One Observation, One Conclusion, One Choice

All the philosophies, religions, and worldviews that exist come down to one observation, one conclusion, and one choice. We look at the world and our experiences and we observe that we are limited. We then must conclude one of two things; either we created these limitations or someone else did. From this comes our choice: accept or reject the limitations. To assume external limits and accept them is the path of organized religion (and atheism, for that matter). This is by far the easiest path: figure out the rules, follow them, and all will be right with the world. To assume external limits and reject them is the path conspiracy theorists and the archetypical New Age nuts choose. From this comes a life of conflict and strife, since to truly overcome the limitations is to negate one's purpose for living. So ever more elaborate constructs and ever deeper conspiracies must be uncovered in order to validate this worldview.

Yet both of these worldviews sidestep one important point (and atheism simply ignores it). If all of this springs from some Unlimited Source, where do all the limits originally come from? Can that which is Unlimited actually become limited? And if it could, where would the limits come from but the Unlimited itself? Either the limits must be illusions, or they are created and chosen, which are functionally the same thing. Either way, they only exist in the mind.

So this brings us to the second conclusion. To own the limits but resist them is the path of the spiritual seeker, constantly fighting against the millenia-ingrained tendency we have to limit ourselves. There is great sense of accomplishment is such a life, great sense of purpose, but it is not the highest path we can tread. The highest choice of all is to own that we create our limits and then to accept them. This all comes from a simple truth; to resist a thing makes it more real. Despite the realization, one who knows they create their limitations only makes them more solid by fighting them. Only by acceptance and joy in the creation and experience of one's limitations can we really be set free from them. In truth, conscious creation and acceptance of limits is the greatest form of freedom.