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Word Gems
exploring self-realization, sacred personhood, and full humanity
Soulmate, Myself:
Prometheus Denied
12: Know Thyself
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(an MLP plenary session)
K. I have been thinking about what was said yesterday. Please tell me
more about how I can get in touch with that “true self,” the deeper
“perfect” soul that I am.
D. Well, Kairissi, as we said, interaction with a Twin can facilitate this, but
a visit to the Earth also aids the process.
K. I suppose the suffering there helps us to grow?
D. It does, but it’s not quite that simple. Remember, not all suffering is
efficacious for good. Suffering takes to itself higher meaning but only for
the humble and teachable.
E. What do you mean, Day Star?
D. We have said that a trip to the Earth can be dangerous. And suffering,
per se, will not guarantee spiritual success. We should discuss this a
little more.
K. Well, I know that the Earth is a dangerous place and bad things happen
there.
L. But it’s more than that. It’s not just that the Earth is a dangerous place
– the greater danger lies within. Let me put it this way: There is a loss
greater than that of losing one’s Twin – it is losing one’s own self!
K. That would be at the hands of the small ego, I suppose.
L. As we discussed, you and Elenchus could even become enemies for
a time.
K. (sighing) I remember that… but… it’s so hard to envision… I guess I just don’t believe that could happen. I mean, I know we have to give up our memories of each other for a while, but… we’ll still have our soul-bond, won’t we, Lateece?
L. It’s eternally enduring.
K. So, we should be able to feel something of that strong connection,
won’t we?
L. At times you will feel it.
K. Ok, then, I just don’t think that I could become Elenchus’s enemy given
our soul-connection.
A. You may recall our analogy: The sun never stops shining, even when
it’s behind the clouds. But… you can’t see the sun then; and if the clouds
are thick enough, noonday might be as midnight.
K. Master Arcnam, I understand your meaning – but I don’t
like it. What could block my feelings for Elenchus like that? What could
make me go dark like that? I know you will say “the small ego,” but I am
Elenchus’s Twin. Am I so near the precipice of evil that I could be blinded
to my Twin like that? I just can’t feel that to be true.
S. Kairissi, would you be willing to take some advice from me?
K. Yes, of course, Senbar; please forgive me if I seem an unwilling student. All this is very hard for me.
S. No, my dear, on the contrary, you have done so well. The questioning
mind eventually embraces the truth. Cultish credulity never will.
K. (sighing)
S. Look at how much you’ve learned these past weeks. I count you as a
most wonderful person. I know why Elenchus loves you so, and it’s not
just because his soul is inclined to do so. You are glorious and delightful,
radiant and lovely. Perfection will soon be invaded by you.
K. (softly laughing) May I hire you as my lawyer, Senbar?
S. I would be happy to defend you at all times, dear lady; and as your
advocate I must advise you concerning an impending threat.
K. You may advise me.
S. The wonder of all that you are, your many stellar attributes, makes it
especially difficult for you to see that which lurks within every human
heart.
K. I know that I have an ego, a false self, to deal with.
S. You do know; and yet, you do not know. You asked, “am I as close to
evil as that?” Every highly advanced spiritual person understands too
well that evil is always “right at the door,” but a mere single decision
away.
K. Please explain.
L. May I offer a comment?
S. Yes, thank you.
L. Kairissi, maybe this will help. I would like to give you my own personal
view of what greater consciousness means. A trip to the Earth affords
the opportunity to become aware of two great realities. One of these
relates to the false self, the evil within.
K. May I ask how this evil within can be so dangerous if we were created
perfect in the divine image?
L. The small ego deals in deception – toward others and oneself. It is like
a crouching leopard, ready to pounce, ready to devour. If one is deeply
unconscious, it will always seek its own, without concern for its victim. It
is utterly selfish. It is the hidden, resident evil within each human being.
It is not one’s true self, but lives as a parasite, feeding on the essential life
of its host. Yes, as we’ve established, a measure of egocentrism is needed to become fully independent, autonomous beings; but it all goes wrong when the small ego rises up and takes us over completely. When such thick darkness falls, the ego will view as threat every other entity in the universe… including one’s Twin.
K. But… I do not live on that darkest level; the ego does not rule me like
that.
L. Of course not, sister. But the issue is this: You have not yet come to
the point where you are able to see, within yourself, the potential for
this evil.
K. I have never even come close to those kinds of negative thoughts in
my whole life.
L. No, you haven’t. No one does… here in Summerland.
K. Are you saying that a change of venue, that going to the Earth, might
turn me into some kind of monster?
L. The process is not so formulaic as that. Some people go to the Earth
and become “saints,” and some become “sinners.” And many of these
latter, before they left the perfect environment of Summerland, could
not envision themselves as a force for evil.
K. I don’t know what to say. Could I become a bad person on Earth?
L. Everyone who goes to the Earth will be tempted by things utterly
unknown in our present Summerland-world of easy living. And yes, it
will be possible to temporarily walk down a path of evil.
K. How could this happen?
L. It’s that crouching leopard within, ready to strike, to protect itself. In
our world of plenty and conviviality, it usually lies dormant. But on the
troubled Earth, with threats on every side, the small ego will find ample
opportunity to lash out and seek its own.
E. Why is it necessary to experience this darkness? – and, may I say,
especially, for a person like Kairissi. She’s a sensitive soul and naturally
looks for the beauty in all things. There’s a sparkling essence to her
personality, a happiness abounding in her. Why shouldn’t a good person
as she is simply live in a perfected world like Summerland? Why injure
oneself with undue temptation and draw out the worst? What does that
prove?
L. I will ask you a question, Elenchus. Is there any value in the ancient
dictum “Know Thyself”? – in exploring the depths of one’s own being?
E. Well, yes, I guess so. Who could argue with that? It just that, shouldn’t
there be limits to introspection? How much benefit is there in visiting
a hall of terrors? – or its dark basement? Why not leave the hobgoblins
there alone?
K. Lateece, I hear that tone in his voice – he’s trying to defend me.
Elenchus, I don’t want to be afraid of anything. I don’t want to live my
eternal life with locked doors in my head – doors that I’m afraid to look
inside. I want to know myself.
L. Kairissi, your words do you honor. And Elenchus, maybe this question
will help: How conscious do you want to be? Do you think that it would
be possible to say, “I will live with awareness in this area and that area,
but that subject over there I will be afraid to touch? – with that one, I
will keep the door of consciousness tightly bolted.” Is it possible to live
that way? – or, if it is, would you want to?
E. Well, I suppose not. I guess the mind is either open to truth or it’s not.
L. I believe you are right. Some people seem to think they can live with
“selective 20-20 vision,” but in this they deceive themselves. As the
Beloved Teacher expressed it, “a house divided against itself cannot
stand.”
K. Oh, Lateece, this is harder than I thought. I just want to be in love with
Elenchus forever – not just a little bit, not just getting by, but I want it
all the way to the top with him. So, tell me now, plainly, what I must do,
and I will do it.
E. So much for protecting you.
K. You will have plenty of opportunity to protect me before we’re done,
My Love; but now, Lateece, please instruct me.
L. You must go to the Earth. You must face the evil within, up close. You
must suffer and be tempted in multitudinous ways, not often sparing
yourself. And you will weep many days of your life. To make things worse,
you will have forgotten your memories of Summerland and of each other.
You will not be able to fall back on lessons learned here. You will often
feel blinded, full of doubt, as you walk in a dark world. But this darkness
is meant to impel you toward the greatest search of your existence. And
in this herculean quest for the Light, in your sufferings, you will awaken,
and find yourself ready, to seek for knowledge which you ought to seek.
K. And what knowledge ought I to seek?
L. That the “real you” is the sun behind the clouds; and that no matter
how dark it gets, the sun, high above, never stops shining. This lesson
is very hard to learn in our perfect Summerland; as such, the Earth has
been designed as a rigorous “running the gauntlet” classroom.
K. And how will this help me to love Elenchus?
L. Your eternal bond with Elenchus centers in that true self, not in animal
spirits. Eternal romantic oneness is a union of true selves. You must come
to know the authentic self if you hope to enjoy the highest expressions
of romantic love.
K. And right now, it seems, Elenchus and I are united primarily
by temporal bonds – just “kissing in the dark,” but not the good kind?
L. No, not the most satisfying kind. Right now, the true self is largely
unknown to each of you, as you are often led by egoic attractors. You
must find your true nexus, those indestructible soul bonds which cannot
be severed. We have discussed much today. My suggestion is that you
meet again with your guides. Will that be alright, Day Star?
D. Of course.
L. Earlier I spoke of two great realities of which we need to become
aware. The small ego is one, but I will allow your guides to discuss the
other.
E. Lateece and all – thank you for everything.
K. Yes, thank you so much, more than I can say.
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