We are all the same based on the book "A Belief Statement for the New Millennium"

This article is a continuation of a series. They are based on the
book "A Belief Statement for the New Millennium"

For more information on this writing visit www.Beliefstatement.com

The specific area of discussion for this article is an implication
for shaping our awareness of others be they fellow human or other
forms of life. While it mentions others issues of discussion it does
not address them here. Please refer to the above-mentioned work for
a more complete discussion of these items. Also a continued
discussion of the implications of the concept introduced here are
addressed in the primary writing as well as additional writings.

Please remember some basic premises when reading this article:

Keep an open mind and an open heart.
Communication of an idea or concept takes time. Accomplishing this
may take several attempts. While this article may not help
accomplish this others might.
Take time to reflect. True understanding comes from within. True
insights are those that occur once you realize a new degree of
awareness.
Expect change to occur. Expect that your awareness and sense of self
will grow.

This writing strives to communicate this basic premise. Namely the
presence of life that is found in any living thing is the same no
matter what form that that living thing takes. We will use a basic
example of the sense of existence of an animal. We will then move to
our human sense of self.

The elemental force of life is the same.

All expressions of life are essentially the same. That same
elemental force that caused the basic components of life to come
together to manifest the first vestiges of living cells is found in
all forms that we see today.

Each living bacteria, plant and animal that we see today is the
result of a process that has been in the works for eons of time.
That process is the active expression of life as found on our
planet. This force of life is an ongoing process. While we don't
know where the process will lead, we can see its results.

If you take a look around you what do you see?

Do you see any plants, insects, birds, small animals, or fellow
humans? Any living thing that you see has a history as to how it got
to where it currently is. Any living thing takes it physical form as
dictated by its genetic makeup. A mixture of genetics (instinct) or
environmental conditioning shapes its behavior.

Generally speaking lower life forms are governed more by genetics
(hard-wired) while higher life forms are influenced to a greater
degree by the environment. (It is beyond the scope of this article
to discuss the "nature vs nurture" question suffice it to say that
there are learned or environmentally shaped behaviors)

The makeup of any living thing is the result of evolution.
(Generally speaking, once again this article will not address the
questions of evolution.) That process often called "Survival of the
Fittest" has resulted in many diversion forms of life filling all
possible niches of the world's environment.

Let's assume that you observe two oak trees outside your window.
Each of these plants has an identical genetic make-up. They are
going to react to their environment in pretty much the same way.
Namely to grow as high and as wide as their respective genetic make-
ups dictate. The life that is expressed in them is fairly basic. The
roots spread deep into the ground. The leaves reach up to the
sunlight. Their physical shape is influenced by the presence of
other plants and other environmental factors. Various chemical
processes take place to allow the tree to grow and exist. It has a
simple existence. Without any capabilities of awareness (none with
the science that we currently know of) they are a "simple" expression
of life. Though they have no noticeable self-awareness they are
individuals. One is one tree the other is a different one. While
they are different from one another they are the same in that they
are both an expression of life. That expression of life is the same
in both.

Lets focus on one particular individual living thing that you may see
around you that is more then the simplest expression of life.

Let's assume that you see a squirrel outside of your window. Can you
tell the difference between the squirrel you see now as opposed to
others that you have seen elsewhere? They may have been
approximately the same size and color. They probably had the same
behaviors. Quickly scurrying from branch to branch or tree to tree.
Their quick movements aid in their survival. It is much more
difficult for predators to capture a fast darting source of protein
then a slow moving virtually defenseless food source. The animal you
see now may have learned some unique things about its immediate
locale. The animal probably has mapped the path to neighborhood bird
feeders. A path that avoids any resident dog or other animals whose
territories it must cross that would pose a threat.

Any squirrel that you happen across more or less has the same
physical characteristics. They also have the same learning
potential. They also have the same behaviors both instinctive and
learned. Any two squirrels side by side are pretty much the same but
each one in its own way is unique. In their own way they think of
themselves as individuals. More then likely one squirrel would be
challenged by the presence of the other. They each would defend
their respective territories. From their point of view they are very
different from each other in a very fundamental manner. Simply put
each squirrel sees it's self as the most important thing in its
life. Their own individual survival is of paramount importance.
Each is driven by an internal need to live. One squirrel thinks to
itself "I am me and you are not".

From each individuals point of view. (This works for Squirrels,
Humans and any other living thing.)

Each individual, no matter what the form, views themselves as
different then others. Each has a degree of awareness of themselves
as individuals. They react to the world around them. Their actions
are governed by their instinct or learned behavior whichever one
accomplishes the given immediate need. We won't debate or explore
just how aware of themselves squirrel or let alone humans are suffice
it to say that they all have some measure of awareness.

Each squirrel has motivations. Granted they may be very basic in
nature but they are there none the less. There is an awareness of
sorts. Just how deep that awareness goes is one that we may never
know. We can be pretty sure though that the sense of awareness is a
function of their respective brain structure.

Now try to put yourself in the squirrel's point of view. Your
awareness of the world and your awareness of self are fairly
fundamental. Your emotions are probably pretty basic as well. Your
needs are basic. You need to forage each day. Defend your territory
from others. Avoid being eaten. Seek a mate when the instinct
arises. Your needs and your ability to satisfy them determine your
sense of the world. Your sense of self exists to the extent that
your brain has the capacity to formulate that awareness.

All the squirrels before you have had pretty much the same
existence. Given that you evolved over time your ancestors had these
same abilities and qualities. Your current existence is the result
of that process that took place over the long eons of time.

Each form of life that we see is the result of life seeking
expression.

Life's manifested existence (what we see as forms of life, be they
oak tree squirrel or human) is the result of life seeking to find
expression. That measure of life that exists in one form of life is
the same as the life that exists in another.

Life as a fundamental existence is the same no matter what the form.

While each is an individual the presence of life in each is the
same.

That presence of life seeks expression. That expression started eons
ago when the first vestiges of life found form in the primordial soup
of long ago.

The presence of life that is found in any living thing is the same no
matter what form that, that living thing takes.

Let's jump to the Human point of view.

We are neither oak trees nor squirrels. We are human. But really
just how different are we? We have life. We have a degree of self-
awareness. We view ours selves as individuals. We react to world
motivated by our needs. Our needs are greater then the "lower" forms
of life that surround us. The physical processes that make up our
bodies are essentially the same in all forms of life.

The root "driver" of any form of life that we see is the same.

The life that makes us up seeks expression. Just as it seeks
expression in any life form that we happen across.

While the depth of our awareness is greater then other life forms we
find it is still just a matter of degree. It is the same expression
of life. It just varies to the degree that we are enabled to have
greater awareness. We may have a greater range of motivations but
the root cause of those motivations is the expression of life. And
that is common to all forms of life.

Dare to compare yourself to a fellow human. (This is where we will
strive for some awakened awareness.)

Have you ever truly compared yourself to another human? Think about
this.

Each of us possesses awareness and consciousness. Each of us varies
in their maturity level or state of Joy. (For now we will simply
refer to a state of Joy as an emotional state.) The depths of these
states are dependent largely on our individual experiences. For the
most part we all have the same capacity to reach the same level of
maturity or exist in similar state of Joy.

That awareness that we possess is the result of the expression of
life. The awareness and sense of self that we each have is the same
in each of us. While its depth and intensity may vary from one
individual to another it is still the same in each.

While we may think of ourselves as individuals, separate and unique
from one another we are actually the same. The life that finds
expression in one is the same as is expressed in another.

Right now, while you are reading, think about this. You are aware of
the world around you. You have emotions and desires. You experience
a level of Joy and have expectations of things to come. This
awareness is from the expression of the life that is you. Well, that
expression of life is the same that is found in other humans. The
awareness that you have is the same awareness that is found in
others.

When you see someone else try this exercise. Pretend that the other
person is you. The world that they perceive is the same one that you
perceive. The emotional state that they are in is the same as
yours. The awareness that they have of the world around them is the
same awareness that you have.

Try to maintain this awareness of another. Their emotional state,
the depth of their maturity has been shaped by the sum of their
experiences. If you as an individual where subject to the same
factors that they where subject to you would be virtually the same as
they.

And this brings us to:

The individuality that we are aware of exists in all others.
Individuality exists because we are aware of the world around us.
That awareness is something that is common to all. Its depth may
vary but it is the same for each of us. It results from the
expression of life.

We are all quite literally the same.

Think of the happiest moment of your life. For most we can use the
feeling of Christmas morning as a child. (Or any other time that you
felt complete and total joy, a time when an emotion filled your
existence to the exclusion of all else.) The awareness that we
experienced in such moments is the same awareness that is experienced
by another who might be standing right beside you experiencing the
same thing. It is a commonality among all.

The awareness that we are striving to communicate is:

All life is essentially the same no matter what the form may be.
The "force" that is life works through organic structures and
processes to create individuals that have varying degrees of
awareness. That awareness of self, the resulting sense of being an
individual is common to anything that is alive. It is just a matter
of degree.

As such we are all in essence the same.

If you find this article interesting and wish to find out more please
visit the above mentioned web site or email us.

Thank You