What about healing?
Most of the world thinks of healing as the removal of sickness and/or symptoms. In order for us to believe in that definition, we have to first decide and agree upon the definition of health. And our definition of health is tied in with the body identity: as long as the body does what we (think we) want it to do, we label it 'healthy.' When the body gives us discomfort, pain, suffering, or disability, we label it 'disease.' Just like everything else here, our views of health and healing depend on each other; they are contrasts, two sides of the same coin. Put simply, we see sickness as 'not healthy' and we view health as 'not sick!' Pretty crazy, huh? But that's dualism for you. We accept this perspective because (a) most people agree with it, and (b) because we don't see any alternative.
From a non-dualistic perspective, however, a different perspective emerges. There is nothing but Mind. This Mind can believe in the temporal or know the Eternal. When we are believing in the temporal we see and experience this world: the world of opposites. Here we seem to experience limitations, fear, pain, sin, death, suffering, and lack. Each of these experiences is defined by an opposite and is based on a core belief in separation. But when our Mind (outside time and space!) is awake to the Real, it knows perfect Oneness, Changelessness, Eternity, and Innocence.
When the dream of human existence is over, we will see that even our belief in time was part of the illusion. But while we believe we are here, usually progress is seen in steps, increments, intervals. So from the perspective of non-dualism, each step we take that brings us closer to the final awakening is a step of healing. Healing is seen as relinquishing the contrasts of this world. Why does it take so long for most of us? Because we are eager to get rid of the 'bad' stuff but reluctant to surrender the 'good' stuff. We want to keep wealth, but get rid of poverty. We want to keep eating, but get rid of hunger. We want to keep life, and get rid of death. Because we insist on believing on one side of the dualistic coin, we must also accept the other side. Ultimately, we will never be free of the bad stuff until we willingly give up the good stuff, too.
This takes time, for most of us. As we make progress, though, this progress is reflected in the dream. The limitations and problems of the world affect our peace of mind less and less. When the Mind is fully awake and healed, the dream of the world has no more power. "All power in Heaven and earth is given to you." This goal was demonstrated (for the Western Hemisphere) by Jesus, who was able to demonstrate that even the cruelest form of torture and execution known at the time could do nothing to a Mind that is fully awake.
From a non-dualistic perspective, however, a different perspective emerges. There is nothing but Mind. This Mind can believe in the temporal or know the Eternal. When we are believing in the temporal we see and experience this world: the world of opposites. Here we seem to experience limitations, fear, pain, sin, death, suffering, and lack. Each of these experiences is defined by an opposite and is based on a core belief in separation. But when our Mind (outside time and space!) is awake to the Real, it knows perfect Oneness, Changelessness, Eternity, and Innocence.
When the dream of human existence is over, we will see that even our belief in time was part of the illusion. But while we believe we are here, usually progress is seen in steps, increments, intervals. So from the perspective of non-dualism, each step we take that brings us closer to the final awakening is a step of healing. Healing is seen as relinquishing the contrasts of this world. Why does it take so long for most of us? Because we are eager to get rid of the 'bad' stuff but reluctant to surrender the 'good' stuff. We want to keep wealth, but get rid of poverty. We want to keep eating, but get rid of hunger. We want to keep life, and get rid of death. Because we insist on believing on one side of the dualistic coin, we must also accept the other side. Ultimately, we will never be free of the bad stuff until we willingly give up the good stuff, too.
This takes time, for most of us. As we make progress, though, this progress is reflected in the dream. The limitations and problems of the world affect our peace of mind less and less. When the Mind is fully awake and healed, the dream of the world has no more power. "All power in Heaven and earth is given to you." This goal was demonstrated (for the Western Hemisphere) by Jesus, who was able to demonstrate that even the cruelest form of torture and execution known at the time could do nothing to a Mind that is fully awake.
posted by AWB @ 1/21/2011 04:41:00 AM
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