Thanks for the reply Eric, it is a good reply. I suppose to some extent the answer is dependent on individual preferences and a need to concurrently deal with very mundane day to day tasks.
For instance recently you have found there is only so much time you have to spend on political matters when there may be much more important matters to discuss and focus on in our spiritual life.
I think every moment that happens in my life is causing me to look within. The concern is to what extent? I believe from your influence …. my understanding and interest in multifaceted events out side of my SELF have made me recognize the importance of their affect within my growing awareness, and also how attitudes we have towards exterior phenomena may affect our inner spiritual life. We can often look back in retrospect and see how the influence of environment, friends and people have changed our lives enhancing it or at other times not helping us anymore or we are unable to help them also, which is just as important sometimes.
For me personally the political environment has gotten so toxic in the U.S. that I’ve actually considered moving out of this country. I remember at one time my father told me “if you don’t like this country; leave it”. To which I responded; ‘Instead of leaving, why not change it’? But I often wonder how much truth there was to my father’s words? It’s just a question I’ve been reevaluating now a lot more. Since I couldn’t change my father and I’m not changing any one’s views here. Maybe there is a better place than to be for instance in the heart of the Midwest, here in the United Clones where my views are not always well received.
I recognize that we bring our happiness or discontent where ever we go. Yet there have been times in my life that a simple move to a different location has brought much more joy and meaning into my life. So I do not think that we can say that everything is dependent on our inner state of mind. Outer circumstances and people do provide different kinds of opportunities and deterrences to our happiness and well being.
What matters is whether or not the moment is causing you to look within- as spiritual seekers, we dig deep within to live and discover Paradise. These special moments of communication are Faith-building, and allow us the opportunity to share Love within ourselves and others around us.
Yet Eric you yourself have for instance changed outer jobs and people in your life. So my question is; at what point do we recognize we need to make certain changes outwardly speaking; and will those changes be beneficial or detrimental?
I can see myself being in another country and not being so concerned about Fuhrer Trump being president. But being here his policies have definitely affected me personally. If I was somewhere else maybe that would not be such an important factor. Look at someone like Nivalny or Assuage. They could have avoided some of the painstaking repercussions of their views if they decided to not speak of them or in the case of Navalny- not return to his homeland. It is difficult to know what actions to take against tyranny but this was an issue I feel was part of my last life experiences also. So one would wonder how much it has to do with our inner transformation and how much it has to do with building up courage to face outer challenges to our perceived truth on the matters.
