No matter what country, religion, culture or region you belong, you must have heard over and over again that God created man in his likeness. Have you ever wondered that if we were created in his likeness, then how come we all look different from each other? Scientists have gone on to prove that no two human beings are exactly alike…not even identical twins. We look different, feel differently, think differently and react differently to any given situation. From the same experience two different people learn different lessons. We are same ….and yet so very different.
A few months ago our friends joined a self help group by the name of Landmark. They were very enthusiastic about the course they were doing and keen that we should also join that. We declined politely and tried to explain that we did not consider it necessary. But they would have none of it and insisted that we should at least attend one meeting before we make up our minds. To humour them, my husband and I accompanied them on two different meetings. At the end of it we were even surer than ever that we did not need it.
What surprised me was that young and educated people came on the stage to give testimonies how Landmark had changed their lives. How it found solutions to all their problems and how they now discuss their all problems with their leaders and find all solutions following the principles of Landmark. Everybody was so busy talking about the techniques they learn there and principles of living that for a moment I was tricked into believing that we were talking about some machines and not people. Nobody talked about listening to the inner self, instinct, conscious, creativity? How come principles laid by one human being fit into lives of so many people with varied situations? Was it some kind of joke? Matrix of Collective Unconsciousness?
Created in the likeness of God, we carry a soul that is our connection with the soul of the universe. All we need to do is to turn inwards to tap into that connection to learn all we need at that moment. But we all must grapple with life and ourselves on our own…you as you and me as me. I cannot tell you what to do and you cannot tell me what the right course of action is. We must find all our answers ourselves. Experiencing sorrows are as important as the experiencing joys. They are the seasons of soul…sides of the same coin…one does not exist without the other. Myriad joys can be experienced only at the cost of pain…ecstasy can never be experienced in isolation.
God men and gurus flourish because we refuse to take control of our own lives. We let them do our thinking…dictate us how we should live and sometime die too. Is looking inwards so sorrowful that we avoid it at all costs? Is it because we are afraid of making mistakes? Finding out that we alone are responsible if anything goes wrong? So we need somebody to tell us what to think and what to do so that if anything goes wrong we can easily pass the buck.
I am trying to find out…to know for myself… I would be delighted to have answers to the questions I have put here. Please share your views.
