only our own resistance

I didn't fully comprehend, when I put that statement up at the top of the header, that it would continue unfolding for me the way it has.

As humans we are a little bit like flowers on the end of a stem, or leaves on a tree branch. We have a source that is fueling our existence, yet we appear differentiated from that source. In the early stages of their spiritual journey, many people mistakenly believe that in order to proceed on the path, they need to somehow deny that experience of differentiation as though there were something impure or wrong about it. The only thing wrong about it is that it hurts to feel disconnected.

The truth is that the stem revels in the experience of the flower and the tree revels in the experiences of the leaves, and our source revels in our experiences as humans.

We only feel cut off from our source—from our tree trunk or stem—when we resist. And we resist because we feel unsupported and afraid, because we feel cut off from our source. It's a vicious cycle, but what we learn is that we can stop it through the use of active trust. Active trust is the releasing of resistance. It's not necessarily trust in anything specific. it is the emotional state of trust. It's a letting go of the oars and allowing the boat to float.

A Course in Miracles belabors this point endlessly and beautifully. When we are upset about anything it is because we feel abandoned by love, set adrift and cut off from our source. We fear punishment because of that very sensation of being cut off. The solution? "I need do nothing."

Were we to let go and appreciate the everyday, ordinary experience of being human, without resistance, we would experience a deep and peaceful joy—the joy of the tree, the roots and the stem—as well as our petals and leaves.

Joy is an indicator. In every small and large way, joy is the thing that lets you know you're on the right track. If you knew that everything were okay, that every problem you seem to have was being taken care of, and you could just let go and let the current carry you... how would you feel?

That feeling—the releasing of struggle and resistance—is what allows you to feel connected to your source. It lets you feel nurtured and cared for, supported and loved.

This is not to say that if you are not feeling joy, or if there is a circumstance with which you are struggling, that you are doing anything wrong. There is no such thing as doing something wrong. As the Buddha said, there is suffering and the release from suffering. There is nothing to achieve. There is only the experience of resistance and the releasing of resistance.

Comments

[Leslie]

Dearest Marian,
OHhhhhh...How I know this resistance. Thank you for this helpful post. Just reading the words 'active trust'...sends the heart/mind in to the feeling sense of that...the trust that is the lifeblood of Freedom. So, I imagine if just reading those two words helps engender the feeling of trust what would a whole post on that do?!?! Probably propel us all into letting go and (finally) allowing.
Feeling grateful for the potency of your posts on prodding us to let go.
XOXO
-Leslie

[marian]

Hi Leslie,
That's actually a good idea for a post. Thanks, darlin....

[Leslie]

YES!!!
XOXO
-Leslie

[John Quelch]

Thank you does not seem like enough but it is all I have to give. THANK YOU!

[Sarah]

Ive been revisiting this statement for some time:

Letting go doesn't mean losing your grip, but relaxing enough to create some space where possibility lies. . .

baby steps to bits of joy! Thank you!

[marian]

Hi Sarah. This whole process is one of realizing, bit by bit, that the process itself is kinder than we can possibly imagine.