Book Title: Journey to Enlightenment Part 01
Author(s): Chitrabhanu, Chetana Catherine Florida, Nirmala Hanke, Raksha Penni Helsene
Publisher: Create Space
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March 2000: The Miracle is You
Once a priest from the Western world went to the East and met a Master of meditation. This priest was eloquent in English as well as in Oriental languages. When he went to see the master, he told him that he would like to read some passages from the Sermon on the Mount, in order to make the Master aware of the teaching of Jesus Christ.
The Master was very happy to listen, so the priest started translating. Then on the Master's face there came a glow, in his eyes there were tears. His whole being was thrilled with joy. The priest was very happy because he thought he was able to impress the Master and convert him. But when the priest said "I hope you enjoyed the words of Jesus," the Master said, "Jesus? These must be the words of Buddha, and I thought you had translated his words into Japanese. In your country you must be calling him Jesus, but he is the same Jesus is Buddha, Buddha is Jesus. They are the same words; there is no difference."
The experience, the truth, whether it comes from the word of Jesus or the word of Buddha or the mouth of Mahvira or Moses or you or me, what difference does it make? The main thing is the wisdom, the sweetness of the honey. If you cling to the name and fight for it, you forget the message. This is what often happens; the person who uncovers becomes more important than what is uncovered.
Truth has always existed, before Mahavira, before Buddha, before Christ, or Rama. Do you think truth was born with these Masters? If somebody opens the curtains at noon, you see the sun for the first time. But before the curtain was removed the sun was there. Instead of basking under the sun, do you cling to the person who removed the curtain? We have a good feeling for this person; we say, "Thank you," but we care for the light, the warmth.
Who is a Master?
If we are not aware, our whole life passes without experiencing the warmth of this sun, the self. Life goes by only reciting the names and we forget that they were masters because they uncovered something which was covered: Love, Joy and Peace. To be a master does not mean to be the master over you. A master is one who masters one's own senses and mind. When the senses are overcome with desires, they obscure the self, the light, and the mind clings to words and forms. Jargon becomes more important than the self, so they never catch a glimpse of that true self.
When the rays of the truth penetrate, you are not the same person. Your sorrow is over. What is called Mastership is to overcome sorrow. Sorrow is created by your mind. In reality, there is no sorrow. You create sorrow when you cling to a thing; when things don't happen as you want, you become sad. You want something and you do not get it, so you are disappointed and you make your face long and you cry. But if you say, "I am contented, I am happy with what I already have!" Then where is the sorrow?
We must know the cause of our pain. We think we are going to get happiness by possessing somebody or something. But as soon as we cling, we have sown the seeds of sorrow. Only
118 Journey to Enlightenment
