Exit, Stage Right

People are told from their earliest days that they're such and so, and should do this and be that. They have experiences that imply that they like some things and don't like others. They develop habits and hobbies, assume responsibilities and roles, which they then identify with. These factors, and more, create the basis of, what's frequently referred to as, their character. And a very apt term it is. Circumstances conspire to delude people into believing that they are, or are obligated to be, these “characters” that they hold in mind. So, just like actors on a stage, they do their best to master the roles they've been assigned. Only, they aren't aware that they're just playing a part, on the world stage. Lost in their roles, the dramas that their characters are going through seem extremely important and become all consuming.

When we watch characters that we like, in a movie or a TV show, we get drawn into their dramas. And when something tragic or unjust happens to them, we feel it in our selves. (For you macho guys that claim immunity to such influences, just consider how you feel after your favorite sports team loses a game, due to a last second debacle or a bad call.) Many are able to draw themselves out of the dramas and let go of the angst, anger, discontent or whatever, if they so choose. However, most find it impossible to distance themselves from their own dramas.

This is the root of human stress, upsetment and suffering.

Taking the stories of our selves so seriously is a deeply ingrained habit. One that requires a powerful commitment and diligent dedication to break free from. And skyscrapers have been built upon the fictitious foundation of the importance of our story lines. These exasperate the challenge, as we also need to let go of the multiple layers of beloved thoughts, feelings and beliefs that these towers are constructed of. Still, the main belief that needs to be dismantled, and perhaps the hardest of all, is the one that contends that this character is valid, substantial and true.

Accepting this fact is the first step toward realizing one's true nature; and, breaking the habit of self absorption, opens a doorway, that enables clearer vision and more accurate understanding. It's not the endgame, but it's a significantly profound leg in the journey of spiritual evolution.