There is a cosmic mystery that is absolutely perplexing in
which we play some sort of role. It is
generally referred to as synchronicity. For
those who may not be familiar with the term, it refers to related events that
occur without a causal connection.
An
example might be helpful. Let’s suppose
I am thinking about a friend who I have not been in contact with for many
years, and he suddenly calls. The two
events are my thoughts and his call.
They are related, but neither caused the other to happen as far as we
know. This would be considered a
synchronistic occurrence.
Some
might suggest that this is no more than a random coincidence. However, what explanation do we offer when
these types of events occur frequently and with high levels of
improbability? How do we dismiss a
phenomenon that is so ubiquitous that it has been recognized in every culture
throughout the ages?
Numerous
books have been written on the subject of synchronicity. Some consider this the intervention of
God. Others view this as some form of
cosmic consciousness. Although I
recognize the validity of this aspect of reality and experience it on a regular
basis, I have no idea what the source is.
I
am not troubled by our current inability to empirically validate the
authenticity of this phenomenon. Long
before science identified the existence of viruses and bacteria, people
recognized that there was a connection between cleanliness and disease. We still don’t know precisely how gravity
works. Nevertheless, we acknowledge its
existence and can now precisely measure its influences.
At
present, the evidence of synchronicity is purely anecdotal. I would have to write extensively in order to
convey all of these types of experiences I have had personally. Instead, I will share just one that
illustrates why I acknowledge something that I cannot explain.
In
August of 2002 I was licensed as a massage therapist and set up practice in a
small shopping strip in February of the following year. By May 2004, I had developed a clientele that
was sufficient to pay my bills but did not generate any significant
profits. At that time, I was reading a
book that promoted the idea that our thoughts can influence events. Skeptically one afternoon I sat in my living
room and briefly and silently directed my desire for more income towards the
universe.
Within
thirty minutes I received a phone call from the executive director of a
non-profit organization called Alternative Medicine Integration (AMI). They were part of a pilot program in Florida
that administered funds for alternative medical services to Medicaid recipients
who had chronic back pain. The director
informed me that he was seeking massage therapists in my area and was calling
to see if I would be interested in becoming a provider.
As
he explained the program, I learned that they would refer clients to me to
receive treatments twice each month.
Furthermore, the compensation they were offering was twice the amount
that I normally charged. They were seeking
practitioners with at least 3 years of experience; however, even though I had
been licensed for less than two years, I was invited to participate anyway and
eagerly accepted.
The
details are so specific that the synchronistic nature of this event is
undeniable. Similar experiences both
prior and since have convinced me that there is some organizational force at
work in the universe that we do not currently understand. It is not something I can summon at will, but
neither am I surprised when it occurs.
Synchronicity certainly offers the impression that someone
is observing and responding to our needs.
Undoubtedly it lies behind the extensive belief in the importance of
prayer and innumerable forms of religious observances. However, these providential events occur
despite any particular belief or ritual.
If this is God, She is acting with complete indifference to our
theology.
Any
positive fulfillment of an appeal to higher power tends to affirm the validity
of one’s cosmic perspective. One person
prays to the Virgin Mary. Another makes
an offering before a Buddhist statue. A
third merely issues a silent appeal to the universe at large. As events reveal an apparent response, there
is an assurance that they have followed the proper path.
Often,
needs are met, and issues are resolved in extremely detailed and specific
manners. But, is this actually evidence
of God? Is it possible that there is an organizational field that can be
accessed which is capable of directing events in our lives without any cognitive
awareness?
It
is challenging to conceive of an organizational force that is not directed by
some form of intelligence. Here, ancient
Vedic teachings may be of some help. Beginning
thousands of years ago, yogis taught that the human body is a microcosm of the
universe. Considering that simple
observation offers significant insights.
We
make many decisions with the use of our intellect. Nonetheless, our very existence requires no
thought at all. The cells, tissues,
organs and systems in our bodies function in a harmonious rhythm completely
independent of our cognitive direction. In
fact, if we had to rely on remembering to breathe and maintain the rhythm of
our heart, most of us would be dead within an hour. Furthermore, we wouldn’t be able to concentrate
on anything else.
What
is true of the human body applies to all life forms. From the simplest cell to the most complex
ecosystem, completely natural processes function throughout our global
biosphere without any cognitive direction.
Indeed, our entire planet demonstrates this self-directed inherent order
and balance.
Is
synchronicity simply one more expression of this natural tendency to achieve
homeostasis? Perhaps these synchronistic
events are not intended to meet our individual needs. What if we are merely being positioned to
fulfill our role as an integral aspect of the greater fabric of existence.?
Considering
the role of synchronicity in our lives and the world at large is fascinating,
but contemplating the implications on a cosmic scale leads to unanswerable
speculation. Is it possible that this
organizational force is the underlying factor driving the progressive
complexification presented in chapter 4? Is it responsible for forming matter,
generating life on the earth, spawning complex organisms, and stimulating the
development of human consciousness? If
so, the universe is probably filled with various life forms, some of which may
exhibit intelligence equal to or exceeding our own.
If
someday we encounter extraterrestrials, it will be interesting to find out what
insights they may be able to provide regarding our unresolved cosmic
questions. What will they think of the
violence associated with so many of our philosophical differences. Is it possible that they will delay any contact
with our species until we reach a higher level of social development? Will
their culture have a religious history? What
will they be able to tell us about their understanding of God?
Does
God exist? If we can avoid rendering our
planet uninhabitable, in a thousand or perhaps ten thousand years we may have a
more definite answer to that question.
For now, what is certain is that we must grant to others the same right
we wish for ourselves, that we are free to believe what satisfies our mind and
comforts our heart.
If
we fulfill the essential teachings of religion, we will love one another and
live in peace. If we embrace the synergy
at work in the universe, we will acknowledge our interconnection and
interdependence and seek to develop mutually supportive social
relationships. The results are
potentially identical, a global community that is founded on mutuality.
Our
existence may be due to the actions of a deity or merely a natural event. If God exists, it is rather certain that He
is far different than those conceptions formulated thousands of years ago. As we grow in our knowledge about the
universe, our challenge is to remain open to whatever insights may await us as
we discover what it means to be at home among the stars.
Reflections:
-
If you were God, how would you make the
world better for mankind?
-
If we all worked together, how could we bring
about those changes without divine intervention?
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