LESS EGO / MORE SOUL

(c) Sarah Blake

Light and Dark are the original children of the divine duality.

Children, both equal in their merits and caveats, though in many ways humanity appears to favour light as the more benevolent, “spiritual” and higher of the two.

Enchanted, we often associate Light with purity, goodness, spirituality, cleansing and the soul.

Darkness, in contrast, is often related to debauchery, evil, fear and pain.

While darkness may amplify our fear of the unknown, Light, banishes the unknown, limiting possibilities and calming the insecurities that rise in the face of uncertainty. With light, creation is limited and our imagination is restrained – lest we forget that it is actually in the dark where all is equal and free.

Dark benevolently passes no judgment; she loves unconditionally.

Light on the other hand, illuminates what would otherwise be unknown. It gives shape to the energy that surrounds us, allowing us to perceive the interactions that take place in our environment. We feel safer and more secure in the light as form takes on a more familiar shape.

However, is it not light that inspires our judgments; separating form from form with the boundaries of “this” and “that”, “me” and “you”, “us” and “them”?

Is light then not the instigator of separation, and darkness facilitator of unity?

“All colours will agree in the dark.”  – Francis Bacon

The Buddhists are known to practice the art of non-confirmation.

This means they refrain from giving and seeking confirmation of one’s words, of one’s actions and of one’s self.

By doing so, they forge their own path toward freedom.

No longer are they caught up with the illusions of the external world, warping their truth and distracting their presence.

No longer are they governed by their ego, vying to gain power-over through the portrayal of a particular image of self.

Instead, they are left – at first, quite uncomfortably – with only the judgment of their own mind and the guidance of their own moral compass.

And this is where the magic happens…
Where one really gets to know themselves,
Where one is cordially invited commune with their soul;
To discover what it is they truly ache for and pursue it with passion and reckless abandon.

Why do we fear ourselves?

Why do we doubt ourselves?

Why do we question our own judgment?

Why do we think, for one second, that another could possibly tell us how to live our own lives any better than by the guidance of our own hearts?

Why are we so afraid to take the reins; to claim our decisions as our own?

Because if we were “wrong” than who’d be to blame?

If we “failed”, than how would we recover from such a loss of face?

But think about it, has life ever thrown you something you couldn’t handle?

You might think so, but you’re still here; you survived.

At worst you might have wound up a little bruised and battered.

Embarrassed perhaps… But you recovered and you evolved.

Acknowledge the state of your physical body (the sacred vessel of your spirit) as a symbolic sculpture of the life you lead.

If you love your life then why not worship your body – whatever its size, whatever its shape?

Regardless of where it fits in cotrast to society’s view of beauty and ideals, if life feels good then change your perceptions to embrace its unique perfection.

And, if life feels bad change your existence – not to meet the expectations of others, or emulate what is sold as a valuable depiction of “success”.

No, change it to meet your soul’s yearning for love, for connection, for joy, for contentment, for exploration, for thrills and  for memories of delicious moments well spent.

Because life is supposed to feel good and who could ever definitively judge what a feeling looks like?

We tell ourselves lies: “if only I was ______, then I could be happy.”

Recognise that your quality of life would actually be no better; albeit perhaps a little less weighed down by your crying consciousness and the judgement that governs these lies.

When you were a child you never thought this way.

You’ve been conditioned to believe that you are not enough and after so many years you’re now using these lies as excuses; because you would find it too uncomfortable to actually cross the finish line.

What would you do with all that power; with all that responsibility?

Ignore the lies and focus on being happy first. Then decide if what you wanted was really ever that important.

“The biggest mistake one could ever make, is to judge their insides by another’s outsides”.

- Anonymous

We are all one…therefore:

‘All judgement is a form of self judgement.

and

All criticism is a form of self-criticism.’

– Dalai Lama

Our consciousness is a mirror.

It reflects nothing more than the present state of life as things come and go continuously.

And just like a mirror, consciousness does not dance when you dance, nor cry, nor laugh, nor move as you do.

It is simply there, observing and reflecting our actions without attachment and without judgement.

Pure presence.

The heart loves unconditionally.

It beats no matter our choices.

We don’t really know why.

It just does.

And regardless of the path we choose to walk,

And despite all of the shitty things we do,

It continues to beat to the best of its ability.

Therefore, the heart does not judge.

It is the silent witness of our existence,

Observing our actions,

Rolling with the punches.

Beating us to life,

So that we may experience our choices.

And when the heart does cease to beat,

It is not through distain or revenge,

But the consequence

Of a blind existence.

Where we refuse to acknowledge,

What can be observed.

Where we refuse to discriminate,

Between what strengthens

And what weakens;

What ultimately serves us

And what does not.

THE TEN HUMAN ILLUSIONS:

1. The Illusion of Need
   Everything you think you need you already have. It exists inside of you. “Needs” are only preferences. Observe that you can exist without.
2. The Illusion of Failure
   You never fail to succeed. “Failure” is a great teacher. Embrace failure, do not fear it.
3. The Illusion of Disunity
   You are not apart but a part. Unity and separation are the very rhythms of life.
4. The Illusion of Insufficiency
   Fill the insufficiency.  Be the source. Give what you desire away. There is enough, for the world is abundant.
5. The Illusion of Requirement
   There is nothing you have to be or do. Happiness is a choice. Remember, everything you do, you do for you.
6. The Illusion of Judgment
   Observing is witnessing, judging is concluding. Observe, as that which you would judge has already ceased to be.
7. The Illusion of Condemnation
   There is a difference between consequence and punishment. Everything is temporary.
8. The Illusion of Conditionality
   There are no victims. You choose your life by the way you  interpret and define your own experiences. There are no conditions to love and unconditional love is the greatest gift you can give to the world.
9. The Illusion of Superiority
   Superiority is an illusion based on preferences – not facts. After all, how could one be superior to itself? Remember NAMASTE: I honour the light that resides within you, which also resides within me. We are all one.
10. The Illusion of Ignorance
    You already know all of this. All learning is remembering. Some simply remember more than others.

I used to mentally beat myself up in the vain hope that it would inspire the change that I wished to see in myself. But now I understand how this was the wrong way to go about it.

Forgiveness heals and for me to more on and grow I first need to accept what is. Then, from that place of observation (not judgement) I may chose who I would like to be next.

You see real change does not come from fear of punishment through inspired self-hate. Change comes from love and a clear, observing mind, motivated by simply acknowledgeing what works and what does not.

I AM THAT I AM.