Dawn of Unity: Guide to a New Prosperity

By John B. Leonard

Have you ever thought about the meaning of the phrase in Pres. Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address, where he refers to a government of the people, by the people, and for the people? The author believes that our present system by allowing money to influence the process is not truly a government by the people; but is rather a government by the wealthy elite, operating primarily for their benefit.

The book proposes that for a government to truly be by the people, all people should have equal power, and play an active role in determining government policy. It further suggests that this can only be achieved when people unify into a structure of power (which the book describes), and let their governmental bodies know what changes the people collectively desire.

The major portion of this book is dedicated to addressing areas of social concern; considering present policies from the standpoint of the underlying principles involved, and suggesting possible remedies or changes. The subjects addressed include industry (disparity in wages), taxation (on money and investments rather than income and purchases), money creation and control (governments responsibility inappropriately delegated to a private banking trust), imperialism (problems from using force rather than diplomacy to obtain needs), education (addressing childrens need for security, acceptance, and hope), law (restrictions upon personal freedom), justice (rehabilitation rather than retribution), welfare, and land ownership.

Together with these, the book proposes two protocols: one to remove the power of money and wealth from electoral processes and lobbying practices, and the other, an easy to implement procedure that will put all motivated individuals in control of decision-making processes within all governmental bodies (city, county, state, and federal).

Herein is a viable way for all people to obtain governance that truly serves all. That way is through the power of cooperative unity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 23, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456741488

John B. Leonard

From childhood, the author has had an active, imaginative, and questioning mind. These qualities have impelled him to consider not only the antithesis of a given assertion, but to perceive all viewpoints in-between. Using the popular analogy of the “pigmies” that met the elephant; he would not have been content to feel only the trunk. He would have continued reaching out for a more complete and accurate discernment of the beast. Through his formal education, the author learned how to think analytically, and to go about solving difficult problems. After gaining a degree in Electrical Engineering (Carnegie Mellon Univ.), the author found his talents to lie in the field of problem solving; and for over 20 years conducted his own business, performing industrial troubleshooting services. The result of the author’s focus upon resolving problems professionally, was that he began to more actively focus upon social issues. He felt impelled to investigate various religious, philosophical, metaphysical, and scientific beliefs. His experiences of a psychic and mystical nature (including an ascent into Cosmic Consciousness) led him to perceive all belief systems within the framework of higher spiritual laws; and it is upon these that his remedies for existing social problems are built. The author has traveled extensively throughout his life, visiting 20 foreign countries, and 47 states in the US. He’s stood on mountain tops in the United States and Peru, on the Great Wall of China, and the top of the Great Pyramid in Egypt. His view is that, except for our unique limitations, we are all the same. He looks forward with both hope and wonder to a day when humanity will wake up to the realization that they are indeed one; and that peace, joy, and prosperity are indeed obtainable through the spirits of respect, mercy, cooperation, and unity.

Book preview

Acknowledgments:

I thank those few,

who either knowingly or unknowingly,

have encouraged me in this undertaking.

And I especially thank

those who helped.

Are You Happy?

There’s a traditional children’s song which I sang as a child:

"IF YOU’RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT"

Perhaps you know it. Its lyrics contain phrases instructing children to do specific things to demonstrate their happiness. Variations of the song differ, but all seem to begin with an instruction to CLAP YOUR HANDS. Others include various additional instructions. I don’t clearly recall the instructions from the song of my childhood, but the 1990 copyrighted version from Shimbaree Music says to STAMP YOUR FEET and SHOUT HOORAY! I do recall stamping my feet as a child, but not the shouting; but then again, it doesn’t really matter now, since I’ve grown up and become an adult.

Since there should be something that we adults could do to demonstrate that we’re happy, I’d like to suggest that…

IF YOU ARE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT…

PUT THIS BOOK BACK DOWN!

I didn’t write it for you.

I wrote this book for people who aren’t happy...and know it!

But who want to be!

We’re adults now; we’re not children any more. As adults, we should know that if we aren’t happy, then stamping our feet, or shouting isn’t going to do much more than draw attention to ourselves. And that attention is more than likely going to bring unwanted criticism, and make us even more unhappy.

As adults, we should know that to truly be happier we need to affirm a commitment toward making positive changes in our lives, and to actually put that intention into action to produce desirable results.

I wrote this book with that understanding in mind; to be used as a guide for producing the type of results that we desire to achieve in our lives, and in our world.

The dedications that follow are intended to reflect this hope. So if you’re unhappy and you know it – then find a way to act upon this HOPE. Hope is the one thing that we most desperately need to express if we know ourselves to be unhappy, and truly desire to experience positive changes in our lives, and in the world around us.

And let us all hope that this greater hope will spur us on to constructive and fruitful action.

SHOUT HOORAY!

Dedication:

This book is dedicated to those wise individuals

who truly know love,

and who value life in all of its wonderful expressions.

You are those who can know truth,

and who can discern what’s right and valuable.

You are, perhaps, the only ones who can.

May you find the courage to discover your truth,

and apply it in your life.

Teach us by your example,

how we can cooperate with others,

and live together with them in peace.

It is to you that I offer this book,

that it may assist you in this quest.

By itself,

this book is nothing but a collection of words.

It is you who will give it relevance.

For if there is to be any positive change in this world,

it will come from those of you with the highest ideals,

who give expression to the very best ideas

that your wisdom has to offer.

May you find comfort in the knowledge

that you will be joined by others of like spirit.

Perhaps together,

we will discover the path to true happiness,

and pave the way for our mutual prosperity.

Secondly,

I DEDICATE THIS BOOK

to those few individuals

whom I anxiously look forward to meeting:

... the successful capitalists who have gained all the wealth and prestige that they thought they needed, and found this somehow lacking; but have later been able to find a way to realize true fulfillment and prosperity by making a contribution back to society for its greater good.

... the enslaved politicians who truly want to be free of the control of money and those who wield it, so that they might effectively serve their society with honesty and integrity.

... the medical doctors who stand up for the ideals they swore to uphold in their Hippocratic oath, and take a stand against the pharmaceutical and insurance industries that try to manipulate and control them for their own selfish interests. And especially those who take the extra effort to learn how real health is achieved and maintained, and who promote this type of medicine in their practice.

... the police officers who stand firm in their resolution to uphold the law without breaking it; neither feeling themselves to be above the law, nor giving in to the temptation to bully others in the exercise of their duty.

(All public servants must first serve their highest ideals before they can effectively serve society.)

... the concerned citizens who refuse to let themselves be manipulated and used. And who, by putting their trust in their own inner wisdom, while following their highest ideals, discover the security found in gaining mutual cooperation with all others.

... the welfare recipients who have found a means to regain their self-respect, and gone on to demonstrate it in their lives.

... the homeless people of the world, living on the streets, who have found support from others, and discovered a means of lifting themselves out of their seemingly hopeless situation.

... the brave and conscientious parents who raise their children to live by high ideals, and who have accepted the challenge of encouraging them to think for themselves and accept the responsibility that goes with making their own wise choices.

... the disillusioned youth; partying, bored, feeling powerless to do anything meaningful, fearing that there is little they can do, coming to discover that they do – each and every one of them – have a higher purpose; and that they can, in fact, initiate valuable change – not just in their own lives, but in the lives of others as well.

... both the atheists and faithful believers who have come to realize that it’s not an absolute requirement that we accurately believe that God exists; or that we all agree upon what God is, or is like, as long as we live by the ideals of respect, love, mercy, justice, tolerance and cooperation that a truly wise and loving God might command.

... the members of any group, who have come to realize the destructive challenge that their immature ego plays upon their beliefs and associations; and who have now opened their hearts and minds to embrace others outside of their group; having discovered that all people and all groups have value and are worthy of respect.

… all those who have come to know God as Love Unconditional, and who aspire to follow that ideal in their own life pursuits.

And finally,

I DEDICATE THIS BOOK...

...to you brave and conscientious individuals

who actually use your free will.

You are those few among us who question everything

and aspire to discern for yourselves

the truth of any situation or experience.

You are those who make your own conscious choices,

based upon the most up-to-date

and complete understanding you can obtain,

guided by the highest ideals that you can conceive of.

...to those of you who have found the courage

to put your ideals into practice,

and to lead the rest of us – through unity -

into a future of greater peace and prosperity.

You are those who are attempting to escape the manipulation

and control of others, and be free.

You are among those who founded this nation,

and for whom this nation was founded.

I wish to extend blessings to you all.

Your path may not be easy,

and it may not immediately be rewarding,

but it certainly will be blessed,

because your efforts are so absolutely needed.

On behalf of an ignorant world in pain,

I thank you.

Contents

Acknowledgments:

Dedication:

Introduction

1

Change

2

Truth

3

Responsibility

4

Freedom

5

Principles

6

The Great Task

7

Rulership

8

Prosperity

9

The Forum

10

Government Influences

11

Government Purpose

12

Taxes

13

Money

14

A Model

15

International Relationships

16

Safety

17

Learning

18

Justice

19

Happiness

20

Wonder

Appendix

Autobiography and Credits

Introduction

This book is about life; what it is, and what it can be. It’s about politics also, because this has become a major force in determining our prosperity. And it’s about religion, because all of our beliefs influence the choices we make, and so many of them cause us to fear others and treat them with disrespect.

But mostly this book is about an opportunity that we presently have, to gain greater freedom and prosperity, by assuming for ourselves the power to control government, which is presently held by those with greater wealth. I believe it’s an opportunity that must be taken now; if not for ourselves, then for our children.

I believe that we are at a pivotal time in history when we need to make a very important decision. Do we want to continue to be ruled by others, and accept the future that they have planned for us; or do we want to accept the responsibility of determining our own future? Do we think of ourselves as children needing a mommy and daddy to provide for us, keep us safe, and tell us what to do; or do we think that we are mature enough to accept the responsibility of providing for our own needs by making our own best choices?

Throughout history, people have been ruled by others, and have been limited in both their freedom, and in their ability to prosper, as a result. This country is unique, however, in that it was founded upon the ideals of unalienable rights, freedom, and self rule. Unfortunately, these have been largely lost to those with the greatest wealth, and the power that wealth provides. This became inevitable when we created an electoral process that depended upon monetary contributions from the private sector to determine election results.

In a capitalistic society that sets profit above propriety, it should not be surprising, then, that our opportunities for prosperity, health and happiness are limited by the extent to which another can profit. Problems of society – like personal health issues – are opportunities for corporate profit; so little incentive exists to identify their cause and remove them. This applies to all areas under government authority, and most regrettably to foreign policy as well.

Every year we are asked to pay more money and give up more rights and freedom in the hope of securing an ever elusive security and prosperity. In fact, it might be that we are fast coming to a point where we may lose all of our constitutional rights forever, if we don’t take decisive action very soon.

Fortunately, I do have a workable plan for reversing the process, and giving ourselves more opportunities to prosper, and a greater ability to determine our own reality, with government firmly under our control. Once our governments are put under our control, and the influence of outside money removed, our economic and social problems can be addressed and corrected, rather than merely appeased; and our unalienable rights of liberty and the pursuit of happiness can become a greater reality for all.

Chapter seven describes a process for unifying into a social structure that will give greater power to the people who make up this nation – and in fact, the world. And chapter nine describes an alternate means of lobbying our representatives that does not constitute bribery. Together with legislation to remove money from the electoral process by having governments pay for reasonable election expenses, and a ban on any and all forms of bribery (direct and indirect), we will break the hold that money has on our government representatives.

Chapters one through six build upon each other to provide a foundation for the seventh chapter, and all chapters that follow. They may be the most important chapters, because they prepare people to accept change, question authority, accept responsibility, and set high ideals to live by. Any future success depends upon this.

The other chapters address various aspects of our society; mostly relating to functions under the control of our government. These chapters offer insights relating to problems as I perceive them, together with suggestions for making improvements. I offer these only as a starting place; trusting that a united citizenry will come to enact change based upon their own wise discernments; not merely trying to follow my own.

I know that the concept of self rule is scary, and that we have been conditioned to believe that we need a collection of authorities and leaders to tell us what’s best for us. This is true with regard to spiritual matters as well, as we look to our religious leaders to provide us with reliable beliefs. The results are always the same, though. In yielding power to others, we lose the ability to learn for ourselves, to be free, and to gain the satisfaction that comes when we discover for ourselves what’s truly best and blessed.

I also know and understand that self responsibility can be bothersome. It requires us to spend less time in front of the TV and computer, and more time in communication with our neighbors. It also requires us to think for ourselves, try to discern higher truths, set ideals for ourselves to follow, and accept the results of our own decisions. This isn’t easy; in fact it’s much easier to delegate that responsibility to others, and then complain when the remedies they put into practice provide for their own prosperity and not our own.

There is a tendency within all of us, to look for a savior to come to our rescue. We hope for it in the next election, or the one after that, like Charlie Brown hoping to finally be able to kick the football. And each time we are disappointed, because we will always be fooled. Lucy will never allow Charlie to kick that ball, and neither will those who hold the world’s power and wealth ever allow us to escape the bonds that restrict our ability to truly prosper. Just as they control governments, they require our own subjugation as well, in order to retain their own positions of power. To them, our freedom leads toward their peril or loss of dominance.

Some of us also look for a Divine Messiah to come to our rescue, and force the world to conform to proper ideals as we perceive them to be. But we fail to remember that Divinity – through many religions and over many centuries – has already been telling us how to live within a set of high ideals, which will provide for our greater good. The present state of our society may be a predictable result of our failure to follow those commandments.

If and when a Messiah comes (whether through a religion, a social order, or as an Extra Terrestrial [or – for that matter – a group of ETs]), it will not wipe our noses for us. It will instead do what it’s been trying to do for millennia. It will attempt to motivate us to act on our own behalf, and accept the responsibility that God has given us from birth. To be free is not just an unalienable right, it’s an unalienable requirement if we are to grow and prosper as Divinity intends. And we err when we yield that divine privilege to others.

In this book, I have done my best to establish the need to become socially and politically active; and I have outlined a step-by-step format for unification that is capable of turning the power of control over to we the people. But it is up to you to put it into practice. Don’t look to me, to Washington, or to the heavens to do it for you. At best, they will assist, and that’s all.

I also have a concern, that if I present a plan that offers you the ability to make your own laws; I want to be relatively sure that you will listen to your own conscience and use the best ideals and principles that you can conceive of, in doing so.

As I’ve said, the later chapters are my attempt to suggest changes based upon what I consider to be high ideals or noble principles. But that’s all they are; suggestions. Consider them along with the many suggestions that you will be receiving from the many others who will claim to know more than you. You may also feel free to utilize the guidance of Masters, Messiahs, and Benevolent Aliens, if that is what your conscience leads you to do. But please make sure that your final choice comes from your own heart or spirit, and not from your emotional, and easily manipulated gut, for there are many out there using fear to manipulate your choices, and to defeat your purposes.

For too long we have unquestioningly listened to and blindly followed those who have declared themselves to be authorities of government, business, religion, economy, and practicality. Perhaps now, we are responsible enough and knowledgeable enough to make our own decisions based upon our own ideals and what we heart-fully feel within. Then my suggestions along with those from your government representatives, newspaper editors, spouses, priests, and best friends, will be given nothing more than respectful consideration.

If you choose to implement the suggestions of chapter seven and nine (the network and forum), then it will be your collective ideas that will become the reality that we will live with in the future. My hope and prayer is that you make them with wisdom, from your highest level of conscience. And these choices of yours I cannot judge; you will have to do that yourselves.

It’s not for me, or any one else, to dictate your morality or to tell you what choices are right or wrong; especially as this relates to your own personal life that involves your family and children. This is for you to decide. And I hope that you can extend this grace to others; and allow them to decide for themselves what they should and shouldn’t do. After all, this is what freedom is all about. In fact, it’s what our Constitution is all about.

Each and every one of us have both the right and the duty to choose our own lifestyle, and to determine if our life might be in need of adjustment. Others can suggest and encourage, and even provide opportunity, but they have no right to dictate our choices. It is my belief that people do not have the right to make choices for anybody but themselves, and those who are dependent upon them.

In this regard; though it may pain us to watch our neighbors living out the results of their unwise choices, it just may be that such experiences are necessary for them. Other than providing alternative opportunities, the very best we can do for them is to set an example that they can follow.

This conclusion has led me to wholeheartedly accept the notion of personal freedom, and to reject the assertion of the many who believe that we need more laws and controls. This is also why I so wholeheartedly support our Constitution; because I believe that our Founding Fathers felt the same.

It is my hope, that with the suggestions found in this book, you will begin to look at your world from a new perspective, and reformulate your beliefs about life. Perhaps you will also find the encouragement you need to discover those areas within your own personal life that could use some improvement. Herein is an opportunity for you (and all of society) to discover ways in which improvements can be made. I will try to be clear and direct in my explanations and reasoning, for I expect nothing to be taken as truth just because I believe it to be, and have stated it to be so within the chapters to follow.

I’m sure that there are many assertions and suggestions that you will just plain disagree with; and that’s ok by me. But perhaps you will also come to agree with me sufficiently, that you will choose to pursue some of the suggestions that I will propose. Working cooperatively, we may discover ways to live more harmoniously with ourselves and others, and create a model that others might follow.

This will be built, I hope, upon the highest principles that you can conceive of, while leaving all others the freedom to choose their own beliefs and morals; for I am convinced that there can be no learning without the freedom to make mistakes. And so the highest principle that we might promote in our own choosing, is to allow for the universal freedom of choice possessed by others.

Only through experience can we come to learn the value of kindness and honesty in our dealings with others. Eventually – with enough experience – we may all come to discover that if we are to find a life of harmony, then we must act harmoniously toward others. And if we desire to receive love, then we must act with love toward others. Impulses toward retaliation and censure will hopefully to give way to expressions of tolerance and forgiveness.

Every major religion teaches some form of The Golden Rule; that we are to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves. It is so simple, and so obvious; yet why is it so hard to put into practice?

As adults we don’t follow the rules that we teach our children to honor, because we don’t really believe in them ourselves. Perhaps we think we know better, or that we have to compromise our ethics in order to prosper. Somehow we came to conclude that there are extenuating circumstances that are more important than the ethics involved. Is it possible that the unhappy condition of the world today, is a result of this erroneous belief, and of our ignorance regarding a higher, more spiritual ethic?

It is not my intention to put blame on anybody, for this is something we all share; and somehow I’m sure that we will all eventually learn. I have come to conclude that our ignorance of the greater truths in life is responsible for the fear that leads to the harmful expressions we justify. I feel that the injustices we inflict upon others, result from our own fears, distorted beliefs, and feelings of a need to excessively compete for survival. These are things that will change as we come to discover and accept a different truth about ourselves and our reality.

Instead of perceiving ourselves as victims, looking for places to put blame, we might do better to accept some of the responsibility for the way things are in our lives, and take the time to reconsider our own expressions. Putting aside any feelings of guilt, regret, or self-blame – which only have value in motivating us to make different future choices – let us take a closer look at life and its expressions, with an honest openness to discovering its truths. Once we come to a more honest recognition of our own motives, and find a better way to respond to life’s challenges, we may come to discover a way to enjoy the blessings it offers more fully.

As we seek to apply the wisdom we have learned from life toward helping others, much benefit can come. Even now, there are many good things happening in the world that overshadow the many acts of selfishness and strife. But there are also many good intentions improperly applied; that though seemingly helpful, end up doing more harm than good. These need to be examined very carefully.

I think that we are suffering from a case of ignorance in many areas of our life, and that by reconsidering not just our motives, but the possible results of our actions, we might come to discover a better way of doing things; a way that could bring greater benefits to us all.

So in the interest of dispelling ignorance, let us take some time to look carefully at ourselves and at our present situation, and by using the discernment that comes from our own inner spirit, try to discover a more harmonious approach toward resolving the complex issues that confront us. I think that if we can get to the heart of our present challenges, and can agree upon some basic principles, then we might be able to discover a means whereby we can make future choices with wisdom.

Yes, there may be some effort required, and some sacrifices to be made, but the results from such expressions can be more than worth any price we pay. In fact it just might be that this is an action that we must take; not just if we want a future of peace, freedom and joy, but if we want any future at all. And this is something that today’s youth would do well to consider.

Do you ever wonder what our world would be like if people didn’t have to struggle and compete with others in order to survive or be happy, or if disagreements could be resolved without bloodshed? Is it so difficult to imagine people helping each other without fear of suffering personally as a result of it? Do you really think that you cannot be safe unless you are confined and restricted by numerous laws and regulations that control every aspect of your life? Or do you think that only wars and armed conflict can produce peace? Can you even conceive of the advantage of resolving disputes with mediation and compromise rather than with bullying or threats of violence?

What if people came to accept others of different religions and nationalities, and discovered that there was value to be gained from being different? What if diversity was no longer perceived as a threat, but in fact seen as a great benefit? I wonder what it will be like when we cease to fear each other, and begin to respect and support each other instead. Perhaps that respect could lead us to find a peaceful solution to all of our grievances.

These are not wild imaginings or impractical fantasies of some utopia. They are the natural result of envisioning people working together, supporting and empowering each other as they strive to achieve their mutual purposes. (Ok, maybe a bit utopian.)

And – contrary to what some people may say – there is a way to accomplish this. It is through joining together in unity, based upon an expression of respect for all; allowing all others the freedom to be different, and to share in the opportunities for prosperity that this world provides.

It is only when we struggle and selfishly compete with each other for the bounty of the world, or rely on others to care for us, and provide for our needs, that fear and uncertainty sets in. And when we allow others in positions of power and authority, to manipulate us – and our emotions – for their own advantage, it’s little wonder that we become more angry and fearful of others’ different expressions.

When we instead come to recognize our own capabilities and power, and decide to join together with others of like mind, then we may come to discover a better way to seek prosperity, while living in harmony with the world. By working together cooperatively, and by sharing opportunities for prosperity, we just may find that there is little that we cannot accomplish.

So, if you can find the time to consider some of my suggestions, and the willingness to work cooperatively with others toward that end, together we may actually find a workable solution to the many challenges that confront us and our society.

With that hope, I offer this book. Please don’t think of it as a solution; as though I have all the answers for you to accept and put into practice (I don’t). Though many of these ideas make sense to me and feel perfectly right, it is your feelings and thoughts that will prove to be the relevant ones, as you join with others to become the creators of our future.

If you follow just two of the suggestions in this book (the network and forum), you will soon be the rulers of this world, and the leaders of today will be your servants. (So don’t expect too many of today’s leaders to support you in this venture).

It is of utmost importance, then, that you gain a useful and practical way of discovering your own best ideals; and use these to determine your own best ideas for meeting the many challenges that confront our society today. Hopefully these will be based upon the principles of freedom, equality, justice, cooperation, tolerance, respect, and unconditional love. No other motives are worthy of our expression.

1

Change

It was a very large tree, with deep green leaves and strong branches, and from my location on the top I could see for miles. The day was really comfortable; sunny and mild, with only the gentlest of breezes blowing. And I felt great; like I was on top of the world. I was sitting up there with a lady friend, sometimes talking, and sometimes just quietly enjoying the experience. It was during one of the latter periods when I was struck with the desire to jump up out of the tree and fly out over the countryside.

No, I’m neither a bird nor an angel. I merely had the thought that I was dreaming, and could fly if I wanted to. And I seriously considered it, for I have often come to lucidity during a dream, and quite enjoyed those opportunities to fly. Those of you who have had the experience of the lucid dream know what I’m talking about. But for you others, I will just say that it is realizing that you are dreaming while the dream is still in process, and for some reason you do not wake up. So there you are, still in the dream, and knowing it. The perception is often the same as when awake, but you know that it is a dream and that different rules apply, such as the ability to fly. It is an interesting experience and probably not the same for everyone.

For myself, it is like suddenly realizing that I am in another world (or another reality), and in another type of body, and that flying is only one of the many wonderful things I can do. Walking on water, passing through walls, or letting myself just fall through space are others, but flying is my favorite. Sometimes I make myself fly like a rocket and reach incredible speeds, and at others I just float along.

On those occasions when I find myself at a high location, I just love to dive out into the scenery and enjoy the experience of levity in motion. So you can see why I need to be cautious during the waking state, and be able to know for sure what really is reality and what isn’t. Many a time I have been struck by the desire to jump off of buildings and such, and without that accurate discernment, I’m sure I’d be dead by now.

So there I was in the top of a huge tree, entertaining the idea of jumping out of it, and into flight. Oh, how I wanted to just fly up and out of the branches of that tree, but that careful discernment of mine assured me that this was in fact no dream and that I would be glad if I stayed where I was. I thought of other times when I had been struck by the desire to jump into the air and fly, and was a little proud of myself for being able to properly discern the difference between a dream and real life.

Then I woke up and felt a little less proud. Actually, humble might be a better word to describe my feeling. How could I have been wrong?! And with my disappointment at having missed a wonderful flying opportunity, I resolved to be more discerning in the future.

Even with the best of intentions, our perceptions are sometimes wrong. Sometimes even our best efforts at rational discernment also fall short. And unfortunately, the consequences of error are often more severe than a missed opportunity to fly in ones dream. Lives are lost, as well as great fortunes, as a result of a slight miscalculation or erroneous belief.

I had truly believed myself to be in a true waking experience, and not a dream. What a disappointment to find I was wrong. Well, I’ve had beliefs and perceptions before that I’d later found to be false, and I’ve suffered as a result; I suppose everybody has. And it seems that finding one’s perceptions or beliefs to be sometimes in error is part of the process of discovering life. I could be philosophical and say that being wrong and making mistakes is how we come to gain wisdom. But when our pride is hurt, and we suffer as a result of our mistakes, philosophy is a poor consolation.

Nobody likes to be wrong. Besides the direct consequences such as a bad financial deal, or a damaged relationship, we also experience a loss of respect. Not only do we risk losing the respect that others have for us, but we lose some of the respect that we hold for ourselves as well.

Being right allows us to feel good about ourselves. It allows us to feel capable and competent. We feel that we should be right most of the time, so we value ourselves for our ability to be right. A capacity to make correct judgments qualifies us as a valued authority, a competent employee, or a trusted friend. To support this need, we spend the first part of our lives in school, learning about things that will help us later on. And we continue to study and learn so that we can continue to be competent in our chosen profession. For every new undertaking, we study to learn things, so that we can be more competent; more likely to be right.

Error, no matter how we experience it, is evidence of our learning being insufficient. It is a type of failure. We admit to it if we have to, but never willingly. And we not only fear the consequences that come with being wrong, but those that result from being thought to be wrong. And in this competitive world, sometimes it is the latter fear that is the strongest.

But what if there was a significant benefit to be had from failure? What if being wrong or having erroneous beliefs was a good and desirable thing? What if there was benefit in having others discover our errors, or even in our admitting to others that we were wrong? Could it actually be desirable to admit that we don’t really know something, or that we are somewhat incompetent in some area of expression?

Since we live in a world of discovery, where we are constantly searching for a greater truth, we must acknowledge that ultimately, we know little. And we must accept the fact that what we presently believe may eventually be replaced with a greater learning. Within this state of ignorance, error and mistakes are an inevitable a part of life. And if there is a purpose to this life, then there must be purpose to this state of unknowing. But can we admit to this?

Humility isn’t just a noble expression, it’s an attribute. By recognizing our own limitations, we stand open to improvement. The ability to admit to error produces receptivity to correction – an openness to learning. It has often been said that failure is a great teacher, but this is only true if we recognize the failure as such. When we refuse to accept responsibility for our errors and blame others or circumstance for our own mistakes, we inhibit our ability to recognize how we might be able to learn and improve.

On the other hand, by recognizing our capacity for error we remain open to the experiences that life presents to us, and we learn. With experience comes wisdom and the ability to recognize our own limitations. And from that, we know where to apply ourselves. In our humility, we recognize that confidence arises not so much from knowing already, but from acknowledging our ability to learn. We build our self-respect upon this recognition of the capacity we have to acknowledge and work with our own limitations. Should I repeat this? It’s important.

Put another way; the confidence we need in order to pursue life, doesn’t come from discovering our potential to be right, but rather from recognizing our capacity to learn from our mistakes, to make adjustments as they become necessary. With this capacity comes the willingness to always be looking for a better answer, a greater understanding, and a truer belief. This is the stuff of discovery and growth; it springs from our very essence, and gives meaning and purpose to life.

Of course this understanding only comes after some degree of learning. The immature mind is entrapped by ego concerns, and fears retribution for its failures. Like a child, the immature ego cannot admit ignorance or error out of fear of disapproval or punishment. This is not the person to trust. Would you trust one who couldn’t make a necessary readjustment in speed or steering while driving a car? It’s not much different with life. It is so often the over-confident decision-maker who overlooks that one important detail which leads to consequences. Although often very capable; over-confident (and over-optimistic) know-it-alls can be a major risk.

Besides that, people who believe that they already know truth, have no motive to question. They cease to look for a deeper understanding or for further learning experiences. If we feel that we are presently where we should be, and that there is no better place to be, then we will stay where we are. The problem with this, is that when we quit moving, we tend to stagnate, and stand to forfeit any benefits which we might have gained by discovering something more at some other location. This is true whether we are considering states of thought, belief or living. Life is full of opportunities, and though there is indeed benefit from remaining for a while at some state of existence, there must always be an openness to picking up again and moving on to other expressions, states of consciousness, or beliefs.

Consider a person making a journey to some desired destination. Each step along the way could be considered to be a shortcoming or error since it is not yet a step into that intended location. But we accurately recognize that it will take many such steps before the goal can finally be reached. In fact, the goal itself may be changed as we approach it and realize that it wasn’t quite what we had envisioned when we first started out.

Likewise; this is how it is with life in general. We’re continually creating ideas and beliefs based upon the experiences we have. But with each new experience, our existing beliefs are challenged and we are led to reconsider them before moving on into the next experience. The beliefs we had as children are replaced by those of our youth. And those in turn give way to greater realizations about life as we learn and grow from later experiences.

Similarly, a particular job or career can be thought of as merely a step toward some future goal in an ongoing process of personal development. If we can hold this attitude, then when it comes to an end – as it often does – there can be openness toward taking the next step into the next job, without perceiving the need for any feelings of violation or failure in having lost the previous one. It’s merely time to move on and grow. How often does it turn out that the several jobs held in the past uniquely prepared us for the promising offer at hand? Experience, in all areas of life, is a very effective teacher.

The same attitude of openness to change can be applied to romantic relationships as well, as we find ourselves moving from one to another. Relationships during our youth prepare us for the more intimate relationships we later find in marriage. We learn something from every relationship that we have, regardless how fleeting. And with the wisdom gained from a failed experience, we go out to pursue another love, resolving to use and benefit from the lessons we learned. And if this one fails, we go on and try again. We can focus on those that have ended and consider ourselves to be failures, or we can take a grander view, and recognize that we are students of life learning how to do things right, always preparing for the more challenging experiences to come.

Consider an infant child, how it makes those dreadful noises, can’t sleep for more than a few hours at a time, or stand on its own two feet. Worst of all is the mess it makes inside its pants! From one perspective, these infants are constant failures. Yet we know that eventually they will learn, and in the process will abandon their old ways of doing things. We don’t blame them because we don’t expect them to do otherwise. We accept what they do, because we know that what they do is part of the process of growing up.

Is it really any different for us when we get angry and make dreadful noises? Or when we lose patience with some undertaking, give up and quit? We may fall down in failure and have a hard time maintaining our social or financial standing, or we may make a mess of our lives with crime or drugs, and need help in cleaning up our act and going straight. Is it only our lack of faith in our ability to eventually reach success that causes us to make a distinction between ourselves and the infant? How can we be so tolerant and loving toward a baby and so intolerant and critical of ourselves and others? Being adults, we expect more. Perhaps we expect too much.

If we believe that by adulthood we should have learned what we need in order to live a happy and productive life, then we have set ourselves up for disappointment. Life proves itself every day to be a challenger of our every capability, and a temptress to our every weakness. Failure and error are as much a part of the life of adults as it is of infants and children, and it may be that the wisest of us are those who are able to admit to our areas of ignorance or weakness. Recognition of this gives us the power to persevere, and the capacity to grow. It allows us to consider a need for change: in our attitudes, our expressions, and in our beliefs. And so humility once again proves to be our savior. By accepting and admitting to our limitations, we give ourselves the patience and tolerance we need to persevere and excel in any undertaking. This is the real process of growth.

Denial of our weaknesses, however, sets the stage for the guilt and shame that comes with every perceived failure or accusation. For by believing that we must always be right, and by basing our pride upon our capacity for competence, we live in constant fear of error. And with this fear come actions of defense and retaliation that we require to preserve our security and sense of pride. This brings pain and suffering not just into our own lives, but also into the lives of those about us, including those whom we love. And in turn, this pain produces further calls for change or admission of error, which if unheeded or denied, will lead to greater guilt and fear. And so a cycle is formed that results in the type of situation that is so prevalent today, where egos clash with egos and only the enlightened feel secure.

The way out is not through blame or regret, but through acceptance and gratitude. For pain, in essence, is merely an indicator of the need for some change. It calls our attention to those expressions that are out of harmony with life, and which are in need of some adjustment. Once we fully recognize that, we can begin to respond to the challenges of life more gracefully. In humility and patience we can begin to unravel the discordant attitudes and beliefs that have lead us into pain, and instead begin to learn and discover those that can lead us into states of peace and joy.

Everything about us changes as we move through life, and if we can recognize it, it is our seeming failures that bring us our learning and nudge us out toward new experiences. Though sometimes it’s our persistent pursuit of happiness that motivates us to let go of the comfort of the known, and reach out to some yet unknown, often it’s a feeling of lack, or of dissatisfaction with the present situation that motivates that urge. And though we might consider our present lot to be a failure, perhaps we might instead just recognize our innate desire to be better or to have more. Then we can come to discover, that in essence, reaching for something better is a part of life; of growing. All of life does the same, and for many of the very same reasons.

There are some steps we take in life that we know to be temporary. But do we really expect any choice to be permanent? If we could recognize that all the choices we make in life, whether choices in belief or of action, are likewise temporary steps along the way toward gaining a greater awareness of truth, then perhaps we could also find a greater peace in our own life, and hold a greater tolerance for the beliefs and expressions of those around us that might be quite different than our own.

We’re all in a process of growth, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well. And the conditions of our life motivate us toward the learning we require to facilitate that growth. Learning how to make the choices necessary to improve our quality of life is what life is all about. And this requires not just an awareness of our present situation, but an ability to accurately discern the truths making up that reality. And from that discernment comes a willingness to make whatever changes that discernment indicates; neither from an attitude of guilt or shame, nor even from thoughts of should or should not, but rather from an attitude based upon a simple humility that recognizes and accepts our temporary limitations. We eventually come to a point where we do not criticize or judge ourselves; we merely seek something better, something more pleasing, and something more harmonious.

We are like young children, always making mistakes, yet always learning, always growing into fuller expressions of what we may become. There is much that we accomplish, yet there is always more to learn. Patience and tolerance is a necessity, and not just for ourselves, but for those many others who share our journey through life. Recognition of the transient nature of life and the confidence we have in our ability to make appropriate changes go together to allow us the security our happiness requires.

Unfortunately, we are often so used to finding security with things that are firm and rigid, that we fear change. We want to be able to depend upon something secure, constant, and predictable, and this is where we often get into trouble. In this desire for security, we tend to rely upon what tradition, or our family and social group give to us. And this includes our various religions with the beliefs that they require us to accept on faith. After all, if other authorities believe something to be right and true, and especially if many others have accepted this for many years, then we conclude it must be true for us as well. To question this causes us to fear not only criticism and rejection from social peers, but direct consequences from error.

We can also experience trouble by forming a self-identity around our personality or other personal characteristics, such as our talents, or occupations, that keep us defined and limited, and offer us a false sense of security in that regard. These beliefs can be particularly difficult to change because we use them to allow ourselves to know who or what we are. And we often base our egos upon them, so that before we can alter them, we would first have to accept the feeling of loss of self-esteem.

The way out of this predicament is to recognize that there is really very little in this world that can adequately give us the sense of personal security that we desire. It’s only a set of ideals – and a willingness to question and change – that gives us both the structure and flexibility that true security requires.

Instead of being willing to question and change, we too often hold onto our present position as though we are holding onto a life preserver in the midst of a turbulent sea. And unless we can learn to objectively reconsider the attitudes, ideas, identities, and beliefs that we presently have, we may come to find that we are holding onto a dead fish instead.

Consider the trees, how they bend with the winds and snow. Those that remain rigid, resisting the pressures about them, are the ones that break. It is in their flexibility that their security lies, and the same is true for us. It is not the rightness of our present beliefs that saves us, but rather our willingness and ability to receive correction, to compromise or change our positions in times of stress or need.

Yes, there is indeed benefit from holding onto things that do not change. But ideally, these are our core beliefs, and our highest ideals and principles, those things that provide us with direction and a framework for supporting our beliefs and expressions. These are the only things firm and stable enough upon which we can build. But unfortunately, we often believe that these are not enough. We sometimes feel that in order to make the choices that life requires, we need to depend upon other less secure resources. And so we often rely upon the judgments of others, or worse yet, upon the characteristics and qualities with which we have come to identify ourselves with.

Whether we are building a career, a relationship, a home, or a philosophy of life, we need some structures we can trust. And it is part of the process of life to find those elements that we can put together to create that secure foundation. For this, we rely upon our own past learning, and the wise counsel of others who have succeeded. Yet all too often we find that our trust has been misplaced, or that what we thought we learned is not truly reliable. So we are constantly needing to refine our learning, to question what we are taught, or what our family and tradition have given us, and to look elsewhere for the truths that we hope will provide our security. And this is as it should be. For in essence, nothing in life remains the same, and we must always be ready and willing to move on.

Life itself is the teacher and indicator of our need for change. If we have learned well, and we can successfully meet life’s challenges, then our life becomes one of joy and fulfillment. But when life’s experiences become filled with pain and suffering, then it could be helpful for us to discover what it is that we need to learn about ourselves, and to consider making whatever changes that learning indicates.

We must find security not in believing ourselves to be protected from life’s influences, but in our ability to move with them. Like flying, this ability to flow with the movements of life brings us an exhilarating sense of freedom; not just to pursue a goal, but to realize a dream. And more than that; to gain the opportunity to really live as we were meant to. Yet we’ll never take the opportunity to fly if we don’t first dare to challenge our limiting and erroneous beliefs.

My error, while perched in that tree was in my arrogance. Secure in my beliefs, I failed to take the initiative necessary to properly consider my inclination. I resisted the impulse to reconsider my belief. But was this an error for which I should have felt shame or regret, or was it an opportunity to learn? How I perceived this error is a choice that I had to make for myself. I could have tormented myself with regret for having been wrong and for having missed an enjoyable opportunity, and I could have made some excuse and found something or somebody else to blame. But by accepting my own responsibility for the error, and looking for its source, I learned something about myself that would help me in the future.

And now, having learned from the experience, what a blessing! Having lost the opportunity to fly in a dream, I gained an understanding that helps me to experience greater freedom in this real dream called life. This acceptance of responsibility without self-judgment or self-condemnation (and the feelings of guilt and shame that arise from these) is something that we can all learn to practice.

During my youth, I had the wonderful opportunity to go mountain climbing with some friends and family. It seemed to take forever to reach the tree line where the trees ended and the expanse of rocks began, but the later views made it all worth while. From such a height we had a better perspective on things. What had seemed like such a long hike from where we had left the cars to our campsite by the lake, could now be seen as merely a passage across a short stretch of woods. And it was clear now that the reason it seemed like such a long hike was that we had needed to wind our way through the woods in order to follow the contours of the land.

The lake looked different as well. What at first had appeared round, could now be seen to be rather oval, with a slight irregularity off to one side. The other mountains looked different as well, and their appearance continued to change as we ascended to higher and higher elevations. It was a somewhat cloudy day and this added to the awe when they would move and reveal some previously hidden wonder.

For myself, however, I was getting tired and longing to finally reach the peak. I would look up perceiving that I could see it up ahead, and that gave me the incentive I needed to keep going. And then that glorious moment when I did climb over those last couple of boulders to reach it. But as soon as I did, I realized that there was more to go; this wasn’t it! There was another peak further up!

So I would enjoy the views that this location afforded, and press onward once again. And yes, again and again I thought I was reaching the top, only to find another distant peak beyond the one I was finally reaching. I don’t recall how many times I had thought that I was reaching the top and then been disappointed, before finally reaching the true summit, but it was often. That this is much like life in general, was one of the things that I learned from the experience.

Often in life I would set a goal. With the limited vision I had at the moment, that goal seemed to be the very thing I needed to satisfy my desires. And I would go about pursuing it, only to later discover that there was something more, something greater beyond it. And so with a newfound determination, I would redirect myself onward to that other chosen goal. How many times I have done this, I don’t know; a lot. Yet my goals aren’t the only things that have changed throughout my life.

The different perspectives I have gained from life’s many experiences have caused me to change my beliefs as often as my goals. With each new understanding, or each new belief, all of life took on a different perspective as though I was viewing it from a different mountain peak. And it wasn’t just that things looked different, but that they took on a new and more relevant meaning. And so it is for all of us in life. With each new experience, we learn a little more, and we change as a result of it; we grow just like the trees.

We are all climbing mountains of life, and the rocks and boulders in our path are the experiences we encounter. As we come to higher and wider view points, seeing life in different ways, we are caused to readjust our thinking and perceptions. One day perhaps we will finally reach the summit, but I think that day a long way off. So in the meantime, I will humbly accept that no matter what I presently believe to be true, no matter what I presently hold dear, or no matter what I presently seek, I know beyond all doubt, that these are all but temporary states. And I’m sure you will agree with me when I conclude that in essence, they are all but steps along the path of life. For I suppose that you have had experiences similar to mine and come to the same understanding.

Of course we don’t always need to keep climbing, or keep searching for something more. Sometimes we set a goal to reach some destination and we stay there once we reach it. Or at least we try to. The same is sometimes true for the beliefs we hold. We find a truth that works for us – that gives us satisfaction – and we don’t change it. It’s only later, when we find the belief to be inadequate, that we begin a search for something else. In essence, we are like the hermit crab.

The hermit crab grows up inside a solid structure we call a shell. For a while it’s comfortable, but after a while it becomes cramped since it was growing while the shell’s size remained the same. So eventually when the discomfort becomes too much, the crab leaves that shell. And vulnerable as it is without its shell to protect it, it braves the dangers of the sea in its search for another more suitable shell to move itself into. There is perhaps a period of adjusting to this larger, heavier shell, but eventually it will find contentment. At least until it finds the need to repeat the process. And then, like us, it will need to find the courage to once again set aside the security it has known and look for something better.

If we could free ourselves from our restricting beliefs, attitudes, and identities, and step out in search of greater truths, we could make our lives a lot more enjoyable. It isn’t