Bondage
When we are in bondage and do not realize it. In order to come out of this, first we should realize that we are in bondage. Basically we live through half- awake and half-asleep state of consciousness.
The bondage may be due to any of the following:
· Insecurity
· Possessiveness
· Struggle for power
· Fear
· Greed
Another great bondage is that of Greed…greed for money, name, fame……Is this not foolish?
Reflect on this anecdote.
There was a belief in the empire that whoever becomes its emperor, would go to heaven and inscribe on the golden mountain. A man believing this ideology, toiled throughout his life, sacrificed his happiness and became the emperor.
When he died, he went to heaven. The gatekeeper at the doors of heaven was very indifferent. The emperor retorted, `Don't you know that I am the emperor.'
The gatekeeper replied, `Many emperors have come here from time immemorial. So what is so great about you?
The emperor was shocked and asked him to lead him to the golden mountain.
The gatekeeper casually, `Go straight and turn right, you will find the way to Golden Mountain.'
The emperor reached the mountain and tried to inscribe on the golden mountain. He found the whole mountain filled with names; he was disappointed not to find a space to inscribe his name. He came back and enquired the gate keeper, `Where can I find space to inscribe my name?' The gatekeeper casually replied, `Wipe off one of the existing names and inscribe yours.'
In the infinity of time where do we exist?
The greed for name and fame is a juvenile approach to life.
Someone asked a Master, `When my wife gets angry, it is like a rage of hundred flames. How do I deal with it?'
`Can you see your expression very closely? It is a product of your imagination.
One of the teachings of George Gurjieff is…There is imaginary self in all of us. If one is not watchful, it creates its own world of reality. In a relationship we have to observe how our imaginary selves operate and learn to handle them with maturity.
When one is in a negative frame of mind, observe the following steps:
· Negativity is not in a given situation; it is more in us. For example when we say, `Picnic is spoiled because of rain'…a negative feeling is generated – is it in rain or in us?
· Do not identify yourself with negative feelings. Feelings are like clouds which come and go fleetingly; but you are like space. Do not identify with the clouds; but be centered in the space of consciousness. This process is called detachment. When you are attached to your negative feelings you become a prisoner to them. Attachment creates hell.
Reflect on this anecdote.
In the earlier days, there was an interesting technique for catching monkeys. A huge jar with a narrow neck was used. Nuts were dropped into the narrow necked jar, in the presence of a monkey. A monkey trying to grab the nuts from the jar got caught, because its fist clutching the nuts would get stuck in the narrow necked jar. Only if it dropped the nuts, would its hand be free and easy to remove from the jar. But the monkeys were too much attached to drop the nuts and free themselves; hence they were caught.
Are we also attached like this?
Can we experience a sense of wonderment when we see difficult people creating their own world of hell? The experience of wonderment relaxes one's being. First change has to happen within us, only then we can motivate others.
`If you feel good, you will experience that the world is right.
But ignorant people feel that only if the world is right would they feel good.'
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With Loving regards
Dr.E.S. Maheswar
Consultant Pediatrician
Vijayawada; A.P; India
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