WHAT WE LACK

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Envy, a prevalent human emotion, often arises when we fixate on what others possess, overlooking our own unique gifts. We can be envious of many things–material possessions, wealth, physical attributes, experiences, familial situations and inherent talents among other things.

Our life’s circumstances and innate abilities are pre-determined, chosen by us before birth for specific life objectives. Therefore, instead of succumbing to self-pity, we should concentrate on maximizing our potential with the resources we have. Moreover, we must learn to love ourselves completely, embracing all our perceived imperfections and challenging circumstances.

Furthermore, remember that any talents and resources that we have received come with a responsibility to use them for the betterment of others. This principle is underscored in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), wherein Jesus reprimands the servant who hid his talent in the ground.

Karma and action, Meaningful Purpose

LET THE THOUGHTS GO

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It is common for spiritual teachers to be asked how to quiet the busy mind, for this is the common experience of anyone trying to meditate for the first time. Even experienced meditators experience over-active minds at times.

The great Hindu sage Ramana Maharishi was often asked this question, and he would tell his students not to identify with the thoughts. What does this mean?

As Ramana would teach his students, we are not the body, nor are we the thinking mind. We even are not the emotions that we feel. All of these are transient; they come and go. Our true Self is unchanging and is a witness only to our thoughts and emotions.

The ancient philosophy of Vedanta, which is based in the Upanishads and other scriptures, teaches that it is our subtle body, sūkṣma śarīra in Sanskrit, that holds our thoughts and emotions. This subtle body, unlike our physical body, follows us from life to life. So we carry our tendencies, good or bad, from past lives, and these influence our thoughts and emotions in our current life. In addition, our thoughts and emotions are based on the conditioning that we have received in our current life. Realizing that this “history” that we carry in our psyche is not who we are and can be changed for the better gives us a sense that we can free ourselves from the psychological tendencies that have held us hostage.

So we need not give our thoughts any energy when they arise in our meditation. As Ramana would counsel his students: “Let what comes come. Let what goes go. Find out what remains.”

Our True Nature, Spiritual Practice

CONSIDER THE LILIES OF THE FIELD

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The human mind often dwells on future possibilities—new experiences, personal transformations, or shifts in life circumstances. Buddhist teachings suggest that this focus on desires and expectations leads to suffering, as those desires may remain unfulfilled or, if realized, may prove disappointing.

Imagine, for a moment, a state of being where we set aside these future-oriented thoughts. We exist as consciousness, a blank slate, devoid of the usual mental chatter. This approximates samadhi, a state of deep meditative peace.

A question arises: Can we function in daily life from this state? Would such a state equate to a passive, unresponsive existence, akin to a lobotomy?

Spiritual traditions assert that it is possible to live and act from this state of surrendered ego, continuously guided by a higher intelligence. In this state all actions are aligned with this guiding force, full of love and light, leading to a state of “ever-new bliss,” a term used by Paramahansa Yogananda.

This is the state that Jesus described in Matthew NRSVUE 6:25-34:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the gentiles who seek all these things, and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Happiness, Non-Attachment

THE TEN HEADS OF RAVANA

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In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Lord Rama incarnates to vanquish the Rakshasas, demons who disrupt the peaceful meditations of forest sages. Rama’s ultimate adversary is Ravana, the powerful king of Lanka, who has abducted Rama’s beloved wife, Sita.

Ravana’s formidable nature is amplified by his ability to regenerate severed heads, presenting Rama with a seemingly endless challenge.

Beyond a tale of the virtues and divine heroism of Rama, the Ramayana symbolizes each individual’s spiritual journey. Rama represents the soul striving to subdue its egoic nature and negative tendencies, seeking purity. Ravana’s regenerating heads symbolize the persistent nature of these inner obstacles, constantly resurfacing.

Despite the arduous struggle, Rama is ultimately victorious.

The epic suggests that spiritual liberation is attainable through unwavering will, which is the key to invoking divine grace. This grace, earned through persistent effort, ultimately guides the soul to absolute freedom.

Ego, Spiritual Practice

IN FACING THE “IMPOSSIBLE,” WE ARE ALWAYS SUPPORTED

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We have all had those moments where we feel completely alone, facing challenges that seem impossible to overcome. But the truth is, we’re always supported, even when we don’t realize it.

There’s a beautiful story from the Indian Puranas about a sparrow who laid her eggs on the beach. When she came back from gathering food, the tide had washed them away. Imagine her distress! She begged the ocean to give them back, but it wouldn’t listen.

Instead of giving up, this determined little sparrow decided to dry up the entire ocean, one drop at a time, using her tiny beak. Some birds laughed at her, thinking it was a hopeless task, but others, touched by her determination, joined her.

News of her struggle reached Garuda, the powerful king of birds and Lord Vishnu’s vehicle. He was so moved by her persistence and angered by the ocean’s refusal that he threatened to dry up the ocean himself if it didn’t return the eggs.

Naturally, the ocean quickly gave the eggs back, and the sparrow was overjoyed.

The message here is that when we take on something truly meaningful or noble (what’s called “dharmic”), we attract support from unseen forces, allowing us to achieve what others think is impossible. As Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

Karma and action, Meaningful Purpose, Overcoming Doubt, Trust
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