That I am

That I am:

that I am a soul - and not in any sense do I believe myself to be anything less than belonging fully to the world. I am not essence separate from form. This is a largeness without a true line drawn, a completeness that shows distinctions being seamless to the whole. To be a soul is simply be alive, an interacting force that has somehow found itself aware. 

everything is soul.

there is no hierarchy to this aliveness, that my body returns to earth in the same manner as every other form of life, re-birthed through atoms now released, and found again through other aspects of the world. It's all simply life, and death doesn't distinguish me in any special way. My aliveness isn't of a higher order. 

that I am a soul means only that I note myself alive, aware, and participate with life in a caring, meaningful way. It means I belong. In no way does it imply that I am a soul separate from body, nor removed from the permanence of death by any religion or belief. I am a soul through body, root deep connections, and my care for others. 

there is no other world that I belong to. 

death disassembles me, atoms now gathered as my body are released to reform through a choice of nature. I take great pleasure in knowing that what holds me now may one day be found as a spring leaf, another brief beginning and autumn of release. One more cycle of life and death. The two are not apart from each other, not opposing forces that fight for my possession. Whatever is born will someday cease in present form. That is soul, life - the changing aspects of what I am. I was never just a person, but always this aliveness that has been reborn from something other, and will again find itself reformed. A continuous soul. 

of consciousness - I know only of this moment. There is no telling what continues, if some aspect remains aware of its aliveness. Perhaps. Yet I have no memory of being unborn. I came to the world in a surprise of wonder, present, aware. It was all a sudden gift. I'll let this be enough and not fill my time with speculation. The world is still a sudden gift and I'm continuously surprised. 

for me, it's all soul.

~

Peace, Eric