Reordering Our World

When looking at systems we need (imho) to keep in mind they are, hopefully, designed to serve people in life-friendly if not life-enriching ways. We are experiencing the results of the ignorance of conscientiousness. Suffering is a reality in the lives of many, but how does it reflect on the rest of us?

I think the best place to start is by asking what people need, maybe confirming what we believe we know…or not. Then take what we (think) we know and ask or discover the better questions necessary to lead us to what we need to know. Lao Tzu said it best, “To lead the people walk behind them.” From this perspective we can learn much and guide our evolution as a society with greater efficacy.

Too often we rely on what we believe and know, but forget that neither nor both cover the extent of possibilities. I think there was a gentleman who once said that fixing things with the same tools that built them is folly, or something like that. Taking a fresh look, which may mean including others without the belief or knowledge, may serve the process better.

Understanding the significance of suffering is one thing, but to grasp even a fraction of what a greater intelligence might want us to understand about ‘longsuffering’ could take us to a leading edge vantage point. What else might we need to know that is beyond our belief or knowledge? Every question has an answer. Are we asking the right ones that lead us toward harmony and understanding?

Zen Benefiel is a multi-degreed transformational life coach and possibilities coagulator.

Messianic Complex

In 1975, at 18, I was taken through the Light (rare enough) where I was told what I am here to do (even more rare) and then returned to my body with full consciousness of this ‘mission.’ After being asked if I was willing to die for what I believed in and without going into detail, I was told I am to work with a group of ‘points of light’ in order to facilitate a new world order…a fusion of material and spiritual worlds. The first human place in consciousness was to want to announce to the world that I AM HERE, believing that I AM THE ONE. What a fool. My mind could not handle the truth at the time. My soul had been ignited with vision.

That was the beginning of what the field of psychology calls the ‘messianic complex.’ I felt like I had all the answers and needed to share them with the world. It is a most unhealthy place to be for the aspirant of divine guidance who wishes to remain free of attachments. Okay, so there are no veils and I don’t need to be ‘The One’ so what’s next? Often the messenger gets hung up on the message and becomes its icon rather than a simple conduit of information. Since that time, I’ve observed that identity is really of no consequence in the delivery of new information or clarification of the mysterious in order for the ‘magic’ of life to become present. Too often identity, assumed or projected, simply gets in the way. Our minds want to categorize and label instead of just listening and observing. It’s all chatter that does absolutely no good when ’stillness’ is the message.

The material plane needs references. As one of the many paradoxes in the discovery of Self, I’ll elaborate further and hopefully shed some light on the subject. It is probably one of the most profound realizations one can have on the path of discovery. It was for me and according to the Mayans, I’m just another you, so by proxy you are getting this as well. In order to truly find it, one has to let go of everything held within the sphere of attachments, beliefs included. Huh? Experience, both internal and external, is the ultimate teacher in establishing a congruent reality that balances our inner and outer polarities, bringing a state of harmony within and without. Experience comes from ‘being’ not doing. If I can truly serve these points of light, then this may be a place to begin. I found later that the feeling is consistent in both the Void and the Light, a singularity sublimely encompassed by the ONE.

As we progress in consciousness, our goal is Cosmic Consciousness, or something similar in meaning. Now it would be easy to see how one with such a profound experience at such a young age would attach himself to this belief, not realizing its downfalls. There are many, both male and female, who have reached a state of consciousness where they believe themselves to be THE ONE. This is prevalent in ‘awakening’ to the Divine, the The Dream latent and poised for birth within us all. They also become so attached to it that their focus becomes telling everyone else that they are THE ONE, whether verbally or nonverbally, and espousing grandiose concepts of living in love while their messages are more about separation among humanity, placing them at a pivotal point in the hierarchy.

Living in love is important in deed. It is action from awareness. Our foundation as spiritual/physical beings is based in loving and being loved. We also must realize that this identity thing is great, but really superficial. We are all Christ… Buddha… Muhammad. “Yeah, but I AM THE ONE!” resounds internally in many still as they feel they are the only one with a ‘mission’ of importance. What is important to distinguish is the essence of the message… light and love promote honesty and integrity in worldly affairs, not dominance and submission to dogmatic structures. However, there is a congruence in all experiences of a metaphysical or spiritual nature… a profound sense of relief and release… a reunion with the essence of life….LOVE. Limitless Oscillating Vibrational Energy.

Okay, so you are THE ONE. So what? What’s next? What do you do? How do you act? Better still, how do you LEAD? Even Jesus is quoted as saying, ‘don’t ye know that ye are gods?’ Once you realize that you are Christ or God, what is next? As Divine Incarnates, sons and daughters of God with a little maturity, we have certain obligations to the nature of our creation. Do we need to dissect our world like scientists in order to understand it or would it be better to inquire and let it reveal itself through the natural consciousness it holds and our ability to connect to it. We are still here, still in body, still within the world of physicality and its natural laws and order. Feel like a fish out of water? What’s the catch? You’ve got the net. What’s in it?

Well, the catch of the day is that ONE [Source] turns into MANY, rising above their own identity issues, to collaborate with others to actually do something about manifesting this new living awareness we call LOVE – harmony among people and planet. Apparently the ‘trinity’ that seems to be present in all major religions actually shows up as the proton, neutron and electron – Intelligently condensed into form. Help us, we’ve fallen and we can’t get up! This should all be making sense beyond any reasonable doubt or you’ve come to the wrong place. It is also nearly impossible to comprehend without a direct experience of it.

At this phase, identity becomes a non-issue. One becomes present and acts as ethical and integral components of a ‘Self-Sustaining’ organism. Leaders lead without regard of personal gain or reward, simply the accomplishment of collective goals drives their spirit. We all know of our paths and THE WORK. Why do you think it is called that? The Work transforms ego into wego. Would it make sense that all this talk about the ‘Cultural Creatives’ might indeed mean that this is the ‘Collective Messiah’ at work? The voice that springs from the depths of our listening at the speed of surrender gently guides ever relevant event.

What about all the others who have intricately drawn plans for environmentally sound villages, free energy devices, or new technologies to help return dignity to those who wish to work toward the good of everyone? Surely we could not be so pompous as to believe that we can do it ‘alone.’ Separation is what happens more often than not because we cannot get our ego attachment to identity out of the way. True humility is to serve the people without attachment to outcome, being guided by the simple nature of addressing what shows up right in front of you.

Once balance is found in your immediate surroundings and within your emotional bodies, then greater opportunities are presented by those who guide us all from places we may not even be aware yet. Indeed, there are many worlds interacting simultaneously. In recent times ‘M theory’ presents the same concept from a math/science perspective…many dimensions of reality. Subtle levels of energy, like the energy centers of the body, built precept upon precept in the construction of the Universe, waiting to be discovered by the progeny of its creators. This is the fulfillment of prophecy ordained thousands upon thousands of years ago.

Do we exercise sound mind and heart choices in this new living awareness? To recognize that polarizing to any ID… whether it be Jesus or Lucifer… still separates. Balance is the key. Harmony the goal. Becoming aware of what and where we pretend is real and being about the business of tending to the needs of our divine callings is simpler than one might think. Awareness empowers the ego to act in accordance with spiritual principles, released from paradigm paralysis. This paralysis is being transcended with the close of the galactic year, 2012 being noted by the Egyptian, Mayan and Sumerian calendars.

We are all familiar with the Jesus story, yet we miss the quest to integrate a LOVE of our whole being, the good, the bad, and the ugly so to speak. We have to find the splinters and pluck them out, even about ourselves. Many are claiming to be incarnations of various influential folk down through the centuries, yet they still are unable to remove the mask to reveal their own individual identity, choosing to identify with an archetypal image rather than their own Divine Nature. We might call this the Cosmic Conundrum. Who Am I? What am I here to do? Just look right in front of you. The closing cycle of the galactic year will do that for you regardless of whether you desire it or not. Conscious co-creation manifests what you think and feel strongly, regardless of its fear of love base.

How do we find, accept, and then live our own individual Path connected to the ONE? It is one thing to be self-initiated, the Path where many are called and few choose. It is quite another to claim to BE the ONE, as in the case of many professing to be the return of Jesus, Mohammed, Mary, Lucifer, Isis, St. Germain, Maitreya, or whomever. It would seem we have a spiritual epidemic of polyphrenia, many personalities, in that  many past personalities are showing up in the claims of current cosmic corners. For one in simple observance, it appears the Universe is trending a new and improved product, an evo-leap for mankind.

Indeed something is happening…. just what? Why would one identity incarnate so many times AT THE SAME TIME? Seems a bit confusing, eh? Obviously something is being missed in the process. How does it all fit together without distortion? How can we find FLOW and then live in it as much as possible?

The point of wisdom just might be to recognize that when one attaches identity to themselves, especially in self-proclaiming ways, then the likelihood of the ‘reality’ is probably miniscule. Truth is evidenced by everything surrounding the point, or person as the case may be. Only by continuing to release attachment to ‘identity’ can one truly find their perfect path, free of the continued subtle efforts of the ego or desiring to be in control, which creates a polarizing paradigm.

Truly… there is NO EGO without WEGO in the current best practices of Spiritual Evolution. A true spiritual master claims no ownership of the Divine flowing through them. They allow the process without attachment to outcome, giving freely their concepts, ideas, heart, mind, spirit, soul and wisdom. Deep within there is a residing ‘knowing’ and ‘trust’ of the process.

As humans, it is rare that we are able to live in such an awareness and reflection of the Divine within us. The Collective Messiah or the Cosmic Consciousness prevailing in many ‘world servers’ now is an example of the progress toward true ONENESS. Each has a gift, just as important as the next. It is not the size of the gift, or the manner in which it is delivered. It is the fact that it is used that is important. May we all find that ONE in our hearts and share it with the Many who are also here on the planet now as our brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, grand mothers and fathers, and even great grandmothers and grandfathers. The Earth is our relative, too. What about the other relatives that are looking on, encouraging us to grow and mature?

The only way that we can truly exemplify the Cosmic Consciousness that we so profess is through leading by example just as Jesus or Buddha did, by letting go and offering ourselves to the Divine Flow that permeates ALL THAT IS in us. It begins with love, often through forgiveness and gratitude, and embraces even the darkest corners of ourselves and others; not to condone or condemn, simply to be aware beyond denial. When we fear, we act from our smallness. When we love, we act from our limitlessness. We can FEEL the difference.

To fool ourselves into believing that we are separate from anything is another false belief, yet the polarity paradigm seems to edify it [separation] still. How do we get beyond this? How do we move beyond duality? How about recognizing that all things are available to those that believe? Believe in what? LOVE… limitless oscillating vibrational energy. This is what we know as ‘SOURCE’… unlimited unqualified energy, just waiting to be shared. It would qualify as Oneness, inclusive of aberrant or incongruent notions of choice. Changing the mindset to align with heart consciousness is the challenge now; reaching congruence with LOVE.

Energy is active and so we must BE active. We are far more advanced technologically than in the times of Jesus, and yet the WORD is still in our HEARTS and the KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN. What we seek to do now is to make the WITHIN WITHOUT… BE in the world as we know it. It does not mean to be in some convoluted notion of the world as you think it might be or someone else says it is. It is up to each of us to explore it; to inquire or question authority on our own. We can do it silently within as we engage a situation that warrants further inquiry, or we can challenge those in authority roles at work, in our community and in the leadership of our state or nation.

Jesus said to ‘Love thine enemy, to feed them if they are hungry, to give them water if they are thirsty.’ We deny ourselves opportunity when we judge harshly. Maybe, just maybe, we need to learn to love our own ‘evil’ too. When we can love the worst in ourselves and others, then we can begin to address these features in positive ways, resolving and rehabilitating rather than resisting their obvious existence. Imagine being able to operate from outside emotions, beyond prejudice, completely free of separative notions. How? Well, there is an interesting meditation you can experiment with to understand a process that can lead you there.

This WORK takes nothing short of ultimate cooperation and collaboration from the depths of our Souls, where it is natural and in divine order, simply by choosing to embrace ourselves as we are and opening to possibility or change of mind. What are we to do?  We each have gifts as well as skill sets we’ve gathered from our living in this world. Would it not make sense to honor these, bridging our inner and outer worlds now? Only when we do this individually can we do it collectively, sharing our wealth and our wisdom through demonstrating how to work together for the greater good.

Attachments to identity or ownership of ideas only get in the way of this process of progress toward a new world order of harmony among people and planet. Our individual contributions create tributaries that feed the river of life. Still, some are better prepared and/or have natural inclinations toward certain functional roles. The dynamics of the evolving life-force within us guides us to our fulfillment. Finding solace in the Heart of Creation comes from forgiveness of self, others, and situations that have not met our expectations. Even the most advanced souls still have expectations and they are constantly vigilant of the need to detach and forgive. How does this fit with your own personal experience?

There is a natural order of movement within this Collective Messiah as we each bring our offerings, our willingness, to give to the whole. This is not a new cult or sect of any particular religion. It rises above them all. Many are experiencing delays in what they feel are important projects for them, and the world, yet they refuse to relinquish ‘control’ of their ideas and how they are to be implemented. Wouldn’t it make sense to combine all ideas, as the natural process would synergize them into a greater potential for actual manifestation? This is a lesson it seems we are still learning. Can we rise above our confusion?

Could we actually choose to bring all our talents and skills together and WILLINGLY SHARE them? Do you think that you, personally, would be willing to offer your most vulnerable secrets for the benefit of the entire world? Believing that there are secrets might be your first step in an undesirable direction. There are no secrets when you reach this level of awareness. This does not mean that we ‘know everything’ yet instantaneous answers to pertinent questions occur often. Master Teachers can facilitate and lead the way for a new living awareness to permeate the planet.

In reality, whatever we choose, the polardigm leads us hOMe. From the place of extremes, we can recognize all the paths of the paradox in the polardigm [polarity paradigm] and how they benefit us all to learn the ways of LOVE.. Limitless Oscillating Vibrational Energy. As a Zen master once said, “There is interaction if there is a call for it, no interaction if there is no call for it.” It would seem that the Universe is calling for it now as we enter the new millennium. The world is ripe for change as we consider how to align with better stewardship of people and planet.

Faith, trust and allowance in this new living awareness is the Way, the ultimate showing of strength on the Path. We begin to gather together now in celebration of our birthright, understanding that we are all part of the ONE, each with our personal path that compliments the whole. Knowing is showing. Showing is caring. Caring is giving. Giving is receiving to others. Receiving is the limitless love pouring through our minds, hearts and bodies toward reunion with Source in the Oneness – People and Planet paradigm. As we move forward the resistance to change is replaced by the desire to let go of the impedance.

As each of our masks is revealed in our discovery process, we allow the ONE to play through our actions in the ultimate play of life, love and happiness for all. All things are possible to those who believe. I believe every day provides us with a new opportunity to do things better. I believe that I am here to help facilitate a new world order of harmony among people and planet; a new millennium mindset congruent with the design of our creation. May our dreams mold future realities.

Amen… women… human… whoopeee!

Over three decades later I’ve been able to put some processes into coursework, a workbook with a timeline. For those interested in applying some of the practices I’ve learned to find balance and harmony in daily living, here is Transformation – A Guide for Change

About the Author: Rev. Zen Benefiel is a multi-master’s degreed author, coach, consultant and facilitator with a passion for education and facilitating partnerships. He founded Be The Dream, a sole-proprietorship consulting company, in 1988 as a vehicle to promote holistic understanding in business and personal achievement. Be The Dream has transformed along with its founder to become a leader in establishing a new living awareness among seekers of harmony, truth and planetary stewardship. An international presenter on holistic project planning, he has co-created a vision for a holistic model community serving at-risk youth, called Spectrum Academy. Zen resides in Gilbert, Arizona.

Spectrum Academy

In Lakesh, (Mayan – “I am another you.”) I hope you’ll find some of my dreams of future works worth consideration. I have a strong passion for excellence in education and social architecture. I was placed with a young couple at 6 weeks old, an educator and tool and die maker who was also a Mason. My adoptive parents were absolutely wonderful people who offered me encouragement for academic, physical and spiritual growth, a true gift in my young life. My adoption, life full of love and natural ponderings have offered much to reflect on over the years through a spectrum of feelings and thoughts, quite mystical at times as you might imagine. My life has been nothing short of magical as I’ve searched for truth and harmony in human relations because of the nurturing environment I learned as a child. I am grateful for the opportunity of this great discovery process because it imbued my life with wonders beyond description. I am fortunate indeed and quite humbled by the it all.

My desire is to serve life and find purpose with courage and spiritual foundations that honor all things. I wanted to help offer what many never have the chance to experience, a nurturing environment that addresses deep dysfunctional patterns and transforms those within it. I want to offer that leadership development model as a village for at-risk youth that can be self-sufficient in a very short time: Spectrum Academy. Products and services are many, the most important being challenged youth converted to community conscious citizenry. A peer community oversees the operations, the formation of which is the initial challenge to establish a working constituency. The process is goal driven with clear objectives, designed with the help of a coach well equipped to challenge the residents to be better every day.

This particular work took several years to develop, but the plan came together within a short time. At the risk of skepticism, it began with a vision during a mental rehearsal for a conference speaking engagement in the fall of 2000. As I completed the presentation in my head, my attention was drawn to a woman who was walking toward me from the audience. She had an attractive figure and voluminous curly hair, yet I could not see her face. She spoke to me in a clear and direct way. “Are you ready to get to work?” were her only words. Without hesitation, I closed my notes and thrust them under my arm, extended the other arm toward her and replied, “Let’s go!” I met her in person a couple of months later. I realize including this paragraph might encourage speculation of sanity. I’ll take the risk to be authentic. The proof is in the heart of the reader.

Our passion was already aligned with the concepts of creating and building a ‘new living awareness’ community as evidenced by our previous writings. We had been talking on the phone and e-mailing just before the conference, through a personal ad I posted on AOL, without my knowing what she looked like until she accepted my invitation for dinner nearly two months later. When I opened the door that evening, my life took a wild swing toward the profound. It was the woman I saw in the vision, complete with the ‘get to work’ attitude. She continues to be a great inspiration for me and has helped me focus on doing the work necessary to articulate and promote Our Vision.

Spectrum Academy is a community concept born from a deep desire to serve our world in the most poignant possible way. We were both educators and saw a growing need to address challenged youth differently, one that administrations weren’t ready to address. As I grew up, the issues of abandonment were nonetheless present in my consciousness, which is the greatest fear of these youth. Those feelings led me to explore the depths of spirituality, which was supposed to reveal the connectedness we have with all things. I found that indigenous beliefs around the world begin with accepting all our relatives as part of our lives, from the Earth and all her creations to Great Spirit – the Father/Mother of Creation. These youth did not have that luxury, yet the rites of passage are just as important for developmental stages.

I also found that science revealed the same reality through quantum physics, the scientific revelation that all things are connected and that our thoughts essentially create our reality. I also learned that our reality is much deeper than simply managing our emotions. There is a fabric, a tapestry of consciousness and natural order we’re just beginning to discover. Applying these understandings in a world that too often focuses on exterior complications rather than seeking to resolve the inner conflicts that cause us to be afraid, angry, ignorant, and immobile is of tantamount importance in the 21st Century. People can come together and change the course of history, just as Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela have shown. Humble men and women have been silently working to achieve change for some time, toward a holistic system that manages resources wisely.

It appears that creating effective emotional education for our children has been absent from the academic curriculums’ primary functions. As an adult I find that most people fear conflict and will do just about anything to avoid confrontation on most issues, creating a nation and world of unhappy people showing up as depression, divorce, and deprivation in lower economic populations. It does not stop there. According to some recent statistics, over half the population of the United States is either on or have been on anti-depressants. The imbalance even appears in many adults who either self-medicate or are on prescription anti-depressants, which seems to make it easier to drug students into compliance rather than address the reasons we feel we have to do so.

Gen-21, as they are being called now, rejects the corporate-structured world their forefathers created. The latter lives in ignorance to the fact and still thinks stock options are a worthy enticement. Eco-sensitive youth find the experience abhorrent. Spiritual responsibility would indicate that we need to change our methodologies in education in order to restore the interconnectedness of life on Earth. We are in need of holistic programs that offer the choice to reconnect our youth with the basic communication and critical thinking skills, while offering the same to adults who are recognizing this need as well. As a child, I knew the love and nurturing of good parents even though I knew I started as an orphan. I have witnessed children and youth who have not had this basic and fundamental need to love and be loved. We can restore our ability to fulfill these needs for our youth who have become wards of the court, clients of our mental health systems, and recipients of our social service systems.

The brilliance of Spectrum Academy’s plan is only surpassed by the people who actually come together to facilitate the proliferation of these environments across the United States and around the world. I have found that my life’s experience has been deepened by the spiritual path I’ve undertaken while restoring faith, hope, and trust. This seems to be a standard experience in all spiritual paths. I can only imagine what the effect of a collaborative alliance that stretches around the globe could do for our future citizens and leaders. Diversity is the spice of life and gives us opportunity to grow in understanding beyond our current comprehension. Our society tends to shy away from diversity even though our business and political leaders recognize its value. The challenge to change is extreme in some cases.

We need a way to change the system so that everyone wins. Our industrial and technological advances have catapulted our global society into a fast-paced and dollar-driven world. We’ve neglected to bring everyone along to share in the wealth and instead have created unprecedented emotional rips in the families we once held so dear. We can change this pattern in just a few short years, IF we apply what we now know about emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual development. A few people can begin to bring awareness of these solutions to those who can help facilitate the work to accomplish programs such as Spectrum Academy.

The unique selling point of this particular community model is a sustainability feature, which brings less dependence on foundations, grants, or other outside capital sources. It literally makes so much sense that the dollars are sure to follow. We have questioned and studied great leaders and collected their intelligence in order to bring a new product to market that serves a great need in society…habilitating our displaced youth. I hope that you can also see the benefit of our work, pass it on to others or get involved yourself. It is rare that passion and purpose can unite, providing the opportunity to experience joy and happiness while engaging the most difficult work of our time. I have found gratitude and humility beyond anything I could have ever imagined as this creation has developed. I trust that as you read or have read through the material on this website that you have found it to be based in common sense, evoking a certain “YES” feeling for the potential results. Thank you for your valuable attention and time.

Personal Ethics and Fresh Choices

It has been said that values, morals and ethics are inextricably tied together. Values are what we learn from childhood; the ’stuff’ we absorb from our parents and immediate surroundings. Morals are the intrinsic beliefs developed from the value systems of how we ’should’ behave in any given situation. How are we doing?

Ethics, on the other hand, are how we actually do behave in the face of difficult situations that test our moral fiber. In his book, “How Good People Make Tough Choices,” Rushworth Kidder notes four basic paradigms of ethical decisions: justice versus mercy; short-term versus long-term; individual versus community; and truth versus loyalty.

He goes on to define the concepts further:

• The point behind the justice-versus-mercy paradigm is that fairness, equity, and even-handed application of the law often conflict with compassion, empathy, and love.
• Short-term versus long-term, or now versus then, reflect the difficulties arising when immediate needs or desires run counter to future goals or prospects.
• The individual-versus-community paradigm can be restated as us versus them, self versus others, or the smaller versus the larger group.
• Truth versus loyalty can be seen as honesty or integrity versus commitment, responsibility, or promise-keeping.

Expressing one’s personal grasp of ethics and life may not always be understood in the context of the world at large, the immediate environment, or even amongst the intimate others in the household. This is usually due to the fact that every person has some difference, small or great, in the development of their belief systems.

Belief systems are established early in life through environments of home, church, school, and social gatherings which help to mold and shape these beliefs. Most of these beliefs and patterns of behavior are established through the unconscious observations and experiences of childhood in the aforementioned environments. These I refer to as ‘outer’ experiences which are akin to the ‘nurture’ piece of the ‘nature-nurture’ developmental processes. Allow me to use my own ‘outer’ experience as an example.

I knew that I was adopted by the time I was five. My adoptive parents were ideal by some standards, demonstrating honesty, integrity, and willingness to address conflict with style and grace even in the most difficult of situations. Dad was a tool and die machinist, building plastic injection molds for General Motors optical division and was also a 32nd Degree Mason. Mom was an educator with a master’s degree in Music and English and taught middle school English and Literature.

They were a formidable team for an adolescent with growing pains, encouraging me to challenge and explore my world. My parents taught me that honesty was the best policy, even when the details may not be too favorable. They taught me the meaning of trust which was not being afraid even when I felt vulnerable. Of course that does not mean that I am able to apply that wisdom always, although age does have its advantages. They encouraged me to think and ask questions, even when they are unpopular.

I grew up in a Christian framework and didn’t explore other religions until an NDE spurred me explore and hopefully discover the common thread that simply must be at the core of them all. There is a spiritual and material convergence in the fabric of life, if indeed all things are connected. Where we’ve [humans] held ourselves back has been the enigma, the cosmic conundrum of how to live in harmony with the natural world and therefore creation as a whole.

There are  discoveries of natural laws, scientific ‘breakthroughs’ demonstrated by experiments at Los Alamos, for example. Some educators scramble to include these discoveries in their lesson plans and current event discussions. It often confronts superstitious belief systems that have plagued religions for millennia. Have we found new truth?

These discoveries and information sharing  exponentiates as millions of people share with each other through social networks, blogs, newsfeeds, etc. Where is it taking us? Or rather, where do we want to go? Do we really have to let religious confusion trump common sense?

A New Millennial Mindset

Obvious bottlenecks occur in personal and professional environments. I still tend to ‘go deep’ in conversations even at the risk of being too ‘heavy’ because we avoid getting to really know one another in nearly every facet of our lives. Personal patterns need to be cleared of trash for solid relationships to develop. We simply must develop better relationships in our global village before it is too late.

Too often it is our own trash that we need to take out. P&Ls have taken precedence over building healthy strong relationships that encourage collaboration in life-friendly actions. Harvesting our past without judgment is the challenge of the day. A point of perspection dances in the balance of the seer’s vision, dangling in the undefined space of personal and planetary evolution.

Indigenous councils have been discovered to consider seven generations previous and seven ahead before making decisions that affect the tribe. We are one tribe now, so it would make sense that we would want to grow together. Now that we have common crises to address we can rally for the benefit of the world. Is that too lofty a dream?

Being sensitive is quite the notion these days. So is misunderstanding. Without clarifying what I mean by ’sensitive’ I’m sure there are numerous perspectives that could be read into the sentence. What do I mean, ’sensitive’? Conscious of the nuances of life, the view that compassion and understanding brings. In determining the need for change in our challenge for implementing new safeguards in our ways of life, it is known as metanoia – a change of mind.

Our influential predecessors marked the way to industrious albeit semi-destructive ways. The shift in paradigm is in realigning human and material wealth to serve a healthy planet and people. That’s a great notion, but how do we make it a practical reality. I, for one, believe it starts with holistic education and the integration of more organic ways of learning, connecting the natural cycles, rhythms and patterns of life.

Educational requirements now are contrary to the industrial-age model of education and physical plant structure that feigned our progress. The economy is tanking, which generally could be a sign that how and what we’ve been teaching has limited scope and vision. We need to take a divergent move and get everyone involved in the act, not just put it on the shoulders of those whom we ‘pay’ to address the issues.

Ethical behavior, the evidence of our beliefs, morals and values, leads us to consideration, if not confrontation of existing systems caught in the throes of dysfunctionality. Corporations and maligned profiteers act like dysfunctional families needing an intervention. How do we begin to affect change positively, growing as a family instead of being torn apart by our indifference?

Zen Benefiel is a multi-degreed transformational life coach and possibilities coagulator.

Master Teachers for the New Millennium

The quest for the zest in the cosmic conundrum of our evolution towards some kind of harmonious mutual living space begins in our understanding of pedagogy. Because of many changes in the presentation of information, it is the opinion of the author that pedagogical constraints are only compounded by the existing delivery systems for education. Quantum relationships in humans form the process of our evolution rising to the level of collective Beingness. Now, what does that really mean?

We will be reflecting on this process from the ideal place of a master teacher, one who empowers the students to use critical thinking skills to self-assess and grow into the new living awareness that integrates the data of discussion, whether classroom activities or life in general, into a cohesive usable knowledge base. In the face of pedagogical changes, and important question about change in general arises: What keeps us afraid, angry, ignorant, and immobile? Education has some relevancy in the discovery and exposing of answers. The balance of this paper will explore the process of pedagogy and potential advantages of a holistic educational shift.

In the most accepted delivery system developed by Madeline Hunter, an educator uses a defined set of instructional behaviors. This begins with the introduction of the ‘anticipatory set’ to the students. This includes the concepts and ideas that will be learned in this class, session or whatever. In our case, it is the introduction of the concepts of God/Goddess in human form. The concept is a simple premise that seems to be the ‘goal’ of nearly all major religions. Of course our assumption is that sons and daughters of God do eventually grow up.

We know that as with any learning process, there will be resistance and reluctance toward change. In this type of education (drawing out of knowledge), the anticipatory set could evoke very strong resistance due to the pre-patterning of most Western minds. This is human nature based on the belief systems at the root of the culture, which is unfortunately mainly fear, guilt, and shame ridden. We view the world from our previous databank of experience and knowledge. How has this view served our society to make it exemplary of our belief systems? What needs to change to evolve the society to where we believe it needs to be in order to achieve a standard of healthy relationships?

This flows into the next piece of the process of education, recalling past learning. We all have it, yet it is obviously not all the same. So how do you draw out all this past knowledge to serve our current purpose? There is a databank deep within the depths of human consciousness and the psyche that can drawn out. Examples of this are past life regressions on one hand and a more recent ‘new’ presentation such as John Edward’s bridging communication between worlds. In a classroom environment we process so that it is all on the table, so to speak, and each one has the opportunity to listen to, or observe, each other’s database. In this way we all see where each other is, with no conditions as to the ‘rightness’ or ‘wrongness’ of the learning to date. It simply IS.

This is similar to Dale Carnegie’s method of idea development. It could even be adopted for use within the realms of DeBono’s Six Hats as well. So, we can delve into the depths of our past knowledge to seek the understanding of how things relate in a common language like Science, for example. The leaders in this educational process are saying that science does prove our ability to grasp the capacity of changing our reality through choice; simply choosing to change and doing so. It is a gross understatement to say that this choice is not easy nor clear as we confront old worn out patterns that no longer serve the greater good.

Now, the ‘essential question’ is asked. Our assumption is that a creator is one with their creation. In this case let us ask, “How does one become aware of their ONEness?” There is an accepted ‘knowing’ that each one of the students has some understanding or experience of their own path to enlightenment. Sometimes we have to dig deep into the recesses of our memories to find instances. However, most people have had an experience of such serendipitous synchronicity and connectedness as to be undeniable in critical reflection of assumptions. So each shares the most pertinent piece of their journey in recognition of the awareness of their connectedness, however great or small.

The mind usually wants to obsess over this for a while while the heart consciousness (said to be much the greater of the two) remains open to further confirmations. All of the information is shared without criticism, condemnation or judgment. It simply IS. Opening the door to this kind of sharing of information would probably trigger some deeper reflections as well, facilitated by the instructor (master teacher) who is already prepared to usher them into their seat for this particular movie. A recently released movie creates a bridge for a layman to understand quantum physics, science and mysticism, explained through fact and nonfiction fantasy. The mind is awakened to the presence of I AM within. Supposedly we knew this long ago and have forgotten the way home.

Elemental Essence of Energy
It is all-visible to each ‘presence’ within our entire population, however the effect of each choice in the filter of their own consciousness is often one of the ‘hidden’ processes that takes place, regardless of the external activity. These are processes that one internalizes and rarely offers in reflection to the group. Now that we have this collective database, we begin to realize the similarities in each individual contribution, as they are virtually the same in the evocation of feelings. What I mean is that they have the same intent or purpose in achieving greater harmony as reflected in the expressions of shared feelings, exemplary of a greater synergy of experience. However, sometimes it is not clearly communicated due to using individual dictionaries of personal data to explain individual perspectives.

A master teacher will facilitate the group toward understanding that they are saying similar things in different ways. Once this process is comprehended, the next phase is to begin to inquire as to the ‘categorization’ of importance in the list of priorities that provide the greatest good for ALL. Now even Senge recognizes that a learning organization evolves at its own speed and needs to be treated like a garden rather than a machine. The gardener doubles as an edutainer in the classroom; tilling and teasing the seeds to grow by being able to keep their rapidly moving attention engaged in relevant learning.

From the perspective of Godhood (non-gender/genre specific) we begin to filter each of the reflections through the participation facilitated by the instructor, teacher, our internal observer, or whomever. This one has already done his/her homework and compiled a list of information that has been derived from a much larger data pool. In this particular instance the information comes from comparative religious studies as well as modern psychological documentation available today. We’re evolving. Our senses are expanding. Children are learning at near light speed. A master teacher is well prepared to facilitate their classroom experience, having begun with the end in mind.

How can we assess or test for this learning? To explore these relationships further, an organized effort to establish some kind of model environment is appropriate. Spectrum Academy, a concept crafted by Robin Engel and me, is a potential answer to evolving a learning environment. It is not intended to produce Gods and Goddesses. What it will produce are young people capable of emulating the qualities of righteous leadership- care and concern for people and planet.

Let’s look at Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences for a moment to illustrate the growth and unfoldment of a natural order within a construct of consciousness. This appears to be a result of simply observing patterns to reveal process. Multiple intelligences were discovered through observation. It has been widely accepted that these multiple intelligences provide the essence of classroom students’ experiences, and for students of life as well. Life is just a bigger classroom with greater risks and potential outcomes. Intelligences that Gardner has revealed so far are: Verbal-Linguistic, Musical-Rhythmic, Logical-Mathematical, Visual-Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Intra-Personal, Inter-Personal, and Naturalistic.

There are no definitive tools to assess exactly what percentage of each we individually manifest in order to provide instructional materials to empower these intelligences as of yet. There are types of learning centers developed to utilize activities that nurture the various intelligences. These intelligences are usually only truly observable by a trained eye in the actual classroom environments. I believe there is one more intelligence that remains to be revealed. That is Spiritual Intelligence, which imbues every intelligence with a connectedness to all the others and a holistic model of life that is understood by the individual at very deep levels previously inaccessible by planes, trains, and automobiles. What kind of environment would we need to nurture our Spiritual Intelligence? Are there any present examples?

Before the proverbial ‘knee-jerk’ starts happening, let us address our momentary definition of Spiritual Intelligence. Spiritual Intelligence is the ability to respond to any given situation through the use of pure intuitive logical thought to empower the best use of our mind/body/spirit complex. Simply, everything is connected in the holistic view of the world. Pure, meaning without resistance; intuitive, meaning you already know the answer/response; logical, meaning it has identifiable repetitive patterns; thought, meaning that it is a function of the ONE MIND.

It has already been proven, scientifically, that life is made up of sets of fractals, each having its resonant core of the self-replicating pattern. Quantum physics has unveiled the mathematical understanding of our ability to change our patterns. We have yet to comprehend that this self-replicating pattern exists in its purest organic form (Naturalistic Intelligence) in our carbon atom. Its scientific reference would be 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons. If we look at the examples below, we see that there are some very interesting patterns that evolve from the carbon atom’s configuration.

Now, what does this all mean? It means that this Spiritual Intelligence is at the core of our genetic fiber. It is locked in to the very building blocks of our physicality. The understanding science is now offering helps us to move beyond subjugated religious superstition that promotes separation of mental and emotional intelligence. Organically we are able to use this intelligence to activate Bloom’s taxonomy to the next level. In his work, there are six basic areas of focus in our educational processes: Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation.

Through the use of Spiritual Intelligence, we are able to observe the categorical changes necessary in our world environment to align with the natural organic patterns of an interdependent civilization. We can all imagine what a world like this might be like. Or can we? There is so much information about the pieces of such an environment, a new world order if you will, that it would seem our duty to utilize our knowledge to apply the best practices of Spiritual Intelligence throughout society. We’ve found the key that eliminates all boundaries, making us truly one people and one planet.

Comprehending the change takes time. Our current outer stimuli keeps our mental focus so busy on trivial circumstances that we are unable to quiet the mind. We have the direct-connect to the inner knowledge and wisdom, yet the voice is muffled by all the outer activity. Those able to recognize the internal connections from the stillness within become the patient agents of perfected patterns that balance the scales of iniquity currently present on our planet, without placing undue focus on them. Our ability and knowledge as a unified people has been ignored for some time, or maybe it has not.

The chaos created through the media may indeed have another purpose. We already know how to evolve mental constructs into physical form. We also understand that it requires not a ubiquitous desire for change. Only a few are necessary to begin the process. Our job is to craft the wheel of change for the greatest safety, the most sustainable comfort, and the greatest joy. How do we do that? Analyzing each of our alternative choices, and the risk of loss in each, we can assess the outcome of the choices and synergistically reveal the best choices to serve the greatest good, locally and globally.

This leads us naturally to the application and implementation of the processes necessary, as our synthesis of solutions was developed as a natural evolution of the analysis of our choices. Evaluating these results demonstrates a natural progression of consciousness. Again, it falls into the realms of pure intuitive logical thought as the entire process evolves naturally through the parameters of the foundational structure. We have nearly transcended the fear, anger, ignorance, and immobility. What is left is to take action and grow beyond our current frustrations.
How does this reflect on the process of education? By definition the process of education is organic: to draw out. Ignoring an old scientific axiom of 10% brain usage being ‘normal,’ is it possible that we have many more senses, or levels of sense, with the other 90% of brain capacity? Could the ‘junk DNA’ be the access points into a greater realm of experience and understanding?

We now have the tools to draw out our map for our journey toward ONEness in perfectly acceptable order; a ‘new world order’ that acknowledges our past with honor and dignity, yet is concerned with the sustainability of our future. We harvest our past by bringing forth those tools most useful for our future, including the undesirable lessons learning the art of war. Now we can apply the same conceptual frameworks, used by the masters of manipulation of time and space, to create an atmosphere conducive to our ultimate need in the call toward Divinity: to be love and be loved.

We can begin to acknowledge the obvious in our daily lives, expanding to our local communities, and even spanning the globe once we can agree on simple principles of commerce (interactive exchanges), education, and community. In this regards, there is also a process toward building community that empowers a genesis in the living awareness of the individual and collective simultaneously. We can help the world receive an evo-leap of sustainability in environmental and social responsibility. Together we can change the world.

Check for Understanding
We can look back through each of the premises that evolved into the understanding presented. Essentially, we considered the effects of viewing ourselves as potential change agents for the 21st Century. We presented the premises from which our logic was drawn and showed cause for and a path toward changing a mindset and active role in one’s life and community. Master teachers are the capable crew who lead the way, assisting the creation and formulation of questions that guide a person or class to self-discovery and Self-discovery, former being the understanding of their own patterns and the latter being God Consciousness, Christ Consciousness, Cosmic Consciousness, et al..

A great philosopher once said that Creators want playmates, not subjects or dominions; they want to have fun. They want to play. Think of how you felt as a child, or even adult, when you were at the height of ‘play’ in your life. Remember how it felt? Educationally fulfilling, entertaining and maybe even exhilarating, right? Now the rest of the story is up to you. Do you have concerns or questions? What have you found what really works for you?
Please share…. In Lakesh and Namasté

(In Lakesh – Mayan for ‘I am another you’; Namasté – Brahmi for ‘I worship that which is within you.’)
I’ve been able to put some processes for change into coursework, a workbook with a timeline. Oftentimes it is our own attachment to outcomes that keep us from reaching our goal. There is another way to achieve that utilizes natural law and scientific processes. For those interested in applying some of the practices I’ve learned to find balance and harmony in daily living, here is Transformation: A Guide for Change.

About the Author: Rev. Zen Benefiel is a multi-master’s degreed author, coach, consultant and facilitator with a passion for education and facilitating partnerships. He founded Be The Dream, a sole-proprietorship consulting company, in 1988 as a vehicle to promote holistic understanding in business and personal achievement. Be The Dream has transformed along with its founder to become a leader in establishing a new living awareness among seekers of harmony, truth and planetary stewardship. An international presenter on holistic project planning, he has co-created a vision for a holistic model community serving at-risk youth, called Spectrum Academy. Zen resides in Gilbert, Arizona.