Veils and doors – both!

After several conversations with some of the smartest, kindest people I know, a realization struck me that needed to get worked through. In different mystical traditions and even in striving for non-mystical eudaemonia, we find these two metaphors often: veil and door. Usually a barrier or obstacle that needs to be removed or passed thru.

Staying with my current practice to test CoPilot AI, here is its response when I asked, “What is different between a veil of perception and a door”:

  1. Veil of Perception:
    • Symbolism: A veil of perception represents the filters and biases through which we see the world. It obscures our true understanding of reality, often clouded by our emotions, experiences, and preconceived notions.
    • Nature: It’s intangible and subtle, more of a mental or spiritual barrier.
    • Function: Lifting this veil often requires introspection, self-awareness, and a change in perspective to gain clarity and insight.
  2. Door:
    • Symbolism: A door symbolizes opportunity, transition, and access to new paths or experiences. It’s a clear, tangible barrier that can be opened or closed.
    • Nature: Physical or metaphorical, a door represents an actual gateway or choice.
    • Function: Opening a door requires a decision or action, leading to a new phase or journey. It signifies a more straightforward process compared to the gradual unveiling of perception.

In essence, while a veil of perception masks our understanding subtly and internally, a door stands as a direct and external barrier that offers a clear choice or transition. Both concepts highlight different aspects of our journey towards greater awareness and transformation.

MSFT CoPilot

Remove the veil of perception bias and walk through the door of initiation into a new life phase. Veils and Doors.

Veils

I find veils harder to identify and remove than doors. Veils are things I’ve acquired along the way either intentionally or accidentally… but they are there for a reason, they serve a purpose. Most are personalized and can be used to protect and serve as well as block and confuse – self and others. I remember Bible School and learning this parable from Matthew 18:3:

And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’

Matthew 18:3

I interpret this simple as removing all the veils placed before your eyes and heart as you grew up. This leaves an unveiled perception of a most amazing world – like a child’s. A world of wonder that I don’t really understand intellectually without veils – I just experience and feel it. Ever noticed how much young children laugh and smile?

Veils for me take discipline, practice and deep inner reflection – mediation.

Doors

Depending on your tradition, doors are often earned through learning and experiences. Something internal is required to reach a door and even more to open it – I find that I beat my head against it several times before recognizing it as a door – that needs to be opened. Sometimes I find myself on the other side of the door not remembering how I passed through the doorway. The easiest way I find to think about doors are the transition markers from one life phase or self identify to a new one, like the passage between being a parent and being a sage. Or, a door between being a non-compassionate person to learning how to live compassionately, or moving from a care provider to a care receiver – doors.

Doors for me take courage to both open and walk through into the unknown and leave our old self behind – re-create one’s self.

Both!

Here’s what got me. I mistakenly thought veils and doors were the same inner phenomenon, but they are very different. Regardless, we need to recognize them, work to remove them, and embrace the changes of child-like perception and continuous progress toward eudaemonia or nirvana as your spirit dictates.

Images from MSFT CoPilot