There is a real world out there - and in here (meaning within ourselves), an ever-developing dance of the objective and the subjective. The objective - the 'world out there', the bricks and mortar, the ideologies, religions, the living planet, the universe at large - and the subjective - the immediacy of the Self, awareness, sentience, imagination, emotion, thought, rationality - these two dance together throughout the ages; in one life, in many, in archetypal images, in secret thoughts. But make no mistake, this play of inner and outer reality is reality. And reality is one fabric, even if it contains many threads.
Whilst we all try to build bridges with those whose world views differ greatly from our own, nonetheless, as the great physicist and thinker Richard Feynman said "Nature cannot be fooled." We cannot let fallacies stand. If we act on mistaken ideas, we won't come up with the best solutions, or with workable solutions at all. So the better we can cooperate to understand the universe we live in, the better - and trying to do this is in itself a peace-building exercise, as we have to learn to understand each other, to learn from others' wisdom, even when it is expressed in ways we might find quite alien, and to offer our own insights in ways that help others to understand them within their perspective on reality.
This section will contain essays on reality as it relates to creating a legacy of peace. What do we need to know, or learn, or struggle to understand, if we are to take effective and constructive action to make a better world than the one we were born into? Contributions are very welcome. Let's try to understand reality together, to the farthest limits that the human mind and heart can reach.
On Seeking The Meaning of Life - Part 5: What Meaning Do You Want To Give Your Life?
Life is multi-dimensional and multi-layered – even as you discover meaning in one aspect; you are entering new territory and forging new paths in another and so you’re still at the surface. Life’s journey continues along this spiral path polishing the soul with each round of the merry-go-round.
Ultimately, life’s meaning is what you choose to give it, wherever and whatever your background.
We begin life with a set of paradigms some inherited and implicit in our genes, others taught, learned, gathered, realised, unrealised, conscious and sub-conscious from our families, friends, neighbours, enemies and our environment. Our beliefs about ourselves, how we want to be, how we want our families and loved ones to see us, all play a role in how we develop and define the things we accept, reject, amend, adopt and choose.
We choose the things we believe we can never be as well as the things we don't want to be, even the things we sometimes succeed in avoiding or honestly accept as our own weaknesses. In this life we choose the things we want to uphold, our response to the roles we are called on to play and we choose which moulds to break. In our journey for the meaning of life – all of this will be challenged.
What meaning will you give your life as you meet these challenges?
What we ‘believe in’ about ourselves moulds are actions forming what we 'become' in doing/acting according to those beliefs. When all is challenged are we prepared to accept shedding the old skin so that the new skin can grow'? Or do we cling fearfully to the old and comfortable because we can’t yet see the nature of the new skin and want certainty first? Life is a process of continuous learning, intertwining of our conscious and sub-conscious as they teach and learn from each other.
Destiny too plays its role in our lives. Destiny is the combination of the fixed parameters that[3] affect our life, our sacred contract by our higher selves giving us purpose for existence in this realm and our choices in this life. Opportunity does not always knock with a clapper. Most of the time, it is subtle, hidden behind seemingly poor and almost worthless endeavour, nudging us to respond with our heart for no apparent reason. Our heartfelt response in those moments opens a crack in the wall. Each time we so respond with pure intention, the cracks get wider and eventually become portals of knowledge, learning and wisdom transforming the world, giving new meaning to our lives and those of others.
In the end our learning has to result in actions that benefit the world. The answer has a personal as well as a universal component to it and the light of knowledge must be shared with the world. We are taught to be modest and not seek glory or attention. To share the learning, one has to step forth. Wanting to stay obscure would be a waste of opportunity and learning so to keep the light under a bushel is not accepted by the universe. That is why many fail to reach the last step, their fear of success stops them from succeeding. The search for meaning is ultimately not about oneself. The process of becoming is not just about receiving but encompasses the process of giving with true intent and enabling others to grow from your learning.
Acting from pure intent can be in any form. From the simple smile to acts of kindness, empathy, generosity, time and friendship. How do you respond when faced with a request? Does one ache for the wounded or care for the defenceless animal? Does one try to put an end to cruelty? Does one try to educate, clothe or heal the disadvantaged? No one can solve all the world's problems – but do you reach out to change yourself one step at a time, one choice, one decision at a time – defining your path and helping another along the way? Donating funds generously to a cause is one type of response. But in seeking the meaning of life – connecting with the universal spirit in new ways is what is needed. Learning comes when the heart touches a heart – however simple or ordinary a creature others might consider that heart to be.
There are many people confined to living in restrictive conditions, unable to freely make their life choices, feeling trapped between a rock and a hard place. Their personal beliefs may be wide and they may be willing to shed the old programs in search for the truth, but their life circumstances may be such that the duties required of them by their dependents severely restrict their opportunity to change. Being stuck in such situations is extremely stressful requiring incredible patience and fortitude especially if they are living by some one else’s rules with no personal space in their external environment. The despair they must feel while they sacrifice their lives in the service of others would be immense. The universal spirit does not abandon people in such circumstances and does send them moments of kindness. The greater difficulty there is to recognise those moments, rise above one’s sense of despair and hopelessness to respond with courage.
The tests along the path often tear one’s soul between duty and loyalty to old paradigms on one hand and the search for the greater truth on the other. One has to have the courage to face the truth about what no longer works and leave it behind even though the shape of the new has not yet emerged. One has to be a pioneer in one’s own life by seeking out a new form rather than clinging to the familiar. Acknowledging what is not right and taking a step into the unknown is sometimes the most honest and best decision you can make for yourself.
The road is long and dark and those who have made it will tell you that for ages all they could do was take one step at a time. Being in the now and doing their their best at each moment even against the tide of loved ones trying all emotional tactics to hold you to the past.
Indra did not serve thirty-two years three times for no reason. One often finds people on the quest questioning the purpose of their journey, their very identity and the point to life. A very helpful verse through the dark night of the soul is in this anonymous quotation:
“Do not ask 'Who Am I?'
Long has this tormented thee,
Instead ask, 'What Can I Do?”
And do it like Hercules”
--- Anon
Find the goodness you can do and do it sincerely to the best of your abilities and there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
The meaning within and an inspiring story comes in the next and final part of this series of posts.
“Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer.” ― Joseph Campbell
The Meaning of Life comes from within oneself in what you do and what you try to achieve. Take stock of what harm you might inadvertently be doing and what good you are seeking to serve and how you hope to accomplish it. Believing is the necessary first step, but it is the doing that sets us apart.
Some people want to know the meaning first before they feel they can rise to act. But meaning is something we give to our actions. Meaning comes from doing. Regardless of whether we believe there is a higher power, or whether that power has a purpose for us in this life, no matter how weary one's soul feels, no matter how purposeless one may think one is, no one is too small or too insignificant to make a difference. The quality of the world is affected by all its peoples no matter where they live. Just the way even the tiniest flicker of a small flame throws light in a dark room, the simplest of acts add light to someone stuck in a dark corner. Whenever any one strives to make even the smallest effort to help someone be it a person or creature, or to make something better, they add value to the world.
[6]
A world in peace and harmony are not external events that descend on the planet as an external event and keep the world locked in a frozen state. It takes a continuous flow of kindness from hundreds of millions of good deeds by hundreds of millions of people to fill the billions of moments that fill life to create a kind, compassionate and peaceful world for all its peoples. It's easy to listen to the awe inspiring stories of the great leaders and feel one is too lowly, or too untalented to matter, but this is not true. Take the example of a carpet, every thread contributes to its magnificence. In the web of life too, everyone matters. Each day, find the one thing you can do and do it. It will start changing the world around you and as the world changes you will see the meaning emerge.
The best part is that humans are social animals and no one is alone. Every single person does not have to think of a unique cause and climb a mountain all by oneself. One can find numerous causes or projects that help others and become part of the team.
There is more than one meaning to every life - what our lives mean to us and what it means to the people, the creatures and the environment around us. If in one's darkest hours one feels that there is no one for whom one's life holds purpose, then one is looking for approval from certain sources rather than meaning. For meaning one has to find the motivation for one's actions. There's always someone worse off than you and there's always someone or some creature you can benefit. The decision is yours to act with that intention and start giving your life meaning.
“At the centre of your being you have the answer.” Lao Tzu
There is a very inspiring story of the Daffodil principle that has done the rounds of cyberspace via email. I don’t know the originator so can’t acknowledge her and express my gratitude for sharing this tale, but I’m sure you’ll agree that this is a beautiful story.
The Daffodil Principle
“Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead "I will come next Tuesday", I
promised a little reluctantly on her third call.
Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.
"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!"
My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother." "Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.
"But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this." "Carolyn," I said sternly, "Please turn around." "It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."
After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, " Daffodil Garden ." We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious
sight.
It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow.
Each different-colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.
"Who did this?" I asked Carolyn. "Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house.
On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."
For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop.
Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.
That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world ...
"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"
My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said.
She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?"
Ultimately, it’s up to us. What are we going to do to change the world we live in for the better?
Another inspiring story is of Jadav 'Molai' Payeng who as a teenager was deeply moved at the plight of snakes who dies in the heat of the desert. The Government did nothing about it, so he single-handedly converted 1360 acres of desert into a thriving rainforest eco-system over a period of 30 years. You can read more about his story here:
The quest for the meaning of life will take us through many paths and show us a myriad wonders from which we can learn. But it is only when we connect with another heart and put our skills and learning in the service of others that the true meaning begins to take shape.
“The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others.” -- Albert Schweitzer.
So why is it important to believe some things and when does one choose between faith and action? This is another big topic and a prompt for another blog series.
On Seeking The Meaning of Life -Part 1: Why Bother?
“I’m on a search for the meaning of life. What can you tell me about it?” my friend I’ve known since childhood asked me in her email.
The question got me really excited.
This is a big topic on which much has been written and much more will be written.
I sent her some rough notes mostly in bullet points to share my thoughts and we’ve continued our exploration via emails.
In recent weeks I’ve been asked this question again by a few people prompting me to write a more explanatory article.
For readability I’ve spread it over a number of posts:
Part 1 – Why Bother?
Part 2 – Qualities to Develop
Part 3 – Nature of the Answer
Part 4 – From A Sufi Classic
Part 5 – What Meaning Do You Want To Give Your Life ?
Part 6 – The Meaning Comes from Within
On Seeking The Meaning of Life - Part 1: Why Bother?
Each person is a unique consciousness. Life is a journey and the meaning of life comes from how each person chooses to traverse the contours of this journey. The answer is not linear and has many dimensions. One can look at it from many angles and arrange the pieces in many ways, discovering new facets each time.
To begin with there's more than one aspect to the very phrase 'seeking the meaning of life'.
What is one really trying to understand more about?
One person could be looking for the reason for the existence of the universe with its various life forms, in particular the human life form. Another wants to learn about the relationship between one's own conscious, sub-conscious and unconscious self and how these relate to other consciousness in the universe. Still others want to know the reason for their trials and tribulations, their learnings, their unfulfilled desires compared with those of the seemingly successful and prosperous.
Discovering one’s higher self and its connection to the universal supreme consciousness is often a prime motivator. Others want to understand the roles and demands placed on them by their family and their religion and find ways of reconciling these with evolving values and ethics in the broader society. New insights about consciousness influences their choices when faced with fixed duties and obligations. Fear of rejection prevents many from even starting the quest.
Breaking boundaries in seeking to expand one’s understanding of God, the nature of salvation and the relationship between the physical and spiritual dimensions of life tends to create massive turmoil in a person’s inner and outer world. The journey of discovery is often long and painful, many describe it as the dark night of the soul.
Not only are there a myriad more aspects to investigate, but as one begins to consider the answers one finds that each topic gives rise to many more questions. As the answer to one question emerges, new threads can lead to other topics giving different and possibly conflicting views. Even as one reconciles the two, one can find oneself back at the start having to re-question and relearn the same issue from yet another point of view, and one can feel like one is going round and round in circles with the only way out – the key being locked in the elusive meaning of life itself.
A few metaphors come to mind:
Like the largest expo in the universe arranged as a hive of exhibit halls where the interconnecting corridors keep changing; every turn takes you to a new place and when you try to return to a previous spot, the path and exhibits change completely leaving you with an eerie feeling that the old and familiar is only a step or two away yet somehow out of reach.
The inside of a huge dome where the inner walls are made of countless mirrors of multidimensional polyhedron shapes of different sizes. When one holds a candlelight, different parts of the walls light up reflecting the flame, or reflecting an image of the flame, or a reflection of an image of the flame, or just a reflection of a light pattern formed by the flicker or even its shadow. Each flicker of light changes the reflections and each time you look, you see something different. When you try to find what you saw only a moment ago, it vanishes never to be seen again.
Like a continuous changing hologram or looking at the patterns in an ever changing hall of mirrors). In “The Holographic Universe”, author Michael Talbot describes many interesting experiences.
Why bother with The Meaning of Life – What is this mad Urge, Spark or Fire that drives some of us insane?
Some smugly say that they don't waste their time seeking the meaning of life, because they are so content with their lifestyle, family and religion. They say only those who are unhappy with their life seek to find its meaning.
Well, it takes all kinds to make the world. Dissatisfaction is the mother of growth. If a seed was content being a seed, if it never expressed an urge to expand and explore outside itself, it would never sprout into a seedling and then grow into a mighty tree.
So what is the hunger that drives a quest for greater truth?
Lord Buddha, deeply affected by the grief of his subjects, dissatisfied with the rituals of the Hindu monks of his time went in search of a way to eliminate suffering, and gained Enlightenment.
Sir Raja Ram Mohan Roy[10], one of India's greatest reformers was spurred on by the tragic death of his sister who recently widowed was forced to be burned alive (custom of Sati) at her husband's cremation. He went on to reform Indian society and get this law repealed.
Great religions have been born out of the dissatisfaction of the pure soul who was not content with the narrow-minded, rigid and limited understanding of his gurus from the former old religion.
So, as a seeker - what is your reason and how motivated are you to find the truth?
A personal tragedy of a loved one being struck by unexpected fatal illness or an accidental death before their time, or a near death experience are some of the changes and chances of life that spur a soul to rise out of their comfortable mould, start questioning their cherished paradigms and seek the meaning of life. Some hope to fix what’s broken in their life which could be a damaged relationship or the derailment of a glowing career with the hope the quest will lead them to healing and recovering what was lost.
We know from quantum physics that the whole universe is a single, complex, intricate, wave function of which consciousness is an integrated whole. Our personal consciousness while unique is deeply connected to the universal consciousness and our individuality is an integral part of the whole. That is not the same as having no identity or being an unrecognisable part of a uniform collective. Every rose on a bush is breathtakingly unique and it takes a multitude of roses each flourishing in its own uniqueness to make the grandeur of a spectacular rose-garden.
Each endeavour is just as unique even though it may be following general patterns of spiritual journeys described in the legends.
In tomorrow’s post I share some pointers re the qualities that we need to develop along the way.
Below is a well known verse from the Bible which is a source of encouragement for those still on the quest:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7: 7-8
The gift of asking the universe and receiving an answer has been with us since ancient times. In the Upanishads and the Vedas from the Hindu traditions there are many verses on searching for the meaning of life. There are many clues about the qualities of what is being sought as well as the attributes that the traveller needs to develop. We look at some of these below:
Comprehending the Incomprehensible:
Firstly, in seeking to understand something bigger than oneself – we will only see parts of it and will never be able to understand the whole. The spiritual universe has many more dimensions than any one can ever properly imagine or perceive. The reality is that our senses are tuned to the three dimensional world in which we live.
There is an ancient story we were taught in school in India, of four blind men who go to see an elephant. Each person touches only one part and feels they know the whole. When they describe it to each other, their versions are in complete disagreement. One feels its legs and describes the elephant as a tree, another its trunk and describes it as a snake, the third touches the tail and likens it to a rope while the fourth touches the belly and thinks it is like a wall. A wise man explains to them that their difference arises from the fact that each of them felt only a part of the elephant and were describing only that part. The elephant was bigger than what any of them had experienced and had all those attributes and much more. From one level while all them were correct in their analogies, from another level they had all fallen short. (There are many versions of this story which originates from India, but the chief point of all the versions is the same.)
Our theories of the eternal are as valuable as are those which a chick which has not broken its way through its shell might form of the outside world.
- Buddha
In this life we live in a limited dimension as our senses can only perceive so much. We can only experience and understand some things and this is so for even those with a highly tuned sixth sense. A baby in the womb can hear sounds outside of her and even feel movements and react to touch, but does not know what the world outside is like. Similarly we often catch glimpses of things on the other other side of the veil, but do not really know or understand them fully.
Another reason for the limitations of this world is that this life sets up the stage for using free will – making choices (and mistakes) and learning. To enable this growth, starting with a framework of complete knowledge is not possible. If all the answers were perfectly known there would be no seeking, no journey and no learning. What we choose makes us who we are and defines what we become. But we must not forget that there will always be things beyond our comprehension.
What Are We Prepared To Give?
Secondly, our qualities will be tested along with our commitment. Just because we want to know something does not mean we are ready for the answer. To find the truth in any quest we have to drop our prejudices and rise with courage to overcome our fears.
The true seeker
Subdues all waywardness.
He has submitted his nature to quietness.
He is a true seeker
Not because he begs
But because he follows the lawful way,
Holding back nothing, holding to nothing,
Beyond good and evil,
Beyond the body and beyond the mind.
Silence cannot make a master out of a fool.
But he who weighs only purity in his scales,
Who sees the nature of the two worlds,
He is a master.
He harms no living thing.
And yet it is not good conduct
That helps you upon the way,
Nor ritual, nor book learning,
Nor withdrawal into the self,
Nor deep meditation.
None of these confers mastery or joy.
O seeker!
Rely on nothing
Until you want nothing.
– Dhammapada
[14]
Attachment to our comfort zones, refusal to give up our cherished ideas and failure to let go of our hatreds are all barriers to discovering the truth.
Believing that we can, is a good place to start but it is not enough, we have to strive to achieve that state of being in our mind and [15]soul and so become the person who is free of attachments.
Attachment and aversion for the objects of the senses abide in the senses; let none come under their sway, for they are his foes. – Bhagavad Gita
This is not a momentary condition but a state of being, we have to become that person that makes the right choices for growth – the secret is not in conducting rituals.
In my experience it is in the courage to make a moral choice to reject false values and doctrines imposed on us, stand up to what is wrong in the face of adversity and tribulation.
Freed from attachment, fear and anger, absorbed in Me, taking refuge in Me, purified by the fire of knowledge, many have attained to My Being.
– – Bhagavad Gita
In the next post we will look at an example from the ancient Hindu Scriptures, The Upanishads which some believe to be much older than Buddhism.
[17]Sufi literature has many beautiful mystical works dedicated to describing the types of seekers, the different types of journeys and the quest for oneness with God and the meaning of life.
The Conference of the Bird by Farid Ud-Din Attar is one such classic which has attracted many commentators and derivative works over the years.
There are many insights to be gleaned from this wonderful poetic masterpiece.
b) The ‘Conference Of The Birds’ by Farid ud-din Attar
The book is an epic allegory of a seeker’s journey to God. Birds from many species gather to go in search of their ultimate great and mighty King – the Simurgh. The legendary Hoopoe acts as their leader advising them through the long and arduous journey through the seven valleys of search, love, understanding (mystic apprehension), independence (detachment), unity, bewilderment (astonishment), fulfilment in annihilation (total poverty and nothingness).
Along the way most birds give up, either due to their attachment such as the nightingale to the rose, and the duck to water, or through their sense of false humility of being too worthless to entertain such noble aspirations. Some are just too weak to last the distance. As the birds face their trials and tribulations the wise hoopoe counsels them with advice in the form of legendary tales teaching them lessons of the spiritual way on purity, austerity, gifts for the gods, humility, aspiration, loyalty, justice, majesty and many other qualities that tend to box those on the quest.
“So long as we do not die to ourselves,
and so long as we identify with someone or something,
we shall never be free.
The spiritual way is not for those wrapped up in exterior life”
Only those birds who are tirelessly passionate in their search, overcoming fear of retribution and death, choosing courageously when facing the unknown, letting go of their inner and outer desires, freeing themselves of pride, vanity and ego and who joyously give up their sense of self in uniting with the Simurgh, end up seeing the light of lights, learning its secrets and gaining immortality.
[18]
Another bird spoke up: ‘I live for love,
For Him and for the glorious world above --
For Him I’ve cut myself from everything;
My life’s one song of love to our great king.
I've seen the world’s inhabitants, and know
I could not worship any here below;
My ardent love’s for Him alone; how few
Can manage to adore Him as I do!
But though I’ve struggled on with all my soul,
It seems I haven’t quite achieved our goal.
The time has come -- my Self will disappear;
I’ll drink the wine of meekness and draw near;
His beauty will illuminate my heart;
His neck will know my touch; we shall not part.”
The hoopoe said: “The Simorgh isn’t won
By boasts of who you are and what you’ve done --
Don’t brag of love; He’s not deceived by lies,
And no one pulls the wool across his eyes.
His call is like some lightly wafted breeze
Lifting the veil from hidden mysteries --
Then He will draw you to Himself, alone;
Your place will be with Him, beside His throne
(Though if mere pride of place prompts your desire,
Your love prepares you for eternal fire).”
(Ref: The Conference of The Birds by Farid ud-din Attar, Translated by Afham Darbandi and Dick Davis)
This beautifully written poem is not only a commentary on sufism. The birds are allegories for the different human personalities, conditions, desires and despairs. Their reasons and excuses, rewards and failures depict human nature in face of extreme fear and hardship in treading the unknown in search for the meaning of their life and oneness with God.
The message from the above stories and also many spiritual masters is that the seekers will have to earn the knowledge, they will be tested many times in many ways and will have to prove themselves worthy of the level of knowledge they seek. They will also have to demonstrate the qualities and capacity to use the knowledge in a rightful way. If a person is satisfied with simple glib answers that’s all he or she will get.
In reality this is no different to any person wanting to be a musician, a doctor or an engineer or an expert in any field. They have to study, qualify, be examined, gain certification to be allowed to practice and then continue to practice to high standards to be allowed to continue in their quest to be an expert. Those that lack the required skills and stamina are unable to complete the journey. Those who have great desire overcome the greatest of hurdles to realise their dream.
In the next post we will consider what we would like our lives to mean.
There are two great examples that best illustrate this point. The first is from the Upanishads which is one of the earliest Hindu philosophical texts. The second is from the twelfth century Sufi classic “The Conference of the Birds” by Farid ud-din Attar.
a) Indra’s Experience - Learning About the Self – Chandogya Upanishad
The Upanishads are part of sacred Hindu texts. Historians have differing opinions about its age. Most agree that it predates Buddhism and parts of it are believed to be as old as the Vedas.
"The Self which is free from sin, free from old age, free from death, free from grief, free from hunger, free from thirst, whose desires come true and whose thoughts come true—That it is which should be searched out, That it is which one should desire to understand. He who has known this Self from the scriptures and a teacher and understood It obtains all the worlds and all desires.” - Prajapati, Chandogya Upanishad
The Upanishads tells the tale of Indra (on behalf of the gods ) and Virochana (among the demons) who on hearing the above go to Prajapati himself to learn about the Self. (Pic left: Indra, the Hindu God of Rain with his consort.)
After performing the practice of brahmacharya for thirty two years, they ask Prajapati the meaning of his words.
Prajapati tell them that "The person that is seen in the eye—that is the Self."He further said: "This is immortal, fearless. This is Brahman." They asked:"Venerable Sir, he who is perceived in the water and he who is perceived in a mirror—which of these is he?"Prajapati replied: "The same one, indeed, is perceived in all these."
He asks them to look at themselves in the water and ask him further if there’s anything they don’t understand. They look in the water and see full clear reflections of themselves including their hair and nails. Prajapati further asks them to adorn themselves in their best and look at their reflections again. Prajapati said,
"This is the Self, this is immortal, fearless. This is Brahman." Satisfied with the answer, both Indra and Virochana leave.
Disappointed Prajapati said, "They are both going away without having known and without having realized the Self. And whoever of these, whether gods or demons, follow this doctrine shall perish." Virochana, satisfied in his heart, returned to the demons preaching: "The self (which is the body) alone is to be worshipped here on earth, the self (i.e. body) alone is to be served. It is only by worshipping the self here and by serving the self that one gains both worlds—this and the next."
“The demons therefore practice no charity and have no faith. They deck the bodies of the dead with garlands, perfume and ornaments because they think these will help them win the world beyond.”
Indra reflecting on the words thought “As this reflection in the water is well adorned when the body is well adorned, well dressed when the body is well dressed, clean when the body is clean, so this reflection in the water will be blind if the body is blind, one—eyed if the body is one—eyed, crippled if the body is crippled and will perish if the body perishes.” Seeing its limitations he returned to Prajapati and served him for another thirty-two years.
Prajapati then told him "He who moves about, exalted, in dreams—this is the Self, this is immortal, fearless. This is Brahman."
Satisfied Indra left once more for the gods, but on reflection realised: "Although this dream self is not blind even if the body is blind, nor do its eyes and nose run when the eyes and nose of the body run; although this self is not affected by the defects of the body, "Nor killed when it (the body) is killed, nor one—eyed when it is one—eyed—yet they kill it (the dream self), as it were; they chase it, as it were. It becomes conscious of pain, as it were; it weeps, as it were. I do not see any good in this doctrine."
On returning to Prajapati and serving another thirty two years he learned,"When a man is asleep, with senses withdrawn and serene and sees no dream—that is the Self. This is immortal, fearless. This is Brahman."
Satisfied with the answer, Indra left again but on his way he could see the difficulty with this as well: "In truth it (i.e. the self in dreamless sleep) does not know itself as ‘I am it,’ nor these other creatures. It has therefore reached in dreamless sleep utter annihilation, as it were. I do not see any good in this."
This time Prajapati only asked him to serve another five years, at the end of which he said,
[19]“O Indra, this body is mortal, always held by death. It is the abode of the Self which is immortal and incorporeal. The embodied self is the victim of pleasure and pain. So long as one is identified with the body, there is no cessation of pleasure and pain. But neither pleasure nor pain touches one who is not identified with the body.
"The wind is without body; the cloud, lightning and thunder are without body. Now, as these, arising from yonder akasa and reaching the highest light, appear in their own forms, "So does this serene Being, arising from this body and reaching the Highest Light, appear in His own form. In that state He is the Highest Person. There He moves about, laughing, playing, rejoicing—be it with women, chariots, or relatives, never thinking of the body into which he was born. "As an animal is attached to a cart, so is the prana (i.e. the conscious self) attached to the body.
"When the person in the eye resides in the body, he resides where the organ of sight has entered into the akasa (i.e. the pupil of the eye); the eye is the instrument of seeing. He who is aware of the thought: ‘Let me smell this,’ he is the Self; the nose is the instrument of smelling. He who is aware of the thought: ‘Let me speak,’ he is the Self; the tongue is the instrument of speaking. He who is aware of the thought: ‘Let me hear,’ he is the Self; the ear is the instrument of hearing.
"He who is aware of the thought: ‘Let me think this,’ he is the Self; the mind is his divine eye. He, the Self sees all these desires in the World of Brahman through the divine eye, the mind and rejoices.
"The gods meditate on that Self. Therefore all worlds belong to them and all desires. He who knows that Self and understands It obtains all worlds and all desires."
This story illustrates many points. Virochana was satisfied with the simplest of answers, while Indra made four attempts, analysing and discriminating each reply until he received the deeper more meaningful answer that truly satisfied his heart. It took him 32 years for each the first three attempts to gain the necessary life-experience and guru wisdom to be able to reflect deeply enough on each level of reply and rise to the next challenge. In total it took a 101 years for the four attempts showing enormous patience, striving, dedication and perseverance to finally earn his reward of true understanding.
In the next post we will look at the example from the Sufi classic “The Conference of the Birds” by Farid-ud-din Attar.
We begin life with a set of paradigms some inherited and implicit in our genes, others taught, learned, gathered, realised, unrealised, conscious and sub-conscious from our families, friends, neighbours, enemies and our environment. Our beliefs about ourselves, how we want to be, how we want our families and loved ones to see us, all play a role in how we develop and define the things we accept, reject, amend, adopt and choose.
[3] affect our life, our sacred contract by our higher selves giving us purpose for existence in this realm and our choices in this life. Opportunity does not always knock with a clapper. Most of the time, it is subtle, hidden behind seemingly poor and almost worthless endeavour, nudging us to respond with our heart for no apparent reason. Our heartfelt response in those moments opens a crack in the wall. Each time we so respond with pure intention, the cracks get wider and eventually become portals of knowledge, learning and wisdom transforming the world, giving new meaning to our lives and those of others.
There are many people confined to living in restrictive conditions, unable to freely make their life choices, feeling trapped between a rock and a hard place. Their personal beliefs may be wide and they may be willing to shed the old programs in search for the truth, but their life circumstances may be such that the duties required of them by their dependents severely restrict their opportunity to change. Being stuck in such situations is extremely stressful requiring incredible patience and fortitude especially if they are living by some one else’s rules with no personal space in their external environment. The despair they must feel while they sacrifice their lives in the service of others would be immense. The universal spirit does not abandon people in such circumstances and does send them moments of kindness. The greater difficulty there is to recognise those moments, rise above one’s sense of despair and hopelessness to respond with courage.
The tests along the path often tear one’s soul between duty and loyalty to old paradigms on one hand and the search for the greater truth on the other. One has to have the courage to face the truth about what no longer works and leave it behind even though the shape of the new has not yet emerged. One has to be a pioneer in one’s own life by seeking out a new form rather than clinging to the familiar. Acknowledging what is not right and taking a step into the unknown is sometimes the most honest and best decision you can make for yourself.
Indra did not serve thirty-two years three times for no reason. One often finds people on the quest questioning the purpose of their journey, their very identity and the point to life. A very helpful verse through the dark night of the soul is in this anonymous quotation:
The Daffodil Principle 
Discovering one’s higher self and its connection to the universal supreme consciousness is often a prime motivator. Others want to understand the roles and demands placed on them by their family and their religion and find ways of reconciling these with evolving values and ethics in the broader society. New insights about consciousness influences their choices when faced with fixed duties and obligations. Fear of rejection prevents many from even starting the quest.
The gift of asking the universe and receiving an answer has been with us since ancient times. In the Upanishads and the Vedas from the Hindu traditions there are many verses on searching for the meaning of life. There are many clues about the qualities of what is being sought as well as the attributes that the traveller needs to develop. We look at some of these below: 
Our theories of the eternal are as valuable as are those which a chick which has not broken its way through its shell might form of the outside world. 
[15]soul and so become the person who is free of attachments.
[17]Sufi literature has many beautiful mystical works dedicated to describing the types of seekers, the different types of journeys and the quest for oneness with God and the meaning of life. 
[18]
The message from the above stories and also many spiritual masters is that the seekers will have to earn the knowledge, they will be tested many times in many ways and will have to prove themselves worthy of the level of knowledge they seek. They will also have to demonstrate the qualities and capacity to use the knowledge in a rightful way. If a person is satisfied with simple glib answers that’s all he or she will get. 
The Upanishads tells the tale of Indra (on behalf of the gods ) and Virochana (among the demons) who on hearing the above go to Prajapati himself to learn about the Self. (Pic left: Indra, the Hindu God of Rain with his consort.)
Prajapati then told him "He who moves about, exalted, in dreams—this is the Self, this is immortal, fearless. This is Brahman." 
[19]“O Indra, this body is mortal, always held by death. It is the abode of the Self which is immortal and incorporeal. The embodied self is the victim of pleasure and pain. So long as one is identified with the body, there is no cessation of pleasure and pain. But neither pleasure nor pain touches one who is not identified with the body. 
