A young friend has asked – even when one comes to understand that it is one’s mind that causes pain by dwelling into illusory past and the future (illusory – as they do not exist in this moment), why does one still suffer by falling into the trap of this mind, time and again?
She has also asked – does all this in someway mean accepting the power of destiny? Resigning to the fact, that there is nothing you can do about future and what has to happen will happen and it will be for your good. Does it all mean just the acceptance of your situation and trying not to be perturbed about it?
First of all, I am very happy to find that you have understood that source of pain and suffering is our mind and not in the external circumstances. External attractions give hope of happiness but invariably turn out to be otherwise. This opens up possibilities for evolution of an individual.
Not many understand it till their last breath and that is why there have been so many organizations (for serving the needy), crusades, revolutions and wars to restore justice and create a Utopian Society (Rama Rajya) where everyone is happy. Actions for creation of such a society have been going on from time immemorial and will continue to be so with no change inasmuch as injustice, poverty, disease and suffering have continued to exist even after so many Avatars, Messengers and son of God.
Dwelling deeper into this aspect of life unmistakably makes one see first truth of life of which Gautam Buddha speaks – jeevan dukh hai (life is suffering).
This understanding leads one to look for reasons for suffering which is the second truth of which Gautam Buddha speaks – dukh ke karan hain (there are reasons for suffering). And one finds that the desires riding on hopes arising in the mind is the reason – in fact the desires and hopes constitute the mind (mind here refers to chitta or mun) – when they are not there, the mind is also not there. You now have a toehold on to the second stage. Wonderful!
The dilemma or problem which you are facing arises from the fact that you consider that this understanding (mind is the cause of suffering) alone should suffice for getting you out of mental trap. You want to get rid of mental trap through mind itself. It is like trying to lift oneself by one’s shoelaces. Many a seeker falls into this trap and feel hopeless – consequently their minds are filled with too many questions – there is too much of noise, as Supeji describes it.
But one saving grace is that after getting a toehold on the second stage, one is simultaneously ready for the next step. Next, the third truth, Buddha says is – dukh mukti ke upaya hain (there are methods to be free of suffering). All the masters are telling us these methods (spiritual practices).
Those who have followed any of these methods, sooner or later find themselves one with the fourth truth which He speaks of – dukh mukta awastha hai (there is a state where there is no suffering). So, one is not helpless – many keep reaching this state.
Now coming back to the question – why, inspite of our understanding that mind is the cause of suffering, do we keep falling into its trap and suffer? Reason is simple. In our present state, we are nothing more than the mind – the real Self is hidden. Mind is the only reality with us. Because of that it wields unquestionable power and can even sacrifice this body to satisfy its cravings / dictates (recognition for war heroes, satisfying craving for eatables which one knows to be harmful to the body etc.). Until the real Self is uncovered, the mind continues to masquerade as an independent entity (Aham or ‘I’) – distinct from everything and everyone around. Thereby it comes in conflict with others and experiences suffering.
So when we become aware of the nature of mind, we try to modify it through mental resolves (like new year resolutions) – that is the only way we know for finding solutions to the problems confronting us. But it is not the modification of the mind (what psychiatrists and counsellors try) that will help us – it may, at best, make the life a little bit tolerable for a while – trying not to be perturbed by the circumstances does not really help – one needs to uncover the real Self, the ‘being’. When it (Self) is there, the mind turns into a utility like other limbs of the body and looses its power to enslave one and make one suffer.
Osho warns, when he says, do not try to change your conduct (response mechanism) in the external world. Firstly, one does not succeed in doing so for long [many a people try to give up sweets and fried eatables (people with excess weight), cigarettes, drinks etc. – either they fail soon or switch over to an alternative addiction] and secondly trying to change means that one tries to do something against one’s nature and it leads to conflict and hypocrisy. In fact the process of self improvement through mental understanding suits it (mind) as it helps it to continue to be relevant and in command. He says – just sow the seed [take to meditations (any spiritual practices)] and wait (with infinite patience) – allow the plant to grow, it will surely bloom.
So mind is relevant and a help till one reaches second stage. Thereafter its role is over – one has to take to some spiritual practice from an authentic source and patiently pursue it. If modification in one’s practice is necessary, it will always come from some source at appropriate time. One need not worry about that at all – the Guru Tatwa takes care of it – one gets help even from masters about whom one has never heard.
Another thing to know is that the frequency and duration of being caught up with a thought or emotion (desire or reaction) depends upon level of life energy (prana or consciousness) which one has. If one is low on this energy (predominance of tamas) the frequency and duration would me more. Person will be sucked into repetitive thought patterns and emotions and will find it difficult to come out of them. The spiritual practices raise this level of energy by increasing intake of prana and reducing its leakage and this enables one to come out their grip.
When one takes to spiritual practices and pursues them with patience, one starts realizing that situations perceived to be difficult / adverse were a help rather than a hindrance and that the people around are loving and beautiful. One also knows that there is no injustice in this world, everyone gets into situations which one deserves according to one’s Karmas and that one need not resign to the fate (in a state of helplessness). On the contrary one starts feeling grateful to the persons and things around. This realization will slowly but surely come and then life is a celebration as it is – without any modifications.
By way of an example, I am sharing my conversation with a friend. A few days back, I rang up one of my close friends (who had resigned from her job and did not reasonably succeed in her endevour in the alternate occupation and had problems with her family members as well) just to know the name of a book. As usual on being asked about how I am – I said "masti mein as usual”. It was a welcome surprise for me to hear - “I am also coming there”, meaning in the state of masti. Last three years, she was in bad shape on emotional plane with a few moments of highs and very many lows – lows giving rise to a number of questions. But her practices supported by guidance and grace of masters have taken her out of suffering even without there being any significant change in her external circumstances. Of course, soon they (external circumstances ) will also change.
Now let us see the situation from another angle. Considering the time we devote on preparing ourselves for just making a living (at least 20 years) which all animals do effortlessly, the investment of three years for such transformation is insignificant. But of course, when one goes through adverse situations with consequent suffering and one’s efforts in spiritual field do not bring any immediate relief in short span of a few months, one has that feeling of helplessness – the tunnel appears to be dark – no light at the end. But if one perseveres, rewards are disproportionately large. Patience and perseverance are the keys.
While going through the practices, as an aid, one may read :
“The Prophet” by Khalil Gibran – a small book in the form of poems with deep insights in a very condensed form;
“Same soul many bodies” by Brian Wiess, modern living psychiatrist – makes a light reading – his studies based on results of regression and progression therapy show how one’s relationships and incidents in the present life are the consequence of relationships and incidents in earlier lives;
“The Power of Now” by Ekhardt Tolle who accidentally became an enlightened master – the book gives deep insights for one’s transformation without referring to any traditional spiritual texts – it appeals to the logical mind; and
“The book of Mirdad” by Mikahil Naimy which unmistakably expresses the truth of life (Osho has included this book in his list of the books, he loved).
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