“The timeless in you is aware of life’s timelessness ; and
knows that yesterday is but today’s memory and tomorrow is today’s dream” –
Kahlil Gibran
All of us on the spiritual
path come across the word eternity so often. We reach a point when we become
truly aware of concept that we are immortal souls… not immortal bodies. We intellectually
understand the concept that we don’t have a soul…we are a soul and we have a
body. But how ingrained is that concept
in us.... how well do we accept or even have the patience to understand this
obviously most important concept of eternity. How well can we take this lesson?
Somewhere on the journey at some point the universe is kind enough and shows you
the way.. your answers..your final goal…many people call it differently.. Nirvana,
Moksha, Re-uniting with the Source, Being one with God, etc….whatever you may
choose to call it …probably exactly what you were looking for but didn’t understand
it before. And as per the laws of the universe also it seems knowledge is not
given without a test. But how do we react to it…..Why do we struggle with it so
much?
Universe : OK.. Here’s your yummy lollipop...You've been looking for it forever haven't you? And its
not just yours..but its always been yours for eternity..and will always be..
You seek it and It seeks you…And heaven awaits you and blah blah blah…
You : What?? Really?? Sounds
truly unbelievable!! Isn’t it too good to be true? But feels right to me...…Ok
then… I want it now!! And I want it in this particular way only!
Universe : Excuse Me!! Now?? What
is Now?!! You have to do this and that and get yourself sorted first and be
compassionate and kind and help humanity and be loving and understanding.. But
all this should be easy for you and should come naturally to you anyways if you
have truly reached a certain stage…Remember I express all my desires through
you.. Your desires are not just yours. They are part of my plan!! :)
You : What??? All that is fine. But
it seems like a cruel joke!!
Universe : Looks like you didn’t absorb the
concept of eternity very well…You are just getting narrowly stuck with one
chapter of life. You’re not going anywhere without this lesson properly!! You asked for the real thing.. didn't you? Can you not handle it now? How much more grief and shocks do you need just to let go of your silly conditioned concepts!!
You: Hmmm!! I shall go and
meditate on that!! :)
Telling you.. This whole spirituality
thing can be quite hilarious at times if seen in a lighter vein and the joke it
seems is on you!! :)
Reminds me of a quote which
always makes me smile by Douglas Adams from the Restaurant at the End of
Universe “The story so far: In the beginning
the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been
widely regarded as a bad move.”
That’s exactly how our reaction
to this lesson is… usually in frustration and we self-contract and recoil and
go in denial. Why? Just because there is no instant fulfilment and ownership the
way we are conditioned to believe in today’s world. But the sooner we accept
this lesson and move on beyond it we realise there’s still so much more work to
be done and only then can we move to further heights..
I believe most of us use the word
eternity and being an eternal being very easily and casually.. but when we have
to actually live out this concept consciously... we really start throwing in
the towel and start losing patience. I personally find myself grappling with this concept. Our minds are so conditioned to a certain way of thinking that anything outside the box seems difficult to digest. But I realise that I have to get over this or I am not getting anywhere....Spirituality and eternity go hand in hand. I absolutely cannot move ahead if I cannot embrace and soak in this concept fully. I cannot get stuck in what just appears in the "right now".....chapters were different before and they will be different later too....
Most of us on the spiritual path have an idea on how the book of our life
will supposedly end but whether that ending will be in this chapter or the next
or after 100 more.. will really be the test of patience. And if we truly
believe that our being is eternal and like a book and our various lifetimes as
only chapters of this fascinating book…accepting these lessons become much more
easier. Space can be made for more positive energy and to move beyond it. Atleast
you can now slowly recognise the main protagonists from the rest. And that
itself is a remarkable achievement… very
few have been able to achieve this itself…that is being truly successful with a
whole new meaning.. something one should be truly truly thankful and happy
about…After all what is happiness… “Happiness
is the settling of soul in its most appropriate spot”….as said by Aristotle….
