VASCO GASPAR asks us to explore how we can become truly alive. Like Einstein, he invites us to remove the delusion of separateness and connect with the whole. He challenges us to move from “ego to eco,” and gives us the tools to manifest the world of the Heart.
Becoming whole, connecting our essence with Life
Life is a great mystery. Many times we wonder about our role and who we really are. I invite you to get in touch with the depths of your Heart and reflect on the following questions:
What is the real goal or purpose of human life?
What blocks us from manifesting that potential?
Who can help us flourish into that higher possibility?
I’m always inspired by a letter Einstein wrote to his daughter, where he said, “A human being is a part of the whole called by us Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts, and his feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
To me, that seems like an inspiring answer to the first question-that our real goal is to dissolve our boundaries and unite with the whole, unite with the Universe/Life/Source/God (use the term you prefer that resonates the most). That is what words like yoga and religion seem to point to in their origins.
What is blocking the way to achieving that goal? What really stops us is our ego, with its fears, desires, and attachments. Also, the parts of us that, although trying to protect us, end up creating even more constriction and boundaries between ourselves, other people, and Life in general. As some say, the word ego can be an acronym for “edging God out,” which seems entirely aligned with what blocks us from flourishing.
Our real goal is to dissolve our
boundaries and unite with the
whole, unite with the
Universe/Life/Source/God.
From ego to eco
How can we move from “ego to eco,” from the constriction of our small self to the infinite expansion of our being, our higher Self, connecting with the whole web of life? And who can help us achieve that?
I believe the answer lies within, beyond the body and beyond the mind. It resides in the Heart, in the Heart of our Heart, the Self, that deeper healthy core inside, that inner divine Light that has always been shining. The Chandogya Upanishad pointed to it many centuries ago: “There is a light that shines beyond all things on Earth, beyond us all, beyond the heavens, beyond the highest, the very highest heavens. This is the light that shines in your heart.”
As we connect with that divine presence within, we start getting guidance to attune to Life. We start “stepping out” of our own way and letting Life live through us. The words “surrender” and “service” become the beacons of our existence. We start surrendering to the guidance that Life is constantly sending us, receiving it with our Hearts, which in turn then guide us in the right direction. We manifest who we truly are in the world and how we can be of service to the larger existence we are part of, contributing to the greater good.
Step by step, we become a walking prayer, as the Benedictine monk David Steindl-Rast says: “Prayer is not sending an order and expecting it to be fulfilled. Prayer is attuning yourself to the life of the world, to Love, the force that moves the sun and the moon and the stars.”
Nurturing the connection
I find many practices helpful to establish, attune, and nurture that connection with Source, but the main ones guiding my journey have been Heartfulness Meditation and the Heartfulness Prayer. Prayer helps to create an inner connection with that divine presence, and meditation strengthens it, allowing me to be in tune with Nature and evolve spiritually.
We are all sparks of the Divine, walking each other home, back to the Source. What would happen if we could maintain that connection, that remembrance of the Divine within and without? To see ourselves and others beyond the masks. To see us all as one, part of the same Being. Imagine a world like that.
Is it easy to do? No. Is it possible? Yes. It takes one step at a time, expanding our awareness to a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness we share with each other and our environment. The more we expand, the more we include and transcend our boundaries and realize our full potential for goodness, compassion, and peace, while navigating through the challenges of Life.
May we all find ways to become our divine essence and manifest it in the world for the benefit of all beings. May we all realize who we truly are, surrendering ourselves to the divine guidance that is always present. May our spirits blossom and flourish while we help others to flourish as well. May we, together, manifest the world our hearts know is possible.
Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL
Vasco Gaspar
