Life Beyond the Physical... Exploring the Oogabooga (part one)

You've all heard me say many times that we are multi-dimensional, complex, amazing beings.nnAnd nearly every day I talk about how we might create positive change in all areas of our lives and day-to-day reality; ways that we might learn, grow, change, improve, adapt, help others, live more effectively and understand more.nnAnd having pumped out about two hundred posts/articles (over quarter of a million words!) over the last nine months, there's one area I've consciously dared not tread.nnIt's known technically as the Oogabooga stuff.nnMost of what I've written about to this point in time has explored the head stuff, the heart stuff, the body stuff and of course, the practical.nnAnd I guess in some ways I don't feel qualified to talk about life beyond the physical world we live in... but fortunately for you and I, we don't need to be qualified to have an opinion or a personal philosophy... and we don't need anyone's approval to voice our thoughts or share our ideas.nnSo I'll share mine with you.. and then you can let me know how (you think) I've gone.nnLet me know if I'm way off.nnOr in the ball park.nn(I can take it).nnKeeping in mind that we're about meaningful, thoughtful exchanges here.. not about ntrying to ram our beliefs down someone else's throat.nnI'm guessing most of us agree that.. while on one level we are all a bunch of muscles, tendons, bones and squishy organs, on another level, we are also spiritual beings.nnNot that many of us know exactly what that means, but on some level, we feel there's gotta be something 'else'... we have this sense that 'this' isn't all there is.nnI think if I took a poll on this right now we would get a consensus on this.nnAlright, let's do it.nnPay attention world.nnHands up if you think we're physical, emotional, cerebral and spiritual beings.nnOkay, lemme count... 1, 2, 3, .... 4,235,790,337, 4,235,790,338, 4,235,790,339... yep, it's confirmed; most of us believe there's more.nnWe don't necessarily understand what that means... but we do believe there is something else; some kind of spiritual realm.nnMore than this physical world we live in.nnMore than we have experienced to this point in time.nnMore than what we can see, touch, smell and experience with our physical senses.nnMore than we might understand with our highly developed, logical, rational, scientific brains.nnSometimes we don't want to acknowledge that there might be more than what our eyes, ears and brain can perceive (a spiritual realm perhaps) because:nn(1) It makes us uncomfortable.. if not, totally scares the crap out of us.nn(2) We don't really want to explore it, as it might require a level of change on our behalf... and we're kinda comfy and secure where we are.nn(3) We've got absolutely no idea where or how to start the journey andnn(4) We've had bad experiences with certain 'religious' organisations or people... or both.nnI'm hearin' ya.nnAll too often people (and their numerous issues) get in the way of others experiencing something truly amazing on a spiritual level.nnMany of us grew up with some kind of theology (philosophy, ideology) imposed on us.nnIf mum and dad were Catholics, Mormons or Quakers... there's a fair chance you're not gonna be a Buddhist by your tenth birthday (or vice-versa).nnPut simply, most of us believe (accept, embrace, default to) whatever our parents believe because that's how we've been programmed; that's the only story we've heard (this is not intended to be an insult or criticism but rather, my observation).nnWhen you're seven years-old, you're not gonna come out with:nn"Hey, you know what dad... I'm not sure about your perspective on the whole God, universe, eternity, spirituality thing... In fact, I've done some significant research, weighed it all up... and I think your theology is essentially flawed. Take a seat you ignorant old, brain-washed fart and let me enlighten you."nnNo, when you're seven.. it's more like:nn"Reaaaally.... wow... seven feet tall, huge feet, floppy ears, free chocolate... cooooool!!"nn(Okay, perhaps that was just me).nnWhen you have certain ideologies and philosophies re-enforced from birth, you don't even question them.nnRight or wrong.. is not even an issue.nnIn fact, many of us were taught from a young age "we're right and all the others are wrong."nnSome of us were taught (instructed) not to consider or explore other theologies or spiritual philosophies.nnAnd if we did (step out of our designated spiritual box), it was cause for great concern.nn"Luke.. this is your father....stay away from the dark side."nnErr.. but that would be indoctrination wouldn't it?nnManipulation perhaps?nnAlmost, dare I say it... 'cult-ish' behaviour?nnNooooo... not us.nnOthers do that, we don't.nnWe just don't want you to be mislead... or to see you get hurt.nn"Anyway, we're all going to heaven, they're not."nnShame.nnOh well, we're okay.nnLucky us.nn"The others think they know... but only we really know. "nn"It's a good thing that only we (our particular religion, denomination) have that exclusive spiritual hot-line to Elohim, Allah, Yahweh, Bhagavan, Jesus, The Buddha, God (insert the deity of your choice)."nnHey... wouldn't it be ironic if the very thing which retarded our spiritual development and understanding was in fact, religion?nnAfter all, we know that religion is a man-made thing... not a God-made thing right?nnHow great would religion be if people weren't involved??!nnI'd join.nnIn my experience (don't ya love that as a disclaimer?) sometimes we need to wade through all the human stuff.. before we can even get a wiff of any spiritual truth.nnSometimes 'religion' is a synonym for division.nnAnd a catalyst for war, bloodshed, pain, suffering, intolerance and hatred.nnI personally find that so weird.nnAnd sad.nnIf was a researcher from another planet and I was studying human behaviour on a global scale.. I don't think I'd be in any hurry to get 'religious'.nnBut then we shouldn't really confuse religion with spirituality because often... they have very little to do with each other.nnIn truth, some very 'religious' people have never had a spiritual experience in their life.nnMaybe what gets in the way of our spiritual development is in fact, logic.nnLogic based on science.nnWe are a culture which reveres science; it makes us feel safe and smart.nnIt's the basis for our understanding of most things.nnScience which is at odds with a spiritual world.nnAre you still with me?nn(Even I'm confused and I'm writing it!).nnBut in all that 'learning' perhaps we shut ourselves down to something much more amazing and liberating than anything we could grasp (see, measure, quantify) with our logical, scientific, limited understanding.nnWhat if there is a world beyond our conventional science and thinking... beyond what we know?nnAnd what if we've been missing out on something amazing because we're too fearful, proud, stubborn or 'intelligent' to consider that there might be something more?nnSomething incredible.nnSomething more exciting, rewarding, liberating and mind-blowing than any 'thing' we could ever achieve, own or create on a human or practical level.nnSadly, many people never even begin to explore their own spirituality; they don't get to know their spiritual selves.nnIt scares them.nnThey've been 'taught' to fear the unfamiliar.nnSad.nnI have a friend who put his hands over his ears and opts for the "la, la, la.. don't wanna know, don't wanna know".. option whenever a conversation about that 'spiritual stuff' permeates his world.nn"Don't talk about that stuff; it creeps me out", he says.nn"But aren't you even a little interested or intrigued", I ask.nn"Nuh!!"nnWhen I suggest that even he might be more than a collection of bones, biceps and brain.. he changes the subject.nnAnd then we have those people who create their own version of a particular religion or spiritual philosophy to 'fit in' with how they want to live their life.nnInteresting concept.nn"I'll believe in something as long as it doesn't impede on my lifestyle."nn"Welcome to the 'Church (Synagogue, Temple, Mosque) of Perpetual Convenience'.. we'll never put you out... just believe the bits of our book that suit you."nnThese days in our schools it's common place for kids to be taught that if they can't see it, touch it, hear it, measure it, analyse or quantify it... it probably doesn't exist.nnBut what if it does?nnSurely there are lots of things which do exist but are not necessarily logical?nnStuff that doesn't necessarily fit into our nice, neat, predictable, safe, conventional-thinking-box.nnWhat if those who teach... don't know?nnWhat if those that make the 'rules' (about what should and shouldn't be taught) don't know?nnOr care?nnWhat if our kids are 'learning' from the ignorant and un-enlightened?nnNot only do they have their creativity beaten out of them by a system which frowns upon creative expression and celebrates 'academic' excellence... but now they're being discouraged from exploring and developing an important part of who they are as people; their spiritual selves.nnI'm not suggesting the mandatory teaching of any particular philosophy or theology... but I am suggesting that we don't beat the natural curiosity out of our kids by imposing spiritual sanctions or completely indoctrinating them with overtly humanistic teaching and thinkingnnOkay.. so that would be the end of part one.nnIt's a good thing I didn't have a plan!nnAnd all this from a scientist... who'da thunk it?nnHope I haven't weirded you out, too much.nnLet me know your thoughts and where you're from.nnPart two... soon.