The Faces Jesus Faced

My core philosophy is rooted in the belief that the entire story of Jesus’ life was a build-up to the crucifixion, and what happened in those final moments. All the miracles, all the healing, all the messages and teachings were examples of a fully realized human being.

At the time of the crucifixion, Jesus looked at the people driving nails into his skin and bones with pure compassion and forgiveness. He was free from karma and carrying others’ actions, because he had a pure heart of compassion and forgiveness for himself and all life. He saw no separation, so he was completely free from worldly attachments while fully living in the world.

When looking at these people, with eyes of compassion, I believe that Jesus saw his own teachings. He saw the same masks that we see when people come into our lives and metaphorically nail us to a cross, or simply push our buttons. He saw the lessons that cause anger, resentment, and hatred to arise, but he forgave the people bringing them. Jesus realized that holding any of those feelings or emotions only increased his attachment to the world, and any sense of suffering. He saw and embodied truth in flesh; compassion is the way.

When his body died, Jesus was placed in a tomb. For three days, he was in darkness. When we meet the darkest parts of ourselves and others with compassion, we are free. When the tomb was opened, Jesus ascended this worldly plane. Similarly, when we experience the depths of our shadows, we become free from them. In fact, once integrated, these shadows become the brightest light that we radiate outward to the world.

When we open ourselves to the teachings we’re being given with no attachment to preferences, life flows freely and we can experience the sacred union of it all. This is the invitation— to meet each moment, each teacher, with presence and compassion. This practice, in essence, is yoga.