LAW OF THREE (51) Power in Weakness

LAW OF THREE (50)

POWER IN WEAKNESS

"The only self we know is the false self that developed in infancy under the influence of the three emotional programs for happiness and especially under the influence of a separate-self sense. The infant after six or eight months of depending on its mother, begins to realise that she is not going to do everything for ever, so it begins to take care of itself. It then needs to feel secure, loved, and free to experience power and control in some degree." Thomas Keating

In the first months of life we are unaware of ourselves, our needs, or our existence. The needs and weakness of the infant is a force that commands the attention and assistance of those around him.

As memory grows the child learns to speak, with speech comes self-awareness and the need for some degree power or control. Gradually we identify with the thoughts, feelings an sensations until we claim ownership and possession of "my thoughts. my feelings, my sensations ."  Eventually with the arising of the ego our essence is forgotten.

In our essence is our strength.   The recognition of the commanding power of essence is evidenced at birth.  In T.K's words: "This core of goodness is capable of unlimited development, indeed of becoming transformed into Christ and deified." 

The spiritual journey begins at birth: "The spiritual journey is a process of gradually desindentifying with the personality (or Ego) and identifying with our Essence, our True Self". Russ Hudson

Dos St. Paul have in mind the the power in the helplessness of the new born child? "For my strength is made perfect in my weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather glory in my infirmities, so that the power of Christ may rest on me" Cor. 12:9