Life on this planet is hard – difficulties come from many directions and take away the peace of mind. People take to religions in order to feel secure. Some adopt a system of meditation that appeals to them. Both those approaches have helped them reach some composure and stability in life. However, on careful observation, we find that they come in more as palliatives and not as a cure to the malady. The root cause is not looked into. It is like trying to correct a malfunction in an automobile without locating the fault first. Shields are developed against life giving temporary solace. Further, those systems are result-oriented and so they create a hopeful future making the present merely a passage. As a result, fear sets in subconsciously in the deeper layers of the mind. It needs certain courage to face the ‘Now’ without a shield. As of now, only a small percentage of human beings is aware of this and so many fall prey to the habitual neurology of clinging to religious or meditative systems. The Malady
The thought created ‘I’ is a result of the body-mind identification with oneself due to the habitual neurology; that neurology is handed down to us as children genetically. By the time the child grows into the age of three or so the identification begins and continues to grow until it becomes a hardened entity. The ego thus formed acts like the true self. As a result of the hardened ego the human being behaves like a robot. That is how we can predict a person’s behavior if we have known him or her for a few years. It is the robot that is afraid of being attacked or dissolved. It knows that it is thought created and so ephemeral; thus, it is afraid of mortality. This apprehension causes it to identify itself with a nation, religion etc and, in that process, develop emotional attachment to them. It derives a sense of permanency through them.
Through simple awareness it is possible to dissolve the robot once we see the above process of the robotic development in oneself and in others. That awareness starts an inward psychological journey which gradually diffuses the robot. It is a great relief to be freed from the robot because there would then be no need to depend on any system for mental peace. Every practice to reach a predetermined result – such as fulfillment of desires, being in the good books of God, entering heaven after death etc – is seen as a matter of self-imposed burden because they relate to the illusory self. The consequent inner relief and calmness manifest themselves as unqualified compassion towards all, irrespective of what nation or religion the other belongs to.
Meditation without the Meditator
Once we are freed from all the self-imposed burden, living itself, from morning till night, becomes a movement in meditation. The usual process of being driven by the ego with its self-interest would no longer drive the daily psychology. There is the readiness to meet life without a shield. It would also help us apply ourselves to the practical responsibilities with passionate involvement. We would love whatever we do. This is what may be called being in meditation without the meditator. Such a mindset has no need for emotional attachment to any system and so has no enemies. That is being truly religious.
The book ‘In Quest of the Deeper Self’ deals with related topics. Visit the website http//www.spirituality.yolasite.com