Spiritual Questions: How Do You Awaken? How Can I Shed My Personality?
by Richard Harvey on 09/02/17
How do you awaken? How
can I shed my personality?
Personality has no
need to be shed. It is simply an appearance, clothing for your soul. The
personality each of us presents is to be honored. Like the color and form of
the flower, it offers a doorway, a pathway into the Mystery.
When you look at a
flower, it is beautiful; the experience is pleasing, fulfilling, even thrilling
and spiritual. But if you persist in looking at it you will begin to experience
a sublime essence, the source of life itself, because a flower exhibits that
for you. The appearance, color and form attract you initially, then if you
remain in relationship to it, a greater truth is revealed.
This is how it is with
the personality of a human being. At first you may be enticed and attracted by
the appearance. Then, as you persist, you witness a deeper, a greater quality
in that person to whom you are attracted. Deeper than their personality is
their essence, their sublime core and continuity with all things. The
pulsating, vibrant, essential presence of life is encapsulated in each and every
human being. You and I carry within us the Universe itself; all things live
within. So it is not a matter of shedding or getting rid of anything; it is
more a matter of understanding and seeing everything in its right place.
Honoring, respecting
and revering all aspects of our natural humanity; accepting all things, both
dark and light, that stem from our inner nature; celebrating the gift of life,
the riches of human existence; living life as a ritual of fulfillment both in
suffering and joy and loving all things and becoming a conduit for the
divine... these are the activities to aspire to, the goal of all those who wish
to thrive in life, centered in their true nature.
The true nature of a
human being is not devoid of personality. When we stand in our true nature
personality is firmly in the right place. It is rather like a coat that we take
off when we don't need it.
When the personality
is understood and we relate to it clearly without attachment the conditions are
in place for the fulfilment of the higher aspects of the individual. These are
compassion, genuine selfless caring, resonating with life.
Only when we have
fulfilled our individuality in all its vital aspects can there be any meaning
to the act of spiritual surrender or renunciation. Sacrifice of self in the
moment is the higher reality of spiritual life, not feeling better, living
longer or being happy. Happiness itself is a by-product of spirituality, a kind
of fringe benefit. It will occur naturally and spontaneously, as you persist in
a committed spiritual practice.
BLOG entry #111
