Learning Not to Be Afraid of Things That Are Real, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

जो चीज़ें असली नहीं हैं उनसे न डरना सीखना
-- थानीसारो भिक्कू (२४ मई, २०१६)

हाल ही में मैं प्रकृति अवलोकन पर एक क्षेत्र गाइड पढ़ रहा हूँ। यह लेखक, जब वह एक बच्चा था, एक वृद्ध अमेरिकी मूल प्रजाति सदस्य द्वारा प्रशिक्षित किया गया था। एक दिन बच्चे ने वृद्ध आदमी से पूछा, "ऐसा क्यों है कि आप को गर्मी या ठण्ड से डर नहीं लगता?”

बूढ़े आदमी ने थोड़ी देर के लिए उसे देखा और अंत में कहा, "क्योंकि वे असली हैं।"

और यह साधक के रूप में हमारा काम है: उन चीज़ों से न डरना सीखने की कोशिश करना, जो असली हैं।

अंत में, हमें पता चलता है कि जो चीजें असली हैं वो मन के लिए कोई खतरा उत्पन्न नहीं करतीं। मन में असली खतरे हैं हमारे भ्रम, वो बातें जिन्हें हम घड़ रहे हैं, वो चीज़ें जिन्हें हम सच्चाई को ढकने के लिए इस्तेमाल करते हैं, वो कहानियों, वो पूर्वाग्रहित विचार जिन्हें हम चीज़ों पर थोपते हैं। जब हम उन कहानियों और धारणाओं में जीने की कोशिश कर रहे होते हैं, वास्तविकता डरावनी लगती है। वह हमेशा हमारे विचारों की दरारों, हमारे अज्ञान की दरारों, हमारी इच्छाओं की दरारों को प्रकट करती है। जब तक हम उन मन-घड़ंत इच्छाओं के साथ अपनी पहचान बनाए रखते हैं, हमें वो डरावनी लगती है। लेकिन अगर हम खुद असली इंसान बनना सीख लेते हैं, तो सच्चाई कोई खतरा पैदा नहीं करती।

इसी के लिए ध्यान किया जाता है, खुद को सिखाने के लिए कि कैसे असली इंसान बनना है, जो असल में हो रहा है, उसका अहसास कर पाने के लिए, आप कौन हैं, अपने उस भाव को देखने के लिए और उसे खोलकर इस तरह देखने के लिए कि वह असल में क्या है, उन चीज़ों को देखने के लिए जिन्हें आप अपने जीवन में डरावना समझते हैं और यह देखने के लिए कि वे असल में क्या हैं। जब आप वास्तव में देखते हैं, तब आप को सच्चाई दिखती है। अगर आप अपनी तलाश में सच्चे हैं, तो सच्चाई प्रकट हो जाती है।

यह साधना में एक महत्त्वपूर्ण सिद्धांत है। [...] केवल वो लोग जो सच्चे हैं, सच्चाई को देख सकते हैं। सच्चाई उस मन का गुण है जो चीजों को सुलझाने या अपनी समझदारी पर निर्भर नहीं रहता। यह आपके चाल-चलन और आपके देखने की शक्ति, सच्चाई को, वो जैसी है, वैसे स्वीकार करने की ईमानदारी पर निर्भर करता है। इसका अर्थ है कि आप इस तथ्य को स्वीकार करें कि आप उस सत्य को आकार देने में एक भूमिका निभाते हैं, इसलिए आपको जिम्मेदार होना होगा। आपको, जो आप कर रहे हैं और जो परिणाम आपको मिलते हैं, दोनों के प्रति संवेदनशील होना चाहिए, ताकि आप अधिक से अधिक निपुण होना सीख सकें।

विचार के लिए कुछ मूल प्रश्न: “असली इंसान” बनने से आप क्या समझते है? क्या आप कोई व्यक्तिगत अनुभव बाँट सकते हैं जब आप वो महसूस कर सके हों जो आपके लिए सच था? आपको सच्चे रहने में कौनसी साधना मदद करती है?

थानीसारो भिक्कू की धम्म टॉक - असली बनो, के कुछ अंश

Excerpted from Thanissaro Bhikkhu's Dhamma Talk: Get Real

Seed Questions for Reflection

What does becoming 'real people' mean to you? Can you share a personal experience of a time that you were able to get in touch with what was real for you? What practice helps you be true?

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7 Past Reflections

Caroline Blackwell

May 29, 2016

Recently, I went through the difficult experience of learning that I needed a breast biopsy. During the two weeks leading up the procedure, I was consumed with fear; I had a hard time concentrating, felt panicky, confused, out-of-control... I entertained lots of worst case imaginings. The fear was real, but the stories I constructed of its energy were not. After the biopsy, I sat with the radiologist and talked with her about what "really" would happen, from that point forward. I determined what I could do, what I would do...with real information; I faced down my fear-based imaginings and consolidated a more response-able, self-connected consciousness about the situation. A plan emerged that allowed me breathe in hope, clarity, and strength--no matter what. Through this experience, I (re)learned several lessons and practices about being and keeping it "real." They include the following: 1. Voice matters. The more I tried to "silence" my... View full comment

dbracey

May 26, 2016

I agree you do play a key vital role the truth. And in order to be truthful you have to practice.

Alia

May 24, 2016

Beautifully said .. If you're true in your looking, the truth appears.

You can see the truth only by becoming that truth. And by becoming truth you are no longer divided and thus no more afraid. We have to learn how to look..

aj May 27, 2016

Amen!

Indira Iyer

May 23, 2016

Most of what we "know" to be "real" is still continuously being proven wrong;whether it is science or our own perceptions, there are countless examples. We see the world as "we are" and not for "what it is" including other people and inanimate objects. Hence, putting a condition on fear based on our own faulty perception of what is real is still a question to me. What is real, is how we seem to perceive and experience (assuming we are not mystics who can see reality for what it is). Hence, if our notion of reality itself is constantly evolving why worry about what is real, hence why worry about fear at all. Accept fear when it arises, for within it lies truth of some experience that is about to unfold and reveal your truth, but do not buy into it- many of those emanate from our mind and are made of illusions and arise out of impermanence. When we accept the fact that it is ok to be fearful but not act out of it, we are forever free from the... View full comment

david doane

May 22, 2016

In this life, all that is is temporary, constantly changing, and uncertain; we are different yet one; we are of this planet and not on it. A big part of becoming real is to learn and accept those facts of life and live accordingly. Real people don't fight, deny, or ignore the facts. Real people may not be in harmony with everyone but are in harmony with life. Real people see what is rather than seeing their own thinking, expectations, prejudices. I am able to get in touch with what is real for me when I look inside to my own feelings, my own experience, my own intuition, and not just go along with what is said to be real. What I am seeing or feeling is my truth. What helps me is to accept and value my truth. What also helps me is to be open, express my truth and listen to the response of others, which process modifies my position and I learn and grow.

Jagdish P Dave

May 20, 2016

Seeing ourselves as we are and seeing others as they are is not that easy although it is liberating. We wear lenses of our desires, wants and biases to see ourselves and others.Our lenses need to be clean and clear to see the reality or the truth. The truth liberates us from the delusions, maya, we create within our own selves.It is like chasing the mirage. No wonder why we go through ups and downs in our life. Sitting quietly in a meditative way helps me to see things more clearly and dispels my delusion. I cause my own suffering by projecting my own wishes and desire and seeing things the way I want to. It has resulted in pain and agony. I attribute my suffering to the other person in my life with a blaming stance. What has helped me and still helps me is sitting still to listen to my unfiltered voice and seeing the truth. Such mindfulness processing frees me from my self-created bondage and makes me whole and wholesome. I always set aside time for awakening myself. This... View full comment