Beliefs About Poverty?

[BrotherMichaelSky]

I don't think you were clumsy at all.
You reminded me that there is peace to be found & I appreciate it.
Lately, I've been so upset about poverty & even more so about the aparent apathy expressed by most I've discussed this with. I guess I'm even upset with my own apathy. I imagine the pain & suffering & haven't been able to feel peace... it's like I feel their pain & need to do something about it, so I can feel better. I think this is compassionate, but taken to the extreme, it's counterproductive. I've lost sleep & have been extra stressed & not at peace, so thereby I've made myself less helpful.

It's a balance in caring for ourselves as others.
And you remind me that we are in stages of learning... & truth is what it is. I can't change the past that has led up to culminate in the present. I have to learn to have the "serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can & wisdom to know the difference."

There is a very important point here...
which takes a while to thoroughly process...

we look around in the world and we see the things which are important to our soul. There is SOOO much more out there - but naturally we focus on that which strikes a chord somewhere within us.

While there are Laws in existence which keep us progressing - there comes a time when we start noticing those things before us, in stronger and deeper ways.

This would automatically make us think that we must DO something to address these thoughts..... not always the best first move.....

What is important is that we HARMONIZE our belief with REALITY....

we must first go within to explore the things which catch our attention...
what has caused this question to arise within the mind? why do we dislike it, why do we feel prodded by these things, and why do these thoughts keep recurring...... there is ALWAYS an answer - but we are not trained to go looking for them....

The answer sets the soul free to distance itself from the question..... it is left behind as an understood concept, which may be built upon for further understanding....

At a certain point one will find themselves with a certain distance from the concerns which drove them previously - from there the outlines of the SCHOOL become apparent....... and one realizes it was about UNDERSTANDING

The School will always continue - and friction and disruption will be it's face.... because with understanding will come enlightenment, and release from confusion - but there MUST be a catalyst for understanding....

when one has found the perspective, it frees them from the OVERWHELMING need for things to be FAIR..... it shows them that FAIRNESS is inherent in the system...

We ARE ALL children of the Divine- and there is none more special than another....
what you are experiencing is FAIRNESS in action....
we ALL want others to have the understanding that we do - because it is helpful to us and reduces the stress of our endeavors...

but it is a mistake to think that " that poor soul over there" is suffering more than they desire...... The Lord will treat honestly with that person...

Perhaps what you are feeling is the Hand of Our Father - asking you to go feed His Children..... We ARE His chosen method of Incarnating here in the physical.... if we see something that we believe He would want accomplished - that is a personal judgement call - and I would recommend a LOT of meditation before acting....

 

[Persona]

There is a very important point here...
which takes a while to thoroughly process...

we look around in the world and we see the things which are important to our soul. There is SOOO much more out there - but naturally we focus on that which strikes a chord somewhere within us.

While there are Laws in existence which keep us progressing - there comes a time when we start noticing those things before us, in stronger and deeper ways.

This would automatically make us think that we must DO something to address these thoughts..... not always the best first move.....

What is important is that we HARMONIZE our belief with REALITY....

we must first go within to explore the things which catch our attention...
what has caused this question to arise within the mind? why do we dislike it, why do we feel prodded by these things, and why do these thoughts keep recurring...... there is ALWAYS an answer - but we are not trained to go looking for them....

The answer sets the soul free to distance itself from the question..... it is left behind as an understood concept, which may be built upon for further understanding....

At a certain point one will find themselves with a certain distance from the concerns which drove them previously - from there the outlines of the SCHOOL become apparent....... and one realizes it was about UNDERSTANDING

The School will always continue - and friction and disruption will be it's face.... because with understanding will come enlightenment, and release from confusion - but there MUST be a catalyst for understanding....

when one has found the perspective, it frees them from the OVERWHELMING need for things to be FAIR..... it shows them that FAIRNESS is inherent in the system...

We ARE ALL children of the Divine- and there is none more special than another....
what you are experiencing is FAIRNESS in action....
we ALL want others to have the understanding that we do - because it is helpful to us and reduces the stress of our endeavors...

but it is a mistake to think that " that poor soul over there" is suffering more than they desire...... The Lord will treat honestly with that person...

Perhaps what you are feeling is the Hand of Our Father - asking you to go feed His Children..... We ARE His chosen method of Incarnating here in the physical.... if we see something that we believe He would want accomplished - that is a personal judgement call - and I would recommend a LOT of meditation before acting....

Thanks, BrotherMichael.
You remind me of what Echkart Tolle wrote.
I've been reading, "A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life's Purpose."
It's the idea of emotionally distancing ourselves (as you mentioned), so we can have a clearer picture & be more effective.

Isn't life & spirituality full of paradoxes?
Our ego gets in the way a lot, but we can't interact in this world without it. And it's the way we grow... especially by interacting with people who know just what buttons of ours to push. Our egos (mental attachments to illusion)are tools of motivation & passion. As you implied, we can't help but be selective in our awareness. There's so much out there to be aware of, but we tend to focus on what we see as applicable to us or our values. So, our thoughts are always illusional, because they're subjective & limited. A friend suggested that the goal is to find "functional illusions" (like productive goals).

I have only so much to give toward helping those suffering from extreme poverty. But I believe (whether illusional or not) that what I'm doing (sharing money, helping spread awareness etc.) is helping & making a difference, which motivates me to keep going.

 

[radarmark]

From Persona
"Radarmark,
True that generally we've advanced so that we "can" live longer.
The tragedy is that many are denied the blessings of these advances."

Not just generally, but in every country and every clime. Of course there are serious glitches (like the Killing Fields of Kampuchea or WWII in Germany and the USSR).

On the average, the life expectancy of a new born child is about 69 years versus about 30 in the years shortly before WWI. So on the average (whether in the US or Japan or Swaziland or Bangladesh) lifetimes have doubled (actually, much more increase in the "lesser developed countries"). Why? Green revolution, sanitation advances, medical advances, and pesticides (yeah, if all one cares about if life expectancy of human beings DDT would still be the pesticide of choice).

I am not an environmental scientist nor a Malthusian, but pretty moderate in my stances (I think), but the evidence is that we have made progress (in this one measure).

As far as the distribution of wealth (not income) goes, the West has failed even to care (for the most part) for its own, let alone the world.

 

[BrotherMichaelSky]

If I can only afford to have one child I do not spit out 7-8 . . . a little forethought and intelligence goes a long way.

why do i keep seeing the word " play " in that sentence....
man, I'm going to Hades.....

 

[BrotherMichaelSky]

Thanks, BrotherMichael.
You remind me of what Echkart Tolle wrote.
I've been reading, "A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life's Purpose."
It's the idea of emotionally distancing ourselves (as you mentioned), so we can have a clearer picture & be more effective.

I'll take that as yet ANOTHER recommendation.... guess i'll have to check him out.... thanks

Isn't life & spirituality full of paradoxes?
Our ego gets in the way a lot, but we can't interact in this world without it. And it's the way we grow... especially by interacting with people who know just what buttons of ours to push. Our egos (mental attachments to illusion)are tools of motivation & passion. As you implied, we can't help but be selective in our awareness. There's so much out there to be aware of, but we tend to focus on what we see as applicable to us or our values. So, our thoughts are always illusional, because they're subjective & limited. A friend suggested that the goal is to find "functional illusions" (like productive goals).

I have only so much to give toward helping those suffering from extreme poverty. But I believe (whether illusional or not) that what I'm doing (sharing money, helping spread awareness etc.) is helping & making a difference, which motivates me to keep going.

I find it was transitional for me when I had the realization that there was ONE ego within me. from which all those attachments were coming from...
It freed me ( with NO ego ) to "stand beside" ( please forgive my attempts to explain mental exercises... ) that ego and watch it act - so as to learn to "intercept" the impulses before they were automatically acted upon ( in a mental and emotional way - thoughts ARE things.. )....
my "filter" gets better and better...
I'm nowhere near the unbearable beast i was years ago...
and no - i didn't just say I have defeated the ego - that much is apparently not under my belt yet... I only manage it for short periods in meditation...

and YOUR filter has you doing what you might - as it should be, is the way it looks from here

I know it sounds trite, and maybe a little cheesy.... but I believe the best to be done for ANY soul which finds itself in difficulty, is exactly what Our Father would do for us.... Raise them from hardship.
That is - each should deal with those in front of them with need, as if they were family members.... ( even better- as one would for them self )

but that is what would be right and proper- it is seldom what is done....

as nations we should be addressing these problems - we are all differing parts of the same body - the body cannot be healthy until all of its parts are cared for...
When we stop creating dissonance - it will desist in plaguing us...

 

[radarmark]

Mitakuye oyasin -- we are all one, works well as a guide

Make every decision on behalf of the seventh generation to come -- from Gaiwiio works as well.

My third and favorite moral compass (had a bumper sticker made up of it):
"Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about his religion.
Respect others in their views and demand that they respect yours.
Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long and of service to your people.
Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend,
or even a stranger, if in a lonely place.
Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.
When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light,
for your life, for your strength.
Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.
Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools
and robs the spirit of its vision.
When your time comes to die,
be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death,
so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time
to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home." -- Panther Across the Sky (makes me smile)

Indeed, it is the connectedness that is compassion that we become truly human.

 

[Persona]

From Persona
"Radarmark,
True that generally we've advanced so that we "can" live longer.
The tragedy is that many are denied the blessings of these advances."

Not just generally, but in every country and every clime. Of course there are serious glitches (like the Killing Fields of Kampuchea or WWII in Germany and the USSR).

There are almost 1 Billion people chronically hungry.
Tens of thousands die every day of preventable causes - like tuberculosis, malaria, AIDS & diseases like respiratory illness & diarrhea that prey on bodies that have suffered chronic hunger.

I don't consider that "advanced."
Yes, there's potential, but it's not realized in many cases.

 

[Persona]

Mitakuye oyasin -- we are all one, works well as a guide

Make every decision on behalf of the seventh generation to come -- from Gaiwiio works as well.

My third and favorite moral compass (had a bumper sticker made up of it):
"Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about his religion.
Respect others in their views and demand that they respect yours.
Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long and of service to your people.
Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend,
or even a stranger, if in a lonely place.
Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.
When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light,
for your life, for your strength.
Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.
Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools
and robs the spirit of its vision.
When your time comes to die,
be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death,
so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time
to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home." -- Panther Across the Sky (makes me smile)

Indeed, it is the connectedness that is compassion that we become truly human.

Good stuff!
Thanks for sharing!

 

[Persona]

I'll take that as yet ANOTHER recommendation.... guess i'll have to check him out.... thanks


I find it was transitional for me when I had the realization that there was ONE ego within me. from which all those attachments were coming from...
It freed me ( with NO ego ) to "stand beside" ( please forgive my attempts to explain mental exercises... ) that ego and watch it act - so as to learn to "intercept" the impulses before they were automatically acted upon ( in a mental and emotional way - thoughts ARE things.. )....
my "filter" gets better and better...
I'm nowhere near the unbearable beast i was years ago...
and no - i didn't just say I have defeated the ego - that much is apparently not under my belt yet... I only manage it for short periods in meditation...

and YOUR filter has you doing what you might - as it should be, is the way it looks from here

I know it sounds trite, and maybe a little cheesy.... but I believe the best to be done for ANY soul which finds itself in difficulty, is exactly what Our Father would do for us.... Raise them from hardship.
That is - each should deal with those in front of them with need, as if they were family members.... ( even better- as one would for them self )

but that is what would be right and proper- it is seldom what is done....

as nations we should be addressing these problems - we are all differing parts of the same body - the body cannot be healthy until all of its parts are cared for...
When we stop creating dissonance - it will desist in plaguing us...

A lot of wisdom here, thanks.
I appreciate your humility in realizing the peristence of ego.
It's funny because when I used to post on a "spiritual forum" there were arguments about ego & I'd just laugh & laugh as I saw the ego in each arguing about ego! It was entertaining, actually, but a little humbling too, because I'm sure I've done something similar. Infact, sometimes when people really tick me off, & I look closely at why, I realize it's because it relates to something I either struggle with or fear in myself.

It helps to keep present in the moment, to realize "all the world's a stage & all the men & women merely players." We have our parts to play - & many of us sure do play them with gusto!
As you implied, government leaders don't play their assigned parts very well.

I like how you compared humanity to a body - & how if one part of the body suffers, the body suffers. We're helping somewhat financially - but that's so impersonal. I'd like to get on a plane & go to some poor areas & do something concrete to help others - especially help with schools or libraries. But circumstances in my life are that my kids need me to focus on their needs. Hopefully as a family we'll do a project I have in mind - but that won't be for a while because we've got to save up for it.

Life is temporary - & constantly changing.
A time & season for every purpose.

 

[BrotherMichaelSky]

A lot of wisdom here, thanks.
I appreciate your humility in realizing the peristence of ego.
It's funny because when I used to post on a "spiritual forum" there were arguments about ego & I'd just laugh & laugh as I saw the ego in each arguing about ego! It was entertaining, actually, but a little humbling too, because I'm sure I've done something similar. Infact, sometimes when people really tick me off, & I look closely at why, I realize it's because it relates to something I either struggle with or fear in myself.

When i was young, a neighbor lady said something to me in relation to an argument some of us kids were having in front of her house... she said " What we REALLY dislike about others, is when they display our weakest traits"
It rang like a bell in my ears, and I have never forgotten the words or the look she gave me...

It helps to keep present in the moment, to realize "all the world's a stage & all the men & women merely players." We have our parts to play - & many of us sure do play them with gusto!
As you implied, government leaders don't play their assigned parts very well.

I like how you compared humanity to a body - & how if one part of the body suffers, the body suffers. We're helping somewhat financially - but that's so impersonal. I'd like to get on a plane & go to some poor areas & do something concrete to help others - especially help with schools or libraries. But circumstances in my life are that my kids need me to focus on their needs. Hopefully as a family we'll do a project I have in mind - but that won't be for a while because we've got to save up for it.

Life is temporary - & constantly changing.
A time & season for every purpose.

I am putting a lot of hope in raising my son to Love others in a realistic and common sense way. And trusting that as attractive it is on him, will influence others.....
I have not always been trustworthy of giving example.... but i try...

Things will get better through effort only... whatever we can do helps, and adds to what our neighbor has been inspired to do...
gotta keep that glass half full...

thank you for your kindness!

 

[Servetus]

My third and favorite moral compass (had a bumper sticker made up of it):
"Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about his religion.
Respect others in their views and demand that they respect yours.
Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long and of service to your people.
Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend,
or even a stranger, if in a lonely place.
Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.
When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light,
for your life, for your strength.
Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.
Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools
and robs the spirit of its vision.
When your time comes to die,
be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death,
so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time
to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home." -- Panther Across the Sky (makes me smile)

It is a superb moral compass, but, except for the notorious traffic jams in LA (during which stalled passengers have time to read), it is a generally bad bumper sticker .

Serv

 

[BrotherMichaelSky]

There are almost 1 Billion people chronically hungry.
Tens of thousands die every day of preventable causes - like tuberculosis, malaria, AIDS & diseases like respiratory illness & diarrhea that prey on bodies that have suffered chronic hunger.

I don't consider that "advanced."
Yes, there's potential, but it's not realized in many cases.

ever graphed out where the wealth is in the world, and where the evilest conditions exist? it's an interesting distribution.....

obviously it would be very very difficult for me too acquire enough data to support my position, but even my untrained eye sees a pattern.....

and to direct your eye a bit - look at the diametrically opposed patterns of wealth distribution - globally speaking...

my theory is this:
There is something akin to a standard amount of workable energy for each individual on the planet, added to the "soup" of condensed energy of those who are here, when the new individual arrives. which gives us an "average charge" which seems to be "overloading" The Mother's internal electrical system ( including the play of energies on her surface..) due to overpopulation...
She - as an individual with automatic defenses, just like us, - is reacting to the problem.... energy patterns are moving to compensate... it is "fixing" itself...

But for now - and ever since people have been gathering together in large groups, we are directly responsible for the "coagulation" of energies.... for every concentration of qualities you will find in a group of people, there is another group "holding the line" in the other direction.....

The United States has such prosperity, with such little effort to share it, that there is an EQUAL amount of NEED that must enter the world to balance it......
The same goes with everyday conditions everywhere else....

The Mother has a signature vibration dependent upon where she rests in space and what influences she is under from bodies in this and other spheres...
We - as a group (human beings) must match that vibration to remain...
If we start knocking things off kilter ( duh - too late now.... ) processes are initiated (triggered even, because they are irreversible ) and chaos will result until an equilibrium is found again...
Like the action of an antibody - change is aimed at affecting us...... because the mother will never die, until her day is due...
She is not having a climate crisis - It is our comfortable zone that is threatened

The cure is to knowingly and consciously move energy to places in the world where it would work to balance things.... such as they did with the Ancient Holy Places all over the globe.... ( and the didn't have even close to the problem we have before they noticed it - and worked to fix it... a little too late... )

People starve because folks hoard more than they need.
People are oppressed because folks have greed which outweighs their respect.
People are disposable in places, because folks waste lifetimes in others....

We are directly responsible for the horrors we witness - we choose our world based on where we put our attention.....
because who could possibly ignore - if they had half a heart - the grieving face of that child on that tv commercial?

but the very next minute - we are thinking of going to Mc Donalds.....
so she goes hungry.....

There are no easy solutions.... each and every one that would accomplish what this thread is about, would require the world to act as one, in a determined fashion....
Europe was working towards that... been watching? how have you reacted?
We will have what folks feel is right.... as a consensus - with a history of decisions made, which still weigh in the equation....
as it is, there is no consensus possible - so chaos reigns.... and we all get wet..... especially that poor lil girl with no home, parents, or rice for this evening.....

 

[Sam Albion]

actually, yes, Persona -- we do have to try to believe it's possible. I forget that. Thank you for reminding me.

I'm gonna borrow Brother Michaels' "half full glass".... you don't mind, I hope.

 

[Persona]

It is a superb moral compass, but, except for the notorious traffic jams in LA (during which stalled passengers have time to read), it is a generally bad bumper sticker .

Serv

LOL
Everytime I go to So.CA, I think of Brilliant's quote, "This place used to be beautiful, before everyone came to enjoy its beauty."

 

[Persona]

.... for every concentration of qualities you will find in a group of people, there is another group "holding the line" in the other direction.....

The United States has such prosperity, with such little effort to share it, that there is an EQUAL amount of NEED that must enter the world to balance it......
The same goes with everyday conditions everywhere else....

The cure is to knowingly and consciously move energy to places in the world where it would work to balance things.... such as they did with the Ancient Holy Places all over the globe....

Lunitik & I were discussing this idea of balance, which I'm still trying to understand.
Regarding the extremes of prosperity & poverty, my guess is that wholeness and balance would mean more of a moderation. To some, it might seem like socialism, but basically, it would be giving people & their resources the respect due (& compensating for previous disrespect). Many don't realize how often US corporations & customers have benefited from other country's resources, to the neglect & suffering of those exploited.

I realize my own hand in this & it's humbling.
It puts things in perspective & makes me more motivated to help make up for any suffering I've contributed to, even if it was ignor-antly.

We are directly responsible for the horrors we witness - we choose our world based on where we put our attention.....
because who could possibly ignore - if they had half a heart - the grieving face of that child on that tv commercial?

but the very next minute - we are thinking of going to Mc Donalds.....
so she goes hungry.....

One author wrote how looking closely at poverty is about as fun as digging up a grave.
It's uncomfortable.
We are built to sympathize with others - which is why laughter or crying is often contagious.

Most of evil is caused because we want to ignore uncomfortable thoughts & feelings. We do need to have functional illusions though, so we better fulfill our potentials. I guess living in alignment with both common sense & spirit, we know when to face uncomfortable facts & when to comfort & inspire ourselves with functional illusions.

There are no easy solutions.... each and every one that would accomplish what this thread is about, would require the world to act as one, in a determined fashion....
Europe was working towards that... been watching? how have you reacted?

I agree that there aren no easy solutions, nor is there 1 answer to fit all circumstances.
Are you referring to European groups trying to encourage tollerance?

 

[Persona]

actually, yes, Persona -- we do have to try to believe it's possible. I forget that. Thank you for reminding me.

I'm gonna borrow Brother Michaels' "half full glass".... you don't mind, I hope.

I keep coming across the idea to believe (reading it, my child told me it, songs)...
I've come to question almost everything, realizing it isn't what I thought it was, so I've often wondered,
"What am I supposed to believe in?"
I think it is believing in goodness... in the goodnes in myself & in others, to make a positive difference.

 

[BrotherMichaelSky]

Lunitik & I were discussing this idea of balance, which I'm still trying to understand.
Regarding the extremes of prosperity & poverty, my guess is that wholeness and balance would mean more of a moderation. To some, it might seem like socialism, but basically, it would be giving people & their resources the respect due (& compensating for previous disrespect). Many don't realize how often US corporations & customers have benefited from other country's resources, to the neglect & suffering of those exploited.

I realize my own hand in this & it's humbling.
It puts things in perspective & makes me more motivated to help make up for any suffering I've contributed to, even if it was ignor-antly.


One author wrote how looking closely at poverty is about as fun as digging up a grave.
It's uncomfortable.
We are built to sympathize with others - which is why laughter or crying is often contagious.

The barrier between Self and Other is illusory.... We are feeling a REAL NEED when these things enter our consciousness - or they would not enter...
The point is what we do with the impulse.... do we SYMPATHIZE with the OTHER - or do you see what simply needs to be done as something you are connected with in a very real way....

Most of evil is caused because we want to ignore uncomfortable thoughts & feelings. We do need to have functional illusions though, so we better fulfill our potentials. I guess living in alignment with both common sense & spirit, we know when to face uncomfortable facts & when to comfort & inspire ourselves with functional illusions.

There is nothing that I have found which does not lead me to believe that illusions are DANGEROUS to a creator.... and many things which do....
It should be easy enough to understand, that it is not advisable to use a skill you are in the process of developing, to interact with Reality....
We must learn how to NOT create, unless it is with full consciousness and purposely.....
The habit of "using" functional little illusions in one's daily life is deceiving - and develops "muscles" in the wrong direction.... It is advisable to drop ALL the illusions in one's life...
when dealing with others, one can only follow their own guidance.... that's what it is there for.... but reinforcing one's obfuscating illusions has a foul taste when one knows the cost of them.....

I agree that there aren no easy solutions, nor is there 1 answer to fit all circumstances.
Are you referring to European groups trying to encourage tollerance?

no, I am talking about the clumsy attempts at unifying the impetus behind governments... It will take a long time for the need to sink in enough to force it to work.... but it shows the trend surfacing... encouraging in a vague way...

 

[Persona]

The barrier between Self and Other is illusory.... We are feeling a REAL NEED when these things enter our consciousness - or they would not enter...
The point is what we do with the impulse.... do we SYMPATHIZE with the OTHER - or do you see what simply needs to be done as something you are connected with in a very real way....

Good point.

There is nothing that I have found which does not lead me to believe that illusions are DANGEROUS to a creator.... and many things which do....
It should be easy enough to understand, that it is not advisable to use a skill you are in the process of developing, to interact with Reality....
We must learn how to NOT create, unless it is with full consciousness and purposely.....
The habit of "using" functional little illusions in one's daily life is deceiving - and develops "muscles" in the wrong direction.... It is advisable to drop ALL the illusions in one's life...
when dealing with others, one can only follow their own guidance.... that's what it is there for.... but reinforcing one's obfuscating illusions has a foul taste when one knows the cost of them.....

We cannot help but think illusionally - so we've got to work with what we've got.
You cannot possibly consider all possibilities of all possible universes - Ultimate truth - so we settle for our very limited subjectively, illusional perspectives. There is so much need - I have no way of even being aware of it all. But I CAN do what I can do. And I will be more productive if I choose functional, inspiring illusions, rather than dysfunctional, discouraging ones.