The Corpse, The Cave, and The Cross

Bodily existence in this world is an experience of mindless decay, the darkness of ignorance and mindlessness, and suffering. There is death, restriction, and judgment. Our spirituality may inspire us to differentiate ourselves from flesh and from fetters on the mind and heart. We may recognize the possibility of separation from this world.

The Corpse-World

Decay is the way of life, in this world. Sickness, dissipation, and destruction are wrapped into the fabric of worldly existence. Children are afflicted with horrible diseases. Some die during birth. To survive requires the destruction of other living things, even plants survive through the decay of other life, as they receive nourishment from the soil.

The Cave and its Slaves, Rulers, and Rebels

The mind and heart are often stunted, confused, enchanted, manipulated, or otherwise afflicted. All cultures, sub-cultures, counter-cultures, religions, and communities, are afflicted to one degree or another, in some way or another. Neither Rulers nor Rebels are exempt. Perceptions are distorted and manipulated.

Language falls short of expressing even the physical aspects of experience. Language can be yet more limited and troublesome as attempts are made to convey insight.

The carnal brain can be limited by age, by developmental problems, by its own structure, by scaring or malfunction. There are also realities of the dynamics, limits, and pressures involved in inter-relationships. This is true of inter-relationships among humans or between humans and this material world or between humans and animals and other living things, between cultures and symbol systems and languages.

Much of this is quite beyond the awareness of many inhabitants of the cave, enslaved as they are in ignorance. Full understanding of the complexities and relevant realities far surpasses even those who have some awareness, whether they attempt to control or to rebel.

The Cross and the Separation

An intersection between survival and higher principles, between senseless abuse and character, between this world and something beyond this world, is shown forth in the symbol of the cross. There is a horizon of human community, that may be better or worse, shackled in the cave, or seeking freedom from such confines. There is descent within the bowels of experience, there is ascent above and beyond. There is separation from what is not at the core of one's being, so that there may be insight.

Beyond Washing, Repenting and Rising -- Knowing

There is never enough water to cleanse a corpse. The physical aspect of Baptism is an absurdity, the body will always become dirty again and dirt is no offense to that which comes from dirt. To rise above the physical garment, a soul must disentangle from it, identify beyond it, purify itself from enchantment and distortions that come from the body.

The blessing with holy water, the washing of Baptism signifies something beyond the body. To realize the limited and unsatisfactory nature of mere bodily and worldly concern, is to recognize some of the nature of sickness of soul. To re-orient the soul towards that which is beyond the body and this world, is what repentance means, the turning again towards what is Spiritual and Good. Then one may rise above flesh and ignorance of the cave.

But to receive Knowledge of a Spirit that is Good in that it is overflowing with Goodness, what can be done or said of such participation in Grace?