Introduction
Let us explore an intriguing aspect of alchemy, which to me, represents the art of using life’s experiences as a means to transform our perception of the world. It is a method for gaining wisdom from the lessons life offers. And not to forget, there are ways to enhance this process, to make it more efficient.
Life offers certain catalysts, elements that can accelerate the pace at which we grow. This is a fundamental concept in the realm of self-improvement. If you’re already actively pursuing personal growth, you are likely familiar with the idea of leveraging catalysts to hasten your development, to become sharper, more attuned. In this case, this article can help deepen your understanding.
However, if you’re new to this notion of becoming a better person than you were yesterday, then I invite you to continue reading. I am excited to share with you a perspective on how to engage with a game whose rules may still be unfamiliar to you.
A more intriguing explanation on the word catalyst
The term “catalyst,” derived from the Greek word ‘katalysis,’ meaning ‘loosening’ or ‘dissolving,’ first appeared in the world of science, specifically chemistry. In this context, a catalyst refers to a substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing a permanent change itself. This unique and invaluable ability to modify the dynamics of a reaction without being consumed is observed both in nature and industry.
This understanding of a catalyst from a chemical perspective segues beautifully into the idea that our bodies, too, are fundamentally chemical in nature, abiding by natural laws.
Expanding to a broader, metaphorical sense, a catalyst can be an event, person, or thing that triggers a change or transformation. It’s a spark that ignites an evolution, potentially accelerating the transformation of one’s soul. This concept may perplex some, as it’s not immediately clear what we mean by “soul,” and how a catalyst could possibly stimulate its evolution. For me, “soul” is a word describing the totality of our singular experience and everything it encompasses; it is the entity that experiences. But I do add that this is my own interpretation.
The catalyst, therefore, embodies the concept of change, representing the dynamic and transformative forces that propel progress in various fields, be it science, society, or personal development. Understanding this allows us to appreciate the catalysts in our own lives, recognizing their profound role in shaping our journeys.
The Spongy Complex
Much like a sponge absorbs water, a person who becomes proficient in the art of catalysis can develop a similar ability, becoming what I call a “sponge” This individual has mastered the skill of harnessing all of life’s catalysts and channeling them into something productive, whether through mental exercises, meditation, or contemplation. You might even compare them to our real OG, our good pal SpongeBob SquarePants, who possesses the innate ability to transform all negativity into something positive. These individuals can accelerate their personal development astronomically. For most of us, the idea of using life’s lessons for growth is not foreign, but putting it into practice may seem daunting.
Whats being cooked?
To be able to practice using catalyst, one should understand some basic things. First one should learn what he or she is in the face of catalyst. And second what catalyst exactly is in the face of the person. For now, catalyst is just life events, without leadership.
Let’s first discuss the science behind chemical change. We, as beings, are fundamentally chemical. Astonishingly, we experience this chemistry firsthand, leading many to refer to our bodies as tools, systems or temples. These tools can be honed and sharpened, a process we understand through neurological changes.
Deep down, there’s a part of us that identifies with this chemical flesh. For many of us, myself included, we go through our days as bodies experiencing life. much like a cooking pot subjected to heat, thereby changing its composition. Life’s events mold us like pots in a kiln. Similarly, like AI, our behaviors are shaped through training simulations. This process, often referred to as rebirth, is a cyclical one that continually refines our neurological systems.
This perspective still seems quite mundane. The problem lies in the inability to change one self. The true challenge is the inherent resistance to change. People are commited to there own world view, creating a conformation bias. much akin to a sailboat committed to its course by the prevailing winds. Thus, we are often at the mercy of life’s winds, which may steer us off course.
Therefore, one needs a new philosophy that not only resets the course but also chooses better waters with more favorable winds.
The Way of the Tao and the Stoic
I have found the most success through studying Taoism, which results in a Stoic approach to problems. These philosophies involve practicing the surrender of one’s entire being, not in devotion to a particular course, but in acceptance of life’s factual flow. ‘It is what it is,’ as they say. Our bodies are as much a part of life’s flow as any other experience. Allowing this flow to run its course creates an unfettered state in which we can integrate even the heaviest of emotions and information. This process of accepting truth is often referred to as shadow work. But remember, acknowledging truth is not always about words, for truth exists inherently beyond language. Words may only describe the door, walking through it is like using the door as an action. Neurological transformation, therefore, is like an action we undergo, just like the door we walk through.
In Taoist philosophy, there’s a term for this: ‘doing by non-doing.’ Like a domino falling under its own weight, so too do our bodies change by their own energy if we let them. This particular action manifests when we step out of the way of the factual flow, which again, is an action as a non-action. I’d like to pose a question: do you use every muscle when you walk through a door? No, many things just happen on their own when performing the non-doing.
Are we the ship; or the captain?
There are good reasons for why this is the way. First, who are we when we step out of the way of our body? When ego identification occurs, our self-image is tethered to the emotional transformation the body undergoes, which can be very intense, especially when we experience subtle or heavy trauma. When this happens, there’s often a desire to repress the intensity of these emotions because we don’t want to change so rapidly. We’re afraid of losing what we understand.
In psychological terms, we suffer from confirmation bias and therefore dislike cognitive dissonance as they intrinsically challenge our current beliefs; otherwise, they wouldn’t be dissonant. We’re then afraid to accept a potential falsehood that might confuse us more rather than heal us.
It would seem, through the will of free will, we’re able to choose concepts that may or may not suit us in truth freely. This autonomy may help us pursue a particular path that is desired. However, this path may deviate from truth. Sometimes this deviation is desired for the sake of cultural expression but it could also disharmonize our relationship with truth. For example, the stock
Truth seems seperate because trough our freewill we may choose a path that may be incorrect, but felt correct. But in fact is not, we are truth exploring truth. And this state of being is unfixed. In the sense, I am that I am. It is a state of absolute experience, or just experience in a pure form. And evolves. One moment I’m the thinker, the other the experiencer. And sometimes both. But in reality, I’m truth expressing itself, and also experiencing self as one truth.
Putting it in to practice
Integrating catalysts into our lives involves more than just contemplative exercises or verbal acknowledgments; it also requires a genuine meditative practice. In this practice, you allow the natural flow of emotions to transform you.
How is this effective? Emotions, when encased in concepts, can become illusory, much like a beverage poured into a conceptual glass of words. While this containment is useful for planning or playful exploration, genuine understanding requires us to observe our emotions unconditionally, without alteration.
The nature of truth is revelatory, not declarative. It remains steadfast, unaffected by our opinions. While our viewpoints often reflect our personal agendas, assigning ownership to specific truths, reality is, in essence, impersonal. It’s not necessarily indifferent or aloof, just non-specific to you. It exists intrinsically, independent of our personal narratives. This creates the illusion of us being separate from truth when we identify ourselves with our ego that has its identification in abstract meanings like objects or agendas.
Warnings
There are a great many dissonances lurking in the depths of our mental ocean. And so, the leviathan may lurk somewhere, without you knowing. This leviathan is shadowed by the sea, yet is still part of the sea and so has influence over it. This results in repressed thoughts surfacing up. That may have been repressed due to cultural norms, or because they form dissonance with our beliefs. There are many reasons for thoughts feeling uncomfortable. However, they become like this because we think about them in a specific way. We judge them, and the whole exercise is about not judging them. Just let them run their course.
Again, a final warning: Look up pictures of a leviathan. They appear as they do because we envision them that way. But they also feel the way they look. I would avoid waters if I knew there were sharks in them. So, there are good reasons we are sheltered from these emotions. They can be shocking, making this integration a challenge for us. But I add, understanding is without words. After understanding, we can articulate it, and we can feel a sense of resonance with it, as if we know (understand) it to be true. This is an emotion, not a word in itself.
As stated before, truth is impersonal. The person is understood as ego. We believe that we are the ego. Therefor making truth personal. However this is a fallacy. And thus results in deviation of truth.
