While spiritual
practices should be approached with intense commitment and resolve, they
should not be a cause for too much severity. When we adopt the attitude of a
child, we become more open to the guru's love and his/her teachings, more open
to receive a physical guru if we don't yet have one. I've heard that all true
masters are bubbling with joy, always ready to laugh; this is certainly true of
my guru, Ammachi. While I might be afraid of her discipline, I know Mother is
always dancing with love. Perhaps it would be good to start the child-like
outlook practice with feelings of light-heartedness in mind. As Swamiji
Amritaswarupananda said, underneath the serious face, underneath the
disciplinary act, is always the smile, the smile that dances in eternity.
"If you want to be closer to God, try to
be like a child. A child's world is full of wonder and imagination and play. .
. . There is a child within everyone." ---Ammachi |
Have some bubbly, meditative music
playing in the background, such as Handel's "Water
Music," Carlos Nakai's "Cycles: Music for Native American Flute," J.S. Bach's
"Suites 1-4," "Golden Voyage," any music by Don Campbell or Larkin.
Imagine yourself walking down a deserted beach along the
Caribbean, Hawaiian, or Polynesian sea shore. Sitting on a rock, take off your
shoes. Leave your shoes there and continue walking, feeling the sand between
your toes. While you stroll, your feet get wet as waves wash gently onto the
shore.
You look out at the gentle rising and falling of the ocean swells and
see dolphins playing and leaping in the waves. As they swim down the shore
line, you skip to keep up with them. Then, in the distance you see the divine
Mother walking towards you, wearing a white cloth. Her feet splash through the
water. She walks out knee-deep into the waves, stretching out her arms towards
the dolphins, calling them to her.
The Mother
turns and motions for you to come near. There is a twinkle in her eye. She
splashes you playfully and chuckles. Then she takes you by the hand and pulls
you deeper into the ocean, into the waves where the dolphins swim. (Now let
yourself be guided by your own imagination for ten or fifteen minutes while you
and Mother play in the water with the dolphins.)
When your swim finishes, wade out of the water onto dry land.
Watch as the divine Mother disappears down the beach and the dolphins become
small specks swimming out to sea. Once again you are alone on the sandy shore,
and you turn to head slowly back. At the rock where you left your shoes, sit
down to put them on, and then continue walking homeward. As the image of
yourself ambling down the beach dwindles, you become aware of your surroundings
in your own home. Wiggle your toes, stretch your arms and legs, open your eyes,
and look around the room. Take your time before getting up. |
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