The second of the more prominent expressions of “active unenlightenment” can be termed “uncaring cold-heartedness” – a delusion entertained by many Zone 2 adherents caused by believing that they are either essentially unable to ameliorate the sufferings of others &/or that they should not attempt to do so at all. With this over-arching falsehood in mind, consider the following illuminations of the various manifestations thereof …

*Whereas Zone 1 advocates can often be so crass as to blatantly ridicule the suffering of others, Zone 2 acolytes just as easily slip into the “active unenlightenment” of callously observing the same in order to “accept the will of God” that placed them in their particular predicaments or “honor the sacred contract” that they themselves agreed to before their Souls entered & engaged the same. Zone 3 adherents, of course, dismiss all such nonsense – choosing instead to not only earnestly witness the pains of others, but to humbly attempt to relieve whatever portions thereof they can – regardless of whether or not those sufferings were in fact in any way chosen by those others, and irrespective of whether or not their own responding acts of kindness can hope to be in any way effective.

 

 

*While Zone 1 proponents tend to rail against &/or wallow in the “unfairness” of their lives’ more painful predicaments, Zone 2 followers often become stuck in a state of “active unenlightenment” caused by becoming passive in the face of such tribulations – refusing to act in response to the same by choosing to believe that their sufferings are somehow deserved (sometimes called “karma”) &/or must somehow be fully experienced in order to be freed from the same (because life demands “balance” between the good & the bad; a quantitative equilibrium between times pleasurable and those painful). Zone 3 contributors, unsurprisingly, wholeheartedly dismiss both the aforementioned falsehoods – knowing as they do that our more painful moments (while admittedly often being the direct consequences of our previous selfish choices) are not punishments to be passively endured but rather opportunities (to “be Kind anyway”) to be actively engaged, and that there is no conscripted “balance” demanded between times considered “good” and those labeled “bad” – that every “good” experience is a chance to humbly share the same with another in need of the same, and that every one of its “bad” counterparts is but the opportunity to ratchet up the potency of all subsequently chosen deeds of selfless generosity.

 

 

*Though Zone 1 affiliates exude a tendency to attack their enemies with physical aggression &/or verbal violence, Zone 2 disciples often prefer to “establish healthy boundaries” against the same (by ignoring them when they are at hand, avoiding them when they are nearby, or insulting them when they are out of sight). Zone 3 attendants, in typically dramatic contrast, do neither – knowing as they do first & foremost that it is impossible to truly “love oneself” or “respect oneself” while refusing (regardless of the excuse or reason) to Love or Respect another in need, secondly that it is the people “least deserving” of our acts of Kindness who are most in need of that generosity, and thirdly that our Love is in-deed by far most transformative in those moments we are least inclined to share the same.

 

 

*Insomuch as Zone 1 patrons staunchly believe that many of the painful occurrences in their lives are unfair happenstances to be corrected or facets of evil to be denounced, Zone 2 devotees prefer instead to blandly accept the same – claiming that “all are facets of the Divine,” that all circumstances are objectively good in one way or another (and we are the ones who lack the ability to recognize the same), &/or that peace only comes to those who accept all that is – never to those who strive against the same (a.k.a. “Be still and let the Universe do its work”). Just like their aforementioned cousins, Zone 3 enthusiasts know that these delusions are not worth following or attending – that we are only “facets of the Divine” when consciously acting as One (with accordingly courageous Kindness), that all circumstances are potentially Good – and only become that Goodness when harnessed in ways that further Joy of others & /or the Harmony in our surroundings, that profound Peace can only be known while humbly representing the same (via forgivingly caring for our enemies &/or being openly loving towards all strangers), and that detachment can only be truly Enlightened while simultaneously exuding a deep & heartfelt compassion towards those being set free.

 

Filed under: Enlightening Enlightenment by Scaughdt