A mother took her son to the psychiatrist and complained that he was always thinking about sex.
The doctor drew a square on a piece of paper, looked at the boy and asked, "Son, what comes to your mind when you see this drawing?"
The kid answered, "Looks like a window."
The doc said, "What do you think is going on behind that window?"
"People are behind that window," replied the kid. "They are huggin', kissin' and makin' love."
The doctor drew a circle and asked, "What comes to your mind when you see this?"
The kid said, "That's a porthole."
"And what do you think is going on behind that porthole?" inquired the doctor.
"Ah," said the kid, "There are people behind that porthole with their clothes off, drinking."
The doctor said, "Son, would you mind leaving the room? I would like to discuss this with your mother."
The boy got up to leave and as he reached the door he turned around and said, "Hey, Doc, can I have those dirty pictures you drew?"
It would not be a misnomer to say that we don't know what we are doing: we are aimlessly drifting around, thinking other people's thoughts and doing what they expect from us. And, like the little boy, thinking dirty while, at the same time, pretending to be sophisticated. And, we are so used to living according to the ways of the world, that we have forgotten our true selves. So much so, that living the society's way has become our second nature. Or even our first nature. Because, it takes guts to live the way we want. It means, people mistakenly believe, that you will be cut away from the world. On the contrary, you look at people from a truly positive perspective, as if you are looking at him/her for the first time in your life. As you go along the path of meditative awareness, you annihilate your past slowly and steadily, and that leaves you with a true inner silence. You will be so silent inside, that as you gradually learn to live from inside out, you begin to be in tune with godliness.
It has been a long time since I've written something in my blog. Not because I don't have the time, but because I've gone to my village in a remote corner of India, which doesn't have an internet connection. And it is so small that we don't have public transport too. Only, of late, the four-wheelers have started plying to ferry people to the nearest rural headquarters four miles away. Every year I go to my village for two weeks, but this time, I went on some family work. Spent the whole time sorting things out. One thing I like about my village, however, is that since it is summer, and the sowing season is yet to start, I can see miles and miles of nothingness. It is so relaxing to the eyes that I make it a meditation looking into the nothingness. I can see the horizon where the earth and the sky meet, the dancing of the clouds, and the stillness of noiselessness. What more can you expect?
At the same time, I went on long hours of cycling deep into the countryside admiring the virgin beauty of the backlands. It's truly heaven. And I loved every moment of it. I'm desisting from describing the glorious moments I've relished, because even describing them would give away the charm.
My mission
To jog-bicycle around the world, climb the mountains, swim the seas and soar the skies. Since they are not remotely possible, I settled for a daily dose of spiritual triathlon -- jogging, cycling and meditation -- necessarily in that order. My idea of a spiritual triathlon is 10 miles of jogging and 10 miles of cycling followed by an hour of meditation. I sincerely feel that not less than a spiritual marathon can tame the mind and mould it the way you want it to. So go ahead and have fun taking a dekko at my spiritual athleticism. But don't forget to drop in a word or two on how you feel about my blog and my way of life. Your advice is always valuable to go that extra length to the Garden of Eden
Food for cycling thought
A Zen Teacher saw five of his students return from the market, riding their bicycles. When they had dismounted, the teacher asked the students, "Why are you riding your bicycles?"
The first student replied, "The bicycle is carrying this sack of potatoes. I am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!" The teacher praised the student, saying, "You are a smart boy. When you grow old, you will not walk hunched over, as I do."
The second student replied, "I love to watch the trees and fields pass by as I roll down the path." The teacher commended the student, "Your eyes are open and you see the world."
The third student replied, "When I ride my bicycle, I am content to chant, nam myoho renge kyo." The teacher gave praise to the third student, "Your mind will roll with the ease of a newly trued wheel."
The fourth student answered, "Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony with all beings." The teacher was pleased and said, "You are riding on the golden path of non-harming."
The fifth student replied, "I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle." The teacher went and sat at the feet of the fifth student, and said, "I am your disciple."
Monday, June 4, 2007
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