The Shallow Pursuit
In our contemporary world, a pervasive negativity extends not only towards others but also inwards, leading to concerning trends like increased suicides
and destructive habits. Esteemed spiritual figures, religious doctrines, and mental health professionals universally advocate for the cultivation of both compassion for others and profound self-affection. However, a common misconception defines 'self-love' solely through the lens of physical well-being. Many dedicate significant resources and time to maintaining their bodily aesthetics and health, often engaging in lengthy mirror sessions, frequenting beauty salons, and adhering to rigorous gym routines. Preferences for skin tone, hair color, and overall appearance are altered with considerable effort. While basic bodily care is undeniably crucial, these often become excessive, diverting attention from a far more valuable pursuit: the enrichment of one's mind and spirit. This relentless focus on the external often leads to a tragic oversight of the precious time being expended, a price rarely acknowledged.
A Mirror's Distraction
An illustrative anecdote from a bustling department store highlights how easily external distractions can captivate attention. Faced with lengthy queues for insufficient elevators, frustrated customers began to voice their displeasure, creating a disruptive atmosphere. The store's management, recognizing the potential business impact of this discontent, swiftly devised a clever solution. By strategically placing mirrors in the waiting areas and within the elevators themselves, the manager transformed the customer experience. Suddenly, the tedious wait vanished as patrons became engrossed in their reflections, meticulously grooming their hair and reapplying makeup. This preoccupation with appearance, fueled by the presence of mirrors, effectively masked the passage of time, demonstrating how focused attention on the external can make us oblivious to our surroundings and even our own internal state.
Nurturing the Inner Landscape
Just as we diligently attend to the cleanliness and adornment of our physical bodies, it is equally imperative to purify and refine our minds. This involves the conscious and prompt expulsion of any negative or harmful thoughts and emotions that arise. Concurrently, we must actively train our intellect to engage in discerning thought processes. Achieving this inner clarity is facilitated through acquiring spiritual wisdom, often gained by attending spiritual discourses (satsangs) and engaging in meaningful exchanges with enlightened individuals and those on a similar spiritual path. The authentic essence of 'loving oneself' lies in allowing the inherent divinity within to radiate outwards. This intrinsic light is fundamental to all of existence.
The Witness Consciousness
Your fundamental nature is analogous to the vast, unchanging sky, not the transient clouds that drift across it. Similarly, your true essence resembles the boundless ocean, rather than the ephemeral waves that crest and subside. The sky embodies Pure Consciousness, and the ocean represents the same Pure Consciousness. The sky passively observes the clouds, and the ocean witnesses the waves, without being affected by them. The clouds are not the sky, nor are the waves the ocean. They emerge and disappear, while the sky and the ocean persist as the underlying reality supporting their existence. They possess no independent being and are subject to constant flux. In the same vein, your consciousness serves as the substratum for all experiences, much like the sky and the ocean. All events unfold within this supreme state of awareness, yet the Witness remains detached and unaffected. The Witness simply exists – pure, pristine, and untouched. Likewise, the mind and its thoughts are impermanent phenomena, akin to fleeting clouds or momentary waves, incapable of tainting your fundamental consciousness. Beyond the superficial fluctuations, your consciousness remains pure and inviolable. This eternally aware Pure Consciousness, the Witness or Sakshi, is the silent observer of all that transpires.
