In my life, I have tried to be Good and Pure and True. In these qualities, I have failed miserably. Why is it so hard to be good? Why is it so difficult to act in harmony with our mental ideals?
From the sea of Emptiness, everything arises.
Many people on the spiritual path eventually come face to face with their "Dark Side" - that part of themselves that is very, un-enlightened, selfish and spoiled. Reactions are a great mirror. We shout at the driver who cut us off. We take advantage of our employees because they really need the job. We cheat on our diets, our spouses, and our promises. We want to be good. We want to live in harmony with our spiritual nature, but sometimes, sometimes when lust, fear, or power overwhelm us - a demon seems to take charge of our actions. He makes us do things we regret if others see, and "forget" if others don't.
The lion kills the gazelle. The ice kills the last dinosaur. Man loves Woman. Man kills Man. Man creates monuments to the Gods.
Reactions. Words are easy. It is easy to say you are good, to say you love everyone and everything, to think to yourself that you are enlightened, to imagine that you give selflessly to the unfortunate. But actions, particularly re-actions are the great indicators of our deeper nature. Your "dark" reactions - both physical and emotional - are what the spiritual seeker must boldly face if they are ever to progress past a rudimentary taste of Inner Peace.
To survive, He kills. To spread his seed, He goes to war. To teach his children, he works his life away.
There are a million self-help books out there. Countless psychologists and billions of people who will all tell you exactly what you need to do to make yourself "better." Let me posit that you don't need to be fixed. Let me further posit that the only thing any of us are guilty of is a little fantasizing.
At his base, He is an animal. At his apex, He is a god.
One of the gifts of humanity is the gift of imagination. The problem is, sometimes we don't realize that we are imagining. We believe some fantasy about who we are and all our "problems" rear up and slap us in the face when we don't live up to that fantasy. Let me say that again. Our problems arise when who we really are conflicts with who we think we are.
Self preservation. Procreation. Possession. Defending the Tribe. Attacking to Survive.
You are selfish. You do lust after your neighbor's wife. You really do want to be famous and rich and powerful. Your fantasy says these are all off limits to the spiritual seeker. That if you were a good man/woman/god you wouldn't have those feelings.
War and Peace. Good and Evil. Love and Hate. Me and Them. One cannot exist without the Other. One cannot exist without Two.
So which is more real, your fantasy persona or your true, if somewhat repressed emotions? All this might sound a little funny coming from a man who claims to see God (a female god nonetheless) in a discarded banana peel, but damn it, I know my viewpoint is an illusion. Most seekers don't realize their fantasies are really only mental images - ideals that exist only in their minds.
Below it all, the Source. Below it all, Emptiness. From the sea of Emptiness. All life arises.
Your "dark" reactions are simply little indicators of where your true self deviates from your imagined self. Deny your nature and live your fantasy. Embrace the Darkness, feel the burn - and you will quickly find the Light.
Wayne Wirs is the photographer and author of Fading Toward Enlightenment - Life between the Ego and the Ethereal. For more information about Wayne, his writings or his photography, please visit http://fadingtowardenlightenment.com
family-safe home cleaners Northbrook ..I always thought Ecclesiastes was like Proverbs. That's probably because... Read More
As you will see I the Scripture verse I will... Read More
The magic of the tarot was obvious to me the... Read More
There I was living in a tiny bedroom in my... Read More
Most of life can be said to be bad, or... Read More
I was walking down the street the other day, walking... Read More
I am not saying this because I am in need,... Read More
The question, "Is God Dead?", first entered my consciousness when... Read More
Sometimes showing up for life can seem like a major... Read More
Have you heard the saying that; You have a friend... Read More
I am sure many of you reading this article have... Read More
Rabbi Kushner in his book "When Bad Things Happen to... Read More
Maybe once in a lifetime, we find ourselves seeking spiritual... Read More
Uh, oh. I'm in trouble now. I found God. Now... Read More
Looking for some ways to feed your soul in the... Read More
In the golfing world, yesterday may have been one of... Read More
Fanny J. Crosby's famous hymn, "Tell Me the Story of... Read More
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as... Read More
The concept of integrity has arisen often in discussions of... Read More
When my dad was nearing the end of his life... Read More
Though closely akin and sometimes used synonymously, John Rawls distinguish... Read More
Human beings originally have three forms of existence. The first... Read More
The earth is wrapped in a thin, loose shell of... Read More
Taco Bell, the Mexican fast-food franchise, has a new ad... Read More
Hiking is gaining popularity within the African-American community. We're beginning... Read More
residential cleaning services Deerfield ..A new chapter in my life begins today, the anniversary... Read More
The Many Waters explores the universe and sifts through the... Read More
As I listen with pastors and preachers in the body... Read More
Green Principles: SoulBestABeing aware here now My path is progressive.... Read More
Breaking with tradition, today's article comes from the 9-23-04 edition... Read More
1. Gabriel means: "God is my strength" or "God is... Read More
Since I awoke from my three month coma in August... Read More
Lost, but you don't know where you're going.Lost is a... Read More
If we don't behave according to a specific church's doctrine,... Read More
The dictionary defines the word forgive as: [to pardon, as... Read More
Perhaps one of the most wonderful assertions that can be... Read More
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as... Read More
Many of you come to this site because you are... Read More
Rose Ann Schwab is an internationally and world renowned professional... Read More
Action dakini gets everything done. When wanting and grasping hold... Read More
Imagine the Bible is a sharp and deadly double-edged sword,... Read More
The fastest way to raise your frequency is to do... Read More
Not a Failure!Those of you who are unemployed, or desire... Read More
Just for a moment think of what is stopping you... Read More
I can see the cops coming! They're a good thousand... Read More
I don't know of anyone who really liked taking tests... Read More
As human beings it is inherent to want to self-actualize... Read More
Spiritual health is generally an overlooked aspect of healing. However,... Read More
"Everything in the universe is a pitcher brimming with wisdom... Read More
In the year 2000, I went on a mission trip... Read More
Spirituality |