Dear Agony Aunt... Life lessons

[Steppingfeet]

If this is so, I wonder why so many people, more than 80% of the people in the world, choose a life of poverty. Is it because lessons are easier to learn when one is poor?

I would respond firstly noting that, according to the Law of One, many in this illusion have not evolved sufficiently to be making their own-preincarnative arrangements. Rather it seems that many follow the course set by the higher self until such time that they become conscious enough (I think defined by the activation of their green ray?) to begin programming for themselves.

Either way, your question still stands.

I wouldn't imagine that "easier" is a criterion that frequently comes into play when setting up the incarnation to come. Rather, I believe that when designing the upcoming incarnation, questions include: "What important variables and catalyst will help to yield the learning and the balances I desire? What will grant me the maximum chance of success?"

To whatever extent the condition of poverty plays in catalytic learning, I can only guess. I am sure there are both very general and very individualistic reasons. From the standpoint of the self outside of incarnation, I believe it is a catalyst like any other, to be utilized and experienced.

From the standpoint of our third-density illusion, there are a collection of reasons for the prevalence of poverty on this planet, including economic, political, governmental, historical, cultural, religious, and reasons of polarity. But among the many reasons, it may be safe to conclude that poverty is so widespread because humans as a collective (mostly unconsciously and in great confusion) have more-or-less chosen this condition, or at least failed to choose otherwise.

Those souls who incarnate into poverty conditions are also inextricable parts of that human collective which has chosen the conditions whereby poverty is precipitated; they are not outside of this system, but are active creators and contributors to the system, disempowered though they may politically and economically seem on the surface of things.

If it is true that lessons are easily learned by a poor person, would a person leaving a poor country for a richer country likely to fail to learn those lessons, since this person may now become richer?

I think that moving forward on the premise of lessons being more "easily" learned within the condition of poverty will skew all further thinking. Though I can speak only for myself, I would do away with that premise.

I could be mistaken, but based upon my faith that we each experience that which we need*, both poverty and wealth can facilitate learning in the individual; as may the movement from one condition to the other: the person who releases their wealth for a simple and humble life of service, and the person who strives to gain wealth. Though the results in polarity, if any are gained, may be very different.

*Note: This is NOT a prescription to decline to be of service to those in need or who are suffering because, "they are experiencing what they need". Those of the positive polarity ought strive nevertheless to aid all who suffer.

I am told that when a person fails to learn the lessons, he will most likely have to learn them in another life. This means coming back for another lifetime and probably in poverty again!

I think what you describe above is a very easy trap for those aware of the basic mechanisms of spiritual to fall into.

"I don't desire this condition, but I fear that in seeking to improve this condition, I will avoid a desired lesson and consequently be forced to repeat it."

In my opinion, when it comes to making a decision, we have to analyze a choice point as best we can. Be honest with yourself, examine your emotions and motivations. Look for fear and love in your thinking. Seek the counsel of your heart and strive to exercise both the intellectual and intuitive faculties to find the path that is perceived to be your highest and best, that which feels the most "right" to you, and, hopefully, that which offers the greatest service to others if that, too, should feel right.

It can be difficult to come by certainty in this process of making a decision. Many of us leap into mid-air without that certainty, but at some point you jump one way or the other, you go left or right on the road, not ultimately knowing which is "best". You walk forward in the faith that you cannot make a mistake and that your lessons will meet you no matter which road you choose.

Doubt has its place at first, but then you have to stop feeding and energizing and paying attention to doubt, and go where your heart tells you to go, confused though it may be.

Helpful in this process is the practice of the awareness that *all is well*. This helps to curb doubt and fear. Helpful also is the contemplation that the self can be discovered in ANY outer condition.

Insofar as you create an identity of a poor person or rich person; or another way to say: insofar as you identify as one at the exclusion of the other, you erect opaque obstacles toward your experience of the Self which is already, 100% here.

Ra's balancing exercises includes the practice of seeing that the mind contains all things, including identities of wealth and poverty. Seeing that you contain both poverty and wealth identities, even if one is only potential and remains unmanifest, is a truer balance, and helps you to disidentify from either outer role, opening a space for the awareness to transcend, or rise above the outer shells of identity.

Love and Light to you, dear Wanderering Wanderer.
Gary