Love thy nieghbour /September 20, 2013

Love thy neighbour.

I have spent quite a lot of time over the past week nursing a cold. 

As all you men will confirm, when a man gets a cold it is of a far more serious nature than that which women experience. 

I have attempted to battle on bravely, sharing my suffering with only those who need to know and anybody else within earshot! And I am glad to report that I am starting to feel myself again.

The trouble is that all thosenon-productive hours were filled catching up on the catalogue of Adyashanti recordings I bought on my recent trip. As a consequence, just when I am beginning to feel myself again, I realise that I have no clue who that self is! 

Once you get beyond the initial panic of OMG where did I go, you suddenly feel a huge relief at your sudden absence. Its like a liberation. That stalker who has followed me around for the whole of my life had taken a couple of days off (most probably bored of hearing how bad my cold was!). 

Having tasted the freedom I began an unwinnable game of hide and seek, with lots of little rules. He cant see me if I meditate. He goes away if I have a beer. I spin my octahedron in a certain direction I become invisible. This game is full of frustration, as he disappears when you least expect, but as soon as you notice his absence he is back, telling you where you are going wrong!
 
One of the stories Adyashanti tells is of a guru at an ashram. One of the guru's followers becomes disenchanted and then hostile, and in protest he stands at the gate of the Ashram bad mouthing the guru to any who would listen. The managers of the Ashram were concerned at the effect this was having and went to the guru for advice. He listened patiently and then just told them "make sure he is well fed and clothed."

Maybe the challenge to accept myself rather than escape. Perhaps this was the true meaning of love thy neighbour? Where ever I go, what ever I do, there is one person I wake up with everyday and that is me. I am my permanent neighbour. Might as well make sure I am clothed and fed! 


Love

Bill