Who has not heard this phrase of William Shakespeare that sometimes goes lightly or unnoticed in its deepest sense? Well, I want to begin this series of writings from my spontaneous experience in the world by laying a foundation, if it were possible to get straight to the point.
For me, who was behind William Shakespeare’s pseudonym was an enlightened person who perhaps used the resource of literature taking elements from the human aspect and confronting them subtly, but well knew what this world and its characters were about…
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts”. William Shakespeare
Whoever has researched Buddhism, perhaps out of curiosity, will find that this reality is questioned and the “I” can be understood as an illusion of an identity that is far from the true self.
“To be or not to be” describes what is often experienced in front of the world. When it comes to an individual who wonders this question it may be opening a path to the Being behind this life, and due to an inversion of thought the best thing is to use that same resource (of inversion) removing for an instant what I am not in order to pose what we really are.
I am not my worries, I am not my defects, I am not my unceasing thoughts, I am not my impulsive mind, I am not my sufferings or sorrows, I am not my faults, I am not my stumbles or failures, I am not my mistakes, I am not my judgments, I am not a sea of emotions, I am not my personality, I am not my ideals or desires, I am not a biological organism, I am not a body, then, what or who am I? You would understand with mind and open heart the words of that Master when he said: “I Am”.
This denial and inversion opens the way for a different understanding of the usual whose usefulness comes to have a scope. It would be like opening yourself to the vision of unity, but when it is said it remains in a language and something else is its reality. What I am trying to communicate in this sense is that in you is the real thing that gives sustenance and attention to this experience of multiplicity, it is not about ignoring the life you know, suppressing the person in the world or neglecting the body and forget your desires. However, at a very deep level, who you really are is not who you think you are.
If you have observed the world well, you may have realized that it is meaningless and from there that a purpose is sought.I would also have to say that, as long as you experience the duality of the world, getting stuck thinking that things should be different, that the world you know is too crazy or that you question why or how to enjoy it does not solve anything. In fact, you can enjoy it with a spontaneity similar to that of children, many times better if it is in an enlightened way. You can also accept your low moods but you don’t have to stay there so you can open up to the attitude of getting up as soon as possible. But in fact, it is very true that this world seems to be insane.
It is common to experience a confusion of identity because of the duality of the world, but it becomes necessary to consider that there is a place from the essence where instead of passing judgment as before you can see it with other eyes. You go on with your ordinary life, being normal although you may already be out of the average, I am referring above all to the occupations, to the way of proceeding and sharing, or to living perhaps in family, in community or a little isolated if you prefer. And it is that this world is not normal for a mind that realizes that a turn is pressing and that recognizing its essence experiences something called the human species, apparently more favorable in capacities than most mammals. As if it were not enough, as a human generally one must look for a way for the vital sustenance, I am referring to whoever notices that “it is necessary to be realistic”, things of duality.
If for you, in this historical moment, to say “I am” would be something serious, I ask you to avoid this information, as well as any discomfort that is intolerable in this regard, perhaps you do not need it or it is simply for those who resonate with it.
That being so, you could be a bearer of miracles. From the narrative of the scriptures where the Master Jesus is tempted we can make the conjecture that you don’t have to perform miracles that a tempter asks of you. It also seems that at that time still did not know miracles to the Master. You can start by increasing the Inner Peace which is a true miracle.
Taking distance from the drama of suffering does not mean that you stop feeling, it is about facing two different levels, the one of the mind and the one of the form, or, the one of the spirit and the one the experience of the world. One is real the other is a projection, but as you experience that duality you can consider these two levels each in its context, so you follow your life in a natural way. There is no point in denying duality on the same level as it, giving circles that are certainly uncomfortable.
So this opening up to your essence, understood as an active principle of the spirit or mind, and experiencing the human is not easy, but training the mind is important for your good. Information like this can be a relief or a mouth opener, sometimes necessary. If you connect with this you will need to do what you do in a gym, but with your mind, and in the same way you will see that it might be necessary to assume it in your life even if the routine varies. In my case, although it has been a process and I continue to do so, one of the pillars of my training has been the book entitled “A Course In Miracles” of the foundation for inner peace, it even has lessons, since practice is necessary, and that is that life itself leaves you a routine, there in the middle of your family, daily situations, in the middle of coexistence, but you will have a reference and above all an Inner Guide.
I know I’ve come to too direct a point, although deep down you might realize that this world is not at all consistent or you have experienced an identity crisis when you have become accustomed to who you think you are and you come to feel that it is better to avoid it rather than face it. If you feel uncomfortable before your divinity it can be understandable, if you think you are Alex or that you are Janeth anyway you are required to play your role, however, it would be better to have an enlightened role.
Given the cultural influence or the system it is unthinkable and surprising that you really come to consider that you are not something physical and rise to a height similar to the Divine, especially when the world continues to function how you have known, but you can get to see it with other eyes. On the other hand, if it is the character who assumes a position that does not correspond to him, it would obviously be something without sustenance as an attitude of arrogance. Such an attitude can be common in those who only receive information intellectually or who act with a spiritualized ego.
You are the observer who has become so involved with the experience that sometimes it seems that you are not observing, which certainly requires your attention, and recognize what you really are from your inner essence is to put yourself in the right direction. It would be better to see it as an observer observing the one who regularly observes an external world.
If for the time being you prefer to soften it and consider that in you is the divine but you are confronted with the human, if you feel more comfortable so would be understandable. But what is being indicated is that you are spirit experiencing an illusory world, you are not the illusion, nor the dream, but rather the dreamer of something charged with realism. As for the character, I would say something like keeping an order and with moderation, observe the world and consider what is wise without denying your Self if this is interpreted as similar to considering the two levels mentioned. It can also be understood that the experience can be used for learning and you can enjoy it since by giving purpose to this life would not be in opposition to your happiness, and you deserve to be happy.
Culture influences in such a way that when I came to hear in Catholicism the phrase that “the other is Christ”, it was something new and difficult to assimilate, but what seemed practically impossible at the time, is that I wondered if the other was Christ should therefore be Christ. I take advantage of aspects of the culture of this part of the planet but I am grateful to avoid well-founded positions that are unnecessary for the context, when we are looking here for logic to help in a practical sense, simply addressing those who really know how to interpret it in a good sense.
This is what happens, I can say that in your essence is divinity and you are one with God, what you really are is Spirit. However, you are experiencing at the same time a person, a body, an apparent life in this world that in its own context would be a reality, so it seems that we return to the same thing, from there you can consider yourself as a simple mortal, you have needs and certainly that person is not God.
It is convenient to distinguish these two contexts or levels, that of the absolute spirit in which you participate in essence and that of the practical world as an individual. This perspective enriches your vision of this life and you can see it in another way without ceasing to experience it, even enjoy it. So, similar to what Shakespeare said, it is as if from here you Are but you Are Not, so how do you resolve the question?
The foundations have been laid to continue with writings that I hope will be enriching and liberating, encouraging and gradually placing you from the favourable side of your Inner Being who is your Master per excellence. You are welcome.
“The one who seeks should not cease seeking until he finds. And when he finds, he will be dismayed. And when he is dismayed, he will be astonished. And he will be king over the All”. Taken from the Gospel of Thomas (verse 2).