Brass Ring Bookstore Perspectives

Index of Articles

Humanity, Nature, and All That Is

by Jim Schütte

As published in the Volume 1 - Winter 2000 edition of Brass Ring Bookstore Perspectives

I often find myself lurking in the headlines. Whether it's over someone's shoulder on the bus, or sneaking a glimpse on a news website, I have a need to know what's going on. I don't subscribe to a newspaper, simply because news reporting generally has a pointless focus on the world's perpetual misery. Yet the allure of the headline still compels me to snatch a glance, and when I find myself reading further, I can easily become deeply disturbed by a disgruntled employee gone amuck with a pistol at his jobsite, or frightened by a corporation recklessly pumping hormones and antibiotics into milk-producing cows. I then imagine myself as a co-worker diving stray gunfire and trying to rescue the injured, or feeling the stab of a poor cow's injection while she must put weight on her disintegrating hooves.

It's so easy to get "involved" with the story, to identify with it, especially when we have every incentive to do so. We're encouraged to be informed. Yet at what price? When we're so wrapped up in these kinds of news stories, it seems impossible to believe that people are of good intent. Yet to deny this focus would be to blind oneself to a central concept in the Seth material.

Good intent is mentioned throughout Seth's work. He stresses it's importance, particularly when his readers tend to condemn humanity for it's acts of stupidity, arrogance, violence, and genocide. In a particularly compelling chapter of The Nature of the Psyche, Seth takes Jane and Rob to task for following this critical line of thinking. He provides us with a wonderful encapsulation of good intent that we can break down into seven key points that illuminate its dimension and significance.

Primary and Secondary Experience

According to Seth, the biggest culprit we have for dismissing humanity's good intent is to confuse primary with secondary experience. Seth describes primary experience as the immediate events surrounding you and your body, while secondary experience is something we read about (like when I lurk in the headlines). Problems arise when we imaginatively accept secondary experience as primary events. Our bodies are ready to leap up and defend ourselves, or flee harms way, but our bodies are sitting at home, under a blanket, drinking tea, reading or watching TV. This can become a serious problem when the panicky reaction is projected into the future, all the while denying the physical body a way to react. Seth suggests a sound solution to this confusion. "To do this, rely upon your immediate sense data, not secondary experience as described" (ibid.) If one truly is in harm's way, then the distinction between these two kinds of experience would be clear. Yet when that's not the case, distinguishing these two experiences is critical because "You only add to their unfortunate nature by negatively brooding upon what might happen in the future..." (ibid.).

Nature

Seth often emphasizes that we are connected to nature. Further, he also discusses how nature itself is of good intent. "Each animal knows that in time of hunger it might be hunted by another. Except for those situations, however, the animals are not afraid of each other. They know that each other animal is of good intent" (session 799). This idea of nature being of good intent sounds ludicrous in the face of Darwinian ideology, yet embracing this concept automatically couches humanity in a natural basis of comfort, creativity, and inspiration. The seasons themselves remind us of nature's overall good intent, for their ebb and flow provide a healthy cycle of abundance to unfold into our daily physical lives.

Free Will

Good intent exists in a framework where all consciousness has free will. This includes, of course, the choice not to act in accordance with nature. Because we are physical beings, we can express ourselves physically in ways that may be at best shortcomings, and at worst atrocities. Seth talks about the importance of having this free will in the context of physicality, where symbols and ideas are projected outward into reality. "If they could be tested mentally in your context, there would be no need for physical human experience" (ibid.). Therefore, humanity exists in a physical framework, based in nature, where we have ultimate freedom.

The Human Artist

Freedom and responsibility are always entwined. There are those of us who make a habit of pointing out the flaws and irresponsibilities of humanity. Seth naturally offers another perspective. "To identify man with his poorest works is to purposefully seek out the mars, the mistakes, of a fine artist, and then to condemn him. To do this is to condemn yourself personally" (ibid.). The stupidities, errors of judgment, and disregard for humanity and the planet are not our finest work. Yet to focus on these acts alone leaves a false impression of "the artist," overshadowing our greatest works and achievements.

Exuberance

For Seth, an exuberant or life-affirming attitude is essential for experiencing good intent. Exuberance makes good intent hands on, and psychically links the individual with the good intentions of others. "If this is cherished, nurtured, encouraged, then additional life energy is generated that is not needed for purposes of daily private life-a superabundance, that can be effectively directed in those areas of the world where help is most needed" (session 800). Unlike focused secondary experience, our exuberance literally nourishes those who truly face traumatic primary events by adding to their personal power.

Thought In terms of good intent, the power of thought is unmistakable. How we think about humanity has an undeniable impact on how we view our fellow man and woman. Yet those who are humanity's biggest critics are often privately even harder on themselves. Seth comments on this behavior: "It is not virtuous to count your failings. Self-conscious righteousness can be a very narrow road" (ibid.). If we recognize the "graceful integrity" of our own individuality, then we can impress upon others their abilities and strengths. This kind of genuine encouragement gives magical vitality to those facing challenges, yet also to all of humanity through the webwork of our interconnected lives. No one is an island, and thought aptly demonstrates the reality of good intent.

All That Is

No discussion of good intent would be complete without pointing to the ultimate reality. All That Is represents all consciousness, physical and non-physical, that forms the universe we know and that which we've yet to encounter. According to Seth, All That Is "vibrates with desire." "You are a portion of All That Is; therefore the universe leans in your direction. It gives. It rings with vitality. Then forsake beliefs that tell you otherwise" (ibid.). Hence, if we recognize the good intent of All That Is by acknowledging our own good intent, we can experience the real and sincere good intent of others, without a short-sighted and listless condemnation of humanity. In a sense, knowing good intent means trusting in the good intent in you and your desire. That trust is the same trust All That Is gave to us when It dreamt us into being as free-willed creatures who have embarked on an ultimate life journey. By lending ourselves the same credit All That Is has given us, we can experience the true nature of our good intent.

These perspectives on good intent cast a different light on humanity than what we may read in the headlines. So instead of accepting accounts of treachery, war, or violence in far-away places as examples of humanity's stupid nature, look at it as a work in progress, perhaps on its way to a better achievement. And take action; lend your exuberance. Call a friend and tell them sincerely how impressed you are with their accomplishments. Recognize that you are couched in nature and the seasons, in the present moment. And perhaps most of all, recognize and trust your own good intent as a meaningful aspect of All That Is. Perhaps humanity will sense your efforts, making all our supposed failings just a little bit lighter than they were before.

Jim Schutte is co-editor of WellSpring and ran the Value Fulfillment DreamLab at www.valuefulfillment.com. He lives in Berkeley, CA with his life partner, Kelesyn Winter.