If the Buddha Got Stuck_ A Handbook for Change on a Spiritual Path - Charlotte Sophia Kasl [98]
For nearly fifty years the Buddha taught those who would listen. He was both rational, practical, and tender—a cool head and a warm heart. He never positioned himself as being other than human and was admittedly fallible and open to criticism. He was known to say, “I summon you, disciples, to tell me: have you any fault to find with me in word or in deed?” His compassion and kindness toward others became deeply embedded in his message.
While watching a video of the His Holiness the Dalai Lama I was struck by his laughter, warmth, and friendliness as he reached out to people with no perceptible barrier in between. When someone would ask why a certain healing happened or wanted reasons for this or that, he often smiled, pondered for a moment, then said, “I don’t know,” shrugged his shoulders, and laughed. He lives beyond the stories, the analysis, the reasons why, just as the Buddha did. Yet similar to the Buddha he is drawn to scientific studies and quantum physics, which help us understand the nature of reality. He raises money to help people from Tibet and is dedicated to his meditation practice.
When you are awake and alive, the message is in your being—the steadiness, friendliness, honesty, and kindness you radiate in the world. This is not to portray a kind of syrupy sweetness often associated with “enlightenment.” Rather, you become real and respond to the moment from the core of your being, seeing through the superficial coverings into the hearts of others.
Friend, our closeness is this:
anywhere you put your foot, feel me
in the firmness under you.
How is it with this love,
I see your world and not you?
RUMI,THE ESSENTIAL RUMI
62. Let Go of Self and Come into the Spirit of Life
The only true happiness is knowing who we are—feeling an unbounded, deeply awakened love consciousness. The concept of being born again is to me an awaking from a feeling of separateness. I imagine people in slow motion, immersing themselves in a beautiful lake or river, then coming up, taking a breath, and awakening to the realization of how awesome, unbounded, and connected it all is—the water, sky, air, the ability to breathe, and this body we live in. In tribal communities no one is alone—everyone is an integral part of the whole and people are encouraged to develop their particular talents and strengths so they can give their best to the community. Our talents and strengths are not just personal attributes; they are life moving through us—something to enjoy and to give away.
As we come to experience ourselves as part of one endless thread woven together into the fabric of existence, our inner experience of living shifts dramatically. Along with becoming more relaxed, we all become visionaries for creating a more just, equitable, and peaceful society. Being guided by this reality is to live as the Buddha, with compassion and kindness for all. As a result, we realize that to live out of balance with the earth, animals, and all sentient life ricochets back on us. The elements that sustain life, such as clean air, water, healthy vegetation, and the ozone are not bounded by countries, religion, or ethnicity. To a person who is truly alive, these elements become more precious than gold, status, or power. They are life itself.
Jesus’ words, “When you do it to the least of us you do it unto me,” also reflect the consciousness of the Buddha. Love is not a special feeling we save for family and friends; it is the embodiment of a heart open to the suffering and joys of all people. There is no “other,” only our reflection in a thousand mirrors.
We create peace in this world through accepting ourselves fully and bringing our full aliveness to whatever we do and whatever we are, softening the barriers between ourselves and others.