Be Careful What You Ask For

Posted on December 6, 2019 by Author Richard F Holmes

A very greedy construction mogul wanted to get his latest project off the ground. For the project to be successful he required an on-site water source in order for his planned operation to run. He identified the area where his project should take shape; he simply needed to find the exact spot. He’d heard a rumour that there was a rich underground water source at a particular location, however, if he were to go ahead in that particular spot it would be very detrimental to the local people, causing untold disruption to their lives. The mogul had no qualms about this and simply wanted his project finished so that the money could start rolling in.

The greedy businessman had heard that there was a wise master in the region, and on learning that the master ran a hermitage in a nearby village, set off at once to seek his guidance. Showing no manners at all the man barged into the hermitage demanding to see the master immediately. He was pointed in the direction of the hall where the master was giving a discourse. He walked straight through the master’s followers who were all seated on the floor listening intently, and thrust the blueprint of his project right under the master’s nose.

Without pausing for breath he went into great detail about his plans and the need for a good quality on-site water supply; all the while the master smiled and nodded slowly, as if in agreement. Finally, the mogul demanded, “so can I drill there?” The master, still smiling peacefully, said, “yes, you can drill there with confidence.”

Within days, huge trucks carrying all the drilling equipment came rolling into the area. Tests were to be carried out to find the best spot to commence the drilling; all of which was at great financial expense to the businessman. Before long the rig was set up and drilling commenced. They drilled quite deep but there was no sign of water. “No problem”, thought the mogul, “the master said I could drill with confidence, so we will just go deeper.” They drilled some more and there was no sign of water, so they drilled ever deeper; to depths that were much greater than the norm. When there was still no sign of water, the frantic mogul went back to the master, once again barging in to the hermitage and demanding council with him. The master was sitting peacefully in the garden and the man approached him, “I came to see you before and you told me I could drill with confidence in that location. I’ve drilled to the greatest depths I’ve ever drilled but there is no sign of water.” “I could have told you that”, said the master. “You didn’t ask me if you would find water, you only asked me if you could drill and I said you could.”

This little story reminds us that we need to be very careful what we ask for. It is so important to understand that the ever-generous universe will ONLY give us EXACTLY what we ask for. We all know people who are constantly complaining; never happy with their lot. What those people don’t realise is that “the lot” they are complaining about is being created and recreated over and over again by themselves and no one else. When we constantly affirm “I want”, “I need” etc. the universe receives our message of affirmation that our lives lack, and duly obliges by giving us more lack. Likewise, when we constantly affirm “I am useless”, “I have no worth” etc. the universe will bring more situations to our lives that will further nurture such feelings. The universe has no judgement, it listens intently to the thoughts our minds churn out, processes those thoughts, and then manifests our grandest version of the greatest vision of what we believe about ourselves and the lives we have. Had the man in our little story given more consideration to others, had he not been blinded by his own greed and ignorance, he would not have wasted so much time and money by drilling in the wrong place.

This is a concept that many would have difficulty accepting; especially those who are suffering. However, I can say with hand on heart, that it was only a grasp of this understanding that ultimately helped me to rise up out of the darkness. Once we realise that no one is in control except us it opens the door to magic!

Left Or Right? Does It Matter?

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Author Richard F Holmes

Those of you who followed my story of personal evolution, will know that I come from a working-class background; and indeed, you may have deduced that I am proud of my roots and would not swap my life for anything. My politics have always been very left; simply because I have always detested bigotry and prejudice of any kind. In the UK (I can’t speak for any other country) we still have a ridiculous class-system that should have been confined to the rubbish bin centuries ago. Indeed, the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots” seems to be growing wider by the second. Also, unless you have been living in your own bubble this last few weeks, you will be aware that the UK had a visit from a certain POTUS recently, that caused a stir, to say the least.

These days I try very hard to look at things from the bigger spiritual perspective, although I must admit, that if I see something on social media that appeals greatly to the old me, I can’t resist the odd retweet or repost here and there. So, what is the bigger spiritual perspective when it comes to the murky world of politics?

Well, I’m sure it may mean different things to different people, but what it means to me is this. Everything in this illusory world only exists in relationship to its relative opposite; in fact, if it ain’t got a relative opposite it don’t exist! To take that a step further, you can only experience or express something in this world if it has a relative opposite. Without grief there would be no joy, without the bitter there would be no sweet; the list is endless. So, the implications are that when you express something, a political view for example, you are actually helping to endorse its polar opposite. The left can only exist because of the right, and vice-versa.

We must also remember that old chestnut, “as without, so within”. So, when the circus comes to town, as it recently did in the UK, what we are seeing, and in our case what the majority of people ridiculed, was only a reflection of what is going on within ourselves at some level of our being. Making that statement doesn’t mean that I agree with the person in question’s views. But, what I am saying is that right and wrong are only relative in relationship to each other, and are concepts constructed by the mind about a certain thing. It is also worth bearing in mind that nothing can happen unless the collective consciousness of our species wills it so.

So, what’s the answer? Once again, this is just my personal point of view. First of all, scroll up and read my opening paragraph again. Did it seem quite negative in parts? My use of the word “detest”, for example? Even though I only wrote that paragraph from the perspective of my actual experiences in my own country, there was a hint of aggression in there; and the left are supposed to be the good guys! (There I go again). I honestly believe that the answer to this conundrum is in my good friend, Zen. Zen is a state of Being; or pure Consciousness.

There is no relativity in Consciousness, and Consciousness is our true nature; therefore there is ultimately no left or right, no right and wrong etc. So, whoever you are and wherever you find yourself at any given time, simply act from the perspective of Consciousness, to the best of your ability, and be an example; a shining light, to others. That is all any of us can do really. Once we understand that the world and all its shenanigans are simply the crazy construction of our own minds, we can go about helping to reduce its craziness.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record I want to finish by using an old Zen saying that I’ve used many times before. “Be as a hollow bamboo”. In other words, don’t “do”, don’t be left or right, right or wrong; just be as a hollow bamboo and allow the higher power to work through you. Allow magic to work through you; indeed, allow yourself and the example you set to those around you to be magical.

Interesting…

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Author Richard F Holmes

First of all I would like to wish you all a belated Happy New Year and I hope 2014 brings you lots of magic and abundance. The drawing to a close of 2013 and onset of the new year have certainly left me with a situation that I can best describe as “Interesting”.

It would not be appropriate for me to go into details, but suffice it to say I have a difficult situation to contend with and I am just grateful that I have my health and my spiritual understanding to help me through it. I am sure that before long my current circumstances will be nothing but a distant memory as these things have a habit of resolving themselves. But in the meantime I hope that these few words find you all healthy and happy and I’m sure I will be back to writing stuff that’s interesting for all the right reasons before long. Bye for now!