The Debater Every culture knows about IT. Every culture speaks about IT. Every culture has developed techniques to combat IT. But no one knows how to become totally free of IT. Because it’s impossible. The sages of all cultures recognized that IT is indestructible. IT was. IT is. And IT will be for as long as human beings are endowed with free will. We can work at subduing IT in order to run our own lives, or IT subdues us and runs our lives for us. Through the sacred texts, myths, and images found in the night dreams of various cultures, IT’s many appearances have been identified. But regardless of the form IT takes, IT’s essence is always the same. The essence of IT is the negation of life in every possible form. The essence of IT is the deliberate, consistent, and non-compromising movement away from IS - also known as TRUTH. The Hindu tradition offers one of the best portrayals of IT. Shiva is one of three main Gods who symbolizes the primal rhythmic energy which animates the universe. Shiva dances and all things come into being and pass away. The three arms of Shiva represent the three aspects of the cosmic process: creation, maintenance, and dissolution. Shiva’s left foot is raised in the movement of the dance, the movement that perpetuates the continuity of life. But for stability Shiva needs strong support from his right foot. Look at Shiva’s right foot. It stands firmly on... not the ground, but a small dwarf. Surprise! With one foot in the air, and needing strong support, why not stand on the ground? Why on the dwarf? Because the dwarf is IT. The dwarf is "Man’s Forgetfulness" of God and his own nature. The dwarf looks meek and helpless under the powerful foot of Shiva. But if the "Lord of Dance" were to relax his vigil, the dwarf could grow strong and dangerous. If the dance of life is to go on, our inclination to forget who we truly are must remain under the firm foot. Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa exemplify those in whom Shiva was able to tame the dwarf. Adolph Hitler was one of those in whom the dwarf was standing firmly on top of Shiva. Most of us are locked in a ceaseless struggle with the dwarf. Sometimes we yield to IT’s power--negativity and criticism of the present, attachment to guilt and regret about the past, and the false glitter or anxiety about the future. Other times, quieting the voice of the trickster for a short time, we are allowed glimpses of the bliss and fullness of living in the "isness" of the moment. Why is it so difficult to defeat IT? Because IT resides inside of us. IT is a part of us. IT’s very existence depends on us paying attention to IT’s voice. IT knows us better than anyone in the world does. IT is: "yeitza ho rah," as Hebrew sages called it, the evil inclination of forgetting our relationship with the Creator. And although we also have inside of us: "yeitza ha tov," the inclination of good, the voice of the Serpent is very powerful. Here is one of the major reasons. In the struggle to gain mastery in life and attain inner and outer balance, each of us must become a "Jack of all trades." That is, one must learn the skills of how to eat, drink, walk, talk, and take care of one’s body. Then, perhaps how to drive, sing, work. How to be a son, a friend, a brother, a sister, a co-worker, a wife, a neighbor, a negotiator, a caretaker, etc. The list is endless. We all learn these skills to one degree or another, but it takes time and energy. IT’s full attention is devoted to getting to know one person only: you. IT’s entire energy is spent on mastering only one area of expertise: convincing you to listen to IT’s voice. That is why I have named IT the Debater. When we feel weak and scared the Debater yells at us and threatens us. When we feel strong and confident the Debater lures our attention with admiration and the glitter of future victories, then inadvertently drops a phrase or two that creates doubt. One way or another, sooner or later, as long as we allow ourselves to become engaged in an interchange with the Debater we lose. Before we know it, we are living with what if, I had to, I never will, I always should, if only I would, maybe, why didn’t I, how could I, what I said was stupid, this is impossible for me to do, it will not work, I am ugly, this is too small, that is too big, there is not enough, there is too much... The Debater seduces us into judging life rather then being within the experience of life itself. Before we know it, we are criticizing ourselves or others, consumed with guilt or regret about the past, frightened by or making up stories about the future. We are cut off from fully experiencing the present with it’s unlimited possibilities for growth and change. It is easy for the Debater to command our attention. Most of the time we are not aware of how we slip into IT’s clever, inviting, and sticky trap of blame, anger, resentment, envy, judgment, guilt, fear, doubt, self-battery, megalomania. My good friend, and brilliant psychiatrist, Dr. Vivian Lind, says, "You have no control over going." Indeed, we only notice what is happening when we are already in the experience. "We do have control," she continues "over coming back." That is, once we become aware of being engaged with the Debater, it is our responsibility to take control. But how does one take control over something so all knowing, so skillful, so powerful?