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
elite cleaning services Mundelein ..One of the first issues people on the spiritual path... Read More
Is it not true that only after gaining Enlightenment (Self-Realization)... Read More
If we don't behave according to a specific church's doctrine,... Read More
Tarot card reading delves into an individual's psyche and thus... Read More
For it is written in Bible in chapter 2 Peter... Read More
Last week, I sat at my computer and watched the... Read More
Far to many people have become "followers" rather than BEING... Read More
Some people go to physics and spiritual readers for advice... Read More
The essence of the Christian faith is the good news... Read More
"Who being in the very nature God, did not consider... Read More
As I listen with pastors and preachers in the body... Read More
Symbols and symbolism are popular in almost every civilisation, culture... Read More
Who is God? This question would sound awkward to 80%... Read More
So I met a friend recently and we went to... Read More
(Channelled)I have been trying to ignore this title "A Man... Read More
I was in the bank's vault. The Brink's armored truck... Read More
In Corrogue it is frosty.The ramp into our "acre of... Read More
Unconditional love means unconditional freedom. Love and freedom are two... Read More
Do you spend your time working towards that "one day... Read More
The world's idea of justice and freedom fall short of... Read More
I said something last week I haven't said in years.... Read More
What is the opportunity here? What is the benefit of... Read More
Do you ever have one of those days when you... Read More
Because of the bright lights behind me, the golf balls... Read More
In your quest for enlightenment, always ask what's in it... Read More
Airbnb cleaning service Mundelein ..*Advice on living a humane and compassionate life.According to text... Read More
Am I dreaming? The sign outside the skyscraper reads: "Spiritual... Read More
For the past several years I have struggled with getting... Read More
Every soul that is currently experiencing life on any level... Read More
Since my departure from the traditional "Corporate Life" almost 8... Read More
There was a time in my life when I seriously... Read More
I am deeply drawn to the above Irish Blessing.This blessing... Read More
In your quest for enlightenment, always ask what's in it... Read More
If you were Satan and your goal is to destroy... Read More
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as... Read More
African-American people are natural caretakers. We do a great job... Read More
"...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I... Read More
A lot of times when I am reading people on... Read More
The famous prayer of Jabez, where Jabez prayed for prosperity,... Read More
I always thought Ecclesiastes was like Proverbs. That's probably because... Read More
WOW ... what a question. But today, while I was... Read More
Did you ever get a feeling or gain notion of... Read More
Michael Shermer speaks with the energy and passion of an... Read More
There's a lot of talk in meditation circles about emptying... Read More
Want more peace and joy in your life? Daily stress... Read More
In my work with clients who have physical illnesses there... Read More
The Evil Eye has been around since the beginning of... Read More
I come face to face with self whenever you come... Read More
I have discovered as I grow older in Christ Jesus... Read More
Part Two ContinuedIn addition to numerous philosophical problems relating to... Read More
Spirituality |