Pluralism/Unity Ego/Essence

There has been much attention given to these concepts here on PeaceNext. The focus has been as if these are pitted against each other. The one more valuable, or worthy, that the other. Unity defeats pluralism due to its higher value. Ego is to be shunned,the cause of all our ills, and some higher essence is the prize. I do not see it that way. These components lend their value to the whole of our experience. Experience is incomplete when anything is missing from it. All of the pieces together give us what we require to do what is best and create the experience that is of the greatest value.

The notion that these are in conflict demonstrates an existing conflict. The notion that these are not in conflict demonstrates an absence of that conflict. In considering this we can see that as we think we actually are. It is not hard to extrapolate this into the world around us. Climate change and all of its ramifications is an excellent example of how we collectively create the world we live in. When we demonstrate care in our daily life we are more likely to prosper and be happy. When we exercise care collectively we build a better world. We can and do change the world everyday. It is our responsibility to realize this and build a world suitable for us all. A world we all want to live in. If the next life is our reward we had best make that investment now.

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Comment by Ron Krumpos on November 8, 2011 at 3:40pm: We are in agreement, except for the word escape. I'm not suggesting escape from life. Rather a temporary withdrawal...for moments in oneness. The divine is in us; we must be consciously in the divine. In a footnote to "the grand excuse" I said If you deny, reject or overlook what is, ignorance is no longer your grand excuse.

Comment by Mystic Tourist on November 8, 2011 at 3:25pm: Thanks Paul and Ron. Ron, I find that I am not here by accident or without purpose. When I am finished here so too will that purpose be finished. I have no inclination or thought to escape. I find that unity and pluralism are the same thing. Nor can ego find separation from essence. When I consider paradox I think the paradox is that we think there is one. I believe in divinity. That divinity is life's satisfaction and completion. I believe that we are all divine but through ignorance and denial we create a world that divides us from it.

Comment by Ron Krumpos on November 8, 2011 at 2:38pm: When we look at daily life, pluralism and ego are components of our physical and mental worlds. When we briefly escape those worlds, e.g. during meditation, contemplation, or dreamless sleep, we can intuit unity and essence. Some people can deal with foreground worlds with awareness of their background setting.

Rather than conflict I use the word paradox, i.e a proposition which seems contradictory. There are many paradoxes in this life which, as you say, we should accept. When we get bogged down in trying to resolve them rationally, we may get confused, upset or, perhaps, depressed. Mystics accept many paradoxes. Some people prefer that their established beliefs not be challenged. Inflexibility leads to lethargy.

Comment by Paul Rodgers on November 6, 2011 at 9:25pm: Well said Mr. Mystic. We have not been given the the most brilliant jewel that is life just to pick and choose what we want to acknoledge as true and good and sweep the rest under the rug. It is a our honored to duty to see the validity in all apsects of creative living. Perhaps if we are failing to find a way to incorporate everyone's truth we are falling short of our potential. If we can find a way to encourage each other to live with the compassionate strength of an interfaith philosophy then we are truely doing our species a favor.