I came across a discussion between Andrew Cohen, Spiritual Teacher, and Ken Wilber, Integral Philosopher, about the search for a new moral compass. They take part in an ongoing series of discussions called Guru and Pandit. Those who, like myself, are looking always to expand their viewpoint, may find their discussions helpful, sometimes frustrating, and almost always stimulating.
This topic is, from my viewpoint, an important one, and really hit home as I read the transcript. We live in an age of narcissism--religious extremism--disconnection from the earth. Old ways of doing things--the strong family unit--traditional religious institutions --are being fractured and rejected, and there is no new moral structure to take their place. Many these days are searching for that vehicle to wholeness--via meditation and finding a connection to oneness/absolute truth that is beautiful and fulfilling as an experience.
What is found, however, must be applied in a more relative sense in the physical world of phenomena that we live in. We try not to judge because we have found via transcendental experiences that everyone and everything that manifests is God. How do we dare judge creation? This is indeed the ultimate absolute truth, but we need ways to effectively operate in this reality where a portion of our consciousness resides. And that means making the best decisions possible based on the largest view you can muster.
Our connection to the absolute--that which we dip back into via meditation, time in nature, or brought on by crisis, is our connection to the bigger picture. In the perfection of the absolute, there is no need for judgement of anything, no need to take a stand, to defend a cause. Here in the part of our existence that is embodied, along with billions of our soul-friends, we must every day make decisions that affect the quality of our lives and the quality of planetary life. So what is our guide? Our politicians should be asking themselves this question.
Is it for my benefit? Is it avoidance of punishment--eternal damnation or jail time? That is a very egocentric way of being in the world, isn't it? A very small view. So, too if we take care of our own, somehow drawing a line around family or community, to the exclusion of others outside the imaginary boundary. This impetus is limiting. We must operate from a high level of maturity, and from the widest view available to discern and decide responsibly, and with grace.
As more of us connect to the spiritual absolute aspects of ourselves we begin to mine the stuff of moral structure and build a larger view of life. We do expand. But that same experience can also hold the temptation to surrender personal responsibility --"All is going as it should/will.... everything is divine, the dark and the light". Certainly though, there are many levels of divinity. There is a hierarchy to the universe. While everything is of the ONE creative force/source, everything/everyone is also somewhere on the grand spiral path back to it's wholeness.
Along with experiences of our greater eternal existence, it is the discernment that we gather through experiences in our lives that equip us to be able to act conscientiously in the world. Rightness can be felt viscerally in the body. We must cultivate our emotional IQ, because it is the balance between the cerebral and the emotional that is needed for top notch decision making. We are living to gain a balance between love (compassion) and wisdom. It is from this fulcrum that our moral compass can point us in the right direction.
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