Regarding the ‘Strength” blog, I was asked the following question:
How can you distinguish for yourself what is a strong ‘grip’ versus a strong clinging to a belief or a perspective? How do you know you’ve rested into your essence/soul or just an overlay?
To which I respond:
This is a very good and important question. In a nutshell, the answer is that you don’t know. If you really knew you were clinging to something, you would be seeing beyond it. If you really saw beyond it, you would not be clinging to it.
I like to say that the exploration tills the soil that facilitates the natural self-correcting mechanism… i.e. evolution. That process is called discernment. It is cultivated through reflection, proper counseling, self-honesty, proper meditation, openness, etc. The art of discernment is a major portion of what I teach.
In extreme cases, it is obvious to others when a person is clinging to a belief… for example, radical fundamentalism or a digging in of the heels. But as you move forward, the process gets more and more elusive. As has been said, the only true knowing is knowing that you know nothing. Knowing nothing means knowing no-thing… knowing that which is beyond things, beyond beliefs and perspectives.
It is not about the thing so much as it is about your relationship with the thing. It is like learning to swim. If you cannot swim, you cling to the rubber ducky to keep you afloat. It is everything. Without it you feel that you would drown. Slowly, slowly you get comfortable in the water and in time no longer need the rubber ducky to stay afloat. Then you swim freely in the ocean of being. You may still enjoy the rubber ducky, but your relationship with it is completely different. See?
I See. Niti Niti Niti.
Thank you.
As always, a great blog. Bharhmarshi, I love how you describe things in a new way. I imagine each new way resonates better with certain people than others. This blog really worked for me.
Yes..I do see.. however I am also understanding more and more how deeply my vail of karma effects what I see. It seems as though I am seeing more clearly today than ever however I “know” I am touching into feelings that I have never felt before. As I continue to put myself in uncomfortable situations (letting go of my rubber ducky) the dynamic feels..smoother and lighter (for lack of a better discription). As I am working through this comment I can also feel that “letting go” discribes my feelings for the reasons from your comment from the-Tuning Your Instrument- blog.
Thank you for your amazing patience.
To know in terms of intelligence does not nessisarily bring discernment. Holding true to our essence, having the strength to stand up for what we believe in, now that brings the flame. Does running in the red bring more loyalty, and burn through more karmic imprints? Maybe, but who gets burned in the process? Sometimes being brutally honest about our core values can be difficult to swallow. Then anger expansion will come…
Jordiashanti,
Yes indeed, the intellect is a small part of discernment. Discernment includes all levels of your being. ‘Holding true to our essence’ is not as easy as one may think. Is it your essence or your indoctrinated beliefs you are holding to? The same is true of ‘core values’. Are they core values [i.e. values from the core of your being] or indoctrinations? How do you know? Well, that question takes us right back to the blog! It seems a contradiction: you must be discerning to evolve, but the ability to be discerning is the result of evolution. However, fortunately, all things do gravitate back to Oneness. Discernment does come at least eventually… over lifetimes. Proper meditation and a true teacher greatly accelerate the process. How do you know who is a true teacher and what is proper meditation? Discernment.