Today's Considerations
So the consideration offered here is that the racing body is a result of a racing mind; that a restless body is a result of a restless mind; and that a body which is constantly in motion is a result of a mind which is constantly in motion.
There are many disciplines which try to address humanity's lack of ease and humanity's restlessness and humanity's propensity for chaos and humanity's instability. They include psychotherapy and analysis and self-analysis and psychoanalysis and psychiatric therapy and various philosophies and a host of other disciplines.
None, however, draw as many "followers" as (a) religion (and other such cults and sky cults) and (b) spirituality. Of the seven billion+ humans on the planet, 97% claim an affiliation with one organized religion or another; millions more report proudly that they are "not religious" but are "spiritual instead."
The 97% affiliated with one religion or another claim that the solution for humanity's dis-ease, restlessness, and propensity for chaos and instability can only be found "in their 'holy' text" and in "the words of their prophet." Let those be referred to as the members of "Group 'A'."
Millions more claim that humanity's dis-ease, restlessness, propensity for chaos and instability are rooted in humanity's "spiritual malady." Let those be referred to as the members of "Group 'B'."
In Maharaj's early days, he catered to those in "Group 'A'," but he also presented some non-dual pointers in his sessions with them. After more and more Westerners began visiting the loft, he catered to those in "Group 'B'," so he presented "combination pointers" which included both spiritual and non-dual considerations in his sessions with the members of the "B" group.
Certainly, 99%+ of all persons today buy into one or the other of those two approaches (both of which Maharaj also used at various times to try to address the symptoms of the Ultimate Sickness, including humanity's constant sense of dis-ease, restlessness, a propensity for chaos and instability and what Maharaj called "ignorance" and "insanity").
Yet Maharaj eventually saw that for all of his religious / non-dual talking and for all of his spiritual / non-dual talking and for all of his visitors' listening and questioning and meditating and considering, the results in the end were practically nil.
He saw that persons playing the roles of "The Super Religious One" or "The Spiritual Giant" or "The Super Seeker" were continuing to race about as much as ever and were as discontented and chaotic as ever.
Going and dooming and zooming prevailed, even among those who had found their way to Bombay, to Ketwadi Street, to a narrow set of steps, and into a small, crowded upstairs loft. So what happened to Maharaj's approach?
With the absence of ego and egotism, he was able to admit that both of his earlier approaches had failed, and failed miserably. Many critics attacked him back then for "changing his message"; many more critics continue to attack him to this day for "changing his message"; and it is only the wise that see why he changed his message and see why they are now truly grateful that he did.
The debate about what the proper treatment is for what ails humanity continues as the majority of persons around the globe (in Group "A") claim that only their particular holy texts and the words of their particular prophet can address humanity's constant sense of dis-ease, humanity's restlessness, humanity's propensity for
chaos and instability and humanity's "ignorance" and "insanity" and "inherently evil nature."
Millions more around the globe (in Group "B") claim that only their special book and the
words of their special founder / leader can address humanity's constant sense
of dis-ease, humanity's restlessness, humanity's propensity for
chaos and instability and humanity's "ignorance" and "insanity" and "inherently evil nature."
Those are the two arguments which prevail among the masses. Which of those two is accurate? Or might Maharaj's final understanding about the roots of the Ultimate Sickness actually point more to the truth? Is it possible that the Ultimate Sickness is not a sickness which results from humans having been exposed to too-little dogma or from humans suffering a spiritual malady or soul sickness, arguments which Maharaj also had agreed with at varied times?
Is it possible that the Ultimate Sickness really is a mental sickness? Is it possible that such a mental sickness could drive persons to go and do and zoom and to race about and to be restless and to live lives that are marked by chaos and insanity and ignorance and insanity? Is it possible that a mental sickness could be causing humanity's chaotic going and doing and zooming and their peace-wrecking consequences?
Is it possible that a mental sickness could be causing persons to take ill-advised actions and to rush unwisely and hurriedly and recklessly into commitments, relationships, job selections, totally-unnecessary purchases and accumulation as well as their ill-advised actions in traffic, in stores, at the workplace and, ultimately, anywhere . . . everywhere . . . and always?
Maharaj first believed that the causes of the Ultimate Sickness involved one thing, then later concluded that the causes were rooted in a different thing, and then finally concluded that the causes did not involve either of those but were rooted in something totally different.
Next, his own words will be shared to illustrate the evolution of his teachings as his understanding of the root causes of the Ultimate Sickness evolved.
To be continued.
Please enter into the silence of contemplation.
