Existence sounds like a word that should have a simple meaning. To my most basic understanding, to exist is to be alive or in a state of being. I’m always TRYING put myself in the flow of life. But isn’t that flow a form of resistance? To create balance in life, we resist in many ways. Healing from addiction means sobriety. To stand against injustice, we must speak. Rising up is resisting that which keeps us down, even if the culprit is gravity! (tee hee).
Resistance to existence is opposition. Even when I think I know something, there is a part of me that challenges my knowing. My state of being is never static; it is always changing. Do you know someone who never changes? Even if their behavior is consistent, change is occurring. Some may move at a faster pace than others. Many on the spiritual path seek to live as an authentic person. It’s an absurd notion, given that our true state of being is beyond comprehension. My existence can’t help but involve focus on my human condition. Do I feel stuck or am I isolating? Do I feel free to express my most authentic self? These are the existential questions that help me understand my existence.
What oppose understanding my existence are the bigger questions, such as Why am I here? Where do I come from? What is love? It’s all about perspective and the experiences that have shaped my life. Speaking of life-shaping experiences, let’s go for one now in the form of a whisper on existence:
To exist is to question your state of being in a search to find purpose and meaning. Language and structure have shaped the human self-consciousness system. Cultures have formed systems of order that suggest reason gives justification. Human experiences tend to further the growth of consciousness. Human nature is to develop narratives that favor self-interest.
Perspectives on justification lead to measuring value as it relates to existence. Growth in self-awareness builds the individual consciousness system. From the most elevated perspective comes the clearest vantage point. Value placed on existence is best realized from seeing the big picture. Human conditions can distort the reality as perceived from the mental viewpoint. The mind cannot fathom existence from the soul perspective.
The physical body is the bridge between the two. Humans possess an amazing sensory system that does not depend on thought. The feeling dimensions communicate information on existence to the mind and the spirit. Light moves within the body with clear messaging that transcends illusion. Humans can experience radical change in an instant awakened to a new understanding.
Each person is unique by nature. Existence is quantified by depth and by the grace of self-acceptance. If love is what you seek, then questions of existence illuminate your very essence. In your quest for answers, alignment with core values depends on the cultivation of virtues. To find meaning in life, understand the nature of your existence and bathe your soul with light. Silence the inner critic with actions that mirror a soulful existence.
Bring joy, ease suffering and create beauty, then dance like you mean it!
Blessings, Russell
“A terrible battle between two wolves. One wolf is bad – pride, jealousy, greed. The other wolf is good – kindness, hope, truth. The child asks, ‘Who will win?’ The grandfather answers simply, ‘The one you feed.”
Tristan Bancks
Is this card for you?
Two wolves is a message about your internal process. It’s an old Native American tale from the elders. Inside there are two wolves; a dark wolf and a light wolf. The one you feed is the one that will win. It’s about positive and negative energy that each person will be faced with handling.
At the IEL Institute for the Spiritual Arts, we teach about understanding energy. Healing from the past involves your spirit. Awareness of what goes on within is the first step toward reaching higher levels of conscious living.
