FOOD FOR THOUGHT

CHITA DE LA CRUZ-HEAP

The Lotus

The lotus is a flower that grows in muddy water and is similar to a Lily. In some cultures this flower is much revered because it is considered to be a symbol of spirituality, existing as it does upon three levels.

The roots of this plant are firmly anchored in the river bed from which the plant derives its sustenance. The stem grows up through water which is often muddy, whilst the flower floats upon the surface and blooms in the clean fresh air. If the river level rises, the flower rises. If the river level falls, the flower falls too, but always it floats upon the surface and remains untouched by the muddy waters in which it grows.

As human beings we too live on three levels. Firstly there is the physical world in which we live, a world where we must work in order to earn money to buy food, to clothe ourselves, to support our families and to provide shelter, just as the roots of the lotus must sustain the plant.

Secondly, we exist upon a mental level and must take time to think about what we do and to evaluate our situation. We must make decisions, form opinions and so on. In a world which at times seems half crazy this is not always easy, and at times we become lost in confusion and indecision. So too with the stem of the Lotus which grows up through the muddy waters of the river.

Finally there resides within us the Spirit, which, regardless of our mental state, or whether or not we have food, remains radiant and pure, and which shines within us with incredible beauty. This spirit is like the flower of the Lotus which, regardless of the river level remains untouched by the dirty water that surrounds it.

It is all too easy to get caught up in this world and become lost in the day to day dilemmas that we face. There are times when life seems kind to us and appears to give us some respite, only to turn upon us once again like a monster with very sharp teeth. So preoccupied do we become with trying to survive in this world that it hardly leaves time for us to question our existence or to consider the purpose of our life. For many of us it seems more convenient simply to assume that life has no purpose at all other than to survive.

Suppose that somebody gave you a gift, an item of electrical equipment or a machine tool. If you did not know the purpose of that tool then of what use would it be to you? What would you do with it other than to use it as a paper weight or else to throw at the cat next door when it made too much noise. In order to derive benefit from that tool you would first have to know its purpose.

What about this life? Have we understood its purpose? Many of us have an opinion, whilst others believe that life has no purpose at all. But do we really know? Have we taken the trouble to find out? Have we even asked ourselves the question, “What is the purpose of life? What is it all about?”

There is an answer to this question, but the answer is not verbal. The answer is in fact an experience that resides within us, and which resides within the heart of every human being. Many times the Master has come to remind us of this, just as Jesus came to tell us that “the Kingdom of Heaven is within.” He was quite serious when he said this, for the words that he spoke were true.

Have we even begun tous by comprehend what it is that he was trying to tell us? That the Kingdom of Heaven resides within us, not up in the sky, and that our opportunity to experience Heaven is now, within our own life time? And yet still we continue to run around chasing our own tail, our sole concern being to survive.

What is the point of surviving if we fail to make use of this precious opportunity? What meaning can life possibly hold for us if we have not understood the purpose of life? It is as though we have fallen asleep in the middle of life, and life is just passing us by.Take a look at the cemetery. Look at the buried there, the year of their birth, the year that they died, and between the two dates a dash to represent their time on this earth. Is that what we want on our own grave stone, a simple dash to let the whole world know that in our life time at least, nothing was achieved, nothing was realized, and nothing was understood?/TE