The only way to totally be free of suffering is to thoroughly understand it. That is what enlightenment is. And to thoroughly understand something a long journey is required. Say, right now "A" is causing you suffering. So you have to fix it by understanding it. But it is not possible to understand and fix "A" by looking at it alone. In order to totally understand "A" you will have to understand everything that "A" is connected with. "A" to "Z", that is, you will have to understand.
That's how it is about life. Right now if you are going through a particular problem and because of that you are questioning about getting immune to the suffering, it is not going to work that way. Even to get rid of this particular problem, you will have understand all (or let's say, enough) things about life – even those things that don't directly matter at this moment. Only then the whole picture will be clear before you and you will know exactly how everything works and what's the best you can make of it. That is the point of truth-seeking in context of spirituality. And when, after that, you are making the best you can, no external turbulence can cause you suffering. Because you would know that this is already the best you could have.
The point I am making is that there is no direct and perfect solution to any of life's problems. Let me give you a glimpse of the reality of life. When you go digging through layer after layers of truth, finally you reach the stage where you see that the existence has no intrinsic meaning and purpose. Everything in the world is random and purposeless, and nothing is meant to be certain way. Whatever meaning we see in the world is only our mind's construct. In truth, there is not even good or bad in the world. The world just IS. The universe is all random, meaningless, indifferent and chaotic.
Good and bad, right and wrong, all these are our own notions, based on our own wishes and desires. So it's like, when you reach that stage (which is inevitable if you keep seeking truth) you eventually become one with the universe. Meaning, every disillusionment takes you closer and closer to the reality, and when finally you are totally disillusioned you become what reality is. Then you just see what IS. Clearly. And with all the disillusionments, you have also lost all notions of good and bad, right and wrong. You sort of digest the indifference of the universe. You become indifferent. And just exist.
At this point, you might ask what is the point of living if we are to live with indifference. Here I would want you to go through the following articles, in the given order only.
Especially, the "real world – game world" concepts are most important aid in understanding my point.
So yes, life is never going to be problem free. Just think, a few centuries back man had to do a lot of physical labor. Life was very tough and problematic. Then technological developments made life easy in that regard. Now there's no labor to be done as before. But the flip side is, now we have pollution, diseases etc all new problems. Back then, most of the day's activities were for survival. Now survival has become so easy and we have ample time to do parties and socialize, but with these comforts comes a host of psychological pains – longing for material objects, jealousy, complexes etc – which never existed back then, at least not to the degree they do today. Simply because people didn't have time to indulge in all this. Food gathering would take away whole day.
So, the point is, suffering has always been and will always be in life, in one or the other form. Peaceful life as we all wish to be in is as impossible as utopia.
What does that imply for our development? It means the development has to be internal. While making the best we can of the outside, our main focus has to be on developing on the inside. Because on the outside things, firstly, we have little control, and secondly, "utopia" is a dreamy idea anyway. Only through development on the inside we can come to terms with the existence as it is. Inside! Hence, it's called spiritual development. Perfect spiritual development means being attuned to the reality. Random, indifferent, meaningless and chaotic reality. Spirituality = truth-seeking; knowing your true place in the existence. When you know that, you are there!
Then in the "game world" (did you go though the articles I linked above? Please do!) you can live most freely, taking in every joy that comes your way. You will live ordinarily only, doing what most people are doing, but having gone though this whole journey, in the depth of your mind you will have your "real world" where you will be aware of everything, and with that awareness there will be indifference. Call it immunity. Nothing in this world can cause you to suffer then!
So first of all, stop expecting the world around you to become perfect. The world just IS. Good, bad and perfect is only subjective. Try to get rid of attachments. You can't control how other people and things behave. You can try enlightening people. Explain to them. If they change for themselves, good. If not, then that should not affect you when you are developed spiritually, that is, from within. I know all this doesn't happen in a day or two. But at least keep in mind that this is the direction of development. Hard pill to swallow, maybe. But it's worth it.
That's how it is about life. Right now if you are going through a particular problem and because of that you are questioning about getting immune to the suffering, it is not going to work that way. Even to get rid of this particular problem, you will have understand all (or let's say, enough) things about life – even those things that don't directly matter at this moment. Only then the whole picture will be clear before you and you will know exactly how everything works and what's the best you can make of it. That is the point of truth-seeking in context of spirituality. And when, after that, you are making the best you can, no external turbulence can cause you suffering. Because you would know that this is already the best you could have.
The point I am making is that there is no direct and perfect solution to any of life's problems. Let me give you a glimpse of the reality of life. When you go digging through layer after layers of truth, finally you reach the stage where you see that the existence has no intrinsic meaning and purpose. Everything in the world is random and purposeless, and nothing is meant to be certain way. Whatever meaning we see in the world is only our mind's construct. In truth, there is not even good or bad in the world. The world just IS. The universe is all random, meaningless, indifferent and chaotic.
Good and bad, right and wrong, all these are our own notions, based on our own wishes and desires. So it's like, when you reach that stage (which is inevitable if you keep seeking truth) you eventually become one with the universe. Meaning, every disillusionment takes you closer and closer to the reality, and when finally you are totally disillusioned you become what reality is. Then you just see what IS. Clearly. And with all the disillusionments, you have also lost all notions of good and bad, right and wrong. You sort of digest the indifference of the universe. You become indifferent. And just exist.
At this point, you might ask what is the point of living if we are to live with indifference. Here I would want you to go through the following articles, in the given order only.
- Real World, Game World and the Ultimate Reality of Life
- What Is Spirituality and Spiritual Development?
- Will Spiritual Development Give Salvation (Problem-free Life)?
Especially, the "real world – game world" concepts are most important aid in understanding my point.
So yes, life is never going to be problem free. Just think, a few centuries back man had to do a lot of physical labor. Life was very tough and problematic. Then technological developments made life easy in that regard. Now there's no labor to be done as before. But the flip side is, now we have pollution, diseases etc all new problems. Back then, most of the day's activities were for survival. Now survival has become so easy and we have ample time to do parties and socialize, but with these comforts comes a host of psychological pains – longing for material objects, jealousy, complexes etc – which never existed back then, at least not to the degree they do today. Simply because people didn't have time to indulge in all this. Food gathering would take away whole day.
So, the point is, suffering has always been and will always be in life, in one or the other form. Peaceful life as we all wish to be in is as impossible as utopia.
What does that imply for our development? It means the development has to be internal. While making the best we can of the outside, our main focus has to be on developing on the inside. Because on the outside things, firstly, we have little control, and secondly, "utopia" is a dreamy idea anyway. Only through development on the inside we can come to terms with the existence as it is. Inside! Hence, it's called spiritual development. Perfect spiritual development means being attuned to the reality. Random, indifferent, meaningless and chaotic reality. Spirituality = truth-seeking; knowing your true place in the existence. When you know that, you are there!
Then in the "game world" (did you go though the articles I linked above? Please do!) you can live most freely, taking in every joy that comes your way. You will live ordinarily only, doing what most people are doing, but having gone though this whole journey, in the depth of your mind you will have your "real world" where you will be aware of everything, and with that awareness there will be indifference. Call it immunity. Nothing in this world can cause you to suffer then!
So first of all, stop expecting the world around you to become perfect. The world just IS. Good, bad and perfect is only subjective. Try to get rid of attachments. You can't control how other people and things behave. You can try enlightening people. Explain to them. If they change for themselves, good. If not, then that should not affect you when you are developed spiritually, that is, from within. I know all this doesn't happen in a day or two. But at least keep in mind that this is the direction of development. Hard pill to swallow, maybe. But it's worth it.
Being aware of the workings of the world does adds a indifference to the happenings around us,, but i m not sure if it actually helps..
ReplyDelete