Speaking of karma, soul contracts and life purpose...
...Cheney got a heart transplant:
http://news.yahoo.com/us-former-vice-president-dick-cheney-gets-heart-231558926.html
Sometimes I wonder about situations like this. Situations in which a person who has had a myriad of health problems continues on despite the odds. I am not, and I repeat, not, suggesting Cheney didn't "deserve" this transplant, any more than anyone else does or doesn't deserve their organ transplant. But...
What purpose does the life of someone like Dick Cheney serve? I mean that in the spiritual sense, not "Cheney should just die already!" Does anyone here have any insights into what he is here on earth to do?
= new reply since forum marked as read
I was thinking of adding that, but I didn't.
but I sincerely doubt he has a clue. I suspect he hangs on because he fears death, and because he can afford the best western medical care can offer. I suspect he is in for a long, rough karmic ride.
Frankly I have a problem with the entire "soul contract" business, especially when it's presented as my soul agreed to "experience this terrible thing (or do terrible things to somebody) to teach others/humanity" or whatever.
This has been bothering me for a while, so maybe here is a good place to write about it. A couple years ago I was having a particularly difficult experience and I wrote about it here. I desperately needed some validation, an "I'm so sorry you're experiencing that awful situation" and maybe some practical advice or suggestions on how to deal with it. I saw such sympathy/empathy offered to many others with far smaller issues, such not getting what they wanted from their boyfriend or tripping and falling but uninjured or getting a flat tire, really small stuff in comparison.
Not only did I not get any of what I'd hoped for, but somebody who has sincerely dedicated herself to compassion, wrote something along the lines of "Thank you for agreeing to take on this horrible experience so the rest of us don't have to."
I'll tell you now how that felt to me. Isolating, cold and cruel. Blaming the victim. The absolute antithesis of compassion and empathy.
It was a *terrible* thing to say to somebody. All I can say is that if you know of somebody going through a really rough patch and you have the urge to thank them for taking on such a "soul contract," do them a favor and stfu. I mean it, albeit in the nicest possible way. 
Thank you. :group hug:
People have difficult experiences. You say you "desperately wanted validation." I think that was your first mistake. When one goes through traumatic (or even less serious) situations, it's human nature to want to have other people agree with you that you were wronged. But when we go to others with that need and don't get what we want, is it really fair to argue over how someone responds to your issue, even though I don't see the response you mentioned as being "cruel" in the least. It's so easy to slap on a smiley on one's post here: 
Does that really make me compassionate or is it just the easy way out?
My partner once was talking to his brother because his brother's wife had just suffered a miscarriage. Now my partner is a VERY warm and loving person but he's also very spiritual. He told his brother that the soul of the baby didn't want to incarnate and so it was actually a good thing. The brother was not happy with that answer. I guess I am just tired of people judging responses to their issues. We're all doing the best we can at this moment.
but saying you NEEDED it is where the problem begins. When we approach other people out of need, there is an agenda that must be fulfilled...OR ELSE, LOL! And oftentimes, no matter how much someone else tries to convey compassion, there is always something lacking. No one really knows how another person feels, even if they've gone thru the same situation.
The bigger question is whether there are really victims or not. I have spent my life with situations that have been very frustrating and hurtful. Believe me, it's easy to feel like a victim. But "victim" implies helpless; at the whim of others and life. I choose not to see myself in such a disempowering light. I notice that when I tell people (who are complaining about their health issues, mind you) about possible things they can do that don't involve surgeries and drugs, inevitably there is this anger that I am "blaming" them for their condition. The word BLAME seems to be foremost in people's minds and yet it has nothing to do with what I am trying to accomplish.
Cheers. 
Is that a promise? 
This is a powerful thread.
Thank you both, {{{{{magical thyme}}}}} and {{{{{Blue Iris}}}}} for sharing of yourselves so openly and honestly.
I've had a few similar discussions at the old ASAH about this issue; how "new age" (for lack of a better phrase) viewpoints try so hard to "rise above" (rather than simply BE human, though embracing the better angels of our nature) and see our suffering as soul contracts, or attempt to explain the suffering from a higher perspective in an attempt to help the person feel better in some way, often by being more empowered (hence the inadvertent message of victimization and that we've somehow caused our pain).
I went through a very painful loss years ago, and still vividly remember the hurt and anger I experienced as a result of well-meaning comments, cards and even gifts.
In my case, there wasn't a damn thing anyone could say or do to help me, yet there was so much that was said and done that increased the pain.
Since then, based on that experience, I try not to share any words of wisdom when someone is in pain. Whether it's online or in the "real" world, I simply try to acknowledge their pain and, somehow, let them know if they want to share more, I'm here to listen.
I rarely have any suggestions or advice when others are going through some sort of challenge, traumatic or otherwise. Not only do I not have clear beliefs that I feel could be helpful to others, but I suppose I came away from my own experience with the very strong feeling that the less I say, the better. First, do no harm.
I will say that when I offer hugs and a shoulder/ear, or to be available if the person thinks of any way I can be of service, I mean it most sincerely.
This "being human" thing is nearly unbearable at times, and the attempts to make it bearable, ironically, can compound it.
Simply being present and acknowledging others' pain is, imho, sometimes the most compassionate thing we can do. I realize when someone is in pain and they're asking for solutions and advice they may get upset that people like me may seem to be sharing empty platitudes, but hopefully in hindsight, if not at the time, it can be received in the way it was intended.
being a low-post...humanoid and all Trust that I am well-aware of you guys and have been following this group since the old one for a couple of years or so. I would never presume anything had I not been familiar with it.
I never assume someone is "well-versed" in every aspect of a certain topic. I had never heard of Byron Katie until just recently. Your analogy with the "pressing glass into the wound" was interesting, yet I don't feel that it fit for what I was trying to convey.
The point I was trying to make is that our suffering may be of our own doing. Can you imagine if anything you encountered could be turned around and not taken as yet another assault on your being? That would never mean surrounding yourself with abusive people, yet on the flipside it also would mean you didn't get upset if those you love didn't fulfill your "need" in the way you saw fit.
I leave you with a couple of Byron Katie quotes:
All I have is all I need and all I need is all I have in this moment.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/byron-katie/how-i-learned-to-stop-suf_b_70207.html
only Cheney can know his soul purpose. And other than paying someone to help us find that rather personal answer out, we're the only ones that need to know our own purpose. Unsolicited statements from others with regards to it are usually not welcome.
My guess is that those people that say that are trying to be more like those entities in Spirit that are not like us at all. They see these loving, higher beings, that seem to be able to forgive pretty much everything, and either because they've determined that they are like them (as in incarnated angels and so forth) or just wanting to be like them, that they can be just as detached from the negativity in their comments. Oh they don't mean for their words to sound hurting and so forth, but they don't really understand that they are just as human as the rest of us, and can't get away from that fact.
We are not (the non-corporeal) angels, higher beings, Higher Selves, Ascended Masters, et cetera. They have unconditional love for us. We don't have the same for each other, or so very few of us do that you can count them on one or two hands And I don't think most people really understand what "unconditional love" means, either. In my head, by my definition, it means that those beings of Spirit do not judge, and there is literally nothing that humans do that is unforgivable. We don't really have that level of spiritual beingness here on Earth. We're human! If we were meant to be that way, well, this would be Heaven on Earth.
There's nothing wrong with striving to those higher levels of spirituality. But I think more people would benefit from what I've been reading of the Buddhist teachings and apply that to their general New Age thought. Then you might not have people telling you it's just your soul contract. They can still think it is, but would learn to keep that to themselves and offer genuine compassion instead. Be a Human, not an angel! 
Because I'm aware that I might not have made much sense at all 
Because I was trying to get out much of what you just put to words. It's difficult for us, as physical, feeling beings, to wrap our brains around the concept of unconditional love, that even the worst of our kind won't be judged for their actions here. (That's saved for the "life review" as I understand it, and it's all our own judgement against ourselves in the process.) And I know that I'd likely never be able to explain this succinctly enough for those that "don't get it". I think this is one of those "truths" that you pretty much have to come to terms with yourself, without an argument pushing you
I know of whom you speak in your example, too, though I can't remember her name. I haven't listened to Wayne's show in weeks, so I likely missed that one. When he speaks of her, he's usually in awe of her experience as well! And so many of the NDEs I've read give similar experiences with the non-judgement aspect of those in Spirit. I do have to remind myself of that aspect, even when I'm still angry at some human in this life
"She's just being and living who she is, fully human."
Thank you so much for posting this.
the heart could have a finely tuned sense of justice and just claw its way out of Cheneys chest!!!!! Better to flop and die on the floor in dignity then keep beating to the tune of a hopeless monster.......HEY!!! Body organs have standards too!!!!!
Sorry Avalux I do appreciate your optimism.
and Avalux's optimism 
