Death is no more!These are the Seven Tribulations of Humans. These are the common experiences that we face with anxiety and fear. Remember, Dr. M. touches on the relationship between these tribulations and fear when he outlines Our Six Shared Fears in the Handbook On Being Human. These Seven Tribulations can emerge under both natural and human orchestrated conditions. And it is important note the obvious, human choices can have the effect of altering the natural condition of our world in addition to fertilizing their own fields of misery. The ability of the Ajogun to affect your life is dependent (in significant part) on your choices; what you decide to do with the Two Gifts of the Moment. (see Post: Two Gifts of the Moment: Now and Choice). The wisdom of the great spiritual teachers of the ages as well as our pragmatic knowledge is that the Ajogun are facts of this life that should be both accepted and avoided. And it is your choices that either open the door of your life to the Ajogun, giving them access to your Energy Signature, or closes the door, puts a lock on it, and erects a barrier between it and you so that the points of entry for the Ajogun are minimized. In every moment, you make a choice about something. Some moments are more important than others in terms of the consequences of the choices made. Now think again about the Prime Directive and the intention of Creating Peaceful Space. Can you see that aligning your life with the Prime Directive and choosing to Create Peaceful Space is not just about doing good for the world? It is about sealing the cracks in your own energy field to deny the Ajogun entry into your life. That is why your Gift of Choice is so important. Because you are a co-creator of the reality that you will experience in this world.
Sickness is no more!
Tragedy is no more!
Loss is no more!
Obstacles are no more!
Unforeseen Evils are no more!
Being Overwhelmed is no more!
The longevity of our fathers!
The above prayer also carries another important message. This prayer is frequently associated with any supplication to our Ancestors. This is significant because the only time that the statements of the above prayer can become true in an absolute and eternal sense is when one enters the Realm of Ancestors. In the tradition we say, Aiye lo'ja, Orun n'ile (this world is the marketplace, the spiritual world is home). Most of us will experience periods in our lives when the Ajogun seem far away and preoccupied with others. Dr. M. speaks of the Pataki Aiye (the Material World) and the Ojiji Aiye (Shadow World) in the Handbook. We experience the Seven Tribulations only in the Pataki Aiye. Once you enter the Realm of Ancestors the Seven Tribulations can no longer affect you. This is true not only for the Believer, but for the believer as well. (see Post: On Being a Believer). For if indeed all of this (life) amounts to random probabilities emerging out of chaos, and there is not intelligent design or purpose, then when we pass from this world the statements of the prayer will nonetheless be true.
The choices we make create avenues for the Seven Tribulations to enter. How you react to any of the Seven Tribulations if they do enter your life will either strengthen their negative power in the Ojiji Aiye causing the tribulation to increase upon its return, or your reaction will cause the negative energy of the Ajogun to be transformed into positive energy (because of your conduct in dealing with it). When you internalize the negative energy of any of the Seven Tribulations and direct that energy out at others with anger, resentment, envy, and jealousy, you strengthen the impact of the Ajogun in our own life. The conduct that transforms the negative energy of the Ajogun into positive energy emerges only when you are in Peaceful Space.
Living in alignment with the Prime Directive
is a choice to which everyone should be invited!
You have been invited!
You have been invited!
Create Peaceful Space!
Trust Your Process!
Peace, Love, and Health!
1 comment:
Dr. M’s message this week concerning the avoidance of tribulation and choosing the gifts of the moment is so timely! It is so true that these trials of life “should be both accepted and avoided”. I like to think that these ‘forces of resistance’ can also give me an opportunity to overcome. As an analogy, I visualize how the prow (forward most part) of a canoe’s bow is constructed in a fashion so as to cut through and divide the water in order to overcome the resistance that impedes the speed of the canoe. Furthermore, by an oarsman pulling the oars against resistance, it creates the force that causes the canoe to move forward. In both “human orchestrated conditions” resistance not only can create opposition (seven tribulations along with anxiety and fear), but opportunity towards forward progress (Gifts of the Moment) of short/long term goals.
A real-life application of this analogy and the Gifts of Moment, Staples (2009),one of the New Zealand's four-man crew who completes a charity rowing race across the Indian Ocean in 81 days, writes:
“When we set out … everything seemed so simple. According to most other ocean rowers, the tough part had been completed and the rowing was to be the straight forward bit - mmm …This had been … a catalogue full of experiences beyond our wildest dreams...and nightmares...including a physical and emotional test way beyond anything we could have ever prepared ourselves for [i.e., storms, a capsize (roll-over), malfunctioning equipment] - but …I wouldn't have changed any of it for the world….That said, here we were staring down the neck of completing our mission...now that's what dreams are made of.”
In adhering to Dr. M’s message this week, I think it is important for me to examine how I react and conduct myself in dealing with resistances (or tribulations) so that I can “cause the negative energy of the Ajogun to be transformed into positive energy”. Though it is easy to assure myself of continual ease and comfort as those who portray similar pursuits; like the oarsmen, I choose to open the gifts of the moment (Now and Choice) by accepting, while avoiding negative energy, the journey of suffrage. In doing such, I can continue to mature in patience, tolerance, and self-mastery (i.e., academics, work, personal pursuits). Furthermore, I have the opportunity to live in alignment with the Prime Directive and communicate with GREAT teachers, friends, and supporters.
Peace and Love
References:
Staples, P. (2009). Arrival in Mauritius: Blog. Retrieved on April 25, 2010 from http://www.rowingforprostate.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=39&Itemid=72
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