How can we liberate ourselves from those illusions which have given rise to so much personal preoccupation and so much misery in fraternal life? We cannot live in that tension, continually tossed about between the social name and impossible dreams. Neither is inner peace or brotherly love possible in such circumstances. A large portion of our energy is wasted on those preoccupations which only serve fantasy.
It is sad to see how a person suffers, how one struggles, how so many swords are forged and spears are broken for the fleeting appearance of a name which, ultimately, is not the truth of the person. The important thing for the majority of us mortals is not that we realize ourselves but that we may be seen as realized. And we are considered realized not because of our effective and objective production but because public opinion considers us to be a winner or a champion. And so, mounted on the colt of deceit, we go galloping ahead, fearful and anxious, about unreal worlds. From the deceit of life, deliver us, Lord!
The secret of wisdom lies in the awareness that a name is empty, like a shadow. The inner image of ourselves s also empty, like an illusion. Nothing of-that is real. Nothing of that is objective.
To awaken means to become aware that we are preoccupied by something which is unreal; that we are living to serve something fictitious, that we are making a theatrical performance of our lives, like those who create marionettes and waste their energy taking part in the pantomime.
To awaken means that we convince ourselves of the importance of being, that we set all our talents in motion toward their maximum fulfillment aware of our limitations. It is not worth the trouble of suffering and worrying about appearances, the offspring of fantasy. To awaken means to free ourselves from the tyranny of illusions.
To be aware of all that, is already to liberate ourselves. Only then will useless preoccupations disappear and peace come. My observation of life has convinced me that, in order to live in harmonious fellowship, the members must first have inner peace.
I have often sensed a lack of peace in the tense faces of many members. This was mainly the result of their personal preoccupations with their “image.” With burdens like that, it is impossible to develop harmonious relation-ships with others.
As soon as the members of a community become aware that they are losing peace over nonexistent appearances o for causes that are not worth the pain of suffering they will feel relief and peace. And now, indeed, it will be possible to live in harmony with the other members.
Man and his energies were not created to exist in separation from his brother. These are not energies for separation, but for union. Only accidentally, by exception, and almost contrary to nature, are human energies used against a brother, because their inner tension has destined them for union.
If the reader had an experience of awakening, he would become aware that the image which preoccupied him so much was vain illusion. He would experience a tremendous relief, the antipathies and resentments would automatically disappear, and all would be peace, union and love. This is a liberating experience. This is wisdom.
What is a name? A label matched to an image, a cloak. And what is the image? Another label matched to the person, also a cloak. For example, what is the name Anthony Smith and what does it mean? A sound, a support of air sustaining an image, and the image sustaining an opinion. The person is what is important. What is decisive is neither the image nor the name, but only that I be true, productive, loving.
All this means humility.
This awakening is a true, transforming purification; it is the conversion introducing us into the realm of wisdom. Wisdom brings us into the kingdom of love. Now, we can speak of fraternal love.
Extracted from the book “Come with me” by Fr. Ignacio Larrañaga
