Lantern Of Compassion

"What is the lantern of spiritual journey?", this is a question that is raised by many people. Similar to climbing the peak of mountain, at every stage we need different vehicle. When crossing the highway, people need a car. Once travelers enter walking path, they need horses. When climbing a cliff, seekers need rope. The long spiritual journey is also similar. Almost all people in this age begin the spiritual journey with intellect. Reading books, dialogue, attending meditation classes are parts of the thirsty intellect. Even spiritual friends who spent a lot of time in silence, they still have conversation with themselves. Again, this is also the lantern of intellect (the language of head). There comes a time in spiritual journey where the intellect is no longer adequate. At this point, spiritual seekers turn into instincts (messages which are deeply hidden in our body). A strange feeling when entering a new place, a feeling of being quickly familiar with certain teachers, some people even cried when they firstly meet certain teachers, that is the ways instinct try to tell something. Intellect and instinct are not the whole story. When both of them come to their limits, that's the time when spiritual seekers should ask the help of intuition (the language of heart). In this stage, one begin to see that all beings are suffering souls who call our help. They are all here to make our heart beautiful. Sometimes simply by seeing a skinny cat alone, tears may drop. This is the language of heart. At the level of heart like this, people find peace and happiness by serving as many beings as possible. In a simple language, helping is nourishing. To serve is to enter the home of soul. There is a deep feeling that soul is safe and comfortable to live at the latest home. This explains why Mother Teresa found deep peace amid the chaotic city of Calcutta. This also explains why Mahatma Gandhi left all of his luxuries as famous lawyer in South Africa, then returned to India using the cloth of simplicity. In a plain and profound language of HH Dalai Lama: "My religion is kindness". It should be noted again, heart is not a lantern in all spiritual journey. There is a time when seekers are mature enough in the heart, and then they learn to be a witness. Hands are still serving. Hearts are still loving. But deep within, one begins to be a witness. Service is no longer strengthening the ego. Love is no longer make a person suffer. Mainly because a seeker has become a witness. Anyone who has spent much time to be a witness will understand, the consistency and the persistency to be a witness is similar to a womb which gives birth to a beautiful baby named compassion. This is the lantern of people at the peak of spiritual mountain, it is the lantern of compassion. It is not the ordinary compassion, but compassion as the natural nature of soul. It is similar to beautiful flowers and cool trees. The natural nature of beautiful flowers will invite the coming of butterflies, the natural nature of cool trees will invite the coming of birds. In the same way, the natural nature of a perfect witness is compassion. At this stage, do not talk about meditation, do not talk about serving, even when a perfect witness sleep, he/she still share lantern of compassion. Welcome home beautiful souls. Author: Gede Prama Photo Courtesy: Twitter @shedancestibet. Pesan Gede Prama dalam bahasa Indonesia bisa dibaca di gedeprama.blogdetik.com atau fb Gede Prama's Compassion