t h i n k i n g a b o u t h o w w e r e l a t e
As your method of self-inquiry deepens and expands, without doubt, your thinking will
change. As you meditate more often and more deeply, and learn
more in doing so, the manner in which you interact with the world will
not remain the same. Until your epiphanies expand to captivate
you most completely, certain clues can be offered to
you — to one who is on a path towards understanding and deeply living
an awareness of their own eternal truth.
To stretch your mind, consider the many activities of social welfare and their spiritual
relevance. To understand the social construct that is the concept of 'race,'
and learn about culture
would be helpful, also. You are moving towards an awareness of
unity without barrier, after all. Further,
as more and more people seek to better know themselves and the nature
of the cosmos, do not be taken aback that seemingly separate and
distance fields such as science are better able to unmask deep truths
to confirm authentic spiritual (and timeless) knowledge for you. All
things are related. Deeply contemplate the idea of your intimate unity with all, and reflect on
love manifest everywhere from expressions of human rights,
to ideas of beneficent speech.
...What now, though, of interpersonal relationships?
What of relationships with items, also? To begin deep
thinking in this area, let us first consider something else. That is,
let us
consider something seemingly related only by a very great stretch of
the imagination, perhaps... Consider, then... well,
shoes, for example...
People react differently to shoes.
Some, upon seeing a pair, simply love them. Some might purchase many pairs of the same shoes.
Others, detest the same. A few people, sometimes, might simply enjoy the presence or being of the shoes.
They might appreciate the shoes as shoes; they might enjoy the essence of the pair of shoes.
Question: Are the shoes then, essentially drawing these reactions upon themselves?
...Unlikely. The shoes are, more than likely to be: just being
shoes. (And you will need to stretch your mind a bit,
here. You see I'm not talking merely of taste. And remember, in truth I'm
attempting to call attention to something more than footwear.)
We learn or assume different things about shoes...
and about whatnot else, also. Sometimes we learn to enjoy shoes as a
shoes. At other times, we mistake the shoe for something else.
Not all of us are at a clear place in our own awareness, all of the
time. Sometimes, our own awareness, or conscious mind-set differs from what we truly seek,
within. We can be out of touch with our deepest want; the deepest
of desires that, once met, renders all others infinitely pale.
Sometimes, our awareness is a little bit murky...
Sometimes we think a thing will bring something, and find that it does not.
Some of us think we want whatnot thing, but in truth,
we don't. When we want such things, we do because we think it will *bring into us something
we lack.* And so we chase it,
and, truly it does its best to fill a need...
But does it fill?
If it does, well then best to you! — But for those of
us who are constantly chasing things, well...
Sometimes, we accept all sorts of pre-conceived concepts into our understanding of
everything.
Then, sometimes we think too much and miss our aim...
At other times, we attract what we desire. Sometimes, we are active,
highly aware participants in our relationships
with the world, things, ourselves, and each other. Some of us master
our lives and our unique, interconnected path.
Sometimes, it is just not all about us. ...Sometimes, it is.
Poor shoes. Sigh.
At least we are, yet, in a better place than the shoe. We can begin to introspect and therefore, whatever our position, we can begin to change our circumstance.
We can begin to work from within.
Eppi Sukhu, MHSc.
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c l a r i t y , l o v e
, a n d t r a n s c e n d a n c e
(Notes from the Chopra Center Archives,
reproduced in part with kind permission.)
Clarity
Consider the word clarity. In doing so, these
words also come to mind: "clear, transparent, translucent,
seamless, understood, illuminated, same inside as it is out
side, single-mindedness of purpose...integrity of thought, word, and
deed...purity.
As we accept our shadow self, the simplicity of grace will naturally emerge; and by being the attributes that we seek to attain, things naturally become more clear.
For example, if you are seeking more love in your life, let every moment be about being love. Not a complaint about not having it, but standing in the courage to really BE LOVE — regardless of the circumstance.
So, with clarity of purpose, and an ability to observe ourselves as we interact in our lives, even the most difficult situations regarding health, relationships, career, and general well-being become another opportunity to accept what is and provides the strength and connection to spirit required to maintain it" (Chopra,
2005).
Love
"When we interact with other people, we are free to feel anything — from deepest hatred to deepest love. We may be attracted or repelled, seduced or repulsed, feel rejected or accepted. But at the level of the Self, we always meet another person in love. The person you love reflects your share of universal love. If you learn to look deep enough, you will see that your reality is only love.
We have a decision to interpret each moment as a choice between a grievance or a miracle. When we choose miracles we surround ourselves with love and actually bathe our souls in it. When we chose grievances, we prevent the innocent flow of love through and outside of our very being.
Whether your expression of love is physical, spiritual, emotional, or takes some other form, remember the energy born of love is creative. It makes everything it touches new. To see how passionate you are, look around and see what you have created"
(Chopra, 2005).
Transcendence
"Transcendence is defined as extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary perception. This does not mean it is foreign or alien to our bodies or minds. In fact, the understanding of transcendence may be the most common bond that all of us around the globe and throughout time actually share — beyond skin color, politics, language, or religion.
More than a decade ago, Vaclav Havel, then President of the Czech Republic said "It logically follows that, in today's multicultural world, the truly reliable path to coexistence, to peaceful coexistence and creative cooperation, must start from what is at the root of all cultures and what lies infinitely deeper in human hearts and minds than political opinion, convictions, antipathies, or sympathies — it must be rooted in self-transcendence."
Essentially, balance feeds transcendence and transcendent behavior leads to balance. Each moment of our lives, is filled with one form or another of choice, opportunity, or distraction. The choice to live a balanced life occurs in each one of these moments. The choice between mindless media or mindful meditation, the choice between observing yourself in a situation or convincing yourself that you are a result of the situation, the choice of object referral or self referral.
For thousands of years the great Vedic seers have proclaimed that the purpose of attending to the body is to support the state of being known as enlightenment. In this state, our internal reference point shifts from ego to spirit, and we recognize that the knower, the process of knowing, and that which is known are one and the same. The boundaries of time and space become fluid as we remember ourselves as unbounded beings temporarily masquerading as individuals. This state of wholeness is the basis of a balanced, healthy
life" (Chopra, 2004). Source: Deepak Chopra, M.D.
Chopra Center - archives: October, 2004. January,
2005. February, 2005.
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Recommended Reading:
Sukhu, Eppi. Expressions of Love. A collection of
beneficent quotations.
Tagore, Rabindrabath. 1916. Soul Consciousness.
Sadhana:
the Realisation of Life. New
York: The Macmillan Company.
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