I've come that you might have life and overflowing.
*Gospel of John 10.10
All teachers of sacred Wisdom appear to help us discover this life that is more than bodily existence, more than the daily routine and sequence of events many identify with life. Life is more, and life is prior. Life is ever-present as the background and inspiration of existence. Not to enjoy this life, these teachers say we are dead while walking about, talking, eating, sexing, and sleeping. A church or other spiritual meeting can be full of dead people - they just do not know it. Knowing it is awakening from the dead, a resurrection to Life.
How can you see into my eyes like open doors? Leading you down into my core Where I've become so numb Without a soul My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold Until you find it there and lead it back home
Wake me up inside (save me) Call my name and save me from the dark (wake me up) Bid my blood to run (I can't wake up) Before I come undone (save me) Save me from the nothing I've become
Now that I know what I'm without You can't just leave me Breathe into me and make me real Bring (bring) me (me) to life
Wake me up inside (save me) Call my name and save me from the dark (wake me up) Bid my blood to run (I can't wake up) Before I come undone (save me) Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life I've been living a lie There's nothing inside Bring me to life
Frozen (frozen) inside without your touch Without your love, darling Only (only) you are the life among the dead
All of this time, I can't believe I couldn't see Kept in the dark, but you were there in front of me I've been sleeping a thousand years, it seems Got to open my eyes to everything Without a thought, without a voice, without a soul Don't let me die here (There must be something more) bring me to life
Wake me up inside (save me) Call my name and save me from the dark (wake me up) Bid my blood to run (I can't wake up) Before I come undone (save me) Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life I've been living a lie There's nothing inside Bring me to life
The following story is from Anthony DeMello, The Way to Love. He had begun the meditation with a scripture from the Gospel of Matthew - "For what would someone profit to gain the whole world and forfeit his or her life" (Gospel of Mark 8.36).
A group of tourists sits in a bus that is passing through gorgeously beautiful country; lakes and mountains and green fields and rivers. But the shades of the bus are pulled down. They do not have the slightest idea of what lies beyond the windows of the bus. And all the time of their journey is spent in squabbling over who will have the seat of honor in the bus, who will be applauded, who will be well considered. And so they remain till the journey's end.
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Now, let us explore the connotations of this story. First, the group of tourists signifies deluded humans. Spiritually, we see attachment to stuff and ignorance of Truth all about. This cluelessness and the consequent disordered thoughts and affections block the view of Heaven - not later, Heaven now. We can even be deluded, thus a shadow of ignorance cast upon us, by emotional clinging to what we call good, religious, or spiritual.
Fussing among themselves signifies the egocentricity among the tourists. The self turned in on itself cannot rightly love or receive sacred insight. The self centered upon itself is hell. This is like holding a mirror of oneself right before the eyes, only seeing oneself. So, how can it see Love, Truth, and Beauty? The sight of self blocks out the enjoyment of the Light.
The beauty is right outside the window the whole trip. It does not go anywhere. If even one tourist stopped arguing and opened a shade, she would see. The power of greed for recognition and being well-thought-of is a weight upon the soul, dragging it down into the slush of foolery. How many die having forgotten or never been aware of the Beauty present to be seen, enjoyed, celebrated, and worshipped? And, ironically, that Beauty is as intimate as one's breath or one's skin.
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We find the urgency to turn from petty distractions or clamoring for things and relationships that do not lead us more fully, deeply into Life. There is nothing wrong with dissociating even from persons not attuned to the Way, even if you still have to be around them sometimes.
Furthermore, we may desire to let go of many good things to live more fully with Life and grow in compassion and insight. I once knew a dear man, a husband, who left a good job, for that was what he sensed Spirit was telling him to do. Thankfully, his spouse, also a person of devout religious faith, blessed his choice.
Unlike persons in the parable above, we do not want to miss the Heaven all around us. The Light shines everywhere, even in the places many would not think to look for it. This Light is Life.
Psalm 16.11 -
You make known to me the path of Life, in your presence [lit., with your faces] is fullness of joy, living near you brings enjoyments on and on.
"Presence" is lit. "with your faces"; in the Hebrew Bible pa-need is always plural whether used of God or humans.
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*(C) Brian K. Wilcox, 2023. Permission given to use photographs and writings with credit given to copyright owner.
*Brian's book is An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love. The book is a collection of poems Brian wrote based on wisdom traditions, predominantly Christian, Buddhist, and Sufi, with extensive notes on the poetry's teachings and imagery.
