Epistrophe, to return home

Go back to yourself.

This concept is hidden behind the term “conversion”, which comes from the latin“cum vertere”, translation of the greek “epistrophe”, which means to return to oneself, to look back in one self.

In reality, we can’t convert anyone but ourself: we can go back to ourself, our true Self.

It’s important that we focus on ourselves, that we “believe in Christ”.

In Shankara texts we read:

“A looking backward toward the Self, a dwelling on it, is to be effortly gained”

“In the net of the imagings of things not Self, the image of the Self is held back; by resting on the eternal Self, their destruction comes, and the Self shines clear.

As the mind rests more and more on the Self behind it, it is more and more freed from outward imagings; when imagings are put away, and no residue left, he enters and becomes the Self, pure of all bonds”

He is telling us about the importance of looking back, going back to the Self, of the resting of the mind. The same concept present in the Gospels.

Nisargadatta call it “atma yoga”: it means to settle in the Self, where Being merges with non-Being.

The Self, Christ is the I amness, is the awareness of existing. Curiously, Nisargadatta compares it to a mustard seed, as in the gospels.

The Gospel Jesus says that the Aion, the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed:

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches”

Nisargadatta says that in the moment this “I am” appears it is universal. It is small as a mustard seed, but the moment it appears it is like an unlimited explosion out of which also the universe appears.

This “I am” creates a space, the space appears with it, and in this space the universe of the dream develops. And this space arise within our true Self.

So these are the 2 pillars of Christ message: metanoia and epistrophe. Not repentance and conversion, but rather Love and Awareness. 

Jesus tells us: “love everyone and remember your true Self”.

This is a revolutionary message, against any form of institution and authority: a self enquiry and a self discovery.

A true message of liberation. 

*The photo was shot by Umberto Del Noce. All rights reserved.