Who is in control?

        Many people like the idea of dropping the ego and work hard at spiritual practice.  But of course, it could only be an ego that wants to “get rid of the ego.”  And much of spirituality is really the ego‘s constant desire for more.  In the case of spirituality, it is for more peace, more love, more enlightenment, etc.   It is the rare individual whose desire for truth is stronger than the desire for more or to be a “somebody”.    Most people use spirituality to become a better person, whereas the inconvenient truth is that there is no person.

      The following research evidence has been ignored by the media, much like the early discoveries of quantum mechanics, because its implications directly undermine our experience and our beliefs about reality.  It should be front page news, one of the most important discoveries of all time, but no one is talking about it.  We humans are so sure that we are in control of what we do, that we ignore evidence to the contrary.

           So here it is.  It is so simple and so difficult to believe.  When a person is hooked up to brain/body machine and an action is initiated, the thought to take that action occurs after the action itself.  So I reach for a cup and then, a thousandth of a second later, the thought arises “I’m going to lift that cup.” The brain makes up a commentary that takes ownership of what is already just happening. 

         If we look at birds flying in perfect formation, all of them moving together as one, it is clear that each bird is not in control of the overall pattern. There is some greater intelligence at work, even though if asked, each bird might insist that they are freely choosing where to fly.  We humans are being influenced by this same greater intelligence, and IT is living the life and making the choices that we mistakenly consider to be our own.   The human ego does not want to know this.  We go on making up a story to fit and take ownership of what is happening all by itself.