Oneness (Blog)

[Steve Pavlina]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

Oneness

[supertom]

this is your second longest post i think?? But a good one, this is why i read your blog. kudos

[pharmboy]

Is there a fine line between oneness and slavery to society? I am in love with the idea of providing a service to the greater good, but realize that I can't help every one. The requests for help would be overwhelming and my family life may take a hit. I am sure that Steve has gone through this, as he can't honor all the requests for his help that come through e-mails. Don't you have you have to be a little selfish, before you can help others? I really enjoyed Steve's book and found it to be of practical use. Most books like this, I read, and put away on my book shelf. I keep Steve's book where I can refer to it, and am actually putting some of the ideas to work.

[supertom]

Originally Posted by pharmboy

Is there a fine line between oneness and slavery to society? I am in love with the idea of providing a service to the greater good, but realize that I can't help every one. The requests for help would be overwhelming and my family life may take a hit. I am sure that Steve has gone through this, as he can't honor all the requests for his help that come through e-mails. Don't you have you have to be a little selfish, before you can help others? I really enjoyed Steve's book and found it to be of practical use. Most books like this, I read, and put away on my book shelf. I keep Steve's book where I can refer to it, and am actually putting some of the ideas to work.

thats where life purpose and creative self-expression come int, serving from those is the ideal, in my belief.

[supertom]

steve is the Oneness World what you experienced when you did the
"future life-regression"

[bradgatewood]

Oneness is the hardest concept for me to grasp from the book. Doing good in the world is all fine and good but treating everyone as part of the whole is a stretch I can’t really make. I’m okay with giving a homeless person a couple bucks to ease his day but I would not be okay with bringing them home letting them shower, clean up, eat dinner with my family, and borrow my best suit for a job interview. The former is a good gesture of kindness but the latter would be truly embracing the concept?

[supertom]

i agree, you cant wrap people in cotton cool, that why i like what steve is doing creating concoius people is the smartest thing to do as a lightworker

[Steve Pavlina]

When people struggle with Oneness, they're also out of alignment with Truth and/or Love. Most of the time it's the Love part that's the problem.

When your life is filled with too many things that don't connect with you on a deep level (unfulfilling job, shallow relationships, living somewhere you don't want to be, activities that don't inspire you, etc), you're out of alignment with Love, which means you're out of alignment with Oneness.

When your life is filled with things you love to connect with (meaningful work, deep relationships, living in your favorite place in the world, delightful hobbies, etc), you'll feel very connected to everyone and everything because that's your default state of being.

Oneness is the experience of falling in Love with everything in your life. I think the best way to get there is to bring more of what you Love into your life by deliberate choice, not by trying to learn to Love what you don't like.

[MyEyeIsOpen]

I'm really glad you wrote this post, Steve. I have been a little bothered by your Lightworker/Darkworker theory for a long time: I felt like I knew what you were getting at with it, but I thought that you way you presented it simply gave people in a lower frame of reference permission to remain there.

I see it as the first step to discovering inner power-- one that will lead a dedicated student of Darkworking to Love. In other words, I saw Darkworking as a first step toward Lightworking. I saw the reason for your even-handed treatment of the subject as a desire to push people who would otherwise be neutral into motion: motion toward Darkworking if that is what they needed to grow, or motion toward Lightworking if they were ready. Anything but neutrality and impotence!

My concern, as I said, was that it simply gave people who in a state of isolation and fear "permission" to stay there because Dark and Light are some kind of yin and yang, separate but equally valid.

I'm really glad you've clarified that isolation and fear are tools to discover power within one's self, but are not really equivalent long-term strategies for development.

Good post!

(now prepare for the angry e-mail from the people who felt they had your permission to remain in the dark, and now feel you've betrayed their right to be isolated!)

[Steve Pavlina]

Actually I still regard the darkworker path as equally valid to the lightworker path. This article is a bit lightworker-biased though.

For a darkworker, power and control are the top priorities, with ultimate dominance being the primary aim. If a darkworker acknowledged the larger body of humanity, the goal would be to conquer it, not to serve it.

[supertom]

working for the higher good will make you more powerfull than any darkworker, except you wouldnt care about power.

Eventually darkworker path leads you to become a powerfull demon and the lightworker ptah takes you to something of a angel.

so you can be a balrog or gandalf, take your pick.

[Jasper]

Even though you are the one who introduced the concepts of dark- and lightworking to me, I'm not sure I completely agree at this point with your view of them (you gotta love the whole thinking for yourself thing ).

Where in your earlier posts on this subject, you used the concepts as ways of channeling your focus, by showing the neutral effect of not choosing one path or the other, I do feel like in this post, you are actually favoring one over the other.

Now in my view of these concepts, I would have to say, that eventually, I agree with you, in a highly evolved society there would probably be a high presence of lightworkers and very few, if any, darkworkers. However, in the society I live in, there are very few evolved people, to begin with, let alone those who consciously choose a path.

I therefore think that even a lightworker might choose a darkworker path, as a strategy. The old, if you can't beat them join them theory. For me personally, that is the path I'm on. Now I'll be the first to admit that a big part of me choosing that path, has to do with the fact that I'm afraid to make the total switch, and therefor am very limited in my options, but still, I feel, in the end, I'll be a lightworker.

For me, I'm aiming to become able to do major lightwokring work, by first succeeding majorly as a darkworker. As for people being 'hurt' by that, I doubt that I'll hurt more people this way, than if I were to choose the lightworker path, simply since there would be more people to 'convert'. You see, in my company, the aim is to get as much money as we can possibly make. However the way to do that, in our believe, is to serve the client as best we can. In my opinion that is a win-win and therefore a sustainable strategy. I also make sure that when we serve the client, we add value. We don't rip people off and we don't smooch of others. But individual clients, or a specific client, doensn't get me excited. It's the total picture of serving clients in such a way and profiting in the process, that gets me.

As for the control vs. serving reply you made, don't you agree that controlling the larger body might be better for the (lightworking)results, than serving it, given the current status of awareness in the larger body?

What do you think?


PS: I hope you don't mind my mistakes on the English grammar part... I'm still learning .

[Dannyboy1]

It really hit me when you described the levels of oneness. I've been on a live and let live level for far too long.

Thanks Steve!

[Parthon]

I'm still wondering if it's possible to be a "good" darkworker. Could you still follow the principles of power, truth and love even while looking to be completely self centered. Perhaps the "evil" darkworkers are not suffering from darkworker syndrome as much as they are out of alignment with love, and probably truth too.

A truly intelligent person, whether they were a lightworker or darkworker would want to align with all of the principles, not just power.

Do you have to be a lightworker to align with truth and love?

[Steve Pavlina]

Originally Posted by Jasper

What do you think?

I'll be totally honest with you. You're kidding yourself. What you described is someone who isn't polarized either way. You aren't describing a polarity-based mindset.

You're externalizing your power in the form of money. Neither lightworkers nor darkworkers do that. True power comes from within. Money is irrelevant as a source of power. It's the flow of power that attracts money to the degree it's needed, but money doesn't bestow any power on its own.

Imagine Darth Vader saying, "If I only had enough money, then I'd be a real Jedi." Sound rather silly, doesn't it?

Or imagine Jesus saying, "If only I had more gold, then I could really do something with my life."

If you think you need money to be powerful, or if you need to wait until some future event to feel strong, then you aren't aligned with power. Power exists only in the present moment. Either you're aligned with it right now and you're good to go, or you aren't. If you're playing the waiting game, you haven't polarized either way.

[Jasper]

Never mind, I need to collect my thoughts better.
Imagine a wall I want to paint red. Putting blue on it isn't going to help, no matter which way I look at it. So I guess you are right. A minus doesn't evolve into a plus...
I gotta think about this.

[The Wise Turtle]

That sounds a lot like the three sets of stages from the Spiral Growth theory - survival, success, and transcendence. The survival stages are Maslow's "deficiency needs" stages, where resources have to come primarily from outside the self (because the individual wasn't born with them). A small child needs to be given food, water, shelter, educational opportunities, etc. The sucess stages are when individuals start to experience themselves as a part of the rest of the world, while still mostly being focused on the self, and on being able to take care of themselves using both internal and external resources. And the transcendent stages are Maslow's "being needs" stages when individuals are motivated by the desire to care for the whole world.

The three stages you've offered to us, Steve, are basically the same as the Spiral Growth theory sets of stages, except that the Spiral Growth theory includes a third dimension of healthy vs. unhealthy growth. Those who don't get their needs met in a healthy way, will be sick, and not be able to grow into successful, interdependent individuals. Those who's needs are met, especially at the bottom levels of Maslow's hierarchy (nutritious food, clean water and air, rest/exercise, sensory input, shelter, love and belongingness, effectiveness, etc.) will naturally grow, healthfully, into successful, happy, creative, effective, and transcendent individuals.

Also, healthy transcendent individuals realize that everyone, no matter what stage they are at, is valuable and contributes to society, even those in the survival stages (self-focused), especially since giving to others and helping others (such as those extra needy folks in the survival stages) makes us healthier. Generosity heals, everyone...

Peace, Love, and Bicycles,
Turil

[Dan.Linehan]

Great post. I just got to the One World exercise in the book last night.

The issue I run into when I visualize Utopia is how to handle the people who are creating problems in it. What would eighteen year old Steve listen to. Is jail the only option?

It's like a clean room versus a dirty room. There are only a few ways to arrange things inside a room to make it look clean, but there are infinite scenarios and permutations where a room looks messy. And it only takes one person a few minutes to completely trash a room.

[Dan.Linehan]

If everything is fractal, and our planet becomes a mostly diseased cell within the larger body of the universe, I wonder if another planet will kill our planet off.

[dbstraight]

I think this may be your best post ever, Steve. I wasn't sure before, but now I know I HAVE to have your book.

[Elrond]

Originally Posted by supertom

Eventually darkworker path leads you to become a powerfull demon and the lightworker ptah takes you to something of a angel.

What does that mean in non-fairytale language? No offense.

so you can be a balrog or gandalf, take your pick.

I'd rather be a somewhat careface half-elf.

[MyEyeIsOpen]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Actually I still regard the darkworker path as equally valid to the lightworker path. This article is a bit lightworker-biased though.

For a darkworker, power and control are the top priorities, with ultimate dominance being the primary aim. If a darkworker acknowledged the larger body of humanity, the goal would be to conquer it, not to serve it.

Steve, be serious. I think you're reaching to make a connection that isn't there -- how can one be permanently aligned with fear, and live in an isolated mindset, without stunting personal growth?

Please, I'm honestly interested: how do you reconcile this article with the assertion that darkworking is equally beneficial?

[Erin Pavlina]

I have long wondered if our planet will be seen as a cancer cell or a helper cell to the larger body of the universe. Fixing and saving the planet has a lot to do with aligning with oneness and that, of course, involves managing ourselves and deciding how we want to behave.

As for not being able to help everyone, I used to have this issue too. Until I realized that there are many lightworkers out there, and the more there are, the more people we can help. I do my part. I now know and understand I can't help everyone, but that will not stop me from helping as many as possible and trusting the other lightworkers in the world to help the ones I can't get to. Don't be overwhelmed by the task at hand. There are many "soldiers" in the lightworker "army." Do what you can, where you can, as best you can.

[Orange]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Actually I still regard the darkworker path as equally valid to the lightworker path. This article is a bit lightworker-biased though.

For a darkworker, power and control are the top priorities, with ultimate dominance being the primary aim. If a darkworker acknowledged the larger body of humanity, the goal would be to conquer it, not to serve it.

I like What you said here.
It made me think of your choice of live in a differnt way when it comes to lightworkers and darkworkers.
Its kinda like computer games like being a darkworker is kind of like playing a game like comand and conquer or theam hospitle or theam park or that kind of game and being a lightworker is like playing a shoot em up game or somthing when your playing directly.
But the goal of the game of life isnt the competativeness its about enbraceing your reality and everything in it.
But still the same kind of structures as games like that.

[vishnu403]

A similar concept is the one found in the Vedas, Vasudhaiva Kudumbakam - One World One Family. Stephen KNapp explains this concept wonderfully.

The Whole World is One Family

From the article:

the Vedic system means a way of life that aims at the elevation of everyone in society to a higher level of consciousness

We are birds of the same nest. Wearing different skins, speaking different languages, believing in different religions, and belonging to different cultures – yet we share the same home, our earth. Born on the same planet, covered by the same skies, gazing at the same stars, breathing the same air, we must learn to progress happily together or miserably perish together. For humans can live individually but can survive only collectively.

[Adrienne]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

There are many "soldiers" in the lightworker "army." Do what you can, where you can, as best you can.

Can we call the army Starfleet?

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

If everything is fractal, and our planet becomes a mostly diseased cell within the larger body of the universe, I wonder if another planet will kill our planet off.

You bring up a good point Dan, i had not thought of it like that. If we are heavily diseased planet, will other planets attempt to kill us off by depriving us of resources, or attempt to "fix" us?

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

You're externalizing your power in the form of money. Neither lightworkers nor darkworkers do that. True power comes from within. Money is irrelevant as a source of power. It's the flow of power that attracts money to the degree it's needed, but money doesn't bestow any power on its own.

Imagine Darth Vader saying, "If I only had enough money, then I'd be a real Jedi." Sound rather silly, doesn't it?

Or imagine Jesus saying, "If only I had more gold, then I could really do something with my life."

If you think you need money to be powerful, or if you need to wait until some future event to feel strong, then you aren't aligned with power. Power exists only in the present moment. Either you're aligned with it right now and you're good to go, or you aren't. If you're playing the waiting game, you haven't polarized either way.

This was one of the harder lessons i have learned in the past few years. Money, position, castles, whatever, dont build power. A person is powerful regardless of what they have; they are powerful because of who they are.

Great article Steve.

Adrienne

[jfhorsfield]

Great topic. This shares obvious parallels with quantum physics and how certain matter is entangled as one, because afterall we are all one in the universe. It is the conscious mind which seems to try and differentiate. You must learn to harness the powers of the subconcious mind to get ahead it seems.

[Steve Pavlina]

Originally Posted by MyEyeIsOpen

Steve, be serious. I think you're reaching to make a connection that isn't there -- how can one be permanently aligned with fear, and live in an isolated mindset, without stunting personal growth?

Please, I'm honestly interested: how do you reconcile this article with the assertion that darkworking is equally beneficial?

Fear serves as fuel for a darkworker. Basically it gets twisted into the drive for power and control, which is an inner rebellion against fear. A strong darkworker can also turn around and use fear as a motivator for others (ala Machiavelli).

As for darkworking being beneficial, it's a valid path of growth. Trying to understand it from the outside looking is a daunting task. But recognize that people do choose this path.

[Fullcrum]

Super on-point.

I sent this article to family and friends. I hope they enjoy this as much as I did.

Great synthesis of ideas.

[Plato]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Fear serves as fuel for a darkworker. Basically it gets twisted into the drive for power and control, which is an inner rebellion against fear. A strong darkworker can also turn around and use fear as a motivator for others (ala Machiavelli).

Hi, Steve. What's the distinction between power and control as you mean them, if any?