Welcome to everyone, and especially to new subscribers!
Another serving of mental, spiritual and metaphysical
nourishment for your pleasure. If you have any suggestions
for future content in this newsletter, please send them to:
I have a useful free gift for you coming soon, so do watch out for
it in your e-mail. Basically, I have created a free 14-day personal
growth course from previous articles from this ezine. It is mainly
intended to attract new people to subscribe to the ezine. Yet, it
also contains much useful material for you too. I have added
extra ideas and tips for taking immediate action at the end of
each day's lesson. Unlike many free e-mail courses out there, it
should provide lasting benefit if the concepts presented, and the
action tips given, are taken seriously. I hope you will ALL want to
subscribe to it. So, watch your e-mail for further details!
I hope you enjoy this issue of the ezine and welcome any ideas
or comments you wish to make.
There is one philosophy that you almost certainly hold dear,
though you may be totally unaware of it. It really does not
matter which religion you adhere to, what political philosophy
you espouse, or which country claims your patriotic support.
Almost everyone in the western world has bought into this
concealed system of thought. We accept its claims almost without
question. Its creed forms the very structure of modern
civilization; from the way we do business to the education system
our own children are immersed in.
That philosophy is called..... Darwinism! You may also know it as
"Survival of the Fittest" or "Natural Selection".
If you believe it applies only to the evolution of life, you
would be mistaken. The success of this system in explaining the
origin of natural species has caused it to be quietly adapted to
almost every area of modern human existence. It is how
corporations compete with one another. It is the way that our
children are educated in school. This is also how we reward
success in sports tournaments, where there can only ever be one
winner. Indeed, it is also the way nations conduct international
relations, whether at war or peace.
In fact, it is almost impossible to find an area where
competitive practice, deriving from this survival of the fittest
approach, does not apply. Like the very principles it promotes,
Darwinism seems to have won out against alternative possible ways
of conducting ourselves. This is so much so that it actually
seems absurd to even propose an alternative to it in virtually
any arena where it functions.
For instance, could it make sense to have a political system in
which the rival parties do NOT have to fight it out with each
other for victory, and endlessly undermine each other's views
throughout the parliamentary process? Is it even conceivable to
hold a sports tournament where EVERYONE wins? Could we ever find
a way in which corporations, rather than producing innovation
through product competition in the marketplace, could create
similar excellence through other means?
The list is endless. If your instinctive answer to the above
questions is "probably not", then you can begin to see just how
insidiously pervasive Darwinistic thinking has become. We think
this way without even realizing it.
Yet, the philosophy of Darwinism is itself highly suspect in the
original arena for which it was designed, i.e. to explain the
processes of life, and the multitudes of different species. To
date, no compelling mechanism has been discovered for how exactly
evolution or natural selection are supposed to be carried out. On
the contrary, there are actually many compelling arguments
against them.
In his book, "Darwin's Black Box", Michael J. Behe provides a
persuasive discussion about why evolution is impossible at the
biochemical level, i.e. the microscopic level at which the vital
processes of life take place in all living species. Indeed, he
points out that no definitive scientific mechanism for explaining
evolution has ever existed. Even when Darwin formulated the
theory, he did so in the hope that the exact mechanism would be
discovered one day in the future. It never has been.
Behe demonstrates that even relatively familiar processes, such
as the clotting of our blood when we are cut, are extremely
complex. They involve so many intricate feedback loops and
parallel processes, that they could not possibly have arisen by
"natural selection". These processes are critically dependent on
ALL their components being present simultaneously. If any one
element was missing, the entire process would collapse
completely. It would not work partially, and then gradually
"improve" through natural selection. This system either works
(provided ALL components are in place) or it fails TOTALLY.
Hence, it cannot "evolve".
It would be analogous to trying to explain the creation of a
modern car through purely random processes. If a car is missing
an engine, a steering wheel, petrol, oil, or any of several dozen
other vital components, it would not function AT ALL. It is not a
process of "improvement" through evolution. It is all or nothing.
Indeed, Behe's remarkable conclusion, derived from the extensive
biochemical evidence, is that these processes did not arise by
chance. Rather, they show clear evidence of deliberate
intelligent DESIGN! To the metaphysically inclined, for whom the
universe is an infinite ocean of creative intelligence, this
makes perfect sense.
There are other arguments against evolution. For instance, if it
is pointed out that a leaf-insect looks like a leaf because it
increases its chances of survival to do so, then several
intriguing questions arise....
First, how exactly does the entire species "know" what a leaf
looks like, and purposefully works towards this goal over a
period of millions of years, presumably restructuring its own
DNA?! Second, what was going on in the millions of years when
these creatures "were not quite there yet", i.e looked "a bit
like leaves, but not quite"? Surely, a half-attempt is no
better than no attempt at all, and provides no survival
advantage. Third, if this process is totally random "natural
selection", why do we not see failed attempts to look like other
things, e.g fossils of insects that became extinct because they
tried to look like little dogs or even space shuttles?
If survival of the fittest is true, it is unclear why certain
species have survived at all up to the present day. For instance,
sheep cannot run very fast, and have almost no natural defenses
against predators. It is hard to understand why they survived at
all. Conversely, other species that are supposed to have been
selected for extinction, have a strange habit of turning up every
now and again. The Coelacanth is an ancient prehistoric
fish that predates the dinosaurs by many millions of years. It
was previously only known from the fossil record, until one day
it turned up alive and kicking in a fisherman's net, to the utter
amazement of the scientific community. Since then, several other
specimens have been caught.
It was not "survival of the fittest" or "natural selection" that
ended the reign of the dinosaurs. It was a gigantic meteorite
that literally came out of the blue! If not for this seemingly
random event on one single day, some of the fittest and best
adapted creatures, who ruled the earth for over 100 million
years, would probably still be here right now instead of us.
Indeed, there is clear evidence that throughout the earth's
history, mass extinctions have taken place. On several occasions,
over 90% of the animal life alive at the time died out within
just a few millennia. This has nothing to do with evolution or
survival of the fittest. It is more likely related to massive
global changes of a magnitude too frightening to conceive. As an
interesting note, we are currently in the midst of one
such mass extinction. However, this is one for which the cause is
readily apparent. Us!
Natural selection, survival of the fittest, and even evolution
itself, are not good explanations of the origin of species. The
evidence simply is not there.
Nevertheless, it is this philosophy that has come to dominate the
thinking of our modern world. Of course, competition existed in
human society long before Darwin. However, the teachings of
Darwinism reinforce our innate over-reliance on such competitive
processes by giving them an intellectual philosophical
justification.
Survival of the fittest is a poor explanation for success in
the human arena too. Products often do NOT survive and thrive
because they are simply the best, but for other more complex
reasons. An example that many people remember was the competition
between the two rival video formats, VHS and Betamax.
Interestingly, Betamax was actually the superior format, but it
was VHS that won the battle and became the industry standard
to this very day. In the arena of computers, many people would
argue that the Windows operating system was not the best choice
available when it first appeared on the scene. Yet, through a
process of superior marketing, it triumphed over its rivals,
whose names nobody can even remember today. In your own career,
you may know perfectly well how rarely "the best" ever get to the
top.
Capitalism, is a form of practical Darwinism with an economic
slant. We see survival of the fittest operating between companies
as they fight it out for survival. It is also at work within
organizations, as people act from a scarcity mentality and seek
to grope their way to the top at the expense of their colleagues.
They seek to accumulate material assets and thereby prove
themselves the fittest survivors.
Hollywood is another example. It may have come to dominate the
planet's film industry, but is it really the fittest and best
solution of all? Might the public be treated to a much richer
diversity of entertainment, if films from all countries and
budgets were given similar promotional power to those coming out
of California USA? Might we not also enjoy and promote a far
wider range of acting talent if Darwinism did not lead to a few
"big names" hogging 10-20 million dollars PER FILM? If every
blockbuster was not virtually make or break for the studio, might
they not be more willing to take interesting artistic risks?
Plenty more examples abound. The main lesson in all of this is to
train yourself to be aware of the silent encroachment of
Darwinism into your thinking. People engage in competitive
practice because they believe it has an intellectual and
scientific justification. However, what if there is no practical
proof that it does? Examine where you have allowed such unproven
notions to infect your own attitudes to your career, your family,
your relationships, and the world in general. It is a topic worth
pondering and meditating upon .
Copyright Asoka Selvarajah 2002. All Rights Reserved.
Asoka Selvarajah is a writer on personal growth and
spirituality,
and the author of "The 7 Golden Secrets To Knowing Your
Higher
Self". His work helps people achieve their full
potential, deepen their
understanding of mystical truth,
and discover their soul's purpose. Learn more about his work
Published by Mystic Information Resources. 230 Pages
This book fills an important gap. It is the ONLY book distilling
the secret wisdom of the ages AND modern personal development
techniques into seven understandable and practical steps you can
use to contact the Higher Self.
There have been many books on contacting your divine inner
wisdom. However, few of them give you so many practical
strategies to achieve this union. The emphasis is upon doing;
bringing the Higher Self into your life through practicing these
seven secrets. Also, it is not a "monks only" book, i.e. for the
super-spiritual. The seven secrets can be used by anyone, no
matter how busy.
In researching the book, Dr. Selvarajah delved into areas as
diverse as Mysticism, Buddhism, Mind-Body Science, Meditation,
Esoteric Christianity, and even Neuro-Linguistic Programming.
Indeed, it is the skillful interweaving of ancient teachings with
modern personal development strategies that sets the book apart
and makes it so powerful.
As Dr. Selvarajah stresses, there is no ONE way to your Higher
Self. Instead, there are many paths up the same mountain. With
"The 7 Golden Secrets To Knowing Your Higher Self", you are given
an excellent roadmap to the summit. You can choose the one that
suits you, and pursue it at your own natural pace. This is a book
that will grow with you, and that you will want to read many
times to access its deep resources of wisdom.
If you hate your job, your relationship, or some other part of
your life, you are not exactly a rarity. Many people are caught
up in their own personal crisis. In such a situation, it becomes
all too easy to moan, grumble, and seek to undermine others.
Essentially, you do as little as possible to advance your own
cause, or that of anyone else for that matter. After all, why
bother if you are not going to be appreciated anyway?
The trouble with this type of thinking is that it does nothing to
improve your situation, but does everything to make it worse. By
creating this sort of apathy within yourself, and encouraging the
almost unbreakable circle of pessimistic thinking, it entangles
you ever further in the web of cynicism and misery.
The worse thing is that such cynicism acts like it is your best
friend and comforter, when it is actually the worst enemy you
could have in such a situation. Rather than showing you a way out
of the dilemma, it definitely lands you ever deeper in it. Even
if an opportunity for improvement were to be thrust upon you, you
would no longer recognize it; such are the levels to which the
mind has sunk in its own self-pitying wallow.
Nobody is immune from such behavior. The temptation hits us all
at some time or another. It seems so justified. After all, it was
not you who was falling down on the job. It was the other party.
You did all you were required to do, and what was your reward for
it? You failed to receive the credit you were due, the love you
deserved, the promotion you were expecting, or whatever. You are
clearly being taken advantage of and totally exploited, so surely
having a little grumble, and letting a few people in on your
disgruntlement, cannot be so very bad?
Sadly, it is. For a start, backbiting to others does little or no
good, apart from giving you some temporary respite from the
tension you may be feeling. However, if there is one true rule in
human relationships, it is that you can safely rely on your most
confidential utterances to infallibly reach the ears of the very
worst person you would wish them to - usually the person you were
gossiping about. If that were to happen, ask yourself this; does
it strengthen or destroy whatever good standing you have left?
In addition, you would do well to remember that you are training
your mind all the time, whether by action or inaction. The
thoughts you think make it easier to engage in more thoughts of
the same nature. Thus, by engaging in apathetic behavior, by
doing the absolute minimum required, you only train yourself to
be blind and unresponsive to opportunity when it does finally
arise. Also, your own attitude will be so hardened by negativity
that it will be impossible for you to "flip" into positive
productive mode within a heartbeat.
Worse still, you will acquire a reputation, and it will not be a
good one. People think that if they go on "mental strike" in a
job or relationship, the only ones who will know will be those in
the immediate vicinity. However, this is rarely the case. If you
try to move out of this situation carrying a highly negative
mindset, you will invariably find that your reputation, good or
bad, precedes you. For example, people have a habit of
telephoning around to seek information on prospective employees.
Although you may think your attitude is justified, the message
being given by others in your company on your behalf may be a lot
less flattering and sympathetic that you might like.
Thus, it can be concluded that maintaining a standard of
excellence, no matter what the outward circumstances, is the best
strategy. It is best for YOU, because you retain power over your
own life and give yourself the most resourceful options. It may
seem counter-intuitive, and certainly runs against the grain of
what is easiest to do. However, by taking the negative road, you
actually empower your perceived opponents.
Of course, it may seem to you that in doing your best in this
context, you are only giving away your excellence to those who do
not appreciate it, or will actually take credit for it. To some
extent, this may be true on the short-term. However, excellence
cannot be contained for long. Light shines by its very nature. It
cannot do otherwise. Although some people regularly take credit
for the work of others, everyone knows who is REALLY doing the
work, even if they will not admit it for political reasons.
By maintaining a standard of excellence, and growing your
personal skills, you are making it every easier for you to find a
better situation elsewhere. Indeed, since like attracts like, you
cannot be held down for longer than you actually choose to be.
Hence, by choosing excellence in all your efforts, you set into
motion forces in the universe that will draw excellence to you,
and redeem you from whatever you are currently suffering.
You grow to be larger than your present negative situation.
Change is the very essence of life. Thus, either the people who
are causing you problems will disappear in time, or someone else
will come in and effect positive changes. Either way, your
demeanor, once change does occur, will determine your future. If
your reputation is that of excellence, then you will be elevated.
If your profile is negative and bitter, no matter how justified,
you will be passed over and others will be "unfairly" favored
over you. This is because the mindset you choose to strengthen
leads directly to the life you get to live.
Earl Nightingale once wrote that:
"The things you learn in maturity seldom involve information and
skills. You learn to bear the things you can't change. You learn
to avoid self-pity. You learn not to burn up energy in anxiety.
You learn that most people are neither for you nor against you
but rather are thinking about themselves. You learn that no
matter how much you try to please, some people are never going to
love you."
In all things, it is best to be self-referential. Judge yourself
by your own standards, and set those standards high; higher than
anyone else would set for you. Then, evaluate your performance by
how well you are doing with regards to yourself, and not to
others, their attitudes, their gossip or their enmity.
Challenges will enter into our lives, for that is the nature of
life itself. It is how we respond to them that reveals character
and helps to build it. You can decide to grumble, backbite, do as
little as possible, and take no serious action to improve your
lot. Alternatively, you can act excellently at all times, and
outgrow your challenge. Either way, the choice is always yours.
For your own sake , let your choice be the right one!
Copyright Asoka Selvarajah 2002. All Rights Reserved.
"You Can Manifest Your Desires FAST!
FREE7-Day
Course Reveals..."
How To get rich, happy, and attract anything you want into your
life. Secret technique known only by the world's elite few.
Magnetize your desires, attract your dreams, create a life of
happiness, success and luxury. Join the FREE 7-Day Course NOW! http://www.aksworld.com/Resources/RobertAnthony.htm
"How To Quickly & Easily Achieve Abundance & Power In Your Life!"
Starting today, you can create the life you've always
wanted. Discover how to use your own subconscious energies
for health, prosperity and personal achievement!
but their laughter turned to stunned silence when I made 16
million dollars. Discover how you too can use these simple
secrets to escape wage slavery & debt forever, and easily
generate the spare cash to live as you've always dreamed.
"Dream-Minder Helps You Break The Success Barrier NOW."
With Dream-Minder, you set goals, determine your life values,
record your achievements, and regularly review what really
matters to you. Life transformation is just one step away...
Find out more: http://www.aksworld.com/Resources/Dreams.htm
Disclaimers
Although Aspire To Wisdom is interested in presenting
you with advertisements for quality products and
services, Aspire To Wisdom cannot spend the time to do
the due diligence it takes to ensure that only reliable
services and products are advertised with us.
So you should understand that Aspire To Wisdom does not
represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any
of the advertisements in our newsletter or the
quality of any products, information or other
materials displayed, purchased, or obtained by you
as a result of an offer in connection with any
advertisement.
Aspire To Wisdom encourages you to do your due
diligence before purchasing any product, whether it is
offered here or anywhere else for that matter, before
purchasing. Please use your judgment and carefully
check out those products that interest you.
We accept no
responsibility whatsoever for the content, profitability
or legality of any published articles or advertisements
contained within Aspire To Wisdom.
And, although all of the articles have been chosen for
their content, the publishing of such articles within
this newsletter does NOT constitute a recommendation of
the products or services mentioned or advertised within
those articles.
Be responsible! Always do your Due Diligence before
responding to any offer.
