Entry 3: Values-Centered Living
Awakening to the Fource
I graduated from Texas Christian University with bachelor’s degrees in Religion and Philosophy. This academic career laid the foundation for what I have come to understand, years later.
Through studying Religion, I learned about many different religious traditions, but found myself particularly fascinated by Buddhism and the practice of mindfulness meditation and how it can be used to quiet the mind.
Meditation and contemplative studies became a significant area of concentration within my Religion degree and, soon, I began meditating — both for class assignments and just for my own enjoyment. Around that time, I also began looking for another degree to complement my Religion major and ultimately settled on Philosophy.
Through studying Philosophy, I became not only a better critical thinker and communicator, but I also began exploring concepts like existentialism, free will, moral responsibility, and consciousness. Ethics became a significant area of concentration within my Philosophy degree.
Studying ethics through the lens of philosophy made me realize that, unlike much of institutionalized religion, both critical thinking and the debate over our values cannot only be accepted, but encouraged. Moreover, these courses helped me understand that values are of our own creation. In light of that, they are (and should be) subject to review and revision.
I didn’t recognize it at the time, but little by little, I had configured my entire undergraduate career around becoming as knowledgeable as possible about how to foster more peace and love in the world, on the individual and collective levels. Although my college career ultimately came to a close, my journey with knowledge had only just begun.
Being in the Fource
In this section, I will share information I obtained through a rodding session (for more info, check out The Rodding Method before continuing reading here). I hope you find it informative and inspiring, but that is honestly not why I share it. I share it in order to contribute to the ever-growing pool of information about the universe.
Be.
Energy values beings.
Beings seek knowledge about themselves and the world around them.
Beings created language.
Language established a framework for communication.
Communication is the greatest innovation in the universe.
Communication not only enabled life forms to interact with each other, but it moved all life forward.
Communication values connection, and everything is connected.
A byproduct of communication and connection is values.
Values are what make beings accountable to something greater than themselves.
Energy moves forward when beings live in accordance with values.
But, beings often become egocentric.
Egocentrism conflicts with a values-centered lifestyle.
Beings’ egos drive them towards becoming more egocentric, but their values drive them towards becoming more benevolent.
Surrendering ego in pursuit of a values-centered being moves Energy forward.
Beings are, however, autonomous.
Autonomy creates the opportunity for selfishness.
Energy cannot force beings to do what it wants.
Energy expresses information and guidance through beings’ values, but beings’ choices are their own.
Beings are not understanding that by not prioritizing a values-centered life, they are becoming more egoistic.
The problem with egocentrism lies in the resistance to connection with other beings.
Connection is crucial to Energy moving forward.
Egocentrism is leading beings down a perilous road.
Communication and a return to a values-centered lifestyle will heal the world.
Beings are capable of returning, but a lot of work needs to be done.
Be open to more information.
Messengers are all around you.
Go in peace.
Being in the Fource
In this rodding session, the Fource begins by drawing our attention to the fact that we beings are inherently valuable. Beings, like you and me, are unique in that we seek knowledge about ourselves and the world around us. When beings like us emerged, we opened up the possibility for knowledge and understanding about the universe.
With the emergence of beings also came the emergence of language. Language not only catapulted us and our knowledge forward; it pushed all Energy forward. Communication between beings enabled information to flow and awareness to thrive in a whole new way.
With increased knowledge and interaction between beings, values began to take shape. Now, notice that progression. Values emerged after communication, after language. They are not interwoven into the fabric of the universe; they are of our own design.
Even though that may be the case — that values emerge because of beings like us — that does not mean values are a trivial aspect of existence. Moreover, that does not mean there aren’t certain values that coincide with moving all Energy forward.
Values inspire us beings to be accountable to something greater than themselves. Now why might it be significant or valuable to be accountable to something greater than ourselves?
Well, because we beings are autonomous, and autonomy creates the opportunity for selfishness and egocentrism. Egocentrism often conflicts with a values-centered lifestyle. The ego seeks things like power, wealth, and influence. Choices driven by ego are often not aligned with benevolent values.
By not prioritizing a values-centered lifestyle, we beings are becoming more and more egocentric. Egocentrism is ill-suited towards advancing the Fource.
The ego is constantly worried about itself, which reinforces individualization. However, an important part of existence is understanding that separateness is an illusion. Everything is interconnected. Everything is Energy.
Communication is the greatest innovation in the universe. We need each other, not only to survive, but to thrive.
The Fource communicates information and guidance to us in many ways, including our values, but our choices are ultimately our own.
We are capable of moving the Fource forward and we are capable of impeding the Fource’s progress. When we make choices guided by benevolent values rather than ego, we move the Fource forward.
Connection and communication are our greatest strengths. By living in accordance with connection and communication, we can heal the world.
