The Sacrifice of Ordinary Life – Life of the Unclean
EJ Gold opens this sacrifice with the following quote:
“One Sacrifices ordinary life, only to return to it after having become changed.”
We are marching along the path of the Art of Sacrifice. We are using well tested sacrifices to obtain data about ourselves, but also to acquire certain sensations of a different state of being. Yes, when we initiate a sacrifice we struggle with our egos and create interesting machine challenges. But, are we noticing what takes place in our essential self as the standard behavior is challenged and left behind.What is left there?
This is Sacrifice 04 – here we face the sacrifice of Ordinary Life. First we have to understand what ordinary life is around us. That takes a bit of time, but it is achievable. For instance, when you are with your mates, hoisting a pint of bitters, are there topics that simply cannot be approached, like “Why do we drink all the time?” Or, when your neighbor that just got the latest Acura SUV deluxe – it may or may not be fit to ask, “What are you doing spending so much money on such a vehicle?” You will embarrass them, upset their sensitivities. Ah… but, what about you? Is it your hairdo, your new shirt, the way you make sure everyone sees what book you are reading? What about you?
Now, read this Sacrifice closely and you will most likely dismiss it out of hand. Don’t!
This sacrifice has to do with the act of being shunned. We know how to shun others, but can you place yourself in a position to be shunned? How would you do that? Find a way to perform such an act, that does not harm others, does not harm your livelihood, or family.
What would you do? This requires you to actually put yourself in a position of actually being shunned? What about something like, standing in a long line at the super market, and as you check out, you find out you do not have enough money to pay for everything. You start telling the cashier to remove this or that… looking around you. The object here is NOT a theatrical performance, but to actually stand in moment of rejection. This will be a rare moment for you, observe well. You are the unclean one in that space.
Your examples?
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