The Morality Paradox

by Michael Mamas | Tuesday, September 20, 2011 | Spirituality | 4 comments

I was asked to comment on the following quote:

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‎”Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much of life. So aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something.”  – Henry David Thoreau

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The question here is what is meant by ‘morality.’

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Certainly, there are some extreme views here.  What some consider moral, others consider barbaric.  Some fundamentalist, middle-eastern groups see the west as barbaric and visa versa.  Culture certainly plays a major role in what is considered moral.

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A healthy cultural tradition is a blessed touchstone. Yet is the culture healthy?  Where then does one look to find what is truly moral?

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The simple answer is to evolve and act from the place within you that is in harmony with God, the Divinity within.  However, you might use that as a rationalization to do whatever you want to do by telling yourself that your impulses are a ‘higher calling.’ Similarly, you may use it as a rationalization to judge others or yourself.

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Life is a paradox.  Most look for simple solutions, rules, or justifications to hang their hat on.  But life is not that simple.  Through discernment you must learn to weigh the many variables and components in life.  Are your feelings ‘your truth,’ i.e. God’s Voice, or are they your issues, i.e. your distorted views?  How can you tell?

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The answer lies within you.  Yet the path to it is riddled with conflicting perspectives.  Though many demand it, I do not offer simplistic solutions for they are lies used to placate people.

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Morality, dharma, and happiness are all facets of the same diamond.  What is true of one is true of the other.  As Sri Ramana Maharshi put it: “Happiness is your nature. It is not wrong to desire it. What is wrong is seeking it outside when it is inside.”

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You must learn to discern.  Take the time to reflect, ponder, and question.  Be willing to look deeper with humility and patience.  Do not look for a simplistic formula to navigate life’s waters.  Though such roadmaps are offered, and even imposed upon you, look beyond them.  Truth lies, just beyond the horizon.  It is not something you grasp with an iron fist.  Truth is a subtle whisper you sense at the depth of your soul. Through refinement of your inner world, you begin to hear it more and more.  Yet it is never a dictate. It is a song… sweet, simple… sublime.

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To live in tune with the song is called Dharma.  All else is called Karma.

Einstein Again

by Michael Mamas | Friday, September 16, 2011 | Spirituality | 1 comment

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A person starts to live when he can live outside himself. – Einstein

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Here is another Einstein quote that again refers to the small self versus the True Self.

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To live in accord with the True Self, the Divine Self, seems like living ‘outside’ the self only to the small self.  To the True Self, it feels like freedom from the pettiness of the inane.  Though the small self is experienced as, and believed to be, the True Self, it is in actuality a drag on life.  Yet this is not really realized until you awaken to the True Self, i.e. become enlightened.

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Interestingly, Einstein here is thinking of the small self as the Self.  Or perhaps it is really just his choice of words… semantics.  From the perspective of the small self, the True Self lives outside the self.  From the perspective of the small self, the small self is what you are.

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From the perspective of the True Self, the small self is a Cosmic Joke… a mirage… just a little dust on the surface of life, remarkably being embraced as the essence of one’s life.

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From one perspective this is so absurd.  From another it is so lovely, for without that illusion, the universe would cease to exist as all would simply melt back into Oneness.

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How exquisite that there is a level of life where one can live in relativity without losing the Self to relativity… or as Rama Krishna said, ‘have the boat in the water but no water in the boat.’

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There is a cosmic stream.  It is a flow that permeates and overtakes all existence.  It is the Krishna value, or quality or aspect or facet of all that is.

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Lose your small self to that. Discover your True Self and become free.  This is the highest form of devotion.  It is also the destiny of all that is.  Your emancipation is just a matter of time.  How long will it take is up to you.  How long do you choose to cling to limitation?

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As the poet said, ‘“The answer is blowing in the wind.” Yet God calls out to you, “I am here and I will teach you how to fly… how to soar… if, or rather when, you choose to.”

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The path is subtle, yet the door remains wide open.

Being True to Yourself

by Michael Mamas | Monday, September 12, 2011 | Spirituality | 1 comment

The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves.

– Swami Vivikenanda

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This is a lovely quote from the great saint Vivakenanda.  Being true to your own nature is, of course, only truly attained by the enlightened.

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It is, in fact, by definition, what it means to be enlightened.  It is a physiological state, not an attitude or philosophy.   Yet it is something that you must have the courage to strive for every day.

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What is your nature?  What would you do if you were truly free?  What is your heart really saying to you?

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Very few people responsibly respond to these simple questions.  All bias, be it fear, affinity, aversion, anger, or resentment, interfere with the process of resting into your true nature.   Bias, be it well intended or not, distorts your view of who you are.

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The spiritual path is a path of courage.