What Is The New Age?

What Is the New Age?

The term “New Age” has been around for a long time. It was a head-turner for the general public in the middle of the last century and may have been a topic of conversation a few centuries before that in very sparse and small groups.

It is possible that with use its meaning has changed over time. However, as used here, the term “New Age” is full of many meanings, none of them “far out”, “flaky” or “airy fairy”. Three areas in particular are significant. They are: goodwill, quality human relations and service.

Goodwill is the very human attempt to express the love of God. It is simple, unadorned and uncomplicated. It is practical and useful and something we all see and experience all the time, if we take the time to see what people do.

In family, business and community situations it is the grease of simple caring, appropriate concern, and right action in the moment. Goodwill in practice is able to sort out what is necessary and useful to those concerned in the moment.

A great example is of a family who wanted to know more about two religious beliefs. They invited a Jewish rabbi and a Catholic priest to dinner. It happened that the guests knew each other. But a problem came up as they sat down to dinner. Who would say grace or ask the blessing?

The family had not thought of it. Once seated, family and guests paused in an awkward moment of silence. The Jewish Rabbi solved the problem by saying the Catholic grace. The gesture relaxed everybody and he was respected for his thoughtfulness, openness and congeniality.

Another component of the New Age is quality human relations, demonstrated by an attitude of possibility—positive, dynamic and inclusive thoughts about other people and situations.

It is also shown in the recognition that good thoughts are now occurring globally in what appears to be a difficult situation. It is also validated as people see the massive good that is coming out of a difficult situation.

Tibet is a case in point. Tibetans, probably the most gentle people in the world, were faced with the genocide of over two million Tibetans by Chinese invaders since the Dalai Lama left Tibet well over a half-century ago.

 Fortunately there are many wise Tibetans who see the invasion, conquest, and genocide of their people and the escape of many Tibetans to other parts of the world as having a good aspect, since the wisdom that was hidden behind the Himalayas in old Tibet is now far more available to humanity as a whole.

The call to service is also an aspect of the New Age. A large aspect of helping others is the constant practice of the Presence of God and meditation. Assistance is to be rendered without expectation of reward but simply as a compassionate, unemotional expression of love for another.

Thus the meaning of “New Age” offers hope and promise to us all.

© April, 2014, Rebecca Field