Ten Days Journey Into The Self

Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Jain Meditation International Centre

Page 28

What we usually do is to weave around ourselves a cocoon of safety and the habitual which feels secure; a cocoon made up of all the threads of many small preoccupations and diversions and accommodations to the world. We acquire a house and possessions, but our house and possessions possess us, confine us. We have a car, so we are free to travel, but even the car keeps us on a leash, so we are not inwardly free. We must emerge from the cocoon of habit, take the risks of change. Let even suffering come, and paradoxically, we will draw from it happiness!
The mother in order to give birth to the baby, must go through much discomfort and often intense pain. However, she is happy with her baby. She willingly accepts pain, not because she loves pain for itself, but only for what giving birth has brought to herself and to the world. We do not blame any out-side force for the pain that progress in life demands. It is our work to transform ourselves, and pain and suffering, when borne with awareness, often contribute to this transformation. Christ on the cross cried, "Father, why hast thou forsaken me?" That showed his human pain. But was he not far happier than those who crucified him?
You must work on yourself, for yourself and for mankind. That is why all the great prophets and Arihantas lived as exemplars. Why can't you grow and glow like them? When you feel love, God is there. When you give something, God is there. When you help someone, when you communicate understanding, God is there. When you dedicate yourself to joining others in making the world better, God is there. All the positive qualities in you are the expression of God shining through you as joy.
We must also know that when things are going well, when we are content, this is the time we should be soft and tender. In this way we can share our joy with those around us. When, on the other hand, we are in difficulty, when we are feeling discouraged, this is the time to be strong and firm. This way we can resolve our problems. But usually we do this in reverse. When all is going well, when we feel we are in the midst of personal good fortune, we do not care, we do not hear, we do not reach out to help anyone; we become hard. And when we are down, we crumble, feel overcome, and rush to seek from others that which only we can give to ourselves. The difficulties we face are like the invigorating winds of winter. When trouble comes, we must not deny the trouble, so it will be repressed and create a psychological problem. Instead, let us say, "All right. Now I will trouble the trouble and the trouble will be over." Winter comes, but spring will follow. Life consists of just such cycles. When it is coldest, in a few weeks spring will arrive; but if we do not have patience, if we let ourselves become upset, then when spring comes we will not be fresh and strong to appreciate it. This is my teaching, do not identify yourself with the ups and downs of life--you are the Atman.
We will not uncover joy in ourselves, if we do not give it to others. And the happiness we experience will be proportionate to the happiness we give. This realization is beyond words-- joy is known only in experience.
Once an ancient seer was at the point of death, and his disciples came to him and asked, "How should we live ? What should we get from life ? What should we give to