When Asked About Changing One’s Name, I Responded:
At times it can be wise to change ones name or title. However, it is more often wise for a person to change their circumstances and evolve their relationship with life. Yet those things are more challenging and more rare. A desire to change one’s name is often the expression of, and an attempted substitution for, a deeper longing to change one’s life… to change one’s circumstances and to evolve.
Karma is usually seen as something that affects a person from outside one’s self. It is often seen as something foreign, intangible, and abstract. Actually, it is usually far more accessible than that. It is easily seen from the outside. Yet from within it… within one’s self, it is difficult to see past.
One’s karma includes one’s relationship with life. The longings, convictions, and beliefs one holds are more often karmic than not (i.e. than dharmic).
Life’s greatest challenges are usually in moving past such karma. However, one’s karma convinces the individual that one’s greatest challenges are in fulfilling those longings, convictions, and beliefs dictated by one’s karma.
In other words, though the deepest longing of the dreamer is to awaken from the dream, it is the illusions of the dream that possess the dreamer. This is karma.
This is deep and thought provoking, right along the lines I was thinking about yesterday. You must be reading my mind! As I was racing home from work (the kids called to say one of our dogs had been bitten by a rattlesnake) I was thinking about the “scenery” and the scenes of my life, and about what was challenging and what worked. I thought “this is maya, and I’m creating my life to myself as I even think these thoughts.” So, it seems like one can begin to affect the dream by knowing it can be so and making changes. I resolved at that moment to be extremely careful about what I allowed into my life, and what activities I engaged in, and of course, what thoughts I think. (burning more candles an incense, and more meditation last night may have helped too). I may not have awakened from the dream, but what you wrote has me seeing it a new way. Thank you, Brahmarshi.
This blog post is profoundly thought provoking. It is perfectly timed as i struggle to change the direction of my life. My long career as a compassionate Funeral Director, caring for the emotional needs of families for 38 years has led to burnout. I struggle with my life long conviction and belief that I must vicariously share the pain of others and help them cope in order to have any value in the “eyes of God.” This is embarrassing to admit at 62 years old that this has been my relationship with life. And furthermore, I am amused at myself as I realize this role is self appointed, my self created illusions! After much reflection, I have used this blog to support my decision giving myself permission to end my personal longing of trying to earn God’s grace. This has been a process of belief change beginning with my Surya 1training many years ago. This blog is most comforting.
Thank you Maharshi.
Beautiful, thought provoking and so timely. I feel like I’m aware of illusions and longings I hang on to, but find it challenging to let go of them. I fear I could lose something valuable. I’m often reminded of Bible verses when I read your blogs and hear lectures, and I’ll think, “That’s what Jesus meant.” This blog makes me think of this scripture, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Letting go of all the illusions to attain that “pearl of great price”.
It is most encouraging and assuring that awaking from the dream will in reality make it possible to fulfill the deepest longing. Thank you.
I had such a funny thought about changing names. When I graduated from High School in 1967, I changed the spelling of my name from Judy to Judi. I was so tired of being the same Judy. Since I have been with an “i”. I thought I would stand out a little more :). So I have been Judi since. To this day my dad still insists on Judy. He is 92…..god love him. Did it change my life? NO, was it fun? YES! I have encounter many Judi’s over the years and we laugh together. Life is very serious, but yet so much fun….Cosmic joke especially! Thank you Brahmarishi for the lesson of our “relationship with”! I look forward to each Blog. they help me grow, even when I am not exactly in the mood to grow.
Very nicely stated Bonnie