Why an Enlightened
Community?
Sometime when people are talking, pretend
you don’t understand the language they are speaking.
See how much you can get from the tone of their voice
and gestures. Observe the behavior that goes beyond
their words. Just feel the energy contained within the
interpersonal dynamic.
You can generalize this to large groups.
Watching the energetics of a lecturer (that which exudes
beyond the words) can be fascinating. Yet, watching
the energetics of the audience can be even more fascinating.
A group consciousness takes over. This can also be witnessed
in a broad range of animal species: dogs running in
a pack, newborn pups curling up together, the movement
of a flock of birds, etc.
I found the group consciousness to
be particularly disturbing when viewing the post-911
television broadcasts of the congressional meetings.
A fervor consumed the group, but their attention was
on their concepts and notions. The agitated state of
their psyches (which is the most important factor) went
unnoticed. Making major decisions, such as the declaration
of war, while in this kind of state is terribly unwise.
Societies as a whole also embody characteristic
group consciousness. It is the mentality or tonal quality
of the group consciousness that determines the nature
of thoughts and attitudes. However, this goes largely
unrecognized. Generally, our attitudes are seen as justifiable
by virtue of the thoughts we entertain. Little attention
is given to the fact those thoughts are mere expressions
of a mentality, an emotional and psychological state
that lies deeper than thoughts.
The group mentality in America at this
time is very much about being an independent thinker
and your own person. What often goes unnoticed is that
this is not independent thought, but enslavement to
a group consciousness that professes independent thought.
In our culture, “independent thinking” is
respected, provided it falls within certain narrow parameters,
such as social correctness, political correctness, allegiance
with one’s sub cultural philosophy (including
anti-culture), etc. These allegiances are very easy
to see or even feel by visiting any group or fellowship
of your choosing: church on Sunday, political rallies,
marches for a cause, etc. In other words, it is not
really independent thought at all.
It is not as easy to rise above the
tonal group consciousness as one may think. It is as
all-pervading as rain. The weather affects everyone.
Interestingly enough, the independent undercurrent of
modern mentality compels us to believe otherwise. We
strive to live in denial of the influence group consciousness
has upon us in declaration of our own autonomy. The
truth is, we are so immersed in it, we cannot see beyond
it.
So, how do you free yourself from the
clutches of group consciousness? Or, even better, how
do you use the dynamic of group consciousness to propel
your evolution forward instead of allowing it to enslave
you? The answer to that is more elusive than one may
think.
Generally, groups assemble in the name
of a lofty philosophy—a belief system based upon
a set of ideals. Though the intent is most noble, there
is an inherent flaw in the process. Once again, emphasis
is put upon self-justifying thoughts. The actual tonal
quality of the group mentality goes unnoticed. In fact,
imbalances or incongruities in that mentality can even
be exacerbated in service of the chosen philosophy.
Extreme examples of this might include the rageful mentality
of the terrorists. They embrace a philosophy which justifies
their outlashes, a result of the hateful tonal quality
of their group mentality.
I have found it most disheartening
to speak with members of spiritual groups from New Age
and Eastern disciplines. Their words express the mentality
they have mistakenly embraced as evolution. This is
not a criticism of those groups, as much as it is a
recognition of the state we find our species in. It
is very difficult for people who are immersed in, and
born of, a particular mentality to see that. In fact,
they see their philosophy originated from that mentality
as the thing that will emancipate them. This is characteristic
of the state of our species at this time. It is what
even spiritual leaders do with the greatest teachings
of the most enlightened masters. People look to them
as gurus and enlightened masters, unable to see they
are entrenched by the same dynamic.
Attempts to create an ideal or enlightened
society have succumbed to that dynamic throughout history—even
societies whose philosophies are based upon love and
the teachings of great enlightened masters. The foundation
of a society is upside down, lest the tonal quality
be addressed and worked with first and foremost. The
philosophy is then the secondary manifestation. For
evolution to be fostered, it is necessary to live in
a group where the tonal quality is the focus. Otherwise,
the influence of the group consciousness where you live
will color your mentality as surely as you will get
wet if you walk outside in the rain. There are plenty
of communities out there already who are indoctrinating
people into a philosophy that is representative of the
group mentality.
The focus, then, is to create a community
where the disturbances, imbalances, and impurities in
the group mentality are purged from the greater physiology
in a completely natural manner. A philosophy can be
employed to assist that process, provided that philosophy
is held in the context discussed here. If not, then
even the greatest teachings of the most enlightened
masters in history will be reduced to an abomination
of what was originally meant. The trick is to be able
to use those philosophies without them using you. Otherwise,
the shovels employed to dig for the gold are mistaken
for the gold (the wisdom within you).
Good advice is everywhere, but only
the wise know when they hear it.
Creating just one such ideal or enlightened
community will stand as a model for all of society.
Just as the sun radiates its influence to permeate our
entire globe, so the influence of this community will
radiate a new way of being that will permeate humanity.
It will free the individuals to rest into their own
true divine nature—a place inside that lies beyond
the grasp of notions and philosophies, a place inside
that resolves the conflicts of the limitless contradictions
and paradoxes that have confounded humanity throughout
the ages. It must not be a place that indoctrinates
people into an attitude or philosophy. Too many such
communities have already come and gone throughout history.
The art of creating such a community
is profoundly subtle. Our habit is to cling to notions
and adhere to philosophies as the thing that will enlighten
us. The finesse required to move humanity beyond that
mindset cannot be overstated. However, this is our purpose:
to move humanity to that whole new level of evolution.
Mount Soma has been created with that sole intention. Put metaphorically,
it will be a place where people can come to step out
of the rain of human conditioning and into the light
of one’s own inner wisdom. In so doing, individuals
will awaken to that place of divinity that dwells within
them that has been enshrouded by their philosophies,
convictions, and group mentalities. This will be attained,
not by virtue of philosophy, but in spite of it. It
will be attained, not by virtue of ideals, but in spite
of them. It is only possible because this divinity is
inherent to the essential nature of every individual.
We could not dictate or prescribe that nature. Our job
is merely to create an environment where that nature
will naturally blossom and come forth.
© Michael Mamas, 3/07 |
