What about guilt?
Even if you've had little or no religious training, you've felt guilt. It's an interesting feeling. There's the pang of remorse when you realize you've done something 'wrong.' Often, that feeling is followed by a flash of anger or defensiveness as you try to explain to yourself (or others) why you did it. Then, dealing with the aftermath. If you were truly wrong, do you try to fix it somehow? Or if you feel you were only wrong in the view of others, do you try to justify it? Hide it? Spin it differently to manipulate others' perceptions? All of this turbulence gets lumped together under the label of 'guilt' and we've all felt it.
Baffling indeed, though, is another thing we've all felt: guilt over something with which you have no apparent connection. Do you feel guilty sometimes when your family members do or say something wrong? Do you catch yourself apologizing TO a person who's throwing a tantrum? Do you feel guilt (or embarrassment) by proxy for total strangers who do something dumb?
Tied to guilt is shame, a vague lingering sense of not just DOING something wrong, but even BEING something wrong. The Genesis story of Adam's guilt followed by shame is very telling, and a very accurate description of feelings we've all experienced.
In the dualistic format, one of our major human activities is the attempt to minimize guilt and shame. You may call it something different, but it's really the same thing. "I'm trying to contribute and be helpful." (Because you would feel guilty if you didn't!) "I'm trying to do the right thing." (Because you'd feel bad if you did the wrong thing.) "I want to be there for my friends who need me." (Because you'd feel guilty if you let them down, PLUS they may not want to be there for YOU when you need them later!) And don't even bring up body issues! We have so much guilt and shame centered around the body, that we could do an entire blog entry just about THAT!
Seen through the lens of non-dualism, the cause becomes clear. Human and earthly existence is a conscious (though insane) attempt to literally be something we were not meant to be. Guilt and shame are natural feelings that follow from not fulfilling our true function and role. Perfect, eternal creations of perfect oneness and unity come to this dream world to pretend that we are anything but. Here we can be imperfect, sinful, limited, evil, carnal, and mortal. Here, all that we do, all that we say and think, all that we believe we are, centers around a false concept: that God has been successfully attacked. No wonder we feel guilty!
Many religions' answer to this is to teach people how to reconcile their lives to the plan of God. For many, this path will be helpful. But many others are dismayed to find that even after years of being faithful in their religious practice, they still feel guilt and shame. The root cause of guilt is still being avoided. It's not what you believe you've DONE that is making you feel guilty; it's what you believe you ARE.
The good news? You are not what you believe you are!
Baffling indeed, though, is another thing we've all felt: guilt over something with which you have no apparent connection. Do you feel guilty sometimes when your family members do or say something wrong? Do you catch yourself apologizing TO a person who's throwing a tantrum? Do you feel guilt (or embarrassment) by proxy for total strangers who do something dumb?
Tied to guilt is shame, a vague lingering sense of not just DOING something wrong, but even BEING something wrong. The Genesis story of Adam's guilt followed by shame is very telling, and a very accurate description of feelings we've all experienced.
In the dualistic format, one of our major human activities is the attempt to minimize guilt and shame. You may call it something different, but it's really the same thing. "I'm trying to contribute and be helpful." (Because you would feel guilty if you didn't!) "I'm trying to do the right thing." (Because you'd feel bad if you did the wrong thing.) "I want to be there for my friends who need me." (Because you'd feel guilty if you let them down, PLUS they may not want to be there for YOU when you need them later!) And don't even bring up body issues! We have so much guilt and shame centered around the body, that we could do an entire blog entry just about THAT!
Seen through the lens of non-dualism, the cause becomes clear. Human and earthly existence is a conscious (though insane) attempt to literally be something we were not meant to be. Guilt and shame are natural feelings that follow from not fulfilling our true function and role. Perfect, eternal creations of perfect oneness and unity come to this dream world to pretend that we are anything but. Here we can be imperfect, sinful, limited, evil, carnal, and mortal. Here, all that we do, all that we say and think, all that we believe we are, centers around a false concept: that God has been successfully attacked. No wonder we feel guilty!
Many religions' answer to this is to teach people how to reconcile their lives to the plan of God. For many, this path will be helpful. But many others are dismayed to find that even after years of being faithful in their religious practice, they still feel guilt and shame. The root cause of guilt is still being avoided. It's not what you believe you've DONE that is making you feel guilty; it's what you believe you ARE.
The good news? You are not what you believe you are!
posted by AWB @ 2/11/2011 05:00:00 AM
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