Tagged: interpretations
On Godly experiences
Some of us may have had the experience of what we could label as “Godly experience.”
Those experiences come in different shapes and forms all according to our beliefs.
That particular experience was the “bait” needed to start a particular path, to gain a different consciousness.
Please be aware that the keyword is consciousness.
In life, we may want to make sense of it. We may want to find reasons for it and for our existence and the experiences will be there to start our journey. Nevertheless as shared many times, everyone has a different point of reference, a different culture and upbringing, which definitely will influence our “free will” and our ability to interpret things.
Please be aware of the keyword: Interpretation.
In life we are like those blind people, who are trying to make sense of what they can perceive through their sense of touch. It is an elephant , but a blind person touching the tail will believe that an elephant is like a snake. If that person had a “Godly experience” while touching the tail, that is not meant so he can keep his belief in the tail being the elephant, but rather it is the starting point in knowing the elephant. The tail is not the elephant but part of it.
Consciousness changes, it evolves but a hard-core belief, typically restricts that free-flow movement.
Many will decide to touch different paths: The trunk, the tusks, ears, etc. but still they will be left with interpretations. Touching is just one way to partially know something. It is a state of consciousness.
Nevertheless, religions and philosophies many times are preaching a point of view. The tail of the elephant is a path to know the elephant. But it is not the only path.
The “Godly bait” was given to some people so they could begin to fish. The type of fishing pole that someone picks will be according to that person’s circumstances.
What the person is able to fish will be according to his fortune; that is, what that person is supposed to experience at that time.
Fishing a shark or a Tilapia and calling that “the truth” or God is not really the teaching. It is not about what we get, but it is about finding the individual behind the fishing pole.
Blind people could never “see” an elephant. They could only have beliefs about that elephant or hand-me down experiences from others, which are beliefs.
Nevertheless, it is not about the elephant. It is about the realization that what goes outside is a giant mirror always pointing to that “Me.” Hopefully “I” learn to enjoy that experience.
Touch the tail. Enjoy that. Touch the husks. Enjoy that. Be there.
Paradoxically, it is when “you” are not there, that is when the ego starts dissolving, how we could perceive something different. At that point, all there is … is the elephant… and there is “no-one” there who needs to “see” something. No “blind people” around.
Being the elephant itself resides in non-being.
All religions may teach about the sense of “I,” the ego; but many times rather than looking at that which is in “us,” we rather go around the branches of the tree and embrace colorful beliefs and life styles, completely unaware that the big mirror is only reflecting “me” at all times.
The bait of the “Godly experience” wasn’t there to be worshiped or to hang on to it as a dogma.
Guaranteed …or your money back. 🙂
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.
Reader Remark: Is Milk Satvic?
Milk is considered as Satvic food. But in olden days the situations were different. The cows were given pesticide-free fodder. First her calves were made to drink the milk then the remaining was used for human consumption. But now a days the cows are fed with pesticide contaminated fodder (lab test have proved that milk contains harmful pesticides), the cows are injected by hormones to stimulate them to give more milk (studies shows that this type of milk put negative effects on physical and mental health) and cows are kept in dairies in unhygienic conditions. IS THIS TYPE OF MILK CAN BE CONSIDERED SATVIC ???
Dear soul,
Great point! and a great illustration for those who are adept into “following everything to the dot.”
Times change and thus when we have understanding and knowledge we can make the needful changes and optimal desicions.
As BapDada has mentioned in an avyakt murli: teachings are according to times and circumstances.
If someone has his own cow in his own stable. ( a stable stable) 🙂
then, that of course could be considered Satvic. On the other hand, if you are like the immense majority without the luxury of having a cow as a pet… then, we better eat grass instead (vegetables)… 🙂 for as you mentioned that milk that we get may be a threat to our health.
Here an article along those lines of interpretations:
http://bkgyan.com/2013/03/28/question-dear-brother-when-gyan-is-given-in-a-different-language-and-interpreted-to-english-does-that-mean-the-consciousnesses-of-the-person-who-is-translating-from-hindi-to-english-has-influence-i/
Best wishes!
Interpretation of Knowledge: The trap and the mouse
Spiritual knowledge cannot be interpreted by an intellectual mind.
Typically when we read a scripture or a document, we will interpret it according to our background information. We need information about something or someone to be able to intellectually understand something.
For instance, there are 4 different excerpts below. I doubt that many readers will be able to identify the origin of those writings or even what they are talking about unless they had previous exposure. Note that complexity is gained through greater intellectual information, but at the same time; simplicity could be complex to understand if things are not “logical.”
1.
Extrapolation of the expansion of the Universe backwards in time using general relativity yields an infinite density and temperature at a finite time in the past. This singularity signals the breakdown of general relativity. How closely we can extrapolate towards the singularity is debated—certainly no closer than the end of the Planck epoch.
2.
God is the creator of all things from nothing, and has made human beings in the Image of God.
3.
Just as there is the memorial from the previous cycle of how the Pandavs shot the arrow and water emerged, that is. how they made effort and the fruit emerged, so it is now the time for instant, practical fruit. It is now the season, and the time is also blessed, and so you have to take the benefit of it.
4.
All difficult things begin as easy things. All great things begin as small things. Therefore, the True Person never attempts anything great, and accomplishes great things.
Lightly made promises inspire little faith. Trying to make things easy results in great difficulties. Therefore, the True Person regards everything as difficult, and is never overcome by difficulties.
We are used to interpret things according to our own background knowledge. However, when we are looking at spiritual knowledge, that interpretation is based on experience alone for the most part. That experience is not something that comes by reading books or listening to classes.
That experience is the product of a life teaching. Under that light, our interpretation has value for it is merely putting an experience into words. Those words, cannot be deceiving; that is “misinterpreted,” for experience understands that any definition will try to explain an experience but it will not be able to fully do it. However, because something has been experienced it is easy to fill the gaps of written words, which may not explain accurately.
Unfortunately, many just repeat definitions. Repeating is equated with “knowing something.” Someone who just “repeats” for the sake of following is an easy prey for misconceptions. On the other hand, the experience of the meaning behind the words, when there is the experience of life; is a source of confirmation of that spiritual experience.
Then, our own “discovery” becomes a source of joy when confirmed through scriptures or writings…even through “scientific” stuff. 🙂
Exploring the Depth of Living 