ENTITLEMENT VS. ENLIGHTENMENT

Well, this topic has been on my mind lately. Please allow me some time. Firstly, ENTITLEMENT. We appear to be a culture obsessively striving for entitlement in every endeavor. Incidentally, this is also a worldwide issue. More money, bigger house, more things,more 'coolness', more status, fame, beauty, power,etc. In a sense this is the opportunity that human life offers us travelers. However, there is another side to this hungry search. We endlessly hear about deadly tribal encounters among Shia and Sunni, political power struggles, religious infighting, hate crimes,etc. All of us have noticed the surliness of a civil service employee at the motor vehicle department or City Hall. It appears that everyone is attempting to secure their position in a world that is by its very nature a world of change. Today you are on top, and tomorrow I am on top. That is the record of human history. Sometimes the "top dogs" are benevolent demagogues, and sometimes not. Sometimes the achievement of bigger and better is kind to us, and sometimes not. So what is the magic that makes this striving work? The magic that equalizes the crazy need to fill the void with things and power? What is the magic that will solve the riddle? I contend that the magic ingredient is "Give Back" in equal portions. The most successful achievers are those who give back to the society that gave them the boost of success. Also, it appears that when the successful or fortunate do extend themselves in this way they have more success. One example is the Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation. This effort continues to increase the fortune of the founders annually. There are many more examples. Also, it appears that those who "give back" find a happier balance in their lives. Those who don't are haunted by fear and a continued need to secure their position. The result of this fearful mentality is a callousness toward others, and a disregard of the suffering of their fellow humanity. The natural progression of this is an equal reaction within society. I.E. the French Revolution of 1789. This violence is the result of an imbalance and an overly entitled segment of society.
Recently I noticed that in every area of my own life it has become important to be watchful of this issue of entitlement without balance. Fortunately, from a young age I was encouraged to travel, participate in community organizations and volunteer when I had spare time. Somehow this gives me some small appreciation of my good fortune,and helps me realize that I am not "owed" these blessings. The minute we think that we are owed something because of our "specialness", our race, our position, our wealth, our anything, we are on the road to disaster! Read history and see the proof of this.

Now to the other side of this issue: ENLIGHTENMENT. Along with this desire to lord it over nature by various means comes the issue of "Grasping". A crude example would be if I lunged toward you you would jump back. The mystical Tibetans say that one cause of our suffering is this tendency to "Grasp" at things. If you grasp for enlightenment it will elude you. If you grasp for material things they will leave you. We all have this experience. Remember your first failed young romance? So what is this issue of "Enlightenment"? Finding the quiet place within ourselves; that place where we are the observers of our world, and not the victims of our world. Developing the mentality of gratefulness for the opportunity of this life even as humble as it may appear. Working to prepare ourselves for receiving the gifts that come our way. In this way we become fiends with the world around us, and the greater forces that move the cosmos. It is important to know that we don't need to become bereft of all good things, empty our pockets, and wander off into the wilderness poverty stricken. This "false renunciation" can have its own hubris. A hubris even more insidious than the obvious arrogance of the materialist. The dangers of piety are disastrous to the whole process of enlightenment. Just see the history of "holiness", and the disasters that followed. This is not to say that becoming "holy" is a bad thing, but be careful in the process, and have good mentors. This process of enlightenment is a creative process,and not a static process. The whole universe is ruled by a creative process. Some cultures refer to this as the work of the "Goddess". Just as the mother creates the child within her body we are created within this world. The other active principle is the fathering or male effect. The "act of will" necessary to move forward and develop our world. Thus,the male principle.
The trick is to become Enlightened in the process of Entitlement. The process of Entitlement will always be there ebbing and flowing. How we "sit" with this process is the important thing. Can we remain grateful through the process? Can we be equiposed through our life? Can we begin to develop the product of this refinement of consciousness called Love? The next event in this process is the discovery of the object of this Love. That is for another entry. Love to all.......