Dark Night of the Soul
(also called the desert or wilderness phase)
If the Split
Man is ready to go but doesn’t have a goal, then the ascetic has decided on
a goal but doesn’t know how to get there. Sinking ever deeper into confusion,
into darkness, into despair he eventually gives up, utters a cry for help and
is rewarded with a tiny glimmer of light at the end of his dark tunnel.
He grasps that light and, holding
on because his life depends on it, increases that light so that it becomes the
bright dawn of awakening, called enlightenment.
This sculpture represents
the most intense and stressful phase of solving the problem of achieving a fulfilled
life. Some people experience this phase as a dreadful black emptiness, others,
the religious, as the dark night of the soul or fire of hell. Everyone goes through
this black hole to reach the white or golden light peak experience of goal
achievement.
Many refuse to enter or
venture down the black hole (viz. the Creation Gate)
because they fear the pain and hopelessness encountered there. But if they
don’t enter the ‘dark night’, they cannot enjoy the rapture of the brilliant
dawn (of a new life). In short,
“Heaven happens at the
nether end of hell.”
This unique 14ft 6ins bronze
is a copy of a 2ft stone Gandhara (Roman provincial) period sculpture carved in
the 1st century AD in what is now Pakistan. It represents the Buddha-to-be
practicing severest suppression of the urge to life (and rebirth, indeed,
re-death) in order to end his personal stress (Pali: dukkha). This attempt
failed, or so he claimed. He decided to take a rational, scientific approach to
the problem, eventually understanding that “Whatever is subject to arising is
subject to cessation.” To wit|: “Nothing lasts.” “If you attach to that which
doesn’t last you’re going to get stressed out, and suffer”. So, “Detach! Back
off!” and stay cool and happy (viz. the Nirvana man).