Monday, November 20, 2023
The stories of the Old Testament are metaphorical accounts of your life. The Garden of Eden, the Israelites wandering through the desert, David and Goliath, and the parting of the Red Sea are all about you and me. Even the prodigal son is our story. These are illustrations of what we go through in life. The unfolding drama in these epilogues relate to our unique conditions. All ancient scripture tells us who we are in narrative form – the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Tao Te Ching, the Bible.
Essentially, scripture is about not knowing yourself. It’s about drifting and wandering from source. It’s about facing scary giants and obstacles, having hardships, and not realizing the illusory and destructive nature of separateness.
The story of Exodus is most relevant. This is a story of feeling adrift and bereft of a future. Haven’t you ever been meandering and not knowing what to do or where to go? These stories help you realize that you can’t be lost nor defeated. Separateness and defeat are states of mind. The mind is like the wind – it comes and goes and tries to blow you out to sea, which is a metaphor for fear of being in the void. However, oneness is like gravity. It is always on and keeps your feet onshore. When the wind blows, a person can get swept out. Some people get swept out at the slightest breeze. Still some are treading water and have never rested on the beach. For them the struggle is real because they haven’t realized the illusion of separateness that keeps them adrift in their weary minds. The beach is the truth, and the sea is the illusion. A little wind can’t knock you into the water. OK, a hurricane might push, but those don’t happen often. Remember, the beach is always closer than you think.