The Dark Night Of The Soul

Greed

Finally, the afternoon starts and the sweltering heat wakes me up from refreshing sleep. At this moment, I look at my pocket watch and realise that the challenge time is very near and I got up intent on accomplishing it. With this in mind, I leave the cabin with long steps and try to find out the best route to reach the dark abysm of repentance. The last time, I had already passed through west and north. These options can be discarded. Thinking a bit more, I decide, to go in the southern direction this time. The direction defined, I carry on walking and begin to prepare myself mentally for perhaps an unavoidable impact, for I had to keep the heart and soul clean in view of overcoming such challenge. What exactly would I be finding in such dangerous place? Well, I did not have the faintest idea. The only thing I was sure about was that I would make every effort to absorb the necessary knowledge to try to understand better the enormous complexity of the dark night of the soul. And this wasn’t an easy task.

I carry on walking for some time in the chosen direction, but I still find nothing. Could it be that I was on the right path? Well, after all, I had to nurture my patience. I preserver in the path, but I stop for a while to have a rest. I take the chance to sit down on that hard and dry ground, and immediately I remember the advice from my mistress, the guardian lady: those of the past and actual ones. Analysing each of them, I conclude that I was really on the right path and reignite again my confidence in my powers and my instincts. So, I get up and carry on walking in the indicated direction. After a few steps, a sign appears: An arrow pointing to my right with the name of the place that I was looking for: “Abysm Of repentance”. The impact of the goods news leaves dizzy, for I did not expect to find the desired place so easily. I decide to follow immediately the way indicated by the arrow.

What is happening? Could it be that I was tricked? A good deal of time has already passed since I have taken the path on the right and I haven’t found anything yet. I carry on walking aimless and with a few more steps I reach the edge of the top where it seems to exist only emptiness. Without another alternative, I decide to sit down and think a new strategy. How to start anew? At that very moment I had no idea at all, for I felt lost, desolate and abandoned. Even against my will, the self-control learned in the past disappears completely and the anxiety and fear emerge, despite my recent evolution. For a few moments, I remain in the same position, until something entirely new happens: The mountain ground shakes; the gravitational forces are again disturbed, and in a flash, the woman from the first challenge reappears. Straight away she starts the dialogue.

—Do you want to discover the mysteries of the abysm of repentance? Know that I can help you I once again.

—How? I can’t see any abysm here.

—Don’t be silly. For a mortal to enter the abysm he has first to disincarnate.

—Do you mean to die? This is out of question, for I am still too young and have a life in front of me.

—Nothing like that. Literally your body is not going to die. Only your soul will leave it for a few moments so that you can contemplate the abysm and obtain the necessary information. Don’t you want the knowledge? Then pay the price for it.

—Alright. Do what is necessary.

Gently, the strange woman made me lay down and shivering chills come over my entire body. At that moment, I try to remain calm, despite the doubts I felt in my heart. Without caring about me, the woman start a ritual and puts her hands on my head. As a result, I feel waves of energy all over my body and slowly I feel sleepy. A few more seconds, I am completely relaxed and my spirit with a jolt gets detached from the flesh. Leaving the body I begin floating and flying without limits. The sensation produced is so good that I ask myself whether is worth continuing to live. I stay for some more time taking advantage of the freedom, until a tunnel appears below me and fiercely sucks me in. Unable to resist, I fall into a deep hole, for a time I cannot measure, and at the end I reach a large chamber in the middle of which there is a mysterious door. It opens immediately as I arrive and an angel comes out and abducts me without any chance of defence. A quick journey takes place ending in a room. I enter the room and find a person already waiting for me. The angel left us alone and with a look of pity implores:

—Touch me and you will know everything you need.

Full of compassion, I answer the desperate request and at the precise moment of touching him, visions begin to appear, disturbing my acute senses. At a certain point I see, darkness, sun, lights and dense smoke screens. Little by little everything becomes clear and then I got the vision of the respective story.

“Ryan was very successful business man in the textile industry, married with three wonderful children, Christian, Andrel and Marta. The family relation was normal, but his ethic aspects did not please everybody. Examples of that are is uncompromising attitude as a boss, his extreme intolerance with the ethnic and racial minorities and detestable behaviour towards beggars and street children. With all this explosive temperament, it is not surprising how he acted on a certain day. In this occasion, Angel knocks at the door, explains the dire situation in his life and finally ask for some money to buy some food or even a dinner to satiate his great hunger. In reply, Ryan gets annoyed and states that in no way he is the father of the poor and slams the door without even a friendly word to That man in need. Angel revolts against the rich people and in a moment of despair puts a curse on Ryan. Years later, Ryan is still in the same state of mind and a certain day he took seriously ill and even fighting with all his vast resources is unable to escape the so feared death. On his arrival at the spiritual world, he is judged and without any possibility of defence he is irremediably condemned by his dark night. Without hope, he descend to the abysm where he will suffer day and night (without respite) for the mistakes he made in life, whilst Angel, was in heaven being comforted.

The respective vision ends and immediately my body is filled with the necessary knowledge. When I am ready, the person says goodbye and begs a favour of me: I want you to spread my story through the world, for I don’t want my children to come to the suffering place where I am. I promise to comply and finally he leaves. The angel reappears in the room and snatches me for the second time. We travel fast and he leaves me in the room near the door. At the same time a force pushes me upwards and when I come round I am back in my body, at the top of Ororuba Mountain.

Reflections about the challenge

I try to get up, but the super-human effort I made previously prevents me from doing so. Full of curiosity, I look around for the strange woman that helped me with the challenges, but cannot find a trace of her. Who could she exactly be? What powers did she possess? The only thing I was sure about is that she demonstrated being a wonderful instrument of destiny, with the objective of helping me in the search for such arduous knowledge. A while later, I forget momentarily about the woman and try to get up for the second time. The body tries to resist, but with a little extra effort I finally manage it. Standing up, I could think better and assimilate completely the knowledge revealed at the abysm. When I feel ready, I start my way back towards my temporary abode. Half way, the shadows of the sad story start to perturb me and then I decide to coldly analyse the case. Ryan was the most adequate example that rich people run serious risks as far as salvation is concerned. This because wealth and power bring with them comfort and status, but also require responsibility and detachment from the social causes. Another example, from the bible, shows the greed of the rich and the inhumane conditions of poor Lazarus. Its ending is the same as the story of Ryan and Angel. I analyse the two cases together and end up concluding the greed is a powerful itch of the soul. The characters change, the situations are different, but for those that nurture greed the same tragic end happens: The dark night condemns another victim to perish in the external darkness. How to change that great reality? The answer may be easier than we imagine. It is all to do with following the evolution path, a path towards the Father. Which requires refusals and difficult choices that few are willing to make.

I think the world would much better if you followed the good examples that history has given us: Jesus Christ, Francis Assis, Martin Luther King, Therese of Calcutta, Sister Dulce, and Francisco Xavier, among other. Certainly, the dark night would not have no more influence over us. Well, that is only a dream. The reality is completely different. Mostly, people show to be materialistic, selfish and full of vanities. It might seem pessimistic, but in my opinion the world will continue under the empire of the dark night and to completely understand it I will have to carry out new challenges and accomplish adventures that I am suspicious of. Of the stages, I have already accomplished two. Let’s carry on together, reader, in search of knowledge. I approach of the cabin that I built with such care. Waiting for me is the guardian lady. I get to her side and she start the dialogue:

—Congratulations, I see you are in one piece. Could you talk about your experience this afternoon? What have you learned?

—Initially I decide start from the south, for I have already gone through west and north. I walked for a long time, in that direction, until I was able to find some sign that could direct me. Once directed, I continued walking intensely and sometime later I came face to face with the same woman from the previous challenge that promptly helped me to find my destination, the abysm of repentance. I went forward and arriving exactly at the point I needed, I got in touch with the revelation of the second cardinal sin: Avarice. The story to which I was subjected helped me understand the extension of this sin, the real fate of all those that follow it and finally took some conclusions: Avarice is the key with which the dark night of the soul snatches faithful. It lodges itself in the human heart and senses, obstructing the respective evolution of the individual. Besides, causes secondary evils such as indifference, egoism and intolerance. This exposed, we can conclude that the results are catastrophic and many times lead to condemnation. An alternative to combat this kind of sin would be altruism, which reinvigorates the soul and opens the paths of evolution.

—Very well. After what I see and heard, I reach the conclusion that you are closer to understand the meaning and extension of the dark night, since two stages have already been overcome.

—And now? What is the next step?

—The next phase will be realised tomorrow and deals with one of the biggest weakness of the human being: Lust. This one will be the last one under my supervision, for I am not able to help anymore. On the next stages you will be helped by a Hindu, who already has lived here in the mountain for six months. Relax: He is a specialist on the last four cardinal sins.

—Does that mean my lady is going to abandon me? Please don’t do that. Don’t you remember? We have been together in the search of knowledge, since the last adventure.

—Don’t take my decision personally. That is not the case. You ought to know that I don’t possess all the knowledge that you think I have. Even for me, the dark night became a complex and indecipherable subject. For you to advance it is necessary new values and teachings, which I haven’t got nor the large majority either. For this and much more we must part at this moment, and when you evolve more, who knows if we will not see each other again.

—Anyway, thank you for everything. If it were not for your advice I would have not progressed. From now on, I promise to make even a greater effort to lift the veil of the dark night of the soul. All within the possible, of course.

—Don’t thank me yet, for we still will meet other times in this adventure. In the next opportunity, I will give you my last recommendations.

—I understand. One last question. Does your ladyship believe that I am worthy of the knowledge to be revealed?

—The little I know you, you are. When you achieve the greatest goal, the so ardent knowledge, you will have the power to open your mind to truths hidden for centuries. There you will have the respective answers.

—And there I will be happy working on what I like and lavishing happiness. How wonderful. I hope that this moment does not take too long. Any more recommendations?

—No. Nothing more for the time being. Now, I must go, for it is getting late. Good luck in the next challenge!

Saying that, the guardian lady disappeared. Being left alone, filled me with anxieties and preoccupations. Will it be that I would continue to progress in such dangerous path? Who exactly was this new master, the Hindu? These questions without immediate answer gnawed my heart and I was about to accomplish one more challenge.

Lust

The time passes rapidly and a new day dawns. Its arrival brings new and disquieting preoccupations to an unprepared dreamer. I ask myself: Could the sins of the flesh be so dangerous to the point of affecting my purity? Thinking a little more, I decide to carry on risking, even if that could have grave consequences to me. With the strength of that new decision, I get up and go to the improvised bathroom of the cabin to take a bath. On the way, I try to put my mind at peace to enjoy those moments of leisure. I go in, close the door, get undressed and grab the bucket of cold water that I myself had prepared the night before. I start bathing and having thrown the first amount of cold water I begin reflecting about the sacred place where I am. I think a little about the mountain and about its importance in my life. I end up concluding that it was really sacred for its climate, its history of which I was part of, challenges, hidden mysteries and even the very cave itself. I continue the conclusions and arrive at a common denominator: Nobody ever will know it completely, unless he evolves till perfection. In it, I could find my opposing forces and, by becoming the seer, was able to control those forces. Now, I was searching for the knowledge and understanding about the dark night through which we all pass. On that path I had accomplished two stages. But still there were seven more, unforeseen, which I have had no time to think about.

I try to concentrate on the bath and forget, for a moment, the preoccupations. The strategy is good, I carry on with the ritual, put on soap, throw more water over the body and make an effort to take away all the impurities. When I feel totally clean, I grab a towel, dry myself and put on clean clothes. I leave the bathroom and go to the kitchen to make my breakfast. When I get there, I begin to fry the appetizing chicken eggs that I got in the woods. I spend some time making my food and when it is ready, I eat it straight away. I take the opportunity to sit down for a while, and when I do that, I yearn for home, for my mother and my good life. All this was happening for I was used to have a good breakfast and family warmth. Another moment goes by and I shook my head: All of this would be much easier if they support me in my career and my dreams. I would certainly have another reason to carry on fighting and affirm myself ever more as the seer transformed by the cave. But I turn away those thoughts, for they only hurt me now. Then I plan my strategy for the next challenge.

With all set, I go out of the cabin and take the eastern direction, for I haven’t gone that way yet. The beginning of that path is done in a customary manner, without hurry, for I still had to mentally prepare myself for the impacts that may come. At this moment one needs to be careful, for the previous challenges have proved that the cardinal sins are stronger than I had imagined. Probably this third stage will not be different too. Strengthened by those sins, I reach the conclusion that the dark night, in this instance, would have the power to condemn. How to be safe then? That is the answer that I am looking for. After passing through all the stages of my personal evolution, I certainly will have a position of respect. In the meantime, I would have to take care of the present challenge. Without any more preoccupations, I continue.

Further on, in my field of vision, appear three youths dressed as prostitutes. Although still far away I realized that they were very beautiful and ingratiating. When they become aware of my presence, they wave to me and I decide to get closer to investigate further. As I got near, the dark night intensifies and the impact freezes me. The next moment, they introduced themselves and invite me to accompany them. Without giving it much thought, I decide to accept and we carry on walking. At half way they surround me forming a circle of darkness. At this precise moment, the dark night snatches my heart and I am forced to remember the experiences that have made me suffer. Distressed, I try to get out of the circle, but it is too strong even for me who is a prepared and evolved seer.

Sometime later, a sequence of doors open in front of me, and I am pushed against one of them by the prostitutes. In a few seconds, my mind and body go through tunnels where the pleasures of the flesh are enjoyed. As I have such experience, I tremble with the images, for what is sacred becomes an act of pure savagery. In order to not suffer so much, I close my eyes, but even so I am still restless. Over the time, the circle tightens and travelling through the tunnel I end up arriving at a large room, where someone is already waiting for me. I concentrate mentally, trying to cleanse the heart and the soul, even after everything that I saw and heard, and the circle snaps up. Thereby, the dark night goes away for a while and I feel more reassured. I decide then to approach the person in the room and touching him, the revelations and visions reappear.

“Philip is a public official of high rank and as a consequence of his job he leads a stable life together with the other members of his family: His wife, Katherine, and his two sons, Luke and Joseph. In family life, Phillip is very affectionate and responsible. However, about his character, he is not so perfect, for he acts in a disproportionate manner in some instances. For instance, he likes parties, most of the times in the company of ex-university colleagues and in these occasions, takes advantage to drink a lot in order to pervert the senses and get friendly with some women always present. It was this path that lead to the first betrayals. In the beginning he was cautious and did cause any suspicions. However, as time went by, he convinced himself that his attitude was normal for a man and did not care about discretion anymore. One day, the inevitable occurred: His wife found out about his infidelities and was totally disillusioned with her husband. She believed that she was married to the right person and that the conjugal love was for ever. Angry, she fights with her husband, but did not separate, for the love of the sons is greater. He no longer cares to be caught up and carries on in his path of betrayal. Time goes by, the situation doesn’t change and it brings a serious illnesses that kills him. He is judged and the dark night use the wife’s pain to condemn him. He is one more that the darkness claims for its shed and this is certainly the end for all the perverts.

The vision ends, the man says goodbye, recommending that I spread his story throughout the world. I agree, and a strong wind carries me towards the tunnel. In a few seconds I am back at the top of the mountain, changed by the knowledge of the third cardinal sin. Now, there were only six stages left for the complete understanding of the dark night that terrifies all the hearts.