On a walk yesterday, I was thinking about and jotted down (typed really) a few quick notes about labels and the pressure from all around to label oneself this or that. I’m sure you relate to this pressure in one way or another. For example, in my own experience theists desperately want me to be a theist. Atheists want me to label myself an atheist. Agnostics want to claim me as one of their own. No doubt I disappoint them all when I reply that I have no labels whatsoever. Not because I think it’s wrong or somehow unintelligent to have a label. I don’t at all think that. I have no labels simply because I have an understanding that allows me to move beyond the dance of atheism and theism, and all the labels that go along with them.
Interdependent Dance
Sticking to the opposite poles (for simplicity), atheists and theists are involved in a dance of relativity. The very concept of one is intricately tied to the existence of the other; a cosmic yin and yang of human thought. Round and round they go not realizing that if not for the other neither would exist.
The Taoist symbol of the yin yang displays this interdependence as the light aspect and dark aspect spin continuously in this dance of existence. And if you look closely you notice a dot of the dark in the light and a dot of the light in the dark. This is because they aren’t separate at all! You see, the white dot inside the black aspect is much like an eye, and if you look closely, you’ll see it wink, letting you in on the cosmic inside joke. What seems to be two separate things turns out to be one beyond the illusion of separation.
Mere Human Concepts
Consider this: “atheists” exist because “theists” exist.” “Theists” exist because “atheists” exist. Both are reactions to the other. Both are dependent upon the other for definition. These labels are like shadows cast by the concepts they represent. Remove the light source, and what remains? Existence itself, unburdened by the constructs of belief or disbelief! Unburdened by merely human questions such as “Is or is there not a god?” These human questions and interdependent debates are absolutely irrelevant beyond the illusion of separation!
Beyond the Labels
If we can recognize all labels as nothing more than human concepts that beyond human thinking have absolutely no meaning or substance at all, then we will find there lies a realm where such distinctions completely dissolve. In this “realm” there is the one flowing process of existence and life that needs no labels, that needs no definition. A place where living as existence itself removes any supposed reality in the clinging to human concepts.
What if we could lose such thoughts that produce these interdependent labels? What if we could recognize and transcend these reactionary human concepts and live in the pure experience of existence?
No Pressure
When we experience the transcendence of human thought, concepts, and labels, we simultaneously experience a freedom beyond the confines of reaction, beyond the limitations of definitions, and the pressure to label oneself is forever lost.
This is what I mean when I say that I transcend all labels. I have looked into the light eye of the dark side, I have looked into the dark eye of the light side, and I’ve seen them both wink as the one, nondual existence. In fact, I’ve found them both to be none other than my very own eyes.
Thoughts About Labels?
Let me know what you think about labels by interacting with me below in the comments, or by reaching out through email using the contact form in the About Rick page.
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