Nothingness, the Essence of the Light

Nothingness, the Essence of the Light

A friend once asked me, knowing that I had been working on myself for many years as a member of a School, whether I had acquired new powers because of these sustained efforts. For a millisecond, I was dumbfounded and embarrassed that I had no superpowers, badges, or tattoos to show for my efforts. Then I realized that his framing was inconsistent with the nature of Higher Centers, at least based on my own experience.

The development of higher possibilities is not about acquiring terrestrial skills and abilities. Work on oneself transcends the functions of the human machine.

Do not try to get so much that you achieve nothing. − Teresa of Avilla

According to our Teacher, Higher Centers are naturally humble. In a higher state, there is no interest in comparing, contrasting, or measuring by the usual and materialistic means of the lower world. Our cultural orientation and upbringing do not prepare us for the simplicity of the third and fourth states of consciousness. Our true Self is not something of the external world in the sensory way. The inner world is far more infinite than the showiness of our external world.

It’s hard to put this into words, so an analogy might help me to explain the modesty of Higher Centers. In Los Angeles, there is a sidewalk called the Hollywood Walk of Fame containing more than 2,800 brass stars, each one recognizing a celebrity, an ego. This seems like a big number of important people. Now consider the vast endless night’s stars with your naked eye. Or consider the view of the European Space Agency’s Euclid satellite telescope exploring the “dark universe” with the intent of observing and imaging billions of galaxies. This shows that the application of scale reorients us to a higher order of organization, illustrating the modesty and humbleness of our higher Self.

Let me put it this way. To understand Higher Centers and realize “my place” on the scale of the universe, I need only to look up at the night sky—not at the sidewalk—and see myself in the larger scheme of things. The sidewalk brass star is conspicuous and full of personality, the other stars are full of awe and wonder. Splendor without ostentatiousness. Higher Centers are not interested in fame or celebrity. Being in Higher Centers is like looking at the stars in the night sky and remembering myself. I am small and insignificant. In my nothingness, I am everything.

Pierce through nothingness

to the essence of the light.

− Hadewijch of Brabant

Join the discussion

Single Spiral Galaxy (called ESO 364-G036), ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, CEA Paris-Saclay.