I think an individual might experience a kind of crucifixion and resurrection,
Maybe even several times in a lifetime,
And maybe that's why those circumstances happened to Christ.
It was to show us how to go through these kind of experiences.
Sometimes life constellates just very difficult situations for us,
And there's nothing much we can do,
We just have to go through it.
And then,
You know,
Really the question is,
How long do we roll around in the mud before we allow a resurrection or a rebirth?
Or as in the Christian religion,
They call it a second birth.
I think these things happen to us all the time.
I know Amma said that the motif of being born in a manger in a barn seemed to represent what the spiritual awakening is really like,
That there are no bells and whistles.
It's a very humble,
Humbling experience,
But it's supported by the universe and the animals are there,
And the wise men came.
So it's like,
You know,
A few wise ones around us might validate what we're doing.
I also want to talk about Herod,
You know,
Hearing that there was going to be a king of kings and killing all the boy babies because he was afraid of competition.
And you know,
I think this is a metaphor for,
You know,
The birth of a new understanding or the birth of something new.
There will always be an energy that tries to destroy it.
This can be,
You know,
Our own ego.
If we're making a shift,
We're growing our own ego,
We'll try to recreate the status quo,
You know,
Pound us back into line.
Or you know,
Our families might disapprove of the ways we are changing.
Or you know,
Think of a new plant,
A little tiny sprout,
You know,
The caterpillars get it or maybe,
You know,
An animal comes along and pees on it or something.
It just,
It's,
You know,
Very unprotected.
So it's the same with us,
Our new growth often gets a challenge.
Now the point of it is,
You know,
To strengthen,
To become stronger.
So a new growth,
A new shift.
So it's a challenge.
So you just stay true to your new,
To your new evolving understanding.
Stay true to the light that you see.
And then the challenge will back off.
And the light will be stronger.
It's our,
You know,
The learned helplessness I've talked about before that we can fall into where we think,
Oh no,
It's not possible.
It's,
You know,
I can't become the person I was born to be.
But we can.
You just,
Just keep going.
Just use any challenge to allow it to bring the best out of you and surprise yourself with the person you can become.
Okay.
Bless your heart.
