Ho’oponopono thoughts : The unity of body and spirit.
The question of the body, of the so-called ‘carnal’ desires, of the illusion of matter and of the opposition between the eternal and the temporal are at the forefront of the concerns of people engaged in a spiritual quest. In general, the dominant temptation in this area is to create a dividing line, or even an opposition between the world of the body and that of the spirit, between ‘truth’ and ‘illusion’. This is part of the “memories” stored in our collective subconscious.
Why become our own enemy?
And yet, very subtly, in a phrase that may go unnoticed, the sacred texts remind us that “Every house divided against itself shall perish”. With this in mind, we should question why we should impose on ourselves an inner “fracture” in order to achieve salvation.
The seventeenth-century mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal gave a very clear answer to this question when he wrote: “Man is neither angel nor beast, and the misfortune is that whoever wants to be an angel becomes a beast”.
Why should we become the enemy of ourselves? Free will is simply the ability to choose freely, not a declaration of inner war. Getting back to this state of freedom is the aim of the ho’oponopono way.
Awareness of Oneness
Even if the example of the sacrifice of saints and the mortifications of certain mystics seems to be able to inspire us, we must ask ourselves whether the rejection of the “material” world and the fight against an “enemy within” is the most effective way of finding who we really are.
The principle that can guide us to a simple answer is that of Oneness. Whatever the problem we face, returning to the ONE is always the best way to resolve everything, because it is mathematical, meaning that it leaves no room for the mind to wander.
Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division… all the operations of the mind express unity. To verify this, we need to ask the question: “Who is thinking about this division between mind and body?” It’s emanating from the one and same mind projecting an idea of duality and thus creating a conflict between two antagonistic principles.
This very simple observation shows how duality can be an obstacle on the quest of Truth. Most of the time, those who start this way along the path will only be able to reach their goal when they get to the extreme limits of their choice. Meeting the powerlessness to achieve the goal they have set themselves, they have no choice but to let go.Letting go should be done voluntarily or under the pressure of experience.
The “Middle Way
When Buddha embarked on his quest, he chose a path of extreme asceticism, paved with mortifications and sacrifices. At the limits of his ego’s capacity, his awareness of oneness of the inner and outer world enabled him to achieve what is known as his “enlightenment”.
This is what has been called the “Middle Way”… It is not to be interpreted as a call for moderation but as a “geometrical” observation. When we draw a circle, we delimit its interior, but we do not eliminate the space around it. Not only does this ‘outside’ continue to exist, but it also includes the drawn figure, even if we tear it up and throw it in the bin…
The “middle way”, then, is the ability to live this apparent contradiction. The boundaries of the body are the image of this circle. Breathing, energy and the functioning of the organism and the universe correspond to this infinite space surrounding both circle and sheet of paper on which it was drawn.
The ‘why’ and ‘how’ of this do not lead to a definite answer. The only thing a spiritual master can do is to point the finger at the path. Unfortunately, many disciples remain fascinated by the finger. The understanding of the relationship between body and mind can never become a knowledge, it can only be an “experience”. What we call “incarnation” is only the “embodiment” and the expression of the “meaning” of life.
Rose is a rose is a rose
Accepting this total unity enables us to understand how the creation of a conflict between “two” natures is at the root of all our troubles, whether physical or moral. Peace does not result from the victory of one side over the other, but from the recognition of thisirreducible Oneness that excludes the very possibility of conflict.
Not creating an illusory separation allows us to experience something we originally share with all the rest of nature. Minerals, plants, and animals know no duality, as the phrase “Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose” reminds it.
Apart from humans, no part in the universe needs to ask itself the question “who am I?”. “To be” is not finding a reason for our being somewhere outside; it is simply the expression what we feel as it unfolds.
We are able to control our breathing temporarily, but what about the the timing of the first and last breaths? Do we really choose it? Isn’t this a reason for a meekness we are supposed to share with all the creation? All creation lives in a zero state. The water of seas and lakes is the perfect symbol of this law, why do we imagine beng an exception?
However, we should not take this as an invitation to passivity and laziness. The body is a perfect tool we use as a vehicle of expression for consciousness.
The image of the Creator forming a body from silt and blowing in its nostrils a part of his breath should help us understand that incarnation is not an accident and even less a curse.
Prayer as an exchange.
If we ask the question “Why am I here?” Where is the answer ? In the earthly silt or in the creative source of the breath? I think that the answer is obvious but it calls for faith and realism.
Whether we choose to call the interlocutor in this exchange “God” or “Life”, we must be aware that there can be no final answer. There is only an evolving one. The dialogue is constantly updated until the end of our incarnation and perhaps afterwards…
This conversation is called PRAYER. It is a wordless exchange. Each gestures, each action and each thought is an answer…
This is really living the conscious expression of the “I”.
If we are able to read the lips of silence as it talks…
