SPIRITUAL EMBODIMENT AND THE SHADOW
The striving for spiritual attainment while excluding the personal dimension of life is a big error.
For some individuals, awakening happens spontaneously even when psychological contractions have not been faced. But awakening is not a guarantee that all your problems will go away! Mostly life just continues along the same groove. This is fine if there is a deep acceptance of that fact and you don’t expect any particular expression of your life to change.
But what happens all too commonly, is that there’s a denial that there are any remaining inner blockages to attend to.
When we disown the parts of ourselves that we believe to be unacceptable or unenlightened, they get thrown into a metaphorical shadow-bag. Inevitably, these energies play havoc with our internal and external environment. Mental and emotional breakdowns are a symptom of this, as are power struggles, inappropriate and even abusive sexual relationships, and hidden greed or corruption.
If there has not been an honest opening to all psychological contractions, then inner division will continue, even if you are awakened. This is especially so in the initial stage of awakening, when the ego easily takes ownership and obscures any suppressed energies. If this subtle identification with the awakened state remains hidden, the full integration of awakening into ordinary life, as it descends from mind to heart to body, is hindered.
Even Buddha had to sit under the Bodhi Tree, immovable, while Mara, the Lord of Darkness, tempted him with desires and tormented him with fears, before enlightenment became his living reality. And Jesus had to meet his demons in the desert before he could abide permanently in the light of true spiritual awakening.
The full embodiment of awakeness requires a healing of inner division … and this is where psychological work can be a great support. Awakening is not about self-improvement; it’s about the intelligent investigation of hidden inner dynamics that may otherwise remain inaccessible.
There is a need for the integration of the shadow, especially in the Western psyche. Many people hope that awakening will make all the pain disappear. But the wisdom and humility to allow support where it is needed, even after awakening, is a great support in itself. Anxiety, depression, traumas, and addictions can all be invited into the meeting place of psychology and nondual spirituality. Here, there is a gentle allowing of all energies while pointing to the unconditioned space of awareness throughout it all.
Whether support comes in the form of therapy, the continuation of meditative practice, the reflection of unconditioned awareness from a spiritual teacher, or an openhearted conversation with a friend, the willingness to meet all that continues to reveal itself with tenderness is what matters.
The invitation here is for you to do what needs to be done, without agenda.
The invitation is for you to allow support where necessary, to be honest with yourself, to be willing to be humble and tender … and to support awakeness as it seeks to become embodied through you, as you.
Amoda Maa