The Battlefield of Liberation

[Group Manager]

Posted by Group Owner
Via Group Manager

‘The Battlefield of Liberation’

For those of us who are using spiritual practices as an integral part
of our soul’s healing journey, it is wise to remember that our ego has
been the dominating part of us for so long that it will not simply
surrender to our spiritual nature without a battle—in fact going down
the spiritual path is exactly what gets it to fight for its very
existence. So, the Spiritual Warrior must consciously choose to do
‘battle’ with the part of us (ego / personality) that fears for it’s
life. The Warrior ‘fights’ to liberate the indwelling Divine Self the
ego fights to keep the idea of itself alive. Engaging in this
‘battle’ is what tests the Warrior’s mettle and develops what all
warriors need.....courage.

The spiritual journey is one that must ultimately lead to a Sacred
Place.....The Battlefield of Liberation....the present moment....and
not away from it. Eventually the Warrior is able to stand tall and
face the ego’s fears. Staying present in that battlefield of
liberation.......it ALLOWS the ego’s fear....surrounds it (embraces
it).....then warmly and mercilessly ‘attacks’ it with the only
‘weapon’ that will defeat it and bring peace to the
conflict.....Unconditional Love...

To all Spiritual Warriors please keep in mind; no condition in Life
can be lifted up, conquered, or healed by running away from it. The
Warriors purpose is to be in the ‘heat’ of battle...that’s what makes
them Warriors. It’s not whether they ‘win’ or ‘lose’ that defines
them but their willingness to step onto the ‘battlefield’ to face and
bring peace to the ego’s fears whenever the need arises.

[Ken]

This is well said and I agree because this 'battle' is what I am faced
with full-on today. After being diagnosed with a serious health issue
a couple months ago, the depths of the ego structure broke open. A
near-death experience at 18 months and a breakdown at age 30 had left
me with a fragmented and traumatized 'self/ego system'. It has caused
me chronic pain most of my life. As part of my 'spiritual practice' I
had always intended to journey that far inside to meet and heal this
trauma. I realize today that I was still comfortable enough, the pain
wasn't severe enough to break me open and face those selves that I
knew were in trouble, that had been traumatized or so long. The longer
the trauma, the more dangerous these selves become and the harder they
hold to what feels like a demented world. So this health issue broke
it open, became the catalyst for a journey that I wasn't taking
because I was terrified of what I'd find. And what I have found is
terrifying. What can make it a nearly impossible task is the degree of
resistance from this ego structure as I take the battlefield. It knows
what I'm up to and is prepared to make the journey difficult. It is
for this reason that I've started and stopped this path a hundred
times. I could not get beyond the first skirmishes. The ego structure
brings the big guns early on. I don't think I understood the nature of
this battle, that compassion, love, and not identifying with them as I
had most of my life, are the weapons that will heal them. This world
of theres didn't feel like it was mine anymore.

An attempt at a crushing defeat, shock and awe, bullying, only makes
the ego structure stronger, more determined. I have just begun to
recognize my spiritual warrior. For my case, which may be extreme, he
will be tested mightily. But I know today that the insidious part of
this battle is if I stop, if I don't use this opening to heal these
parts of myself, if I don't develop my spiritual warrior and arm him
with what can heal me and make me whole, the battle will be short-
lived. The ego system is a black hole of sorts, always drawing me into
it, into this reality, one that has been my only reality. As I begin
to separate from it, to know that it is not the essential 'me', then I
begin to create a measure of separation, of not identifying solely
with this aspect of my ego structure. Then I can see the battlefield,
that the Spiritual Warrior does battle from a world much different and
more expansive than the ego structure. The ego has rage, debilitating
fear, and confusion which is a powerful felt sense in the body. It is
overwhelming at times. The Warrior gets swallowed up in it sometimes
but if I allow these emotions and bring care and compassionate
understanding to them, they soften. The Warrior gains confidence. And
the battle continues.....