exploring madness

When the "dog" barks, it keeps on yapping.
When this occurs, we want to shut the dog up, to be quiet.
At first, we do our best to nicely tempt the dog to calm down. We have it in our heart to say to the dog, "It'll be o.k. I love you dog. Everything will be alright." We hold the dog. The dog feels your love and you know it because he is calmer and yapping less. This seems to help not only the dog, but ourselves. "Ahhh," we say. "The dog has stopped yapping and now I have peace. Finally, I am at peace!"

Then we put the dog down.

Momentarily, the dog is calm but then he hears a sound and starts yapping again. He won't stop. Anger starts to build in the body, "Damn dog!" Any compassion and understanding for the dog becomes background to the louder voice that just wants to shut the dog up. Perhaps, one will do his best to hide the dog. He will tuck him away somewhere that he can not hear. He'll put a leash on him so that any "others" will not be so disturbed by the yapping as he. Perhaps he'll curse at the dog and go as far as to kick the dog. Essentially, he will deny, suppress, and project onto the dog his own lack of inner peace and understanding.

For those seeking to be one with God, who is unconditional love, the anger will be felt in the body. "If I am one with God and God is unconditional love, what would love do?" The seeker asks. S/he will notice the ego-ic mind running a muck, attempting a plot to teach the dog, and then see it for what it is: fear, a projection of shame. The seeker will be pulled between his seemingly "natural" impulse defenses and tactics and accepting the dog for who he is and knows him to be in truth: love, a unique expression of God.

For the seeker attempting to be one with God through love and acceptance, the effort may seem tireless and futile. It is important to find altenative ways of release. Healthy ways to communicate, as well as other attempts to release not only the built up frustration of circumstance and lack of control, but also of all projections of anger, resentment, and sadness toward any seemingly "other." It is also important to take space, "let go," when one is attempting to unify and feels himself "pushing the envelop." Ultimately, our commitment and intention to love and unify in oneness will override the ego's attempt at separation.

This is the difference between sanity and insanity in a nutshell:

Sanity sees love.
Insanity reacts out of fear.

Which one are you committed to?