Sidewalk Bends

Self-immolation is a misunderstanding of the tenets of life. Love thyself. Love all others. Do no harm. When we do harm, even to ourselves for a perceived cause that we support, we lose sight of love. We may try to convince ourselves that by sacrificing oneself for a cause greater than ourselves we are in fact shining a light on the injustice, but we are in fact distracting from that which is without condition.

Love does not require all others to believe for it to exist. Love and truths that surpass the boundaries of the mind do not need capitulation or agreement from all sides in order to continue. Whether it is self-immolation through burning oneself or whether it is a person who decides to blow oneself up, the act does nothing but to place a light squarely on oneself. It is the ego, which seeks to be known that receives attention.

Love cannot be forced. Understanding also cannot be forced. When one decides to love without condition, understanding comes not far behind. The struggle is always internal, for in a hurricane, a sand storm or on a clear day, all that we try to suppress comes boiling up. When we can accept ourselves and when we can accept others, we will find understanding.

Two eyes to the front, and one to the totality of all that exists. Visions can be beautiful or downright terrifying, but without context, there is no inspiration. The mind is fed, and the soul is hungry to learn. Seeking bliss in meditation is a wonderful exercise, but to bring that bliss to others outside of meditation is a true gift. Some may say, bring meditation to the masses, but a quieted mind and an open heart will say, bring that joyful love to others outside of meditation and into the waking life. Bring the inside to the outside and allow them to be One. Do not get lost in images. Do not get lost in colors. Do not get lost in tones. Life is more than a vibration. Life is more than perceived levels. Everything is a sign, with open eyes or closed, with an active mind or a quieted one, everything is a sign.

Great Wave off of Kanagawa by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai

Life is full of waves of transformation. Full of peaks and valleys, we are constantly trying to catch ourselves. But if we could just realize that we are those waves, that we are those peaks and we are those valleys, we could learn to appreciate life as it comes to us. In each moment, we are evolving and have a chance to become ourselves. Like the universe, we are constantly unfolding and expanding. We become more aware of ourselves and the happenings around us. Just when we think we have a grasp of ourselves and an understanding of how we fit into this existence, life happens and again, we are transformed. Just as the universe expands and contracts in an endless cycle of creation and destruction, we too are created and destroyed. In each moment we are reborn. In each moment, we again have the infinite opportunities of now. Where we decide to take each wave is up to us. We can choose to conform, we can choose to lay down and give up, or we can choose to live. Ride this wave, and see where it takes you. Ride this wave in an endless transformation of yourself. Ride this wave until it is no more, and then do it again.

I am a Sufi.
I am a Jew.
I am a Christian.
I am a Buddhist.
I am Hindi.
I am you.

I am a man.
I am a woman.
I am you.

I am a teacher.
I am a preacher.
I am a lawyer.
I am a servant.
I am a slave.
I am you.

I am creation.
I am destruction.
I am you.

I am you, becoming me.

Inspiration comes to the heart. Aspiration comes to the mind. To become greater than, or to be like something is to tug at the mind’s strings. There is no greater or greatest, and no easier or easiest, for all are one in the same. There is no becoming the other when we are already the other. There is only realization. Realization does not come from Masters or supposed spiritual Masters. There is no mastering the self. There is only realization of the self. Realization of the self is not administered by practitioners through one art or the other. It neither comes from books, nor does it come from ancient writings. All point the way, but the way is self-realization. It is in this moment that there is inspiration.

When inspiration comes, all aspirations shall fade for there is no need to become, because the actuality has already been realized. The rest is a gift, and so it should be shared. Come down from the tree and share your fruit, for sitting in the tree does not make the fruit any sweeter. Take a bite and share in the realization that there is neither a tree, nor any fruit.

Nirvana is not confined to 30 seconds of peace, nor is it solely in the confines of meditation or mindful breath. It is not the cessation of life nor is it the deprivation of all bodily perception. Nirvana is not a state of mind nor is it the lack of a state of mind. Many gurus have had their say, and so shall many more. Some claim peace on mountain tops, and others in secluded caves. And though this may be the path they have chosen for themselves, it is not the only path to your heart. It is true that the life many lead now is not the same as those long since past, but what has always been will continue to be. Men may create constructs, and boundaries from where there are none, but it is each person’s choice to live by the rules of other men, or by the eternal light in each person’s soul.

Look beyond the world you have come to know, and tear down the walls others have told you to build. Peace is eternal. From all things it is created. Bite of the fruit and know the orchard is all about you.

The world is divided. We are divided based on the country we choose to pay homage. We are divided based on our language and our culture. We are divided based on our religion. We are divided by what we choose to call God/Allah. We are divided by the wants of our mind and our heart. We are divided and yet we have no one else to blame but ourselves.

We choose sides and yet we have no idea what side it is that we really play on. We say we follow God’s laws, and yet we would honor our country before we would honor God. We say we are good Christians, Muslims, or Jews, and yet we would hold our prophets above God Himself. We say we are obedient children and yet we squabble over the scraps of a world full of illusions. We claim that we are without want except for God’s love, and yet we pray to the mighty dollar. We say in God we trust, but only when times get rough. We are divided and yet we have no one else to blame but ourselves.

There are nearly 7 billion people in this world. There are several major religions and thousands more beliefs. Each claim to be correct, and yet how can they all be right? We look for differences and there are many. We look for similarities and there are few. And though those similarities are few, we would choose to look passed them. Why is that? Are we so confident with our beliefs that we would disregard the experiences and the lives of all those who we share this existence with? How can we be so confident? Surely among us, there are those who know? Do you choose to listen to those whose thoughts are in line with your own, or do you allow yourself to listen with an open mind, spirit and heart? When you hear or read the truth, how will you know? Will it announce itself, or will you feel it so deep down within the very core of your existence that you can no longer deny it? There are nearly 7 billion people in this world and yet we act as though we were the only one.

Is not a true shepherd willing to lose his life or himself and all that he has in order to save one sheep, even if it is just one sheep? Should a person be judged solely by the results of their actions? Is not a person’s intent more important than their words and promises? After all, the outcome of our actions is not always seen or known to us. Promises can be made, but intent is always known despite how hidden we think them to be. It is written in our heart and in our soul, and though we may wish to hide from them, will be brought to bear.

If the goal is enlightenment, then perhaps one’s intent is already tainted by one’s ego. If one’s intent is to truly help others, then perhaps enlightenment does not matter? Is it not just another word to describe what we think we know? Perhaps in knowing, we will understand the ridiculousness of seeking out that which is not be had, but to be shared. Nirvana is not simply peace to be attained, nor even just the understanding that we are all connected. To be connected is to understand that there is no you or me. There is just One. It is not about saying the right words, nor memorizing a set of vows, nor teachings. Life is. It is without explanation, for words cannot explain God. They cannot explain unconditional love. They cannot define that which is undefinable and without boundary. They are but tools to help us on our way.

The struggle does not come from understanding why others are the way they are. The struggle comes from understanding why we are who we are, and why we still choose to see ourselves as separate. Nirvana is now. Enlightenment is now. These may just seem like words, but they are much more. They are my heart speaking to your heart. Right or wrong, it does not matter. Love all who would come to you, and even those who would not.