Nothing Can Affect You
In our journey through life, we often find ourselves caught up in the whirlwind of emotions, reactions, and circumstances that seem to dictate our experiences. However, there’s a profound truth that can transform how we interact with the world: nothing can truly affect us unless we allow it. This realization isn’t about ignoring or dismissing the challenges we face but about recognizing our inherent freedom and the power that comes with it.
When we say, “This doesn’t mean anything,” we aren’t claiming indifference or a lack of care. Instead, we’re proclaiming a deeper understanding—that we are so free that external events or situations cannot truly affect us unless we give them the power to do so. This freedom is not just a fleeting feeling but a stable state of being, rooted in self-transcendence and the love of God.
In this space of freedom, joy, humor, and liberation naturally arise. It’s like a channel opening, allowing love to flow freely through our body and mind. Our first and only priority in any challenging situation should be to remember who we truly are. When we stay connected to this truth, love becomes automatic. This is how God loves—free from any attachment to what appears in the consciousness, yet fully present in the love for all that is.
To live from this place of freedom is to experience life beyond the constraints of human drama. The conflicts, the differences, the stories we tell ourselves—they lose their seriousness when we remember the preciousness of simply existing in the present moment. In this state, love is unconditional and automatic because we no longer need anything from others; we are already free.
This freedom isn’t always easy to maintain. The human experience is filled with challenges, and it’s natural to have emotional reactions. However, the more we practice living in this freedom, the more stable and proficient we become at allowing love to flow, regardless of the circumstances. We may not always like everything that happens, but with an open heart, we can appreciate and be grateful for the freedom that underlies our existence.
In the end, the greatest gift we can offer to ourselves and others is this ultimate freedom. It’s a gift that surpasses any outcome or material possession because it comes from a place beyond everything—beyond separation, beyond conflict, and beyond fear.
So, as we navigate through life, let us remember that our only true job is to be free. When we know our freedom, love becomes effortless. It flows naturally, like a river that never stops, nourishing everything in its path. This is the way of living in true alignment with who we are and with the divine love that flows through us all.
Quote:
“Freedom is not the absence of commitments, but the ability to choose—and commit myself to—what is best for me.” — Paulo Coelho
Spiritual Book Reference:
“For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” — 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)
Diving Deeper into the Video:
Bentinho Massaro offers us profound insights into the nature of our inner being. His teachings guide us toward the understanding that we exist in a state of freedom that is impervious to the circumstances of life, a state he calls the “unaffected self.” Through the lens of Massaro’s words, let’s delve into this transformative concept and discover how it can empower our everyday lives.
Bentinho speaks about our inherent freedom, not a kind of freedom that expresses indifference or detachment towards others, but a freedom that is so profound that nothing can influence it. When we say, “nothing means anything,” we are essentially affirming that nothing can affect our inner state unless we allow it. In this context, the “meaning” of anything lies solely within our interpretation and response to it.
What we strive for is a stabilization in our ‘self-transcendent state,’ the embodiment of unconditional love. This state does not mean we are detached from the world; it means we stand beyond its temporal sway, opening up to greater joy, liberation, and an innate humor that comes from this freedom. It’s a state of mind where love for the body and mind flows freely.
In situations of conflict, our primary, indeed our only, focus should be to remember our unaffected nature. Once we free ourselves from the entangling storylines, love automatically emerges from that freedom, flowing like a river. This love is like God’s love: beyond, yet intimately connected to, all appearances on the screen of consciousness.
We are God in essence, and as we remember this, our personal ‘aperture’ opens, allowing God’s unconditional love to flow through us. Our task, then, is to remember our freedom, not getting caught up in the storylines of separation and conflict.
Recognizing that freedom brings an automatic flow of love, regardless of the circumstances. With ultimate freedom, there’s nothing we need from anyone or anything, as we already exist beyond everything.
Though maintaining this state amidst the human drama can be challenging, it is nonetheless possible. The more we practice recognizing our freedom, the more proficient we become in allowing love to flow unconditionally, in all situations.
This state doesn’t necessarily mean liking everything that happens, but it does mean maintaining an open valve of appreciation, gratitude, and love, simply because we are free. We exist right here, right now, in this moment of mystery, beauty, and the gift of existence.
So let’s remember and embrace our unaffected self. In doing so, we tap into an inexhaustible source of freedom, love, and joy.