New

A word used by advertisers to persuade us that their latest offering should be bought

A word used to describe so many things that are not

And yet it still has power over us

We look, we read in hope of finding something better

New is a strong tool to catch our attention

But what is really new?

If you think about it there is little that is really new

True there are countless innovations

Countless innovations hailed to solve ever more problems

And yet as we use our computers and other modern devices we are aware also of the time they take to use

The concentration and attention they demand of us

Time that in other generations was used for social intercourse, playing, relaxing, enjoying life

Time that has gone, no longer available to us as we scurry through our modern lives

New ideas are not so frequent variations on a theme yes, plenty of them

The point?

That it is necessary for all of us to experience new thoughts

Which is why the word new always catches us

Just as new products bring pleasure or curiosity so new ideas can do the same

New ideas in what area then?

The restless area deep inside all of us

The small voice that queries is this all there is?

Is this really what it is all about?

Surely there should be something more

Are there any new ideas about how it all works

Why I am here

What it is all about

These ideas come in all shapes and forms today

Plenty of books explain

Plenty of people profess to know

Do they?

No they do not

If they truly had the answers then these would resonate powerfully within us

They would resonate with the truth

A truth beyond words, beyond doubt

With todays new ideas for a short while the placebo effect might work on us, then it wears off and we are back where we started

So maybe new is not where we should be looking

Some of our ancestors were pretty smart

So smart that they did not leave the important stuff lying on the table for idiots or evil people to pick up and abuse

So what did they leave and where?

They left in every millennium teaching to guide us on our own individual journey

All of them said over and over it is an individual journey

Each of us must undertake this journey by ourselves

As one said "no one saves us but ourselves"

"No one can and no one may"

"We ourselves must walk the path Buddhas merely show the way"

And so it has ever been

Therefore the next time you see the word new beware

Maybe new does not have the answers that old does

Keep looking, keep questioning

If you truly try and are sincere then one day nature will give you some clues

And then you can start your conscious journey towards the light

It might take many more lives however one day you will understand that it is the only way

The teachings of the Perennial wisdom that is

Good luck