If we experience life in the present without guilt, fear, and especially without judgment of others and ourselves, I believe that we will reach a "critical mass" of positive energy that will sweep the majority of this planet up in its light. This is al

Will the Real WORLD Please Stand up?

A guide to everyday spiritualityBy John Stegmaier

BALBOA PRESS

Copyright © 2012 John Steigmaier
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4525-5004-6

Contents

Section 1: Introduction and Foundation...............................................1-Reader's Orientation................................................................2-A Life of Lessons...................................................................4-Foundation: The Life That Shaped The Thoughts.......................................6Section 2: Perspectives..............................................................13-Turning Points......................................................................14-Namaste'............................................................................17-What is the "real" world?...........................................................19-The Ego World and the Spiritual World...............................................21-The Ego "real" World................................................................25-The Spirit "real" World.............................................................30-You attract what you think about whether you fear it or love it.....................34-Some Of The Science Involved........................................................39-Evidence for this existence.........................................................50Section 3: Application...............................................................59-Environment/Ecology.................................................................60-Human Interaction...................................................................69-Peace And Harmony Or Anger Conflict And War.........................................83-Worry And Regret Or Presence........................................................94-Responsibility......................................................................105-Consumption And Consumerism.........................................................114-Religion And A Spiritual Existence..................................................126-Entitlement.........................................................................138-Victims Or Learners.................................................................144-God Image...........................................................................157Section 4: What, How, Why............................................................165-What Is The Real World?.............................................................166-How Do We Get There?................................................................171-Why Bother? My Wish For Us All......................................................188-Our ON-GOING Spiritual Journey......................................................201Afterword............................................................................209Notes:...............................................................................210Credits and recommended reading......................................................211

Chapter One

Section 1: Introduction and Foundation.

1. This first section, you are exposed to the events, thoughts, responses, etc that have occurred in my life and in the world that have shaped my thought process.

2. Additionally, you will note that an extensive amount of quotes, written or spoken by highly enlightened people are cited to support various ideas in the book. Those not cited are simply ideas that I wished to emphasize.

3. Finally, I have left some blank pages at the end of this book. If you are like me, I always need a place to make notes on particular ideas that strike a chord with me.

Reader's Orientation

This book has been written in several parts. The first, delineating what I have felt for a great many years, and what I think many of us feel, about the existence of two separate worlds. I call them the Spirit "real" World and the Ego "real" World ... these are perspectives and are just as "real" to the people that view life in one way or the other.

Secondly, there are a number of societal comparisons from the perspective of each of these worlds, based on observations, perspectives and weaving in the philosophies of several amazing life teachers.

This book is concluded with a discussion of the choices that we must all make over the course of our lives based on which world we "see." There is no right and wrong dualism here.

Additionally there are "turning points" between those who live a spiritual existence and those that live in ego world. Those reading a spiritual book may seek practical methods to move from one perspective to another. These are concepts, which tie these together and help the journey of our life, as we see it, be founded in a manner in which we are more at ease.

To many these two "worlds" seem paradoxical, but, as you will see, these worlds can be interwoven and are deeply connected.

Throughout this book, there are quotes from a great many spiritual leaders past and present to support the thoughts, and correlations drawn. All of the quotes that I use from other people are cited so that you may seek out more valuable information from those that strike a particular chord of resonance with you.

A Life of Lessons

As most people have, I have dealt with peaks and valleys in life and have sometimes chosen the path of least resistance. Other times life seemed to hit me "up-side the head" like a two by four, and THEN headed down another path. What I can unequivocally say is that EVERYTHING that has taken place and led me to this point has been an important lesson and has pointed me in the direction I am moving. This may have occurred intentionally by learning from great spiritual teachers or by participating in accidental life lessons.

One truth that seems inarguable is that the most difficult times in my life have also been the times that have lead me to my greatest discoveries. I think that is true for most people. I have learned that when times seem difficult, I keep moving forward.

"Never Give in; Never, Never, Never, Never." Winston Churchill

That does not mean that I fought the situation.... On the contrary, I am vigilant in locating the lesson to be learned and in which I will evolve.

We often look at the most troublesome, difficult times from the perspective of the martyr. If we can start to see that these are the most important times in our lives, we will begin to turn life into a wonderful, exciting journey, rather than a burden.

"If you are facing the right direction, all you need to do is keep walking." Buddhist Proverb

It is my hope that this book triggers something in your mind that stimulates you to ask: "Am I facing the right direction?"

I am no monk that has meditated on the meaning of life throughout the course of my existence, although I do regularly meditate, while having nothing but pure thoughts and a clean mind. I am not a learned scholar of Cambridge, although I have read and studied great works by very intelligent people for the last twenty years. I am a man with a humble background, one that may seem familiar to many of you, which is why I feel it is important to get these thoughts on to paper.

I teach high school chemistry, physics, and biology, but I know that science does not have all of the answers. I try to always teach my students to constantly discover and question. I believe that they should never accept things that are observed at face value.

I start every school year by saying to my students:

There is NO such thing as a scientific fact!"

There are theories and laws, but for something to be a fact, means that there can be no other explanation. I have studied enough science to know that we don't know as much as we think we do. Only our egos, even in science, legitimize such a concept of absolute fact.

There is a world of discovery and mystery to be uncovered, and new ideas to be conceived for those who think outside of the box.

Foundation: The Life That Shaped The Thoughts

My teaching experience spans over twenty years and seven different high schools in six different cities and three different states. These schools were in impoverished areas, relatively affluent areas and everything in between. Some were schools with students that had major behavioral issues. There were other schools where students were rarely in administrative straits. I only share this to express to you one observation that I believe:

When you arrive at the heart of a person, I mean the true core of a human heart, after the fears have been uncovered and loved away, that people basically want to go down a path of enlightenment and higher connectivity to their source.

I have lived my life with this belief for many years. Some people call that naïve; perhaps it is, but I can tell you that this has been a happier and more joyful perspective than at times when my perspective was careful and guarded.

Raised the youngest of nine children in a devoutly Catholic family there was seldom time for contemplation. Being born in the early 1960's had an interesting influence on me.

I was not really old enough to know who John F. Kennedy was, but I certainly was affected by the impact of his death, and how devastating a single death can be.

I wasn't really a hippy but was heavily influenced by the desire for a nation to express peace and love as I grew up in the 1960s. This was a real energy.

They possess a core belief set revolving around the values of peace and love as being essential in an increasingly globalized society ... Urban Dictionary definition of hippy

I remember great importance placed on racial equity spearheaded by the great Dr. Martin Luther King. The immense loss of the enlightened Reverends life brought, to the forefront, the importance of viewing all humans as one people instead of separate ... indeed all life as a part of the same loving energy.

I grew up in the 1960s and 1970s knowing that the world was all about peace and love.

In the 1950s Maslow (Abraham Maslow 1908-1970) believed that only 2% of the population had achieved self-actualization (Maslow's hierarchy of needs). The mid-1960s changed all that when masses of people began to search for the higher values, such as unconditional love and spiritual wisdom Owen Waters The Shift: The Revolution in Human Consciousness

As my beliefs developed, I cultivated a great sense of humanity as well as environmental consciousness. None of this seemed out of the ordinary, or noble ... just status quo.

In my little town of Woodstock Illinois, at the age often, I thought everyone wanted the best for each other and peace throughout the land. It was right about that time when the newspapers were filled with the scandal of Watergate. This was my first real taste of the fear side of people ... the ego.

In the late seventies, I moved with my parents to Tucson, Arizona and attended high school as well as participated in sports. I was large and in charge, and quite hormonal (sound familiar?), but basically a good kid.

There were three or four teachers there that had a profound effect on my life. The care and concern for me as I strayed from the straight and narrow path by one teacher in particular stands out. His name was Jack Combs. He was the primary reason that I pursued a teaching career ... Thanks Jack!

I attended College at Northern Arizona University, and learned a great many lessons. There were also significant turning points in my life during this time. I struggled with grades and focus early in my college career, but eventually it all came full circle and I received my degree. A significant life teacher as well as Chemistry professor was Dr. Scott Savage. It was a difficult, and trying time. He challenged me and inspired me as he had done for many thousands of students. Thank you Scott!

I student taught at Coconino High school in Flagstaff. That was when I met the third of the truly inspirational education teachers in my life: Dr. Jim David. Jim was my mentor while I student taught. At that time he had been teaching for 27 years and still did it because he loved the kids. He was not sour and was an inspiration to me. He had great patience and he taught me that every person has something special about them, and they want you to know what it is (by the way Jim, I am still doing the Christmas project) ... thanks Jim!

I went from student teaching in Flagstaff to teaching In Gunnison Colorado with one-year stops in Lake Havasu and Oak Creek Arizona. I stayed in Gunnison for seven years and coached as well. I still do both because I love both. I do not mean to minimize these experiences here, of which there were many. I will be sharing many of these through out this book.

In 1995 my mom had a stroke. This led me to move back to Tucson, Arizona in order to help out my parents. My mother passed away or crossed over, in 2001 and I moved into my fathers' house while acting as his caregiver at night until 2008 when I moved to Idaho. My father has always been my hero. There is great joy in recalling in the time that I had with both mom and dad. They taught me the greatest lesson of life:

That everyone deserves unconditional love

In a way, they were the first hippies in my life. Thank you Mom and Dad!

While living back in Tucson, I taught for eight years at Marana high school; a neat farming community that was very accepting and hard working. In 2008 I moved to Boise, Idaho to live and teach.

I adore the kids that I work with as well as all of the students that have shaped my life over the years, and still love what I do for a living. I can honestly say that my students teach me more lessons than I could ever hope to teach them.

My spiritual journey has taken great form in learning from spiritual teachers. Teachers such as Wayne Dyer, Thomas Moore, Gerald Jampolski, Robert Fulghum, Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, Michael Bernard Beckwith, have taught me many lessons; not the least of which is to always look for the good ... it is there. I have also received counseling from great spiritual people, whether or not they meant to. All of which have helped me to become more self-aware, and live my life by creativity and love.

The passing of my eldest brother preceded the passing of my mother. He was someone that enriched everyone's life that met him. This all seemed to take place very close to each other and I, along with my family, struggled to make any sense out of it, and to find the good. It was a genuinely painful time, but I learned about caring for others and how much people can give at a difficult time (more evidence that all people are somehow connected to a loving source).

The following are some stories about significant spiritual moments in my life.

One occurred exactly one month after Dan passed. I experienced an amazingly real dream with Dan in it. In it he was going over some financial things with me (he was a financial consultant and banker while in this physical life), then he told me he had to go, so he left the room and walked to two sets of stairs; one heading up and one heading down. He started up but then came back into the room to give me a hug. The dream ended at that moment. When I awoke I was so happy and so certain that he had actually come to see me. It was also the first significant awakening in my life. The second story is about my moms passing.

Mom was struggling in ICU. Every breath she took was a miniature battle to make her lungs expand and contract and the nurse was alerted to her diminishing readings on the monitor. All the other family members had gone home to rest. I was the only one in the hospital room when the nurse told me to get everyone back to the hospital right away. I went outside to use my cell phone. Of course it was a grey afternoon and it had begun to drizzle. I tried to get through to dad and my sister, but it was as if all my attempts were being blocked. After fifteen minutes or so I went back in, unable to reach anyone and as I walked in the room, the nurse told me she had passed. As I keeled over in gut-wrenching stomach pain, the nurse said that many people, when they are this close, hold on until their loved-ones are out of the room, then simply let go. It was inconceivable at this time, to think that my mom was gone and that she had the love in her heart and the will to wait until I had left the room so that I would not have to experience her passing. What an amazing spirit!

This was the second significant awakening moment in my life. In the time it took for the rest of the family to arrive at the hospital, I looked at my mom's life capsule. I realized that she was not there. She was all around me. Through my pain and deep sadness, I had a sense of her being free and at peace. I knew then and I know now that she is part of the collective energy that I call Gods Loving Universe. I love you mom.

Perhaps the largest of my life influences was my father. My dad is my inspiration. What an amazing man! He grew up a farmer in Minnesota, went to Loyola Dental School and was a dentist for fifty-four years, including in the US Navy during World War II. The father of nine kids, he, along with mom, taught us a strong sense of love. Two of my lasting images are of him always working hard; sometimes at the office, but other times busting his butt working on the farm we lived at.

The other memory I will always have are his hugs. He even hugged his patients. He gave me the gift of strong self-belief and love. I look up to him as a hero. Born in 1919, he recently passed over to the spiritual realm at the age of ninety-two. To the day that he passed he was a loving, caring man that was active in church, socially, and to this day, I believe he could repair anything that is broken ... including hearts. I love you dad.

Now I don't go through this other than for you to hopefully gain an understanding of the people and some of the turning points that have molded my mind, body, and spirit. We all are who we are due to the influences that we accept in our life and the way that we perceive and respond to.

Chapter Two

Section 2: Perspectives

This section delves into various perspectives of the concepts involved in Ego "Real" World and Spirit "real" World. In addition to the various perspectives of the "real" world, there is discussion on various turning points in life, the Sanskrit concepts of Namaste', The Law of Attraction, and a fair amount of scientific background regarding the idea of spirituality, energy, and our universe.

Turning Points

A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes Mahatma Gandhi

Isn't it interesting the way in which some people respond to the things they attract into their life in various manners? As children, we are "taught" cognitive lessons which shift our perspective from a place of feeling to a place of thinking. This adds to the separation from others that began as our bodies entered the physical world. As we continue to grow, we are taught to use our minds and physical skills more and more and to disregard much of the "feeling" places of our lives. As events unfold in our lives, we view them with what we have "learned" previously and it changes the way that we see things from that point on. So everything that occurs and how we interpret it affects the way that we interpret everything else.

Imagine what would happen if you could go back and rethink the way that you looked at things long ago. It would have a domino effect on the away that you have seen everything since then. Say for example that when you were nine years old, there was a gun accident at your house. As a nine year old, you would process that differently than you would as a forty year old. But the way that this incident made you feel would have an effect on the way that you felt about guns the rest of your life. Perhaps it keeps you away from guns the rest of your life. In turn this keeps you from joining the police force. If you went back and changed the way that this incident made you feel, it would change how you felt about a great many other events that followed in which a gun may have been involved. This would have a significant change in your life. This is one example of a possible turning point. These occur every day and they can all change the direction in which we point our lives. The key is to already have an idea of the direction that you wish to move. That way when these turning points occur, they don't have such a great effect on your journey.

(Continues...)

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