Did you know that there are trees in Africa that, when being overforaged, send messages to other trees miles away to let them know what is happening? They inform the other trees to increase their tanin levels in their leaves so that they will become inedible to foraging animals. The trees that are miles away receive this message and change their chemistry accordingly, saving the species. In learning this, I had to give thanks that humans do not have a monopoly on “intelligence”. This new bit of knowledge also prompted me to take time to look around me and think about the natural intelligence in all of nature and how this intelligence works together for the good of the whole.
I was recently reading about the intelligence of individual cells in our bodies. Scientists have come to know that each cell in our body has its own intelligence. While the cells do work with the brain, they are not necessarily simply messengers for the brain. The beauty of learning that each of our cells has its own intelligence is in noticing how they choose to work together for the common good of the whole body. If one cell intends on being separate from the whole, it wreaks havoc on the body. It becomes what we call a cancer cell, hoarding its resources and stopping the natural flow of energy and good will. On a mental level it becomes its own entity, separate from the whole of the body. On the physical level the cell follows its mental intent, however misguided, and eventually kills the body, and inadvertently itself. So cancer cells are cells that have forgotten who they really are and what their purpose is. They have forgotten that, although they have their own unique intelligence, that intelligence is connected to the universal intelligence for the benefit of the whole (which includes itself). Could it be that in forgetting their connection with the rest of the body, these cells act in fear of the body, which causes them to fight against the very body on which their own life is dependent?
A Course In Miracles teaches that all negative behavior is a cry for help. Negative behavior, no matter the degree, is not evil, but rather fear manifesting itself to the universe as a cry for help. In the same way cancer cells separate themselves from the universal intention of oneness with the other parts of the body, most people see themselves as separate from the rest of humanity and nature. The degree of their feeling of separation manifests itself in the degree of negative behavior or, in essence, the degree of their cry for help. An individual may express anger in feeling helplessness in their desire to experience peace with others. One may gossip about others in order to feel good enough to see herself as worthy of being part of the whole. Another individual may express himself through violence as a way of screaming his desperation in feeling separate from others.
Our society tends to alienate, even more, those who already perceive themselves as separate from society due to feelings of unworthiness and helplessness. We imprison bodies whose minds are already imprisoned and we shun those who are already having difficulty finding their place in the whole. We have become accustomed to judging people as good and bad, worthy and unworthy, better and worse, vital and expendable, etc. In this dualistic way of thinking, each of us contributes to the perception of separation and inadvertently contributes to the negative experience of those who are “behaving badly.” In effect we are contributing to their negative behaviors.
When we become aware of the part we play in the whole, we naturally let down our guard and begin to work in a spirit of cooperation and helpfulness to all of humanity and nature. When we understand further that each person, regardless of what they appear to be manifesting, plays a unique and vital part in the evolution of humanity, we can position our intent from this awareness and seek loving solutions to assist those who are crying for help in the most ignorant and “unacceptable” manners. Jesus led us by example when he made the choice to hang out with criminals, when he saw the perfect essence in those that society would outcast and even when he saw the perfect essence in cells that had separated their intent from their bodies. He healed the sick by refusing to see the imperfection and the separateness that the cells themselves perceived. He healed minds by insisting on seeing each person’s perfect essence under the veils of misunderstanding and emotion they were exhibiting. Jesus led by example and instructed us to follow his lead, even to the point of informing us that we will perform greater miracles than he. He knew that as more and more of us become aware of our Oneness with others, our intent as individuals and as a collective will begin to mirror his intent of choosing to see the perfection in everyone and everything. In our healed vision, we begin to co-create a world of peace, harmony, health, abundance and joy when we see ourselves and everyone else as parts of a whole working together for the common good.
When I feel an ache in one of my joints, my arms and hands offer massage to relieve and bring healing to the joint. They do this out of love at no cost and expecting nothing in return. What if my arms and hands got angry at the joint for the discomfort it was feeling and lashed out at it in punishment? The joint would become more injured and express its injury through even greater pain. When choosing punishment and exile over love and acceptance, we are adding to an existing injury and adding more manifestations of pain to our collective human experience.
When we choose love, understanding, patience and acceptance we are like healing medicine to those with injured minds. Love heals at the source of all that manifests negatively. If the root of a plant is ill, it may manifest symptoms in its leaves and vines. If one simply cuts away the unpleasant looking symptomatic leaves and vines, but does not cure the root, the symptoms will manifest again and again. In the same way, if we cut away the symptoms of our illness of perceived separation, rather than heal it with loving care and acceptance, we will continue to experience negative behavior in our society.
In order to begin the healing process in our society, we must first be open to change. We must be willing to openly examine our ideologies in our cultures, religions and our individual perceptions. We must be willing to unlearn cultural, behavioral and religious ideas that gravitate toward duality in order for new ideas to penetrate. This sounds scary at first, especially for those who have been engrained by religion that their acceptance and safety hinge upon their belief in the tenants of their religion. It can be just as frightening for scholars if their acceptance of themselves is based on the knowledge they have acquired especially when new knowledge proves the old knowledge amiss. As scary as it may feel, it is a necessity if we are to transform into a peaceful and nurturing society and live in our full potential.
Let us trust in the benevolence of a loving God and a loving universe so wholly that we are willing to wipe our minds clean of ideologies and beliefs so that the universal Intelligence can fill our minds with the Good News Jesus and mystics throughout the existence of humanity have known and taught since time began.
Namaste
