"To me, spirituality is the willingness to fall flat on your face. That's why, although my students put me up on a pedestal and think I've figured out something wonderful, I tell them all the time: my path was the path of failure. Everything I tried I failed. It doesn't mean that the trying didn't play an important role. The effort did play a role. The struggle did play a role. But it played a role because it got me to an end of that role. I danced that dance until it was extinguished. But I failed. I failed at meditating well; I failed at figuring out the truth. Everything that I used to succeed spiritually failed. But at that moment of failure, that's when everything opens."
~ Adyashanti
From his book, "The End of Your World"
Thoughts? Opinions? Just curious...
I think that is one of the most coherent, existential, human statements ever expressed. Nothing more need be said.
There is both success and failure (duality), but I can understand why he (Adyashanti) would emphasize failure to his students. He does have a lot of people looking up to him (as a model of spiritual success).
I would probably augment one statement that he makes (because it lacks clarity from my experience) - "because at the moment of failure, that's when everything opens". My experience is that the opening does not occur at the moment of failure, but at the realization and acknowledgment of failure (e.g., like it needs to sink in a little bit but not much). I would probably clarify it this way ...
At the realization of failure, a void point appears (nothingness). This nothingness is 'the point of creation' (the mother of all things), and from here I have the most opportunity to start creating (again). I also usually use an affirmation when I recognize this process ... like
"All is well. All is always well."
Thanks for the reminder.
I like it. As synchronicity wants it when reading this today, I had this very day a day of failure. Although it was not my fault really and I could not do anything to change it, but I failed or it failed me anyway.
It's good to realise that failure is always part of this existence and maybe it is even part of our life design.
I would not call it willingness (which would be before you try) but rather acceptance of failure also the knowing that it can happen that things do not work the way you want. As it is said by some: The universe does not provide you what you want, but what you need. Maybe success is not always what we need.
Many have had their 'dark night of the soul' when things fell apart in their life, leading to greater strength or insights in the end, and a way out of the dark night.
This can also work with smaller failures, like today, and I hope it works out for me too.
Thanks for posting this. A reassuring reminder.
What is failure but the refusal to get back up, get back on or keep going.
For myself I've always loved the journey, the byways, the nooks and crannies. Failure for me can only be reaching a destination without having relished the journey.