MatriTalks 48
PASSION
FOR LIFE
Questions
& Answers
with
Han Marie Stiekema Sermes
Q. Having completed forty eight talks, I really
look forward to your conclusion. My question is this regard is, what according to you
would be the characteristics of the "new (wo)man?"
A. In order to have an
overview, let's first talk about the outcome of religious conditioning in the present
time. Obviously, we are most familiar with the Christian conception of man. Even, if you
are not a Christian (anymore), its effects are deeply engrained in the culture. Our
present psychology is determined by it. Which means, that Christianity has laid the
foundation of the materialistic, individualized and "godless" masses of today.
Q. That is a forceful statement. Could you
elaborate?
A. Christianity has
deliberately and forcefully deprived us from the context of life. First it destroyed our
Divine Spark within. Everybody claiming his or her spiritual identity - the Innermost Core
- was considered to be a heretic, accused of pride and blasphemy. Secondly, the vital
foundation was taken away. During many centuries "missionaries" have been
destroying our relationship with nature e.g. the interconnectedness of life and its
sanctuaries: wells, trees, animal symbols, groves, plants and herbs. "Nature"
was said to be the "work of the devil", including everything related to it:
Eros, sex, love and women. The purpose was to destroy "Heaven and earth" in
order to uproot and alienate people, thus making them an easy prey to the church.
Persecution, terror and intimidation lasted for almost one and a half millennium...The
outcome was a crippled mankind, having no choice but falling back on the only thing left:
its ego.
Q. So, is Christianity the cause, rather than
the counterpart of the current self-centered, secularized society, as they always say?
A. It is hypocrisy all over the
place. First of all, they destroyed the sacredness of life, while subsequently complaining
about the "godlessness" of today. In all those centuries, they really have (had)
one single purpose: power. The "caring for the souls" was only a façade.
Q. What does this mean for virtues like
humility, for instance.
A. Humility for the sake of
humility, obviously, only serves the interest of the church, exploiting you. Humility as
such has no value, it is a sickness. It only creates an inferiority complex, all too often
"compensated" by conceit e.g. presumption. Making humility a "virtue",
Christians have forced everybody to a false servitude, depriving people of their
self-esteem, their lust for life, their pride, their optimism and respect for each other.
Humility only makes sense, if you are allowed to "strive for perfection". It
should only be applied to the ego (and not to your entire Being). As you know, ego is the
other side of your True Self. Less ego means more chance to realizing your Being. So, yes
humility is an important virtue, provided that it paves the way to realizing your Divine
Nature.
Q. Clearly, the Christian "ideal" of
(wo)man is not yours.
A. It is life-negating, making
you guilty about all those vital aspects of life, that contribute to joy and happiness.
Therefore, our society being alienated, devitalized, paralyzed and utterly confused. Not
surprisingly thus, that for want of something better, it indulges in the only thing that
is left to it: its self-centeredness.
Q. At least, knowing the causes, one may feel
some mildness and even compassion toward all those, who have fallen victim to consumerism.
A. One important causal factor
is, that Christianity has replaced Reality by an artifact. Instead of life itself, it has
offered people its artificial world of ideals, concepts, dogma's, rules and bans instead.
It doesn't lead to the Source Itself, only to an image of the Source*. Therefore it is
false, hypocritical and misleading.
* That's why Christians are so obsessed
with the "image of God", instead of God himself. "Images" are not the
"Real Thing" though. They don't satisfy your innermost core. It reflects the sad
situation Christians are in. They search and search, while never finding it.
Q. This has lead to an
overwhelming reaction, called New Age. Its highlight, it's true, is over. However,
"esotericism" for instance, remains incredibly popular. Could you please,
elaborate on that?
A. Esotericism is a substitute
for Reality. Everything, that actually belongs to the spiritual Realm, has been stolen by
the mind, the latter using it for its own purposes. The mind thus reducing Truth to its
own measure. Rather than revere the Truth as something higher than you, the former becomes
an object of manipulation. The Divine is a mystery, esotericism however, reduces it to a
system of speculation. It is the "master" of its self-created reality. Hence,
"You are creating everything yourself", is one of their most popular sayings. By
trying to be a "true reflection of the Truth", all efforts are directed toward
making the system as "perfect as possible". Obviously, only very high placed
"initiates" have this overview. To impress people, they pretend to see all kinds
of "connections", linking any event to another. "Everything is
interrelated, after all". The result is a dream world, in which the blind are leading
the blind.
Q. I don't know, how many people will agree
with you...What about Eastern religions, Buddhism or Vedanta for instance? Would they be
able to fill up the gap?
A. The beauty of Eastern
religion is, that it is putting emphasis on our Divine Nature. You are stimulated in
becoming who you Really Are. That is the reason, why it is such a relief, to have them
here. By promoting Self-realization, they contributed a great deal to the healing of
mankind. So, hopefully, they will go on with their important work. However, they also have
been confronted with their weak points.
Q. Such as what?
A. As said before, their
original power: to focus exclusively on realizing your Essence, which is awareness, your
True Self, has made them vulnerable to all kind of "predators", who started to
use the formers' Treasure for their own purposes. Therefore, it has proven to be a too
limited approach to life. In short, Buddhism etc. has greatly underestimated the power of
Western materialism.
Q. So, they also can be skipped from the
list of liberating movements?
A. Well, first of all, Buddhism
should learn from it in such a way, that it may enjoy another revival. In the mean time,
the true cause of mankind's disintegration and helplessness may become clear. Healing one
aspect only, has proven to be not enough. We have to go back to where it all began:
(wo)man deprived of her e.g. his existential context. Therefore we have to Restore the
Wholeness of Life in all its aspects: "Heaven, earth and the (new) community".
Q. Obviously, a new world can only be brought
about by "a new (wo)man". What are the criteria for success?
A. Sheer desperation may
turn you to the Ultimate, once again. Together with deepened insight into the Origin, you
may come to accept the Great Mother as your Refuge. Subsequently, you may come to deep
remorse, surrendering yourself, your ego, including your self-centeredness, greed,
addiction, suffering and isolation to Her. She will be delighted to receive them,
destroying them in Her limitless Void. In return, She will bestow Awakening on all Her
devotees. This Awakening is your True Self, the Divine Spark in you. Surrendering thus
granting you the Triumph of Life, giving back your Original Heritage.
Q. It reminds me of the "Dionysian
man".
A. In patriarchal religion, be
it Western or Eastern "Passion for Life" has been suppressed. It is the main
cause of their decay. Through the Mother, life in its totality is embraced once again
though, including insight, love and strength. She wants us to become Life once again.
Through Her, we are invited to become part of Her Light Body e.g. Material Body, healing
not only ourselves, but the world as well.
Take Refuge in the Mother.
Start living passionately.
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