entry 46. the beyond
to see beyond the surface is to see the world as a window into the divine reality. the surface points somewhere beyond itself; vision ceases to stop or halt somewhere on the surface once it enters into relationship with what is beyond.
the world beckons us to see it as it truly is—that is, it yearns to be seen as connected with the divine, to be seen as a window into the divine. once we see the world in this way, there is harmony and balance, softness and grace. the spirit brings coherence.
vision sees through and beyond the world into the unity of the spirit, so it is no longer determined by the world. it becomes free. unmoved by the outside, it is moved instead by an interior principle.
this transforms the entire life of the person who does it. since vision is determined from above, so to speak, this person looks into the world differently; the eyes move differently; and, because the eyes guide the movements and behaviors of the entire body, this person also acts differently. there is grace, integrity, wholeness.
to see beyond is to see the world as an icon—as a manifestation and articulation of the unity that stands beyond it. it is to see the world as a passage and conduit of light. this brings the world into relationship with light. it sees the world as it truly is.
this moment is a window into the divine—everything that is contained in it. if i can see it as it truly is, i will know it to be that way. once i see this moment as a window into the divine, i see through and beyond all of the contents of the moment into the thing that stands on the other side—the divine.
and this frees me; it frees the world around me. it brings unity. so it is where i want to be, where i know myself to belong, where i become who i truly am.
time is structured in such a way that it is connected with our coming-to-awareness of this reality. moments expand and contract with regard to our awareness of reality as a window into the divine, or our lack of awareness.
when we are far from this awareness, time becomes heavy and drawn-out. we can say, in some sense, it can be called boring, among other things. there is no meaning. when we are close to this awareness, time becomes light and free. it is laden with substance, water, spirit—an ongoing gift, a revelation, an adventure.
time and meaning are either intertwined or separated based upon the presence of the other side, the beyond, the divine, in our awareness.