Steve, again, I can grasp what you mean but right now my attitude is pragmatistic. I do not nurture ill feelings, I just don't mind.
If and when negative situation should occur, I may blame myself for lack of discrimination and learn from the lesson, hopefully.
I'm no more interested even in trying to figure out a possible former karmic link with other people or situations. This kind of reasoning may be tricky since the mind can make up its own logic framework, without any minimal proof of its veracity.
I regret right now I'm living into the present. I do not trust my mind. Besides, what to do of a karmic link with the past should we recognize it with some degree of certainty (which is Always subject to error)? Sever it? Reinforce it? There may be reasons to do either.
If God didn't give us the knowledge of our past, I sure cannot bypass God's will. This is my 'heretical' position right now.
That is one explanation and Ofcourse there are others. One could say: i picked up an instrument but could not play it so therefore God did not intend it. Or I tried several months to meditate but met with frustration so apparently its God's will that I do not meditate. Also the mind fools itself regardless if we are talking about past lives or present situations. We are inundated with illusions... that's why we are seeking wisdom and meditating.
The key to meditation is awareness. That awareness takes place in as many different ways as there are people on this planet.
I remember your having a long thread on the third eye or Christ Conscious Center in a previous thread at another forum. There are many spiritual enthusiasts that would like to see the 'ajna' center but just because they can not does not mean God did not intend us to see it.
I have learned much from seeing my life through the past episodes I have had with those around me. We go on learning with a group of souls who are at a similar stage of understanding. We continue our lessons with them from life to life. Sometimes it becomes much more clear when 'Brite lights' from the past enter our life again. They may leave our lives as well but the encouraging element is that they will be replaced by more soul soldiers from the past and at some point they may decide to return. If not it is their loss not ours since we are fortunate to have such encounters and to work thru them.
By the way... i have this whim-presently just a whim-that you and I fought together in a previous life. Both of us have a strong value system and we are working together to sort it out and now we're again together supporting a cause.
