There is no life that is without suffering. This is one of the universal commonalities to all forms of physical being. It is the unfortunate consequence of a dimension removed from archetypal perfection and the result of a randomization of experience. This experience is not entirely hollow in and of itself, however, for it is the fertile soil in which the roots of the spirit begin to grow from the seed planted at birth. The seed is the self which you are. Life begins with a traumatic burst in to a new world and nurturing begins immediately. The roots of the spiritual desires - to understand and have wisdom of the self and thus the universe - are grown deep in the dark places of suffering.
It is to be misinterpreted by some that this means that one must focus on suffering. I think there is no need necessary and one can safely allow suffering to arise at its own pace, likely slower than with one's urging. Rather, suffering needs to be digested and distilled and the experience within it wrought to golden splendor. This is, of course, much more difficult in practice than in principle. To find wisdom, understanding and compassion in one's experience means a change in one's perspective. It takes a shifting of one's position in to that of others. In this we begin to touch an idea of spiritual knowledge which is to attempt to get to know one's essence, where one's perspective is situated.
Suffering does not always yield this lofty accentuation of spiritual desire and there is often a movement in the very opposite direction, towards helplessness and powerlessness. This even tends to happen in those who are aware that they are seeking a deeper sense of knowing themselves, others and the universe. All the more so in those who are unconsciously battered by the storm of catalyst that presses upon each individual, often remaining unaware of those possibilities of so-called 'enlightenment' contained within their own experiences of suffering. The magical view is ever more difficult to view than the mundane.
The philosopher, the religious, the mystical and the magical all attempt to deal with this 'base matter' of raw experience through different ways but each is aspiring to that high object of the 'spiritualization', that is, the refinement of the experience itself in to something which is desirable to the 'alchemist'. Taking the emotional, mental and physical content and thereby distilling it so as to extract from it meaningful guidance towards the fulfillment of those spiritual desires - to understand, to be wise, to know compassion and wholeness. There is not, in this one's humble opinion, anything spiritual about the desire for powers, abilities or manifestation. Although these are not evil desires in and of themselves, they can be used to such an end. Evil is that which willingly induces suffering and which thrives on it. Good is that which attempts to resolve suffering so that other elements of life can take place. These are simplistic views but they are vivid and that can serve to make stark the concept of one's own actions towards others.
There are those who use the arts of spirit for little more than manipulation and self gain and of these I have little to say other than to be aware and wary of those who would casually allow or willingly induce suffering in others. There are those who call themselves by spiritual names and walk in spiritual places and yet evil is their intent and so they cannot touch the spirit of unity fully. They instead seek to grasp and control the lives of others in a mockery of the compassion with which unity is fundamentally inspired. I do not cast judgement on these individuals, but rather try to be aware of the possible pitfalls on the path, for I too am imperfect. The growth of spiritual desires lies not in the perpetuation or induction of suffering but rather in the proper treatment of it as it arises of its own accord and thereby refined through a balanced process.
To pursue suffering is folly, but to seek to understand your own suffering is one of the steps towards self-knowledge.
Spirit, a word and concept which goes back to the idea of breath and breathing, is unified and whole. There is no separation in it. It appears that each has an individual spirit but I believe in truth there is but one spirit which 'rushes through the universe' and gives, indeed IS, the life to all. Matter which is the apparent 'condensation' of spirit appears to be separate because it is a manifestation of the opposite principle inherent within spirit, which is unity. Thus, the two ends of the same device which functions as one unique whole. A trinity, the two in the one and the one in the two.
As such, the lofty goals of wisdom, understanding, compassion, perhaps bliss, are all grown and potentiated in the condensed world of separated matter solidified or coagulated in and by unity. The world of matter is an expression of the search for these things, at least in appearance. We do not, ultimately, seek these things in and of themselves but rather that which they signify in reality. A unified, concentrated, universal presence which is both intelligence and intelligent. We are that unity seeking a return to itself. In seeking these concepts we reach towards the unity which exceeds the separation of the senses and the body and it is actually only 'by accident' that one may chance upon this rare experience of the 'philosopher's stone' and yet to reach that point takes absolute focus and dedication, as well as knowledge. It seems folly, perhaps, to spend years building a house of tools, only to realize the goal is to discard the tools, but nothing is truly lost, only transmuted to another level or plane of functioning. One must have faith that their efforts will yield the desired result.
This is the role of suffering as well. In its base form it is wretched, horrible and unpleasant. However, boiled and purified it begins to show glimmers of wisdom whereby the interactions between others can be the most vivid of lessons. The mind which works the breath, the spirit and the forms as a conductor conducts the orchestra works upon the emotions and the emotions work upon the mind in turn. The mind cools the emotions. The emotions heat the mind. Overheat the emotions and you overheat the mind. Cool the mind too much and the emotion freezes or overcompensates. The balance is in the middle. Mind and emotions together work upon the catalyst of suffering in order to produce a higher perspective and which is the transmutation of the initial experience of suffering in to one of understanding.
The suffering does not become bright and golden right away. It starts of in rough tones and dark colours. It goes through sadness, grief and despair before giving way to neutrality and indifference. If this can be moved only then does it begin to brighten and to become inspiration, motivation and eventually joy. This takes a fair degree of will and effort towards arranging one's internal structures to achieve this end but there is a transformation that takes place if one holds to the ideal. The perspective broadens and the ability to see the perspective of others increases and with it a gradually greater experience of inter-connectivity with others and the environment around oneself is revealed. This is 'matter becoming spirit' in the sense of a state of self being situated in a perspective of separation moving in to a state of awareness of the unity underlying all things and all phenomenon, thereby shifting the perspective to that of unity.
Thus is the Great Work and the work of many lifetimes, for unity is infinite and infinity is unity.
IP
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