The spiritual journey is the journey of self-realisation and sharing the truth of life with the fellow travellers. Many people start this journey and very soon go astray because they often forget why they went on this journey. They practise all kinds of meditation, experience the joy of existence and start feeling being special, holier than others. Such seekers who originally had begun their journey for self-realisation forget themselves and become interested with the special attention that they receive from others.
This gives them the feeling of power over others and this power corrupts them. The real seekers of truth should remember that there are many pitfalls on this journey and hence they should remain alert. The spiritual journey is essentially an inner journey of meditation, manifesting in love, compassion and sharing of bliss. It is a pilgrimage of being human and reverence for all life. Osho explains: “Life’s aim is life itself — more life, deeper life, higher life, but life always. There is nothing higher than life. And a reverence for life is a necessary corollary. If life’s aim is life, then reverence for life becomes your religion. Then respect other people’s life. Don’t interfere in anybody’s life, don’t try to force somebody to follow a certain path that you think is right.”
He adds: “The world does not need any organised religion. The world certainly needs religious people — individuals in search of deeper and richer life. And as life becomes infinitely deep, it is the paradise; you have entered the kingdom of God. And the doors are within your own heart.” Buddha taught the monks: When you meditate and you feel silence, serenity, a deep joy bubbling inside your being, don’t hold onto it; give it to the whole world. And don’t worry because the more you give, the more you will become capable of receiving it.
The gesture of giving is of tremendous importance once you know that giving does not take anything from you; on the contrary, it multiplies your experiences.
A great baul mystic Chandidas sings the song of being human and sharing our love with all the human dignity. He says: “Sabar upare manus satya tahar upare nahi (The supreme truth is man, there is nothing more important than he is).”
Sri Aurobindo, a mystic poet himself, has translated one of the most beautiful poems of Chandidas:
Life is a bliss that cannot long abide, but while thou livest, love
For love the sky, was founded,
earth upheaved from the deep cry, of waters,
and by love is sweetly tied
The golden cordage of our youth and pride.
If meditation and sadhana does not lead to love for fellow human beings and life in all its forms, it cannot be called spiritual or religious.
Swami Chaitanya Keerti, editor of Osho World, is the author of Osho Fragrance
