Some words of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s that have made a deep impression on my brain are, "The world is as you are." Like many things I’ve heard Maharishi say, these words seem to come back to me often. Yesterday, in a conversation, I heard myself quoting them. They are for me, possibly the most profound words I know.
As simple as they are, they encompass so much wisdom. I’d leave them alone and not try to expand on them except that from this conversation I was in—it was with a remarkable young woman named Carla—I found myself experiencing them. After a session with the Spanish tutor, I stopped into the Mendocino College Art Gallery at the college where Carla is the docent.
My own state of awareness runs the gamut from being almost totally unaware, to a subtle state of awareness, to awareness of being unified with everything. Somewhere along the way in this particular conversation, I had the experience of pure self-referral. What I mean is, while speaking to Carla, I had moments of knowing who I am. Something about the dynamic of communicating with Carla kept bringing my attention back to myself. It began innocently enough with a feeling of self-consciousness and then as I began to allow myself to let go, more and more I found myself just knowing that not only was I connected inextricably to the person I was talking to, but to the room, the art on the walls, the wind blowing outside, the building—everything.
When I left the building I was in, the experience stayed with me. I met an old friend, Ed, outside, who is the gardener for the college. I realized that he was truly One with all the shrubbery and trees. I told him that, and he joked, "Oh yeah, they’re my boys!" He got it.
What amazed me was how this state of Unity—once you’re "there" is there for everyone. Carla gets it, I got it, and Ed got it.
I guess even the trees and the shrubs get it. When you’re feeling connected, you ARE connected. It’s very cool. I felt I was living Maharishi’s words, the world is as I am. And I felt I was connected with everything. And, as such, nothing but a reflection of life itself.
Tony,
If a parent's child decorates the walls in the house with color crayons, then the role of people in society is more clear. The parents assume the responsibility and authority to command and teach their children. The proper way for the child to communicate their ideas first and work with others in the household to achieve a solution that others in the household community must all live with. And corrective discipline for inappropriate conduct.
The child saying, "Chill, daddy, it is my bedroom wall..." may be appropriate if such behavior rules had previously been defined with respect to the child's area of control. If not, then first offense would be a chance to teach (not discipline) respect for others and learning how to communicate and get permission first before taking action. Arrogance is an undue degree of self-importance and could lead the child to usurp the rules and color crayon any wall in the household - discipline would be in order and appropriate. (There is a world community created by a group of Russians who live to be 150 years old; there this rule is an exception, but that is another story.)
_____ _______ _____ ________
In the adult world community respect is key for others to willingly obey one person's command. We strive hard to build our experiences and knowledge such that respect will grant a favorable ear to our words. When does one assume the role to voice their opinion (and therefore, command of others) in the adult world is central to your theme, Tony. I gave the above example to illustrate a common accepted circumstance for when people agree that parents should accept that role of responsibility.
So, what is the difference between the ‘Chill’ conversation and the ‘Carla’ conversation?
When in the adult world is respect granted? I think (of course, I’m probably way off base), that Carla granted you respect and reinforced assurances your input was desired, which allowed the conversation to flow. I have concerns about the respect granted to Viet Nam veterans, and ‘Chill’ is a buzz word with hidden meaning. Do you think that the Maharishi would ever be told to ‘Chill’? No, because his reputation proceeds him.
Command respect without violence...it helps to understand the community, i.e. Awareness. Self-awareness is all you need, if one can go make the world be as you are. What if the community has a flaw and you are not aware of it? Nor, would the community be aware of their flaw. A stranger from outside the community, may have a better chance getting the community to accept the way they are than someone who is supposed to have a reputation of respect already with the new community. In other words, stereotypes of Viet Nam veterans can unknowingly affect your daily conversations. You have lived in other countries, haven’t you noticed a difference in the American community with respect to willingness to listen to your war related comments?
This is the way I sum it up, and it may only play a very, very minor role in relationships. And most of all, individuals will not admit to self-serving stereotypes; remember, both you as a Viet Nam veteran and the community don’t know all the rules of how things should be. Those without experience made the rules in America after the war. Why could not the Viet Nam veterans just be (as Maharishi said) and command proper respect from the American post-war community? It was decided the war was wrong, and therefore those without experience decided veterans of that war had problems not the community. There are always criminals and malcontents who don’t respect anything, but essentially the numbers of percentage were reversed.
Of course, you have seen how the Maharishi is treated with great respect in his home community, and you could imagine him traveling the world and encountering cultures with little knowledge of his peaceful reputation. Suppose the community at home reversed while he was away, and on return he was presented with stereotypical movies like ‘Rambo’ to influence his home community. Individuals at home would pretend to be normal, and the Maharishi would be troubled to discern the tarnished image, but would feel something is not quite like it should be...even question how he may have changed in his presentation while away. Yeah, someone might end up telling him to ‘Chill’.
Yes, California is more progressive in work style. Little things are more laid back and less stressed, because in the long run more is accomplished. It is perfectly normal to learn to adapt to the new lifestyle. A new employee anywhere can be a little overly serious. An older employee may be a little jealous that boss told the new-hire to “go with the flow...”, but understands. Tony, you wear the badge of being a Viet Nam veteran, and also the badge of being an author. The author badge may be more intimidating to some.
You say that it is not a good idea to make a loud noise to scare an ex-combat veteran. Likewise, it is not a good idea for a new-hire, straight faced serious and maybe showing signs of worry, known by all to be a Viet Nam veteran to walk into an office or Post Office carrying an assault weapon...even for show-and-tell. It is a stereotype in the back of their minds which creates the problem, rather than reflecting the respect and feeling of safety cause one with proven service to our country is present. In fact, Tony, your statement was made popular because 20 years ago the “indifference to even want to know”, caused veterans unease and need to respond with what non-veterans should not do. Flag waving people today are the ones that cared more about themselves getting a job 20 years ago over a veteran. They also have the economic assets to persuade them to go along with the mistakes in Iraq, demeanor Kerry’s service, praise Bush’s rich man’s buy-out service, criticize loudly the pre-war protesters, say nothing to cutting veteran’s benefits the same day they send men off to war and cut taxes on the rich, capitalize on video of the World Trade Towers in their election campaign, ...just don’t tell me they will not pull out a stereotype ‘Chill’ comment any time they feel bored with the subject or feel trumped by sage advice to not kick butt...arrogance.
Is it 1out of 10, or 9 out 10? No, it is just a difference in California lifestyle. Haven’t seen a single Moslem converted to Christianity, yet. Despotic Satire --- We really need to kill all the poor people in the world, they may not like us! Or is that just the rich man’s view? America’s answer is written in a sonnet at the Statue of Liberty :
http://www.nps.gov/stli/newcolossus/index.html
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