Each of us travels the spiritual path individually

[Guest guest]

EACH OF US TRAVELS THE SPIRITUAL PATH INDIVIDUALLY

 

Often we don't think for ourselves, as individuals. We too often

follow public opinion, tagging along with the mob. But I tell you, we

are not a crowd; rather, we are individuals. This is particularly

important regarding our spiritual paths.

 

Everyone is an individual and each must travel whatever is their path

on their own. Realisation has to be done at an individual level.

Realisation is not like a group activity -- not anything like mass

marriages, group dinners, or group travels. The spiritual path is a

fulfilling path when we travel it alone. Therefore, the point I want

to make here is that as creators of our spiritual paths, we do not

travel as a crowd or a mob. We are individuals in this. Let us

remember that the spiritual path is an individual experience and not

a collective journey.

 

MAN IS A CREATOR NOT A CREATURE Many of us also think that we are

helpless in this world. When a challenge presents itself, we ask

others, " What are you going to do about it? We are poor helpless

creatures, so what can we do about this dilemma? We are limited, our

powers finite, so what is it that we can do? We are poor mortals, so

what is it that we can do? " That's how people think.

 

But we are not simple creatures! No! Ants, mosquitoes, plants,

animals, bees, wild animals… they are all creatures. But can you say

that man is also such a creature? No! A human being is not a

creature, but rather is a creator. We are creators, not creatures!

 

Creatures and creators are different. The creature has to follow a

prescribed pattern, but each one of you is a creator. You create

depending upon your own level of imagination. You create according to

your own skills. You create according to the profundity of your own

knowledge. Therefore you build buildings, you create projects, you

paint paintings, you write poetry, and you discover medicines and

create agriculture.

 

All fields of human knowledge are growing and improving more and more

with each passing day. Every creation starts with an intuitive idea.

Why? An intuitive idea is something individual. Everyone is creative;

we are all creative. So know that we are creators and not simply

creatures. Our lives are full of meaning and purpose.

 

A sculptor creates a beautiful idol. A painter creates a beautiful

painting. How can we call him a creature? I cannot call a sculptor a

poor creature. I cannot say to a painter, " You are just a creature. "

No! The painting that he has created is just thought manifested.

Therefore, understand that you are a creator, not just a simple

creature.

 

THINK OF THE DREAMER NOT THE DREAM Many of us are willing to dream.

We are quite comfortable in our dreams because what we cannot do

here, we can do there in our dreams. There, you can settle all your

problems, achieve your plans and see to it that your enemies are

vanquished. So, dreamland provides a place to achieve everything that

you cannot do here. But friends, let us not live merely in a land of

dreams.

 

I ask you to consider the dreamer here, rather than the dream. The

dreamer is different from the dream. Why do I say that? Three days

ago I had a dream, and two days ago I had another, and last night I

had still another dream, but I am still the same man who has been

dreaming all along. I am the dreamer.

 

My dreams have been changing day-by-day. The dream of a few days back

is not the same as the dream from two days back, which is not the

same as the dream of last night. My dreams change very quickly; but

I, the dreamer, am changeless. The experiencer, the dreamer, does not

change.

 

The world is a dream. Realise it! Life is a dream! Realise it! Life

is a daydream, while the other is a night dream. The daydream does

not exist at night, and the night dream does not exist during the

day. But you exist at both times. The dreamer exists in both, though

the dreams are different. This is the point we have bear in mind. So

concentrate more on the dreamer than the dream.

RESPECT AND REVERE ALL PLACES OF WORSHIP Spirituality, as it is

practiced today, has unfortunately become narrow-minded, leading to

differences and conflicts. Those who go to a temple do not go to a

church. Those who go to a church do not respect a temple, and neither

group understands those who go to a mosque. This is not right.

 

You may call these people religious, but this is not what is meant by

being spiritual. Religions each have an affiliation to a particular

school of philosophy. Each religion s to a particular

philosophy, but spirituality goes deeper than this. Spirituality

calls for reverence and respectfulness wherever you go, to be given

to whomever you encounter. The kind of feeling that you have in

temple should continue if you step into a church. Your respect and

reverence should continue if you go to a church, a mosque, or a

Gurudwara.

 

So let us be reverential and respectful. Let us practice worship

uniformly in all places, more as an attitude than as an act. Acts are

mechanical, but an attitude is vital. An act is a routine, but an

attitude is vibrant and radiant. So let us have true reverence for

all places of worship and for all religions. We, being Sai devotees,

should be even more attuned to this than others.

 

(SHARING WITH SAI LOVE)

RAM.CHUGANI.

Ramchand Chugani <rgcjp