The Circle Theory

How do theories in bio-energy relate to us as individuals? In the Seventh Mandala of my upcoming book, The Responsive Universe, I describe a Quantum energy force that flows through the Universe. It is a positive flow of power that exists everywhere. It pulses through the Cosmos and creates new life. We can manifest our own positive reactions through positive thought and actions, thus creating a new dynamism that echoes through our lives. This dynamism helps us recognize and connect to our True Nature. Being unbalanced, wrought with negativity obscures our True Nature. A helpful model to understanding this premise is what I call the Circle Theory:

Imagine a circle of energy. In the center of the circle is a form of Self-Actualization (remember Self- Actualization differs for each individual). Here in the center, positive Quantum energy is at its most powerful level. By being centered, or self-actualized, you can attain new knowledge by thinking and living with an open mind. This requires your mind to be rooted in the present. You are able to think for yourself and can successfully weed through societal conformity and be a true individual. To be centered is to have an intimate faith in God (or the Universe) and to believe in your own theological principles based upon your own life conclusions. To be centered is to understand your childhood and upbringing, so that when you make new actions in your life, they are not based on earlier negative models of behavior (control patterns). To be centered is to tap into positive energy –creating good karma and positive thoughts. By channeling positive energy into your life, you will create a feeling of bliss and even euphoria. On the outsides of this circle, lie the ills waiting in the shadows to knock you off-balance and away from the center, away from Self-Actualization. These ills include low self-esteem, addiction, fear, hate, greed, jealousy, and conflict – many attributes of our ego.

As we wrestle with daily life, challenges repeatedly confront us—stress, relationship frustrations, loss, conflict with a co-worker, credit card debt—the list can be endless. Every negative issue pulls you away from the center of the proverbial circle and drags you closer to the edge where chaos and mediocrity reign supreme. It is here that the lowest levels of energy exist. At the edge of the circle, quality of life suffers. We must all strive to remain centered and focused on the positive. Remaining centered is a constant journey that does not end until we exhale our last breath of oxygen from our lungs. Being conscious of where we are in our circle and working toward being centered is an extremely rewarding journey, even in early adulthood. The process of focusing on being centered is another way we can be mindful of our emotions and surroundings.

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com
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How to Heal the Classic Heart-Mind Rift

The heart and mind are many times thought of as different elements to our being; whether analytically or symbolically. One would certainly consider them residing in different parts of the body. From a symbolic standpoint there are differences as well. This is especially the case in western culture where the ego and materialistic attachments drive our suffering. In Eastern cultures, especially in Buddhist cultures, the mind and heart are many times one entity or being. Let me explain: The mind is normally considered to reside in the head or brain. The heart of course would reside in our chest. I speak of the heart in symbolic terms as a place where love and compassion are born. The mind is a place left for analytical or occupational work and doing the monthly bills. The heart is our True Nature – its essence is unwavering and indestructible. The mind is where we find our egos, self-esteem and fear as well as analysis and reasoning. The heart is where we find our courage and passion. Both worlds are required to focus and operate at a human level but both worlds are quite different in how they maneuver. You can see the differences, but it is this type of reasoning that causes a rift in our being. There tends to be a push and pull conflict between the two entities and its root cause facilitates confusion, stress and unhappiness – the essence of suffering.

There is a need to merge the heart and mind as one; it is an important step on the road to Enlightenment. Pause for a moment and think about your own past thoughts and experiences. Is there a division of heart and mind in your life? Here is an example: A heart thought or action could be summed up in our search for happiness. Imagine working in a city or place that you dislike for a number of reasons and you know in your heart that moving away or leaving the job would bring you more happiness. Maybe it is moving to another state or region to live out a long-held dream. Your heart tells you that though you make good money at your current place of employment, you are not happy and life is more about happiness than money. Living and thinking through the heart can be about a sudden impulse of kindness, the unbridled love for a person or not allowing fear to dictate your actions. Can you think of instances of when you acted by action or thought through your heart?
Now, as an example, let’s take the same scenario and use the mind as the source of your thoughts and or actions. Continuing from the example above, you know that the current job you have is very secure and you are lucky to have it. You make good money and will probably retire well off despite living and working in a place that is not the happiness environment. You have responsibilities and running off to serve your heart in the search for happiness is impulsive and even risky. Now think of instances of when you acted by action or thought through your mind. Actions of the mind may seem negative but such thoughts and processes from the mind are instrumental in life. We need the help of the mind to problem solve, learn and make analytical decisions about money and life in general. Unfortunately, this is also where the ego resides and much of what we think is mindful is actually diseased and misinterpreted because of our ego and false perception. That is typically where the negativity comes from.

The idea of this exercise is to be aware of the rift between heart and mind. Again, it is important to understand that both modes of thinking and emotions are necessary to function. The problem tends to be that both entities work against each other instead of working together. This is what causes blind reactions, false perceptions and control patterns: In a word, suffering. One way to help fuse this rift between heart and mind is by understanding and visualizing this particular concept: Imagine a positive action you think or create in life – whether it is taking your child to the park to play and basking in the happiness he or she displays or whether it is feeling the empowerment of helping the needy or poor on a holiday. It might be a warm, empathic thought or feeling as you sit on a beach watching the sun set. Any positive source will create a feeling and realization of warmth and bliss. All of these actions, whether mental or physical, are positive waves of energy that are flowing from your mind. They flow outward into the Universe of space and time as a form of Quantum energy and eventually based on the laws of psychics, will return to the source – the source is your heart and or True Nature. Outward energy comes from the mind and inward energy or the source of God (the essence of positive energy) comes from within – the heart and soul. Yet, the process is a full circle – the ending and beginning are the same. A positive action returns to the source through karmic law. Heart and mind should also become one in the same or in other words: The center of intention. Since both the heart and the mind are the center of our actions, why not combine them as one?

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com
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The “Golden Rule” as it relates to Karma

Karma has relatively the same meaning as the “Golden Rule”: “Do unto others as they would do to you”. This concept exceeds biblical history and dates back to some of the earliest vestibules of human history. Examples of statements that mirror the Golden Rule appear as far back in humanity to Ancient Egypt; for example in the story of The Eloquent Peasant which is dated to the Middle Kingdom of Egypt (c. 2040–1650 BC). Clearly this is not a new concept. Because we live in a revolving Universe of matter and energy, in theory, where something begins in the world, will eventually be the place where it also ends. We see this relative similarity in the rotation of planets and galaxies; even our seasons begin where they end and so on. This concept supports the mechanics of karma in regard to energy: For every action there is a reaction in some form or function. No matter which race, creed or society. No matter what the belief may be, karma exists separately as a law of motion. Every action, thought or intention is measured by vibration and energy – rippling out like as stone cast in a calm pond. The ripples will reach the ponds edge and contrary to belief they will reverberate back to the source.

“Karma is not something complicated or philosophical. Karma means watching your body, watching your mouth, and watching your mind. Trying to keep these three doors as pure as possible is the practice of karma”.

- Lama Thubten Yeshe

Well put Mr. Yeshe….


John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com
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I just watched an online video featuring astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson. I kind of equate Neil as sort of the “Carl Sagan” in this new era of future generations. He is incredibly intelligent and also has the ability to show and explain the intricacies of the Universe in ways that are palatable to the average person – like me…

In this recent online video, he claimed we as humans only see and understand a staggering 4% of the working energy and matter of the Universe. That means we do not know what is driving the other 96% of the Universe. WOW…

4% of the Universe? And yet he muses, we consider ourselves an intelligent species. What defines intelligence? Neil makes it clear humans define this term “Intelligence”. He asks, would an advanced alien species think of the human race as intelligent?

He notes that Chimpanzees have very similar DNA to humans. In fact, it may surprise some right-wing Christians that chimp DNA differs by 1% to that of humans. That one 1% difference is a lot though. Humans can create poetry, build telescopes and space stations. A chimp can poke a stick into a termite hole to flesh out a tasty treat. Still, there is only a 1 % difference in DNA evolution between chimps and humans – amazing…

But imagine an alien species whose DNA is say 1% more advanced than that of humans. One could surmise that there would be huge differences based on our similarity with chimps? Would an alien race consider us as primal and unintelligent as chimps? It makes you wonder.

It also makes you wonder about our place in this vast Cosmos. It makes you wonder about religion, war and our place on Earth in relation to something so vast and undiscovered as the Universe. It makes me want to take a deep breath and simply revel in the immensity of it all; making no claims about genesis or dogma – just reverence; that I am apart of this amazing system of order that is the Cosmos.

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com
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Mandala

In its simplest form, Mandala means “circle.” It is an ancient Buddhist symbol of inner space where everything is linked as one and from which the Cosmos and all its energy arises. The Mandala includes the journey of birth, life, and death. When words fail to describe a feeling, the essence of the Mandala can illustrate a concept’s nature and wisdom. Mandalas are intrinsic to our existence: A day evolves into night only to return to day again. Planets rotate and galaxies revolve. From spring comes summer; from fall comes winter; and from life springs death…

Spring 2012

Spring represents birth – regeneration – new life and new beginnings…. We are born from energy and thus an insignificant but most eloquently conscious entity – a intrinsic part of the system that is everything.

Summer 2011

Summer represents energy, life, karma, love and existence. We are now aware of our connection to the Universe. We may not understand it, but we know through space, clarity and responsiveness that we are connected to a vast and sophisticated Cosmos.

Fall 2011

Fall represents beauty and wisdom, knowledge and compassion. We are here on this world as both learners and teachers. We need to be able to look back from the Autumn of our lives and smile back on summer and spring. We need to be happy and satiated, alive and well...

Winter 2011/2012

Winter represents an exchange in energy – from life births death… Winter may be the most alluring of the seasons – Death maybe one of the most sublime beauties yet to be discovered. Understanding the evolution of a Mandala shows us that where there is life there is death and then life again – a revolving vortex of energy where matter is not destroyed – it only changes form… From this wisdom comes an unadulterated vision of not just a mortal world littered with dogma and ego - but a vast and incomprehensible Responsive Universe....


John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com
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Nature is one of many Connections to Empowerment and Energy

A green flash is a special moment in nature

Nature is one of many connections to empowerment and energy – there is a wealth of space and clarity when surrounded in nature.

NEW BLOG POST

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com
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Millennials – A wayward Generation?

There was an article in the USA Today newspaper on Monday that caught my eye. That’s right, I actually read the newspaper. Further, I love USA Today – it has everything I want and nothing I do not want.

Anyway, getting back to my point; I read an article by Tom Krattenmaker talking about the “doomsday hype about this supposedly wayward generation” – He is talking about this latest generation of “Millennials” that are now just heading into their early adulthood – you know, the future of America. Mr. Krattenmaker actually defends this generation by saying “different does not mean devoid”.

There are some sociologists and outspoken religious people that worry our newest generation of adults are lacking god and immersed in immoral behavior that is centered on alcohol and sex. Not sure anything has changed there? Ever heard of the 70s? Ever heard of the roaring twenties? The fact is there are always bad apples in any generation – ever heard of Hitler or Charles Manson? Still, all generations have their Albert Einstein’s too. Really nothing has changed in regard to our youth – just a different decade. What has changed is society and technology. Our youth is evolving to meet the needs of this new computer/instant gratification driven world. As we all get older, we tend to lose touch with the youth that has filled in the ranks behind us. Still, we see reflections of this new guard in our own children and family.

From my standpoint, yes society is changing –the world is changing. Still I do not see a godless, incompetent generation maturing to their twenties. My daughter is 23 years old and is going to school and working in what is the most oppressive and challenging economy since the “Great Depression”. She is working her ass off and I am very proud of her. My college days were a lot less stressful. Further, my 10 year old son just got an A+++ on his Colonial ABC project – Eat your heart out Ben Franklin!

Society is evolving but that is not a bad thing. Those that focus on the bad all the time are simply back-sliding into an unpalatable world. Still, it’s an illusion. Believe what you want; there is always good behind the bad. There is always blue sky behind the clouds. Many times it is just your perspective that wears rose-colored glasses. Take those glasses off and see the world for what it is – a Responsive Universe.

If you have not had a chance, please check out my latest article on MindBodyGreen.com

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com
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Center Your Energy Through a Mind-Body Connection

Through experience, I have found that there are two ways to connect and receive energy…

Please check out my new published article at MindBodyGreen.com – “Center Your Energy through a Mind-Body Connection” – Thanks!

John C. Bader

www.responsiveuniverse.com

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Healthy Eating tips for Spring!

Spring is here! It is going to be 62 degrees in Chicagoland today! Time to crack the windows and dust off the patio furniture. Today I am going to even sit outside and try to enjoy real vitamin D from the sun instead of a pill. Spring is also about renewal. The plants and trees are starting to regenerate and some of us are starting to spring clean. It is also a great time to make some lasting changes to our health and diet. After all, summer is coming.

This morning I juiced – with my vitamix, I blended 1 carrot, a handful of grapes, a half of beet, a handful of spinach, 1 kale leaf, an apple and frozen blueberries, strawberries and peaches. I am slurping it down as I type. This will be my breakfast this Sunday morning.

Below is a great list of healthy tips for wellness. I swear by these rules and I promise if you follow this list well into summer you will be a changed person. Spring is a great time to start some new regiments
Here are ten steps to eating healthier:

1. Eat more fruits and vegetables and less fried and processed foods: Research shows that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables provides many benefits, including protection against cancer, heart disease, and the effects of aging. We all live busy lives, but try to limit fast food which includes processed and fried foods all of which contain preservatives and words we can’t pronounce.
2. Eat more “Super Foods” like salmon, walnuts and even dark chocolate. Also blueberries and any vegetable that is bright in color like red bell peppers and tomatoes. Also, excellent are dark green vegetables like spinach and broccoli all of which are rich in antioxidants and can help fight free-radicals in the blood stream.
3. Add a multi-vitamin to your daily diet. Whole Food supplements are the best but also the most expensive. We can’t always eat well, but adding a multi-vitamin to your diet acts as checks in balance system when you’re on the go or can’t afford healthier food on a regular basis.
4. Snack smart – go for nuts and dried fruit over chips and candy bars.
5. Super size, need not apply – Limit your portions at all meals. Americans especially, over eat which leads to weight gain and even obesity. Slow your intake and don’t eat a large portion if you are not very hungry. Learn to eat about ¾ of your meal and wait five minutes. You will find there is a delayed response from the stomach telling the brain you are full. Doing this will ensure you do not leave the dinner table with that uncomfortable full feeling.
6. Shop smart: Try and side step the snack isle and don’t buy food you know is unhealthy. Sugar drinks and pop should be treats not a daily practice.
7. Curb your sugar intake: Try to limit how much refined sugar you eat — not only is it high in calories, but it’s also almost devoid of nutrients. Why risk gaining unnecessary weight from foods with little or no nutritional value? Read labels and avoid foods high in sugar and excessive carbohydrates. Stay away from “high fructose corn sugar” as well.
8. Go natural and organic: Choosing organic food means you’ll be eating foods that were cultivated without pesticides or hormones, which have been proven to be toxic in the human diet, and are often linked with cancer. It is difficult and expensive to go completely organic, but even a few changes will help. For example, if you eat eggs on a regular basis, buy the organic cage free variation. Any small changes to your diet will help!
9. Drink water: Our bodies are made up of mostly water and drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day is important for hydration and flushing out your organs and cells.
10. Juice before dinner. Fill up with antioxidants and fiber so there is less room to fill up with empty calories.

Happy Spring!

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com
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Awesome Church Service Today!

I just got back from church. It is a beautiful church that sits in the woods. I had to bike ride 5 miles to reach its sanctuary. Most of the time I am the only one attending mass here and I am okay with that. There is no priest or pastor, just my inner voice, True Nature and reverence. When you sit within its confines, there are about 20 large trees that reach for the sky above – their branches create the most amazing architecture as the blue sky and sun rays permeate down; vibrating shafts of light and energy that warm my face. It must have been designed with that in mind? There are no walls or idols, just nature. A deer peers in from the edge of the forest and I can hear birds and a gentle breeze creating a spiritual symphony of music that is wonderful to listen to. There was no sermon today because as I breathe in the cool air, I breathe out negativity, stress and ego. I do not need a lesson about God because everything I need is already found within my heart and mind. My focus was simply to be mindful of my surrounding and appreciate the gifts of nature we sometimes take for granted.

This was one of the many trees that
cast its shadow of grace above me

Meditative, thankful and centered… it was an awesome church service and I look forward to going back soon!

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com
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Pope Benedict Denounces Gay Marriage

I have a small disagreement with the Pope – really it is a one-sided argument because the Vatican does not respond to my emails.

Yesterday the Pope denounced the United States continued move to allow for state gay marriage rights. Last week Maryland legalized same-sex marriage.

Here is the Pope-

“Sexual differences cannot be dismissed as irrelevant to the definition of marriage,”
He added that the traditional family and marriage had to be “defended from every possible misrepresentation of their TRUE NATURE” because, he said, “whatever injured families injured society”.

I use the word True Nature a lot in my posts – it is the intrinsic, immortal potential for reaching enlightenment that exists within the mind of every sentient being. It makes me squirm a little when someone of great power defines this quality of energy and existence for humankind. I think we ought to leave this one up to the Universe and its connection to all things sublime. Some things are meant to be free like the wind –not controlled and contained. It is sort like saying you are going to go to Hell if you do not join us – seems like fear is governing these pious principles more so than true nature?
Benedict called on American bishops to continue their “defense of marriage as a natural institution consisting of a specific communion of persons, essentially rooted in the complementarity of the sexes and oriented to procreation”.

I guess my point is this – who are you to judge me and my actions? For the record, I am as heterosexual as they come, but I believe in people being happy, living free of spiritual and social persecution. How can we evolve if we cannot have the freedom to be who we fundamentally are? I know we could get into the discussion of nature vs nurture in regard to gays; but that is not my point. The point is this, when people of power make spiritual and social decisions for us, we are not free to socially evolve – we are slaves to a 2 thousand-year old doctrine that is as archaic as the ideals of the Pope. If something is morally wrong, why not leave it up to a higher power – like karma?

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com

Insecurity Can Be Your Friend

Dana Claudat wrote an interesting short piece on mindbodygreen.com titled “Insecurity can be your Friend”. Research has shown that the ability to allow yourself to be vulnerable correlates with your ability to be happy and successful.

I agree with this statement wholeheartedly. Experience has shown that we need to push ourselves to be better. Most of the world it seems is walking down hill – following – taking the easy path. Yet self-discovery and social evolution requires you to walk up hill. One such shift in perception is putting yourself out there to be appreciated and discovered. When the ego is involved, there are complexities involving fear, shallow self-confidence and insecurity. These superficial emotions are not who you are. Underneath the shell of a reality that society has molded is your True Nature – unadulterated and unfettered. When you connect to your true-self, void of ego, you find true empowerment – authentic fulfillment.

But how do we get to this level of space and clarity? By pushing youself – By walking up hill instead of down hill. You will know you are shifting your thoughts and actions in the right direction when you feel naked and insecure to those around you. That is your ego intervening – saying you are not good enough in the eyes of others. This insecurity you feel is not who you are – only a distorted reflection. A good rule of thumb in life is this – if you feel insecure or if making a positive change in your life seems abrasive or difficult; If there is internal insecurities that arise from within, then you are challenging your ego. Once you fulfill a seemingly uncomfortable task like publishing your writing or art, quitting that dead-end job to pursue college – whatever your advancement, if it is a little abrasive or difficult, odds are that means you are on the right path.

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com
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Vibration and the Universe

I love when modern science applies to spirituality. I do not want to be a jerk here, but that is my biggest problem with organized religion –its laws and rituals are as archaic as the founders. Trust me, I do not enjoy condemning religion – who am I to judge – I just feel there is so much more to explore outside of ancient texts and scriptures – there is a Responsive Universe that exists inside and outside of human experience and if broken down to a common denominator, it is vibration.

Vibration?

Vibration as it relates to energy begins with a microscopic atom. An atom has a nucleus surrounded by tiny electrons that rotate around the center much like planets orbit a star. This movement as subtle as it may be, creates a micro-vibration. Since everything in the Universe is made of atoms, matter and energy itself is vibrational in nature. Though one atom is small and insignificant, imagine a vast Universe composed of an unthinkable number of atoms all connected by gravity and sub-atomic physics. A symphony of energy…

Humans and the physical world we know of are connected to this dynamism. Further, actions and emotions are also connected to this matrix of energy and vibration. During sub-atomic experiments where matter is broken down to the smallest form, the act of viewing the process has to be considered part of the experiment due to the nature of connectivity through vibration. If thoughts, emotions, matter and energy are connected to vibration, then everything relating to thoughts, feeling, perceptions, and experience is vibrational; vibration is relative to existence. Humans are unaware of this mysterious world because it sits just beneath the surface of our cognitive world. The human ear can only detect a small range of sound waves. Further, our eyes are also reliant on a small spectrum of visible light. There is so much more to sense and experience within the Cosmos that exists but is not detectable with our limited five sense. This is where our human biological development will evolve in the next million years – assuming we do not destroy ourselves first.

Science is just now beginning to uncover the intricacies of the Cosmos that extend well beyond our current scope and knowledge. The exciting notion is that we are all connected to this amazing tapestry of energy and vibration. It is okay if we do not understand the full system of order that created and operates the Universe – it is enough to know we are a part of something so vast and amazing it blows the doors off of contemporary religion and our modern view of the world. I do not know about you, but I am pretty excited. Such explorations will without a doubt uncover the secrets to karma, an afterlife and our true place within this amazing responsive and vibrational Universe.

John C. Bader
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To Suffer Less and be Happy – our Universal goal as Humans…?

What is it going to take for humans to evolve socially and intrinsically? When you watch the news and read the paper, it is not hard to feel that we are stagnant in our progress as it relates to humanity and wellness. With fighting escalating in Syria, starvation in Africa and pollution running rampant in China; And what about the petty political squabbles that divide America and other countries – Are we on the golden path to enlightenment and prosperity? I guess a question to ask is this – What is our goal as humans to end suffering and live in peace and harmony? I know that kind of sounds like candy ass hippy nonsense. I know of people who would shrug and even make fun of such statements. But, isn’t that the fundamental objective for everyone? To suffer less and be happy?

In Buddhism, there is a perspective that basically states that in order for a sentient being to cease suffering; those around us also need to cease suffering. Can you visualize a world that works together in a conscious effort to end global suffering? What if everyone had food to eat, warmth and education? What if war and persecution ceased to exist and humans joined together in commonality to celebrate our synergies and not fight over our differences? Wouldn’t we all be happier? There would be less crime, war and political differences because everyone would be striving for the same conclusion: Happiness. When those that surround you are happy, this thing called contentment is contagious. Sounds like a science fiction movie or fairy tale doesn’t it?

But, there is a fundamental problem to this utopian concept: Money and power rules the world. Philosophers and teachers like Plato and Aristotle had this figured out thousands of years ago. They even spoke of a mysterious energy called Aether that acted like a catalyst to all that exists. The amazing social and scientific gains of ancient Greece were shelved by a new religious order that shoved Europe into the dark ages – back sliding from evolutionary progress to centuries of strife and mediocrity. For over four thousand years the rich and religiously pious have held the world hostage from true social evolution. Those that are in power – whether it be a King, Pope or President will hold on to that power at all costs. It is a footprint that has not changed since the history of man was scribed. These days it is big money corporations that seem to be in control. To live in commonality, to share and be compassionate is a human trait, but history has shown this flower of enlightenment has been stamped out by the elite few that have ruled the world. These people gain their energy from stealing it at the expense of others. The fear of losing this power to commonality is a reinforcing control pattern that continues to reproduce century after century.

Will it ever change? Will humans socially evolve to the next level in our intended growth? I have thought long and hard about my social and biological evolution. I feel deep down in my heart that we live in a Responsive Universe. The Aether that Aristotle and Plato spoke of is the quantum energy that surrounds us and connects us with the sublime intricacies of the Cosmos. I know deep down under the stifle of social static and controlled chaos that our future evolution is dependent on commonality and happiness that extends to all reaches of the Earth. The goal of humanity is to not suffer and do good for others. Every major religion speaks of this even despite their indigenous and isolated cultural trappings.

I do not have the answers. I can only tell you what works for me. I do not like to suffer. I suffer less when I make the right decisions in life that incorporate and transcend my True Nature, karma and those around me. Compassion and love are the common denominator for our human existence. I have found that the more I surrender to this True Nature which takes my actions and desires away from ego, I evolve and prosper. My life may be just a microcosm but living and embracing a Responsive Universe is the path of the future – my inner voice speaks the truth as it relates to me and I try to live accordingly.

John C. Bader
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Could Prayer stop Tornados? Probably not Pat..

I think it was Pat Roberts that said the Katrina disaster was Gods punishing hand on the debauchery that sometimes New Orleans is famous for. I wonder why Vegas has yet to be swallowed by an Earth Quake. Maybe it is because what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? Even Jesus knows that! Well, now he is back spewing right-wing religious rhetoric that tornadoes could have been stopped if people prayed more.

Here are a couple Pat Robertson comments:

“If enough people were praying [God] would’ve intervened, you could pray, Jesus stilled the storm, you can still storms,” Robertson said on the 700 Club show that showcases other religious crazies from time to time.

It gets better –

“Why did you build houses where tornadoes were apt to happen?” he asked.
Check out this link for more right-wing crazy Jesus stuff: Pat Robertson is crazy

You know, I could respond here but I am going to hold my tongue. I could have said guys like Pat Robertson are more of the problem than the solution. I could say that he is ignorant and racist – especially to the gay community. I could say that he has his head so far up his ass he sees Hell – But, I am going to hold my tongue and not say such things. Instead, I am going to take the high road and just feel compassion for a guy that seems soooo mis-guided.

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com
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Dogs Rule!

How about something light-hearted to follow these last couple posts. My wife says I get too cerebral in my writings. Of course my wife is my biggest critic and that is a good thing. As I write, she plays the devil’s advocate and keeps me down to earth. I like it because she is a no-nonsense woman who calls a spade a spade. She has been very instrumental in helping me weed out the unnecessary in regard to my next published effort. Fortunately in regard to my upcoming book, The Responsive Universe, I also have a great editor to rely on to warm and smooth over my thoughts that may seem a little terse and cerebral.

Moving to a less intense or abstract subject… I love my Dog… Yeah, that’s right, “Annie” (pictured) is a golden lab and is by far the best dog I have ever had. I had an English Bull Dog before Annie and the Bully was a unique and funny creature to say the least but “Lucky” the Bull Dog was the most stubborn canine imaginable. There was no reasoning with Lucky – He was a borderline asshole – serious. It was his way or the highway. He was not the sharpest knife in the drawer either.

Annie on the other hand is the most caring, intelligent and compassionate dog around. Sounds like I am talking about a person right? This dog gives infinite unconditional love. She craves human attention and also returns the favor with her kind demure.

The path to enlightenment is a long and arduous road: Being mindful of the present; aware of control patterns and a continued focus on self-evolution can be rewarding but also exhausting. That is why I am a firm believer that owning a dog is a great move forward to happiness and contentment. Dogs are great companions whether you live alone or have a family. Further, there is research that shows people who own and care for dogs are happier.

….and who does not want to be happy

John C. Bader
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Guilty of Spiritual Faith… Punishable by Death?

Every once in a while I stubble across an article that gets me so aggravated by the sheer stupidity of the scenario that I feel I have to voice my thoughts. Last week it was Santorum and this week it is the zealous religious government of Iran. I actually made a comparison to Rick Santorum wanting an American merger of Church and State based on the teachings of the Bible – I quipped, how is this any different from the Taliban pushing Islamic law on its citizens? Where is the fine line?

This morning I read a news piece on an Iranian citizen by the name of Yusuf Naderkhani. He is a Christian Pastor in the Iranian city of Rasht. He is currently on trial for Apostasy or the formal disaffiliation and abandonment of a religion by a person. If found guilty, the punishment is death! DEATH…. First, a Christian pastor in Iran? That makes about as much sense as snow in the Sahara. Secondly, punishable by death? Do we live in the medieval age? Trust me; I am no fan of Christianity and its social conditioning here in the west. Still, I feel sorry for Yusuf who is simply trying to exercise his faith and spiritual will on himself and probably a few loyal and willing parishioners. Where is the harm in that?

There are several problems that arise here – one is our quick condemnation of Islam which really is not the issue here. The issue is the power-hungry Iranian government that uses a peaceful religion like Islam and interprets it in ways that takes power and social rights away from women and keeps the poor majority from rising up against Government. Talk about a propaganda machine! The other thought is this – no matter what your religious affiliation, if you find the need to condemn and persecute others for their faith and beliefs, you are not even close to any form of religious or spiritual enlightenment. If there is not compassion in your voice and actions, you are back-sliding into something not sublime but archaic and barbaric. Oh boy, here come the death threats…

Good luck Yusuf Naderkhani – I am pulling for you buddy.

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com

New Video Promo for the Responsive Universe

If you get a chance, please check out my video promo for my upcoming book release – The Responsive Universe. My ten-year old son was instrumental in setting up my modest YouTube channel and my older daughter assisted in helping convert my music files into a useable format for the short video piece. Trust me, it is nothing fancy but I think it sort of captures the energy that will drive this book – I encourage your comments.

The Responsive Universe Channel and Video

This entire writing project has been an organic process with a huge learning curve. I did get two offers from independent publishers but I declined both. My reasons are varied for my choice to self-publish. First, the royalties are ridiculously low with traditional publishers but truthfully I did not write this book to get make money. I wrote it to provide insight from a revelation or awakening I experienced years ago. Further, I would sign away all creative rights teaming up with an independent publisher which is hard to do after all the blood sweat and tears. When I started this project several years ago, my ego was still leading me by the nose. As I type now, I am excited about simply letting this book flow and prosper naturally with no true attachments to its success or failure. Writing this book has really opened my eyes to a new world. I hope when this book becomes available later this year for wide release, it will help those still lost in the controlled chaos and false perceptions that holds our lives hostage. Truthfully, it has helped me – I am a new person now.

Enjoy your weekend and hug someone you love…

John C. Bader

www.responsiveuniverse.com

One way to turn Darkness into Light

I read an article published on Mindbodygreen.com the other day. It was written by Chloe Park and was titled, 4 Ways to Turn Darkness into Light. It was the first step that really caught my attention. It deals with the polarity of emotions and experience involving both light and dark traits within a person. Marianne Williamson once said, “Until we have seen someone’s darkness, we don’t really know who they are. Until we have forgiven someone’s darkness, we don’t really know what love is.” There lies the age-old paradox: In order to know light, you must also know darkness. Further, in order to know Love, you must also be knowledgeable of suffering.

My own self-evolution can get a little messy at times. We all can not be in a good mood every minute of everyday; centered and always mindful of the present. This week especially has been a tiresome week for me. I have been fighting this head cold which appears to have morphed in an ear infection – last Tuesday the pressure was so great that my ear drum ruptured – try to be centered in the moment then – SUCKS! All I wanted to do was hit myself in the head with a shovel in hopes it would knock me out – that is how painful it was.

The point is, the polarity of light and darkness are both intrinsic to our being – especially being socially immersed. Some Buddhist would disagree, but unless you are holed up in a temple or retreat away from the pressures and rigors of life, there is going to be some darkness there. The key is to acknowledge the darkness, not as a negative thing, but simply something transitional; much like storm clouds that only temporally blot out the blue sky that always exists.

Chloe Park writes,

“Without the polarity of dark and light, well, we wouldn’t be here. Acceptance and forgiveness is essentially the same thing. Once we learn how to accept ourselves — every little piece, every little bit with love and without judgment or criticism, that’s when the shift begins to occur. Greet all darkness through radical acceptance and unconditional love. Watch it move towards the light.”
This would include, sickness, work stress and the many other challenges life throws our way. Life is not perfect – nether are we… So, lets settle in the notion that any effort to move toward the light is sometimes good enough

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com

There appears to be much interest in an Afterlife proven by Science…

Talk about a Responsive Universe – Word Press has been a great outlet for blogging the last 8 months. I have been a long time member of blogspot.com but I do not get half the traffic, comments or exposure over there across town. Speaking of activity, there is one unique blog entry that I posted on November 30^th, 2011 that seems to continue to enjoy amazing interest and traffic. It was titled “Can astrophysics prove that an afterlife exists?” Even 4 months later, this one post seems to draw more traffic than all other past posts combined in my statistics. It is clear I hit an emotional chord on this subject.

Well, don’t worry; I dedicated two full chapters to such discussions in my latest book, The Responsive Universe – due to see book shelves later this summer. Still, what an amazing show of interest and support for a rather controversial topic: The Afterlife. For centuries humans have left such dogma and trappings to the religious elite. Yet, many of us see fundamental problems with religion and how it has managed and even mislead the masses the last few thousand years. Let’s just say, it has not been a perfect ride across crusades, religious persecution and learned faith. It was only in the 1980s that Pope John Paul finally conceded a 350 year wrong in admonishing Galileo from his theories about Heliocentricity. With such archaic response, I think there are more people out there than just me who are not feeling warm and snuggly with church doctrine as it relates to heaven and the afterlife. I personally need something more concrete and that is why while researching my book, I turned to science – most notably, astrophysics.

There are now several strong theories within science that lead us to the possibility of an afterlife not based on God or blind faith, but unadulterated, unfettered science. Research in Near Death Experience, Black Holes and String Theory are just some of the contributing evidence that is out there that supports an afterlife. The same equations and musings Einstein pondered could later be the key to an afterlife. Remember, basic physics says this: Energy cannot be created or destroyed – it simply changes form. That in itself denotes existence in some form after mortal death. As science and evolution continues to progress, mankind will continue to see the intrinsic connections and vibrations that make us whole – that unite us with the mysterious and unimaginable workings of a Responsive Universe.

John C. Bader
www.responsiveuniverse.com