Among the spiritual communities
in which I have the honor of serving
are two that might seem to be
based upon opposing worldviews.
The metaphysical communities of New Thought
espouse the concept that all of us are perfect.
The anonymous fellowships of Twelve Steps
espouse the concept that we can be broken.
I used to make my living treating PTSD,
and have become familiar with
the enduring impacts
of trauma upon human beings –
some of us tend to go sad and scared,
some of us tend to go tough and mean.
I have become convinced that
trauma is a global condition,
that it can be carried across
incarnations and generations
and
that it touches every life in this world.
So I have no trouble believing
the Anonymous paradigm
about human brokenness.
I now make my living consulting
with people about their emerging spirituality,
and I am blessed to witness everyday miracles
of learning, healing, growth and change.
I have also become utterly convinced
that every single human being
possesses astonishing capacities for
transformation, liberation,
redemption and awakening.
So I have no trouble believing
the Metaphysical paradigm
about human perfection.
“I am perfect, whole and complete…”
(Louise Hay)
“We admitted we were powerless…”
(Bill Wilson)
What if they are both right?
This is how the study of
Wisdom comes in handy –
there is an obscure teaching
that arose in the Himalayas
in the 4th and 5th Century
(Arya Asanga’s Uttaratantra).
This Wisdom Teaching suggests that
spiritual consciousness has a twofold aspect –
A perfection aspect –
because we are creatures
whose essence is infinite awareness,
and
an unfolding aspect –
because we are by nature
eternally developing and evolving.
It is the perfection aspect which gives us
our miraculous potentialities,
because the human spirit is grounded in,
and therefore one with, the Divine Spirit.
It is the unfoldment aspect which gives us
our persistent appearance of brokenness,
because our trajectory has, forever,
both a leading edge and a trailing edge.
The poignant grandeur of our species
lies hid in the differential between
our perfection and our brokenness –
we are simultaneously angel and animal.
This is our struggle and our glory.
For me the implication is
that we will do very well
to embrace and enjoy both
our perfection and our unfoldment.
I need to express appreciation
for two friends –
Speaker Rick Wilson
and
Reverend Bonnie Rose
who are serving
by bringing through
great treasures of
kindness and wisdom.