Thoughts: Dream on, dream off

“To die before you die is not just a quaint saying. It speaks to a very real experience that directly relates to one’s spiritual awakening. The important thing to realize is that you are grieving over a self that never was. It is the grieving over shadows and dreams. And yet, to let go of the dream of who we thought we were and what we thought reality was, is something we will all be called to do sooner or later. And it often comes as a surprise to discover our ambiguity over relinquishing our hold on the dream state.

“But let me emphasize again that the dream state is a dream; it never really was or is. And yet we take it to be true, and then grieve its loss. Perhaps getting very close on the illusory nature of what you are letting go of will help in allowing it to die.

“As Jesus said, ‘Let the dead bury the dead.’ As if to say, ‘Let’s get on with it.’”

~ Adyashanti, End of Your World