Tagged: followers
Going into J. Krishnamurti – “K.”
Krishnamurti “found me” at the college library back in my early 20s when I picked up a random book “The Network of Thought,” while waiting for my next class. I was getting a Masters degree in International Business at the time. Once I finished the book, I knew that I wasn’t cut for “business.” Never used that college degree at all. However, that time was well spent to get a “degree” on a different world view.
Most of what “K.” explained, made plenty of intellectual sense. However, I wasn’t able to put it into practice. It was good theory but nothing practical to me. Why?
It was after many years in my “spiritual career” that I discovered that, what I wanted to “practice” was my own intellectual understanding of an ideal. I will always be short of an ideal. That is a trap. In other words, BEING does not come about through practice. It is not a muscle to exercise. Nevertheless and paradoxically, it is necessary to “practice” to realize this. Otherwise, it becomes another understood mental idea. Paraphrasing what my father used to say: “we become just theory.”
After a couple of years, Krishnamurti went away for many years. I just recently got in touch again as someone asked me for a “spiritual book” to read. I recommended “K” knowing that this person was of intellectual nature; aka “living in the mind.”
Now, I can realize that “K” was only sharing his own experience. He wasn’t necessarily interested in meeting the “spiritual” level of others, or playing teacher; however, at the mental level he may be convincing for the majority of intellectuals out there.
K. said: “Meditation is the denial and negation of all systems because you see the truth and understand the full significance that you must be your own light. This light cannot come through another or be lit from the candle of another. If you once see the truth of this, you will not follow any guru, saviour or priest with their doctrines, traditions and rituals. That is going to be difficult because we are afraid to stand alone.” (NY 4/28/74.)
Intellectuals may misunderstand the above: “I don’t need anybody. I don’t believe or follow anyone. I must be my own light. That is what “K.” said and I agree with that.” Basically, they will follow “K” in that; but he will be misunderstood.
Although the above is true for someone with the consciousness of “K.” it is false for the vast majority of humans at this time. I can now say that “we” are always following something even if that is not a person. We follow our mind, heart or gut feeling. Most follow the mind with its conditioning and say: “I think.” That is delusional.
To follow in the beginning, is the way to stand alone at the end. That is the process. It doesn’t come as a mental decision, a practice or a value, but it is the natural consequence of being aware as we process life experiences.
Without the experience of being a follower, we cannot pretend to be our own light. Inasmuch as we only know and express through the conditioned mind, we are destined to be deluded. We need to be aware of where we stand in this process, that is inner honesty.
Note that “K.” gives a different meaning to the word “meditation” as it is traditionally used. He says: “Meditation really is a complete emptying of the mind. The continuous seeing of what is without any kind of distortion naturally empties the mind of all thought and yet that very mind can use thought when it is necessary. Thought is mechanical and meditation is not.” (excerpts from the “beginning of learning” London 1979.) Thus, for “K” meditation is on-going in Life. It is not a practice, it is not something to DO for 45 minutes or 1 hour in a day.
Because Meditation (as K explains) lacks any structure, method or practice; then it is the antithesis of all systems and structures given in society. Empty of the contents of the conditioned mind, we become our own light without the need of having a purpose or goal to be so. Empty of “Me,” we become our own light without desiring it, without effort, without purpose.
To stand alone means to be empty, and most are afraid of that.
Organized religions and inner discovery
This blog has reached the stage of “discovering things by yourself.”
That could be a scary thought for many.
Avyakt7 in his journey has had many experiences, which are out of the “normal” range. Those experiences were there to allow his consciousness to discover things, to grow.
If Avyakt7 wanted to “teach” his own experiences to mankind, (one of the greatest ego trips available) then Avyakt7 will need followers. Believers.
Those believers are born when they feel that these writings somehow give them an “out of the ordinary” experience. Had some readers describing their stories to me before.
Perhaps this means that Avyakt7 is a “chosen one.”? 🙂
No. That only means that there is synchronicity in life when it comes to consciousness. We are all related. Some are touched more than others at any given time.
Some will feel touched by reading someone, hearing a class by a guru, etc. We are all different.
When those followers decide to “safeguard Avyakt7’s teachings” and to “spread them to humanity,” then that is the time when a religion, cult, sect, etc. is born.
That is the point in time when “entropy” appears and with that a dogma may be necessary so things are kept under control.
Please see that at that point is not about sharing things, for the common good but it becomes a matter of “having the truth” to convince, sort of like being a salesman with a salesman pitch to sell.
Why is that important to be aware of?
Because organizations need the support of the masses to exist. Thus, it is no longer about “teachings” but about survival and growth of an organized religion. It becomes another corporation where those who are “leading” are not necessarily those who have greater openness in their consciousness.
Now because of the internet, there is no need to “market” someone as a “savior” or “illuminated one.” You could just read something from anyone and find out for yourself if that rings a bell in you.
Did Jesus Christ write anything? No. Jesus has believers now because Jesus had followers 2000 years ago who have interpreted Jesus’s teachings. Christianity became popular because one Roman Emperor, Constantine the great, had an “experience.”
Everyone is looking for an “experience” to believe in something. But not too many are willing to discover things by themselves about them.
Why do that “work” if it is “better” to follow someone who “knows”? 🙂 Again, this is not about having the “right” answers, but about discovering by yourself, so your consciousness changes, opens.
Every organized religion will offer the environment of protection for a seed to grow. Nevertheless, there may be a point in time when that inner discovery can no longer happen when external borders are placed by a dogma.
The baby is ready to walk out of the crib, but all he hears is: “if you leave the crib, you may fall… and if you fall, it is going to hurt you.”
That is when fear appears as a great tool for organized religions to keep their “followers.”
To grow means to recognize those fears.
The journey of inner discovery is a “solo” journey. It is about consciousness and that consciousness will open up when ready. Life experiences will occur to help in that process.
That is why, joining a religion is not bad at all. It is “good.” It is part of that experience. If someone is able to see the changes in their consciousness due to that experience, then that person is aware. If someone decides to leave a religion and try something else, that is good as well.
That is the experience necessary in his life. Part of the “solo” experience.
If someone “loves” a religion and then “hates” it; then that person if aware, will be able to see his own “bi-polar” tendencies. All is good as long as you can see things for yourself.
The keyword is awareness when it comes to experiencing something in life.
Because Avyakt7 does not dare to teach anything, but just to share; followers are not needed. Believers are not desirable… 🙂 and so religions and 99 cents DVDs on “How to be happy” are out of the question.
But if you find anything here useful for you, then feel gratitude to life, feel joy and become aware of the miracle of being alone in your journey, but never alone… 🙂
The Spiritual “Method.”
Greater consciousness. Greater awareness. That is the aim of any “true” spiritual path.
This awareness is not “collective” awareness. It is numberwise. Every individual will be awakening at different levels. Therefore, a spiritual path cannot be generalized as the only “method” which will fit everyone. “One size fits all,” may work in the physical realm but certainly it is not the case in spirituality.
Everything has a method. But that method changes according to the individual, that is why the “Guru” system came into an existence. There are teachings given to all but within that, there is a specific teaching for someone according to his level. To recognize the disciple’s capacity was the task of the master, teacher or guru.
Nowadays as everything is for the masses; religions and spiritual teachings have been made as “one size fits all,” for it is easier to put together a book or a CD or DVD with methods to be sold. If for an uncertain reason the method does not work, then the student is at fault; for these methods are “proven to be correct, sacred and holy.”
One the one hand, it is very important to follow a particular method which the spiritual aspirant trusts, have firm faith and feels comfortable with. If the disciple follows that method with this frame of mind, he will do his best and will reach a realization. On the other hand, if the disciple creates a dependency in the method as a reassurance that whatever he has obtained in his spiritual life is due to a particular practice or method, then that student will be stuck. Growth will finish.
A method is just a way to take someone into further realizations, into a different consciousness. True improvement will happen when a person is able to get to that level of consciousness without a method.
Spirituality is like having a piece of candy. The method will instruct someone on how to open the wrapping paper out of the candy, what to expect after that, what is the best time to eat the candy, what are the properties of that candy, etc.
This method could be surrounded by devotional practices such as bowing down to the candy 5 times before opening it, or offering the candy to God before doing anything, etc. Those are the devotional practices introduced to give a method certain sacredness, certain importance. That is fine.
Nevertheless, to be able to taste that candy in the consciousness taught by the method, will give us the right time to let the method go away.
Attachment to a method will not bring further progress, for there will not be openness to experience something else other than a learned method for fear of losing what has been experienced so far.
It is true that it requires a very special individual to follow wholeheartedly a particular method to gain greater awareness; but at the same time; it takes a different kind of person to let the method go away when it has served its purpose.
Spiritual growth happens when we realize that everything has a purpose and when we are able to know its “right” time.
Interpreting and misinterpreting Spiritual teachings
“A veterinarian was called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. For the sake of privacy, we’ll call him Dr. Right in our story. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa , and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
Dr. Right examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. He told the family they couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As they made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told Dr. Right they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt that Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, Dr. Right felt the familiar catch in his throat as Belker ‘s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that he wondered if Shane understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. They all sat together for a while after Belker’s death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.” Startled, they all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned them all. Dr. Right admitted that he’s never heard a more comforting explanation. “It has changed the way I try and live,” he said.
Shane said, ‘People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The Six-year-old continued, ”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.” Yes. True story …”
Let us say that the above paragraph is a true story. Let us say that Shane became a “guru,” for his incredible wisdom at such an early age.
We create the setting of the story. Followers will do the rest.
In the original story, the following is the “add-on” moral teaching:
“Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy. Take naps. Stretch before rising. Run, romp, and play daily. Thrive on attention and let people touch you. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree. When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk. Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you’re not. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.”
As we can see, the above add-on “sounds nice.” The hero is the dog. In the above “add-on” we have changed the original teaching of “dogs do not need to live longer because they already know those things which humans do not,” into a sentimental, mushy, doggy stuff; which will be accepted and liked by those who already have dogs and understand how a dog behaves.
Make your dog your spiritual teacher… and then “be fair” (another ready-made spiritual keyword) with your cat as well and let him teach you something. 🙂
The issue is the change in teachings to give it “mass acceptance.”
If I would strictly go by the words of Guru Shane, it may seem as if dogs are “better off “ than human beings just because they live shorter lives. Obviously this strict teaching by the words, will not be accepted by the masses but just for those who are in love with Guru Shane, no matter what he says.
On the other hand, in the experience of something similar, that is to see a pet “move on” into “Pet paradise,” we could understand about the different lengths of life of every being and how; the most valuable things about those who we cared in life, still remains with us even when they are gone. That is they became “teachers” by just being themselves.
The above may not be accepted by the “majority” for it is quite impersonal. There is no hero to worship. No emotional triggers to get us hooked into a “touching story.”
Nevertheless, the above goes beyond the words of Guru Shane and his realization with dogs; for we have made that “unlimited.” It is not just about dogs, but about beings. It is not only about their “relative” short life span; but about all lives and their importance in our own life.
There may be many other teachings in this, but the important thing to realize from my perspective; is that we need to experience something to be able to understand the words which are used to point something spiritual to us.
As mentioned in many articles, if we merely go by accepting words and looking up their meaning in a dictionary, we will be misunderstanding any spiritual teaching and making a dogma out of that.
If we try to “interpret” a spiritual teaching, we already are failing in getting the message. We cannot interpret but merely understand if there has been a previous experience in our life which triggers a sudden understanding of things OR if our consciousness is able to see the “Unlimited,” the whole rather than a part.
Spirituality is way beyond reciting slokas and verses or memorizing what the holy scripture or what “God said.”
Spirituality is understanding beyond the intellectual level. It is experience mostly and the rest: Awareness, awaken consciousness.
Exploring the Depth of Living 