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by Jayaram V
To deny knowledge, experience, the known is
to invite the unknown - Jiddu Krishnamurthy
We are afraid of this total destruction of
the known, the ground of the self, the me and the mine; the
known is better than the unknown, the known with its confusion,
conflict and misery; freedom from this known may destroy what
we call love, relationship, joy and so on. - Jiddu Krishnamurthy
The known breeds sorrow and love is the freedom
from the known - Jiddu Krishnamurthy
So, at first, to begin with, one must be able
to get out of the ego. Afterwards, it has to be, you understand,
in a certain state of inexistence. Then you begin to perceive
things as they are, form a little higher up. But if you want
to know things as they really are, you must be absolutely like
a mirror: silent, peaceful, immobile, impartial, without preferences
and in a state of total receptivity- The Mother
Some people ask, "Where is God and if he is there
actually, why does He not appear to us?" Some go to a sacred
place, a temple or Church and bring out their best behavior. They
act piously and think religiously for the time they are in that
sacred presence. But when they come out, we see them becoming their
usual selves and indulging in their old routine acts of selfishness
and self promotion. A few minutes of prayer, a little attention
to God, may be better in a way compared to no religious activity.
But if any one believes that it is going to bring him or her face
to face with God he or she is badly mistaken.
Even a student of first standard has to do his little bit of
home work, learn some basics to gain the approval of his teachers
and enter the next standard. If this is so, how can any one expect
to succeed in spiritual endeavor without corresponding effort? He
who believes that it is not so, may visit a temple or church his
entire life, but may not experience the true vision of God.
There are powerful orators who appear on TV screens or in front
of some special audience and speak about God with such force and
vehemence that sometimes we wonder whether they are in the midst
of some election campaign or working in the marketing department
of some divine corporation! One hardly finds any peace in their
manner, in their words, in their demeanor and their behavior. They
are the unrefined souls, full of personal ambition, trying to provide
some divine fantasy to gullible people.
God is not to be found in our thoughts, nor in our mundane actions.
He is not to be found exclusively in any books or in some one's
sacred speech. No church, no temple, no mosque can house God except
symbolically or representatively.
He is beyond books, beyond thoughts, beyond words, and beyond
all emotions. When your senses are quiet, when your mind is at peace,
resting and relaxing, when your thoughts are asleep in the lap of
silence, and when your emotions have retreated into some quite corner,
you will find Him in the silence of your heart and in the oneness
of your being.
You will find Him when you have disciplined yourself, when
you have gained control over yourself, when you are in a position
to deal with your desires and set them aside without upsetting your
inner balance. You will see Him when you leave behind that ambition
which has made you so competitive and at times insensitive. You
will discern His foot prints on the path of your life, when you
shun all your desire driven egoistic activity that has rendered
you so selfish and envious. You will see Him when you are able to
love unconditionally those few who come into contact with you directly
and undermine you and all that you stand for in every possible way.
If you can look at yourself without any expectation, if you can
look at your future without any anxiety, if you can empty your mind
of all that belongs to you and represents you, if you can act and
live as if you do not exist except as a mere concept or idea, if
you can strip yourself of all your possessions at least mentally
and sincerely, if you are willing to let go of every thing at the
slightest hint from Him, you will perhaps find God looking at the
world thorough your eyes and communicating with the world through
your words. It is when you close the door on yourself, that you
find the other door opening, the door that leads to pure Light and
utter Delight, the door through which Divine force enters and takes
care of your life. You become an empty shell, devoid of all egoism
but full of divine Self.
Practical suggestions
For just for one day stop living and thinking for yourself.
Stop putting yourself in front of every one and every thing. Stop
behaving as if the world should and must exist for you, for your
happiness and comfort. Accept the notion that it does not matter
whether you are a part of this great world or not.
Stop expressing yourself, declaring your thoughts, stating your dear
and trying to impress others. Instead listen to others with enormous
patience, without feeling the compulsion of speaking in reply to
prove a point or project your knowledge.
Set aside all impression management. It does not matter whether
any one really likes you or not. It does not matter whether you
should become acceptable to the world outside or not. Forget about
self presentation and self advancement. Do not react. Do not put
forth any suggestions or view points.
Live as if it does not matter whether any one should really care
about you, think about you or feel concerned about you. Do not draw
any attention to yourself by such acts that place you prominently
in any group. Do not make yourself important in any way. Do not
give your opinions unless you are asked.
Do not defend yourself verbally unless there is something very
serious at stake. Do not worry about what is going to happen. Do
not plan anything in particular. Let things happen rather than you
forcing them to happen. Do not strive. Do not struggle. Cultivate
the silence of the heart and keep praying.
And if you can do this sincerely and frequently, you will
cross the first hurdle, your ego, which leads to humility and a
reorientation in your thinking and attitude. From being the
center of the world, you learn to accomodate the world around
you as part of your learning process. This is only the first stage in the long journey
that leads you someday to the world of God.
Suggested Further Reading
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