This Planet Almost Works
Dear friends,
Life on this planet is interesting. It is perfectly designed for us. Yogananda said we are here to learn and to be entertained. The entertaining part is more fun but the learning part is actually more important.
We come here with the firm belief that matter is more real than Spirit. The cousin of this thought is that "If I can just get my circumstances exactly right, then I can finally be happy and relax." Oh, and the further fantasy is that once everything is perfect we will somehow freeze reality so that nothing ever changes.
People may be familiar with the Bhagavad Gita. It is part of a much larger epic called the Mahabharata. There is a character in the longer epic named Karna. He and his people are at war with the good king, his brothers, and their substantial armies. Karna is actually the eldest brother and thus rightful heir to the throne... but no one knows it. He has the most powerful weapon in the world, but when he needs it... he forgets how to use it. And on and on. He represents the desire for things to work in this world. "So close... so close... shucks, just missed. Maybe I'll come back again and see if I can get it just right!" And so it goes.
Let's say you are poor and die with the desire for money. You come back and are rich... but lose it in a bad investment. So you come back again, but this time with the added desire for the money to be safe. Looks good as you get both desires fulfilled, but this time all your friends are after you for loans and gifts. Annoying! So you come back yet again, with plenty of money, respectful friends, and safe investments... but the money allows you to become lazy. Oops! So next time... I think you get the point. I can come up with many, many more permutations of the "money will make me happy” delusion, none of which quite work.
Then finally your money scene is just perfect, but there is still a hole in your heart. So you decide, "What I really need is a relationship!" And we launch an entirely new front with infinite permutations.
There is nothing wrong with money, relationships, or any other reasonable desire. It's just that we will never be truly satisfied until we are filled with Spirit. Enjoy the entertainment, but never forget the learning to be had. It's why we are here. It's best to keep one's eye on the ball rather than becoming distracted by the shiny toys that surround us.
May we each learn and move past Spirit's ephemeral joys and pleasures until we are rooted in, and seek only, Spirit alone: the ultimate fulfilling deep inner peace and joy.
Blessings,
David G., manager
for the Gang at East West