by Gurani Anjali
The development of the human being lies in one’s ability to accept pain in life and work with it; for the human being is a reality and must be developed. The human being is very involved. We are faced each day with the extremes of life, and are challenged to maintain an equilibrium.
We must have an understanding of the meaning of existence and creation. Existence implies ‘isness,’ stability, inner strength, power. Creation implies process, movement, becoming. Existence and creation are maintained simultaneously. This is rather difficult to comprehend and sustain, for we find ourselves in moment to moment experiences caught between two worlds, in the middle, where what is happening is really happening. To really live in the middle one must have courage and have the ability to stand alone. To build up this ability, mindfulness and watchfulness are absolutely necessary. In doing so we can see the involvement and ‘dissolvement’ of life. No matter where we look in the cultural arenas of human life, we find strife and struggle. The tension within the world of opposites is tremendous for the average individual to bear and yet one has to; this is the demand and command of life.
We cannot intelligently maintain peace in our lives without knowing how. This knowing comes from understanding, which erases the grip of ignorance that clings to us, causing us to become paralyzed when faced with the extremes. The suffering will continue as long as ignorance reigns. There is a price to pay for everything. If we want freedom from suffering, we will have to allow and to will the activity of conscious responsibility to enter our lives. Our humanity is weakened when we don’t take ourselves seriously enough to become all that we are.
The human being is a true reality in that it is in a constant state of unfoldment, of becoming. We must understand this process and consciously, with much affection, work with it in its evolutionary movement. It is not easy but it can be done; it has been done. All we have to do is to recall the lives of the sages of the past. They were humans who recognized the importance of the Self in all living beings, the form and the changeless. We have to look at this with clear vision. Life demands this. See form becoming formless and vice versa. You were six months old and then became ten years old, twenty-five, thirty and so on. There was movement; you have changed and you are still changing. You have been in so many experiences and states of living. We ought to reflect on this periodically. You are not the same and yet you are the same. You are the same child/person that was loved then, and yet you are not the same. Can you see thus far what I am trying to point out to you? I am pointing out the simultaneous involvement of creation and existence. Love life, be respectful to all living beings, and be thankful for today, yesterday and tomorrow, for you will continue to be involved as long as you are.
Everything has changed and yet nothing has changed. To sustain and endure the test of time, a balance is required. Find and maintain your center, and the fear will be no more. There is a tremendous unrest everywhere; amongst and within all people. It comes from the inability and unwillingness to choose intelligently; to live in the middle, supporting existence and creation simultaneously. I am not for a moment saying that this is easy because it is not. Each human personality is created and renewed in the tension of opposites. While living in this world there is a constant interplay of the Self in the tension of opposites. So much suffering and disorder and lack of solace comes from the inability to handle this tension properly and carefully.
Here are a few words to help you recognize and get started in handling the field of opposites. The awareness and watchfulness of these choice words will be an aid in the avoidance of future shock and pain. The pain that is to come can be avoided through the art of language, be it audible or mental. Appreciate and understand language. Words, speech, and the powers therein create or destroy.
Emotion — Reason
Conscious — Unconscious
Night — Day
Ignorance — Knowledge
Hot — Cold
Rich — Poor
Yes — Nno
Introvert — Eextrovert
Negative — Positive
This list could go on forever; I think I will let you continue and think about it. Many times we are weakened, overpowered and evil seeps into our lives because of our inability to be strong. Remember both sides; most often we tend to favor one side. For instance, when emotions flare up, the reasoning ability is not there, or is weakened. Why? Because we forget to remember, thereby dismembering the positive factor.
At some point, through much suffering in the tension of the opposites, the individual surfaces, emerges, separating him/herself from family, friends, and society, to be recognized as a figure of much value and stature, a unique being. However, I must put in a warning note here – When this emergence takes place we are to be conscious of this and not allow ourselves to become egocentric and gluttonous. We must not lose our honor by allowing perversion to enter, becoming narcissistic and imagining that the whole world revolves around us. The notion of individualism is like death to the Self and all around, and freedom lies in the support and respect of creation and existence.
In the process of evolution we are made to make minor and major adjustments. So many times we have been disappointed, let down and pained. We have at times become revengeful and downright nasty because we have had to make adjustments. It happens all the time; just when everything is going nicely, someone walks out of our lives without saying anything, or someone dies, or our job is taken away. Think of all the afflictions of life and the many adjustments one has to make. This can be very terrifying! However, the need to become allows for adjustments to occur. Deep down in everyone’s heart there is the desire to have perfect situations and circumstances, but this is an illusion.
Life is constantly telling us by the many pains we encounter that this is not it, this is not it. The imperfections are the perfections; for if everything were perfect, would there be a need to do or say anything? Yes, we can become very depressed and saddened. We can also get to the point of being total wrecks, messed up and unwanted. In this life we feel we must create perfect circumstances, for we are unique personalities unto ourselves. Therefore, action is necessary. Constructive thoughts, kindness and compassion are aids to a contented life. We must continue making adjustments and seeking our higher nature. There is an innate need within all of us to unite with that which is beyond the body, beyond the mind, beyond the senses, beyond you and me. In this union there is no fear; the heights are soared beyond the stars. This connection is the perfection, the perfect friend, lover and companion. Until you make it, walk the rugged road; make the adjustments one after the other until you reach your goal.
It is foolish to think that at some point in our lives, everything is going to be alright, perfect. This is a delusion. Let us remember that although we are the same person that we were yesterday, we are not the same. We are becoming, and this is great. We cannot be boxed in. When we have this kind of positive thinking, we allow everyone, including ourselves, the space to be in, grow in, move in and become in. A state of contentment and peace will settle in because we have learned to accept and take responsibility. It is wonderful to feel at home wherever you are in the journey of life. This means that you are at home with yourself and that you are looking at the world around from within, and it is great. There is less expectation from other people. Friendship and friendliness abound. It is wonderful to be able to sit and say to someone, “Just be my friend.” When there is no expectation then you can say this, because you unleashed yourself from that greed to force things out of them that they really don’t want to part with. You are at home with yourself and you can relax now, let your hair down. You don’t have to put on an act in order to manipulate a situation for the purpose of gratifying the senses.
There comes a time when each individual has come to grips with his/herself, when he or she turns around and says, “Hey! Stop what’s going on!” At that very instant, the individual tunes in within and become mentally receptive to the voice of consciousness within. Interiority takes place, and confidence arises. The noisy, clumsy, wild behavior ceases to be.
Expectations have ruined many relationships in the family, in romance, on the job, etc. Action is called for in each and every situation; hopes and dreams are fantasies. The desire to be is eternal and for one to be, one must act.
Om, shanti,
Gurani Anjali