I've been frantically searching for the answers to life's "big questions" for as long as I can remember. I've driven everyone in my life nuts with this quest . . . especially ME. I've been told I am crazy so many times . . . even by some "professionals." But, I have read a lot on this subject . . . from Biblical stories to the descriptions of mental illness provided by the Western medical establishment, as well as amazing stories of the mendicants and sadhus of the East. Jesus "cast out demons." Meher Baba cared for the "God-intoxicated" whom he called "masts." I have seen many, many people labeled bi-polar and schizophrenic who are singularly concerned with spiritual musings and "voices" which are vitally real to them. Let's not forget Joan of Arc. Who is to say what is "crazy?" There was a fabulous movie set in Africa, from back in the '80s called "The Gods Must be Crazy." I have decided that if so much craziness abounds in the world, it is truly because God must be crazy. If so, he needs our help desperately. I have prayed for him, a lot, and promised to do whatever I can to help. I feel that the best way to do this is to shun the word "crazy" and simply BE. Be happy. Be whole. Be unafraid to express "weirdness" and the convoluted imaginings that we attribute to our spiritual lives. I am very weird, and very open, and very willing to listen to weirdness and openness. I don't like hateful talk or narrowness, but will tolerate a little bit of it if you are willing to let me use you to make a point. Please join me on a journey into the darkness I have seen when I have dared to look within my own spirit. And then, join me as I have ventured out of that darkness into a world of promise and potential that continues daily to amaze me. Thank you for at least joining me this far, and Welcome!!!
Here is a poem I wrote which refers to Richard Alpert (aka Baba Ram Dass), a spiritual seeker and teacher who gained prominence in the 1960s for his association with the Harvard LSD experiments and ultimate journey to the East where he found a real spiritual Master. His book "Remember Be Here Now" was one of the first written by a Westerner on the merits of meditation and "grounding" in the present moment.
Baba Ram Dass
Impatiently I have run this race
Long distance in a sprint
I look for the tape, the laurel wreath
And never find the end.
When I'm told to Be Here Now
I don't know what that means.
The Now is so uncomfortable
I beg for quick release.
But, in a new relationship
When learning how to Love
The Now is all I have to give
There is no more to prove.
So don't look forth to something else
Some place I cannot see
Be patient with the marathon
And Now with you I'll Be.
2/17/07
4 comments:
I have been glancing recently at "Be love now : the path of the heart".
I noticed that there is something written about Sai Baba of Shirdi. :)
You wrote: "The Now is so uncomfortable. I beg for quick release."
Baba says: "The illusion which most aspirants find it difficult to shake is the belief that the infinite Truth is an object which has to be attained in some distant future, and that all life is just a means for this attainment. But if the Truth were to be confined only to the future and not to the past or the present, it would not be infinite. It would at once become limited as an event which has its origin in time.
All that life is and has is at once deprived of intrinsic significance if it comes to be regarded as merely instrumental to some far-off event. This is definitely a false point of view.
Life is not meant to be rich in spiritual significance at some distant date, but is so at every moment, if only the mind is disburdened of illusions. It is only through a clear and tranquil mind that the true nature of spiritual infinity is grasped as something which is not yet to be, but which already has been, is, and ever will be an eternal self-fulfilment.
When every moment is rich with eternal significance, there is neither the lingering clinging to the dead past, nor a longing expectation for the future, but an integral living in the eternal now. It is only through such living that the spiritual infinity of the Truth can be realised in life.
It is not right to deprive the present of all importance by subordinating it to an end in the future; for this means the imaginary accumulation of all importance in the imagined future, rather than the perception and realisation of the true importance of everything that exists.
There cannot be ebb and tide in eternity, no meaningless intervals between intermittent harvests, but a fullness of being which cannot suffer impoverishment of a single instant. When life seems to be idle or empty, it is not due to any curtailment of the infinity of the Truth; but it is due to one's own lack of capacity to enter into its full possession."
oops! I mean MEHER Baba says: "The illusion which most aspirants find it difficult to shake is the belief that the infinite Truth is an object which has to be attained in some distant future, and that all life is just a means for this attainment...." etc. etc.
and yes, i do personally find (like "most aspirants" as Baba says) that particular illusion is somewhat difficult to shake.....lol! so so much for be here now......probably just for very advanced saints..... lol! i guess that's life..... :-D :-D :-D
excellent comments, Dave!!! i must say that i wrote this poem several years ago, and over time i have found my patience increasing exponentially with ** a lot ** of effort, but also with much success. the more i hold fast to my spiritual path & especially to my efforts of constant remembrance of Meher Baba . . . the more and more constancy and freedom i have to act with clarity. i look forward to your responses to my writing eagerly!!! please keep the comments coming. :-)
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