Who are we?

                                    Who are we?

 ‘I turned my face away only for a moment, but in this moment I lost sight of my Father and my God. Living as we are, on the fringes of both the spiritual and material worlds, we fulfil a divine purpose, as active agents of God’s Will, by finding ourselves at the forefront of this battle to expand the light of His presence. Unfortunately, due to our present state, we have for the most part forgotten our true origins as a being of light and are not fully aware of this drama which is being enacted and in which we are active players. In this way we are caught up in a situation which we do not fully understand, with spiritual, intellectual and emotional tools which are presently inadequate. Fortunately, it is also true that we are now finally evolving more fully after living in ignorance and darkness for many eons. It is this history of which we must now speak’.

J. Henderson

                                             

When we look in the mirror we see a body. But is this really ‘us’ in the true sense of the word? The most common scientific belief is that we are only physical organisms and that the human mind is only a ‘phenomenon’ brought about by the activity of the brain. It is true that that which we see and experience is our body, and it is very easy to accept that this is who we are. However, this presents a difficulty (which has still not been satisfactorily resolved), in understanding how the brain, which is a physical neurological structure, can produce an inner experience in the form of self-awareness, or a level of consciousness which even our most sophisticated computers are unable to mimic.

The issue becomes easier to explain if we accept the possibility of a higher level of consciousness from which our present self-awareness originates, a conscious state which is merely being stepped down or mediated by our neural structures. There are obviously also philosophical problems associated with this idea, such as how a non-material substance (consciousness) can be taken up and transmuted by the brain structures. However, it is clear from everyday life that our physical bodies and (non-material) minds do affect one another, and until our research and technology has evolved sufficiently to fully explain this interaction, the latter view still provides the most practical benefits for our thinking. 

For example, believing in a higher world of mind and consciousness opens the door for a new view of mankind as multi-dimensional beings with an almost unlimited potential, and would explain our almost intuitive belief that we all have a deeper spiritual side to ourselves, a higher or more authentic ‘self’ from which our present ethics, morality and higher mental faculties are derived, that which, in religious terms, could be described as the ‘soul’. However, if we are intimately connected to a more perfect self or soul, how do we explain the present state of mankind, the greed, the thirst for power and the violent, destructive force of human actions? When contemplating this question of the nature of my true being, I was reminded of the analogy of the caterpillar and the butterfly.

In Nature insects often go through a larval stage, engage in a struggle for survival and later emerge from their chrysalis having evolved into adults. In the larval stage, the insect is very primitive and destructive, devouring all in its path. Only later, as it matures and the outer casing falls away, does the ‘inner being’ emerge, which is more perfect.

   

I was able to relate this analogy to ourselves, in that, in our casing of humanity, we also struggle to learn and grow. Like the insect larva, the ego of the undeveloped human being can also be very destructive, selfishly using and devouring everything in its efforts to meet its most basic needs. However, in line with the caterpillar analogy, we will also one day evolve to become a new being, full of light and power.

The limitations of our physical bodies and our imperfect minds suggest that we are still in the early stages of this process, and busy with the struggle that is necessary when the butterfly leaves its chrysalis and strengthens its wings in order to fly. In our own lives, this struggle translates into many painful and life-changing events, but also includes times which bring joy, happiness and success.

Sometimes we feel lost in a world which, on the surface at least, appears to be spinning out of control. However, if we look more carefully and deeply, we may see that, on a broader level, the Universe is still unfolding as it should, even if we are not able to understand the entire process at present. Being active participants and integral players in this ongoing drama, it is extremely difficult for us to step ‘outside of the box’ and find the universal perspective that is needed.

So how can we explain this idea of a more authentic (or higher) self in the light of our present human limitations and propensity for error? Many ancient texts, including religious scriptures, suggest that we have ‘devolved’ (or fallen) from a superior race of Man, far more perfect than today, one which was ‘of one mind ‘with the Father and part of the original plan of divine self-expression. This is discussed in more modern terms by the author Soozi Holbeche in her book, Changes (1997), in which she explains that we need to understand that we are actually spiritual beings having a human experience and not vice versa. In other words, at the centre of our beings we are still that original perfect creation, but due to a separation from our true or authentic selves, we are now clothed in our present (human) form with an accompanying loss of consciousness and understanding. Our goal in life should therefore be one of regaining this lost connection, and returning to a state of oneness with our true selves.   

Extract from ‘Living on the Edge of Darkness’ by Jimmy Henderson. Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords in e-book format via his website

www.jimmyhendersonbooks.com