STEPS TO SLOWING THE MIND DOWN

1) Do a focused breathing meditation. Make an effort to get to ten breaths without thinking of anything else. Saying the statement “I’m right here, right now” over and over again while you take each breath in and out will help bring your focus into the present. If you think of something else start back over at breath number one. If this is your first time it will take some real effort. And you may get frustrated – good – frustration will serve as a fuel for a greater will to focus.

2) When you’ve achieved 10 breaths you can let the thought of counting go, and begin to notice the air moving in and out of your lungs. Just feel the sensations of air breathing in and out of your lungs.

3) After several breaths of just noticing sensations, begin to sense the universe breathing you every time you breathe out. Color the breath in your mind and visualize it filling your lungs and entering the world to be shared with other life – plants, humans and other creatures. Sense the greater connection with all life.

4) Let the exercises go. Notice how much the mind has slowed down at this point. Just relax in the calm. Observe yourself in the present, ask the question “Who am I really?” over and over again. Your mind may begin to drift at this point – do your best to remain aware of where it goes. Notice how you feel – be as present as possible.

This exercise is one form of meditation. As you begin to slow the mind down and train your brain to focus you will notice your effort to meditate goes through the four traditional stages of personal development:

1 – Unconscious incompetence – Sleep walking through life – vulnerable / reactive to environment.
2 – Conscious incompetence – You are aware of what you want to focus on but your mind strays quite often.
3 – Conscious competence – You are aware of what you want to focus on, your mind strays less often.
4 – Unconscious competence – You have achieved a deep level of awareness. Presence is your middle name.

Wealth is the material freedom to do what you will, when you will. Material resources are defined as anything physical such as raw materials or the labor used to refine these raw materials. The use of material resources are an expression of your intention, an idea that begins in the mind. In other words what you truly intend is a combination of will and material availability. For example I could will myself to fly to Mars, but I may not have the material resources to carry out that intention.

Wealth is measured according to ability to carry out intentions. And ability is defined as the probability that your envisioned outcome will be realized. For example you might say a person has great ability when you witness them consistently achieving an outcome that you know based on experience is difficult for you.

MONEY IS NOT ACTUALLY A MATERIAL RESOURCE

Notice how the words material resources instead of money are used to define wealth. Material as it is meant here is the articles or apparatus needed to make or do something.

Money is easily confused with material resources. Money is not a material resource. Money is exchanged for material resources. Money itself is nothing more than an agreed upon value; in essence it’s nothing more than a shared idea.

THE VALUE OF MONEY IS BASED ON PERCEPTION – WHAT OTHERS CAN BUY WITH IT

The power derived from money is the perceived value of it. The material resources that can be purchased with money depend upon it’s perceived value. The more people collectively agree upon it’s value, the more real it seems. This is the trick of money, when it works well as a medium for purchasing material resources, it can easily be thought of as a material resource.

MATERIAL RESOURCES VS. MONEY

Most people understand material resources, even a baby can understand what a material resource is, but most do not understand money. Money seems to be confused with material resources. And it is in this misunderstanding between power and non power that the greatest theft of power has occurred. The power gained by those who understand money versus those who do not. When the true value of currency is not transparent, the inevitability that real material power (labor / goods) will be lost in the exchange for false / deceptively inflated power, arises.

BUT DOESN’T THE WORLD NEED MONEY TO PROGRESS?

Indeed society may not be able to function without a currency to keep it productive. But a currency serves the people who use it only when its true baseline power is aligned and unchanging with their material power. What this means is currency works when the conversion of collectively agreed upon value (money) is exchanged for a material resource and no deviation occurs; the purchasing power of your money today doesn’t change much tomorrow, or if does – it does so in a way that is equally distributed through society. This would mean for example that instead of single person or company borrowing from a central bank (like the Federal Reserve) they would borrow from society in general, which is what they are basically doing and the interest they pay back to society would balance out the ‘new money’ that entered the money supply. They would essentially be paid back for every loan that reduces the value of all the other currency, balancing the power.

STRIKING AT THE ROOT

Inflation might be a little confusing for most and so they don’t both to figure it out. It’s precisely at this point of laziness that the designated money handlers gladly do the thinking for you – scooping up the little bit of power you left on the table. Slowly the gap between the purchasing power of a currency and the material resources widens. Then society wonders why they must work harder and harder for ’success’. It is here the media steps in, widely publicizing those who are successful making it seem as though the lottery winners of a twisted system are quite common and the problem lies within you and your ability. And it is here that the charlatans (some good intentioned however) step in to assist you with your self image or methods – promising to build you up into a success.

But when a fractionally small portion of society is the agreed upon money handlers (Example: Federal Reserve, Banks), and a fractionally small portion of society have control over the perception of money and it’s deviation from actual value (Example: Media) — what you have is a recipe for inevitable seizure of power, like an invisible pick pocket, but worse – for his hand is constantly in your pocket while he whispers sweetly in your ear.

THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS

When you enter a casino, at least you know the cards are stacked against you. In other words you know before you go the house always wins, you know the odds are against you. You can walk away from a loss knowing that you were foolish for gambling in the first place. Logic says that palaces have to be built on someone’s back. This shouldn’t cause much pain to your self image.

But when it comes to a system you are born into – you don’t know the odds are stacked against you. In fact you are meant to feel as though everyone has it better than you. This is something you are meant to aspire to. A better life for yourself and your family. The dream is what keeps you going. If a Casino could lock you inside they would – because they know the longer they keep you there the more odds will play out in their favor. That is the equivalent of modern day capitalism – only the ‘house’ (the factors that influence the value of money) is hidden, the bets are bigger (lives are invested into dreams that never materialize), and the illusion that anyone can succeed if they dream big and try hard enough is perpetuated (by the five media).

It’s important to point out at this point that what is being stated here is not negative thinking. There’s a lot of talk recently about using the laws of quantum physics to attract abundance, or having an abundance mentality. That’s all fine – but if I’m hanging by a small piece of rope over a pit of hungry crocodiles I don’t want to rely on the laws of quantum physics or abundance thinking – they won’t work nearly as well as assessing the true reality of the situation and engaging the law of cause and effect by jumping to safety.

The true reality in this case is: the system that stacks the odds against you. Jumping to safety in this case: requires more than just an open mind about improving your personal money situation.

IMAGINE HOW MUCH EASIER IT WOULD BE IF..

Imagine how much easier it would be for everyone if the distribution of power and money were equal. And if every member in society could act as a collective bank – getting automatic monthly deposits as loan payments and interest were being paid back every time a new loan was created. People would definitely feel like they are earning more money – when in fact they are simply being repaid the money they had been losing all along in the current monetary system governed by the elite few.

Notice I use the word society instead of government, because I believe that the word government is used to represent an elite class of individuals who have control over other people’s lives. The power that is now concentrated in the hands of a small few are devastating the mass of society. Your rope is beginning to snap, many have already fallen to the “crocs”; will you jump or hope the rope holds? The answer to that question depends on who you listen to.

I could end here and leave you to ponder what it means to jump, but I never like to leave the site of a problem without a clearly defined solution so here it is:

1) Do away with banks as private enterprises. Banks should be run by public servants. Make loans totally transparent. While names can remain anonymous loans should not be. Any loan originating out of thin-air (which is what the central banks do in the case of fiat-currencies) should be a loan with interest repayable to all the citizens of that nation. The funds from repaid interest should be automatically deposited into their bank accounts or cut as checks.

2) To create true transparency and democracy government must go online. Voting must not be concentrated in the hands of a small few that can be easily influenced with bribes or lobbying. The more the power of voting is spread amongst the majority the harder it will be to create laws or bills that do not serve the majority. This same process should also be used for government contracts approval.

3) As a result of being unable to lobby, the elite few would then try to turn to the media in an attempt to get the majority to pass laws that didn’t serve their best interest. One claim might be that it’s impossible for the majority to make effective decisions because they simply cannot know everything for national security purposes. A default way to prevent yourself from being duped is to always question who benefits when you hear news or proposals. The media are consolidated into about five main powers who for the sake of credibility might seem to disagree , but all at the highest level have good reason to be closely aligned in purpose. [1]

4) To bring about these changes an organization of educated masses must occur. The internet offers this opportunity, unlike any other time in the world – real organization, real communication and real change is possible through passionate, collaborative effort. Break through the lines of division created by those with incentive to do so and unify. One way to do this is through a new community called FullPotential.com – it might be small now but in the future it and communities like it could rock the foundations of power, delivering it back to an abused people.

Call to action: If you want to improve your life and change the world you are encouraged to join http://www.fullpotential.com . Now if you asked yourself how I benefit from writing this- I know you were listening.

Source:
[1] http://www.nowfoundation.org/issues/communications/tv/mediacontrol.html

Systems generally have a beginning, middle and an end.
But while the idea of ‘finite’ or temporary existence appears true for most systems
it is only true because it is viewed through a system based on a beginning and an end.
It is the act of thought or observation through this system which makes all other systems appear as finite entities.
Just before thought however, is a perpetual entity – which apparently gives rise to the system of thinking and the ‘concept’ of time, individuality and mortality.

HOW IS THE CONCEPT OF A SYSTEM WITHIN A SYSTEM USEFUL?

If what you think is a single process within a larger system, this frees you to consider there might be ‘more to reality’ beyond your individual system of thought.
You can use this knowledge to free yourself during meditation, to thoughtfully play with reality when you’re awake or ‘conceptualize’ a reality in which time, mortality and individuality doesn’t exist.
These useful conceptions allow you to begin to use ‘meta thinking’ (a higher level of thought) to become aware of thinking and go beyond it’s usual limitations.

]]> http://www.jamesrick.com/a-system-within-the-system/feed/ 0 http://www.jamesrick.com/its-coming-a-sneak-peek/ http://www.jamesrick.com/its-coming-a-sneak-peek/#comments Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:19:40 +0000 James Rick http://jamesrick.com/blog/its-coming-a-sneak-peek/ Energy to Live Your Full Potential: 7 Days to Greater Physical, Mental and Spiritual Zest!

SNEAK PEAK

Index:

• Physical
  • Balance
    • PH Balance
    • Blood Sugar Balance
    • Other Physiological Balances
  • Burn
    • Short Term Fuel
    • Long Term Fuel
  • Build
    • Building Blocks
  • Timing
    • Feed according to need

• Mental
  • Programming (The Garden)
  • Perception (The Lens)
  • Personality/ Ego (The Character)

• Spiritual
  • Observed (Perception)
  • Observing (Awareness)
  • Observer (Life Force)

Key Points:

1. Simplified understanding of complex subject matter.

2. Forget about all the confusing advice on health. Stop worrying about monitoring cholesterol, blood pressure and calories. Just monitor three things: pH Balance, blood sugar balance and overall body balance – which I’ll explain how to do – and watch symptoms of low energy or disease disappear! (I have dozens of studies / testimonials supporting these findings.) It blows me away that this simple formula (Balancing pH and blood sugar) is not the cornerstone of every diet in the world. Cancers have reversed. Diabetics have gone off insulin. (These statements not approved by the FDA. Find out why the FDA or any institution managed by people with strong financial incentive to ensure they never are have scant credibility when it comes to public safety.)

3. Many diet theorist argue surface concepts and create confusion. I have studied over a dozen of the most popular diets (Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, Raw Food Diet, Vegan Diet, Vegetarian Diet, Sonoma Diet, Standard American Diet, The Zone Diet, Warrior Diet, Hunter-Gatherer Diet, Timed Ketogenic Diet, Fruitarian Diet and Fasting.) There is a lot of conflicting information out there which often creates an excuse to eat unhealthy. Solution: Monitor the controls: pH balance, blood sugar balance the majority of the time. Whether you are an athlete or an office worker you’ll also learn to feed according to need. Good news – you can still splurge! But with great discipline (strengthen will power in the process) and moderation.

4. I’ll discuss the hidden trap of identity association to food. Cultures do it. People do it. Attaching labels to yourself or others based on food consumption such as: “Meat Eater” “Vegan” “Raw Food Vegetarian” “Fruitarian” carries with it many unseen side effects. Solution: Release the labels – allow yourself to roam freely once in a while, but the majority of the time stay consistent with your pH balance and blood sugar balance.

5. No more confusing scientific jargon. I have waded through hundreds of pages of biological explanations. Many words for describing body parts or functions either have Greek origins (literally) or are named after the scientists themselves. While this does much for the Ego of a scientist, it does little for advancing the knowledge of the average person who needs a practical understanding to better their lives. I have personified areas of body in relation so they will have meaning to you (thus making it easier for your brain to understand on both an emotional and logical level rather than simply conceptual.) It will be much harder to forget the pancreas function when it has a name and personality.

6. Zoom into to the atomic (quantum) level, zoom out to the universal level. Understand your ’self’ in relation to scientific and mathematical understanding of the universe. This will give you a clearer context for your experience of life. This should bring a newfound level of respect for the intelligence of your body and your place in the universe.

7. I expand on the often difficult to mentally grasp concept of ‘you are awareness.’ Awareness is the process of observing the relationship between observer and observed. Viewing yourself as awareness instead of personality / Ego (The Character) will free up a lot of mental energy (emotions – energy in motion) and allow your life force to flow more freely into this world.

8. Learn about the signature of evolution: DNA (the Library) and the lesser known RNA. (the Scribe). I’ll talk about the genes (The Living Books) relationship to you. For now consider this: DNA is a library the equivalent of a billion words, or 5,000 books, 300 pages each in an area smaller than the head of a pin, duplicated in EVERY CELL of the body.

9. If the DNA is so smart – why doesn’t it just adapt to all this new food? DNA is not quick to adapt because it’s much older and wiser and knows that times of surplus can be temporary. Also the body itself runs on chemical reactions – it cannot ignore chemicals introduced to it. For example if carbon monoxide gets in the blood, it’s very structure (like a puzzle piece looking for partner) causes it to bind with oxygen. The body cannot ‘adapt’ to it. It must ‘process the chemicals the best it can and repair the damage that’s been done. The genes (The Living Books) rely on the brain to make wise food choices that minimize damage and maximize building potential.

10. The genes (The Living Books) have contructed the brain to adapt quickly to the circumstances over a lifetime. Genes are ‘much slower’ (relative to our perception) to react to environment, perhaps by their own design.

11. The human brain is INFERIOR to the genes. The genes are its creator. In much of my research about the brain and even the body, scientists ’still don’t know this’, ’still don’t know that’. Modern science does deserve a lot of credit on a macro level (a large scale level we’re familiar with) the wheel, the printing press, computers have undoubtedly been responsible for progress. But many new ‘advances’ especially in the realm of medicine which operates on the quantum / cellular level should be approached with guarded skepticism. There are countless cases of popular drugs recalled a few years after release with disastrous consequence for those that used them. The argument that modern science (read: drugs) has extended life span is not entirely true. Biggest reasons for extension of life span: the invention of sewer systems and the reduction of infant mortality. In addition – even if you take the ‘right’ drugs, there is a 5% chance if you got it it in the pharmacy – it’s counterfeit and therefore tainted. And as high as an 80% chance that if you got your prescription online – it’s counterfeit (tainted). And this doesn’t even count the number of (reported) mistakes made when writing out prescriptions and prescribing doses, which numbers in the millions. What does one medical report suggest you do: take your medication and then notice if you have any adverse side effects. Hard to do if you’re dead. It is my conclusion that if you take synthetic drugs you are willingly / unknowingly submitting yourself to be a pharmaceutical guinea pig. If you immediately resist that notion – ask yourself why? Have you identified with your condition? At the very least – get the pH balance and blood sugar balanced for a while, do the small number of other physiological balances I suggest (in the book) and see if you still need drugs.

12. In rare cases genetic mutations do occur and drugs are necessary for survival. This is especially true for those born with birth defects (the binding between two libraries (the two germ / sex cells representing 23 chromosomes each that create a zygote) is not perfect yet) but if you made it through birth and you develop an allergy, disease or worse, before you assume the body’s intelligence is at fault (as assumption made when drugs are taken) assume that behavioral or environmental causes are at fault first and seek to correct them.

13. DNA is an incredible library of information, constructed over billions of years. This library is contained within every cell of the body. It is responsible for the construction of the body in the first place. It knows how to restore health IF given the right environment, the right fuel and the right building blocks. There hundreds of cases of blood letting or ‘waiting out’ a sickness until death. A blind faith in the body’s ability to recover is not what I mean here. In some cases medical attention is absolutely necessary; this is often after a negative cause has persisted for so long it has reached the point of no return and requires an action like surgery. How do you detect negative causes early on? Any condition less than prime should be viewed a symptom of a problem, this could mean anything from chronic low energy to insomnia. Solution: Reduce the causes that may impede the natural construction / reconstruction of the body and natural settling of the mind.

14. The real core of human beings is the long term information (DNA). Think about that for a moment. The body and brain are expressions of long term information (DNA). And all DNA is made up of is a sophisticated configuration of nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and phosphate elements, of the origins we have little evidence. Though we can and should (in my observation) assume the force that arranged these elements (and continues to arrange them – evolution) is very intelligent. I believe it’s also logical to assume that the force that gave birth to these elements is also part of the ‘life force’ that’s arranging them. I refer to this life force as the Observer.

15. As we begin to discuss spiritual energy, you’ll learn that awareness (you) is the observing the relationship between observer and observed. Awareness is part of the observer. You may be looking for a ‘God’. I’m sure there are angels in another dimension still wondering when they are going to meet ‘God’ – not realizing that they are part of the process.

16. You’ll also learn that human perception is limited to the five senses and perceptual experience of 3 dimensions (4 dimensions if you count time). Awareness can rise above these and experience the relationship of observer and observed on a higher level – but cannot return to a human brain to make a satisfactory explanation of those experiences. Thus only those who have experienced or contemplated higher level insights can relate to it in communication and all others who have not refer to it as ‘out there’ or ‘woo woo’ spiritual theory. There is no right or wrong in doing this – it’s simply a matter of observation. When a person lacks the experience shared by another they must assume the person is different and validate that observation with those who feel the same way. It’s only when differences breed prejudice, prejudice intolerance and intolerance hatred that it becomes a problem. How do you tap into your spiritual zest? Release the labels. Tirelessly seek the most accurate version of reality. To paraphrase spiritual writer Ken Wilber: An atheist that contemplates the universe very deeply is more spiritual than the person that accepts blind faith. In short, spiritual zest is a conscious way of living.

Stay tuned. You should expect to have this book in your hands completely free, within 30 days.