As Within, so Without
The Formula to Life:
As Within, So Without– Inner Practice for Outer Change
As human beings we are the consciousness of Planet Earth. However sick Earth is, is a reflection of our Collective Consciousness. Luckily, we are now in unchartered territory where, for the first time in forever, we have at our fingertips all the information and teachings from all the lineages and traditions that ever there were. We can pick and choose our spiritual life practice from Eastern Philosophy to Western Psychology and everything in between. We therefore have a smorgasbord of spiritual practice from which to select and create our own Life Practice for personal growth and development. And now there are more people than ever simultaneously seeking a Life Practice to create inner change and transformation. It’s as if the latest craze for personal fulfilment is in the process of turning inward in search of Ascension or Higher Consciousness and ultimately Peace.
So, if it is true that we are all One, and that it is “As within, So without”, it would appear that, for the first time in forever, we have the greatest chance of effecting the greatest change, in the best possible way for us personally, on a very large scale. What this means is that, as individuals seeking Inner Peace, we have the opportunity to facilitate not only our own Inner Peace and Self Love, but with a more global awareness that went beyond that of ego, we could also be concurrently creating Outer Peace and Universal Love through the discipline of a Spiritual Life Practice that began in our hearts and grew to embrace the entire globe.
The formula to Lifeis to consider our intentions and motivations through each of the perspectives of Mind, Body, Heart and Soul, and to then put our energy into each domain, from the inner through to the outer of the personal level, the domestic, the national and global levels and beyond. The “As within, So without” law means, then, that as we go within, with a higher intention of focus, we may effect change at higher outer levels of reality’s development. Further, it gives us the moral opportunity to consider beyond what we may take from the gift of life and begin to comprehend what we may now give back.
Start by observing the thoughts of the thinking mind. Without our conscious awareness the thinking mind is on auto-pilot and the thoughts we have become actions, which become the things we have and engage in and, in turn, create the nature of the reality in which we live. This process repeated creates beliefs which are just thoughts we keep having and values we keep adhering to. These are often conditioned beliefs that got handed down from one generation to the next to become values we subconsciously created and unconsciously adhered to. The thoughts we keep having, tuned into beliefs and values, can therefore unwittingly become our philosophical indoctrination for life. This is our overall attitude and is seen and felt in our actions and the way in which we engage in life. We need to become conscious of this internal, automatic mental dialogue and aware of how our philosophical outlook on life affects the life we live and the interactions we have.
Just stop for a moment and ask yourself some questions that will reflect the nature of your mind: What is my Philosophical Indoctrination for life? What values do I hold? Where do my belief systems come from? Are they fixed and rigid or open to expansion and growth? Is my outlook on life positive and creative, constructive and beneficial, open and engaging? If not, what is it? Am I of a peaceful, accepting nature that recognises opportunities for change and acceptance? Or am I anxious and fearful, holding on to the past and trying not to let things change? Am I conscious of the parallels between my state of mind and the balance of my body and life experience in general? What was my mind like before it became all bound up in concepts, rules and regulations? Am I willing to give up my mind and surrender to the opportunity a changed mind presents? Who am I at this level?
To consciously observe the minds incessantness, and guide it’s programming to correct and balance that which does not serve, while enhancing that which does, will cultivate a mental, or psychological, intelligence that serves the individual, through to the collective, in a much more expansive and beneficial way for all. In other words, how we guide and navigate what we put into our mind becomes the ultimate philosophical indoctrination to which we live our lives. This in turn dictates the way in which we engage in our relationships, communities, cultures and the planet, or nature, in general. It becomes our Collective Consciousness and it is so often created unconsciously. Therefore, we must learn to increase our awareness and ability to consciously discriminate what we take on to become our philosophical indoctrination so that our healthy inner mind reflects a healthy global mind.
A key way to quieten the mind and enhance ones growth and development is through meditative practices that create altered states of awareness. Entering into and out of the Theta and Delta depths of brain wave activity is now known to accelerate our growth.
Now if we bring this same angle through the perspective of the body, we must first look at what we are putting in our refrigerators – for what we put in the fridge is what we put in the body. Through this lens, the old adage, “you are what you eat” is very true. And not only does it depict the health and vitality of our bodily structure and frame, and how we look and feel on a physical level, but it also influences the behaviours in which we engage by swaying the feelings of the mind, and therefore, the tendencies to which we are motivated.
If we eat more refined white flours, processed foods and sugar, for example, we are less likely to spend our time feeling energized and facilitating productive change, and more likely to let life slip by in a blur of alcohol and cigarettes, idle gossip and the consequent imbalanced feelings that follow. If, however, we eat more food stuffs that come straight from the land, drink plenty of fresh spring or filtered water and exercise regularly in fresh, oxygenated air, we are intrinsically motivated to spend our time tuning into the needs of, not only our self, but of society, nature and the planet in general, and we therefore naturally engage in life enhancing feats.
So look at what you’re putting in your fridge. Does it encourage a lighter frame, feeling and way of life? Does it use the least amount of packaging possible? Does it support a healthy inner you and a sustainable outer environment or planet? What we put in the body reflects the sustainability of our planet on a global level, just as it does the longevity of our personal cells. So caring for the micro-organism of your body, means you are caring for the macro-organism of our planet.
Lets now shift the angle again and bring this “As within, So without” perspective through the lens of the Heart. Through this view point, we are checking in with our emotional maturity. We grow through our emotions; Not with them. We cannot grow and evolve if we continue to live our lives with dramatic upsets and wobbly, insecure hearts. Through practice and attention, we become more grounded, self loving and confident. Our understanding of the nature of emotions becomes clearer and more intelligent, and we are no longer bound to unconscious, knee-jerk reactions. Instead, we respond thoughtfully and skilfully in a balanced manner that promotes expansion and growth, as opposed to contraction and suffering. As we apply this ability of skilful-response over unconscious reaction, we learn to better treat ourselves with greater love and trust, which allows us to automatically better love and trust those around us. Thus, in turn we also have amongst families, communities, nations and even countries, a greater abundance of Love, Trust and Peace.
Even just as we look through the three lenses of the thoughts we take on board, the way in which we nourish our bodies, and the self-loving maturity with which we manage our emotions, we find a greater Harmony balanced within the integration of the individual. We just have to pay a little attention.
Now if we add the “As within, So without” perspective through the lens of the Soul, we find that this balanced Harmony is the voice of Spirit investigating and becoming more aware of our embodiment. This is us becoming aware of the Creative Impulse chipping her way through our Being with an Authenticity that can only be known through a consistent Life Practice which encourages a view through each of these lenses. Taking a peek through the veil of this view, allows us to release contractions and tensions associated with more unconscious behaviours, beliefs and feelings, and awakens that deeper awareness which allows us to engage more fully with the life energy of Mind, Body and Heart driven through Soul intention.
In this way Personal Freedom and Inner Love is achieved through a deep realization and discipline which encourages a Collective Consciousness of Peace and Love on a global level. In order to deepen genuine insight, enhance and evolve philosophical understanding, balance and nurture feelings and behaviours – which all effect a greater sense of Peace – we must engage in core practices that change our Inner Lives. Remember, we can pick and choose our Spiritual Practice from Eastern Philosophy to Western Psychology and everything in between. It matters not which path you choose, but more that you choose a path to matter; and stick to it.
By Carmel Cathie, B.Soc.Sc. & CCHt.
A Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist from the American Academy of Hypnotherapy, New Mexico, Carmel is dedicated to healing hearts and balancing lives through an evolutionary approach on the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual planes. For more information and contact details see Mala Hypnotherapy.