<span style="font-size: large;"></span><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div class="TXTTWO" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. </b></i></span></div><div class="TXTTWO" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="TXTTWO" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The ego and the forces in the world try to separate us and make us believe that we are alone, self-sufficient and have no need to think beyond ourselves. They try to convince us that they know the truth, when in reality they known nothing. </span></div><div class="TXTTWO" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="TXTTWO" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But these "forces", and those human beings who allow themselves to fall into the trap of the ego (which is all of us various times in our lives), really do not understand the nature of existence. They do not understand that "going it alone" and "rugged individualism" run counter to the reality of existence.</span></div><div class="TXTTWO" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="TXTTWO" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And so, led by the ego, we walk around in darkness, unable to see the truth of what is in front of us. We may be able to see the physical forms, but the essence of the universe is hidden from us. We spend our days in utter futility chasing after self-gratification and fulfillment so that we eventually become so wrapped up in ourselves that it seems as if there is no turning back.</span></div><div class="TXTTWO" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="TXTTWO" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When this happens, it is as if all the foundations of the earth are shaken. For the foundations of the earth, the foundations of existence, are based in the truth of unity. That truth is the oneness of all and the existence of the Divine flow of compassion, love and holiness that animates our bodies through the soul within each of us. When we deny this reality, then we are all standing on shaky ground prone to fall at any moment. </span></div><div class="TXTTWO" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="TXTTWO" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we acknowledge the reality of Oneness, the ground beneath may still be shaky, as uncertainty is unavoidable in life. However, we know that in those moments of uncertainty we will not be stumbling in the dark. Instead, we will know that we are supported in those moments. The Divine, as made manifest in our fellow human beings, will be there to guide and support us at every turn. </span></div>
<br><br>--<br>
Posted By Rabbi Steven Nathan to <a href="http://mindfultorah.blogspot.com/2010/05/psalm-for-tuesday-psalm-82-verse-5.html">Mindful Torah</a> at 5/18/2010 12:16:00 AM