The Great Ones
I must be in an argumentative mood because here I go again.
I read something the other day that said that the lives of Christ, Buddha, Mohammed, Moses and other great ones had only one thing in common. This article was speaking of their lives, not their messages, for, of course, their messages have everything in common.
According to this article, the common thread was that they all went on a long retreat and were in silence for an extended time, Jesus into the desert, Mohammed, a lonely cave, Buddha under the bodhi tree, and Moses to the top of Mt. Sinai. I do believe that their deep silence was instrumental to what they later became and what they gave to the world. I believe that retreating was their next step, and it was their destiny.
The article further concluded that if we want communion with God, we have to go into a long retreat. That’s the part I object to. I don't think we have to do anything!
It is hard for me to think that such a retreat is the next step for us, many of us or even a few. I can’t believe it’s our destiny. I know it’s not a requirement.
I can’t imagine that any of the Great Ones went into silence in order to become a Great One. I don’t imagine that Jesus had it in his mind to become Christ. I don’t believe that they did it for any result. They maybe didn’t even know what drew them, or maybe they did. In any case, they had to have had a higher motivation than to become a Great One.
They were not copying anyone. It wasn't the way we might go to a spa in order to come out with a tan. The Great Ones simply were choosing from their hearts. and following God's Will. I know God wants all of us to commune with Him, yet I can't believe he wants all of us to go into a cave.
I wonder how long would we last in a cave by ourselves anyway! Without a book to read? Without the internet? Only if it were God's Will, I think.
Anyway, the Kingdom is within.
(to be continued)
Comments
Beloved Gloria,
This is the issue that I have recently begun to question.
I think I spent months of my life, maybe years, isolating myself and meditating. This method may work for most of the people yet it was not helpful for me( as far as I observe). I could have spent more time with my family, with my books, with my friends, I could have spent more time with life itself. This is my regret.
In my opinion this isolation is not necessary for me besides it may be quite depressing as well.
Beloved Engin, in my heart, I cannot believe that your time was wasted. Look at the beautiful soul that you are today.
I want to make sure that I have been clear in what I mean to say. I certainly have no objection to meditating. My objection is to the idea that we MUST, that it is a prerequisite, that if we don't, we're up the creek so to speak.
I guess I believe in choice more than I even knew.
I think what you are objecting to, Gloria, is the ego schmego that comes bolting forward in any writing that speaks of what you "must" or "should" do. Whose place is it to tell each other what we have to do to commune with God? Yesterday's post which spoke of needing silence to commune with God is similar to what you are talking about, but I got the message that there are many ways to achieve the "silence" to hear God even in the midst of all kinds of chaos. Isn't that the wonderful prize we're pursuing? Hanging onto and/or finding that lovely deep connection with God even when our lives are overloaded and noisy?
Beloved Jo, yes, there are many ways to achieve, not just one way. And, indeed, your personal Godwriting is so lovely, loving, and right on, Jo. It makes me feel so good to know this.
Yet I don't think it can be ego that always states what we must do. Even God tells us we must love.
It is the person's belief in something and their caring for us that often causes someone to tell what to do. To someone who tells us we must do a particular spiritual practice -- to them it is the same as telling us to be careful how we cross the street. They have no doubt, and they love us.
It could be that someone's attachment to our giving a certain response comes from ego. Maybe the judgment aspect is what comes from ego and not really their telling us.
I have been on the giving and receiving end of this. Many many years ago, I was the one who was convinced there was only one way and felt that anyone who didn't follow it was misguided. I apologize now.
And I have also been on the receiving end.
I've been translating Jesus' own account of His life on Earth, and He tells that when He was baptized by John, He was so struck by the light that He just walked into the desert and stayed there, fasting and meditating, for six weeks. He didn't go there for a purpose, but He did come out enlightened. He shared His enlightenment with all the people, because that was His mission. But every now and then, He needed some time to meditate on His own, far from the crowds. - But as I understand, this was 2000 years ago, and in this era, we are supposed to bring God's Kingdom to all people, in our everyday lives. To sit in a cave, meditating, would serve only ourselves. And that is not the purpose of God for this age.
There is another common message amongst all the "Great Ones" and that is that God is here now. I understand that they all mentioned that their retreat was not a requirement.
I heard of a technique used by Peruvian flute makers who would let the wood cure in a certain way over a certain period. The curing process strengthens the wood and makes it capable of producing a beautiful sound for many to hear. Ship builders cure the planks that make the ship so many may be carried across the oceans.
That is no thing that anybody need do, to have a close relationship with God...other than say Yes.
However capacity to serve is another subject altogether. If one wishes to channel such high energy, clear pathways are required so that one does not get fried. A solitary retreat can work wonders for clearing away the junk and strengthening the pathways.
"God is here now" sounds just like that place of quiet where we commune with God. Thank you!
All I know is that the spiritual life is often Divine paradox, walking the "razor's edge." When I am shut away and devoting myself to just God, it is perfect, and when I am in the world, and devoting myself to just God, in the form of attending to "Jesus in one of His distressing disguises" (as Mother Teresa referred to her work among the beggars of Calcutta), that is also perfect. I believe that just as Eckhart Tolle and Oprah are teaching now, that it's about practicing the Presence, God is Here, Now, "closer than breathing, nearer than hands or feet" and our essence is perfection, our essence IS God. We are always with God and whenever we are fully present to the Now we KNOW it. We can't not be with God, and we can't be "not doing it right." There is no place for regret, because we cannot but be in the right place at the right time.
Paula, it is so interesting what you say. I fully accept the scenario you give. The only thing, am I to understand you are saying because this is 2008 that there can be no use today for someone to go into a cave? How would we know that? God could well direct someone to do just do that.
I just want to be sure I haven't come across as saying that it is as unnecessary for someone to go go into a cave as it is to say that all of us should. I would personally support anyone who felt such an inner drive.
Senor One, you have such a balanced perspective. I love your comparison of the Peruvian flute. This reminds me of parables that have been a beautiful part of great spiritual teaching.
Carol, you have done a lot of reading! And you have such a compassionate heart.
Tomorrow there will be one more blog entry on this subject. Well, it's already been written, and I'm not going to waste it!
I DO NOT HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO MEDITATING EITHER... WHAT I MEAN IS THAT I USED TO MEDITATE TOO MUCH, I THINK- FOR ME... I AM TALKING ONLY FOR MY SELF :)
It sounds like everyone is talking of balance and of our need to renew ourselves at times, which with our busy lives might include a retreat or two now and again. A balanced life is what we should aim for, I think, and remember to listen to our own body. To do the work of Godde that it seems we all agree we have been called to do, it takes a healthy "shell" and mind.