What is after enlightenment?

The question I had for a very long time and I am sure many seekers will have this on their spiritual journey.  When one chooses to know one's own self and chooses a particular path to receive enlightenment, at a certain point, a question would definitely arise - What is after enlightenment? or How do enlightened beings live?  What do they think?  How do they choose what to do and what not to do?  How are their relationships? and many more such questions.

In the earlier stages, I used google to lead me to my answer.  I found quite a few answers, but I did not feel satisfied with any of them.  Some of them did satisfy me for a while, but not for long.

I tried contemplation and meditation (ofcourse).  I thought answer will be given to me when I am ready through any means.  I kept myself open to whatever was coming.

I got redirected to teachings by many new-age gurus.  I loved each and every one of them.  I felt the love, greater and greater each day.  Every moment I felt loved and appreciated.  I got so much love from them that I almost forgot about the question.

I just flowed with the teachings with the love.  Applied one or other processes, resonated with some.  Some worked for me and some didn't.  Then suddenly something happened, I started understanding like never before, I started going beyond words more and more.  It was like something opened up and absorbed all the knowing... I started learning more from this state... more learning and more realization.  Amazing journey!

It was like I was fulfilled, long time hunger/thirst was satisfied.  I still do not know what was satisfied.  It was the feeling of satisfaction like never before.  I kept the learning ongoing in this state and it is so much amazing to learn in this state.

And I was out of this amazing state, I realized something went out of sync within me.  I felt the need to go back and I did go back and went out again and went back again.  This happened quite a few times.  This was the answer!

I had read and heard about the answer quite a few times before but never quite understood.  Now I did.  This feels the most satisfying answer to me at the moment.  I will try my best to give accurate words to this answer.

The eternal expansiveness of existence is taught to us by the presence of time.  Time is always moving ahead, one cannot stop time.  In a certain moment, one feels Ahhh! Enlightenment.  The enlightening moment seems like eternity. Everything is experienced in that single moment, but that moment has to die and new moment is born.  This new moment can be either slightly less enlightening or slightly more enlightening, but not same as the old one.  Trying to feel the same is like - trying to step into same water twice in a moving stream of water.  You cannot step in the same water twice.  You cannot experience the same moment again.  There is new moment, and in that moment one chooses whether to realign or drift further away from that amazing momentous experience (which will never be the same again).  The more one can align back to the super-amazing eternal moment, the more enlightened that person stays.  So there is a balancing act - one realigns back to the self that brought that enlightening moment and experiences further enlightenment (certainly not the same).  Each moment changes the person and so there is just newness. 

One has to experience to know it.  Certainly there are many who have experienced it and do not even know the term 'enlightenment'.  Some are pros at re-aligning themselves and some are learners.  All are moving towards the best version of themselves and the balancing act is the most entertaining game!

The Paltry Asserters

I am amazed by those who know the Koran by heart yet understand nothing of the spiritual states of the Sufis.

As the Koran states, "And do not obey every paltry asserter."

Look at the slanderers when they read this, they are exactly the ones who will say, "Do not listen to So-and-so, no matter what they say, for they will act the same way against you."

The above paragraph is taken from one of the Discourses of Rumi.  It is amazing to see how Rumi is so direct in his message, yet not clearly pointing out the tribe.

Today is the age when we see many of such people.  There are people who can say the verses from their religious texts even when they are woken up in the middle of the night. But, sadly, they have not been able to internalize the meaning of what they are saying.

These are the kinds of people who will try to interpret the meaning of the text when asked by some, and their interpretation will be limited by their thinking, which will be influenced by the limited development of virtues in them. Therefore, it may not match with the development level of the mass or individual they are addressing. 

Essentially, it is not guided by the Love for the Supreme. Their interpretation is guided by love for this world, which is very limited, there by limiting their interpretation.  Therefore, it is not a good idea to adhere or follow such people.  One has to be cautious in differentiating between the Truth and other things.

This is the reason why Rumi mentions, do not listen to every 'paltry asserter', which means every 'small/petty assertions'.  He further explains how to identify between the True ones and the ones who are not.

He says, the people who are not the right ones will tell you things like - do not listen to so-and-so not matter what. They will try to show as if they are protecting you from the ones which are not true, but essentially what they are doing is preventing you from going towards the truth.

A True person will never prevent you from exploring and using your intellect to determine/discern the truth. 

A True person will act as a guide to your thinking and encourage you to explore, thereby encouraging your own development.

Yes, a True person will definitely warn you of the extreme danger, but will never ever take over your free-will, which is the Gift from God.

A True person will never inhibit you from using your intellect, which is another precious Gift from God.

Always rely on your inner self for guidance towards Truth and the grace of God will be the Light towards the right path and your protection from misguiding forces.  

Remember, God will never want you to follow anyone blindly, experiments and exploration are always welcome in His kingdom.

No Honor is Like Knowledge

Last night, I checked my emails and I got one that had the line mentioned in the title.  It went on ahead like this:

No honor is like knowledge, no belief is like modesty and patience, no attainment is like humility, no power is like forbearance, and no support is more reliable than consultation

These are the words of Hazrat Ali Ibn Abu Talib, quoted in one of the speeches of Hazar Imam.

The way I understand this is that, the rest of the lines are extensions of the first line: No honor like knowledge.  All the other lines emanate from the first one.

Hazar Imam goes on further explaining these lines and one of the things he said really led me to understand the lines better.  Here is the line that struck me.

What he thus is telling us is that we find knowledge best by admitting first what it is we do not know, and by opening our minds to what others can teach us.

Therefore, the quest or thirst for knowledge makes us humble, modest, patient and accommodating to others ideas/thoughts/needs.  These are the virtues that form a part of a virtuous / good human being / good leader / an ideal family member and many more.

Let us focus on these virtues as long as we can and try to implement them in our lives to make this world a better place to live for us and also for the fellow human beings.

End of Series - Transcending the Law of Karma

The "Transcending the Law of Karma" article series has come to an end. This was a three article series. Following is the summary and link for each part.

    Part1

Link to the post

Regardless of whether one loves it or fears it, the ultimate intention of everybody is to move beyond this Law of Karma, which means to transcend it. Everyone wants to be free from the karmic bondage. 

Why to build karma and then live lifetimes just to fulfill the bondage that we have created? ...More




Part 2

Link to the post

We are currently bearing the fruits of our previous actions. We need to accept the fact. But, what exactly is action? How and from where is it generated?
...
Why do we decide to do something or act on something while not on the other option available?

...More



Part 3

Link to the post

The freedom from the bondage of karma comes from detachment, not from detachment of action, but from the detachment of fruits of action.

How is detached action different from other types of action? What do such actions look like in this world?

...More

Journal-ling

I have started inducing the habit of writing a journal since last few days.  The intention was to have me to write, because, for  some reason I love to express myself in writing but was unable to do so satisfactorily since quite a few days.

The habit is taking me on a journey to discovering lot of things.  I am really enjoying this habit.  The first benefit that is coming to my mind is - eliminating the need to remember consciously.  It is very funny but I am sure there must be many people with me in the same boat.

There are somethings that you remember when you are in the middle of something and it is difficult to keep remembering it along with the current train of thought.  Either one has to die.  At such times, noting any of it in the journal makes life very very very easy.

Second thing is, there are somethings in life that happen and you want to take note of it, like emotionally.  Either you want to feel the emotion again or be with the emotion for a longer time.  Usually, we fulfill this need by sharing the incident with others.  Sometimes, this sharing is not a possibility.  At times, there is no person around you and at times the person around may not be able to understand what you are trying to say.  There are similar other situations where journal becomes your best friend.

I am sure there will be many uses of this habit.  I hope to take this further for a longer time!

Pomodoro

In one of the training sessions, I was informed about an interesting productivity technique called - "Pomodoro Technique"

I have been using it since few days and it is working like a charm.  I feel it is very carefully designed.

According to the technique, taking regular breaks can enhance your productivity.  It is like you work for 25mins and take 5mins break (break is mandatory!).  What I experienced, is that when you get back to work after the break, you are all new and refreshed.  Yes, 5minutes timely break can really make a big difference.  Timely is the keyword.

In break time, I have activities listed to do - like stretching (very important if you are continuously working on computer), writing blog post (like this one), small healings (or part healings), self recharging (pranic breathing) etc.

This is an amazing technique which is really working great for me right now.  Here is a youtube video that explains it.  It is a 2min video. Enjoy!

Joining The Herd Again!

Here I am, back in the herd again.  Today is the first day.  I hope most of you understand what I am talking about.  Yes, the JOB!

Not going into the details on why and what does it have in it, I will just prefer to write what I have to say at the moment.  I am feeling thrilled at this new place.  A kind of excitement that would be for the first time in my life.

I am feeling blessed to be surrounded by intelligent people around me and this is the fact I am just unable to ignore.

Amazing learning experience here and I am sure more posts will follow on this.  :)