271. Being Aware of Self is better than Gauging from what Others have to say……..

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/being-aware-of-self-is-better-than-gauging-from-what-others-have-to-say

There are many means of pilling up knowledge but it is intelligence which is required to implement it in daily life. A person profound in knowing things about liberation do not attain it until he treads in that path. It is very simple to know about things but very difficult to practice them. Some are enthusiastic only at the beginning and have no will to endure it further, this type of approach is called “Soda Bottle Enthusiasm” the fizz does not last long. 

Although it is difficult to tread the path of Spirituality it is not impossible, all it needs is endurance. Also a strong will and more importantly an attitude to live a life of simplicity and dispassion. We have Self improvement courses conducted by many spiritual organizations every now and then which train seekers to lead a life of virtue, but what is the benefit from that until and unless one change way of life. In this materialistic world many feel that it is impossible to live a life of virtue but it is not so, we can live a beautiful and stress less life if we live contentedly. This is the knowledge given in every course but is it followed is the question???

In once such Self Mastery course a Spiritual Master was giving a discourse on the Soul and how Soul is above all. The course was for a week and many seekers had enrolled themselves to the course. On the first day the Master told the gathering that every individual has Soul and that Soul was Eternal and Supreme. The true identity of a person was not the body or the mind but the Soul, and at the core we were all the same reality. The lecture went on for about 3 hours. After the third day of discourse a participant in the course came to Master with a disturbed mind which was beaming on his face.

The Master asked him the reason.

“Guruji I have been participating in you discourse from the first day, as you have very well mentioned I have started seeing a person on the Soul level and have understood that there is no difference between Soul of one person and the other.” the participant said.

“Well then what is it that you are worrying about?”asked the Swamiji.

“Guruji, yesterday after the discourse I by mistake wore somebody’s slippers while going back home. After I got to know about it I wanted to return it to the owner so I came back today and the owner of the slippers was waiting at the door. As soon as his sight fell on his slipper, he called me a “fool” and “idiot” for wearing his slipper. I am very much disturbed.”

After listening to him patiently Master asked him, “What have you understood from the course I have talked for three days telling you that Soul is ultimate and every person has to get identified with it. However, even after listening to the discourse you are still associated to your body and mind”.

“Well, do you suggest that I should take the insult, Guruji” asked the man.

Guruji told him, “Son, when you have known yourself will other branding you a fool or idiot matter to you? You had brought the slippers back and you knew that what you did was a mistake and you could have thrown the slippers away and got a new one so that the person who was the owner of the slipper would not have known at all. The reason you brought it back shows your conviction and you know that better than the owner of the slippers. The owner of the slipper was in a hurry to judge you give him sometime he will know who you are. To me it is not important what is important is, you know yourself better why worry about what other says about you.”

Knowing self is better than gauging from what others have to say………….Right?????