This wisdom from Adyashanti gave me pause for thought today.
Adyashanti on Enlightenment and Inner Division
“Most human beings spend their lives battling with opposing inner forces: what they think they should do versus what they are doing; how they feel about themselves versus how they are; whether they think they’re right and worthy or wrong and unworthy.
The separate self is just the conglomeration of these opposing forces. When the self drops away, inner division drops away with it.
Now, I can’t say that I never make a mistake, because in this human world being enlightened doesn’t mean we become experts at everything. What does happen, though, is that personal motivations disappear.
Only when enlightenment occurs do we realize that virtually everything we did, from getting out of bed to going to work to being in a relationship to pursuing our pleasures and interests, was motivated by personal concern.
In the absence of a separate self, there’s no personal motivation to do anything. Life just moves us.
When personal motivation no longer drives us, then what’s left is our true nature, which naturally expresses itself on the human dimension as love or compassion.
Not a compassion that we cultivate or practice because we’re supposed to, but a compassion that arises spontaneously from our undivided state. If we undertake being a good, compassionate person as a personal identity, it just gets in the way of awakening.”
As we continue on this path, the inner conflict and critical inner voice lessens, then disappears. We come to a place of inner knowing and compassion for ourselves and the world. This is the motivation that will drive us for the rest of our lives.
Namaste
Thank you for sharing those wise words with us, dear Val ❤
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Thank you dear Irene 💛🙏💛
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❤
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Very beautifully expressed dear lady, that place of acceptance 💜
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Thank you Mark 💛
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Yes.
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I appreciate you sharing these wise words, Val. ❤
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Thank you Jill. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by 💛
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It reminds me a little bit of French philosopher Sartre’s notion that if we are constantly trying to live up to some definition of ourselves (here, “compassionate person”) then we are never making free choices true to ourselves. That idea has always stuck with me, even as it differs here from Sartre in the belief that our human nature is by default compassionate (I agree). Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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Thanks for adding to the conversation Katie 💛
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Wise words dear Val from both of you.. ❤ Many thanks for sharing ❤
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Thank you Sue for your words and presence here. I hope you’re wek is off to a good start 💛
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Wonderful thank you Val. Hope yours is too 💖
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Thank you 🙏
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In stillness we find this beautiful space! Thanks Val 🙂
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Thank you Karen for pausing here 💛
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This is so good. Thank you for posting this Val. It’s very timely for me lately. You always post what I need to hear 🙂
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Thank you Michele. So glad this post was serendipitous 💕
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Thank you, Val. Namaste 🙏❤️
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Namaste Betty ❤️🙏
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“In the absence of a separate self, there’s no personal motivation to do anything. Life just moves us.” ~> so, then, maybe my complete and utter lack of motivation and ambition is a good thing? 😀
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It is what it is Nancy…. I do however like the idea that love and compassion becomes a different kind of inner drive. 🙏
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Very thoughtful and thought-provoking.
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Thank you Fiona for reflecting on this. 💛
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So true, Val. What goes on in our heads can be extremely challenging at times! Ah…the human condition. 😉 🙏🏻
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That’s good stuff, Val. ❤
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Very interesting! With this perspective it does seem to offer a benefit to cultivate motivation towards peace and compassion; kindness and loving acts. Maybe that would simplify the competition of the separate self? Much to think about here, Val! Thank you.
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Thank you Debra for pausing and pondering here 💕
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Definitely worth pondering on. Thank you! ❤
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So glad this resonated. Thank you 💛
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I love this man. Always have. Because, hey, isn’t this just … it … ” When personal motivation no longer drives us, then what’s left is our true nature, which naturally expresses itself on the human dimension as love or compassion. Not a compassion that we cultivate or practice because we’re supposed to, but a compassion that arises spontaneously from our undivided state. If we undertake being a good, compassionate person as a personal identity, it just gets in the way of awakening.” Amen to that. ❤
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I love him and this part as well. At one point I thought something was wrong that I didn’t have the same drive as others. He helped me realize that the drive is compassion and kindness instead. So powerful and freeing. Thank you Bela 💛🙏💛
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💕
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Just the message my self needed today! May I open to my true nature and life moving me…Thank you, Val.
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So glad you enjoyed these words Vicki 💛
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Thank you for this!! This speaks true of unconditional love in all its forms. Beautiful ❤
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Thank you fm 💛
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