I managed to run across this nice metaphor:
The metaphor of the Tree:
In the same Tree we can see leaves, flowers, fruits and branches, all of them different from each other, however, they make up one single whole that is referred to by the word “tree”. All of them have the same root, and through all of them flows the same sap.
Similarly, all things, bodies, and beings come from the same source, and are animated by one and the same vital supreme principal.
I’ll let you draw the conclusions…
If you have the time and the curiosity to read The Celestine Prophecy you will find the term “to be connected”. This term refers to the fact that one is connected to the harmonious energy of the universe, and if you are one with it everything flows in a natural way, everything happens right. From this point of view I think I experienced a “connected” day in traffic, only green light after green light, cars making ways so I can pass, finding parking spots close by. You might think that this is not such a big thing, but knowing the traffic in this town it’s a real “gift” to be able to get from A to B in a matter of minutes in the middle of the day, and find a parking spot. I do hope I stay connected for bigger issues than traffic!
Maybe other people also wonder about the most essential thing in our existence, and after some thought I realized that this thing is ATTENTION. To illustrate this here are some quotes:
A new follower joined a spiritual master, after greeting his master he asked “Teacher, please tell me which is the most important thing for me now that I have started my spiritual practice?”. The master replied “The most important thing for you is to develop and enhance you attention”. The follower thanked for the answer and left the room. However, 10 minutes later he returned with another question “Teacher, please forgive me for returning so soon, but can you tell me what else do I have to do besides develop and enhance my attention?”. The master answered “Besides developing and enhancing your attention you need to intensify and perfect your attention”. The next day the follower returned with another question “Teacher, I anxiously want to know which is the next step after intensifying and perfecting my attention?”. The master replied “You have to make your attention more profound and accurate”. After a few moments the follower said “Teacher, I thank you for this important advice, but what else do I have to do besides developing my attention?”. The master answered “My dear, you have to focus your attention firmly and continuously on your body, its organs and functions, on the sensations, on the manifestations of your mind and on the psychical projections that appear spontaneously in your being.”
Publilius Syrus:
“The eyes of a human being are as if blind when his mind is wandering elsewhere or when it is firmly focused somewhere else.”
Joule R…..:
“If we look around us we realize that the modern man, as he is build by the civilization and by the mental methods employed by the society, has no idea about the importance of attention.”
Seneca:
“A big part of our life we send making evil deeds, another important part of our life we send doing nothing, the biggest part of our life we live without thinking about what we are doing. The lack of attention in the majority of people is amazing.”
Swami Sivananda:
“Because most of the time people don’t pay attention to what they are doing, most people are absent in many of their actions.”
Joule Renald:
“Happiness passes us by frequently, but because we don’t pay attention, most of the time we don’t even realize it.”
One late evening I decided I can’t wait for everybody to come and I will head out first, that means alone. So, bright and early the next morning I was on the train traveling towards my favorite destination: a mountain. After I changed into something more appropriate I began my solitary climb. On this perfectly still and sunny day I remembered the words of a particular man:
“Are you alone here?
No, I’m not alone. We are never alone.”
As his wise words said, I was climbing by myself, but not alone. Someone was looking out for me: perfect weather, no wind, sun shining, fresh tracks leading to our lodgings. In fact it seamed that sometime later a nice bear joined my tracks.
Soon followed my first night in solitude, just me, myself and I, not a soul for a great distance. I really wanted this experience so I would never again be afraid of being alone and it proved to be interesting.
This needs to be further detailed, but I’m too tired for it now.
To be continued…