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
