From the Archives The Burning Barn

[first posted 4/29/10]

Mike touches base with us in a comment:

August and Tim,
I found your review of Michael Tymm's book helpful. I've enjoyed reading his blog and look forward to reading the book. I wanted to comment on your theory that communication with spirit is becoming more difficult due to increasing negativity. I've read from multiple sources including Ken Wilber and David Hawkins, that humans are gradually evolving spiritually. I've also seen evidence that our world is actually increasingly less violent, (that source escapes me at the moment, I think it was in Reason Magazine). Maybe its just that we are aware of more of it through modern media than in times past? I also had the thought that as the population of the world passes through the phase/perspective of rational materialism with its inherit skepticism of the non-material, this becomes the dominant energy field making communication with the risen much more difficult. Just a thought.
—Mike

Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Mike. Mike Tymn's book is a good one to have, it's about time we have one. He will be blogging about our book, The Risen, on his blog's debut on May 1.

Here is where what can be called "healthy skepticism" can come into play, regarding the idea that our world is becoming less violent. What is meant by "violence"? Most of us would agree that "fighting for peace" or "advocating pacifism" and "resistance to violence" as non-violence, yet Krishnamurti was able to present clearly and logically that even stances of anti-violence are still ones of violence. Rather than break down this seemingly revolutionary idea here, I refer those so interested to K's writings, as this notion takes some hard work to wrap the mind around and accept.

We're reminded of the adage, "things get worse before they get better" - which is seen not only in cases of physical afflictions and infections, but often in mental states and relationships; this is also part of the basis of homeopathy, the treatments of which often worsen the affliction in order to stimulate and speed up the healing process.

The idea that violence is lessening and people are getting better is a delusion that is promoted by the Global Ego-Mind, primarily via the media and all our simulate selves who now act as self-appointed global journalists. If we say it enough and make up lots of happy-looking posters and songs about it enough, we'll believe it and then, it's true, right? But this circles back to what the belief actually is and is based on, and which, if fueled by hope, we will continue to "circle in the slave's walk of hope" (a channeled quote by K in our book, p.225). We are also reminded of another quote of K's: "The instrument of thought, which has produced this world that does not work properly, is no longer valid. So perhaps this instrument of thought is worn out. Is there another instrument we can use?"

What appears to be happening in terms of terrestrial spiritual evolution, according to what I can glean from my years of deep interactions with Tim and other Risen, is that one could say that now is the time when the chaff is being separated from the wheat. There is much more chaff than wheat; many more branches to prune than those left behind. Is this also part of the "self-selectivity" of the evolutionary process of greater, refined advancement? This process is not a pretty one, in spite of all our attempts to make it appear so while denying the suffering aspect.

As a mental health professional, I (August) am as about as close to the front lines of the current state of psychological situations with people as one can possibly be. This reference to "war" is not coincidental, although I'm not in it, nor have I signed up for the violence; rather, I'm a witness to the battle people are increasingly believing themselves to be in -- against their own mind -- as well as to the fact that that many people are not making it; the raft they're clinging onto is going under. People are seeking help, but only after they've exhausted all the other promises of snake oil and charms "brought to them by their sponsor." They're exhausted, and only a few small percentage are actually even asking and coming for help; the rest are succumbing.

Medications, while being increasing prescribed, are merely and eventually ineffectual band-aids that allow people to believe they need to go back into the burning barn. This last reference is from from my childhood, when sometimes, a barn would catch on fire, and the cows or horses would have to be brought out to safety. Everyone knew that a horse will always run back into a burning barn unless you cover its eyes, because the barn is the only thing it's ever known as a place of security; this "knowledge" supersedes the facts of the fire presenting as an immediate threat. There is so much fear in our world today, that it might as well be on fire. So where can people go?

While, as you suggest, the population of the world may be going through a "phase/perspective of rational materialism," keep in mind that this world is the "world of 10,000 things," i.e., the ego-mind with its projected cast of simulate selves who are the players of this drama, which eventually becomes more and more chaotic, violent, and insane, and is imploding through its own self destruction. What appears as "passing through" is really the circular walk of the enslaved Authentic Self. As you point out, it not only makes communication with the Risen much more difficult, it makes it not possible, as the Risen are seldom able to make their authentic presence and effects substantially apparent in a world of delusions.

A recent blog here suggested, “Our focus would be better aimed on the infinite cosmic ocean toward which we are sailing, rather than the little raft on which we often feel so abandoned.” But humankind increasingly is focusing on the raft; it's often just too hard to do otherwise. And because, as that blog also suggested, we have become addicted to our sense of entitlement to instant gratification, the process of denial becomes strengthened, the resistance to letting go of any chaff becomes increased, and the commitment to a life of internal violence is strengthened -- all ego-mind aspects, as readers of The Risen might realize by now.

As put forth in The Risen:

"For those of us still earth-embodied, our spiral path will change. In fact, it simply cannot exist without change, for the spiral of all life is a process. Upon our transition to places of existence beyond this planet, our journey will transmute into a new and more intensely living motif. We will each begin this transition in our own unique way, and then we will awaken as a Risen One into a new world. Instead of continuing to manifest as a seemingly isolated island encircled by a sea of unforgiving loneliness, a new life-spiral and a new way of being will emerge. As these new beings, we will rejoin all whom we have ever loved and who have loved us, including many old and new friends and lovers. We will emerge as an integral part of an infinitely spiraling community of like-minded others, to dwell in ever-present joy, learning, service, and love." (p. 7)