Illuminating the Depths: A Journey Beyond the Ego

There’s always room to go deeper. Since the beginning of time, humanity has been tasked with this profound journey. I’m reminded of the biblical story of Enoch, the son of Cain, who, according to legend, was a master builder and one of the first architects of the Ziggurats of ancient Sumeria.

Enoch was entrusted with the sacred duty of safeguarding the teachings of God, directly imparted to Adam. His mission was to protect these divine lessons from the cacophony of the masses and the deluge that threatened to wash them away. To achieve this, he buried them in nine underground chambers, preserving the hieroglyphics and teachings that contained the rituals and rites devoted to the light.

From the dawn of humanity, light—both physical and metaphorical—has symbolized the life-giving properties bestowed upon us by the transcendent. Without these illuminating forces, the individual falters, unable to see, to tend to the crops, or nourish its very existence. Today, the light of illumination still emanates from the transcendent source within ourselves.

Yet, the false notion that this light arises solely from our inner subjective pursuit of truth—proclaimed by the ego’s mantra of “I think, therefore I am”—is a fallacy. The ego is confined within its limited scope, generating only as much light and reason as its boundaries allow. To truly illuminate our paths, we must transcend the ego, distancing ourselves from its confines to connect with a greater light. This connection compels the individual truth seeker to explore deeper realms of self-understanding.

However, the teachings necessary for this journey are buried deep within. To achieve self-distancing and transcendence, which in turn opens the gates to illumination, one must be willing to delve into the labyrinthine tunnels of the unconscious. This exploration requires a challenge to the limitations imposed by the ego. Without this courageous undertaking, one remains trapped, restricted by the very self they seek to understand.

(c)2024 John Piedrahita