"Why spiritual seekers should meet harming enemies along the
journey?", a woman asked. To be honest, spiritual journey is not
a journey which is full of pleasure. In many parts, spiritual journey
is even very painful.
There are two approaches available to explain the presence of harming enemies along the spiritual journey. The first approach is mirror like approach. In this approach, the presence of enemy is only a mirror that someone still has inner battle within themselves. The harder a person fight against themselves, the more external enemies will harm them.
There are two approaches available to explain the presence of harming enemies along the spiritual journey. The first approach is mirror like approach. In this approach, the presence of enemy is only a mirror that someone still has inner battle within themselves. The harder a person fight against themselves, the more external enemies will harm them.
The ancient Japanese samurai used this approach. Each time the samurai would fight, they did not see the enemy outside, but concentrate on looking at the inner battle. On the path of perfection, that's how the samurai called their journey, spiritual journey is a journey of self-discovery. And the victory against the enemy outside is just a mirror how peaceful and thankful a person within themselves. The well-known journey of Miyamoto Musashi is a very good example in this case.
The second approach to explain the presence of harming enemies on the spiritual journey is the approach of purification and perfection. In this approach, the harming enemies are like sandpapers that purifying and perfecting. The harder the external enemy harmed someone, the more their souls are purified and perfected.
A number of saints like Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr.,
Nelson Mandela, HH the Dalai Lama grow on this path. The characteristic
of souls who grow on this path is simple, life is characterized
by unimaginable suffering. And after souls passed the painful suffering
with deep sincerity and honesty, by then there is light that
emerges from their souls. In the story of Jesus, the light is still
radiating even after his physical body passed away more
than 2,000 years.
The lesson to be drawn from these stories is really simple, suffering is not a threat, it is a spiritual opportunity. First of all it is an opportunity of self discovery. Then it grows into self-purification and self perfection. The last lesson is really beautiful, it is suffering which makes the soul radiating bright light.
In the West there is a spiritual heritage like this: "Unless you love animals, some parts of your soul are still dark". Every friend who love animals and take good care of animals will understand, taking good care of animals is the same as perfecting the quality of love inside. And when the quality of one's love to animals improved, by then life getting brighter and brighter.
On the path of compassion, the latest spiritual message is changed into something like this: "Unless you love your enemy, then your compassion will never be perfect". To the ordinary people, this is a scaring message. To beautiful souls who grow deep, this is a very thrilling message.
The lesson to be drawn from these stories is really simple, suffering is not a threat, it is a spiritual opportunity. First of all it is an opportunity of self discovery. Then it grows into self-purification and self perfection. The last lesson is really beautiful, it is suffering which makes the soul radiating bright light.
In the West there is a spiritual heritage like this: "Unless you love animals, some parts of your soul are still dark". Every friend who love animals and take good care of animals will understand, taking good care of animals is the same as perfecting the quality of love inside. And when the quality of one's love to animals improved, by then life getting brighter and brighter.
On the path of compassion, the latest spiritual message is changed into something like this: "Unless you love your enemy, then your compassion will never be perfect". To the ordinary people, this is a scaring message. To beautiful souls who grow deep, this is a very thrilling message.
Mainly because it is through the presence of enemies the quality
of compassion getting better day by day. In this
perspective, it is understandable when St. Augustine once said:
"When Jesus approached the cross, he was similar
to bridegroom who was going to meet the bride".
Every beautiful soul who arrived here then sees life as a mountain of compassion. On the mountain of compassion, souls are here not because of having sins, beautiful souls are here simply because of wanting to help all beings to be back home.
Every beautiful soul who arrived here then sees life as a mountain of compassion. On the mountain of compassion, souls are here not because of having sins, beautiful souls are here simply because of wanting to help all beings to be back home.
Author: Gede Prama
Photo Courtesy: Twitter @wongiky
----
Pesan – pesan Gede Prama dalam bahasa Indonesia bisa dibaca di www.gedeprama.blogdetik.com atau fb Gede Prama's Compassion.
No comments:
Post a Comment