Similar Posts

  • |

    The Parable of the Guru, the Disciple, and the Mad Elephant

    It is a constant dialogue that arises for me with others in my various communities about the place of political discussion in a spiritual community.  Is there a place for examining the state of the world, calling for action, and trying to change things when we believe (or are seeking to understand) everything as being at its essence infused with the light?  I just happened to read this parable today, after being advised that spiritual and political dialogue have no place being conjoined (today, it was about the budget and the war; it could just as easily have been about how to address from a place of spirit the complexities of how to shift and respond to the Gulf oil spill):

    “RAMAKRISHNA: … [W]ater remains water, whether it stands still or breaks into waves.  Divine Reality remains exactly the same when one is silent and one speaks.  Relax your mind a moment and consider this parable.  A guru teaches his disciple that every being and event is simply God.  The ardent disciple, while walking home meditating on this truth, encounters a mad elephant.  The elephant-driver, who has completely lost control of the animal, shouts to all who are in the way, warning them to run.  But the stubborn disciple refuses to deviate from his path.  He continues his contemplative exercise, regarding himself as God and the elephant as God.  The crazed beast picks up this foolish man with its trunk and dashes him to the earth.  The guru, famous for his healing powers, is called to revive the unconscious victim.  After certain prayers are recited and holy  water is sprinkled, the young man regains consciousness.  He is surprised to find his guru gazing at him.  When asked why he did not run from such evident danger, he replies:  ‘Why should I run?  My guru, you teach that all beings and events are God.  I have implicit faith in your inspired words.’  The venerable master then addresses his immature disciple:  ‘But my child, why did you fail to heed the inspired words of the elephant-driver, who is also God?'”

    Lex Hixon, Great Swan:  Meetings with Ramakrishna (Shambala Publications 1992)

  • |

    Reflection, Perspective, Limitation, and Love

    How different the tone of these two photos just from the direction the camera was pointed, how much was included in the overall image, and the shift in the shape of my mouth.  The clowns with their paint, the angle of the camera, the reflection all pointed out for me how little I sometimes understand, despite my best intentions and efforts, in going about my day and interrelating with others.  Today I went to visit a friend who is in the intensive care unit.  She has been struggling with severe illness for many years.  Though she cannot really speak at present, I thought she was trying to reveal something of great moment.  Not knowing how to react or what to say, I held her hand and told her I loved her.  As I was leaving, I told her husband what I had observed (carefully not saying what I thought, which is hard for me).  Later in the day, thinking of the limits and perils of common speech, I composed this found photograph, wishing for more insight, more clarity, and more power to help, but knowing that love was all I could offer.

    clowns_edited-1

    clowns2_edited-1

  • | | | | |

    Time to Pause

    To be able to be most fully present when being active, it is crucial to pause, to be quiet and still, to nap, to allow enough time for a good night’s sleep.

    Resting and being quiet does not just mean practicing meditation, pranayama, and asana while otherwise speeding about and constantly multitasking. The practices are a wonderful way to bring more delight, acceptance, flexibility, awareness, and understanding to everything we do, and make more manageable an overstretched life style.

    At some point in our practices, though, we realize that in order to get the most out of the practices and to be able to live what we get from the yoga, we need to be well-rested and consume with all of our senses and eat what best nourishes our body and mind.

    Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.