Conscious Innocence and Opening to Vulnerability

img-conscious-innocence

by Gangaji

I have often heard from people that after a powerful glimpse of the unimaginable truth of their being, the demons of the past seem to arise more strongly than ever. Rather than the openness and innocence of “What is this now?” the response is often something like, “Why is this bothering me again? Why don’t these things just disappear? What is wrong with me that I don’t experience permanent liberation?”

On one hand there is misery and suffering, and on the other hand innocence and openness. These “hands” are the polarities of mind. True innocence is the innate capacity of the heart to openly meet whatever is appearing when it appears, and to see it truthfully for what it is. I guarantee that most everything is not what it appears to be on the surface, but in order to discover a deeper truth, what appears must be met fully in innocence. Not the learned innocence of “but I’m innocent,” but the natural openness of innocently not knowing.

Innocence is openness

True innocence is the capacity to directly experience what is here right now without any demands that it look, act, or feel differently.

Innocence is openness, the willingness to see and to trust, even if what appears seems absolutely untrustworthy. True innocence is not naiveté, nor is it delusion. However, it involves vulnerability. The willingness to be innocent is the willingness to be hurt. Vulnerability takes more courage than being cynical, strong, or powerful. It takes courage to be open, innocent, and willing to be hurt.

Look into your life and see what stands in the way of fully and permanently realizing the truth of your being. See if perhaps you find the mindset of having it your way, under your terms, not wanting to feel this, or to see that, or to know the deeper truth. Then see if it is actually possible to feel it, to see it, to know it.

What hurt am I unwilling to experience?

As a gateway to the experience of conscious suffering, and as a means of opening to vulnerability and true innocence, you can ask yourself this question: What hurt am I unwilling to experience? Do not look for the “right” spiritual answer, or lie to yourself, but simply open to what this kind of inquiry can reveal. The intention is not to fix or change the hurt, but just to see what is true.

Can you sense the energy it takes to avoid feelings of hurt? Review the ways you try to avoid hurt, what habits of mind you use to avoid it. Be willing to see the repeating patterns and to experience the price you pay for the avoidance, all of the time and energy that you invest in avoidance. Just in this moment, what if you simply open to it all, avoiding nothing, welcoming all?

Love is the teacher

There is a treasure that is the truth of your being and it is saying, “Come in.” Are you willing to trust love rather than your mind’s protection from hurt? If you are willing, then you will taste the possibility of living a life of love and conscious innocence. This is possible for everyone.

Love is the teacher. If you are willing to surrender to love rather than trying to control it, love teaches you who you are.

To learn more about Gangaji, including her schedule upcoming webcasts and events, go to www.gangaji.org

Reposted from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/59557bf0e4b0326c0a8d0f09

Total
0
Shares

The Dawn of Native Americans Solar Farms

Article by

For decades, Native Americans were reliant on the US government to bring them power

#64 AI and the Global Brain

Podcast with

Trying to wrap our minds, hearts, and bodies around the rapidly evolving field of AI

The Moon Cannot Be Stolen

Article by

Sometimes a story can teach much more than entire philosophical treatises

It All Goes Down in Your Mind

Video with

Gabor weaving Johnny Cash and the Buddhist 'Dhammapada'

How Brave You Are

Poem by

How brave you are for slowing down

Across Lines: Grief

Video with ,

How do we catch people where they fall? How do we respond to this crisis in a way that doesn’t reinforce its architecture? What kind of politics is being summoned at this time?

#63 Ancestral Constellations

Podcast with

Efu discussed her methods integrating ancestral wisdom from her Snail Clan in Tanzania, somatic therapy, and family constellations

Mysteries, Yes

Poem by

Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous to be understood

Support SAND with a Donation

Science and Nonduality is a nonprofit organization. Your donation goes directly towards the development of our vision and the growth of our community.
Thank you for your support!