In the realm of healing, therapy has been one of the most fruitful forms of healing. Specific psychological conditions have been improved and even eradicated with this modern form of treatment. However, we will see that deeper states of mind, particularly, Nothingness, can provide a more general, existential healing that extends to larger life issues.

Much of our internal pain is developmental and caused by improper modeling from our original caregivers, our parents. In historical situations, abuse or neglect in particular developmental situations cause harm in adult life. The child’s world of trust, compliance, power, connection, pleasure and atttention are themes and skills that children need to learn, and when they are thwarted or abused, adult living becomes problematic.

The modern ideal of therapy reworks the original parental dyad by intruducing a “surrogage parent” who is empathic and caring, and not all abusive or neglectful. Through a trained form of enquiry and questioning, the therapist uncovers certain resistances, which are clouded over by defense mechanisms, and when feelings start to emerge around painful developmental themes, the therapist displays understanding, empathy and respect, the opposite of the original parental situation. This is felt as healing to the patient. They can eliminate the shame, fear and guilt from the identity that was imprinted improperly by the parents, into functioning and the incorporation of positive self-esteem, enabling the person to function better in living situations.

In the book, “The Skill of Wisdom”, we introduced the notion of a deeper Self, and this inner condition is supported by a mysterious aspect of the mind, which I have called, “Nothingness”. It is experienced as a deeper Space and Depth of the mind that is beyond thought and feeling, but nevertheless, causes the formation of deeper intelligences, necessary for a living wisdom. Two questions here are: can this cause any healing and what are the differences between the condition of Nothingness and the therapist who acts interdependently with the patient?

The differences between Nothingness and therapy are as follows. Nothingness is not an external support, like a therapist who is a separate person and does not know you at the beginning. Nothingness is never separate from you. In fact, it is closer to you that your nearest and dearest relative. It knows you intimately, because it is literally right there. Secondly, it is absolutely objective, because it sees everything very clearly. A therapist has to be very ingenious to notice resistances and defense mechanisms. Thirdly, Nothingness does not cost any money, while a therapist charges for her time. Also, Nothingness does not go away, whereas a therapist sees you once a week for fifty minutes. Finally, Nothingness is a deeper support, for it literally “holds” the internal material. A therapist is an external support, but can only hold the internal material, through conversation, if there is a connection and if the patient is willing. Nothingness is who you are at the deeper level. It is literally your higher self. A therapist is not related, not even close to as a friend or kin member. One has to work at it, for there to be a real connection.

The way that Nothingness heals is in it’s property of breaking down the internal material, that is placed in it’s perview. However, one must be able to realize the inner space in the first place. Without being able to do this, one holds onto the internal identity, which will seek to reinforce itself with or through another person. Nothingness breaks down the material, by breaking down the identity, which can entail a certain amount of suffering. However, once this is done, there is a “healing” of the original issue. That does not mean it will never come back, but one can use the tools of this dissolving again, without the need to spend money or an external medium. Finally, Nothingness does not directly help with any practical redirection in the world, like a therapist. The latter uses the identity, and tries to re-structure it, into a cohesive, positive identity. Nothingness has no identity as it’s basis and thus leaves the person as a nobody. This is not intrinsically a negative thing, but without any practice, it will feel unusual and even strange or scary for certain people. In any event, one will easily learn to contact Being and therefore, can easily incorporate the many developmental skills that will operate effectively in the world. However, in order for this healing to anchor itself, one will need to live througb this Nothingness, or the “nobody” aspect of the Real Self.

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