Beyond Inner and Outer,
Embracing the Adventure of Existence,
By Max Ryan.
In this pursuit of spiritual growth,
We often hear the age-old advice to look within.
The quest for inner peace,
Salvation,
And self-awareness become a kind of noble endeavor,
And rightly so,
Because it is attempting to address the biggest questions of life.
Finding solace by contemplating these questions can be transformative,
Empowering,
And liberating.
We're encouraged to stop seeking fulfillment from external sources,
Relationships,
Wealth,
Appearance,
And worldly success.
But what if there's more to this story?
Could it be that we have fallen into the trap of dismissing the external world as irrelevant to our journey or self-discovery?
Are we unknowingly perpetuating a narrative that creates an unnecessary divide between our inner and our outer experiences?
Perhaps in our search for answers within,
We've actually established and keep re-establishing that there is an inner and there is an outer.
What if all of that is just an illusion?
Picture this.
The universe as an intricate web of relationships,
Each strand interwoven with the other.
Every thought,
Action,
And decision create a ripple effect that reverberates throughout this,
All that is.
At the heart of this interconnectedness lies the truth that everything is already here,
Right now.
Think about that for a moment.
The idea that is taught over and over to go within is always convincing us that life itself,
And as it is,
Is lacking.
What if there was no need to grasp an elusive internal force to find some kind of distant spiritual realm?
In our eagerness to label ourselves spiritual or non-spiritual,
Awakened or unawakened,
We risk creating artificial divisions that fuel the illusions of problems.
What if we could free ourselves from the restraints of such dualistic thinking and embrace the wholeness of existence?
Imagine the possibilities that arise when we dissolve the barriers that we have constructed.
This is really huge,
What I'm suggesting here.
If you can just sit with it for a moment.
A course in miracles invites us to shift our perception.
Salvation,
It says,
Is not difficult.
It merely requires a change in perspective.
Our best thinking may have brought us to this point,
As they say in 12-step programs,
But what if there is a thinking that is beyond thinking,
A knowing that transcends our limited cognitive abilities?
Could it be that the key to unlocking this higher understanding lies in embracing the totality of our experience instead of trying so hard to get inside where all the good stuff is?
Instead of denying the external world,
What if we can engage with it in a state of conscious awareness?
This is always difficult to the ego or the separate self,
But it is doable.
It means we start to stop seeking to control the outcomes,
But embrace the ebb and the flow of what is.
Change is a natural part of existence in the illusion,
And it's okay to desire improvement or evolution.
However,
It is so important to discern the difference between change as an expression of growth and change as a means to try to escape what is.
Unlike what many spiritual teachings say,
I believe and have seen that the external world is not devoid of wisdom.
It offers its own unique teachings,
Just as the inner realm does.
I would posit to you that the subtle dance between these two facets of existence is where the true harmony and ultimate freedom lies,
Recognizing that both aspects complement and inform each other,
And it enriches our understanding of the whole.
To me,
This is what real actualization is all about.
We're invited to also challenge our preconceived notions that hold us back from exploring the limitless possibilities of existence.
The controversy surrounding certain ideas often arises from our fear of straying from societal norms.
For example,
Needing to be liked,
Being a good boy or a good girl,
And spiritual people do this,
And they are this,
And it can go on and on and on.
But what if we dared to question these norms?
What if we embraced the idea that there may be no higher power to unveil,
And that freedom exists not as an external entity,
But as an inherent aspect of all creation,
Whether it's internal or external?
Following cultural,
Spiritual,
And societal norms will never work.
Breaking free from dualistic thinking requires courage and a willingness to step beyond the confines of what we've been taught.
It actually beckons us to explore beyond the boundaries of our perceived reality and into the realm of infinite possibilities.
This is exactly where the real adventure of life starts.
Life is a symphony,
With each note playing a unique role in the grand composition as you walk through your days and nights.
In this symphony,
We're surfing the melodies and harmonies that reverberate throughout life itself.
The idea that there is a right or a wrong note in the symphony becomes irrelevant when we think that every note is essential to the beauty of the whole.
Nothing is eliminated,
And everything is accepted.
The truth,
As Shakespeare eloquently proclaimed,
Is that nothing is either good or bad,
But thinking makes it so.
So our individual perceptions color our reality over and over and over again.
But it is up to us to expand our minds and see beyond the constructs of meaning upon meaning that we have created.
By letting go of the need to classify ourselves and our experiences,
We tap into a deeper awareness of interconnectedness.
We then can feel an invitation to embrace the possibility that everything is already here,
Our salvation,
Peace,
And fulfillment.
And this recognition becomes the bridge that unites the inner and outer aspects of our existence.
So imagine what it would be like,
For a moment,
Beyond these confines of dualistic thinking,
To an experience that embraces oneness,
Embraces all that is.
As we dive into the depths of this interconnected web,
Remember,
It is never,
Ever about finding an answer or a solution,
Because that would just be another way of establishing that one is better than the other.
This can be looked at by seeing that it may be about embracing the beauty of the question itself,
Instead of always looking for the answer.
As we explore this symphony of life,
Let's revel in the harmonies and the dissonances knowing that each contributes to the richness of the whole.
And as we dissolve the artificial barriers between inner and outer,
May we discover the boundless freedom that comes from recognizing that everything we seek is already here within us and around us.
This all begs the question of stepping beyond the illusions of duality and venturing into the vast expanse of possibility.
In doing so,
May we uncover the eternal truth that unites all and awakens us to the magnificent adventure of experience and existence,
An adventure in which each experience,
No matter how seemingly insignificant,
Weaves its magic into the grand design of life itself.
May this realization guide us in embracing the symphony of existence fully and fearlessly.
And may we dance to the rhythm of the universe,
Knowing that within the dance,
Within the music,
Lies the profound and unending mystery and adventure of life itself.
