|
I have been thinking more about the whole gay/straight issue and how the mind can become so insensitive and fearful when it is faced with its own insecurities and prejudice. Why do so many people get so upset over someone else's sexual preferences? It is not just the religious people feeling this way. They claim it is against god's will but I do not think that most people give that nonsense a second thought. Yet, there is this real hatred and fear of gays.
Does this come from something real within us that dictates how we respond? Or, is it coming from our conditioning? Were we taught to hate gays? Some of us may have been but there are still others who simply hate the whole idea of homosexuality. So just what is the repulsion some feel over the idea of sexual practices unlike their own?
From my life experience, I know to go to the heart of being and what that means, then go from there to what is being looked into to come to a clear understanding. Simple, pure, awareness has no bias. There is just this simple joy no matter what is being expressed or experienced within the wholeness of what is. It does not need any expression or experience to be complete. It is inexpressible, the Suchness of all expression. Life is love, love is Life.
Then one moves from that state of pure awareness into the mind of humankind. As animals we just expressed our nature and responded to the moment from instinct, as all animals do. We see homosexual expression within many species. Yet, there seems to be no bias from other members of that species towards any others based on sexual preferences. In humans though, we see all levels of bias, hatred and loathing for anyone who expresses their love for another in a way that differs from them.
So, what is it that makes humans so upset over homosexuality that does not bother other animals at all? To see this clearly we have to see just what the human mind/identity is. I have gone into the nature of ego in many other essays on this site but it needs repeating.
The ego is a misunderstanding of what our identity is and is caused by the conditioning the mind has gone through in its evolution toward a higher capacity for creativity. It is the mind, as conditioning, looking at the process going on within itself and making the false assumption that it is a separate individual, independent from the rest of life. Then it feels the need to protect its seeming identity by all means. Whatever it identifies with makes it feel it truly is something. However, deep within it knows it has no reality. It is a figment of the imagination. With this deep-seated feeling of being nothing, comes insecurity. It, the ego, is insecurity itself.
To maintain some sense of self that has permanence, it must hold on to whatever it identifies with, be it person, place or ideas/ideals. It also senses its instability and fluidity and does its best to not allow it to deviate from what it considers its norm. Therefore, people who do not accept his/her reality become a problem. They fear difference because it challenges their beliefs that they so dearly hold on to for security. In small matters they can be more flexible but on deep seated issues of identity they cannot let go without a great deal of effort, adjustment and insight.
Have you noticed how upset some people get when you disagree with them about almost anything? There are those who will be ready to fight with you if you dare disagree with them and will continue to disagree even if they are clearly shown they are wrong. I know this one all too well having been like that as a teenager. Most of the people around me were the same way. It is easier to attack that which we feel does not support our beliefs and set ideas as to how things should be, than to be open minded and look our fears in the face to get beyond them.
For instance, you hate broccoli and someone else comes along and loves broccoli. "How can this be? Are those broccoli eaters insane? How could anyone in their right mind enjoy that? Stone the broccoli eaters!" Well, that is going a bit too far, but you get the point. When someone comes along who happens to love someone of the same sex and enjoys having sex with them, then that is reason enough for hatred and violence toward those seemingly evil people according to those who have a strong bias towards anyone different from them. That is as nonsensical as stoning broccoli eaters. Of course most of the bias people express comes from a subconscious level. And many very good people have such bias and don't realize where it is coming from.
If we have no doubts about your own sexuality and do not have a fear that you too may enjoy having sex with someone of the same sex, then what does it matter if others do? What harm is there in anyone expressing their desire and love in any way they wish that does not harm another?
Life loves Life, all expressions of life. When a gay person feels love and joy from being with another then it is Life enjoying Itself. Would a straight person like having people hate them for loving their mate, or expressing their sexuality?
Love only knows love. It cannot make judgments, nor should It. Find out what it is within you that has bias. Of course, I am not talking about our need to make judgments in our day to day dealing with life on this planet. If your heart is open to the real, then your judgments will reflect that, and you will see you cannot hate anyone. Least of all those who share their love in ways that differ from yours.
Melvyn Wartella
|
