Original Thought

Have you ever wondered about original thought? It has struck me lately that I don't know if I have ever had such an occurrence. I know that I have concepts that I feel are original to me, but are they really original thought?

As one progresses through life and hopefully becomes more aware, one would think (no pun intended) that one would start to have some thought that bordered on original. Over the past eight years I have read so much metaphysical and spiritual information - through best selling books, newsletters, teachings of the ancients and modern day prophets - that I have begun to consider that there is nothing original anymore. Maybe that has always been the case. Maybe there is only so much knowledge about such things, and humans just keep relearning the same things from one generation to the next. Or have we just been scratching the surface?

I brought this up at a recent study group that I belong to, and one fellow's reaction made sense. He suggested we are doing just that: scratching the surface. I thought about this later, and it does feel right. If, in fact, we are here to experience life as humans "being," then we only need thought that serves us while we're here. Oh sure, we can grow in knowledge and use the sciences to explore certain physical realms, and the minds of a non-scientific nature to examine the ethereal and spiritual. But what if we are only supposed to know just so much, because knowing any more would raise us to a level that would catapult us beyond the human experience and back to where we came from? That's certainly not an original thought, but then...we're back where we started, right?

If there were a way to stimulate original thought, what would it consist of? What atmosphere would have to exist to allow such pondering? Is it even possible, in this day and age of think tanks, high-level collegial explorations, internet communications and world-wide study groups, to have a place that is different from the norm? I am an educated, common man with average intelligence, with a burning desire to discover more and then transform that knowledge to an original thought. But it is beginning to sound unreachable, and I'm not sure I like that concept.

In the recent popular best seller, Conversations With God by Neale Donald Walsch, (Book 1 published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, Book 2 published by Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc., Charlottesville, Virginia) God tells us that we have everything at our fingertips. But does that mean everything that has ever been? Or knowledge that has not been discovered yet? Or only the knowledge that we are allowed to have access to? Many philosophers and scientists today feel that we are reaching the end of the discovery process and thus the end of original thought. These very learned people have said that once DNA was understood the only realm left to be earnestly explored was that of the conscious mind. What constitutes the energy of the mind and of thought? And what then makes an original thought? How is it obtained, and where does it come from? Maybe they are right in one sense: we might be reaching the end of what we are allowed to know in order to keep the human experience limited and experiential.

As we reach the end of this century, the concept of time and our dependence on it seems to be recharging the old myths of many religions. One myth is that the fear of God must be a part of all the faithful so that they will be blessed with continued life. How many times must these outdated and manipulated theologies be regurgitated in our faces before we have the courage to understand that original thought is allowed and that we can pursue it with vigor?! That we can stand on our own two feet and not be so lazy so as to rely on someone or something else to do our thinking for us?

If, as Conversations With God implies, God is part of us and we are part of God, then non-religion based original thought could be the next wave of learning and experiencing. Possibly humanity is ready but fearful and unwilling to step up to the plate and swing at the opportunity that is being presented. Actors talk of taking the part of a character and stretching themselves into a role that is outside of their normal lives. Similarly, if we would stretch our boundaries, we just might see many things differently.

Part of this redefining of boundaries and examining our abilities surrounding original thought is the growth of our own self-acceptance. This offers the opportunity for our species to better understand ourselves and to love each other for what we are, rather than fearing each other. Here, original thought is the ability to rethink the old ways and challenge them. It is time to quit repeating the same old tired patterns of thought and have, instead, original thoughts about how we relate to each other and to God and the Universe. It is time to accept the good and throw away the old angry thoughts that have brought us to where we are on our planet.

Repetition could be part of the overall plan, allowing each generation its chance to overcome obstacles more successfully than the generation before. But it seems like such a waste to resist reaching for a higher level of original thought.

Well, no matter how you think, these types of ponderings are fun to play with. After all, isn't that what this is all about?