Running Away!!

That is it! I’ve had it! I’m running away. I am running away and living in a secret community of spiritual people! Why? Because I am sick and tired of dealing with all the ego’s crap! Yeah… there! Finally, I’ve said it. I said exactly what I’m sure all of us, as spiritually-based practitioners, have been wishing behind closed-doors and sickly sweet smiles of acceptance. Come on! I know you feel the same way. Haven’t you just had it up to your hair follicles in these non-spiritual people who continually clog up your peace of mind? It is time for all these men and women to stop interfering with our willingness! Well, now it is either them or me, and being that they are definitely my projection – it is obvious that they need to go!

Let us be honest here! Wouldn’t the world be so much better off if everyone was spiritual like us?!? Look at the facts. Go ahead. Think of that one person whom you have forgiven exhaustively and repeatedly. Let me guess, he or she just does not change? These zombie people do not know how to forgive and are constantly living in their egos! Time after time, men and women alike are persistently justifying attack and defense, and then they teach these twisted ways of thinking to their poor innocent children. Take one minute to watch your evening news broadcast and you will see exactly what I mean. Justified anger, violence, judgment and all its woeful companions seep from the pores of our wounded society. Would it not just be in everyone’s own best interests to run away? It is not our job to save them. It wouldn’t matter in the long run since, well, this is just a dream, right?! Nonetheless, these so-called “normals” do not have a clue as to what is valuable and valueless. They would not miss us. Not even one person appreciates our voluntary self-work now. In fact, they would probably be glad that our peaceful, syrupy liberal, hippie, and united selves have hit the trail.

Can you visualize our oasis? In this spiritual community, we will all reside in the most comforting surroundings of God’s country, supported only by like-minded people. It will have to be an earth-friendly residence located in one of those “higher vortex” or granola crunchy locations. Perhaps one the places where everyone wears flowing cotton clothes, crystal ohm necklaces, and Tevas. We may refer to the roads as “higher-ways” because no one would drive aggressively and every driver would yield to pedestrians in the intersection. Oh, and do not even think about competing for that parking spot, there will always be enough close locations for all. If someone is walking down the street, surely he or she will be singing, generously eye-gazing at all passersby, or breaking out in trance dance by the whims of Spirit’s promptings.

A typical day in the spiritual house of our choice will have us awakened by visionary music, followed by group meditation, prayer, and yoga. As we dedicate the day to Holy Spirit, we will greet each other with a simple hallowed “Namaste,” recite our daily Course lesson and seek only to share love and light with one another. Then, if we need to work, we will all support one another in the labors of our heart. Daily meals will be prepared as a “spiritual family” with only the most wholesome, free-range, organic, toxin-free, anti-oxidant rich ingredients… even the pancakes. Here there will be no real reason for forgiveness, because there will be nothing to forgive. However, if by some slight chance ego’s influence would arise, every member of the house will instantly sink into willingness and clear-vision, recognizing any issue as a “seeming issue” generated from the temporary insanity of his or her projective minds. Certainly, in this sanctuary of harmony, we will never argue about the bills, relationships or who didn’t replace the toilet paper roll. Every house resident will equally contribute to chores without nagging or complaints; but, maybe a spiritual house does not require dusting?

Nonetheless, we will all lovingly do as Holy Spirit directs, which includes sharing the television remote – oh wait, spiritual people don’t watch television. Instead, we could sit up all night faithfully listening to one another discuss inter-dimensional travel, dream-interpretation, metaphysics, our most recent channeled messages, and quantum physics without people rolling their eyes. Overall, in this residence of purity, spiritual men and women will simply share in the pure art of unconditional living. You might wonder how much healing we will accomplish by not interacting with the rest of the world, but that is nonessential. What is the world anyway except a temporary state of mind? It will be much better to separately send out healing rays of light and love to the world while still protected by our four walls. Ahhh.. yes, that is the spiritual community I wish to reside within. Is this not the ultimate fantasy for all spiritual seekers? Of course, this community is exactly what the world needs – more spiritual people who finally “get it” and do it all right. Uh.. Right??!

It seems that as we choose to engage ourselves in the path of healing and undo the ego, the temptation to run off from the world strengthens. Well, maybe I can only speak for myself. Personally, the more I seek to engage in healing the mind, the more the world seems to obstruct my way to peace. There are still many days where I wonder when other people will finally “get their act together” and be the peace I am so desperately trying to accept. Thoughts like: “If it wasn’t for ----, I’d be at peace” or “I could succeed at this miracle stuff if they wouldn’t do THAT!” continually filter through my mind. I still find solace in my fantasies to escape, longing for a more peaceful community of people who will support my spiritual desires. Surely, in “spiritual recluse” I will not feel so alone and struggling. Certainly, there could be no ego there! The solution seems obvious: run off to any retreat location or better yet, start my own, so that I can finally live in peace, get this spiritual work done, and get out of here!

However, how can more separation or escape set me free? Does freedom contain itself behind protective barriers, even ones erected from responsibly farmed timber? Only the ego sees separation as freedom and this freedom is never truly free. Looking at Jeshua’s example, have you ever wondered why he chose not to remain in the desert for any more than forty days? Wasn’t life easier for him out there? There were no Pharisees in the desert and no one wished to nail him to any lumber. Granted, there was a lot less food, and I am unsure about the gourmet taste of manna, but nonetheless, it most likely was a tolerable compromise and more peaceful than returning to the ego-buzzing cities of Jerusalem and Nazareth. So why didn’t he just stay and be safe? Take a moment to look at these stories and there is one amazing discovery: NOT A SINGLE MIRACLE takes place in the desert. Yes, in the desert there was no one to heal, no one to raise from the dead, no one to transform with wisdom and forgiveness except Jeshua’s own mind seeking peace. Granted, the ego was in the desert too and definitely presented its temptations. However, once Jeshua surpassed his own ego persuasions, why didn’t he choose to hang out in renewed bliss?

“The escape from darkness involves two stages: First, the recognition that darkness cannot hide. This step usually entails fear. Second, the recognition that there is nothing you want to hide even if you could. This step brings escape from fear. When you have become willing to hide nothing, you will not only be willing to enter into communion but will also understand peace and joy.” (A Course in Miracles, Text; pg. 11)

It is easy to be a guru on a mountaintop. What significant obstacles reside on this mountaintop to disturb your peace? Fear and the desire to escape are normal temptations in the process of healing one’s mind. Both of these are normal human emotions that will dance repeatedly before the screen of the perceiver as he or she engages in the process of undoing the ego. However, running away from these experiences is never the key to inner peace. In fact, running away does not solve anything, and can never bring the peace that which our healing minds desire. Therefore, joining a commune or setting up a spiritual community can never genuinely bring you peace. Why? Because darkness cannot hide, and burying it with tofu does not work either.

The beloved Ram Dass once said: “If you think you are enlightened, go spend a week with your family.” Wouldn’t this action cause more distress? Yes! That is the point! It is only through the cast of characters chosen to play the role of “button-pushers” that we genuinely discover the miracle. It is only here, amidst our own recollections of fear and judgment, that we come to realize how we are not the games we play. In fact, I’m quite sure that Jeshua is referring to some of the grittiest ego irking individuals when he says that we will be surrounded by “mighty companions.” Who but our “mighty companions” could encourage us to remember the Truth we Are beyond our dreams of exile? If it were not for meeting these conduits of teaching, could we still thoughtfully practice extending the miracle of forgiveness? Even though forgiveness is not about actions on the outside, often the actions on the outside prompt us to remember all the glory that thrives magnificently within us all. Is it not through friction that the diamond gains its shine? Therefore, it is in remembering ourselves, our True Selves, as we stand face to face with every image of separation and belief in limitation that we do indeed remember Who We Are.

Now is the time to remember that you are already one with everything. This includes the individuals whom you wish lived on the other side of the world but seem to keep finding his or her way to your living room. Believe it or not, it is only through welcoming every man, woman, child, boss, spouse, taxi-driver or stranger to your unified living room that you will remember genuine peace of mind. Therefore, we must pour the light into every darkened corner of the room, accepting that what we find is only another beacon to genuine freedom. Truly, the answers you seek are not in the mountains, but in your heart.

“Miracles are teaching devices for demonstrating it is as blessed to give as to receive. They simultaneously increase the strength of the giver and supply strength to the receiver.” (A Course in Miracles, Text, pg. 4)

Therefore, let us choose now to join gratefully in the experiential frustration of every day existence. The next time that you find yourself wishing to run away, instead, ask if you can run towards a light within. Seek to flee towards this light starting at your current space and with your presented company. Notice that if you are feeling inner tension, this is the first key to reaffirming a lesson of love. And so, what peace can you strengthen in your self by offering its realization to your brother? These actions have us clearly see how we are not alone. Instead, as we accept the alliance of our mighty companions, we see how each mask he or she wears displays a gift. Beyond each one of the masks of stress, anger, and judgment, we reveal our strength rather than our distance. This blessing occurs not from fortifying walls, but from fortifying willingness. Truly, what willingness would we need if all we had to do were escape to a fantasyland of hopes or dreams, far-far away from the day-to-day grind? In conclusion, now as we come out of the desert, hand in hand with Jeshua, let us look forward with grateful anticipation towards all the miracles that await us in this moment of forgiveness. Now we choose to welcome the ego warmly with loving arms and listening to all it says with joyous songs of acceptance. “Yes, you are loved for all I see in you! This is the love I am.” Walk with me.

Pamela Silberman is the author of Simply Being: One Year with Spirit an experiential guide to living in perfect joy. Now available for pre-sale through many online booksellers, Simply Being is due for release by O-Books in October 2008.