Thursday, June 14, 2007
Hey
Hey there!
There is a long long way to go... pace yourself...
but nah, i'm talkin' to mahself... 'njoy yo'self buddy.
There is a long long way to go... pace yourself...
but nah, i'm talkin' to mahself... 'njoy yo'self buddy.
Everything... and its opposite (for service)
Love and Good wishes are everything...
Proving and insistence - counterproductive...
Proving and insistence - counterproductive...
Unacceptable
Doing anything (or not doing anything) out of fear is unacceptable... it must be out of wisdom, by choice... with maturity...
My Story
Dear Friend,
Thanks for being curious about my journey across Time. Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction. Or should we say, truth is stranger than fiction more often than not? Fiction is kindof lame. It usually tries to copy aspects of truth and puts different names and roles.
Anyway, God knows this is my story. Maybe yours is like this too... maybe it isn't. But if it is, then chances are that you will figure it out as you go through my story. i guess, then you will call it history...
Once upon a time, long long ago...thousands of years back... i left home on a long journey. Home?
Well, that's so far off in time and space that i had totally forgotten it until recently. Those days, i had plenty of time and the willingness to venture into the complete unknown.
Home was a big, nice and quiet place. A dazzling golden red light was the decor...and we were the stars, our presence adorned the place...Father, mother and billions of us children. We never felt it was crowded... it was a big and peaceful family. Can't say we were happy... but i guess we were blissed out...Dad was always the quiet and contented kind. He still is. That's just his nature. Mom on the other hand, was ever-ready for fun and play with the kids.
Anyways, some of us really wanted to go out and play and mom - sportive as she always is - was the most enthusiastic amongst all of us! She led the pack and the pioneer group flew down to this world. Boy, those days, this world was paradise. i mean, there were so few of us and we ruled the planet. i tell you, the sleepy folks who stayed back home simply missed the whole fun.
Mom played Emperor. Well we adored her and wouldn't have it otherwise. Rest of us split up our roles. i became a prince in a neighbouring kingdom. That way, i could meet mom often and on equal terms. But we were a variety bunch. Some became princes, some became subjects, some became servants. We kindof knew we would all swap roles later and those days, none of us had any ego hassles. There was love amongst all, and besides, this was just a game and it takes all sorts of roles to make it fun.
21 births in paradise. It was so cool there. The first 8 or so births were the best. We were still a small group and it was heaven. More and more of our family members kept joining us so gradually the group was growing. We started off with about 900,000 of us. Seems like a big number, but it isn't. i mean, there was no one else on the planet. Come to think of it, we were the ancestors of the world, if it makes sense to say so. Those who came later became our descendents. Of course, we also kept taking births and became our own descendents! :-)
It was a leisurely life there. It was a family system and yet, it was hierarchical. Like, the princes would play with each other, the subjects with themselves and so on. i think Monarchy is the best system. No confusion about who does what. If you want to be a king, fix your role yourself. Do actions that make you a king in your next birth, that's all. If you don't care what your role should be, then that's fine too. Your actions will remain ordinary and you get some corresponding ordinary role. Straightforward isn't it?
And then it happened. Mom, the ever adventurous one, decided to get fully immersed in her roles. So far we used to still retain the consciousness that we were enacting these roles and we had a sense of self. But mom… she dived deep into the world of the senses. It was beautiful. We no longer knew she was mom of course, we were too caught up in our own roles to know who was who anymore. But it was inspiring. We all followed suit and soon everyone was just completely wrapped up in their roles. The past was past and fully forgotten. ‘Just enjoy the present!’ became our motto. We were passionate about whatever we did. Expanding our kingdoms, courting the most beautiful ones, wining and dining and hunting and what have you. Suddenly it was not about the game. It was about me having more. It was about who could do what the best. We still had some dignity and would set some rules and play by the rules, but still there was this sense of adventure.
But something was amiss. With all the pleasure of the moment, mom (who else?) felt that we were somehow disconnected from reality… we were kind of lost, and there needed to be some balance. Otherwise, things could go wrong. She instinctively knew, dad was around somewhere and he would help if we really needed his help. She built a fantastic memorial for dad filling it with jewels… and dad of course was the diamond in the centre of it all. She was a popular king those days too and soon all of us were copying each other building wonderful temples to dad. We could now go to these temples and sing dad’s praise so that we felt connected to him and to all of us for at least some part of the day.
Dad stayed silent. He was always so wise. When we would be lost in our prayers, he would acknowledge his presence with a vision or two. But he knew that our desire for adventure was still fully alive… and he kept himself away.
Meanwhile something was going wrong. In all our fun and frolic, we found unexpected things happening. Suddenly the future was not predictably fun. Sometimes we would fall ill, sometimes we would lose (imagine!) to another in a war, sometimes we would even die at an early age! Even the animals were no longer reliable… at times the hunter became the hunted. Even our victories did not seem satisfying. We wanted more. Larger kingdoms, more wine, more sex… we were getting addicted and there seemed to be no way out.
Some of us had enough. They saw through the problems and wanted to contemplate on it. They went to the mountains and the caves and sought solitude. Some of the new ones who were joining us from back home felt horrified to see how caught up we had become in our fancy roles. They tried to advice us about the pitfalls of what we were doing and advised restraint. Some suggested that we should dedicate our lives to remembering dad so that he would feel pulled to come and help everyone out.
But for the rest of us, this was nothing. ‘We want more!!!’, that was the cry in our hearts. One of the wiser lot started building memorials to our own past. Memorials of our time in paradise… of the time when we were all pure and virtuous. But one of the naughtiest ones felt the urge to depict our current pleasures right around these memorials. So we had these magnificent temples with deities inside in purity and splendour and deities on the outside walls celebrating sex as their new sport.
Those days everyone respected each other’s views and so no matter how diverse they were, we would note them down together. Some of the ‘scriptures’ that we put together were typical examples. They had such variety. There were stories about dad and his glory, about our own deity status and also many stories with morals. The creative ones certainly had their time. We created stories and wrote epics that captivated everyone but every story had a moral. At least that’s how it was in the beginning.
Time passed and we were getting a bit weary. Things were not really working out. We wondered if dad would really help out. But then we were not really sure either. Whenever something was seriously wrong (like someone we loved was dying or if we lost out in an unjust manner…) we called out to him. We meant it… we really wanted out. But Dad knew. He knew that we would get over it. And he stayed quiet. I wonder if i could have had that maturity…
In my personal journey, i was certainly getting fed up. I wasn’t so sure anymore if all these well meaning folks with long beards speaking wise words really knew what they were talking about. I had certainly tried talking to many of them and even though i was sincere, i was not reaching anywhere. On the other hand sensual pleasures, even though temporary, still had their hold on me… and i felt happy to indulge.
Mom too was on her journey in her own way. She was in love with her own first role. She would pray to that image in all fervour hoping that the deity would bestow a vision or two on her. She was as clueless as the rest of us. What a wonder this game is…
And then one day, dad decided to visit us. He came and quietly sat right next to mom in her body. Mom was of course lost in her own world of thoughts and she did not even notice him. But changes started happening. When she spoke to others, dad would put in a sentence or two. And mom would wonder. Wow, I had never thought of that, how come I spoke such deep stuff? Hmm…
Dad… he is such a dear. He would come by quietly everyday and speak a little while mom was talking. And mom felt astonished. Her thoughts became much deeper and she started to ponder over the meaning of it all. One day, dad gave her a vision of her first image. “You were that”, he said. Mom was confused. How could I be a deity? She went to her guru to clarify. But that guru was equally confused. God must be happy with your devotion, he said.
Dad gave mom many visions… of a destruction to come and of a grand new world that she had to build. But he never said a word how it would all happen. Mom, dear mom… she was ever willing to check it all out. She is a braveheart. She always was. She was still doing well you know, not a king or anything like that, but still quite prosperous. She was a diamond merchant and a good one at that. Kings and queens used to buy from her and she felt that she was a bestower. She would stick to her principles no matter who came in front. Such self respect!
I had met her even then, but I had my own things to sort out. I was on a journey to figure it all out myself. And I was, frankly speaking, not much in tune with what was going on around with the rest of the folks. For one, there were just too many of us now. All the folks back home decided to join the party down here. And you know these young ones, they are fresh and energetic and smart and with their lovely healthy bodies, they tend to do everything better. And poor old me, I had an old body, and there was disease and some aches and some little relationship hassles. Even when I took up the latest young body, it was still no good compared to these youngsters who had just arrived. And there was a swarm of them. Suddenly we had to think of food, water, clothing… even for a decent livelihood…things we had always taken for granted! Even the climate was so unpredictable these days… oh my god… this is like hell.
Meanwhile dad was clarifying more and more and mom had started a group where like minded folks could get together and listen to all this new stuff. Mom was sharp. She was old but she still had the ability to grasp things well. As dad spoke between the lines, she would go back into silence after her talk and ponder over the new things she had learnt. She was not sure how her words seemed to be so impactful when she spoke to others. ‘Maybe I am God after all… or
maybe not. I dunno.’
Dad would now give visions to those of us who visited mom for her classes. These folks would see paradise and see the princes and princesses there and it was a major hit those days. People would come flocking… if you want to see heaven, all you got to do is come to this group.
But it was not all rosy. Dad was strict. He knew what was good for us. So he said you got to disassociate yourself from the body. The problem is, you think you are a body. But no! You are a soul, a star, a spark of spiritual light. And most people who listened would get it. Mom would recite a scripture and interpret it with her new found understanding. And she kept talking about dad also. Little did she know dad was sitting right next to her… and putting up with all the comical things she was saying…
Dad was so wise. He always has been that way. He never uttered a word. He never corrected mom on the spot. It would be so disrespectful. He went on his own gentle ways to explain things as it would be right for all the children. And mom… she was wonderfully humble and ever the best student. She would grasp every new insight and ponder over it and start living it. And then she would correct herself in class. And one day, dad revealed himself through his words. I am the supreme amongst all because I do not take a physical birth like you do… in fact I have entered your mom’s body to adopt all of you children! I am Shiva… your father.
Wow!!! Imagine the shock and relief mom felt! She became the carefree emperor right at that moment. She knew that she did not have to worry about anything now. Dad was here and would take care of everything. He would even set things right if she did anything wrong. And knowing his quiet and incognito nature, she completely accepted that whatever was being spoken by her was actually spoken by him. So now she could not have any ego at all. She surrendered fully.
What an example mom was! Amongst us children, we had a few bright ones (I’m one of the duller ones, really, i mean it) and one of them was named mamma. Mom was in a male body after all and so mamma played the mother’s role for the children. And i … i was still on my adventurous trip of discovering all the truth… little did i know that Dad – Truth personified – was himself here revealing all the secrets that i had forgotten and was seeking so desperately.
By now i was convinced that dad was a figment of imagination and that all the prophets and saints were well meaning folks who were good for nothing and equally clueless. Oh I sometimes just loathed these people who would pretend to know it all and yet had no ‘logical understanding’ of anything.
Finally that day came. Mom had finished her studies and had gone off into her next role, wishing all the children well and empowering them with loving good wishes. I went to the group that mom had started (actually dad had started through her)… and I had a zillion questions but no real answers forthcoming. I read the story of how dad came and spoke through mom etc but I just hated it. It couldn’t be true! And it’s so awful, I mean, how come I’m missing in all that action! And yet there was something… deep within it struck a chord. I just kept coming and listening to what dad and mom had spoken to all of us… it was fascinating. It was deep. I would spend hours pondering over what they spoke. It seemed foreign, but there seemed to be a ring of truth in it. Somehow it made sense.
I kept studying… I still am. And I still have a long way to go before I get the full picture. But now I recognize my parents. And I recognize the beauty of this game of remembering and forgetting, of victory and defeat, of light and darkness. And I am in love with dad. I have had many fine parents that I felt were the finest in the world… but these ones are out of the world!
So that’s more or less my story...it’s more or less a family story you know. It’s several thousand years long but that’s the gist. What is yours like?
With love,
Your friend.
Thanks for being curious about my journey across Time. Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction. Or should we say, truth is stranger than fiction more often than not? Fiction is kindof lame. It usually tries to copy aspects of truth and puts different names and roles.
Anyway, God knows this is my story. Maybe yours is like this too... maybe it isn't. But if it is, then chances are that you will figure it out as you go through my story. i guess, then you will call it history...
Once upon a time, long long ago...thousands of years back... i left home on a long journey. Home?
Well, that's so far off in time and space that i had totally forgotten it until recently. Those days, i had plenty of time and the willingness to venture into the complete unknown.
Home was a big, nice and quiet place. A dazzling golden red light was the decor...and we were the stars, our presence adorned the place...Father, mother and billions of us children. We never felt it was crowded... it was a big and peaceful family. Can't say we were happy... but i guess we were blissed out...Dad was always the quiet and contented kind. He still is. That's just his nature. Mom on the other hand, was ever-ready for fun and play with the kids.
Anyways, some of us really wanted to go out and play and mom - sportive as she always is - was the most enthusiastic amongst all of us! She led the pack and the pioneer group flew down to this world. Boy, those days, this world was paradise. i mean, there were so few of us and we ruled the planet. i tell you, the sleepy folks who stayed back home simply missed the whole fun.
Mom played Emperor. Well we adored her and wouldn't have it otherwise. Rest of us split up our roles. i became a prince in a neighbouring kingdom. That way, i could meet mom often and on equal terms. But we were a variety bunch. Some became princes, some became subjects, some became servants. We kindof knew we would all swap roles later and those days, none of us had any ego hassles. There was love amongst all, and besides, this was just a game and it takes all sorts of roles to make it fun.
21 births in paradise. It was so cool there. The first 8 or so births were the best. We were still a small group and it was heaven. More and more of our family members kept joining us so gradually the group was growing. We started off with about 900,000 of us. Seems like a big number, but it isn't. i mean, there was no one else on the planet. Come to think of it, we were the ancestors of the world, if it makes sense to say so. Those who came later became our descendents. Of course, we also kept taking births and became our own descendents! :-)
It was a leisurely life there. It was a family system and yet, it was hierarchical. Like, the princes would play with each other, the subjects with themselves and so on. i think Monarchy is the best system. No confusion about who does what. If you want to be a king, fix your role yourself. Do actions that make you a king in your next birth, that's all. If you don't care what your role should be, then that's fine too. Your actions will remain ordinary and you get some corresponding ordinary role. Straightforward isn't it?
And then it happened. Mom, the ever adventurous one, decided to get fully immersed in her roles. So far we used to still retain the consciousness that we were enacting these roles and we had a sense of self. But mom… she dived deep into the world of the senses. It was beautiful. We no longer knew she was mom of course, we were too caught up in our own roles to know who was who anymore. But it was inspiring. We all followed suit and soon everyone was just completely wrapped up in their roles. The past was past and fully forgotten. ‘Just enjoy the present!’ became our motto. We were passionate about whatever we did. Expanding our kingdoms, courting the most beautiful ones, wining and dining and hunting and what have you. Suddenly it was not about the game. It was about me having more. It was about who could do what the best. We still had some dignity and would set some rules and play by the rules, but still there was this sense of adventure.
But something was amiss. With all the pleasure of the moment, mom (who else?) felt that we were somehow disconnected from reality… we were kind of lost, and there needed to be some balance. Otherwise, things could go wrong. She instinctively knew, dad was around somewhere and he would help if we really needed his help. She built a fantastic memorial for dad filling it with jewels… and dad of course was the diamond in the centre of it all. She was a popular king those days too and soon all of us were copying each other building wonderful temples to dad. We could now go to these temples and sing dad’s praise so that we felt connected to him and to all of us for at least some part of the day.
Dad stayed silent. He was always so wise. When we would be lost in our prayers, he would acknowledge his presence with a vision or two. But he knew that our desire for adventure was still fully alive… and he kept himself away.
Meanwhile something was going wrong. In all our fun and frolic, we found unexpected things happening. Suddenly the future was not predictably fun. Sometimes we would fall ill, sometimes we would lose (imagine!) to another in a war, sometimes we would even die at an early age! Even the animals were no longer reliable… at times the hunter became the hunted. Even our victories did not seem satisfying. We wanted more. Larger kingdoms, more wine, more sex… we were getting addicted and there seemed to be no way out.
Some of us had enough. They saw through the problems and wanted to contemplate on it. They went to the mountains and the caves and sought solitude. Some of the new ones who were joining us from back home felt horrified to see how caught up we had become in our fancy roles. They tried to advice us about the pitfalls of what we were doing and advised restraint. Some suggested that we should dedicate our lives to remembering dad so that he would feel pulled to come and help everyone out.
But for the rest of us, this was nothing. ‘We want more!!!’, that was the cry in our hearts. One of the wiser lot started building memorials to our own past. Memorials of our time in paradise… of the time when we were all pure and virtuous. But one of the naughtiest ones felt the urge to depict our current pleasures right around these memorials. So we had these magnificent temples with deities inside in purity and splendour and deities on the outside walls celebrating sex as their new sport.
Those days everyone respected each other’s views and so no matter how diverse they were, we would note them down together. Some of the ‘scriptures’ that we put together were typical examples. They had such variety. There were stories about dad and his glory, about our own deity status and also many stories with morals. The creative ones certainly had their time. We created stories and wrote epics that captivated everyone but every story had a moral. At least that’s how it was in the beginning.
Time passed and we were getting a bit weary. Things were not really working out. We wondered if dad would really help out. But then we were not really sure either. Whenever something was seriously wrong (like someone we loved was dying or if we lost out in an unjust manner…) we called out to him. We meant it… we really wanted out. But Dad knew. He knew that we would get over it. And he stayed quiet. I wonder if i could have had that maturity…
In my personal journey, i was certainly getting fed up. I wasn’t so sure anymore if all these well meaning folks with long beards speaking wise words really knew what they were talking about. I had certainly tried talking to many of them and even though i was sincere, i was not reaching anywhere. On the other hand sensual pleasures, even though temporary, still had their hold on me… and i felt happy to indulge.
Mom too was on her journey in her own way. She was in love with her own first role. She would pray to that image in all fervour hoping that the deity would bestow a vision or two on her. She was as clueless as the rest of us. What a wonder this game is…
And then one day, dad decided to visit us. He came and quietly sat right next to mom in her body. Mom was of course lost in her own world of thoughts and she did not even notice him. But changes started happening. When she spoke to others, dad would put in a sentence or two. And mom would wonder. Wow, I had never thought of that, how come I spoke such deep stuff? Hmm…
Dad… he is such a dear. He would come by quietly everyday and speak a little while mom was talking. And mom felt astonished. Her thoughts became much deeper and she started to ponder over the meaning of it all. One day, dad gave her a vision of her first image. “You were that”, he said. Mom was confused. How could I be a deity? She went to her guru to clarify. But that guru was equally confused. God must be happy with your devotion, he said.
Dad gave mom many visions… of a destruction to come and of a grand new world that she had to build. But he never said a word how it would all happen. Mom, dear mom… she was ever willing to check it all out. She is a braveheart. She always was. She was still doing well you know, not a king or anything like that, but still quite prosperous. She was a diamond merchant and a good one at that. Kings and queens used to buy from her and she felt that she was a bestower. She would stick to her principles no matter who came in front. Such self respect!
I had met her even then, but I had my own things to sort out. I was on a journey to figure it all out myself. And I was, frankly speaking, not much in tune with what was going on around with the rest of the folks. For one, there were just too many of us now. All the folks back home decided to join the party down here. And you know these young ones, they are fresh and energetic and smart and with their lovely healthy bodies, they tend to do everything better. And poor old me, I had an old body, and there was disease and some aches and some little relationship hassles. Even when I took up the latest young body, it was still no good compared to these youngsters who had just arrived. And there was a swarm of them. Suddenly we had to think of food, water, clothing… even for a decent livelihood…things we had always taken for granted! Even the climate was so unpredictable these days… oh my god… this is like hell.
Meanwhile dad was clarifying more and more and mom had started a group where like minded folks could get together and listen to all this new stuff. Mom was sharp. She was old but she still had the ability to grasp things well. As dad spoke between the lines, she would go back into silence after her talk and ponder over the new things she had learnt. She was not sure how her words seemed to be so impactful when she spoke to others. ‘Maybe I am God after all… or
maybe not. I dunno.’
Dad would now give visions to those of us who visited mom for her classes. These folks would see paradise and see the princes and princesses there and it was a major hit those days. People would come flocking… if you want to see heaven, all you got to do is come to this group.
But it was not all rosy. Dad was strict. He knew what was good for us. So he said you got to disassociate yourself from the body. The problem is, you think you are a body. But no! You are a soul, a star, a spark of spiritual light. And most people who listened would get it. Mom would recite a scripture and interpret it with her new found understanding. And she kept talking about dad also. Little did she know dad was sitting right next to her… and putting up with all the comical things she was saying…
Dad was so wise. He always has been that way. He never uttered a word. He never corrected mom on the spot. It would be so disrespectful. He went on his own gentle ways to explain things as it would be right for all the children. And mom… she was wonderfully humble and ever the best student. She would grasp every new insight and ponder over it and start living it. And then she would correct herself in class. And one day, dad revealed himself through his words. I am the supreme amongst all because I do not take a physical birth like you do… in fact I have entered your mom’s body to adopt all of you children! I am Shiva… your father.
Wow!!! Imagine the shock and relief mom felt! She became the carefree emperor right at that moment. She knew that she did not have to worry about anything now. Dad was here and would take care of everything. He would even set things right if she did anything wrong. And knowing his quiet and incognito nature, she completely accepted that whatever was being spoken by her was actually spoken by him. So now she could not have any ego at all. She surrendered fully.
What an example mom was! Amongst us children, we had a few bright ones (I’m one of the duller ones, really, i mean it) and one of them was named mamma. Mom was in a male body after all and so mamma played the mother’s role for the children. And i … i was still on my adventurous trip of discovering all the truth… little did i know that Dad – Truth personified – was himself here revealing all the secrets that i had forgotten and was seeking so desperately.
By now i was convinced that dad was a figment of imagination and that all the prophets and saints were well meaning folks who were good for nothing and equally clueless. Oh I sometimes just loathed these people who would pretend to know it all and yet had no ‘logical understanding’ of anything.
Finally that day came. Mom had finished her studies and had gone off into her next role, wishing all the children well and empowering them with loving good wishes. I went to the group that mom had started (actually dad had started through her)… and I had a zillion questions but no real answers forthcoming. I read the story of how dad came and spoke through mom etc but I just hated it. It couldn’t be true! And it’s so awful, I mean, how come I’m missing in all that action! And yet there was something… deep within it struck a chord. I just kept coming and listening to what dad and mom had spoken to all of us… it was fascinating. It was deep. I would spend hours pondering over what they spoke. It seemed foreign, but there seemed to be a ring of truth in it. Somehow it made sense.
I kept studying… I still am. And I still have a long way to go before I get the full picture. But now I recognize my parents. And I recognize the beauty of this game of remembering and forgetting, of victory and defeat, of light and darkness. And I am in love with dad. I have had many fine parents that I felt were the finest in the world… but these ones are out of the world!
So that’s more or less my story...it’s more or less a family story you know. It’s several thousand years long but that’s the gist. What is yours like?
With love,
Your friend.
Drama
An immense expanse of empty darkness… dotted with tiny infinitesimal sparks of light. Yet as we draw closer, each tiny spark grows into a magnificent gigantic sun of light… burning itself away and spreading light into nothingness… Inconceivable distances… between these powerhouses of energy…and as we move farther… each sun fades away into oblivion…
We move in towards one of them… quite small by the celestial standards of the universe. And lo… there are some tiny non luminescent specks moving around this one… we are drawn… irresistibly pulled towards these tiny moving blobs of matter shooting across space on mindless orbits journeying around their sun. One of them catches our interest… bluish green…and incredibly beautiful… we move closer and closer…
A huge globe of matter… thriving with life… millions of life forms… some creep, some crawl… some swim and some fly… some run around and some do all of it… a life begins, and there is a busy schedule of sustaining life…expending energy to find out fresh energy…gathering food, eating, recreation and then resting…sleeping… and along the way growing, reproducing, decaying and dying…
There is one life form that is very decided about itself… it finds meanings… what is life all about? Who are we? What is life? Is there a creator? Can we know anything more? And then this group continues to indulge in its existential play of life and death.
Aha, self worth! I, me and mine! Wars and battles… victories and defeats… yearning to leave a worthwhile legacy… attempting to leave indelible marks on the infinity of the universe and the eternity of time…
Building giant skyscrapers (that look towering from the ground but invisibly tiny when viewed from beyond the clouds)… voyages across seas… climbing the highest mountains and putting a flag marking the conquest of mind over matter…
And watch on… so wrapped up in itself, admiring its own beauty and strength, wanting to impress others, seeking love, respect… pleasure above all… and avoiding that which is unpleasant and causes pain…incessantly bubbling fountain of life…
How engrossing! Tiny indivisible specks of consciousness donning the garbs of matter, playing inconceivably diverse roles… busy busy busy…
And then it happens. One speck of consciousness … whose mind stays constantly in the timeless realm…whose intellect is fully aware of the entirety of this immense drama…whose personality is constantly wise, benevolent and beautiful… this speck… traverses all of space… at the speed of thought… on a mission to reset the entire drama that is constantly manifesting itself.
Wah Baba! Wah Drama! Wah my fortune of witnessing these grand scenes!
We move in towards one of them… quite small by the celestial standards of the universe. And lo… there are some tiny non luminescent specks moving around this one… we are drawn… irresistibly pulled towards these tiny moving blobs of matter shooting across space on mindless orbits journeying around their sun. One of them catches our interest… bluish green…and incredibly beautiful… we move closer and closer…
A huge globe of matter… thriving with life… millions of life forms… some creep, some crawl… some swim and some fly… some run around and some do all of it… a life begins, and there is a busy schedule of sustaining life…expending energy to find out fresh energy…gathering food, eating, recreation and then resting…sleeping… and along the way growing, reproducing, decaying and dying…
There is one life form that is very decided about itself… it finds meanings… what is life all about? Who are we? What is life? Is there a creator? Can we know anything more? And then this group continues to indulge in its existential play of life and death.
Aha, self worth! I, me and mine! Wars and battles… victories and defeats… yearning to leave a worthwhile legacy… attempting to leave indelible marks on the infinity of the universe and the eternity of time…
Building giant skyscrapers (that look towering from the ground but invisibly tiny when viewed from beyond the clouds)… voyages across seas… climbing the highest mountains and putting a flag marking the conquest of mind over matter…
And watch on… so wrapped up in itself, admiring its own beauty and strength, wanting to impress others, seeking love, respect… pleasure above all… and avoiding that which is unpleasant and causes pain…incessantly bubbling fountain of life…
How engrossing! Tiny indivisible specks of consciousness donning the garbs of matter, playing inconceivably diverse roles… busy busy busy…
And then it happens. One speck of consciousness … whose mind stays constantly in the timeless realm…whose intellect is fully aware of the entirety of this immense drama…whose personality is constantly wise, benevolent and beautiful… this speck… traverses all of space… at the speed of thought… on a mission to reset the entire drama that is constantly manifesting itself.
Wah Baba! Wah Drama! Wah my fortune of witnessing these grand scenes!
Maya is an illusion
Maya is not a living entity. There is no such ‘thing’ called Maya. Maya is the absence of accurate self-awareness. You cannot fight Maya. You cannot win over Maya. It is an illusion and illusions can not be fought with. Like darkness. You cannot fight it. It does not exist. There is no such ‘thing’ called darkness. You cannot quantify darkness. Darkness is the absence of light. It exists only as a concept.
So what then is victory over Maya? Self-realization. When you switch on the light, darkness is dispelled. ‘But Baba says, Maya is the five vices…’ Yes, that’s right. Maya is, simply speaking, lack of clarity of what I want…of what I truly am. It is ignorance of the beauty of the self. The vices tell me that I am still seeking the truth. They point to the fact that I do not know how to get what I want and so I do the next best thing, I go for instant gratification, trying to at least get the symptoms of what I want even if it’s not sustainable and even though I know that it is not accurate.
Desire, Irritation, Hoarding, Bossiness, Clutching on…they tell me that I have not yet learnt that everything I need is within myself. That I am still seeking fulfillment… That I am still waiting for the magic to happen… for solutions to arrive from outside. I may have intellectual understanding, but the realization is missing. And until I take active steps to get there, the situation is not likely to change much.
Attempting to fight Maya… is foolhardy. You cannot fight a concept… an abstract notion. Truth will prevail. Discovery of truth… and living the truth…that is the journey we have all embarked upon.
How can I get to the Truth? How can I get rid of these vices? How can I be myself? How, how, how on earth can I get back on course?
Questions get me to the answers. But the answers won’t come from elsewhere. The world is telling me all the answers but I can’t see them because I am too engrossed in looking for them. I can’t separate the wheat from the chaff anymore. God is truth. He shares many different perspectives on truth. He dispels the myths and clarifies incessantly. He says, you know it all, and here it is again in essence. I am just reminding you of it. Now, be still. Be silent. Observe yourself. Look at yourself. Introspect. Watch. See. Be.
And in a few moments, truth dawns, everything makes sense and aha, it’s glorious! And then I begin to celebrate the truth… and slip back into ignorance. Truth is not a thing of momentary achievement. It is eternal. It is reality. It’s not a destination that you can reach and then be done with it. Like an exam you passed and got a degree. Like a task that got completed. No, it’s the only thing that shall always be. It is existence.
Uhh…but it all seems so abstract! It is, and it isn’t. For it will be what we think of it. We only see (and get affected by) what we are. We cannot see something that does not reflect ourselves. When God sees hell, he sees the heaven that was and shall be. That is the process of creation… and re-creation… When he sees ‘sinners’, he sees the purity that was and shall be. He does not judge. He is forever merciful. They say he is the supreme judge and needs to be feared. But he only shows us the truth. It is the contrast that causes pain… a realization of having strayed away from reality.
God tells us the short and direct path… the path of truth. Why would I stray away? Because God can only tell me something, he can not make me realize it. Realization is my task. And until I realize what it is all about… and get sustainable results, I will want to get the same experiences through other means. Pleasure is a cheap substitute for bliss.
So, what next?
‘Sit and study the knowledge. Reflect and ponder deeply. Realize and own it… Serve others for that will clarify things for you …’
But for how long? I mean, I need to live a life too…
‘Do you? What is life? But wait… yes, maybe you are right… maybe it looks as though it will take time for you. It needs just a second… but until that that moment of truth arrives…It needs time, but you can do it…Why don’t you fix a date for it?’
‘Patience O mind… Patience… your day of happiness is dawning… Trust me. And hand yourself over to me… I will take care of you… I promise.’
So what then is victory over Maya? Self-realization. When you switch on the light, darkness is dispelled. ‘But Baba says, Maya is the five vices…’ Yes, that’s right. Maya is, simply speaking, lack of clarity of what I want…of what I truly am. It is ignorance of the beauty of the self. The vices tell me that I am still seeking the truth. They point to the fact that I do not know how to get what I want and so I do the next best thing, I go for instant gratification, trying to at least get the symptoms of what I want even if it’s not sustainable and even though I know that it is not accurate.
Desire, Irritation, Hoarding, Bossiness, Clutching on…they tell me that I have not yet learnt that everything I need is within myself. That I am still seeking fulfillment… That I am still waiting for the magic to happen… for solutions to arrive from outside. I may have intellectual understanding, but the realization is missing. And until I take active steps to get there, the situation is not likely to change much.
Attempting to fight Maya… is foolhardy. You cannot fight a concept… an abstract notion. Truth will prevail. Discovery of truth… and living the truth…that is the journey we have all embarked upon.
How can I get to the Truth? How can I get rid of these vices? How can I be myself? How, how, how on earth can I get back on course?
Questions get me to the answers. But the answers won’t come from elsewhere. The world is telling me all the answers but I can’t see them because I am too engrossed in looking for them. I can’t separate the wheat from the chaff anymore. God is truth. He shares many different perspectives on truth. He dispels the myths and clarifies incessantly. He says, you know it all, and here it is again in essence. I am just reminding you of it. Now, be still. Be silent. Observe yourself. Look at yourself. Introspect. Watch. See. Be.
And in a few moments, truth dawns, everything makes sense and aha, it’s glorious! And then I begin to celebrate the truth… and slip back into ignorance. Truth is not a thing of momentary achievement. It is eternal. It is reality. It’s not a destination that you can reach and then be done with it. Like an exam you passed and got a degree. Like a task that got completed. No, it’s the only thing that shall always be. It is existence.
Uhh…but it all seems so abstract! It is, and it isn’t. For it will be what we think of it. We only see (and get affected by) what we are. We cannot see something that does not reflect ourselves. When God sees hell, he sees the heaven that was and shall be. That is the process of creation… and re-creation… When he sees ‘sinners’, he sees the purity that was and shall be. He does not judge. He is forever merciful. They say he is the supreme judge and needs to be feared. But he only shows us the truth. It is the contrast that causes pain… a realization of having strayed away from reality.
God tells us the short and direct path… the path of truth. Why would I stray away? Because God can only tell me something, he can not make me realize it. Realization is my task. And until I realize what it is all about… and get sustainable results, I will want to get the same experiences through other means. Pleasure is a cheap substitute for bliss.
So, what next?
‘Sit and study the knowledge. Reflect and ponder deeply. Realize and own it… Serve others for that will clarify things for you …’
But for how long? I mean, I need to live a life too…
‘Do you? What is life? But wait… yes, maybe you are right… maybe it looks as though it will take time for you. It needs just a second… but until that that moment of truth arrives…It needs time, but you can do it…Why don’t you fix a date for it?’
‘Patience O mind… Patience… your day of happiness is dawning… Trust me. And hand yourself over to me… I will take care of you… I promise.’
Guidelines from God
Maintain Self-Respect
Know that you are very special. You are an actor who has a unique part in the drama of life. You are my child. I love you always. Remember that.
Respect All
Every actor in this drama of life is unique. See beyond their current roles. They are also souls like you. Everyone is my child. That itself makes each one worthy of respect.
Remember Me
Have all relationships with me. I am your Father, your Teacher and your Guide. I am your Friend too. I am remembered as the Almighty. But I belong to you… you have a right on me. Remember me from the heart and you will gain strength.
Be Honest
If you make a mistake, be honest and tell me. Take time to realize it and make a determined promise not to repeat it. You will feel light and be free from the burden of guilt. You will also receive blessings from all.
Check and Change
Your nature is peace, love, happiness. If these seem to be missing, check within and see what you need to change internally. When you change, your world will change.
Keep Learning
Student life is the best. Set a very elevated aim in life and work towards it by learning from every situation. Not every situation looks pleasant. But every situation holds a valuable lesson. Keep learning and you will become wise and reach your aim.
Be a Trustee
You have been endowed with many treasures – time and thoughts being the most important ones. Use them as a trustee, in a way that enriches you and everyone. You will then be carefree and successful at the same time.
Live like a Guest
Remember that the roles you play are temporary. Be a guest in this world - like a good friend who comes as a guest, even helps out with the dishes but stays aware that I have to leave soon… Then you will do your best without being affected by people or situations.
Be a Humble Instrument
As you move forward, you will receive much praise. You will also face criticism. Do not take anything personally. Remember that you are my instrument – this will help you stay humble and become great.
Stay Happy
There is no nourishment like happiness. Situations may come and go but your happiness should remain with you. Learn from the past, apply a full stop on it and stride forward. Remember the deep secret of karma. Everything happens for good. Smile and move on.
Know that you are very special. You are an actor who has a unique part in the drama of life. You are my child. I love you always. Remember that.
Respect All
Every actor in this drama of life is unique. See beyond their current roles. They are also souls like you. Everyone is my child. That itself makes each one worthy of respect.
Remember Me
Have all relationships with me. I am your Father, your Teacher and your Guide. I am your Friend too. I am remembered as the Almighty. But I belong to you… you have a right on me. Remember me from the heart and you will gain strength.
Be Honest
If you make a mistake, be honest and tell me. Take time to realize it and make a determined promise not to repeat it. You will feel light and be free from the burden of guilt. You will also receive blessings from all.
Check and Change
Your nature is peace, love, happiness. If these seem to be missing, check within and see what you need to change internally. When you change, your world will change.
Keep Learning
Student life is the best. Set a very elevated aim in life and work towards it by learning from every situation. Not every situation looks pleasant. But every situation holds a valuable lesson. Keep learning and you will become wise and reach your aim.
Be a Trustee
You have been endowed with many treasures – time and thoughts being the most important ones. Use them as a trustee, in a way that enriches you and everyone. You will then be carefree and successful at the same time.
Live like a Guest
Remember that the roles you play are temporary. Be a guest in this world - like a good friend who comes as a guest, even helps out with the dishes but stays aware that I have to leave soon… Then you will do your best without being affected by people or situations.
Be a Humble Instrument
As you move forward, you will receive much praise. You will also face criticism. Do not take anything personally. Remember that you are my instrument – this will help you stay humble and become great.
Stay Happy
There is no nourishment like happiness. Situations may come and go but your happiness should remain with you. Learn from the past, apply a full stop on it and stride forward. Remember the deep secret of karma. Everything happens for good. Smile and move on.
The blinding flash of the obvious
One day at amritvela, this life and its innards lay itself out in front of me...like a movie...It was fascinating, so I thought, I’d share it as it unfolded… without the gory details.
Every vice in its fullest manifestation, from seed to leaf, acknowledged its presence and highlighted how it has been very much around just waiting for the right opportunity to reach fruition.
Life is a game - call it football, call it cricket - Maya has been the player and I’ve been the ball. Tossed around, thrown up and down... but then again... not really. The analogy is only partly true. It’s been the game between virtues and vices and yes, I’ve been the subject of contention. Vices are the clear favourites, having been winners for a long while now.
Poor virtues, they have had a horrible time so far, but there is a good coach around and so there is hope. But the mind is the playground where thoughts have been tossed around. The scores don't look too good for the virtues. There is skill and there is determination but with the vices there is sheer power and they play foul. So every now and then, the virtues take a thorough beating.
And then there is a nursery rhyme that is merrily sung in the background
PieceO'Trash, PieceO'Trash, where have you been?
I’ve been to Maya's for a thorough beatin'!
PieceO'Trash, PieceO'Trash, how did it feel?
Chuckle, chuckle, giggle, giggle, but don't even ask!
And then an amazing scene...
A patient is in ICU... just out of coma...on intravenous drip...and his friend is sitting next to him saying...
'... and you know, when you become the world boxing champion, here is what you got to do... at times it will be tough and if you are not careful, you may get a punch or two on your nose, but just remember this tip, adjust yourself slightly to avoid the blow and deliver a knock out like this!'
Ah the irony! And the joke! And yet how effective!
'...so now are you prepared? Raise your hand, I want to confirm that you are listening!'
The patient gives a broad grin and enthusiastically musters all remaining energy to raise the one free hand!
'Great! All hail the new world boxing champion! You are almost there, just get out of bed, do this one practice and soon, the world will be at your feet! Gotta go, seeya tomorrow!'
The patient smiles, lying on his bed, remembering the powerful words of his buddy... and then the throbbing pain hits him on his chest and he doubles over... uhh... I'm dying! Thoughts of World boxing championship fade away dramatically...
What a wonder! What a wonder!
After this amazing amritvela, I got up and wondered on my next steps. Picked up a murli and guess what my friend, philosopher and guide had to say?
'If you do not have the power to control your thoughts, take an injection to become bodiless. Come and sit next to the Father! Then your thought-power will not run wildly. Do you not know how to sit next to Baba? The only task Baba has given you is the task of just sitting next to Him, nothing else! You now understand that this is very easy, but because you take back the reins of your intellect after having given them to the Father, you then have to make unnecessary effort to control your mind. Now become free from having to labour over anything wasteful.' 19/12/1979
Uhh... Ahhh... Wah!!!
'The only task Baba has given you is the task of just sitting next to Him, nothing else!'
I went and lay on the bed pondering over this amazing statement...The calm after the storm... so peaceful, liberating...
The kingdom has been lost, I am on my back looking at the stars and a strange sense of peace dawns... almost a relief, it’s all over. Now I can be with my beloved again...
The Mahabharata - it’s all about me. Every character. Every scene. It’s the blinding flash of the obvious.
And in that day's murli Baba said... just stay in my heart and you will be safe. Suddenly it hit me, I was being the spectator of these scenes of chaos... and yet there was no feeling of sorrow. Just watching...Oooh Baba, I love you sooooo much!
Every vice in its fullest manifestation, from seed to leaf, acknowledged its presence and highlighted how it has been very much around just waiting for the right opportunity to reach fruition.
Life is a game - call it football, call it cricket - Maya has been the player and I’ve been the ball. Tossed around, thrown up and down... but then again... not really. The analogy is only partly true. It’s been the game between virtues and vices and yes, I’ve been the subject of contention. Vices are the clear favourites, having been winners for a long while now.
Poor virtues, they have had a horrible time so far, but there is a good coach around and so there is hope. But the mind is the playground where thoughts have been tossed around. The scores don't look too good for the virtues. There is skill and there is determination but with the vices there is sheer power and they play foul. So every now and then, the virtues take a thorough beating.
And then there is a nursery rhyme that is merrily sung in the background
PieceO'Trash, PieceO'Trash, where have you been?
I’ve been to Maya's for a thorough beatin'!
PieceO'Trash, PieceO'Trash, how did it feel?
Chuckle, chuckle, giggle, giggle, but don't even ask!
And then an amazing scene...
A patient is in ICU... just out of coma...on intravenous drip...and his friend is sitting next to him saying...
'... and you know, when you become the world boxing champion, here is what you got to do... at times it will be tough and if you are not careful, you may get a punch or two on your nose, but just remember this tip, adjust yourself slightly to avoid the blow and deliver a knock out like this!'
Ah the irony! And the joke! And yet how effective!
'...so now are you prepared? Raise your hand, I want to confirm that you are listening!'
The patient gives a broad grin and enthusiastically musters all remaining energy to raise the one free hand!
'Great! All hail the new world boxing champion! You are almost there, just get out of bed, do this one practice and soon, the world will be at your feet! Gotta go, seeya tomorrow!'
The patient smiles, lying on his bed, remembering the powerful words of his buddy... and then the throbbing pain hits him on his chest and he doubles over... uhh... I'm dying! Thoughts of World boxing championship fade away dramatically...
What a wonder! What a wonder!
After this amazing amritvela, I got up and wondered on my next steps. Picked up a murli and guess what my friend, philosopher and guide had to say?
'If you do not have the power to control your thoughts, take an injection to become bodiless. Come and sit next to the Father! Then your thought-power will not run wildly. Do you not know how to sit next to Baba? The only task Baba has given you is the task of just sitting next to Him, nothing else! You now understand that this is very easy, but because you take back the reins of your intellect after having given them to the Father, you then have to make unnecessary effort to control your mind. Now become free from having to labour over anything wasteful.' 19/12/1979
Uhh... Ahhh... Wah!!!
'The only task Baba has given you is the task of just sitting next to Him, nothing else!'
I went and lay on the bed pondering over this amazing statement...The calm after the storm... so peaceful, liberating...
The kingdom has been lost, I am on my back looking at the stars and a strange sense of peace dawns... almost a relief, it’s all over. Now I can be with my beloved again...
The Mahabharata - it’s all about me. Every character. Every scene. It’s the blinding flash of the obvious.
And in that day's murli Baba said... just stay in my heart and you will be safe. Suddenly it hit me, I was being the spectator of these scenes of chaos... and yet there was no feeling of sorrow. Just watching...Oooh Baba, I love you sooooo much!
List of 'i' and 'mine'
In varying degrees - in thought, word and deed...
- Correction (even when i'm not an instrument)
- Criticism (colleagues, peers, world, seniors... what have you)
- Quotation (they asked me.. otherwise i am...)
- My idea (my creativity, my views...)
- Authoritative presentation (this is the right way...)
- Mental comments (noting shortcomings...)
- 'Competence, brilance, productivity, time management, balance, efficiency, effectiveness' (quoting/talking about 'my ability')
- Taking up more than it is useful or productive for service
- Not my job
- Why are others not doing that?
- Creative writing (that ends up diverting attention from God!!!)
- Not going deep enough (i'm kinda ok y'know)
- Preoccupied with self improvement (ignoring God's help)
- Inadequate/inaccurate prioritization - time wastage, opportunity wastage
- Unsolicited advice
- Fits and starts in service - not following through to completion
- Holier than thou
- Complacence
- Difficulty with Maya!
- Cutting others short during conversations
- Becoming a judge for others - impartial and 'strong'
- Impatience
- Tall claims and aims with no substantial backup
- Taking Baba for granted
- Repeating mistakes by giving up
Metavice
Body consciousness, laziness, carelessness... these are metavices. So is curiosity and the desire for variety.
Its all about respositioning perspectives.
Its all about respositioning perspectives.
Whoa... what goes on?
This is such a massive undertaking! Transforming some sanskars takes time because logic, reason, debates, understanding ... all of these fail.
A more dominant desire has to replace the existing one in order to be sustainable. Contemplation, churning, determination, deep realization, deep yogic stage... these are key tools.
Ravan is remembered... when one head was chopped, another would appear... and when that was removed, the first one would reappear...
Hitting the root... becoming bodiless is the solution... but it is still from the head at the moment...
If everything was achieved except purity, nothing is achieved because the foundation is missing and the entire building can collapse any moment.
And yet... oh yet... it is sooooooo easy!!!
A more dominant desire has to replace the existing one in order to be sustainable. Contemplation, churning, determination, deep realization, deep yogic stage... these are key tools.
Ravan is remembered... when one head was chopped, another would appear... and when that was removed, the first one would reappear...
Hitting the root... becoming bodiless is the solution... but it is still from the head at the moment...
If everything was achieved except purity, nothing is achieved because the foundation is missing and the entire building can collapse any moment.
And yet... oh yet... it is sooooooo easy!!!
Wonderful life
What a wonder life is... souls are so caught up in the details of events.. the importance and the urgency... and yet how feeble it all is in the grand scheme of things...
Until i learn
Unless the lesson is learnt, the test paper has to be repeated with small variations...
Who Are We?
What makes you happy?
What makes you sad?
What are you worried about?
What gives you contentment?
How would you describe yourself?
Your answers... shall become our answers... and define us.
Who are we?
What makes you sad?
What are you worried about?
What gives you contentment?
How would you describe yourself?
Your answers... shall become our answers... and define us.
Who are we?
Surrender!!!
Surrendering... and watching things unfold...
So very different than rushing through the process...
So very different than rushing through the process...
A glimpse of heaven
Baba's hut...
The gentle breeze...
The pleasant coolness...
And the lovely family...
Aha!!!
The gentle breeze...
The pleasant coolness...
And the lovely family...
Aha!!!
Attainments... and experiences on the journey
- Maturity
- Clarity
- Experience of yoga
- Love, compassion, self respect, detachment, peace, purity, power, contentment, humility, flexibility, surrender, cooperation, initiative, creativity...
Liberation... one step at a time
Ever since i've taken the decision to change... i've become free from...
- seeking (from scriptures, religions)... to finding
- short temper... to empathy
- gross vices... to simplicity, purity and freedom
- miserliness...to generosity of spirit
- immaturity... to understanding
- hobbies... to spiritual passion
- curiosity for the old world... to curiosity for self development and learning
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