In our worldly
affairs, when we need to achieve a goal, 1) we need to have sufficient
longing for it, 2) subsequently we should spend sufficient effort and time for
getting there, and 3) we need the participation and cooperation of many
individuals and situations around us.
But let us not be
over-intelligent to drag this scheme into adhyatma! In this realm, we must
just yearn. The only responsibility that a seeker has is to develop the
longing. That is it. Let us not pretend as if we are responsible for searching the
right technique or the right Guru. Let us not run around trying to 'find' who is
genuine, trying to evaluate which organization is good, which technique is the
best. We have not taken a contract to judge who is genuine, who is not.
Similarly let us not
pretend as if the world is responsible for giving us a suitable Guru, and as if
something is flawed in the system for not giving us a Guru. Poor fellow! I am not progressing because the world is filled with imposters. Else, by now I would have been Vishnu's 11th avatara!
Let us stop this amusing talk! Guru is not 'found' as in finding a bridegroom. If I find a Guru in
this way, and if I - with my petty intellect - am responsible for it, doesn't
the possibilities of divorce also come with it? Guru is encountered. We are found by them... when we are eligible. Our responsibility is only to become
eligible. That is all. If they are not finding us, that does not mean system
is flawed and they are accountable for it; it only means that we have not made ourselves eligible yet.
And for that... we must just
long! That is our only responsibility. Let us feel the pain of not knowing what we are or why we are. Let us weep; turn our eyes red. We are trying to know the
meaning of our existence. Let us recognize the gravity of this enquiry. Adhyatma is
not entertainment. It is not some dvaita v/s advaita action scene to satisfy our childish intellect. It is hardcore search. The greatest longing a being
can ever have. Fulfill this responsibility wholeheartedly, and our job is
done. Guru will appear, techniques will appear, help will appear... and even if
none of them appear the End will surely appear (for which all the formers ones
are only pretexts). If we long enough, everything will automatically fall into
place. When a piece of creation longs to know the meaning of its existence, existence will necessarily respond. Instead of doing that, let us not spend our naive logic in pretending to be
responsible for 'planning' our spiritual journey, or pretending that world is
not cooperative enough for us to tread the path. If we do not long, we will only
remain a dwarf. No matter how much we plan.
But what if I do
not have sufficient longing? Well, then I should engage in planning and
pretending that I am responsible. I should start temporarily satisfying myself
with some intellectual entertainment, practice of some technique, participate in some 'spiritual' activity, read some books. All this will elevate
us in some way, but never give us contentment. These will anyway increase our
frustration in due course, which will eventually lead to intensified longing (This is
where I began the blog - The Chronicles of Despair). This is a process of
ripening. It must ripen one day.
