Entitlement vs. Enlightenment

Peeling layers of an onion parallels to peeling a layer of one’s consciousness. At the most outer layer is a mindset of entitlement, while at the most inner layer resides a mindset which everyone strives for…enlightenment. While both permeate the other areas, they meet somewhere in the middle. Peeling these layers, we eventually get to the core of our essence…pure Love.

At the very outer ring of an onion is a protective layer. The layer preserving the fruit until maturity and until consumption, similar to the ego of subconscious minds. It is the layer protecting us from injury during growth. Also the layer keeping us from peeling back any further layers while in search of eternal bliss. This is the most basic layer where our lowest of vibration controls our thoughts. On the most primitive level we instinctively want to snatch and grab anything we can, in fear  we will be stripped away of rights, material things, or even life.

When a person is ready…they cut into the first layer of the onion, cutting into real essence of consciousness. Peeling the first layer yields the realization, “Wow I did it, I got rid of some extra baggage!” Once this feeling of accomplishment settles, the individual realizes there is yet another layer instinctively asking, “Now What?” Peeling another layer, letting go of more harbored negative behavior, there resides yet another layer. Layer after layer…

The Pilgrim being more primitive than the Warrior, remains in entitlement thinking and feels that everyone in the world owes him something. When things don’t go well at work, he blames others, because it can’t be possible that he was wrong. The pilgrim also subscribing to thought of following one path of government or another, subscribing to ‘one’ way religion, living as nobody else exists.

The Warrior, Ani Po, no longer subscribes to this lifestyle of entitlement and resides in enlightenment. In this state Ani Po no longer subscribes to the rules of the flesh: picking sides of government, picking a certain religion, or thinking She is the only person alive and everyone else owes her everything. Nope, not Ani Po. She has found an all-inclusive resort that allows everyone to be free to be themselves and never excludes anyone. She no longer subscribes to monetary systems established by society, but merely plays the game of subscribing to ‘fitting in.’

At the most primitive level of our existence we learn an entitlement behavior. This behavior is compounded by our capitalistic system. Conditioned to believe in entitlement and is  the cause for our separations in this lifetime. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer, with an increasing gap between the two. Dr. David Hawkins discusses varying levels of consciousness and reports that it is possible to peel past these basic layers, attaining a higher state of consciousness.

As we peel the layers of the onion, permeation of entitlement penetrates through the protective walls of each layer until somewhere in the middle of the onion it loses the belief of entitlement and met by a force of enlightenment. Carl Jung often refers to this state of a person’s life: a shift, from the morning of their life to the afternoon of their life.

Pure enlightenment is not generally felt until all remaining layers are peeled and all that remains is the core essence of the onion…that of enlightenment. We can cut right to the core, getting a taste of eternal bliss but for it to remain in our daily lives we have to slowly peel each layer. With each layer removing trapped emotions, trapped behaviors, until we begin learning positive behaviors. Once the lessons begin we take a step into “The Active Side of Infinity (Carl Jung),” continuing our growth with each new day.

Stepping into the Canvas without a sense of entitlement, knowing that nobody in this world owes me anything. I Am free to be Me! Having a purpose of service to my fellow brothers and sisters, I no longer sit waiting for them to come to me. Instead I will apply a little elbow grease to my daily actions and will not expect anything for free. The only thing in this world that can possibly be free is me…even that has a price that many are not willing to pay.

The Fragrance of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is often discussed but rarely observed. It is singular or plural and the acceptance that we are not perfect. It may have different names: self-forgiveness or forgiving others. We can be asked to be forgiven or we can ask for forgiveness. Through forgiveness, we emit only Love.

Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”

~Mark Twain

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

~Mahatma Ghandi

The Bible says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13).” Recently confronting someone on this matter, they just made excuses not forgiving them, “Oh, I can’t. If you knew what they did to me you couldn’t either.” Asking this same person why they don’t try, they come up with another excuse “because nobody’s perfect and we all fall short.”  While this is true we are not perfect this does not mean we couldn’t try to be more Christ-like. It is my humble opinion that most feel there is no use in trying because there is no physical evidence they will be “saved,” but rely heavily on faith. “Trust by Faith, that God will take care of all your worries (Philippians 1:6).”

The Qur’an says, “Hold forgiveness, command what is right, and turn away from the ignorant Qur’an 7:199).” Just as the Bible promises God taking care of are worries, the Qur’an makes similar claims, “But if someone is steadfast and forgives, that is the most resolute course to follow (Qur’an 42:43).”

The Bhagavad-Gita says: “Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt and delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, control of the senses, control of the mind, happiness and distress, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, nonviolence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy — all these various qualities of living beings are created by Me alone (Verse 10 4-5).”

Many traditions preach forgiveness but remain non-practicing. Why? It is my humble opinion they are shrouded by their own shadow, project it onto others around them. Carl Jung often discussed “The Shadow is the easiest of the archetypes for most persons to experience. We tend to see it in “others.” That is to say, we project our dark side onto others and thus interpret them as “enemies” or as “exotic” presences that fascinate”.

While projecting outwards we find it difficult to forgive the other person as we see their behavior as inexcusable. The truth of the matter is we need only look within for the answer to this dilemma. Carl Jung refers to self-actualized people as being able to let things go, finding it easier to forgive the self and projecting forgiveness onto others.

None of us are perfect so why do we judge people so harshly? Is it up to us to judge them anyways? Or is judgment reserved for an end of days? Regardless of when judgment will come we can choose to forgive not just ourselves, but the people around us. Jesus said it best, “Forgive them Father for they no not what they do.”

Stepping into the Canvas with a taste for Love, projecting only that which I hunger for most. Filling my palette with a rainbow of colors preparing a scenery of Love, forgiving those who trespass against me. Today I will practice forgiveness and project only Love. If all I have is room for Love in my heart, then I will have room for nothing else.