Most spiritual teachings consistently point to an essential goodness that underlies all existence. In this teaching at an all-school retreat in the Netherlands, A. H. Almaas explains that knowing that goodness does not mean we have to ignore the difficulties we face in the larger world. Rather, what is essential is to understand them within a larger context. Just as a physical body can experience illness while its individual cells remain perfectly healthy, the troubles we face as a society cannot negate the intrinsic goodness of our shared spiritual foundation. Scroll down to view the full video teaching and a summary of highlights. Here is a snippet of the full video with a run time of 7:45.
Summary
We are living in challenging times. With conflict, injustice, and suffering proliferating all around us, it can be easy to succumb to an attitude of cynicism. We can begin to doubt the inherent goodness in humanity, or question whether a truly benevolent nature exists within us and the world.
But this sense of internal resistance – doubt, difficult feelings, skepticism, cynicism – stems from a lack of direct experience with the boundless, transcendent aspects of our true nature. Our spiritual journey encourages us to stretch our consciousness and expand our understanding beyond our conventional perceptions.
Many spiritual traditions describe this true nature as something inherently good. In Sufism, for instance, figures like Ibn Arabi spoke of “general grace”—the fundamental goodness of existence itself, stemming from what he called the “breath of the Merciful.” This isn’t just a theological concept; it’s an invitation to recognize that our very being, our existence, is an expression of divine goodness.
Rumi, another renowned Sufi, emphasized that this true nature is pure love. This love isn’t limited or conditional; it constitutes the very ground of all existence and consciousness. When we touch upon this, we realize an underlying unity that transcends all perceived differences—national, ethnic, tribal, religious, and so on. We are all, at our core, expressions of this one, unified true nature, which extends to all beings, human and non-human alike.
Yet many find it difficult to reconcile this fundamental boundless goodness with the amount of suffering in and around us. Understanding the interconnectedness of everything is what helps us hold both goodness and suffering simultaneously. The very existence of qualities like compassion, friendliness, strength, and power within true nature implies the presence of suffering, difficulties, and limitations in the world. These qualities manifest precisely because they have a healing and useful function for us.
For example, compassion is needed because there is suffering. Friendliness is needed because there can be enmity. Strength and power are needed to navigate difficulties. These aren’t separate, disconnected elements; they are interwoven. True nature and the world’s difficulties go hand-in-hand, creating a dynamic interplay that allows for growth and the expression of profound qualities.
Despite the challenges, we are incredibly fortunate to be human beings with the capacity to awaken to this true nature. Spiritual teachings are not meant to save humanity from physical destruction, but rather from the cruel and heartless tendencies of its “animal side.”
When we experience our true nature, regardless of the specific quality (whether it’s strength, spaciousness, or pure awareness), it is always felt as good, helpful, and never damaging. There is an inherent blissfulness in any genuine spiritual experience that is not rooted in escape; it is instead about directly experiencing this goodness as the fundamental reality.
Through inquiry and meditation, we can directly experience the truth of our being, and we find that it is not separate from the being of others. It is one, pure consciousness, pure goodness, and divine love. This boundless love is universally giving, extending beyond self, nation, or even humanity to encompass all existence.
Recognizing this good fortune – that our deepest nature is pure goodness, the source of beauty, compassion, and generosity – is crucial for humanity's continued journey. The more we individually recognize this, the more goodness, compassion, and beauty we can bring into the world.