As I was studying the Byron Katie work, I noticed an interesting similarity to her method and the method of self inquiry used by Ramana Maharshi to achieve realization. I started looking through materials to find any connection between them, and stumbled upon a quote by Sri Maharshi. In describing a seeker who was floundering around in angst and shame (much like me), Sri Maharshi said, “He is concentrating on the reflection and complains that he cannot see the original.” I’m looking at that quote every day now for the power it contains.
Yes, indeed, I have been concentrating on the reflection, and this is an endless cycle of suffering that I choose. It’s like choosing to stare at a reflection of the moon in a pond, and berating not being able to see the moon even while its right on top of my head.
Concentrating on the reflection by focusing on other people’s (approval) smiles, nods, and cheers rather than my own heart.
Concentrating on a woman’s affection to feel good about myself rather than being in the joy of who I am.
Concentrating on escaping/numbing through drugs, booze, tv, internet, food, and/or sex to feel “good” rather than being with what is.
Concentrating on my “reputation”, other people’s opinion of me rather than being in the joy of creating my own life.
Concentrating on how a woman looks rather than who she IS.
Concentrating on how I look rather than who I AM.
Concentrating on how much money I don’t have rather than what I have.
Concentrating on how I feel rather than who I AM.
Concentrating on my self-judgments rather than the fact of what IS.
Concentrating on external circumstances rather than the source of all things,
The source of all things that I do not understand but manifests in every thought, breath, word, and deed of my existence.
I am not my circumstances, am I?
No, I have been suffering because I’ve chosen to concentrate on the wrong thing. I’ve chosen to concentrate on the shadow of a reflection of the original, the source of that comes before my thoughts, before my feelings, before my judgments, before depression, and even before happiness.
That source is in and within me, through and throughout every vibrating cell of my body.
That moon that I see may be millions of miles away, but I can only experience it in my brain through the light traveling through nerves, impulses and pathways. My whole body fills with it, so it’s not really “out there”, is it?
In fact, it’s reasonable to think that there is no real difference between the light of the reflection and the light of the original. It’s all a reflection of the original, so even the idea that the reflection and the original are separate is an illusion, and THIS illusion is what causes suffering.
