The Mangrove Seed

A Most Important Law Of Living

2008-06-13T20:01:00.002-04:00

S(s)elf Acceptance and Balancing

You are both the cause and the effect of your life situations.

Your total world, both inner and outer, is created by your two minds:

the fear-based rational mind---(s) and the trust-based intuitive mind--- (S).

Your reaction, and its consequences, to this created world are your personal responsibility, and no one else's.

The ocean of life always flow with uncertainty. Its currents and wind changes are beyond personal control.
Your reaction to this uncertainty is fundamentally prompted by your fears, and created by your rational mind (that wants certainty and predictability for your survival).
All other life forms also live with fears because they also perceive the ocean of life with uncertainty.
Moreover, other humans are actually respsonsible for both the choice and consequences of THEIR behavior in reaction to this uncertainty, just as you alone are responsible for your own.
Any person always has, within limits, a choice about how to respond to the ocean and to the behavior of other humans. However, finding these choices is often difficult, if not impossible at times.
When a person feels disturbed, it is because of the IMBALANCE with the personal S(s)elf. You may believe that others cause your disturbance, but the real cause is skewed because of a misinterpreation by your two minds---the rational and intuitive. Your deep inner fears created solely by your rational mind will often prompt an unbalanced perception of your external world. The dominant rational mind, and its form of logic, can prevent a balanced perception of the external world hat includes a "knowing" by the trust-based, intuitive mind.
When you want to judge and blame others because of your inner unbalanced S(s)elf, examine BOTH OF YOUR minds, not those of others. Often, your own un-released fears and resentments are the true cause of your judgment and blame; and, similarly, the cause of others judgement and blame of you!
Full acceptance of your balanced S(s)elf, AND THE SAME ACCEPTANCE of all other S(s)elves is the way of inner and outer peace. But this conscious path is not an easy one to follow in an uncertain ocean.
Balancing your fears with trust, and without judgment, requires continued practice in every "presenting moment" of daily living.

Symptoms Of Inner Peace

2007-12-18T10:48:00.000-05:00

Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner peace. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to inner peace and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world. Some signs and symptoms of inner peace: • A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences. • An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment. • A loss of interest in judging other people. • A loss of interest in judging self. • A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others. • A loss of interest in conflict. • A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.) • Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation. • Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature. • Frequent attacks of smiling. • An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen. • An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

Crossing The River Of Fear

2007-12-16T07:25:00.000-05:00

The essential journey home to a balanced S(s)elf involves crossing the river of fear on a bridge of trust. This process occurs not only on a daily basis, but in every moment when a person is fully conscious of his/her interaction with the outer world.

Some aspect of “the crossing” is always happening in daily life; new opportunities for personal transformation are being presented with every breath of our life.

The responsibility of a person in recovery of a balanced S(s)elf is to envision this journey as a way of life, a way of being in every present moment.

Simply stated, "being in the present moment" means a conscious awareness of BOTH logical thoughts and feelings --an objective and subjective reality. A person must "live in the gap" where chronological time, past and future, momentarily ceases to exist.

What "seems to be real" when interpreted by the rational mind, prone to survival fear, must be challenged and balanced by the intuitive mind, prone to trust UNconditional caring. The rational mind creates a belief system that is too often linked to psychological past memories of pain(resentments) and future expectations(fears) of a re-occurrence of similar "actually experienced past pain."

Can You Fully Accept Your S(s)elf?

2007-12-16T07:17:00.000-05:00

Love yourself the way you are.

Do not envy anybody. If you do not like yourself, make changes in your life. Anger, insults, and criticism of yourself and others are very harmful to your health. If you make a decision, act on it. Joyfully help the poor, ill, and elderly. Never think about diseases, old age, or death. Love is the best remedy against illness and aging. Gluttony, greed, and inability to overcome your weaknesses are your enemies. Worrying causes you to leave this world. Fear and corruption are the worst sins. The best day of your life is today. The best town is where you feel fortunate. The best occupation is the one you enjoy. Losing hope is the worst mistake. The greatest gift you can give or receive is love. Health is your most valuable possession.

Quoted from http://philosophy.zaadz.com/:

Eric A. Garcia, HHC @ Zaadz

How To S(s)elf Balance

2007-12-16T06:56:00.000-05:00

We can balance our S(s)elves and live peacefully by practicing nine balancing actions in our daily living. A mantra for achieving this balance is

I can alter my perception of any life situation, if I ACCEPT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for this change.
I can become what I desire, if I TRUST AN INNER CORE of strength.
I can authentically express who I am, if I COMMIT TO BALANCE my S(s)elf, and fully accept It just as It is, in the present moment.
I can acquire peaceful beliefs, attitudes, feelings, and behaviors, if I CHALLENGE MY RESENTMENTS AND FEARS.
I can RELEASE THESE OBSTACLES, if they are unfounded and block my inner peace.
I can support outer peace, if I UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT that others may behave, at any moment, with an unbalanced, fear-based mind.
I can establish interpersonal relationships that support my authentic S(s)elf expression, if I REVIEW AND REPAIR them regularly.
I can maintain my inner peace, if I PRACTICE THE BALANCING of my fear-based, rational mind and trust-based, intuitive mind.
I can create planetary peaceful living, if from my inner peace and with limits, I GENUINELY CARE for every other person and the planet.

What Is Living All About, REALLY?

2007-07-10T15:26:00.001-04:00

FIRST, KNOWING THE ABSOLUTES . . .

All Material And Thought Forms Begin And End
The Forms Inherently Morph Continuously

SECOND, DOING THE RELATIVES . . .

Adapting To Constant Changes Of Forms By Balancing Fear With Trust
Fully Accepting The Changing Forms Of Self And Other Selves Without Judgment
Consciously Choosing To Be Fully Present In All Living Situations

THIRD, BEING THE ESSENCE . . .

Fully Accepting And Caring For Your S(s)elf
Genuinely Caring For All Other S(s)elves
Respectfully Caring For Everything In Our Universe

Authentic S(s)elf Expression

2007-06-05T06:58:00.000-04:00

The Mangrove Seed proclamation regarding human existence focuses on

Creative individual expression, unfettered by guilt and shame, is the primary purpose of physical human existence.
The authentic pathway to creative individual expression requires a balanced S(s)elf realization that simultaneously respects both the person and all other persons.
Inner peace flows from a balanced S(s)elf expression of both the rational and intuitive minds and is maintained by outer peaceful living.

What does all this mean for daily living? How do I know when I am authentically expressing who/what I really am?

It is unique to the inner boundaries and beliefs of the individual.
It is integral to the person, yet respectful of other individual and group ways of expression.
It is attainable by an inner balancing of both the rational and intuitive minds. All external S(s)elf expression emanates from an emotionally balanced interpretation of fear and trust.
It is achieved in every present moment, not in a future time.

Authentic S(s)elf expression is not a struggle between now and later, doing and being.

It simply means . . . Being in Joy, Now!

Absolute And Relative Truth

2007-06-05T06:23:00.000-04:00

THE ABSOLUTE--- PRIMARY EXPERIENTIAL TRUTHS

There are two absolutes for human existence. They are uniformly verifiable by each human, and have been so since the beginning of the human species. All other truths are relative, not absolute to human understanding. These other truths are uniquely relative to personal perception and interpretation. Through individual consensus, personal truth may become consensual truth for a social group. The group truth, however, is often thought to be absolute; however, it is not. Only personal truth is absolute.

The two absolute truths are

The body form begins and ends its physical existence. It is a container for a Life Force. The beginning and ending of this Life Force, or not, are issues for debate in other areas of inquiry into human understanding and behavior.
Between the beginning and ending of the body form, both the inner and outer worlds of the body form are in constant transformation. This change produces an environment of uncertainty for the survival of the body form.

THE RELATIVE ---SECONDARY CREATED TRUTHS

There exist an infinite number of relative truths. Each human perceives and interprets its inner and outer worlds in patterns of understanding unique to each person. From pure sensory perception to mental constructs of understanding, each person has its own unique experience. No other person can have the identical perception of another person by definition of its physical uniqueness.

However, different persons can have the same mental understandings because of consensual interpersonal communication forms. The willingness of a person to agree with another person and thereby form a common understanding about any-thing does not, in an of itself, create a valid and universal Truth. Consensual truth is only a group illusion created by individuals.

Therefore, ALL social control structures, from mythology to legality, are based upon relative truth.

The dilemma for the individual is: to what degree do I abrogate my absolute personal Truth in favor of the relative collective cultural truth?

Herein lays a source of cultural stress in everyday living.

Most Important Law Of The Ocean

2007-06-05T05:38:00.000-04:00

THE MOST IMPORTANT LAW OF LIFE . . . S(s)ELF ACCEPTANCE

You are both the cause and the effect of your life situations. Your total world, both inner and outer, is created by your two minds. Your reaction, and its consequences, to this created world are your personal responsibility.

The ocean of life always flows with uncertainty. Its currents and wind changes are beyond personal control. Your reaction to this uncertainty is fundamentally prompted by your fears, and created by your rational mind (that wants certainty and predictability for your survival).
Other creatures also live with fears because they also perceive the ocean with uncertainty.
Moreover, others are responsible for the both choice and consequences of their behavior in reaction to uncertainty as you are responsible for your own.
Any person always has, within limits, a choice about how to respond to the ocean and the behavior of others. However, finding these choices is often difficult.
When you feel disturbed, it is because you are unbalanced within your S(s)elf. You may believe that others cause your disturbance, but the cause is really the skewed interpretation of their behavior by your two minds---the rational and intuitive. Your deep inner fears created solely by your rational mind will prompt a projected, unbalanced perception of your world. The rational mind dominates and often prevents a balanced perception that would include the intuitive mind.
When you want to judge and blame others because of your inner unbalanced S(s)elf, examine your own minds, not that of others. Often, your own un-released fears and resentments are the true cause of your judgment and blame, and vice versa.
Acceptance of your S(s)elf, and the same acceptance of all other S(s)elves, is not an easy path to follow in an uncertain ocean. Balancing your fears with trust, and with non-judgment, requires continued practice in every present moment.

Believing In No Coincidences

2007-06-05T05:19:00.000-04:00

Why do we believe in no coincidences?

Why do we often accept the good (and sometimes bad?) consequences of everyday living with the explanation:There are no coincidences?

There are four aspects to the answer:

The law of intention
The law of attraction
The law of manifesting
The law of accepting/giving

Now, what is this all about?

Very simply, every human has needs ...and unfortunately created wants... that seek fulfillment for its survival (meant in the broadest sense of the word, i.e, not just physical).

How, then, does EACH HUMAN get these needs and wants satisfied?

The first step is to CONSCIOUSLY DESIRE that these needs and wants be satisfied. Many practices exist that allow the person to EXPRESS them outwardly to the Universe. Obviously, the assumption operating here is that the person will be heard by the Universe....(an assumption obviously open to debate!)
The second step is to continue this expression of desire, to COMMIT TO ATTRACTING the resources that a human needs to satisfy these needs/wants. Through this continual expression of desire/intention, more thought energy radiates into the Universe, for a connection with the energy fields of other humans who are also emitting their desires. This connection of human energy is occurring continuously and simultaneously in the total Universe presently known to Man.
The third step is WAITING FOR THE MANIFESTATION of these desires/intentions in some perceivable form. In time, after an active and conscious search, the desires/intentions will manifest themselves. The key point here is: You will ALWAYS get what you want and/or need, but not necessarily in the form that you have desired it! In other words, the Universe is listening, and through other humans (and non-humans) each person is granted its desires (needs/wants).
The fourth step involved in the law of no coincidences is ACCEPTANCE and its corollary, giving. Each person has a choice, whether consciously or unconsciously realized, to accept this manifestation of intention, in the form that was presented to it! (Or to reject it, but this choice is a decision to not align oneself with the flow of the Universe!) More importantly, to continue this law of no coincidences, a receiving person MUST give away a similar gift to the Universe Why? to complete the energy cycle of asking, receiving, and giving (to another person, somewhere, who is asking).

All Truth Is Relative, Not Absolute

2006-09-11T18:27:00.000-04:00

The only Truth we are 100 percent certain about is our individual physical beginning and ending. And, that all thought forms begin and end (possibly a Truth for those who regularly meditate!)

THIS IS ABSOLUTE TRUTH...known with total certainty, by all people, at all times.

All other "truth" is relative and determined by individual perception and conclusion. Personal interpretation of all external events, including the "truth" of any written, spoken, and experienced event is the sole arbiter of "truth."

All truth is absolute only to each individual.

All other consensual "truth" appears to be "absolute truth" when it is declared to be so by a social, political, religious, corporate group by consensual agreement of the participating individuals. In this case of constructed "absolute truth" declared by a social group, the individual abrogates his/her personal view of Truth to that of the view of his/her group.

Herein, lays the the deep chasm of mistrust of individuals for other individuals: a separation created by a conformity to a "group-think" that is enforced by social mores and psychological guilt/shame. If one group claims their truth as "absolute" and it differs from that "truth" of another group, then resentment, anger, hostility, and war can result.

If the birth and death of physical (and thought) forms is 100 percent certain, then the uncertain moments spent between these two points in a personal lifetime assume critical importance in determining the quantity and quality of personal existence. The need for a personal Truth is imperative.

A conscious roadmap, personally developed, is needed if one is to spend a lifetime in authentic, balanced S(s)elf expression.

Any personal alignment with the "relative truth" of a group is optional and may be supportive of one's personal Truth. However, just because a group says it has a "truth," does not make this "truth" absolute. Only you can dictate what is an absolute Truth, relative only to you.

The Mangrove Seed Journey is one of many roadmaps to authentic personal S(s)elf expression. The Truth contained within the path, process, and practice of the Mangrove Seed Journey to Peaceful Living is universal and has existed for millennia.

Yet, The Mangrove Seed Journey is only one expression of many personal pathways to a conscious and meaningful human existence.

Its foundation is Universal Truth; owned by no one person nor social group. It can only be shared freely. May this S(s)elf expression of a personal Truth inspire you to find and manifest your own "absolute Truth" while you dash from birth to death.

Ask your S(s)elf, is my daily life crippled in any way by fear that has been imposed upon me...consciously and/or unconsciously...by any social, religious, political, or corporate group?

how is "life" REALLY spent?

2006-09-11T17:53:00.000-04:00

THE FIRST THIRD is finding out what you THINK you are.
THE SECOND THIRD is proving that you are not what you THINK you are.
THE LAST THIRD is spent recovering who you really are--- an authentic BALANCED S(s)elf !

Two Brains: Our Curse And Cure

2006-04-22T17:44:00.000-04:00

THE RATIONAL MIND MAY THINK, BUT IT DOES NOT TRULY KNOW BY ITSELF ALONE

All human attempts to define personal truth and reality are never absolutely certain, beyond a reasonable doubt. All truth and reality definitions are relative to personal interpretation, and only become absolute by common social group consensus.

Since all humans are in a constant state of change...physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual...even the personal truth that appears to be absolutely the "truth" is relative only to each person. Yet it is also always subject to change and never absolutely true to even to each person!

All individual perceptions, interpretations, judgments, and actions are relative truth for any given moment; they all subject to change, either consciously or unconsciously. Therefore, the nature of all human truth and reality is that of a continuum of uncertainty; always changing, never complete, never absolute!

Human existence is the challenge of maintaining a balanced understanding..a knowing..of the ever changing flow of life as it unfolds in every moment.

The key to peaceful interaction with one's outer environment is adaptability and flexibility rather than fixed and rigid beliefs regarding how to react to a changing life flow.

Simply stated, the human expectation of finding an absolute truth and reality that is unchanging is illusory. Understanding is relative only to any moment in time; always potentially changing, never fully developed. Our perceptions of the outer world form only momentary "certain" understanding that allows for daily decision making.

Our once "flat" world became a round world after Columbus; can it now be returning to a "flat" world or to a new . . . one? In fact, the vertical axis underlying all rational thinking and organizational social structures may be shifting to a model of horizontal, equality for ALL?

As the rational mind can change its interpretation of reality, so can our total view change when we use our intituitve mnd.

Knowing truth and reality exclusively by either the rational or intuitive mind is flawed and incomplete. Only by a balanced knowing from both the rational and intuitive minds can personal understanding find certainty in the moment, albeit always permanently incomplete.

To think with both minds offers the appropriate way of knowing personal truth and reality. Rationalists and mystics each have only part of the complete answer. And, even when perfectly balanced, they can only approximate truth and reality.

We are always inputing new data from our external world; we are always reconstituting and/or reinforcing existing beleif systems. Our truth and reality therefore can always change...if we consciously choose to modify what we think we know.

Also, individual fear often arises from our lonliness. So we unite into "group think" by associating with social groups that reinforce our personal belief systems. This externally validated personal belief system may offer greater certainty for the individual, but often will cause social divisiveness. One group claims "their truth" is THE TRUTH for all; while other groups dispute that claim. Social groups and individuals compete to enforce their own limited versions of truth. Interpersonal relationships become based on fear rather than trust, competition dominates cooperation, arrogance conceals humility.

Wars result; peace is fictionalized. The individual floats in a sea of social confusion...anomie!

However, all individuals have within themselves the total power to create a new vision of personal reality...at any time.

A person has accepted stress and chaos into their lives, so they can they can reject this situation.

The curse of the rational mind can be transformed into its own cure when balanced by the intutitve mind. The release of rational mind dominance will occur to the extent that both a capability and willingness of a person to change exisit within the person.

The difficulty of this release of old belief systems is the "cotton candy wrapper" of emotions that surround individual objective thoughts and aggregate personal belief systems. This emotional subjectivity clouds logical objectivity and inhibits the balancing of both minds.

Yet, the complete power to strip away emotional attachments to objective facts is within everyone, to some degree of possibility. The challenge is to find our personal tolerance for the potential consequences of any perceptual change.

Will resulting pain or pleasure outweigh the other? Will my survival be more or less likely if I change my beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors?

Who is really in charge of YOU?

And, are you willing and able to tell your rational mind to go out for a coffee break?

Stressed Out And Don't Know Why?

2005-11-17T16:29:00.000-05:00

As individuals, we have lost personal meaning in our daily living. And, collectively we have forgotten who and why we are human.

We have lost our Real Identity; we have become disconnected from our True Essence.

We are all afflicted by fear, controlled by compulsive thinking, addicted to our separation from a balanced inner S(s)elf.

Peaceful daily living is founded upon the in-the-moment re-connection with our personal, balanced S(s)elf.

Do you have a daily path to balance your intuitive, trust-based mind--(S) and your rational, fear-based mind--(s)?

Or is your only path formed by what you"think" you are--the product of only your rational mnd?

Can You Dance With The Present Moment?

2005-11-11T19:26:00.000-05:00

Maintaining a creative balanced tension between a rational "ego-mind" and an intuitive "spirit-mind" is the key objective of peaceful daily living; a "seesaw" balancing act like water seeking its own level, a flow toward homeostasis.

But, the journey flows only if each human can live in the "gap" of the present moment.

This gap is created by exercising the conscious habit of acceptance... seeing and believing that EVERYTHING is daily life is as it should be, perfect in its present manifestation.

Whether we individually and collectively accept this "reality" will determine the amount of pain and suffering of in our lives; and our perceived lack of peaceful living.