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Being ordinary
‘There is no need to renounce anything’
| There was once a holy man living at the top of a mountain. This man was so holy that even the birds would pay homage to him. Each day they would gather small pieces of bread and bring them so that he may eat. One day just by chance, this holy man became enlightened. From that moment onwards, the birds stopped coming. |
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Our purpose, through the practice of Satipatthana and Loving Kindness meditation is not to be holy or special, rather it is to be ordinary. To live in a simple way in the world, working, playing, spending time with our family and friends, and not deluding ourselves as being someone who is different.
We do what we do because we are what we are. Not special, not different, but simply in harmony with our heart.
Not the intellectual or emotional heart of course, but our real heart. Our spiritual heart.
Once we begin this journey of spiritual purity the world ceases to hold any real or deep attraction for us. It can no longer interest us in the way it used to do. As soon as we have discovered the flaw in that particular way of living, how can we ever fully go back to it? To continually seek happiness outside ourselves, in other people, in possessions or in the idea of simply ‘having fun’ and being entertained, becomes empty, so naturally and without any real effort, we turn our back in that way of living.
It is not that we begin to hate it, is only that we understand its nature, and its nature is to be empty!
However, no matter what we do, we cannot completely escape this world. Even if we no longer agree with the ways of it, it is still the place where we live. It is still our home. Now we need to learn how to live in the world, but no longer be a part of it.
But what does this mean?
How can we live in the world without being a part of it?
Many years ago I was faced with a spiritual crisis. I had done what most people in our society do, which was to fall in love, get married, set up home and begin to accumulate around me all the trappings of that kind of life. For two years, my wife and myself worked hard gathering every type of modern convenience. A washing machine, a video recorder, a hi-fi system, a television set, in fact, many television sets, one for every room, and so on and so on. We had a house filled with material possessions, but there was always something else to get. Always one more thing to add to our list of requirements needed to make is happy.
One day, I really awoke with a start and I felt myself to be trapped!
I seemed as though I was being suffocated in this house of material possessions and the strong, almost overwhelming desire to throw everything out descended upon me. Of course, my wife did not feel the same way, and told me that if we just had one more thing, a new car or another television set, I would feel better. It didn't work!
I could always justify my feelings of resentment to this material way of living When I would reflect upon my spiritual heroes. The Buddha had renounced everything for his enlightenment and had spent the six years prior to it as a wandering mendicant. Jesus was another homeless wanderer and Gandhi was pleased to live with very little. These were the people I admired. Why couldn't I be like them? Free from the trap of possessions.
These feelings worried me for many months until finally, I attended an intensive meditation retreat with my teacher. In a private interview, I told him exactly what was happening within me, and how I had a strong desire to throw everything out, or at least give them away and so free myself from the trap of material possessions. I wanted to live without them.
My teacher listened patiently and then simply smiled and said gently, “Ah Michael, now you must learn to live with them.”
In that moment I understood.
The problem was not with the objects, it was my resentment towards them. The trap was only in my in mind. I had sprung it myself and being unaware had jumped in with both feet.
Objects are not dangerous, it is only our attachment to them that causes the problems.
So the teaching is ‘watch the attachment!’
When there is no attachment, everything can be used, enjoyed and let go of. This is true freedom. Living in the world and yet not being part of the world. There is no need to renounce anything. We are trapped forever by the things we renounce like, the priest who is always talking about sex, or the prostitute who is always talking about God.
We do not have to ordain as monks or nuns, or reside in a cave as a hermit, to live a spiritual life. We can live comfortably in the world and we can continue our practice. It is ourselves we have to watch, not the things outside us.
Everything is arising in our mind. All our pain, all our sorrow, all our attachment, and all our suffering begins here. And this is where these conditions can end. In the mind.
So look at yourself. Without judgment, without condemnation, without blame. See where your problems and difficulties really begin. Not in the world, but only in the mind. With this understanding, we can live in peace with everything as we no longer attempt to create certain or special conditions for spiritual growth, but use everything that is presented to us.
Enjoy, what can be enjoyed, and let go.
Endure what has to be endured, and let go.
This is how we can all set ourselves free, not from the traps of the world, they are only imaginary anyway, but from the trap of our own mind.
Watch the attachment, because whatever we are attached to will hurt as, no matter how noble, no matter how moral, no matter how spiritual.
Watch the attachment and let go.
Liberation means freedom and freedom is always within us, just watch the attachment.
From: Not This & Other Teachings from the Spiritual Heart |
