“Man’s enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.” — Lao Tzu
The above quote is not meant to be a quixotic turn of phrase. The distilled truth of the statement is profusely evident, during every waking hour of our present lives. Ruminating on that concept as it relates to consciousness, brings us to another thought. How then do we separate the enemy which is the demon, and fundamentally shifting our consciousness to embrace the truth in looking to like human beings . . . even ourselves?
Given the predisposition in our relationships to date, which reflect huge swings in conscious enlightenment, the bottom line remains simply as Albert Camus suggests, “You cannot create experience, you must undergo it.” Of course the inner compass of “natural instinct” plays a subtle role with selective individuals, however, not everyone possesses those skill sets. With the elapse of time . . . our life experiences begin to dictate a clarified picture of those human beings whom emit an energy of negative versus a positive response.
Perception of who and what is around you at any given time is key in any given circumstance. Your exercise of aligning consciousness to experience, is an invaluable skill set and tool in the basic tenets of survival. Yes . . . I said survival. Once the awakening within you has occurred, the domino effect begins and there is no turning back from your present awareness or conscious alignment with your existence. This journey may take a few years or decades, as there exists no timetable. Henry David Thoreau said it aptly in another way, “Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.”
Given what your present circumstances may be, it is beyond frightening to realize in the final analysis “… man’s enemies not being demons, but human beings like himself,” as stated in the above quote reflects more than just a suggestion by Lao Tzu. Upon deeper understanding of your essence, coming to the realization that you have been your worst enemy and demon, is the first step in knowing who you are by dispelling the dark, and walking into the light. JLR