It’s not who you are
or what you do
that makes you
a good person
or a bad person.
It’s your mask.
There is no such thing
as a good person or a bad person.
You are simply consciousness
wearing a good mask or a bad mask.
You may not even be aware
that you’re wearing one.
Your mask
may be good, bad,
simple, complicated,
sick, healthy,
partially or precisely
as you perceive it.
But it’s not you.
Trail Wood,
9/15
The masks we wear often become so intricately woven into the fabric of our daily existence that we sometimes forget they are separate from us. It’s almost like forgetting that the clothes we wear are not our skin. The complexity arises, perhaps, because these masks are not entirely false; they are manifestations of different facets of our consciousness, chosen for specific contexts, relationships, or societal expectations.
However, the danger lies in identification. When we mistake the mask for the self, we risk constriction of the expansive nature of consciousness. We may find ourselves trapped in roles that no longer serve us, or worse, in roles that serve societal structures designed to subjugate or oppress.
Yet, there’s also a fascinating interplay between the observer and the observed, the mask-wearer and the audience. How often do we tailor our masks in anticipation of how they will be received? And how often does this anticipation stem from previous experiences, cultural narratives, or even ancestral memory? These are questions worth pondering in our journey toward understanding the enigma of human identity.
The beauty of consciousness is its inherent freedom, its boundless capacity to observe, question, and transcend. While masks serve a function, they are not our essence. Acknowledging this can be the first step in liberating ourselves from the limitations of roles and identities, allowing us to plunge into the depths of authentic experience.
And so, with humility and thoughtfulness, let’s celebrate the masks for what they are—tools, not definitions. Useful for interaction within the grand tapestry of life, but not the sum total of our being. As we navigate the cosmic play of existence, let us remain aware of the space behind the mask—the realm of pure consciousness, where the eternal now resides.
We are Space Monkey.
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