The Absolute is infinite, unbounded, and eternal. Through meditation you rest into that level every day. “Coming back” into relativity can feel quite confining. In relativity there are laws of nature to respect. There are limitations, rules, and regulations. However, by going back and forth between meditation and activity, over time, unboundedness and boundedness become seamlessly integrated. Unboundedness flows through relativity.
The inclination may be to feel negative toward the world and other people. You do not want to have to ‘paint within the lines’ or conform to policies or regulations. These can be experienced as that which is in your way – imposing limitation upon your otherwise exquisite life.
If allowed to do so, relativity is avoided to the point that rarification takes over. You may feel like you are right, above all else, and nearly enlightened. But enlightenment means integration. I have seen people who have gone that route. It is not a pretty sight. They are clearly disconnected from the world and reality. Their head is in the clouds.
The more you meditate, the more you need to engage in activity to integrate it. That is why we structure activity into the ashram program. You cannot meditate your way to enlightenment. You need to integrate existence within you. I do understand that there is a common tendency to sit around and rarify between meditations. But to go that direction would be most unwise.
Thank you for this posting. I am attending AL Anon meetings and we are working the second step concerning Higher Power. I made a very personal sharing concerning how my idea of God from being raised RC had been very external. masculine, and far away, “up there”. I shared that after ten years of on and off meditating I came to not only feel God all around me, but also most miraculously _in_ me. The group leader was not supportive. I was told our Higher Power must be something “outside” of ourselves, even if a lamp post or a teddy bear. We must surrender to an external entity even if a group conciousness. I have really been sitting with this and feeling into it. I know I am not enlightened, but I considered the grace I feel of even being able to feel Divinity which for the longest time was very shaming for me. I decided Al Anon has many positive aspects and I will just not be sharing my feeling about HP from now on. It has been extremely humbling and positive. Jai Guru Dev.
I appreciate your comments, Donna. We attended a Methodist church last Sunday for Boy Scout Sunday. The sermon was about how you must surrender to Jesus, and that the only way to God was through Him. Our son has a very strong understanding of God, and of the power within himself to be with God. He speaks freely of having the protection of Mother Divine. His reaction to being in church was to be angry that he could not share his beliefs freely. We literally live under a cross – there is a huge, lighted cross on the mountain above us. I dread the time when someone will feel the need to ‘save’ us. Sadly, it seems the answer is to keep it to ourselves. I have gone from wanting to share the teachings of Maharshi and the existence of the Veda with everyone around me, to wanting to protect it and keep it close. I do not, however, want my son to feel he must edit or mask himself or his beliefs. This is very difficult.
Maharshi, I welcome your thoughts on how to integrate in a society that is so directly opposed and even threatened by our beliefs.
Each person you meet, each group, each organization, each mentality— all must be evaluated individually and then you act accordingly. Do not act based upon where you would like people to be, acted based upon where they are.
And remember that knowledge without humility breeds arrogance. The flip side of wisdom is humility.