Tagged: shadow
The Honesty of Light and Shadow
The disciple asked: “Master, what do you consider important to gain further consciousness in Life?” The master responded: “From the perspective of society, man should behave with morality. However, observe what that person truly IS, he may not BE according to that value. For instance, someone who steals. Even though there is a moral law condemning stealing, there is stealing at different levels. Thus, inner dishonesty will appear. That is hypocrisy. Secretly; I am in a certain way that is my true behavior, but when surrounded by others; I behave in a different way. That clash of values is taking away our capacity for honesty. Without honesty we cannot observe what is. If we don’t have the capacity for that honest inner awareness; we are asleep although, pretending to be awake.”
The disciple then asked: “But how to practice honesty in a mostly dishonest environment?”
The master answered: “Honesty is not a practice. Although in the dictionary, dishonesty is the opposite of honesty; in Life to be insensible, unconscious, unaware is the opposite of honesty. Thus, how can there be practice of honesty if that is a quality of being awake? While in society we have been taught to make a strong distinction between virtues and vices, to practice one side and repudiate the other side; in Life what exists is what IS. That requires our full attention. This could be misrepresented by many. This is not permission to relentless express our vices. We need to observe, become aware with honesty of what IS without defending ourselves, then that quality of honesty will bring further changes. In Life everything is a process. A fruit doesn’t get ripe all of the sudden. Timing is important and everyone has a particular time.”
The disciple said: “I remember being taught to reject my vices also known as shadow and build my light, my virtues…”
Then the master replied: “Both make up a rope with 2 extremes. We call one extreme light and the other shadow. However, it is the same rope. As we gain further consciousness, that separation will not be. That is what is meant by integration. Light and shadow are together. How a shadow appears? When an object is in front of light. In spirituality, that object is the “I” or ego. The absence of that “I” will bring only light; but at that point it will not be called light, for there is no shadow to be its opposite. At that point, all labels and moral standards that we have learned will disappear. No more morality needed.”
The disciple said: “That is what probably most will call to be immoral.”
Then the master took a few seconds and said: “Perhaps Amoral. That one is beyond the duality of moral and immoral. That one doesn’t need established guidelines. That one IS ‘good’ for that is what he IS due to that integration of opposites, or dissolution of ego and not because he follows moral codes. That is where honesty is. We cannot teach someone to be honest. We could only manipulate that one to behave in certain ways and to repress who he may BE. Honesty is a self discovery. ”
“What is the need for morality in society?” Asked the disciple.
The master said: “Morality is necessary in a world of mostly unaware individuals. Because there is morality, then there is immorality. Morality is similar to a stake to straighten a tree. Stakes left for too long however, will hinder the tree’s development by not allowing the tree to experience only what IS.”
The Shadow of the Self
To simplify, everything there is could be labeled as energy. Everything transforms constantly to recycle itself. When we perceive that change, we could label that as “death” or “end” or “not being the same,” etc.
To simplify, everything could be labeled as light manifested in different intensities through different beings. All of them unique. There is no “source” behind those manifestations.
We are everything. One.
“Charlie” is a manifestation of that light. He is a human being. When Charlie realizes that he is different from everything, an individual, that point is historical: A shadow is created from that light.
That shadow will solidify itself as that consciousness of individuality strengthens. That sense of self is a psychological shadow created with our own mental energy.
Obviously when Charlie “dies,” that shadow will remain. It does not need a body to survive.
“This is the way I am.” That is a shadow.
Living life in joy is possible when we become aware of that light, that energy; for that is our nature.
There is nothing wrong with the shadow. It is an experience like anything in life, although; our minds may condemn it and reject it. It just needs to be integrated into the light.
The paradox of “Being and non-being” is represented by the duality of light and shadow. Both experiences are possible due to the existence of the “self.”
Religious spirituality is stuck in the sense of self and its shadow.
The shadow may be called a “vice” a “sin,” “impurity,” etc. Then, to get rid of that shadow will be the dogma to pursue.
That is the illusion.
That method only strengthens the sense of self.
To know “no-self” or “non-being” is to realize that the shadow is not the vital issue, but the sense of self which creates the shadow.
Seeing the words in the self
As our culture has become cluttered with intellectual information, most individuals believe that a “spiritual concept” is to be understood intellectually.
Nothing further from the truth.
Let me give an example.
Sadness. How could we explain what sadness is to a person? Most people have experienced sadness so it does not matter how I define it, there will be an understanding.
Let us pretend that we don’t know what sadness is.
We want to “explain” sadness to little Jimmy. Then, we throw the dictionary blurb at him:
“Sadness is emotional pain associated with, or characterized by feelings of disadvantage, loss, despair, helplessness and sorrow. An individual experiencing sadness may become quiet or lethargic, and withdraw themselves from others.”
Obviously the words above do not make any sense to little Jimmy, as he has to look up in the dictionary for every word used in the definition. Only that which he has experienced, he will recognize.
Now, try explaining detachment, love, soul consciousness, totality, peace, emptiness to little Jimmy… 🙂
That is why a Ph.D type of dissertation about sadness will not do a thing as far as “inner understanding.” It may be a source of great information with the latest research on sadness but that is about it. Intellectual information.
On the other hand, if “Know-it” the poet; explains sadness to little Jimmy, he will give an analogy.
“Sadness is like being in a bright day, full of sunshine…and deciding to turn your head back, towards your own shadow.
To experience sadness there has to be “someone” (ego) because like a tree facing the sun, that “someone” has its own shadow. Then, there has to be the disposition to look back, to turn the head around away from the light.”
If little Jimmy had the experience of his own shadow and a bright day, he will have an idea of what sadness is. That idea becomes the experience once he experiences sadness for himself. At that point little Jimmy will be sadness. To know is to be.
This is why spirituality is more in tune with poetry than research. It is more in tune with feelings than thinking.
How could you explain the notion of being in control but at the same time, being harmonious?
There are many words used: To be focused. To concentrate on something, etc. Those words bring more definitions but never the idea…
Have you seen the 800 meter champ, David Rudisha from Kenia; run a race?
It seems effortless movement. Balanced. Harmonious and yet fast and powerful. Rudisha maintains his poise, his form even while breaking the world record.
The 800 meters is one of the most “painful” events in track and field, but he is able to keep his poise from beginning to end.
Here the video:
Now, if we are able to “understand” that harmonious control by seeing the example, we could use that in our everyday movements. We could even exercise while keeping that harmonious balance.
Form, style, balance. That is an art in itself.
In Spirituality, we mirror beauty. Every aspect that we could be aware of is an opportunity to “be it” again. It is a matter of recognition.
That is how we “learn.” We just recognize it, if our awareness is “on.” Otherwise, we could be lost in the world of definitions, concepts and logic, the world of meaningless words.
Exploring the Depth of Living 