Written Collage: Spring Musings

CLARITY - PERSPECTIVE - POSITIVITY
In adjusting the lens through which I look at certain things/people/situations and events, those seen as unpleasant or undesirable, suddenly it all becomes clear. It was only the distortion and fogging of the lenses that kept me confused and disillusioned for so long... I now make it a priority to clean and shine these regularly.

In a discussion w/ friends on facebook: It is true that a change of perspective works wonders, if truly one can get a solid and serene perspective on why things happen as they do. At work I can continue to look up on situations as part of that service to others (however difficult at times) which I agreed on, signed up for, and have made no effort as of yet to walk out on it. I can endure the painful emotions that come up just a marathon runner would endure that last mile... without complaining or becoming reactive.

The important point to realize here is not to blame either oneself or the environment, but to see the crises or conflicts that come up as the inner-outer karmic phenomena that it is, it originates from BOTH and from neither exclusively. The Inner is the Outer and vice versa... Truth and Falsehood rely entirely on the Unity versus Separation factor (respectively), of the inner self & outer world.
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WHOLEHEARTEDNESS - DEVOTION - COMMITMENT & PURPOSE
*Pure Devotion* transcends the time devoted to various interests and activities. A wholehearted involvement with the work at hand, without awareness of time passing. A love of something becomes so powerful that "finding the time for it" is not even an issue; this in contrast to all other acts performed out of necessity for survival.

Where survival and mundane concerns are concerned, for most of the world at least, there is an abundance of "I have to do this" in a poverty stricken world. Therefore, we try to devote as little time to this hard reality as humanly possible... we seek shortcuts or to win the lotto so that we never have to work again. This is not the case with PURE devotion, which means "I want to devote as much of my life as humanly possible to this person, thing, project, etc, that I love so dearly.

Subject: Do it now!
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and endless plans.

That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issue from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would come his way.

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!"

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
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WORK - DISCIPLINE - PRACTICE & SERVICE
Everything is really simple but nothing worthwhile in life ever comes easy.. So many Americans equate the word 'work' with their crappy jobs or as something to be done out of duty alone. So far as I'm concerned, alongside relationships and friendships and learning about life (reading, writing, travel), *my work*, not my job or "duty to society", is the only thing worth living and struggling for. Wilhelm Reich said man has three fundamental needs, "Work, Love and Knowledge".

With regard to this present job at the public library, it is falls under the "right livelihood" category and is of service (however little) to the community; so the fact that I am overworked and underpaid is an opportunity for me to give back what has been given to me, especially in harder times. An opportunity to serve others, impersonally, is a part of the overall "work"... just not all of it! Also the will to survive and have basic comforts, yet this motive is only at the base of a man's working existence, for he lives for a much greater purpose than survival alone.

**Note: My Work and Practice are the concrete practical extensions of my Innermost Pure Devotion and Wholehearted sense of Purpose, of Joy & Love & Meaning.
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GRATITUDE - CONTENTMENT - ABUNDANCE & INNER PEACE
In spite of all the minor setbacks that do and will occur, I really could not be happier (or luckier) than I am right now... For this I am grateful, very fortunate and quite content. Because I have all that I need to live and the potential (or choice) to expand, to do and have more... I have learned in better moments to be happy with what I have, without need for outside comparisons and beyond all forms of measurement, be it material wealth or otherwise. This most **central desire and intention** is in fact already manifesting, in such a positive way that I need not have anything external "to show for it", content with the unfolding creative evolutionary process as is...

JDZ