Why Do We Worship Mysteries?

Is it easier than being practical? ‘Spirit’ is another name for consciousness or ‘soul’. We don’t have a spirit, soul or consciousness; it’s what we are – the observation of everything. In calling this ‘the observer’, we are missing out that first moment when, in reality, there is just pure observation, before we start labelling – “I see” as opposed to simply seeing.

We have been tricked by foolery.

Confusion arises when we think that we have a spirit, soul or consciousness that we cannot see, as it’s what we are, conditioned people can’t associate with such ‘spirituality’. So they will say, “I’m not a spiritual person”, as if it’s a badge of intelligence, all because they’re being deceived by the idea of the mystery.

When we strip away the foolery and the heavy baggage of the word spirituality, we are left with something entirely scientific and immediate; the undeniable fact of being aware, right now.

As long as mysteries are maintain, we will live in deception.

The question arises of why.
It’s the maintenance of illusions for a gullible audience. We have to be very careful how we hear and what we read. Mara – the lord of deception – is extremely subtle.

Mara operates through whispers rather than roars. It’s not a cloven-hoofed monster wielding obvious evil, but the ultimate psychological architect making use of the habits of our old brain. Its subtlety lies in the ability to use our own virtues, rationalisations and desires against us, creating traps that feel entirely like our own free will.

Mara is our dark side, and the only way to defeat it is to employ the method the Buddha used; absolute, non-judgmental recognition. When we see the deception clearly, we simply state, “I see you, Mara”, and the illusion loses its grip.

That is happiness
– the release from replaying suffering.

Let’s say you’re a judgemental person, always finding fault with others. That is Mara at work. Feeling guilty about this allows Mara to maintain the sense of being judgemental. The moment when we recognise this obsession, we’re actually saying, “I see you, Mara”. That is freedom.

It’s the feeling of guilt that is Mara’s subtle work,
so don’t feel guilty – just see it and you’re free.