Choices

Woke up this morning with a beautiful new understanding......:)

Let us use the analogy of TV once again. How do we choose what to watch on TV (or what is expressed through the TV)? We either flip channels (especially when we are not too sure what is playing where) or use a TV guide and choose what to watch at a given time, depending upon what we feel like watching then. Or we know for certain (might even be a daily practice) what is playing at what time/ what is my favorite/ what I must watch, and straight away reach for that channel (or perhaps are already tuned into that; it is only the matter of switching the TV on - or perhaps it remains on most of the time). These are two general behaviour patterns, when the control is in our hand.

Now, what happens when the control is in someone else' hands. We may tell them (emphatically) what we wish to watch (whether they like it or not). We may decide by consensus what to watch, and happily watch it together. We may fight for the control. Or we may resign to watching what the other person is watching.

This is exactly what happens in life. 

The Consciousness is a vast field (like a TV network), all kinds of emotions/ experiences are available to us (lots of channels), we can decide to tune into a particular channel at a given time or stay tuned to it forever (if I wish to stay upbeat all the time, it is my choice). Or flip through channels/ look at the guide and then decide at the best choice available (according to my taste). Again, these are possible behaviors when the control is in our hand (self-empowerment). The TV/ Consciousness doesn't judge us for our choice. It is there and we just access/ tune into it. In other words, ALL the experiences of the entire spectrum are available to us and we decide what to tune into. Simple! 

What happens when the control is in other's hand? (whether we have given it to them or they have taken it). Now, we can either tell them (emphatically) that this is not the experience we would choose for ourselves; or we may decide by consensus, what to experience, or we may resign to stay involved in another person's drama/ emotions/ experiences/ story.

This last choice, where the remote is in someone else' hand; and we are perforce- either resignedly or angrily- watching something we would rather not watch- it gives us a headache- we can't even sleep in peace- we want to run away from that room (life)- wishing to either fight or flee, is the most common scenario in most homes (whether with TV or with life), and is the primary cause of our suffering!

Most often we are tuned into (access) other people's emotions from the collective consciousness. and feel miserable about them. 

So, what is the way out?

The simplest way out as I see it is to ask ourselves some simple questions, "What do I want from life? What do I wish to experience in this particular moment (which program do I wish to see)? What am I experiencing right now (which program am I watching instead)? Why am I doing it? (is it because the remote is in another's hand?) Is this experience leading me towards what I want from life or away from it?"

This last question is the real clincher. If an experience is leading us towards what we want from life, it is worth going through (even if it is a so-called-negative experience) but if it is taking us away from what we want from life, what stops us from flipping the channels and tune into something which is more aligned with our purpose??? Does it make any sense?

Wait, there is another way out. Just pray to God and say, "You know what life has to offer to me. Please take me there. And whatever befalls on my way, I shall accept it whole-heartedly." This approach may be called an approach of surrender/ fatalism/ or complete negation of self-responsibility.

Now if you believe that God is your Father/ Mother (something that I believe), how would a parent want a small child to behave? How would a parent want an adult child to behave? 

Time has come for us to grow up and become adults- and choose accordingly!!! But the choice as always lies with us- at the level of each individual! Handing over the control to someone else (even God/ parent) is also a choice. And all choices have consequences!!!!!