Monday, March 11, 2013

Our big mistake about the nature of Ego


I do not think that is superstitious or naïve to believe that evil works in the world or even that there is an entity (Satan, Ego, etc.) promoting evil and darkness.  I do think most attempts to react to evil are naïve, because they tend to give evil more power. 

Reaction is the fuel of darkness.  Once darkness has your attention and energy directed in response to it, there will not be room for light.  Our beginning Kabbalah teaching encourages us to “crush the ego.”  I think this is an unfortunate phrase, reinforcing a bad habit. 

Better to crush the protective shell around the ego, and then expose the ego for what it is, call it out to show itself and account for itself in the presence of light, truth, and awareness.  Darkness cannot persist in its present form in the presence of light. 

In humans, dark and light mix.  That is both our special genius and our burden.  We are advantaged when we do not simply pit light against darkness but develop an experiential awareness of the relationship between the two. 

Ask darkness in the spiritually confident presence of light, “What are you trying to do?”  “What do you serve?”  “Does your method have a chance of succeeding?”  

It is not the deepest nature of ego or darkness to oppose light, but quite the opposite.  Both are trying to emulate light, but in a self-centered way.  They want to become the origin of light unto themselves. 

In some very powerful way, ego admits the superiority of light or else why would it seek to emulate, usurp, and replace light’s function in our lives?  It’s trying to “do light one better.”  Ego says, “You are connected.  That’s easy.  I can create light in a disconnected state all by myself.”  

To this we can respond, “Oh really.  Do show me how!”  And guess what?  Each time ego fails!  Trying to buy love and happiness.  Fail.  Trying to coerce others into loving and respecting you.  Fail.  Trying to reach enlightenment by attaching to esoteric teachings? Fail.  Every time. 

The ego responds, “But wait, there is a way.  I just haven’t found it yet.  Bear with me, (and shroud yourself in fantasy and hope so you don’t get disillusioned and quit on me).”  But the ego’s methods are all just different forms of doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome. 

Ego cannot and does not deliver.  Like a brash child trying to prove something to its parents, allow it to attempt its best shot.  Thank ego for its efforts.  Do not admonish it.  Hold it, honor its struggle, and invite it on a journey into the realm of connection.  If it doesn’t want to come, simply say, “That’s okay, I’ll come back for you later if you change your mind.” 

Then “Love thy neighbor as thyself… Go and learn.”  Connect to the light and share the blessings with others, including your own ego.  Be always generous, always gracious, never stern.  Have confidence and abundance and faith in the power of light to transform whatever it touches, even the deepest darkness. 

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Let the Spirit

"Let the Spirit"

Of what your body is deprived,
Let the Spirit fill up
When your soul is hungry,
Let faith contain the cup

Let your appetite be for God,
enlightened emptiness
Your ear for Elysian symphony,
serene song in stillness

Let the heavens well up
and resonate in need
Let trial break you open,
implant a sacred seed

You are ever bursting forth,
 the more and Evermore
A precious fruit from the Source
A growing child of the Lord

 -- Zeus Yiamouyiannis, copyright 2012

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Belief and Faith

"Belief and Faith"

In their most central natures
Belief and faith are twin opposites

Belief requires an object
Faith requires non-object

Belief is something held
Faith is about letting go

Belief provides answers
Faith offers questions

Belief aims at certainty
Faith leads to mystery

Belief supports integrity
Faith evokes majesty

Belief seeks redemption
Faith enjoins grace

Belief is a noun
Faith is a verb

Belief is a memento of spirit
Faith is spirit moving in the world

--- Zeus Yiamouyiannis, copyright May 2011

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

An Old Poem Feels New Again

From a few years ago, here is a poem that has found new meaning in my life as I explore new horizons. It is about my relationship with Nature. Nature embodies a vulnerability that radiates a graceful and wise strength. This is precisely the strength I feel is appropriate and essential to draw upon at this point in my life.

She (10/7/97)
by Zeus Yiamouyiannis

From the shores
of a girl
leaps the life
of a woman

Like sunlight
Dancing within the waters
She feels
the deepest greens
and blackest black

She touches the
moss velvet
wet welcoming yet
ne'er a king's chair
will receive

It grows
only on stones
far older
more deserving
than thrones

The fallen
yellow-brown
willow leaf
moves in time
with the current
Just that much
different
to have its own life

It wefts in
and out
mottled blessed
by the concentrated rays
of a young
autumn's sun

The squawkward
love calls
of gulls
entune my ears

I feel her motion
in this body aqua
perched on an old
fallen tree

Semi-live
stretched into the lake
perpetually half-dived
It moves to the rhythms
of the lapping tide

Even as the thrumming
of earth
ascending through
its base
vibrates into view
the strong-gentle
sensual
outlines of her face

The bark falls away
and reveals this
cool, soft, and
slippery
as a kiss

I dig my toes in deep
and close my eyes
holding breath
to hear the skies

Her touch comes
probing and vivid
awakening
a sense long
forgot
of fusion sought
and life lived

Wisdom whispers
from the tresses
of her hair
as brilliant leaves
borne upon air

My soul listens
this riplet
glistens

An eternal pause
suspends
all
for a moment
grace descends

I am christened

Monday, March 15, 2010

Affirmation

To be Who you are
To free Who you are

To extend and grow Who you are
To be more than you are

And to be not other than You are

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

The Spiritual Art of Silence and Speaking

Silence and Speaking
by Zeus Yiamouyiannis (copyright 2010)

There is silence born of timidity and fear,
and there is silence born or wisdom and wonder

There are words spoken in self-importance and arrogance,
and there are words spoken from the holy and driven by justice

God moves as much through our sacred actions and words as through sacred silence
People can misuse silence as well as words
People can honor God and exhibit spiritual courage both in words and silence.

Silence calls

Words engage

Silence and words are both necessary, and one must be clear about the art of their domains.
One must not romanticize all silence, for some silence is merely cowardice
One must not deny the rightful power of words, simply because ideologues overuse them

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

"Many from One"

“Many from One”
by Zeus Yiamouyiannis (copyright 2009)

Diversity celebrates oneness
In the divine perspective

We are the myriad reflections
of a universal spirit
poured out

A beautiful
and continual
act of creation.

We are the messengers
of a cosmic force
inflected uniquely through our beings

We are the receivers and givers
Conducted by grace,
Elicited in rapturous symphony

We are the tunings
Of a fine metal bowl
That, when struck, rings long past our lives


Blessings,
Zeus Yiamouyiannis (http://anopenman.blogspot.com/, copyright 2009)