Dear reader, in this article we shall seek to reach a deeper understanding of what essence truly is. Have you ever asked yourself: What is essence? Is it perhaps an abstract concept, or an intrinsic quality that defines every being and every thing?
For many philosophers throughout history, essence has been a central theme of study – from Plato, with his eternal and immutable ideas, to Aristotle, with his distinction between substance and accident.
Could we say that the essence of a tree lies in its capacity to grow and bear fruit, or is it something beyond its biological functions? And what of the essence of a human being? Does it reside in our rationality, in our ability to love, or is it the reflection of our spiritual nature?
In this journey of exploration we shall discover that to understand essence is not only to comprehend the world around us, but also to know ourselves on a far deeper level. Prepare yourself to open your mind to a new way of seeing life – one that goes beyond the superficial.
Essence and Its Spiritual Values
According to the dictionary, essence is “that which constitutes the nature of things, the most important and characteristic part, that which is permanent and unchanging.”
Gnostic culture teaches us that every human being carries a spark of the Soul called essence, which, when expressed in action, is consciousness itself.
The essence is the most noble and decent element within us; yet sadly it lies asleep, imprisoned within the inhuman psychic aggregates that form the ego we unconsciously carry inside.
At birth we are all endowed with essence. In a child it manifests as self-awareness, but as we grow, caught in the mechanics of life, the essence fails to develop. For this reason, we cannot truly master ourselves, for the ego governs our mind and emotions. Consequently, we lose ourselves in the everyday struggles of life – whether economic, political, social, religious, domestic, or professional.
The Veil of the Ego
A person may become highly intellectual and relate well to the outer world, yet this does not guarantee that their consciousness is awake. They may in fact be poorly related to their inner world – to their body, mind, and emotions – which in turn disrupts their relationship with the spiritual dimension.
If you, dear reader, have aspirations or longings for inner transformation, you must reflect upon this. Humanity as a whole is incapable of perceiving its own mechanical condition because, as we have said, the essence lies asleep beneath the ego – within those countless aggregates that personify all the defects we carry inside.
Daily life – our occupation, our profession, our responsibilities – though essential for survival, constitute a kind of slumber of the consciousness. When we arrive at the realisation that humanity at large lives with consciousness asleep, we can grasp the urgent need to awaken the essence so that it may grow. Yet for this, something new must be undertaken.
The development of the essence is only possible through conscious work and voluntary effort. We must work and meditate upon ourselves, observing our thoughts, feelings, and actions with sincerity.
The Path of Self-Knowledge
In the search for Truth, of ourselves, and of the spiritual path, each one of us aspires one day to receive the virtues of the soul – gifts that come only through a fully awakened and developed essence, united with the higher aspects of Spirit.
When we speak of the soul, we must understand it as a set of forces, powers, virtues, and spiritual values that we acquire when we consciously eliminate our inner defects.
If we dissolve hatred and resentment, Love crystallises within us. If we overcome selfishness, altruism emerges. If we transmute lust, the virtue of chastity arises. And so it is with all that we carry within.
What joy arises when a defect is eliminated! One feels as though a heavy burden has been lifted. Indeed, profound happiness is born. As each psychic aggregate is dissolved, the essence is gradually freed.
Liberated essence bestows an inner beauty; and from this beauty radiate spiritual values such as love, compassion, patience, wisdom, and perfect joy.
Thus it is of vital importance to understand that genuine spirituality is a journey inward – not a matter of external ritual, but of profound self-knowledge. This is achieved through the deep exploration of oneself and the tremendous super-effort required to become conscious of the ‘I’.We could never know ourselves without serious and profound self-observation. It is impossible to eliminate that which we do not know. We must learn to observe our own errors.
The Reflection of the Interior and the Manifestation of Spiritual Values
Those who possess few spiritual values within themselves always seek something outside to complete them. With good reason it has been said that “the exterior is a reflection of the interior.”
Let us therefore observe what we are reflecting and take the courageous decision to become aware of what we are doing – for ourselves, for humanity, for nature, and for those with whom we relate each day. We must strive to leave good impressions, to radiate enthusiasm, joy, and positive energy. Simple gestures such as kindness, warmth, a smile, or a courteous word are never wasted, and they always yield good results.
When the ego, the myself, dissolves, only essence remains within us – the soul, the Being, in spirit and in truth.
Finally, dear reader, if you would like to explore more about this and other mystical, esoteric, and spiritual subjects, we invite you to share this article and subscribe to our blog.
Subscribe to our blog!
