QUESTION: Does our Higher Self have a plan for us in this life? Because I'm afraid of making the wrong choices and messing up the plan.
ANSWER: I like to think that our Higher Self has certain intentions in this life, but no fixed plan. That means that whatever comes into your mind to do is possible, but some things will be a lot harder than others. It's sort of like planning to go to Kauai with the choice of lying on the beach or hiking through the wilderness to the summit of Waialeale. Anything your Higher Self doesn't want to do won't even come to mind.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Becoming Transparent
QUESTION: What do I do about my reactions to someone who sends me angry emails about a business matter? It feels like strong energy coming at me and I react emotionally, which I don't want to do.
ANSWER: It doesn't matter how strong the energy is that's coming toward you. What matters is how you react to it. From what you say you are taking it personally and resisting it, which produces the emotions you don't want to have.
ANSWER: It doesn't matter how strong the energy is that's coming toward you. What matters is how you react to it. From what you say you are taking it personally and resisting it, which produces the emotions you don't want to have.
The more "transparent" you can become to
outside energy carrying unpleasant information, the more effective you
can be at dealing with it. Here is one of the best techniques I ever
learned for doing that:
You know what the
person in question is like and what he does is not a surprise, even
though you don't like it. So, give him permission to be the way he is
and to do what he does. At the same time, give yourself permission to
act on what he does in whatever way you think is appropriate.
He
is going to be what he is and do what he does anyway, but by giving him
permission to do it you are in charge and your resistance to it rapidly
diminishes. With a little practice and some reminders, you'll be able
to handle any situation like this with aplomb and ease.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Experience & Reality
QUESTION: When you say that "experience is reality," what do you mean?
ANSWER: This idea is based on the 1st Principle of Huna, "The world is what you think it is," which is itself based on the Hawaiian word 'ike. However, the principle as stated in English is only one of the meanings of the Hawaiian word. It would be just as accurate to say that the world is what you feel it is, or hear it as, or see it as, etc. In other words, the basic meaning of this principle is that experience is reality. It doesn't matter whether it is a physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual experience. If you experience it, it's real for you. Even an experience that you interpret as Absolute Reality is a real experience for you. BUT, not necessarily for anyone else.
To put it still another way, all experience is personal experience, that is, subjective. Other people may have experiences that will be very similar to yours, but never identical. You can quiet your thinking, still your feelings, reduce all your physical, mental, and emotional activity to the minimum possible, and all you have is just another experience.
So, anyone's ideas about anything are no more than that individuals ideas about his or her own experience. Other people may be able to use that experience to create their own desired experience... or not. And many people may agree that certain experiences are real (for them) and that other experiences aren't. Nevertheless, no individual's experience, regardless of that individual's confidence, prestige, or position has any more validity than anyone else's experience. Unless you think it does.
ANSWER: This idea is based on the 1st Principle of Huna, "The world is what you think it is," which is itself based on the Hawaiian word 'ike. However, the principle as stated in English is only one of the meanings of the Hawaiian word. It would be just as accurate to say that the world is what you feel it is, or hear it as, or see it as, etc. In other words, the basic meaning of this principle is that experience is reality. It doesn't matter whether it is a physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual experience. If you experience it, it's real for you. Even an experience that you interpret as Absolute Reality is a real experience for you. BUT, not necessarily for anyone else.
To put it still another way, all experience is personal experience, that is, subjective. Other people may have experiences that will be very similar to yours, but never identical. You can quiet your thinking, still your feelings, reduce all your physical, mental, and emotional activity to the minimum possible, and all you have is just another experience.
So, anyone's ideas about anything are no more than that individuals ideas about his or her own experience. Other people may be able to use that experience to create their own desired experience... or not. And many people may agree that certain experiences are real (for them) and that other experiences aren't. Nevertheless, no individual's experience, regardless of that individual's confidence, prestige, or position has any more validity than anyone else's experience. Unless you think it does.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
About Placebos
QUESTION: What do you think about using placebos in healing?
ANSWER: Since I believe that all healing comes from within, my personal opinion is that all healing techniques and procedures - physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual - are placebos. However, let's discuss this from a more common viewpoint.
In today's world a placebo is usually thought of as something you give to or do to or do for a sick person that is, as said in a very well researched article on Wikipedia, "a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient." Of course, this is the viewpoint of conventional medicine. In the book, "Science and Secrets of Early Medicine," author Jürgen Thorwald, in writing about ancient healing methods, says, "Clearly, sacrifice, magical rites, and exorcisms were a major aspect of Inca medicine. But a group of real healers also existed."
Outside of the viewpoint of conventional medicine, a placebo is often thought of as any non-medical means by which a healer can facilitate a healing. In this view, placebos are not used to deceive a patient, but to promote a healing. The effectiveness of placebos is so evident that even conventional medical practitioners have to reluctantly admit that placebos can account for somewhere around 37% of all cures. That number can be misleading, however, because a lot depends on how placebos are presented. Factors that can greatly increase or reduce that percentage are the attitude of the patient, the attitude of the health practitioner, and the appearance of the placebo itself.
The "real healers" in ancient cultures may have been those wise enough to combining sacrifice, magical rites, exorcisms, in addition to practices more familiar to modern doctors, in order to increase the the possibility of a cure as much as possible.
Apparently, some modern medical practices may not be nearly as effective as placebos. In cases of cancer, it is common for doctors to say at some point that chemotherapy may provide the patient with a 50-50 percent chance of recovery. Out of fear and/or intimidation, most patients will opt for chemotherapy, but the 50-50 chance is really saying that both chemotherapy and placebos stand an equal chance of providing a cure. The situation with this specific condition and treatment may be even worse than that. An Australian study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology Volume 16, Issue 8, December 2004, pages 549-560, says that the percentage of survival five years after chemotherapy treatment was only 3%. Even placebos ought to be able to do better than that.
To conclude this rant, I think the healing is more important than the method, so use whatever works for the problem and the person involved.
ANSWER: Since I believe that all healing comes from within, my personal opinion is that all healing techniques and procedures - physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual - are placebos. However, let's discuss this from a more common viewpoint.
In today's world a placebo is usually thought of as something you give to or do to or do for a sick person that is, as said in a very well researched article on Wikipedia, "a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient." Of course, this is the viewpoint of conventional medicine. In the book, "Science and Secrets of Early Medicine," author Jürgen Thorwald, in writing about ancient healing methods, says, "Clearly, sacrifice, magical rites, and exorcisms were a major aspect of Inca medicine. But a group of real healers also existed."
Outside of the viewpoint of conventional medicine, a placebo is often thought of as any non-medical means by which a healer can facilitate a healing. In this view, placebos are not used to deceive a patient, but to promote a healing. The effectiveness of placebos is so evident that even conventional medical practitioners have to reluctantly admit that placebos can account for somewhere around 37% of all cures. That number can be misleading, however, because a lot depends on how placebos are presented. Factors that can greatly increase or reduce that percentage are the attitude of the patient, the attitude of the health practitioner, and the appearance of the placebo itself.
The "real healers" in ancient cultures may have been those wise enough to combining sacrifice, magical rites, exorcisms, in addition to practices more familiar to modern doctors, in order to increase the the possibility of a cure as much as possible.
Apparently, some modern medical practices may not be nearly as effective as placebos. In cases of cancer, it is common for doctors to say at some point that chemotherapy may provide the patient with a 50-50 percent chance of recovery. Out of fear and/or intimidation, most patients will opt for chemotherapy, but the 50-50 chance is really saying that both chemotherapy and placebos stand an equal chance of providing a cure. The situation with this specific condition and treatment may be even worse than that. An Australian study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology Volume 16, Issue 8, December 2004, pages 549-560, says that the percentage of survival five years after chemotherapy treatment was only 3%. Even placebos ought to be able to do better than that.
To conclude this rant, I think the healing is more important than the method, so use whatever works for the problem and the person involved.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
"Dark Night of the Soul"
QUESTION: During all the years of following your spiritual path did you ever experience dark moments as those of Saint John of the Cross in the "Dark night of the Soul"? Or was it always easy, no doubts, no fear?
ANSWER: I wish you could hear me laughing :)
Of course I have experienced doubts and fears many times, which is why I know so much about them. They still occur. However, as I become more adept at the skills I've learned, they get shorter and shorter. From a few weeks in my early days of learning to only a few seconds now. It is my opinion that anyone who claims to be completely free of doubt or fear is either lying or in denial. It is a natural human experience that usually occurs when one is under stress. As one becomes more self aware, which includes being more environmentally aware, it becomes easier and easier to move out of doubt and fear and into clarity and confidence. All it takes is practice... lots and lots of it.
ANSWER: I wish you could hear me laughing :)
Of course I have experienced doubts and fears many times, which is why I know so much about them. They still occur. However, as I become more adept at the skills I've learned, they get shorter and shorter. From a few weeks in my early days of learning to only a few seconds now. It is my opinion that anyone who claims to be completely free of doubt or fear is either lying or in denial. It is a natural human experience that usually occurs when one is under stress. As one becomes more self aware, which includes being more environmentally aware, it becomes easier and easier to move out of doubt and fear and into clarity and confidence. All it takes is practice... lots and lots of it.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Shizophrenia
QUESTION: What are your thoughts on schizophrenia?
ANSWER: Schizophrenia is a name given to a variety of mental, emotional and physical symptoms, with emphasis on so-called "psychotic" behavior. This is defined as being out of touch with "external reality," which really means the mainstream ideas of what reality is supposed to be. Psychotic behavior includes hearing voices that no one else can hear, hallucinations (seeing things that no one else can see), and feeling things that no one else can feel. Oddly enough, this is normal behavior for psychics, mystics, and shamans. The real problem in what we are calling schizophrenia is the content of the "psychotic" behavior and the individual's reaction to that content, both of which arise from excessive emotional stress. Schizophrenia is typically associated with extreme anxiety, paranoia, depression, and rage, as well as a variety of related physical problems. Unfortunately, the condition is treated primarily with antipsychotic drugs that have their own serious side effects. In my opinion, shifting the focus to drugless emotional healing and deep physical relaxation would produce better results.
ANSWER: Schizophrenia is a name given to a variety of mental, emotional and physical symptoms, with emphasis on so-called "psychotic" behavior. This is defined as being out of touch with "external reality," which really means the mainstream ideas of what reality is supposed to be. Psychotic behavior includes hearing voices that no one else can hear, hallucinations (seeing things that no one else can see), and feeling things that no one else can feel. Oddly enough, this is normal behavior for psychics, mystics, and shamans. The real problem in what we are calling schizophrenia is the content of the "psychotic" behavior and the individual's reaction to that content, both of which arise from excessive emotional stress. Schizophrenia is typically associated with extreme anxiety, paranoia, depression, and rage, as well as a variety of related physical problems. Unfortunately, the condition is treated primarily with antipsychotic drugs that have their own serious side effects. In my opinion, shifting the focus to drugless emotional healing and deep physical relaxation would produce better results.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Aloha Spirit and Pigs
QUESTION: How can Hawaiian tradition talk about "aloha" when they actually bake pigs, chickens and other animals for eating when they are our brothers or sisters in different bodies?
ANSWER: In Hawaiian tradition the Aloha Spirit is applied to everyone and everything. This means that everything is alive, aware, and responsive, and nothing is more alive than anything else. This tradition includes respect for all things, including rocks, plants, animals, humans, and stars. The Creator in deep wisdom made everything interdependent. Rocks (minerals) consume plants, animals, and humans; animals consume plants and other animals and rocks; humans of different kinds and beliefs consume plants, animals, and rocks. It is good to respect the rights of different people to consume what they believe is good for them, and even better to encourage them to have respect and appreciation for what they consume, whether it is plants, animals, or rocks.
ANSWER: In Hawaiian tradition the Aloha Spirit is applied to everyone and everything. This means that everything is alive, aware, and responsive, and nothing is more alive than anything else. This tradition includes respect for all things, including rocks, plants, animals, humans, and stars. The Creator in deep wisdom made everything interdependent. Rocks (minerals) consume plants, animals, and humans; animals consume plants and other animals and rocks; humans of different kinds and beliefs consume plants, animals, and rocks. It is good to respect the rights of different people to consume what they believe is good for them, and even better to encourage them to have respect and appreciation for what they consume, whether it is plants, animals, or rocks.
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