Thursday, October 17, 2013

The Value of Spontaneity in Holistic and Vibrant Living


The conventional neurology with which human beings live is characterized by a shield of thought between them and their lives. Such a shield is made up of the residues from the past which in turn sustains the ‘I’, the ego. This means that we are not directly in contact with life but through a corrupting interface – corrupting because everything is judged based on the self-importance of the ‘I’. Understanding the value of spontaneity can bring about a change in this unfortunate state of affairs.

Spontaneity arises out of being alive to the ‘Now’. Self-awareness forms the basis for its genesis. Understanding how the habitual shield comes in and corrupts is part of that awareness. Spontaneity cannot come through the practice of any system since all systems rely on the past and so the ‘Now’ slips by. That gives the chance for the shield to come in and let the ‘I’ rule the roost. Being a conformist sustains the slavery to a system and so blocks spontaneity from streaming in. So, if not by adopting a method, how does spontaneity come about? Applying ourselves to this puzzle brings in the required awareness and the associated clarity; the shield starts dissolving. Very soon we see freshness flowing into our lives.

Once we understand the beauty of spontaneity, there is a feeling of moving closer to the soul. We see its intrinsic ability to preclude the problem-creating tendency of the mind from indulging in its habitual ways. The mind falls quiet and a strange confidence flows in. It creates space in our minds and augments stable mental peace. Abundant feeling flows towards everyone and everything. There would be the unqualified love towards all, as reported by those who go through a near death experience.

Living with spontaneity clears away many unnecessary fears that trouble us. There is the readiness to face life without the conventional armored approach. In this connection, we are reminded of a statement by J. Krishnamurti: To be vulnerable is to live, to withdraw is to die. It helps to reflect and understand the content of that statement.

We may consider three types of couples: Type 1. They never argue, never quarrel. Type 2. These people argue, quarrel, feel hurt, don’t talk to each other for some days and then gradually come around. Type 3. This set of couples argue, quarrel but laugh it off at the end; no residues. Peace returns almost immediately.

If asked which of the three represents the healthiest kind of relationship, most people - if not all - will point to the third set of couples. This is because people know intuitively that it is the residue from an event that destroys, not the event itself. Once we understand the value of spontaneity, residues cannot form and trouble us anymore. No doubt, all these are easier said than done. Nevertheless, it is a challenge that can be interesting. Meeting it squarely helps us move into happy and vibrant living.

The New Age Spirituality is related to these matters of universal goodness and so it would not be supportive of conformism and sectarian practices. You may ponder over these matters and also let your friends and relatives reflect on them.

Related matters are covered in the website http://spirituality.yolasite.com

Friday, October 4, 2013

Striking a New Trail – Catalytic Action towards Happiness for All.

This beautiful, blue marble of a planet is racing across space with dignity. Do we match it in dignity and, hence, deserve to belong to this planet? Obviously, We don’t! The reasons are clear too. Can we do something to change the scenario?

If we look at the degradation of human conduct in terms of the abominable destruction of themselves and of their animal brethren, the situation is far from satisfactory. While it is possible to have a very caring humanity that respects all living beings and the environment, what is happening is, obviously, a far cry. We can do something about it if we understand what it is to strike a new trail and not fall along the conventional path – the path of self-serving attitudes governed by mindless competition and callousness.

The fundamental reason for the sad state of affairs is the fact that the vast majority of human beings is living at the surface flutter of consciousness and rarely, if at all, sense the beauty of its deeper contents. The externalization of the mind through indulgence in the conventional values is sweeping across humanity and people fall an easy prey to that wave. The merely excitement-oriented cultures cannot but succumb to it. The practice of religions too toes the same line and feed the ego. Once we sense this, we begin to veer away from the well trodden road and strike a new trail. This does not mean that we shirk our responsibilities or antagonize any one. It means that we no longer run with the crowd but take stock of ourselves and observe matters from insightful perspectives. The primary factor here is the deepening self-awareness whose essential by-product is the unqualified compassion and the feeling of sacredness in all relationships.

A practical issue that can help us in this matter is the difference between joy and satisfaction. The primary difference between them is to be seen in the fact that while satisfaction is largely ego-driven, joy is only marginally touched by the ego. To be in a job that one loves to do is to value joy over satisfaction, the latter being based on chasing money or similar ego-based values. There are other similar issues for reflection and self-transformation towards a holistic life. Once we see the soul-value behind joy, we automatically strike a new trail for ourselves and no longer feed the collective consciousness with the values that degrade human beings.

The eagerness to understand what lies beyond the conventional activities is the starting point for striking a new trail. The following paragraph from the book “Krishnamurti’s Journal” published by Krishnamurti Foundation India brings up some vital issues to be reflected upon.

“The tree is cut down and you shed a tear. An animal is destroyed for your taste; the earth is being destroyed for your pleasure. You are being educated to destroy, man against man. The new technology and machines are taking over the toil of man but you may not end sorrow through the things that thought has put together.”

Do we want to be part of this thoughtless and callous rigmarole? Reflective people sense a seriousness about making a clarion call to people reminding them of the madness in which humanity is caught. That is when they see the greatness of joy as a transformer in contrast to the demand for satisfaction as a destroyer. Once we strike a new trail, life becomes enriched for oneself and others because self-transformation inevitably affects the collective consciousness. Then, when the last day comes, we can leave with a completeness feeling. The book “In Quest of the Deeper Self” deals with similar matters as above. Details can be found at the website http://spirituality.yolasite.com .

The Winding Path

The Winding Path
Into the Unknown