Relationships / Symbiosis

Relationships / Symbiosis

illustration by Atira Robinson

Relationship : the word "relationship" first appeared in 1744, but was not applied "specifically of romantic or sexual relationships" until 1944. With that in mind this explains the confusion associated with the use of the word even today to look at how beings interact with each other in nature takes us to the word SYMBIOSIS.

Symbiosis (from Ancient Greek σύν "together" and βίωσις "living")[1] is close and often long-term interaction between two or more different biological species.

With Symbiosis there are three main types, which we know on an intuitive and instinctive level.
Between two beings the following are all the possible types of living systems:
1. A and B both grow together
2. A grows B is neutral
3. A grows B shrinks
4. A is Neutral B shrinks.

Now to break down each.
1. A and B both Grow together - Mutualism : any relationship between individuals of different species where both individuals benefit. Similar interactions within a species are known as co-operation. Pretty Self explanatory both agree to work towards a specific goal that is Co-operation, this is done in many shapes and forms now there is another layer to co-operation or mutualism in which it is obligatory, the obligatory situation is where both NEED one another the goby fish, which sometimes lives together with a shrimp. The shrimp digs and cleans up a burrow in the sand in which both the shrimp and the goby fish live. The shrimp is almost blind, leaving it vulnerable to predators when above ground. In case of danger the goby fish touches the shrimp with its tail to warn it. When that happens both the shrimp and goby fish quickly retreat into the burrow. Now the goby fish needs the shrimp to create the home, and the shrimp needs the goby fish vision both understand that.

2. A grows B is neutral - Commensalism describes a relationship between two living organisms where one benefits and the other is not significantly harmed or helped.

Commensal relationships may involve one organism using another for transportation (phoresy) or for housing (inquilinism), or it may also involve one organism using something another created, after its death (metabiosis). Examples of metabiosis are hermit crabs using gastropod shells to protect their bodies and spiders building their webs on plants. This is very straight forward in nature, in human interaction we are aware of a common example, parents that house there adult children, there child though an adult takes care of there own needs within the house hold allowing them an advantage in society the parents have no gain in some situations from this arrangement (or getting a lift to work from your neighbour doesn't benefit the neighbour at all with regards to survival).

3. A grows B shrinks - the one we will all be familiar with A parasitic relationship: one in which one member of the association benefits while the other is harmed. There are several examples in nature Fleas and fungus etc.. these associations have varying degrees, some parasites require their host to survive, while others kill their host and move on to the next. If you believe you are in a parasitic relationship with another person first acknowledge what you are loosing try to point it out to the partner and if that does not work I would suggest leaving that relationship.

4.A is neutral B shrinks - Amensalism is the type of relationship that exists where one species is inhibited or completely obliterated and one is unaffected. This type of symbiosis is relatively uncommon in rudimentary reference texts, but is omnipresent in the natural world. An example is a sapling growing under the shadow of a mature tree. The mature tree can begin to rob the sapling of necessary sunlight and, if the mature tree is very large, it can take up rainwater and deplete soil nutrients. Throughout the process the mature tree is unaffected. Indeed, if the sapling dies, the mature tree gains nutrients from the decaying sapling. Note that these nutrients become available because of the sapling's decomposition, rather than from the living sapling, which would be a case of parasitism. Are you covered by someone's shadow, realise that they may not be aware as your darkness is not aiding there growth and make the conscious decision to change your situation.

All of the above though they relate to different species hold great insight for how humans relate to one another, we all have parasitic, mutualistic , commensalistic, and amensalistic relationships the healing comes from identifying which role we play in each and consciously choosing what type of associations we truly desire.

Silent Mind Meditation Insight 1

SM Meditation insight 1:
Fact to experience - Life is A struggle.
Experience :
The birth of a child is called labor - to work hard. 
From entering this world we are taught that this life begins with us kicking and screaming and ends with us kicking and screaming.
Through deep insight meditation I desired to experience this concept of life as a struggle, and unravel the inner teachings.
I realised that a struggle or labor is the modus operandi of the logical mind, we visualise a goal and actively work towards achieving this goal thus creating a state of constant struggle, constant want, constant desire. If I desire to be non attached, then my goal has changed to the lack of attachment and my new struggle is to release the bond attachments have on me or the links I have to situations / individuals.

The deeper I went into meditating on the fact my mind manifested a response, The answer to this dilemma of struggle is to simply BE, for we are human Beings, as the plant grows towards the light wanting not, worrying not, struggling not, expecting not, so too does the enlightened soul ascend the logical mind into higher states of consciousness, void of time or expectations..
The word that was impressed upon me was non-expectation, without expectations we can practice BEING, observing the present and accepting as it is wanting not, struggling not, enjoying the serenity of the NOW.

Silent Mind Meditation insight 2

SM Meditation insight 2:
Fact to experience - Pursuit of an Ideal
Experience :Ideal satisfying one's conception of what is perfect; most suitable.

While meditating upon the Pursuit of an Ideal, my mind automatically formed the word perfection, and slowly dismantled all notions surrounding it. Each individual has their own Ideals, their own morals, their own values, each society , community and religion as well. The pursuit of an ideal brought an explosion of laughter within my being, as it came to my awareness that we are perfect, we engross ourselves in a cycle that is never ending, great spirit created man in all his perfection, we are Ideal, and to pursue this ideal and reap any awareness from it is to realise that we ARE perfect, and accept ourselves as we are unhindered by society, be aware of who you are and what you feel from each moment to moment, experience that grace for the gift of awareness, the ability to be associated with a group yet retain your individual consciousness is amazing, the Ideal is 0, a state between negatives and positives, a space of creation, a space of non movement, the void spoken of in the christian bible from which all matter is created, the constant state of NOW. Yet this is my finding I invite you to seek Your TRUTH.

Sm Meditation insight 3 - Self Confidence

SM Meditation insight 3:
Fact to experience - Self-Confidence
Experience : Self - Confidence a feeling of trust in one's abilities, qualities, and judgment.

Confidence is a rain drop in the lake of our lives, that if traced carries us to the river, which connects us to the sea of global awareness, for to have Self-Confidence requires identification of self, Self is not the EGO , Ego is part of self as the droplet is a part of the sea.
Secondly Confidence is tied into Honesty, for first we must accept who we are, then be honest with ourselves and the world this is not an easy task for many.
Finally with arriving in the sea of global consciousness we realise that confidence is courage to be congruent, The strength to be honest with ourselves, with all our flaws.
All who quest upon this path find that we should embrace our imperfections, Self-Confidence is courageously accepting this journey and accepting what we find.

This is my findings what are yours...

SM meditation insight 4

SM Meditation Insight 4
Fact to experience - Accumulation of Attachments

Experience gained : attached - joined or fastened to something.

Accumulation of attachments is a subconscious process that once initiated consumes an individual slowly until identity and freedom is lost. This is comparable to the unquenchable fire from the christian bible, this flame will not die until it consumes all in its path, from birth we believe that attachments are required for survival, attachment to our name, our family, our title, our job, our friends, our partners, our nation, our educational institution , our community. With the accumulation of several connections over time the individual loses sight of self and the original soul contract this existence / experience was intended for. I invite you to enter the space of Non-Attachment, not being attached does not indicate lack of empathy or compassion, this indicates a conscious decision to be congruent, to act as soul desires iregardless of another's view, the path of non-attachment has been portrayed to many as a lonely path void of love. I will shine some light on this concept, the truth is that Non-attachment leads to non-judgement and non-suffering, in the vibration of attachment the love that is shared will be conditional, dependent upon expectations, attached to perceived desires , once these desires are not met then begins the onset of suffering. From the space of non-attachment there is no judgement, we accept things as they are, there is no suffering we do not dwell on what could have been, we simply delight in what is and always will be.