See the Divine even in Obstacles

[Guest guest]

It was a small hut in a jungle.

It had a door made of bamboo. The door was closed with a cord. The elderly

sage hesitated for a while and eventually called out loudly - "Anyone inside??"

The cord loosened and the fragile door opened slightly. An impatient young

face half peeped out. the face softened at the sight of the sage standing

outside the hut. However, the young face was unable to show a welcome gesture.

The

elderly sage became embarrassed. "I think you were meditating. I am sorry for

having disturbed you. I will come later" - so saying, the elderly sage left.

The fragile door closed once again. The young monk closed his eyes even more

firmly. As he was about to enter a meditative mood, he heard someone entering

the

hut. He opened his eyes and looked around. No one was there! He closed his

eyes once again. He heard someone laughing!!

Inner Voice: Brother! Did my coming disturb you?

Young Monk: Lord! I am meditating only to see you. How can your coming be a

disturbance?

Inner Voice: But you seemed agitated when I just came?

Young Monk: But was it not someone else who had come?

Inner Voice: I am the true Chaitanya.[consciousness] Can that which is not I,

move at all?

Can it come near you? Can it call you? Can it go back? [purport: Chaitanya

the Self is in everyone, it is all pervading]

Young Monk: Alas! My Lord!! It did not occur to me at all!!!

Inner Voice: If it does not occur to you, then what you are doing is not

meditation at all!

If you realize that what you consider as an "obstacle", is also one of my

forms, your meditation will never be disturbed.

 

Drop of Nectar, Bhaktimala July 2004 Jai Guru Datta

some months earlier there was a similar teaching in Bhaktimala, saying that a

litmus test of one s spiritual progress is as to whether one realizes the

faults of others while worshipping God/Guru. It said that he who realizes faults

of others during his worship, is not advanced if I remember correctly. I was

pondering, what does "while worshipping God/Guru" mean, as one should think of

God/Guru continuously, it would be inappropriate to notice any fault of others

at all? ?????

 

Jai Guru Datta