Existential Zen

The French writer, Albert Camus, wrote:

We all carry within us our places of exile, our crimes, our ravages. Our task in not to unleash them on the world; it is to transform them in ourselves.

First, we must honestly examine these terrible aspects of ourselves, hidden as they are in the darkest regions of consciousness.

With familiarity, we can bring them into the light. Conscious exposure undercuts the tendency to unleash them when things don't go our way.

We become friends with our underbelly. We use it to transform ourselves. We use it in the service of others.

Source: The Rebel, by Albert Camus

Photo by Marra121

Comments

[Molly Brown]

Barry I really like this. Might I use it some time? "Conscious exposure"...really well put. Hope you are surviving the holidays. Peace to you my friend. Molly

[Uku]

Well put indeed, Barry! Yes, I think we all have demons and sick thoughts that might be quite scary but they're only illusions, not real. Zazen can reveal those demons in a nasty way when practitioner is in the beginning of Buddha's Way. And sure we can transform those things and we have a great opportunity to learn how our mind and body works. Practice can balance this and help us to learn from our mistakes and crimes.

Thank you, Barry!

Take care, my friend.

[Barry Briggs]

Hi Molly - yes, have at it!

Thank you, Uku. We have only to pay meticulous attention to our whole selves. Which is very easy to say, but in my case isn't so easy to do, most of the time. But now, after nearly 20 years of practice, I finally see that this is the work. Who knows, in another 20 years maybe I can stay with the watching , a little.

[the psycho therapist]

Ah, "shadow work". Ouch. And yum. :)

Despite its hard yoga nature, I find integrating the aspects of me I've split off from consciousness to be the most gratifying. There's a lot to be said for increased "wholeness", not to mention "freedom".

Re-membering is what I like to call it: putting back what has been cast aside.

We practice forever, indeed. ;)

[Barry Briggs]

Hi TPT, thanks for your comment.

Most all serious work is "shadow work," isn't it? Re-membering might be exactly right, even though I rarely have any remembrance of wholeness.

Really, the work of practice is in the revelation of our true self to ourselves and others. And the true self is messy, cantankerous, violent, obnoxious and wholly objectionable, as well as lovely, kind, tender and wise.

I've really enjoyed reading your blog - thank you for your efforts with it!