Buddha’s disciple Subhuti suddenly discovered the richness & fecundity of Emptiness; realisation that everything is impermanent, and empty of self. The flowers began to fall around him & the Gods whispered, “ We’re enraptured by your sublime teachings on Emptiness.” Subhuti replied, “But I’ve not uttered a word about emptiness. “ The Gods replied, “True you have not spoken of emptiness. This is the true emptiness.”
If I had spoken of emptiness or even been aware about it; will it be Emptiness? Music needs the hollowness of flute, light, a window; holiness the absence of self (ego).
Divinity descends on a man who never seeks divinity. Our minds are too cluttered with ideas of self, divinity and spirituality. We’re too occupied with things that have no real significance in life. Hence in our conscious endeavour for spirituality, we fall short of our aim, and remain worldly.
A woman went to a Buddhist Guru, Lao Tse, & said, she was constantly tormented by useless thoughts while she sat for her evening prayers. Lao Tse said,” Try to pray anytime during the day, and come to me after few days.” She came back & admitted that no thoughts tormented now as she didn’t have any fixed hour for praying. With fixed time, the self was always conscious & the aware of the need to pray at that time. But now, you have broken the stifling mould of fixed time, & you are no longer conscious & so free from the pestering thought.
Thus with awareness comes a set pattern, which gives rise to a structure, a format, a ritual. Unawareness is Blissful state.
Muslim Fakir, Rumi said, “While talking to my beloved (Allah), I am unaware at times whether to speak or not. I often remain silent because my Beloved doesn’t like much volubility.” Silence is unspoken Emptiness, and is much more eloquent than any set or fixed prayer. Thus, only with the absence of self, one can achieve Ultimate Bliss, as the Gopis have proved with their love for Lord Krishna, Sai Jiwatsingh has shown the state of unawareness when he used to jump in the river, without waiting for the boat, to meet his Beloved.
