15 replies
The wisdom of the ancients taught us that compassion for others was a great virtue. They believed that love and compassion toward others can free us from the prison of our own suffering and negativity. They believed the qualities inherent in love and compassion directly affected our vitality, longevity, and our ability to resist disease.

Ancient superstition? I wouldn't dismiss it that easily.

Perhaps the one thing that has puzzled geneticists the most over the last 50 years is why two-thirds of the human genetic code seems to be switched off. One theory was that it was just junk code, a result of the random convergence of amino acids that didn't contribute to our physical being. Another theory also labeled it as junk code, but deemed it the garbage left behind from the process of evolution.

More recently, however, some researchers have changed their thinking. A growing number of leading researchers now believe the human genetic code is a switchable code rather than a fixed code. They believe it's the persistent thoughts, beliefs and emotions we have day-by-day that determine which portions of our genetic code are switched on and switched off.

That means our thoughts, beliefs, and our responses to our emotions contribute to our mental, physical and spiritual health and well being. The positive qualities the ancients believed were inherent in the practice of love and compassion are now considered by some prominent researchers to greatly enhance our immune system.

Ancient wisdom may be old, but that doesn't mean it isn't still wisdom of the highest order.
"For almost fifty years we have held the illusion that our health and fate were preprogrammed in our genes, a concept referred to as genetic determinacy. Cellular biologists now recognize that the environment (external universe and internal-physiology), and more importantly, our perception of the environment, directly controls the activity of our genes."
- Dr. Bruce Lipton
In other words, what we think and believe, what we feel and do, works in concert with the universal laws to affect our physical being right down to the cellular level. Engaging in positive actions, thoughts and emotions seems to switch on the genes that enhance the quality of our lives in emotional, spiritual, and physical ways. Engaging in negative actions, thoughts, and emotions switch on the genes that leave us prone to disease and other maladies.

If we believe the ancients, if we believe the leading edge geneticists, we must concur that just as the art of practicing compassion and a loving attitude enhances the quality of our life, harboring resentment and hatred can decay the quality of our life. In so very many ways, it seems we really do create our own reality.
#ancient #wisdom
  • Profile picture of the author don21stc
    I don't think I know anyone who really rejects or criticises the wisdom of the ancients although I'm not counting those people who automatically crticise everything.

    The ancients lived in what I suppose to be a considerably simpler society than we do and because they weren't forever going to the movies or going on vacation or having a workout at the gym or goggling at TV, they had plenty of time to think profoundly.
    This links back to Dennis' point that the quality of life counts and in many ways, I would reckon that their life potentially was of higher quality than ours because of its simplicity.

    Intuitively, I don't think there can be any doubt that if we live a 'negative life' it physically shows just as much as if we live a 'positive' one.
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    • Profile picture of the author Al-Leyson
      There is much wisdom with what the ancients have left us, but indeed, they have lived when there was no internet, no Xbox 360's and no Facebook. LOL. But it is interesting to note the essence of human evolution. But, I wonder, is the act of war against others also a part of human nature? Are we really competitive against other species? Or are we simply creatures with a hidden desire for weapons or destruction?
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  • Profile picture of the author Tonio Smith
    I accept all wisdom as
    self knowledge in hopes
    to interpret it into my
    own wisdom that I can
    teach it as knowledge
    so others can interpret
    it in to wisdom.
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  • Profile picture of the author Emily Meeks
    I really enjoyed this post.

    I've always felt that positive human interaction was necessary to thrive, even if you don't always feel like interacting. Even though I crave privacy and solitude, I'm extremely social at the same time. It's a weird paradox, I guess, but it works for me.

    I used to harbor a lot of anger and other negative emotions, and found that my physical health suffered as well. Once I learned how to adapt, to let go, and really opened my eyes to the wider world, I've been healthier. Not quite where I'd like to be as far as health is concerned, but I've made a LOT of progress and only see it continuing.
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    In all that you do, know your True INTENT...

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    • Profile picture of the author Edk
      What you do is done to you. Letting go of anger is good as you've found. The next step is this (no I'm trying to make a saint out of you), or bit of a step is this: forgive, genuinely forgive as best you can someone who's wronged you.

      Then, if you'd like, come back and tell us about it

      Ed
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  • Profile picture of the author kenny5
    It's funny how the most ancient things can still be so true today.

    We try to find the newest greatest things but sometimes we need
    what has worked for thousands of years.
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    • Profile picture of the author don21stc
      Originally Posted by kenny5 View Post

      It's funny how the most ancient things can still be so true today.

      We try to find the newest greatest things but sometimes we need
      what has worked for thousands of years.
      The old French saying is very appropriate:
      "The more things change, the more it's the same thing"
      (my approximate translation!)
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack J
    Mmm... I wonder which ancients we're talking about here?

    Xia Dynasty? The Mayans? Ancient Egyptians? Greeks? Persians? Innuit? Nubian? Mahajanapadas?

    All too often we consider an idea that we haven't yet resolved and then we get part way to resolving it. Then, because it seems like an old idea we call it ancient wisdom. But don't fall for the idea that all the ancients thought in the same way. They didn't, and hence the wars that others have spoken of in this thread.

    It really goes to show that either there isn't broad acceptance of wisdom these days; either ancient or modern. Or, we permit ourselves as peoples to be led by people who display and use very little wisdom.

    As physical creatures, having a material form, we have reasonably clear ideas of the boundaries between us. My body extends to the limit of my outer skin, and everything inside it is me. You on the other hand have your own boundaries, your own skin. I am not you, and you are not me.

    At the physical level of experience we experience individuality, difference and separation. It is our attempt to hold onto our known experience of physical existence which is frequently the primary cause of conflict and war.

    Can the same be said of life at the spiritual level? I mean we all have spiritual experiences. For example, we all experience thoughts. Thoughts have no form or physical existence. They pop into our mind and out again almost at will. But, try and physically catch one, physically look at it, put it under a microscope, yeah, well that's a bit trickier. Essentially, thoughts are a spiritual experience - they have no physical form or substance. They are incorporeal.

    A thought doesn't have a physical body to be threatened, or maintained. It just exists, ready to be discovered, ready to be grown, ready to be developed.

    Our existence isn't just a physical one. Much of our life is concerned with our thoughts, and our beliefs, attitudes, emotions and dispositions. We have a significant spiritual component to our lives. It's a spiritual component that doesn't experience individuality, difference and separation as our physical body does. Our spiritual aspect experiences co-operation, community, similarity and wholeness. Our spiritual existence doesn't have a need for conflict and war. Our spiritual aspect has a need to contribute to growing, nurturing and loving.

    That too is something that the ancients knew. Well, not all of them! Some of them hadn't had their genetic switches flipped on. You see, with nearly every new life that is born on this physical planet Earth, the default setting is Physical ON and Spiritual OFF.
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    • Profile picture of the author sandra.IMqueen
      Great post and great responses just what i need to lift me on this cold afternoon. Truly 3 cheers for the Ancients. Love and compassion an existence without these is one that i would consider one of poverty.

      Our identiy is very closely associated with our thoughts and feelings. Usually, when we feel anger, we become angry. When we feel depressed we are depression. When we feel greedy we are greed. It's easy to see ourselves in the emotional 'guide du jour' and mistake this costume for who we really are beneath it" Marc Gilson
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  • Profile picture of the author elenana
    I still believe in Confucianism
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    • Sir Dennis!!!

      Another great post!!!

      Love and compassion are the keys to success

      in any area of life.

      That being said, what I find is that both of them

      are hard to maintain yet alone cultivate.
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Timely post, Dennis.
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  • Profile picture of the author linkbeasts
    Your posts always make me think and reflect on that which oft matters most in life. Wanted to say thanks for your insight.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Baker
    Ancient wisdom, but so true. I and my family have experienced it first hand countless times - as have I would dare to say, every person on this planet.

    Think negative, that's what happens, think positive, positive things happen.

    I compare it to this: plant pertuna seeds, I grow beautiful pertunas, plant weed seeds, I grow ugly, useless weeds. Same goes for our minds - what little of them we use.
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  • Profile picture of the author cherylyeo
    Very in depth thought you have...It synchronized with my believe in Karma. You have impart with genetics theory. I hope everyone can be influenced by your theory and we will have lesser disasters be it man made or natural causes...
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