Dune
BEST SCIENCE FICTION BOOK EVER!
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"The Sleeper Must Awaken"
I just love that quote from the book DUNE by Frank Herbert. I loved the book and the movie that was released in 1984. Those words are even more profound today than when the book was written in 1965. I believe the only solution to the problems facing today's world is a wide spread awakening of human consciousness.
Duke Leto Atreides: "Without change, something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken."
This one book alone had a profound affect on how I viewed life. Over the years I have often contemplated the meaning of those four words and have even written another article about it. My ideas have changed as my own outlook on life has changed. I want to reminisce a little about one of the greatest science fiction books of all times, and how it has impacted me and the world.
Warning: Spoilers Ahead.
I just love that quote from the book DUNE by Frank Herbert. I loved the book and the movie that was released in 1984. Those words are even more profound today than when the book was written in 1965. I believe the only solution to the problems facing today's world is a wide spread awakening of human consciousness.
Duke Leto Atreides: "Without change, something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken."
This one book alone had a profound affect on how I viewed life. Over the years I have often contemplated the meaning of those four words and have even written another article about it. My ideas have changed as my own outlook on life has changed. I want to reminisce a little about one of the greatest science fiction books of all times, and how it has impacted me and the world.
Warning: Spoilers Ahead.
What is Dune?
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Dune was first a novel written by Frank Herbert and published in 1965. It has been described as the “greatest science fiction novel of all time,” a “triumph of imagination.” Arthur C. Clarke has described it as “unique” and claimed “I know nothing comparable to it except Lord of the Rings.” Robert A. Heinlein described Dune as “powerful, convincing, and most ingenious.” Others have stated it is phenomenal, a masterpiece, awesome, adventurous, ambitious, and intriguing.
But that’s what other people say. What do I think?
I think that Dune was the most moving and inspiring book I have ever come across. Its complex story line is brilliant. For someone to create a universe that is so believable, where the characters are true to themselves even if you don’t like them, where the intertwining plots are so precisely thought out that you forget this is a made up reality, means that the author spent a huge amount of time immersed in his subject and his characters. Only a master of imagination could have created this. I am in awe.
As I said in the introduction, the quotes that have been lifted from the book, and used in the two movie versions that have been made, have affected me deeply as well. “The Sleeper Must Awaken” is one of those and we will discuss that in greater depth later.
Never mind that Dune won the Hugo Award for best science fiction in 1966, and in the same year won the first ever Nebula Award which is also given for excellence in science fiction novels. That is not the reason to read it if you haven’t already. Read it because it is fun and full of adventure and mysteries.
Now, on with the show.
But that’s what other people say. What do I think?
I think that Dune was the most moving and inspiring book I have ever come across. Its complex story line is brilliant. For someone to create a universe that is so believable, where the characters are true to themselves even if you don’t like them, where the intertwining plots are so precisely thought out that you forget this is a made up reality, means that the author spent a huge amount of time immersed in his subject and his characters. Only a master of imagination could have created this. I am in awe.
As I said in the introduction, the quotes that have been lifted from the book, and used in the two movie versions that have been made, have affected me deeply as well. “The Sleeper Must Awaken” is one of those and we will discuss that in greater depth later.
Never mind that Dune won the Hugo Award for best science fiction in 1966, and in the same year won the first ever Nebula Award which is also given for excellence in science fiction novels. That is not the reason to read it if you haven’t already. Read it because it is fun and full of adventure and mysteries.
Now, on with the show.
"If one forces oneself to ignore what they think they know about Dune and go in without expectations, this novel is a beautiful tapestry of family, faith, and power!" |
image courtesy of Pixabay
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Synopsis of Dune
Image via Pixabay
I’ll keep this short because I’ll get into more details later. The story takes place many, many years in the future. Humans have spread out into space and have created an intergalactic empire. The empire is controlled by the Emperor who has given the rule of various planets to the noble families. One of these is Duke Leto Atreides, who has just been ordered to take over management of the desert planet Arrakis from the Harkonnens who have ruled it with fear tactics for decades.
This is a bold political move because of the animosity the two families have had towards one another for generations. Arrakis is very important as it is the only planet that produces the spice melange, upon which the empire has become dependent for many things, including space travel. Arrakis is a harsh environment where water is more precious than gold.
The young son of the Duke, Paul Atreides, is thrust into a new environment and surrounded by political intrigue and attempts to take his life. He begins having precognitive dreams about the indigenous people of the planet calling him a strange name, Mahdi, and a young girl with blue on blue eyes. This is about to become a life changing moment in his life that affects not only him and his family, but the entire Empire.
This is a bold political move because of the animosity the two families have had towards one another for generations. Arrakis is very important as it is the only planet that produces the spice melange, upon which the empire has become dependent for many things, including space travel. Arrakis is a harsh environment where water is more precious than gold.
The young son of the Duke, Paul Atreides, is thrust into a new environment and surrounded by political intrigue and attempts to take his life. He begins having precognitive dreams about the indigenous people of the planet calling him a strange name, Mahdi, and a young girl with blue on blue eyes. This is about to become a life changing moment in his life that affects not only him and his family, but the entire Empire.
What It's All About
Book vs the Movies
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You might wonder why I choose to show excerpts from the movie made about Dune to illustrate the book. It is simple. I loved reading all the Harry Potter books, but reading about a Quidditch match is much different than seeing it portrayed on the big screen. Reading about Paul Atreides riding a sandworm is much different than seeing it visualized through a movie.
The two are not equal however. If you’ve read any of my other articles, you would know that I prefer movies to follow the plot of the books as much as possible. I see no reason to change something for the pure sake of change.
In the 1984 movie version of Dune directed by David Lynch, Baron Harkonnen is portrayed as not only obese, which he is in the book, but also covered in revolting pustules, which is not in the book. There is no reason to have made this change other than for the shock factor. It does not add to the movie at all; in fact it detracts from it. The portrayal of the Baron in the TV movie series, Frank Herbert’s Dune, is much closer to the the book version.
I’ve chosen a few video clips to illustrate the parts of the book that I am discussing, mostly because they are so compelling. I recommend reading the book as well as seeing either film because the book is much more detailed and will fill in background that for sake of time must be left out of a movie version.
The two are not equal however. If you’ve read any of my other articles, you would know that I prefer movies to follow the plot of the books as much as possible. I see no reason to change something for the pure sake of change.
In the 1984 movie version of Dune directed by David Lynch, Baron Harkonnen is portrayed as not only obese, which he is in the book, but also covered in revolting pustules, which is not in the book. There is no reason to have made this change other than for the shock factor. It does not add to the movie at all; in fact it detracts from it. The portrayal of the Baron in the TV movie series, Frank Herbert’s Dune, is much closer to the the book version.
I’ve chosen a few video clips to illustrate the parts of the book that I am discussing, mostly because they are so compelling. I recommend reading the book as well as seeing either film because the book is much more detailed and will fill in background that for sake of time must be left out of a movie version.
The Bene Gesserit Test
Artwork of Bene Gesserit courtesy of Galo17 under a CC-BY-SA license.
I have always been fascinated by and a little in awe of the Bene Gesserit. As described by Frank Herbert, they are a strange and powerful sisterhood of women who have given themselves the mission to manage the political arena from behind the scenes Through intense mental and physical disciplines Bene Gesserit trained “witches” (a derogatory term used by others who fear their power) have the ability to alter their level of consciousness which allow them to transcend pain, alter their metabolism, and command others through the use of their voice.
One of the most famous quotes from the book is the Bene Gesseit "Litany Against Fear".
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
Jessica Atreides, bound concubine of the Duke, is a Bene Gesserit who was ordered by the Reverend Mother to bear only daughters as part of a long term genetic breeding program initiated by the order. Jessica disobeys because the Duke wanted a son. Thus Paul is born, and his mother trains him in many Bene Gesserit techniques. When the Reverend Mother comes to see Paul, she tests him with a Pain Box to determine if he is human or animal. As he endures this torture, as shown in the following video, he recites the Litany of Fear.
Many spiritual disciplines in our reality also talk about the need to overcome fear as a step along a spiritual path. Let’s look at the words of a few.
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Yoda (yes he is spiritual. He is a Jedi Master. But that’s another story.)
"Love is what we were born with.
Fear is what we learned here.
The spiritual journey is the relinquishment – or unlearning – of fear and the acceptance of love back into our hearts." Marianne Williamson from A Return to Love (ad)
“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.” Abraham Maslow
One of the most famous quotes from the book is the Bene Gesseit "Litany Against Fear".
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
Jessica Atreides, bound concubine of the Duke, is a Bene Gesserit who was ordered by the Reverend Mother to bear only daughters as part of a long term genetic breeding program initiated by the order. Jessica disobeys because the Duke wanted a son. Thus Paul is born, and his mother trains him in many Bene Gesserit techniques. When the Reverend Mother comes to see Paul, she tests him with a Pain Box to determine if he is human or animal. As he endures this torture, as shown in the following video, he recites the Litany of Fear.
Many spiritual disciplines in our reality also talk about the need to overcome fear as a step along a spiritual path. Let’s look at the words of a few.
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Yoda (yes he is spiritual. He is a Jedi Master. But that’s another story.)
"Love is what we were born with.
Fear is what we learned here.
The spiritual journey is the relinquishment – or unlearning – of fear and the acceptance of love back into our hearts." Marianne Williamson from A Return to Love (ad)
“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.” Abraham Maslow
Fear is the Mind Killer
The Desert
The Sandworms
Artwork is called The Sandworm Riders and is used with permission from Isra2007 at DeviantArt.com.
Moving the story right along, because I know you are anxious to get to actually reading the book, the Harkkonens attack Arrakis, Leto is killed, and Jessica and Paul are dumped out in the desert, presumably to die as no one can withstand the harsh environment.
However, they do survive and make their way to an encampment of Fremen, the indigenous peoples of Arrakis, who have learned how to not only survive, but thrive, with very little water. There are all kinds of fascinating things they do to conserve water which I’ll let you find out for yourself.
Jessica and Paul are eventually accepted by the Fremen community and Paul becomes aware of the prophecy that someone would come from off-world who would become their Messiah (known as Mahdi), the one who would lead them to paradise. He takes the Fremen name of Muad’Dib which sounds similar but is actually the name of a desert mouse.
Jessica takes the Water of Life which turns her into a Reverend Mother, which means she was able to transforms a toxic dose of spice allowing her to achieve a higher level of awareness. The Water of Life is produced by a sandworm at the moment of its death from drowning.
Sandworms are the native life forms on Arrakis, They grow to enormous lengths and live beneath the sand. They are attracted by vibrations, so mining of spice is very dangerous, as it is sure to attract a sandworm who will swallow the harvester whole.
The Fremen revere this creature, for its life cycle is essential in the production of the spice melange. They have learned ways to harness the sandworms for transportation across the desert which is portrayed in the following video.
However, they do survive and make their way to an encampment of Fremen, the indigenous peoples of Arrakis, who have learned how to not only survive, but thrive, with very little water. There are all kinds of fascinating things they do to conserve water which I’ll let you find out for yourself.
Jessica and Paul are eventually accepted by the Fremen community and Paul becomes aware of the prophecy that someone would come from off-world who would become their Messiah (known as Mahdi), the one who would lead them to paradise. He takes the Fremen name of Muad’Dib which sounds similar but is actually the name of a desert mouse.
Jessica takes the Water of Life which turns her into a Reverend Mother, which means she was able to transforms a toxic dose of spice allowing her to achieve a higher level of awareness. The Water of Life is produced by a sandworm at the moment of its death from drowning.
Sandworms are the native life forms on Arrakis, They grow to enormous lengths and live beneath the sand. They are attracted by vibrations, so mining of spice is very dangerous, as it is sure to attract a sandworm who will swallow the harvester whole.
The Fremen revere this creature, for its life cycle is essential in the production of the spice melange. They have learned ways to harness the sandworms for transportation across the desert which is portrayed in the following video.
Riding the Sandworm
Dune Artwork from Zazzle
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Dune Poster
by Rock_and_Hill_Studio at Zazzle - ad
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Arrakeen (Day) Poster by digitalblasphemy at Zazzle - ad
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Frank Herbert Speaks About Dune
“The film is a visual feast,” Frank says when he is asked what he thinks of the movie.
Dune, 40th Anniversary Edition
This is where you want to start, with the first book, before the movies were made.
Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 1) - ad
Herbert wrote five more books in the Dune series which describe what happens after Muad-Dib becomes Emperor and later when his son Leto II turns himself into a sandworm and rules for 3500 years. I have to admit I stopped reading at that one. I just couldn't get my mind around it. Maybe now that time has passed and my own outlook on life has changed, I should go back and re-read the series.
Books in the Dune Series
Written by Frank Herbert
Dune Messiah (The Dune Chronicles, Book 2) - ad
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Children of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 3) - ad
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God Emperor of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 4) - ad
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Heretics of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 5) - ad
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Chapterhouse: Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 6) - ad
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"A process cannot be understood by stopping it.
Understanding must move with the flow of the process,
must join it and flow with it."
Frank Herbert, Dune
(First Law of Mentat)
Artwork is entitled Paul Atreides; used with permission from kagato007 at deviantART.
Paul Awakens
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Paul Muad-dib’s hyper-consciousness is enhanced the longer he is around spice, which cannot be avoided on Arrakis as it is in everything. But he comes to realize that even though he had prescient abilities, meaning he could see into the future, there were parts that were still hidden from him. So he does the unthinkable. He drinks the Water of Life, which no man has done and survived.
After waking from a long trance, the universe has opened to him. He has achieved a cosmic consciousness, the ability to see the interconnections of the universe and act upon them. He sees the past, future, and the “now.” The future appears to him, not as a straight line, but as a myriad of choices, some of which will result in the annihilation of the human race.
The Fremen begin to follow him, believing him to be the Mahdi, the prophesied Messiah who will lead them to paradise. The Bene Gesserit believe he is the Kwisatch Haderach, the super-being they have been genetically engineering for centuries, the one who can see where they fear to look. But Muad-dib states that he is neither, he is more.
As the book comes to a close, he confronts those who hold power. To the Bene Gesserit he says, “Try looking into that place where you dare not look! You’ll find me there, staring out at you!“ To the Guild Navigators, who have become dependent upon spice to develop their abilities to bend space, he says,“The eye that looks ahead to the safe course is closed forever.” He threatens to stop the flow of spice unless the Emperor steps aside. And so, Paul Atreides Muad-dib, seizes control of the Universe.
After waking from a long trance, the universe has opened to him. He has achieved a cosmic consciousness, the ability to see the interconnections of the universe and act upon them. He sees the past, future, and the “now.” The future appears to him, not as a straight line, but as a myriad of choices, some of which will result in the annihilation of the human race.
The Fremen begin to follow him, believing him to be the Mahdi, the prophesied Messiah who will lead them to paradise. The Bene Gesserit believe he is the Kwisatch Haderach, the super-being they have been genetically engineering for centuries, the one who can see where they fear to look. But Muad-dib states that he is neither, he is more.
As the book comes to a close, he confronts those who hold power. To the Bene Gesserit he says, “Try looking into that place where you dare not look! You’ll find me there, staring out at you!“ To the Guild Navigators, who have become dependent upon spice to develop their abilities to bend space, he says,“The eye that looks ahead to the safe course is closed forever.” He threatens to stop the flow of spice unless the Emperor steps aside. And so, Paul Atreides Muad-dib, seizes control of the Universe.
The Sleeper Must Awaken
from the movie Dune
The TV and Movie Versions
The movie version and the TV mini series version are important because they provide a visual picture to complement, not replace, the written word. So it is worth it to watch either one, or both, just to see how a sandworm is ridden. I love how Paul's young sister Alia, who was awakened prematurely while still in the womb, is portrayed in both films. She is quite spunky.
What Is Awakening?
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Very simply, awakening is to stop sleeping. When we are asleep, we are unconscious of the world around us, at least when we are in a deep sleep. In a light sleep, we may be somewhat conscious of things going on, or can be easily aroused.
The term spiritual awakening draws on the analogy that we are all asleep; unconscious and unaware of our true nature. Eckhart Tolle states, “Awakening is a shift in consciousness in which thinking and awareness separate.”
He also states “Since ancient times the term awakening has been used as a kind of metaphor that points to the transformation of human consciousness. There are parables in the New Testament that speak of the importance of being awake, of not falling back to sleep. The word Buddha comes from the Sanskrit word Budh, meaning, to be awake. So Buddha is not a name and ultimately not a person, but a state of consciousness. All this implies that humans are potentially capable of living in a state of consciousness compared to which normal wakefulness is like sleeping or dreaming.”
Interview with Echkart Tolle
The term spiritual awakening draws on the analogy that we are all asleep; unconscious and unaware of our true nature. Eckhart Tolle states, “Awakening is a shift in consciousness in which thinking and awareness separate.”
He also states “Since ancient times the term awakening has been used as a kind of metaphor that points to the transformation of human consciousness. There are parables in the New Testament that speak of the importance of being awake, of not falling back to sleep. The word Buddha comes from the Sanskrit word Budh, meaning, to be awake. So Buddha is not a name and ultimately not a person, but a state of consciousness. All this implies that humans are potentially capable of living in a state of consciousness compared to which normal wakefulness is like sleeping or dreaming.”
Interview with Echkart Tolle
Image via Pixabay
"At the core of the teachings lies the transformation of consciousness, a spiritual awakening that he (Tolle) sees as the next step in human evolution. An essential aspect of this awakening consists in transcending our ego-based state of consciousness. This is a prerequisite not only for personal happiness but also for the ending of violence on our planet.".
Eckhart Tolle Website
Eckhart Tolle Website
Books by Eckhart Tolle
More Quotes On Awakening
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I like to collect quotes. I use them to remind myself of things when I get caught up in the day to day routine of life. Here are a few I found on the topic of spiritual awakening.
“To be awake is to be alive. I have never yet met a man who was quite awake. How could I have looked him in the face?”
Henry David Thoreau,Walden
“Man, one by one, escapes from creation’s prison of duality as he awakens to consciousness of his inseverable divine unity with the Creator.”
Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi
“My appointed work is to awaken the divine nature that is within.”
Peace Pilgrim
“We’re here to awaken from the illusion of separateness”
Ram Dass, How Can I Help? Stories and Reflection on Service
“Life is an incredible curriculum in which we live it richly and passionately as a way of awakening to the deepest truths of our being.”
Ram Dass
“Awakening from the point of view of the Indian wisdom tradition is the full realization of one’s true nature. This is a kind of waking up from the sleep of ignorance. Being fully conscious means there are no more dark or shadowed areas of the psyche that remain hidden from the light of the higher self.”
Deepak Chopra
“Attempts to wake before our time are often punished, especially by those who love us most. Because they, bless them, are asleep. They think anyone who wakes up, or who, still asleep, realizes that what is taken to be real is a ‘dream’ is going crazy.”
R.D. Laing
“To be awake is to be alive. I have never yet met a man who was quite awake. How could I have looked him in the face?”
Henry David Thoreau,Walden
“Man, one by one, escapes from creation’s prison of duality as he awakens to consciousness of his inseverable divine unity with the Creator.”
Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi
“My appointed work is to awaken the divine nature that is within.”
Peace Pilgrim
“We’re here to awaken from the illusion of separateness”
Ram Dass, How Can I Help? Stories and Reflection on Service
“Life is an incredible curriculum in which we live it richly and passionately as a way of awakening to the deepest truths of our being.”
Ram Dass
“Awakening from the point of view of the Indian wisdom tradition is the full realization of one’s true nature. This is a kind of waking up from the sleep of ignorance. Being fully conscious means there are no more dark or shadowed areas of the psyche that remain hidden from the light of the higher self.”
Deepak Chopra
“Attempts to wake before our time are often punished, especially by those who love us most. Because they, bless them, are asleep. They think anyone who wakes up, or who, still asleep, realizes that what is taken to be real is a ‘dream’ is going crazy.”
R.D. Laing
Do You Want To Know More?
The Official Dune Website
"a place where fans of all-things Dune can come and immerse themselves in Frank Herbert's rich, desert tapestry."
"a place where fans of all-things Dune can come and immerse themselves in Frank Herbert's rich, desert tapestry."
Some Final Thoughts
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Paul Atreides was able to awaken to a higher consciousness, but it did not mean everything was rosy as a result. In fact, because of some of things he saw in the future, which were covered in later books, he knew that if humanity was going to survive, it could not afford to stagnate. It must change and he, and his son after him, were the instruments of that change.
Herbert spoke about his intent about writing these books. He wrote “This, then, was one of my themes for Dune: Don’t give over all of your critical faculties to people in power, no matter how admirable those people may appear to be. Beneath the hero’s facade you will find a human being who makes human mistakes. Enormous problems arise when human mistakes are made on the grand scale available to a superhero.”
The problem with social movements, even well-intentioned ones, is that they assume to know what is right for everyone. I have the answer, we say to ourselves and others. We should feed the poor, lock up the insane, tax the rich, put prayer back in schools, make everyone eat healthy foods. You can see where this is going, can’t you?
When a superhero, or a group of people who act on behalf of others, start to dictate the culture mores, then we are in danger of being homogenized. If we look at history, we know that nothing is more dangerous than peoples who have been forced to adopt a creed or a lifestyle that does not suit them.
Herbert continues, “I now believe that evolution, or deevolution, never ends short of death, that no society has ever achieved an absolute pinnacle, that all humans are not created equal. In fact, I believe attempts to create some abstract equalization create a morass of injustices that rebound on the equalizers. Equal justice and equal opportunity are ideals we should seek, but we should recognize that humans administer the ideals and that humans do not have equal ability.”
Dune Genesis by Frank Herbert
This essay was originally published in the July 1980 issue of Omni Magazine
The value of a mass of spiritual awakening is that it does not require everyone to be the same. Diversity is celebrated. As we awaken from our programmed belief systems and thoughts, we become aware of the drama that exists around us, but we are able to step back and look at it without being drawn into it. We realize that love is the only language of the Universe and that the labels we have put upon ourselves; parent, child, employee, church goer, rock star, lazy bum, black, white, gang member, are just labels. They do not describe who we really are. Neither do our accomplishments or lack of accomplishments.
Awakening is usually a long process for most of us, I have gone through several stages of awakening, most of them preceded by inner turmoil and a sense of unhappiness because something in my life was not right. I am still in that process and have many moments when I fall back into my ego, forgetting to allow my true nature out of the confines of my thinking mind. But more often I find I am able to sit in stillness, watching and not judging, for I have found that is the secret to peace and happiness.
Let us return for a moment to Eckhart Tolle. He had a sudden awakening when he was at a moment of deep despair. He has since written and spoken about his experience and has provided us with signposts for those of us who may have farther to travel on the journey.
“When you don’t cover up the world with words and labels, a sense of the miraculous returns to your life that was lost a long time ago when humanity, instead of using thought, became possessed by thought.”
“Humanity is now faced with a stark choice: Evolve or die…..If the structures of the human mind remain unchanged, we will always end up re-creating the same world, the same evils, the same dysfunction.” Eckhart Tolle
As I said in the introduction, I truly believe that if the world is to survive its present insanity and chaos, it will not come from electing this or that person to office, making more rules, changing old rules, or pointing fingers at others and blaming them for their mistakes. It will survive and thrive because one by one, people are quietly experiencing their own awakening. The one becomes two, then a group, then the hundredth monkey principle will take over and awakened consciousness will blossom across the planet. I do not know what that will mean for humanity. But I know, if it does not happen, we might not be around to talk about it.
“Awareness is the power that is concealed within the present moment….The ultimate purpose of human existence, which is to say, your purpose, is to bring that power into this world.”
Eckhart Tolle
Herbert spoke about his intent about writing these books. He wrote “This, then, was one of my themes for Dune: Don’t give over all of your critical faculties to people in power, no matter how admirable those people may appear to be. Beneath the hero’s facade you will find a human being who makes human mistakes. Enormous problems arise when human mistakes are made on the grand scale available to a superhero.”
The problem with social movements, even well-intentioned ones, is that they assume to know what is right for everyone. I have the answer, we say to ourselves and others. We should feed the poor, lock up the insane, tax the rich, put prayer back in schools, make everyone eat healthy foods. You can see where this is going, can’t you?
When a superhero, or a group of people who act on behalf of others, start to dictate the culture mores, then we are in danger of being homogenized. If we look at history, we know that nothing is more dangerous than peoples who have been forced to adopt a creed or a lifestyle that does not suit them.
Herbert continues, “I now believe that evolution, or deevolution, never ends short of death, that no society has ever achieved an absolute pinnacle, that all humans are not created equal. In fact, I believe attempts to create some abstract equalization create a morass of injustices that rebound on the equalizers. Equal justice and equal opportunity are ideals we should seek, but we should recognize that humans administer the ideals and that humans do not have equal ability.”
Dune Genesis by Frank Herbert
This essay was originally published in the July 1980 issue of Omni Magazine
The value of a mass of spiritual awakening is that it does not require everyone to be the same. Diversity is celebrated. As we awaken from our programmed belief systems and thoughts, we become aware of the drama that exists around us, but we are able to step back and look at it without being drawn into it. We realize that love is the only language of the Universe and that the labels we have put upon ourselves; parent, child, employee, church goer, rock star, lazy bum, black, white, gang member, are just labels. They do not describe who we really are. Neither do our accomplishments or lack of accomplishments.
Awakening is usually a long process for most of us, I have gone through several stages of awakening, most of them preceded by inner turmoil and a sense of unhappiness because something in my life was not right. I am still in that process and have many moments when I fall back into my ego, forgetting to allow my true nature out of the confines of my thinking mind. But more often I find I am able to sit in stillness, watching and not judging, for I have found that is the secret to peace and happiness.
Let us return for a moment to Eckhart Tolle. He had a sudden awakening when he was at a moment of deep despair. He has since written and spoken about his experience and has provided us with signposts for those of us who may have farther to travel on the journey.
“When you don’t cover up the world with words and labels, a sense of the miraculous returns to your life that was lost a long time ago when humanity, instead of using thought, became possessed by thought.”
“Humanity is now faced with a stark choice: Evolve or die…..If the structures of the human mind remain unchanged, we will always end up re-creating the same world, the same evils, the same dysfunction.” Eckhart Tolle
As I said in the introduction, I truly believe that if the world is to survive its present insanity and chaos, it will not come from electing this or that person to office, making more rules, changing old rules, or pointing fingers at others and blaming them for their mistakes. It will survive and thrive because one by one, people are quietly experiencing their own awakening. The one becomes two, then a group, then the hundredth monkey principle will take over and awakened consciousness will blossom across the planet. I do not know what that will mean for humanity. But I know, if it does not happen, we might not be around to talk about it.
“Awareness is the power that is concealed within the present moment….The ultimate purpose of human existence, which is to say, your purpose, is to bring that power into this world.”
Eckhart Tolle
"Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic."
from The Sayings of Muad'Dib
by the Princess Irulan
Ride the Sandworm With Me
I’ve talked enough. Now it is your turn. Comments are not enabled on this page but hop on over to my blog entry which discusses the history behing this article. Don’t be afraid to jump in and leave a comment. Are you a fan of Dune? Do you like the movie or book better? What do you think about the concept of spiritual awakening? All opinions are valued, please be polite and considerate. Your comments are welcome at It's Time to Wake Up.
Background image courtesy of Michal Zacharzewski,/rgbstock.