----------------
A number of years ago I experienced a powerful conversion
experience. It was by far the most incredible experience
of divine acceptance I have ever known. . . .
Slowly I have rejected much of my fundamentalistic views
but I still hunger for that divine acceptance. For that
experience of oneness....
Unfortunately, it does not last ... the initial euphoria
gives way to the reality of the world ...
All spiritual traditions recognize a stage in spiritual
development alternatively called 'realizing emptiness' or
'the dark night of the soul' ... once the euphoria of
initial insight wears off one is faced with the fact that
such 'highs' are balanced by 'lows' ...
=================================
The lows need not balance the highs. However, to maintain a
consistent high one must train oneself to "dig" pain,
frustration, terror, and confusion.
Art often provides a ante-chamber to "digging" the negative
emotions. A good stage-production of Prokofiev's ballet Romeo
and Juliet glorifies pain. It is pain from the beginning to
the end. You have to go ready to cry. And then you can enjoy
the pain. It can be exhilarating--which is why the story,
play, and music are so popular.
After learning to "dig" the pain of the work of art, the next
chamber might be learning to "dig" the PROJECTION of pain.
For example, some have taken to the stage to PLAY the part of
Romeo or Juliet. When you have learned to "dig" the
PROJECTION of pain, you are very near the source of all divine
acceptance, the experience of oneness.
The ultimate step is learning to "dig" the projection of pain
in your real, off-the-stage life. For this you need a highly
developed audience--because there is no divine acceptance, no
exhilaration, and no experience of oneness in projecting the
pain in your own life to an empty auditorium. You need an
appreciative audience. You may have to become an artist.
--
----------------
A number of years ago I experienced a powerful conversion
experience. It was by far the most incredible experience
of divine acceptance I have ever known. . . .
Slowly I have rejected much of my fundamentalistic views
but I still hunger for that divine acceptance. For that
experience of oneness....
Unfortunately, it does not last ... the initial euphoria
gives way to the reality of the world ...
All spiritual traditions recognize a stage in spiritual
development alternatively called 'realizing emptiness' or
'the dark night of the soul' ... once the euphoria of
initial insight wears off one is faced with the fact that
such 'highs' are balanced by 'lows' ...
=================================
The lows need not balance the highs. However, to maintain a
consistent high one must train oneself to "dig" pain,
frustration, terror, and confusion.
Art often provides a ante-chamber to "digging" the negative
emotions. A good stage-production of Prokofiev's ballet Romeo
and Juliet glorifies pain. It is pain from the beginning to
the end. You have to go ready to cry. And then you can enjoy
the pain. It can be exhilarating--which is why the story,
play, and music are so popular.
After learning to "dig" the pain of the work of art, the next
chamber might be learning to "dig" the PROJECTION of pain.
For example, some have taken to the stage to PLAY the part of
Romeo or Juliet. When you have learned to "dig" the
PROJECTION of pain, you are very near the source of all divine
acceptance, the experience of oneness.
The ultimate step is learning to "dig" the projection of pain
in your real, off-the-stage life. For this you need a highly
developed audience--because there is no divine acceptance, no
exhilaration, and no experience of oneness in projecting the
pain in your own life to an empty auditorium. You need an
appreciative audience. You may have to become an artist.
--
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