Challenges Create Motivation

A kind of naturalism is almost universally recommended by religion, even by Christianity, which lays so much stress on the moral life as distinct from the life of the instincts. It is no wonder that its history is littered with ideas and even practices reflecting those of the Free Spirit. By virtue of its strong ethical idealism, Christianity has stood against the occasional attacks of antinomianism and spiritual lawlessness, but the fact remains that the feeling of absolute dependence, or letting God take entire possession of your will and thought inevitably leads to the libertinism of natural impulses, which is ‘the freedom of the spirit.’

D.T. Suzuki, the 20th century Japanese scholar, is considered an authority on Buddhist philosophy. He dedicated his life to teaching as well as learning about Zen or the quality of consciousness that dances in and out of everyday living. Suzuki dwelled in a state of awareness that transcended intellectual symbols. His conscious mind was connected to a particular aspect of consciousness, and that connection enabled him to express impulses that originated in the corridors of the universal mind. Buddhism was the vehicle he rode to travel through different qualities of consciousness, and Zen was the driver.

Suzuki’s thoughts about self separation are not unique; historical evidence of self separation is identified in every known philosophy. Living in two worlds, but only remembering one is the fundamental principle behind most Western religions. Religion presents itself as the connector between those worlds, but the laws and structure within those beliefs restrict the ability to experience and sense the freedom of the spirit that is a whole part of physical being.

In order to recognize our innate Free Spirit that blends impulses into thoughts, one must be aware that the open system of being or an Zen experience can manifest in every moment. That knowing is rooted in the aspect of self that is buried under the rubble of rationalism. Using a shovel of awareness, we can gradually remove the mental debris created by beliefs. Those beliefs bury part of self in religious mystery. We realize that modern duality and ritualistic beliefs have been a poor substitution for unity.

The fact remains that dualistic ritualism is the method of discovery in physical form even when the awareness of other aspects of consciousness are recognized. Our challenges are our motivation. Linear awareness and our freedom of the spirit are challenges that create our perception of reality. Without them we would not expand in this pot of time and space.