Aghori teachings on facing the shadow

Listening to a podcast today, I found myself deeply moved by the Aghori path to radical freedom through facing the shadow, a way of liberation that embraces all that is feared, rejected, or taboo. the Aghoris who are followers of a Hindu sect believed to be 1000 years old. They have devoted their entire lives to the achievement of liberation. However unlike other sadhus, the Aghori follow an unconventional and radical path towards enlightenment. They worship Kali, the goddess of death and are usually found residing near cremation sites,  The Aghori see no difference between good and evil and believe liberation may be achieved by embracing certain practices, some of which are gruesome!

One of the things I found interesting was that they specifically walk around in filth wearing nothing or just a little cloth in order to overcome any shame.

Although some of their practices are full on, I can sense the freedom they would experience in facing everything and anything, all the dark shitty gruesome stuff in order to let go of everything and remember who they are.

Reminds me last Halloween I smudged make up all around my eyes, then put lipstick on and smudged that all over my face and I felt so dam good to feel messy and ugly and free!.

During the last freedom to be no-body process I felt another layer of hatred and disgust, letting everything hang out and flop about it felt so good to feel disgusting and shitty to allow feelings of fatness feel fatter, and in doing so something incredible happens, everything lets go and all i can feel is love, bliss and softness.

'Always live with reality because if you dont reality will come to live with you.'

(Aghori vimalananda)