Both questions that have simultaneously uninteresting and fascinating answers.
On the uninteresting side, we know that—in references to the aforementioned questions—we are: a) Human Beings b) Here by way of procreation of two other human beings.
* Not too exciting right? *
On the more interesting side of things, we are:
a) Both time-bound and timeless entities b) Destined to experience as much or as little of an infinity as we desire.
The nature of human being is that we are in a paradoxical maze of experience. On its face, everything seems pretty “normal”. “A” causes “B”. You are here and I am there. However, again there is an interesting extra dimension to being if we choose to define the human condition as such.
Our situation can be represented by the infinity symbol. While the whole symbol in itself is interesting, it is in the middle that we can witness an endless stream of experience--a.k.a. eternity. The experience of being both in and out of time; of being both dark and light; of being a cause and a consequence. From this vantage point, we can see polarities of experience that both leave and return to center.
For an interesting presentation on ancient symbology concerning maintaining centeredness amongst polarity in art and religion, please see my post on: Learning from Fortune's Wheel. (forthcoming).
I’m not usually good at something the first
time when it comes to
physical endeavors.I think I attended two
softball practices before I got hit in the head with a fastball and never came
back.I played soccer for the local
leagues for three years but was always stuck playing the same
position—defense.In P.E. I dreaded any
team sport that involved a ball and a racket, net, or any other kind of
obstacle that you had to throw, kick, or fling a ball into.I preferred running, gymnastics, or any type
of physical activity that didn’t require me to coordinate my clumsy physical
exertions with anyone else's.
In my twenties I really got into
running.I ran 5ks, 10ks, quarter marathons,
half marathons and full marathons, because to me, running (especially long
distance running) was all about mental
stamina.And that, I had plenty of. I wasn’t the quickest runner or the most
efficient, but I was the runner who smiled the whole time and crossed the
finish line with a heel click.I truly
enjoyed spending time with myself inside my head—and finding new ways to take
my mind off of the fact that my legs felt like burning tree stumps.It never occurred to me that the inner
dialogue I engaged in during these sometimes excruciating moments could be
considered to some as meditation.
For me, meditation wasn’t one of those
things I was dying to try.Generally, I
stay away from “trends” and meditating seemed like one more trend that I
didn’t’ want to get caught up in—kind of like skinny jeans, e-readers and
apps.Yet, one early spring day my
enlightened office mate Ben asks me, “Hey, do you meditate?”Immediately images of being folded up in an
impossible position on the floor quietly listening to my “inner voice” flooded
my brain.Being bored to tears…just sitting there…waiting for some great
awakening. “No,” I said breaking my inner-visioning,
“It has actually never occurred to me to try.”“You should try it,” Ben replied, then began rattling off the benefits
of meditation and how it has helped him uncover peace in his own life.I believed him, because amidst the neurotic,
competitive, and socially awkward arena of graduate school, Ben seemed
remarkably chill and grounded.I replied to his convincing meditation “pro”
list with, “I’ll have to give it a try”, and continued writing my lecture notes
for the afternoon’s discussion on cross-national perspectives of income
equality.
I
didn’t think much more on the topic of meditation for days.But I could tell that I was headed in the
direction of another not-so-happy episode in my life.It was like clockwork.I would hit a short period of fluidity in my
life filled with contentment and clarity—followed by an agonizing three-month
downward spiral of struggle and uncertainty.It was almost as if there was an expirationdate on my happiness.Kind of like one of those crazy car
dealership commercials…
Come
on down!We have a special on happiness
today!We have all kinds of
happiness:unconditional love,
abundance, joy, self-esteem.But we only
have a limited supply!Come visit us on
the corner of elation and gratitude today!
Then,
in that fast, deceitful speech:
Restrictions apply.Only available between the dates of May 25th
through June 2nd.Void in
states of mind that prohibit you from accepting yourself and others around
you.Call your maker for details.
I’m not asking to be happy 100% of the
time.I’m not asking to reach that level
where I am told that I have inoperable brain cancer but can still muster the
energy to optimistically dance in the street and declare my eventual undeniable
success in beating an incurable malady.No.I am asking to be able to
love myself, my husband and my children without condition.I am asking to avoid second and triple
guessing myself, and to put down my heavy knapsack of guilt, inadequacy and
fastidiousness everywhere I go.That’s all.If there was a God, surely He
would have made it a little easier for me to function.Hell, He would have made it easier for everyone to function.Instead, millions endure alienation,
humiliation and toil just to meet basic human needs.
I cannot focus on my school work.I’m supposed to be reading articles that will
inform my nebulous dissertation topic, but despair creeps into every fold of my
despondent brain.“Damn,” I think to myself, “Here
I go again.I just wish I KNEW that I am
going to be okay, that I am headed in the right direction, that I have a
purpose...”I pull the cap off of my
yellow highlighter and mindlessly accent a passage in the journal article under
the “limitations and suggestions” section. Then, amidst the rambunctious voice of my
inner-critic, I hear a comforting voice assert, “There IS a God, and He loves you.”
Instantly, something in me responds with
a genuine knowing Mona Lisa smile.Before
I have time to doubt what was just revealed to me, my mind instantly replays my
conversation with Ben, my officemate, about meditation.Spontaneously, I re-cap my highlighter, push
myself away from the small wooden dining room table and head for my inviting
coffee-brown over-sized sofa.I plop
down comfortably in my “TV watching” pose, but instead decide to cross my legs
and straighten my back.I then take a
deep, relaxing breath and gently close my eyes.Alright, I completed steps one and two of meditating—sit like a pretzel
(check), close eyes and relax (check, check).
I wasn’t really sure what to expect
next.The only thing I witnessed was the
back of my quivering eyelids, and so far, nothing magical was happening at all.Frustrated, I reposition myself, settling deeper into the couch cushion
and coerced myself into a deeper relaxation.
In
milliseconds I was catapulted into an expansive void whose form and color
changed fluidly like a futuristic neon billboard.There were blues, greens, pinks and yellows…pulsating and shifting left
and right, up and down, and in and out.This formless thing looked
alive!
Just
as I was beginning to wonder how it was even possible to have this experience,
I felt myself leaving the colorful presence and being drawn into a bright white
light amidst a curtain of black.Like
the colossal rainbow-colored animate being, this bright light also seemed very alive.I pulled back even farther to witness a spherical luminescent shape.In the center was a bright column of piercing
blue-white light which looked like two funnels with their narrow sides butted
against each other.Beautiful bands of
energy dove in and out of the funnels like a self-generating never-ending light
bulb.
Suddenly I found my own spirit merge with
the elegant flood of energy. I felt
“charged” as an astonishing and comforting rush of energy flow through me.Although I could not sense the rhythm of my own
heart at the moment, I felt as if my whole being pulsated to the rhythm of the
Universe.It was at this moment I felt
the ultimate Truth of existence—We Are All One.
(This is what I saw--click here to see the animated graphic to put it all in perspective.)
Jim Carey has a very touching story that reminds me of how I felt in my own "awakening" at 7:28 in this video called "Awakening":
I would *LOVE* to hear your stories about your "wake up call". Please write it below in the comments section OR e-mail me. I will never use your stories for any other purpose but personal enjoyment.
What I have to say here are ideas and
concepts that have repeatedly reared their heads in a variety of regions,
times, and philosophical traditions.In
this way, these ideas come as close to the “truth” as our words and art are
able to encapsulate.We often have a
tendency to believe that the “Truth” with a capital “t” has yet to be
discovered.It has, but the Truth is
so basic that it seems to fail to do the mystery we feel in our souls
justice.The Truth seems so elusive to
us, yet is encoded in our very being.When you hear stories of acts of selflessness—whether between strangers, friends, family or even in the animal kingdom—you are witnessing the
Truth being acted upon.That we are all
one.That you are I and I are you.That the only thing that separates us is an
idea; a perception.That is the Truth.
The moment we not only recognize, but can hold and act upon this
idea in our minds and bodies without any fear, desire or doubt is the moment of
healing.And because we are all connected, the
moment you heal, others around you heal as well, like a gigantic
set of dominoes one-by-one falling head over heels in love with life.
The mission of “Mastering Infinity” is to
assist you in your journey recognizing and accepting your
infinite existence.To understand
that your being stretches to the highest of “heavens” and the deepest depths of
“hells”— it is all within YOU.The
main philosophical tradition motivating every piece of information available on
this blog is to spark your remembrance that
Our situation can be represented by the infinity symbol. While the whole symbol in itself is interesting, it is in the middle that we can witness an endless stream of experience--a.k.a. eternity. The experience of being both in and out of time; of being both dark and light; of being a cause and a consequence. From this vantage point, we can see polarities of experience that both leave and return to center. 
