The spiritual life

(Martin Jones) #1

46 TheSpiritualLife.


sweeps over us isnot the Self, but is onlya


passingmanifestationof thenot-Self. "Letit


toss and swirl and foam, it is not I." Let


consciousnessrealise this,if onlyforamoment,


andtheforceofthewaveisspent,andthefirm


rockisfehunder the feet. Withdrawingfrom


theemotion,we no longer feel it as a partof


ourselves,andthus ceasingtopourourlifeinto


itasaself-expression,webreakofftheconnec-


tion whichenabled it to become a channelof


pain. This withdrawal of consciousness may


bemuchfacilitated if,inourquiettimes,wetry


tounderstandandto assignto theirtruecauses


these distressing emotional alternations. We


shall thusat least getridof someof thehelp-


lessness and perplexity which, as we have


alreadyseen,areduetoignorance.


These alternationsof happinessand depres-


sion are primarilymanifestationsof thatlawof


periodicity,orlawof rhythm,whichguidesthe


universe. Night and day alternate in the


physical life of man as do happiness and de-


pressioninhisemotional life. Astheebb and


flowin the ocean, so arethe ebb and flow in


humanfeelings. Therearetidesmthehuman


heartasintheaffairsof menandasin thesea.


joyfollows soiTow and sorrow follows joy,as


surelyas death followsbirth and birth death.

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