You Don't Belong Here

NIRANJAN S MEHTA





In a temple at Delphi, in Greece, spiritual seekers meditate before a stone tablet with the words `Know Thyself ' inscribed on it.This message was given by Socrates to seekers of truth more than 2,000 years ago. The same message has been given in different words in different cultures by philosophers like Adi Shankara, Ramana Maharshi, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Rajchandra: Ask yourself, “Who am I?“ Others have said: “Know the knower.“The journey begins from the place where you are to the place where you have always been.You have to experience your presence and know that you are the master of your mind, senses and body . In Gurdjieff 's words, “Life is real, only then, when I am.“ Ultimately , the mind has to merge into its source, which is pure consciousness.
Once you begin to separate from your false identities like your body , thoughts, desires and external happenings, you realise that bliss is the result of the suspension of mental activities. Anxiety results from desires and expectations. Awareness has to be created so that the mind does not slip back to its old habits.
What would be needed to remain steadfast in abiding calm and undisturbed bliss? The answer can be found in the practice of meditation. Meditation should not be a time-bound action but a permanent state of total awareness and being. In this state, the past, present and future have contracted themselves into a single moment. In the words of the Mother, “To know is good; to live is better and to be that is perfection.“