The topic of resistance is more complex than it seems. Resistance is generally considered a kind of difficulty in maintaining a positive attitude when facing a challenge or something similar. “One resists…”

Indeed, we resist many things, and often this has a lot to do with what is called “inertia,” which is a physical law.

“Inertia is the property of matter that causes a body to resist changes in its state of motion or rest. That is, an object at rest tends to remain at rest, and one in motion tends to continue moving in a straight line, unless an external force acts upon it.”[1]

“Newton’s First Law: Also known as the Law of Inertia, this is the fundamental physical principle that describes this phenomenon.

“Mass Dependence: The inertia of a body is directly proportional to its mass. A heavy object (with more mass) is more difficult to move or stop than a light object.”

Setting aside the concepts of physics for the moment, there is an internal inertia, as well as a type of resistance that is internal. These resistances sometimes become habits or patterns of behavior. They manifest as forgetfulness, procrastination, justifications of all kinds, lying to oneself and others, concealment—sometimes even to the point of concealing one’s body or hiding—in a wide variety of ways to avoid working on one’s difficulties.

In any case, the general consensus is that we must overcome these resistances because it seems we have the drive to “move forward,” and I think the effort is worthwhile. Perhaps this is the key to overcoming resistance. It is precisely my “effort” that gives me the possibility, and it is simply inertia that tends to prevail—not only as a physical law but also as an attitude.

Much can be said about how to transform resistances, and I think that is an important discussion, but first and foremost, I think it is important to understand as much as possible the very nature of “resistances” because they show the root of the problem. Whatever one resists, that resistance is pointing exactly to what we need to work on, so it is worthwhile to undertake the work of “recognizing” such resistances.

When I recognize what I am resisting, then I can begin to resolve it.

At at meeting with Silo in October of 1980, someone asked about the three pathways of suffering—imagination, memory, and perception. I think it is appropriate to quote the question and the answer below because, at least for me, Silo’s perspective on the subject of resistances has been important.

Question: If these three pathways are what make life possible, as a possibility for development, why or how have they become distorted? If it’s assumed that we human beings are seeking happiness, we should be adapting to managing these three pathways to our advantage. But how is it that these three pathways suddenly become our main enemies?

Answer: It seems this didn’t happen suddenly. It seems that at the very moment human consciousness expanded, when the human being wasn’t yet a clearly defined entity within our species, it seems that right then, as imagination, memory, and historical awareness expanded, as perception of the world expanded, at that very moment, as a function expanded, resistance arose.

Just as happens with internal functions. Like when we try to initiate a new activity of consciousness, we encounter resistance.

In the same way that resistance is found in nature. The very instant it rains and the water flows down the rivers, it encounters resistance along its path. And in overcoming these resistances, and navigating them, the water reaches the sea.

It is through this interplay of actions and resistances, which respond to universal laws of action and reaction, that consciousness, in its unfolding, and human beings in their development, keep encountering resistances. And in encountering resistances, they grow stronger, and in growing stronger, they integrate difficulties, and in integrating them, they overcome them.

And so, all this suffering that has arisen in human beings in their development has also strengthened them, enabling them to rise above it.

(CENTRAL AMERICAN CONJUNCTION. MEXICO, OCTOBER 1980)

This way of seeing resistance, associated with universal laws of action and reaction, seems important to me to understand as fully as possible. Especially when the current trend is to look for causes and effects—at best—or simply to avoid any effort to overcome resistance—at worst. Viewing resistance as an indicator of the necessary inner work is the ideal approach.

It’s important that Silo speaks of integrating difficulties through the effort to strengthen oneself in relation to the central theme of all Siloist doctrine: The overcoming of pain and suffering.

From my perspective, I have approached this theme practically, and I summarize it in a few words: Every resistance is an opportunity to understand my suffering and to overcome it. Every act of overcoming suffering generates energy and is cumulative. Every effort made toward overcoming suffering clarifies the meaning of my life.

In the Guide to the Inner Road (in Silo’s Message), there is a phrase that also explains this phenomenon of resistance. It is framed in the same way:

“If you impel your being in a luminous direction, you will find resistance and fatigue at every step. There are things to blame for this fatigue in the ascent. Your life weighs; your memories weigh; your previous actions impede the ascent. The climb is made difficult by the action of your body, which tends to dominate…”

The context here is different and even more precise. If one wants to “ascend,” it’s good to be aware of the difficulties one will encounter along the way…

Finally, there is a form of “resistance” that is understood positively or coherently and is explained in the following phrase from the section of the same book called “The Path”: “Learn to resist the violence that is within you and outside of you.”

From this perspective, there are also forces that are important to consider. External and internal violence are not merely “difficulties” but impulses that do not lead in an upward direction, much less give meaning to our lives. On the contrary, all types of violence move in a disintegrating direction; therefore, it is advisable to “learn to resist” it both internally and externally. And the word “learn” is meaningful when one transforms daily activities into true learning

[1] https://www.britannica.com/science/inertia

Translated by Trudi Richards

Photo by Rafael Edwards