Powers of the Universe

Centration

Our Role in the Universe

• “Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us… Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are born to make manifest the glory of God within us.”

• Marianne Williamson

Living in a Box Universe

•We see the Universe as a box containing:* Space

* Stars and planets * People, animals, plants * Clock

Our Identity

• We are citizens of the Earth & Universe• What is our role as citizens of Earth?• To enable the powers of the Universe to

take on a new form in us• The Universe did not work for 4.7

billion years to produce consumers.• We need to pay attention to the

Universe

The Universe Wants Centration

• When the Universe flared forth:* If it had been a tiny fraction of a second faster – there would have been an ever- expanding cloud of particles without centration. No stars and galaxies would have emerged* If it had been a tiny fraction of a second slower – everything would have collapsed back to a zero point after an initial burst of expansion* In either case, there would have been no Universe

The Universe Contains Billions of Galaxies

The Universe did not want a homogeneous cloud of

particles; it wanted galaxies.

Each Galaxies Contains 100 Billion Stars

Universe Fosters Multiplicity of Life

Forms•Prokaryotes emerged in the

primordial sea 4 billion years ago

•Eukaryotes emerged 2 billion years ago

•Every life form we have to day comes from the Eukaryotes

Individuation

The Universe Loves Diversity

• No two zebras have the same set of stripes• Not two protea flowers have the same

pattern on their cone-shaped the flower heads

• Every human being (baring identical twins has unique set of DNA chromosomes

• Every set of human fingerprints is unique• The iris of every eye is unique

How Do We Enter The Process

Of Centration

• We learn from the Universe• Consider the membrane of a cell. The

membrane decides what gets through into the cell and what is barred.

• The membrane knows what will enhance life and lets it in. It know what will destroy life and keeps it out

Intelligent Membrane

Industrial Society

• In many ways the Industrial Society is undoing the work of centration.

• Causing the extinction of species• Causing the extinction of cultures• Causing the extinction of habitats• We need to align ourselves with the

centration power of the Universe

Human Qualities That Reflect

Centration• Confidence• Freedom from social conformity• Joy at being a centre of the

Universe at work• A strong sense of focus• A satisfaction at being alive right

now

Immature qualities of Centration• Narcissism – self-focus (human)

We tend to ignore other species on the planet

• GrandiosityAssuming that one is the centre of the Universe

• Selling oneself shortYour playing small does not serve the world

Where is the Centre of the Universe

• Every Galaxy is the centre of the Universe

• Every point in the Universe is the Centre of the Universe

• Every species is the centre of the ecological web of life

• Every being is central to the life• Every being is of immense significance

Expanding Balloons

The Spots on a Balloon

• If you imagine a “dalmation type” balloon – a balloon with a lot of spots painted on it.

• As you inflate the balloon, the distance between all of the spots is expanding

• If your were a fly sitting on a particular dot what you would see is all the other dots expanding away form you.

• As a fly, you would conclude that you were the centre of your world.

• This is an illustration for how the Universe expands.

The Challenge

• The challenge is to allow the Centration Power of the Universe to manifest in us.

• Reflection

• What does it mean to allow the centration power of the Universe to manifest in me?