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| Vishaka Hari |
Earlier today I had the opportunity to listen to renowned
Carnatic and Harikatha exponent,
Vishaka Hari, who performed at a friend’s mother’s 80th birthday
celebration! What Vishaka said at the end of her performance was inspiring. She
said, while wishing my friend’s mother a great birthday: “The
actual birthday for us, voyagers through this journey called Life, is not our
date of birth. The day when enlightenment is born in us, through the flowering
of internal awareness, is when we are truly born. That’s when we really start
living.”
I completely agree with her.
Enlightenment is not what you attain because you give up
everything and go sit in a cave or under a tree. What I have learned is that
enlightenment is when you realize that the light you seek is within you. Enlightenment
being fully conscious, aware, of your divinity. Of the Oneness of your creation
with the Higher Energy that has created you. This consciousness leads you to understand
the frivolity in chasing a material Life – the folly of being attached to all
things that are impermanent, including your own Life! When this consciousness
is born inside you, there is tremendous clarity. Suddenly you feel sure about
who you are, why you are here and what you must do while you are here. It is
more than a Eureka moment. It is as if a veil has been taken off, a cataract has
been removed – so now you have the ability to see clearly! This happens in each
of our lives. At some time or the other. So, in essence, all of us attain enlightenment
in our own unique ways – because there’s no way forward without becoming
conscious. Without being aware. Without being awake.
You __ or I __ don’t have to do anything special to
become conscious or aware. Just be. Feel everything that you experience deeply.
Train your mind – through whatever method works for you – to not be caught in a
past memory or a future worry and be present, in the moment, in the NOW! When
you are fully present, awareness blooms, and through that experience “you” are actually,
really, born – to live and not simply exist!
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