On integrity and manifestation

[Crowdance]

(Apologies for the length; I have a lot to say here.)

The topics of integrity and manifestation, and their intersection, have been much on my mind recently. The conclusions that I’m drawing as a result of my ruminations have changed me a bit; I’m seeing life through a slightly different lens, particularly in regard to politics and what I read here at DU. I’m posting this to our forum because it’s the only one in which I believe it can be reasonably discussed.

(I’m also posting it separately from the other manifestation posts so as not to be thread highjacking.)

I have come to understand that we humans are very powerful manifesting beings; that we manifest constantly, with awareness or not, every moment of our lives. I have read with interest the many threads here that are, whether intentional or not, about manifestation. We have a span of threads from NJCher’s wonderful Daily Psychic threads in which she manifests muffins, relationships and more, to the threads about intentionally manifesting what we want or need. The evidence is there proving we are powerful manifesters.

My own spiritual work the past 4 years has, of course, been based on the eternal question: why are we here? Why would Spirit bring us into this life anyway? I believe I have been given an answer: humans are the manifesters. We are the beings in this world with the ability to grow new creations from the ground of being and shape them into being. We are heads and hands, if you will, of Spirit’s creative drive. As such, we walking around as powerful manifestation machines—whether we are aware of it or not. And we have manifested some awesome and wonderful things, as well as some hideous and malicious ones. I believe that the factor that determines the eventual nature of these manifestations is integrity.

In our manifestation threads we talk a lot about the “right” way to do it; that’s a factor in making sure that our process has integrity. We are careful to put energy only into the things that we recognize as good for ourselves, those around us and the universe. We are careful to consider the outcome. If my understanding is correct, however, that we always are manifesting, whether we are intentionally in the process or not, another concern arises: are we ALWAYS manifesting with integrity? I think we are not—particularly in our political thinking.

This is where my concern about politics and DU comes into discussion. I believe, at this juncture, that we now suffer under the government we have manifested. We created the reality under which the world suffers by acting without integrity in the political sphere. We have made our political choices not with the intention of creating the ideal, but by doing what is expedient or easy, not what is right. We have selected people that we knew lacked integrity to represent us, and now we have a government with no integrity. A government that believes killing and torture are acceptable, that is emptying this world of order and meaning on a rapid and frightening scale.

I read every day here that we have to vote for the lesser of the evils, that we all pull together regardless of what we individually believe is right, that we have to get “our” people in there no matter what. That we want to “WIN.” The truth is that every time we vote we give our energy to the realities that person holds; our energies are held by that politician, and become the reality that person molds. If we give our energies to people with bad intentions, we OWN the outcome—no excuses. We have given our energies to men and women with no integrity, we have created, individually and collectively, a government with no integrity. We ARE the enemy.

Beginning this year, I will not compromise. I will only give my energy to people with integrity. I will not give my energy to warmongers, to bigots, to those who want to deny others the freedom to live their higher purposes. Here’s the equation:

I act with integrity-→I vote only for people who act with integrity-→ we have a government that acts with integrity→this world supports us all in our life’s work.

Questions about integrity and discussion forums obviously arise out of this. Those, I still ponder: what is being manifested here?

[Coyote_Bandit]

1. I have

long held similar views. For me the question then became how to judge whether a candidate had integrity. The criteria I eventually settled on was money. How does the candidate propose to fund the public treasury and how does he intend to use those funds? How did the candidate earn his personal fortune (or livelihood) and what use did he make of the funds? I find this is generally enough for me to have a pretty good feel for priorities, loyalties, work ethic, and fairness toward various groups within society. It is not a perfect measure. But it does largely make rhetoric and political posturing irrelevant.

[Crowdance]

3. I agree that financial integrity is a very important indicator.

Money is the energy with which we, collectively, are able to make things happen in our current society and culture. I, too, want to see a candidate with an understanding of how to gather, grow and distribute that energy. Money is also a powerful lure into non-integrity, either through greed or fear. A good candidate will have the courage and strength to resist the lure.

[lildreamer316]

2. You are exactly right on ! (in my thinking,anyway!)

This whole train of thought you expressed here has also lead me to change the way I interact here at DU, this being the most obvious part of my political, and indeed worldly, expression of myself. It's also part of the reason I spend so much time here on this group; away from the fray and the (at the moment) lower energies of GD and etc.--because the push to be negative there is certainly going to manifest more of same. I am striving to only read the positive, progressive, hopeful things in those forums, and I also have committed to involve my time with those candidates who are embodying those principals. I am trying to be very aware of the concept of being pro-something instead of anti-something.
Thanks so much for posting...I have a hard time articulating what I am thinking clearly sometimes, because I think it so fast!!!

[Crowdance]

4. Pro-something sounds exactly right to me.

Thank you for your post. I have the opposite problem: I have no problem articulating quickly, but I think verrrryyy ssslllooowwly. Which is why I sometimes have to be hit over the hit to get a point! But I'm learning!

[Why Syzygy]

9. The pro angle has been very powerful.

That was one of the main things that stood out for me in "The Secret". I could stop being "anti"! There were people that I still struggled with in my mind. One in particular was troublesome. I have also been searching for an answer to why we suffer 'evil'. I believed this person has acted in an evil way. Last night, it seems I was given an answer. I just got a new perspective. I could finally release this person with love and pure intentions. I do wish I had this several months ago. This awareness could have avoided much pain for people involved in the situation. After "The Secret", I also decided to stop talking about my problems (so much). I still discuss challenges. But I'm afraid I had become such a bore with always one problem after the next. I've even been able to make peace with the religion of my childhood and the people who follow that path. I will never be exactly like them, but I'm not anti any more. It is a wonderful feeling of peace.

This is an exciting path we tread.

[Quakerfriend]

5. Of course, I agree that integrity is everything but,

I do not believe that "we OWN the outcome—no excuses" after we vote for certain individuals.

I am the first to admit that it is hard to ascertain the level of integrity of any individual- as it can change from time to time. This is particularly true with those who hold political office.

I have to say that I applaud you for your own integrity. And, I must tell you that as I reflect on your post I realize that I have been very critical of those who lack integrity- in all walks of life. I have a natural, built in ability to determine right from wrong and act on what is right. I am astounded at the number of people who lack this. And, in saying this I realize that I have been very judgmental of others. In fact, I get very upset with people NOT making 'the right' choices. I am amazed at the attitude of most children which is to take the easy way out, as apposed to saying/doing the RIGHT thing.

I realize that my own judgment of them is in itself lacking in integrity. So, I say we need to act with integrity, vote with integrity and encourage integrity at all levels of society.

And then, it will come to be.

[Crowdance]

7. The only thing we have 100% control of is our own integrity.

As youu point out, it's not possible to ensure continued integrity from our political representatives. I may not have been very clear in my post that the only thing I am laying claim to is a commitment to integrity in my own decisions and behavior. By that, I mean doing what I truly believe is right, and only giving my vote to people who are doing what is right--- and not making integrity-compromising decisions. Agreeing to torture is just such an egregious compromise.

That's what I really meant to say!

[rumpel]

6. Pondering on "integrity" is quite interesting

When you look up the word itself the meaning of integrity includes honor, honesty, moral obligation, credibility and so on. But the basis of integrity lies in one's values, which is strongly influenced by culture and upbringing.
A strict catholic may vote for someone, just because his/her morality and ethics would not allow a vote for someone who believes in the right to choose, but this would be that person's integrity or honesty. Perhaps for that person it is the utmost important issue and all else is "forgiveable".

However, a candidate or elected representative has to uphold his or her own integrity in what he/she has promised the constituents he/she will do, as another meaning of the word of "integrity", namely "accountability" will come into play. I find myself often completely at odds with the dem leaders, and yes, I think they lack integrity, as they constantly calculate and strategize instead of speaking truth, forgetting where and with what promise they were sent there.
But I also believe, a voter's accountability does not go beyond what was promised and or portrayed to him to be the character of the candidate, afterall these are total strangers to us - most of us will never even come face to face with the people whom we have vested our rights and powers to. Adding to that, the manifestation is collective.

Energies - I have to ponder about that one...

Yes, being here at DU has in fact given me opportunities to reflect on many issues differently, but the catalyst of being here was in fact my quest for equality and justice. It started with the questionable election results and the questions I had, whether the majority of people of this country really agreed with policies so contrary to my ideals and why.
I sense there is a lot of frustration and anger here at DU in the main forums - misdirected energies against each other, creating negative energies. Someone would need strong positive energies to participate in those and not be negatively affected.

So, overall I agree with the concept of integrity, but I would like to add the word "intent". I would want to know whether the intent of a candidate is to benefit all sentient beings, equally and justly, and whether he/she is a true public servant or a servant for him/herself or a few.

[Crowdance]

8. I agree that your terms lie at the heart of "integrity"

Candidates who work to your standard of benefit to all sentiment beings and true public service are, IMHO, more likely to be working from their integrity than all the many other qualities which are the antonyms of integrity.

[Why Syzygy]

11. Integrity

also contains the idea of 'integrated'. What you see is what you get. That would be a marvelous thing to have from more politicians. Some are too often presenting one face to voters, but behind closed doors sell them down the river. Glad handing the lobbyists while pretending to care about what happens to our government (of, by and for . the PEOPLE!).

For a short time, I lived a double life. I was not willing to be honest with a part I was playing. We all wear many hats, and that's normal. But I felt very incongruent. Since then I have sought to be the same no matter who or what I'm dealing with. Integrity. It does include honor and honesty, first with oneself and then with the rest of creation. It sure isn't always easy. Like the children, when questions of acting with integrity or taking what appears to be the self-serving way, we may sometimes falter. In the long run, I have found that I am much happier in my own skin when I go with being true.

[Crowdance]

12. Thanks for your thoughts in this thread, VSM

Like, you, I've not always lived with integrity. I've sometimes compromised what I know to be good and true in order to "get along" in our culture. I'm trying not to do that anymore. I had to quit my job and revamp my life in order to get back on track. I think I'm almost there, and this idea about taking responsiblity for what I create has been part of that.

[Why Syzygy]

10. Heads, hands, mouths, ears and eyes

We are heads and hands, if you will, of Spirit’s creative drive. As such, we walking around as powerful manifestation machines—whether we are aware of it or not.

I too have often questioned the reason for existence. Some time back I concluded it was so we could care for others.
That leads to more questions, of course, as most conclusions do.

Last night I was talking to a friend about the very point you make here. She calls Spirit something other than I do. But the meaning is the same. This is also something Abraham Hicks transmits. We create a physical world and all the things that appear there. But there is also another level. Creating love, harmony and balance. Peace. To stop fighting. The awareness I had last night flashed back to high school psychology class. Weird. Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

I've been searching for an answer to why do people hurt other people. We are all the same cloth. One whole. That is our spiritual and biological nature. But there is another, which is called emotional. We all have the same needs. Food, water, shelter, obvious ones. But the human spirit also has a need for security and recognition. This is a new concept so it certainly isn't all clear yet. But it seems to me that taken at length it will eventually even explain why or how the neocons can appear so evil. They as individuals and collective must have some, or many, unmet fundamental needs. Have never felt accepted. What else would power be for? A forced acceptance. But that manifestation does not meet the need. It can't. It seems to be a misunderstanding of self, of where the real need lies. I don't for one minute believe that GW feels safe, secure or accepted. People who do don't go on rage tirades.

Glad you posted your thoughts. I also have to avoid the DU posts that are just snarly negative comments. That attitude just diverts the energy we need to heal the world.

[Cleita]

13. Good points there Crowdance.

I further believe that we need to meditate daily on how we will bring about the change that we want to happen. This is why historically in Europe I believe those in power tried to keep the majority of the populace on the edge of starvation and fear, so that their main concern was survival. Change for the better was not even thought about and the rulers liked it this way. I believe they knew the power of group think and did what was necessary to crush it. I think we need to change this and thinking about it, praying about it, or manifestating it needs to be done on a daily basis to effect the outcome.

I was thinking today about the religious right and how they believe that Bush is a living saint. How do we get them to see that he is the opposite of what they believe. How do we show him in their consciousness for what he is, an instrument of depravity and corruption. We need to get into their group think to show him as not the Christian they believe his is but only a instrument of a corrupt underground of very unChristian people. If they see him for what he is, they will not show up to vote and I think we will have a victory on our hands this coming election

However, we'd better get our collective heads working on this as well as other problems. It's all we have left. If the German people had turned their minds to doing something like this I don't think Hitler would have been so successful. Instead the opposite happened and the Nazis were able to get Germany's support because I believe they were practicing this form of mind control and it wasn't with either integrity or truth.

[Why Syzygy]

14. We have Montessori..

The Germans did not. Was talking to a friend tonight whose daughter is in Montessori.
I will not give one ounce of my belief to the thought that we are doomed.