We live in an extraordinary world of eight billion people living in 195 countries, speaking over 6,500 languages, and participating in more than 4,500 religions. Each one of us contributes to all the stories, the collective memories, that are intertwined with one another. These stories are in the psyche of all. The memories are held, repeated, treasured or recalled with bitterness. To heal the pain of the memories, we need spirituality. Spirituality can be defined as coming to terms with my own story. By understanding my story, I become free of the hurt, pain, and anger stored within. This collective pain hangs over the whole world and stops us all from moving forward.
This coming to terms with the past has a double layer of memories. The first is that of the memories in the conscious mind, and the other is the weight of memory in the unconscious mind. It is in this sub-conscious mind that the habit patterns of thinking are stored. These patterns are so strong, that even if we consciously decide we would like to behave differently, better, when one of the old habits is triggered, we react, almost against our conscious wish. So, we develop strategies to deal with it all. On the one hand, we may suppress the feelings that bubble up, and end up having a public persona and an inner persona. I speak to the world in one way, but it is not what is really happening inside. Another strategy is to go into complete denial and refuse to see what is going on in the mind. Or, we project the pain and use blame, which is the utmost ignorance, and puts my life in the hands of others.
The first step to letting go of all of this is to reconnect with the original self. This original self is a wonder. I am the soul, spirit, consciousness, a point of spiritual light that has no dimensions. I the soul am eternal. I inhabit the physical body in the centre of the forehead. As I rebuild this understanding of the self, I can influence the sub-conscious mind with the realisation that the intrinsic quality of the soul is to be in deep peace. It is through meditation that this is possible. In meditation I am able to release the hold of the story recorded within. That is the first step. The more I meditate, the more the story loosens its grip. However, the force of past memories is very powerful. Some things change during meditation, but some things are more permanent and harder to eradicate. So, I need greater strength to face and heal the past. For this I need love. The whole subtext of human existence is to find true love. This brings with it such a dilemma because no human relationship is permanent; the object of my love will leave, one day, one way or the other. Sub-consciously we know this and there are deep scars within us, of loss and abandonment, overlaying the present, bringing an uneasy fear and anxiety. The love that is needed has to be love of such a power that forgiveness and healing are possible. Love of this magnitude has only one source. This love is only possible when I forge a true, loving relationship with God.
God, the Supreme Soul, is beyond all our stories. This soul is full of compassion. To connect with this soul, I must use the power of pure thought. I must connect with this being of total love, through thought energy. In meditation, my thoughts reach God, the Divine, and I can download as much love and power as I wish. The more I remember who I really am, the more I am able to connect with the Supreme Soul, and the more my story gradually diminishes. It is then I can let go and live in peace, and share that peace, to help diminish the pain of the stories of others.
Charlie Hogg, based in Sydney, is the National Co-ordinator, Brahma Kumaris, Australia.