This is one that was missed when the talks were put into articles for this site and into the book The Awakening of Perception. It’s from the live, online weekly talks in 2009:
Life is in a constant interplay between light and darkness. Whichever is greater than the other predominates, and when darkness has greater force than light, it prevails. It’s the struggle between the two opposing forces that gives us the gradients of experiences and opportunities in life, and in this struggle, good doesn’t always win.
We all have a set of values that are the moral foundation for what we perceive as right and wrong. As a society, we establish the rules for conduct and enforce corrective behavior in order to put those who oppose society back in line, or to remove them. As individuals we also have standards of right and wrong, and the wish to put right what we consider to be wrong.
This kind of behavior also exists in animals, such as when a dog scolds its puppy for doing something wrong. So there’s a mechanism built into us as human animals that works in ways that are defined by nature. These are laws that apply to ego states.
Laws and principles based upon animalistic values have limitations however, even though some may form the basis of objective thinking and lawmaking. Yet those values are superseded by higher principles, which are the values of divine consciousness and the scales and balance of its justice. These move according to universal laws of cause and effect, and are commonly known as karma.
The problem however, is that to live under higher principles we must meet them ourselves both as individuals and as a society. When we fail to meet them, we live under lower laws and principles, which are those of the animal kingdom, with all the lower actions and events that they bring.
Thank you for this article and reminder.
Sometimes is so difficult to distinguish good from evil. It can happen when after a while seeing the consequences or retrospecting. This confusion looks so dangerous to me and horrible things can happen been inside this illusion.
“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” movie haven’t presented yet but it looks like is mixing up quite well what is good and what evil. I wouldn’t be surprised if the cinema industry enforcing this kind of illusion to peoples’ minds.
Thank you for been out there too.
Thanks very much for posting the transcript of this talk. It really is such an important topic. Although I listened to the talk when it was first broadcast, it’s only in recent years that the full impact of its message has really hit home.
There is so much depth throughout, but one point that really stands out for me is this: “if we wish for esoteric knowledge, the spiritual knowledge of life, to be given in the world, then we must realize that we have to work hard for it. It doesn’t just win. And, in fact, it’s more likely, due to the forces there are, that evil triumphs, and darkness prevails.”
Even a very basic look at the world reveals how true this is, with all its inequality, injustice and brutality. I really hope that those of us reading this article can become part of that small group of people who are prepared to meet the standards to become part of the army of light that is so desperately needed today.
Thank you. Very clear and insightful article.
Wow. There is a lot in here. I really needed this.
It is really encouraging to read the Q&A. I got a lot out of so many messages in here especially:
– Make the best decision you can and act accordingly, but in the meantime increase your ability to act out of wisdom.
– Go against the current, a certain effort is required and we must be aware of it
– Work on moving to the next step rather than going for perfection.
Thank you so much for posting this. It’s incredible that this is from a talk many years ago when it is exactly what I needed to read today.
I’ve been reflecting on things written here for some time and it’s been great to read it and to gain some guidance on my situation right now. Thank you very much!
Thanks Belsebuub for posting this talk. I have experienced a lot of negativity, throughout my life, from different people in different places who’ve perceived me as a threat, for what ever reason, and it seems no amount of humbling or hiding myself to appease others egos has ever stopped the drama. It’s my experience that we can be perceived as a threat, and attached, whether we transforming our conscious or for any number of mundane reasons in normal life.
What struck me most was your last comment that “the process of inner transformation and return to source consciousness is just the beginning of wisdom, it’s the kindergarten only, and that we continue to learn from there, as true wisdom is endless.” This made so much sense to me. Even with a small amount of honest self-observation it’s easy to see how wretched our egos are, and with only a little life experience you come to understand the your egos are going to make you suffer whether you’re fighting for inner transformation or not. How easy it should be to change in this “kindergarten”. (How treacherous a comfortable life can be.)
Thank you for the practical advice you gave, “that we need to be aware of where we’re starting from and be prepared for resistance and keep working.”, and also highlighting the need to really focus on the next step rather than getting “caught up in illusions and goals, which are obscure and impossible to meet right now.”
I can’t thank you enough, Belsebuub.
I understand how you feel Anita
I was pondering about how and when that strong instigative action or work has been there in external activities.
For me it is when the internal work is going strongly, where there’s this sort of radiance to it, a ‘surplus’ almost, and to funnel that into something. To push the thing a step further even, instead of just putting the daily bit in.
Regarding society’s values.
I think it will have become obvious for anyone who has done something ‘different’ to have noticed the confines of society’s ‘acceptable’ perimeter.
One pretty funny thing was when I used to go for lots of walks in a park, and locals would just look at me like who is this weirdo? Why is he walking here all the time? ….he doesn’t have a dog, he’s not an old retired man? It was something that didn’t fit into normal behaviour there and with many as soon as they couldn’t work it out- suspicion followed, which actually had quite a nasty vibe to it.
And that’s just for going for a walk. :)
I was recently looking into some part of my psyche related to feeling discriminated/fear of being persecuted by the society you’re part of and such. A fear that was a very strong part of my psychological life at one point. Some things recently triggered it and upon looking a bit more I could see how this fear underlies much of my everyday fear in social interactions.
I can see how it’s a very real thing in people and society, that two things of a different nature don’t mix. However this ‘hologram’ or state of mind also exists in my own head. So there can sometimes be a fear involved with basically voluntarily choosing to put ourselves outside of society’s accepted ways, but like the ‘Be free to express yourself spiritually” article on this website mentions it is very important.
To be honest I think society’s values regarding spiritual practice are pretty narrow now, the practices and information for real spiritual things already fall outside of the boat, so it would be cheating yourself to confine to them.
Although I have to say that sometimes I still find it hard to completely ‘be myself’ around some people…., people who can almost ‘sniff you out’ if you’re different and who (I feel) deeply inside would actually like to ‘attack’ those who are different under the banner of society’s approval. But putting on a pretend personality has left me feeling like I’m cheating myself (and sometimes others as well), better to be true to myself even if it doesn’t fit in.
I can really relate to your latter experience, Karim, on not feeling at ease to be yourself when with some people…
Most people I speak with, I have a very superficial set of topics that I’ll bring up and talk about. Only once I know someone a lot better, will I, if I sense they are ‘different’ (in a good way) speak to them about subjects that interest me a little more. And only after a long time, if I really trust someone, would I speak to them about the most taboo of topics: spirituality. Sad what a world we live in, but I think it’s better to be safe than sorry. There were, after all, eras in history when no one spoke of esoteric topics except in very secretive societies just to avoid persecution.
I don’t personally see it as “cheating” myself or others, though. It is okay to have “normal” conversations and some might be very uncomfortable with deeper conversations. I just try to be aware, die to my egos, and speak with consciousness. I think it can then be a very genuine conversation.
Even when with other mystics, I don’t find that I exclusively speak about esoteric topics, it’s just that there is the ease of talking about those topics and many others.
I do wish the freedom were always there, though…
Thanks for the article / transcript, Mark!
Your message really brings up much of what I see within myself and on our world nowadays.
Thanks for putting this up here – it really hit me when it was given at the time (not just that it’s not an automatic thing that the good will win, but also, that as individuals, we have to rise to meet the standards in order to live under higher principles), and it’s great to be able to see again and reflect upon now.
It was nice to listen to this audio talk again and to read the article, to try to catch the things in it relevant for me right now.
The part about the ‘speck of light’ was painful to read.
One thing that came across very clearly in the talk was how good in the world requires people’s action to manifest. For something to exist, it needs to be created.
Thank you very much.
This article hits me in what I do in my daily life, the priorities that I really put, what I really decide and how I finally surrender to the wants of my ego states, it makes me reflect and reconsider. It hurts and reminds me of my daily reality, but also gives hope to my heart and motivates me to act as it highlights and reminds me that I have to fight constantly to earn my heart’s needs, to find peace, happiness and spiritual knowledge.
Everyone;s comments also touch me and I too find it’s hard and tough and needs to be constantly responsible in order not to be trapped by the resistances and wills of my egos.
Thank you deeply Mark for this strong help, this timely for me and very inspiring article.
Great to see this transcription up – the timing couldn’t have been more synchronised as it’s exactly what I have been pondering and feeling lately. Particularly the part about being an active agent for spirituality in the world if we want to continue benefiting from it, rather than being passive and still expecting it to be there whenever we want. Thank you very much Mark for sharing this message.
Reading this article has helped me to refocus and shift my attention to the spiritual, thank you.
When reflecting a bit, there is certainly a varied degree of resistance to whatever spiritual practice I need to do, even to being aware in the present moment. It also requires willpower to do what one feels is right based on direct spiritual experience, in particular when choices made are different to what is commonly perceived as good/correct behaviour, even more so when dealing with close fiends and relatives.
”The good must be fought for. Nothing is given as a right. we have what we have because we as humanity have created it and allow it and wish it. And if we wish for esoteric knowledge, the spiritual knowledge of life to be given in the world, then we must realize that we have to work hard for it. It doesn’t just win.”
Dear Mark, thank you for these words.
Thank you for posting it – very important subject to reflect upon.
Amen