Evolution and the Spiritual Path Scott Shaw

Evolution and the Spiritual Path

By Scott Shaw

We have all done good things and we have done bad things. Some of us have done more good than bad, while others have done more bad than good. But, no one is universally good or bad. It is as simple as that.

Many people do good things in order to be liked or to be viewed in a particular light in order to have their own agendas met. This is the same reason why people do bad things - they do them so they will be seen as evil in order to become feared so that their desires will be answered.

Many people pretend to be doing good things when they are in fact doing something quite evil. While others do things that appear to be bad but ultimately their actions turn out to have created something good.

The question must be asked, "Why do people do what they do?"

Certainly, there is the input of biology, psychology, and sociology, that each of us, as human beings, encounter as we are going through life. We are each born with a certain personally into a family and a social environment where we learn the rudimentary facts of life. From this, we are then exposed to a socioeconomic/cultural world were we are groomed into who we will become. At each juncture of life, however, there is CHOICE. The choices that we make, as a human being, define us as who we are, how we are viewed, and the positive or negative, good or bad, impact we will make upon other people and the world.

How we get to the point where we make the choices that we make is the pathway of life evolution. This is because of the fact, with each choice that you make, you set an entirely new set of criteria in motion which will define the next choice that you will make.

Many people claim that they do not have a choice. They claim that what they have done and what they will do is and was based solely upon their placement in their particular social structure, their country, their family, the wealth they did or did not possess, or their social environment. Certainly, these are all defining factors in a person's life. But, they are not the sole factor.

An individual, from the moment they are born, are indoctrinated into a world of thought, programmed by what their parents believe, what their friends believe, and what their society believes. Think about it, "If no one told you about religion. If no one told you about the things you are supposed to believe, then what would you believe?"

This brings us back to the premise of CHOICE. We each have been told what to believe -- from the time of our birth forward. Some of the things we have listened to -- others we have not. This programming has come from all kinds of sources: family, friends, religious elders, and the media.

Each of these sources of programming have they, themselves, been programmed into a belief system that they did not originate, however. It must be understood that they did not create what they believe. Someone else created it, taught it to them, and they then made the choice to accept it as their own belief system. Then, they have moved forward and imparted it onto others.

Some are very fervent with their beliefs, and really try to force their belief of what one should or should not do onto others. While others, hold their beliefs quietly within themselves.

But, what is a belief? It is simply what you believe.

Does your believing in it make it right or wrong? Does your believing in it make it the absolute truth? No, it does not. It simply makes it what you believe.

This is where many of life problems arise. People believe that what they believe is some absolute knowledge that all others must adhere to. If they do not, then they are sinners, blasphemers, unholy, and wrong. In fact, belief is the cause of all war and domination.

What gives a person the power to wage war? A consensus of belief held by the powerful whom then commands their masses to inflict their belief upon others.

Throughout human history there has been those who have dominated others. They have done this by force, violence, intimidation, and also by the promise of a great and holy reward if they believe what they are told to believe and do what they are told to do. Domination is also executed in many much more subtle ways.

From this domination, religious have been born, belief systems have been cemented into human consciousness, and nations have risen. What has given birth to this ongoing process is that generation-after-generation have been programmed into believing that they must act a certain way and do certain things if they ever hope to be advanced to the upper realms of whatever social, religious, moral, or ideologic code has been programmed into them. They must wear the uniform and fight for the country if they are ever to become a true man or woman and prove they are brave and strong. They must have pure and true faith and prove it by following all of the rules if they ever wish to reach the ultimate and final stage of human consciousness, enlightenment or interaction with god. Or, from a more self-serving standpoint, they must selfishly over power others, and from their own greed emerge as rich, powerful, and able to live a lavish lifestyle.

But, let's step away from all of this for a moment. What if, the untold number of generations were never promised some great reward during, and at the end of their life, if they act and behave in a pre-designated manner. What if they were simply allowed to form their own philosophies and define what it is that they really want to believe, leading to what they will ultimately do with their life? Then, would not the death and the destruction of wars been avoided? Would the people who were burned on the cross for heresy been allowed to live their lives? Would the people who gave their moneys to false profits of religion and industry been allowed to live a more sustained life? Would their not have been much less personally inflicted guilt in people life who have done things that were looked down upon by their religious group?

You see, generation-after-generation has continued to do the same thing; program each other and then make people feel wrong and ashamed if they are not following a particular belief system to its idealized end. This is especially the case for those who are at the head of the hierarchical line - claiming they are the most devout. Inevitably it turns out that they are sinners, just like the rest of us, and then they beg for forgiveness.

What is the answer then to all of this preprogrammed, life harming, reality? The answer is you own, personal evolution, which will lead to the evolution of the entire human race.

First of all, start at the beginning. What do you believe? Next, why do you believe it - what does it give you - who does it make you? Then, who around you believes what you believe? And, if you changed your belief system, how would they react? Finally, who would you be if you were to let go of your belief system - what would you become? In most cases, what you would become is FREE.

People believe what they believe because it makes them SOMETHING. They hold on to their belief, good or bad, out of fear of discovering who they really are and what they true believe if all of the layers of programming were removed.

Life is like a highway. You drive onto it with your car via the onramp. You find that there are already a group of cars going in the same direction. Some are driving slower than you; some are driving faster. Some drive badly and get in your way. Others, all you see are their taillights. Some will get off to get gas, but then they will catch up to you later. But, there will be some that are driving at the same speed as you. Those, you will travel down the highway with for many miles. But eventually, either they will get off or you will get off. That is just the way it is.

You decide what highway you ride on. You decide how many miles is your journey. At any point, you can let go of the programming, let go of the fear of the unknown, and simple BECOME. When you BECOME, you are free. And, in the moment of freedom all things are known and all life become perfect.

At any moment of your life you have the opportunity to evolve.

Scott Shaw.com