| THEUN MARES | | | | applies throughout our lives. Therefore, if someone |
| THE POWER OF THE INDIVIDUAL | | | | loses their job, or home or partner, it is not helpful look |
| Today, millions of people are disenfranchised in the true | | | | for someone to blame, or to blame themselves. |
| sense of the word – not because they have no | | | | Instead, a more life-supportive way is to accept that |
| money or cars, but because they feel that they are | | | | simply because an event happened, we are |
| worthless and have no part to play in life. Millions of | | | | responsible for setting it up in such a way that it did |
| others have some money but have become | | | | happen. In everything in our lives, we are the cause as |
| disaffected with their jobs, their Churches, their entire | | | | well as the solution. |
| lives, and for the same reason – that they feel that | | | | This forms the basis of the Toltec approach to |
| they are nothing more than numbers in a system. | | | | individual responsibility. Toltecs show how we all have |
| A great many of these people give up on themselves | | | | to take full responsibility for whatever happens in our |
| and any connection with their spirituality, remaining | | | | lives. There is no place for blaming other people. |
| hungry and disillusioned – and they will remain so for | | | | Instead, as responsible adults, because we own the |
| as long as they believe that their God has abandoned | | | | responsibility, we also acknowledge that we have the |
| them or is punishing them. | | | | power to change our circumstances. |
| There is only One Truth, and One Life and it is the | | | | Does this mean that there is no accountability? We |
| knowledge of this that forms the base of all true | | | | are all accountable for our actions, but we also need |
| religions. What separates and divides, and causes so | | | | to take responsibility for whatever we call into our lives. |
| much strife is humanity’s tendency to | | | | As we do this, we can learn not to feel victimised by |
| compartmentalise and, in doing so, to set themselves | | | | our circumstances. Instead, we can learn to look upon |
| apart from other people and other religions. It is only a | | | | our trials as challenges. They are there in order to help |
| short step from this to religious intolerance and | | | | us to grow, to become stronger, wiser and ever more |
| aggression. | | | | responsive to life. |
| One of the effects of this intolerance is to breed more | | | | Toltecs do not wish to start another religion; that is not |
| intolerance and suspicion, so that there are today a | | | | our purpose, and the time for structures is past. |
| host of different churches, going their own way, and | | | | However, we are willing to become involved in the |
| most highly suspicious of each other. | | | | building of bridges – to share our knowledge with |
| Yet all of these different churches are founded upon a | | | | existing structures and religions who wish to open |
| truth that is based upon the One Truth, and it is an | | | | themselves to a fresh insight. |
| understanding, and an experience of the nature of this | | | | Today, there are many prophets of doom, and just |
| One Truth that will lead to the building of bridges, and | | | | even to look around at the world situation is to risk |
| to the realisation not only that we are all One, but that | | | | becoming completely disheartened. Yet, we offer a |
| each and every one of us is needed in his or her true | | | | message of hope, and a very real approach that |
| uniqueness, in order for the One to become a proper | | | | results in true enfranchisement for those who are |
| functioning whole. | | | | willing and open enough to see it. |
| However, to claim our true uniqueness, or our power, is | | | | ………………….. |
| not easy. For many people, it is far easier to hand their | | | | Toltec-legacy is Theun’s online Teaching facility. |
| power over to a higher authority and simply remain as | | | | This new website comprises a substantial public |
| “one of the crowd”. There is a lot of security in | | | | section, with a lot of useful resource material. |
| this, and this is partly the reason why there is such a | | | | However, at the heart of the website is a unique and |
| rise in fundamentalism today. However, to give up | | | | vast teaching facility that includes, not only all of the |
| one’s power in order to blend in with some crowd, | | | | material in Théun’s books, but also articles and |
| in the false hope of finding security, is to submit to | | | | experiences from apprentices who have been |
| slavery and to pave the way for dictatorships. | | | | working with the teachings in their daily lives, guidance |
| The enormous changes that are needed in the world | | | | given by Théun to participants in his retreats, as |
| today can be brought about through beginning with | | | | well as a very substantial volume of guidance he has |
| teaching individual respect and responsibility. This is | | | | given over the past 8 years to a group of people all |
| because individuals form the foundations of every | | | | over the world, working intensely with him on an |
| country. So if the people feel weak and worthless - | | | | e-forum. |
| just a number in a crowd - then that country will reflect | | | | As one might expect from Théun, in addition to the |
| this. If the individuals can be shown that they are worth | | | | substantial material and guidance, the new website is |
| something, then the country concerned will also reflect | | | | absolutely stunning in its beauty and presentation. It |
| this. | | | | leads the visitor though a true experience comprising |
| Toltecs believe that although there are many sources, | | | | rich and deeply symbolic graphics, as well as a live |
| with each revealing its value, at the end of the day, it is | | | | musical score that has been specifically created for us. |
| the responsibility of each individual to learn to light his or | | | | As you know, Théun’s work is intensely practical, |
| her own candle. For it remains a fundamental truth that | | | | and the new website will offer the sincere seeker of |
| the power to change the world lies not in | | | | knowledge the opportunity of learning to work with the |
| governments, but in the strength and mutual | | | | Toltec teachings in the context of their daily lives, and |
| co-operation of individuals. | | | | also to receive ongoing feedback and guidance. It is |
| We are all subject to certain universal laws, like the | | | | especially appropriate to these times when more and |
| law of gravity. What is needed is a recognition and | | | | more people are being thrown onto their own |
| upholding of these laws. For example, we have the | | | | resources, and are searching for a new forward. Will |
| law of cause and effect, which is often expressed in | | | | they choose for victimhood, or will they choose for a |
| the phrase, “what goes round comes round”. | | | | new way of being? |
| This law is as pervasive as the law of gravity, and it | | | | |