With all of our advanced technology and the fast pace of modern life, it's not easy for us to relate to the spiritual qualities of the Neolithic world in which our ancestors once lived. While in many ways it was a harsh and primitive existance, there were certain aspects of it that we would do well to remember, and to preserve... the egalitarian nature of their society, their closeness to nature, and their ability to perceive things on an instinctive and intuitive level.

We've already discussed the peaceful and artistic nature of these early cultures in the history section, and remarked upon their gender-equality and apparent lack of social hierarchy. In addition, archeological evidence demonstrates that they had recognized the existance of the Goddess, and created a formalized religion to worship Her, possibly as early as 7000 BCE in the Near-East.

Our Neolithic ancestors experienced an enviable closeness to the Goddess in their ordinary lives, which is sadly missing today. Indeed, as words and logic have come to define our world, something very precious has been lost. With all of our vast scientific knowledge, our civilization still fails to bring us spiritual fulfillment. Logic simply can not explain the value or purpose of human life, tell us right from wrong, reveal the beauty of our lives in all their spiritual dimensions, or enable us to attain harmony with the Goddess. Those things can be found only with the heart.

Of course the development of logic was a predictable event, as man struggled with various new and complex tasks. As a tool for solving mathematical and scientific problems, it works well enough... however it also has it's flaws. For example, logic is based on the premise that all the facts in a given situation are known to us, yet in many areas of life, that's simply not the case.

Another serious flaw of logic is its obsession with proof. In any given situation, we have been taught to mistrust our senses and demand empirical proof for everything... and if such proof is not immediately available, then we are told to default to the conclusion that our perceptions must be mistaken.

Ancient peoples were not burdened by such a restrictive system of thinking. They trusted their instincts, and were better able to perceive the gifts of the Goddess, spirit-energies, and other metaphysical events. If we are to attain the sort of insights, sensitivity and awareness which they once possesed, some major modifications to our present way of thinking will have to occur.

This is not a recent discovery... in fact, thousands of years ago people began to realize the inherent limitations of logic, with it's artificial definitions and conventions. As a result of their desire to find a new and better way of thinking, a discipline which is known as Zen evolved. I believe this practice can be very useful to us, and so I would like to present some information about it. If you wish to learn more, there are many good books on the subject, such as those of D. T. Suzuki.

Zen is an outgrowth of Buddhism, which originated in India. From there it spread to China and Japan. Unlike other sects of Buddhism, Zen involves no deities or metaphysical beliefs. It is therefore not actually a religion... it is a special way of thinking, based on the realization that life is in many ways esoteric and ineffable, and that things like logic can often obstruct our ability to perceive true reality and live fully in the moment. Consequently, Zen aims at attaining spiritual and intellectual enlightenment by transcending logic.

Zen has come to be associated with various sensational practices, such as monks who sit for endless periods in meditation, puzzling riddles called "koans" which defy logic, and legends of the great Kung Fu masters from the Shaolin temple. Fortunately, having studied Zen myself for many years, I can assure you that the essence of the philosophy can be absorbed quite easily, by simply reading a few good books about the subject. Putting it into action then requires only an unwavering commitment to the task, until such time as the new way of thinking becomes instinctive and natural.

One basic teaching of Zen concerns the subject of ego, which is the cause of most human conflict and injustice in the world. After some study, we discover that almost all ego is false, and is detrimental to ourselves and those around us. It is especially dangerous when found in persons who hold power. By eliminating false ego, we begin to see ourselves (and others) in a more realistic way... and that leads to much better decision-making and personal happiness.

Another primary teaching of Zen relates to our view of the world. Most of us have developed (or were taught) certain prejudices, biases, and other preconceived ideas, which interfere with our ability to see things as they really are... and this "disconnection" from reality is yet another cause of unhappiness and poor decision-making. By eliminating these biases we can begin to judge people and events on their real merits, and this brings us much closer to the world around us, in many ways.

One other noteworthy teaching of Zen concerns patience. It is something which does not come naturally to us as human beings, so it must be developed. We should remember that any significant endeavor will take time... and without patience, we will greatly limit ourselves, and cause unnecessary frustration and unhappiness. Unfortunately, our "fast food" culture is based on the idea of doing things quickly, rather than doing them well. This is yet another faulty paradigm which we would be wise to correct.

Of course, changing our way of thinking is much easier said than done. In certain Asian countries, young people typically undergo some training at one of their local Buddhist temples, where experienced teachers work with them. In addition to lecture and study, they also employ other methods such as contemplating koans and sitting in meditation. Although most of us don't have access to experienced teachers, we can still learn a great deal from private study, and perhaps play with a few koans and do some meditation.

The benefits of meditation are much greater than most western people might expect. The mind works somewhat like a computer, with many tasks in progress, and some which are backed-up and awaiting attention. This has the effect of skewing our priorities, and leaving us with a vague stressed-out feeling. Meditation not only relieves that stress, but it helps us to get our priorities in order and keep them there.

Anyone can learn to meditate. You don't need to sit on the floor in lotus-position. It simply involves a brief period of peace and quiet, during which time you think of absolutely nothing. Of course that's not as easy as it sounds... but by shutting down the conscious mind for a short time, those mental resources are made available to the subconscious, which is then able to catch up on it's back-log of work. The result is feeling very refreshed and clear, and being much better able to deal with the challenges of daily life.

Through proper study and meditation, a person may rid themselves of ego-driven behaviors, dispense with prejudices and preconceived ideas, and acquire a high level of patience. Once that is done, we are well prepared to leave our old way of thinking behind, and begin to "think with our hearts".

Of course this does not mean the abandonment of logic. Logic can still be used to solve those problems for which it is well-suited. However, we must remember that although logic can be an excellent servant, it makes a terrible master, for it lacks any concept of morality, compassion, or humanity... without which, good decision-making is completely impossible.

In addition, as we proceed on our journey, we may find ourselves taking a collective view of humanity. We may begin to see that enlightening others is just as important as enlightening ourselves, for we must all share this world and coexist. This duty is no different for us, as followers of the Goddess, than it is for a Zen master.

Ultimately, there is a deep and profound satisfaction which comes through an enhanced ability to perceive the Goddess, in all Her beauty. Once the flaws in our thought process have been eliminated, and our hearts begin to guide us, this can be achieved. When all of the intellectual conventions, logic, and other artificial contrivances of western society are put into their proper place, we may return once again to the unfettered state of consciousness enjoyed by our ancient ancestors... and like the tin man in The Wizard of Oz, find that we've had a heart all along.