Making The World A Better Place

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Any change which is primarily motivated by genuine love for others will eventually lead to a better world.

I so agree. I think there is space for both the acceptance and love of the world as it is, and the pursuit of ideals in hopes they manifest more and more.

I believe freedom is one of the highest manifestations of love. There is supposed to be a saying, if you like a flower you pick it and take it home, if you love a flower, you leave it. Changes which increase freedom of the individual will be the most beneficial in the long run.

Individual freedom is a very high ideal for me as well. However how do the other ideals of commitment, duty and protection sit within this picture? Aren't there cases where love is also expressed by the limitations that we put on our individual freedoms?

Why do you think or feel there are limitations that express love? I am curious is all...perhaps for a deeper explanation? Idk. It seems far reaching as one can find love even in limitation because it has been done many times before. This can be seen when we are able to apply higher ideals to the limitations of Saturn but not without loads of inner work. So, if you will, give a deeper explanation?
I also am a lover of freedom as this is one expression of love according to my own understanding. I could not imagine losing not one of my freedoms, but if I did, I would reach within (just after my rant) to find the love and the balance to restore my faith and strength. Thank you Lbell
****I sort of see Dtris' perspective as well this is why I am asking.

Hi Ohr Ein Sof! Sorry I didn't get to this sooner, life has been a little preoccupying lately. I'm hoping you are well!

I'm afraid I don't really have anything very insightful to say on this matter. These are thoughts still in their infancy in my mind I think. I suppose it stems from the idea that while this Logos extended freewill to its M/B/S's (us) through the use of the veil, we are also still limited in many ways in this life. We are anchored to our physical bodies which must be fed regularly and housed, our communication is limited to vocal chords and gestures. Now, don't get me wrong, all I see in these limitations is the perfection of the intelligent design of the Logos, serving us in infinite capacity so that we may grow and make the choice. So I'm thinking that in this finite reality we find ourselves, there must those sweet spots to be found between the mix of freedom and limitation. However, if we are to entertain the idea that we choose to enter these incarnations when in-between lives, then in a way, it can be seen as a voluntary decision to experience these limitations. So that brings me to what Dtris was saying, about the difference between giving up freedoms voluntarily or not.

I think that it can be a great service to voluntarily give up some personal freedoms in order to commit to some form of service. Raising children comes to mind. I think there is great honor in that. So that is a virtue which has its place in a better world, I believe. It may also be a wise choice to give up some other freedoms for the sake of protecting the self and others. Of course, this has to be within reason, as there are those slippery slopes where maybe too much freedom is given up which can paradoxically put the person at greater risk for other things. So, I guess I'm just trying to say that life can be complicated! But fortunately, setting an intention to find love in the moment isn't so complicated.

I am well thank you!
Excellent and thanks for explaining. I too find myself in the same boat. As I believe that some sacrifice will be made for the greater good of all but that we must tread carefully when considering such feats. We must not forget where we are existing at the moment and sometimes circumstances can be quite treacherous to say the least. I also believe it can come down to the way in which we live our lives. Hear me out....if we believe we are in danger, we probably are. Does this make sense? This does not take into account for the person who wants to have something that is told to him, he cannot have because of controlling laws. Again, I think you are correct to say that life is complicated and takes careful observation and balancing by the witness to be successful. What is good for one may not be good for the other thus making them both correct. Thanks once more. I always look forward to your comments.

The idea of imposed limitation is something that you see in the arts a lot. An art form will have certain conventions that create a framework within which the artist can explore the creative possibilities. An example would be various poetic forms, haiku, sonnets, rhymed poetry, etc. In painting you have paint and a canvas, the medium offers limitation. There are rules to be observed but still much creative freedom within the limitations of the form. Much of art also seeks to push the boundaries to create new interpretations of the form, but even in going beyond the limitations the end result is still informed by the framework of the art form.

I think being alive is itself an art form. We have our limitations which Louisabell mentioned, but we have full creative control of how we express ourselves within them. On the spiritual path, and especially the path of the adept, a big part of the journey is sacrifice and personal discipline, yet the goal is not to suppress one's desires or to proactively place limits on ourselves, but rather to recognize through deep introspection and personal development that which is no longer needed. As Ra says (18.5) "The proper role of the entity is in this density to experience all things desired, to then analyze, understand, and accept these experiences, distilling from them the love/light within them. Nothing shall be overcome. That which is not needed falls away."

So to circle back to the original topic of the thread, to me a better world would be one in which everyone has the freedom to explore their desires in a safe and consensual environment. To me that would mean freedom from the "well-meant and unintentional slavery" of pointless jobs, debt, social and familial pressure, etc. so that people can explore what they actually want to rather than being forced to spend much of their lives beholden to others. This idea of a "safe and consensual environment" indicates some level of boundaries though, as individuals and social groups must decide for themselves what they are willing to tolerate from others. The limitations then would be spontaneously created through free will interaction.

There is a concept that shows up in various philosophies of a natural order of the universe and that through the perfecting of the self one can integrate themselves into and act accordingly with this natural order. We see this in Taoism, Neoplatonism and the concept of the True Will in Thelema. As one becomes less distorted and begins to find their path, they will by necessity be in harmony with others who are on the same path. I think this is a key to how social memory complexes work. If everyone is acting according to their True Will then their path will not cross another's and at that point the only limitations needed would be self imposed through discipline and understanding of self.

Anyhow, those are some thoughts that came to me while reading this discussion