Descent into Humanness: The Path to True Being

Embracing Our Humanness as the Gateway to Spiritual Growth and the Absolute Mystery

The poem and accompanying exposition delve deeply into the paradoxical nature of spiritual growth and humanness, a journey marked by suffering, struggle, and ultimate liberation. A.H. Almaas’s Diamond Approach® was instrumental in shaping this understanding by providing a framework to explore the intricate relationship between suffering and the human condition.

In the Diamond Approach, suffering is not something to be avoided or merely endured; it is a fundamental aspect of our existence that, when understood and integrated, can lead to profound personal transformation. The teachings emphasize that much of our suffering stems from our belief in separateness and the false notion that our personal histories and identities confine us. We perpetuate our suffering by clinging to these beliefs, alienating ourselves from our true nature. This approach teaches us to access the deeper truth and essence by inquiring deeply into our experiences and dismantling these limiting beliefs.

The concept of “humanness” in the Diamond Approach further deepens this exploration by acknowledging that our spiritual journey is intricately tied to our human vulnerability. The capacity to embrace our emotions, including the darkest aspects, allows for genuine transformation. Through this process of facing and understanding our suffering, we can transcend the ego and touch the Absolute.

This understanding provided by the Diamond Approach was crucial in developing the capacity to open up to the revelations expressed in the poem. It highlights the importance of accepting and integrating all aspects of our human experience as a path to spiritual realization.

Down
Down
Down
Into the depths
Of the human condition
Down
Into the saline depths
A shower of tears
A river of tears
An ocean of tears
Into the depths
Of being human
Pain and suffering
Beyond the light
Darkness and despair
Beyond hope
And the well of longing
Beyond the anguish of the soul
Stripped of its treasure
Down
Into the depths

Intimate knowledge
Of dark waters
Births a real human being
Blesses the soul
Frees the heart
A radiance
From the depths
Down
Down
Down
Into the world
Of man
John Harper

When I wrote this poem, I aimed to express the journey of becoming a truly authentic human being, embracing the raw and often painful elements of the human condition—our capacity for deep self-reflection and genuine humanness. The repetition of “Down” reflects the deliberate descent into the depths of what it means to be human. I wasn’t just talking about a fall into negativity; I was describing a necessary journey inward, where we face the most brutal truths about life—those moments marked by suffering, pain, and despair.

When I mention the “saline depths” and move from “a shower of tears” to “a river of tears” and eventually “an ocean of tears,” I’m illustrating the overwhelming nature of suffering and capacity for vulnerability. Tears, in this context, represent the emotional depth of experiencing life’s angst. As these tears grow from a shower to an ocean, they symbolize how suffering can intensify, sometimes engulfing us. But this isn’t just about drowning in sorrow; it’s about acknowledging that this immersion in pain is an essential part of the human experience, a necessary passage into more profound understanding.

As the poem unfolds, I explore the darker side of this journey— “Pain and suffering beyond the light, darkness, and despair beyond hope.” In this context, “light” symbolizes something deeper than comfort or beliefs; it represents the spiritual light of God, wisdom, truth, and understanding. When these comforts are stripped away, we face the “darkness and despair” that lies beyond. This darkness represents a spiritual void, an existential crisis where all the familiar sources of hope and meaning seem lost. The “well of longing” speaks to that deep, insatiable desire for our essence, the extraordinary, but even this longing can feel futile when faced with overwhelming despair.

In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God.
St. John of the Cross

I try to convey that there’s something transformative about this descent. When I say, “intimate knowledge of dark waters births a real human being,” I acknowledge how spiritual growth and authenticity come from confronting and embracing our deepest pains and fears. In this raw, vulnerable state, we’re stripped of all the illusions and false identities as our true selves emerge.

When I say “stripped of its treasure,” I’m referring to the state of mystical poverty. This isn’t poverty in the material sense but a spiritual stripping away of all we cling to—our attachments, desires, sense of self, and even the treasures of essence. It’s about being emptied, becoming poor in spirit, which is the entryway into the Absolute mystery.

Mystical poverty is a surrender, a letting go of everything we think we need, everything we believe defines us. In doing so, we enter a space where the Absolute, the ultimate mystery of existence, can reveal itself. This is a place beyond words, beyond understanding—where what we once held as treasure no longer has any weight.

In this sense, being “stripped of its treasure” isn’t about loss but making room for something far more significant. It’s about the inner space necessary for the Absolute to be experienced. This is why I link it to the birth of a “real human being.” When we let go of all we think we are, we open ourselves to becoming who we are, in our deepest, most authentic essence—connected to the profound mystery underlying all of existence.

Mystical poverty is the entrance into the divine essence, the window into the deepest mystery of reality, the absolute truth of Being. Only those with a powerful pull toward that most beautiful of all beloveds will dare to venture here. And of these only those who love this Beloved to the extent of complete annihilation into its mystery chance upon this doorway. – A. H. Almaas, Diamond Heart Book Five: Inexhaustible Mystery

The poem reveals a profound paradox at the heart of spiritual growth: our deepest struggles often pave the way for true liberation and self-realization. By embracing the full spectrum of human experience, including its darkest aspects, we open to transformation and authenticity.

In the depths of suffering, when all is stripped away, we discover the light of our true essence. It is through this revelation that we find the strength to transcend, embracing meaning even in the darkest of times. – Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

This perspective challenges the common desire to avoid suffering at all costs, instead presenting it as a crucial element in becoming a “real human being.” While painful, the descent into our depths is portrayed as the path that leads to a more profound understanding of life and a connection to the underlying mystery of existence.

“A radiance from the depths…Into the world of man.” reflects the journey’s culmination into the depths of the human condition, speaking to the radical transformation achieved through this deep, often painful exploration that is not just for personal enlightenment. Instead, it’s about bringing the light and wisdom from such experience back into the world to benefit others.

This “radiance” symbolizes the activation, compassion, and understanding that emerge from facing and integrating the darkest parts of our being. As painful as it may be, the journey into suffering births a “real human being,” someone deeply connected to their humanity and the divine. This new awareness isn’t meant to be kept hidden; it’s meant to shine into the lives of others, to bless and uplift those still struggling in the depths.

In the context of the article, these final lines emphasize that the spiritual journey, while deeply personal, is ultimately about connection and service. The grace and understanding we attain through open and open-ended inquiry and facing our most profound struggles aren’t just for our benefit. They are meant to be shared, bringing light and healing into the broader human experience. This is the true essence of spiritual growth: not just personal transformation but also the ability to impact the world with the radiance that comes from having journeyed through and emerged from the depths.

Ultimately, this piece invites us to reconsider our relationship with suffering and to view our challenges not as obstacles to overcome but as gateways to a more profound, more authentic way of being. By fully embracing our humanness, with all its pain and complexity, we can discover a path to a more profound connection to the Absolute mystery at the heart of our existence.