________________
Christian Sannyasa
W.T. It is waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Meditation is complete mindfulness of that reality-a conscious seeking of and aspiring to it. My spiritual practice is in many ways the most important activity of my life. It is not more important than love, and mercy, and compassion. But it is really the basis, or foundation, for me to be compassionate. I think that it all works together; and all of it is the fruit of that connection with God.
L.M.: That's right, if you really love someone, you just want to be with them.
W.T.: You want to be them.
L.M.: And you want to be present to them?
W.T.: Exactly.
L.M.: Even if we can't, as you've said, see them. What you say about being a failure is a relief to me. Most meditators may be alike in that regard. Is it that there isn't such a great gap between the sannyasi's meditation, and the lay person's meditation, after all?
W.T.: That is just a label. Existentially, all these distinctions of clerical, or priest, or lay person don't mean very much.
L.M.: Yet we're caught up in them.
W.T.: To God, it means absolutely nothing: God does not see those distinctions, and does not respect them. All that God cares about is the heart, where one's heart is. And what are you doing to the least of my brethren? Not what are you called, what degrees, or how much money do you have, who do you know. These things mean nothing to God. And when you did it to the least of my brethren, you did it to me. Can what we do lead to moksha-or liberation-or nirvana?
L.M.: Is that actually?
W.T.: The goal.
Jain Education International
142
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
