Some food for thought:
Understanding sets us free from fear. We fear 'future' because it doesn't exist, and so cannot be understood. It is merely imagination, an illusion.
The illusion grew over the centuries as religion pointed to a distant God or Saviour, then merged with a political system to conquer both spiritually and physically; using fear, laws, and penalties to fund its conquering, wars and bloodshed.
Today, we are entering a different era or age, and many are becoming aware of a new leading, away from the old habits and system of the past. A system that lingers from the days of plundering a countries resources and peoples in the guise of 'protecting commerce'. A system that is now having to take stock of the situation it is in. We can see the situation unfolding in the political scene about us. And even though there is talk of a 'new world order', it will amount to nothing if it is rooted in the same old avarice.
The past has been left behind us after we travelled through it, leaving a record of it as history. There is no one living there now, and of course there is no one living in the future.
We are spiritual beings, and not robots without consciousness, emotions or morality. Our understanding comes through spiritual revelation (same thing as 'epiphany', realisation, etc.). As the illusion which religion has created is unveiled, we see greater 'Light' and the dark valleys of despair are left behind us.
That calm spot we find ourselves in when the worldly influences are shut out, is that 'gap' people talk of - that quiet place, that 'gap' in amongst the busy thoughts that race about in our head, and when we recognise that and let it grow, then all sorts of things happen. Wonderful realities come to light.
One thing that I found (after decades of religion) is that the evil thoughts were mine too!, and that I should train myself not to take as much notice of them. As the murk disappeared, there came the realisation that there is no future heaven or hell, because just like future itself, they do not exist! No one 'goes' anywhere. Heaven and hell are just conditions we find ourselves in daily. Heaven in my mind. Heavens above! Today there are 8.2 billion heavenly places in Earth bodies walking about!
Of course I am now free - free from the fear of future punishment, or condemnation from past actions. And the same voice today says to everyone, that "their sins and iniquities are remembered no more"!
(Not even 'forgiven' because they didn't happen if they are not there to remember - wiped clean.)
In my own case, DNA opened up a whole new understanding of my previously unknown forbears. Their journey through life, occupations, beliefs and just so much more. It wasn't just a physical journey through time, but more of a spiritual journey of myself travelling through time, and realising that my ancestors were not living in the past, but that I am one with them today.
The age we live in has changed, and we are leaving behind a denominational thinking world with multiple deities, enemies and wars. But there is only One of all things - One humanity; a oneness in that we are all different. The Same only in that we are all different - unique as nature and the universe intended - each of us born under different planetary influences, in different seasons, circumstances and at different times. There are not two rivers that are alike.
In the process of learning to Love Myself! I realised that my worst enemy had been my own mind, that no-one else was an enemy, for why should they be. It was at that stage, about five years ago, that I read some lines which still bring warmth to my heart when I read them:
So I learn to love the 'enemy' side of me, to talk to it about all things, even deep things that are uncomfortable, or things I had once felt guilty of. To have dialogue with oneself is loving, knowing and understanding - and I grow. Without dialogue the battle continues.
(The wording of the above verse is attributed to Sun-Tzu , written over 2,500 years ago.)
Need to elaborate more on this ... 13th Nov 2024
Metoikos - waitangi.com