Tagged: perfection
Perfection and completion
When there is a realization that Life is about the experience of “experiences,” which are agents to transform our consciousness; then in that realization we could observe that Life does not have any objectives or goals; unless we assign those to Life.
If our perception of life could change at any time, if every individual has a perception, why are we so stubborn in our continuous creation of a goal, an objective for everyone to follow?
That is how “truth” as an objective arrives, and that is how “truthful paths” come into this picture.
Perhaps the above is not easily explained. Let me put it in another way:
Does your life have an objective, a goal? Do you have a “path to follow” which is an ideal?
No?
Some intelligent individuals could advice you to have one. Our society demands that we have a Life objective. If you do not, religions will give you one through their multiple belief systems. If you don’t have one objective, most probably your consciousness will move into having one objective, path, goal, truth in Life.
Yes?
Most probably Life will teach you that if you choose a path, a truth, an objective, you will still look for meaning, for fulfillment for the “ideal” is not “reality.” The “ideal” is just a perception. Thus, sooner or later you will be pathless, goal-less, etc. when you become disenchanted of ever climbing someplace, ever becoming something, ever doing things to get to the same place. Nowhere…. 🙂
You see, duality is interesting. Choose “yes” or “no” does not matter at the end of the road, for you will experience both anyhow. Paradoxically, it is that experience of both “sides of the rope” which will liberate you from duality, from embracing one side and rejecting the other; BUT… this is not intellectual stuff, you must EXPERIENCE it.
Dear readers, if you are able to understand me by the above paragraphs notwithstanding my limitations of language, you could discover many things for yourself.
Let me just share one.
Perfection is an ideal. The saint looks for perfection under the premise that “we are not perfect,” we are “sinners.”
Embrace perfection. Reject imperfection.
Duality.
The ideal cannot be fulfilled. It is after all an ideal.
Life is complete. It is in that completion how we could observe its perfection.
We are Life itself. Are we not already that which we are looking for?
Perfection is not something to attain in the future. Perfection is now.
What feels like “lacking” is known as lack of completion. To be complete.
The experiences of Life will give us that completion.
When a person reaches the end of his life, there is completion. That completion cannot be compared with someone else. Some may live 10 years while others 99. That is not the point, Life gives completion of every role in Life.
When we live the “now” there is no “Perfection” to chase in our thoughts.
To hurry up to attain “Buddhahood” as some monks will pretend to do in a temple is of no consequence. With honesty, they do not know how to do it, neither their masters.
Do you know why I am so sure of that?
Because it happens automatically when there is completion of experiences in Life. No need to have that as an “objective.” It happens at different times.
It happens when you have gone through the “Yes” and equally through the “No” of experiences of Life, when you have gone through that duality. It does not happen because someone meditates 20 hours per day. Nevertheless, if someone wants to have the experience of meditating 20 hours per day, that is not “bad,” it is part of that person’s experience.. BUT, that does not mean, that “he has found the method.”
Dear readers, Life is very simple. Just enjoy it. Don’t take it as a “life or death” situation 🙂 for whatever is happening, it will go away. “You” will go away as well. Isn’t that beautiful? “You” will be out of this particular “role” in Life and move on. It is just a matter of time.
Shall I do something to speed that up? 🙂
Why would someone who is enjoying the ride, would like to do that?
Are you enjoying it?
No?
Enjoy now …and continue enjoying the next “now.” Allow for your consciousness to change. No need to “do” anything, but to allow for it to happen. Beliefs, ideals, fears, preconceptions are not allowing for that consciousness to move on. Observe that.
Finally, here is the most transcendental Spiritual teaching that I have learned so far, which actually puts all the blah above into a nice summary: (I learned this sometime ago from reading about a Zen master, but it just recently sunk into my core.)
“When I eat… I eat. When I sleep… I sleep. When I play… I play. “
Easy to remember, easy to share. Not so easy to understand … and not so easy to “do.”
Perfect and complete.
To live in the now requires utmost self honesty
“Here they teach that much of existence amounts only to misery; that misery is caused by
desire; therefore, if desire is eliminated, then misery will be eliminated. Now, that is true
enough, as far as it goes. There is plenty of misery in the world, all right, but there is
ample pleasure, as well. If a person forswears pleasure in order to avoid misery, what has
he gained? A life with neither misery nor pleasure is an empty, neutral existence, and,
indeed, it is the nothingness of the void that is the lamas’ final objective. To actively seek
nothingness is worse than defeat; why, Kudra, it is surrender; craven, chickenhearted,
dishonorable surrender. Poor little babies are so afraid of pain that they spurn the myriad
sweet wonders of life so that they might protect themselves from hurt. How can you
respect that sort of weakness, how can you admire a human who consciously embraces
the bland, the mediocre, and the safe rather than risk the suffering that disappointments
can bring?”
From the book: “Jitterbug Perfume,” by Tom Robbins, page 75.
In my “Yoga book club,” we are reading that book.
Interesting book indeed.
Those words come from the main character of the book, “Alobar;” while speaking to his Indian partner, “Kudra.”
Below some of the “reasons” to be “spiritual” along those lines of “thinking.”
– Don’t want pain/suffering, then avoid pleasure.
– Pleasure takes you away from God. Pleasure takes you away from more important things in Life like going to heaven, becoming perfect, becoming an example for humanity.
– If you select pleasure, then suffering is unavoidable for duality is set in motion. Therefore, avoid pleasure, become stern, strict, stoic, a renunciate…and direct your energy to become an angel, to get to Nirvana, to get to the void, nothingness or Paradise, etc. Whatever it is, it is much “better” than this… 🙂
The above is a “teaching” without the understanding of Life. It is a mental ideal of “perfection,” of “becoming better.”
The above “teaching” is a misunderstood “teaching” practiced by a follower of a religion or philosophy.
A follower idealizes a “teaching,” based on his own beliefs of what is “good or bad.”
To have a goal, something to achieve, something to accomplish, is expected and taught in “spirituality.” That same “reasoning” learned in a human system (the office mentality) is moved into living Life and into “spirituality.”
In Life there is nothing which needs to be accomplished unless we believe so.
The void, the nothingness of the Lamas is not something to achieve…. if we try to achieve it, it is false, it is artificial, it is just an ideal, a belief.
What are we going to achieve? Obviously, our idea of illumination, void, nothingness, God, etc.
How are we going to achieve it? We believe, by following a method taught by someone.
The “reason” is that by following some method, we could achieve what “an illuminated” has “achieved.”
That is dishonesty behind our logical statements and reasoning. Once we “walk our talk” then we will know better. Not before. Before it is just about ideas, beliefs, inner lies, dishonesty.
A state of consciousness arrives as a consequence of the assimilation of previous experiences. There is no particular experience which is the “One” changing our state of consciousness but there is an experience that will be the catalyst, the trigger for the on-going manifestation. A song is not just the last note being played by a pianist but a succession of different notes. The last note only indicates the end of the song.
The Buddha experienced a “different” consciousness. His disciples including the Lamas, understood that state of consciousness as something desirable to achieve by giving up Life in the pursuit of a goal. The magic label is “renunciation.”
Whenever I share “consciousness changes all by itself,” that typically creates some deep frowning in some.
– “No… Meditation changes consciousness.”
Which meditation? Your style of meditation?
Can you decide the experiences that you will have in meditation or they just happen?
– “No. I cannot decide. Today I may have a great experience. Tomorrow I may not.”
How can you say that meditation changes consciousness then, if “you” do not have control over it? How can a method be created then for “everyone” to follow?
Why so many forms of meditation and so many different results?
– “Ahh.. it depends on the quality and quantity of your meditation…”
Which “you” have no control of…
Glorified beliefs.
“Poor little babies” as Alobar mentioned. It is not a matter of cherry picking experiences according to our beliefs. It is a matter of embracing, of being part of “what is.”
Life brings experiences. All experiences have a reason to be. The idea of forgetting about this world in pursuit of something else in the future, whether that is Paradise, Nirvana, Eternal Life or whatever glorified label may be, will not allow us to be truly honest.
Why?
Because we cannot live the “now,” we cannot be 100% in the “now” if the “future” is most important. Something to muse about.
What about goals? Aren’t those in the future?
Not necessarily.
Some may have as a goal in Life to be rich. Some others to be powerful. Yet, others to become an angel, to be one with God…
Mine?
To be honest with myself at every moment. At every “now,” while enjoying and appreciating the moment…
Dependencies and the search for perfection
A preference could be small or it could be extremely important. When it is small, that preference is manageable. When that preference has intensity, it becomes a dependency.
A dependency then will show us the extremes of our personality. Thus, for the “life traveler,” to be aware of his own dependencies is “good.”
In the ”black or white” world a dependency is “bad.”
What is the difference between an individual set into the “black or white” ways and a “life traveler” openness?
Consciousness. Awareness.
That is all.
When a “life traveler” is ready to strip down his dependencies, life will offer the experiences for those dependencies to be looked at.
For example, most “normal” individuals despise being “alone.” Definitely our society is not meant for a person to be by himself or herself. There are many pressures, many traditions, many expectations, many beliefs.
To have time to be alone is an important requisite to know that which we call “self.”
No shortcuts on that.
When the dependency of others is strong, self-knowledge is low. It is in that state of dependency when “relationships” happen in a “normal” way. It is called “companionship.”
Until the individual is not whole in himself, there is no relationship as “sharing” but as depending due to the strong preference of not being alone.
What is individual wholeness?
In previous articles it was mentioned that there is an “inner family” in the self. The “inner kid,” the “man,” and the “woman.” They are all together with their own needs and wants. To balance those energies is necessary before integrating into the Totality, whether that is a relationship with someone or not, but Integration is important.
Someone asked at one time “where is this knowledge coming from?”
Obviously is not by reading books and listening to classes given by gurus about “spirituality.”
Obviously is not from following religious groups which could interpret my experiences according to their dogmas. Obviously is not by believing in a “black or white” God.
It is by observing Nature and that which we call the self. It is by listening to Nature and the self.
It comes when we feel at ease with ourselves, when we are ready to strip down our beliefs and emotional hang ups and open our arms to the experiences that life may bring.
To “know” is already in us, all we need to “do” is to let it emerge… and it will emerge when the dependencies lower their intensity.
Is to read spiritual books and to listen to spiritual classes “bad” then? 🙂
Of course not. It is part of the changing experience, BUT…we could develop a dependency on those things as well… and life will change the route.
For those who are ready, here is a little something:
When someone else makes the decision for us to change our ways…for example, “reading books” into “not reading books anymore,” that is to lack respect for the life path of someone.
When we make our own decision not to read books anymore for whatever reason, then we embrace repression, rigidity and a new belief.
When it happens naturally without thought, without inner clash, without drama… then that is natural.
For many “life travelers,” to let things happen becomes the biggest guilt trip of all. Trapped in beliefs, they do not allow themselves to change.
Life is change.
When we perceive that perfection which is not a “static” thing, but continuous movement; how on earth could we say something like: “I strive for perfection”?
Perfection is here, right now… but we are not aware of it and we have an idea of something that we want to “achieve in the future.”
Senseless.
If perfection is right now, ever-changing and moving in all respects, what is there to “do”? 😉
To enjoy it and to appreciate it.
If we learn to do that without reason, without thought, without cultivation and compulsion, naturally… then we may be living life in joy.
That could be labeled as perfection.
The world is equal to our consciousness
The paradox of being and not being is the beginning and the end.
Some say: “You are a soul. A spirit. A person. An individual. You are a thing separated from everything.”
That consciousness will become aware of “his” actions. When living in society, a line must be drawn.
That is the beginning of the duality of “good and bad … right or wrong.”
With that duality the representatives of those extremes will arrive: God, the angels the seraphims, the religion which represents them on Earth are “good.” The Devil or Maya or Lucifer or Satan along with everyone who opposes a Godly religion are “bad.”
The above is the collective consciousness of the majority of individuals on this planet. It is so easy to follow. It is so easy to understand. Very logical. Very reasonable.. It is the “battle” between good and evil!… but yet that consciousness is just a perception of “what is.”
Major religions, cults , sects and philosophies follow that line. In “Democracy,” majority rules. Therefore, that collective consciousness rules.
In the above, the need to reward some and to punish others arises automatically and with that the sense of guilt, forgiveness and fear. The need to create this “system” for the afterlife is imperative.
Otherwise, there is no motive to obey.
That is the bottom line.
It is that “self” which has been nourished by that conditioning.
When consciousness changes, then perception changes.
The monotheistic God all by himself as the “superior” being does not need a believer or a non-believer.
It is not about that. That is to be trapped in duality.
It is about that which we call “I.”
Other religions and systems will take the opposite approach.
“The “I” does not exist. We are empty;” will say.
When this description becomes just an intellectual exercise to believe in; the “concept” is completely worthless.
To believe in whatever without an experience… it is a trap, which will teach us about self-honesty. That is why beliefs are not “bad.” 🙂
“I believe in this. I believe in that.”
Senseless.
“God is not omnipresent” is as good as “ God is omnipresent.”
Senseless , meaningless words.
It is not about an intellectual exercise to debate about and to proselytize a dogma. It is about that “I” which can be perceived without the mask of intellectual knowledge, thinking and reasoning. Can we see that?
As some individuals have experienced another “reality” beyond the collective, their words have been misinterpreted.
Grossly misinterpreted, by those who only excel in intellectual endeavors but have no “real” experience on what they are interpreting.
Then, the “belief” must continue. The Intellectual “steps,” the Do 1 then step 2 and then you will be enlightened if you do them right...That “catch” makes the game interesting.
Let me quote this guru. Let me read this “best seller,” let me watch this “spiritual movie,” let me believe that “I am learning.”
Nothing wrong with the above; but consciousness does not change through those means. Consciousness changes through life experiences and there is no life experience which is the ultimate, for life does not evolve into perfection when it is already perfect, as it is.
“We” are not separated from life. We are life itself and because life changes, we need to change.
It is in the contemplation of that “perfection” how we realize that if we feel like worshiping someone or to practice devotional love… we should start with life itself and by doing so, God is included and so are “you” and “I” as well.
That is called Totality, completeness… Perfection.
Question by reader: How much God will help me?
Dear brother How much is my effort and how much assistance does my god father bestows upon me apart from imparting knowledge in my spiritual journey to become perfect. As you know to become perfect I have to make full effort to remove impurities. When I become pure with my own effort then what is gods role? Become pure and then become yogi.??
Dear reader,
Thank you for your question. It all depends on your belief system and how much of that belief system do you understand. Nevertheless, the outcome will be another belief. 🙂
Let me clarify.
In most monotheistic religions, there is the belief of a God that “helps” others. However, at the same time there is the belief in the “law of karma,” that is there is a consequence for every action.
Let me ask you: Can God go against the law of karma to “help you”? Or is the law of karma not sufficient to go against the will of God to “help you”?
Please reflect on the following: Why God is going to “help you” when there is the law of karma?
Now that we have put things into perspective, let me ask you: Why believers of different religions believe that God is going to help “them” believers exclusively? 🙂 Probably because of a belief. 🙂
Now, let me share my experience.
In my experience “Divine help” has been there. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to “survive” up to a certain level of awareness. However, more than “making effort” (effort for what?) it was about sincerity and honesty with myself.
Spirituality is about finding your own self, so you can forget about it.. 🙂
Spirituality for avyakt7 has never been another mundane thing where you compete with others or push yourself to the limit or try to demonstrate others about your capabilities, so they can see that “I am making effort.” That is a mundane take on spirituality. There is no “goal” that avyakt7 has to “achieve.” That is just plain ego. Please see that your quest for “perfection,” that struggle will not allow you to relax and to let things happen at their own time. Spirituality is a matter of consciousness. To wake up early, to “do” certain things which you may call “effort” are just means to help you gain greater consciousness, but greater consciousness is not something to “achieve,” it is something that happens once your honest, sincere desire to know yourself as a means to help others is put in practice over sometime…then the law of karma kicks in, that is, you receive Godly help. 🙂 “Magic” happens at that point.
As you know, “knowledge” is that help that you want to receive from God. However, that “knowledge” is not something that you “study.” It is something that you apply in yourself so greater understanding occurs and then your consciousness will start changing.
Theoretical knowledge is of no help.
Please review the meaning of “perfect” in Spirituality. According to BapDada in your religion, perfection means completeness.
You are already complete, but you may not be aware of that; that is why greater consciousness is needed.
Dear reader, please learn to live with unconditional sincerity. Practice virtuous living and extend that with all beings, eradicate all duality from your mind, celebrate the equality of things and then, your every moment will be in truth; that is God will be with you in your perfection!
Best wishes!
The steps to attain the degree of perfection in our BK life
From avyakt Murli (4/25/10) – (07/28/71)
Baba mentioned that there 3 steps to attain perfection (numberwise, of course) It is a ladder starting with the first step.
We need to go through every step in order before reaching the stage of becoming victorious over sinful and wasteful thoughts.
Practice:
🙂 This is the paradox of “being” a child of God and “still” being a child…
Remembrance:
and…for those who wanted to know what is a Brahma Kumar…
Definition of a Brahma Kumar: Someone who has died alive.
Serving:
Become a Bestower. Someone who gives with a generous heart. Become a server. Serve the soul. The requisite to be a server is to be have renunciation. (renounce the “I” of body consciousness).
By keeping ourselves constantly busy in thoughts and deeds, Maya will not get a chance to come.
We need to make a daily program where our intellect will be busy. Use will power to follow up with this practice.
The body is a “box” love and relationship is with the diamond inside it, the soul.
Exploring the Depth of Living 