Illusion 101
Glenys made an interesting point that goes along with a train of thought that I thought we would pursue as a class.
In the past we have talked about maya, glamour and illusion, three properties that distract the seeker’s attention away from the truth so he will focus on that which is false. Any such diversion of attention creates a grave problem for the seeker and can cost him lifetimes of effort before he gets on track.
Of these three influences illusion is the most subtle and difficult to dissolve so the fog can be lifted. Now it is realized that there is illusion of sorts in all three categories, but we are talking about illusion on the mental plane which is in a category by itself. Many would-be disciples spend lifetimes of effort on wrong paths because of just one such illusion that captivates their thought.
Therefore, what we are going to do for a while is go beyond theory and discuss real illusions that captivate many who are good, bad, rich, poor, intelligent and not so intelligent.
I want you all to contemplate illusions that affect much of humanity. We will then itemize them in the form of a permanent list that we will update from time to time.
We will start with the illusion Glenys presented in her post by quoting her:
Quoting Glenys:
Someone has written to me suggesting that I am an anti-conservationist and do not care for the environment by expressing the view below.
Here is my response.
Well, I do regard myself as a conservationist and I have probably done more than most to walk the talk.
I have planted trees on an island near where I live in the hopes of attracting bird life back to it, I support nature reserves, both financially and through volunteer work, and generally support any attempts to create environments conducive to life, including ‘safe’ environments where natural predators are eliminated to give diminishing species a change to recover.
But I do think there should be some balance in how we approach prolonging the form when it is clear that it has outlived its usefulness to the life within it. To me, an analogy is prolonging a human form by artificial means eg life support when the soul has already withdrawn the life aspect.
Spending millions of dollars on preserving species that are on their way to extinction is a questionable use of funds, in my view. I would rather we spent the money on assisting animals that are still evolving within their present forms.
In NZ we have many species which are dying out and to commit vast resources to preserving, for example, 12 birds on a remote island, is stupid, in my view.
But I realize this view goes against prevailing conservationist ideals and am used to people thinking I do not care as a result.
As far as I know, I am a minority of one on this matter so there is no need to be concerned that my view holds much sway 🙂 End Quote.
So what illusion can we conclude from this logic she presents?
Illusion One: It is not always good to artificially save a species just because it is endangered. Species come and go. They are born and they die and when the time comes for them to go then it becomes an evil rather than a good to interfere and attempt to prevent their demise.
Question: Is the solution to this illusion black and white? Should we not seek to save any species or should we seek to save them all – or does the second Key of judgment apply again?
Assignment: Contemplate other illusions which prevail in the world and post them. If they past the test we will include them on the final list.
We’ll end with a quote from DK:
“In the case of the subhuman kingdoms in nature, death is the direct result of this obscure activity of the planet. The only idea as to its functioning which I can give you is that the soul of all non-human forms of life is an inherent aspect of the substance of which the planet is itself constructed; this soul can be withdrawn according to cycles, undetermined yet by science but fixed and certain in their working-apart from great planetary accidents or the direct action of the fourth kingdom in nature. This innate planetary power leads to the death of an animal and-in the larger sweep of evolution-to the extinction of a species; it leads also in time to the death of the forms of the vegetable kingdom and is also one of the causes which leads to the autumnal cycle in the year, producing the “sere, the yellow leaf,” the loss of verdure in the grass, and those cyclic manifestations which indicate not alone death, upon a temporary and passing scale, but the complete cessation of vitality within a form. “Times of perishing” are cyclic manifestations of the “destroyer aspect” within the planet itself. These are necessarily difficult matters for you to grasp.” Esoteric Healing, Page 244
A mistaken notion is not necessarily illusion. A wrong assimilation of a fact is not an illusion but can often be traced to illusion. The difficulty in understanding this is that a person has to achieve a degree of enlightenment to even understand what an illusion is – even though people of all stages can be tricked by them.
There is illusion in understanding the life and death of species for the truth is revealed in an understanding of the law of cycles. To see an illusion one must trace the deception back to the principle which is misunderstood or misapplied. Usually a true illusion will deceive the vast majority of the people.
If we approach illusion on a technical basis we could name millions of them, or at least their effects. This is not what we are after. For instance, we have heard many times that death is an illusion. But if anyone really understood this then they would never die. Since we have no examples of immortals here then we can assume that no one here is able to dispel this illusion. We do not want to talk about illusions that no one in the group can assimilate or understand. What we are looking for are “Next Step” illusions for the general seeker. We have to dispel the cloud covering the next step before we can even consider step two or three etc.
The illusion directly affecting the seeker is the one that has to be faced and will be dispelled by those who are ready and not attached to dogma.
That said let us pick on a brave member and examine her list.
Proposed Illusion:
Love – I’m going to love you forever. Wrong! (Well you can love the soul for eternity, but not the body.)
JJ: comment: Actually we do love each other forever and most people realize they are loving something more than a physical body. The illusion connected around love is in this statement which is accepted by about 99% of the people:
“Love cannot be defined.”
If love cannot be defined then talking about any illusion connected with it is an exercise in futility.
Contemplate where the true principle of illusion is playing out here.
Proposed Illusion:
Death – When I’m dead that’s it! When someone dies, I’m never going to see them again and the list goes on and on. Wrong!
JJ: Comment: The far majority of the people do believe in life after death – I believe the figure approaches around 80-90%. This is therefore not a deception that captures the attention of the majority.
How about the atheist then? Is he caught in illusion? The truth is usually the opposite of what people think. The man often becomes an atheist because he sees through a number of items that deceive tradition believers. He sees the illogic of believing in a white-haired man sitting on a throne listening to every prayer, crying over every sin and being interested in details of our lives that would bore our neighbor to tears. He decides to base his beliefs on real evidence that can be detected with his senses.
The atheist is like all of us. He is moving to his next step in his progression, but is caught up in an illusion that prevents him from seeing his next vista of truth.
The atheist is caught up in an illusion that prevents him from seeing God. Can you tell us what it is?
Hint: Many believers are also caught up in the same illusion.
Proposed Illusion:
Money – If I had a million dollars I would be soooooo happy! Wrong.
JJ: Response: How many people claim to believe that money does not bring happiness? Just about everyone. This tells us that the illusion is in the opposite direction.
Here is what studies tell us about people who do make reasonable money.
(1) They are happier
(2) They have much better health
(3) They are in better physical shape and better looking than the poor.
(4) They are better educated and more likely to explore the meaning of life.
(5) Those who have achieved wealth through their own efforts have a strong sense of achievement.
(6) They usually have reasonable common sense.
Both rich and poor have their problems but it is an illusion to think that abundance will not enhance our happiness, especially if used wisely.
Proposed Illusion
Happiness – The only things that can make you truly happy are …….an endless list of wants and don’t haves. Wrong!
JJ: Response: Illusion does cloud the path of true happiness. This subject is too vast to explore in this post.
Proposed Illusion
Religion – If you believe in Jesus and God you will be saved! Ummm
JJ: response: There is illusion here and it is connected with the word “saved.”
Proposed Illusion
Beauty – You are only beautiful if you have blonde hair, big boobs, long legs and stay 20. Wrong! (Sorry, just had to add this one).
JJ: Response: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder(s) to a large degree.
Proposed Illusion
Beliefs – I cannot change my beliefs because I’m too old! Wrong!
JJ: Response: Actually, according to DK some people are too old. He tells us that about 90% of the people crystallize in their mid fifties and are unable to make further progress in this life.
Proposed Illusion
Health – Im sick because………..all sorts of reasons but never the right one!
JJ: Response: Misleading glamour and wrongly directed emotion are more of the cause of deception around health than is illusion – though illusion can effect the more highly evolved.
Proposed Illusion: War on Iraq – The Americans wanted the oil! Wrong.
JJ: Response: But what is causing this misconception?
Proposed Illusion:
Greenpeace – Save the Whales etc.   Wrong.
JJ: Response: Actually whales and some species do need assistance whereas others are rightfully near the end of their cycle.
Proposed Illusion
Equal Rights – Still not equal because a lot of men won’t do their share of the housework LOL. Wrong.
JJ: Response: To find the illusion here we must look at the true differences between men and women.
Proposed Illusion
Gays – Are only like that because of their Mums etc. Wrong.
JJ: Response: There is indeed a lot of illusion associated with gays and it is held by all even the gays themselves. The principle involved relates to reincarnation and the law of cycles again. I have written quite a bit on this in the archives.
Glenys wrote:
We have discussed this illusion quite a lot so I won’t go into details but one biggie is the ‘war is always wrong/peace at any price’ brigade.
I responded with:
This is a good one, but we have to understand the principle that causes this illusionary vision. What is it that causes many to choose peace at any price? In other words, what is it that causes the deceptive conclusion?
Then Glenys wrote:
Well, I suppose if illusion is a distorted truth, the principle would be a misunderstanding and misapplication of the Law of Love.
On second thought, maybe it’s more a misapplication of a subsidiary Law, the Law of Right Relations.
JJ: Response: Good thought but I would submit that the core cause of the illusion relates to the angle of vision. Those who are caught in illusion here see a small piece of the picture whereas those who are free of it see the big picture.
Some who want war, even when justified, are also motivated for the right reason. Only a handful see the big picture to the extent they know when to fight and when not too.
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.” Rev 19:11
“Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.”
Marion Barry – Mayor of Washington, DC
March 25, 2004
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