Sovereign Adulthood

What does it mean?

I found this writing by -J Krishnamurti, a philosopher, speaker and writer. He stressed the importance of a Psychological Revolution of one’s own mind through meditation, inquiry and human relationships that could assist in a Radical Shift in society. He strongly believed that this could not be brought about externally by any religious, political or societal means- His legacy is to set humanity unconditionally free from the destructive limitations of the conditioned mind. He claimed no allegiance to any caste, nationality, or religion and was bound by no tradition.

He writes:

“Understanding Ourselves”

Most of us do not want freedom inwardly, in the deep sense of that word, because it implies that we must stand completely alone, without a guide, without a system, without following any authority; and that requires enormous order within oneself. Most of us want to lean on somebody, and if it's not a person then it's an idea, a belief, a way of conduct, a pattern established by society or by some leader or so-called spiritual person.

A person who seeks truth has no authority of any kind, at any time, and this freedom from authority is one of the most difficult things for most of us to grasp,not only in the Western world but also in the East, but we think that somebody else will bring about order in our life- a savior or a master, a spiritual teacher- which is absolutely absurd. It is only through our own clarity, through our own investigation,awareness, attention, that we begin to learn about ourselves; and out of that learning, out of that understanding ourselves, comes freedom and order.

Shunyamurti states in great detail his book “Gems of Wisdom” from the chapter called “Becoming An Adult”

“The innocence of childhood has been ripped away, but replaced by a nefarious naivete that duplicitously assures us that we are in control and doing the right thing. We are given the illusion of too much power, while in reality, we are being inducted into the enslavement that results from ignorance. Those who have gone through the ordeal of maturation understand that knowing one's true calling and following the path of the heart is not an easy achievement. It takes a very refined intelligence and emotional development to stand against the demands of the Big Other, to remain unmoved by either intimidation or deduction. Until one has done a great deal of inner work, one probably will have no sense of one’s true Self or the best use of one's existence.

A real adult can easily be recognized. That being will have gravitas, an uncanny sense of presence and stillness, of mastery over anxiety and need. An authentic adult will have developed the capacity for sustained introspection, spontaneous creative expression, intense and concentrated self discipline, poise under pressure, unrelenting perseverance, invincible resilience, complete internal integrity, unresisting humility, heartful generosity,among other noble truths. Until one has achieved such a solid and well rounded adult consciousness that is not just an outer shell around an inner child core one generally will have no clue as to what is the mission one was sent here to accomplish.”

Definition of an “Adult:” A person who is fully grown and developed. One who is mentally and emotionally mature.

Definition of the word Sovereign: To have power over oneself, a kind of concrete solid state of Beingness; a recognition not dictated or conditioned by others; can still retain a lightness of existence no matter what's happening in the external world, even a sense of humor. To be sovereign is the ultimate freedom and the awakening of Self Realization.

Sovereignty by Misadventures of Crow

“Who dare squash my quest for authenticity,

The truths I alone must speak or swallow?

What monstrous world shapes my identity,

Lays out a path for me to fail or follow?

Why, entangle in this web of complexity,

Shall I be entrained to accept its sorrow?

Where will I go when instilled dependency

Crumbles in my lack of faith in dead tomorrows?”

“Now as I move into the 7th decade of existence I can appreciate with greater wisdom and humility how truly difficult and important this work of the Souls mission is, that adulthood is only reached by engaging fully into the Unraveling of all past traumas and remembering the Real Self beyond trauma and illusions...

I ask myself why I care or bother to try and know myself…. because it doesn't work not to resolve and evolve, in fact it's much more painful and ultimately deadening to resist growing up.

I can't think of anything more important and necessary than to Remember who I am Now as the world scene unravels before us... Kali the Goddess of Destruction is alive and well and there is plenty to destroy in this last stage of Kali Yuga, the Age of darkness. What better time to become and embody authentic Sovereignty and claim Adulthood.” -Bhavani

“The Dakini Speaks”

My friends, let's grow up.

Let's stop pretending we don't know the deal here.

Or if we truly haven’t noticed, let's wake up and notice.

Look: Everything that can be lost, will be lost.

It's simple-how could we have missed it for so long?

Lets grieve our losses fully, like ripe human beings,

But please, let's not be shocked by them.

Let's not act so betrayed.

As though life had broken her secret promise to us.

Impermanence is life's only promise to us,

And she keeps it with ruthless impeccability.

To a child she seems cruel, but she is only wild,

And her compassion is exquisitely precise.

Brilliantly penetrating, luminous with truth,

She strips away the unreal to show us the real.

This is the true ride-let's give ourselves to it.

Lets stop making deals for safe passage:

There isn't one anyway, and the cost is too high.

We are not children anymore.

The true human adult gives everything for what

Cannot be lost.

Let's dance the wild dance of no hope!”

-Jennifer Paine Welwood

About the Art-

“Know Thyself” 2010 is one of the very first transformational art collages to surface when Tendressa art Therapy studio was born... it still speaks and I am still listening.

Photos: Baby, toddler, child, adolescent, teen, adult, crone.