Responsible For and Responsible To
13Dec2006 06:33 AM
I
attended an interesting (and excellent!) presentation
last night at the Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library
(RVML) in Ashland,
Oregon by the ManKind Project - Modern Rites of
Passage for Men with Bill Kauth
and
two other men (whose names I didn't catch)
involved in the "Spiritual Warrior" &
"New Warrior Training
Adventure" programs, which
I learned has quite an extensive alumni in this
area; I'd heard some positive comments from a
couple of friends. Their values emphasis on
accountability, integrity, connection to feelings,
leadership and empowering men to missions of
service resonates well with me. The further
mention (which prompted a question from me in the
audience) of the inner feminine (anima in Jung's
archetypal jargon) reminded me of a principle
which I've found invaluable; that of discerning
the difference between being "Resonsible For" and
"Responsible To".
On some level, we're all one, and I'm convinced that the recognition of of our interconnectedness beyond the mere intellectual level (starting with the heart and balancing out all the other energy communication portals, a.k.a. chakras) is key to not only our individual survival (and "thrival" - is that a word? Oughta be!
... That's a lot for our finite,
3D-indoctrinated egoic minds to grasp, (at least
mine, any way! , so... I've found that an
excellent way to approach transpersonal (or, to
use a work I like, metapersonal) is to start
with "home" literally and figuratively. The home
I'm referring to is our home consciousness, and
its various filters, lenses, and uniquely
soul-modified perspectives on the infnite
interconnectedness.
So here's my entire philosophy on optimal relationship to self and others in a simple diagram...
We're RESPONSIBLE <<< TO >>> everyone - Meaning: What we "broadcast, transmit, send out, share, do, say, think, feel, etc." (covers all spectra of of our consciousness, which keeps the principle of integrity intact) symbolized by the arrow pointing away from "self" is what we're Responsible TO. That is plenty to attend to, isn't it!
We're RESPONSIBLE >>> FOR <<< only ourselves - Meaning: What we "receive, absorb, resonate with, agree with, allow to dwell in our hearts, minds, feelings, thoughts, and act upon, on all levels of consciousness, we alone are responsible for. We're not responsible for ANY one else! How could it be otherwise, and why would we each be given a soul and identity if not to be the steward of self?
Immediate disclaimers (or more precisely clarifications): What about infants and children (we might ask)? Aren't parents responsible "for" their children? I would suggest not, since the most caring parent honors the soul of each person, no matter how close and does not violate (to borrow from Gene Roddenberry's spiritual insight jargon) "the prime directive" of non-interference. Asking permission is such a vital prerequisite in all relationships! A parent who responds TO their inner promptings of caring for a child will have plenty to do without needing to be responsible FOR their child. A vast universe of caring exists in the realm of being responsible to each other. When we deprive another of their soul's learning by attempting to be "responsible for" another, we usually are ignoring (often in equal measure) a portion of our own responsibility to that person in finding our deepest integrity, most profound caring and healthy, sustainable gifts within ourselves to share in stewardship TO the myriad of relationships we have with "others".
There's plenty more to say about this; enough for today
On some level, we're all one, and I'm convinced that the recognition of of our interconnectedness beyond the mere intellectual level (starting with the heart and balancing out all the other energy communication portals, a.k.a. chakras) is key to not only our individual survival (and "thrival" - is that a word? Oughta be!
... That's a lot for our finite,
3D-indoctrinated egoic minds to grasp, (at least
mine, any way! , so... I've found that an
excellent way to approach transpersonal (or, to
use a work I like, metapersonal) is to start
with "home" literally and figuratively. The home
I'm referring to is our home consciousness, and
its various filters, lenses, and uniquely
soul-modified perspectives on the infnite
interconnectedness.
So here's my entire philosophy on optimal relationship to self and others in a simple diagram...
We're RESPONSIBLE <<< TO >>> everyone - Meaning: What we "broadcast, transmit, send out, share, do, say, think, feel, etc." (covers all spectra of of our consciousness, which keeps the principle of integrity intact) symbolized by the arrow pointing away from "self" is what we're Responsible TO. That is plenty to attend to, isn't it!
We're RESPONSIBLE >>> FOR <<< only ourselves - Meaning: What we "receive, absorb, resonate with, agree with, allow to dwell in our hearts, minds, feelings, thoughts, and act upon, on all levels of consciousness, we alone are responsible for. We're not responsible for ANY one else! How could it be otherwise, and why would we each be given a soul and identity if not to be the steward of self?
Immediate disclaimers (or more precisely clarifications): What about infants and children (we might ask)? Aren't parents responsible "for" their children? I would suggest not, since the most caring parent honors the soul of each person, no matter how close and does not violate (to borrow from Gene Roddenberry's spiritual insight jargon) "the prime directive" of non-interference. Asking permission is such a vital prerequisite in all relationships! A parent who responds TO their inner promptings of caring for a child will have plenty to do without needing to be responsible FOR their child. A vast universe of caring exists in the realm of being responsible to each other. When we deprive another of their soul's learning by attempting to be "responsible for" another, we usually are ignoring (often in equal measure) a portion of our own responsibility to that person in finding our deepest integrity, most profound caring and healthy, sustainable gifts within ourselves to share in stewardship TO the myriad of relationships we have with "others".
There's plenty more to say about this; enough for today
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