Symbiosis…

Photo taken by me, May 2016

I have a question strolling through my mind, so I thought I might follow it to see where it leads.  It involves yet another level of why…?

In this case, I wonder why we choose to incarnate into this physical world at all?

It is my personal belief that in the All-ness from which we are born, we are One.  There is no separation, nor any boundaries between us.  There is no true conflict, for there is no true Other to conflict with.  There are no levels of Knowing or degrees of Wisdom, for what One knows is instantly known by All…

Which means that those very “things” we seek in spiritual practice here are readily available, and abundant, there.  Peace, freedom, wisdom, lack of fear, power…  All I want is available to me.  So… Why choose to come here at all?

Some might argue (myself included) that we come here to “learn” something.  But really, what might we need to learn when All knowledge and wisdom exists within us already?  Those wise souls here most deeply influencing my journey at this time speak of learning Love and Compassion.  But since my belief is that the One is Love, and that Compassion is a natural consequence of being love, how does that influence my choice to Be.  Here.  Now…?

Here, in our mortal bodies, we learn about limitations, and suffering, about failure and loss.  Simply by being born, all those conditions manifest.  And while we are here, we focus on boundaries – creating, defending and expanding them…

First we focus on the boundary of our own bodies, learning to distinguish between “you” and “me.”  That naturally leads to conflict as we learn to protect ourselves from others when necessary, while melding with others when desired…

Then we expand our boundaries outward, learning to discriminate between what’s “yours” and what’s “mine.”  That, of course, leads to more brutal conflict, as we actually defend and offend others in the race to accumulate resources…

Eventually, those boundaries expand far enough to become “territories,” requiring even greater, and more viscious efforts to defend…  And we begin, in the wiser places of our souls, to seek peace, comfort, and mercy once more.

Until, finally, exhausted and beaten by the vagaries of living, we “give up” the fight, choosing to “die” again.  Only to discover (according to me) that there is no separation between us, and therefore, nothing to fight about in the first place…

Why would I choose such an experience for myself.  Not just once, but many, many times?  Clearly, my soul (my little piece of the Abundant Source) is seeking something of value in this endless, exhausting, demoralizing, and seemingly fruitless cycle!  But what?!

If I look to Nature, I see a similar theme being played out.  Beings are born, struggle to survive, and then die.  Sometimes they die because their natural lives have run their courses, and old age has claimed them; unable to provide for themselves, they weaken and die.  More often, though, their deaths serve some other life form’s desire (read “need”) to survive, either by becoming food, being “entertainment” (some species hunt and kill for sport), or simply to vacate another’s space.  All of nature serves others through their life and survival, or through their death and decomposition.  Except perhaps man, who struggles to serve any but himself…

Even in living, one species may serve another, each requiring the other to survive.  We have a name for such a relationship: symbiosis.  Each species, in serving its own needs, also serves another species in some way.  Not consciously.  Not with intent.  But because what one has, the other needs, and vice versa.  Bees are a good example of this.  As are trees…

Could it be that simple, then?  Could it be that what we come here to “learn” about are the very things not available to know where we are One: pain, suffering, separation, need, desire, etc., and the emotional experiences derived from them, and from overcoming them?  For without these experiences, we would never know what it is to feel vulnerable, weak or dependent upon others, nor would we know betrayal, gratitude or joy (among other things)…

Perhaps that is why we are born helpless, completely dependent upon others for our survival.  Until we grow enough to care for ourselves, and eventually to care for others (of our own species or another).  And then, likely, become helpless once more, as death approaches, allowing us to reap the “rewards” of the seeds we have sown…

Hmm…

In any event, our lives here on Earth seem to be about need, desire, obstacles and triumphs, all of which require others to be involved.  We cannot do this living thing alone!  Even if we believe that we create our own realities, define our own circumstances, there is the conflict between that personal “reality” and the shared “consensus reality” which always seems to take precedence…

Bottom line?  I think we need each other, like it or not.  I think we are vulnerable while living in mortal form.  I think trust, faith, hope and relief are what we seek, while often experiencing their opposites.  I think all of mortal living is about symbiosis…

But that’s just what I think today.  Tomorrow it could all change.  Again…

Photo also taken by me, May 2016