I Am What I Am (the Mundane versus the Transcendental)

I am what I am. An old spiritual teaching that seems to point out that our nature, whatever form it may appear to be, simply is. Yet, like many other teachings, this phrase often comes into misapprehension. We can understand the appeal: on a more literal, immediate level, it seems to tell us that there is nothing left to conquer, nothing left to change: that perfection lies precisely with what can be observed, nothing else to be found. Reality is known, look no further.
More often than not it is this literal interpretation that many of us use to make their stand. I am what I am becomes a justification for behaviour, rather than a perspective on existence. I am like this, leaving implicitly that you'll have to weather this I am. I am what I am is taken as meaning that there’s no point in changing myself, that there's nothing that really needs to be changed – so I'll remain neatly in my comfort zone and care not about the world and the needs of others.

To a certain extent this perspective is correct – conceptually, at least. Yet, quite often our experience tells us otherwise. How often does this I am what I am feels empty and lonely? How often do we feel trapped instead of liberated, doubtful and uncertain instead of happy and carefree? Experience, life itself, shows us that, even though our perspective might be correct, we cannot sustain it.

And perhaps this is the key. Perhaps the point of these words has always been that we should sustain this perspective, no matter what. Our lives may be going swimmingly or everything may be collapsing all around us – and still we will feel the same in regards to what we are. We'll still feel intimately connected to our sense of self, as complete as we can muster it.

This is because this simple sentence embodies more than a mundane perspective on existence: it embraces and redirects us towards a transcendental one. One where we experience complete communion with our nature and, in doing so, are plunged into the comprehensive awareness that nothing remains to be changed, because the ultimate experience of being has been attained: the very place where the sense of completeness that stems from that phrase truly emanates from.

I am what I am focuses not merely on the visible aspects of the ego, the personality, the set of ideas and beliefs with which we identify ourselves, but rather points in the direction where they retain no meaning, where they become impossible to engage with, where they are rendered useless and we are, therefore, even if only momentarily, liberated.

In this respect, I am what I am, becomes in fact a call to arms, spiritual arms: the embracing of a new viewpoint about ourselves, one where the habitual trappings are no longer valid, where we can re-establish our connection with ourselves on the most profound of experiences and, as such, reconnect also with others, with nature, with the world, with everything.

I am what I am is one of the simplest ways we have to describe and, more importantly, attain, the divine spark, if you will. It certainly encapsulates the closest path we can take to get to our very own, intimate nature. It is the echo for the long lost reunion with ourselves. That is what awaits us on the other side of the mirror, on the other side of the self.

May you be able to find yourself, unblemished and beautiful in all the purity that has always contained you. May you find that which the self so expertly hides and, who knows? maybe even protects. May you find the timeless place of no-self within and bring it more fully into fruition and into the world.

Weapons Of Mass Protection

So many things go awry in the world, our senses regularly inundated with what's wrong. Our very lives are fraught with difficulties, with people that deceive, with situations which are unjust, our voices drowned by the low, steady hum of the crowd.
In such times, we may feel despair clinging a bit too much to the surface of our being, we may even perceive this despair as something that is part of human nature, as something unavoidable, something that it is best we ignore and avoid, since we are unable to cure it.
Moved by this, we look for distractions, for things that take our eyes from unpleasant reality and into rewarding fantasies. Then, in time, through repetition, through the strenuous return to the unhappy normal, we reinforce that disconnection. What we perceive does not match what we strive each day to achieve, that which we catch fleeting glimpses of: the active form of happiness.
Where then, are our reasons, our weapons of mass protection? Where are the tools that would enable us to steady the course of humanity and redirect some of its flow?
The internet, of course, is abundant with options as well as opinions. But this diversity, more often than not, becomes quagmire, a thick swamp where it is easy to get misdirected or lost. And, all the while, the need of trustworthy sources battles both the marketing of belief as well as those who set its rules and profit the most from it.
Clearly, the promises of science, religion and politics have not come to fruition. And now, the internet appears to also be sinking under its own weight.

So, since the world around us is apparently failing for answers, perhaps we should attempt a different strategy and to go further within ourselves, in hopes of seeing what alternatives we can find.

Deep within each story there is a core. This essence is, for the most part, forgotten. We only remember it - and vaguely so -, when we long for something, when hope comes to us, even if there’s no clear reason to be hopeful.
Evidently there is something inside of us that seems to withstand even the most brutal of forces around us. The main issue with it is that we rarely see it and, of course, that we do not know how to control it.
But, think about it: outside, all around the world, that's where control is, that's where it takes shape. Look where that has left us.
Perhaps control isn't such a great thing after all.
But what if we could take ourselves back to those innate sensations that we so easily recognise when appear before us - but that are so hard to evoke when we need them. Sensations so profound that, for the faintest of moments, in spite of all else, everything falls away.

If we are in total darkness and see a light flickering, we will naturally go in its direction in hopes of finding its source. Even if this light might turn out not to be real, that attempt remains our best shot. But if, as we proceed, we see more and more flickers of light, we will then grow more certain of the direction we are taking.

In life nothing is granted. We are given moments and the ability to experience them. What will we do with them? Will we close our eyes and strengthen the darkness, forget even the memory of light? Or will we keep them open, looking for those brief moments, thanking the glimpse that points into direction, safety and progress?
Even walking blindly, we stand a better chance of getting somewhere than if we remain still, unable to act, trapped in our lives.

These weapons of mass protection must therefore be opposite to those of blind destruction. The opposite of anger, of conflict and violence, of greed, falsehood and misdirection. They have to be for all and about all. They must naturally aim themselves towards life, towards sharing and safety. These will be weapons unable to be stored in silos, rocketed across the ocean, capable of blasting entire cities into wreckage and dust. They have to be weightless, unable to burn and to harm, owned by all - not by a few -, suited to withstand both the test of time and of nurture. They must bring together instead of splitting apart, they must reunite instead of breaking open. They must heal instead of wound and they must create a better future, understand and accept the past and, quite simply, be present in the nowness that rules our lives.

Instead of material technology, we must apply spiritual and emotional energy to research them. Contrary to those others, these will become more effective the more people own them, the more practice them. Knowledge of them will not render them useless, but powerful. Other kinds of weapons require teams of people to assemble and deploy, but these require only you. And, while those others are often involved in secrecy and strategies of domination, these care not about such things, caring instead for you and each other.

Compassion, kindness, love, understanding, peace, patience, perseverance, calmness, silence, awareness are but a few of these weapons of mass protection.

Be certain that you can employ them in every day of your life. You can use them abundantly: be not afraid of sparing others of their effect. Attempt to use them in every scenario, from easiest to hardest, from the briefest to the most emotionally taxing. As you stockpile - and you can do this by using them constantly -, you will see your inner world change as well as the world around you. Everything else may remain as before, but you will be different, you will be armed with kindness alongside it.
In doing this, you will protect it and yourself, the tide will fall slightly shorter, the world be a slightly better place due to your presence.
May you take stock of your life and fulfil your purpose of protection and kindness. May your compassion guide us all towards a better, all-encompassing future.