Meditation: Space as it relates to Mind and Universe

Meditation Session from the Responsive Universe

Awareness of Space within the Mind and our Surroundings….

In this meditative session, we will begin as usual with rhythmic breathing. Breathing will continue to be the mainstay of all your sessions. Breathing in and out and connecting to this pattern of mindfulness centers your energy and concentration to an apex of clarity and awareness. Once you feel your breathing is free of effort, focus on your internal body. Mentally travel from your toes all the way to your head, internally checking in on your limbs, your heart, and your mind. Do you feel pain? Are your muscles tense or relaxed? Being mindful of your body allows you to connect to something more personal and intimate. It also keeps your mind in the present. As thoughts race in and out of your mind, greet them, label them, and move on. This time, try a new mantra which will help refocus your attention on your breathing: “Breathe in positive energy, breathe out space.” The quality of boundless space is the focus of this exercise. At some point during your meditation, visualize the heavens above at night. Call on that information you learned in high school science, and visualize the planets in the solar system. First visualize our Sun, blazing hot and the center of our planetary family. The Sun is so huge you can fit 109 Earths across its fiery diameter. As we travel away from our host star, we see Mercury. Dwarfed by the Sun, its environment is airless and strewn with craters. Minutes later, we pass Venus on our visual journey. Venus is about the same size as Earth and light beige clouds obscure its surface. Quickly, we pass our own planet, blue and teeming with life. We have already traveled 93,000,000 miles. We next pass the red planet of Mars and then Jupiter. The largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter is eleven-times the size of Earth. Our journey then takes us to the ringed planet of Saturn and the greenish-blue world of Uranus. Looking back to the Sun is surreal now. We have traveled so deep into the solar system that the Sun is merely a bright dot, almost impossible to distinguish from the myriad of other stars that dot the background. Soon we pass the icy reaches of Neptune and the proto planet affectionately called Pluto. The stars we see at night are merely neighborhood stars within our own host galaxy. Further, scattered across the vast Cosmos are billions of other galaxies home to billions more stars – spaced millions upon millions of miles apart – so vast we have yet to fully see the past.

We have just visually traveled millions of miles in our minds. We visualized our solar system which is vast in size, but is a like a microscopic atom compared to the larger Milky Way Galaxy we call home. Here is a new paradox: We just visualized a space inside our minds so vast with past and present horizons that go beyond the realms of observation. Still, within our own minds, we can picture its structure. We can visualize the Universe and its immense vastness. Much like the Universe, our mind is unlimited in space and capacity. In the theory of everything, God is the Universe. Western religion proclaims that humankind was made in God’s image. Yet, our minds are like images of the Universe; with their own past and future horizons spreading outward intrinsically into space and time beyond the realms of our perception. To have the ability to conjure up the vast reaches of a solar system during meditation begs the question: Which is more spacious – the Universe or the mind? Continue to visualize this amazing journey during your next meditative session. Marvel at the space in our solar system and Universe and within your own mind. This is the essence of openness and space. Your mind, like the Cosmos, is vast and infinite, capable of collecting millions of thoughts, actions, and memories. Stop and appreciate the boundless and shapeless characteristics the mind exhibits. Feel the relationship and how we might be all connected to this theory of everything – the essence of God and Universe…..

As a new Daily Life Practice spend a little time outside on a clear night. Look up at the stars and settle into the vastness of the Universe and consider how it relates to your mind. We are products of the Universe. We can feel True Nature and how we are connected to this vast realm. Can you feel the spaciousness in that connection? Maybe you feel lighter and a little more liberated. Breathe in the night air deeply and exhale any fear of unknowing. Be aware of your thoughts right now. As you ponder this spaciousness, are your thoughts positive, negative, or neutral. Settle into the immensity of everything. If you begin to feel overwhelmed by the vastness of it all, turn toward the space within your mind. Feel the connection between that space and the space within the Universe. That connection is True Nature. Look up into the night sky again. Do you need proof that God exists? Well, there is your proof right before your eyes! The Universe is God. We don’t need to fully understand the past and future horizons of the Universe or dark energy or dark matter to know they exist. Conversely, we do not need to fully understand who or what God is to know God exists. So much of the Universe and God go beyond the limits of our observation and even our understanding. Where facts end in the narrative of our Universe, reason and faith begin. Gazing on the night stars is proof that something exists that is amazing and grand. God and the Universe are immense, intricate, and beautiful, and here is a new paradox: God and the Universe are indefinable but dependable. We know the sun will rise tomorrow. We know the stars will shine at night. We know we are born from the Universe (where matter won over antimatter) and, because matter cannot be created or destroyed, we will return to the Universe. Life is not linear with a beginning, middle, and an end. It is a Mandala, a revolving circle, whose meaning is not the balance between its opposites, but rather, the unity of them. If this is not God, I don’t know what is…

Take these thoughts and this energy with you into next week. Sense it… Live it… Be it… and your mind and awareness will expand to meet the shapeless realm that is your mind and Universe…

Please feel free to forward any questions and or comments. I am here for you!

John C. Bader

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Never say anything about yourself you do not want to come true

“Never say anything about yourself you do not want to come true.”

~Brian Tracy

There is a lot of truth to this quote by Brian Tracy; scientific truth… We live in a Universe where every light wave, cell and particle of matter is connected at the sub-atomic level. In Quantum Physics the action of scientifically viewing matter at the sub-atomic level requires the observer to be considered part of the experiment. The act of observing changes the outcome of the research – our consciousness and instinct becomes interwoven into the fabric of the observable outcome.

Therefore even your smallest thoughts, feelings and actions do matter. Each mental imprint and outward action creates this ripple of energy that will affect innumerable outcomes in your life and those that surround or are connected to you. This quality is what explains karma, the power of prayer and positive and negative manifestation.

People can easily fall in a rut which can include bad luck, bad karma or just unforeseen challenges. We think that these negative things that happen to us are not our fault. Yet, the scientific connections to the Universe transcend our daily life. What we think is what we are.

Remember, what you allow to arise will continue to arise… Be more aware that we are all connected in this Responsive Universe. Our thoughts and actions do matter. Further, we have in our power the ability to be happy and successful. Be mindful of your actions and surroundings and see the truth that is our connection to everything; this sublime relationship that defines our connection with humanity and the Cosmos; from which instinctual energy and all forms arise…

John C. Bader

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Can Science Prove that an Afterlife Exists…. Absolutely!

We live on a unique planet of modest size, orbiting an average star in a galaxy that contains several billion other stars. Further, scattered across the vast Cosmos are billions of other galaxies home to billions more stars. Everything tangible and intangible in the Cosmos is made of energy. Everything seen and unseen within this grand Universe is composed of particles and waves of light that are interconnected. A Universe boundless in periphery; its energy and form immeasurable; everything linked at the sub-atomic level weaves this complex tapestry that is everything. Despite the immensity of the Cosmos; despite the far-reaching realm of space and time, there is a connective quality to all that exists. Everything is linked to this responsive field of instinctual energy. In an interstellar dominion of noble gases, dark matter and pin point light, there is a responsive element that unites humans with an omnipresent link to love, wisdom and energy. Such visions of grandeur can be overwhelming and many times unimaginable; yet, deep down there is this sublime familiarity and relationship; thoughts and experiences in life remind us that we are part of this grand concept. From imperfection is born beauty, energy and human perception; this is what defines the Responsive Universe and the cycle of birth, life and rebirth….

For many, the concept of death is a taboo subject and some even fear its inescapable threshold. Yet it is a transition in life we will all experience. Many of the worlds religions weigh in on the subject with legends and lore yet for many including myself, there is a fundamental desire to have scientific proof we exist after death….

….enter Astrophysics and Quantum Mechanics….

Still in its infancy, Astrophysics is proving that an afterlife can and does exist without the trappings of religion. That’s right, an afterlife proven by science! Let’s not forget the most substantial piece of evidence and one of the most important laws in science: Energy cannot be created or destroyed – it can only change form. Thus, in some facet humans, possibly even their consciousness, lives on within the tapestry that is quantum energy, coalescing and regenerating throughout the Cosmos. But is there more?

Have you ever heard of String Theory?

String theory is an active research framework in particle physics that attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity (into the theory of everything). String theory teaches that the electrons and quarks within an atom are not 0-dimensional objects, but rather 1-dimensional oscillating lines or strings, hence the name. These invisible vibrating strings may be infinitely diverse with variables of inestimable value. This would suggest that other cosmic manipulations could exist beyond the edge of our known Universe. Many theoretical physicists including Stephen Hawking believe String Theory is a step towards the correct fundamental description of nature and the Universe. An intriguing feature of String Theory is that it predicts extra dimensions, possibly even alternate Universes. One such theory is the 11-dimensional M-theory, which requires the Universe to have eleven dimensions as opposed to the usual three spatial dimensions and the fourth dimension of time. Other research in String Theory has purported as many as 26 space-time dimensions for the Bosonic String explanation. These theories present us with a new picture of the Cosmos. Scientists including Andre Linde and Allan Guth have been studying the concept of “Multiverses” for decades. There are questions abound in regard to the origin of the Big Bang inflation as well as the statistical data that supports the theory that the Universe is expanding even quicker – a possible contradiction to current mass and gravity data. Further mathematical measurements of dark energy are not matching current theoretical equations. The concept of multiple Universes would support the disparities seen within our quantum dominion. Further, such cosmic diversity could result in duplicates of Universes based simply on statistics and probability. String theory is still in its infancy and there are many exciting discoveries still to arise from the world of physics. If modern physics is capable of proving validity to alternate universes could these spatial dimensions be alternate realities or realms of the afterlife? As we continue to uncover the intricacies of the Cosmos, it has become clear that anything is possible because String Theory itself presents a universe of infinite possibilities.

What about Black Holes?

What is based on more substantial scientific evidence are recent discoveries in black holes and their theorized physics. A black hole is a region of space from which nothing, not even light, can escape. For decades it was thought that nothing could survive the plunge into a black hole. It is now a widely held theory that light and energy that is trapped in a black hole can survive. This is important because nothing is more violent and ever-changing than the environment that exists at the event horizon of a black hole. Observable matter appears to be stripped down to elementary protons, electrons and neutrons. Much like in death, we return to our source of elementary particles. Still, current physics states in principle, complete information about a physical system at one point in time should determine its state at any other time. This means physics proves that information that is created cannot be destroyed, even during the strenuous gravity and light vacuum characteristics present in a black hole. As stated earlier, energy and thoughts can be considered united and appear to be stable and transferable even when matter changes form. This means our thoughts can in theory live on after death.

What about Quantum Mechanics?

Quantum Mechanics is the study of matter and energy, in particular the fact that energy is absorbed and released in minute quantities, and that all matter displays both wavelike and particle like properties, especially when viewed at subatomic levels. Quantum Mechanics suggests that the behavior of matter and energy is interconnected and that the effect of the observer on the physical system being observed must be understood as a part of that system. That is our omnipresent connection to the Universe! Within an action is energy, always changing form. A human action creates an invisible quantum motion of force at the subatomic level. These positive and negative actions and reactions flow through our conscious and subconscious world. Thoughts and feelings are material forces carried by super weak pulses of electromagnetic energy. Visual, audible, and other images exist in the form of clusters of superlight elementary particles. Other notable scientists and psychologists including Dossey, Byrd, Bohr, and Heisenberg, however, have proven that we no longer live in a Newtonian or mechanical Universe. This responsive connection with humans and Universe explains why karma and an afterlife are possible. From a scientific standpoint this energy is dependable and unwavering. Quantum energy can also be defined as a life force that connects to everything that exists in the Universe; from distant stars and galaxies to microscopic atoms within your body.  We are all connected at the sub-atomic level and Quantum Mechanics states we are indestructible.

Studies in Near Death Experiences (NDE) and reincarnation help add a humanistic quality to what happens after death. Do we retain our human form or do we return to instinctual energy upon demise? There is this element of fear associated with death that permeates the epoch of mankind. Further, there is this undeniable thirst to know what happens after cessation which has been a major supporting factor in contemporary religion. Still, the concept of God as it relates to the Universe is mind-boggling. For many, it is enough to know that modern science proves we live on in some form or facet. The dogma and humanistic trappings of reincarnation, heaven and NDE are promising and heartwarming, but true solace here on Earth can be found by connecting to our True Nature that exists within all sentient beings. True Nature that is that quantum governed energy force that is constant and unwavering. Much like the concept of a soul, our True Nature is an instinctual energy field composed of waves of subatomic light and matter. So it seems, the best approach to understanding life after death is taking heed to the wisdom of few and then following your True Nature. The answers lie within and once you come to understand that we are simply energy changing form, gone will be any fear of death. You will come to understand we are a part of something magnificent and in some form we will always remain connected and pure like the energy that surrounds us. It is ego and false perception that has bred religion, fear and notions of hell and purgatory. Once you strip away the ego and all that is adulterated and polluted, all that is left is energy – pure and powerful. We come from energy and we will go back to energy. I am good with that….

John C. Bader

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The Responsive Universe – Meditations and Daily Life Practices

Available in Hard, Paperback, iBook, Kindle and Nook formats

I wrote the Responsive Universe –Meditations and Daily Life Practices with the goal of creating a step by step journey to self-discovery. Each Mandala or chapter in the Responsive Universe is like a stepping stone forward to discovering your authentic True Nature within. I incorporated valuable meditations and daily life practices into this journey forward with the intent of creating more mindfulness in your life; more space, more clarity and more responsiveness. In the First Mandala we discussed living with an open mind and acknowledging the ego and our false-self. In the Second Mandala we took an in-depth look at meditation and daily life practice which sets the tone for our journey forward. In the Third and Fourth Mandala we discussed God, religion, scientific origin and our place within this grand Universe that is everything. It is important to understand that social conditioning can skew our belief systems and that finding a connection with the Universe is the key to positive spiritual and emotional evolution. In the Fifth Mandala we were asked to analyze our past and be aware of the control patterns that unknowingly influence us. Understanding your past and upbringing will allow you to fully live in the present instead of being constantly dragged back to the past. In the Sixth Mandala we talked about loss. Loss is something we all will endure if we have not already. Being able to positively cope with loss and understand there is hope is paramount to moving forward instead of backward. In the Seventh Mandala we were officially introduced to energy as it relates to the Cosmos. Quantum energy connects us to everything and even explains concepts like karma, energy healing and an afterlife. In the Eight Mandala we are asked to find positivity both mentally and physically by incorporating better eating habits, exercise as well as love and wisdom into our daily lives. Finally the Ninth Mandala brings us full circle in this amazing Mandala of life. The Ninth Mandala is the gateway to further evolution on this grand spiral staircase that is human existence. Each of the Nine Mandalas is built on the foundation of the last with the ultimate goal of reaching a higher level of self-discovery and enlightenment.

It is truly my hope that after reading the Responsive Universe some of your views and perspectives in life will have changed for the better. Hopefully you will find new empowerment and see the world as a beautiful place with plenty of space and synchronicity. It is not my focus to create any upheaval in your belief systems or to claim one system of thought as wrong or right. My focus is to combine the wisdom of other authors and philosophers like myself and humbly put into words a more palatable vision of this Responsive Universe we live in. I do want to ask tough questions about god and religion but I leave the answers up to you. Each of us has our own path to walk on this adventure in life and only you can answer life’s most intriguing questions. My focus is to propose a fresh viewpoint and hopefully create an environment that may produce small, subtle shifts in perspective. Eventually, when you make space within the mind, clarity will arise within that space and your inner voice will speak wisdom. It is from that wisdom that your answers will materialize. Please remember everything you need in life to find bliss, happiness and healing energy is already found within your True Nature; it is already found in you!

I now humbly ask to be your guide… Shall we venture into the vast reaches of the Responsive Universe…

Sincerely,

John C. Bader

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Is Intelligent Design Science?

I recently wrote a blog on news of a bill passed in Oklahoma that would allow teachers and students to discuss and debate creationism verses evolution in our schools. The question arises about whether or not creationism is a valid scientific theory and whether or not children should be able to choose their own conclusions. I received some passionate responses from people and I wanted to expand on the whole creationism/intelligent design debate.

First, people are quick to disregard Genesis as creationism. Excluding a couple nutty right wingers, a lot of people are finally jumping off that crazy Adam and Eve train. Only the truly delusional would still stand behind a 6000 year old Earth that was created in 7 days. Of course I hear the back pedaling that purports those 7 days could really mean 7 million or even 7 billion years. That is convenient. You know, people are quick to call me terse and even a name caller. My words sometimes sting and yes what I write might seem controversial and even insulting to some. Do you know what is insulting to me? Teaching children that if they do not believe in a certain set of beliefs they are going to burn for eternity. Need I remind everyone that the Pope did not pardon Galileo until the early 1980s for (god forbid) proposing and even proving that the Earth is not the center of the Universe - 300 years ago! I just think more people need to speak up, especially when it involves what we are teaching our children. Remember, it was not long ago that we were burning witches at the stake and women could not vote.

I also hear these same people claim intelligent design is different from creationism. Shall we dig a little deeper?  Intelligent Design is a form of creationism promoted by the Discovery Institute, a politically conservative think tank based in the U.S. It is interesting, because proponents of Intelligent Design (ID) are quick to say that ID is not Creationism. Intelligent Design was developed by a group of American creationists who revised their argument in the creation–evolution controversy to circumvent court rulings such as the United States Supreme Court’s Edwards v. Aguillard decision, which barred the teaching of “Creation Science” in public schools on the grounds of breaching the separation of church and state. There are several other court rulings published that all point to Christian based organizations simply repackaging the creationism concept into something more; well shall we say, intelligent? Intelligent Design avoids identifying or naming the intelligent designer—it merely states that one (or more) must exist—but leaders of the movement have said publically that the designer is a Christian god. It seems every capable minded person who promotes Creationism or ID has a Christian background. Do you disagree? Why don’t we all then just agree that Islam and Mohammad is the intelligent force behind the Universe… oh, yeah, that certainly would force people to show where their true convictions and beliefs sit. Wow, I am such a jerk… LOL…

Proponents of ID talk about “Irreducibly Complex Systems”: Systems within nature or life that requires an intelligent creator – like the mouse trap for instance. A mouse trap has critical parts and it needs to be set just right to work properly. In a natural world of evolving cause and effect, natural selection can only choose among systems that are already working. A mouse trap has to be built first by the hand of intelligence otherwise it could not have evolved on its own. Let’s just forget that a human could have evolved over millions of years to build and set that trap. Oh wait, that is crazy talk…. Further, according to ID, irreducibly complex systems appear very unlikely to be produced by numerous, successive, slight modifications of prior systems, because any precursor that was missing a crucial part could not function. The same can be said about cellular structure and our Universe and its amazing complexity.

Here is the problem with Intelligent Design: Scientific acceptance of ID would require redefining science to allow supernatural explanations of observed phenomena. Looks like we are back to blind faith which is the fuel for modern religion? The idea of supernatural intervention in the origin of life or of species is not science because they are not testable by the methods of science. I have seen some fancy ID graphs and other paradigms that look scientific but what we are really dealing with is philosophy and not science. Sure it is something you can debate but there is no facts what so ever to back up ID; only questions that are answered with gods hand as the only recourse.  The Big Bang (or Big Bounce) has several independent explanations like Doppler Effect, Red Shift and back ground radiation; all evidence that can be viewed scientifically within our environment. ID simply says if we cannot explain it with science then it must intelligently designed. If its systems are so complex, there is no way cosmic or stellar evolution could have created it. To me that is sort of like giving up. It reminds me of religion: Where did we come from, where are we going to go when we die? Only god knows these things. That is a weak argument.

Quantum physics already shows us the connections at the subatomic level that sheds light on karma, power of prayer and life after death. Isnt that Intelligent Design?  Remaining intelligent, now let’s add a little math to the discussion. Just like fractions, let’s reduce the top religions down to their most common denominator. Reduce them beyond ritual and dogma. Reduce them beyond cultural regions, churches and temples, ego, humans, even Earth. Let’s reduce religion or God to its source – the beginning of time as we know it… the scientific origin: The Big Bang… Why do we need to break Intelligent Design down to its most reduced form? Because whatever created the Universe created man who in turn created religion based on their thirst to know. Still, people tend to interject emotions, opinions and dogma into this discussion. “well the Bible says this”… well the Quran says that”. “well, complex things can’t exist without an intelligent designer”. But you see, math does not deal in dogma, opinions and emotions. Math deals with numbers that add up to solutions that make sense on paper.

So, when you reduce Religion or Intelligent Design to its most common denominator you have the Universe – the basis of everything. Now you could equate this as God and trust me, I do! But people tend of talk of God as a “He” or a “Who”. But in math, God just is…. There is nothing more and there is nothing less. God is the Universe and the Universe is…. People tend to struggle with that concept due to the ego which needs to attach dogma, fear and emotion to the concept of God.

Here is where it gets fun. God (the Universe) created an environment for conscious thought to arise from the ashes of stars. You want to talk about miracles? There is nothing more miraculous than conscious thought arising from elementary particles. People tend to think only a divine interest could create such an environment but that tends to carry an egocentric view. You see; conscious thought connects with energy at the subatomic level and there is an instinctual quality to it that transcends egos, humans and Earth. We are just part of something so vast it boggles the mind.

Well-known Astronomer, Neil deGrasse Tyson describes the absurdity of “Intelligent Design”. “Sorry folks, the Universe was not designed for us. Accept it, we’re nothing special.”

Yet in a Responsive Universe we are special. Our link to energy, wisdom and love makes us special. Still, it did not take an Intelligent Designer to make you special. Pat yourself on the back – you did that yourself!

John C. Bader

www.responsiveuniverse.com

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References: Wikipedia and intelligentdesign.org

images courtesy of religionvirius.blogspot.com and davidbrin.wordpress.com

Our Connection to the Universe….

 

We live on a unique planet of modest size, orbiting an average star in a galaxy that contains several billion other stars. Further, scattered across the vast Cosmos are billions of other galaxies home to billions more stars.

Everything tangible and intangible in the Cosmos is made of energy. Everything seen and unseen within this grand Universe is composed of particles and waves of light that are interconnected.

A Universe boundless in periphery; its energy and form immeasurable; everything linked at the sub-atomic level weaves this complex tapestry that is everything.

 

Instinctual consciousness is intrinsic to the Universe

 

Despite the immensity of the Cosmos; despite the far-reaching realm of space and time, there is a connective quality to all that exists. Everything is linked to this responsive field of instinctual energy. It is here in the quantum Universe that actions create reactions and energy can’t be destroyed, it simply changes form. In an interstellar dominion of noble gases, dark matter and pin point light, there is a responsive element that unites humans with an omnipresent link to love, wisdom and energy. Such visions of grandeur can be overwhelming and many times unimaginable; yet, deep down there is this sublime relationship; thoughts and experiences in life remind us that we are part of this grand concept.

From imperfection is born beauty, energy and human perception; this is what defines the Responsive Universe and is the source of self-actualization and energy healing.

Welcome to the Responsive Universe….  your connection to everything….

 

 

John C. Bader

www.responsiveuniverse.com

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Skip Church All Together…

Did I get any shock value from that title?

Blair Atkins, a fitness writer and blogger published a great article on MindBodyGreen last weekend titled “If You Don’t Attend Church On Sundays, Meditate On Sundays Instead”.  First of all, great advice! In fact, if possible, meditate everyday! Secondly, if you are very religious, then yes, meditating and focusing on God outside of church pews and walls is great. In fact, I think it is better…

I would like to take that thought a step farther…

Skip Church all together! You do not need it!

Serious!

If you are new to my blog and message you might think this post is sacrilegious, even dangerously spoken. I do not fear damnation, hell or religious persecution. I fear credit cards, climate change and human suffering…..

Yes, church serves a purpose; a place to pray, hear positive messages and connect with others. There are many social and psychological factors that keep churches in business; money being one of them. I am careful not to condemn churches or the people that attend them. As my loyal blog followers know, I am not an atheist – far from it actually. Still, I am no proponent of organized religion. I feel it conditions people to follow and not lead. We have enough followers in this world; all of which creates mediocrity.

mediocrity sucks….

Spend a little time in nature and realize silence is beautiful; allow the wind to blow through your hair; let the healing sun warm your face; let your wisdom and True Nature from within arise bringing forth unlimited space, acute clarity and a responsiveness that fuels your energy and empowerment. Once you understand and know deep down that you are a part of this grand design that is the Universe; once you know that at our most basic construction; atoms and molecules – quantum physics connects us to everything – knowing this allows us to step back from what we once thought was truth; seeing the irony and dogma that modern religion offers. Once we connect to the sublime we realize that whatever this life source is; it transcends humans and all our mediocrity and earthly trappings.

Whatever your belief in God is, remember that you have the right as a conscious being to reassess your belief systems without guilt, fear or compromise. If you challenge you current belief systems and there is doubt, guilt and apprehension then there is something wrong. That is one of the fundamental problems with organized religion and church in general. These faiths teach their parishioners to follow and not to lead. How are we to find our true self? There is this underlying quality of fear, guilt and compromise that holds us to something less than authentic.  Many of us were raised under a roof of religiosity – some more than others. As we mature into adults with our own needs, wants and desires there comes a time to reassess our belief in God so that it can marry with the indestructible essence that is your True Nature. The two concepts need to marry as one – inseparable – free of ego, guilt and especially fear.

So leave that guilt and ego at the church door. In fact, do an about-face and find God in something that God actually created – Nature and the essence of your own beautiful mind. It is man who built churches; it is man who created religion… God (whatever the definition might be to you) created you; your thoughts and your energy. God created love, compassion, and wisdom. You do not need church for that… everything you need is already inside you.

Now go find it and start living in a Responsive Universe!

John C. Bader

www.responsiveuniverse.com

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Nothing is Impossible… when living in a Responsive Universe…

Do you believe that? That nothing is impossible?

I have learned through experience that the aperture of your open mind will determine what is possible and impossible. The truth it seems is in the experience; our insight and knowledge is dependent on our link to our True Nature. Even if possibility – a genuine want or desire is created in the mind it is still a dynamism that exists – you are connected to this energy whether it is born from the mind or your surroundings – quantum physics has many great studies on how energy transcends our actions, reactions, thoughts dreams and yes fears. Energy is measured by how mindful you are. Imagine the person that drives home one evening with their mind preoccupied about fear of the future, fantasy and past, not even noticing a beautiful sunset exploding to the west; and then there is the person who is mindful and connected to the present who sees the sunset as a union to something sublime; even a sign or milestone that we are evolving in the right direction – that perhaps we do live in a Responsive Universe…

The Universe is incredibly vast and diverse – every imaginable and unimaginable facet, combination and permutation exists. The quality of infinite space applies to the Cosmos and when we are considered part of this infinite design then it seems anything is possible. The quality of infinity allows for all possibilities to exist – then why would we not have faith that anything is possible?

Ego….

The Ego, a necessary mirage of crude human evolution; when left unchecked it creates fear, anxiety and blindness. Blinding our vast vision; obscuring our True Nature which is in itself infinite. The quality of space exists even for philosophical musings; the more the ego controls our destiny the less space we have inward and outward. When we root our thoughts in the present; sans of fear and fantasy, past and future; we open ourselves to an infinite set of possibilities. When we live in a vast and infinite Responsive Universe we allow all that is good to permeate our being; to make us whole and evolving.

John C. Bader

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Where does the Soul go after Death? Scientists weigh in!

Especially in the wake of terrible tragedies, it might be the most asked and even feared question out there… Where do we go when we die? Does our soul and being die with us – a realm of complete unknowing darkness or do we live on in some form? Ultimately, all of us will eventually discover the truth – whether we like it or not. Death is an inescapable milestone in life. This is when we shift from what is known to what we believe and have faith in… Enter religion which for many was built on the backbone of fear of the unknown.

Article Excerpt:

Christof Koch, the Chief Scientific Officer of the Allen Institute of Brain Science and Lois and Victor Troendle Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral Biology at California Institute of Technology, argued that the soul dies and everything is lost when human beings lose consciousness. “You lose everything. The world does not exist anymore for you. Your friends don’t exist anymore. You don’t exist. Everything is lost,” he said.

Bruce Greyson, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, challenged Koch’s view of consciousness. He said that, “if you take these near death experiences at face value, then they suggest that the mind or the consciousness seems to function without the physical body.”

Stuart Hameroff, who proposed the highly controversial Orch-OR (orchestrated objective reduction) theory of consciousness in 1996 along with Roger Penrose, told the Science channel, “I think the quantum approach to consciousness can, in principle, explain why we’re here and what our purpose is, and also the possibility of life after death, reincarnation and persistence of consciousness after our bodies give up.”

Now, these are all scientific views based on research and theory. For this blog, let’s forget about all the religious and dogmatic perspectives that can seem warm and fuzzy but are built completely on blind faith. So, here is the question; do we have any tangible evidence that there is life after death?

Yes….

I researched this concept for the Responsive Universe. The key phrase mentioned by Stuart Hameroff was a “Quatntum” approach to consciousness. When we focus on the “quantum” state of the brain we realize all possibilities exist within a quantum world. Within this grand Universe, all possibilities exist based on the sheer vastness of space and time. Physicists’ have already documented a sub atomic world where energy changes form but cannot be destroyed. This is a sublime world where the act of observing energy in its smallest conceivable form changes the outcome due to the physical act of observation.  Science has already proven that human consciousness is connected to the Universe. Once a connection is made, in theory it is infinite and unending. In one of my most popular blogs, “Can Astrophysics Prove and Afterlife Exists”, I centered on several scientific theories that point to existence in some form or facet after mortal death. From String Theory to Black Holes; from Near Death Experiences to Quantum Physics  there is undeniable evidence that our energy and even consciousness lives on in some form.

The wisdom to be absorbed from this blog post is not to fear death but revel in the love, wisdom and energy that surrounds you now. Find compassion and create positive energy and karma because no one or nothing can take this away from you; even after mortal death. The late Steve Jobs once said, “death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because death is very likely the single best invention of life.”

If we can find beauty and love in life, why would it be any different in an afterlife?

John C. Bader

www.responsiveuniverse.com

Article Reference

Spaciousness – Boundless – Vastness… what do these words mean?

Space or openness is the infinite quality of our minds as it is relates to our True Nature (our intrinsic connection to the Cosmos). Many of us can acknowledge that during meditation and in daily life practice, countless thoughts race through our minds. Imagine the space required to create and field all those thoughts. How about memories? What about useful daily skills and dreams? The brain seems small, yet the mind seems vast. Settle into that spacious vision of our True Nature, visualizing it as a vast area of space. How about the night sky? The stars we see at night are actually neighborhood stars within a small snapshot of our Milky Way galaxy. The stars we see with the naked eye are really only a handful as compared to the billions of stars within our galaxy. Some of these stars are light years away (millions upon millions of miles). Then there are billions of galaxies beyond our Milky Way galaxy. The Cosmos is vast, maybe infinite. Much like the Cosmos, our True Nature is also vast and shares qualities that are infinite. In fact, there is this basic feeling that somehow it is all connected. Words can’t describe this relationship, only that it feels familiar and there is a connective feeling associated with it all. Just as the immensity of the Universe boggles our mind, the same character or value can be associated with our spacious True Nature. Further, the boundless characteristics of the Cosmos and our True Nature can be compared to the mind. When you think of your mind and all its processes and capabilities, can you put your finger on its size and borders? Does the mind have an edge or boundary? Where does the mind begin and where does it end? It makes one wonder if the mind is also infinite in nature especially when we consider that all things are relative.

Spaciousness – Boundless – Vastness…

When ancient civilizations looked up into the night sky, it was concluded that what you see is all that exists. This was an era when it was collectively thought that the world was still flat. Do you see how this is a primitive and close minded view of our surroundings? Even today, people walk around with the same closed-minded perceptions all of which breeds stress, fear and anxiety. Ignorance, religious dogma and racism could be examples of modern close-minded behavior. If there are boundaries in our mind, we can feel pressured and claustrophobic, especially when challenges arise. Still when we find space and settle into the vastness of our True Nature, there is a fundamental confidence actualized. Imagine trying to count every grain of sand on Earth. It is impossible, right? Still, there is faith that all this sand exists on our worlds beaches and deserts. Though it is impossible to quantify the many grains of sand on Earth, we know they exist. It may be an indefinable value, but it still is a value. It is something we can count on and there is a spacious and comforting quality about that; knowing it simply exists and there is nothing we need to do about it. Many times in life, there is very little we can count on; home prices and the stock market will continue to fluctuate. Love can be fleeting as can good friends. We as humans even age and eventually die. Still, one thing is constant: The spacious vision of our True Nature that exists within us all. Find space for everything and you will find it is unending in its capacity. Think of your mind as a spacious, boundless tool where anything is possible. Further, look to your surrounding environment for inspiration as it relates to space: A cloudless sky, the moon, an open field or even a tall building; being mindful of space on many aesthetic levels breeds clarity – connect to the confidence that you are surrounded by space.

If you are intrigued by these concepts and want to learn how to connect to the sublime qualities of Universe, True Nature and Mind – a trinity of sorts that creates this dynamism of energy, love and wisdom; then I invite you to read the Responsive Universe, Meditations and Daily Life Practices. This is not an advertisement, this is an invitation to evolve to your intended potential. This blog is an extension of the Responsive Universe and as always your questions and comments are welcomed.

John C. Bader

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