Voting Beyond

photo by linh.ngân

I was trying to visualize an election without using any automation technology or trashy paraphernalia. In a sense, it would be highly impossible, since our electoral systems run only through technology, be it manual or digital counting. But how about an election without all of these messy counting that are often subjected to inevitable fraud, an election that only uses intentions of light? Would this be possible?

Consider the Intention Experiment led by Lynne McTaggart. These are series of experiments that demonstrate the power of intention and how it influences external subjects like plants and microorganisms. In 2007, one of their pioneering projects was launched, called the Leaf Intention Experiment. Experimenters instructed participants around the globe to visualize the leaves of a geranium plant glowing with light. Through punctured holes on the leaf surface, light emissions were measured. Leaves were photographed using a highly sophisticated camera. Results showed statistically significant increase in light emissions of leaves intended with light. This experiment, along with others, is resonant to the nonlocal effect of intentions. It means that wherever we are in the world, our deepest intentions are effective, regardless of distance and time. This experiment also reminds me of many cases of how prayer works, discussed by Larry Dossey in his book Healing Words.

What are the implications of these experiments in this coming elections? Perhaps in a utopic way of thinking, our future might develop some kind of technology that will increase the extensions of intentions, particularly of Light. If possible, in a highly sophisticated electoral system, we are about to choose candidates by the virtue of our intentions, translated through light emissions accurately recorded and counted! (in Mctaggart's experiments, light or biophoton emissions were captured, analyzed and counted one by one. This means that results can still be counted.) Stretching our imagination on this kind of light intention-based election, candidates would sit down on a dark chamber (so there would be no chance to manipulate "light"), while people vote in precincts by casting their intentions on pictures of candidates of their choice. No need to write or mark any ballot. Intention is enough to do the job.

Doubts may still linger. What if there are flying voters, or manipulation of results, assuming that some candidates who voraciously desire to win would come up with their battalion of "light intenders" to increase their chance of winning? This is, in theory, possible. On the other hand, what if light cannot be cast with maleficent intentions? If the candidate tries to do this, results will be compromised. So it appears that the intention-based system will create innumerable problems in fulfilling a desire of fair and clean elections.

Stop. There is something wrong in this picture.

Even if this intention technology is available, it will still not be viable to serve the current status quo. Our society continues to starve for external power, and that is why elections are fertile ground for fraud and violence. My high school history teacher laments on this: "As long as the world is ruled by man, there will be no perfect government." Our highest ideals on true democracy and governance will continue to be tainted by greed, anger and ignorance, all in pursuit of ruling power over people. Unless each individual claims and asserts his or her own responsibility and integrity, there will be an endless litany of blames toward the so-called leaders of nation and their corrupted bureaucracies. Unless leaders, politicians, and bureaucrats transform their self-centered agenda into selfless service to humanity, there will still be perpetuation of abusive power that tyrannize weak people who continue to search for external solutions.

"Voting is not just about selection of who is fitted to run any government. It is about an empowered choice, of choosing beyond platforms and sweet promises."

There is a need for overhauling the system but not to change any external technology, like the ones done in electoral systems. Intention-based technology is true and effective, but to use it for external objectives like elections won't allow it to work. Intentions are inside jobs, inner soulwork that requires full awareness and intuitive discernment. This internal technology, as what Gregg Braden calls it, is highly effective if each and everyone of us awakens to the reality that whatever change we desire starts from within. That is, our inner consciousness in the essence of Love is the bedrock foundation that empowers our choices and decisions. When we create intentions of goodwill and harmony, Love begins to manifest in our actions. In this way, we influence each other's knowing and capacity in pursuit of extending our hands in initiating external transformations. We are now voting, in a literal and symbolic sense, for the process of change, not for any candidates who promise change and break them.

We can now begin to create intentions of light and make others "glow". We are literally the light of the world, we just exert our abilities in casting the light of our Soul. We can intend change by refusing to hate, blame and criticize, yet doing our contributions in our own unique ways. This is voting in the most ideal level, by doing what is needed to be done. We are filling ourselves with the feelings of Love while stopping corruption, conserving our environment, upholding freedom and dignity, saving lives from poverty and hunger or innovating efficient systems and technology. This feeling of Love is not a fleeting feeling of euphoria, but the deepest desire of understanding and serving the needs of others, which charges each action with compassion and joy.

Voting is not just about selection of who is fitted to run any government. It is about an empowered choice, of choosing beyond platforms and sweet promises. And an empowered choice is always a powerful intention, of casting the light of Love to the hearts of people.

May we always vote for Love.

Labor of Love

Work is Love made visible -- Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Today, as you read this, perhaps you are taking your break from an endless number of chores or tasks you have started or about to finish. I sense the feeling of being unproductive, despite doing a lot and spending great amount of effort, time and money. For the longest time you have believed that the things you do can bring you more meaning and purpose in your life. And you often equate this meaning with a brilliant career, a new set of skills, a fantastic relationship, or any expensive material possession. They are all good at their ends. Yet after achieving a few of them, if not all, you still feel the void. Something is looming, waiting to be discovered. It's a black hole of uncertainty. And it remains untouchable, and you are driven away by that fear that might sweep your life off your feet.

Why is it that even if you do things, you still have that feeling of being adrift in the ocean of the unknown. You have been asking yourself "What's next?" a lot of times, and trying to have fun or hooking yourself up to something enjoyable and addictive so you don't bother yourself answering that very difficult question. Because deep inside, whatever things you do remains empty, until such time you take the risk of discovering the answer way beyond the predictability of your life. There is more to do, but that thing is more than just any backbreaking stuff. It is more of an undertaking that neither your career nor your possessions can equal, yet both of them provide the tools you need to accomplish it.

Why not rethink your life right now? Why not see it again in a larger different perspective? In retrospect, try to see what you have worked for and what you have accomplished. Embrace all those things you did and had in the past, and those that you presently do and have. See all those failures and blunders and mistakes as part of your learning process. And see your small successes and big achievements not just rewards, but keys to the meaningful and purposeful life you are about to commit. You are here not as an organism of random biological processes. You are not here by accident in a seemingly unfriendly world. You are not alone in this vast universe waiting for your certain death. While life is full of suffering, it is in the realization of it that makes life more joyful. This is what you need to accomplish. To live your life full of joy, going above any pain and pleasure. But the question is, "How?"

Seeing the worth of your Soul is where you start. You don't need any credentials, or implements, or possessions, or rewards to fill in this inner space of worth that you often think as a void. You need not to capitalize on what you have or what you do, but on what you ARE. By the virtue of being a human, you are enough. To realize your worth without judging yourself against the standard of this world is the beginning of your true Soulwork. This is where the "next" comes in.

In this way, you are reliving again your Life as conscious as possible. You are not anymore an automaton who follows what the world dictates you to do. You are not just a rank-and-file jobber who is often measured by the things you do or have. You cannot be deterred in fulfilling your true life simply by being compared or prejudiced. Because you are precious enough to be you, and from being you, you can open yourself to the wide breadth of your potential. You can now begin to put grander meaning to everything you have, for they are the tools you can use to fulfill your purpose. You can see that the things you do are not just mechanical duties, but your great endeavor done little by little, adding to the magnificent scheme of inner and outer possibilities. Your Soul is doing a great job in allowing the Universe to reveal itself to you, simply by making yourself revealed in full awareness, of showing that you are conscious enough to see yourself as a work and product of Love. Each thing you hold is empowered with your Love. Each thing you create becomes Love. Whatever that is, it becomes an instrument of Love.

You are not anymore trading your blood, sweat and tears off. There is no need to die for any strenuous and stressful work. Because everything you do leads you to a fuller life. What you do is done with Love, a wordless prayer that expressed through your hands, a faith that is worth a thousand labor. Being you is a labor of Love. This is enough.