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There is a parallel
between the development of an individual and of mankind. This
site is built on the assumption that evolution is aimed at
growth and stability (balance) and at the development of quality
and consciousness. The former has a parallel in the upbringing
of a child towards maturity, where it is raised to be autonomous
and choosing its own relations, the latter has a parallel
in adult life.
Freedom and love are essential factors on the one hand and
motivating drives on the other hand. Being and becoming free
and receiving and giving love are "dynamic forces" in this
process.
 "By
the way", beauty, flow and happiness are
"by-products or qualities" of this process. Evolution has
given man a lot of talents to deal with the sadder events
in life. He, who maintains a balance between the right forces,
will only be temporarily unhappy.
Seneca once said: "who suffers before it is necessary, suffers
more than is necessary".
Why is the direction
of evolution relevant for me as an individual?
Of course it is
impossible to predict exactly where humanity will stand in
the future. The human race could be extinct, some disaster
could hit us. Interesting to realize is that every individual
repeated the history of evolution in the womb. The human egg
cell, in its first weeks after conception, is developing like
the first animals did, when they emerged on the earth. At
some early stage the human embryo resembles a fish, even with
gills.
The way of an individual development is a projection of the
direction in which the human race is developing. An individual
that lives under ideal conditions, that lives free, in a loving
and socially stable society, will be giving the chance to
be creative. He will develop and practice his talents and
he will enjoy what he had made (created). This parallel goes
for all individuals and all races or species that exist.
It also works the other way around. When someone is doubtful
about what to do in life, if he is wondering what the reason
is of his existence, the answer can be found in what emerges
when he liberates his real self, when he finds love and gives
love and when he discovers his talents. This is the process
of development. Being curious is sufficient, being in a rush
is not prudent. The answer will be found at due time. In the
meantime: enjoy!
The
Metaphysics of Quality
The process and
the stages evolution passes are the field of Metaphysics of
Quality (MoQ) and it involves a way of perceiving
reality. The first proposition of MoQ is that everything is
value, and that the primary division is between dynamic value
and static value, not between subjects and objects. This latter
division underlies Western thinking and language and is the
root of the dangereous human inclination to try to gain domination
over nature.
The undifferentiated, undefined, pre-existing source of all
things is referred to as Dynamic Quality, but in this undifferentiated
"ocean" there has formed, over time, sets of stable "wave
patterns" of which the first is the material universe itself.
The MoQ recognizes four such discrete sets of static value
patterns (other terms are: 'levels',
'dimensions' and 'areas'). They are, in rising
order of good: Inorganic, Biological, Social, and Intellectual.
Each of these levels offers freedom from the constraints of
the lower parent level, but each is also dependent on that
parent level for its existence. There are five types of struggle
between different levels of static Quality. The definition
of the area of struggle in which an entity functions may have
more to say about its reality than any of its objective qualities.
The five areas are: chaotic-inorganic, inorganic-biological,
biological-social, social-intellectual, and static-dynamic.
As Pirsig says in his book "Lila":
This last, the Dynamic-static code, says what's good in life
isn't defined by society or intellect or biology. What's good
is freedom from domination by any static pattern, but
that freedom doesn't have to be obtained by the destruction
of the patterns themselves. (Lila: An Inquiry Into Morals
by Robert Pirsig).
For further reading:
Forces
joined for a higher cause (Dutch translation available)
The quality of a lifestyle
When people are not free, f.e. when they are addicted, they
can find freedom, relieve and insight when they observe their
life on all five levels above. Some people have a graving
for alcohol or drugs which has a strong biological component.
Seeking for the right medicine (f.e. methadone) is a logical
step towards regaining freedom, but this is not the whole
story. Staying free and becoming independent and living a
responsible life is encouraged strongly when people find support
on a biological-social and social-intellectual level. Finding
a job or application in line with someone dreams can be simply
the extra factor that helps one develop further. This process
is always directed inwards and outwards. After one has found
and accepted one's real self, space originates to look after
the welfare of others. In other words: a sustainable and healthy
lifestyle is born.
Making the right choices
Fortunately most people want to live with a clear and clean
conscience. A clear conscience provides rest and you can be
proud of it. A clear conscience has to do with the conviction
that you are making the right choices, choices that lead to
freedom, love and quality.
The choices that go along with your lifestyle have consequences
for others, not only humans. Animals and nature are affected
too.
Using
animals in an indifferent way does not go along with a clear
conscience
In The Global Brain Awakens
Peter Russell shows that humanity has reached a crossroads
in its evolutionary path. Computers, satellites, fiber optics,
video recorders and other technology, are the catalysts linking
our planet into one, worldwide community - a "global
brain". This technology, combined with a the rapidly
growing human potential movement, is helping to create a collective
consciousness that is humanity's only hope of saving it from
itself. However, Russell warns if we continue on our current
path of greed and destruction, humanity will serve only as
a planetary cancer.
GoArticles Metaphysical
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