Part 7 - The final Journey
Every step is a deeper revelation of the Path... we only fail if we choose to go no further.
Ultimately there are only two approaches to Enlightenment - the Path of the Heart, and the Path of the Mind.
It sounds so simple...but it isn’t.
The biggest problem that we have is the fundamental nature of Mankind, wherein those who achieve a position of authority firmly believe that ‘they know better’, and that ‘it is their ‘duty’ to teach others to see and interpret the Sacred Teaching according to the dictates they deem right’.
What they fail to understand is that each single one of us must carve our own Path, must achieve our own unique and personal relationship with Spirit-Creator for such to be valid [basically - you cannot succeed if you mimic what I do, you can only be inspired to seek out your own way].
And yet throughout history we’ve had ‘great leaders’ who’ve tried to enforce their own [narrow] interpretation of the Path... claiming, emphatically, that theirs is the only ONE WAY ! [to them I have a simple word “hubris”... and “Karma” ... Ok., that’s two words, but who’s counting ]
The teachings of the Heart were clearly brought to us by the Master Jesus, who taught compassion, kindness, respect, and to ‘love thy neighbor as thyself’.
So now I ask you to take a good look at the world’s leaders, especially those who claim to be such good Christians... and pay attention to their words, to their actions, to how easily they belittle and mock others...
Surely the Master did not teach this as the mark of the Heart...?!!
And so if I should choose to follow the Heart, then I must first consider which leaders truly embodies the Sacred Teachings... and which are a travesty, hiding their petty egos under the guise of ‘righteousness’.
And in case you think I’m picking on Christians, I will say this - NO true teachings that come from the One-God-Creator revels in violence, in torture, in abuse... no matter its religion.
The Path of the Mind, brought to us by the Buddha, has also suffered by Man’s interpretations and re-interpretations [though to a lesser extent]... but the evaluation of its leaders remains the same -Talk the talk, and walk the walk.
How then can we personally further our Path ?
Here are two protocols which I have found to be of great use -
For 3 months, chant Om out loud for one hour each day.
For the next 3 months, chant Om silently but loudly in your mind for one hour each day.
For the final 3 months, chant Om silently but softly in your mind for one hour each day.
You can, should you choose, substitute your preferred Name-of-God instead of Om.
I have found this to have a profound effect on my consciousness... and if you think that this is too hard, or too demanding on your time... then you can do it for 15 minutes a day [you’ll only be a quarter enlightened, but hey, a quarter is better than nothing !]
Another wonderful protocol is to sit in quiet, silent contemplation of a picture of Divinity [or Sacred Writings] for one hour each day until you merge with it [achieve union].
This also helps to bring about an expansion of consciousness.
It doesn’t matter if you choose to do any of the above, as long as you find the [proper] technique that works for you... and how will you know if it’s the right one ?
If you have to ask, the chances are that it isn’t !
We all walk this Path together... yet each in our own unique way... and that is just perfect... Namaste...
Let us respect one another...