Appearance As A Gift

Image of the Week
Hand-drawn art by Rupali Bhuva
Image of the Week
एक उपहार का आभास , द्वारा इसिरा

जीवन का हमारा संपूर्ण अनुभव ही एक रिश्तेदारी है|हर एक क्षण उस पे केन्द्रित है जिस प्रकार से हम घटित हो रहे जीवन से अपना रिश्ता देखते हैं| इस को गहराई से समझने से हमें उन मूल मुद्दों को पहचानने में मदद मिलती है, जो हमारी अलगाववाद की भ्रमित अनुभूति के कारण उभर कर बाहर आते हैं| हमारी आत्मा / मूल स्तोत्र से कथित वियोग ही हमारे सारे आतंरिक विवाद की जड़ है|

ये वियोग का एहसास हमारे सभी मुद्दों की तह में है जिन्हें हम वैयक्तिक एवं समस्त मानव जाति की तरह झेलते हैं|नतीजन हम अपने आप से एवं अपने जीवन से अलगाव महसूस करते हैं| हमें एक विकृत भ्रान्ति का अनुभव हमारे समस्त समागमों (encounters) में मिलता है, जो हमारे समस्त अनुभवों को प्रभावित करता है| क्योंकि, अगर सरल रूप में देखें तो हमारे समस्त अनुभव हमारी अनुभूतियों से ही छने हुए होते हैं |

ये अनुभूतियाँ हमें उस अनुभव की ओर ले जाती हैं जो हम सोच रहे होते हैं | हम जब भी वो अनुभव करते हैं जो हम सोच रहे होते हैं , तो हम उसे अपनी विश्वास प्रणाली बना लेते हैं| और उस विश्वास प्रणाली से हम इस प्रकार सोचते और अमल करते रहते हैं जो हमारे जीवन के समस्त अनुभवों की रूप रेखा का निर्माण कर देता है|

प्रथम लक्षण जो हमारी आत्मा से हमारे कथित अलगाववाद से निकल के आता है, वो है हमारा भिन्नता में विश्वास|ये फिर हमारे विचार और एक “अन्य” की मानसिक बनावट में उजागर होता है| हम फिर उस से, आत्मा से , स्त्रोत से, एक शाश्वत जीवन से “ अन्य” एवं भिन्न, का अनुभव करने लग जाते हैं| और सभी दृष्टित चीज़ों एवं प्राणियों से भिन्न मान भी लेते हैं|

ये जो भिन्नता की मानसिकता है, ये हमारे स्त्रोत्र एवं अपनी आत्मा से बढ़ कर एक ऐसी मानसिकता में बढ़ जाते है जो समस्त श्रृष्टि से अलगाववाद , भिन्नता में परिवर्तित होने लगता है|हरेक इंसान से, जिससे हम मिलते हैं , ( यद्यपि वो हमारे असीमित आत्मा का ही हिस्सा है) हम “अन्य ‘ जैसा व्यवहार करते हैं| न सिर्फ एक “अन्य “ का एहसास होता है बल्कि हम उसे अपने से विपरीत मान लेते हैं| यह अनुभव द्वैतवाद का होता है,, ‘ मैं और आप”, “ ये और वो”, “सही और गलत “|
हम जिसे भी बाहरी अथवा अपने आप से “अन्य “ के रूप से देखते हैं, उसे हम “खतरा “ अन्यथा अवांछनीय के रूप में देखने लग जाते हैं| हम चाहते हैं कि अपने आप को बचाने के लिए उसे नकार दें, अथवा अपने आप को ज्यादा “पूर्ण “ करने के लिए उसे हासिल कर लें| हमारा अनुभव एक द्वैतवादी रिश्ते का बन जाता है, - जो अंत में हमारे न खत्म होने वाली छठपटाहट में परिवर्तित हो जाता है|

जब हम अपने आप को ही “अन्य “ में देखते हैं , तब यह मुमकिन नहीं रह जाता कि हमारा रिश्ता भय पर आश्रित हो| हमारा समागम ( encounter) फिर प्रतियोगिता का नहीं रह जाता, या अपने आप को बचाने का नहीं रह जाता, अथवा उसे हासिल करने का नहीं रह जाता| ये समागम गहरे रिश्ते का बन जाता है, और प्रेम पर ही केन्द्रित होता है|ये एक ऐसी अभिव्यक्ति के रूप में दीखता है जो जीवंत है, और सिर्फ और आदि तक “अभी “ ( NOW) पर ही केन्द्रित है| ये एक अवसर है हमें अपने वास्तविक अस्तित्व को व्यक्त करने का और अपने आप को महसूस करने एवं देखने का, एक प्रेम की अभ्व्यक्ति के रूप में|| और सामने वाले में उसका प्रतिबिम्ब देखने का , जिसे हम “अन्य” मानते आये हैं | ये आभास एक उपहार है, एक बहु आयामी आईना , जिससे हम अस्तित्व के असीमित स्वरुप को जान सकते हैं, अनगिनत रूपों में|

सार यह है कि आप अपने अस्तित्व से जितना जुड़े होगे, उतना ही आपका अनुभव समस्त जीवन से जुड़ा होगा|

मनन के लिए बीज प्रश्न : आप इस धारणा से कैसा नाता रखते हैं कि इस आभास को एक उपहार के रूप में देखा जा सकता है? क्या आप एक ऐसे समय की निजी कहानी साझा कर सकते हैं जब आप द्वैतवादी रिश्ते से ऊपर उठ कर प्रेम पर केन्द्रित हो पाए हों? आपको प्रत्येक समागम (encounter) में अपने ही अनंत (infinite) अस्तित्व को देखने में, और सभी को अपने ही अनगिनत रूप देखने में, किस चीज़ से मदद मिलती है?
Seed Questions for Reflection

How do you relate to the notion that this appearance can be seen as a gift? Can you share a personal story of a time you were able to move beyond dualistic relating and instead center in love? What helps you see everything you encounter as your own infinite Self in and through endless forms?

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13 Past Reflections
GE
Georgiana
Dec 1, 2022
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AP
Dec 1, 2022
Deepens my belief " Is-I-Ra"? ... Yes I-am-Ra ! Ra meaning the root of everything .
CR
Craig
Nov 30, 2022
I love to stargaze and, aided by the amazing tools we have to view deep space, to witness celestial bodies and entire galaxies millions of light years in the distant past. Yet the forms we see "out there" are mirrored in the forms we encounter in a pool of water. An experience of oneness and wonder emerges that helps me relate to the world and to other beings - knowing that we are all, like stars, an expression of the infinite.
CH
Christel
Nov 30, 2022
It's great that you are getting ideas fro this piece off writinjg as well aas from our
dialogue made at this place.
Nov 29, 2022
Becoming essence, not form.
JW
Nov 28, 2022
I believe that the best songs are poetry that connects to the universal spirit. The Beatles where a group that oftentimes connected to the universeal spirit. That is why their songs resonate with generation after generation.Their song All you need is love says it all. Lennon & McCartney have oftentimes said they did not know where their ideas came from, the songs just came into their minds out of seemly out of no where. This happens when you have a open mind. I learnt totake walks without my camera ,not looking for the perfect shot, but open to all that was around me. Talking to people that I meet along the way. On my walks I find young children come up to me start and telling me about their world. Children tune in to the vibrations people send out. Often times adults taking care of children do not lisen,only try to impart their knowledge. Children are looking for someone who will lisen and not try to guide them. Once a child came up to me and said did you see that big dog. The child's... View full comment
DD
David Doane Nov 29, 2022
Thanks for your reflection. For me, you are talking about learning to be, let it be, simply be.
JW
Jon Williams Nov 30, 2022
Yes,you put it well. That day I was opening myself to all that was around me. At moments like my walk in the woods one opens themselfs to all to thats around, not only nature, but also the path one is walking on. Children often sense your connection. I forgot to say the child said the dog scared her, and thought the dog was going to eat her. Perhaps she responded to my smile. Smile at every one you see you may change a life. I heard of person who committed suicide, left note saying if just one person had smiled in her direction, should would not have not committed suicide.
MO
mouli
Nov 28, 2022
The need to be connected to self and that see the larger self within others is profound and very well articulated. It also reminds me of two things - oneness (entire universe is a single form) and matter is neither created nor destroyed.
would love to learn more about the journey towards being more connected to self. thanks
RC
Nov 28, 2022
There have been many many "helps" along the way of coming gradually to this realization of unity and oneness. Perhaps the most practically helpful has been studying Advaita Vedanta, especially the Upanishads, as they lay out a framework for just this.
DD
Nov 27, 2022
There is an essential me that perceives appearance through a human body and world, all of which is given to me, not created or earned by me, so it is a gift. I very much believe that beyond appearance is ultimate existence, that is, one existence or activity that includes me and all that is, all of which comes from the same source and is made of the same stuff. Love is living in and from awareness of that oneness. I sometimes have and live from some of that awareness, and in such times I am to some degree being in love. I believe the essence of me as well as everyone and every form in creation is an expression of Infinite Self or Ultimate Reality or God or whatever name is used.
JP
Nov 26, 2022
Relationships give birth. Relationships nourish life. Relationships connect us. How do we relate to each other makes a big difference. Relationships unite us. Relationships divide us. Re become a freind. Reltionships can be an enemy. Healthy relationships create oneness. In wholesome relationships me becomes you, you becomes me. There is no dualism in healthy relationships. There is Divine union. Our True Identity, our True Nature has no divisiveness. Body and mind have forms. Soul is formless. When we perceive the Realty this way it becomes a gift. Life becomes a blessing. I felt oneness between me and my parents, me and my spouse, between me and my friends, between me and a stranger, between me and nature. In such realtionships, I felt oneness. Daily meditations have opened the door of Oneness for me. When we do weekly satsanga we feel such oneness. In such experiences the individual self becomes the universal Infinite Self. It is an experience of Unitive Consciousness. Namas... View full comment
TE
Nov 26, 2022
I agree! We seem to each be born into separation from our mother in entering this life, but perception through these finite eyes is limited to transience, all that comes and goes, has beginning and ending. Every "Thing" is recognized and categorized by differences and contrasts to every other "Thing"; this is integral to how our conceptual (mortal) mind operates. From that perspective "love" is only recognized in contrast to its absence or opposite (fear? isolation? separation? hatred?). When I am Aware that my finite perception is the source of my experiencing separation, it becomes clear that that's an illusion; the appearance of separation is simply an artifact of my limited perception. And I am reminded of the infinite including ALL when see the reflection in each apparently separate person, thing, place, and time. Metta or Agape are perhaps attempts to express what Love is in that infinite light. Yet how can I come to recognition and appreciation that Love without my finite mind h... View full comment