You only see in others to the depth to which you have become aware in
yourself. That is why, although we think we do, we don’t see each other.
What we see is the level to which we have become aware of in ourselves.
*What we think we are seeing is just a projection of ourselves.*
I often heard people say: they now no longer need a guru.
No one ever needs a guru. In fact, there is no such a phenomenon as a
true guru. If a person is awake to a certain depth, they know they are not a guru.
And, if you are looking to go into something, anything, it is sensible to
seek out people who have experience in that area. It may have taken them
years to attain the level of skill they have, and you can pick it up from them
much more rapidly.
In order to pick it up in a healthy way, two things are helpful.
Do not assume you know what they are talking about;
Do not assume that because their way works for them, it will work for you.
Everyone is unique. Everyone.
Here is another thing to consider.
When you go to someone to learn something, you go to get what you think
you want. It is rare to find anyone who is ready to go through what they actually
need to go through. Need. We want what we want, the way we want it, and
without any discomfort – physically, or, most importantly, mentally. The
ego does not like to be disturbed.
So what usually happens is that ‘the disciple’ flows along – until the
mentor suggests something with which the ego is not comfortable – usually
the very thing that is the barrier to their realisation.
That is when comes up the phrase” “I no longer need a guru.”
Or, going negative and saying: “that person does not see me, and/or they
do not know what they are talking about.”
The principle of the guru-disciple is that the disciple surrenders to the
guru. Totally. Whatever the guru says is so. If the disciple disagrees,
then the disciple’s mind is the guru, not the guru.
Kabir says that when the mind decides to give up the mind, it always holds
onto one thing.
>From what I have read, and experienced, the most ‘effective’ way to wake
up is to spend time with someone who is awake.
Zen story.
A young disciple kept asking his master, Lei Tzu, what he had learnt from
his master – Loa Tzu. Eventually Lei Tzu sat him down and said:
“After sitting with my master for three years I realised that I knew what is right
and what is wrong. For the first time I felt that the master was aware of my presence.”
“After another three years of sitting I realised that I did not in fact
know what is right and what is wrong. For the first time the master looked at me.”
“After another three years it did not seem to matter if there was a right
and wrong. The master smiled at me.”
“After another three years, right and wrong, good and bad no longer seemed
to have any relevance at all – and who was me, and who was you seemed
irrelevant – and what is that fellow doing sitting up there! That fellow, the master,
then patted the cushion next to him and called me up to sit next to him.”
Buddha is said to have said:
“Out of one hundred thousand, ten thousand listen. Out of the ten
thousand, one thousand hear. Out of the one thousand, one hundred decide
to do something. Out of the one hundred, ten actually do something. Out of
the ten, one attains.”
I think those numbers are very conservative!
When one is about to embark on something, it has always seemed to me
intelligent to equip oneself with every item of knowledge available.
If one wants to be a doctor, or enter any profession, training is required.
Years of it.
Yet we attempt to tackle life in general, having children, and pets,
without really knowing anything about the subjects. No qualifications
required. Even trained child psychologists have difficulties ‘bringing up’
their children, and we just jump in – virtually blind.
And life in general – what do we really, really know!
So consulting an expert seems sensible.
By expert I do not mean someone who thinks they know, I mean someone
who is a living example.
I searched for such people for years. Went all over the planet.
No one seemed to have it all, and each one, something.
Then I had this realisation – “Not knowing is the most intimate.”
And there is no need to know anyway – just be absolutely, unconditionally
present in each moment. Simple. Easier to realise that when having met a
living example.
So, check it out. Don’t money, careers, relationships, children, acclaim –
often bring more disturbance than fulfilment and peace? Maybe part of the
process? – to indicate to you what you are not seeing clearly about
yourself, and life? Time to decide which to make your priority?