Simplicity: The Essence of Awakening

Simplicity: The Essence of Awakening

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly: what is essential is invisible to the eye.” “What is essential is invisible to the eye,” the Little Prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember. ─ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Since the last few posts have been valuable in describing the differences between the growth of essence and the development of personality, my intent with this article is to ask the question and give some insight into why essence is important in our work. In other words, why learn about essence if the most important thing is to remember ourselves always and everywhere, thereby strengthening higher states within us that are capable of connecting with higher centers? Why not just continue our efforts to transcend our mechanics – which includes essence – and keep on living from higher centers? The only rational response to these questions is if you are able to achieve higher states and connect to higher centers on a moment to moment basis and make this rare state permanent, then by all means carry on with what is successful for you. This attainment of permanent awakening is the goal and pinnacle of spiritual work.

If you are like me and not able to consistently attain and sustain higher states after years of efforts, the study and knowledge of essence may be the essential missing element for unravelling the mystery. My understanding of my particular essence allows both its strengths and weaknesses to be known and used resourcefully, educated intentionally and transformed purposefully into essence presence – into higher centers. We can refine and educate essence into a vessel capable of higher possibilities. My Teacher instructs that, “When essence accumulates enough self-knowledge, it starts to become conscious of itself.”

I have gradually come to realize and conclude that before I can consistently take flight and stay airborne, I first need to study the groundwork, learn about the physics of flight, gravity and lift, learn the details of my launch pad, fuel efficiency, the peculiarities of my aircraft, the control panel, and engage the guidance of the aeronautic experts of those who have already taken flight. I can see that the study of essence – which eventually is transformed into higher centers – is where the building blocks of flight begin. In his book Creating a Soul Girard Haven writes, “We must not forget that the aim of the work is not simply to be in essence; it is to turn essence into a suitable vehicle for a soul.”

As our life begins, our essence slowly acquires a personality through the influences of our well-intended parents, family, teachers, and the world around us. Just like clothing, sometimes these influences fit our essence and sometimes not. As the pressures and hardships of the world increase, the child – its essence and formative personality – continues to develop into a false personality around essence to protect it, before essence has been fully developed and educated. False personality is an accidental growth which shields essence from the exterior impressions of negativity, identification and feelings created through involuntary imitation of other people. We also attempt to conceal our essence from others by resisting the people around us. Essence, which is something that is our own or real, withdraws and becomes submissive to personality.

In the Fourth Way, once we begin chipping away at personality and removing what is unnecessary and false, an essence emerges which appears to be the age of a young child – the age at which our essence stopped to grow when false personality took over – often around the age of five or six years old. To quote Girard Haven again, “When growth occurs under the law of accident and in the midst of the negativity of life, it is not surprising that personality becomes primarily a shield, even to the point that essence is starved … In a School, an attempt is made to reverse this process through the creation of a true personality which allows essence to grow and develop again.” True Personality is what we build intentionally to protect essence, but through which essence is safe and allowed to grow and be educated. Our Teacher has said that “essence is the bridge to higher centers” and “what can be transformed into higher centers.”

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A Child’s Portrait in Different Views - Angel’s Heads, Sir Joshua Reynolds 1723–1792