spiritual sayings
The Teacher Within
Recently, many have asked me about other living contemporary spiritual teachers of today. Of course, we are also including the recently departed ones of the past century. I do not know if we should address all of them, if any at all. Now, how should I approach such a thing as this? To be honest, none of them really matter much to me. That is my take on things such as this. Honestly, none of them concern me in the least. Without any form of arrogance, I would say which of them could even touch what I have come to say or do. I have come to meet and challenge their every word.
The Pontiff, Pope John Paul II, died in recent times after heading the Roman Catholic Church for over a quarter of a century. This so-called religious man, what exactly was his role in spirituality? I mean truthfully, not out of fantasy or wishful thinking, what was his affect on the human race? To what actual affect was his life in this atrocious world that we still live in today? I would say no actual affect was he at all and so they bring in another character to take his place and the same delusion continues. A new human icon is erected to lead the people on a path of self-deception and escapism. To see this is to see a very ugly thing. How sad this world is, to think someone can lead you to the truth.
Now, the many so-called teachers that have come out of the East professing there subtle and masquerade form of Hinduism, yoga and techniques of meditation, what actual affect did they have on the world in the truest sense of that word? The West slowly became engrossed in all that nonsense to no avail. It does not work for the oriental and nor does it work for the occidental. If you look into all this and question the whole affair of spiritual practice, you will discover it leads nowhere. What difference does the lives of any so-called spiritual leader, past or present make on any of us, actually? Did they leave a great impression on the heart of man that would lead him to righteous living? Do not say they did when in fact you have not awakened yourself and therefore live in righteousness. For I would wonder how do you know what they were expounding was truth or simply extravagant words that seemed of the truth when you are still in darkness.
Can another human being, past or present free another? No matter how great or liberated that person may be, he cannot. What I say does not matter, to see the fact of your chaotic life speaks for itself. Obviously, another cannot awaken you. I see clearly that it is up to each of us to awaken to the truth within ourselves without looking for the aide of another no matter how famous or infamous they may be.
Now, as a fellow human being, may I ask you a fundamental question? How do we discover the significance of life? If there is any significance, if there is any at all, how do we go about awakening that actually? Do I accept or deny what others before me have proclaimed or must I look within myself for the truth? Can truth be realized through another? Obviously, it cannot. If you are at all intelligent, the seeing of this fact may touch you deeply. Only in looking, exploring and inquiring into this thing called life is there insight, which points to the unknown. Can you and me, actually find out the very meaning of this thing called life?
Only in the power of seeing for oneself is there the realization of the Truth. So, I ask you, is it possible to discover Truth without knowing oneself? I think that is the starting question into all this. I do not know if ones’ self can ask a question beyond its self. It can only look within its own confinement. This ego-self, which is composed primarily of thoughts and feelings, is confined to its own limitations of knowledge and ignorance. To ask anything beyond its self is self-defeating from the very beginning. This ego-self, imprisoned within knowledge has no means to the unknown. What one may imagine beyond its self is delusional and has no meaning. When the ego-self thinks in terms of religion and spirituality, it is nothing more than a projection of its own darkness. Through the power of projection, this entity casts a shadow within its own ignorance mistaking the shadow to be an actuality. This projection of ignorance is at the heart of all the religions of the world. To accept anything as true beyond the self is the continuity of obscurity and all its vicarious lures.
Therefore, from the very beginning in ones search for understanding there can be no following of any kind. Do not follow my words or my life. Please, walk into this with me but do not merely follow or try to emulate what I say. My perception is not your own. You must see this for yourself and only then will you discover that freedom, that liberation beyond darkness.
The vitality of self-knowledge is born in every aspect of your life and your own temperament, when you learn the proficiency of perception. Self-knowledge comes when there is perception of your every outward and inward movements, actions and thoughts.
What is most important is to awaken the teacher within oneself. To bring into being the intense yearning to learn what you are. Self-knowledge is not to accumulate knowledge about yourself but to awaken that sense of deep interest, curiosity and wonder of seeing life without judgment or condemnation. When we are attentive to our life that immeasurable essence awakens.
To live life fully is to be sensitively alive to ones surroundings and the subtleness of nature, the birds, the trees, and the open skies. It is that fullness of perception that is free of boundaries and limitations that gives significance to our lives. Therefore, it is of supreme importance, that we learn to live, look and learn without forethought and conscious effort. Only through the perception of our external and internal environment will that essence beyond measure awaken within us.
For most of us, we are completely oblivious of our existence. Do we ever take notice of the ugliness and beauty in and around us? We live a life of automation, clouded by the noise of the ego-self, within us. Being unaware and never watchful of our thoughts, feelings and actions is blindness. So to ask of God or whether or not there is something beyond this life, is rather absurd without understanding oneself. Only through the fullness of perception of ones everyday living, is there the awakening of life. This perception, which is holistic, comes when the mind is still, completely silent. In this silence, the sacredness awakens within you. Then you discover if there is the unknown, the sacred essence beyond beliefs and mere words.
Through self-knowledge, the very understanding of oneself, from moment to moment, there is a movement of wisdom. In the understanding of oneself, the movement of wisdom is aroused. Beyond your thoughts and all your feelings, the sacredness enters your being and you are living in the freedom of joy, beauty and affection. In this essence of being, there is no need to ask another about the sacredness of life. In this understanding, an unspeakable silence brings delight within you. When there is the stillness of silence then there is spontaneity, creation and the awakening of immortal life.
Adonis Alexander
(Author of Secret Sayings of Adonis)
Click here to go to next page on spiritual truth and meditation
