“Enlightenment is not seeing everything through the distortion called egoic state of consciousness. That’s why it’s called natural state; It’s perception without a lens. Ultimately that’s what enlightenment is: Perception without distortion.” Adyashanti
The dream state is a lustrous gem
here’s where all of the distortions are revealed
In perfect living color, form and sound
Because in TIME
I only see through the lens of my perceptions (distortions)
But when sleep time comes, the TIME perceptions dissolve
Now I can see through it all
My dreams show me what I know in a way I can’t really comprehend
It would be too jarring for my indoctrinated left-sided brain So my dream time gives me truths incognito
watching documentary on Steven Spielberg, and re-experiencing the emotions evoked from the movie Schindler’s List.
each time I re-witness scenes of the Holocaust, or read a book describing events of that time in history, I find myself in an emotional state of extreme sorrow where the tears are overflowing, and the tears are so necessary, as if to release all of the (remembered?) horror.
did I live through this?
is that possible?
did we all live through this?
did we all create that experience?
An interesting analogy by Alan Watts about the past:
He likens it to a boat on a lake (The Present) and the wake behind the boat (The Past). The moving water behind the boat does NOT create the boat. It’s just the opposite. The boat (the Present) creates the wake (the Past)
The Present creates the Past
So the past only can exist in the present. Our memories of the Past occur only in the present, and that is what informs our present (and future).
That’s where this innate human quality of compassion comes in. A feeling that is Real and Exists in the Present. And is imperative for the truth of Love to exist in the present moment.
My teacher, Adyashanti, expresses it so exquisitely:
“On a human level, it’s really useful — not just to know, but to feel — that that part of your being that is unconditioned has no problem with your humanity. It’s really important for the humanity to feel that, because that’s what it’s looking for — something in the universe that’s not judging it, condemning it, or even praising it.”
“Dualistic consciousness is also a manifestation of the ultimate ground. There’s no part of us that’s apart or other — even though there are different qualities and different experiences — there is no apartness. It’s so important to let yourself experience that. Because to receive that in the human heart feels like love.”
“Compassion is selfless love. It is what gives all of our other impulses balance. It is why, from the level of consciousness, we can be self-interested and rightly so — and simultaneously — have these very selfless impulses. This is all part of our nature.”
“Compassion literally comes from the ultimate ground because compassion is that feeling that: I will do something for someone even if it is not in my self-interest.”
“Compassion is actually quite a common occurrence in human beings. You don’t have to look very far for it — that feeling that you love something or someone in such a way that your sense of your own well-being is transcended.”
