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...