RELIGION, MEDITATION AND LIFE’S DIRECTION
For me It all started with my Mom introducing me to religion at a very young age and religion opened the door to spirituality. I have felt a guiding presence most often during times of distress or trouble. It could be for the simple reason that when trouble knocked on the door the only window I saw was that of the power of God. When there was no trouble the door to unaware living was open…
Gradually over many years, through seasons of faith and loss of it the patient presence of love saw me through, always watchful. My growth has been through self prayer followed by the messages from the bible, which seemed as though they were provided specifically for me alone. The verses that have been my constant companions come to mind. “You Lord are all I have and you give me all I need”. The other one is the prayer for wisdom and holy spirit “No one has ever learnt your will, unless you first gave him Wisdom, and sent your holy spirit down to him”. I fervently, unceasingly pray for wisdom and the holy spirit. I realize that through this I have been led by the hand, so to say. The direction to read the many books that have led me to wisdom. To meet the people that i have met. Through wisdom and the desire to know more deeply I was then led to the power of now, and onto meditation followed by philosophy.
At the moment I am having a wonderful time being present in the now and living an unhurried life. There is now a subtle nudge to live an unselfish life, to be there for others.
Along this journey i have experienced the strong presence of life instructing me, advising me, showing me the way to go & nudging me towards something which I am yet to experience fully. Some of my old beliefs and concepts have fallen away, new beliefs and habits have formed, surrendering has become easy.
Few of the concepts that have evolved, dropped away and new experiences propelling me are:-
1. The word “God”– This used to conjure up an all-powerful, anthropomorphic presence. Through wisdom, understanding and grace the meaning I had associated with this word has dissolved giving rise to an understanding that God is the unnamable. Using words or labels, or imagining anything is useless here. Paul Brunton in his various books comes close to providing guidance through mentalism. Eckhart Tolle prefers to call it Being
2. The concept of Sin– The concept of Sin and redemption drilled through with the images of severe punishment limits growth. It creates an attachment to a limiting belief and gives rise to fear- fear is the opposite of love. Over time and through the experience of true life’s love this fear for me has dissolved. I now understand that the consequence of one’s action through the karmic cycle is more relevant. So the bondage to fear has dropped away
3. God is good, only to those who are good – This concept, I observed, created a binding and constant expectation on my part to be good. The standards of good were again different according to different people. I might have pushed my self hard to meet my own demands. Watching nature’s way, especially the sunlight and rain awe me. Both shine & flow respectively to all without bias. law of nature is same for all…. So too is life’s love and care. There is no more pressure to DO anything.
4 The path to Meditation – In meditation I have learnt to turn the mind inwards, observing the sensations and focusing the mind to observe. The Vipassana technique is one of the few that I have experimented with and it works for me.
These occurrences are experienced by so many. I am sharing because I too am part of the ocean. In a way this is my altruistic action. I too have been helped along the way by life and her insights, the insights have been through people, an article here, a blog there, a person talking and sharing her experience, many a times the teaching and the teachers have come to me in the form of books.
Look forward to learn from your experiences
