The LIfe Center Philosophy -- Page Two

Spiritual, religious, and philosophic beliefs (or the lack of them) are and always have always been, the fundamental determining factors in controlling human conduct. They are the basic internal programming that determines human behavior. Beliefs, particularly beliefs about God, provide the basic guidelines for all human conduct. They are the basic ground rules for interpersonal relationships. Spiritual, religious, and philosophic beliefs are the sources of morals and ethics. They are the guidelines in conducting our daily affairs. They determine who we believe we are and how we relate to the world.

Can we separate church from state? NO! Because we are, by our nature, spiritual beings. Our spiritual nature. is a fundamental aspect of everything we do, including forming governments. Our religious beliefs cannot simply be translated into an act of worship and then separated from other activities.

Whether truth or fantasy, our personal beliefs, both religious and otherwise, are the framework within which we each live our daily lives. Our beliefs create an attitude within us --- an approach to life that is often referred to as a belief box.° That attitude permeates all of our activities.

Our beliefs become the context° within which we each live our daily lives. It is, therefore, appropriate for each of us to analyze our conduct, and the underlying beliefs which dictate our conduct.

Viewers are invited to read three page which shed further light on this topic:
      (Ref. 1: The context in which Christianity had its origins°
      (Ref. 2: Religion Versus Spirituality)°
      (Ref. 3: The Three Basic Religious Theories/Assumptions)°

#2 " God" --- A Belief ? or A Fact of Life?

A Creator: Both the physical and the circumstantial evidence point to the conclusion that the source of the everything we call physical matter is the result of something non-physical that is beyond intellectual understanding; something which, to the intellect, is unknown and unknowable.°

Setting the Context: First off, we have to acknowledge that regardless of what any of us believe, our beliefs are not going to change the fact that either God exists or He/She/It doesn't. Reality is whatever reality is regardless of what you and I believe. Our beliefs about reality are just that -- beliefs. They do not necessarily match reality. So given this basic fact of life, let's ask a few questions about God.

I have my own Bible / sacred book. Why should I look for truth and wisdom anywhere else?

Well, as long as your independently wealthy, your home-life is profoundly joyous, your sex life is completely fulfilling, your career is phenomenal, you have several very close and completely trustworthy friends, and you’re in perfect health, you shouldn’t. If you are absolutely certain you already know all there is to know, then don't waste your time with us.

BUT, if you're willing to entertain the possibility that trying to stick God into a single religion is like trying to fit the universe into a shoe box, then you have a profound opportunity to see a face of God that you've previously overlooked.

Before we can answer your question, "Do we believe in God?", we need to define what you mean when you say "God."

The False Face of God: Are you talking about a fickle, angry, jealous, vengeful, intolerant, displeased, needy, and violent super-human being sitting on a cloud somewhere?

Are you talking about a god with an ego so great that he demands our worship and a self-image so small that he demands our obedience -- a god so weak that he needs our help to punish the unfaithful and so weird that he murdered his own son as an expression of love -- a god so angry, hypocritical, and unforgiving that he preaches forgiveness and, at the same time, is still punishing people today because a long- dead ancestor ate fruit from a forbidden tree?

Are you talking about a needy, brooding god who offers free will and then demands obedience to rules that completely escape human understanding -- a god who, with what seems like arbitrary unpredictability, heaps great good fortune onto some, horrendous misery onto others, and pretty much ignore everyone else.

Are you talking about a masculine god who created women as sex slaves and servants -- a god so small he can fit inside of your religion -- a god who demands that we murder people simply because they believe in a different religion? Are you talking about "The Great God Money," the most revered deity on the planet today?

If these characteristics define God, then the answer is definitely NO! We don't believe anything which fits that description could possibly be God. We'd sooner believe that the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny were living in our attic.^***

The Faceless Face of God: When you ask, "Do you believe in God?"

If you are talking about the source of all creation -- a source and a consciousness that transcends human understanding,

If you are talking about the sum total of all that is -- the ever-flowing essence of everything -- the central cause of all creation, from the minutest to the greatest -- the source of everything we are and everything we experience,

If you are talking about "An Infinite Source" who/which/that has created a set of invisible laws -- laws that are as immutable as the law of gravity, laws that we each can intentionally use to create our own personal experiences (or ignore at our own peril),

If you are talking about a "God" that we are each a part of -- a "God" that is love, joy, and beauty manifesting itself in what we call the physical world?

If that's your definition of God, then the answer is "DEFINITELY YES, WE DO BELIEVE IN GOD!"

^*** For a more complete description of "The False Face of God," Please see the section titled: "Imagine a God. . ."°

Sacred Mother Earth ...

#4 Sacred Mother Earth:

We Acknowledge the ancient Spiritual teachings which acknowledge the Earth as a living entity.

Many ancient spiritual traditions viewed the earth as a single living being. The Greeks referred to this idea as "Gaia --- The Goddess of the Earth".

The Native American Spiritual Tradition° views the earth, all of its parts and all of its inhabitants (including human beings) as a single living entity. The major eastern religions are based upon the oneness of nature. This concept is also found in basic western spiritual principles, including Christianity. [1] ** The highlights of the scientific basis of the Gaia principle are as follows:

(A.) The evolution of life and the evolution of the planet are one single tightly coupled process.

Life interacts with the environment in such a way that the conditions on earth constantly remain fit for its survival. Life constantly adjusts itself and the environment. Individual species, including humans, are expendable.

(B.) The earth is made up of trillions of living parts which together function as a single, living organism with a collective consciousness. [2] **

This concept is similar to your human body which is made up of trillions of cells that unite in a very finely tuned symbiotic relationship to form a single living organism with a collective consciousness. (See the Hermetic Principle, Correspondence.)°

(C.) The earth is a self-regulating ecosystem in which life regulates the environment.

The amount of heat that the sun gives off has increased by thirty percent since life began on earth 3.5 billion years ago. In spite of this increased radiation, the earth's temperature has remained relatively constant. The Gaia principle states that the sum of the organisms and their activities have been responsible for maintaining the earth's relatively constant temperature and for adjusting the earth's atmosphere to keep it within certain rather narrow limits with regard to oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.

It is highly foolish to think that we as humans can divorce ourselves from this highly-complex, finely-tuned, totally-interactive ecosystem in which we are a minor and quite completely expendable part. Any species that cuts off its own leg so that it can eat it for dinner is destined for extinction.

At "TLC", we acknowledge the Earth as a living unit of life. We are guests visiting Gaia. We are not her master.

We at TLC give this beautiful and glorious creation which we call Mother Earth the same full courtesy, honor and respect that a self aware being would give to any honored and respected being.°

Christianity ...

[1] ** i.e. "Spirit is immanent in everything."

"God is all knowing, all present, and all powerful."

"How can all these fine tunings be random chance?"

collective consciousness ...

[2] ** A collective consciousness is a living entity's awareness of itself above and beyond that of its individual component parts

#5 Ecological Harmony with Our Biological Nature:

In order to survive, humanity must live in balance with external nature (the earth's ecological system), and with internal nature (our animal bodies).

Physically, human bodies are made of the same materials as are the stars and the planets. Human beings are but one small part of an ecological, universal unity.

Humans can go counter to the balance of nature only by paying the price. If we continue our current wanton disregard for nature by pollution, nuclear proliferation, environmental destruction, etc. that price may be the earth's ecological system, correcting itself in a manner that the human species will find very unpleasant. Man is unique and complex, but his body is animal. This fact must be acknowledged and given full consideration.

One of the most significant, meaningful and effective things that we could do immediately, starting today, to change our lives for the better, is to treat our bodies in accordance with the laws of nature, as expressed in the principles of natural hygiene. Our bodies are incredibly magnificent creations, capable of adapting to the most trying circumstances, when occasionally incurred. However, most of us daily pollute our bodies with many unnatural, unhealthy substances, in the name of foods, drugs, etc. Is it any wonder that sickness and disease are rampant and getting worse instead of better?

We need, simply, to stop administering to ourselves daily doses of poison, and our bodies will begin to heal themselves. The principles of natural hygiene are simply, easily applicable, and readily available to anyone who expresses an interest.

#6 We Accept Our Human Nature.

Through the ways of experience and observation, we understand that the earth bound personality has physical, emotional and mental needs that must be met. Human needs cannot be starved out of existence. The more one suppresses a desire the more it yearns for satisfaction. On the other hand, when one satisfies a desire, it ceases to be a desire. Man cannot truly be at peace nor contemplate his "Creator" with hunger gnawing at his belly.

It is our spiritual philosophy and our spiritual practice to transcend our physical desires whenever possible, so that we can be at peace with life. It is our philosophy that one of "the-God-intended-ways" to transcend our earthly needs is to satisfy them while remaining positive or neutral in our effect upon others. Once satisfied, these desires will cease to dominate and overpower our lives.

#7 Understanding the Context that We Live In

In order to live in peace and harmony, we study to know and understand the basic laws of our physical universe, our mental / emotional universe and our spiritual universe.

Scientific laws pervade all of nature. Our bodies survive only as long as we live in accordance with the laws of the physical universe. Our internal universes (i.e. our mental-emotional and our spiritual universes) have rules as exacting and as demanding as any found in the physical sciences. We simply have not been trained to be aware of them or to give them significant consideration. Universal laws are not repeal able. They continue to operate whether or not we agree with them, and whether or not we are even aware of them.

The laws of the universe do, however, have a useful and predictable regularity. If we learn these cause-and-effect relationships, we can then predict, with consistent regularity, the results of our actions. By knowing these rules of reality and thus knowing the results of our actions, we can then direct our efforts at doing only those things which bring about the responses we desire. Studying, understanding and using both the external and the internal laws would make many aspects of our lives much easier. Two examples which we might consider as subjects for contemplation are (1) Every effect has a cause, and (2) The physical cause in cause and effect is itself an effect. [1]**

Some aspects of reality are still unknown to us. We have not yet found the instruments required to translate certain aspects of reality into something we can experience with our very limited physical senses. We started with microscopes to see the little things and telescopes to see things far away. We've developed instruments that can "see" infrared or ultraviolet and instruments that can "hear" very high or very low tones. And so on and so on. Today, most of what we here on earth consider as real transcends the realm of personal experience, (i.e. it cannot be sensed without the aid of instruments.) Likewise, without being aware of and experimenting with the experiences of others, we are equally deaf, dumb and blind to much of the reality within us. As a result, reality and our-perceptions-thereof are often vastly different.

What more will we discover in the future? Who knows? We can only speculate. The question to ask today is "Do we now have enough facts to make the final, irreversible decision about anything?"

[1]** See section 8, Item #1

#8 Life's Fundamental Assumptions

Examining the fundamental assumptions upon which we base our facts would give most of us a tool which we could use to create a totally new and different outlook on life.

Although mankind's logic and facts are usually valid, often the fundamental assumptions, upon which the facts and logic are based, are open to question.***

We tend to assume that the world revolves around us and the family or group to which we belong. We consider our group as superior, our way as the correct way. This creates an atmosphere where we see ourselves as the norm against which all else is deviant and strange.

We are each born into such a culturally conditioned belief system or ready made values which we tend to adopt and unquestioningly accept. This human behavior pattern, known as ethnocentricism, results in humanity holding a plethora∆ of conflicting and often mutually exclusive values. Some of these values must, therefore, be based upon personal prejudices and illusions rather than on truths and understandings. At The Life Center, our consultations are designed to assist people in arriving at the pure source of their beliefs, even when the process is temporarily uncomfortable --- thus transcending illusions and conditionings.

Most of us, however, will not change. We will not hear anything other than what we want to hear. We will reject anything that threatens our existing status quo immediately, without analyzing it. We will continue our old and familiar ways, even when they are painful. And we will project onto others, the above three capacities, not believing or admitting that we could or would do them. Why? Because inherent in learning any truth is the responsibility of acting in accordance with this new knowledge.

*** See item #28, The Self Created Grand Illusion

#9 Transcending Life's Major Illusions

The optimum method for us in determining a proper course on action includes: (a) accurately assessing as much information as feasible regarding our potential actions, (b) seeking the guidance of our creator by asking "What is the best course of action?" and then sitting silently and listening in our hearts for the answer, and (c) based upon the assessment of the probable outcomes and our own sense of what is the right course of action, we choose a path toward our goal.

It is impossible to have complete information. It is also impossible to know with absolute certainty what will happen in the future. Thus, based upon our own inner guidance and upon the best, the most complete and the most up-to-date information, we make assumption about the unknown aspects of life. Ideally, such assumptions are subjected to re-evaluations as new information becomes available.

Unfortunately, many people make or accept assumptions that contradict the evidence at hand. They also refuse to look at new evidence as it becomes available. Thus, they live by artificial truths based upon false beliefs about unknown realities. By treating illusions and assumptions as though they were truth and reality, these people create problems for themselves and those around them. Through such irreconcilable paradoxes, people create impossible personal barriers to success in their lives. **1 They also create social disasters when later down their line irreconcilable errors are discovered. We must all eventually pay for our collective refusal to look at reality. **2

The list of assumptions based upon false beliefs about unknown realities is long and legion. Below is a list of a few of the more common assumptions and illusions upon which many of us base our facts. The list is broken down into three sub-groups, the patently false illusions, the religious illusions and the unprovable assumptions. As the categories overlap, the breakdown is somewhat arbitrary.

**1 For example, most human beings are trying to make life work while living in a mental belief system (a context) that says, "Life doesn't work and it's impossible to make life work." Thus, "in quiet desperation", they either give up or they engage in futile gesturing attempting to accomplish something that they believe is impossible to accomplish.

**2 For some examples of this please see Chains or Choices (by Larapin) Part 1, Chapter 18 "Extinction Is Forever" and Chapter 19 : "The Effects of our Actions on Planet Earth are Irreversible". (Referenced in the bibliography)

The TLC Philosophy