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by Jayaram V
To deny knowledge, experience, the known is to invite the unknown -
Jiddu Krishnamurthy
We are afraid of this total destruction of the known, the ground of the self, the me and the mine; the known is better than the unknown, the known with its confusion, conflict and misery; freedom from this known may destroy what we call love, relationship, joy and so on.
- Jiddu Krishnamurthy
The known breeds sorrow and love is the freedom from the known
- Jiddu Krishnamurthy
So, at first, to begin with, one must be able to get out of the ego. Afterwards, it has to be, you understand, in a certain state of inexistence. Then you begin to perceive things as they are, form a little higher up. But if you want to know things as they really are, you must be absolutely like a mirror: silent, peaceful, immobile, impartial, without preferences and in a state of total receptivity- The Mother
Some people ask, "Where is God and if he is there actually, why
does He not
appear to us?" Some go to a sacred place, a temple or
Church and bring out their best behavior. They act piously and think
religiously for the time they are in that sacred presence. But when they
come out, we see them becoming their usual selves and indulging in their
old routine acts of selfishness and self promotion. A few minutes of
prayer, a little attention to God, may be better in a way compared to no
religious activity. But if any one believes that it is going to bring
him or her face to face with God he or she is badly mistaken.
Even a student of first standard has to do his little bit of home
work, learn some basics to gain the approval of his teachers and enter
the next standard. If this is so, how can any one expect to succeed in
spiritual endeavor without corresponding effort? He who believes that it
is not so, may visit a temple or church his entire life, but may not
experience the true vision of God.
There are powerful orators who appear on TV screens or in front of
some special audience and speak about God with such force and vehemence
that sometimes we wonder whether they are in the midst of some election
campaign or working in the marketing department of some divine
corporation! One hardly finds any peace in their manner, in their
words, in their demeanor and their behavior. They are the
unrefined souls, full of personal ambition, trying to provide some
divine fantasy to gullible people.
God is not to be found in our thoughts, nor in our mundane actions.
He is not to be found exclusively in any books or in some one's sacred
speech. No church, no temple, no mosque can house God except
symbolically or representatively.
He is beyond books, beyond thoughts, beyond words, and beyond all
emotions. When your senses are quiet, when your mind is at peace,
resting and relaxing, when your thoughts are asleep in the lap of
silence, and when your emotions have retreated into some quite corner,
you will find Him in the silence of your heart and in the oneness of
your being.
You will find Him when you have disciplined yourself, when you have
gained control over yourself, when you are in a position to deal with
your desires and set
them aside without upsetting your inner balance.
You will see Him when you leave behind that ambition which has made you
so competitive and at times insensitive. You will discern His foot
prints on the path of your life, when you shun all your desire driven
egoistic activity that has rendered you so selfish and envious. You
will see Him when you are able to love unconditionally those few who
come into contact with you directly and undermine you and all that you
stand for in every possible way.
If you can look at yourself without any expectation, if you can look
at your future without any anxiety, if you can empty your mind of all
that belongs to you and represents you, if you can act and live as if
you do not exist except as a mere concept or idea, if you can strip
yourself of all your possessions at least mentally and sincerely, if you
are willing to let go of every thing at the slightest hint from Him, you
will perhaps find God looking at the world thorough your eyes and
communicating with the world through your words. It is when you close
the door on yourself, that you find the other door opening, the door
that leads to pure Light and utter Delight, the door through which
Divine force enters and takes care of your life. You become an
empty shell, devoid of all egoism but full of divine Self.
Practical Hints:
For just one day try this: Stop living and thinking for
yourself. Stop putting yourself in front of every one and every thing.
Stop behaving as if the world should and must exist for you, for your
happiness and comfort. Accept the notion that it does not matter whether
you are a part of this great world or not.
Stop declaring your thoughts, expressing your dear opinions in order
to impress others. Instead listen to others with enormous patience,
without feeling the compulsion of speaking in reply to prove a point or
project your knowledge.
Set aside all impression management. It does not matter whether any
one really likes you or not. It does not matter whether you should
become acceptable to the world outside or not. Forget about self
presentation and self advancement. Do not react. Do not put forth any
suggestions or view points.
Live as if it does not matter whether any one should really care
about you, think about you or feel concerned about you. Do not draw any
attention to yourself by such acts that place you prominently in any
group. Do not make yourself important in any way. Do not give your
opinions unless you are asked.
Do not defend yourself verbally unless there is something very
serious at stake. Do not worry about what is going to happen. Do not
plan anything in particular. Let things happen rather than you forcing
them to happen. Do not strive. Do not struggle. Cultivate the silence of
the heart and keep praying.
And if you can do this sincerely for some days, you will realize that
you have just crossed the first hurdle, the transformation of your outer
self. This is only the first stage in that long journey that leads you
finally to the world of God.
Suggested Further Reading
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