Category: Churnings or Realizations
Serving God
In the child stage of Spirituality, the aim of living, the purpose of living becomes to “serve God.”
All religions have such an aim whether; they call the “ultimate” with the label of “God” or something else. Atheism is another religion in itself.
To believe is the same as not to believe. We are still caught up in more beliefs.
The idea of “serving God,” brings the best out of the child. The child is doing something not because of his own will, but because “God has said so.”
The child moves and acts because his knowledge of God through his beliefs acknowledges that this is the “right thing to do.”
The issue becomes interesting when many religions have different views, different beliefs of the same God; thus their idea of “serving God,” maybe different; however, the common factor between all religions “serving God” is to “spread the word of God” to all. 🙂
In other words, “my belief is the truth. Accept it if you want salvation.”
Thus, conflict arises between believers. They may talk about respecting each other’s beliefs but the fact is that even though someone may play “respectful,” in the back of their minds there is the believe of having the “truth,” of being “right.” 🙂 This is the game of believing…
Is it wrong then, to spread what I believe to be the word of God? No, it is not “wrong.” That is a sure way to strengthen your own beliefs, but keep in mind that you are not “serving God,” by doing so.
How is it?
God does not need for anyone to serve Him. God has been “un-served” from many centuries now… 🙂 What truly needs to be served is humanity. The common good.
Would you serve humanity by changing their beliefs through your own take of the “words of God”? Is that what truly means to “serve”? 🙂 Or is it just a way to “serve” our own ego of having found what we believe to be the “truth”?
Food for thought.
Serving humanity is not related with changing anyone’s beliefs.
A belief is a means of separation between human beings. We cannot serve anyone when we only have beliefs to give.
We need to give more than that to serve.
Avyakt7 was invited one time to a group interested in “showing God” to others. Avyakt7 did not join that group for Avyakt7 understands now that those Godly qualities in me when developed, when used for the common good, will show others those Godly qualities without changing their beliefs. All it matters if for “others” to see those qualities. A talk about who is God or other things “about him” is of no consequence if I care for someone else’s beliefs, if there is care for someone else’s beliefs…
It is in this self transformation how serving becomes offering the most precious thing any human being can give to another, that is your own time.
Organized religions are not needed for this, although serving humanity could happen through them as well. To serve is a game of variety according to needs. Everyone is needed.
If you are a father or a mother in a household, that change can start in your own relationship with others in your family. There is no need to convince anyone.
Just change yourself. That is convincing enough for those who know you already. Spread virtues to everyone. That is serve them.
That is to serve God beyond a childish understanding.
Humanity is “you” and at the same time, you are part of it. God is part of it as well. The only divisions are made inside our own heads through those worshiped beliefs.
That is why, the first step in self transformation is to serve your own mind by “cleaning it.” A religion may offer that “service,” at some time thus; nothing is “bad,” when we appreciate each moment of our journey.
Everything in Spirituality always points back to “I” to see then totality. Cleaning the window of the mind, will allow us to see with clarity what truly is outside… but we may just find a mirror there…:-)
The religious child and the logical adult
Religions are tools to reform the self.
Reform from what?
Reform from our consciousness of separation, to bring us back to the initial “togetherness.”
That “togetherness” is not only related with looking at each other as “brothers and sisters.” That is perhaps the most elementary way to look at oneness.
The “brother wolf,” and the “sister flower,” still convey separation. There are 2 distinct personalities there. The label of being a “family” is needed for this type of understanding because for a child, there is nothing better which is known to him, which will bring a sense of unity.
Every person, no matter how old they are has a child within. That child is the one who could understand “reformation,” for the “adult” in us “thinks” about self sufficiency. No one has the right to “reform” an adult. Nevertheless, if you find a father figure for the child within us, that child will be able to listen and hopefully change.
That is how God came into the picture. The Father. Nevertheless, a child matures. A child grows and with that, changes will inevitably happen. That is life and that is each one’s destiny. There is variety on that. That is why, it is very important to allow the child inside to explore, to play, to learn.
Learning is not always fun; but always beneficial.
Religions have taken this archetype as tools to reform the self. As the “spirit of the teachings” have been forgotten through time due to several reasons, then interpretations arrived and with those creative interpretations, different branches within the same ideology of the same religion.
The above is the story of all monotheistic religions.
However, there is more to it.
Interbeingness, inter-relationship is not easily grasped at the practical level. As a matter of fact, this “concept” is illogical, irrational… so those intellectuals looking for logic and rationality will be easily turned off.
For a child, the answer is always with the Father. A child cannot see that “the Father” is truly within as well. The Father and the son are not just different, but equal. Avyakt7 has a physical father. Avyakt7 can’t help but to notice how many of the characteristics of his physical father are within him due to having spent time together. It cannot be otherwise and of course, this is not just about the external looks.
Truly, being a son, is not related with having “the same blood.” That is the most external characteristic; however; this is the one that through time the world has believed in.
Just another belief.
Oneness is not concerned with labels as “brother” or “family.” Oneness is beyond those words. Oneness is not concerned with “helping your brother” when in this consciousness we can see that we are all integrated, not only separated by personalities and a physical body. In Oneness, we can see clearly that the answer is never one thing, but also the other thing that we left out.
For example, here is the “mental” exercise: 🙂
Is Avyakt7 a Christian? Not only a Christian but more than that.
Is Avyakt7 a BK? Not only a BK but more than that…
Ia Avyakt7 a Taoist, Zen Buddhist? Not only those, but more than that…
Avyakt7, is nothing and because of that, Avyakt7 belongs and accepts everything. Avyakt7 respects every faith. A label does not define Avyakt7 for Avyakt7 is more than a label.
This is to be experienced, not to be analyzed.
Is that logical? No.
Then, it could be “right.” 🙂
Any belief system separates. Thought and analysis separates. Concepts and “isms,” will separate.
Is Avyakt7 a philosopher? Yes, but he is more than that.
Is Avyakt7 an artist? Yes, but he is more than that.
Is Avyakt7 a scientist? Yes, but he is more than that.
Avyakt7 is none of that “only” and because of that. Avyakt7 is all of that.
Is that logical?
No.
Then, it could be “right”… 🙂
Now the exercise is to apply this “logic” to yourself and see how many labels you think that you are, and due to that belief; you negate yourself the opportunity to be part of the world and not just a group.
Note: The above is not for intellectual analysis. Feel it. See the logic beyond logical words…
Enjoy your freedom from beliefs!
🙂
Emotional healing: The heart opens up when the mind is open
Any spiritual walker has been through many experiences in life. The recognition that spirituality is a number one priority in our lives is the trademark of “experienced” beings.
It does not matter what you believe in. Reincarnation or eternal life or nothing at all; the fact, is that there are some people who are “naturally” attracted to being at ease with life and to find a purpose for being here in peaceful enjoyment and harmonious living in relationship with all.
Usually that “search” appears when the glamour of just being trapped in the values of our materialistic society, comes to an end through “sheer” disappointment. 😦
At that point, there is a “re-birth” for finding inner fulfillment. 🙂
A spiritual walker may find in his path different religious beliefs, which are in tune with him for a certain period of time. That length of time varies among individuals. Please note that to belong to a religion is not the end of that “search” in itself, but to be awaken through conscious living.
As explained yesterday, the main tool to change our vision and attitude in life is done through self observation, that is; by watching the mind: Our thoughts, the way we communicate with others, the type of energy that comes out from our relationship with the world; knowing that those energies will come back to us.
In theory that is known as the law of karma. Practically, if we are sensible enough; we will see the consequences in our own lives.
That is why, anyone who thinks that he has a complete understanding as to how life should be, what to believe; or what is the “right thing to do;” sooner or later will find out that those ideas are not accurate. They are incomplete for “my ideas” are just a part of the totality. Because life is dynamic as Nature is; those rigid patterns will need to change according to time. Everything changes in life.
A rigid mind is a dead mind. In that state there is no openness for “newness,” but only a desire to continue with whatever seems comfortable, desirable and “right” according to our beliefs.
In short, to get out of our own self-centered ideas, however “holy” we think they are, is the first step.
As mentioned in many articles before; once we use a method to arrive at a higher consciousness, we need to abandon that method at one point in time, that is; if we are truly concerned to find out if our perceived “change” is real. That is if honesty is of paramount importance to us. Otherwise, that change of consciousness is not real. It is dependent on a method for that “new” consciousness to be experienced. This is a very important personal call. It is not for everyone to do.
As we “work” on the spider webs of our own minds, openness will arrive, some sort of acceptance of things and people as they are. Appreciation is born and with that the opportunity to heal the heart.
Why is it so important to heal the heart in this process?
Because the mind is like a computer monitor. Once we are conscious that our computer monitor is merely an output device; we can truly go deeper by “erasing” the information stored in the hard drive of the heart. To heal the heart means to “erase” previous information and to place there “newness” instead.
By understanding the mind, we will be conscious of the keyboard and the mouse. Now, we are aware that whatever we input through those devices, will be seen in the monitor. Nevertheless, the computer retrieves previous stored information all the time. If the hard drive is full with information from many experiences, the computer will be “slow,” that is any newness coming from the keyboard and mouse, will not be processed at ease.
Working with the heart and emotions is like erasing that stored data. Little by little.
Formatting the “hard drive” of our life is something that few people can stand. It is dying alive.
Life will bring the right directions when we are ready to work on our heart. The right people will appear. The right circumstance will be unveiled. However, without a previous work in our minds; we will tend to reject the “newness,” and to continue with our “old” ways, our “old” pains.
The security of a known suffering….
As we can see, to go through the above consciously, is a matter of accepting the tools that life brings.
Religions are nothing but tools. Beliefs are nothing but tools. Tools are not meant to be worshiped.
Tools are not meant to create dependency.
Tools are meant to be used, to be respected as ways in our paths to better know our own selves.
Knowing ourselves is the common end of any spiritual walker from any path, from any method.
“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”
― Lao Tzu.
Spirituality and beliefs
Why are you a Christian? Why are you a Muslim?
Why are you a BK? Why are you a Buddhist?
If you take a look deeply at this simple question, you will discover a lot about yourself.
If your “ism” is only about beliefs to keep you together with “others” or if it is based on a particular experience; you may need to consider if those beliefs are there to teach you about yourself, that is the work of your own mind.
Why do you label yourself to fit into a “something” and separating yourself from everything else?
We mirror each other, we are inter-related.
“I want to help my heart by eating less fatty foods.” Do you think that the above phrase is correct? 🙂
You are not helping “your heart,” you are helping yourself for without your healthy heart; you wouldn’t exist.
True spirituality is not related with a belief system.
“They believe in this, and we believe in that” that phrase separates at the mental level. The same thing happens when we use other labels which imply separation.
“My buddies will do everything for me to help me while in war….” The “others” you are fighting against are not your buddies: They do not feel like you, they do not breathe like you, they do not have hopes like you. Only their minds have different ideas….
Please see the illusion of mental separation.
In true spirituality, unless we have not looked at our minds closely; we have not done anything to change our behaviors, attitudes and prejudices.
To consciously look at our own minds does not require a religious view or perspective, it does not require “help” from “up above” until we have given the first step of courage to see all of our own dogmas, rigid values, prejudices, traditions and ideas … until we realize that those ideas are making our own hell on Earth, until then; we will be separating things and people.
Anyone could believe in anything. Anyone could have a practice of anything; but the main goal of any discipline related with Spirituality is meant to look at all the lies inside our own heads; those thoughts that we believe in, those ideas, which make up the way we relate with humanity and the world.
Do you think that life is “logical”? Do you believe that God “thinks logically”? 🙂
Maybe, maybe not. You don’t know neither do I.
Why deal with beliefs then? Isn’t it more constructive to look at what we think and the way we think?
In true spirituality, the mind is first. We can know all the theory about “how it works.” We could describe the mind and its components. We can analyze that data and come up with wonderful theories about the mind. We can obtain prizes due to our original research… 🙂
All of that is of no value for the Spiritual being.
Take a look at yourself. Observe the movie within yourself. Do not believe in that movie. It is not real.
Why?
Just because it is only in your head. There are other missing items.
Life is not the movie that we carry with us in our minds.
See that all our own hang-ups, beliefs, ideas and prejudices are secluding us from the wonderful, thoughtless experience of life.
Do not deny your mind, just observe it. Be conscious about the things that are going on there without judging.
Just become aware that it is happening.
Being aware that is happening without believing in it, is the easiest way to move on from that trap of beliefs.
To become free from the rigidity of our own minds is the first step of courage, the first “real” work within ourselves.
Once that step is taken, to heal the emotions of the heart will be next. In this way, our vision will change totally without the opportunity of going back.
We will become a “new” human being.
Who has the truth?
If someone could explain to you what is the truth about God, our existence on Earth, the “reason” as to why we are here, what happens after we die, where do we go and what we do, etc, etc…etc.
Would you believe that to be the truth? 🙂
Are you sure that you can understand the “truth”?
Certainly, you are a very intelligent human being. Up to date with all the information out there and the latest scientific discoveries… you have the brain of Mr. Spock, capable of reciting the latest accurate data out of logical and reasonable input… Einstein’s insight is equal to a middle school kid compared to yours… 🙂
Please see that our human ways, what we value in our society, what we have been taught to worship such as our intellectual capacity, understanding and reasoning may not be valid “tools” to understand the “truth.”
That is a healthy doubt, ladies and gentlemen.
“Human ways” does not mean that the Universe works under those premises.
In our society we tend to misname the “truth” as “facts.”
“Nothing but the facts, man..” has been interpreted as “truth.”
Spiritually speaking, it does not matter who is speaking the “facts,” unless those words have been experienced in “real” life; there is not a chance to know anything at all but just to hear words to repeat and believe…
“I believe.” 🙂
“After you die, you either go to heaven or hell.
Time does not exist. We are timeless.
Everything repeats identically. Eternal return.
You are not the body. You are a spirit, a soul.
You will be resurrected by God with your body and will live for ever in Paradise.
We know God. God is speaking to us.
We know God. We have in these scriptures, the “words” of God.”
In the plethora of “truths” which are somehow different, what do you believe and why? 🙂
Every religion has a set of beliefs. We believe in this and that.
Is that the truth? Are we concerned only in following beliefs and facts or are we truly concerned in “truth” ? 🙂
Words and mystical stories, well written scriptures can only attempt to give us ‘facts.’ In fact, 🙂 the beliefs of different religions are different because of their own beliefs about those ‘facts.’
Facts are great for a history book. Facts are great for a geography book. Facts are good in mathematics, logic, reasoning…. However, none of those facts from none of those branches of human knowledge can convey truth.
Truth can make a human being truthful. Facts cannot do that change.
When a human being lives his truth, all the “why’s” type of questions are over. They are meaningless.
Do you know “why?” 🙂
Because the search for facts does not feed our hunger for inner fulfillment.
All verbal answers will only bring another set of beliefs to believe in.
Verbal answers could bring facts, but never truth.
When a human being is free from his own baggage, his own hang ups, and when he is mentally and emotionally balanced; the question of certainty of a “tomorrow” in heaven or hell does not arise mentally and verbally; for words cannot answer questions which have not been experienced.
All we have left are just beliefs.
“We believe” will add number of believers, but never truth.
When a human being lives life to the fullest, that is in a balanced, harmonious relationship with all; then this experience is the answer to all questions.
There is no doubt about “tomorrow” when today is a full day. There is no need for beliefs, when our own harmony and balance has certainty of a bright day today and because of that, tomorrow.
The ‘facts’ of different belief systems are just meant to make us see the world and our lives under a particular perspective, so we could discover that which cannot be spoken of, that which cannot be transmitted to another human being; which is our own self realization.
To know ourselves.
Once the belief system, whatever may that be; has been able to produce a human being who is looking at/ understanding his own self, then that belief system has been useful to that person. Otherwise, it is just a source of dependency, a source of more beliefs, a source of ‘facts’ from a limited perspective, which is one sided, incomplete and then misunderstood.
If someone tells you that you will be going to heaven, would that make you “sure” of that?
Wouldn’t you have any doubts, even if “God” told you that? Wouldn’t you be trying to make sure that “your belief in God,” is truly “God,” “The God”? 🙂
How is it possible for that doubt to go away? 🙂
When you discover heaven now, in your own life. Now.
That is the beginning and the end of every belief system.
The process of self-healing
Everything has a process in life. The process between being born and dying is what we call life.
The process on how daylight changes into night, we call day.
The process on how an infant becomes an engineer, we call “studying.”
The process on how an enemy becomes a friend, we call conciliation.
In Spirituality to respect that process of change is very important.
For example, any sort of denial of something that we used to like, “cold turkey;” will have later consequences if we have not “processed” that process.
If I am used to eating meat and I have developed a taste for it; there is a process in becoming vegetarian.
If I am to live alone to discover my inner world; there is a process to that end.
If celibacy is my chosen path; there is a process to get there.
That process changes among individuals. We are not the same. That is what is truly important to respect.
Many times, we acquire a disease unknowingly, due to lack of self-observation: Anger could be what I express through my feelings due to a situation/person which is not desirable. That emotional outburst has a build up process, which will manifest clearly in the body as a disease, in time.
It takes time to get there and because there is a process; it will take time to come out.
However, once there is a realization of this disease, a desire to be “cured” right away, “miraculously” will appear.
At that point, we have forgotten the “process” to heal.
In life, we may have experienced something which is bringing us down, that is something which is triggering suffering in us, unless we use the Spiritual tool of observation and become able to catch this episode; then suffering will continue on.
It is “me” rejecting what is happening.
To realize that pain, that suffering through acceptance; means to start the process of healing.
Any process of healing related with emotional pain, starts in solitude. Our tendency is to busy ourselves, but only by letting that pain in, completely and accept it without escape; is how that pain will move on by itself. There is a process in that. We need to nurture that process.
Energetically speaking, the energy of pain and sorrow, could be let go through our hands in contact with Nature. Someone who is not at ease, will be “overcharged” with negativity which needs to come out and that energy, be transformed by Mother Nature.
At that point, the inner work with our mind could take place.
Mind created thoughts are not real. That life in our heads is merely an illusion. Life continues on shining, when we come out of our self-absorption; that trance which only allows us to see gray shadows in our lives. We only see “Me,” alone through our minds.
The process of healing will finish once our feelings have changed. That is, once the situation has been transcended; once a smile comes out easily and unexpectedly from the vibes of our heart. An open heart is an accepting heart.
How long does it take for this process? As long as it takes us to realize and “implement” an open, accepting heart.
New energy will be expressed once feelings have been transformed.
When a spiritual teaching recommends to always “give pure feelings and good wishes to all;” that teaching is stating that process of energetic transformation.
That teaching is truly acknowledging that change of feelings, which is the end product of that self-healing process.
In a way, the experience of emotional pain and suffering are the ingredients for good wishes and pure feelings to all; for in that experience of transformation of self energies through feelings; is how we will know the practical aspect.
Transforming our own energies is a matter of having the chance to do it.
That is , we will be experienced in our own process of emotional healing.
Question on emptying the mind and dissolving the “I”
“I need to ask you something regarding mind . it was also mentioned previous post that empty your mind and fill your heart , also in the above article say that we need to empty our mind . What exactly we need to flush out of our mind ; the negative energy element, or the list mentioned in the last line (your own beliefs, prejudices, ideas, standards, wants, wishes, desires, hopes, etc) i am confused that you mean which among mentioned below – we should change our attitude to see the newness in every action , every other soul,system,process and reject our already established beliefs( irrespective positive or negative ) .i mean there would be a belief already present in the mind but we should try to put effort to ignore /suppress that old belief(old sanskar) and should create a new sansakar ( seeing the newness in everything) – or going by the literal meaning of emptying your mind and not keeping anything in mind apart from spiritual learning. Please explain . My other question how is it possible and leading a family life ( with parents , spouses and Kid ) &professional life and parallely dissolving “I’ ( me) illusion . Please explain Thanks . please correct me if i am wrong ! Omshanti !!”
Dear reader,
Thank you for your follow-up question!
That means that you are trying to make sense, understand, what is being conveyed. However, you are still trying to understand intellectually, by using reasoning.
Please liberate yourself from conceptual understanding.
Plainly, observe your mind.
Are you under stress? Observe what you think, how fast you think and how is your breathing at that time.
Observe how much you speak and how what you said changes your mood, how it triggers sensations in you.
Observe, how the words coming from someone have an effect on you.
Observe how you create a story of something that you perceive.
Observe how you label that story as “true,” or “false,” as knowledge or nonsense.
All of that “stuff” that is going on inside, needs to be observed; for that “stuff” is not allowing your mind to see with clarity.
Forget about “rejecting.” There is no need to suppress anything. Just OBSERVE THAT IT IS THERE.
For instance:
“Paul met Sharlene. They went for a date. Paul liked Sharlene and wanted her to know all about him.
Paul started his “long story,” about his whereabouts in the last 30 years. Paul was careful to highlight the episodes where suffering got the best of him, looking for some female empathy. His greatest achievements in life to impress Sharlene were included. His “success” was embodied by his luxury automobile and his 3 properties all over the world.
When Paul spoke about his past, he was re-living those moments, especially when Sharlene asked some questions to “try to help him.” :-)”
In the above story, Paul is a “normal” guy who does not observe his mind and the different moods, emotions that he experiences through his own doing. Those emotions will express themselves through beliefs, prejudice, judgments, criticism, etc; which at the end support the existence of his own ego.
On the other hand, If Paul was able to OBSERVE himself; he would be able to catch a prejudice, a belief, a judgment, etc ; which are preventing him to APPRECIATE things as they are.
Paul’s beliefs, prejudices and ideas are things that he is adding into “what is.”
If you observe a snake; you could be amazed by its suppleness and speed. You are appreciating.
If you have “knowledge” that all snakes are poisonous, then; you will not appreciate, but display fear, thanks to your own beliefs and prejudices which came through your interpretation of that “knowledge.”
Note that to observe does not mean to interfere. When you reject; you are interfering. You are not open to the experience.
To appreciate life, we need to empty that bag of beliefs, prejudices, ideas, explanations, etc; by observing them, by being aware of them and their consequences.
When we appreciate life, we are not concerned about fitting life to our own ideas. That is the meaning of emptying the mind, explained through “unclear” words.. 🙂
Please see that we are not “creating” a new sanskara. We are not building a new window to see through. We are simply cleaning the same “old” window, what is already there.
We can clean that window through the liquid window cleaner of OBSERVATION.
Once you become acquainted with your own observation, you could deal with your second question.
Your kids, your parents, your spouse, your job; all of that will give you the perfect environment to see how all of that affects you.
When you discover that, then you may discover that as long as there is “you,” then those things will touch “you.”
Then, the aim will be to fully discover “you,” so “you” can get rid of it… 🙂
That is as paradoxical as it gets. 🙂
Please avoid trying to make sense of the above, just observe the explanation in yourself.
Best wishes!
Exploring the Depth of Living 