In the depths of human experience, shame stands as the mother of all negative emotions. The biblical narrative shows us that shame is not our natural state – it is something we learn to experience.
“Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” – Genesis 2:25
The Emergence of Shame
This primal state of innocence changes at a precise moment – when their “eyes are opened”:
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” – Genesis 3:7
This transformation occurs through a specific act of consciousness:
“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” – Genesis 3:6
The Nature of Self-Awareness
Shame arises with a fundamental shift in self-perception through conceptualization. Eve, representing the discriminative mind, and Adam, embodying pure awareness, encounter the fruit of knowledge. The mind delights in the objects it creates, and through conceptualizing ‘things,’ one develops a self-concept. Once the concept of self and body arise, we become subject to our own discrimination and judgment.
The Self-Imposed Exile
The ‘fall’ and expulsion from the Garden of Eden is never externally imposed. We are not cast out of the Garden of Bliss; rather, we make a choice that seems both inevitable and irresistible. Shame manifests as a powerful and often terrifyingly intense emotion, carrying with it a kind of guilt for growing up. In truth, it represents the accumulated karma we create through the delusion of selfness – all the times we have gone against our natural instincts to ‘protect’ a false sense of self.
The Spiral of Deception
Every lie compounds our shame. Habitual lying creates an increasing sense of dread associated with recognizing the growing mass of deceit. This manifests as a phobia of shame, which characterizes the psychopathic personality trait.
The Path of Grace
Grace emerges through the recognition and acknowledgment of shame. Unlike ordinary emotions, shame’s recognition and acknowledgment heal not only oneself but restore one’s natural radiance, like that of a child. Grace possesses such powerful healing properties that it can heal not just the individual but all those who suffered from their selfishness.
The Liberation from Self
Grace manifests when one recognizes there is no permanent self – or in other spiritual traditions, through forgiveness and redemption. For the alchemist approaching Albedo, grace arises naturally through the recognition that we are not the same being we were yesterday or last year. This recognition doesn’t eliminate guilt but makes shame contemplatable. Understanding the mechanisms of our past behavior allows us to resolve never to repeat it and make amends with full acceptance of our faults.
The Dynamics of Healing
Shame can only persist while we identify with our past selves. Once we recognize our constant change, even through superficial analysis, the pain of admitting our faults diminishes. As we progress, accepting our imperfect nature becomes increasingly natural.
Compassion and Understanding
Understanding shame and grace dissolves our hostility toward those we once judged as ‘shameful.’ Forgiveness becomes natural, and compassion develops without limits. While we all experience shame, we remain innocent of the fall itself. In our confusion, we become fearful and hostile, clinging to and compounding our ignorance.
The Persistence of Shame
Shame can be particularly tenacious due to two mental factors that, combined with unwholesome karma, create what might be called ‘Evil Jhana.’ Shamelessness and fearlessness of wrongdoing can create defiant states that reject consequence and personal responsibility. These jhanic forms manifest as persistent hostile mental constructions. These factors dominate any mixed group of mental states, offering an ever-present escape from responsibility. While this might keep one ‘in the game,’ as alchemists, we seek transformation beyond such limited perspectives.
This understanding reveals the nature of the white stone – the transformative power of honest self-reflection and grace.
Further Reading
- “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brené Brown
- “Healing the Shame that Binds You” by John Bradshaw
- “Trauma, shame, and being enough | Patti Ashley | TEDxCUof ” –
- “Insecurity, Self-Criticism, and Impermanence”
The article “Grace and the Healing of Shame” is a thought-provoking summery from Dr. Simon Robinson’s book “Albedo” – the second volume in his groundbreaking series “A Course in Modern Alchemy.” This profound exploration of shame and grace exemplifies the depth and insight found throughout the complete work.
“Albedo,” which means “whiteness” or “dawn,” guides readers through the second stage of the alchemical opus. The book masterfully weaves together Buddhist psychology, Western mysticism, and practical spirituality to illuminate the path of inner transformation. Through its pages, Dr. Robinson explores fascinating concepts like the nature of consciousness, karma, the Buddhist cosmos, and the mechanics of spiritual awakening. The work stands out for its unique ability to bridge ancient wisdom with modern understanding, making complex spiritual concepts accessible without losing their profound meaning.
The complete book delves much deeper than this single chapter, offering a comprehensive framework for understanding the spiritual journey through four main sections: Mythos, Dharma, Object, and Subject. Each section approaches the work from a different angle, providing readers with a complete map of the territory while maintaining the cryptic yet revealing nature that characterizes true alchemical texts.