I read this very significant, in fact,
revealing line the other day. "Don't be Buddhist. Be a Buddha." I
said something similar in one of my Mumbai workshops and was accused of
blasphemy. All I said was that Christ is Christ because of his qualities and each
one of us can become a Christ. It is my conviction.
I wonder what happens to us when this
thought is presented before us. Evidently, we think somewhere deep within us
that we are capable of being followers but cannot go beyond.
Each one has a philosophy compatible for
their personal journey. No harm! All roads will eventually converge into one
Divine Energy, whatever be the name given to it by different religions. But
where does our journey of evolution say that we cannot achieve more than merely
following a group who look up to one leader? In fact, any genuine spiritual
leader will also encourage only this thought, that we can all elevate our
consciousness to the level of a Buddha, Krishna or Christ.
I was blessed to have a guru who said, once
you reach my level, your journey is beyond me. And I have always felt that if
we remain followers, it is because we never really understood nor worked
enough. And, conveniently, were content to be in that space.
Before Deepavali, we clean up each corner
of our homes to prepare for festivities. We allow ourselves a few days for this
activity. And then we resume our daily jobs.
Imagine doing spring cleaning and removing
cob webs every day from our minds!!! That constant vigilance and awareness of
every little thought, every word...? Possible? Of course! But would we? We
would go to the ends of the earth to earn name and fame in worldly activities.
But not many see name and fame and hence, the need for this very taxing daily
practice without any visible or even desired end in sight.
Returning to Buddha, we all know his story
and how he achieved enlightenment. Ironically, we know he was a human being
like us who, with his concentrated and single minded efforts reached his goal.
I find it difficult to understand why we feel we won't ever reach there. Even
logically, this does not make sense to me, though I know this is not a subject
of logic.
Where do we begin? Simply with simple
meditation to reduce the useless thoughts (cobwebs) with constant practice.
Pranayama and yoga to regulate breathe and focus of mind. Reduce ego and
attachment. Hate the negativity in people, NOT the people who practice it
because they are at that level of vibration at that point in time. (Attitude
determines altitude). Exercise your choice. CHOOSE POSITIVITY. CHOOSE THE GOOD.
CHOOSE SPIRITUALITY. This is the only permanent option actually. The rest is
transient, misleading and therefore, damaging to the progression of the soul.
Surekha
Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
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