We don't have to add anything to us; instead, we need to remove anything blocking or hindering the realization of who we are. Authentic living often requires that we transform by removing whatever hinders us from living from that authentic self.
An ancient wisdom story describes a sculptor who intended to create a piece of art in front of an ashram. The purpose of the sculpture was to demonstrate the artist's appreciation for how the ashram changed his life. The artist found a large stone that he wanted to use to create the sculpture he envisioned. The rock was so big, however, that he decided to break it in half.
As the sculptor started his work, the half of the stone he sculpted yelled out, "Don't touch me! Leave me alone!". Being a peaceful man, the sculptor stopped working on that piece of rock and began to sculpt the other half of the broken stone instead. The other half of the stone was so large that he had to stand on the first rock to reach it.
After many weeks of work, the sculptor created a magnificent statue. It was so beautiful that people came from miles around to admire it. It was so extraordinary that the community leaders decided that the sculpture was worthy of a special blessing. So, a ceremony took place in which those present poured special oil over the sculpture, lit incense around it, and essentially christened it.
When the ceremony was over, the portion of the stone that wanted to be left alone spoke up and said, "While you were sculpted, the artist was standing on my back. When the sculptor finished, the town honored you with oil and incense, what gives?". The sculpted piece responded by saying, “You would not let the sculptor work on you; you would not allow the sculptor to change you. So, you have been merely a steppingstone, while I transformed into something which shines forth beauty.”
The story reminds us that we may end up being a steppingstone for the false notions of life unless we are willing to go through our transformation process. Transformation occurs when we are eager to practice universal spiritual principles that help us go beyond the limited identities we may have accepted.
As the great Michelangelo said, "Every block of stone has a statue inside of it, and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it." Each of us has a magnificent something already within us. As we live originally, we bring more and more of that magnificence out.
Peace and Blessings,
James