Catastrophic regime shifts inecosystems: linking theory toobservation
The title of this paper is about "regime shifts", but most of the paper focuses "alternative stable states". My impression is that "alternative stable states" and their associated attractors represent one possible cause of regime shifts, so it's interesting that that is where all of the emphasis is placed.
A graphical model of a vegetation-water feedback
This model directly assumes a critical transition from no vegetation to full vegetation at a transition point along a precipitation gradient, so the non-linear transition of the system is built in to the model. If vegetation increased smoothly with precipitation we wouldn't expect alternative stable states or regime shifts. This isn't to say that the model isn't useful for illustrative purposes, just that it basically assumes in the notable result.
The obvious intuitive explanation for a sudden dra-matic change in nature is the occurrence of a sudden largeexternal impact. However, theoreticians have long stressedthat this need not be the case. Even a tiny incrementalchange in conditions can trigger a large shift in somesystems if a critical threshold known as ‘catastrophicbifurcation’ is passed[11].
Distinguishing between these two possibilities will be difficult since in most cases we lack a sufficiently thorough understanding of the processes driving the system to know for sure whether an important process has undergone a sudden change.
To answer your unspoken thought here, I am not responsible for your being in this position. Nor could I be, if I wanted to. I am simply telling you where you are by virtue of your own unfolding Being, and to that extent, at least, you are not in the dark. I have nothing to do with it one way or the other. I cannot hold you to it or relive you of it, put you in it, or get you out of it. Being as Conscious Being, and not as three-dimensional man, is the shift which you are experiencing at this time. It cannot be altered in any way, just as the three-dimensional, objective delivery of a baby, once begun, is not a matter of choice in any way.
The shift to Conscious Being from 3d man is what Paul is experiencing. This shift is not under his control and cannot be altered - even by Raj.
When you are observing the three-dimensional universe, and you are interpreting it as existing and functioning on its own, then substance, as you are seeing it, has absolutely nothing to do with Substance as It Is. The flaw in your interpretation—the distortion of this partial or finite view—causes what is seen, heard, felt, tasted, and smelled to seem to be capable of sickness, decay, and death. These are dysfunctions which the Actuality of what you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel is totally incapable of. The shift we have been discussing for the past few months involves a shift of the point of awareness from an objective placement to a subjective placement, wherein each and every Actual idea of Mind is experienced and recognized as being absolutely mental.
3d Perception of Reality is a partial or finite view that includes the distortion of sickness and death that is not present in Reality.
To shift perception from 3d Illusion to what is Real involves a shift in awareness from an objective to subjective placement where every Actual idea of Mind is experienced as being absolutely mental.
I recognize fully from my own experience that this is not an easy step to make, because it is not a head trip. Rather, it is a matter of being willing to be—without conscious thought processes being used for any purpose other than relating or describing what your Being is being. Fundamental to your being able to let go is going to be your willingness to trust what you already theoretically know. That the entire Nature of your Being is absolutely and totally constructive—that It is actually fulfilling Itself at this very moment in all Its completeness with absolute perfection. If you are able to trust that Fact, even though it may require some imagination, rather than some believing, you will find it easier to let go of any vestige of control that you think you ought to be able to exercise. As soon as you are able to do this, you will find the picture change, as we have talked about before. In effect, you will be seeing from the Center of your Being, rather than from the surface of your concepts.
Being is all of Life, Conscious Being is the subjective experience of Being.
It is not easy to stay in Conscious Being because it is not a head trip. It requires trust of what you theoretically know.
With trust you will be able to let go of control - to allow. A shift happens when you are able to do this and you will be seeing from the Center of your Being.