When Breaking Free from Darkness, Aim for Light: A Reflection on the Path from Illusion to True Freedom
In our journey toward enlightenment, freedom is not always what it seems. One man’s liberation can still be another’s trap, and this contrast defines the spiritual path as we each move from darkness toward the light.
As we navigate through various levels of existence, what may feel like freedom at one point may, upon closer inspection, be just the beginning of a deeper journey.
The journey from darkness to light is filled with layers, each offering a new sense of clarity but also carrying the potential for deception. This is the nature of the path — we are constantly shifting perspectives, climbing from one reality into another, all while learning that freedom is not static but evolving.
The Status Quo: A Level of Muted Light and Shadows
Picture two men on the same level of existence, though their experiences are entirely different. One man is climbing up into a new reality, having left behind a much darker place. For him, this level, with its muted light, feels like paradise. It offers him a freedom he has never known — a reprieve from the suffocating shadows that had once defined his existence. Every moment spent in this new place is a gift, a chance to bask in what feels like the brilliance of light after so much time spent in darkness.
But the other man is ascending from this very same level, seeing it not as a place of freedom but as a trap. He has spent time here, and in that time, he has learned that the light is not as pure as it seems. It is tainted, mixed with shadows, and still bound by the constraints of a world designed by others. For him, this level — though brighter than the one below — is still enslaving. The muted light prevents him from reaching the true illumination he seeks. And so, while one man sees freedom, the other recognizes the need to continue moving, to rise above the illusions of this level and toward an untainted light.
This is the nature of spiritual growth. Each level we ascend offers more clarity, but only by recognizing the deception inherent in each stage can we truly continue on the path toward genuine liberation.
A Personal Revelation: Breaking Free from Darkness
In 2001, during a transformative period in my life, I had a vivid dream that became a symbol of my own journey from darkness to light. In the dream, I found myself in the lowest, oldest, most filthy pipe imaginable. The pipe was filled with waste, decay, and the foulest stench. Beneath this pipe lay nothing but raw, muted darkness — a place I had come from and, for many years, belonged to.
The next part of the dream showed me climbing up through a series of pipes, each one progressively cleaner and brighter. As I ascended, the filth lessened, and more light began to filter through. Finally, I came to a metal hatch that sprang open, and out climbed a baby — smiling, laughing, and full of life. This baby crawled quickly toward me, growing larger until the dream ended. This was the moment I broke free from the darkness that had once defined me.
At that time, I believed I had found the ultimate freedom. Working on difficult topics within the prison walls, I thought I had emerged into the light, escaping the darkness for good. But in truth, what I had encountered was only the first level of light — the first place free from total darkness, yet still not the pure light I would come to understand as the true goal.
Understanding the Levels of Light: Beyond Illusions
For years, I believed that the light I had found in that dream was the final destination. It was only later, through introspection and spiritual work, that I realized it was just the beginning. What I had seen as pure light was, in fact, still an illusion — a brighter level than before, but still not free from the shadows that distort true clarity. This realization was humbling, and it marked the beginning of a deeper commitment to seeking out untainted light, beyond the limitations of the status quo.
This is an important insight for anyone on the spiritual path. It’s easy to mistake the first glimpse of freedom for the final goal, especially when the contrast between darkness and light feels so stark. But true freedom comes from recognizing that each new level, though brighter than the last, still carries its own form of illusion. We must continue moving, always aiming for the next level of clarity, never settling for the first taste of liberation.
The Dark Heritage: Embracing the Shadows of the Past
Through decades of introspection, and from these dream experiences, I have come to believe that I was born into this life from a darker heritage. Not everyone has a noble or enlightened past. If reincarnation works — and I believe it does — then it stands to reason that many of us are born from places of darkness, where we have played roles of ignorance, perhaps even harm.
Every generation is filled with both sages and perpetrators, and someone must fill the shoes of those who have caused pain and perpetuated suffering. I have come to accept that I may have been among those in past lives, but this acceptance has not weighed me down. Instead, it has empowered me to transform, to escape from that level of existence and work towards something greater. My current work, my spiritual evolution, is a direct rejection of that darker imprint, and every step I take towards the light is a testament to the power of transformation.
If reincarnation is indeed a process of learning and escape from the cycles of ignorance and harm, then there are many people still trapped in those levels of darkness. The world as it is today reflects this reality — on the brink of extinction, driven by forces that thrive on ignorance, greed, and violence. But there is a way out, and it begins with recognizing our own darkness and actively choosing to move toward the light.
A Blessing for the Blind: Finding Light through Darkness
“Blessed are those who find the beam in their own eye,
for they have walked in blindness.
Blessed are those who remove the beam from their own eye,
because they will see where they before were blind.
Blessed are those who once were blind,
for they can guide us through darkness.” -Tindejuv.
This verse speaks to the power of awareness. Those who have walked in darkness, who have confronted their own blindness, are uniquely equipped to guide others through the shadows. It is not those who have always seen the light who are best suited to lead, but those who have had to work to remove the beam from their own eyes. Their perspective, born from the experience of blindness, offers a profound understanding of the path from darkness to light.
Conclusion: A Call to Move Beyond Illusion
The TULWA philosophy teaches that transformation is an ongoing process. Each level of light we encounter brings with it new understanding, but also new illusions. The challenge is to recognize the tainted light and muted shadows for what they are and to keep moving toward a higher, untainted realm of existence. True freedom is not found in the first taste of light, but in the continuous pursuit of something greater.
For those who have walked in darkness and now see the light, the journey is not over. We must aim higher, always seeking the next level of illumination, and in doing so, guide others who are still finding their way. As we break free from the illusions of each level, we move closer to a world where true clarity, true freedom, and true light are possible.
