Just because it seems real doesnโt mean itโs Real.
Weโre wired to believe what we see. Heat waves shimmer in the desert, and our mind says: water. Even if we know itโs a mirage, the body still reacts. We feel hope. Relief. Thirst. Thatโs the power of seeming reality.
But thereโs a difference between what seems real and what is. In nondual teachings, what is ultimately Real isnโt what appears, but what never changes (cf. Nonโduality and mental health). The appearances come and go. Awareness abides.
Imagine this story: a man is hanging from a branch off the edge of a cliff. Below him is open space. Above, he canโt climb back. His past is gone. His future is unknown. Heโs suspended in uncertainty.
Now, hereโs the thing: the moment he stops trying to solve the situationโstops reaching, calculating, clingingโsomething opens. Heโs no longer a man in trouble. Heโs awareness in midair. Unattached. Present. Living in the falling.
Thatโs the kind of living weโre pointing to. Not checked out. Not indifferent. But open. Curious. Can I be open to possibilities as they float into experience?
The mirage captures this beautifully. You know itโs not waterโand still, you see it. Still, the body leans forward. Still, thereโs yearning. The illusion persists even in the presence of knowledge.
But we donโt have to drink from the mirage. We just have to stop building our sense of self around it.
We donโt need to land. We just need to fallโwith eyes wide open.
And when we fall fully, we realize weโre not falling through lifeโweโre falling into awareness.
The cliffhanger story has, at least, two continuations.
In one, the man cries out, โIs there anyone up there to help?โ A voice answers, โYes, I can help.โ
โWho are you?โ
โIโm God.โ
โOhโgood. What should I do?โ
โLet go!โ
โHmmโฆ Is there anyone else?โ
The other comes from my daughter Ariel, wherein the man, while hanging, notices a single bright red strawberry growing from the cliffside. With his last bit of strength, he reaches for itโlets goโand takes a bite. Itโs the best strawberry heโs ever tasted.
Have your own version? Iโd love to hear it in the comments.
You might also enjoy reading Life Is Butter Dream, which explores a similar theme of awareness, illusion, and letting go.
~ Jordan Shafer/nmm
Amanda Martin holds a PhD in Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in trauma therapy for individuals and families in residential and outpatient settings. Amanda also provides supervision for EMDR certification, EMDR consultants-in-training, and LMFT-Associates. Her mission is to help people find a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling path in life. Her warm, supportive, and interactive counseling style incorporates Symbolic Experiential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, HeartMath, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Collaborative Problem Solving.
Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelorโs and masterโs degrees in social work and a masterโs in theological studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive teaching experience, Jose specializes in trauma, sexual abuse recovery, domestic violence, and substance abuse. His research focuses on trauma interventions, neuroscience, and faith. He is EMDR Certified, an Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Trainer, with numerous publications and professional presentations to his name.
Amber holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds Supervisor credential for Texas. Amber is an EMDRIA consultant and trainer. She has over a decade of experience in the trauma field in work with uniformed services, domestic violence, childhood trauma and abuse, and recent mass trauma events. Amber provides consultation for EMDRIA certification, for consultants-in-training, and supervision for LPC-Associates. Amber continues to research the benefits of EMDR therapy with a variety of populations. Her goal is to help build strong clinicians who are well versed in trauma interventions to better support their clients. Amber sees a limited number of clients with a focus on trauma work, she is also a Certified Career Counselor and Certified through EAGALA to provide equine-assisted therapy.ย
Amber holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds Supervisor credential for Texas. Amber is an EMDRIA consultant and trainer. She has over a decade of experience in the trauma field in work with uniformed services, domestic violence, childhood trauma and abuse, and recent mass trauma events. Amber provides consultation for EMDRIA certification, for consultants-in-training, and supervision for LPC-Associates. Amber continues to research the benefits of EMDR therapy with a variety of populations. Her goal is to help build strong clinicians who are well versed in trauma interventions to better support their clients. Amber sees a limited number of clients with a focus on trauma work, she is also a Certified Career Counselor and Certified through EAGALA to provide equine-assisted therapy.ย
Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelorโs and masterโs degrees in social work and a masterโs in theological studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive teaching experience, Jose specializes in trauma, sexual abuse recovery, domestic violence, and substance abuse. His research focuses on trauma interventions, neuroscience, and faith. He is EMDR Certified, an Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Trainer, with numerous publications and professional presentations to his name.
Amanda Martin holds a PhD in Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in trauma therapy for individuals and families in residential and outpatient settings. Amanda also provides supervision for EMDR certification, EMDR consultants-in-training, and LMFT-Associates. Her mission is to help people find a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling path in life. Her warm, supportive, and interactive counseling style incorporates Symbolic Experiential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, HeartMath, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Collaborative Problem Solving.
