powers that compelled people to ‘believe’, it is hard to imagine that man-made religious establishments would willingly lay down centuries of doctrine and established hierarchies of power.
Set aside for a moment the fact that the concept of a messiah, a single son of God, makes little sense and imagine a scenario where God’s representative, the being sent to deliver mankind the answers to all the issues they have, would even be asked to convince, impress, or command the people they are here to help.
It seems ludicrous but highly plausible that while the majority of the world holds some form of religious belief, that same majority have invested so heavily in a set of beliefs about life that they would discount, dismiss or reinterpret any ‘truth’ that may be on offer. While this may seem ludicrous, it is in fact historically correct when you consider the man-made religions that have been developed around the teachings of many of the world teachers (Buddha, Christ, Mohamed etc.).
So the question remains, how wrong are we willing to be, to get the answers we seek?
In some respects it is easy to pick on current religions for their obstinate and at times arrogant approach to being the holders of truth, yet being unable to explain why so much harm is caused in the name of those very same religions (wars, sexual abuse, corruption, homophobia, racial and religious intolerance etc.).
But what about at a more personal level; what about you and me and the guy that lives a couple of doors down? It doesn’t take long to hear people expressing an interest in health and well being. In fact it is a growth industry, yet there would be few of us that could not name at least one (or more) things that we could do in our own life that would improve its quality (e.g. diet, exercise, work and relationships etc.).
So we have the interest, some even have the motivation – yet strangely the global picture shows growing rates of obesity, diabetes and lifestyle diseases. Which means that there is a vast difference between what we know and what we do. Which suggests there is something we are getting wrong.
So the question remains, how wrong are we willing to be, to get the answers we seek?
It seems that we pride ourselves on being ‘right’ more highly than actually being right and are willing to gamble with our own health to prove it. So what could be so important that we would be willing to sacrifice our own health, or possibly our understanding of the deeper facets of life, to defend?
There seems to be an inner battle going on. There is one part that innately knows about our well being and that something about our current relationships with each other and with the world is not working, and there is part of us that only wants to change our current understanding of life, just enough to avoid anything too painful.
For example, have you ever changed your diet when you were sick, only to revert back to the previous diet once you got better again? We often like to change things enough to make the pain stop but not enough to make it never come back.
We seem to play a game of brinkmanship with our well being – convinced that we know best and are able to stare down the forces of nature in the hope to prove nature wrong. Yet for centuries our bodies have reacted to poison in the same way, regardless of what we call it – arsenic, caffeine, emotions etc. Yet for centuries we take the same poisons.
We pretend there is no effect, even commission research to prove some short term benefits, but nature (and time) have a way of showing us the truth.
We only need to look at cities that quickly decay once humans no longer inhabit that space, to consider how simply and quickly nature is able to re-balance itself. Humans love to shout into the storm, to feel powerful and in control, yet live oblivious to the fact that in another part of the world it’s not even raining. It seems we waste enormous amounts of energy to sustaining ‘our version’ of life, a version that does not seem to work.
For centuries we have tried to be the masters of our world, the masters of our own bodies. We propagate the notion that humanity is the smartest species on the planet yet we continue to demonstrate a distinct lack of intelligence. We have intelligent people that smoke, abuse others, slowly kill themselves with poor diets and sustain corrupt systems all the while professing how intelligent they are.
It would seem part of us is more interested in defending the version of life we have created, that is not working, to avoid taking responsibility for how life actually is.
We have tried this approach for centuries, both personally with our own health and as a global community, but our bodies and nature are talking back and the global environmental, social, health and financial results show a report card that reads a resounding ‘F’.
So, how wrong are we willing to be, to get the answers we seek?
Maybe we need call to account that part of us that rejects the idea that we are not as smart or evolved as humanity could be. Maybe we start with listening to that quiet voice that guides us to take more care of ourselves and each other. That voice that gets over-ridden by an assumed ‘urgent’ matter. This quiet voice is there, it never goes away – it is often simply not connected with or listened to enough.
But it is in our best interests to learn to listen to these whispers because to date we only respond when they scream, and the world and our bodies are screaming right now.
The religion of the future is one founded on the willingness to be wrong (i.e. honest) and to live from the possibility that we are NOT on earth to be masters of all we see, to manipulate it to our will, but we are here to learn to live in harmony, vitality, responsibility and productivity.
That religion for me is The Way of The Livingness, a religion founded on the understanding that the answer to all we seek lies in how we live and what aspect of ourselves we give more power to.
Imagine if we put as much effort to finding every aspect of our lives that did not contribute to harmony, vitality and productivity as we did following our favourite sporting team. If we got excited about being wrong because it simply meant that we could now live a deeper level of harmony.
What would happen to how we would relate to our families, friends, neighbours?
What would happen to our health and well being?
What would happen to our billowing health and defence budgets?
If there was to be a teaching that would change life as we know it, it would be one that built bodies, societies and communities that are vital and evolving. It is a messianic approach in a way, but not because this message is carried by a single person who will save all others, but because it shows us how to save ourselves.
How wrong are you willing to be, to get the answers you seek?
By Joel Levin, Perth, Western Australia
Further Reading:
Hate, Fanaticism and Entitlement – The Investment in Being Right
There is no Right and Wrong in God
Is Serge Benhayon the ‘new messiah?’
721 Comments
“we are here to learn to live in harmony, vitality, responsibility and productivity” This is the call of the Universe for all to respond to truth.
Much needed read today. I find connecting to the body brings the honesty whereas the mind will continue to justify itself in being right.
In 1980 I used to say I am from home town, state, country, earth solar system and then the Universe and now the deeper understanding that we are actually from the stars and we are all equally Gods and thus everyone will evolve to this at there own pace.
“So the question remains, how wrong are we willing to be, to get the answers we seek?’, I feel compelled to ask are we seeking answers? I’m not sure that most of us are, I actually think that most of us are pretty content to carry on as we are, as long as that is that we can continue to use the things that we currently employ to get us through the day. Take away our methods of coping and then we might start asking a few probing questions but not now, now we’re too distracted and numb.
Alexis I would agree with you, if we took away all medication for 30 days from the headache pill to the latest cancer curing drug. Then humanity will have the biggest wake up call because we would see how sick we really are. Then we might start asking questions but while we prop our society up and pretend everything is okay then we don’t have to look for any answers to any questions and this seems to be our current state of affair.
‘How wrong are you willing to be?’, maybe a more accurate question is ‘how wrong are we able to be?’ because our actions and thoughts are pre-governed by our previous actions and thoughts and so most of us have set ourselves up in such a way that we are not able to pan back and consider the whole gamut of different possibilities and choices, we are narrowed in by our own hand to a tiny sector of possibilities and being wrong is very often not one of them.
“There seems to be an inner battle going on” there sure does and this is reflected in how much illness and disease there currently is.
I feel I’ve gotten to the point where I know there’s no point being defiant against nature. There may be a pull to have a strop but I know how that poison feels and it’s not worth it. It’s not worth aiming for an ‘F’.
Are we willing to let go of our pictures and beliefs if truth comes knocking on our door? ‘that same majority have invested so heavily in a set of beliefs about life that they would discount, dismiss or reinterpret any ‘truth’ that may be on offer.’
I love this; ‘If we got excited about being wrong because it simply meant that we could now live a deeper level of harmony.’ This would be great at schools, if there was no pressure to get things ‘right’ and children could instead experiment then this would feel a lot more supportive and true.
This is a great point; ‘So we have the interest, some even have the motivation – yet strangely the global picture shows growing rates of obesity, diabetes and lifestyle diseases. Which means that there is a vast difference between what we know and what we do. Which suggests there is something we are getting wrong.’
Who are we convincing that we are right? Surely it is ourself we are trying to convince – bearing in mind we are the ones who live in our bodies. We are a constant experiment with what affects our bodies and what doesn’t. Yet, as you share, we are far more interested in defending a way of living that is not physically, emotionally or psychologically working because we are overwhelmed by the report card we have created over years of looking the other way.
Man-made religious are an interpretation of the original source. For me, the way we live is far more religious than living to a doctrine because we then express without speaking the relationship we have with the source we are from.
This is indeed the problem when we have pictures of the outcome – we impose our needs on what we want rather than what the truth is. So long as we do this there is no evolution.
‘We are here to learn to live in harmony, vitality, responsibility and productivity.’- even though we know this to the bone and can feel that the way we are living isn’t working for us, it can still be difficult to let go of the habits and momentums that get in the way of living as our full, vital self. Changing our habits is a step by step process, one step at a time, and includes absolutely loving and embracing each step and all that we are, and are learning, along the way.
Thanks Joel I certinly found that layer by layer I had to peel off all the things I thought I was right about until I realise my entire life and setup was not true, was not “it” and I did this first and foremost by being willing to see what was true and then let go of what was not. It was a challenge but today I know it is the greatest love I have given myself and my family and humanity. The gift of me being me of me every day.
When we look through what history shows us we keep going until the absolute very last point and then until we are forced to make a change then we will do it. Backwards really and to what extent are we compromising on, whose lives are we jeopardising to get what we think we need and make no compromise in the process.
The more I look at it, the more obvious it becomes that we really do know the answers and we do know how wrong our choices are, although we pretend (even to ourselves at times) that we are ignorant of it all. The excitement with which people relay the results of commissioned research which conveniently proves some short term benefit or another, is proof enough for me that everyone does know about the long term harm and are just looking for any justification to prove themselves selves ‘right’ for making such choices.
These choices show we are not really that intelligent, though we like to kid ourselves that we are, ‘We have intelligent people that smoke, abuse others, slowly kill themselves with poor diets and sustain corrupt systems all the while professing how intelligent they are.’
It is crazy that we have had the answers delivered many times over the centuries but most have stubbornly resisted being exposed and denigrated the deliverer of the unwelcome truths.
We are standing at yet another crossroads in our existence when so many things are failing that this is a great question to ask and ponder on, thank you Joel.
Being honest is one of the first steps to support us to evolve because without honesty we stay stuck in the illusion that we are evolving.
It makes no sense that we can say we are intelligent but can ignore the basics of looking after ourselves. I agree we would definitely get an ‘F’ in a report card and deservedly so.
“we are here to learn to live in harmony, vitality, responsibility and productivity.” This is what the world teachers present and demonstrate in the way they live but man and his wayward spirit manipulate the message to maintain the separation from truth.
We can’t ever separate from truth because truth is who we all are but we can do such a good job at living so dishonestly that it feels like there’s not even a smidgeon of truth in the life that we are choosing to live.
‘there is a vast difference between what we know and what we do.’ Yes this is so true. How often do we ignore what we know to be true and opt for the easier way or the more comfortable way? Both of these ways are an illusion for although they may appear to be working in the short term the long term has a debilitating effect on our bodies, all of them.
There is a silent and yet unignorable, gigantic yet seemingly small issue that plagued our race each and every day. And there are numerous indications of this each and every day that tap ever louder asking us to wake up and question what is really going on. We all think this world is it. But it clearly is not and in the questioning we may start to realise there is way more going on behind the energetic scenes trying to keep us small when we are in truth so much more.
Changing our relationship with ‘being wrong’ so that we appreciate the learning, instead of bashing ourselves over the head for it, is a vital part of moving forward and learning. If we don’t give ourselves the freedom to try things out and see how they feel, and with that, get things wrong and to learn from them, then we live in so much fear and paralysis that there’s a stagnation – and no growth there, either.
We have been fed lies and lies, knowingly so, accepting them and allowing them to be our only vision. But what if there is more to it, more to us, what if those lies simply show us that we know the absolute truth of life, of what is occurring in our every day life, but how much we have invested in our comfortable ways that has allowed many many lies to be covered over our truth. How possible is this ? And how willing are we to see this fact ? The answer is revealed.
What a great piece Joel, and we have to come to The Way of The Livingness at our own time and articles like this will open peoples eyes to the understanding that what is required already exists.
It is certainly a culture of pushing the boundaries until we have no choice. I know there is still some stubbornness in me that wants to do what I like and then I’ll deal with the consequences later. But this way of living is not in true response to the body and it is arrogant – where we do not want to see that poison has always and will always continue to affect us.
The thought of one world that is completely 100% unified is a for many a mere dream or wish and not even a conceivable reality. This shows the extent of humbleness we all have to get to to even be open to seeing that this is the only way forward.
The bottom line is that we either are willing seekers of truth and are open to explore, learn, grow with absolute honesty as such admitting our waywardness, or seekers of identification in which we negotiate, cling onto and bed with lies to maintain our identity. Our degree of openness to truth reveals the quality of energy we ultimately are saying yes to and if we are in fact living the divine truth that is available for us all to be lived.
Powerful comment Carola, truth and love is always accessible to us and it is up to us how much we choose to live this.
I have wanted to be right, get it right, and do right, for to get it wrong, filled me with trepidation, to now realise that some of our greatest learnings come from our willingness to admit that we are wrong, without judgment, but with an openness to really learn. Truth that the right and wrong cannot teach us.
Our stubbornness about holding onto a way of living that has only caused pain and suffering doesn’t make any sense on one level, but the human spirits thirst for anything that will bring it identification and a sense of individualism (even if it means misery and disconnection) will ensure that holding onto being right continues no matter what.
As I read this the only thing that stands out is the level of comfort we are in because deep down we do know what to do, what makes us well and yet we carry on doing the opposite.
It is so true Julie – this exposes our insatiable thirst for individuality, that at all cost, including the harm to our body and others, that we continue to ignore the lies so that we can continue to satisfy the individual. An illusion in itself as there never can be satisfaction in creation, only the need to seek for more to fulfil the emptiness, that which only love and truth can satiate.
“It would seem part of us is more interested in defending the version of life we have created, that is not working, to avoid taking responsibility for how life actually is.” This part I am curious about examining now as I know there are many things in my life that are repeated ills. Repeated because there has been an allowing of that repetition. And at the moment I wonder why?
It is brilliant to look at our investments and to see which ones have become so entrenched that there is next to it an unwillingness to let it go, for it may be wrong but the holding on has become more important than the quest for truth.
“It would seem part of us is more interested in defending the version of life we have created, that is not working, to avoid taking responsibility for how life actually is.” When we make life about how it is for ‘me’ as the individual it separates us from the world but when we live life with self-love we share this love with all around us and bring Brotherhood to the world.
” but because it shows us how to save ourselves. ”
This blog gives a whole new meaning to ” self salvation “
It is so obvious when you take a long look at how the majority of humanity are living that “we waste enormous amounts of energy to sustaining ‘our version’ of life, a version that does not seem to work.” No wonder exhaustion is one of the biggest ‘illnesses’ on the planet, and that to counteract it we turn to energy drinks of some form, eat foods that exhaust us even more, or indulge in past-times that distract us from how we are truly feeling. And all the while we say we want the answers, but apparently only the answers that sustain our version of life.
‘Maybe we start with listening to that quiet voice that guides us to take more care of ourselves and each other.’ This would seem so obvious but a lot of the time we do not listen to that quiet voice and we drown it out with our stubbornly held familiar ways, ways that do not support us to be responsible and reap the benefits, not to mention the joy, that responsibility brings.
Joel this is so true
“We propagate the notion that humanity is the smartest species on the planet yet we continue to demonstrate a distinct lack of intelligence. We have intelligent people that smoke, abuse others, slowly kill themselves with poor diets and sustain corrupt systems all the while professing how intelligent they are.”
This makes no sense to me at all and in fact show me just how unintelligent we are.
“So the question remains, how wrong are we willing to be, to get the answers we seek?” we would be wise to study this question deeply as a form of education at school for within this question lies a truth that could begin to unravel all the lies we currently tell ourselves.
One of the key learnings for me has been that me thinking I am right is only an indication that what I say is true. There is no certainty and one of the most humbling moments in life is when you find that you were absolutely convinced you are right and the find out conclusively that you were wrong and perhaps even completely wrong. Accepting this when it happens rather than explaining it away made a big difference in my life from then on.
That is so true. We have this truth about religion in us but we put so many believes and norms on it that we lost the Connection with it
You perfectly display Joel how we have an investment in the lies and corruption we have let in. It’s in these small acts we find comfort and we struggle to keep hold of that. We like to eat our cake and have it too but know it’s not true. To experience love and clarity we have to be prepared to let go of everything we’ve let in.
I love the way you express Jospeh, super honest and full of wisdom. You lovingly expose how much we have a hand in creating all that we experience and see in this world.
I love your blogs Joel, please never stop writing.
I find being open to seeing how wrong we have been requires a level of honesty and dropping of one’s pride. It opens up space for learning and growth when we have no issues with being ‘wrong’.
Yes, we know we are wrong – that we can’t avoid – but our pride may not let us admit it or play it down or rationalise it or … and the more intelligence you have the more we able to avoid our pride being hurt.
We are going to end degrees, not in truth but actually in proving that we are right, spending hours of time inventing things, focussing on doings and tasks. whilst forgetting that we are energetic in the first place. So what is our energy that we all do this with? Can we deepen that understanding to start with,
When it comes to the oneness we all felt as children and is within us today although for most it is covered over how can we or what gives us the right to stand in our pride? On the other hand when truth is felt there is no wrong or right… it just is.
We cling to the list of things we’ve done ‘right’ as we go to bed at night. We sleep under the cover of a quilt of piousness but in reality this is our biggest disease. For there is no mistake that can touch the Love we have inside, but this excessive trying to be right keeps us seriously lost. Thank you Joel for highlighting this here.
We have superficially heavily invested in right and wrong but when it comes to questioning what is really going on and what our motivations are we don’t mind settling for whatever version of right as long as it fits the bill, i.e. ticks the boxes of what we need to be true to sustain our version of living life.
Yes, it is time for us to start connecting with and listening to our inner voice and wisdom, it certainly does not appear to work by not listening to it, our health and lives and the world are not thriving and joyful, ‘Maybe we start with listening to that quiet voice that guides us to take more care of ourselves and each other.’
You could reword the title of this blog to, ‘How far are we willing to compromise on what we KNOW with every cell to be true, to fit the mould and be recognised in this world?’
We need to connect with ourselves and with each other to come to real matters, for if we stand away from it, we will only look for limitations and temporary solutions that often only fit certain people for a limited time.
I enjoy how this article tackles this; how we create our own reality over truth. And how good this is to come back to our truth of things, and let go of the creations that made us have a limited mind.
Over the years I have noticed that when we seek to be correct or have the argument won in our favour no one truly wins as there has been no purpose to question why this has come about in the first place and we are willing to ask the questions that truly matter.
Yes, very occasionally, a point absolutely has to be made but such a moment is in my experience quite rare. Most of the time there are alternatives and the more deeply we read the situation the more options we have.
Not wanting to be wrong and getting things right can be an influence of mainstream religion. I know I have been influenced in this way through some of the things I have held onto over time. When I reflect on when I have gone into that stance, my whole body goes hard and there is a hardness to what is then expressed and arrogance is definitely a part of that. If we run ourselves in this way, it has a huge affect on a body that is built to be love.