"Where is the true home?", that is the question of many spiritual
seekers. Most traditional religions pointed into heaven after death as the true
home. But in the age where science and technology have been such sophisticated,
the dogma of heaven is no longer satisfying many seekers.
On the path of meditation in particular, heaven is not much discussed. The
thing which attract many people is the home of enlightenment. As the
terminology, enlightenment brings light to many darkness of confusion and
ignorance. The question then, how people can return back to the home of
enlightenment?
The unique characteristic of meditation journey, all things that are
related with enlightenment are available inside. And the task of seekers is
similar to a well-experienced gardener. Well-fertile soil, healthy trees,
water, the sun are available within. The homework is only one, how to mix the
unique elements within into a garden of enlightenment.
Similar to the flower trees, frangipani needs little water, lotus needs a
lot of water. The same thing happen to the garden inside. Each of us has unique
characteristics that need to be recognized. That is why there is teacher who
wrote: "the king of knowledge is the knowledge of who you are".
The beauty of meditation - especially at the perfection stage not at the
developmental stage, there is no elements within which is discarded. The
well-experienced gardener will not throw away the waste of the garden.
Everything is processed into compost, then put it back under the tree flowers.
And one day the compost will bloom into flowers.
In the same way, inner seekers are not suggested to throw away anger and
fear, but to process them into beautiful flowers of enlightenment. In a short
and simple language: anger is an evolving flower".
In this approach, one does not only stop all the inner fighting as the
source of many diseases and conflicts, but also taking good care of the inner
garden. First of all inner travellers take good care of the garden within. When
one is diligent, patience, consistent, as a matter of time life will blossom
into the flower of enlightenment.
To make it concrete, enlightenment requires two accumulation of wealth. The
first is the accumulation of merits. This is similar to planting the seeds of
trees within. To forgive, to give, to accept, to serve, to love are some of the
ways. The second wealth to accumulate is the accumulation of wisdom. This kind
of wealth can be accumulated through the deep practice of awareness.
The accumulation of merits can be done in the daily life. But the
accumulation of wisdom can only be attained by doing any daily activities with
full awareness. While one is eating, drinking, working, praying, driving,
meditating, all are done with full awareness. Whenever there are extreme events
(whether one is too sad or too happy), learn to return back to the breath, to
connect with the energy of consciousness within.
Among many practices of awareness, the deepest one is called paratantra
which see everyone and every events as a complicated network of cause and
effect. Angry people as an example. Behind the anger there are immature
parents, the unorganized education, the depressing environment, etc. Within
this perspective, other's anger does not make you angry. On the contrary, it
makes flowers of compassion bloom within.
This is the garden of enlightenment. The accumulation of merits make
someone plant the seeds enlightenment within. Practice of deep awareness makes
the inner seeds bloom into a beautiful flower. And the only reason why this
flower bloom is to perfect our service to all beings.
Photo Courtesy: Twitter @fatihalanresmi.
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