21 levels of Self-Deception: THIRD EDITION by Tom Wallace - HTML preview

T W E N T Y - O N E L E V E L S

At the beginning of this work I suggested that anyone searching for answers should give up that search. This, as will hopefully be obvious, does not preclude an examined life. Any programme however that purports to some kind of transcendent progress, to spiritual growth or to achieving enlightenment, Heaven or nirvana is doomed to failure. We have to step aside from this. The only thing to do really is to create a contemplative space of silence where we are simply observers of ourselves and our relations to others. A place to reflect on our encounters with nature and with other people and even our encounters with silence and mystery itself. A place where we take time to really see ourselves in a clear light and to see our circumstances and relationships. I suggest this is always a conflicted space. Made from mystery and deriving from darkness and chaos, we inevitably live a conflicted life day by day.

To quote again from the passage of Simon Parke’s, given in Chapter 22:

‘To receive truth, I need above all things to create something new inside me, a space not previously developed. I need to create a middle space, or in-between place — somewhere that is other than both my starting essence and my claustrophobic personality.’

That then becomes the foundation for action in the world. The space of which Parke talks lies beyond the boundaries that have been defined in this work. It is the opening for grace. But from there our work within the economies of human endeavour finds its true strength.

This is a process, not a once for all event.

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