Survival

Al Capone, arguably the biggest gangster of them all, was guilty of every imaginable crime from murder, to bootleg whiskey, from operating red light districts to illegal gambling houses, from voter intimidation to jury tampering . . . and he was nailed on a simple tax fraud.

Why?

Because there wasn't enough evidence to convict him on the other charges.

I cite this story because it shows how a subtle bit of evidence can hide behind it a great, or in this case – not-so-great reality.

And so it is with the world of the spirit.

The first concern of humankind is almost always physical survival. We must eat, stay warm or sheltered from the heat, and we must socialize to maintain our sanity and for mutual aid when conditions are beyond the scope of one person to handle. These are basic needs and, once met, only then can we contemplate higher thought, perhaps of survival of death.

For most of human history the role of the contemplator was a special position supported by the labor of others. A simple example would be the local minister who lives in a home provided by the church, whose food is purchased with his church salary or provided by a friendly congregation member. In the middle ages many men like Nostradamus, Michelangelo, Leonardo DaVinci and others less notable were supported by a royal family, but indirectly through the labor of the common people.

The difference for us, today, is that a very high standard of living, compared to most of history, is attainable while still allowing for contemplation of the spiritual. Unfortunately, for many, social mores, upbringing and habits lead often to continued reliance on these "special" people for thought processes.

There is a marked difference between a teacher who passes on knowledge and experience, and then sends you on your way to do the real learning, and a leader who demands continual visitations and adherence to a strict set of rules.

When some of my teacher's students were caught skinny-dipping in the local lake she decided to write up some rules. She chose the most rebellious of her students and threw out the majority of the rules they wrote.

The only real laws are those of loving, learning and accepting the subtle evidence that can lead to a new or expanded life. These are personal. They require no leader, no tithe, no set of regulations or direction. They simply require of us that we experience, accept, shed our ego so as to blend with the Universal Ego, and expand our knowledge whenever possible.

These are easy things to do . . . and enjoyable. Sources are everywhere, but also right at the fingertips of our mind and soul. Sit quietly. Listen to your breath. Listen to the little voice inside your head. Watch Nature. Trust God. Love.