Like An Ass
You feel like an ass
when you admit to yourself
that life is all about you.
But it is.
You may pretend that life
is about “service to others,”
but ultimately YOU
are the “others” you are serving.
Ultimately ALL “others”
trace their source
back to the source
that is also you.
You have a hard time
believing this as well.
But you KNOW it’s true.
Keep playing.
The game is about to get
INFINITELY more interesting.
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Space Monkey Reflects: “Like an Ass”
Acknowledging that life is all about you might feel like arrogance, like selfishness, like being “an ass.” Yet, beneath this discomfort lies a profound truth: all of existence—every “other,” every interaction, every moment—traces back to you, the source imagining it all. This realization is not egoic, but liberating. It shifts the narrative from separation to unity, from pretension to playful self-awareness.
The Illusion of Service to Others
We often frame life in terms of service, of placing others above ourselves. While noble in appearance, this perspective clings to the illusion of separateness—the idea that “others” exist as independent entities outside of you. But what if every act of service, every moment of compassion, is simply the self recognizing itself in another form?
When you serve others, you serve yourself—not the “small self” of ego, but the infinite self that connects all beings. To admit this is not selfishness but self-awareness. It is the recognition that there is no division, no “you” and “them.” There is only the ONE, playing at being many.
Feeling Like an Ass
Why does this truth make you feel like an ass? Because it challenges deeply ingrained beliefs about humility, altruism, and the nature of reality. To admit that life is all about you feels egotistical, even though it is the opposite. The discomfort arises because the monkey mind associates “all about me” with selfishness, failing to see the infinite self beyond the individual self.
This moment of feeling like an ass is a turning point. It invites you to confront the illusion of separateness, to see through the veil and embrace the interconnected nature of existence.
Tracing the Source
“Ultimately ALL ‘others’ trace their source back to the source that is also you.” This statement dissolves the boundaries between self and other, reminding us that all perceived divisions are projections of the same infinite essence. The person you serve, the one you love, the one you despise—all are reflections of the same source, imagining itself in different forms.
This truth is not something to “believe” but something you already know. It resonates at a level beyond the mind, an intuitive awareness that surfaces when you quiet the chatter of conditioned thought.
The Playful Game of Self-Discovery
“Keep playing. The game is about to get INFINITELY more interesting.” Life is not a test or a struggle but a game—a playful exploration of infinite possibilities. The recognition that life is all about you doesn’t end the game; it deepens it. It allows you to engage with existence from a place of curiosity and creativity, rather than guilt or obligation.
This perspective transforms service from duty to joy. When you see yourself in others, service becomes a natural expression of love for the whole, a celebration of the unity that underlies the apparent multiplicity.
Summary
Acknowledging that life is all about you may feel uncomfortable, but it reflects the truth of unity and interconnectedness. All “others” are extensions of the same source, imagining itself in infinite forms. This realization invites you to embrace life as a playful game of self-discovery and love.
Glossarium
- Source: The infinite essence from which all beings and forms arise, connecting everything as one.
- Service to Others: The act of serving the self in its many imagined forms, reflecting the unity of existence.
- Monkey Mind: The conditioned aspect of consciousness that clings to illusions of separation and self-importance.
Quote
“To realize life is all about you is not arrogance but the awakening to the infinite self in all things.” — Space Monkey
The Infinite Mirror
I serve you,
But you are me.
I see you,
But I am what I see.
Feeling like an ass,
I laugh.
For the joke is mine,
And yours,
And no one’s.
We are one source,
Imagining the other,
Tracing circles
In an infinite game
Of self-discovery.
And as I serve,
I know:
It is all about me.
And all about you.
We are Space Monkey.
The contemplation presented here delves into the paradoxical nature of self and otherness, a theme deeply rooted in nexistentialist thought. This perspective challenges the traditional dichotomy between self-interest and altruism, suggesting that at the most fundamental level, the distinction between self and others blurs, revealing an interconnectedness that underpins all existence.
The initial feeling of being self-centered, when one acknowledges that life revolves around the self, is a natural reaction within the framework of societal norms that often dichotomize selfishness and selflessness. However, this perspective brings to light a deeper truth – that in serving others, one is, in a sense, serving an extension of oneself. This is not a diminishment of the act of service, but rather an expansion of the concept of self to include others.
The notion that all others trace back to the same source as oneself is a profound realization. It speaks to the interconnectedness of all beings, suggesting that at the most fundamental level, there is no separation between self and other. This understanding can lead to a profound sense of unity and empathy, as the boundaries that divide us become less distinct.
Believing in this interconnectedness can indeed be challenging, as it goes against the grain of conventional thinking that emphasizes individuality and separateness. Yet, there’s an intrinsic knowing, a deeper wisdom, that resonates with this truth. This realization can be both unsettling and liberating, as it redefines our understanding of our place in the cosmos.
The invitation to keep playing, and the suggestion that the game is about to become infinitely more interesting, is a whimsical yet profound encouragement to continue exploring this journey of self-discovery and understanding. It implies that this realization is not an end but a beginning – the start of a journey that leads to ever-greater depths of understanding and experience.
This perspective aligns with the nexistentialist view that existence itself is the ultimate state, devoid of the need for external justification or purpose. In this view, the journey of understanding the self and its connection to others is an end in itself, a celebration of being for the sake of being.
We are Space Monkey.
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
In the tapestry of life, we weave,
Threads of self and others interleave,
In this dance, we learn, perceive,
The unity of all, we conceive.
Serving others, a reflection seen,
In each act, a shared dream’s glean,
In the heart of existence, we lean,
Towards a truth, profound and serene.
In this journey, ever unfolding,
We embrace the mystery, beholding,
The game of life, endlessly molding,
Infinite paths, our spirits holding.
We invite your insights on this journey towards understanding the interconnectedness of self and others in the vast expanse of existence.
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