By Alex P. Vidal
“The greatest human quest is to know what one must do in order to become a human being.” —IMMANUEL KANT
IN one of the best metaphors of a dialogue between Ego and Spirit, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, has a very interesting story to share in his book, Your Sacred Self.
Dyer, also the author of Real Magic and Your Erroneous Zones, described Ego and Spirit in his story as “two babies in utero confined to the wall of their mother’s womb” and they are having a conversation.
Spirit says to Ego, “I know you are going to find this difficult to accept, but I truly believe there is life after birth.”
Ego responds, “Don’t be ridiculous. Look around you. This is all there is. Why must you always be thinking about something beyond this reality? Accept your lot in life. Make yourself comfortable and forget about all of this life-after-birth nonsense.”
Spirit quiets down for a while, but her inner voice won’t allow her to remain silent any longer. “Ego, now don’t get mad, but I have something else to say. I also believe that there is a Mother.”
“A Mother!” Ego guffaws. “How can you be so absurd?” You’ve never seen a Mother. Why can’t you accept that this is all there is?” The idea of a Mother is crazy. You are here alone with me. This is your reality. Now grab hold of that cord. Go into your corner and stop being so silly. Trust me, there is no Mother.”
-o0o-
Spirit reluctantly stops her conversation with Ego, but her carelessness soon gets the better of her. “Ego,” she implores, “please listen without rejecting my idea. Somehow I think that those constant pressures we both feel, those movements that make us so uncomfortable sometimes, that continual repositioning and all of that closing in that seems to be taking place as we keep growing, is getting us ready for a place of glowing light, and we will experience it very soon.”
“Now I know you are absolutely insane,” replies Ego. “All you’ve ever known is darkness. You’ve never seen light. How can you even contemplate such an idea?” Those movements and pressures you feel are your reality. You are a distinct separate being.This is your journey. Darkness and pressures and a closed-in feeling are what life is all about. You’ll have to fight it as long as you live. Now grab your cord and please stay still.”
Spirit relaxes for a while, but finally she can contain herself no longer. “Ego, I have only one more thing to say and then I’ll never bother you again.”
“Go ahead,” Ego responds, impatiently.
“I believe all of these pressures and all of this discomfort is not only going to bring us to a new celestial light, but when we experience it, we are going to meet Mother face-to-face and know an ecstasy that is beyond anything we have ever experienced up until now.”
“You really are crazy, Spirit. Now I’m truly convinced of it.”
-o0o-
Your Sacred Self is a literal interpretation of the metaphor, which Dyer have adapted from a story told by Henri J.M. Nouwen.
“It is my attempt to introduce you to that glowing celestial light and to let you know the wonder of having your sacred self triumph over the demands of the eg-self, which wants more than anything to hold you back,” Dyer explained.
He organized the book around the following four understandings:
- You are sacred, and in order to know it you must transcend the old belief system you’ve adopted.
- You are a divine being called to know your sacred self by mastering the keys to higher awareness.
- Your sacred self can triumph over your ego identifies and be the dominant force in your life.
- You can radiate this awareness beyond your own boundaries and affect everyone on our planet.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
