“Enlightenment is a destructive process. It has nothing to do with becoming better or being happier. Enlightenment is the crumbling away of untruth. It’s seeing through the facade of pretense. It’s the complete eradication of everything we imagined to be true.”
— Adyashanti
When I came in contact with the above quote it really struck home in a time when I needed it. I guess that is how it happens. There's a question maybe we can't quite formulate, and an answer comes, or at the very least, a new perspective. I welcome the challenge of viewing something in a new way. Discovering a new opening or outlook pushes my ingrained thought patterns or stuck points of view.
When teaching, I don't illustrate the path of yoga as rainbows and yellow brick roads. Often the path becomes quite murky when we start to unravel. In truth, that is what it is all about, a shedding, because our purity is within and nowhere else. Sure, we are inundated with images that it comes from out there somewhere, externally. One of the many reasons consumerism is at the level it is. It's not all bad, no, there are necessities and also why not enjoy. However, in the same breath, when entering on to the path of yoga, or other spiritual practice, sometimes things feel like they are getting worse before they get better, in the end, an exposing feeling may not feel the most comfortable, but just might be what you need. This has been my experience.
I remember going through a period where the tears fell like an unending stream. No, it wasn't pretty on the outside, I felt fragile, I felt shattered, I felt fragmented. Through the process I felt lost in an environment where being on purpose was an expectation. I allowed myself comfort in face of uncertainty when a mentor at the time told me, "it's okay to not know in this moment, this means you are open. It's okay not to know where to turn next, it will only broaden your mind to possibility."
At the root, authenticity comes to mind. I want to taste what is real even if that taste is sour. Throw away the pretense. It's the down and dirty, grounding, touching my nose to the earth that really teaches me something. I've observed it in those on the realized path. What brings me to my knees softens my heart.
3 Insightful Comments:
Wonderful entry, Laruga. Thank you for sharing. I catch myself when practicing on mornings where "everything is wonderful"; my mind drifts, wanders and is quite noisy. In other words, I take the practice for granted and allow my concentration to wane.
On the mornings where I've felt like everything around me is crumbling..oddly, and in a very beautiful and yet tragic, poignant way, those are the practices where my mind kindly settles and I feel every movement..every sinewy muscle move in perfect harmony. Those are the days where I am so very thankful to have such a beautiful practice to remind me that I'm alive.-Lu
Wow... this really makes me stop and think. I will quote you on that, what brings me to my knees softens my heart :)
See you soon!
Jasmin
That last line brought me to my knees and softened my heart. Thank you for such a beautiful entry. I love you Laruga.
Regards,
Ahmad Jafar
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