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Tobin S.

(10,420 posts)
Wed Mar 8, 2017, 02:52 PM Mar 2017

Let's say you are a seeker on a spiritual path...

...and one day you run across your guru. Recognizing the important significance of meeting this person, you ask him or her what you should do in your quest for enlightenment. The guru says, "Love everyone," and leaves you with that.

Could you do it?

That's sort of what happened to Ram Dass. There was more to his meetings with his guru than that, but Ram Dass says that was his most important instruction from his guru and he didn't say much beyond that. Ram Dass said that whenever he was in the presence of his guru, Maharaji, he just felt this enormous, unconditional love. He knew his guru could see everything that was going on in him, even the bad stuff, but loved him unconditionally anyway.

Ram Dass said it took a long time before he was able to receive this teaching. Initially, he said that he could not do it and he told the guru that. He said that later he understood that that response was from the ego and then started doing everything he could to surrender to love.

I have found myself where Ram Dass was. I know it's the right thing to do, but I don't think I'd be able to do it right now. But I'm going to keep studying and keep reflecting. This might be one of those steps along the way that requires grace to be able to move forward.

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Let's say you are a seeker on a spiritual path... (Original Post) Tobin S. Mar 2017 OP
And this Maraya1969 Mar 2017 #1
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