The Shadow self, the dark and mysterious, needs love and awareness
When we are born, we are pure and whole. We don't know the right from wrong, we don't have judgements of the self and the others, we don't have desires, apart from immediate needs, we don't have expectations. We eat when hungry, sleep when tired, cry when hurt and dress when cold. We live in the present without dwelling on the past or worrying about our future. We accept everything the life brings us, pains, pleasures, joy and suffering without discrimination. We don't identify ourselves with any fixed image or idea of a good boy or a girl. We are aware of everything that’s happening around us and we play spontaneously. Every day, every situation is new and exciting. The possibilities are open and the world is full of mystery, good and bad surprises and unexpected discoveries.
As we grow older, all the conditioning and judgements imposed by others start sinking in and separate us into fragmented beings with a twin mind. We learn to avoid that which potentially brings us pain, discomfort or any form of suffering, either from the environment, from others or from within ourselves. We become afraid of the unknown hidden around every corner of our inner and outer world. We learn to pursue only that which was confirmed by ourselves or others as safe, painless and pleasurable. Our life turns into a mundane routine of repetitive actions, thoughts and expectations continuously shrinking into more and more limited frame.
Our so-called light side, or the conscious mind with its selective reality, contains all the aspects accepted by the society as normal, those aspects that we proudly share with everybody. Eventually they form an almost indestructible ego and our self-identity, self-judgement and self-pity. It creates a barrier from suffering and discomfort by isolating a very narrow view of what life is and our role in it.
Our so-called dark side, which includes the subconscious mind, the fragmented spirit and the soul, containing all the rejected aspects of ourselves and the world, is infinitely bigger. It goes into the back of our minds and our beings and whenever it tries to come out, it's always judged, misunderstood, not welcome and not accepted. That side we dare not show anyone and learn to deny it to ourselves. Just as well as we learn to suppress with medications and comfort foods the suffering that comes from our bodies in a form of pain and discomfort, we learn to amuse and distract ourselves with exciting information and activities in order to suppress the suffering that comes from our minds and souls. We have created entire industries of artificial food, beauty and health that do permanent damage to our health and the health of the planet because of the fear of germs and imperfections. We shy away from making real friends and starting trusting, open relationships. We hide behind chats, online personalities and small talks because of the fear of hurt feelings, judgement, criticism or contradicting opinions. Being afraid of even the slightest discomforts caused by the people or the nature, we put ourselves into a constant state of suffering and loneliness by distancing, isolation and withdrawal. In the meantime, the cell built by our own fear of suffering keeps shrinking... But, though isolated and hidden, the dark side is very much aware of us and our lives and it will keep showing up in more and more extreme forms of physical, emotional or psychological suffering until we learn to accept it.
Though looks gloomy, this process of denial and separation is easy to reverse and can be started in one day just by bringing our awareness to it. Accepting our fate and letting the life flow through us with all its suffering and joy without discrimination. We can learn to go through our problems gracefully without causing further suffering to others and ourselves. We can let go of the total control we try to impose on the life circumstances surrounding us and make friends with the unknown and unforeseeable. Avoiding daily routines and the routines of our conditioned thinking processes. Eating moderately, healthy and mindfully. Acting only when an action is called for. Reducing distractions and learning to enjoy peaceful empty moments. Spending more time in direct contact with the nature and the seasons. Learning to be always truthful, loving and kind to ourselves and others, which also means accepting our flaws but not giving up trying to fix them. Learning to become aware of the chain of events caused by our actions and inactions. Accepting ourselves as we are, though always doing our best and perfecting ourselves. Learning to put problems and needs of others before our own regardless of the personal gains and losses. Learning humility, and the beauty of simplicity of life. Being carefully aware of our immediate needs and superfluous desires. Practicing daily meditation and mindfulness. Learning to become aware of the circumstances and chains of events that brought a particular person or an event into our life. Learning to become aware of the source of our negative emotions and rather than attaching or directing those emotions at others, we need to learn the cause of those emotions within ourselves by looking at a situation in a detached impersonal way. We need to learn to listen to the intuitive knowledge of our bodies and become aware that even though our rational opinion might seem firm to us, it’s just a single perspective out of an infinite number of possible views of understanding.
This change must come from the inside, from our own awareness supported by our willpower and intent. Every individual, the human race, the Earth and the universe are inexplicably linked into a complex web, reflecting each other and containing each other. By making positive changes within ourselves we can heal the entire world. We can start by putting our intent on creating less suffering in the world by accepting and embracing our own occasional suffering that the life might bring and by not putting our personal needs and desires first.
There are numerous classic and modern teaching available on the subject of meditation, awareness of breathing, movement, thinking and emotions in Taoist, Buddhist, Yogic, Tantric, Shamanic and other ways of knowledge. All of them have their hidden gems and paths to liberation and are worth reading and following. And there is an infinite source of wisdom available directly from the nature which becomes easily available to us as soon as we become aware of it.
Here are some books that could be valuable in starting your research:
- The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz
- The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo
- Wabi-Sabi by Leonard Koren
- Journey of the Heart: The Path of Conscious Love by John Welwood
- The Essential I Ching: 64 Degrees of Nature's by Kari Hohne
- Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
- Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford
- A Comprehensive Guide to Daoist Nei Gong by Damo Mitchell
- Various books on Feng Shui
There is also the Shaolin Meditation app developed by MaximImages with a thorough, easy to understand guide, based on ancient Taoist and Buddhist teachings and practices, that may become your faithful companion on your spiritual journey.
As we grow older, all the conditioning and judgements imposed by others start sinking in and separate us into fragmented beings with a twin mind. We learn to avoid that which potentially brings us pain, discomfort or any form of suffering, either from the environment, from others or from within ourselves. We become afraid of the unknown hidden around every corner of our inner and outer world. We learn to pursue only that which was confirmed by ourselves or others as safe, painless and pleasurable. Our life turns into a mundane routine of repetitive actions, thoughts and expectations continuously shrinking into more and more limited frame.
Our so-called light side, or the conscious mind with its selective reality, contains all the aspects accepted by the society as normal, those aspects that we proudly share with everybody. Eventually they form an almost indestructible ego and our self-identity, self-judgement and self-pity. It creates a barrier from suffering and discomfort by isolating a very narrow view of what life is and our role in it.
Our so-called dark side, which includes the subconscious mind, the fragmented spirit and the soul, containing all the rejected aspects of ourselves and the world, is infinitely bigger. It goes into the back of our minds and our beings and whenever it tries to come out, it's always judged, misunderstood, not welcome and not accepted. That side we dare not show anyone and learn to deny it to ourselves. Just as well as we learn to suppress with medications and comfort foods the suffering that comes from our bodies in a form of pain and discomfort, we learn to amuse and distract ourselves with exciting information and activities in order to suppress the suffering that comes from our minds and souls. We have created entire industries of artificial food, beauty and health that do permanent damage to our health and the health of the planet because of the fear of germs and imperfections. We shy away from making real friends and starting trusting, open relationships. We hide behind chats, online personalities and small talks because of the fear of hurt feelings, judgement, criticism or contradicting opinions. Being afraid of even the slightest discomforts caused by the people or the nature, we put ourselves into a constant state of suffering and loneliness by distancing, isolation and withdrawal. In the meantime, the cell built by our own fear of suffering keeps shrinking... But, though isolated and hidden, the dark side is very much aware of us and our lives and it will keep showing up in more and more extreme forms of physical, emotional or psychological suffering until we learn to accept it.
Though looks gloomy, this process of denial and separation is easy to reverse and can be started in one day just by bringing our awareness to it. Accepting our fate and letting the life flow through us with all its suffering and joy without discrimination. We can learn to go through our problems gracefully without causing further suffering to others and ourselves. We can let go of the total control we try to impose on the life circumstances surrounding us and make friends with the unknown and unforeseeable. Avoiding daily routines and the routines of our conditioned thinking processes. Eating moderately, healthy and mindfully. Acting only when an action is called for. Reducing distractions and learning to enjoy peaceful empty moments. Spending more time in direct contact with the nature and the seasons. Learning to be always truthful, loving and kind to ourselves and others, which also means accepting our flaws but not giving up trying to fix them. Learning to become aware of the chain of events caused by our actions and inactions. Accepting ourselves as we are, though always doing our best and perfecting ourselves. Learning to put problems and needs of others before our own regardless of the personal gains and losses. Learning humility, and the beauty of simplicity of life. Being carefully aware of our immediate needs and superfluous desires. Practicing daily meditation and mindfulness. Learning to become aware of the circumstances and chains of events that brought a particular person or an event into our life. Learning to become aware of the source of our negative emotions and rather than attaching or directing those emotions at others, we need to learn the cause of those emotions within ourselves by looking at a situation in a detached impersonal way. We need to learn to listen to the intuitive knowledge of our bodies and become aware that even though our rational opinion might seem firm to us, it’s just a single perspective out of an infinite number of possible views of understanding.
This change must come from the inside, from our own awareness supported by our willpower and intent. Every individual, the human race, the Earth and the universe are inexplicably linked into a complex web, reflecting each other and containing each other. By making positive changes within ourselves we can heal the entire world. We can start by putting our intent on creating less suffering in the world by accepting and embracing our own occasional suffering that the life might bring and by not putting our personal needs and desires first.
There are numerous classic and modern teaching available on the subject of meditation, awareness of breathing, movement, thinking and emotions in Taoist, Buddhist, Yogic, Tantric, Shamanic and other ways of knowledge. All of them have their hidden gems and paths to liberation and are worth reading and following. And there is an infinite source of wisdom available directly from the nature which becomes easily available to us as soon as we become aware of it.
Here are some books that could be valuable in starting your research:
- The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz
- The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo
- Wabi-Sabi by Leonard Koren
- Journey of the Heart: The Path of Conscious Love by John Welwood
- The Essential I Ching: 64 Degrees of Nature's by Kari Hohne
- Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
- Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford
- A Comprehensive Guide to Daoist Nei Gong by Damo Mitchell
- Various books on Feng Shui
There is also the Shaolin Meditation app developed by MaximImages with a thorough, easy to understand guide, based on ancient Taoist and Buddhist teachings and practices, that may become your faithful companion on your spiritual journey.
MaximImages.com
May 31, 2021
May 31, 2021
No comments on this post yet.
Collections and Lightboxes
Our images are available for commercial licensing and as wall art prints. All content copyright MaximImages.com and its contributors. Unauthorized use and reproduction are not allowed.
