The Mastery of Transformation
Important lessons from the mastery of awareness include recognizing that the mind is always dreaming, respecting the influence of the parasite, and embracing the possibility of transforming the dream and healing the disease of the mind. The judge is the ruler of the old dream, which the Toltecs aptly call “hell” because of the endless judgment and condemnation involved. The warrior is the architect and true king of the new dream, which is also called “heaven on Earth,” because of the foundation of love and acceptance that supports it.
Accepting Does Not Mean Liking
Domestication and the dream of the parasite create a fear of being rejected. The Toltec warrior knows that the antidote for this fear is love and acceptance. It takes time on this path to change the lies in the mind, which create the fear, into truths that support acceptance. As the warrior grows more certain of the reality that this universe is perfect in every aspect, he expands to greater acceptance of every part of it, including himself. He sees that there is no beginning or end to any event, no primary cause or effect, no victims and no perpetrators. (The idea of a perfect universe is explored more deeply in later chapters.)
The idea of accepting things you do not like may be perplexing to you. Remember that “acceptance” is being used here to recognize the reality of what is. Events and people are what they are. To argue that they “should” be different cannot change the truth of what is. You can accept the truth without liking it.
Along with his appreciation and acceptance of the perfection of the universe, the warrior learns that he does not necessarily have to like what goes on here. He knows if someone wants to abuse him it is the perfect expression of how they are dreaming, but in his self-love he will not tolerate it. This understanding frees the warrior to live his life in openhearted communion with every person and event in creation, while at the same time making choices on his personal path based on what supports his growth and happiness.
Acceptance as a Spiritual Path
The word spiritual has appeared in these chapters without being specifically defined, because it is a general concept that can be used in many different ways. The Toltec path of personal transformation is called a spiritual journey because the goal is to recognize and identify with the spiritual (nagual) nature of the universe, in balance with the material (tonal) reality.
Since there is one whole, there can be no authority outside of that unified whole to take it apart and judge the individual parts. Without a judge making parts of the universe right and wrong, we can only say the parts and whole are perfect. The human mind, through the parasite, is the only part of the universe that thinks it has the power to make itself and other parts wrong — and it is dreaming a lie!
The Toltec warrior may only accept this truth as an intellectual concept at first; however, when he works to clear his channels of perception and transform his dream, he can truly perceive the perfection of the universe. In the acceptance of the universe as it is, the warrior enters into a relationship with the spiritual or divine reality of creation. Thus, his acceptance becomes his spiritual path.
Take a few moments to think about people or events that you judge as bad or wrong. Write down some thoughts about how you feel emotionally when you are judging. Then imagine yourself in open acceptance of the same people or events, and notice any changes in your emotional state.
The purest state of love is total acceptance. Love as acceptance is the healing balm for fear. Thus, the warrior is the antidote for the disease of the parasite in the human mind.
