​The Great Gamble

This is the second letter on the topic of "memento mori," the remembrance of death as a spiritual practice cultivating wisdom and inspiring greater service to life. This letter delves into the concept of "The Great Gamble."

The Great Gamble involves contemplating what happens after physical death. While various concepts and individual perspectives exist, it comes down to two options. For those of the materialistic reductionist perspective: you are born, you exist, you die—end of story. For others, the death event marks a point of radical transformation and liberation.

This raises the Great Gamble: do you invest in the idea of continuing to exist in some way, shape, or form after the death event, or do you align with ideas of annihilationism? Buddhists have a way of addressing this debate.

If a person believes in cessation, the finality of consciousness upon death, they cannot confirm whether they are correct. If they are right, it means experiencing only life's final moments before the lights dim and the curtain closes. Finito! However, what if their idea of finality is incorrect, and upon releasing the physical body, a part of their consciousness continues on a radical journey? What would that mean?

There's some good news and some not-so-good news about what might occur at this point, depending on how the person lived their life, developed their mind, and the effects of their thoughts and actions.

Due to their belief in annihilationism, did they live selfishly? Did they believe they could be dishonest, violent, or greedy because they could get away with it, or did they choose to live ethically in service to something greater than themselves?

Those from religious backgrounds and spiritual mindsets believing in some type of continuation after death tend to strive to live ethically and in service to some greater good. However, this isn't always the case, as some have done terrible things in the name of God and religion.

Those aligning with a materialistic reductionistic perspective can also go either way—living in some degree of selfishness and nihilism or rejecting what they view as superstitious beliefs, choosing instead to be noble citizens purely by their own accord.

In terms of the Great Gamble—finality or continuation—here might be a rational approach. Just in case there's continuation, wouldn't it be rational to live life accordingly? Even if nothing follows death, living a good, service-oriented, and positive life leaves no regret. If wrong and there is some type of continuation, at least the groundwork has been laid, reaping its rewards.

It does not matter if you believe in something divine or an afterlife of any kind. Yet, you can practice, practice, practice to refine your own consciousness, acknowledging how your actions will continue to affect people even after you have left. You can work hard to remove the seeds of suffering within yourself and help spread healing and regeneration in your community and this world before your time runs out.

Death contemplation, remembering the truth of your eventual death, is a powerfully transformative practice that both spiritually minded people and materialistic reductionists can do to receive great benefit in this very life. If you would like to try it yourself, reach out to me—what do you have to lose?

Yours Deeply,
Michael Garber
December 31, 2023

Blessed Ones,

As we near the end of this year, it feels like a good time to start discussing a subject I've been intermittently studying for years, but recently, I've been delving into it more deeply. It's a topic that's likely to strike a chord with everyone who reads this message. Some might resist it, avoiding or reacting strongly to it. Yet, I believe many will find value in this topic for walking the path of spiritual wisdom and living a life of service.

I've had a series of synchronicities and inner promptings to start researching what's been called "the king of meditations": the contemplation of death. It's said that among all meditation methods, there are two that reign supreme on the spiritual path: cultivating friendliness and remembering death. Pay attention to the emotions and thoughts that arise as you read this; you'll understand how much work can be catalyzed through this powerful inquiry.
Why would anyone want to think about death?

There are countless benefits gained through this practice. The main ones include releasing fear and anxiety, cultivating mercy and compassion, and developing clarity of mind and intention.

It's easy to think about the end of a year, a movie, or a day, but how comfortable is it to ponder the inevitability of our death and that of our loved ones?

Let’s face it: our lifespan is decreasing at this very second, and no one knows the hour or day that death will come. Will either of us, the writer or the reader, even make it to the end of this letter?
Our exit from this Earth will come whether we are ready for it or not. How much time do we waste in distraction, resentment, scrolling, or procrastination? How much time do we invest in thoughts and actions that actually benefit ourselves and others?

Death has many causes, infinite ways for the event to transpire. One may have an illness and die of something else! Old age, youthful, rich, and poor—death comes for us all eventually. In this way, we are all equal at this time of reckoning.

The human body is fragile and vulnerable; one odd event, and one might quickly move towards the exit sign. Do we take care of our body appropriately so that we can die in peace?

At the moment of death, our friends, loved ones, and material resources cannot help us avoid the inevitable. They may bring comfort, but they can also cause us more suffering in the end. It might be sad to see them suffer as we lay on our deathbed. We may worry about “our belongings” and stress over whether or not our legacy is valued by others.

Even this body which has carried us through every moment of this life will not be able to keep us from departing. We feed it, bathe it, adorn it, exercise it, pamper it, and it is still going to die.

Death comes as a surprise for most people. Out of all the people who died today, how many were expecting it?

What can one do to prepare for death? What can truly help us as we draw closer to that fateful moment? Is there a way that we can live now, so that our death is as comfortable and peaceful as possible?

Spiritual practice and living our lives in service to others are the main principles for living in a way that makes death easier. The mind must be polished and fortified, transformed into a diamond. Spiritual practices that include dwelling on impermanence, letting go of the limited egoic identity, and learning how to face suffering with right understanding—all help one to die in peace. Growing in non-attachment, compassionate understanding, and altruistic action help to release the grip of the conditioned mind, allowing for spiritual wisdom and love to shine from within as one makes its way through the portal of physical death.

Are there resentments or hard feelings that you hold that rob you of the sweetness of life now? What gives your life meaning? Do you put enough time into your spiritual development and refinement of your mind? Do you feel you give enough to those in need? Is your life in order? What are you doing with your precious human life?

Have you found this topic evocative?

I'm in the process of developing a new method of this ancient practice of “maranasati,” contemplation of death. This ancient process will merge with contemporary methods to take an individual through a deeply contemplative quantum healing process, a quantum rebirthing if you will, where deep truth can be resurrected from within to be used to live life fully.

Please also share your thoughts and inquiries that have been stirred as you read this post. If you are interested in learning more about the new process I am testing, please reach out to me.

May we collectively learn to face the truth of our inevitable death, so that we can learn to live our life to the fullest together! None of us are getting out of here alive. So we might as well live in the light of our True Nature while we still can. Time is ticking!

Yours Deeply,
Michael James Garber
December 31st, 2023

The topic I aim to address today is crucial for truth seekers. It revolves around the Sanskrit term ‘viveka,’ often translated as discernment. At its core, it involves discriminating between the unreal and the Real.

Discernment refers to the act of contemplating options and choosing the most fitting one. The intentions behind any choice can span from selfishness to altruism, where one can opt to protect or elevate their personality or look beyond personal desires towards the best choice for all involved. Mentally, 'viveka' involves discerning which thoughts and beliefs to empower, aiming to ascend from selfish desires and ignorance toward complete spiritual realization.

This discernment can further develop into discrimination, where the mind is trained to turn away from the ever-changing sensory experiences of the world toward the Source of all experiences. This enables individuals to navigate their daily lives while firmly rooted in pure beingness and wholeness.

In occult teachings and mystery schools, there's a strong emphasis on developing high levels of discernment and discrimination. It involves a foundational process of releasing superstitious beliefs, shedding the limitations of the egoic identity, and understanding universal laws and cosmology. However, this initial phase of “the Path” can be thrilling but it is also quite treacherous with many tests, trials, and tribulations along the way.

During spiritual awakening, cosmic intelligence (buddhi) influences and expands the mind, enhancing conceptualization, perception, and overall vibrancy. Some individuals rapidly evolve into genius-level minds with powerful magnetism and charisma. Yet, if one needs to delve into shadow work and integrate wounded parts of their personality, the ascent in consciousness might become precarious, and stumbling can occur.

Stumbling occurs when individuals fail to use discernment and blindly adopt distorted teachings or follow misleading teachers. A distorted teaching can cause confusion, misunderstanding, and misperception, diverting a person off track for a while or even an entire lifetime, leading to reincarnation for further consciousness development. Moreover, misinformed initiates can pass on incorrect information, causing misdirection and delays in consciousness development for many. In the case of these minor stumbles, a person can awaken to the truth, integrate wisdom gained, and correct their course to align with purer transmissions, teachers, and initiatives.

The gravest stumbles arise from the misuse and abuse of occult knowledge and power. This happens when individuals exploit spiritual teachings and their roles as mentors, healers, or guides for selfish or harmful purposes. Mishandling leadership roles involving occult knowledge directly influences others' karma and development. Therefore, aspiring leaders must diligently cultivate humility, honesty, and selfless devotion to avoid adding negative karma for themselves and others.

In the modern age, an abundance of spiritual and metaphysical information is available. The quality varies, ranging from profound truths to entirely misleading and distorted teachings. Moreover, those transmitting this knowledge do so for diverse reasons—some seeking personal gain while others have genuine intentions. Some individuals use buzzwords to gain attention and profit, lacking a deep understanding of the concepts they teach. Developing discernment and the ability to discriminate is paramount when one desires to climb the path all the way to the summit with efficiency and precision.

At different stages of your journey, you might seek or encounter a teacher aiding your progress along specific parts of the path. After all, having a well-trained and experienced guide can make the journey easier and more thrilling! Some teachers guide you unconsciously through shadow, luring you into their field with promises of enlightenment or activation, only to trigger old karmic patterns and conflicts for integration. Others guide you through wisdom and love, directing you toward your Inner Teacher with precision and grace.

Does the teacher or guide embody what they teach? Do they seem to take care of themselves? Do you feel more present after engaging in their material? How is what you are learning useful or applicable to life? Do they make evocative promises of enlightenment or keep you hooked with emotional narratives? These are just a few questions to trigger self-reflection.

Discernment is vital during times of rapid expansion. Through discernment and discrimination, one starts releasing the grip of the conditioned mind, turning away from ignorance and falsity towards Truth and higher understanding. By tuning into the deepest parts of your being, you can decide which avenues to follow and which sources hold the purest wisdom. Withdraw your inner awareness from the needs and opinions of the world, deeper than bodily drives emotions, and mental conditioning. Turn towards the Source of wisdom within and allow this body and mind to be led to the highest heights of spiritual realization.

Do you have some tips, tricks, or insights to share about growing in discernment?

Written by Michael James Garber
12/2/2023