Tagged: ahimsa
Attached, are “my” attachments.
Attachments at any level have a duality within. While we have the object of our attachments, we feel secure, safe, comfortable… Once those supports are gone, we will suffer. Life is change, so change is a matter of time.
Many times those attachments are part of our role in Life, as when a wife is psychologically attached to her husband: Her role gives her a sense of purpose. Once the husband is no longer there, unless she is ready to “redefine” herself, that is to change; suffering is unavoidable.
Similarly, we could attach to ideals and ideas. The pursue of an ideal even though glorified such as “peace,” is just an ideal. Many people will give their lives for those ideals. “I will fight for peace in the world.”
Interesting peaceful fighting. “I will practice non- violence (ahimsa) to rebel against the oppressors.”
Interesting contradiction: Rebellion as non-violence.
Our minds may find those ideas “feasible,” but Life will show us otherwise. Any change without a process is violent, although it could be hidden with a pretty ideal. A natural process blends in imperceptibly.
Change is everywhere, but we resist it. That resistance is called attachment.
“My” physical form changes. “My” relationships will change. “My” ideas will change. The ultimate attachment is to my perception of “I.”
It is that “I” the one creating attachments.
Through “spirituality for the masses,” an attachment is perceived as something which we can get rid of; as in “work on it” to “improve” and be “detached.” That is the intellectual game of words.
Just because we ACT as if a particular attachment is not there, it doesn’t mean that it is gone.
Every attachment that we could observe in us, has a purpose in our Life journey. Therefore, to think that “I must get rid of it now,” is a detrimental illusion. Change happens all the time, but “I” want to control what “I” want to change according to my belief or ideology.
That is utmost nonsense.
Observe that a particular attachment is there. Observe the triggers. Recognize the inner neediness. Be aware of how you feel.
The wife in the example, could care for another person as husband, then the attachment that could trigger suffering, will not be there. This is what naturally, many individuals will do (unless they have a social/belief hang up,) but there is a significant difference: They are not AWARE of their attachment, so the next experience, will be the same as before. However, when we are AWARE, CONSCIOUS we could go through Life and observe the moment when attachment appears and it is through the quality of that observation alone, how attachment dissolves naturally. This is known as BEING CONSCIOUS in Life.
“But that is not helpful at all! I want to change now, I want to get rid of this attachment which is making my Life impossible… I need to implement a solution, a cure… “
Observe your conditioning to believe that BEING can change through DOING something. The “cure” is there; but if you are not able to be AWARE of it, then you may need to read some self-help books, spiritual best sellers (Tip: Look for the how-to titles) and ask for advice to an “expert” who has studies to tell you what you have to DO with your life, for a “small” fee…
There is no one better than “you” to observe “you” and learn from “you.” 🙂
Oneness and God
Living life in joy means to take the training wheels of beliefs, off the bike. You can fall, you can hurt yourself… but with courage, you will know how to ride the bike.
Someone whose consciousness perceives “good” and “bad,” is not ready to perceive Oneness.
“Yes… I BELIEVE in Oneness, but you have done wrong and you will be punished.”
The game of “good” and “bad” requires to reject that which we perceive to be “bad.” The fight against evil.
“ Err… but if “I” don’t fight against evil, what should “I” do?
The “I” should do nothing. Anything the “I” does will only perpetuate that which the “I” wants to fight against.
This could be misinterpreted as Gandhi’s “ahimsa,” when some people whose consciousness is full of “I” are told to suck it up and do nothing in front of their perceived “enemy.”
“Yes… but it worked. The British left the Indians alone.”
Observe how your response keeps separating people, that reflects your consciousness: British = bad, Indians= good.
Indians kept fighting against each other. Violence between religions appeared. Gandhi himself was a victim of that violence.
A person whose consciousness is not able to see how “good” and “bad” are interrelated is truly stuck in the belief that God is “good” even though, that person may not believe in a God.
“How is that?”
They believe to be “God” themselves. What they do to be “right.”
Notice how the word “God” is interpreted in different ways and assigned to different entities or beings through the belief of different religious systems, but the bottom line is that this word, “God” represents “good” and thus there is the opposite, evil, bad.
“If God is neither “good” nor “bad,” then what is what he does?”
NOTHING but to allow for Life to be as it has to be.
A religion in Oneness full of BELIEVERS is a dishonest endeavor.
Oneness is change of consciousness not of beliefs.
“Yes… but I should start believing in something, so that belief could be a reality later on.”
That is another belief. Be honest with your current level of consciousness. It has something to teach you.
It is time to acknowledge that consciousness makes the change and not a belief system. Consciousness changes through the assimilation of Life experiences and not through the indoctrination of a belief system.
Whether someone believes in God or not, it does not matter at all.
What truly matters is how open a person’s consciousness is to accept and appreciate all.
The duality of “good and evil” can only create fear and fear is not a vehicle for changing consciousness but only behavior.
Someone who behaves like an “angel” is not truly an angel but a fake.
Could you envision God and the Devil (Maya) together in an effusive embrace of Love? 🙂
Observe how your belief is not allowing you to perceive beyond your comfort level.
“It is the belief in God “bad” then?”
For God’s sake, it is not “bad.” Believe in whatever you wish. But acknowledge that your belief has as much weight as someone else’s. That is all.
Your “spiritual experience” is as valid as someone else’s.
The bottom line is opening in consciousness.
Have the openness and courage to change when your consciousness is capable of perceiving something different in the horizon, get out of your rigid mind and accept what your heart is calling for. Be honest with yourself.
That is the beginning of inner knowledge where beliefs are no longer needed. The training wheels are left aside.
The “reality” of religious ideals
Everyone could realize that Life is change, but not everyone could feel that “I” am Life itself.
Therefore change is my inherent “law.”
The apparently inoffensive statement above, has deeper ramifications.
“Mahatmaji,” I said as I squatted beside him on the uncushioned mat, “please tell me your
definition of ahimsa.” (Non-violence)
“The avoidance of harm to any living creature in thought or deed.”
“Beautiful ideal! But the world will always ask: May one not kill a cobra to protect a child, or one’s
self?”
“I could not kill a cobra without violating two of my vows- fearlessness, and non-killing. I would
rather try inwardly to calm the snake by vibrations of love. I cannot possibly lower my standards
to suit my circumstances.” With his amazing candor, Gandhi added, “I must confess that I could
not carry on this conversation were I faced by a cobra!”
The above extract is from the “autobiography of a Yogi” by Yogananda.
The above sounds beautiful.. It sounds like a marvelous example to follow: We have a definition of “something to live by.” We have a value system such as “fearlessness” and “non-killing” and we have a “set of standards” to live by.
The “I” thrives under those circumstances. It becomes a “bigger I.” 🙂
That is the way we have been taught: To follow an ideal of a value system and to stick with it no matter what.
Then, we look at our “standards” and then we make the decision to either follow the standards (good) or to “lower” them (bad.)
Isn’t that the “normal” “spiritual” teaching?
Gandhi cannot lower “his” standards. No matter what the circumstances are.
The above is a typical “black or white” mentality.
When we live life by ideals, we tend to cheat ourselves.
How is that?
Fearlessness is not a “standard.” We are “fearless” or we are not.
This is not a question of following a standard.
To be fearless is not a question of not being afraid. Not being afraid, is repression when feeling afraid.
That would be a lie.
Fearlessness comes from non-rejection of what we are experiencing at the moment and to re-direct that energy into strength, power.
A cobra may kill a mouse to eat it. The intention is survival.
Is the Cobra “bad” because it is not practicing “ahimsa” with the rodent?
If there is a colony of roaches in our home, shall we practice “ahimsa” with them?
Everything goes back to the intention not an “ideal.”
“Vibrations of love” is not something to be “practiced” when needed, but it happens naturally when we are conscious of being that love.
It is not a solution to shoo away the Cobra, but merely a way of embracing an experience, that is our attitude, our perspective.
At the end of the road, we should know that there is no such a thing as dying, for everything recycles again; therefore, “killing” is an action with repercussions, but if non-killing is put as a value to pursue, all we are doing is increasing our ego “value” in the face of the reality of Life. As we breathe, we kill.
When pretending to be “good” is forgotten, then we could observe the reality of exactly who we are. Just like a Tiger may act in different ways according to the settings and circumstances, without a trace of cowardice. A human being does not allow himself to bend and to bow down to the circumstances in Life, but rather fights to keep “his” ideals as a wonderful thing…
When we live Life from the head and thinking, those ideals are important. We get prizes, medals and ovations. We could even be called “saints” or “great souls.”
When we live Life from the heart, all we can show at every moment is who we are. No make-up of values and ideals will be needed.
What we get is “nothing” but a good sleep. “Nothing” but enjoyment of Life. “Nothing” but the opportunity to “BE.”
Observe how Gandhi realized that one thing is to “talk beautifully” about ideals, values and what “we should do and what we shouldn’t” and another thing is to act right there, without rehearsals when the experience comes into our lives.
At that point, only what we ARE will show. Nothing else.
Non-violent resistance
In Nature, lack of flexibility, openness or suppleness equals a short life span when facing another force of Nature.
The beauty of martial arts is to deflect a force without spending much energy.
When 2 forces collide, the stronger one will prevail.
Physics 101.
That is why most value force, strength to overcome an issue. Nevertheless, the stronger force will be diminished as well.
In human terms, there will be damages in both sides.
“Non-violence” is resistance. Since it is resistance, it will receive damage.
That has been the teaching in history.
Gandhi and Luther King applied non-violence as a form of resistance. The result is that there is still people fighting for their “freedom” or a better way to live or not being discriminated against.
Gandhi and Luther King were both assassinated.
Cause and Effect.
Many people lost their lives through that “non-violent resistance.”
Gandhi was disappointed once the British left India for religious wars were taking place among “his people.”
In India, fights are not about the “color of the skin” but it is all about religion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_conflicts_in_India
Paradoxically, India is known for its tolerance of faiths… 🙂
In the USA as well as many Western countries, the “color of the skin” has much importance even nowadays.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_the_United_States#Contemporary_issues_in_American_racism
Even though the issues haven’t been resolved, those issues seem to be “better” that is, more “tolerable.”
Tolerance is not a virtue. It is self-deception.
Perhaps another “non-violent resistance” is needed?
It is not a matter of “doing” something. It is a matter of collective consciousness.
Some “maverick” individual has always influenced collective consciousness. It just takes time to “catch on.”
Humans are unwilling to learn from the lessons of Nature… or even history. Individuals who are concerned with the well-being of “their people” are unable to perceive the Oneness of all.
Courage is not just a display of our views into the world with the willingness to “fight for that,” to resist.
Courage is about-facing our own fears. To take a closer look to our own beliefs, to dismantle them and then to act when the time is right.
To wait for the right time, takes courage. 🙂
A “good idea” is only “good” at a particular time.
Change will happen for life is change.
In history everyone will defend their own group however we want to divide it:
A color or “non-color” person will speak up for their group. A religious head, will do the same to defend the interest of their dogma. A political brain will act in the same way hoping that the masses will pick “right” rather than “left” because they are “right” and the others “wrong.”
Those defenders will get “peace” prizes.
Those defenders will get kill when violence and death was experienced by followers.
When they are dead, they need to be remembered.
Worship time.
That is the history of resistance in a nutshell.
There is nothing extraordinary in defending your own group. Extraordinary is to live without the separation of groups, of limits… into Oneness… and that is natural.
Nevertheless, things change all by itself: A thunderstorm goes away by itself. The “great flood” lasted for 40 days.
When the collective consciousness moves to a different state, then all of a sudden, a “crazy idea” becomes a “great idea.”
A maverick… becomes the “new savior.” 🙂
Exploring the Depth of Living 