The sixth of the more common eddies of “active unenlightenment” in which Zone 2 swimmers find themselves is the delusion of somehow being “not yet ready” – the delusion of somehow needing to “learn more” or “know more” before they can step forth boldly as selflessly active members of their communities. In order to help you recognize and escape this trap (if you discover yourself stuck therein), feel free to humbly consider (and then possibly courageously alter) the following manifestations thereof …

*As briefly mentioned above, while Zone 1 advocates often remain mired in refusing learn new &/or uncomfortable information (or even outright reject &/or openly ridicule the same), Zone 2 acolytes tend to head towards the opposite extreme – learning for learning’s sake, believing that merely being “well informed” is a noble end in & of itself, using their lack of requisite wisdom or needed knowledge to excuse their lack of caring actions for others &/or selfless service for their communities. Zone 3 adherents, in stark contrast, avoid this trap entirely by remembering that any & every moment is the “right time” to act – that being kind or generous towards others requires no particular skill set &/or body of knowing – that nothing needs be “corrected” or “better understood” before one’s Love becomes potent & transformative; indeed, that the less certain one is of his or her understanding or proficiency related to a particular encounter, the more powerful his or her Love becomes when it is given thereto regardless. These are the ones who know that the gathering of knowledge is not beneficial per se, but rather only becomes truly Good when its information is set into motion for others immediately after (or even during) its harvest.

 

 

*Whereas Zone 1 addicts more often than not search for activities that will bring them & theirs the most immediate pleasure or benefit, Zone 2 disciples often get mired in striving to discover their “deeper purpose” or find their “spiritual calling” or remember their “true vocation” or even determine the “best course of action” before acting at all. Zone 3 enthusiasts, on the other hand, have ceased to wonder about or engage in such patently unknowable adventures – understanding as they do that “what” we do is ultimately unimportant; that it is solely the “why” behind our deeds that determines whether or not potent Love is extended to others and thereby the portal to Enlightenment is fully opened. As such, these are the ones who set aside passive seeking in favor of courageous doing – the ones who have remembered what every toddler innately understands: that no particular path must be discovered in order to set forth and deeply Care for those in need nearby.

 

 

*Though Zone 1 patrons are sure that “seeking enlightenment” is a mythological waste of time, Zone 2 devotees (while finding the search therefor to be important and ever worthwhile) tend to believe that the “truth” of enlightenment is too complicated for most to fully understand and the Journey thereto to be too challenging for most to complete – at least without the assistance of an experienced guide or knowing guru.¹ Zone 3 enliveners, in drastic difference, have come to comprehend that true Enlightenment is one of life’s simpler concepts, one that cannot be fully realized until all teachers, guides, and gurus have been gently left behind. For all such “counselors” & “therapists” & “life coaches” inherently keep the focus of their subjects on themselves – a focus that by its very nature precludes the pure focus on the other that is required for full Oneness to be experienced and thereby real Enlightenment to be known. As long as one is searching for Enlightenment – or pondering an instructors teachings related thereto – he or she cannot come close to finding the same. In-deed, it is only when one’s seeking & learning are set aside (in favor of deeds of bold Doing) that Love can fully blossom – and thereby Enlightenment be truly realized. For it is only in setting aside one’s listening to a teacher that the pupil can her or himself become a Master.

 

 

 

*Insomuch as Zone 1 confederates feel that transcending the whims of the ego is a goal that is essentially irresponsible (&/or even dangerous), Zone 2 crusaders believe that (while indeed being a desirable destination towards which to walk) supplanting the ego’s inclinations is a tedious process of deeply delving into the emotional wounds &/or psychological scars from one’s past – a process of slow-yet-steady transformation that tends to require diligent effort over a long period of time. Contrastingly, Zone 3 explorers know that this latter mindset is actually a recipe for personal disaster; a practice of ego-immersion that actually entrenches the practitioner thereof into the same dysfunctional behavior-patterns being remembered, and that thereby actually crystallizes the same emotional traumas being re-confronted thereby. These more truly Enlightened people know that it is not via a mental remembering or an emotional revisiting of the past that the ego’s habits can be transcended, but rather by letting the past go in the present; by actively supplanting those self-soaked memories with selfless behaviors that are truly potent – & thus truly transformative. It is indeed impossible to “express (and thereby somehow diminish or release) negative emotions with love” – seeing as how negative emotions can only be felt &/or expressed while focusing on oneself, and Love can only be expressed & thereby experienced while focusing solely on the other.

 

 

*While Zone 1 affiliates often either ignore or reject the advice & teachings of others, Zone 2 members tend to almost endlessly deliberate, discuss, &/or debate the merits of the same. These “spiritual conversations” (as profound an oxymoron as one can encounter) – meant to inform or clarify or educate their participants – instead serve only to delay the same from enlivening (and solely thereby coming to fully understand) what was originally being communicated or taught. Zone 3 protagonists, in direct divergence therefrom, intentionally leave all such verbal ramblings & intellectual interchanges behind – in favor of venturing forth boldly & caringly into the lives of those nearby. These ethical explorers are the ones who have rediscovered that – while it is true that we can all do whatever we wish with the time we have all been given – it is only possible to Meaning-fully live those moments (i.e. enliven real Enlightenment) while choosing to selflessly & actively Love others; something that is quite certainly not possible in the moments we choose to “observe” or “grow” or “learn” or “understand” life instead.

 

 

“Always remember that you will tend towards reacting like a selfish fool – just like everyone else. As such, remember to treat them all with according understanding & compassion … Just as importantly, always remember that you ever possess the ability to become a radiantly beautiful sage – also just like everyone else. As such, also remember to treat those same others with according generosity, kindness, and respect.” ~ via Shane Claiborne

 

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Filed under: Enlightening Enlightenment by Scaughdt